CTV3
Elrington Speaks On Belize/Guatemala Disputes
Following the PUP’s successful trip to the Sarstoon in which they circled the Island without interference from the Guatemalans on June 3rd, unofficial information was that the Guatemalans sent a letter to the Government of Belize declaring that they still exercise sovereignty over the Island. They reportedly added that the excursion taken by the PUP of less than 20 people was not intercepted by the Guatemalan Armed Forces because the Guatemalans had been informed about the trip and they recognized that it was meant as an educational visit. Today, during an interview with the media, Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington was questioned about those allegations.
Honorable Wilfred Elrington – Minister of Foreign Affairs: “I not only was told that but I was told that by word of mouth and by the Foreign Minister of Guatemala and I was shown the boats, I think they were two boats going around because the Guatemalans had photographed them, they did not see the drone but it was on top photographing every move they made and the Guatemalan do it...”
Belize Has New Deputy Prime Minister
After his recent victory as the new First Deputy Party Leader of the United Democratic Party today the Hon. Patrick Faber was sworn in as the new Deputy Prime Minister of Belize by the Governor General of Belize Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in the City of Belmopan. Following the ceremony, Faber spoke to the media and addressed important issues of unity that have been surrounding the party since the Deputy Leadership convention that was held last week.
Honorable Patrick Farber – Deputy Party Leader: “They all as well accept that I am now the new deputy leader of the party that I am now the Deputy Prime Minister of the country and in fact things have improved tremendously from last week when you camp out in front of the Cabinet and I will expect that things will continue if there is anything that you continue to persist that there is still something under the circus I am telling you that by the time that we get by that 2020 convention there will not be that kind of feeling at all.”
Corozal Well-Known Mechanic Loses Life In Houston Texas
A well-known mechanic from Corozal Town is tonight dead after he was involved in a traffic accident in West Mount Houston, Northwest Harris County. Reports coming out of Houston indicate that the accident happened at about 8:30 this morning as this black Nissan Xterra driven at the time by Lenox Young better known as DJ Tambran was coming out of Import Center Junk Yard on Highway 249. We understand that as the vehicle entered into the highway the driver of this pickup truck ran into the driver side of the Xterra killing Tamay on the spot. Also traveling in the Xterra at the time of the incident was 55 year old retired Superintendent Amin August from the Cayo District. Today via phone from Houston Texas August spoke to us about the dreadful accident.
LOVE FM
Foreign Minister Weighs in on Vega’s Speech in Cuba
Yesterday we told you of Belize being represented in Cuba by the former Deputy Prime Minister Gasper Vega and Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington. That meeting saw Vega carrying out his last deed as the Deputy Prime Minister in delivering a speech that caught Guatemalan President, Jimmy Morales off guard as Vega spoke of the aggression […]
OAS Prepare to Launch Investigation into Death of Guatemalan Child
The Organization of American States is looking to launch the investigation into the shooting death of the 13-year-old Guatemalan child who was killed in the Chiquibul area of the Cayo District. Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington explained where the process is currently at. WILFRED ELRINGTON ” The Guatemalan minor, Julio Rene Alvarado was shot in April […]
Two Men Detained for City Shooting
This evening around five o’clock there was a shoot out on Vernon Street where it is suspected that one male individual from a gang fired shots at another male individual from a rival gang. The police have apprehended two people who they suspect to be the intended victim and the shooter. Assistant Commissioner of Police […]
The Guats Were Spying on the PUP at the Sarstoon
Last week the People’s United Party made a trip to the Sarstoon in the form of an educational venture with the participation of the party’s officials and parliamentarians. Opposition Leader, John Briceno had told Love News that the Prime Minister was informed of their intention. Incidentally, there were no Guatemalan armed forces blocking them from […]
Duo Busted with Out -of-Season Hicatee Turtles
While the Hicatee turtle is considered a delectable dish, there are regulations that come with catching these turtles. The Fisheries Department in Belize City made a huge bust today. Acting on information received, the officers caught two men, one in Ladyville Village and one in Biscayne Village with three and thirteen turtles respectively. Fisheries Officer […]
Faber Replaces Vega as Deputy Prime Minister
Minister Patrick Faber was sworn in this afternoon as the Deputy Prime Minister at the Belize House in Belmopan, Cayo District. Faber told the media this afternoon that he has plans of hard work in an effort to reach his goal of leading the country as the Prime Minister. Faber also spoke of the evident […]
Godwin Hulse Confronts Cabinet Colleagues
Last week we told you of a meeting held post-Cabinet where some demands or requests were brought before the Prime Minister involving the Deputy Prime Minister’s post as well as that of the Minister of Lands, Godwin Hulse. Since his taking over of Lands, there have been reports that Hulse’s Cabinet colleagues are unhappy of […]
Hulse Cleans Hotbed Mess at Lands Department
In October 2013 the Prime Minister Dean Barrow referred to the Lands Department as a hot bed of corruption. It has been an area of concern for many years as there have been under table deals and cases of fraud; a status quo that Minister Godwin Hulse has been trying to change via a new […]
PlusTV
Man shot in the face at Dangriga gambling establishment
A man was killed in Dangriga on Friday night. 35 year old John Rodriquez was shot to the face while he was at a gambling establishment on Havana street. According to police, on Friday night at about 11 o’clock, Rodriguez was in the establishment playing one of the electronic gambling machine along w...
