Today's Belize News: January 24, 2017

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Today's Belize News: January 24, 2017 #521145 01/24/17 12:36 AM 01/24/17 12:36 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,240 oregon, spr Marty OP .
Marty OP	FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report. 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, and other specials The San Pedro Sun Island residents say NO to offshore oil exploration Residents of Ambergris Caye, and Caye Caulker Village convened at the Central Park in downtown San Pedro to say ‘No’ to offshore oil exploration in Belize. The event, spearheaded by active members on the island in partnership with Oceana in Belize and the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, included a peaceful walk followed by a public forum on Saturday, January 21st. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the Central Park shortly after 11AM carrying colorful banners for a peaceful walk throughout the streets of the town core. Along the route persons joined the walk, chanting ‘No Means No!’ as they made their way back to Central Park. Team Sea Star wins friendly softball marathon To open the San Pedro Town Council’s upcoming Co-ed Softball Tournament, a marathon was held on Sunday, January 22nd. Three softball teams: Extreme, San Pedro High School, and Sea Star entertained a crowd of softball fans at the Honorable Louis Sylvestre Complex. After countless matches, Sea Star emerged victorious as the champions of the marathon. Ambergris Today Pic of the Week - Island Life: I Need A Ride We live on an tropical island where it is sunny all year round, some days more than others. With this hot weather no one wants to be walking around, even less if you have to push a wheelbarrow. Empty or not, it's hard work. Getting a ride on the island is not difficult; thanks to frienldy islanders one doesn't need to walk. Wonder where this guy was headed to - maybe to work? Either way, this is such a fun way to move around a wheelbarrow; instead of pushing it, why not pull it! - photo by Solani Graniel The Threat of Offshore Oil Exploration is Real, Belizeans Remain Proactive The San Pedro community, concerned with the threat of offshore oil exploration in Belize has decided to speak up and stay vigilant. Caye Caulker, Belize City, Orange Walk, they were all represented in San Pedro this weekend at a public forum to discuss offshore oil. Although the government has issued a press release stating offshore oil activities have been canceled in Belize, residents of our tourism dependent islands and even residents of the mainland are not willing to risk their most valuable attraction and source of income. They are being very verbal about it. The participants of the forum were not the only ones making their mark or creating awareness for our Barrier Reef this past week. Student’s of San Pedro High School took the time to make posters for a peaceful walk through town showcasing reasons their cries for protection on this natural resource. Misc Belizean Sources VOTE MISS BELIZE INTO THE FINAL 12 OF MISS UNIVERSE! Starting January 23, 2017 at 9:30 a.m ET, fans worldwide will be able to vote via the methods below: 1) VODI: Download the Vodi app http://vodi.io/b/MISSUNIVERSE and hit the vote button 2) WEB: Visit http://vote.missuniverse.com/ – (It will work once the voting starts!) 3) MISS U APP: Download the Miss U app here http://www.bit.ly/MissUapp and hit vote on the side menu 4) TWITTER: Tweet using #MissUniverse and a contestant specific hashtag that will be provided once voting start. Take advantage by retweeting. Once the voting window opens, fans are able to vote 10x per day per registered account. ***Please note that, vote.missuniverse.com is the ONLY website for voting. Presentation of Credentials Four ambassadors presented their Letters of Credence today to the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan. H.E. Mr. Jonathan Peled, Ambassador of Israel; H.E. Mrs. Merethe Nergaard, Ambassador of Norway; H.E. Ms. Alena Gazurova, Ambassador of Slovak Republic; and H.E. Mr. Luigi Maccotta, Ambassador of Italy; all expressed their pleasure in being a representative of their respective countries in Belize. The ambassadors each conveyed their countries’ interests in continuing to strengthen bilateral relations and encourage new areas of development with Belize. The Governor General warmly welcomed and received the Ambassadors’ credentials. Alcohol and drug bust on San Pedro, Ambergris Caye On Saturday 21st January 2017 at 11:55 a.m. a joint team of Special Branch and San Pedro Police conducted searched at 21 year old Saul Bolanos years of the DFC Area of San Pedro Town. Also present was his Common Law wife Anna Haylock and his sister Carolina Bolanos of Belize City who was only visiting at the time. 3 cases of contraband mexican beers and 32 bottles contraband liquor was found. And 50.6 grams of cannabis and $30,650. All three are awaiting a joint charge of possession of drugs, and being in possession of uncustomed goods. If one person accepts responsibility the charges could be dropped against the other suspects. Ouch! beer bust Clive forman was busted by the police with 22 cases of assorted contraband beers including Dos Equis, Modelo, Corona Extra, and Superior. On Saturday 21st January 2017 at 11:45 a.m. a joint team of Special Branch and San Pedro Police conducted