LOVE FM
Word at Work Brings 10,000 Toys for Belizean Children
The Word at Work is a ministry that mobilizes churches and individuals to answer God’s call to minister to those in need. The organization is here in Belize to donate over ten thousand toys to children all over Belize that are in need. To head the operation is an elderly couple Bob and Sharon Herdon […]
Big Creek Port Has Back Up Plan
While we were at the Port of Big Creek yesterday we managed to speak to the Shipping Manager, Gustavo Carrillo. Unlike what happens at the Port of the Belize Limited, with stevedores going on strike, nothing of that sort, or at least to our knowledge, happens at the Port of Big Creek in Independence Village. […]
Port Services Now Under Essential Services Act
A Statutory Instrument making the Port Services in Belize an essential service in Belize has been signed by Minister of Labor, Hugo Patt and published in today’s edition of the Government Gazette. The signing of this SI now signals that the workers at the Port of Belize will be prohibited from taking part in strikes […]
Court News: Aggravated Burglary … Firearm Offences
Three men who were charged in connection with the aggravated burglary at the home of Lebanon Honorary Consul Sarkis Abou Nehra and were remanded into custody released on bail offered to them today by Justice Herbert Lord. They are 22 year old Tyrone Meighan, 20 year old Brandon Baptist and 20 year old Jeffrey Buller. […]
Rural Police Destroys Marijuana Plantation
The Belize Rural Rapid Response team was in Biscayne Village on the Northern Highway this morning in the Belize District, conducting a search when they came across an eight hundred plant marijuana field. No one was in the area when the drugs were found therefore there were no arrests in this incident. The plants, however, […]
Road Safety Project Employee Not Practicing Road Safety
An accident occurred on the George Price Highway this afternoon sometime after midday. The accident happened around mile twenty six where thirty year old Franz Schmitt of Burrell Boom was working on the highway for the Road Safety Project and was, at the time of the incident, engaged in marking the highway. When the police […]
Graduation for Police Recruits
Police recruits graduate with official ceremony held in Belmopan, Fem Cruz reports.
Candidates for the PUP’s Party Leader Seat Won’t Speak to Media
The National Executive of the People’s United Party met this afternoon at Independence Hall in Belize City for a session that would determine the details of the upcoming Special National Convention. The media camped outside the headquarters on Queen Street for over two hours in the hopes of getting interviews primarily from the three men […]
PlusTV
Jack Charles denied importation of Guyanese rice
75 tonnes of Jack Charles’ controversial cheap Guyanese rice arrived by barge to the Big Creek Port in Independence Village Stann Creek early this morning. Our colleagues at KREM News were down south and spoke with Gustavo Carrillo, Manager of the Port, who told us when the shipment of three 20-fee...
Coast Guard receives equipment from military partners
Belize’s military partners in the United States have donated more than one million Belize dollars in equipment for maritime law enforcement to the Belize National Coast Guard, which was officially handed over today at their George Price Highway headquarters. With more on the donation here is Command...
Honduran Farmer caught with Cannabis
A Valley of Peace resident was arrested and charged with the offence of possession of a controlled drug. On Wednesday the 16th of December, a Special Operation was conducted in the Valley of Peace Village, where 47 year old Honduran Farmer Pablo Mancia Barahona’s house was searched. During the...
3 arrested for drug trafficking
Two residents of the Santa Rosa Village were arrested and charged with Drug Trafficking. On Wednesday the 16th of December, a search was conducted at the residence of 38-year-old Ramona Ack in the Santa Rosa Village. While doing the search, a discovery was made of a small rice sack containing a bott...
Man detained pending investigation
A man has been detained after allegedly having sex with a minor. On Wednesday, the 16th of December, a 12-year-old female accompanied by her mother reported that on Wednesday the 11th of November, she was taken to a house on Fairweather Street in Belize City by a male person where they had sexual in...
Ammunition found
A police search led to the discovery of ten 9mm live rounds. On Saturday, the 12th of December, police conducted a search in the Banak Street area, which led to the discovery of a black plastic bag which contained the Aguila Brand live rounds. No one was in the area at the time, so the ammunitions w...
Man escaped police leaving behind Cannabis
Five and a half pounds of Cannabis were found by police by the Mopan River. On Monday the 14th of December around 6:30 p.m., S.P.U personnel were conducting foot patrol on the banks of the Mopan River in Arenal Village when their attention was drawn to a male Hispanic person walking with a garbage b...