Guilty of double murder; Ervin Reneau jailed for life
45 year old Ervin Alexander Reneau accused of the murders of security guards 39 year old David Allan Longsworth and Edgar Ayala almost six years ago on November 30, 2010 was convicted by Supreme Court Justice Adolph Lucas, sitting without a jury. Delivering the oral judgment today, Justice Lucas sta...
UDP sweeping village council elections so far
The first round of village council elections got on the way this weekend, Sunday June 5th. 43 villages got to choose a village chairman and 6 village councilors this past Sunday; 301 seats in total for the first wave of village council elections. The United Democratic party has continued with its ti...
Body of man found floating in San Pedro waters
San Pedro police are investigating the sudden death of an American national on the island. Police say that the 66 year old man was found floating in the sea by a watch patrol in the area. Initial investigation reveals that the American national, whose name police have not released as yet, was standi...
OAS Independent Commission starts investigation next week
An Independent Commission sent by the OAS will start its investigation into the death of the Guatemalan minor Julio Rene Alvarado who was killed while illegally poaching in Belizean territory. The minor was shot after the Belize Defense Force were shot at by Guatemalans in the Chiquibul Rese...
Belizean spring authorized for Guatemalan use?
While Guatemala continues to say that Belize has violated the human rights of its people because Guatemalans who shoot after BDF have been injured or killed in self defense, Belize continues to show good will to the Guatemalan citizens. Despite protests from some sections of the Belizean society, Gu...
DPM Vega addresses Belize Guatemala issue 7th Summit of the Association of Caribbean States
Early last week, PlusNews had informed the nation that Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega would step down to allow Patrick Faber to become Deputy Prime Minister after one last representation of the nation internationally. That representation took place at the 7th Summit of the Association of Caribbe...
Amandala
“John Jay” killed in Dangriga game room
Popular karaoke singer and Sweet Pain Band guest singer, John Narcissus “John Jay” Rodriguez, Jr., 35, of Hopkins, the father of a little girl, died after he was shot in the left side of the head at about 11:00 Friday night in the Havana electronic game room on Havana Road in Dangriga Town while he and three others were playing electronic games.
The witnesses reported that at about 11:00 that night, three robbers entered to rob the game room and ordered the cashier to open her area so that they could enter to steal the money from the cash register, but she refused, and that was when one of the bandits, who was armed with a 9mm pistol, fired a shot at the men, who were playing on the machines.
The slug grazed the neck of Stanley Venai, 38, one of the men playing on the machines, but struck Rodriguez in the left side of the head. The three robbers then ran away empty handed.
Rodriguez fell to the floor and died almost immediately
“The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, dead at 74
The world paused in grief last Friday when the announcement was made that the greatest sportsman to set foot inside the boxing ring, the former three-time heavyweight champion of the world, Muhammad Ali, had died at the age of 74.
Muhammad Ali died at Honor Health Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center, where he was admitted on Thursday for a respiratory ailment. He also suffered from Parkinson’s disease, with which he had been diagnosed and had been battling for 32 years, Bob Gunnel, a family spokesman, said on Friday.
Muhammad Ali was arguably the most famous athlete on planet earth, and his boxing career, which spanned several decades, was nothing short of exciting, colorful and charismatic, as the champ was also a confident man who was not short of lyrical expressions, which emanated from his immense self-confidence.
