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Specials and Events
Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials
The San Pedro Sun
Getting Hitched in Belize
We all dream of finding our better half to share the rest of our lives with. Once we have found Mr. or Ms. Right, we cement that love by tying the knot. What can make your extra special day better than getting hitched in Belize? Belize offers an incredibly diverse choice of wedding locations: from hidden waterfalls in the jungle to serene sandy beaches and even ancient Maya sites.There is always the dream location for every bride. Our melting pot of cultures is certain to give your destination wedding a unique feel like no other. Belize has the resources to cater to every couple’s style and budget. You won’t ‘Belize’ how amazing your wedding can be!
Wine, wine and more wine at Stella’s Smile
Located just a skip and a hop across the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge, Stella’s Smile is the new place in town that checks all the boxes when it comes to good eats, good service,great view and not to mention WINE :-)
There are no panty-rippers here however, weekly specials such as bottomless mimosas and bottomless sangrias have been making quite the buzz, attracting locals and tourists alike. After all, who doesn’t like all you can drink specials for prices as low as $25?!
To put a spin on things, you can even enjoy meals prepared by your favorite island chefs right here! Stella’s hosts chefs that prepare their best sellers and signature dishes from fellow island establishments such as Robin’s Kitchen, SandBar and much more. Enjoy an array of different specials such as grilled fish, tender barbeque, pizzas and burgers.
Dr. Otto Rodriguez Polyclinic receives donation
The Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic was the recipient of a much- needed donation courtesy of the Royal Palm Villas and medical personnel from Canada. The clinic received items for oxygen supply, neck braces, surgical supplies, medications, stereofils and patient gowns, among other items that the clinic needed. The donation was given on Thursday, November 5th and will be immediately put in good use. According to organizer Bonnie Musbach, every year, medical professionals that travel to Belize are kind enough to join the donation initiative and bring much needed medical supplies for the clinic. “Every year, we have people from Canada come down and bring items from their emergency facilities and likewise we organize something similar at the Royal Palm Villas. We always contact the polyclinic administrator and get a wish list from them and I put it out there and try to get what the polyclinic needs,” said Musbach.
Sunset to Stars evening to benefit SHINE Girls Club
The SHINE girls club invites everyone to a “Sunset to Stars” evening to benefit the program’s second semester on Wednesday, November 18th. Hosted by SHINE founder, Michelle Nuñez, in collaboration with On Eagles Wings Ministries (OEWM), the fundraising event will feature an evening of wining and dining at Rain Restaurant and Rooftop Terrace. The Sunset to Stars fundraiser will include a three course dinner special. It will start with a cocktail hour from 5:30PM to 6:30PM with a cash bar, with 10% of the proceeds going towards SHINE. During the cocktail hour, Bacon wrapped Dates, Traditional Italian Bruschetta and Melon wrapped in Serrano Ham will be served. Dinner service will then be from 6:30PM to 7:30PM. Guests will have a choice of red snapper Veracruz or Chicken Parmesan served with grilled vegetable medley and rosemary baked potatoes. The last course will be a specialty cupcake dessert.
Ambergris Today
Remembering When WE USED TO… in San Pedro Village No. 6
Landing On A Grass Airstrip:
Do you believe that landing on a grass airstrip is a bumpy landing? Not at all! I have landed countless times on grass fields and the pilots gave me the softest landing you can think of. Old timers in San Pedro remember when they USED TO land at the San Pedro Airstrip with pilots such as John Greif II. Then there was Roballo, Yasin Shoman, Charlie, and Mandy Castillo. After the land was cleared of bush and coconut trees, it was leveled and grass was allowed to grow on it. Oh yes, it was grass, but folks in San Pedro thought it was the greatest single achievement for our community. Just let me insert here my last bit of interesting information and it is that the commercial flights offered by Maya Airways were ONLY seven dollars one way. And in the 1960’s some folks still preferred to travel by the Elsa P Cargo Boat and passenger service for 50 cents to the Capital City of Belize.
