Channel 5
Mysterious Airplane Under B.D.F. Guard, Still No Word from Police
The mysterious circumstance surrounding the unauthorized landing of an aircraft at the Belize Municipal Airstrip on Tuesday morning remains an open investigation for the police department. We can confirm tonight [...]
American National Found Dead on San Pedro, Was He Murdered?
Police also have another case to solve, but in La Isla Bonita. It involves the mysterious death of a U.S. national who retired and lived on the island right up [...]
What’s the Motive Behind Shooting of San Pedro Cabdriver?
In Tuesday’s newscast, we told you of a brazen daylight shooting in San Pedro Town just outside the cargo area of Maya Island Air on the island. A gunman took [...]
O.A.S. Observers Arrive in Belize Ahead of General Elections
Members of the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of the American States began arriving today in Belize ahead of the November fourth elections. There are thirteen members to the [...]
Leader of the Opposition Meets with Council of Churches
By this time next week Wednesday, most polls would have been closed around the country for this year’s general elections. Today, the Council of Churches urged all Belizeans to put [...]
High-Ranking British Army General In Belize on Official Visit
A high-ranking member of the British Army arrived in Belize today and met with Prime Minister Dean Barrow this afternoon. He is Lieutenant General James Everard. One of the main [...]
Trio Acquitted of the Murder of B.D.F. Soldier
Three Belize City men accused of the November twenty-third 2012 murder of B.D.F. soldier James Noralez learnt their fate this morning. Noralez’s bullet ridden body was found lying on the [...]
Thomas Card Gets Five Years for Wounding His Ex- Common Law
Tonight, thirty-one-year-old Thomas Card is serving more time behind bars after he was slapped with five additional years behind bars at the conclusion of his trial for the wounding of [...]
Former Business Senator Says Senate Did Not Receive Documents on BECOL Agreements
The opposition, People’s United Party disclosed on Tuesday what it calls a secret deal between the Prime Minister of Belize and the Canadian company, Fortis. According to the P.U.P., the [...]
Voting by Proxy, P.U.P. is Concerned
If you’re a public officer assigned to work on Election Day, chances are you won’t be able to vote. The same goes for military personnel on duty and members of [...]
B.D.F. is Official Election Day Courier of Ballot Boxes
The security of ballot boxes during elections is paramount in safeguarding the integrity of the voting process. With Belizeans going to the polls to elect a new government next Wednesday, [...]
Convoy Carrying Ballot Papers Raises Concerns in the West
Today, the social media was all abuzz after an informal information blog posted pictures of a convoy of vehicles passing through San Ignacio at high speed. There was some concern [...]
HRCU Hands Over Fifty Schoolbags to Queen Square Anglican
October is recognized annually as the month of credit unions across the country and the region; the financial institutions have been carrying out various activities to celebrate its achievements. Today, [...]
An Essay Competition for Kareem Clark
Following up on their commitment to keep the memory of fallen journalist Kareem Clarke alive, his friends and colleagues are currently preparing to launch the first essay competition in his [...]
CTV3
American Retiree Found Deceased In Hotel Room
Authorities on Ambergris Caye are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an American retiree whose decomposed body was found inside his hotel room yesterday morning. And while they began treating the case as a sudden death, today the autopsy report revealed that the cause of death was due by an apparent stab wound to his body. According to the report, acting upon information received around 10am Tuesday morning, San Pedro Police visited the Cloisters apartment located North of San Pedro Town where they smell a stench coming from Apartment #102 which was locked.
The screen door was pried open and upon making checks inside the lifeless body of a white male person was seen lying face down in the bedroom in a pool of blood. The body was identified as that of 50 year old Delbert Wayne Fenn; an American retired Deep Water Diver. A post-mortem was conducted by Dr. Mario Estrada Bran certified the cause of death as Exsanguinations due to external bleeding due to apparent stab wound to the right shoulder and right posterior forearm. Meanwhile police continue to investigate…
San Pedro Taxi Operator Shot In Broad Day Light
In other crime news from the island, a taxi operator was shot in broad daylight shortly before 4pm yesterday evening. The victim has been identified as 31 year old Juan Menjivar of a San Pedrito home address of San Pedro Town. According to police shortly before 4PM, Menjivar was at the luggage section of Maya Island Air terminal located on Lion Street when as much as five shots rang out in the area. Menjivar then realized that he was shot and he was rushed to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II.
