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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

Doctors from around the world participate in Hyperbaric Medical Course on Ambergris Caye
56 doctors from around the world converged on the island for a six-day course in hyperbaric medicine. The course is being offered in partnership with the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and the Divers Alert Network (DAN) with assistance from the local San Pedro Hyperbaric Chamber Clinic. The course's main objective is to increase physicians' knowledge in hyperbaric chamber medicine as well as to review their skills on ways to better assess the health and well-being of potential divers. Cindi Easterling has been the Course Coordinator for the UHMS-DAN continuing medical education (CME) program for over 25 years. According to Easterling, during the six-day course, doctors go through daily four-hour intense lectures imparted by some of the best, internationally-renowned physicians. She said, "Doctors gain infinite knowledge because we bring in internationally renowned physicians from around the world. Some of the doctors are internationally known specialists and professors and we share knowledge. Having knowledge in hyperbaric medicine can only increase a doctor's ability to give better patient-care. It also allows them to be a part of a network from around the world in which you become a part of a group of physicians that you can call if you need more information and further consultation."

11th Annual Lagoon Reef Eco-challenge is a go
The 11th Annual Lagoon Reef Eco-challenge is set to take place on Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday, May 24th. Organizers have been hard at work preparing all details for the iconic kayak race that takes participants through San Pedro's lagoons and sea in a test of endurance and strength. Of course, teams also look forward to the amazing prizes, including a grand cash prize for the first place winners.Lagoon Reef Eco-Challenge-33 According to event organizer, Elito Arceo, 26 teams have registered so far and he expects more teams to register before the race date. The race follows the same traditional structure: paddlers take off on Saturday at 7AM from the beach in front of Central Park and make their way towards the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge, where they will enter the lagoon side of the island. The first day of the race will take kayakers up to the Basil Jones Area in the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve where they will camp out for the night. The second day of the race kicks off on Sunday at 9AM. Kayakers will make a last sprint from their campsite to Central Park, along the eastern coast of Ambergris Caye.

Editorial: The benefits of our community insurance system
We have a very interesting health and crisis insurance system here in San Pedro, which comes in the form of 'the fund raiser'. Every week the community learns that one of its members is suffering from a debilitating illness or family crisis where they are in desperate need of financial assistance. Friends and family rally the community for help, often holding barbeques, rice and bean dinners, dollar drives, social functions and even raffles and radio-thons to raise the much needed funds. Everyone seems to have a little extra change in their pockets each week to help out, and there's usually a significant amount of cash raised. Rarely is it enough�but always it's a huge help nonetheless. Although this approach to raising money in a time of need works to some extent, it is somewhat depended on who you are. Families who are popular certainly raise more attention, thus more money, while the less known individuals garner less. Regardless of social status the need is the same, and here is where our community 'insurance' system lacks effectiveness.

Ambergris Today

Island Residents Rally for Autism Awareness in San Pedro
Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) is the first school on Ambergris Caye to substantially separate a special education classroom that caters to island children with special needs. The classroom directly impacts students with disabilities and assists ACES in its efforts to provide quality education in Ambergris Caye. Having just recently opened a special need classroom at the start of the 2014 school year, ACES held its first Annual 5K Walk/Run for Autism Awareness this past Sunday, April 26, 2015, to coincide with Autism Awareness Month. Central Park was the center of activity where residents gathered, mostly in groups to show solidarity from different businesses including employees of Blue Water Grill, Camp Starfish, Belize Down Syndrome Society, Belize Chocolate Company, among others and members of CrossFit San Pedro and WOD Zone. Participants registered for $5 and those willing to race took up the challenge to complete the course that ran from Central Park to Banana Beach Resort and back in the fastest time. Others decided to just support the cause by walking the course.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

PetroCaribe Loans Act 2015
AN ACT to make special provisions for borrowing money from Alba Petrocaribe (Belize Energy) Limited; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. (Gazetted ..................., 2015). WHEREAS: (a) in June 2005, the Republic of Venezuela and several Caribbean countries (including Belize) entered into an Energy Cooperation Agreement providing for the establishment of PETROCARIBE; (b) in furtherance of the said Energy Cooperation Agreement, Venezuela and Belize entered into a bilateral Energy Cooperation Agreement in September 2005; (c) pursuant to Article 1 of the said bilateral Energy Cooperation Agreement, Venezuela agreed to supply to Belize crude oil, refined products and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) up to four thousand barrels per day (4,000 bpd) on an annual basis, and designated Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) to supply the said petroleum products subject to certain terms and conditions; (d) to facilitate the supply of petroleum products, Belize and Venezuela established a joint venture company, ALBA Petrocaribe (Belize Energy) Limited (APBEL), consisting of the Venezuelan state owned enterprise PDV Caribe, and the Government of Belize (GOB) owned company, Belize Petroleum and Energy Limited (BPEL); (e) APBEL has been jointly designated by Belize and Venezuela as the importing entity in Belize, for petroleum products purchased from PDVSA;

Beltraide Costing and Pricing Workshop
The specific objectives of the training are to enable participants to: Better understand the importance of costing and pricing Acquire information about techniques used to calculate costs Acquire information on how to adequately price a product a service Participate in exercises that allows them to engage in costing and pricing Acquire the skills and knowledge to participate or facilitate in the costing and pricing of their product or service. Expected outcome: Competent individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively calculate cost of producing their product and service and to implement pricing that will allow their business to be profitable. Workshop Date: April 30th, 2015 Time: 9 am to 12 noon WORKSHOP LOCATION: ITVet Campus - Freetown Road (BTEC Building), Belize City, Belize Tel: 223-3195 or email: [email protected]

San Pedro Property Taxes are due
TAXES NOW DUE. Kindly visit the San Pedro Town Council office to make payment. Thank You.

