This news synopsis will be a bit more condensed than usual for the next several days due to time constraints.

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Diamante Belize hosts Service Industry Appreciation Night
On Saturday, July 5th Diamante Belize hosted a Service Industry Appreciation Night at Fido’s Restaurant and Bar. The event was held to honor all persons working in the tourism industry. “We at Diamante Belize want to thank each and every single one of you for making our island the #1 Island in the world!” said […]

State Funeral to be held for H.E. Ambassador Alfredo Martinez
It is with profound sadness that the Government of Belize and the Martinez & Agnelli families announce the untimely passing of H.E. Ambassador Alfredo Martinez. Ambassador Martinez passed away in Guatemala City on Tuesday , 8th July 2014.He was predeceased by his parents Eduardo Martinez Sr. and Celia Ayuso de Martinez and one brother Jose […]

12 athletes to represent Belize in Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
A delegation of 12 athletes and six coaches are scheduled to leave the country on Monday July 14th to participate in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The XX Commonwealth Games is set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23rd to August 3rd, 2014 and 70 nations including Belize will take part and compete in […]

National News: Police charge 3 and seek 1 in murder of former Senator
3 people have been charged for the murder of Ramon Cervantes Sr., and 1 is being sought in connection with the investigation. The discovery of the body of Sonia Maribel Abac is also being linked to the suspects.

Island Time Beach Bar opens
Those seeking a quiet getaway on the beach, with a tropical palapa setting and a bounty of refreshing drinks and tasty food can now rest easy. Island Time Beach Bar is open for business and is offering all that and more! Owners Ruth and Graham Verralls have taken over the spot previously housing Sandbar/Fido’s 2, […]

Opposition invited to review SPTC finances
Mayor Guerrero invited PUP members Elito Arceo & Giovanni Solorzano to review the finances of the SPTC for the period of March 2013 to March 2014.

Ambergris Today

Belize Tourism Industry Association Holds Successful 29th Bi-Annual General Meeting
The Belize Tourism Industry Association held its 29th Bi-Annual General Meeting on July 9, 2014 at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza. BTIA members, dignitaries, industry partners and invited guests, were all part of another successful event held by the Association under the theme, "Promoting Sustainable Development in the Tourism Industry of Belize." The meeting recapped the progress of the BTIA throughout the past six months, as well as highlights several issues currently affecting the industry. BTIA President - Herbert Haylock, noted ... "There is a lot to get done, to get into and to accomplish for your Association. Our plate is full, but we have room for more. We need everyone on board. Everyone! Fully committed and fully engaged! He continued further, stating..."There is need for greater order in our tiny country. We lack discipline, we lack willingness, we lack a truly shared vision embraced by both public and private sectors."

Fire Victims Receive Donations from Community
The devastating fire on Sunday, July 6, 2014, in the Boca Del Rio Area gutted a total of seven buildings displacing 16 families with about 88 persons including children and adults. The Community of San Pedro, including the San Pedro Town Council, National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), Belize Red Cross, San Pedro Lions Club and other NGO’s were quick to plan a radiothon and other activities to help out the families in need. The San Pedro Town Council quickly found shelter for two families who didn’t have any relatives to stay with and the San Pedro Lions Club was quick to act and opened the doors to the Lions Den on Monday, July 7, 2014, for people to make food and clothing donations for the fire victims.

There is No Such Thing as Too Much Lobster in Belize
Lobster season is BIG in Belize; big enough that there are three different festivals at three different destinations in the country that celebrate the opening of the season. You would think that the lobster season of Belize is closed for over half of the year for the country to make such a big deal about the opening season; well it is just closed four months. Expect to pay up to $25US for a lobster dish at most restaurants on the island and even close to $40US for a surf & turf dish that includes lobster. So most people take advantage of attending at least one of the lobster festivals in Belize because that’s where one can eat lobster at reduced prices. Restaurants offer special deals and even go out of the way to create amazing lobster dishes that they don’t and will not have on their regular menu for the rest of the season.

Misc Belizean Sources

FISHING REPORT: Week of June 29th – July 6th, 2014
Well, once again we welcome back our friends! V, Nigel, Tom and Giles…thank you for the fun you put into your fishing and also all the smiles you bring to us. Ellen and Marty – thank you for celebrating your 30th wedding anniversary here! Jeff – it’s great to see you and I really hope you get your fish with Captain Emir. Jay and Amber – we are so excited about our future angler – stay healthy and happy. And to all of the Powell family – it’s great to see you here again, and I love how you love to relax! The wind has slowed down – but don’t jinx us. As we think about all that went on this week – smiles come to our faces. Fishing stories….let’s keep them coming!