searched at two premises. The first searched was conducted at the residence of 53 year old Clive Forman of San Pablo Area, San Pedro Town which led to the discovery of 22 cases of assorted contraband. The second search at the Bolanos house yielded drugs and contraband liquor. Access Life Expo Access Life and Hearts of Christ had their Expo at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium. They distributed 100's of wheelchairs and sets of crutches to those in need. They've been in Belize for a week, and have been helping those with disabilities, and even paid a visit to Octavia Waight. Pond's Fellowship Program 2017 The U.S. Embassy encourages women leaders in Belize to apply for the Pond's Fellowship Program 2017 that empowers young women who dare to lead with compassion and have fresh ideas for social change. The application deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2017. To learn more or apply, please visit http://bit.ly/2iYNTC4. Vital Voices and POND'S are joining forces to launch an innovative new fellowship program to empower young women who dare to lead with compassion and have fresh ideas for social change. We know that against all odds, women are generating breakthrough solutions to the world's most urgent problems. Women leaders are resilient, their vision for the future is bold and the world needs more of them. This groundbreaking opportunity redefines what it means to be a leader, and shines a spotlight on the next generation of creative women heading up organizations or businesses, determined to challenge the status quo. 7th annual Tribute Show to Bob Marley The San Pedro House of Culture and IRIE Belize present the 7th annual Tribute Show to Bob Marley that will be held on the 4th & 5th of February starting at 11am until 2 am and on the 5th from 11 am to midnight. There will be food and drinks for sale, arts & crafts and live entertainment starting at 6 pm. The Exhibition Show will be at the House of Culture on January 25th starting at 11 am until midnight. The live entertainment will start at 6 pm. Featuring our local legends including RastaBu, Leo Marley, DanMan, Continental Cat, Special C, Kevin G, Blackhino. Greater opportunities in CARICOM for Belizean producers Representatives of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service, (BELTRAIDE) and the Directorate General for Foreign Trade this morning went on national radio and television to launch a public awareness campaign to inform Belizean producers, potential exporters and exporters of the numerous opportunities available in the CARICOM market. Ms Shauna Arnold, Export Promotion Officer at EXPORTBelize, a Unit of BELTRAIDE and Mr John Rivero, Trade Intelligence Economist at the Directorate General for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade & Commerce, appeared on Open Your Eyes and LOVE FM’s Morning shows, and spoke on the suspension request of the Common External Tariff (CET) under CARICOM. verflight above the Chiquibul First overflight above the Chiquibul Forest shows areas cleared already for farming by Guatemalan farmers. U.S. Embassy in Belmopan seeking applicants for HVAC Technician The incumbent serves as an HVAC Technician for the residential compound/facility management section under the supervision of the Residential Maintenance Supervisor. The U.S. Mission in Belize provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs. Channel 7 Police: Harris Killed Hog The murder just happened last night, but a man has already been charged for the killing on West Collet Canal. The victim was 44-year-old Clinton Frazer, known as Hog, and the accused is 23 year old Henry Rudolph Harris. The allegation is that Harris along with another man rode up on separate bicycles and shot at Frazer and his younger brother Michael. The brothers were hanging out with a couple friends near the Conch Shell Bay Fish Market. Clinton was hit to the back and died while his brother Michael was shot in the leg. We spoke to a relative today off camera and she told us she doesn't know why her brothers were targeted. Police also gave us a briefing this morning on the shooting. Voice of: Relative: "Well I hear my 2 brothers got shot and one died, when I was at home, I heard that and my brother Clinton, he liked to give jokes and stuff he wasn't a bad person, he doesn't deal with gun or weed he just relax and chill and give jokes , he would just say Sister Persh. You're alright? And I would say "hey, not today" and then he would laugh and talk and thing, he don't deal with gun or nothing so I don't know why they killed him." Man Killed In Motorbike Accident Up North From murder in the city to a fatal accident in the North. On Friday night at around midnight, a 19 year old motorcyclist slammed into a lamppost on the Otro Benque Road in Orange Walk. Jerry Hernison Martinez was heading towards Corozal. Martinez received massive injuries and died at the Northern Regional Hospital at 1:15 am. Police told us how they are handling this case. ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer: "A young man was driving his motorbike and collided into a lamp post. That's on the right of the highway if you are travelling from Orange Walk towards Corozal. He unfortunately succumb to his injuries." Reporter: "Sir, they are saying that Mr. Martinez was intoxicated when he was driving his motorcycle. Do you have such information?" ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer: "Like you rightfully mentioned, we have persons in the area that said that Mr. Martinez was seen socializing somewhere in the vicinity of Central Park in Orange Walk just minutes before he collided into the lamp post. So we are definitely looking at maybe that alcohol may have been a factor in this accident." Motorbike Driver Dies in Impact With Hilux And there was another fatal traffic accident but this time in Belmopan. Last night around 8:48, 43 year old Kevin Petzold was driving on the Hummingbird Highway in his Toyota Hilux, turning into the "the Mall's" parking lot when 21 year old motorcyclist Geovannie Reymundo who was coming from the other direction crashed into his Hilux. Reymundo died from the impact. Police gave us more details. ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Press Officer: "Police visited a scene sometime around almost 9pm last night where they saw Toyota Hilux and a motorbike under the front bumper. The driver of the motorbike is one, Mr. Reymundo. He was accompanied by a female rider and apparently the pick-up was turning into the entrance of a mall, between Mile 55 and 56, where he collided into the pick-up. At this time police cannot say who was at fault, but we know that he received severe head and body injuries. He was transported to the hospital where he succumb to his injuries. Fortunately for him, his rider survived with injuries to her body. The driver of the pick-up has been served with an NIP and we hope to make an arrest if there should be one very soon. I know that investigators have been on the ball since last night." Ring Road Ramming There was also a minor bus accident in Belmopan on Saturday. It happened on the Ring Road where there was a major impact but no one was hurt. A taxi driver darted across the road from Builders Hardware to Buca gas station and was hit by an oncoming Westline Bus which had the right of way on Ring Road. Police believe that the taxi driver did not properly clear the intersection before shooting across, and his car was struck by the bus, which sent the car skidding into the drain. The driver had no major injury. Belmopan believe that a rush of inexperienced drivers are causing a number of minor accidents in the capital and have cautioned that the speed limit within cities is 15 to 25 miles per hour. Illegal Construction Workers Went to Work On Friday we showed you the truckful of illegal immigrants who were picked up at the Golden Bay construction site. There were 18 of them; well today 11 of them went to court. But they didn't stay there long. They should have been charged with failure to produce a visitor's permit. But the charges were not read to them because the immigration officer who represented the prosecution had put the charges together properly. As a result, they taken back to the holding cell at Queen Street Police Station. The Immigration Department tells us that their employer Josue Aguilar - who is a naturalized Belizean - got off on a technicality, while 9 of the 11 workers have been charged by Immigration and will go back to court tomorrow. The 2 remaining had other status. As we showed you on Friday, the immigrants were picked up at the construction site by the Mobile Interdiction Team which was looking for members of the MS - 13. Apparently they were not only in possession of visitor's permits but also work permits. Today we got a call from the owners of Golden Bay who stressed that they didn't hire the illegal workers, the contractor did - and he did so without their knowledge. Golden Bay says all of it's over 40 workers are duly registered with Social Security. Belize Murder Rate High, Clearance Rate Low Two weeks ago we told you about murder rates in the Caribbean and Central America. In the Caribbean, St. Kitts-Nevis actually has the highest murder rate per one hundred thousand at 56. Their murder count went up by over 50%. Jamaica is second at 47 per hundred thousand, then Belize is third at 37.1. But what about a number known as the "the clearance rate"? That refers to the number of arrests compared to the number of murders. Well, according to the Trinidad Express Newspaper, Antigua has a high clearance rate, with 8 murders, and six suspects arrested making for a clearance rate of 75%. Guyana is also high on the list, at 64% with 140 murders, and 90 suspects arrested. Jamaica is at 57%, with 771 arrests for 1350 murders - that's a rate of 57%. Belize is at only 37%, with 51 arrests for 138 murders - which is on the low side. Trinidad, however is much lower than Belize with just 71 murder arrests for their 462 murders, a clearance rate of just over 15%. United Against Oil Exploration Late last year, the government made the controversial decision to conduct seismic surveys in Belizean waters. When conservation groups like the Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, and other public agents got wind of this, they pressured to government to halt all operations until the public was properly consulted on the matter. Well, those consultations were scheduled for this month, but they were cancelled two weeks ago. There has been no word as to why the consultations were cancelled or if they will be rescheduled, and some people are tired of waiting. On Saturday some San Pedro residents organized a peaceful march and forum in the town's Central Park. The event's organizer, Kristin Marin, told us more... Kristin Marin, Event