Earth Day 2015 at the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic
A "historic moment" to us at BWRC, and other partners: Earth Day 2015 marked the signing of a renewed 5 year MOU with the government of Belize. In addition to renewing agreements with its NGO partners, the Forest Department's Cayo Branch and the San Ignacio Mayor inaugurated the newly created tree nursery - with the purpose of giving trees to schools smile emoticon, and a symbolic mahogany tree was planted. Much respect and a huge thank you to the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development and the honourable Minister Lisel Alamilla, the Belize Forest Department with Chief Officer Wilber Sabido and Wildlife Program Director Victoria Chi for their vision, cooperation and strong desire to make a positive difference for future generations, jointly with its NGO partners! We at BWRC are honoured to continue to serve and support wildlife and nature conservation with medical services, rehabilitation and emergency response.

Reusable Bag program
The Embassy's Reusable Bag program has been expanded to San Pedro!!!!! Last November, the Embassy launched an exciting initiative in Belmopan that focused on harnessing small public private partnerships to reduce the excessive use of plastic bags and improve the local environment. The initiative has been so popular in Belmopan that we have now expanded that program to San Pedro! Super Buy, Save On Groceries Plus, and The Baker in San Pedro now offer a FIVE PERCENT DISCOUNT to customers who use a U.S. Embassy reusable grocery bag provided by the U.S. Embassy on select purchases. Just ask for a free U.S. Embassy reusable bag next time you visit one of these locations to make a purchase!!! Other vendors and store owners in other parts of Belize should contact us at [email protected] if they are interested in participating in this program as well!!!

Wellness, Nutrition and Health Are Driving A New Tourism Market In Belize
They once came primarily for the diving, unspoiled nature and extensive Mayan archaeological sites. But a new generation of travellers to Belize has discovered another attraction this uncrowded Caribbean country offers - healthy vacations with a focus on wellness and wholesome, locally produced food. And, according to the Lodge at Chaa Creek, both the travelling public and Belize's growing hospitality industry are beginning to take notice. Bryony Fleming Bradley, Chaa Creek's food and beverage manager, said the new tourism trend is driven by health conscious travellers seeking to combine physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing with a traditional Belizean vacation. "We've been catering to health-conscious guests for some time now, with our onsite Hilltop Spa, Maya organic farm, Maya Medicinal Plant Trail, Mariposa Restaurant and other attractions and amenities that promote wellbeing, so it's great to see such a surge in travellers looking for a that kind of experience," Ms Fleming Bradley said.

Belize shrimp growers achieve ASC certification
Five Belize shrimp farms have been awarded Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification. The Belize Shrimp Grower Association members have achieved certification against the global science-based ASC Shrimp Standard as responsible and well-managed farms. Member of the Belize Shrimp Growers Association, Alvin Henderson, describes Belize as a country of rich biodiversity with a stretch of mangrove belt along the coast that acts as a natural filtration system. "The journey towards ASC certification has helped to highlight areas of our operations where we can make meaningful change with minimal financial resources. Sometimes all that is really required is a change of perspective," Henderson explains. "We're using less water on our farm through improving the way we manage water quality. And, by focusing on compliance, we uncovered that the water in the receiving body is of even better quality since our mangrove buffer acts as a biofilter."

Boom Road Waste Transfer Station and Dumpsite Rehabilitation
The public is hereby informed that under the current Solid Waste Management Project, the executing agency, the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWaMA) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA) has awarded a contract for the construction of a waste transfer station and dumpsite rehabilitation at the location of the existing dumpsite through the Burrell Boom - Hattieville Road, between the Philip Goldson and George Price Highways. These works are financed by the Inter - American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Belize and co-financed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF), Belize Chemicals and Waste Management Project #00089331

REGIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM | CCRIF SPC
CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility) now invites applications for the 2015 CCRIF Regional Internship Programme. This programme provides work experience in areas related to disaster risk management. Applications are invited from individuals who are citizens of CARICOM member countries and/or CCRIF member countries. Applicants must be graduates of a recognized university and must have completed a course of study in any one of the following key areas: Disaster risk management Environmental management Meteorology Climate studies Civil engineering Management studies with a focus on risk management Environmental economics Geography/geology Actuarial science

BOLEDO DRAWING for Monday, April 27, 2015: 80

Channel 7

Mark Medina's Murder, A Mexican Hit Or George Street Setup?
Over the past four weeks we've reported on the murders of Jamie Chavarria and Mark Ramdas - both of them killed in and around Berkley Street and Wagner's Lane. That's a very tight geographic area - with rival gang-affiliated persons living a stone's throw from each other. Mark Medina lived right there too on Berkeley street - and he was a part of the feuding - which is why police locked down that area one week ago when Jamie Chavarria's funeral was being held. But on Sunday, Medina took a taxi to another area - Iguana Street, the block known as "Crenshaw". And that's where a masked gunman was laying in wait for him - and let loose with a barrage of gunfire. Daniel Ortiz was on the scene shortly after and has this report:... Daniel Ortiz reporting At around 10 a.m. yesterday, 31 year-old Mark Medina lay lifeless on the pavement in front of #19 Iguana Street. He had been shot and killed execution style by a gunman who apparently knew exactly when and where to find him.

Man Killed On Way To Work In Mahogany Heights
Medina's was Sunday's first murder - and within 20 hours two more in the Belize District would be dead. The last was Kevin Jones Flowers who was killed in Mahogany Heights this morning. The 40 year old was gunned down as he was walking to work across the road at the shrimp farm in La Democracia. A gunman or gunmen waylaid him on the shortcut he takes every morning and hunted him down. Courtney Weatherburne was at the scene:... Courtney Weatherburne reporting 40 year old Kevin Flowers's body was found here on this picado between Mahogany Heights and the George Price Highway. He was found huddled on his knees. According to his family, he was on his way to work at the Shrimp Farm this morning when he was killed. He was riding on this bike but had to abandon it to try and run from his shooter.