Stakeholders consultation workshop RE.: Curriculum Consultancy
Project: The Belize Road Safety Project Component: Road User Education and Awareness Sub-component: Curriculum Development Time: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Contact: Ines Paquiul at 203-1389/203-6970/822-3517 or E-mail [email protected] DATE: July 15, 2014 LOCATION: Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute Office TARGET AUDIENCE: for Northern Districts and Belize City, Curriculum officers (DECs), QADS, Teacher Training Institutions, NCE, NCTVET, Department of Transport/Police/Municipalities Traffic and Training Team

Belize Establishes Diplomatic Relations with Indonesia and Palestine (5 photos)

Tribute in Guatemala for H.E. Ambassador Alfredo Martinez (4 photos)

Cultural Attache of the Consulate of Belize in Argentina made a courtesy visit to San Pedro
On Friday, July 4, Mr. Omar Nuske from the Consul of Belize in Argentina and Prof. Lic. Beatriz Ramirez from the Cultural Attache of the Consulate of Belize in Argentina made a courtesy visit to San Pedro Town where they met with Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Deputy Mayor Gabriel Nuñez, Councilor Gabriel Nuñez, Superintendent Luis Castellanos and the Police Department. Mr. Nuske and Ms. Ramirez were very excited to be in Belize and are very interested in promoting San Pedro and the entire country of Belize in Argentina as a vacation or recreational destination. — with Gabriel Nunez Sr. and 2 others.

Mr. Ismael Badillo, San Pedro new town inspector
The San Pedro Town Council would like to extend a warm welcome and at the same time introduce you all to Mr. Ismael Badillo, our new town inspector. Mr. Badillo is a well known man in San Pedro and has been working for the Tourism Industry for over 20 years now. Mr. Badillo will be inspecting all establishments with a Trade or Liquor License to ensure everything is in order and to make sure all businesses are abiding by the law. Welcome Mr. Ismael Badillo!

Summer Art Workshops
The SISE House of Culture will be having 3 Summer Art Workshops. They'll cover arts and crafts, percussion and drumming, and theater. Contact them for more information. "Summer Arts & Crafts Workshop - To register contact SISE HOC, Tel no.824-0783"

2014 BAAS Symposium
NICH had the Belize Archaeology and Anthropology Symposium last week at the SIRH, and they had a great turnout for the seminars and lectures.

Flor de la Feria Pageant
Who will win it all? The Flor de la Feria pageant is tomorrow night at the Cancha Marshalleck, starting at 7:00pm. The Benque Marimba Academy will be playing, and Orquidea Negra will be performing, along with many others. The winner will represent Belize at the Miss Teen Americas, in El Salvador. "Our show will be a great one! With special performances from the Benque Viejo Marimba Academy, Orquedia Negra Dance Co., Grupo Folklorico Internacional San Juan De Dios From Peten, Guatemala, Belize Body Builders and the spectacular presentations by our candidates."

In Bloom at Cave Garden
In Bloom will be playing at the Cave Garden tonight. Benque is getting a good dose of rock today.

Cayo Classifieds - Issue 24
This week's Buy and Sell Weekly Classifieds. They highlight the birding in Belize, and Caracol is on that list.

Channel 7

Cervantez Jr Critical Of Cops
Since, Wednesday, we've been telling you about the 3 men charged for the kidnapping and murder of Ramon Cervantes Sr. Tonight, 9 days after Cervantes was first abducted from his far...

Sonya’s Family Says Police Should Have Acted Sooner
And so, what's happening with the case of the other Orange Walk Resident, 46 year-old Sonia Maribel Abac? Her body was discovered on Tuesday evening, but the actual removal from chos...

City Shootings Spill Over to Northside
This week we have been reporting on a rash of gang related shootings on the South side of Belize City. Last night the violence spilled over to Lizarraga Avenue on the North side with 73-y...

KHMH CEO Longsworth Moving On
Dr. Gary Longsworth's six year tenure as CEO of the KHMH is coming to an end. 7News has learned that the KHMH Board of Directors decided at its meeting yesterday not to renew his contrac...

Jaime Awe Leaving NICH
And another very senior person in the statutory sector of the government is moving on. Last week at the Archaeology Symposium Jaime Awe, the Director of the NICH Institute of Archeology, ...

Man Remanded For Allegedly Killing Mayor Moya’s Brother
8 days ago, we told you about the murder of 50-year-old Michael Richard Ysaguirre, the brother of Former Belize City Mayor, Zenaida Moya. Well tonight, the man who police believe is his ...

Chon Saan Celebrates 40
You may know Chon Saan Palace as a Chinese restaurant that can turn out a $6.50 fry chicken as easily as it can a deep fried salt and pepper hogfish. But the strength of the restaura...

Carried Weed Into Prison In A Private Place
25 year-old Quinn Melinda Arnold tried to smuggle weed into prison, and tonight she's on remand at the very same facility because she was caught in the act. The Conch Shell Bay residen...

