Channel 5
Government anticipates strike action by teachers - but is there anything to dispute?
Having made concessions on Tuesday for a Senate Select Investigation on Immigration; government has another hot potato in its hands.� That's because the Belize National Teachers Union may be gearing-up [...]
Deputy P.M. and Minister of Education concludes action is "politically motivated"
The flyer that the minister refers to was circulated today. The B.N.T.U. makes seven demands for good governance as part of its "Stand Up for Belize Campaign." As we reported [...]
Immigration minister, Godwin Hulse, is not selected for Senate Select Committee
Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse will not sit on the Senate Select Committee to investigate the Auditor General's Special Audit on the Immigration Department. Both the People's United Party and [...]
Faber says Prime Minister Barrow acted as head of Executive following receipt of Auditor General's reports
Does the Prime Minister have the power to name the senators who will form the Senate Select Commission?� That's what we asked Minister Faber today, following concerns that the PM [...]
William Mason and co-accused back in court but disclosure for murder case is delayed
This morning, the man who befriended a long list of ministers and highly connected personalities, forty-six year old murder suspect William "Danny" Mason, of Intelco Hill, Belmopan made another appearance [...]
Acting prosecutor in Mason case insists police doing fine without international help on Mason case
During his post-court appearance interview, ACP Chester Williams also addressed the matter of further and direct international assistance with the William Mason case. According to Williams, police have recovered from [...]
Cayo South representative Julius Espat stripped of pay and office stipend following suspension
He was controversially dragged from the House of Representatives by security forces on August twenty-sixth in a heated conclusion to a battle royal with Speaker Michael Peyrefitte, after being chided [...]
Espat confirms he will go to court over "improper procedure" in House
Espat told us that he had written the National Assembly to inquire about his status, and he is still not sure if the letter issued today is a response. That [...]
P.U.P. condemns attacks on Auditor General
In other news, the People's United Party issued a release today condemning the vicious and completely unwarranted personal attacks on Auditor-General Dorothy Bradley. It states that since the release of [...]
Another City murder; four men detained for death of bus conductor Raul Medina
Twenty-nine year old Raul Medina was met with a spray of bullets at about nine-thirty on Tuesday night at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Helen Middleton Street in [...]
Suspect detained in Deandre Nembhard murder but do police have their man?
Meanwhile, police also have a suspect detained in connection with the weekend murder of seventeen year old Deandre Nembhard. The minor was at a house on Croton Lane, a short [...]
Two Belize City men sentenced for illegal gun and ammunition
Two Belize City men claimed they were set up by police, but that allegation did not hold water and they were convicted in the courtroom of Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser [...]
In Cattle Landing, elected independent village council slate find themselves out of office
Village council elections are just about concluded in the Toledo District where a number of independent slates contested the leadership of their respective communities.� In Cattle Landing, a satellite community [...]
Territorial Volunteers return to Sarstoon for first Eco-Challenge race
The Belize Territorial Volunteers are organizing a first-of-its-kind competition in which kayakers will paddle from Barranco Village to Sarstoon River, circle once around Sarstoon Island and then return to the [...]
Illegal Logging in Sarstoon Temash National Park Still an Issue
While the BTV is not too worried about security issues at the border point, participants are not expected to cross over into Guatemalan territory.� As far as fishing and illegal [...]
"Morality Commission" to continue dialogue between Church and State
The Prime Minister announced last Friday that the Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber is the chair of what was loosely referred to as a morality commission. That name became the [...]
Will UNIBAM have a place on Morality Commission?
Outspoken gay rights activist Caleb Orozco has met with Church/State Commission Chairman Patrick Faber to discuss a place for minority groups, including UNIBAM, to be represented on the task force.� [...]
Team Belize introduced ahead of regional qualification tournament in men's volleyball
In sporting news, there is a major championship tournament coming to Belize next week, in the sport of volleyball. Belize is hosting the International Volleyball Federation's World Championship qualification tournament [...]
Coach says team is well-prepared for tournament which will be hosted in Belize
The competition begins next week Saturday at the Saint Catherine Academy Multi-Purpose Center on Marine Parade. Belize as hosts faces a tough road to try to reach the top two [...]
"Everything went wrong" in embarrassing eleven-nil Champions League loss
Eleven to nil�.that is the most embarrassing score of the home game between Police United and Pachuca from Mexico which was held on Tuesday night. By our records, it is [...]