Kraal Road Killing
There was another murder in the city, which happened 3 hours after Mark Medina was killed yesterday. This one happened in the gang territory of Kraal Road, but the victim was reportedly a man with no such affiliation. 34 year-old Tyrone Neal, a resident of Fabers Road, was playing dominoes in a yard on Kraal Road with 3 other men, which he does regularly. That's when a gunman snuck into the yard. When he got close enough, the assailant shot Neal several times. He was rushed to the KHMH, but he was pronounced dead on arrival. Today, we spoke with police and his common-law wife, about the killing of a man suffering from sickle cell anemia: Supt. Hiberto Romero - OC, CIB Eastern Division "On Sunday 26th April, police responded to a shooting on Kraal Road. They found expended shells. They visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they fund Tyron Neal, 34 years, with gunshot wounds to the chest and to the abdomen. About an hour thereafter, he was pronounced dead at the KHMH."

Blue House Butchery
The weekend's first murder happened in Ladyville on Saturday night at a bar that has a history of violence. On Saturday night 41 year old Wilmer Cisneros along with some friends went to the Blue House Bar from around 7. But things took a turn for the worse after 9 that night when two security guards got in an altercation and Cisneros jumped in. In a short time, he ended up dead on the floor. We spoke with his sister today and she told us what she knows. Sister of: Wilmer Cisneros "We know what Mr. Jimenez told us and some witnesses that were there with my brother. He was just taking a beer with his friends and they say is that they went into the bar, they were drinking a beer. In Blue House, you have a pay a fee after 9pm. They reach in there about 7pm on Saturday night. There were no security guards. And about 9pm, the security guards went and approached them when they were in the bar and told Jimenez (not my brother), that they had to pay the fee to stay there. But my brother told them that that were leaving - they were going home. So, they got in a discussion.

Man Gets off Murder Charge - Brought When He was Just a Boy
Taxi Driver Francis Chukwu was killed in December of 2010 - and today more than four years later, the last man accused of his murder left the Supreme Court a free man. Kendale Green who was a minor when he was first remanded for the crime was acquitted today in a trial without jury before Justice Adolph Lucas. In the course of the trial it was found that a confession statement which Green gave as a 17 year old was inadmissible because neither a parent nor a guardian was present. The next witness was Darcell Sanchez, the girlfriend of another man who had been accused. She said she could not remember anything - and the judge would not allow the prosecution to admit her statement in which she said Green told her he did it. Green's attorney Anthony Sylvestre, then submitted that his client has no case to answer. Justice Lucas upheld the submission and acquitted him.

Alleged Cable Con Man Gets Off Again
Carl Gordon - he's been accused of being the con man who poses as a cable collector and then uses that ruse to get into homes and rob the unsuspecting. We stress, that is the accusation, but he got off the first time he was charged and he did so again today - even before the charges could be properly put before the court. A single charge of theft was withdrawn by the prosecution because there was no evidence that a theft had actually occurred. Gordon was accused of again impersonating a cable collector and using that to gain access to a house where an I-pod and some jewelry were stolen. The complainant reported to the police that her grandmother told her that Gordon went to their house to check some cable wires. Magistrate Panton found that there wasn't an iota of evidence of the offence. Gordon, who was deported from Chicago in 2013 for illegal entry and possession of drugs, was also charged for change of address without prior notification to the Commissioner of Police. He pled guilty to that charge but magistrate deferred sentencing until May 29 and released him. The 50-year-old cook was freed of 3 counts of theft several months ago.

Another Xatero Caught
Another Guatemalan Xatero was found in the Chiquibul yesterday. FCD rangers found David Alvisures Cheche AT 5:30 at an area known as Cristina which is 15 kilometers, or 9 miles inside Belize. The Guatemalan from La Rejoya, Peten was carrying 720 fish tail Xate leaves - which may sound like a lot, but he told the Rangers he would only get 180 quetzales, and fifty three dollars when he sold them in Santa Elena Peten. He was taken to the San Ignacio Police station where he was charged with unlawful possession of forest produce by the Forest Department and for illegal entry by the Immigration Department. He told the rangers that he knew he was in Belize and understood he was in a reserve. The Xate he was collecting was probably going to be exported from Guatemala to the United States and Europe where it is popular for use in floral arrangements. The village of La Rejoya where he comes from is described as a target community for sustainable livelihood programs, which would spawn xate plantations, and other industries for the villagers in the hope that it would reduce the theft forest products from Belize.

PM Had High Level Meetings In Miami
Prime Minister Dean Barrow travelled to Miami on Saturday for high level meetings on two pressing domestic concerns: the future for the Stake Bank Port, and the correspondent banking relationship between Belize's Banks and the Bank of America. An official release says he met with cruise lines and officials from correspondent banks. Our information says those separate meetings were with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and the Bank of America. He returns to the country tomorrow.

Analysing Education
An education consultation was held this morning at the ITVET conference room. The main focus of the consultation was to discuss issues affecting the educational system - delving into student performance at all levels and other key areas affecting the governance of the system. Now it may seem like a lot of ground to cover but the CEO of the Ministry of Education David Leacock told us that the strategy in place will tackle these issues. David Leacock, CEO, Ministry of Education "The Belize education sector strategy was approved by Cabinet. And that has been guiding our work ever since. That sector strategy was based on the diagnosis of the education sector identifying what were the issues in the education sector. Just like when you go to a doctor, you get a diagnosis, they tell you what's wrong with you and what you need to do to fix it. Well the diagnosis told us what some of the issues in the sector were. The sector strategy tells us what we should be doing to address those issues. Strengthening the governance has a particular focus with how do we govern the system so that we can get improved performance and all? So how can we be more accountable? So some of the proposals that were presented this morning spoke about appearance, bill of rights and responsibilities. You know, and it directly targeting, getting parent more engaged in the education of their children. And having schools being more accountable for parents for the education that they provide."