Muhammad Ali had a voracious appetite for seeing the world and had travelled to many places, including British Honduras (Belize) in July 1965, and many Belizeans remember that historic trip.
Did famous drag queen die of poisoning?
Vanessa Champagne Paris, 21, born Perfilio Rodriguez, who was noted for dressing like, and living the life of, a woman despite being biologically male, died of what is suspected to be food poisoning on Friday night, June 3. According to Independence police reports, Rodriguez had gone to Dangriga on the morning of Wednesday, June 1, to apply for his Social Security card and other personal documents.
When he returned to Independence on Wednesday night at around 8:30 p.m., he reportedly began to complain of chronic pain in the stomach. On Thursday, his father found him almost unconscious on the floor at their home and rushed him to a polyclinic and then to the Southern Regional Hospital on Friday after his condition had worsened.
On Friday, June 3, at about 10 p.m. Rodriguez was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
Ervin Reneau, 44, gets life for double murder
A Belize City man who has been on remand since 2010 when he was first accused of a double murder at a Belize City gas station will now take up a permanent residence at the Belize Central Prison after he was found guilty of the double murder and was sentenced to life in prison this morning in the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Justice, Adolph Lucas, who heard the two indictments against Ervin Reneau, 44, without a jury, handed down his guilty of murder ruling this morning. Reneau was found guilty on the first indictment for the unlawful death of David Longsworth, 39, and Edgar Ayala, a security guard who was posted at the Texaco gas station.
Justice Lucas told Reneau, “On the whole of the evidence, I am sure that you shot and killed David Longsworth on 30 November 2010, and that you had no legal justification or partial excuse to cause his death. Therefore I find you guilty on the first count of the indictment.”
Opposition leader John Briceńo leads PUP on successful Sarstoon trip
The Leader of the Opposition, flanked by his chairman, deputy party leaders, senators and other party officials, led a successful expedition to the Sarstoon on Friday, June 3.
The Prime Minister quickly sprang into action, contacting the Guatemalan Foreign Minister and then the OAS Secretary General, after he was informed in an act of courtesy on Thursday by Hon. John Briceńo about the PUP’s proposed Sarstoon trip.
Senior PUP officials claim that the purpose of this trip, organized by the PUP leader, was not to gain political mileage nor to stir provocation, and therefore, none of the media houses were initially invited to join. However, word was leaked to them and they soon found themselves onboard.
The large blue boat which carried the senior PUP officials was scheduled to leave the docking area by Joe Taylor Bridge, near Punta Gorda, at 10 a.m. However, it left almost an hour later, as the contracted captain almost abandoned the PUP expedition, as was the case when the first Sarstoon trip was announced by the PUP.
Belize most vulnerable in Central America to sea level rise
Earlier this week, we picked up a brochure from a booth display set up by the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency financing to Belize’s private sector, with an offer of up to $200,000 per project for upgrades and installation. The scheme is being financed by a $2 million investment window established by the DFC in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank and the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology and Public Utilities.
According to the publication, by 2100 Belize’s population is projected to reach 1 million, but at the same time, substantial portions of the country could be under water due to sea level rise, exacerbating demand for natural resources. Global warming is said to be the culprit, and the novel energy financing is intended to help scale back some of its effects.
In March, research published by the Nature journal and featured in the Washington Post indicates that sea levels are rising twice as fast as had been previously estimated, and the projection says that it will rise more than 6 feet by the end of the century.
BDFA 1st Division Football Competition Week 5 results
The Belize District Football Association (BDFA) 1st Division Football Tournament 2016 continued over the weekend with Week 5 games at the MCC.
On Saturday, June 4, Eiley FC clipped Lake I Bombers, 1-0, with a goal from Dalton Cayetano (8’).
In Sunday’s opener, Ladyville Jaguars and FC Elite played to a 2-2 draw. Brandon Cacho (18’) and Juan Ardon (85’) scored for the Jaguars, while Kevin Young (11’) and David Ramos (70’) tallied for FC Elite. And in the nightcap, it was Stars Academy keeping their undefeated record intact with a 2-0 win over West Lake, courtesy of a goal each by Ryan Simpson (21’) and Steven Baizer (83’).
There are 4 more weeks of regular season games remaining before the top 4 teams go on to the knockout semifinals.