LOVE FM
Teachers Vote Against Deferred Salary Adjustment
The Belize National Teachers Union was the only union in the Joint Negotiating Team which voted against the consideration of the three person salary adjustment until April of next year. The Public Service Union and the Association of Principal Secondary Senioer Managers voted in favor of the deferral. BNTU President Luke Palacio spoke on that [�]
BNTU Wants Hulse Removed as Senator and Police Minister
In the letter sent to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, the Belize National Teachers Union, BNTU, demanded that the Senator representing Government Business, Godwin Hulse, be excluded from all aspects of the Senate Inquiry. The BNTU is also demanding that Senator Hulse be removed as Minister of Police. BNTU President Luke Palacio explained why they took [�]
Teachers Plan to Skip Classes for Massive Demonstration
Teachers are skipping classes on Monday to stage a massive demonstration in Belmopan. The decision to do so was reaffirmed today during a meeting of the Orange Walk Branch of the Belize National Teachers Union. Then union is confident that all teachers from across the country will travel to Belmopan to express their discontent with [�]
Deputy PM Explains Morality Commission
When it was announced that a Commission would be formed to look at public morality, there were a number of questions as to the committee's mandate and jurisdiction. Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber who will head the committee, clarified what the commission is about. PATRICK FABER "I will say that I was not in the [�]
Investigators Continue Following Leads Into Nembhard's Homicide
Seventeen year old Diondre Nemhard was socializing at his aunt's house last Saturday when a male individual walked into the yard and gunned him down in front of his family. One person has been detained in connection with the murder. Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams stated that police cannot ascertain if he is the [�]
Raul Medina Murdered on the Boulevard
Yesterday a shooting in Belize City left one man dead. Police say that Raul Medina was walking on Central American Boulevard at around nine thirty last night. Medina was shot by individuals in a white vehicle. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams told us the details which show a connection between this latest murder and [�]
PUP Calls for Personal Attacks to Cease Against Auditor General
The People's United Party issued a release condemning what they say are vicious and completely unwarranted personal attacks on Auditor-General Dorothy Bradley. According to the PUP, since the release of the Auditor General's report, a quote "shameful and cowardly campaign" has been waged against Bradley by UDP operatives. The PUP says both Prime Minister Dean [�]
Chief Magistrate Grants Adjournment in Lucas' Murder Case
Prosecutor in the case of Llewellyn Lucas murder, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams asked the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith for an adjournment at today's hearing. Today was set aside for disclosure in the investigation against William Mason, Ashton Vanegas, Terrence and Kyron Fernandez and Ernest Castillo. ACP Williams explained the reason for his [�]
Education Minister Weighs In on Teachers' Demands
The situation between the Belize Teachers Union and the Ministry of Education continues tense. Today, as the Orange Walk Branch of the Union met, Minister of education Patrick Faber held a press Conference to discuss the ongoing issue of the deferment of salaries. Minister Faber stated that a letter was sent to the Prime Minister [�]
Julius Espat Stripped of Payment As a Result of Suspension
Area Representative for Cayo South, Julius Espat received a letter this morning from the Clerk of Court of the National Assembly informing him that he has been cut off of funds for his division as well as his stipend. We spoke with Espat on the matter. JULIUS ESPAT "Well the letter I think is based [�]
PlusTV
Embattled Senator changes his mind, again!
As we mentioned, the embattled Church Senator, Ashley Rocke has changed his mind as well on the issue of the Senate Select Committee. Rocke's sudden flip flop in the Senate meeting where the motion for a Senate Select Committee was voted on, resulted in outcry of disbelief from the wider Church comm...
Joint Unions' Negotiating Team mostly in favour of salary deferral, except for the BNTU
There was another press release from government today regarding the proposed deferral of salary adjustments until 2017. According to the press release, the Office of the Prime Minister has received the formal response of the Joint Unions' Negotiating Team to Government's request for cons...
Tampering Suspected With Blood of Accident Victim
The case of the Director of the Government Press Office, Dorian Pakeman, continues to take some interesting turns. As have been reported, Pakeman knocked down and killed Dean Dawson in March of this year. Inital reports were that Dawson may have been drunk at the time he was knocked down and killed....
New documentary on John McCafee and his life in Belize to be released
Remember John McCafee? Well, Showtime is getting ready to release a documentary on the eccentric millionaire who invented anti- virus software and was wanted for questioning in regards to murder on San Pedro Ambergris Caye. McCafee fled the country several years ago and has posted several videos si...
4 walked from kept firearm and ammunition and handling stolen goods charge
20 year old Ijaman Young of Belize City, 24 year old Parris Williams; 24 year old Kashief Gallego; and 23 year old Akeem Garcia, all of Maxboro area, Sandhill, were charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and one count each of handling stolen goods. This was in connection with a 9m...
