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Today's Belize News: May 1, 2015 #503887 05/01/15 06:14 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,398 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report. 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 Elias Zetina to participate in the National Spelling Bee for the 2nd Year in a Row Oceana Belize rejects GOB petroleum exploration guidelines Oceana Belize and the Belize Coalition to Protect Our National Heritage have called for a complete moratorium on any offshore oil exploration in Belize territorial waters. The Non-government Organizations (NGO) resoundingly rejected the Government of Belize's draft guidelines for petroleum exploration, which was first issued in September 2013 but unknown to the NGO's until January 19, 2015. In a letter penned by Oceana Belize Vice President Janelle Chanona and addressed to the Minister, Hon. Senator Joy Grant on March 2, the NGO also called on the Ministry of Energy, Science Technology and Public Utilities to reassess the potential risks and benefits of oil exploration, pointing out the many flaws in the guidelines. Chanona and the Coalition's Tanya Williams shared their concerns at a press briefing at the Belize Best Western Biltmore Hotel in Belize City last Thursday, April 23. Your help is needed for Mother's Day Brunch Soup Kitchen After a successful Christmas Day Lunch Soup Kitchen initiative, Finley Halliday is at it again and this time he is organizing a Mother's Day Brunch Soup Kitchen. With hopes of continuing his efforts to give back to the island community, Halliday has been busy making preparations for a traditional brunch in honor of deserving mothers. Scheduled for Sunday, May 10th, the Mother's Day Brunch will be held at the Lion's Den from 10AM to 1PM. Halliday hopes to accommodate anywhere between 100 to 200 hard-working mothers that deserve a show of appreciation on their special day. "When I started this whole soup kitchen idea, I did not want it to be a onetime thing. I want to give back as much as I can. After the success of the Christmas Day Lunch and seeing all the support I received, I am glad to undertake yet another project," said Halliday. The Mother's Day Brunch will entail of all traditional breakfast dishes. As such, Halliday is asking for donations from those who can afford to give. "We are looking to get things like coffees, flour, fruits, cereals, milk and jams. Things that are commonly consumed during breakfast. We would also like to get some pastries and treats that can be given to the mothers after their breakfast," said Halliday. Second phase of northern road starts The second phase of the Ambergris Caye northern road, consisting of a total of three miles, has commenced. Work on the project, which is being executed by Romel Burgess of RGB Construction, will take place from Canary Coves to Belizean Shores Resort. Once the first part of phase two is completed, the road will be concreted.Second phase of NA Road-1 (2) "We are doing the initial works which is the first part of phase two of the project. We are opening the road and putting a hardcore foundation so that when we begin concreting, it is strong," indicated Mayor of San Pedro Town Daniel Guerrero. As such, the road is widening and in some areas, they have been opening sections of the designated northern Ambergris Caye road. The road will run parallel to the electrical high-tension wire. "We want the people to use the road so that the material can settle better," added Guerrero. Ambergris Today Saga Hooks Up with Dog Training Education Seminar at Sea A group of traveling dog trainers and dog owners from the United States and Canada made their way to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, via a training course that took place onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The course gave the trainers and dog owners the opportunity to work with SAGA Humane Society and learn more about its operations on the island. The 'Education at Sea' training program was organized by dog trainer Heather Beck, a board member of SAGA and the founder of K9 Lifeline in Daper, Utah. Heather lead the Education at Sea Cruise with over 30 dog trainers and dog owners who departed from Galveston, Texas on April 19, 2015, docking in Roatan, Honduras and then in Belize City on April 23. While in the country the group hopped on to Ambergris Caye for lunch and work hands on with San Pedro's Saga Humane Society, training some local stray dogs or 'potlikers' as they call them in Belize. Misc Belizean Sources From Dabuyaba to ashes: Opportunity for community renewal Easter Sunday night, April 5th, will be recorded by the Garinagu of Belize and abroad as the tragic night when their dabuyaba, their sacred temple, in Barranco was completely destroyed by fire, allegedly torched by a mentally challenged man from that village. Constructed by the Cayetano family in 1996, this thatched roof, wooden-walled structure was not only the largest and most dominant in Barranco. It was also one of the largest dabuyaba (if not the largest) among those in all Garifuna communities, including those in Honduras and Guatemala. In the traditional belief of the Garifuna, the construction of a dabuyaba is triggered by requests of the ancestors with specifications in accordance with centuries old traditions. The gathering of materials for the building, for example, involves a ritual of purification, including the incensing of the plot of land before construction. The building must face east towards the sea to welcome the morning light through its front door. Side doors face north and south. The west wall is completely closed while a partition including the west wall exclusively remains the inner sanctum, the dugeirugu, of the buyei. The center of the main open hall where family members gather is considered the heart of the dabuyaba. Heavy rain in Orange Walk District After a crazy heat came a heavy rain this is how sugah city looked today Full Moon Concert Series This weekend - The National Institute of Culture and History(NICH) through the Corozal House of Culture extends a kind invitation to you as we present another edition of the Full Moon Concert Series. Join us Saturday May 2nd and enjoy a night of musical entertainment by One Love Band beginning at 7:30 pm. BEL Apologizes to Customers in Corozal! Belize Electricity Limited apologizes to customers in the Corozal District for the inconvenience being experienced due to an unscheduled power interruption since 10:25 a.m. Thursday, April 30, which is affecting Joseito and Dominguez Layouts in Corozal Town, Pueblo Viejo, Saltillos, Copper Bank, Chunox, Orchid Bay and Sarteneja. This unscheduled power interruption is due to a malfunctioning transformer at the Corozal Substation. BEL technicians are currently assessing the transformer to determine the extent of repairs needed after which BEL will advise customers of the estimated time for restoration of power supply. BEL assures customers that our crews are working to ensure that power supply can be restored as soon as possible to the affected areas in the Corozal District. CJC EXPO 2015 Despite weather conditions today's CJC EXPO 2015 was a success! The House of Culture introduced a new interactive activity that entertained and educated visitor's at our booth. The maya puzzle featured the Chactemal/Santa Rita Archaeological Site and the Jade Mosaic Mask which was discovered at the site. Thank you to all who visited, and a special thank you to Adrian Anderson who kindly assisted today. FCD's Executive Director visited students of Muffles Junior College and Bishop Martin High School in Orange Walk With the purpose of highlighting the beauty of the