Police say that it appears the Menjivar was shot as many as three times – to his arms, and abdomen. Menjivar was transported to the KHMH for further medical attention. Multiple reports are that a male shooter ran south on Lions Street and made a turn into Crocodile Street leading to the lagoon where he jump on a waiting jet-ski. Menjivar is no stranger to the police since in July 2014, he was charged with Drug Trafficking, Discharging a Firearm in Public, Uncustomed Goods and for the possession of over $10,000.00 believed to be the proceeds of Drug Trafficking.
Pedriatic Intensive Care Unit Inaugurated At KHMH
Following the death of 13 babies at the KHMH in May of 2013, yesterday Belize’s new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the KHMH was officially inaugurated. The project, spearheaded by Kim Simplis Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children, came about in 2009 and has taken years of work, planning and fundraising to come to fruition. The new facility has 2 sections:
the PICU and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Altogether the facility can cater to about 30 children and babies. And while the state of the art facility comes with rigorous screening procedures for visitors, officials state that the facility will help in the health and prolonged life of Belize’s children. Two years and over 5 million dollars later, Belize’s National Referral Hospital finally has a dedicated space tailor made to care for critically ill children and babies. The facility will be fully operational and open to the public in December.
It Is Official 2016 Public And Bank Holidays
The Government of Belize has sent out its official notice for 2016’s Public and Bank Holidays. There will be 13 holidays to be observed throughout the New Year. Of note is that September 10th, St. George’s Caye Day will be observed on a Saturday and Independence Day will be celebrated on a Wednesday. Finally, 2016 will see 8 extended weekends.
LOVE FM
Belize Gets Special Visit From Highest UK Military Commander
The highest ranking officer in the British Forces is in Belize on an official visit as the country sees the resurgence of the British Forces. Renee Trujillo was at Price Barracks this afternoon to find out more details. RENEE TRUJILLO REPORTING Belize’s Brigadier General, Commander David Jones was at the entrance of the Price Barracks […]
PM Barrow Welcomes the British Forces to Belize
Earlier in our newscast we told you that the Commander of the Land Forces in Britain would be meeting with Belize’s Prime Minister, Dean Barrow. That meeting did occur on Coney Drive this evening and had the presence of several senior officials in the British Forces as well as the Chief Executive Officer in the […]
BDF Commander Speaks on His Efforts in Resurgence of British Forces in Belize
As you may recall, back in 2011, there was a downsizing of the BATSUB and now, four years later we are seeing the resurgence. According to the Commander of the Belize Defense Force, Brigadier General, David Jones, he has been working hard in getting back the training exercises with the British Forces. COMMANDER DAVID JONES […]
BDF Commander Seeks Further Relations with US Marines
And while Belize will be having their counterparts from the UK on its military base in rural Belize, there are other areas of training opportunities that the BDF Commander is exploring for his officers. Brigadier General David Jones was recently in North Carolina, USA discussing opportunities with the US Marines. He explained to Love News, […]
Senator Lizarraga Expresses Concerns Over Agreement with Fortis/BECOL
Yesterday the People’s United Party held a press conference at which they said that Prime Minister Dean Barrow had signed his own accommodation agreement in relation to the BEL settlement with BECOL and Fortis. The PUP stated that the Confirmation and Assurance Deed was not provided to them; however, Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the […]
BEL Issues Response on PUP’s Allegations
Belize Electricity Limited issued a short release on the Confirmation and Assurance Deed that was signed by the Government of Belize in relations to the settlement with BECOL and Fortis Incorporation. In the release, BEL states quote, “GOB provided BEL with a draft of the Deed of Assurance five days prior to the execution of […]
UB Continues Discussions for Salary Increase
Members of the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Association met today to determine their next move as it relates to their request for a 14 percent salary increase. The latest update on this matter is that the President of the University of Belize wrote to the Interim President of the Association, Harrison Flowers, telling […]
Opposition Leader Commits to Church Leaders for Revitalized Partnership
Leader of the People’s United Party, Francis Fonseca met with leaders of the church today. According to a release from the PUP, Fonseca and the church leaders spoke the concern they had in regards to the country’s education system and the quote, “moral and spiritual direction of our society” end of quote. During the meeting, […]
American National Found Stabbed to Death
San Pedro Police is also looking into a homicide case that was uncovered yesterday on the island. Reports are that the authorities there were called out to a resort north of San Pedro Town where they found the partially decomposed body of an American national inside his room at the resort. Investigators have since identified […]
Taxi Man Shot Whilst Doing Business in San Pedro
A taxi driver of Ambergris Caye is listed in a stable condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after being shot on the island. Reports reaching Love News is that 31-year-old, Juan Menjivar was shot in his arm and stomach whilst conducting business on Lion Street at the entrance of the San Pedrito area of […]
PlusTV
Oceana holds AGM
Oceana Belize held its annual general meeting over the weekend with some 200 of its members known as Wavemakers. The meeting was held on Saturday at the George Price Center in Belmopan. Janelle Chanona, the vice President for Oceana Belize told us more about it. Janelle Chanona, Vice Presid...