Football family mourns the passing of Herbert “H.A.” Trapp
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) extends sincere condolence to the Trapp family of Esperanza Village, Cayo, on the loss of Herbert Trapp. “H.A” as he was known to many, contributed to the sport of football in Belize in his early days, and left a tremendous impact on the then youths of the country, especially those in the Cayo District.
The FFB will continue to recognize the late Mr. Trapp for his good will and contributions to the sport. He will be sadly missed by all football enthusiasts throughout Belize. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
(Ed. Note: Our sincere condolences also from the sports desk to all members of the Trapp family in Esperanza. H.A.’s Esperanza Warriors, which included a number of his younger brothers, was one of the founding member teams in the first Belize semipro league back in 1991.)
Belize District Primary School Football Champions 2016
Today at the MCC Grounds, the finals were held for the Belize District Primary Schools Football Competition 2016; and when it was over, St. John Vianney had emerged as female champions and San Pedro RC as male champions.
Below are the teams that played today and their respective titles coming into the finals:
MALE: St. John Vianney (1st place Belize City); Hattieville Gov’t (1st place Rural); Belize Elementary (2nd place Belize City); San Pedro RC (2nd place Rural).
FEMALE: Belize Elementary (1st place Belize City); Ladyville Evangelical (1st place Rural); St. John Vianney (2nd place Belize City); San Pedro RC (2nd place Rural).
Females played 15-15 (15 minute halves), while the males played 20-20; and the tournament followed a simple knockout format, with no third place games played.
Muhammad Ali (1942-2016)
After the young Cassius Marcellus Clay won Olympic gold in the light-heavyweight boxing class at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, he turned professional under a management syndicate of twelve millionaires from his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
There is absolutely no indication that any of these twelve rich men were black, and Cassius Marcellus was, of course, a black American. The issue of race in America was not one with which the people of British Honduras, which had a majority black population in 1960, were well acquainted at the time. The slavery of black people had been abolished in the United States in 1865, but it was followed by something called “Jim Crow” in the mainly agricultural Southern states.
Jim Crow was something like apartheid in South Africa, in that it involved the separation of the white and black races. Jim Crow was supposed to mean “separate but equal,” but the race separation, referred to as “segregation” in America, led to the growth of plush, luxurious white facilities and institutions, such as schools, hospitals, entertainment centers, and other public institutions, while their black equivalents were rundown and dilapidated. In addition, and more startling, the violence perpetrated with impunity by whites against blacks, featuring lynchings organized by racist white groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, became the bloody brand of Jim Crow in the American South.
From the Publisher
Soon after the People’s United Party (PUP) were swept back into office in late August of 1998, they made a decision to divest or privatize Radio Belize. As a result of how that PUP administration carried out that divestment/privatization, a former public officer became a multimillionaire. All the “good stuff” from 40 years of the British Honduras Broadcasting Corporation (BHBS) and Radio Belize were given to LOVE FM, which had begun broadcasting in February of 1993, while the scraps went to KREM Radio, which had begun broadcasting in November of 1989.
For history’s and journalism’s sake, there are many questions which should have been asked and which should still be asked about the birth of LOVE FM and the divestment/privatization of Radio Belize. But it is not for me to ask those questions, because, as an interested party, I would have a conflict of interest during the course of any such an investigation.
Whatever the case, as a former performer in various capacities on BHBS and Radio Belize from the mid-1950s until the late 1970s, I have the right to ask what happened to all the BHBS and Radio Belize tapes. What happened to the library? What happened to all the records and archives? The taping technology was old school, of course, but the taping technology and the technicians at the monopoly radio station were world class.
IMF concedes that neoliberalism “increased inequality”
Out of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) the Deputy Director Jonathan D. Ostry, the Division Chief Prakash Loungani and Economist Davide Furceri of the Research Department have published a report entitled “Neoliberalism: Oversold?” offering some insider dissent to the exploitative political, social and economic ideology with which most of us live, today.
Aditya Chakrabortty responded to the report with a Guardian article entitled, “You’re witnessing the death of neoliberalism – from within”, in which he explains the importance of the report’s title, alone: “For so long mainstream economists and policymakers have denied the very existence of such a thing as neoliberalism, dismissing it as an insult invented by gap-toothed gap-toothed malcontents who understand neither economics nor capitalism.”
Its proponents have at once denied that neoliberalism exists, while simultaneously pushing its agenda. Much like the shock that former US president Bill Clinton caused when he referred to “neo-colonialism” while in Haiti, a country whose economy he devastated.