PUP moves toward national convention
The People’s United Party’s national executive met today in Belize City. It was decided that all positions will be contested on January 31, 2016. All the positions which are open, including leader and deputies, will be contested, but not all the positions of the national executive are cu...
The Reporter
Shooting leaves man critically wounded
A man lies critically wounded after he was shot in Belize City at around 10:25 a.m. on Friday. Police membere from Precinct 1 responded to the shooting in an alley between Magazine Road and Johnson Street, a short distance away from the Pound Yard bridge. […]
Man shot in Belize City
A man was shot about an hour ago in Belize City. The incident happened on Magazine Road and the victim was shot in the back of the head. The Reporter will have details of this incident as they become available.
Traffic accident on Phillip Goldson highway leaves 11 people injured
Eleven persons were injured, five of them critically, when the vehicle they were travelling on the Phillip Goldson highway on Thursday turned over. The white pick up truck, driven by Fernando Chan, a resident of Ranchito village, Corozal, had a right rear wheel blow-out between […]
COP21′s Paris Agreement signals beginning of the end for fossil fuel emissions
World leaders participating in the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNCCC) have declared that the world will be free of fossil fuel emissions within the century. After two weeks of negotiations hosted in France, the leaders of […]
Belize City and Chetumal sign sister-city agreement
The signing of sister-city relations between Belize City and the City of Othón P. Blanco (Chetumal) on Tuesday, formalizes the already close ties that Belizean shoppers and the business community of Quintana Roo have shared over the last three decades. Through this new agreement, […]
GOB partners with OAS and Caribbean nations for energy project
The Government of Belize this week held a three-day consultation in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS), to improve Belize’s energy sector. The Ministry of Energy and the Public Service hosted the consultation at the Belize Training and Employment Center (BTEC) on the […]
Mexico approves dengue vaccine
The Government of Mexico has approved the use of the first-ever vaccine for dengue fever. Mexico’s Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) approved the vaccine, Dengvaxia for use in people from 9 to 45, living in areas where dengue is endemic. Sanofi, […]
Women better educated than men in Belize, Insider Magazine states
Belize was ranked 12th of 19 countries with the highest ratio of women to men in higher education in an article by international publication, Business Insider Magazine. Belize is “another nation with a small population where women are far better educated than men. Women outnumber […]
US Coast Guard officer stabbed in San Pedro
San Pedro police are investigating an assault on a US Coast Guard officer who was stabbed twice in San Pedro last week Friday morning while on vacation. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Henry Jemmott, who heads the Police Department’s Coastal Executive Unit, Jennifer […]
ECLAC proposes debt relief for the Caribbean
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has proposed debt relief and the creation of a sub regional fund to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) deal with the effects of climate change. ECLAC presented the strategy during a side event at […]
Grocers increase sugar prices early; Consumer Protection Unit steps in
The Belize Bureau of Standards’ (BBS) Consumer Protection Unit has started to conduct inspection of grocery stores across the country that have been reported for selling sugar at the higher price of 75 cent a pound even before the January 1st date for the […]
Popular PG taxi driver stabbed to death
Punta Gorda police haven’t made any arrests but are following several leads into the stabbing murder of Elridgeville Village taxi driver, Antonio Rodriguez, 64, whose mutilated body was discovered around 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday on a remote feeder road in Punta Gorda. The Reporter […]
Ex-cop remanded to prison for drug trafficking
A former police officer, convicted of wounding his ex-girlfriend in 2014, has been nabbed by police again – this time for drug trafficking. Ronald Ragan Sutherland, 30, was dismissed from the police force after a conviction for wounding in 2014. He was under surveillance by […]
Three charged with stealing a cop’s ATM card walk free
Two sisters and a boyfriend, who claim they found a cop’s ATM card on the street and then engaged in a shopping spree are free, after spending almost $1,000 from the cop’s account. All three were picked up by police after viewing the surveillance camera […]
A look at movable assets and secured transaction reforms (Pt. 1)
It is certainly no secret that one of the most talked about constraint to small business growth in Belize, as well as in several other countries, is the limited access to credit. This limitation is often linked to the nature of collateral requirements, which is more often than not based […]
Maya Leaders Alliance receives Equator Prize 2015 in Paris
For the resilience they have shown in protecting their lands and managing the natural resources they inhabit, the Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA) was awarded the Equator Prize 2015 in Paris France, last week. The MLA was selected from among 1461 nominated groups for the Equator […]
Editorial
Christmas 2015 has arrived to a world full of dissension and heartbreak, hard times and the impending threat of global warming. The Christmas spirit of Peace on Earth has been shattered by religous venom between Sunni Moslems and Shiite which has exploded to engulf the whole world. The gifts of […]
Red flags spotted in Central Bank report
The Belize Central Bank, this week, released its 2015 second-quarter report, detailing figures regarding the country’s national external debt, labor force statistics, trade imbalance and the contraction of the credit sector.
