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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
Lincoln Robinson fatally shot; Deshawn Goff charged for his murder
Three men were in police custody following the murder of 43-year-old Lincoln Robinson Sr. of San Mateo Area on Saturday, October 15th. On Monday October 17th, Deshawn Goff was officially charged for his murder. The San Pedro Police Department reported that Robinson endured multiple shots while walking home on Barrier Reef Drive around 5:20AM. According to the official police reports, Robinson left the Central Park about 5:10AM, when a male person walked up to him and fired a shot to the right side of his face. Robinson fell to the ground as the person reportedly fired another shot, and then made his escape. After police arrived at the scene Robinson was immediately rushed to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, where he was pronounced dead at 6:42AM. His body was then transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City for a post-mortem examination.
CARILED presents economic profile for San Pedro Town
CARILED representative Leidy Urbina also explained what the project means for the island. According to her, the document presented included statistical and demographic information which pointed out to the opportunities for business growth and expansion and how different obstacles can be addressed. “Looking at the economic aspect of San Pedro, we want to speak about a process that is participatory, inclusive and led by the authorities of the municipality, but with input from the residents of the private sector and the community as a whole,” she said. CARILED and the SPTC invites interested stakeholders to visit their offices where they can have a look at the document detailing the economic profile of the town. Anyone with ideas for business plans can seek professional guidance by visiting the offices of the Town Board on Barrier Reef Drive where the document is available for reviewing. The document supported by CARILED was made solely for the island to be used by residents, the municipality, and private sector and look at the gap for opportunities for investment and MSMEs development.
Oceana says NO to seismic airgun survey in Belize’s offshore area
After approval from Prime Minister Right Honorable Dean Barrow and his Cabinet on Tuesday, October 11th, the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum and Geology Department will be conducting a multi-beam and sea seep survey to the east of the Belize Barrier Reef. These surveys are meant to collect new data on the geological features of the area, and other countries such as the United States and Mexico will also be participating. Although the Ministry states that tourist destinations, along with world heritage sites will be excluded from the survey, Oceana in Belize and the Belize Coalition is in opposition to seismic testing.
Senate Special Select Committee holds first meeting; no chair is elected
The newly appointed Senate Select Committee met for the first time on Wednesday, October 12th. The committee had been designated with the responsibility to hold a private investigation into the immigration scandal revealed in the Auditor General report that unveiled a series of fraudulent cases in the immigration department. One of the objectives of the meeting was to name a Chairperson for the committee. However, the meeting did not go well, and not only was the committee boycotted by the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP), but a Chairperson was not elected. The PUP has called the creating of the Committee as bogus, and demands for an independent and impartial Senate Select Committee to be appointed. Their reasons for not agreeing with the motion created on September 30th include that Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse voted on the motion, when he should have abstained since his involvement in the scandal is a conflict of interest.
Ambergris Today
Belize Allows Seismic Airgun Surveys That Can Kill Marine Life
Last week, October 12, 2016, Oceana was advised by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, and the Minister of Petroleum, Hon. Erwin Contreras, that at Tuesday’s meeting, the Cabinet approved the seismic survey of Belize’s offshore area based on the Department of the Environment’s advice that seismic activity does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Oceana has formally requested an official copy of the Department of Environment’s written position provided to Cabinet, in addition to any materials related thereto, on the basis that the Department’s premise is not supported by the best available science. On the contrary, the magnitude of the proposed seismic activity is likely to have significant, long-lasting, and widespread environmental and economic impacts for Belize.
Misc Belizean Sources
General Medical Physician, Caye Caulker
CAYE CAULKER'S FIRST PRIVATE CLINIC BY DR.Dimas Sansorez, IS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS!! LOCATED DOWN FROM IL PELLICANO, NEXT TO NOE SANDOVAL'S CONSTRUCTION.
San Pedro Lions Club held its 41st anniversary this Saturday, October 15 ,2016
New Lion and Leo members were installed making a grand total of 42 Lions and 45 Leos. Leos made history in becoming the largest leo group of the zone and the largest group there has ever been in Belize. There was a lot of dancing thanks to Rompe Raja.
Compromise on salary adjustment?
Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced at the close of the meeting with the joint union negotiating team that at least two of the three unions are inclined to agree to a proposed compromise reached today.
The third, the Belize National Teacher's Union, will go to its Council of Management for possible endorsement this afternoon.
Five percent interest is proposed to be paid on the deferred salary.
