Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
OP Offline


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

NCCO Launches Climate Change Awareness Campaign in Belize
Following the execution of a Climate Change Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey, the National Climate Change Office (NCCO), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP) have today launched a climate change awareness campaign in Belize.

Belizean artists encouraged to sign on to BSCAP
The Office of the Music Ambassador announced its collaboration with Belize Society of Composers, Artists and Producers (BSCAP) to embark on a 'Nationwide Copyright Tour'. The tour officially kicked off in Dangriga's Slaughter House Bar & Grill on Thursday, April 20th, where BSCAP members, musicians, producers, authors, publishers, deejays, and promoters were invited to attend. BSCAP Chief Executive Officer Shyne Barrow, son of Prime Minister Right Honorable Dean Barrow, said the tour is to "sensitize local artists and musicians of the copyrights attached to their work as well as their right to be remunerated for the commercial usage of their materials." During the presentation, the value of music, copyrights laws attached to an artist's creative work, artists' rights, and the benefits of becoming a BSCAP member were discussed.

Bowen & Bowen issues advisory on 5-gallon bottled water
After receiving reports of Crystal Water 5-Gallon bottles being illegally refilled, Bowen & Bowen issued a public advisory on April 24th. The advisory informed customers to take precautions against imitation water, and assured that its ultra-purification system guarantees purity, quality, excellent taste, and safety in Crystal Water. The reports indicate that Crystal Water 5-Gallon bottles are being filled with inferior quality water. Bowen & Bowen reiterates that Crystal Water goes through 11 stages of purification and exceeds all local, regional and international standards for drinking water, thus, customers should not risk their health, and examine their water before purchasing.

Minister of Defence Attends CENTSEC 2017
This year's conference is focusing on various security and Defence objectives including: - To generate an interactive dialogue between the civil and military authorities of Central America in relation to regional and transnational threat networks - To present successful strategies and lessons learned in support of public safety and its impact on regional security - To identify obstacles to regional security and strengthen efforts of cooperation that will overcome them. Over the conference period the opportunity was taken for yet another tri-partite meeting between BDF Commander BGEN Jones, Guatemalan Chief of Defence Staff General Carlos Eduardo Perez and Commander SOUTHCOM Navy Admiral Curt Tidd to discuss the ongoing cooperation between Belizean and Guatemalan armed Forces along our shared borders.

Ambergris Today

Fake Facebook Profiles Of Belize Prime Minister Barrow
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is aware that Facebook accounts under the name "Dean Barrow" are still active. The OPM again informs the public that any pages purporting to be the personal or official account of, or bearing photos or personal information of Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow are fake and unauthorized.

Celebrity Spotting: Mya Harrison Back In San Pedro Vacation
Singer/songwriter/actress Mya Harrison is back in Belize. Well, our last records of her vacationing in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, was back in 2010 with NFL player Larry Johnson. We don't know if she has visited Belize again since then, until today when island resident Pedro 'Chucky' Lara posted this pic on his Facebook profile page. Pedro says he caught Mya on her way out of Ambergris Caye at Tropic Air's terminal in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. We checked Mya's social media accounts and found a couple of pictures on her Instagram account while she vacationed on La Isla Bonita.

San Pedro Selected As World's Best Luxury Honeymoon Destination
San Pedro Belize was selected as world's best Luxury Honeymoon Destination by Canada's Largest Travel Agency, Flight Network. The article highlights popular destination around the world and assists the travel agency to help newlyweds, and the engaged, better navigate the honeymoon destination market. The article highlights Belize's Barrier Reef and all the natural wonders it offers to tourists and newlyweds. San Pedro, in particular Cayo Espanto, was highlighted as being a slice of Paradise in Belize. According to the Canadian agency, you might simply not want to leave Cayo Espanto!

Misc Belizean Sources

mzz

CONCLUSION OF THE THIRD TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF BELIZE BY THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)
Belize has successfully completed its third Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, from the 24th -26th April 2017. The Belize delegation was led by H.E. Ambassador Dylan Vernon, Embassy of Belize in Brussels; and included Mr. Andy Sutherland, Acting Director General for Foreign Trade; Mr. Richard E. Reid, Senior Trade Economist; and Mr. Terrence Simfukwe, National Trade Advisor. The Trade Policy Review is a requirement under the WTO Agreement through the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) which seeks to analyze the trade policies and practices of WTO members and its impact on the functioning of the multilateral trading system. The TPRM is basically a periodic transparency exercise through which the WTO evaluates adherence by its members to the multilateral rules of trade adopted under the WTO Agreement which was signed in 1994 and entered into force on 1st January 1995. Belize is a founding member of the WTO and has already undergone two previous reviews, one in 2004 and the other in 2010. The TPR included two country visits by the WTO Trade Policy Review Division to Belize for consultative meetings with national authorities, on the basis of which a report was prepared by the WTO Secretariat and supplemented by another report prepared by the Government of Belize. Both reports were circulated to all WTO members who had the right to pose questions directly to Belize.

Illicit Facebook accounts under the name "Dean Barrow"
As members of the public continue to be contacted by Facebook accounts under the name "Dean Barrow", the OPM reminds the public that any pages purporting to be the personal or official account of or bearing photos or personal information of Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow are fake and unauthorized. Users are advised to disregard any friend requests or communication from such pages and especially refrain from sharing any personal information with said accounts. All communication from the Prime Minister are shared by the Government of Belize Press Office on its official Facebook page.

Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative!!
The U.S. Embassy Belize encourages Young Belizean Entrepreneurs (21-35 years old) to apply for YLAI Professional Fellows Program. There are three more days left to submit applications. Deadline is Friday, April 28th, 2017. The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) empowers entrepreneurs and innovative civil society leaders to strengthen their capacity to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities.

"LONE WRASSE: Exhibition of Trashy Art" at the Institute of Mexico
If you haven't had a chance to check out "LONE WRASSE: Exhibition of Trashy Art" at the Institute of Mexico, Belize head over soon! The Exhibition will be closing on May 7th, 2017 so you still have time to view the inspiring recycled art pieces on display crafted by both professional and amateur artists from all over the country. Grab a friend and head over!

March 2017 Trade & Consumer Price Index
Figures released by the Statistical Institute of Belize show that the All-Items Consumer Price Index for March 2017 stood at 105.1, an increase from 102.8 in March 2016. On average, during this month in 2017, the prices of goods and services regularly purchased by Belizean households were 2.3 percent higher than they were in the same month of 2016 (See Figure 1). For the first three months of 2017, a year-to-date inflation rate of 1.8 percent was recorded. Imports to the 'Commercial Free Zones' dropped by almost a third, from $29.2 million to just about $20 million, with cigarettes, women's clothing and storage bags being among the most reduced items. The 'Food and Live Animals' category fell by $4.2 million from the $21.3 million purchased for March 2016, owing largely to a plunge in wheat seed imports. For the third consecutive month in the year 2017, Belize's largest import type, 'Machinery and Transport Equipment', saw a decline, with diminished purchases of items such as four cylinder vehicles, liquid transformers and telecommunications equipment causing the $4.1 million drop in this category. Goods destined for the 'Export Processing Zones' shrank from $6.9 million to roughly $4 million, as the month of March 2017 saw fewer imports of gaming machine parts, planer machines and refrigeration equipment.

NCCO Launches Climate Change Awareness Campaign in Belize
Following the execution of a Climate Change Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey, the National Climate Change Office (NCCO), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP) have today launched a climate change awareness campaign in Belize. The campaign, which carries the slogan Feel the Change, focuses on the changes which we can see and feel in our environment while encouraging Belizeans to Be a Part of the Change. Community visits to Corozal and Southside, Belize City on April 22 and 24 fittingly coincided with the global celebration of Earth Day. While in the community, the team unveiled billboards and distributed reusable shopping bags as well as solar powered lanterns. The community visits also facilitated climate change knowledge sharing among community members via interactive discussions and games.

Singer/songwriter/actress Mya Harrison is back in Belize
The last update records of her vacationing in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, back in 2010 with NFL player Larry Johnson visited Belize. Since then, until today when island resident Pedro 'Chucky' Lara posted this pic on his Facebook profile page. Pedro says he caught Mya on her way out of Ambergris Caye at Tropic Air's terminal in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. We checked Mya's social media accounts and found a couple of pictures on her Instagram account while she vacationed on La Isla Bonita. Grammy Award Winning Artist M�a, is an internationally known, respected singer, songwriter, producer, dancer/choreographer, actress, designer, model, activist and philanthropist. In 2009 M�a entertained the world and impressed millions as the highest scoring contestant on ABC's Season 9 of Dancing With The Stars. In 2010 M�a was featured in the Wyclef Jean remake of We Are the World, to benefit Haiti.

Traffic lights going up, a first for Belmopan
It should help improve the flow of traffic.

Reaffirming Bridges Through Art and Tradition
The Benque House of Culture is launching a new art exhibit tonight and its theme is 'Reaffirming Bridges Through Art and Tradition.' The festivities start at 7:00pm. "Join us as we launch an all Benque Work of Art by our upcoming and renewed artists! "

Ricky Cunil Wins Young Leaders Award
Congratulations, Ricky! The Benque Rotaractor is one of only 12 winners worldwide of the Scotiabank International Bright Future Young Leaders Award. Well deserved. "The Scotiabank International Bright Future Young Leaders Award is awarded to youths who make outstanding contributions to their communities. To be eligible, applicants must reside in a participating country, complete 100 hours of volunteerism in a minimum of three of the Bank's six philanthropic pillars - education, arts, health, social services, sports. and environment. The award promotes volunteerism in the young generation and each year 12 winners are chosen worldwide."

The U.S. Embassy Belmopan has an opening for a Maintenance Supervisor
The successful candidate will be required to obtain a security clearance and undergo a medical examination. WHO MAY APPLY: Anyone who is eligible for appointment under Belize's local laws. Applicant must be in possession of a Belize social security card valid for employment and/or a resident/work permit. HOW TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit the following in order to be considered for the position. 1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE) form (DS-0174); plus 2. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, licenses, copies of degrees earned) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

Channel 7

Senate Hearing Resume With Middleton "Pleading The Fifth"
The Senate Hearings on Immigration resumed today after a 3-week break, with a marathon session of testimony from 3 witnesses. And they picked up right where they left off, with mystery man Barton Middleton. The last time he was there, Middleton was very evasive, almost making a mockery out of the Senate's persistent probing. They were questioning him about his alleged role in the theft of 8 visa foils from the Immigration Department's Western Border Station in November of 2012. UDP insider Patrick Tillett said that he paid Middleton 18 thousand dollars to procure the visas. So, Middleton had a lot to answer for - but he shared almost nothing. So, today, when he was called back, Senate Chairman Aldo Salazar made it clear that any witness who lies under oath, committing perjury or if they violate the National Assembly's Powers and Privileges Act, will be prosecuted. It came up this afternoon when Middleton was called to testify, and he refused to answer any further questions. Here's the back and forth:

Omar Phillips And The Citizen Kim Application
The witness who came right after Middleton's short testimony was former Immigration Data Entry Clerk Omar Phillips. He's one of the 3 officers who got into major trouble for the Citizen Kim passport scandal back in October 2013. He was the one who accepted the passport application file for the South Korean fugitive Won Hong Kim who never set foot on Belizean soil, but who still ended up with a Belize passport that he didn't qualify for. So, the Senate went straight to the Won Hong Kim investigation, and they grilled him about the details of the day he accepted the application file at the front desk: Hon. Aldo Salazar - Chairman, Senate Select Committee: "You remember the Wong Hong Kim application?" Omar Phillips - Former Data Entry Clerk, Immigration Department: "Yes I do." Hon. Aldo Salazar: "You remember it because-" Omar Phillips: "It being a situation that came up."

Chavarria Says It Wasn't Hard To Fool Passport Picture Taking System
The Senate spent most of the day questioning Therese Chavarria, a retired Immigration Officer who served 30 years with the Department. Most of it was internal Department business, but there was a major reveal from her exchange with the Senate. Chavarria explained that she once fooled the system into accepting a picture of someone who did not appear to take the photograph in person. Her method was basic, she simply printed out a blown up image on a letter sized typing sheet, taped it to the back of the chair that the person would have sat to take the picture, and "click", the machine's camera was took a picture of that picture - and accepted it like the real thing. It's relevant because there's been so much back and forth about how Citizen Kim's picture got into the system when he never set foot in Belize. Witnesses have gone before the Senate to swear that it's impossible to get someone's picture on the system unless that person appears at the Immigration office personally.

Of Bribes and Backdoors At Immigration
Another interesting part of Therese Chavarria's testimony from today was that someone tried to bribe a Justice of the Peace. Rina Chiu Hsiang Lo allegedly tried to bribe her to get a passport for a male claiming to be Paul Ku. That happened back in October 27, 2011, and the Senate was very interested to hear her account of this lady who managed to get two fraudulent birth certificates for the person claiming to be Paul Ku. She told the Senate that she tried to block Hsiang Lo, but this woman managed to go around her to get the passport issued anyway. Here's her account of the incident: Therese Chavarria - Retired Immigration officer: "That was another birth certificate; it was a case of a birth certificate. Again I don't know how they got hold of the birth certificate but that birth certificate was issued at the vital statistic and the young man came to the office..."

New Yo Creek Road Registers Five Fatalities In Four Months
One man survived a fatal accident on the Yo Creek Road yesterday evening. At around 4:45, 59 year old Miguel Solis was driving his white Jeep Cherokee from Orange Walk Town towards his home in August Pine Ridge Village when he lost control at mile four and a half. The vehicle flipped multiple times and Solis was crushed to death inside the cab - which was completely flattened. But his passenger 46 year old Gildardo Balam survived and he was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital. He received head and body injuries and is now stable. As we noted last night, this is the fourth traffic fatality on this road in four months. The other one, a triple fatality happened just half a mile away from this one close to Christmas.

Mahogany Street Mashup
Yesterday we told you about the ugly accident on Mahogany Street which left a motorcyclist and a pedestrian with head injuries. Police confirmed today that at about 5:00 in the evening, Stephen Cutkelvin was driving his motorcycle down Mahogany Street towards Western Avenue, while 60 year-old Teddy Martinez was walking in the opposite direction. Police say a Toyota 4Runner driven by 21-year-old Rashawn Castillo failed to stop, hitting both Cutkelvin and Martinez and causing their still unspecified injuries. Ms. Castillo has refuted that account, and said she had nothing to do - other than being in the area and witnessing it. She says police have expressed no interest in charging her.

Crashed Into A Culvert
Another traffic accident occurred this afternoon, this time at Mile 4 on the George Price Highway, just across from Old Belize. The driver of a silver Suzuki Geotracker was attempting to turn off the highway into Old Belize, but the driver misjudged the speed of an oncoming vehicle. The Geotracker clipped the back of the oncoming car, sending it spinning off the road and into a culvert drainage channel. The car quickly sunk into the swampy waters, becoming almost completely submerged. The passengers managed to climb out without incident.

Climate Change Lessons For Journalists
Walk instead of drive to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide, reduce industrial activities like factory operations, recycle, properly dispose of chemical waste and the list goes on: many of us have heard of these environmental tips but not a lot of us actually take it seriously. But our disregard for the well-being of the environment has come to back to haunt us in the form of Climate Change. Those two Big C's' is the center of ongoing discussions in the Caribbean and around the world and it continued today among Caribbean media and communications professionals. This campaign under the theme "Feel the Change" was held at Princess Hotel and it is part of what's called the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership. Courtney Weatherburne has a bit more on the urgency of this regional dialogue.

Police Still Meeting And Greeting
Since the media and police ironed out their differences four weeks ago, slowly, the regular flow of information to you, the public, is being restored. One key aspect of that is the media's coverage of the community meet and greet. On both the Northside and the Southside, officers walked through areas within their jurisdiction and engaged the residents in discussions about any concerns they may have. ACP Chester Williams for the Southside and Superintendent Hilberto Romero for the north, told us more... Reporter: "Tell us about today's meet and greet. What have you been talking to the community about?" ACP Chester Williams- OC, Eastern Division South: "Well the usual thing. We are here to get our report card. Talking to the community members to see what is it that we are doing that they are satisfied with and what is it that we are doing that they are not satisfied with, and thankfully the feedback has been very positive."