Business Senator Mark Lizarraga told the Reporter on Thursday, that the report makes it clear that GOB continues to rely on borrowing. Most borrowed money is sourced from the PetroCaribe Fund.
However, Belize needs to start looking for ways to sustain the economy, as that program’s future is now questionable.
[…]
Who will lead the PUP?
The deadline for submissions for Leader of the People’s United Party (PUP) expired at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, and three persons are in the race for that position, while six are contending for the post of deputy party leader. The three vying for leader are: […]
Guyanese rice – it’s what’s for dinner – or not
A shipment of three containers with 75 tons of “Grade A” rice, imported from Guyana by businessman Jack Charles (Jitendra Chawla), to retail cheaper than local rice, arrived at the Big Creek port, Stann Creek on Thursday morning, but will remain there, at least for […]
Charge against 13 Mayas dropped
Thirteen Maya persons from Santa Cruz, Toledo, including Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA) spokesperson Cristina Coc, had the charge of “Unlawful Imprisonment” dropped after the prosecution withdrew the charge against them Wednesday. The group is happy they have one less charge to face when their case […]
Breaking Belize News
Why do Christmas turkeys cost so much?
This afternoon, we spoke with general manager of Quality Poultry Products Limited, Raymond Barkman, concerning the high prices of Christmas turkeys in this holiday season. The company was forced to import some 200,000 pounds of turkey from the United States after local turkey producers […]
Traffic accidents reported on major highways
A pair of traffic accidents were reported on both major highways in the Belize District on Thursday afternoon and earlier today. Around 1:30 in the afternoon on Thursday, the white Ford Ranger pickup being driven by Ranchito, Corozal resident Fernando Chan and carrying ten […]
Chamber approves change to essential service law for Port
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has issued a release congratulating Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his administration on the recent signing of the Statutory Instrument (SI) amending section 2 (a): Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act Chapter 298 of the […]
Battle over Baby Nina continues
Analiz Perez Gutierrez must wait until the New Year to learn if she will have custody of her baby daughter, 2 year old Nina Charlotte Perez. You may recall that in mid-November personnel from the Human Service Department forcibly removed baby Nina from her […]
Glenford Baptist still awaits fate
A sentencing hearing was scheduled today for Glenford Baptist, who earlier this year was removed from death row but still does not know how much longer he will remain behind bars if at all. Baptist has been incarcerated since 2001, convicted and sentenced to […]
Trio on bail for Abou-Nehra incident
Tonight, 3 men charged in connection with the home invasion of Consul to Lebanon Sarkis Abou-Nehra in Burrell Boom Village are out on Supreme Court bail with stringent conditions and of various amounts. Tyrone Meighan, to whom the DPP first had heavy objections to receiving […]
Police graduate 172
This morning some 172 new police officers “passed out” at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan. Addressing them was Minister of National Security John Saldivar, who said it was a priority of his Government to grow the police force, whose number now reaches 2,000 […]
Jury acquits trio of “going equipped” for kidnapping and firearm charges
A jury of nine this afternoon acquitted Tevin Abraham, Jamaal Tablada and Jarrett Usher of preparing to commit a crime, specifically kidnapping, as well as separate charges of keeping prohibited firearms and ammunition in the Supreme Court of Justice Adolph Lucas. This morning, Justice Lucas directed the jury […]
Government of Belize makes amendments to prevent abrupt stevedore strikes
A release from the Government Press Office earlier today, stated that Minister responsible for labour matters, Hugo Patt, signed a statutory instrument amending section 2 of the Laws of Belize Revised Edition 2011. The amendment deals with settlements of disputes in essential services and […]
One more arrested for burglary of Lebanese Consul’s home
A man known to the law for burglary has been added to the long list of culprits that are expected to serve jail time in connection with the break in and theft of thousands of dollars worth of cash and assorted items, including a […]
Belize Defense Force names soldiers of the year
On Wednesday, the Belize Defence Force hosted its annual Christmas Luncheon, a tradition in the national army where junior soldiers are served lunch by their superiors in honor of their commitment to the defense of Belize. A few of these good men and women […]