Taiwan donates to keep the OAS office in the adjacency zone open
Taiwan has donated funds to keep the OAS office in the adjacency zone open. On Saturday, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, Benjamin Ho, handed over a donation to Lawrence Sylvestre, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Starret Dickson Greene, Represent...
Belize receives grant to Make its Energy Sector More Climate Resilient
Belize received a US$8 million grant from the Global Environment Facility approved by the World Bank Board of Directors in order to strengthen the climate resilience of its energy sector as a result of a US$8 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) approved today by the World Bank B...
Breaking Belize News
Minister Elrington to attend 'Our Ocean' Conference
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release today stating that the United States of America Secretary of State John Kerry invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize, Wilfred Elrington, to attend the third annual Our Ocean Conference, held in Washington, D.C. [�]
Castro meets with transport stakeholders for industry assessment
The public transportation system is undergoing a countrywide assessment and restructuring including the rationalization and regularization of rates. As a result of this, Minister of State with responsibility for Transport Edmond Castro met with bus operators from Stann Creek and Toledo. Castro was accompanied [�]
Simone Biles reveals she suffers with ADHD
Simone Biles, the American Olympian with ties to Belize, revealed this week that she suffered with the condition ADHD after Russian hackers leaked her medical records online. Biles had tested positive for methylphenidate, also often known as Ritalin, the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) disclosed. [�]
Minister Castro discusses transportation matters with Galen University
Minister of state with responsibility for Transport, Edmund Castro met with representatives from the faculty and student body of Galen University to discuss matters relating to public transportation. Sherry A. Gibbs, Dean of Arts and Science; and Martin Cuellar, Dean of Student Life, Student [�]
Julius Espat reportedly has funding cut
This morning, area Representative for Cayo South, Julius Espat reportedly received a letter from the Clerk of Court of the National Assembly informing him that he has been cut off of funds for his division as well as his stipend. This is a developing [�]
Tropic gives over $600 to Liberty Children's Home
Tropic Air, as part of its ongoing #TropicGivesBack charitable campaign, donated $635 to the Liberty Children's Home in Ladyville on Wednesday morning. A check was presented to Agatha Valentine of the Liberty Children's Home by Tropic Air Belize district station manager Rudolph Perez and [�]
BNTU takes it to the streets
The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) has planned a national demonstration for Monday September 19 in Belmopan. The union is demanding good governance. They have written to the Prime Minister with a list of seven demands that they believe will cultivate good governance [�]
PUP calls for Senate Special select committee composition to be determined by Senate
The People's United Party (PUP) issued a press release yesterday stating the party is pleased with Cabinet's heeding to the call of the people by now deciding to support a Senate Special Select committee inquiry into the Auditor General's Special Audit report. The party [�]
Southside Belize City learn to make drums
The executing agency for the Youth and Community Transformation (YCT) Project through the ministry of Human Development, Social transformation and Poverty Alleviation, will be hosting a closing ceremony for the drum making classes today at 4:30 pm at the Larubeya Drum School, 7173 Ceasar [�]
Police delay disclosure, ask for William Mason matters to be consolidated in Belize City
This morning William "Danny" Mason and four others accused of murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping reappeared in Belize City Magistrate's Court before Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith. Disclosure was scheduled to be given but this has been delayed to November 9th, [�]
Cayo Special Constables Committee celebrates five year anniversary
The Cayo Special Constables Committee is a group of volunteers who work hand in hand with the Cayo Police Department in combating crime. The group is actively involved in patrols, and assisting the police especially during Easter and Christmas Holidays, September celebrations and parades. [�]
Letter to the Editor: Barrow's Bubble Bursts - The Belizean Economy in Freefall Recession
The following is a letter submitted to the editor by the Belize Progressive Party. Our last recession in Belize occurred in 2009 as a consequence of the bursting of the Housing Bubble that occurred in the United States commencing in the last quarter of 2007. The U.S. [�]
Father rapes 15- year-old daughter in Cayo
Police in Belmopan have arrested a man for raping his 15-year-old daughter. According to reports, the 15-year-old girl, in the presence of a Social Worker, told police that sometime in February of 2015 and on September 2 that same year, her father raped her. [�]
Two men shot in Belize City last night
There are reports that two men were shot in Belize city last night. One was shot to the head and another to the arm. Details are sketchy but unconfirmed reports are that the men were in the same car when they were shot. Reports [�]
Officers complete emergency shelter training course
A two day shelter management training was conducted at the San Ignacio Police station by Jose Zuniga, a Disaster Risk Management Specialist and Corporal Ciriaco Medina, a community policing officer in San Ignacio. Ten officers took the training and are prepared not only to provide [�]
Caye Caulker Belize
Caye Caulker Belize. What can I say about this island? What pictures can I show you that really represent Caye Caulker? I'm not yet a travel writer, and my travel and vacation photography skills need some practice, but I will share with you what I can.