Cops On Keeping The Truce Going
Williams also gave us an update about the remarkable state of peace that has prevailed in the city for 17 days now. Since all the major Belize City gang's gathered for a peace march two and a half weeks ago, there have been no shootings or gang related murders in the city. Williams, who is leading the effort on the police end, spoke to the media about how the BPD plans to preserve the peace in the City... Reporter: "Can you just talk to us a little bit more about the actual truce itself, you know, are there any concerns in the maintenance of it?" ACP Chester Williams- OC, Eastern Division South: "Well yes, it is challenging. After all, we are dealing with young men who have anger and hate against each other to some extent; they have been hurt. So whenever you trying to mend fence between persons who have been hurt, whether they are gang members or ordinary persons of society, it is always difficult. And so there is always that challenge but we try to be the mentors to be able to guide these young men to understand that, while yes, you may have personal differences, you still do have many things between yourselves that you have in common.

ACP Williams Remains Committed To Move
And, again today Williams committed to carry the peace movement forward by lending assistance to his successor on the Southside, Senior Superintendent Marco Vidal. As has been widely reported, Vidal - the former and founding commander of the GSU - takes over the Southside in July, when Williams goes over to the Professional Standards Branch. Williams reiterated that he will ensure that Vidal has all the necessary tools to keep the peace... ACP Chester Williams- OC, Eastern Division South: "As I have said before Mr. Vidal and I are friends, we communicate often and I am sure that we'll have some time together before I leave where I'll be able to brief on what it is we are doing. Then it is then up to him to see what he wants to continue, what he wants to change as the case may be."

Human Development Report Shows Belize OK in C.A., Pretty Dismal In Caribbean
The Human Development Report 2016, which was released last month by the UNDP says that Belize is doing better on the human development index than most of its Central American neighbors, but worse than most of its Caribbean neighbors. Of the 15 Caribbean nations that were reviewed, Belize was second to last - ranked 103rd out of 188 nations overall. But, in Central America, Belize ranked third behind only Panama and Costa Rica, and significantly higher than its neighbors Guatemala and Honduras.

Alleged Rape Victim Drops Case At Supreme Court Level
A man charged for a beastly act of rape and wounding, was acquitted today. That's after his alleged victim - a 50 year old woman - told the court that she does not wish to continue with the case for personal reasons although the defendant did what he did. She said that she will leave it up to God. She stressed to the trial judge, Justice Adolph Lucas, that she did it on her own free will and was not forced by anyone to come to court and say what she said. The incident allegedly occurred on April 4, 2015. The complainant, who was 48 years old at the time, gave a statement to the police claiming that she went to Davis's house and when she wanted to leave, he refused to let her go. She said Davis punched her and kicked her and lashed her with a machete, then he raped her. She said she was held captive for about 6 hours and she managed to get away by breaking a window in the room with a machete and shouting for help. When the police arrived at the house, they found the woman naked and bleeding. Davis was charged with rape and wounding.

Gabourel To Stand Trial For Gordon Murder
Twenty-two year old Austin Gabourel will stand trial for a murder that he allegedly committed on Caye Caulker. It happened a year ago, on April 17, 2016, when 29 year old Leon Gordon was fatally stabbed with a broken pint. It happened at Sip and Dip Bar near the split. Gordon was trying to part a fight between Gabourel and Jersey Rhaburn, who is the owner of the bar. Rhaburn was trying to throw Gabourel out of the bar for acting disorderly. During the struggle, Gabourel received a large cut wound to his face and Gordon was fatally stabbed. Today, Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith committed him to stand trial in the June session of the Supreme Court. Gabourel - who had no attorney - told the court he will have two alibi witnesses.

Keeping Up with Vaccinations In The America's
Being pricked by an injection isn't anything to celebrate but health officials from the Central Health Region say, since if it's for better health, then why not? This week is recognized as Vaccination week. Nurses and health practitioners have been administering vaccines to kids and adults in various communities. Now , some people are sceptical about these vaccines and the possible long term effects they may have on children but Public Health Nurse at the Central Health Region Elsie Velasquez discussed the different types of vaccines and why they do so much more good than bad:..

An Uplifting Initiative For At Risk Populations
A new program called the Youth Resilience and Inclusive Social Empowerment - or RISE Project was launched today at Delille Academy in Dangriga. The CDB funded project will expand the Youth and Community Transformation Project to at-risk groups in Dangriga and the twins owns of San Ignacio/Santa Elena. These communities are facing increased levels of youth crime and anti-social behavior and the RISE Project hopes to intervene by with the expansion of services to reduce social exclusion among youth and families in the target communities. Here's more from the opening.

Exports Up, So Is Inflation
The latest figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize are out and it shows encouraging news for exports - and it's mostly thanks to sugar. In March 2017, the total value of Belize's domestic exports was $69.8 million, up 35.5 percent or $18.3 million from the $51.5 million recorded for March 2016. Sugar was the most significant export earner, while Banana exports also saw earnings up from $6.2 million in March 2016 to $8.1 million in March 2017. Exports of citrus products fell from approximately $11 million to $9.4 million, due to diminished grapefruit concentrate sales. On the Import side of the equation, Belize imported goods valuing $155 million; this represented a 2.2 percent or $3.5 million dollar decrease from the same month in 2016. Imports to the �Commercial Free Zones' dropped by almost a third, with cigarettes, women's clothing and storage bags being among the most reduced items. Belize's largest import type, �Machinery and Transport Equipment', saw a decline, with diminished purchases of items such as four cylinder vehicles, liquid transformers and telecommunications equipment.


Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
OP Offline

Channel 5

Barton Middleton Invokes Constitution as Senators Scorn Him
The Senate Special Select Committee resumed hearings in public today into the Auditor General's report, calling three witnesses. One of the witnesses called today was Barton Middleton, the elusive Orange [...]

2 Years Before Kim, Immigration Allowed 'Double Photos' for Passports
Retired Immigration Officer Therese Chavarria has seen it all in thirty years at the Department, dating back to 1986. She took her leave last year after being transferred to Punta [...]

Would-be Belizean Passport Holder Flunked Test But Got Passport Anyway
Chavarria spoke to the issue of shortcuts in the Department to benefit a chosen few, accomplished through bribery. In one instance, a prospective applicant for a passport, accompanied by a [...]

Why You Cannot Bribe an Honest Immigration Officer
As to how the passport was caused to be printed despite Chavarria's investigations, it turns out that former Cabinet Minister Carlos Perdomo was the one pushing for it. He apparently [...]

Gas Prices Take Another Hike; Taxi Drivers Worried
At the stroke of midnight on Tuesday, fuel prices at the pump went up for a second time in less than a month. As the fiscal year kicked in, on [...]

The New Immigration Building in Belmopan Will Not Be Chon Saan Palace
The prospect of government purchasing the Chon Saan Building in Belmopan is officially off the table, and Cabinet has given the green light to the Immigration Department to scout around [...]

New Citizens Take Oath in Belmopan
As the Immigration hearings continued into the afternoon, simultaneously in Belmopan, a swearing-in ceremony took place, across the plaza, at the civic center. More than a hundred individuals became citizens [...]

Omar Phillips Tells How He Met 'Kim' and Penner for Passport Application
Back to the senate inquiry…the final witness called was officer Omar Phillips, who worked the front desk and received the Won Hong Kim application for a passport in 2013.� Phillips [...]

Senate Committee Chair Says Hearings Are Serious, Not 'Soap Opera'
Chairman of the Committee, Aldo Salazar, addressed reporters after the hearing concluded this afternoon.� He pointed out that other aspects of Barton Middleton's situation - the brain tumour surgery; the [...]

29 Immigration Officers Get Promoted; Minister Promises No Issues Despite Rumblings
Since the beginning of the week, there has been disquiet among members of staff at the Immigration and Nationality Department over the promotion of employees whom they consider to be [...]

How Promotions Are Being Handled by Department
According to Williams, the selection of officers for promotion is vetted by the Public Service Commission and that positions within the Immigration Department aren't arbitrarily created to promote employees.   [...]

Rape Victim Bows Out of Court Hearing
A woman alleged that she was held hostage, beaten up badly then raped by an attacker who left her locked up in a house. �She resorted to a machete, but [...]

The Push to Promote Climate Change
A climate change awareness campaign was launched today following a 'Knowledge, Attitude and Practices' study across Belize, which indicated that more needs to be done to sensitize the public about [...]

Vaccination and How It Helps Kids Stay Healthy
The Ministry of Health has embarked on an exercise this week to get persons immunized from a number of preventable diseases. At schools and work places, health personnel are encouraging [...]

All is Well as Police Meet and Greet on Southside Beat
Today, the Police Department carried out its weekly meet and greet on the north and south sides of the city. We went to Antelope Street Extension area where we caught [...]

ACP Chester Prepares for Transition Out of Southside
In about two months, the south side top cop will no longer be walking the streets and leading the officers in Eastern Division. He will be in Belmopan behind a [...]

LOVE FM

Retired Immigration Officer Recalls Instance of Attempted Bribery
During her testimony, Therese Chavarria, stated that she has worked in every district as an immigration officer during her three decade career. She said that throughout her time as a career immigration officer, she experienced several occasions whereby persons attempted to bribe her. The committee was interested in one particular attempt of bribery mentioned in [�]

Passport System and Structure Still Pending at Immigration
The ideal immigration system is still lacking in Belize but while the logistics of acquiring such are still being worked on, efforts in processing passport applications continue. As you may recall in February 2016, there were issues with the passport printer which had led to the issuance of temporary passports and extensions of expired passports [�]

Belize Immigration Moves to Block Illegal Crossings Into La Union, Mexico
La Union is a village in Mexico that borders with Blue Creek Village in north-western Belize. It is an area that has been traversed by hundreds of Belizeans for years. The appeal of the location is the cheap prices on beers and basic commodities ranging from eggs to toilet paper and detergents. The Government of [�]

Fuel Prices on the Rise Again
The last fuel increase we reported on was on April 1, 2017 which saw regular fuel at nine dollars and seventy nine cents; premium fuel at ten dollars and seventy nine cents and diesel at nine dollars and eleven cents. Fast forward twenty five days later and consumers are now looking at fuel prices jumping [�]

Belize Gets Third Trade Policy Review Under WTO
On Monday, April 24 the third trade policy review for Belize took place in Geneva, Switzerland hosted and led by the World Trade Organization (WTO). This policy review looked at the trade performance with the United States which totaled at three hundred and twenty three million dollars for 2016. Dylan Vernon is Belize's Resident Ambassador [�]