The unions will be working on proposed related legislation to be sent to Cabinet.
Association of Public Service Senior Managers president Sharon Frazer contended that her organization and the Public Service Union have acted responsibly by sticking to negotiating rather than going to the streets, but that does not mean they do not support the BNTU and the good governance agenda and always have.
PSU president Eldred Neal held out high hopes for an end to the dispute.
Our Children’s Education is Priority!
The National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) is deeply concerned and regrets the plight that our children are currently facing as they are being deprived of one of their fundamental rights, which is explicitly stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child; that of the right to a good quality education. Article 28 states that, “you have the right to a good quality education and be encouraged to go to school to the highest level you can.” In fact, article three of the convention states that when adults are making decisions that the child’s welfare should be the paramount consideration.
Wahoooo! Mahi-mah
Salwater Life "Tonight's fish fry is not going to taste like chicken!
Gapi Vega resigns?
My confidential sources are insisting that former Deputy Prime Minister and Orange Walk North area representative Gapi Vega has tendered his resignation from the Cabinet effective as of today.
Juvenile Swainson's Hawk over San Pedro
Well, certainly not what i expected to find flying over San Pedro, but, the birders that persevere are the ones who get the best stuff. First record for SPR?
Merida Expo Feria Show
This weekend's update on the Merida Expo Feria Show in Merida.
Six (6) Belizeans Detained by Guatemalan Navy
The Government of Belize (GOB) wishes to inform the public that six (6) Belizeans were detained earlier this afternoon by a Guatemalan coastal patrol vessel, while they were fishing in the Gulf of Honduras.
The Guatemalan coastal patrol vessel intercepted the Belizeans in an area at sea at a point between the mouth of the Moho River, Toledo District, Belize and Punta de Manabique, Izabal, Guatemala. The Guatemalan Navy claimed that the Belizeans were illegally fishing in Guatemala.
After prompt intervention and coordination by Belizean diplomatic and military officials, along with their Guatemalan counterparts, the Belizeans were thereafter released and returned to the location where they were first encountered.
GOB has confirmed that the six (6) Belizeans are now safely back in the town of Punta Gorda, where they will be debriefed by Belizean security officials to ascertain all the facts surrounding the incident.
BNTU Corozal Town Branch
Teachers are asked to attend a meeting at 10:00 a.m. today Tuesday, October 18th at the Corozal Community College Auditorium.
Note: This meeting will be to decide the way forward and to discuss the 8 points in detail as addressed by the Prime Minister.
Your presence is very important.
MAYA EXPO
Here are some photos of our Yucatec Mayas from Orange Walk participating in "MAYA EXPO" at the Venezuelan Embassy in Belmopan.
How nice it would be to see our Yucatec Mayas of Corozal represented in these events around the country all the time.
Maya Expo at Venezuelan Embassy: The Yucatec Mayas of Orange Walk
The Belize National Library Service and Information System got some pictures from the Maya Expo, which was held Saturday at the Venezuelan Embassy.
Peccary
In the Chiquibul Forest, there are two types of peccaries. This one is the collared peccary. Our expectation is that with further protection these species will start to rebound once more.
Channel 7
PM Offers Compromise On Teachers' 3%
When we left you on Friday the teachers unions said it would be extending its strike until at least Wednesday of this week, because the Prime Minister had put off a meeting with them to discuss the 3% salary increase. Well, the PM didn't want to be held responsible for extending the strike, so he brought up the meeting to today. The PM and his senior financial advisors met with the teachers union, as well as the Public Service Union and The Association Of Public Service Senior Managers - what is called the joint union negotiating team at the Biltmore. When he came out, he seemed confident Government had proposed a meaningful concession. Here's:...
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister:
"I received a communication from a Good Samaritan yesterday that if I moved up the meeting there was a likelihood that we could reach agreement and naturally the quicker we can end the strike, the better. I think it went well. I made some proposals which certainly two of the 3 unions have already signaled that. The BNTU says it is taking those proposals to its council of management this afternoon and it is likely that by the time of our press conference at 2pm, their position should also have been made clear."
Why Didn't PSU and APSSM Join BNTU Strike?
So, today makes Day 10 of the strike, and although the teachers got an infusion of support from COLA, which we'll show you later on in the news, all they have right now is a commitment from the business community that they might shutdown - at some unknown date.