Guatemalans stealing our fish in plain view
At this weekend’s summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) held in Havana, Cuba, Belize’s minister with responsibility for fisheries said in his remarks to the 25-member group that the right of Belizean fishers to access our side of the Sarstoon for fishing is being violated by Guatemalans, whose military have been blocking Belizeans from entering the river.
At the same time, though, there are reports to our newspaper that Guatemalans continue to have free access to Belize’s side of the river, where they illegally engage in unsustainable commercial fishing practices with impunity.
Wil Maheia, founder of the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV), captured images of illegal fishing activities on the Sarstoon on Friday. We asked Maheia to indicate, out of 10 trips, how often he would see this kind of activity when he visits the area; he told us 10 times out of 10.
Breaking Belize News
Judge to rule on Samuel Price murder case
Next Wednesday, June 15, Supreme Court Justice Adolph Lucas will give his ruling on the murder trial of 30 year old Burrell Boom resident, Shane Gillett, accused of the April 2011 murder of the brother of National Hero, George Price, who was killed inside […]
Two charged over contraband
Belize City residents 28 year old Ronnel Gonzalez and 32 year old Jermaine McDougal were busted early yesterday morning at a checkpoint in possession of over 50 different bottles of liquor for which no duties were paid, and now the Customs Department is seeking […]
Corozal man dead, DJ Tambran hurt in accident in Houston
Lennox “DJ Tambran” Young, owner of the popular Music Depot on North Front Street and also a vehicle dealer, was injured in a traffic accident this morning while returning to Belize from Houston, Texas. Young’s hand was hurt but he avoided serious injury as […]
Ready Call “hard-pay” with Social Security
Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser has ordered the CEO of Ready Call Center on the Burrell Boom-Hattieville Road, 46 year old Nubia Ramirez Moreno, to pay a court fine and more than 140 thousand dollars owed in contributions to Social Security by June 20. Moreno […]
Patrick Faber sworn in as new Deputy Prime Minister
Newly elected United Democratic Party (UDP) First Deputy was sworn in as the country’s new Deputy Prime Minister this afternoon by the Governor General, Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan. Following the ceremony, Faber spoke to the media addressing unity issues […]
Court fines CEO of Ready Call Center for unpaid SSB contributions
Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser has ordered the CEO of Ready Call Center on the Burrell Boom-Hattieville Road, 46 year old Nubia Ramirez Moreno, to pay a court fine and more than 140 thousand dollars owed in contributions to Social Security by June 20. Moreno […]
Murder reported in Crooked Tree
An apparent murder by shooting has been reported in the Crooked Tree area earlier today. The victim is suspected to be a neighborhood shopkeeper. We will have more information as it becomes available. © 2016, www.breakingbelizenews.com. This article is the copyrighted property of Belize […]
World Environment Day observed in Belize
World Environment Day (WED), observed in over a 100 nations on June 5th this year, was honored in Belize with an excursion of 40 teachers and students from Belmopan to Trio Village in the Toledo District on Saturday. The group, made up of persons […]
Belizeans travel to Taiwan for kidney failure prevention training
Two members of Karl Heusner Memorial Hospitals’ (KHMH) staff, Dr. Glenford Jones and Michelle Cassimiro, as well as two from La Loma Luz Hospital in Santa Elena, Dr. Marvin Camal and Dieudonne Tiemula, will be leaving the country on Monday, June 13th. These four […]
“Don’t Stop the Party”
Amazingly after the rigours of the previous day I awoke reasonably early at 06.00 hours. And I didn’t have a thick head or feel nauseous. Probably the Chinese meal that did it!
I felt remarkably good but not so good that I was going to be silly. I decided that this would be a lazy day. A walk around London, pop in to some shops to see if anything caught my fancy, a couple of beers at lunchtime with some simple pub grub.
But then I got a Facebook message from Carlo (he of Carlo & Ernie’s Runway Bar) “Did I have a 5 foot by 3 foot Arsenal flag to fly from one of the flagpoles at the bar?” Well I didn’t but I knew where I could get one. The Arsenal Armoury store, only 4 train stops away. It would compliment the Mesut Özil decal on the ceiling of the bar.