Elderly Man Dies in Road Incident in Northern Belize
An elderly man lost his life in a traffic incident on the Yo Creek Road in the Orange Walk District late Tuesday afternoon. Police report that 59-year-old Miguel Solis of August Pine Ridge was driving towards home when he lost control of his jeep Cherokee and overturned several times in the vicinity of mile four [�]

Minor Injuries Sustained in Mahogany Street's Traffic Incident
Another traffic incident occurred yesterday, this time in Belize City left two men injured. Police report that around five yesterday evening 21 year old Rashawn Castillo drove her grey Toyota 4 Runner into the two men on Mahogany Street in front of Tow Tow Grocery Store. The men, 20 year old Stephen Cutkelvin was driving [�]

Mayor Bernard to Seek Re-election in 2018
Municipal elections is less than a year away and political parties have started to round up teams and begin their ground work leading up to March 2018. In the Peoples United Party's camp, the Orange Walk team is just about complete. Current Mayor Kevin Bernard has decided to seek a third term as Mayor in [�]

Complainant Halts Action Against Accused Rapist
Fifty-six year old Evrett Davis, aka "Jack", charged with rape and wounding, was acquitted of the charges today by a jury of 7 men and 2 women. The virtual complainant, a 50 year old woman, took the witness stand and testified that she does not wish to continue with the case for personal reasons although [�]

Stanley Fined $500 for Drug Trafficking
Stanley Flowers, one of two persons charged with drug trafficking for one hundred and thirty nine grams of cannabis, pled guilty to the lesser charge of possession simplicitor when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. He was fined five hundred dollars and he was given until June 30 to pay. If he defaults [�]

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

House completely destroyed by fire
Reports to BBN are that a wooden house near 7 miles on the Hummingbird Highway was engulfed in flames this afternoon. According to reports, the structure was completely destroyed by the fire.

Dario's meat pie raises price
As 2017 continues to be the year of austerity and "fiscal consolidation" and in the wake of yet another fuel increase pushing gas to over $10, another iconic Belizean staple has pushed its price up. Consumers who enjoy Dario's meat pies in Belize City will now have to pay $1.50 per meat pie. Yesterday morning customers arrived at the establishment on Hyde's lane to purchase the popular breakfast food and were notified of the adjustments. According to Dario's, the price hike is due to an increase in production costs.

UNIBAM focuses on "marginalized groups"
The United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM) held a two day conference in Belize City focused on legalization and the effects on marginalized groups. The conference's main focus is to raise awareness of the application of international law on sexual orientation and gender identity and [�]

Ladyville woman kicks down cell wall
On Saturday, Sonia Bainton and Elward McKay were detained at the Ladyville Police station. They were accused in a case of handling stolen goods. According to reports from police, Bainton kicked a part of the cell wall breaking it open. Bainton was charged yesterday [�]

American accused of 1978 double murder in Belize dies
In December 2016, BBN reported of Silas Duane Boston, a 76-year-old American man who was accused of a murder that occurred 38 years ago. Peta Frampton and her boyfriend Christopher Farmer were on board Boston's yacht named "Justin B" heading to Mexico in the [�]

Gun and ammo stolen in home burglary in southern Belize
According to police reports, yesterday afternoon around 3, 52-year-old Jose Mauricio Hernandez presently residing at Trio Village, Toledo reported that on February, 1st 2017, he left his home village en route to El Salvador. On February 10th 2017 while Hernandez was in El Salvador, [�]

Motorcycle stolen from yard in Belize City
Kenrick Deshield, 41, of Antelope Street, Belize City reported that between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. yesterday, his black, Lifan brand LF150-7 motorcycle valued at $2,948.40 was stolen while parked in his yard. Police are investigating. © 2017, BreakingBelizeNews.com. This article is [�]

14-year-old boy missing in Belize City
Elwin Smith, 53, of Zericotte Street, Belize City reported to police that on Monday around 5:00 p.m., he saw his 14-year-old son, Anthony Smith along with another male person on Central American Boulevard. However, when he arrived at home later that night, his son [�]

Minister of Defence attends Central American Security Conference in Mexico
According to a Government of Belize press release, the Minister of Defence, John Saldivar along with the Commander of the Belize Defence Force, BGEN David Jones, and Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, RADM John Borland are attending the 2017 Central American Security Conference [�]

Belize to hold regional writers' conference
"The Writer as Inspiration for National Unity, Self-Confidence, and Pride," is this year's theme for a regional writers' conference that will be held at the Mount Carmel High School in Benque Viejo Del Carmen. The event is scheduled for May 6 from 9:00 a.m. [�]

Fatal road traffic accident in Yo Creek claims 1 life, leaves 1 injured
Yesterday around 4:45 p.m., a jeep overturned around Mile 4 on the Yo Creek Road in Orange Walk. The driver of the jeep, Miguel Solis, 59, of August Pine Ridge was trapped inside the vehicle and died on the spot. Gildardo Balam, 46, was [�]

Man found dead in Belize City; No foul play suspected
Yesterday our newsroom received reports that the body of a male person was found dead in a house near the Vernon Street fish market in Belize City. The person is said to work for a security company. However, his identity remains unknown. The cause of [�]