Chiquibul Forest and encouraging students to explore this wilderness area. Presentation was also given to members of the Northern Territorial Volunteers and a one hour interview was aired on Estereo Kairos. FCD thanks teachers, students and the other supporters for making the trip a success. Channel 7 Former Bze. City Mayor David Fonseca Takes His Own Life Former two term Belize City Mayor David Fonseca killed himself this afternoon. It happened at around 2:30 at his mother and ex-wife's residence in Stuart's Alley - which is near the Fort Street Tourism village. According to reports, he shot himself in the head with a nine-millimeter pistol. He was found in the bathroom of the house with the gun in his hand. His ex-wife Yolanda lives downstairs, while the upstairs was unoccupied - though the building is owned by his mother. The suicide comes as a shock to the wider community where the 60-year-old Fonseca was well known and liked for his even-tempered, agreeable nature. He would have been 61 tomorrow, May first. He was also well known as the younger brother of former PUP powerhouse Ralph Fonseca. The elder Fonseca was seen as David's political patron in the two municipal elections which he won in 1999 and 2003. He lost to Zenaida Moya in the 2006 municipal Election - and left city hall under a cloud of scandal. Fonseca was also the first cousin of current PUP Leader Francis Fonseca. Accused Of Major Gov't Graft, Enriquez Gets Bail Last week Friday, we told you how 28 year-old David Enriquez, the Public Officer from the Treasury Department, was charged for the theft of over half a million dollars from his workplace. Well tonight, he's at home free after being granted bail by the Supreme Court. That's after spending 6 days on remand. His attorney, Oscar Selgado, applied to the Supreme Court for bail this afternoon, and they were granted an audience before Justice Troadio Gonzalez. Crown Counsel Javair Chan advised the court that the DPP's Office was not in a position to offer any objections due to the short time that the application was forwarded to that office. He said that the DPP's Office would leave it up to the judge's discretion to decide whether or not Enriquez deserved bail. After consideration, Justice Gonzalez granted him bail of $40,000 dollars which he was able to meet this evening. But, tonight we show you another man who has been charged in connection with the monies fleeced from the public purse. That man is Dangriga resident Francis Palacio, and he's now facing a charge of handling stolen goods for 225 thousand dollars of the missing money. He too applied for bail before Justice Gonzalez, and it was granted. Justice Gonzalez set the bail amount at $4,000 dollars, which he was able to meet this afternoon as well. Alleged Sixth Form Gang Rapists Get Bail 18 year-old Jose Gomez, seen here in Yellow, and James Andrews, seen here in the striped T-shirt, are 2 of the 3 young men who were charged with the gang rape of an 18 year-old female student from Junior College in the South. Tonight, they are home with their families after asking the Supreme Court to grant them bail. Their attorneys Kevin Arthurs and Dorothy Flowers asked Justice Gonzalez to consider bail, and at the end of the hearing, he set the bail amount at $5,000. They were both able to meet bail this afternoon, and Andrew's relative became confrontational with the photojournalists at court, who were trying to get his photograph. As we reported, the victim told police that she went on a class trip with 75 other students and two teachers to San Ignacio on Thursday April 16. The victim, identified to us as a special needs student, was returning from the restroom, when she was pulled into a room and forced into having sexual relations with several of her male peers. We've confirmed with San Ignacio police that a report was made last week, and police have visited the school in the south to investigate the allegations. Three "Pedro" Men Charged For Murder San Pedro Police have charged 3 men for the murder of 42 year-old San Pedro Taxi Driver Jose Beltran. They are Luis "Sito" Campos, Mark Arzu, and Santos Garcia. The charge was formally brought against them today. Those men will be arraigned at the Magistrate's Court and they will be sent to the Belize Central Prison on remand at the earliest convenience. As we've been reporting, police found Beltran dead on Tuesday morning at around 10. He had been tied up, shot in the head, and left inside his taxi van, with the engine still running. Eyewitnesses in the San Juan area saw when 2 men jumped out after crashing it and leaving it there. They also observed when the men jumped into a waiting vessel which was docked nearby. PUC Tells BEL: "How Low Can You Go?" In April, BEL asked the PUC to approve a 10% decrease in electricity rates; the PUC today announced that it wants more: a 15% cut in rates. Under the PUC initial decision, the average electricity rate would go from 41 cents to 35 cents per kilowatt hour. The proposed rate would be effective from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016. But, it's not final yet, and BEL can object or members of the public can ask for more - but they must do so in writing to the PUC before May 10th. BEL has not indicated if it will challenge the decision. Land Situation On Northern Caye Caulker Long Out Of Control Last night you heard Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega explain how his ministry had cancelled leases on beach and seabed properties from 2012 on Northern Caye Caulker. But, as he stated, there are over a hundred cases like that on the Northern side of that island - which from the early "two-thousands" has been a sort of wild-wild west for real estate grabs and survey pegs in the seabed. Yesterday Vega said what happened shouldn't have, and fixing it is complicated by speculation and multiple private transactions:... Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Natural Resources "Because it is a law, a Belizean law that you should not put a peg in the waters and that is something that the ministry is looking to address with the association of surveyors, because first of all they should not be doing that survey. It doesn't matter how much they pay them to survey the land. So, it's a combination, it's not that simple. The ones prior to this administration - it's even more complicated, because there is some cases where I say someone by the name of Renan Briceno owning a whole lot of beach front, but I mean it affects a lot of people. We have somebody like Rodla Construction, that's affects probably hundreds of people." Cable King Gets Capital Construction Contract The Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan has been selected as one of the project sites for the Belize Infrastructure Limited. The field will feature the first synthetic football turf in the country and the contractor is a name well known in the cable television and cement businesses. Are Representative John Saldivar told me about it yesterday:.. Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security "I believe it was aware to a company associated with Mr. Pete Lizarraga that went through bidding. The bidding process with BIL and that was the company that was selected." According to a press release, when it is completed, the stadium will feature championship league certified lighting. Police to Develop Social Media Rules We have all heard the harsh comments about police indiscipline and the countless complaints about police brutality. Well, in this story, the roles are reversed: the cops are complaining about the criminals! In the midst of the recent murder spree where one prominent gang figure was killed, a police constable posted a very cold and inflammatory comment on facebook on Sunday stating that "It is good that they are dead". That is just a part of it, we had to blur out a few incendiary sections of the comment. Now, while police officers like regular citizens have the right and freedom to express themselves, shouldn't they use their discretion as police officers? And where is the line drawn since their role is to maintain peace and order not incite or encourage violence. We asked Commissioner Whylie about it yesterday. Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police "What I would say is that, if he did that then as a police officer, I view it as very distasteful and unwarranted. Yes as a civilian he has the right to express himself and how he feels but, one of the challenges we face is that even when as individual citizens and we do have certain rights. 51 Belizean Products Highlited About 51 Belizean products are featured in a new ExportBelize catalogue. It was officially launched today at the Biltmore and some of the clients and entrepreneurs featured in the publication had their products on display. The catalogue gives business owners the chance to market their products locally and internationally. We spoke to one of the entrepreneurs at the event and he told us about his new cleaning products and the success he has had so far. Shahera McKoy, BELTRAIDEManager, Export Belize "The 'Made in Belize' catalogue was something we wanted to do for a while now. At Export Belize and at Beltraide, we get a lot of queries from companies, embassies outside of Belize asking for Belizean products and what is being offered by Belize. In the past we've developed directories, but when we looked at what other countries were putting out there, ours was not as professional. And so we wanted to do something that would rival any other publication by any other country. And so we decided to do a really professional catalogue featuring producers in Belize." Charged For A Killing In Corozal Viewers may remember that on December 9 of last year, 29 year-old Mark Massam Jr. was hacked to death by 23 year-old Carlos Casanova, who brandished a machete. It happened right in front of the public on a well-trafficked street, and police had to shoot Casanova to subdue him. Well, after receiving medical treatment from that police inflicted injury, Casanova was finally well enough to be criminally charged. The gunshot from the police rifle tore out a chunk of his leg, which now makes walking properly very difficult to do. So yesterday, he hopped on his right leg from the holding cell to the courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith in Belize City. There he was arraigned on the single charge of murder, and due to the nature of the offence, he couldn't be granted bail. He was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until July 15. A Gun Found In Search For Killer 22 year old Wilfred Mcdougal, a fisherman of 12 Mahogany Heights, was today arraigned on the charge of with keeping a prohibited firearm and kept firearm and unlicensed ammunition when he appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. The police reported that around 1:30 p.m. on April 27, they detained Mcdougal in their investigation of the murder of Kevin Flowers and Mcdougal told them certain things. Acting on his information, the police went to two abandoned lots at Mahogany Heights. They found a 9 millimetre pistol with 6 rounds of ammunition in its magazine in an old car in one of the lots. The police said that when they went to the second lot, they also found a 16 gauge sawed-off shotgun. As a result, Mcdougal was charged. He pleaded not guilty to the offences, and he was remanded into custody until July 30. Learning Environment And Personal Enrichment Marine Ecology and self-healing. Not themes you would normally put together, right? Well, a group of 16 students proved that they can be combined. Today we met these students at the Princess Marine as they returned from a marine ecology trip to Calabash Caye. They told us how this holistic educational outing enhanced their appreciation for the environment and for themselves. Jaen Nieto, Instructor "It's beautiful that we are all together. Doing this for the first time is like a pilot project with the kids from 'days of healing'. And it went on like any other trip of EPI, where the students are shown the beauties of the environment. We went dolphins, we went snorkeling. Many of them didn't even know how to swim, how to snorkel, so they learnt that. And through that they saw the beauties that are under the sea. And that's the main that we cannot expect to have people protecting the environment if they haven't seen it." Naiton Arzu, Marine Ecology Student "This experience was very great for me because for once in my lifetime, I enjoyed myself with different people and friends that I met, and other people that I appreciate and I love." A Relief For The Reef A Mesoamerican reef protection workshop is being held at the Biltmore this week. Conservationists and other stakeholders from Belize, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua organized an 8 day workshop on the protection of the Mesoamerican reef system -which starts at the tip of Yucatan Peninsula and stretches down to Belize. We spoke with the coordinator today and she told us why this discussion on the reef needs to happen. Maria Eugenia Arreola, Director, Mesoamerican Reef Leadership Program "What we do is, every year we open up a call for applications and we invite entrepreneurs and young conservationists who are initiating their career or are in the middle of their career to join the program with a proposal, an idea of a project that they can implement in protection of the coral reefs. So during one year we bring them together four times in this workshop. And right now we are in the fourth workshop of the 2014 cohort and we train them on advocacy, how to speak in public, how to speak with the media, how to raise funds - fundraising. We also train them on negotiation and conflict resolution. Our vision is to have a healthy reef and prosperous communities. So more than 2 million people depend on the health of the Mesoamerican reef right. So what we want to do is we want to launch high impact projects that will be led by conservationists that have the skills, that have the tools, the knowledge and that they are going to succeed in their projects. At the end, what we want is the sustainable use of our natural resources. We are very lucky to have this important ecosystem and we want to provide different solutions and projects that will help us to use of our resources in a sustainable way." Unions Say Remember The Labourers On Wednesday April first, the President of the NTUCB told the media that the unions wanted to have a large rally for labour day. But he must have been using the April Fool's exception, because we haven't gotten word of any large rally - though this evening, we are hearing that a rally will be held tomorrow. But the President Marvin Mora did issue a statement this evening discussing the theme of this year's observance, which is "Celebrating the Belizean Worker- the Back Bone of the Belizean Economy". The three page statement says, quote, "the NTUCB will continue to advocate for the respect of the rights of the workers in our country and commit that we will not sit idly by whilst our brothers are being taken advantage of." He laments that The Public Accounts Committee is still being run by a chair from the Ruling Party when it clearly contravenes the act and that Government has taken over an entire year without even a proposed date when public consultations should start in relation to the Occupational Safety and Health Bill! As for