Kareem Clarke Memorial Fund essay competition
Two months ago members of the Kareem Clarke Memorial Fund donated items to the St. Joseph Feeding Program in Belize City to honor Kareem, a graduate himself of St. Joseph Primary School. That was the group’s first venture and, as was mentioned, the members of the Fund had intentions of hosting an es...
Exports recovering as prices continue to fall
The Statistical Institute of Belize reports good news in the area of trade and inflation for September 2015. Imports slipped slightly for the month of September to $162 million, as no premium fuel was imported in this month and prices for other fuels were lower. Fewer clothing and cigarette purchas...
House fire in Belize City
There was a house fire in Belize city last night sometime after 7 o’clock. The house, #973 Bella Vista, Belize City is where 55 year old Delfin Castillo and his 27 year old wife Anna Portillo live. According to Castillo, sometime about 7:19pm, the wife went upstairs to their bedroom to put on the a...
Violent domestic dispute earns man five years
An estranged couple’s early morning domestic dispute in Belize City a few months ago ended with jail time for the convicted abuser, 31 year old Thomas Card. Card was convicted of wounding his ex-common-law wife, whose name we will leave out for privacy reasons, by knocking her out on Freetown ...
Trio’s murder charges dropped in death of BDF soldier
Supreme Court Justice Troadio Gonzalez, acting alone, ruled today that three Belize City men accused of the November 23, 2012 murder of Belize Defence Force Soldier, 28 year old James Noralez had no case to answer, causing them to dash out of the courtroom and down the stairs like someone was after ...
San Pedro man shot multiple times
San Pedro police are also investigating an attempted murder. On Tuesday October 27, 31 year old Juan Menjivar of San Pedrito Area, San Pedro Town was shot to his left forearm, wrist and abdomen area. Initial investigation revealed that about 3:00pm that day, while Juan Menjivar was standing at the...
PUP reveals secret deal between GOB and Fortis
A short notice from the People’s United Party yesterday spoke of “breaking news” to be revealed at a press conference today, Tuesday. And we were told that the ruling party had made a “secret deal” with Fortis Energy International as part of the settlement reached at the end of August and rushed through the House and Senate. While most of the documents that were part of the deal were presented and debated on, what is known as the Deed of Confirmation and Assurance was not. In the document released only today, the Government agrees that BECOL is not to be interfered with, not even by any court or tribunal. It states also that the company can continue to charge its rates for buying of electric power, and assumes no responsibility for losses sustained, which must be made good by the Government. Here is what former Senator Lisa Shoman had to say.
Caye Caulker Chronicles
Halloween – Night of the living Dread
This Saturday, October 31st, is Halloween and everyone’s favourite celebration. More money is spent on Halloween costumes as a nation than for any other celebration. This year will be no exception and I believe that this year will surpass many that have preceded it. Caye Caulker has several events lined up for this event and they are way beyond anything I have witnessed here before in the 15 years I’ve been coming here.
The Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill is having a big party with DJ DZL and is being sponsored by several local businesses. They usually have one of the best showings on the island and last year’s party was one of my favourites with Luciana Essenziale winning the prize for scariest costume. I’m still haunted by that image. This year, Scott Waters (owner), is offering a massive $750 in prize money split 3 ways for scariest, sexiest and funniest. There are a multitude of other prizes and giveaways throughout the evening, from bottles of rum, 6 packs of beer, etcetera and it looks like it is set to be a roaring success.
Breaking Belize News
One dead in late evening accident in Corozal
Information reaching our newsroom is that a man was fatally knocked down on the Philip Goldson Highway near the Laguna Maya area in the Corozal District. Officers are currently at the scene. We will have more on this shortly.