CYNK Trading Halted By SEC, But Belize Connection Intriguing
Last night we told you about the international business buzz created around the soaring stock of a dubious tech company called CYNK, claiming to be based at the Matalon Building in B...

Scammer Used The Good Doctor’s Name
Tonight, police continue to detain a woman, who allegedly tried to run a scam by impersonating a well-known doctor from Belize Medical Associates. It happened on Wednesday when Lee Mark ...

21 Year Old Awich For Burglary
Twenty-one year old Jason Awich, a resident of 14 Santa Barbara Street, was sentenced to 7 years today by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser after he pled guilty to the charge of burglary. ...

PUC Wants To Create IT Culture
In an era where smartphones are vibrating in the pockets of every other person you run into, most of us are no strangers to mobile applications - - apps for short. And while many Belizeans ...

Former Minister and Area Rep Rally Alpuche Passes
Tonight we note the passing of former UDP Minister and Area Representative Israel Alpuche. The 71 year old died around 7:00 this morning at the Corozal community hospital, from complication...

Channel 5

Belize Named in Billion Dollar Securities Scam
The internet and news outlets, including CNN, have been abuzz since Thursday and today about a company called CYNK Technology and its networking site Introbiz whose address was traced to [...]

Cervantes Says Police Are Moving Slow in Murder Investigation
Ramon Cervantes Senior was abducted on July first and killed on July second, beaten to death with a stick before being buried in a shallow grave. The men Police believe [...]

Grieving Son says his Father’s murder was a hit…
A glaring concern expressed not only by Cervantes Junior but by residents of Orange Walk is that the three men arrested – Noe Gonzalez, Mateo Pott and Angel Antonio Cardenas [...]

No Arrests and Few Leads in Belize City Murders
There was one shooting on Thursday night and going into the weekend there is concern that the gang violence could flare up. Tonight, the Belize Defense Force soldiers are back [...]

Two Men shot Down in Belize City
The gun violence continued on Thursday night when at around eight forty-five shots rang out on the usually quiet Lizarraga Avenue in the King’s Park Area. Neighbours told News Five [...]

Rhaburn Arraigned for Murder of ‘Spam’
On June twenty-eight, Michael ‘Spam’ Ysaguirre succumbed to injuries he reportedly received following an altercation near the Conch Shell Bay Fish Market.  While it was initially ruled as a sudden [...]

Minister of Lands Says They Will Cancel Goff’s Caye Lease
Who placed survey pegs on Goff Caye and what’s the plan for this beautiful, eminently accessible piece of Belizean paradise just eight miles from the mainland? That’s the million dollar [...]

Tour Operator Outlines 2002 Plan for Goff’s Caye
But while Minister Vega is focused on pointing political fingers at the previous administration, he may have to do some more digging to find out who is actually surveying Goff’s [...]

Cervantez Says He’s Not Surveying Goff’s Caye…So Who Is?
And it might have been, but it never happened. Wanting to do things the right way, Cervantes sought approval from the Belize Tourist Board and got it. But then he [...]

Remains of Ambassador Fred Martinez Arrive in Belize
The ashes of former Ambassador Alfredo ‘Fred’ Martinez were returned to Belize today, following a cremation in Guatemala City where he succumbed earlier this week. Ambassador Martinez, a preeminent figure [...]

KHMH CEO Speaks About ‘Product of Conception’
On June thirtieth a discarded fetus was discovered under a hospital bed in the observation room in the Accident and Emergency Ward. It caused a stink, both literally and in [...]

KHMH Director of Finance Carlos Perrera is GONE
And there was other significant news from CEO Longsworth – Director of Finance Carlos Perrera is no longer at the KHMH. The controversial Perrera has been under sustained fire from [...]

Rotary Club Donates Medical Supplies to the KHMH
Today the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital received a much needed donation of medical supplies from the Sunrise Rotary Club in Belize. It’s the result of a collaboration between the local [...]

Woman Charged for Trying to Smuggle Weed into Prison
Twenty-five-year-old Quinn Arnold, an unemployed of Conch Shell Bay, pleaded guilty to the offense of possession of a controlled drug, after being busted attempting to smuggle weed into the Belize [...]

PUC Launches Mobile App
Innovation Program Belize, an annual competition for young, aspiring Belizean entrepreneurs and innovators, was launched this morning during a press conference held by the Public Utilities Commission.  The inaugural session [...]

Trio of Athletes Represent To Belize in Miami
A trio of young athletes who have completed the Smart Football Summer Camp has been selected to represent Belize in Miami at an athletic training camp in the days ahead.  [...]

Jovaunn Ramos Anticipates Making Belize Proud
According to Jovaunn Ramos, despite being nervous he is expecting to do well in Miami.   Jovaunn Ramos, Summer Camp Participant “Well very nervous because it’s the first time and [...]