Organizer: "It began with a peaceful walk, so 100 community members joined us and we use posters created by high school students in the week. So we had 175 students come together and create posters for the event. So we carry that around town inviting people to join us in the park and once we got back to central park we created a no oil sign on the beach which I said to you and we got everyone hyped up and felt the momentum and the energy and from there we had a speaker system and we just shared information on the updates of oil concessions from 2010 all the way up to now when the recent consultations on the multi-beam surveys were cancelled and then we just shared information on the committee that's forming and future events that we're planning." Pitts to Jail For Ammo Tonight, 40 year-old Kirk Pitts, a barber from Antelope Street, is at the Belize Central Prison after being taken to court for bullets and marijuana, which police say they busted him with. According to police, they were on mobile patrol yesterday on Faber's Road Extension when they searched him. They officers found a black plastic bag which contained 4 live rounds of 9 millimeter ammunition, and less than a gram of marijuana. The police then charged him with keeping unlicensed ammunition and possession of a controlled drug. He was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser, where he pled not guilty to the charges. He told the court that the police planted the bullets on him. Despite that, the Senior Magistrate couldn't grant him any bail, and he was remanded into custody until March 24. Vote For Becky On Real Miss Universe Poll At the beginning of the month, Miss Belize, Rebecca Rath, left for the Philippines where she will be competing in the Miss Universe Pageant. Since then she's put the finishing touches on her wardrobe, began rehearsals and even met the President of the Philippines. The Miss Universe pageant takes place on Sunday, and already Belizeans have been showing their love. She's received massive support from her fans, placing favorably in several online polls. But, the polls that really count just opened today. The official Miss Universe went live on the Miss Universe website today, and they're more important than ever. And that's because this year, the winner of the fan vote gets a guaranteed spot in the pageant's semifinal round. So with the big night less than a week away, here's how to vote. You can do so from the official Miss Universe app or website, by tweeting using the appropriate hashtags, or through the Vodi app. Each participant can cast 10 votes a day, and the polls close on Saturday. The Jaguars Return, Unbowed The Belize Jaguars returned from the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana tournament in Panama this morning. The came home with their heads down, and that's because - just like last time - they finished dead last. The team had one draw and four losses - ending with only one point and an 8 point goal differential. Freddy Cantiliano met the team at the airport and asked some of the players and management what went wrong in Panama. Freddy Cantiliano- Reporter: "Coach, a good beginning at the UNCAF Copa Centro Americana where you drew against the host team- something that nobody could believe when it happened. What happened from then on?" Richard Orlowski- Head Coach: "That's why after this game, expectations from all people in Belize and all the players were too high. But the reality is that the next game we played against Costa Rica which has a very good team. Everybody knows they go to World Cup were they've played like semi-finals. We gave everything during the game against Panama and not even one day we got a break because in the night time and next two days in the morning we played against Costa Rica. The boys were not even recovered after this game. But the third, fourth and fifth game we played well even against El Salvador. Second half we dominated, we created many chances, but we didn't score. That's our weakness. We get chances we have to score because this is not practice. You get three chances you have to score three goals because it's not like you get a hundred chances to do this." How About Scubble? So, while hardcore football fans might be struggling to get over the disappointing outcome in this tournament, maybe you're in the mood for a lighter hybrid version of the sport. It's called bubble football, and it started off as a joke back in 2011. Since then, it's gained popularity all over the world, and now, it's being played in Belize. This weekend, our news team went to find out more about this quirky sport, and why those who brought it home with them are hoping that Belizeans pick it up. Daniel Ortiz has that story: Daniel Ortiz Reporting: Seeing these two "pigeon goals" and this football, on the field, you might think this a set-up for a friendly match is about to start momentarily. But, what you certainly won't find on any other football pitch are these human sized bubbles. Each Player is expected to put these on their torsos as part of the equipment, kinda like how a pair of football pegs are expected in a game of football. The Diplomatic Choice Four new ambassadors to Belize were accredited today in Belmopan. The first to meet the Governor General was Jonathan Peled, the new Israeli Ambassador, second was the Norwegian ambassador, Merethe Nergaard, third was Alena Gazurova, from the Slovak