Exports recovering as prices continue to fall
The Statistical Institute of Belize reports good news in the area of trade and inflation for September 2015. Imports slipped slightly for the month of September to $162 million, as no premium fuel was imported in this month and prices for other fuels were lower. Fewer clothing and cigarette purchases led to […]
Violent domestic dispute earns man five years
An estranged couple’s early morning domestic dispute in Belize City a few months ago ended with jail time for the convicted abuser, 31 year old Thomas Card. Card was convicted of wounding his ex-common-law wife, whose name we will leave out for privacy reasons, by knocking her out on Freetown Road […]
OAS deploys Electoral Observation Mission to Belize
A press release issued by the Organization of American States (OAS) earlier today, announced the deployment of its Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to Belize for the November 4th general elections, comprised of 13 observers from various countries and headed by Ambassador Jacinth Henry-Martin. After attending a training session, the observers will […]
Silva accuses Montero of land-grab while in GOB
People United Party’s (PUP) Cayo Central standard bearer, Dan Silva, will be running against the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) Rene Montero Jr. on November 4th, and is using new allegations in an attempt to gain political mileage against his UDP opponent. Silva claims to have documents proving that a number […]
No-one has claimed abandoned mystery plane
The mysterious Piper Seneca PA23 with registration number N32812 today lies at the Belize Defense Force (BDF) Air Wing Compound at Price Barracks in Ladyville after spending the night at the Belize Municipal Airstrip, heavily guarded by members of the BDF and the Gang Supression Unit (GSU). According to the […]
Convoy seen speeding through Cayo coming
A convoy of five vehicles, escorted by police, was seen speeding through Cayo coming from the direction of the Arenal-Guatemalan border this morning. According to an eye-witness, who submitted pictures of the convoy, the vehicles sped through San Ignacio and Santa Elena at full speed with lights flashing heading to […]
American found dead in his apartment
San Pedro police have opened a murder case after discovering the advanced state of a decomposing body believed to be that of American, Wayne Delbert Fenn. Belize Media Group was made to understand that on Tuesday, October 27th, police visited Fenn’s apartment on the lower flat of […]
School-inclusion workshop held in OW
Teachers and principals from the north concluded a two-day workshop on school inclusion yesterday in Orange Walk Town. The aim is to equip the school leaders with skills necessary in handling special-needs children and their inclusion into regular classrooms. Of the many primary schools in the northern […]
Marco Tulio Mendez back in court
Back in court yesterday was embattled, former politician, Marco Tulio Mendez but the appearance was a standard adjournment. Readers may recall that in his last court appearance he was slapped with an additional charge of ‘Carnal Knowledge’. The charge follows strong allegations of sexual misconduct against two minors in February […]
Belize: A Preview of the Upcoming General Elections, From Under the Bus
General elections will be held in Belize on November 4, 2015; only 7 days away. Since Independence, no political party or prime minister has won or lost three general elections in a row. Belize politics is a winner takes all game…..the one with a simple majority of the […]
Airfare prices to Belize are down 20% this year vs. last year
Kayak.com, the popular travel site on the Internet is reporting that airfare to Belize is down by 20% this year compared to last year.
The travel site made the announcement today by tweeting it to its thousands of Twitter followers.
“This is great news for Belize because many people can now visit the country at an affordable cost”, Ted McKoy, a tourism entrepreneur from Hopkins Village Belize told Belize Hub.
Many tourism stakeholders in Belize believe that the reduction in airfare to the country can be attributed to the fact that Southwest is now flying to Belize.
What is Sustainable Community Development for Belize?
Economic globalization has tended to strip out local cultural differences and nuances among communities as if hierarchical uniformity were an end in itself. Restoring a sense of identity to the community may be an unexpected but necessary adjunct to any development project. A community’s identity may have been lost over some time as knowledge of kinship with and pride in its particular assets has withered. So perceived problems need to be looked at seriously, in the context of who the community is, to truly assess which problems the community should really spend its time on.
It’s important to understand the specific nature of the communities we work with in Belize. Community does not fit into a nice neat package – every community is a little different. A “community” is a construct, a model. We cannot see a whole community, we cannot touch it, and we cannot directly experience it. More importantly, a community is not just the people who are currently in it. A community probably already existed when all of its current residents were not yet born, and it will likely continue to exist when all of the people in it have left.
U.S. dental team marks 23rd year putting smiles on the faces of Belizeans
I can’t help but think that if the big-game hunting dentist Walter Palmer had met his colleague Frank Whipps years ago, Cecil the lion might be alive today, as well as a whole ark full of rare, endangered, docile and beautiful trophy creatures.
Dr. Whipps has that sort of positive influence on the dental community. He’s a guy who gives dentistry a good name, especially here in Belize.
I’m thinking this while sitting in the Lion’s Club facility in downtown San Pedro where a small army of dentists, dental assistants and various other health professionals are spending up to two weeks of their time cleaning dentures, fluoridating, pulling bad teeth and filling cavities in the mouths of thousands of Belizeans.