Blogs

5 places to visit while vacationing in Belize
Belize is a nation on the eastern coast of Central America, with Caribbean Sea shorelines to the east and dense jungle to the west. Offshore, the massive Belize Barrier Reef, dotted with hundreds of low-lying islands called cayes, hosts rich marine life. Belize's jungle areas are home to Mayan ruins like Caracol, renowned for its towering pyramid; lagoon-side Lamanai; and Altun Ha, just outside Belize City.The beautiful natural scenery, uninhibited adventure, incredibly friendly people and more-than-reasonable prices made this Central American paradise one of my favorite destinations. I only spent a week in Belize, but I made the most of the experience. If you only have a short time to visit, here are five things I highly recommend doing in Belize.ATM Tour

CNN Says to visit the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve, Belize
Stretching nearly the entire length of Belize's Caribbean coast, this massive reef system is the largest in the Northern Hemisphere, a chain of coral and sand that's visible from the International Space Station. From water level, a detailed world comes into focus. Hundreds of cayes lie just above the surface, a constellation of mangrove and sand islands with a coral foundation, and the undersea landscape is remarkably varied. A patchwork of pinnacle reefs, fringing reefs and barrier reefs makes this a compelling destination for snorkeling, and the Great Blue Hole draws scuba divers from around the world. Why it's at risk: Since the Belize Barrier Reef was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1996, a lack of oversight has led to unsustainable fishing, deteriorating water quality and development. It was listed as threatened in 2009.

International Sourcesizz

Fort Lauderdale to Belize sale on Southwest
Southwest Airlines has some great fares from Fort Lauderdale to Belize for August. US$184 including taxes and your two free bags! The time to buy these great fares is now. They won't be around long.

Countrywide Consultations on National Tourism Policy
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, in conjunction with the Belize Tourism Board and the Inter-American Development Bank under the Sustainable Tourism Program II, is currently engaged in a process to update the National Tourism Policy of Belize. As a result, the Ministry will be hosting countrywide consultations with our tourism partners from May 9th - May 18th, 2017, with the purpose of hearing your views and perspectives on how Tourism in Belize should evolve as we move towards the National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2030 goals. We thank you for your continued support in tourism development and look forward to your participation in the upcoming consultations. Please find invitation below with further information on the consultation nearest to you.

BENEATH THE DISGUISE OF A LADINA
I migrated to Guatemala City when I was 15 years old because in my community there weren't that many opportunities for one to become a teacher, which for me was a necessary step to complete my goal: to work in education and study at the university. One of the first radical changes that I experienced was to stop wearing my Mayan clothing in my daily life. I justified doing so by thinking of it as a measure of convenience for whenever I took the bus, or by rationalizing that it was simpler and cheaper to buy a pair of pants and a blouse, especially since having to wash and dry skirts and g�ipiles (traditional woven blouse) in a small apartment on the fourth floor seemed like an investment of time and effort that I was not willing to maintain. A couple of years passed and I felt comfortable going unnoticed among the people of the city, avoiding all the insults and discomforting looks (which I had experienced on those few occasions when I would travel to the city wearing my Mayan clothes). When I returned to my village, that was the moment when I would reclaim my clothing and felt part of my community, a place that is was stranger to racism, but it was also not strange for someone to wear Mayan clothing, speak our languages, and feel comfortable in our practices. It was as if I had carried on with two lives in one, one from the city (as a mestiza), and the other from my village (my origin).

Teakwood, Coconut Water and a Belize Private Investment that Makes Total Sense
There are more than 50,000 cash crop trees growing or to be planted, including coconut, citrus and soursop. The coconut has long been an indelible part of Latin food and culture. The dried meat, known as copra, has become a profitable sector, it is from copra where coconut oil is extracted. Products that use coconut components, include coconut water, desiccated coconut, coconut flour, coconut sugar, dried coconut fruit, coconut milk, virgin coconut oil, coconut vinegar, coconut jam, and coconut nectar syrup. The soursop fruit is known for its medicinal value. It contains certain natural compounds with medicinal benefits, which make it beneficial for the treatment of various ailments. Recently, it has gained popularity due to the fact that it can kill cancer cells up to 10000 times more effectively than chemotherapy drugs, without side effects. Soursop fruit regularly sells in the U.S. for $10.00 per pound and up. Belize is an economically and politically stable country, which has embraced its 36-year old status as an independent country by opening trade and tourism avenues to the world. Travelers and business partners alike are made to feel welcome by the friendly atmosphere symbolic of the people and government of Belize.

Turneffe Flats: Leading sustainable fisheries in Belize
Turneffe Flats has long been recognized as one of Belize's premier saltwater fly fishing, SCUBA diving and marine eco-tourism destinations. Located on the incredibly beautiful Turneffe Atoll, Turneffe Flats provides visitors access to the most biologically diverse atoll in the Caribbean. Green Globe first certified Turneffe Flats for its sustainable operations in 2013 and again this year the eco-tourism resort has proven its environmental credentials with a notable compliance score of 89%. Turneffe Atoll - home to this remarkable eco-tourism resort - provides pristine habitat for 260 fish species, 77 plant species and 5 spawning aggregation sites. The marine eco-system is a combination of healthy coral reef, both fringing reef and patch corals, expansive backreef flats, large lagoon systems, seagrass beds, and extensive mangrove forest. Turneffe Atoll is of significant economic and sociological importance to Belize as a major commercial fishery and ecotourism center, while also providing Belize City and the mainland coast with essential protection from hurricanes.