38 Year Old Remanded For Allegation of Sex Assault on 10 Year Old
A 38 year old man accused of sexually assaulting a 10 year old girl is in jail tonight. The child reported that on April 18th she was at her grandmother's house watching a movie when Gomez entered. She said when she went to the kitchen for a glass of water he slapped her behind. She went to her grandmother's room to tell her what had happened and the grandmother, who is confined to a wheelchair, told Gomez to leave but he refused. She said Gomez then grabbed her by her cheeks and tried to kiss her. Gomez then left her go and told her he wanted her to have a baby for him, she said. The child told police that Gomez then left and said he will return for her. He appeared today before Magistrate Ladonna John and was arraigned on a charge of sexual assault. He pleaded not guilty but the prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the offence has become prevalent and that there is a strong possibility that if granted bail Gomez will interfere with the child. Magistrate John upheld the objection and remanded Gomez into custody until June 22.

Courtney Goes Karting
Engineering, speed, team work, competition and discipline. These are all the key elements that will lead you to success in motor sports and they were all put to test yesterday in San Ignacio. The Belize Automobile Club organized a fun karting event for the community to promote kart racing in Belize. According to the coordinators, this is just the start - just a seed that they hope will grow into a flourishing industry in Belize. We went to San Ignacio yesterday to find out more. Courtney Weatherburne "These guys are gearing up for a ride on the Joe Andrews Boulevard, but while it may seem that they are simply tweaking a toy, in fact they are preparing for the future of kart racing in Belize." Courtney Weatherburne reporting And the road to that future begins here. There was no clearly mapped out karting circuit, just a bend in a newly paved road and according to the coordinator, that's what grass roots motor sports is all about. Victor Murga, Sporting Director, Belize Automobile Club "What we want to do is build motor sports on a whole, we have avenues that we can go into 4x4 competitions, everything."

Medina Family Speaks Against Cops
As we told you at the top of the newscast, 31 year old Mark Medina was killed in a sensational Sunday Slaying on Iguana Street. Medina has a long rap sheet, and appears in our archives from as early as 2002, then just a teenager, the target of gunshots fired in his neighborhood. In 2005 police shot him when he was being pursued as a suspect for murder. In 2007 he was charged for the murder of a Chinese grocer, and in 2010 he was sentenced to four years for firearm possession. And these are just some of the offences he was charged with. We give this background to show the enduring bad blood police have towards him. And that ha prompted at least one police officer to jump on facebook and broadcast his frank feelings about Mark Medina's death, basically to say he had it coming. That has outraged his family. Monica Bodden spoke to his cousin a short while ago:.. Voice of: Cousin of Mark Medina "I got up this morning and I have his program that needed to get done. So I said 'well I have to cut and paste, download from the internet'. So I said to myself 'let me go on Facebook', and when I went on, the first thing that popped up on my page was a comment from a police man who got transferred to Punta Gorda. I think, as a police officer, nothing like that was supposed to be posted on Facebook about Mark Medina Junior. Because I just want him, (the officer) to know that Marky is a smart, educated, 4th form graduate, handsome and that he could get the most women which he (the officer) cannot get. You tell him that for me."

Channel 5

Breaking News: Late Evening Shooting in the City
Breaking News: Word to News Five is that a man was shot and killed a short while ago on Reggae Street on Southside, Belize City as he was. Police are [...]

Bar Patrons Impaled by Security Guards in Ladyville; One Dead, One Injured
From our count, there have been forty murders since the start of the year with April being the deadliest month with sixteen murders. It's nine more than the same period [...]

Mid-morning Execution on Iguana Street, Mark Medina is Gunned Down
The first of two murders in the City was a broad daylight shooting on Iguana Street which claimed the life of thirty-one year old Mark Medina and left a fifty-five [...]

Single Shooter Seeks Out Tyrone Neal in Sunday Bloodbath
The murder of Mark Medina was followed by another in the City where three hours later, thirty-four year old Tyrone Neal was gunned down likely for a small quantity of [...]

Murder in Mahogany Heights, Forty-Year-Old is Shot and Killed
And if three murders in one weekend weren't bad enough, there was another early this morning…this time at the community of Mahogany Heights near Mile thirty on the George Price [...]

Rodents Take Over Western Regional Hospital, Rats Infest Food Storage Unit
There are rats at the Western Regional Hospital - a lot of rats - big rats, medium-sized rats and little baby rats - entire rat families. But it's no laughing [...]

Are There More Arrests to Come in Treasury Hustle?
Late last week, Treasury Department Second Class Clerk David Enriquez was arrested and charged for three counts of theft. Authorities believe that he diverted half a million dollars into private [...]

Embezzled Treasury Monies Were Meant for TCC Subventions
According to a Police report issued, the money diverted by Enriquez was meant as subventions for the Toledo Community College - two hundred and twenty-five thousand plus dollars diverted in [...]

Fin. Sec. Gives Update on Petrocaribe Funds
Last week, Government sent out a tag team of political legal advisor Michael Young and Financial Secretary Joseph Waight to sell the Petrocaribe Bill. That was a short-lived initiative as [...]

Former B.D.F. Major Lloyd Jones Joins Belize Rural North Political Race
There is some news coming out the People's United Party tonight which may give the opposition party wind in its sails after the devastating March fourth defeat at the Municipal [...]

Did San Pedro Police Act Unlawfully in Confiscating Palapa Bar Proprietor's Money?
On April seventh, businessman Scott Harnish was found in possession of over a hundred thousand dollars in U.S. currency inside his home on the north end of San Pedro Town.� [...]

Kendale Green Acquitted of Murder
The trial of Kendale Green for the December 2010 murder of Nigerian taxi man, Francis Chkwu, concluded today in the Supreme Court. � Initially, police had charged Jermaine Zuniga and [...]

Massive Beach Erosion in Hopkins, Residents and Resorts Affected
Once known for its delicate shoreline, the village of Hopkins in the south is facing chronic coastal erosion. Residents woke up one morning to find that their beach had been [...]