Petrocaribe, the statement says, quote, "The NTUCB wants to be absolutely clear that we are not against the acquisition of the Petro Caribe Funds and its original intent as agreed to between the Government of Venezuela and Belize. By this same token, we take this opportunity to thank the Venezuelan Government and its courageous people for all the support they have lent our country." Managing Chemical Waste 2 years ago, the Solid Waste Management Authority streamlined how the country handles garbage by turning the dumps in Belize City and Cayo into transfer stations and creating a Sanitary Landfill facility. That's separate from the work that the Department of Environment has been doing with government agencies THAT HANDLE Chemical Waste. After signing on to major international conventions chemical waste management, the DOE has been laboring since 2005 to put together waste management strategy. We fast-forward to this week when the DOE initiated a 3 year project entitled "Belize Chemicals and Waste Management Project". The aim of the plan is to control and restrict chemical wastes which the DOE categorizes as Persistent Organic Pollutants, or POP's which include organic pesticides and refrigerants and coolants. What does that mean for you? Well, the main effect is that the DOE is trying to make the cleaner, but these restrictions will affect the industrial sector, whose products generate chemical wastes. The Chief Environmental Officer explained the project to us today: From April To Fuego Yesterday was National Tapir Day - but April the Tapir has passed on, so this year, to celebrate this event the Belize Zoo threw a party for Fuego the Tapir's 2nd birthday - fruit cake and all...We spoke to the coordinator of the evnt and he told us why this OBSERVANCE IS IMPORTANT: The Importance Of "Agri" The National Agriculture and Trade Show will be held this weekend at the showground's in Belmopan. And while the show has its own vibe and scenery, lest we forget it is all about the farmers. Tonight - with the help of the government press office - we look at two of the junior farmers of the year:.. And those going to the show over this holiday weekend will be happy to know that additional amenities have been put in place to make your show grounds experience more enjoyable. CEO in the Ministry of Agriculture Jose Alpuche told us more:.. Channel 5 Former Belize City Mayor Commits Suicide Former Belize City Mayor David Fonseca is dead.� The retired People's United Party politician, who served at City Hall for a record sixteen consecutive years, took his own life sometime [...] TCC Principal's Comment on Treasury Theft Surprises Fin Sec Treasury Department Second Class Clerk David Enriquez was charged last week for theft. The police say that he diverted monies, four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, meant for Toledo Community [...] Treasury Employee David Enriquez Granted Supreme Court Bail Enriquez had been on remand for the bold Treasury theft since last week, but this afternoon he was granted bail by Supreme Court Judge Troadio Gonzalez after the prosecution registered [...] PM Promises Council of Churches an Ecumenical Chapel from Petrocaribe Funds It may have cruised under the radar at the Prime Minister's press conference on Wednesday, but the fact that the churches are getting in on the Petrocaribe bounty is significant. [...] Light Bill Set to Go Down in July There is some good news for consumers because beginning July first, 2015 to June thirtieth 2016; electricity rates are to go down by thirty-five cents per kilo watt hour to [...] Labor Commissioner Updates on Santander Employees Two weeks ago, about forty workers at the Santander Green Tropics facility staged a small protest at the compound, citing chronic concerns which they say remained unaddressed by management. Over [...] Is Santander Favoring Foreigners for Lucrative Jobs? According to Williams, and this is certainly not the first time this complaint has been ventilated, workers feel that they are not being given access to lucrative employment. They feel [...] Labor Commissioner Says Belizeans are Under-qualified for Certain Santander Posts So why aren't Belizeans getting access to the higher paying jobs which require special skills? Well, because not many Belizeans have those skills. It's as simple as that. Our vocational [...] SIB Issues Statistics on Consumer Price Index for March The Statistical Institute of Belize released the latest stats on consumer price index and external trade for the month of March. According to SIB, consumer prices were down one percent [...] Gapi Vega Says Lands Department is Investigating Caye Caulker Cheat Last Thursday, a retired English couple came forward in the media to express frustration over a land swindle in Caye Caulker which has resulted in the devaluation of their beachfront [...] BRC Printing Versus Ministry of Education Settled in Supreme Court The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has settled a court case with Benque Viejo del Carmen Town-based book publishers, BRC Printing Limited. The dispute goes back to June of [...] James Andrews and Jose David Gomez Granted Bail for Gang Rape This afternoon in a bail application heard by Justice Troadio Gonzalez of the Supreme Court, two young men were granted bail for the offense of rape.� They are James Andrews [...] DOE Launches 3-year Chemical Waste Management Project Ten years ago, the government of Belize ratified several environmental management conventions and address, through international assistance and programs, issues of chemical and waste management. Three phases have been accomplished [...] �But What About Hazardous Waste? Another component of the project will include the closure of the dumpsite and the construction of a transfer station at Burrell Boom. But when you hear chemical waste, it brings [...] Labour Day Celebrated in Belize On Friday, in Belize as well as in many other countries, the Labour Day holiday will be held to honor workers. From time to time, we hear about employee- employer [...] Lake-I Residents Pass Self Defense Program The Precinct Two Police Officers, through their community policing, have been working on the ground to engage residents. From one on one interaction to group efforts, the police say they [...] Hamanasi and Tourism in Hopkins Tourism is a top foreign exchange earner and is also one of the largest contributors to Belize's Gross Domestic Product, the GDP. Roughly speaking, it accounts for twenty-five percent of [...] Hygienic Practices for Makeup Users on Healthy Living Okay Ladies, it’s time to pull out those cosmetic bags and look over the products on your night stand. If you’ve had skin problems on your face; the culprit may [...]