Novelas By Books Not Television:
Doctora Corazon (Doctor Love), Lagrimas y Risas (Tears and laughter, Policiacas (Police Stories), Todavia Sueño Contigo (I Still Dream With you) were popular, weekly, book novela series that San Pedranos enjoyed in the 1950’s and 60’s. The fishermen who went on twelve-day expeditions to far away fishing sites also took their stock of comic books and novelas. I want to tell you that besides being a good source of entertainment, these books played a good role in developing reading and comprehension skills, the improvement of the Spanish language and building vocabulary all in one.
Misc Belizean Sources
BELTRAIDE and McNab Publishing launch Vol. 4 Invest Belize Magazine
BELTRAIDE, in partnership with McNab publishing launched Volume 4 of the Invest Belize Magazine on November 2, 2015. Since 2012, the Invest Belize magazine published by BELTRAIDE serves as an effective promotional platform for Belize, showcasing business success stories and investment opportunities. This platform has enabled businesses in Belize to be seen by thousands of readers every year both nationally and internationally.
The publication’s objective is to provide investors with firsthand information on Belize inclusive of up to date statistics, articles, success stories and ads of projects and services being offered by Belizean enterprises, thus truly enabling a one-stop-shop for matchmaking and promotion!
Prime Minister names Cabinet, Senators, CEO’s
***Highlighted in yellow are the Ministers of State and their responsibilities.
San Pedro 2015 Miss Garifuna Cultural Pageant
The San Pedro Garifuna Council in collaboration with the San Pedro Town Council bring you the 2015 Miss Garifuna Cultural Pageant! Come out and enjoy a night that promises to both fun and educational! Let us celebrate our Garifuna Brothers and Sisters!
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at the Hon. Louis Sylvestre Sports Complex, starting at 7:00 p.m. SEE YOU THERE!
CWWB Entrepreneurship Training
The Rotaract Club of Benque teamed up with Beltraide and the SBDC to bring a Costing and Pricing Workshop to the Cayo West Women in Business group. Entrepreneurship education enables everyone!
"BELTRAIDE through SBDCBelize & the Rotaract Club Of Benque Viejo partnered to deliver a Costing & Pricing Workshop to the Cayo West Women in Business Group in Benque Viejo Town. The women were very participative, and learned about the different types of costs incurred by a business. Moreover, they learned about the costs incurred in the production process, and how to properly price their products. We will act as mentors and provide guidance to apply the theory learned."
SISEHOC 5th Anniversary
Come and join us for the Cayo Art Festival 2015 at the Cayo Welcome Center.
AMBERGRIS STADIUM UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The San Pedro Town Council hereby informs the general public that the Ambergris Stadium located in the San Pablo area is currently under construction. We ask the public to abstain from performing any activities (practices and/or games) at the above-mentioned site for safety reasons.
The San Pedro Town Council thanks you for your full cooperation and understanding in this matter.
To all the LIZARD JUICE LOVERS
The original lizard juice is now available at as low as $150bz for 1 gallon or $50bz for 1 litter. (Plus shipping). Take it home after visiting Caye caulker. Call 631-1060 or 631-0995 for orders. Remember you can still enjoy the original lizard juice at Sip N' Dip bar (Mara's) or at Rainbow restaurant. We also supply lizard juice mix for special events.
Swearing In of Ministers and Ministers of State
ABC PRE-SCHOOL HALLOWEEN DRESS UP DAY
Every year the ABC Pre-School invites the San Pedro Town Council to visit the children dressed up in their halloween costumes before they go trick or treating around the neighborhood. We were excited to visit them and treat them with fun halloween cupcakes. There were princesses, pirates and lots of super heroes to save the day!
Power interruption 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 midday, Tuesday, November 10, Dangriga
Ecumenical Dr, Melinda Rd, Benguche Area, Wagierale Area, Commerce St, Market Square, Church St and Sisters of the Holy Family St. BEL to replace utility poles carrying high voltage lines in the area.
CAWS Cayo Chili Cookoff
The Cayo Animal Welfare Society is having a chili cookoff on Saturday, November 28th. If you can make some rockin' chili, then you can enter the contest. It'll be at the Soul Project, so there will be some amazing artisan wines there, like sorrel lime and tamarind. All the proceeds go to CAWS and the animals of Cayo.