Guatemalan Detained with 2000 Xat� Leaves 14 Kilometers Inside Belize
Over a month ago, new rangers graduated from the Friends for Conservation and Development, also referred to as the FCD rangers program. The now eighteen rangers have been deployed to [...]

Climate Change – A Global Problem, CCCCC Signs MOU with Kentucky University
The World Health Organization estimates climate change will cause an additional two hundred and fifty thousand deaths per year between 2030 and 2050. And with this alarming fact, the efforts [...]

Shandel Parham is Belize District's Top Speller
The Twenty-first National Coca-Cola Spelling Bee is underway and the Belize District Finals were held today at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium.� Of the sixteen participants who competed, Shandel Parham [...]

Sporting Highlights with James Adderley
Good evening, I'm James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   It's the mad rush to the PLB playoffs people and the B.D.F.'s journey to the F.F.B. Stadium yesterday was [...]


Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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CTV3

Two Time Sex Offender Caught Trying To Enter Belize
A two time convicted sex offender who was on probation was arrested trying to enter Belize on March 12th using a fake Canadian passport. Reports are that he was to meet a 16 year old girl whom he met on the internet. According to a criminal complaint filed with United States District Court, 27 year old Troy Anthony Pertuset of Saint Albans, was arrested by Belizean authorities when he tried to enter the country. Pertuset was first required to register as a sex offender in April 2005, when he was convicted of moving a 14-year-old girl to different locations to have sex with her in Highland County, Ohio. In February of 2010, Pertuset 22 years old at the time was then convicted of two counts of third-degree sexual assault in Kanawha County Circuit Court, for assaulting two 14 year old girls. Reports state he picked one of them up from school and the second he plied with alcohol. Pertuset was sentenced to 2 to 10 years in prison and an additional five years' probation following his release. He was released March 17, 2014, at which time he began his five-year term of supervised probation.

Who Sold The Water Tank In Chan Pine Ridge, Residents Want To Know
Residents of Chan Pine Ridge gathered over the weekend for a community meeting in which they discussed the apparent sale of one of the village's assets without prior consent from the village council. The PUP committee in the village along with the Chairman of the Village convened the meeting. After several inquiries to the Rural Development Officer Ruben Campos to clear up what happened with the water tank and the land it was located on and not receiving any response, some villagers along with the PUP committee organized the meeting. Chan Pine Ridge resident Damian Tzul told us more about what they have unearthed on the matter. "Our investigation has reached so far because we had the service of the Attorney Mr. David Norales who has done an in-depth investigation in reference with land where the well and the tanks was brought down and at the end of the day we had reached to a conclusion that in 1994 which our investigation from lands according to the Attorney; the land was being purchased by the then Area Representative same Mr. Rub�n Campos and according to the records was being put on WASA name which is now BWSL for $5,500..."

Orange Walk's Top Speller Is From Trial Farm School
It may have been his months of preparation, or his prior experience before the competition that led 11 year old Jafet Munoz to victory, whatever the case maybe the reality today is that the title of Orange Walk District's best speller will remain with a determined Trial Farm Government School student. On Friday, Munoz was among the ten students participating in the district finals of the 21st National Spelling Bee zone eliminations and he emerged as victor. It's a huge accomplishment for the school and today in his honour, a short assembly and mini parade around the schools periphery was held. Our news team stopped by the school today and we spoke with both Munoz and his coach Faustino Juchim. Maria Novelo - Reporter "You won your first in the district level of the Spelling Bee, tell us how the competition was for you, was it challenging?" "No" Maria Novelo - Reporter "It was super easy for you?"

Corozal PUP Standard Bearer Keeps Youth Off The Street
Sports are often used as a way to reach out to youths in a society. And for one community in Corozal Town, particularly San Andres Village, PUP Standard Bearer for Corozal North David Castillo and sports enthusiasts have partnered to organize a 6 a side football competition. Organizers say the David Castillo Football Cup aims to fill this void in a sport-centric context, which has been proven to retain high youth participation and effect meaningful community-wide change. DAVID CASTILLO - Corozal North, Standard Bearer "Am very happy to see today that we have many teams that have registered you know, it is about 28 teams, it is unprecedented that Corozal has so many teams participating in a competition, so it is very gratifying seeing many young people participating and Mr Sheppard has come about simply with the petition of our young people and for so long the Corozal Constituency haven't had these activities and the young people wanted something even though I am not elected, even though I am not at an official capacity we saw the need in putting this together because I can recall in our times we had sports going and we didn't give the players a rest and certainly it is important to look at our young people, they are the future of our constituency, the future of our country so as leaders we need to put these programs in place you know and certainly I am committed to continue supporting such programs."

Guatemala National Detained For Illegal Entry To Belize
It is no secret that the infiltration of Belize's border and our forest reserves by Guatemalan Xateros has become a growing national problem. And while the magnitude of the damage caused by these border incursions is unknown, yesterday rangers from Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) intercepted and charged a Guatemalan national for having in his possession Xate. According to the release, at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, whilst conducting a reconnaissance patrol at an area known as Cristina in the Chiquibul Forest, FCD rangers intercepted and detained David Alvisures Cheche who is originally from La Rejoya, Peten, Guatemala. This person was found 14.7 kilometers inside Belizean territory. The release said that Cheche was found with 720 fish tail Xate leaves. He was escorted to Tapir Camp then subsequently to the San Ignacio Police Station where he was charged for unlawful possession of forest produce by the Forest Department and for illegal entry by the Immigration Department.