Re: Today's Belize News: May 1, 2015 Marty #503888 05/01/15 06:15 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,398 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	PlusTV P.M. defends actions on Petrocaribe On Tuesday, Prime Minister Dean Barrow gave the press a preview of his arguments to be presented today in defense of his actions with regard to the Petrocaribe Loan Program and the recent passage of the Petrocaribe Loan Act, 2015... Carnival supports Stake Bank project The Government of Belize, determined to get a cruise port built in the Belize District sooner rather than later, has been trying to broker a deal between developer of the Stake Bank/Drowned Cayes project Michael Feinstein and the owners of the Fort Street Tourism Village in the Fort George section o... P.M. reassures on future of Belize banking industry The Belize Bank Limited has lost its correspondent banking relationship with Bank of America in the United States, which removes its ability to host wire transfers for customers. As the largest private commercial bank in Belize, Bank of America's decision affects thousands of customers... BNTU hosts consultations over Petro Caribe Loan bill Meanwhile,The Belize National Teachers Union is holding country wide consultations with their members to take up a position on the widely debated Petro Caribe Loan Bill 2015... PUP protest Petrocaribe program While they have officially given the Prime Minister 21 days to repeal the 2015 Petrocaribe Loans Act, the People’s United Party took the opportunity provided by today’s Prime Ministerial press conference in Belize City to create the first major political showdown after their thumping electoral losse... PUP Leader discusses party issues Leader of the parliamentary Opposition and of the People’s United Party (PUP) Francis Fonseca made his first appearance for some time on the KREM Wake Up Belize Morning Vibes program along with deputy leader Julius Espat yesterday... Speaking of getting a slice of the Petro Caribe Pie One of the Arguments on the Government’s side when addressing the Unions’ opposition to the Petro Caribe Bill is that one of its largest member unions- the Belize National Teachers Union- is directly and indirectly benefitting from the Petro Caribe program through a salary adjustment and a special p... Belize contributing to call for climate action The 20th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change took place from the 1st to the 14th of December 2014 in Lima Peru... P.M. defines Maya land rights settlement One week ago today the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) accepted a consent order from the Government of Belize and Maya leaders representing 38 Maya villages in the Toledo District which settled a large part of the case brought by the latter concerning the granting of communal land rights to traditi... Man charged for 2014 murder Twenty-three year old Carlos Casanova Jr, an employee of a block factory in Corozal Town, hopped on one leg today into the court of the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith so that he could be arraigned on a charge of murder. Casanova was charged with the murder of 29 year old mark Massam Jr... Man charged for shooting in Mahogany Heights Twenty-one year old Adolphus Palacio, who allegedly fired shots at another person but missed, was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm when he appeared today before the Chief magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. Palacio pled not guilty to the charge. He was remanded into custody until July 23... Another taxi man found dead; this time on San Pedro San Pedro Police have confirmed the murder of a Belizean Taxi Driver 42 year old Jose Rigoberto Beltran who was found dead inside his vehicle sometime around 10 am on Tuesday April 28th in the San Juan area, San Pedro Town. Beltran was a member of the San Pedro Airstrip Taxi Union... Police investigating Kevin Flowers murder On Monday we told you of the death of Mahogany Heights resident Kevin Flowers shot to the back of his head on the roadside. Police are still investigating and today Superintendent of Police Hilberto Romero gave us an update. PUP protest Petrocaribe program While they have officially given the Prime Minister 21 days to repeal the 2015 Petrocaribe Loans Act, the People’s United Party took the opportunity provided by today’s Prime Ministerial press conference in Belize City to create the first major political showdown after their thumping electoral losse... PUP Leader discusses party issues Leader of the parliamentary Opposition and of the People’s United Party (PUP) Francis Fonseca made his first appearance for some time on the KREM Wake Up Belize Morning Vibes program along with deputy leader Julius Espat yesterday... Speaking of getting a slice of the Petro Caribe Pie One of the Arguments on the Government’s side when addressing the Unions’ opposition to the Petro Caribe Bill is that one of its largest member unions- the Belize National Teachers Union- is directly and indirectly benefitting from the Petro Caribe program through a salary adjustment and a special p... Belize contributing to call for climate action The 20th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change took place from the 1st to the 14th of December 2014 in Lima Peru... P.M. defines Maya land rights settlement One week ago today the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) accepted a consent order from the Government of Belize and Maya leaders representing 38 Maya villages in the Toledo District which settled a large part of the case brought by the latter concerning the granting of communal land rights to traditi... Man charged for 2014 murder Twenty-three year old Carlos Casanova Jr, an employee of a block factory in Corozal Town, hopped on one leg today into the court of the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith so that he could be arraigned on a charge of murder. Casanova was charged with the murder of 29 year old mark Massam Jr... Man charged for shooting in Mahogany Heights Twenty-one year old Adolphus Palacio, who allegedly fired shots at another person but missed, was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm when he appeared today before the Chief magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. Palacio pled not guilty to the charge. He was remanded into custody until July 23... Another taxi man found dead; this time on San Pedro San Pedro Police have confirmed the murder of a Belizean Taxi Driver 42 year old Jose Rigoberto Beltran who was found dead inside his vehicle sometime around 10 am on Tuesday April 28th in the San Juan area, San Pedro Town. Beltran was a member of the San Pedro Airstrip Taxi Union... Police investigating Kevin Flowers murder On Monday we told you of the death of Mahogany Heights resident Kevin Flowers shot to the back of his head on the roadside. Police are still investigating and today Superintendent of Police Hilberto Romero gave us an update. The Reporter Former Belize City mayor believed to have committed suicide on the eve of his birthday Former Belize City mayor, William Henry Fonseca, better known as David was found dead on Friday on the eve of his birthday. Fonseca was found in his home in the afternoon with a fatal gunshot wound and is believed to have committed suicide. His body [�] Mark Medina murdered on Iguana Street, taxi driver becomes casualty Reputed George Street insider, Mark "Wanka" Medina was shot and killed execution-style on Sunday morning in front of a residence on Iguana Street. The taxi driver who took him to the house, 55-year-old Egbert Hemmans, was also shot and later died. Superintendent Hilberto Romero, […] GOB will front CPBL $2 million of PetroCaribe funds The government of Belize, through the use of PetroCaribe funds, will front the Citrus Products of Belize Limited (CPBL) two million dollars for citrus farmers who have not been paid by the company to collect and cover their expenses. Prime Minister Dean Barrow made […] Taxi driver found bound murdered in San Pedro Jose Rigoberto Beltran, 42, who relocated to Ambergris Caye several years ago in the Escalante area of San Pedro Town and had become a taxi driver, was found dead around 10 a.m. on Tuesday inside his van. Police say a man who had gone […] Mechanic murdered while repairing car on Reggae Street Wayne Rocke, a 29-year-old mechanic was shot and killed just a short distance away from his home, while working on a vehicle in a poorly lit area on Reggae Street in the Yarborough area around 8 p.m. on Monday. According to Superintendent Hilberto Romero, officer […] Guatemalan nabbed in Chiquibul with Xate leaves Forestry