"Mark the date! Share with friends! Got chili game? Contact info below. It all for a good "CAWS"."
Garifuna Exhibition at San Pedro House of Culture
Cultural Displays, Cassava making demonstration, Yurumein film showcase, Drumming, Garifuna food and Jonkunu dancers. Friday, November 13 at 11:00am - 9:00pm
Channel 7
Is New Cabinet Configuration A Demotion For Deputy Vega?
Prime Minister Dean Barrow settled into his third term this weekend with the nuts and bolts of administration - that is the selection of ministers of government. It's not an easy job, since constitutionally, only 12 of 17 elected representatives can be made into full ministers - and everyone wants to be a full minister - so inevitably, 5 of the 17 elected would be disappointed. And even among those full ministers, there's at least one who should be disappointed - and that's Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega. He was the Minister of Natural Resources, commonly known as the minister of lands - a king-making ministry which stands at the headwaters of patronage and power. But, on Saturday the Prime Minister told him he's transferring Natural Resources to Senator Godwin Hulse - who becomes the first senator/minister to control that mega-ministry. It sounds like a major demotion for Vega, who is now the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. Today at a press conference to present the new cabinet - we asked the Prime Minister about it:...
Jules Vasquez
"Are you able to speak about the apparent demotion of the Deputy Prime Minister? We see that he has lost the Ministry of Natural Resources. We know that that has always been synonymous with the post of the deputy prime minister and we also see that 5 of the 8 seats in the north are for the UDP."
Vega Not Vexed
So what does Vega have to say about it? The UDP's so called boss of the north - who played his part in delivering five of eight seats for the UDP in the north - told us that indeed the Ministry of Natural Resources was tiring him. But that doesn't mean, he didn't want something else:...
Jules Vasquez
"You've been all the talk this weekend Mr. Deputy Prime Minister that you got huffed. That they took away he prize jewel from you. How do you feel about it?"
Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister
"I don't know Jules. Mixed emotions that that lands department has really put a toll on me. I think it has cheated me from giving more time to my constituency, as increase the pain in my back and its mixed emotions. I would be lying if I say something else."
Jules Vasquez
"Now, have you indicated to the Prime Minister that....?"
Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister
"Yes, because at times it was just too much with the colleagues and the peer pressure of the colleagues wanting to deliver more and more and the public and then yet everything watching at you like a hawk. So, it gets to you and there was a time that I said, you know PM, you can have this Lands Department."
Pablo Marin and Wilfred Elrington Hold Unto Ministries
And while it surprised many in the public and political sphere that Vega lost Natural Resources and didn't gain any substantial ministry, for many it was equally, if not more surprising that two of the most publicly criticized ministers, Wilfred Elrington and Pablo Marin got to hold unto their ministries. Marin retains the Ministry of Health, while Elrington is still Foreign Minister - while the Attorney General's Ministry is passed over to newly named Senator Vanessa Retreage, who becomes the first female AG. But, the foreign ministry is where Elrington generated all the Guatemala controversy - so do these two appointments mean that the prime Minister is immune to public sentiment? He said that he is not, and that is why he has taken measures to improve the overall profile of the Health Ministry at the leadership level:...
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"We cannot be dismissive of public opinion. But I would say this starting with the Ministry of Health. All of us in cabinet were convinced that Pablo is an extremely hard working dedicated minister. But because as I said I am satisfied that Pablo gives it his all and that his all is more than decent.
PM Barrow Has Faith In Hon. Elrington
And so what about Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington. He won his seat in the Pickstock Division while going into a strong headwind of public opposition. And, so - you might think that as a reward - he gets to hold unto his job as foreign minister. But, it's not that simple. Prime Minister Barrow said he picked Elrington again, for a third term, because he's the best man for the job.
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"When it comes to Sedi, nobody can doubt that this man is a brain. This man is an intellect. I will tell you that abroad, Sedi Elrington as our Foreign Minister is held in extremely high regard."