>Orange Walk: Avoid Crowds While Immersing Yourself in Belize’s Wonders
If you dislike crowds but you’re fascinated by everything Belize has to offer, make Orange Walk District—and especially Orange Walk Town—your next vacation spot. Just 57 miles from Belize City, it’s a quick trip from that city’s airport. Since it’s tucked into the northwest corner of the nation, the partying beach crowd isn’t here in numbers yet you’ll enjoy the full tourist experience. See exotic cultural sites, all the natural wonders you could ask for and just enough people to declare Orange Walk the friendliest place on Earth.
As the second largest Belize district, Orange Walk’s 1829 square mile interior is filled with rustic villages, the nation’s agricultural hub and Mayan ruins offering amateur archaeologists close looks at the area’s distant past. Heavily populated by Mennonites who farm the land and produce much of the sugar cane, rice and vegetable crops, this large faith-based colony also runs most dairy farms. Visit the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area to see wildlife, flora and fauna. Orange Walk Town isn’t a metropolis, but travelers are beginning to find it a gem of a place to stay thanks to affordable lodgings and a street food scene that’s the biggest secret of all.
Belize hits Guatemala over aggression at 7th Summit of Association of Caribbean States
The main focuses of the Summit were negative impacts of climate change, developing programmes in the areas of Trade, Transport, Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Tourism.
But the Honorable Gaspar Vega took the greater part of his almost 9 minute speech to decry Guatemala’s recent ramped up aggression and its belligerent actions in the Sarstoon.
Vega called on the ACS member states to join CARICOM in urging both nations to abide by the Confidence Building Measures of 2005 which commit both countries to refrain from the use of threat or force and to hold the referenda on taking the claim to the International Court of Justice for final resolution.
World Class Rock Concert on Ambergris
Along with “Are you going to the concert?” The buzz words were “Steve Miller” and “All American Band” were going around. I decided to go thanks to my friend Jack who set me up with an invitation to help promote the show.
The event was held at Mahogany Bay Village Green which is 2 miles south of town. It is the first event of it’s kind (and hopefully many) at this location. Charitable proceeds benefited the South Ambergris Neighborhood Watch. Peter Nolan did an amazing job of putting together the right crew to execute his vision, especially his pick of my friend Jack who is a world-class events manager.
Abracadabra wasn’t predisposed to playing only Steve Miller “mega hits” which of course the crowd loved. They also played some vintage Cream songs off the Disraeli Gears album. This allowed the veteran members of the band to showcase their individual skills reminiscent of Cream members; Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton. As for the younger Will, his tribute to Prince singing Purple Rain was a show stopper and really highlighted his talent.
Nopalitos Mexican Pizza (Cactus Leaves Pizza)
Clean nopalitos (cactus leaves) with a peeler or a small paring knife. Make sure to remove all the thorns and nods paying special attention to the edges of the pads.
Cut in bite size pieces and boil with onion for 20-25 minutes or until tender. Add salt to taste. Drain.
OR remove bottled nopalitos (cactus leaves) from the water they are in and boil in fresh water for about 2 minutes in boiling water.
International Sources
Cumbrian soldiers stage exercise in Belize
The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, which recruits from the county, is taking part in one of the British Army's most demanding missions in Belize.
About 100 troops from the battalion's Blenheim Company have been learning how to survive and fight in temperatures of 30C.
Major Nick Higgins, officer commanding Blenheim Company, said: "This whole exercise is designed to be progressive so we've been giving the soldiers time to get used to the environment.
"They're coping really well.
"We have some good platoon commanders and section commanders and that’s important; they make sure the lads look after their feet and drink enough water."
Some of the toughest training has been in Sibun Gorge.
What this Preston soldier has been experiencing in Belize
A former Ashton school pupil has swapped the shrubbery of Ashton Park for the deep rainforests of Central America.
Mark Sutton, an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion Duke of Lancaster’s regiment is learning how to cope with energy-saving humidity and temperatures of 30 degrees.
The 23-year-old, who is in his seventh year of service, is in Belize for a month learning the art of jungle warfare.
Private Sutton joined the Army after studying at Preston College and Ashton High School.
He said: “My dad and some of my uncles were in the Army so I wanted to join as well. I really enjoy being with the lads.
Singing to Save Garifuna
Growing up in Belize, James Lovell heard the Garifuna language from his parents and his grandparents; he understood it but he didn't speak it. He spoke the language of the streets, Belizean Creole. He didn't think much about Garifuna until the day he heard the music of a local artist Pen Cayetano and his Turtleshell Band.
