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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

Holy Cross literacy program graduates nine
Nine students from the Literacy Program at Holy Cross Anglican Primary School graduated on Thursday, June 8th, in a ceremony held under a palapa at their school compound. The group consisted of Kenry Velasquez, Anderson Coy, Siomayri Alcoser, Derwhyne Meighan, Ronaldo Mu�oz, Abie Aries, Bernardino Hernandez, Sheyanticia Haulez, and Kleidi Cardenas. After receiving their certificates of completion, along with an autographed copy of 'Caye Boy,'everyone was treated with snacks and ice cream courtesy of Paradice Cream. The ceremony began shortly after 10AM, with Sue Barkhouse congratulating the graduates and welcoming everyone. Barkhouse, along with other volunteers, assists in the program that has been running for the past three years. It was currently taken over by the non-governmental organization 'Raise Me Up.' The program has been very successful in helping students improve their reading, with professional help from the volunteers who encourage them in every aspect of the program.

99 graduate from San Pedro High School
On Saturday, June 10th, San Pedro High School (SPHS) held its 46th Commencement Exercises at the R.A. Nu�ez Auditorium. A total of 99 students marched in to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance, eager to receive their high school diplomas. Aliny Ventura and Jahson Wright were the Mistress and Master of Ceremonies. After singing the National Anthem, the graduates sang their school song. Angela Luna delivered the salutatory welcome address, reflecting on her personal accomplishments, and congratulating her classmates for reaching this long-awaited milestone. Zieda Gabriela Guerrero served as the guest speaker for the graduation, and her heartfelt speech encouraged the students to keep true to their dreams, and to work towards their goals. Following after, all four valedictorians gave a brief valedictory address, which encouraged their classmates to study hard and to value education. The traditional and emotional rose ceremony was led by Britney Bijil and Neyli Molina, while the candle light ceremony was led by Rebecca Barkhouse and Alina Ventura.

Ambergris Today

Victoria House Resort Receives 2017 Outstanding Service Award
Excellent customer service has definitely become an expectation by any individual, regardless the industry. Travelers love when a company goes above and beyond the call of duty. When you are excellent at something for a long time, people tend to notice, and that is the case with Victoria House in Ambergris Caye. This is why Victoria House received the "2017 Outstanding Service Award" from Magnum Tours, a top U.S. wholesaler for Belize with more than 34 years of experience. Magnum Tours arranges travel agent familiarization trips to Belize every year to display the beautiful attractions and resorts in the country. On May 23, 2017, Magnum was hosted for lunch at Victoria House by long-time managers Mr. Brent Kirkman and Ms. Janet Woolam. Mr. Dave Ekman, Co-Owner of Magnum Tours, stood up to acknowledge Janet and Brent for the amazing job they have been doing at the resort over the past 20 years.

Belize Tourism Board It Host First Virtual Trade Expo
For the first time in history, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) will host a live Virtual Expo on 29th - 30th June 2017 at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City with the aim of giving local tourism service providers an opportunity to meet "virtually" with key representatives of the international travel trade. The Expo is targeting travel agents, tour operators and wholesalers originating from Belize's major tourism markets, namely North America, Europe, South America and Central America. Other industry partners such as international associations, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) agencies, press and other industry professionals have also been invited to attend. The theme for the Expo is Discover the Best of Belize's Jungle and Beach. It will be a live event that will take place in an online environment. The Expo is equivalent to a conventional trade show, except suppliers and buyers connect with each other via the internet, regardless of their geographic location, to exchange valuable information.

Misc Belizean Sources

South Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch June, 2017 General Meeting
Our June, 2017 General Meeting of the Neighborhood Watch will be held this Wednesday, June 14th, at 7:00pm at Lone Star Grill and Cantina. Their full dinner menu and drinks will be available. Please attend and bring a friend!

World Croc Day on June 17
Join The Belize Zoo and the Crocodile Research Coalition in celebrating World Croc Day on June 17. The day will be filled with arts and crafts, games, and croc encounters that will include educating zoo guests on the facts about crocs, co-existence, and conservation of crocodiles and their habitat. Say hello to the Founding Members of the Next Gen Croc program- the young adults from Caye Caulker who are paving the way for communities here in Belize to co-exist with crocodiles. And don't forget to sign your name on the Croc Advocate Banner, where you can pledge in helping us conserve crocodiles for future generations! Come join us - we promise it will be a crocin' good time!

Dia de San Pedro 2017
SAVE THE DATE for DIA DE SAN PEDRO!