Jack Charles denied on Guyanese rice
75 tonnes of Jack Charles’ controversial cheap Guyanese rice arrived by barge to the Big Creek Port in Independence Village Stann Creek early this morning. Gustavo Carrillo, Manager of the Port told us the shipment of three 20-feet containers docked early Thursday morning and […]
New analysis machine for Forensics
At the headquarters of the National Forensic Science Service in Ladyville on Thursday afternoon, Ambassador Carlos Moreno handed over a machine known as the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer, GCMS for short, which is the latest model and a big boost to the substance analysis capability […]
Coast Guard’s new equipment from United States
Belize’s military partners in the United States have donated more than one million Belize dollars in equipment for maritime law enforcement to the Belize National Coast Guard, which was officially handed over today at their George Price Highway headquarters. Commandant of the Coast Guard, […]
Tremors from Mexican quake causes excitement in Belize
Around 1:50 p.m. yesterday, tremors of an earthquake that struck in Tonala, Chiapas, in southern Mexico were felt in many parts of Belize and Guatemala. The earthquake was registered at a 6.6 on the Richter scale, and it is estimated that 22.1 million people may […]
11 injured but no fatalities in Thursday afternoon accident
Yesterday afternoon around 1:30 there was a traffic accident around mile 34 and 35 of the Phillip Goldson highway near the old Intelco tower, which caused varying degrees of injuries to 11 people. According to reports, a white pickup being driven by Corozal resident Fernando […]
Caving in Belize – Venturing into the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave
Only discovered in 1989, it was open to the public eleven years later. The length of the cave is about three miles deep, with a river running through it. Mayans believed caves were the entrance to the underworld and they performed ceremonies and sacrifices within the depths of the caves. Throughout the years, they moved further into the cave to get even closer to their gods.
Upon entering the main chamber, visitors have the chance to see pottery remains (some are still perfect, some are calcified), sculpted stalagmites, and the skeletons of human sacrifices.
It’s a short and easy hike, with three strong river crossings to contend with. Naturally, our guide floated through the water like it was nothing. It was a little more work for the rest of us, pulling against the rope to help get to the other side. At the entrance of the cave, it was time to use the “facilitrees” and leave our water bottles behind. We donned our helmets and headlamps and started our swim at the mouth of the cave.
A Preview of A New Business On The West Side of Ambergris Caye – or ELSIE’S FIRST BOAT RIDE!
Found in Dangriga and nursed by the Hopkins Humane Society, Elsie made her trip to Ambergris Caye just over a year ago – THAT was technically her very first boat ride. At the time, she had four legs…one badly infected (though we didn’t know how bad).
Yesterday, we took her on a boat ride north and west on Ambergris Caye. On a boat named after her – her Yiddish name – Ester Gittel. (She also has a native American name: Lone Running Leg, a San Pedrana name: Elsa Paws and a Spanish name: El Cee.) Her “breed” has even been identified! She is a three legged teacup Great Dane.
We were visiting Jeff’s new venture – Cayo Frances Fish and Farm – about 10 miles up on the West Side of Ambergris Caye and things are coming along beautifully at this remote spot. Here’s a map of where it is…a beautiful piece of artwork done by Bill Specht. (Here is my post about the artist.)
Belizean Light Cake
cake tins. Preheat oven to 350 F/180 C.
Sift flour, salt, nutmeg and baking powder (set aside).
Cream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat eggs one at a time until very frothy.
Add to margarine and sugar. Mix well after each addition. If an electric mixer is used, mix at medium speed.
Add essence. Mix well.
Before adding flour, decrease speed of mixer to low.
Bake for 40 minutes at 350F/180C or until a tester is inserted in cake comes out dry. Cool before moving from cake tin.
Belizean Christmas Ham Recipe
Mix all ingredients Ham preparation: Place ham fat side up in roasting pan. Spread Grace Yellow Mustard over surface of ham. Roast (covered with foil) approximately 13-17 minutes per pound. Remove ham 20 minutes before finishing. Remove any skin. Cut ham's fat surface in uniform diamond shapes and insert cloves in each diamond. Brush on glaze. Bake 10 minutes (uncovered). Reapply glaze and cook for another 10-20 minutes or until glaze brown. Ham should be 135 degrees in center to ensure that cooking is complete.