"Now again admittedly, the people abroad doesn't vote here and I take the point that we do have to be concern about perception. But some of the criticism of the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, I would admit, I would allow in so far as the relate to form. I would not make one concession in so far as they relate to substance and I prefer substance over from any day. There are times when Sedi puts things in a way that's not calculated to win him any points from certain sections of the public.
Three Term Representative Castro Got A Major Snub
And while Elrington got to hold on to his ministry despite taking a battering in the media, not so for Edmond Castro. He fell from grace in the first term of the Barrow Administration over some supposedly shady land deal which reached the Prime Minister's hearing. Since then, he's been in a sort of political Siberia - and with this latest round of Cabinet allotments - he continues to be in the deep freeze. Instead of getting a full ministry, the three time representative is being made the minister of state of Transport and NEMO. For many in the UDP - it's seen as a slap in the face to the man from Rural North - and the Prime Minister acknowledged that it is a bitter pill to swallow:...
Jules Vasquez
"Explain to me why Mr. Castro, now on winning his 3rd straight re-election by comfortable margins, why he has not been rewarded with a full cabinet post? We see Mr. Pott after just his 2nd term is now awarded."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Again, it had to do with a number of things and I will concede that that was the most difficult decision of all and Edmund was not happy and I don't blame him.
Hon. Saldivar Stays With Security Despite Viral Video
And it seems "that's" also "that" for National Security minister John Saldivar. In spite of the video that went viral on facebook, and went on the news on Friday - showing him telling police to back off one of his gun wielding supporters. While we showed you him saying, "back off now," today, the Prime Minister had a very different version of that event:...
Jules Vasquez
"He restrained or he directed officers not to make an arrest of one of his supporters who by all indications had discharged a firearm in public. Is that something that you wade in re-assigning him to the Ministry of National Security?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"No sir. I don't know that he did any such thing. It is clear from what I saw that he did speak to the police. But to go from there to an assertion that he directed them not to arrest the gentleman is bit of a stretch. I was satisfied with the explanation that he gave me that this was while clearly something that was wrong and in fact illegal for this person to fire a shot or shots in the air in celebration.
PM Barrow Rewards Seniority, But What About Renewal?
And so, of the 11 full ministers who won re-election - 10 of them remain basically untouched - intact with their full ministries which we will go over shortly. But, the fact that they got to keep their ministries - most of them for a third term - demonstrates that Prime Minister Dean Barrow awards cabinet portfolios based on electoral seniority. We asked him if this augurs well for renewal in his party:...
Jules Vasquez
"How would you answer the criticism that perhaps you do that at the detriment of the renewal of your party? That perhaps the newly elected persons should have been given seniority over persons who may be shortly retiring. We think of Minister Martinez, we think of Minister Finnegan - there are rumors that they may be on their way out."
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well I've confirm with both of them that that is indeed the position and it's been made clear that in that context, it is expected that the two will withdraw from their ministries well in advance of the next general election date and at that time there is obviously going to be a reconfiguration."
Ministers of State Status For Newcomers
And so while all the full Ministers got back their main portfolios - with the exception of Deputy Gaspar Vega - what about the newcomers like Elodio Aragon, Tracey Taegar Panton and Beverly Castillo? Well, along with more recent new representatives like Frank Pawpa Mena and Omar Figueroa - they will all be Ministers of State. But, in a Barrow Cabinet - a minister of state is kind of like a minister:...
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"The ministers of state which we treat as members of cabinet, as full members of cabinet on a practical basis. Those ministers of state are going to be assigned some of the portfolio subjects in the particular ministries and it is expected that those ministers of state will be responsible entirely for the day to day administration of those particular portfolio subject areas."
Are Ministers Of State Legal?
But is this "day to day administration" by ministers of state even legal? After all, the laws, all fo them say, "the minister shall" - those laws say nothing about ministers of state. We asked the Prime Minister about this today:...
Jules Vasquez
"You use measure of precision in your language when you said "it is expected that the ministers of state will be responsible for these subsidiaries responsibilities." However, in deed it has to be an expectation because the way the law is setup, the power, the authority is conferred solely in the minister. So the two questions arise; 1) no minister is under any legal compulsion to delegate such authority and 2) is it legal if they operate really as full ministers signing legislation or statutory instruments or whatever the case may be?"