Republic; and Italy's Ambassador, Luigi Maccotta. According to an official release, the ambassadors each conveyed their countries' interests in continuing to strengthen bilateral relations and encourage new areas of development with Belize. Channel 5 Murder in Belize City – Arrest Made in Death of Clinton Frazer A murder on Sunday night claimed the life of one brother and has left another injured. The brothers were at the Conch Shell Bay Fish Market when a man opened [...] Pickup Meets Motorcycle in Belmopan; Cyclist Loses Life A motorist lost his life on Sunday night in Belmopan during a fatal road traffic accident. Twenty-one-year-old Geovannie Reymundo, a resident of San Martin, was riding a black Meilun motorcycle, [...] Motorcyclist’s Life Cut Short in an Instant in Orange Walk Another motorcyclist perished in a traffic mishap over the weekend. On Friday night, nineteen-year-old Jerry Martinez, a resident of Black Water Creek in Trial Farm, lost his life along the [...] Teenager Charged for Dropped Gun Eighteen-year-old Jair Tamai of Corozal Town thought he could outrun police on mobile patrol on Sunday morning, but they very quickly caught up with him. Officers spotted the teenager, also [...] Plenty Weed and a Firearm Off the Streets Eastern Division police continue their efforts to remove cannabis and weaponry from the streets, making one arrest. A sixteen-year-old minor has been charged with drug trafficking. Around twelve-forty Saturday afternoon, [...] Ammunition Also Removed by Police Forty-year-old Kirk Pitts was remanded to prison for possession of ammunition and a small quantity of weed. Over the weekend, police busted Pitts with several nine millimeter ammunition and less [...] San Pedranos Gather to Oppose Offshore Oil Activity Over the weekend, a group of San Pedro residents marched peacefully through the streets before coming to a stop at the Central Park on the island. There, a public forum [...] Will Environmentalists Go for Referendum Again? It’s been five years since a referendum attempt by Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage failed when Government announced that the N.G.O. was unable to gather the required eight thousand [...] Clarifying Chon Saan – Lee Mark talks to News Five Back in December, this station, having gleaned information from reliable sources, questioned whether the Government of Belize would pay as much as four million Belize dollars for the Chon Saan [...] Chang Says There Will Be No Hard Feelings If He Can’t Close Deal Chang shared with News Five a copy of the appraisal documents from Mahung and Partners confirming that the restaurant building is in good condition and justifiably priced for sale. He [...] Speaker Longsworth Steps Up to Head FOPREL Speaker of the House of Representatives, Laura Longsworth, has had just ten days into one of the most thankless jobs in Belize. She has, however, the goodwill of Belizeans who [...] Senate Prez Says Course Correct in 13th Senator Flap The Senate’s first meeting of 2017 on Thursday last almost didn’t proceed after Lead Opposition Senator Eamon Courtenay of the People’s United Party introduced an amendment to the regular motion [...] Defending Islam in Wake of Abu Naila Report The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Belize is hosting its third annual convention this weekend. The timing of the gathering coincides with a news item we ran on Friday, involving a [...] After Disappointing Copa Centroamericana, Jaguars return to Dissect Performance Belizean football fans across the country were not too happy with the performance of the national football team over the past ten days at the Copa Centro Americana Games. The [...] James Adderley and the Weekend Sporting Highlights Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Feature on weekend sporting activities....] CTV3 Motorcycle Accident Claims Life Of 19 Year Old The family of a nineteen year old Orange Walkeno is tonight mourning his death after his life came to a tragic end, following a traffic accident on the Otro Benque Road. Police reports indicate that just before midnight on Friday, Jerry Hernison Martinez of Black Water Creek in the Trial Farm Village was driving his motorcycle on the Otro Benque Road traveling towards Trial Farm Village when upon nearing the hill just past the Orange Walk Police Station he lost control of the motor cycle and collided into a lamp post located on the right hand side of the road causing him severe head and body injuries. Martinez was transported to the Northern Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. While authorities are still unable to determine the exact cause of Martinez’s accident, they have reasons to believe that alcohol might have been a contributing factor. Is Belizean National Behind ISIS Attack In Phillipines? There is a very serious report tonight that could have grave implications for Belize. On January 7th, security forces in the coast town of Massim in the Sarangani Province of Philippines, while carrying out a search of the home of a suspected ISIS supporter, came under attack and had to return fire. During the exchange, they shot and killed Abu Naila and his companion Kadija. Naila’s identity is under investigation at the moment, and there is some indication that he could be a Belizean-national who was recruited by the terrorist Islamic State also known as ISIS or ISIL. It is suspected that Naila is Nadir Ali