Black Fruit Cake CHRISTMAS RECIPE
Stew all the fruit with 1 lb. brown sugar and rum. Cook the mixture until the liquid becomes thick syrup. Let the fruits cool overnight.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter along with 2 lbs. brown sugar and add in eggs one at time. Then add flour, baking powder, all spice, stout and caramel coloring one at a time to the mixture. Lastly, fold the stewed fruit to the mixture. To avoid having the stewed fruit sink to the bottom of the mixture, drain them, mix with 1 beaten egg and dredge in flour before adding it to the batter.
International Sources
Change of name for BCB Holdings Limited
BCB Holdings Limited (London - AIM: BCB; Bermuda - BBHL) (the "Company" or "BCBHL")
The Company announces that it intends to change its name to Caribbean Investment Holdings Limited. The Company will notify the market in due course once the new name, ticker symbol and ISIN are effective.
The Board believes that the new name is better suited to the Company's strategic focus and aspirations.
BCB Holdings Limited (BCBHL) is a parent holding company with no independent business operations or assets other than its investments in its subsidiaries, intercompany balances and holdings of cash and cash equivalents. BCBHL's businesses are conducted through its subsidiaries. The Belize Bank Limited (BBL) is incorporated and based in Belize and focuses on the provision of financial services and lending to domestic clients. Belize Bank International Limited is incorporated and based in Belize and focuses on the provision of financial services and lending to international clients.
BCB Holdings to change its name
Bermuda-based BCB Holdings is to change its name.
The firm is to become Caribbean Investment Holdings.
A spokesman said the board believed “the new name is better suited to the company’s strategic focus and aspirations.”
BCB Holdings is a holding company with no independent business operations or assets other than investments in subsidiaries, intercompany balances and holdings of cash or cash equivalents.
The firm owns the Belize Bank Ltd, which provides financial services and lending to domestic clients, as well as Belize Bank International Ltd, which provides the same services to international clients.
Both are incorporated and based in Belize.
8 Jaw-Dropping Tax Havens of the Filthy Rich
There are roughly 80 countries that are considered tax havens. These are secrecy jurisdictions with incredibly low to no taxes. Billionaires and millionaires flock to these places to take advantage of tax loopholes that allow them to establish offshore bank accounts and shell corporations, and pay virtually nothing. By doing so, they avoid the otherwise high tax rates they would pay in their home countries, without renouncing their citizenship.
Recently, the IRS announced plans to go after U.S. citizens holding offshore accounts. Still, that hasn't been a deterrent for a lot of wealthy individuals seeking to escape steep tax implications. Done correctly, offshore banking is completely legal. And you don't have to have tons of cash in order to seek out the reprieve tax havens offer. Because, in addition to the lenient tax laws, many of these nations are exotic travel destinations that offer outside investors simplified pathways to citizenship. Take a closer look.
Best known for the scuba diving and its astonishing Barrier Reef, Belize is a tropical paradise in the Caribbean Sea and just the place for anyone seeking discretion. English is the country's native language, though many habitants also speak Spanish. There are two pathways to citizenship: Permanent Residence and the Qualified Retired Person (QRP) program.
Permanent Residence status is applicable if you intend to earn income as an employee. Otherwise, you would be considered a QRP and all you have to do is spend four weeks of the year in Belize, while meeting a minimum yearly retirement income threshold. As a QRP, foreign income is tax-exempt and there's no tax on capital gains or inheritances.
Videos
Fly Fishing Belize, 4.5min. Fly Fishing in Belize. The footage was never intended to make a video with but hey.... here it is!
Snorkeling in San Pedro Belize, 11min. These shots were taken in Dec 2015 with my SJ 4000. The day was partly cloudy so some of the shots were under cloud cover. Lots of rays and sharks in the shots. Enjoy the waters of Belize
Welcome at Lower Dover Belize, 2min.
Drone over Hatchet Caye, 15sec.
Tropic Air Blue Hole Tour, 1min. Book your tour with Tropic Air today and see the Blue Hole of Belize the way it was meant to be seen, from the air.
A day in the life of Tropic Air, 3.5min. Time lapse of Tropic Air traffic at our main station in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
SCOROCO BELIZE 2015, 3.5min. Short video of my trip to Belize.
Belize Adventure x GoPro, 4min. Belize 2015 I Cocoa Beach Resort I Ambergris Caye
My Secret Deli, San Pedro, Belize, 1/2min. Our favourite dish was the stewed chucked. It came with potatoes, rice and beans and a fried plantain.
Living in Rural Belize, 10min.