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Well, to answer the first half of your question, while I concede what you urge with respect where the formal legal authority has to continue to reside. So we really have no fear at all that this will not work. Everybody is onboard. While it is true that if a substantive minister wishes to resist, he will have the law on his side. He won't have right on his side.
Cabinet, The Full Picture
And so here now is a full rundown of the new cabinet. The Prime Minister will be Minister of Finance, Public Service, Energy and Public utilities, with responsibility for the last three going to his minister of state Frank Pawpa Mena and CEO Peter Allen.
Gaspar Vega is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture with CEO Jose Alpuche, and Fisheries and Forestry with CEO Colin Young. His other portfolios, Environment, Sustainable development and Climate change will go to Minister of state Omar Figueroa.
Erwin Contreras stays on as the Minister for Economic Development and gets Petroleum added to that, where he will be assisted by CEO Yvonne Sharman Hyde. His Minister of State Tracey Taegar Panton will take responsibility for the other assignments in his portfolio; these are, Investment, Trade and Commerce with first time CEO Amparo Masson.
There's no change for Housing Minister Michael Finnegan, who stays with CEO Denton Belisle.
Minister of Education Patrick Faber, stays with CEO David Leacock and sees Science and Technology added to his ministry, while his minister of state Elodio Aragon will take responsibility for Culture, Youth and sports.
Mexican Fraudster In Jail For Drivers' License
Last week, 7News was the first to report on 47 year-old David Miguel Nanes Schnitzer a fugitive wanted by Interpol and Mexican and US Authorities who was caught on San Pedro. He's believed to be a major player in a multi-billion dollar ponzi scheme with defrauded thousands of investors in Latin America. So tonight, after being on the run, he's at the Belize Central Prison after allegedly being busted with a fake driver's license in San Pedro Town.
So, why is he a big deal internationally right now? Well, an Interpol warrant says that Schnitzer helped convicted financial criminal Allen Stanford to defraud thousands of victims of $7 Billion dollars, the largest fraud scheme in US History.
Investors in this ponzi scheme were focused mainly in Latin America, including Mexico, Panama and Venezuela, and they suffered hundreds of millions of dollars in losses when Stanford's financial empire collapsed. Stanford is serving 110 years in prison for his conviction of financial crimes.
BDF and Brits Shoulder to Shoulder
A week ago, we told you how the BATSUB has returned to Belize both in numbers and for increased training activities. Right now, there are 2 training courses that they are offering to selected BDF Soldiers, those being the Fire Team Commanders and the Skill At Arms regimens.
Those BDF soldiers in training, along with the squad from the British Army in Belize, took on a 9 mile march and shoot competition early SUNDAY morning. It's a very tough test of wills and endurance, and the BDF invited our news team out to observe how the soldiers performed. Daniel Ortiz has that story:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
These BDF soldiers may look right in form as they hoist their rifles and fire round after round at the targets.
If you look more closely, however, you'll start to see signs on fatigue on them, sweat drenched uniforms, and maybe a little quickening in their breathing. After all, they had just run about 9 miles before being expected to perform perfect marksmanship. Just the running itself is taxing, both physically and mentally.
Cops Caught "Cattle" Thief, But Score No Reward Money
A man has been sent to jail for 1 year and 6 months in prison for cattle theft in Maskall Village. Corozalito resident Roberto Rodriguez was charged with 2 counts of cattle theft and 2 counts of handling stolen goods. Police told us that Rodriguez stole 2 horses and 2 saddles from Maruba Resort on 2 separate occasions: Rodriguez stole a horse and a saddle on Oct 26th and went back on November 2nd to take another horse and saddle. But police caught up with Rodriguez and he was arrested and charged on Friday. One of the horses was worth $2,000. Now as you all may remember Belmopan Police and The Belize Livestock Producers Association signed off on a cattle bounty in August. The agreement is that any officer who arrests and convicts anyone who is involved in cattle rustling will receive a $5,000 reward. Well, Maskall police were quite disappointed when they found out the reward is only for cows not for horses - although both are called "Cattle" in the lawbooks. When we spoke to the Livestock Association this evening they confirmed that it is specifically cows - so Maskall police do not get the reward. According to the association, no police officer has been rewarded as yet.