BELTRAIDE and the Belize City Council Sign Memorandum of Coooperation
BELTRAIDE, the nation's leading business advising and entrepreneurial support entity, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Belize City Council on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the Belize Training and Employment Centre in Belize City. The aim of this Cooperation is to enhance and diversify economic activity in the municipality through a closer collaboration between BELTRAIDE and the City Council by providing efficient and seamless business development services to entrepreneurs and to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) located in their respective jurisdiction.

3rd Annual Soca Fest Held In Corozal
COROZAL CARNIVAL SEASON OFFICIAL LAUNCHES WITH THE 3RD ANNUAL SOCA FETE Friday, June 30 at 5 PM - 9 PM. All Mas Bands/Groups live on stage. BIGGER AND BETTER. OFFICIAL EVENT OF THE SEPTEMBER CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE. Crystal Moreno Dianie Faith Hall Pweety Tweetz Angie Palacio William Marin Shannon Perez Antonette Young Nathalie Myvett Missy B Blades Herrera Debbie Tillett

Corozal Wholesale Farmer's Market breaks ground
On April 25th, 2017 the Government of Belize broke ground for the construction of the "Corozal Wholesale Farmer's Market" financed by the Government of Belize and the European Union under Accompanying Measures for Sugar Programme. The construction is in full swing and should be completed in six months from its starting date and is being supervised by the Ministry of Works and contracted by Teichroeb & Sons Limited. The market will be located in Finca Solana just north of the cemetery. The overall responsibility for the construction falls under the Ministry of Economic Development and Petroleum. This should alleviate the limited spaces available for market vendors at the Gabriel Hoare Town Market, which was recently rehabilitated with 15 additional stalls and will allow more opportunities amid fruit, vegetable, craftspeople selling art, tapestries and clothes vendors.

Maya Wedding Re-enactment
July will be packed up with so many events. Start pinning your calendars folks. It is here, once again! You are cordially invited to attend a celebratory and traditional re-enactment of the wedding between Princess Tzasil-Ha and Gonzalo Guerrero at Santa Rita Archaeological Reserve in Corozal. This celebrated union led to the birth of our Mestizo ancestors. The purpose of the re-enactment is to highlight the historic importance of this site and to advertise the new Santa Rita Wedding Garden Project as a wedding destination for Belizean and international visitors to celebrate their wedding vows in a place of historic beauty and privilege. This will enable us to create and develop a sustainable cultural tourism product which should be able to give our local businesses and future generations an economic opportunity while celebrating our Maya-Mestizo and Belizean culture.

Caye Caulker: Calling all Dads!!!!!!
Do not miss out on our Father's Day weekend celebrations (17th & 18th June) at KoKo King's Beach. On Saturday evening we have a sumptuous menu that will fill your belly and our famous 'Booze Hour' from 9 - 10pm where top shelf drinks are $10bz. On Sunday 19th June, starting from 11am we have The Vibrations Band live on our beach with games, food and plenty of drinks! Plus Blue Wave Sounds entertaining us all weekend long!! Don't you dare miss out!!!

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY - IICA CONACYT Scholarship Program
Given its awareness of the need to contribute to the strengthening of technical capacities in high-priority topics for agriculture in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Government of Mexico, along with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), has agreed to establish a strategic partnership with IICA that will be executed by the National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT) in that country. Through this partnership, CONACYT will award one hundred scholarships per year to professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean who wish to pursue postgraduate programs at Mexican academic institutions in the area of sustainable agriculture, or any other science related to the thematic areas of the Institute.

Fifth National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF-5)
A stakeholder's meeting for enhancing the utility of seasonal climate forecasts George Price Center for Peace and Development, City of Belmopan, June 13, 2017 at 8:30am Variations in climate influence most human activities either directly or indirectly resulting in losses or benefits. Understanding and making effective use of available climate information is therefore critical to ensure efficiency and sustainability, both in the current context and in the future, when climate change is expected to impose additional stresses on agricultural systems and human livelihoods. The National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMS) provides weather and climate information and products of various timescales (daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal) to enable key economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, water resources, disaster risk reduction, energy, forestry and health, to anticipate, prepare and respond to climate anomalies and extreme events.

BTB hosts first Virtual Trade Expo
For the first time in history, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) will host a live Virtual Expo on 29th - 30th June, 2017 at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City with the aim of giving local tourism service providers an opportunity to meet "virtually" with key representatives of the international travel trade. The Expo is targeting travel agents, tour operators and wholesalers originating from Belize's major tourism markets, namely North America, Europe, South America and Central America. Other industry partners such as international associations, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) agencies, press and other industry professionals have also been invited to attend.