Paying it forward, Athens Christian Academy receives grant
After a trip to Jalacte, Belize to help repair wells that spew rotten water because of rust, Brent Williams, administrator of Athens Christian Academy no longer takes anything for granted. Villagers in Jalacte have learned to live without the luxury of a water faucet, inside plumbing or electricity. During the first week of April Williams spent a week in Belize as part of the Hope Springs Water program to reclaim old water wells that have become rusty with deteriorated pipes. The group Williams traveled with replaced the old pipes in three wells with longer lasting PVC pipes. Williams said his most shocking moment of his trip to the third world country was when he watched a woman depend on the brown water from a river for daily use. "It really hit home when I watched this woman bathe, wash her clothing and wash food in a river of brown water," said Williams. "Making it worse there was a large hog in the water where she was beating her clothes on a rock."

Service members refurbish hospital playground
Service members make final adjustments to chains on a swing and watch as several children smile and play on the newly refurbished playground equipment at Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan, Belize April 24, 2017. U.S. Marines and U.S. Air Force reservists took the opportunity to refurbish the hospital playground during their participation in Beyond the Horizon 2017, a partnership exercise between U.S. Southern Command and the Government of Belize designed to improve health and educational facilities by providing five construction projects and three health care events in the districts of Cayo, Stann Creek and Belize. Military personnel, on-site since early March, noticed the playground facilities were in disrepair while working on the two key projects at this location, an emergency room extension and a housing for a medical waste incinerator. Determining they were ahead of schedule on their current projects, the team purchased paint, chains for swings and hardware from the local area.

VOTE: D2 Women's Track and Field HERO of the Week
A Vote for Kaina is a vote for Belize..

Aeromar MXr lands in Chetumal
Aeromar MX arrived in Chetumal, with charter flights, starting last Tuesday. With this airline there are 6 that are interconnecting the capital of Quintana Roo: Interjet, Volaris, Mayair, Tropical Air, Aerobus and now Aeromar. And more coming. The Aeromar fleet has a total of 16 turbo-propeller aircraft destined for regional destinations. The planes that are arriving at Chetumal are ATR 42, Of French-Italian manufacture and capacity for 48 passengers, have the most advanced air navigation systems and are considered the most modern, comfortable and safe turbo-prop equipment to operate in all types of airports, in regional routes of short and medium range. The ATR 42 offers exceptional flight conditions: Large passenger cabin dimensions with four comfortable leather seats per row, folding service tables, wide visibility through its numerous windows, reading lights, individual air conditioning outlets and spacious storage compartments. Hand luggage.

Videos

  • Costa Maya Beach Cabanas, 1min.

  • Senate Special Select Committee hearing, 2hr.

  • Island Tackle Bar & Grill, 1.5min. Come enjoy Island Tackle Bar & Grill. Open 7 days a week from 11 am to midnight. We have Daily Specials at big discounts! Happy Hour is Monday - Friday with 5 for 20.00 buckets of beer and 2 for 1 rum drinks along with 1.00 wings! Come enjoy the view, swim in the inner tubes and enjoy the deck!

  • Tranquility Bay, 1min.

  • Placencia, Belize 2017, 9.5min. Nice visit to Belize. Fishing, snorkeling, sightseeing.

  • Belize Bash Easter 2017, 2.5min.

  • Cam's Belize Video, 5min.

  • Don Hector Speaks of how each village got it's name, 18min. Great insight. A living historian and more

  • BSI ASR CROP REVIEW 2017 WEEK 20, 3min.

  • Morning Matters at Quality Poultry, 58min.

  • Belize National Teacher's Union Elections & future Plans, 57min.

  • Building & Sustaining Healthy Self-Esteem, 31min.

  • Diving Belize, 4min. San Pedro Reef.

  • AVR Ultimate Belize Excursion, 4min. Mayan ruins, cave tubing/exploring, jungle hikes, snorkeling the great barrier reef, sailing, local culture, etc. Locations include: Belize City, Caye Caulker, Orange Walk and San Ignacio.

  • #1 Getting Hair Braided in Belize, 8min. Sometimes it's fun to see the people you see on YouTube in real life...doing real things. This was in Belize where a gal assured us she could braid my daughter's hair in just 5 minutes!

  • IZE Belize Sylvano Sho, Tour Guide to Lubaantun Mayan Ruins 2017, 16min. Sylvano Sho, Licensed by Belize as a tour guide takes us on a road trip from the IZE Belize Blue Creek Rainforest Preservation.

  • Maya Culture Of Belize, 7min.

  • Cultures in Belize, 14min.


  • Link Copied to Clipboard
    March
    S M T W T F S
    1 2
    3 4 5 6 7 8 9
    10 11 12 13 14 15 16
    17 18 19 20 21 22 23
    24 25 26 27 28 29 30
    31
    Cayo Espanto
    Click for Cayo Espanto, and have your own private island
    More Links
    Click for exciting and adventurous tours of Belize with Katie Valk!
    Who's Online Now
    0 members (), 351 guests, and 0 robots.
    Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
    Forum Statistics
    Forums44
    Topics79,199
    Posts500,011
    Members20,460
    Most Online7,413
    Nov 7th, 2021



    AmbergrisCaye.com CayeCaulker.org HELP! Visitor Center Goods & Services San Pedro Town
    BelizeSearch.com Message Board Lodging Diving Fishing Things to Do History
    BelizeNews.com Maps Phonebook Belize Business Directory
    BelizeCards.com Picture of the Day

    The opinions and views expressed on this board are the subjective opinions of Ambergris Caye Message Board members
    and not of the Ambergris Caye Message Board its affiliates, or its employees.

    Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5