The teachers are therefore isolated in what has been a punishing 2 weeks, where their salary will more than likely be docked. So, shouldn't the other sister unions be joining them by now? That's what the press asked the other 2 Union leaders, and here's how they answered:
Sharon Frazer, Senior Magistrate:
"The issues of good governance have been on the negotiating table from the very beginning and not just that, by extension, with the NTUCB. So that these issues have always been there. When in fact the deferral was brought to us, we said okay with the condition that some of these very good governance procedures were put in place. So it is not that we have not been supporting the good governance issue. We have always been there, we've always been supportive and we continue to be supportive and in fact demand that these good governance measures be put in place. So we've not said anything and we have not gone striking because we don't have an industrial dispute, legally for us to be striking would mean that we had an industrial dispute and we don't have one. So we cannot jeopardize our membership in that form and fashion."
Vega Resigns From Cabinet, Was He Forced Out Due To Scandal?
And while the unions continue to dominate the news, today politics was making news that would have been a headline on any other day. Last week, the media broke the news about an ugly land scandal. It involved the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Gaspar Vega and his son Andre Vega. Andre Vega was given title for a piece of land near the Haulover Bridge - land which was already owned by someone else. The Ministry was warned about this - but the title was still issued to a Vega's right hand man, Hilmar Alamilla for a pittance, $2,500 dollars. He sold it to Andre Vega for fifteen thousand, who was then entitled to compensation at market value because the government had given him title to land which was already owned. That compensation was valued at four hundred thousand dollars, and though there is a very long queue of persons waiting for compensation - Vega got pushed right to the top, where he got one hundred grand up front and fifty thousand every month. He got his last payment at the end of March, meaning that he had made a profit of over two thousand percent, thanks to taxpayer dollars.
New "Lands" Minister Catalogues Compensation Racket
And so while that is the political dimension of the scandal - which has forced a rapid fall from grace for the man who was deputy Prime Minister up to 11 months ago - there is the administrative side of it. Someone has to dig into this compensation case, and the larger racket that was being run with undeserving compensations being awarded. That person in the new Minister of Natural Resources Vanessa Retreage. Speaking at the press conference, she said that everything about this transaction was wrong, and it now has to be made right:...
Hon. Vanessa Retreage, Minister of Natural Resources:
"It is clear that the government of Belize did not have the right to issue title to land which it did not own. I have given a deadline for the close of business on Wednesday of this week for the information to be provided to me and then thereafter a final decision will be made as to what action will be taken in relation to this matter."
"And where it is found that monies have been paid out wrongfully, such monies must be recovered. Unjust enrichment at the expense of government cannot be countenance."
After laying out the official position Retreage delved into the details of this dirty deal - which saw four hundred thousand dollars in compensation go to Andre Vega, and another four hundred thousand go to attorney Sharon Pitts. Now most of the details have already been revealed by the media, but Retreage outlined the evidence from the records at Natural Resources. It started in 2011 when Sharon Pitts was wrongly given permission to survey a parcel of land for which title had already been given in 1988:..
CEO Struggled With, Froze Compensation Payouts
And, clearly this kind of thing, this undue compensation had been taxing the entire Ministry, and today the CEO, Sharon Ramclam says she had to put a stop to compensation payouts:...
Sharon Ramclam, CEO - Lands Department
"On the matter of compensation, I have belabored this point many times over at the CEO caucus and it's very frustrating. When I took over the ministry in March 2014 and compensation requests were presented to me, my briefing from the legal counsel and the commissioner on those cases was essentially thorough and in many instances were as a result of duplications."
Tough Questions For PM
So, while Gaspar Vega denies any knowledge that the land was private, in fact he must, because otherwise it would mean that he knowingly forced the government into a situation where his son had to be compensated. The documents we have seen says that the Lands Department surveyors told their bosses from as early as 2011 that this piece of land near the Haulover Bridge is private land, and not available for the Government to sell.
As we told, Sharon Pitts, who also got 400 thousand dollars in compensation, received a permit to survey, and it was canceled because the Lands Department confirmed that it was private. Today, the press challenged the Prime Minister on the assertion that Vega is innocent of abuse of the public trust, and here's how that exchange went:
Daniel Ortiz, 7News:
"Is this not an instance of corruption itself sir and will you as the leader of the country take steps to recommend an audit of his term and possibly a criminal investigation?"
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister:
"Sir, you've just heard the attorney general say that an audit has been completed. The findings of the auditor general will no doubt be released shortly. The question of the compensation in this case large, tax payers want to know that we will seek to recover the compensation and I told you that we will and the investigation is ongoing. The minister of lands try to detail for you all that happened, but expressly said that there are certain things that are still unclear."