International Sources
Weather Underground Bought by IBM
IBM announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Weather Company’s B2B, mobile and cloud-based web properties, including WSI, weather.com, Weather Underground and The Weather Company brand. The TV segment – The Weather Channel – will not be acquired by IBM, but will license weather forecast data and analytics from IBM under a long-term contract.
There are no changes that have been announced for how Weather Underground will operate, and Bob Henson and I plan to ride the rapids to see where they lead. IBM brings some pretty remarkable technology resources to the table, so I expect that WU's creative development team will be able to take advantage of that and crank out some ground-breaking weather software.
For more information on the acquisition, see the IBM/Weather Company press release. The deal will likely become finalized in January.
Jeff Masters
Belize Defence Force leaders visit Camp Lejeune
Leaders from U.S. Marine Corps Forces-South, and Belize Defence Force visited II Marine Expeditionary Force and School of Infantry–East as part of a three-day visit to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Oct. 20 through 22.
The purpose of the visit was to assess the capabilities of U.S. forces, discern opportunities for Belize forces to train alongside Marines, and sustain enduring partnerships between the two countries in their efforts to counter transnational organized crime.
"The training we’re doing with the Belize Defence Force right now is we have a security cooperation team of 25 Marines who are currently living in Belize," said Brig. Gen. Eric M. Smith, commander of MARFORSOUTH. "Our Marines are training a BDF company of troops in subjects such as land navigation and marksmanship skills."
CSU students back efforts in Belize to find a new use for an invasive species
Belize is known for its beaches, scuba diving and sport fishing. But since 2014, the Central American country has also served as a home base for graduate students working on conservation and development through the Warner College of Natural Resources.
Last summer, a group of CSU students in Belize launched a crowdfunding campaign to send local women to a workshop to learn how to create jewelry from the invasive lionfish. The workshop — sponsored by Blue Ventures — is one of several efforts aimed at reducing the country’s population of the invasive fish. Blue Ventures is a social enterprise, an organization that uses commercial strategies to raise awareness for conservation efforts.
Lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, have spread rapidly across the western Atlantic and Caribbean and now can be found from Rhode Island to Brazil. The fish, named one of the world’s major conservation threats, crowd out native fish and harm coral reef ecosystems. Their prickly spines also deliver a venomous sting to people.
Groups like NOAA are tracking the lionfish and encouraging people to report lionfish sighting to help with research.
GSMA Welcomes Multi-Country Support for Sub-700MHz Spectrum for Mobile Broadband at WRC-15
John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA, commented on the submission of multi-country proposals in support of spectrum for mobile to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in advance of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) in Geneva next month:
“We are seeing positive momentum for the UHF spectrum band from many countries in Regions 2 and 3 – namely in the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the United States – which has resulted in multi-country proposals being submitted to the ITU, supporting part or all of the band for possible future use for mobile broadband. In Europe, Finland has submitted a single-country proposal for the UHF band, while Egypt is spearheading a multi-country proposal in the Middle East, supported by Jordan, Lebanon and Morocco.
Videos
Debate question on land distribution..., 6min. San Pedro Sun: Standard Bearers respond to a question regarding land. Its reads "Under both administrations there has been the give and take of property. How can you assure land is fairly distributed and rightfully owned?"
Belize: The Cayo District, 12min. Featuring the Rio Frio cave, Rio On Pools, Mopan River in Bullet Tree Falls, the Caracol Mayan Ruins, Howler Monkeys and more.
Beat a Pan, Not a Man - TRAILER - UNICEF Belize, 1.5min. "In these neighbourhoods children as young as 8 and 9 years old are literally born into the gang situation."
Watch the trailer for the upcoming documentary Beat a Pan, Not a Man, about a UNICEF supported initiative implemented by RESTORE Belize and the Belize National Institute of Culture and Heritage. The video tells the story about the Pandemonium Steel Band, and how it helps young people from Belize City escape their violent environment and instead play music, have fun and learn a new skill.
Spring to Belize for a Break in 2010, 5min. The simple things in life are free
Family with whom you can be...
A county that gives its all
at your beck and call
Diving Belize - Big Blue Hole, 4min. Our dive of the Big Blue Hole in Belize.
Belize Day 3, 4min.
Belize Day 4, 2min. Blue hole day... But I didn't shoot video on that dive :). Then a national heritage island break. Then rays!
Nixie and I zip lining in Belize., 8min. 10 yrs anniversary carnival Cruise in the Caribbean.