Father's Day Football Quadrangular Marathon 2017
HEY DADS! Don't miss out this spectacular football quadrangular marathon on SUNDAY, JUNE 18! Entrance: $5. There will be food and drinks on sale and RAFFLE GIVEAWAYS for the DADS!

Poets Corner: Parallel System
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez. This is not the matrix You are not Neo, it's a trick Hollywood made up that shit You don't have join the oracle To join the system to win the battle Like Shoman and Musa were sucked in and abandoned the struggle The system is fixed Puppeteered by the grand puppet master, some who do even know they are propagandists Our governments have failed The Belizean patrimony is being derailed See weh di happen without this visa shizz

Miss San Pedro
The SEARCH has BEGUN! Do you have what it takes to be our isla bonita's good will ambassador? Sign up now at the San Pedro Town Council or messages us for more information.

Miss Costa Maya 2017 Delegate - Lesly Fernanda Flores Sagastume, Miss Guatemala
Meet Miss Costa Maya 2017 Delegate - Lesly Fernanda Flores Sagastume, Miss Guatemala. Age: 23 years old, Height: 5'2", Student: Clinical Psychology. Among her hobbies are Singing, Reading, Exercise, & Football. It's the first time that a Miss Costa Maya delegate was selected as an actual finalist during a national pageant. She officially was named Miss Costa Maya Guatemala during the Miss Guatemala pageant.

Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development Graduation
Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development - "SACD is proud of its Graduating Scholarship Students of Class 2017 and wish them the best for the future!" - Special Congratulations to Leonelo Chuck, Nallieve Allen, Nelcy Santiago & Orlando Trejo!

Two 15 minute power interruptions 6:00am to 6:15am & 4:45pm to 5:00pm, Thursday, June 15: entire Orange Walk & Corozal Districts
BEL to replace transmission poles in the area.

St. Matthew's Government School's new building
Today, the U.S. Embassy and the Government of #Belize, in coordination with U.S. Army South, held the second ribbon cutting ceremony as part of the Beyond the Horizon: 2017-Belize (BTH) collaborative humanitarian exercise. The ceremony, during which the BTH Task Force Commander officially handed over the keys to the St. Matthew's Government School's new building to the school's principal, took place at the St. Matthew's Government School. The new 1700 square foot school building has three separate rooms and is built to withstand Category 5 hurricane winds. The project also includes a new bathroom facility with three bathroom stalls, sinks, and a new septic tank. The teams completed the project ahead of schedule, allowing for additional projects of opportunity, including a new playground area and a wooden deck linking the existing building's classrooms.

Disruption to traffic on Manta Ray street in San Pedro
The Traffic dept apologizes for the disruption to traffic on Manta Ray street by the clinic. The SPTC will work as fast as possible to repair the street and get the traffic flowing again ASAP. In the meantime we are asking that drivers who are traveling south use the new road through San Pedrito, People who have to visit the clinic or Tropic air will be allowed access. Once again we apologize and hope the situation will be resolved soon. Also it is expected that Coconut Drive will open in the next few days, WASA is just allowing time for the new cement to cure. Thank you for your continued co-operation.

Channel 7

Cotton Tree Man Murdered; Family Says He Wasn't The Target
A Cotton Tree family is broken after their loved one was shot and killed on Saturday night. 21 year old Omar Barahona was at a family get together in the village when a gunman crashed the party with a spray of bullets. Barahona was shot about 7 times and died, while his friend Devon Brooks was hit to the leg. Brooks survived. But what makes it even more difficult for the family is that Barahona wasn't the target and it seems to be a case of mistaken identity. Courtney Weatherburne has more details. Omar Barahona, Father: "He was just got selected to go to the states for his new job, he was really really excited and you know his aunt was having a little BBQ for him, a little going away party but we never knew it was a different going away he would take you know but.."

Mervin Humphreys: Sudden Death Or Foul Play?
And in Belmopan, another family is grieving the loss of their relative. They believe it was murder but police say otherwise. 35 year old Mervin Humphreys was found lying in the yard of the Poultry Association building on Haulover Creek Street in Belmopan last week Thursday around midday. Now police had ruled it as a sudden death but the family says that based on the post mortem examination, they believe their loved one was killed. Here is what the police had to say today in a press conference. OC Howell Gillett, Belmopan: "Our officers we got the call sometime around 11:30am on Thursday last. Officers were immediately dispatch to the area. I believe it was Haulover Creek Street here in Belmopan, where we discovered Mr. Humphreys. He was in a laying position face up and 2 beers to his side. There were marks in the areas that were not clothed that appears to us as being sunburn marks. An autopsy was done and it revealed that he died from multiple organ failure due to the superficial first degree burns that he had."