Sharon, Super-Patriot Turned Into Wheeler-Dealer?
What about the other person who got a major come up off the land? We already heard how the Government will try to get back that money from Andre Vega, but they did not say what they will do about Sharon Pitts. For 2 days last week, we had been trying our very best to get a comment from her as to the validity of her compensation of 400 thousand dollars.
She hadn't made herself available to us, but today, we got a statement from her which says, quote, "I applied for some 2.5 acres National Land near mile 5 and was issued Lease for (a) reduced amount of 1.6 acres, and on purchase thereafter, obtained title via the Lands Department. I did not know it was private land. Based on my title to the land, I had a legitimate expectation that I would be legally compensated the market value as the norm.
1 Accepted the amount of $400,000, and maintain ownership of the portion which was finally reduced to 0.6 acres not affected by the mistake as a basis for settlement though I felt it was well below market value. My greatest care continues to be for our country, Belize." End quote.
Faber Fire Starter Charged, Arsonist Previously Accused
Police have arrested and charged a Belize City man for setting Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber's vehicle on fire. Allen Martinez - who was charged for arson 9 years ago - now stands charged again. Police say they are confident but strictly would not go into details.
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police:
"Twenty nine years old unemployed Allen Jovan Martinez from Central American Blvd Belize City was charged for the crime of arson on the 15th of October 2016."
Reporter:
"Was that footage clear enough whereby you can definitively say that Mr. Allen is the person in that footage?"
Inspector Juanito Cocom - OC, Ladyville Police:
"I will not comment more on the investigation. We have some evidence in the respect to that."
Jules Vasquez, 7News:
"Has he indicated that he's working or that he did it on behalf of anyone? Or did he do it on behalf of himself?"
Camalote Criminals Viciously Beat Cop
A police officer was almost beaten to death in Camalote. Last night after 6:00 PC Mark Rodriguez was at Serenita Bar when two men attacked and viciously beat him. They left him thrown on the ground, bloody and unconscious. Reports are that the young men thought that Rodriguez had called the cops on them for smoking weed. According to Rodriguez's wife, it was a big misunderstanding, one that has her husband of 14 years, clinging to life at the KHMH.
Reporter:
"What was the story? What did he tell you happened?"
Cryta Zelaya, Common Law wife:
"He doesn't know anything, all he knows is that he went to deal with the lady at the bar, because he has cases with her and she called him for him to go check about a case so it can be settled and that was it. I heard 2 young boys were smoking weed and they were accusing him, that is what the people at the bar were telling me, that they were accusing him of calling police on them because they were smoking weed and that was it, they hit him with a chair and that is what they told me and they beat him on the ground and assaulted him and stabbed him with a knife or something they had and that is what caused all the injury to his body and his mandible is broken."
Murder Over Drug Turf On La Isla Bonita
Police have charged Dwayne Goff for Saturday's San Pedro execution. At around 5:10 Saturday morning, 43 year old Lincoln Robinson was walking on Barrier Reef Drive when a man shot him twice to the face at close range. Reports are that Robinson had been hanging out at Daddy Rock's night club earlier, where he got into an altercation with a group of men. Police believe that one man from that group followed Robinson after he left the night club and shot him. Police say this may be as a result of a drug turf war on the island. Robinson has been on the news before, he was charged in May 2014 in connection with the shooting of a 17 year old mother on San Pedro. That was also as a result of a turf war. On a final note, police also told us that the 17 year old's common law husband was shot about 2 weeks ago and just came out of a coma, so they are also looking into that case.
Saldivar and Mason, Business Partners, Despite Denials
With all the pressure on the Barrow Administration right now, the Prime Minister just can't afford anymore controversy. But the old William Mason scandal, and the accused murderer's business ties to former Police Minister John Saldivar is making news all over again.
It involves documents from the Belize Companies Registry, and the registry certificate for a business named Bandits Sport, which is presumably the parent company for Saldivar Belmopan Bandits Football Club. It's shows that there are 10 shares in the company. Saldivar owns 7, and the other 3 belongs to William Mason. It is signed by both men, and it is dated August 18, 2015.