and immigration personnel have arrested and charged David Alvisures Cheche, a Guatemalan of La Rejoya community Peten, after a Friends for Conservation (FCD) patrol intercepted him with Xate leaves at around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday in the Cristina area of the Chiquibul Forest. […] Hopkins beach vanishes amidst overnight erosion Personnel from the Lands Department have visited Hopkins Village, Stann Creek to analyse what residents there have described as "erosion of the beach", a phenomenon which was first observed last week, and which now has resulted in the disappearance of as much as 12 […] Bar brawl ends in death! Security guard charged with murder An argument between two security guards and two patrons�over entrance fees at the Blue House Bar, between miles eight and nine on the Phillip Goldson Highway, ended in the death of Wilmer Cisneros, 41, one of the patrons. The incident occurred on Saturday, April […] CCJ awards full land rights to Toledo Maya On Wednesday last week the Caribbean Court of Justice, meeting in Belize, pronounced its findings in the appeal case of the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Government of Belize. The following is the full text of the court order: Before the Right Honourable and the Honourables: Mr. Justice D. Byron, […] End of an era: Scotiabank's Pat Andrews bows out! Senior staff and invited guests of Scotiabank Belize gathered at a special ceremony at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel on Tuesday night to say "thank you" and "farewell" to retiring Country Manager, Mr. Pat Andrews, and to say "welcome" to his successor, Mr. Michael Shaw […] New Bill of Rights for Parents: good for schools and good for students! Schools and teachers will become more accountable to parents for the quality of education delivered to their children, when the Parents' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and other proposed amendments to the Education Rules, become law. The Ministry of Education has hired a team of consultants, Trevor Hamilton and Associates […] Opposition protests…calls for repeal of Petrocaribe Bill! More than 200 PUP supporters marched for over an hour on the highway in front of the Belize Biltmore Plaza on Wednesday, April 29. Led by Garifuna drummers, protesters chanted condemnations of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who was holding a press conference inside the hotel. They were there to protest […] Editorial There are only two commercial banks in Belize which have offshore operations. One is The Belize Bank International. The other is Atlantic Bank Limited. The United States' fiscal policy is designed to go after those Americans who try to avoid payment of taxes by hiding their investments in overseas savings […] PetroCaribe Act here to stay! Prime Minister Dean Barrow, at a press conference on Thursday morning at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel, declared that in light of opposition against the PetroCaribe Loan Act from certain quarters, he would be open to modifying the Bill but certainly not […] PM says banking institutions safe Apart from the Belize Bank, which has already had its corresponding relations with Bank of America (BOA) severed, no other bank in Belize will be affected or have corresponding relations cut, said Prime Minister Dean Barrow at a press conference on Wednesday morning. Barrow […] Rat attack! Western Regional pantry under siege Who is to be held accountable for the shocking conditions revealed at the Western Regional Hospital this week? The answer is apparently still being determined, as health officials in Belmopan continue to hold serious discussions with the management at the Western Regional Hospital after a significant crisis erupted last week […] Breaking Belize News Prime Minister provides national security updates There are several updates on issues of national security coming from Wednesday's press conference. With great fanfare the Ministry of National Security and Belize Defence Force had announced plans last year to purchase as many as two helicopters from an outlet in Miami, Florida. Unfortunately things didn't work [�] Land titles for Caye Caulker beaches canceled The Ministry of Natural Resources has moved swiftly to address the creation of new plots of land on the beach and seabed in northern Caye Caulker, located directly in front of established beachfront properties. A retired British couple and a former chairman of Caye Caulker Village had complained [�] Department of the Enviroment targets chemical management A workshop to bring awareness to the importance of chemical management was hosted today in Belize City by the Department of the Environment. Since 2006 the Department has been working toward goals for the safe elimination of certain harmful chemicals used in Belize as well as preparing for [�] Former Mayor of Belize City in apparent suicide This afternoon around two the Fonseca family was rocked by news of the death of William Henry "David" Fonseca, a businessman and former three-term Mayor of Belize City from 1996 to 2006. Fonseca is believed to have shot himself at the family residence in Stewart's Alley although no [�] Accused in Treasury theft make bail This afternoon the Supreme Court applications for admittance to bail from two men charged in connection with the theft of over $500,000 from Treasury Department. They are David Enriquez and Francis Palacio. Enriquez, who was charged with 3 counts of theft, was released on a bail of $40,000 while [�] Mahogany Heights man charged for firearms Police have made an arrest in relation to the death of 40 year old Kevin "Skelbo" Flowers of Mahogany Heights, Belize District, but it is not for his murder. 22 year old Wilfred McDougal, a fisherman residing in the village, was detained by police in connection with the [�] Accused burglar caught red-handed with stolen items An aspiring burglar did not get very far with his ill-gotten bounty after police apprehended him on Tuesday. 49 year old Harrison Powell pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and handling stolen goods in a court appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith. On April 28, Kayla Hamilton, [�] Belize Police Academy inaugurates GYM Recruits within the Belize Police Academy are boasting a newly constructed running track and gym. A short ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly constructed facility at the National Police Training Academy was held yesterday. According to Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, it's a significant milestone in the development of the Police Training Academy. [�] Former Belize City Mayor William Henry Fonseca Found Dead Belize Media Group has received information that former Belize City Mayor, William Henry Fonseca, better known as David was found dead at his home on Stewart Alley in Belize City. Unconfirmed reports are that he committed suicide. This is a developing story and we will be updating it shortly. Belizean Entrepreneur participates at the Women's Innovation Network of the Caribbean program Fifteen Caribbean woman entrepreneurs took part in the first-ever facilitators training for the Women's Innovation Network of the Caribbean (WINC) program, a World Bank project funded via the Canada Development Bank and coordinated by the Enterprise Hub. Amongst these fifteen women was Belizean Virginia Rivera, the women gathered to share [�] Internet providers sign for first ever BIX Belize has the highest internet rates as well as the slowest bandwidth in all of the CARICOM countries. And in that vein, on April 16th 2015 at the University of Belize campus, Internet service provider representative Rafael Marin, along