Family Looses Home As A Result Of Arson
A family of five are left to live in the remains of what was their home following an arson on Friday last week. Police report that fifty-three year old Amanda Kau's house was set ablaze sometime around eleven on Friday night. The San Jose resident was inside the house along with four others including minors. Police report that Kau stated that her neighbor had come to the house and threatened her with a machete and set her house on fire. When we visited the family today, they would not comment on camera but told us that around eleven that night she was at home when her neighbor came around demanding to get inside her house. She explained that the man seemed intoxicated and she refused to let him inside. At that point he lit the house on fire. Kau says they tried to save what they could while her neighbors assisted in putting the fire out. They lost some clothes and furniture but no one was hurt in the ordeal. The fire destroyed the roof and most of the fifteen by twenty feet thatched house. The family has nowhere to go and remain in the same house until they can get it fixed. The damages totaled some four thousand dollars. Authorities are seeking one man and continue their investigations. If anyone wishes to assist the family in any way they can contact them at cellular number 605-2573.

PlusTV

UN Belize country team reports on work
Belize joined the United Nations four days after independence in 1981 and since then has been an active participant in the work of the umbrella organization of nations...

Treasury Department Scammer Arrested and Charged
Police have arrested and charged two persons in connection with the half a million dollar scam from the Treasury Department in Belize City...

Body Found Floating In Sea
The Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a Caucasian male person who’s lifeless body was found floating in the sea in the village of Ladyville, Belize...

Belize City man charged for drugs found in traffic stop
Drug trafficking charges were filed against 34 year old Marlon Chavez, a welder of Gentle Avenue in Belize City, after police found marijuana on him during a traffic stop. According to police they were patrol in the vicinity of St...

Somerville will fight her case
Nasley Somerville,�former Hospital Administrator for the Southern Regional Hospital was dismissed from the public service after over a year of being placed �administrative leave on half pay...

UK Couple Alleges Beach Front Hustle
On the 23rd of April, 2015, a retired couple from England spoke to some media houses alleging that they were hustled out of tens of thousands of dollars by the lands Department after their property was devalued...

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Shooting in Belize City
Reports reaching our news desk is indicating that residents on Reggae Street in the Belize District heard several gunshots just a few minutes ago. Our news team is out at the scene along with police officers and they have confirmed that 1 person has been killed.

Shotokan Karate Club excel in Guatemala competition
On Saturday April 25 2015, The Cayo Shotokan Karate Club in conjunction with the Belize Karate Federation led by Sensei Herman Pastor Jr. and David Diego, participated in the 3rd Copa Poptun in Guatemala. The delegation which was comprised of 13 junior athletes ranged from ages 6-16, were awarded the 2nd place trophy for racking up an impressive 8 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals. The top performer recognized by the BKF was Caylon Dyke, who won the most medals in the tournament including 3 gold and 1 silver in separate kata and kumite categories. Congratulations are in order to all the young karate athletes for their display of bravery and unmatched sportsmanship during the competition.

Sex Offender Caught Entering Belize
27 year old Anthony Pertuset, a Canadian National and two time sex offender was caught at the Belizean border before finding refuge in the Central American Country. According to a report from Charleston's Daily Mail, Pertuset who was released on probation and was arrested trying to enter Belize using a fake Canadian passport to meet with a 16-year-old girl in March. Pertuset was first required to register as a sex offender in April 2005, when he was convicted of moving a 14-year-old girl to different locations to have sex with her in Highland County, Ohio. The report says that just five years later in February 2010, Pertuset was convicted of two counts of third-degree sexual assault in Kanawha County Circuit Court, which was reported by the Daily Mail. Pertuset, 22 at the time, assaulted two 14-year-old girls, picking one of them up from school and plying the other with alcohol, according to newspaper archives.

Beach Erosion Put Resorts in Hopkins at Risk

Jofet Munoz top Speller in Orange Walk
Meet Jofet Munoz, top speller of the Orange Walk District. The 21st National Spelling Bee competition took center stage at the Crystal Palace auditorium in Orange Walk Town on Friday, where 10 competing schools participated. At the end of the second round in the reserve list, Jofet Munoz from Trial [�]

Corozal House of Culture Hosts Full Moon Concert
Since the Corozal House of Culture was established an abundance of cultural activities and events have been organized for the community. One of their trade events has been the Full Moon Concerts that have been an annual event since 2012. And with the past success, the National Institute of Culture [�]

PM departs country to meet with Cruise Lines in Miami
Over the weekend we reported that Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow left the country to meet with officials concerning two separate issues, particularly, the Stake Bank project and the banking sector crisis. PM Barrow is expected to return on Tuesday but during his visit, he will meet with officials from [�]

Body Found in Mahogany Heights
Reports reaching our news room is indicating that a body was found in the vicinity of Mahogany Heights. Residents in the area claim to have heard gun shots around 7am this morning and the body has been identified as 40 year old Kevin Flowers. Police and Forensics are at the [�]

More hot and dry weather in Belize
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting more hot and dry weather this week. Today will be mainly sunny and hot and tonight it is expected to be warm. No rain fall is expected. Winds will blow to the East to South East at 10 to 20 knots and [�]

Blogs

6 Belize Jungle Adventures from Chaa Creek's Nature Reserve!
The Lodge at Chaa Creek has the reputation as Belize's "Destination within a destination" because there's so much to do right here and with an emphasis on healthy activities and meals using fresh ingredients from our Maya organic farm, locally raised livestock and seafood from Belize's pristine Caribbean coast, people of all ages can enjoy amazing exciting adventures. If you are interested in exploring the lush Belizean jungle in one destination here are a few of many adventures found within Chaa Creek's 365 acre Nature Reserve: 1. Natural History Museum and Butterfly Exhibit Tours 2. Belize Rainforest RTV Safari Tours 3. Canoe Tours 4. Horseback Riding Tours 5. Bird Watching Tours 6. Miss Macal Safari Tours

San Pedro Runs For Autism Awareness: Great Turnout for The 5K Race
Sunday morning, 10am. Central Park San Pedro, Belize. A 5K run/walk for Autism Awareness was organized by the Special Needs teachers at one of the local schools - Ambergris Caye Elementary or ACES. Now on Ambergris Caye, we have fundraisers galore. But most involve eating, usually BBQ, and drinking, usually Belikin and rum punch, sometimes a radio-athon�but races to raise money are a relatively new thing for the island. And a totally great idea as islanders get more and more into organized fitness. We now have TWO Crossfit gyms! Here are lots of pictures from the race. The teams, the winners, the support from the SP Red Cross and other charities. Super fun and a GREAT turnout.