This document proves that Mason is Saldivar's business partner in the company, which is something he had been denying since the gruesome murder of Pastor Llewelyn Lucas became public knowledge. Here he is, from our archives, repeatedly insisting as much:
PM Backtracks On Business Connection
So, when we met him this afternoon, we asked Prime Minister Barrow about the disclosures, and he told us that he will have to do his investigation on the document before making any comment:
Daniel Ortiz, 7News:
"In another matter, documents have been revealed that John Saldivar and William Mason - there is greater degree of relationship where the company registry shows that...."
Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister:
"I've heard something. I've not been briefed on that. It is as the lands matter when you asked me on Thursday I had not been briefed - I have now been briefed and that is what the press conference is about this afternoon. Similarly in terms of what you are saying with respect to Minister Saldivar, as soon as I have been properly briefed I will come to you and deal with that in the same way as I'm going to deal with the lands matter this afternoon."
This evening, the John Saldivar camp sent out a press release which says, quote, "A document which has been a part of the public record at the Companies Registry since August 18th of last year has been circulated in the media as proof of "a business relationship between John Saldivar and William Mason".
Hostel Kids Escape, Caught With Loaded Burglar
Last week Wednesday afternoon, 7 minors, 5 males and two females, absconded from the Youth Hostel. Six of them were caught the following morning with a 42 year old man - whose vehicle was stuffed with loot from a residential burglary in the Belizean/American New Site, in Hattieville Village.
Rural Police told us more:
ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"They were all captured as well as an individual with a truck loaded with stolen goods from a burglary in Hattiville where our officers were diligent in intercepting that vehicle. We had several of the individuals who had escaped from hostel with that individual with stolen items from a home in the Hattieville area."
Jules Vasquez, 7News:
"Had these juveniles been involved in the commission of that burglary?"
ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"A couple of them apparently so."
Fatal Accident In PG
A man was knocked down and killed last night on the Southern Highway. Around 6:35, 37 year old Maya Mopan resident Domingo Pau was driving from Bella Vista to PG when an oncoming vehicle with high beams blinded him. Before the vehicle passed him, he saw San Marcus resident Jose Rash on his bicycle in front of him. Pau swerved to avoid hitting Rash but it was too late. Police have detained Pau in this investigation.
Cabbie Shot In City
A taxi driver was ambushed and shot on an early morning run. Yesterday morning at around 1:14, 29 year old Emet Baptist picked up a man and a woman at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Banak Street. Baptist took them down Aloe Vera Street as they had asked but when they got there instead of giving Baptist the taxi fare, the man pulled out a gun and demanded money. Baptist handed over $35 and the gunman shot Baptist. He was hit to the finger and shoulder. Baptist quickly reversed and sped off to the hospital. Police continue to look into this shooting.
Lawless Driver Pulls Gun On Cop
Earlier on in this segment, we told you about a police officer who was beaten to within inches of his life in a Camalote bar. Well, there's another case of absolute lack of respect for the law in Burrell Boom. That's where the driver of an unlicensed Mazda Tribute pulled a gun on a police officer. The Officer Commanding Rural told us more:...
ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural:
"The driver of that black tribute pulled a firearm on our police officer who was stationed at Burrell Boom. When the message went out, our rural rapid response and relief responded in search for the individual and about 2:47pm, he was found in the Ladyville area. One black and silver 9mm was recovered from a yard along with a cell phone and the individual was captured and has been since charged. He will be charged today for aggravated assault and kept unlicensed firearm."
Making Trade Licencing Simpler
We also asked Bradley about his thoughts on the recent land scandal involving the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Gaspar Vega and his son, Andre Vega.
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor:
"Well I cannot have a comment on the specific issue, because I am not - I don't know in relation to that. I will say though, that my comments in relation to anti-corruption has been very clear. I would urge members of the public to be aware of the issues in relation to reform. I had the opportunity to read the UN Convention Against Corruption, and it doesn't deal with only the corruption of an elected official. The bulk of that speaks off procurement, it speaks of campaign finance reform. It speaks of controlling the actions of public officers so that there's a significant portion on that in terms of dealing with this issue in a one off area, we've had instances of corruption we in the public, the media, the private sector, elected officials, even private citizens, you need to deal with corruption in a comprehensive way, and reform needs to be comprehensive. I don't want to make a comment because I don't know of the specific circumstances, you're giving me information in relation to the media story, but I think that in all of that, it should not be lost that we need to look at systematic ways to make our government perform more effectively and more efficiently."
Bradley Comments On Vega Scandal
We also asked Bradley about his thoughts on the recent land scandal involving the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Gaspar Vega and his son, Andre Vega.