I still remember the little house there and they would practice and you would hear music coming from number 5 Moho Street,"ť says Lovell.
Pen Cayetano sang in Garifuna. But this wasn't the traditional music that Lovell had heard growing up; this was a new sound called Punta Rock. Cayetano was singing about everyday life in the town of Dangriga where Lovell lived. Lovell was hooked.
"He was singing about issues in Dangriga when it comes to be laid off of work,"ť says Lovell.
One day Cayetano was performing and as it started to rain, the singer then began to sing an impromptu song about the rain. "He's saying, it's raining, it's raining right here in Belize,"ť says Lovell.
Drink your way through Central America
I just returned from a trip to Central America, tanned, rested and liver sufficiently damaged.
The objectives of the expedition were to drink, research and report on the many local beers and to superfluously pad my expense account with this paper.
Missions accomplished.
Drinking buckets full of beers on vast, white sandy beaches, beers in the back of careening taxi cabs, atop Mayan ruins, and in tiny restaurants warily eating local meat pies and fried plantains sounds like a lot of work — and it was! But something about those beautiful tropical settings and encounters made the beers taste better than they probably were and created beer memories that I’ll summon up for a lifetime.
So when traveling, whether in the States or abroad, drink a locally brewed beer or wine, and eat home-grown foods.
Doing Business in the Caribbean 2016
Doing Business 2016: Measuring Regulatory Quality and Efficiency is the 13th in the long-standing series of co-publications by the World Bank and International Financial Corporation (IFC). This annual report on the ease in doing business in 189 nations covers the period from June 2014 to June 2015.
I have been reviewing such reports for the past two years, and have published two articles from each review: first to examine the global ranking of Caribbean states, then to breakdown their performance into the 10 indicators used in the ranking process. This article reviews “Doing Business 2016”.
Last year in “Doing Business in the Caribbean: Who Cares?” and “Making Caribbean Business Better”, I suggested collaboration within the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in order to effect well needed reform, especially considering commonalities that existed within its membership.
The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region has a number of groupings that could undertake such reform in “Doing Business”. However, the ACS stands out, because it is focused on the Caribbean. The two tables below present data primarily for member-states.
Videos
Using InVEST for Coastal Zone Management in Belize, 59min. Ocean planning requires balancing numerous competing uses such as recreation and commercial fisheries, tourism, and renewable and nonrenewable energy production. To help meet the demand for information on how human actions affect ecosystems and the benefits that ecosystems provide to people, the Natural Capital Project (NatCap) developed the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) toolkit.
This webinar was presented by Katie Arkema of Stanford University, Chantalle Clarke-Samuels of the Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, and Gregg Verutes of WWF. The webinar co-sponsored by MEAM, OpenChannels.org, and the EBM Tools Network.
Diving Belize, 6.5min.
Belize Mission Trip, 7min.
Shipstern Naturreservat in Belize, 9.5min. Das Papiliorama in Kerzers hat 1989 ein Naturschutzprojekt im zentralamerikanischen Belize ins Leben gerufen hat. Das Naturschutzreservat Shipstern umfasst 80 Quadratkilometer. Mit dem Freshwater Creek Waldreservat und dem Honey Camp Nationalpark schutzt die Stiftung Papiliorama heute rund 235 Quadratkilometer Tropenwald.
Belize pool swimming during storm, 1min.
Mergulhos em Belize - Blackbird Caye, 4min.
Belize Diving | 2016, 4min.
Collin & Cindy Belize Wedding Film, 13min. by Jose Luis Zapata
Belize, 4min. Adam and I made our way to Belize to bring in the New Year (2015)
Lost on the Yucatan Peninsula | Belize & Mexico, 4min.
Belize Day 1, Dive 1 Toffee (Tuffy), Ambergris Caye, Belize, 5.5min. Our first dive on the Belize trip. A bit of a warm up but lots to see. First time I've been around a Nurse Shark, I was treating it like a real shark until it was explained how docile they are in the boat.
Diving Belize June 2016, 3min. Weekend dive trip in San Pedro, Ambrisgris Caye - Belize.
Conducting Annual Monitoring of Sharks in the Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize, 1min. A brief video highlighting the our annual monitoring of sharks in the Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef Atoll in Belize. The Blue Hole is a globally important UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fully protected area.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