Ahmad, a Belizean muslim. Local authorities have not commented on the case, and the Ahmad family in Belize have also not spoken on the issue. But we do know that the Ahmad family has been on the radar of security authorities in the past. In June 2016, in a special and seemingly-secret operation here in Belize, several members of the Ahmad family were picked up by Police and held under custody for questioning. OW Residence Assist In Building Child Friendly Municipal Plan A one day training session was offered today under the Sustainable and Child Friendly Municipality Project with the objective of holding consultations with service providers as well as children who form part of the Orange Walk Community to assist in the development of a Child Friendly Strategic Plan. The plan comprises of specific priority goals and outcomes and is expected to be carried out in a period of five years. John Flowers – Technical Consultant, Sustainable & Child Friendly Municipality: “The National Committee for Families and Children last year developed a national plan for children and adolescence 2017/2030 so that is fourteen years so what we are doing we are aligning the strategic plan for Orange Walk Town with the national plan and so there are already a number of goals identified six goals; supportive parents, supportive transitions, we are looking at prevention is better than cure so these kinds of goals and then we have also five outcomes that we want for children...” Help Miss Belize Reach Semi Finals The young, gorgeous and talented Miss Belize Universe, Rebecca Rath, continues to leave a dazzling mark in Manila Philippines with every single stride. She has come a long way and has successfully managed to place Belize on the map as a result of her undeniable charm, beauty and self-confidence which out-rightly stands out among the remaining eighty nine delegates who all share the same objective… to take home the Miss Universe 2017 crown. And while Rath has been able to top the popularity voting polls online thanks to the massive support attained from Belizeans, tonight we can tell you that the Miss Universe Organization has officially opened all voting polls for this year’s pageant. Therefore, fans from all over the world can now vote for their favourite contestant. Police Officer Involved In Traffic Accident This afternoon, there was a traffic accident in Corozal Town in which a motorcycle driven by a police officer collided with a van driven at the time by well-known newspaper columnist Clinton Uh Luna. The accident occurred just before the 5:00pm rush hour, at the corner of 5th Avenue and 3rd Street South. The unidentified Police officer was visibly shaken by the impact and complained of severe pain in one of his arms, which was suspected to be broken. Police authorities are investigating the incident and it is expect that charges could be laid. Breaking Belize News Police charge 1 man for Conch Shell Bay murder Police have charged Henry Rudolph Harris, 23, with the murder of Clinton Frazer, 44, and the attempted murder of his brother, Michael Frazer, 33, which occurred last night in the Conch Shell Bay Area of Belize City. Police are yet to reveal a motive […] Corozal youth arrested for keeping gun and ammo without gun license According to police reports, yesterday at 1:30 a.m., Corozal police were conducting a mobile patrol in the Skeleton Town area in Corozal when their attention was drawn to 18-year-old Jair Tamai AKA “Totolosh” of a 2nd Street North address who threw away an object […] Police find ammo and weed in Cayo According to police reports, Saturday night at around 6:30, San Ignacio police were conducting vehicle checkpoints on the George Price Highway near Georgeville Village when a passenger bus arrived heading towards Belmopan. Police searched the bus and discovered a black plastic bag tucked under […] Traffic accident claims one life on the Hummingbird Highway On Sunday, January 22, 2017, at about 8:48 p.m., Belmopan Police visited an area between mile 55 and 56 on the Humming Bird Highway near “The Mall” where they saw a dark blue Toyota Hilux (BMP C-05554) on the side of the road with […] Police issues official report on fatal traffic accident in Orange Walk On Friday at around 11:59 p.m., police responded to a traffic accident on Otro Benque Road, Orange Walk Town where they saw 19-year-old Jerry Hernison Martinez of Black Water Creek Area, Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk, lying on top of a motorcycle on the […] Belize City man arrested for cannabis and keeping ammunition without a gun license Yesterday at around 2:45 p.m., police while conducting patrols on Faber’s Road Extension in Belize City searched 40-year-old Kirk Pitts of an Antelope Street Extension which led to the discovery of a black plastic bag containing four 9 mm live rounds of ammunition and […] Gun and weed found in Belize City On Friday, police conducted a search in an abandoned area across from Cumberbatch Field on Caesar Ridge Road in Belize City which led to the discovery of 118 grams of cannabis and a black plastic bag containing a black smith and Wesson sw99 with […] Belize City student arrested and charged for drug trafficking According to police reports, on Saturday around 12:40 p.m., police were conducting a mobile patrol on Raccoon Street in Belize City and upon reaching the corner of Curassow Street and Raccoon Street their attention was drawn