Curried Fry Jacks and Oxtail
This is a wonderful spin on our Belizean Fry Jacks that someone shared with me. I paired it up with stewed Oxtails. This is savory meal for any season.

International Sourcesizz

Ice cream recall extended to Caribbean
On Monday, Blue Bell Creameries of Brenham, Texas, voluntarily expanded its recall to include all of its products currently on the market because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This recall includes ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks made at all Blue Bell facilities. The recalled products have been distributed internationally to several countries in the Caribbean region, including Anguilla, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos Islands. Consumers should not eat any of the recalled products. If these products are in your freezer, they should be thrown away or returned, even if some of them have been eaten without anyone becoming ill.

CARPHA and Mexico sign MOU to benefit 17 million Caribbean people
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the ministry of health of the United Mexican States, through the Federal Commission for Protection from Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS). The aim of the MoU is to establish a mechanism for strengthening international cooperation in the health field. The MoU will also provide support for the establishment of the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS), which will be hosted by CARPHA, and will benefit the people of the Caribbean. The activities of the CRS are related to strengthening the regulatory capacity of the Caribbean and supporting the expansion and rapid access to lower-cost generic medicines.

Belize shrimp farms ASC certified
Five Belize shrimp farms have been awarded Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification. The Belize Shrimp Grower's Association members have achieved certification against the global science-based ASC Shrimp Standard as responsible and well-managed farms. Member of the Belize Shrimp Growers Association, Alvin Henderson, describes Belize as a country of rich biodiversity with a stretch of mangrove belt along the coast that acts as a natural filtration system. "The journey towards ASC certification has helped to highlight areas of our operations where we can make meaningful change with minimal financial resources. Sometimes all that is really required is a change of perspective," Mr Henderson explains. "We're using less water on our farm through improving the way we manage water quality. And, by focusing on compliance, we uncovered that the water in the receiving body is of even better quality since our mangrove buffer acts as a biofilter."

Central America offers a huge opportunity to brave investors
In recent weeks, the Mediterranean Sea has become a tragic, watery graveyard. Ironically, a place that most Brits associate with fun and holidays is the final, most perilous leg of a daunting journey for many African migrants. Less reported in the UK, but just as sad, is the Central American child immigrant crisis. Every year, tens of thousands of Central American children make the long journey north to hand themselves in at the US border. There, they hope a loophole in US immigration law means that they will be handed over to relatives already in America. Firstly, a quick definition of Central America. The region is made up of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama and is home to around 41 million people. The largest country is Guatemala with 14 million people; the smallest is Belize with just 300,000 people, while the rest have between three million and seven million people each.

Heat Ends as Rain Elevates Flooding Threat Across Central America
Big changes are on the way for parts of Mexico and Central America this week. Following a stretch of dry weather and record heat, a cold front will push across the Gulf of Mexico causing rain and thunderstorms to soak southeast Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. Much of April saw scorching heat from Villahermosa to Merida while rainfall was extremely scarce. While April is typically warm and dry across this region, no rainfall was reported in both cities while temperatures soared well above normal. This unrelenting heat will finally come to an end during the middle of the week as a cold front brings cooler air and widespread rainfall to the region.

The Collapse of Ch�vezcare
Leonardo Flores lay listlessly in his bed, passing the day much as he had the previous three months of his stay in a rundown ward of the Jose Benitez State Hospital. In January, the 42-year-old computer technician was riding in a car when it was hit by a truck being driven by a drunk driver. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors managed to stabilize him and immobilize his right leg, which had suffered a compound fracture. "They told me that I needed surgery to place two pins in my femur," he said. "But the hospital didn't have them, so my family had to buy them. And then when they had them, the doctors couldn't operate, as they didn't have the right drugs, supplies, and anesthesia. I was placed on a waiting list." One surgeon offered to operate on Flores for a bribe of 18,000 bolivares ($2850, at official exchange rates) - three times the minimum wage, which he paid. But a pre-operative x-ray revealed that his bone had begun to re-knit itself off-center. So the doctors had to re-break it before they could operate, creating yet another delay. "Now I have no idea when they're going to operate. I can't work. My family is spending all of their money in trying to schedule me the operation and get me out of here," Flores said.

Moving Indigenous Land Rights from Paper to Reality
Frustrated with decades of marginalisation, and of seeing their rights respected only on paper, Indigenous peoples are calling for major recognition from the international community. Speaking at U.N. Headquarters on Apr. 27 as part of the U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues - which started last week and lasts through Friday - the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz expressed disappointment with the scant efforts to enshrine Indigenous People's rights in the post-2015 development agenda. "It is very regrettable that out of the 17 (Sustainable Development) Goals, there is no reference to Indigenous People. This does not speak well for the U.N. and its member states," she said. Taking Indigenous knowledge and traditional technology into account internationally could contribute to solving many of the world's major crises in relation to the environment and climate change, and ultimately bring sustainable development, stressed Tauli-Corpuz. A positive example comes from southern Belize, where Indigenous People have reached an agreement with the government after three decades of struggling to secure their land rights. Christina Coc, director and co-founder of the Julian Cho Society, represented the Maya villagers of Toledo in their negotiations with the government of Belize.