with internet providers from all over the country, signed the agreement [�] Consumer Price Index down by 1% The Statistical Institute of Belize submitted its March 2015 Consumer Price Index and External Trade statistics. The figures reveal that the All-Items Consumer Price Index for the month of March 2015 was down one percent. This indicated that, on average, the goods and services typically purchased by Belizean households were [�] Belize Weather Calls for Cloudy Skies and Few Showers Wondering what the weather will be like today? Well here is an update for the today's weather and the rest of the long weekend. The National Meteorological Service of Belize is indicating cloudy skies and a few showers with several periods of rain and thunderstorms mainly over the sea [�] Verdes Beats BDF 6 Nil On April 29th at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio Town, Verdes defeated the BDF by a whopping six goals to nothing. During the first half, Jarret Davis (# 10) scored 2 goals at the 17th and 41st minutes. Before the 4th minute into the second half, [�] Blogs Belize Zoo, Contest Winners & Ambergris Caye's Island Academy Celebrate Fuego the Tapir's 2nd Birthday Time flies�it seems like just yesterday that the Belize Zoo's Fuego the Tapir was turning one. (And strangely, I haven't aged a day!) After the passing of April, the original ambassador tapir for the Belize Zoo, Fuego has stepped quite comfortably into the role. And now, each year, we will celebrate Fuego and the birthday of the national animal of Belize. Here he is at one. Yesterday, he turned TWO YEARS OLD! And to celebrate the Belize Zoo puts on a big party. With a slogan contest, school kids, music, a marching band, food and a gorgeous cake for the birthday boy. I traveled to the mainland with one of the slogan contest winners! Noah from the Standard 3 class at San Pedro's Island Academy. Here is the class posing on the dock with the slogan - after we returned from the trip. Noah is seated in the center. Our First Wonderful Year In Placencia, Belize Exactly one year ago, I was sitting on my couch in snowy Cleveland. At that time, I hadn't left Northern Ohio for more than three weeks at a time. I was spending my time watching International House Hunter shows and researching on every travel blog and forum I could�trying to find out if living in Central America was a realistic dream for my husband, Dave, and I. Well, now we're having weekly adventures, spending days on the beach, afternoons in farmers markets, and living a life we would only have tried out on vacation once a year if we had stayed back home. We live in the beach town of Placencia, Belize. Just last week we went night-river tubing in the jungle�climbed a Maya ruin�and swam and kayaked at a beautiful resort right down the beach from us. We have already replaced most of our income in the U.S., running a small resort on the beach, what a dream! Chili Cheese Curried Meat Patties I try something new with our basic Belizean Meat Patties. I do the dough Jamaican style by adding Yellow Ginger or Curry Powder. Just 2 simple ingredients of chili powder and cheese, really set this dish on fire. International Sources Belize Is Getting Faster Internet Sometimes the best solution to a technical problem is social engineering. After a journey of two years, that's exactly how Belize has come to a major milestone in its technological development. The country's Internet service providers (ISPs) have committed to set up Belize's first-ever Internet exchange point (IXP), a piece of critical Internet infrastructure through which they can exchange local Internet traffic between their networks. The process was as simple-and as difficult-as getting nine Internet service providers (ISPs), all fierce competitors, to agree to work together for the greater good. Belize Telemedia, Speednet, BroadBand Belize, and Network Solutions signed the historic agreement on April 16 at the University of Belize's (UB) Belize City campus, clearing the way for the establishment of the region's latest IXP, called Belize IX or BIX. Belize's Queen of Soca in Cayman for Batabano Ernestine Carballo, known as the Queen of Soca in her native Belize, is in Cayman to join the Batabano festivities. The artist has been singing from a young age, influenced by her deejay father. She is also a dancer as well. Ernestine has taken home the title of Best Soca Artist and Best Soca Song in Belize and recently release an album called It's Time, so Fly. She chats with Cayman 27′s Ben Meade about the carnival spirit in Cayman and her hopes to perform on island in the future. Tribute to Bishop Shirley Pitts Talk about Divine Order! We (family, friends and associates) are about to embark upon a piece of "history" which I believe was not only destined but with which I always wanted to be associated. A person whom I have come to love, respect and admire. A woman of substance - Candace Queen Mother Abbess of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and a Bishop of Faith Restoration, Inc., Bishop Shirley Ann Pitts. This colorful woman and I met through one of my spiritually adopted Sisters, Dr. Daphne Sapphire June Anderson, a British Trinidadian Herbalist (now deceased) and therefore our story began. She wears many hats, literally speaking (as a Bishop). Ms. Shirley Pitts arrived in the USA on January 14, 1963 from her homeland, Belize City in Central America. Like so many, she had a vision for herself and her country and to explore how Cable Television could be introduced to Belize (which up to that time had no television). Her fascinating journey over the years began with the "Belizean Girl International Cable TV." This program launched the careers of many well-known Artistes. In 2015, Bishop Pitts celebrates 52 years in Harlem. Back in Belize, Ms. Pitts came from a religious background. Her parents, the late Mr and Mrs Vallon P.L. Pitts (Father a constable and Mother a Community Activist in Politics) were Methodist Christians. During her formative years the young Ms. Pitts, a teenager, (the eldest of seven siblings), along with her mother, assisted Mr. Phillip Goldson in the District of Cayo. Both parents were members of the National Independent Party (NIP), later the United Democratic Party (UDP). John McAfee: 'Bad people are still after me' The Scots-born software entrepreneur says hit men are on his tail after a hasty exit from Belize but his focus is on warding off tech companies' all-seeing eye. Deep in the heart of the Bible Belt, John McAfee, the tech millionaire, eccentric and one-time fugitive, appears to have finally settled down - in his way. A few months shy of his 70th birthday, McAfee, as famous for his plentiful eccentricities as the anti-virus software he created, is living somewhat in the open again, this time in Lexington, Tennessee, a rustic and unassuming town with a population of less than 8,000. Born in Scotland, raised in the US, McAfee had been living in Portland, Oregon - a city that seemed a more obvious choice for a yoga loving, gun-toting technocrat who had just fled Belize via Guatemala amid a bizarre murder investigation. His woodsy property in the west Tennessee countryside, though, ended up suiting him better. He's happier here, even if he still spins ominous stories of hit men on his trail. Laser vision reveals hidden worlds Mapping technology lets researchers see what the naked eye cannot. In the ancient Maya city of Caracol, map-making can be treacherous. Jungles shroud this site in the Central American nation of Belize. Dense shrubs stand taller than a person's head. They hide ruins that otherwise would be obvious. To reveal the city, archeologists must hack through the growth, using sharp blades called