VIP Says it Will Challenge Election Outcome
Last week, we showed you our interview with the Chief Elections Officer, as she discussed why the 31 constituencies were not re-districted for proportionality before the elections. Well, the Political Party, VIP, and the Souther Coalition For Equal Political Representation and Development is taking the Elections and Boundaries Commission to Court.
A release from the VIP says that their attorney, Hubert Elrington, will get an opportunity to make their case in the Supreme Court on December 7.
Their original claim form says that they are seeking to have the court declare that the Commission must comply with the Constitution, that the 31 electoral divisions be altered or re-divided, and that the General Elections - which happened last week Wednesday - be postponed until the Commission complies with Section 90 of the Constitution.
Min. Of State Beverly Castillo Says She's Qualified
So as we told you in the first segment, the new cabinet has been named, and we spoke with a few senior ministers and new appointees. Well, among those newly appointed is Beverly Castillo. She got 2,560 votes in Belize Rural Central - beating her opponent Dolores Balderamos Garcia by 58 votes. So with that victory, she was officially appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration. Now for some, her appointment is praised and celebrated primarily because she is a woman but when we asked her about that she told us it has nothing to do with that, it has to do with her intellect and competency as a member of the cabinet.
Hon. Beverly Castillo, Minister of State, Immigration
"Well I am humbled. I believe in making that appointment as Prime Minister indicated to me that he feels that I am capable and competent, at least based on my past experiences in the public service and what I have done so far. He is depending on me. I have assured him that I will not let him down, my family and by extension myself."
Criminologist Aragon Happy To Help With Youth
Another Minister of State who says his skills and education will effect change is Elodio Aragon Jr. He was appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Education with a focus on culture, youth and sports. Now some may question why he wasn't given the post in the Ministry of National Security - given his experience as a former Deputy Commissioner of Police and a trained criminologist. He told us that he respects the Prime Minister's decision and that in his view, there is no better reward than working with the youth in education.
Mike Rudon, Ch5
"Looking at the portfolio in which you have been given. Would you expecting something more in the line of national security because of your career as a police officer?"
Hon. Elodio Aragon Jr., Minister of State - Youth, Sports and Culture
"Well of course, that is always the first impression you have. You are professional in an area - you might think well may be that is that area that I would best serve. But when you think about it, what is bigger than dealing with the young people in this country when it comes to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and I do think that there is a big impact that can be done there. Definitely being in that position I think it's a great opportunity for us to begin to look seriously of how we deal with our young people, how we develop sports in this country and deal with culture. I do think that an opportunity that I am glad to take up and I am looking forward to making things happen in that ministry."
Vega Says "Monchi" Outspent Him On Election Day
And while Aragon's star is rising as the new representative from Orange Walk East - and one who won by a commanding margin - could the UDP's boss of the north in Orange Walk, Gaspar Vega see his political star descending? Vega saw his margin of victory reduced significantly in Orange Walk North - and now he doesn't hold a powerhouse ministry. We asked him if this affects his electability:
Jules Vasquez
"Do you think this will affect you in Orange Walk North?"
Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister
"I always take it a day at a time Jules. I always tell in my constituency and as a leader if I have to bribe my colleagues to support me, well then there is clearly something wrong right at the beginning. In my constituency, the way I run my campaign and you can ask anyone, I don't pay any campaigners to campaign for me. I don't buy any votes. I deal with my people personally on a one on one basis and that's my strength. If that is not good enough to lead, then I must go and take care of my business too."
Jules Vasquez
"Four years from now when the party starts looking for a new leader, is it a post that you might be interested in?"
Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister
"I'll have to wait until then."
Ambassador Alexis Met Guat Pres-Elect Jimmy Morales
And in our final bit from today's press conference, Prime Minister Barrow commented on his Guatemalan counterpart Jimmy Morales. Belize's Ambassador to Guatemala Alexis Rosado met president- elect Jimmy Morales - and here's what the PM said about it:...
Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
"Ambassador there had a chance to meet with the President Elect Jimmy Morales and his message to me was professional and perhaps even conciliatory, but given how much of a hinge issue Guatemala remains we will constitute a sort of cabinet standing committee of the cabinet to keep a close brief - a watching brief with respect to the Guatemala issue. I was told by Alexis that the President Elect has indicated that rather than having this sort of ceremony at which all heads of state and government in the region and in deed in the hemisphere would be elected, he is thinking to limiting it to just the Central American sub region - the SICA sub region and he's expressed the hope that I will attend. Well, we will see about that."
Cop Remanded For Sex With Child
31 year-old Police Constable Hector Esquivel is on remand at the Belize Central Prison tonight after he was taken to court for allegedly engaging in intercourse with an under-aged girl.
The child, a 14 year-old, told police that on Sunday, November 1, Esquivel had sex with her, and after her report was investigated, and police arrested and charged him for unlawful sexual intercourse.
That's not a bailable offence, and so, Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer remanded him until December 18.
Nestor Knows The OAS
Nestor Mendez, the First Belizean ever to be elected as the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, is in Belize right now. He's here to visit with the officials at the OAS Office in Belize, and as part of an entrepreneurial workshop held by BELTRAIDE.
We'll show you that later in the news, but first, to Mendez's first visit back to Belize since taking up the second most senior post of the OAS. In his official capacity today, he congratulated Prime Minister Barrow for his historic third term in office.
H.E. Nestor Mendez, Assistant Sec. Gen. - OAS
"Let me start by presenting our sincerest congratulations to Prime Minister Barrow and the government and people of Belize on the peaceful and transparent general elections of last week in which the Prime Minister's administration was re-elected to power for a historic 3rd term."
Daniel Ortiz
"Do you intend to make any courtesy calls on him?"
H.E. Nestor Mendez, Assistant Sec. Gen. - OAS
"I certainly will try. The Prime Minister is very busy between today and tomorrow and I'm leaving on Wednesday, but certainly I will try and visit the country."
Cabinet Sworn In
Earlier we told you who's who in the cabinet - with the assignment of all the portfolios. And this afternoon in Belmopan all the Ministers and Minister of State were sworn in by the Governor General. They collectively took their oath of office - and here's how that looked:..
After taking their oath - they all signed the oath before the GG.
They are also newly elected members of House of Representatives and they will meet for the first time on Friday - when the 31 members will be sworn in. The new senate will also be sworn in at that time. Today the Prime Minister named his appointments to that upper house - as it is called. The senate is led by President Lee Mark Chang, followed by Leader of Government Business Godwin Hulse, and he is joined by five new senators. They are losing Freetown Candidate, Dr. Carla Barnett, attorney Aldo Salazar, attorney Francine Burns, banker Steve Duncan and educator Macario Coy. And a correction to what we reported earlier: Attorney General Vanessa Retreage is not a senator - the law does not require for her to be a senator to be A-G.
Young Americas Business Trust IN BELIZE
Today, the Small Business Development Center, an arm of BELTRAIDE opened a workshop in partnership with the Young Americas Business Trust.
It's a business lab focused on intellectual properties and the commercialization of creative industries. BELTRAIDE will be working with officials from YABT, the OAS, Trade Organizations from Israel.
7News stopped by the opening ceremony and spoke with a few of the partners:
A correction to what I said just now, the Small Business Development Center, is an arm of BELTRAIDE.
The training continues for the rest of the week and ends on Friday.
Harvest For Kids, Soybean Edition
We've shown you them dealing with corn many times, but this weekend, The Harvest for Kids team harvested their first Soy Bean crop in Orange Walk. About 30 city kids traveled to Blue Creek, Orange Walk on Saturday to see 8 combines dredge through 40 acres of Soy bean. It was as successful as the corn harvest in October and one of the coordinators told us that they already have buyers lined up for the soy bean. All the proceeds from the sale of these crops will go to the kids at Belize Camping Experience.