What a Scuba Diver with a Spinal Cord Injury Has to Teach Us About the Learning Process
Stan Clawson loves to open the door for people. "They don't expect it," he says. Clawson, a filmmaker and communications professor based in Salt Lake City, is in his late 30s with sandy hair, blue eyes, and a handlebar mustache. He's tall, "six-foot-four," he says, "you know� laying down. Upright? I'm not sure. Maybe four-foot-eight? Four-ten?" Clawson has the deep, dynamic voice of a radio announcer and something of the devil in him. He's been in a wheelchair since a rock climbing accident when he was 20 years old, when he fell 49 feet and severed his spinal cord between the T9 and T10 vertebrae. Since then, he's learned to boogie board and downhill ski. He's competed in marathons. And he's earned advanced certifications as an open water diver. The fact that Clawson never saw himself as being particularly athletic-and still doesn't-reveals he's been in a growth mindset his whole life. "There are people who do sports," Stan says, "and there are people who do them well." Before his accident, Stan rock climbed, but he wasn't a die-hard about it. "Rock climbing is just kind of a thing I did every once in a while. It was fun� Though," he says, with his trademark dry sense of humor, "I clearly didn't rock climb well. God, I mean, I fell 49 feet, right?" "But with scuba diving, I just did it. It seemed natural." He fell in love with diving the very first time he went out, off the coast of mainland Belize in the Ambergris Key. In the middle of the open water, the dive master handed Clawson a small shark. Though Clawson had of course expected to see a few fish here and there, he wasn't prepared for the gorgeous, teeming marine life he encountered. Holding a shark in his hands connected him to the sport of diving in a very visceral way. The weight of the creature caused him to "sink a little bit. It wanted get out. It was like a cat that didn't want to be held� But you get handed a shark, you take it, right?"

Tropical island holidays: readers' tips, recommendations and travel advice
Readers offer advice on the best tropical islands around the world. Send us your travel tips for the chance to win a �350 holiday voucher. Ambergris Caye, Belize: Victoria House, a luxurious retreat in old plantation grounds on the quieter south side of Ambergris Caye, Belize, is a gem. Spend as much time as you can in the water, because the barrier reef is quite incredible and full of colourful life. You won't fail to come up close to rays, nurse sharks and turtles, as well as coral in every shape and form. On the island, the food is punchy and flavoursome. We had an excellent Belizian/Creole lunch at Wild Mango's set on the beach front and dinner at El Fogon, a favourite with the locals where the freshly caught snapper and conch are a delight. The homemade cinnamon rolls at The Bakery are a treat, and we had the tastiest jerk chicken at Robin's Kitchen, a small hut set off Coconut Drive. Be sure to come back with a bottle of Marie Sharp's Habanero Hot Sauce.

Trinidad and Tobago to Host Forum on Caribbean's Future
Trinidad and Tobago is set to host the May 5-7 Forum on the Future of the Caribbean, which will include heads of governments, business leaders and academic experts to discuss poverty, inequality and resource mobilization in the region. "We need disruptive thinking and bold action if we are to create a resilient and international Caribbean future," Trinidadian Foreign Minister Winston Dookeran said in a statement published Monday by the Caribbean Community. The conference in Port-of-Spain is to be co-hosted by the foreign ministry and the University of the West Indies in collaboration with the UN System, regional inter-governmental partners and the Commonwealth. Forum participants are expected to "challenge each other to consider persistent development problems in new ways and identify approaches directed at widening opportunities and improving living conditions for all Caribbean citizens," according to the statement.

A Caribbean money launderer casts a shadow long after his death
This is the late William Valentine "Billy" Herbert, Jr., LLB, PhD, the founder of one of St Kitts' major political parties, the Peoples' Action Movement, or PAM. Dr Herbert's titles in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis included: (1) Foreign Minister. (2) Deputy Prime Minister. (3) Ambassador to the United Nations. (4) Ambassador to the United States. (5) Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS). (6) Minister Plenipotentiary without Portfolio. In the 30 years since Dr Herbert's mysterious death, his role, as a founder and funding source for PAM, has been a matter of controversy. I will attempt to clear the air, with regard to my first-hand knowledge, gained as the result of my long-term business relationship with the man. Who was Billy Herbert, and who killed him? There has been a lot written about Dr Billy Herbert, whose estate, filed after his untimely death in the 1990s, was valued at $20 million, though many questions remain. From his law office in Anguilla, Dr Herbert engaged in laundering the criminal proceeds of narcotics traffickers; I know that because he serviced many of my clients in the 1980s. Though many people believe, notwithstanding Herbert's flagrant representation of drug kingpins, the reason that his crimes never resulted in his indictment in the United States, was due to his high government office, there is, however, another little-known reason. He cooperated with US and UK law enforcement investigators, who ended up in Billy Herbert's Anguilla chambers due to their participation in a major international case.

Videos

  • BBC NEWS - BELIZE DAM, 3min. This BBC News expose was widely acclaimed at a time when the fate of the Amazon Rainforest was very much in the news headlines throughout the world. As with all my videos I saw that my job was to work closely with the Producer mutually selecting the pictures and audio/music, treating them if necessary and deciding the best place for them to go. I was also able to make suggestions to the script. It is very much a team effort.

  • Belize - Pathfinder K8 World Travel 2015, 12min.

  • CLASSES ARE CANCELLED AT SAN PABLO R.C SCHOOL DUE TO AFRICANIZED BEES, 3min.

  • Will Belize Video, 3min.

  • Fish and Trips, 3min. Want to know what I did this winter? This is it. Traveled through Belize, Guatemala and Hawaii...in that order.

  • Belize Adventure Films- I'm Jumping in with the Sharks!, 2min. This Belize Adventure Film was shot at Shark Ray Alley of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve located in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of San Pedro, Belize.

  • Walking Caye Caulker Belize 2015, 1.5min.

  • England to Sandpedro Belize: belizeanbeauty Timz, 9min. i guys wlcm to Belize, showing you a little bit of my homeland.

  • Belize cruise ship tender docking fail, 15min. Belize cruise ship tender has major difficulty docking with Navigator of the Seas on April 24, 2015 and crashes into Navigator of the Seas stair boat while bringing passengers back from shore at Belize City

  • Belize Snorkeling 2015, 5min. Upper Columbia Conference spring break mission trip to Guatemala/Belize. Some footage of the snorkeling adventure in Ambergris Caye, Belize.


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