machetes. They step carefully to avoid critters like the fer-de-lance, a common viper with an often-fatal bite. Arlen and Diane Chase know these hazards well. These archeologists work at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. For three decades, the husband-and-wife team (who cut their wedding cake with a machete) also have patiently studied Caracol. Season by season, they and their team - and later, their children - have hacked and mapped, hacked and mapped. Then, in April 2009, everything changed. That's when lidar came to Caracol. Lidar stands for "light detection and ranging." It's a method of using lasers to create a map. And it revealed this part of the world in a whole new light. An experiment in 'net zero deforestation' in Guatemala Watching the sun rise over the temple-riddled rainforest of Guatemala's Tikal National Park, it's easy to understand why George Lucas chose it as the site for filming the jungle moon of Yavin 4 in "Star Wars: Episode IV." Brightly colored birds fly close to the canopy, strange insects buzz about and howler monkeys live up to their namesake. Trees dominate the horizon, including the mighty Kapok - the sacred tree of the Maya - which towers at more than 200 feet above the forest floor. But the otherworldly landscape is under threat by a very earth-bound problem: deforestation. Guatemala is experiencing one of the most rapid deforestation rates of any country, according to a 2010 report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In 2014, deforestation finally appeared to become a priority for businesses, with everyone seeming to want to jump on the tree-hugging bandwagon. "Zero deforestation" became a buzzword for a newfound corporate commitment to eliminating the systematic destruction of forests from global supply chains. In September, more than 30 companies - including Asia Pulp and Paper, Cargill and Unilever - joined hundreds of governments, businesses, NGOs and indigenous peoples' groups to sign the New York Declaration on Forests, which aims to halve deforestation by 2020 and end it altogether by 2030. Natural Selection Will Help Coral Reefs Survive Effects Of Climate Change Research has warned that corals reefs are seriously threatened by human activities and climate change - but researchers are now hopeful that corals may not be doomed, after all. According to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE, the planet's reefs will still be around in the future, but they will be vastly different to the coral reefs we are familiar with. Researchers predict that new coral fauna will emerge, coming from the species that are most resistant to temperature increases, writes Nature World News. The world's coral reefs are at risk due to the increase in cyclones, warming ocean temperatures that are causing extensive bleaching events, outbreaks of a coral-eating starfish, ocean acidification and coral diseases. These factors, combined with threats of overfishing, pollution and coastal development, had led the majority of scientists to believe that the world's corals would disappear by 2100. But now a team at the French Institute of Research for the Development (IRD) in Marseille, France has shown that while numerous coral species have indeed been declining for more than 30 years, others are remaining stable and thriving. Coral disease threatens Hawaii reef A disease called black band coral disease is affecting nearly half of the reef sites researchers have surveyed in waters off Kauai and threatens to destroy Hawaii's reefs, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The disease was first identified in 2004, and rose to outbreak levels in 2012. This is the first outbreak in Hawaii, and authorities are worried about the lack of ways to deal with it. Black Band disease was first observed on reefs in Belize in 1973 by A. Antonius, but it wasn't really understood and explained back then. It's caused by a bluegreen alga and affects 42 species of coral in a worldwide distribution. The only known reservoir is within cyanobacterial biofilms that are present on sediments in depressions of healthy black band disease susceptible corals. Christina Runyon, one of the lead researchers of the disease has spent the last two years surveying reefs around Kauai. Black band disease was found at 23 of the 47 sites, she said, with hotspots on the north and east sides of the constantly eroding island. So far, the disease hasn't been reported on other islands, but there's no reason to believe it won't do so in the near future - especially with constantly warming waters. How Safe Is Your Shrimp? Consumer Reports Your guide to choosing the healthiest, tastiest, and most responsibly sourced shrimp. Each of us eats, on average, almost 4 pounds per year, making shrimp more popular than tuna. Once considered a special-occasion treat, shrimp has become so ubiquitous that we now expect to find it on the menu whether we're at a pricey restaurant or a fast-food joint. In fact, Americans eat about three times more shrimp than we did 35 years ago. To satisfy our insatiable appetite, the U.S. has become a massive importer: About 94 percent of our shrimp supply comes from abroad, from countries such as India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Mangroves Curriculum The UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are excited to announce the launch of two Units under the unique 10-Unit open access, self-paced online course all about mangrove ecosystems and their management. Unit 3: Floral Diversity: provides an overview and description of the diverse vegetation found in mangrove ecosystems around the world. It provides an overview of the different floral groups which occur in the mangrove, including true mangrove plants, mangrove associates, and other floral components. The basic concepts in plant taxonomy are also provided. Unit 4: Faunal Diversity: presented as an e-book PDF, provides students with an overview of faunal biodiversity in mangroves. Mangrove fauna are important not only because they provide humans with livelihood resources, but also because they are a unique and increasingly threatened component of global biodiversity. Videos BSI CROP REVIEW WEEK 13, 4min. Farm to Fork: The Journey of an Imported Shrimp, 5min. Excellent Consumer Reports video on shrimp problems and how to avoid them, presumably overseen by Gwendolyn Bounds? Reminded me of our Pace University Media, Communications & Visual Arts documentary on a great example of BEST practices, Linda Linda Cardelli Thornton's shrimp farms in Belize. Most of our shrimp is imported, and the majority of it is farmed. Farming can be done responsibly, but when it isn't, a variety of unhealthy, environmentally hazardous, and unappetizing problems can arise. Here is what you need to know before you buy. Linda Thornton Seeking Sustainability, One Shrimp at a Time, 17min. In a new documentary, "Linda Thornton: Seeking Sustainability, One Shrimp at a Time," a team of Pace University student filmmakers explore the life of a resilient, pioneering aquaculture entrepreneur as she pushes the frontiers of sustainable shrimp farming in Belize. Ambergris Caye, Belize, 9min. Sit back, put headphones on. you kinda have to, turn music up, relax, and enjoy my Belizean experience. I hope you do! Ambergris Caye, Belize, 8min. U S Riverines Train Belize Defense Force, 2min. New York & Belize 2015, 3.5min. A video from our trip to New York and Belize. Dan Lowe, Melani Leff wedding at Villa Casa Buena Vista, Belize, 11min. Villa Casa Buena Vista, San Pedro South, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Belize Zoo national Tapir Day, 1min. Mancation in Belize., 11min. Taming Tarpon In Belize, 1min. Have a bite!