to two male persons on separate bicycles, one […] Two Brothers Shot in Belize City, One Dies From His Injuries Yesterday at around 9:25 p.m., police responded to a shooting incident on West Collet Canal in Belize City. Investigations revealed that about 9:23 p.m., 44-year-old Clinton Frazer and his brother 33-year-old Michael Frazer both of a Conch Shell Bay address in Belize City were socializing […] Motorist dies in Orange Walk Jerry Martinez, 21, of Orange Walk Town died in a fatal traffic accident on Friday night. He was riding on the Otro Benque Road before midnight when he crashed head on into a lamppost and died on the scene. He was transported to the […] Cayo Special Constables plan activities for 2017 Yesterday evening the Cayo Special Constables met to discuss their plan for the year 2017. The committee has been serving the communities of San Ignacio, Santa Elena and surrounding villages for the last five years. Present at the meeting was Cpl. Jason Jones, Officer […] Blogs First Art in The Park 2017 in Corozal It was the first Annual Art in the park that was held on January 21st, 2017. It commenced at 5pm where several boots had already been out on display. Usually, after church at 7pm the music commence. Their where countless people came out to supported the event. I walked towards the park and from the distance I saw the countless people. I heard music echoing through my both ears. First thing was taking photo's of the Train CHOO! CHOO!, Miss Deb's Deli, Then I went to take photos of the rest of the boots on Central Park. I couldn't count how much booth their where on this event but their where surely a number of them. Every event it keeps getting better as the months approaches. Something that I saw where tourists buying souvenirs as a reminder of what Belize local artists does. Lots of locals enjoyed the music being played on the park. And, some where dancing, walking around the Central Park. During my booth to booth picture's I observed some where made by locals and they did an excellent job doing their art work. While doing that I was hearing the band was playing great music. Food where available for sale pupusas, nachos, garnachas, hot dogs, snacks, cotton candy and more. Excitingly, while walking around the central park I got amazed about what this locals had for their local art exhibition on display. Casitas Tres Cocos is officially open for business! Adding to the charm and beauty of Tres Cocos, Ambergris Caye, is the newest boutique hotel Casitas Tres Cocos. Featuring beautifully designed individual cabañas, a salt-water pool, and the onsite full service Youcan Toucan Bar and Grille, Casitas Tres Cocos is an adults-only, playful paradise. With names like Sting Ray, Kinkajou, Tapir, Iguana and Crocodile, the casitas definitely have their own unique touch and vibe. Highlighting the rooms are the gorgeous Papo paintings of each Belize animal. Sting Ray is the master suite, with a king-sized bed, its own kitchenette and outdoor plunge pool and shower. It can connect to an adjoining suite to make a bigger, shareable space too. The remaining casitas get to indulge in the all-inclusive menu from Youcan Toucan! The lap pool has fun alternating lights that make the nighttime swim parties a blast, and guests can swim right up to the bar for their favorite cocktails – it does not get any better than that. Reef Quotes Worth Sharing by People of Belize I’m always so proud of Belizeans coming together when it matters most. In this past week alone we have seen several groups at home raising their voices against offshore oil exploration in their own unique ways. It is humbling to see people’s reactions when you bring up the Belize Barrier Reef in a conversation. My memories of Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Sharks and simply swimming along the reef were a highlight of my childhood. It’s something I share with great pride. I would hope one day Madi has nothing but amazing memories of the reef to tell her children as well. The threat to our Barrier Reef is not something our people should be facing. We have made it clear that as a country we DO NOT support offshore oil exploration. Why then are we still talking about this? I reached out to Belizeans to hear their thoughts… In Belize: Close encounters of the aquamarine kind The other day I joined friends for a trip around the island, with a little snorkeling at Mexico Rocks thrown in at the end. It was my first time cruising Ambergris Caye north in a clockwise direction, starting and ending at Coco Beach Resort. Aw, it is a beautiful trip in either direction so I won’t try and split hairs over which way the ride is best. No matter which way you go, your boat must leave the safe harbor of the reef and for 20 hair-raising minutes or so, you must cut the seam between rolling waves; angle up and over with an electric glide sort of step; and, occasionally, go all muscle on the waves — gun the engine launch up and over, into the air and down with a teeth-jarring a body-slam. Talk about fun. With the right driver, I could do that all day. And with Erick and Candyman from Tuff E Nuff, we had the goods. This was a little different sort of trip. We stopped, for example, at a resort under construction right on the edge of the Bacalar Chico Reserve. It is a rustic — though hardly primitive — spot called North Coconut Beach. The resort features small wood cabanas on stilts and a