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor:
"Well I cannot have a comment on the specific issue, because I am not - I don't know in relation to that. I will say though, that my comments in relation to anti-corruption has been very clear. I would urge members of the public to be aware of the issues in relation to reform. I had the opportunity to read the UN Convention Against Corruption, and it doesn't deal with only the corruption of an elected official. The bulk of that speaks off procurement, it speaks of campaign finance reform."
Guat Navy Detains, Releases Belizeans
Information released form the government at newstime tells us that "6 Belizeans were detained earlier this afternoon by a Guatemalan coastal patrol vessel, while they were fishing in the Gulf of Honduras."
Government says "the Guatemalan coastal patrol vessel intercepted the Belizeans…at a point between the mouth of the Moho River, Toledo District, Belize and Punta de Manabique, Izabal, Guatemala. The Guatemalan Navy claimed that the Belizeans were illegally fishing in Guatemala."
The Ministry of foreign Affairs and the BDF intervened immediately and "the Belizeans were released and returned to the location where they were first encountered."
COLA With Teachers
At the top of the news, we showed you this morning's meeting between Prime Minister and the teachers as part of the Joint Unions Negotiating Team. He's trying to bring a close to the strike, while under pressure from the Gaspar Vega scandal which has forced this senior member of his Cabinet to resign due to the public embarrassment it has caused.
Part of their stance for industrial action is for good governance, and an end to corruption. Today, COLA, held a press conference to announce that the teachers are not alone. Here is an excerpt of that event where President Geovannie Brackett is declaring why they remain aligned with the BNTU:
Vega Nephew Almost Came Up On BTL?
And tonight, we have a brief look at another land deal concerning a Vega relative. This time it's former Deputy Lands Commissioner Nestor Hernandez - who is Vega's nephew. Hernandez was the former deputy commissioner of lands who formed a company named NSV Enterprise. The owners of record are Nestor Eduardo Hernandez and Susanna Angelica Hernandez. Now, here's what happened. BTL already owned a parcel of land in Hopkins upon which it had a tower and phone switch. BTL had title, but through some arrangement, a connected person named Moses Lopez got title for the land in 2013, which he then sold to NSV Enterprise Limited. As we understand it, someone acting on behalf of NSV went to BTL and demanded payment since BTL was on their property. The company balked, and we understand a complaint went to the Prime Minister. We do know that Hernandez was terminated from the ministry in 2014.
Former Vega CEO Beverly Castillo Williams Has No Worries
And keeping it in Ladyville, the area representative for that area was a former career public servant turned politician Beverly Castillo, now Beverly Williams. That career as a public officer and her UDP loyalty led her to the CEO's office in the Ministry of Natural Resources back in 2008. She served there under Gaspar Vega until 2013, when she went to pursue her career in politics. So is Castillo now concerned that an audit of the department is underway? That is might unearth dirty deals which went down when she was CEO? Today she bristled at that suggestion and told us she doesn't have the slightest concern:…
New Beat For New Cops
And while the dirty cop who did that will have to found, Ladyville today welcomed 10 new officers. They were receiving orientation today, and Broaster says they will have to walk the straight and narrow:…
Pakeman File Still With DPP
Today we asked Ladyville police about the status with the Dorian Pakeman file. Pakeman, the Director of the Government Press Office knocked down and killed 45 year-old Gardenia Villager Dean Dawson back in March
As we've reported, Pakeman's sample tested positive for the presence of cocaine - but the DPP never got that result because a police officer suppressed it. And at the same time Dawson's blood sample appears to have been tampered with because it had more alcohol than blood. A lot of funny business in this case for sure, and today Broaster said they are following up on instructions from the DPP:
Seismic Stress
Last week we told you about the Ministry of Economic Development and Petroleum's plan to conduct seismic surveys in offshore Belize. The environmental community has expressed grave concern about this, especially after Cabinet approved the surveys without an Environmental Impact Assessment. Since then, the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, which consists of organizations like OCEANA and the World Wildlife Fund, has asked the Cabinet to stay its decision until proper assessments can be done in order to determine the effects of the surveys on the marine environment. The Coalition has received no response from the government, however a statement from SeaBird Exploration, the company contracted to do the surveys has them up in arms.
According to SeaBird's release, the company will be conducting surveys in Belize starting mid-October. This is concerning to many because SeaBird describes itself as "a global provider of marine acquisition for 2D/3D and 4D seismic data, and associated products and services to the oil and gas industry."
AmbergrisCaye.com 