In June of 2016, my wife and I took a cruise (not my favorite form of vacation) to the Western Caribbean. Going to parts of the world we hadn't seen before was the only way I would agree to a cruise. Not wanting to spend my shore time with people I didn't really want to spend time with on board, I found independent shore trips for us to take. For our Belize City port of call, I found Caye Caulker - a tiny barrier island about an hour water taxi ride from Belize City.
At the end of August 2016, we spent the last of our earned annual vacation and headed back to Caye Caulker Belize. During our planning, we learned that a lot of Americans retire to Central America, so we figured we'd start looking at some homes for sale in Caye Caulker. We were amazed at how affordable it can be to live on a Caribbean Island. Add home shopping to our List Of Things To Do!
An Unexpected Phone Call
Brooklyn Brothers Bagel Shop:
Their official menu is coming soon and an exciting announcement about the shop. For now I included a few pics below of their signs and a news paper add that show some of their offerings. Also a good reason why you should like Brooklyn Brothers Facebook page to keep informed of their specials and prize draws. Since winning I found out of two other people I know also won prizes - both gift baskets. They came with bagel chips, coffee syrup, biscotti, Caye Coffee, one got a t-shirt and the other a hat.
Their storefront is located in San Pablo area in the old Sausage Factory building next to Caye Coffee. Walk drive or taxi south of downtown about a mile or so. Not long after you make the left turn past the gas station, look for Marina's turquoise store on your left. Take a right turn just before the store, follow the road till the end and make a left - you cannot miss it.
International Sources
NOAA Outlook for Central America September 15 - 21, 2016
During early September, increased rainfall accumulations were received throughout many coastal departments along the Pacific and Atlantic basins, with reduced rainfall totals observed for many interior departments, and throughout much of Guatemala. Over the past 30 days, there are several areas within Central America that have experienced both positive and negative precipitation trends and anomalies. Following a period of poor rainfall throughout parts of El Salvador and Nicaragua, increased rains during the last week has helped to alleviate dryness and moisture deficits. Conversely, strengthening moisture deficits have been observed throughout Guatemala. Although satellite rainfall estimates have depicted low and unseasonably erratic rains throughout central and western Nicaragua, ground reports indicate no negative impacts on cropping activities in Nicaragua.
Water Security in the Caribbean
Water security challenges in the Caribbean are unique to each country, however, common challenges have recently been identified. In the video above, Keith Nichols, the Project Development Specialist at the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) speaks of the need for a strategic approach to develop the water sector, including the challenges facing the region. The GWP-C, with more than 80 partners in over 20 Caribbean territories, has developed a "Caribbean Regional Framework for Investment in Water Security and Climate Resilient Development." The GWP-C's Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) is executed in partnership with the CCCCC. Any entity can become a partner of the GWP-C.
Following Hurricane Earl, ECLAC Sets The Groundwork For Disaster Assessment In Belize
A team lead by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) sub-regional headquarters for the Caribbean carried out a mission to hurricane-struck Belize, to provide support to the government in its effort to undertake comprehensive assessment of the impact of Hurricane Earl, which hit in early August 2016, and to assist in the formulation of recommendations for recovery and reconstruction.
The team included experts from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO).
Hurricane Earl hit several towns, including San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, Ladyville, Belize River Valley, Orange Walk and Belmopan, causing infrastructure and building damage, while many roads and streets were blocked due to inland and coastal flooding.
How an award-winning documentarian unearthed a damning new case against John McAfee
At the Q&A following the premiere of Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee, a question came from the front of the audience: now that the film was out, was the director Nanette Burstein concerned for her safety? "We do have security here," Burstein said, "there were some threats made by his acolytes threatening they were going to come." It wasn't clear whether Burstein was joking, and a patter of uneasy laughter rippled across the room. "Fortunately," she said scanning the theater, "it seems okay."
Burstein has reason to be wary. Over the course of an hour a half, her documentary (a Showtime Documentary Film, premiering September 24th) lays out a searing body of evidence that suggests McAfee not only paid a hitman $5,000 to torture and kill his neighbor Greg Faull in Belize, but that he also had David Middleton, a local who had robbed his home, abducted, mutilated with knives and tasers, and dumped on the street to die. In addition, the film alleges McAfee drugged and raped his business partner Allison Adonizio. Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee, may be the most unexpectedly damning documentary since Andrew Jarecki's The Jinx.