centerpiece bar and restaurant called the Una Mas Cantina. Several cabanas have been built with more on the way. The owners have 10 acres sea-to-lagoon to play with. International Sources FBI offers $10K reward in murder of ABC7 executive producer Anne Swaney A year after ABC7 executive producer Anne Swaney was murdered while on vacation in Belize, the FBI has offered a reward for information leading to her killer. Swaney, who was executive producer of online operations at ABC7, was found dead Jan. 15, 2016 at an eco-ranch in western Belize. She was found strangled in the Mopan River. Belize police, who have overseen the murder investigation, have never established a motive or a prime suspect. "We are still awaiting some test results that were sent abroad. Other than that there are still no leads," said Belize police inspector Stanley Bowden. Belize police say they have returned to the crime scene and re-interviewed witnesses. Belize has a U.S. embassy, but has no American law enforcement jurisdiction nor subpoena power in the country, thus limiting the role of the FBI. However, the FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information that helps identify Swaney's murderer. The money is a significant incentive in a country where 40 percent of the population lives in poverty. "What does give me comfort is that federal authorities from the United States are involved," said Robert Milan, a former Cook County and federal prosecutor. National Geographic Names Two Caribbean Beaches among World’s Most Spectacular National Geographic has compiled a diverse list of the world’s most spectacular beaches, ranging from the idyllic, through the unusual, to the ecologically important. The Caribbean has bagged two places in the top 21, with Curacao’s Cas Abao Beach fitting firmly into the tropical paradise niche, and Belize’s South Water Caye Reserve finding favour for the integrity of its marine ecosystems. South Water Caye Marine Reserve is the second largest in the country and was established by the Fisheries Department in 1996 in recognition of the marine ecosystems and its national, regional and international importance. The area is a priority for conservation due to its rich biodiversity, supporting an oceanic mangrove system and extensive seagrass meadows, which provide habitats for many commercial and non-commercial species. Mangrove cayes also provide nesting sites for many important bird species and the area is also utilized by marine turtles for nesting. South Water Caye Marine Reserve is one of the seven protected areas that form the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO. How to Become a Certified Diver on a Caribbean Cruise Looking to learn to dive and take a cruise around the Caribbean? Royal Caribbean is now the only cruise line in the world with onboard PADI Five Star Dive Centers, allowing guests to become certified scuba divers on their sailings. “For the past 16 years Royal Caribbean has worked closely with PADI to develop our onboard dive program,” said Roberta Jacoby, managing director, Global Tour Operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. “No other cruise line offers the opportunity for guests to become PADI certified scuba divers as part of the cruise, making it an ultimate dive trip as well. When guests sign up for the PADI Open Water Diver Course, they receive first-rate training and diver certification, performing their own scuba dives amidst the beautiful and serene waters of multiple Caribbean destinations.” 7 reasons Belize should be on your bucket list Has Belize been on your travel radar? If you are looking to explore Central America for the first time, Belize is the perfect start. English is the official language and the U.S. dollar is fixed to the Belize dollar at 2 to 1, making conversions easy for tourists. Read on and see why Belize will soon be bumped up to the top of your bucket list. Videos Caye Caulker, 3min. Caribbean Sea, palm trees and burning sun, sand, lobster at will, snorkelling with sharks, dugongs, rays and dolphins, a catamaran, starry skies and nights in a tent, rum punch and Bob Marley... all this has been my Belize ! Mar dei Caraibi, palme e sole cocente, sabbia, aragoste a volontà, snorkeling con squali, dugonghi, razze e delfini, un catamarano, cieli stellati e notti in tenda, rum punch e Bob Marley ... tutto questo è stato il mio Belize! Thank to Raggamuffin Tours for the amazing experience! Belize Now - January 20, 2017, 24min. The "brand-new" Borcherts on Isla Bonita Belize, min. Ever dreamt of going to the Caribbean for a conch dive and beach BBQ on a private island? You'll feel like Robinson Crusoe - or at least, the NEW Mr & Mrs Borchert did on their recent honeymoon in Belize. CARICOM CET Suspension - Beltrade, 30min. ESCUELA SECUNDARIA TECNICA MEXICO'S 34TH SPECIAL NATIONAL CELEBRATION 2017, 9min. TALK AH DI TOWN JANUARY 19, 2017, 33min. Belizeans Speak on Offshore Oil Exploration, 14min. "I asked Belizeans how they felt about offshore oil exploration in Belize and their responses were humbling." Xunantunich Ruins - Belize, 2.5min. WakyMC Youth - Belize 2016, 7min. Belize, 15min. Mayan Ruins- Belize, 3.5min. I hope you enjoy this small look into Belize and the Mayan Ruins that we saw! Belize Snorkeling, 7min. Belize Fishing Trip, 6min. Caught a bunch more just didn't think about the GoPro until we were about halfway done. Belize 2017 - EF College Break, 14min.