A History Lesson, Served as Coconut-Seafood Soup
When Sulma Arzu-Brown's father traveled from his village in Honduras into the city, people pointed at him, at his black skin. When he spoke his language, people laughed. "They said, 'Look at that monkey, goo goo gaga,' " Arzu-Brown told me. When it was time for her mother to be promoted at her job, she stood out a little too much. "Blanca," her boss said to her, "I know you're qualified, but I can't give the job to you. You have family in the U.S. Go there. You'll achieve there."
In the Bronx, where Sulma grew up speaking Spanish and English, she felt unknown. To her black friends, she was black. To others, she was Latina. "Sometimes, I'd be called Afro-Latino, but deep inside, I knew we were something else," she said. "We were Garifuna." Her parents, scarred from their humiliations, didn't teach their daughter to speak their language. "But I knew we were Garifuna because we danced the punta at home," Arzu-Brown says. "Because we ate hudutu."
Hudutu is a dish beloved by many Hondurans, but it comes specifically from the Garifuna. You can tell it's from the tropical coast because it's a soup of coconut milk, teeming with seafood. But its African roots seem clearer when you consider the fact that it's always eaten with machuca, sweet and green plantains beaten to a mash that resembles the pounded yams of West Africa.
Aurelio Mart�nez & the Garifuna People: A History of African Resistance in the Americas
Aurelio Mart�nez laughs every two sentences, even when he describes the crimes of colonialism and slavery. Maybe, he says, it's because Garifuna people are happy people. The Garifuna are a community of mixed-race people who inhabit Central America's Atlantic coast, particularly in Honduras, where Mart�nez is from.
The Garifuna people originated in the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean. In 1635, the survivors of the wreck of a Spanish ship carrying people from Biafra, in modern-day Nigeria, to be sold as slaves in the Americas, were welcomed by the local Caribs. A few years later, another ship, this time Portuguese, suffered the same fate, and would-be slaves from Congo and Ghana joined their fellow Africans in St. Vincent.
The Caribs, originally from nearby modern-day Venezuela, had immigrated to this island before and had killed most of the Arawak locals, but kept their women and started to have families with them. The African men and women joined them and adapted to their customs, creating a culture, which became known as Garifuna, for one of the last free islands in the Caribbean.
However, beginning in 1719, both French and English troops tried to conquer the island and subject its inhabitants. The local resistance was strong, though, and the English were only able to topple the Garifuna in 1795, almost eight decades after their initial attacks. Two years later, the English decided to expel the Garifuna and ship them to Roat�n, an island off the coast of what is now Honduras. From there, they expanded to their current territories.
Videos
Dolphins in shallow water, 10sec.
Jordan & Alicia Belize Wedding Film , 3min. from Jose Luis Zapata. Destination wedding in North, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Belizean Shores Resort.
Benque Marimba LHDW Pan yard Belize 2016!, 2.5min. Benque Marimba Pan Yard 2016.
Ganpati celibration 2016 in belize, 4min. Ganpati celibration vedio.
The Flavors of Belize, 3min. Experience the Flavors of Belize. Capture it Through the lens, through the people, through the traditions.
Belize Carnival 2016 -Belize Carnival Full HD, 12min.
Belize Carnival 2016- Belize Carnival 2017, 6min.
Victoria Reef off Ambergris Cay, Belize 9-12-16, 5min. My first dive at Belize reef. Monday 9-12-16 wi GoPro red filter, and new flat lens. This is the Victoria Tunnels area of reef- off Ambergris Caye diving with Ambergris Divers.
Mordu de la peche Belize city (Fishing), 46min.
Monkey Jump Fail, 1min. Monkey See Monkey Don't. At Xunantunich Mayan Ruins in Belize.
Panoramic video dive Dive shrine Belize 360 vr [ 360 VR Video ], 3.5min.
Belize Carnival 2016 - Carnival Belize 2017, 4min.
Belize Parrot Wall, South Water Caye, 3min. Nice wildlife underwater in Belize.
SARSTOON ECO CHALLENGE!, 2.5min. All roads lead to Barranco village, Toledo district this Saturday, September 17 for a one of its kind kayak and dorey race to Sarstoon Island and back.
QUEENLORNA & "DAT" BELIZEAN DANCE SPIN (Pt. 1), 24min. The rare and exclusive interview of the pulsating Belizean cultural dancer and instructor, Lorna Smith, of the legendary Belize-Caribbean dance troupe, Elegant Flair Dancers, is a must see and long awaiting feature for the Belizean Legends audience.
Queenlorna as she is called will entertain us with her thrilling dance life and electrify us with some of the most eclectic moments in Belizean dance and cultural performances in the Los Angeles Belizean Community where she lived and performed for many years now.