The Controversial Shooting Of A Chunox Resident
For the past 2 months, the Corozal police have been forced to take on very complex homicide cases. There have been 2 double murders that have occured, and tonight, they must looking into a controversial shooting in which one of their own officers fatally injured a civilian. The police version is that at around 4:50 p.m., Corozal police officers were responding to a disturbance at the home of 44 year-old Richard Allen Garcia. The cops say that he came after a police officer with a machete in hand. He was reportedly advancing on the officer in a threatening manner. That officer reportedly fired warning shots to discourage Garcia's advance, but he allegedly kept going at the officer. The officer said that he believed he had no choice but to shoot him. The officer opened fire, and injured him to the chin, neck and to the right collar bone, gunshot wounds which killed him on the spot.

Cops Investigating the Double Murder of Zeidy/Baltazar
And while we had the chance, we asked the Corozal Commanding Officer about the double murder of Zeidy Orozco and Baltazar Lopez. As we showed you last week, the grief of these two families from Corozal are fresh, and they are asking for answers. Here's how Senior Superintendent Dennis Arnold answered our questions on that case: Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, Officer Commanding - Corozal: "At present we are still investigating, but the information aren't forthcoming." Reporter: "So, there is absolutely no leads as to how they ended up here and the vehicle ended up somewhere else?"

Octogenarian Stabbed In OW
And, from Corozal, we take you now to Orange Walk Town, where there was an apparent random stabbing of an 84 year-old man. He's a business man, and on Saturday, he was attacked by a young man. According police investigation, the assault was unprovoked, and tonight, the octogenarian is in a critical condition at the KHMH. This afternoon, the Commanding Officer of the Orange Walk Police Station gave the press a briefing on the case: Supt. Selvin Tillet - OC Orange Walk Police: "Police visited Mr. Pablo Reyes, a 40 years old business man Progress St, Orange Walk Town. Where on arrival they observe a drop of blood on the entrance of the said establishment, as well as a kitchen knife which had an 8 inch blade."

FFB Election Fight: Sergio Chuc Can't Run; Denies Bribery Allegations
For weeks, we've been telling you all about the fights within in the executive of the Football Federation of Belize, which remains scandalized even after the Bertie Chimilio Administration. The latest disturbances are two well-known candidates, Sergio Chuc and Cruz Gamez, who have been barred from running in the upcoming elections for a new FFB Executive. Last year, Chuc, Gamez, and acting President, Marlon Kuylen, made a move against the then president Ruperto Vicente, just weeks before the May Elections. That ended when Kuylen had to step in to run the Federation in the absence of a President Elect. The elections between Chuc and Vicente ended in a stalemate even after 22 rounds of voting, and effectively, the coup that these 3 orchestrated was somewhat successful in getting Vicente unseated from the presidency.

Soil Erosion Bedevils Monkey River
In April we told you about the City Council's Monkey River Tire initiative. Well, the last update we got is that the City Council just has to decide on a date to take the tires down South. But this certainly isn't the first attempt to try and alleviate the effects of the coastal erosion in that village. So far nothing has substantially helped the situation. So to try and find a long term solution for these Monkey River residents Courtney Weatherburne put together an investigative piece on what really is contributing to the erosion and what kind of investment and effort has to be made to save Monkey River. Here is that story.

Burglar Changes Plea; Gets 7 Years In Jail
Today a man was sentenced to 7 years for a burglary charge. 23 year old Jamal Warrior changed his plea from not guilty to guilty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith. The incident happened on January 29, 2017, Warrior burglarized Sharon Peters' Albert Street West house. Peters testified that she went to her house and saw that 2 louvres were missing from her kitchen window. She said she went to the back of the yard and saw the louvres at the side of the house. She also saw found 2 slippers near her fence. She then searched the area near her house the next day only to find her belongings tucked away in Bob Marley bag.

Convicted Rapist Appeals; Get's Free
Last March, Alberto Ical was sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape and robbery. According to the victim's report, she was on her way to the Belmopan bus terminal, when Ical held her up at gun point and ordered her to take her clothes off, threatening to shoot if she did not comply. The victim said she did as she was told, and that is when Ical raped her in the nearby drain. She then allegedly that he stole her ring and $250. Ical's sentence was to be served concurrently with sentences from two other rape convictions, however today Ical, represented by Anthony Sylvestre, had the initial decision overturned in the Court of Appeals. Sylvestre argued that during the trial, the alleged victim mentioned that she had seen photos of Ical at the police station, but when the defending attorney began to cross examine her about that point, the trial judge interjected and stopped him from continuing. The Appeals Judges were of the opinion that the cross examination should not have been stopped because it was crucial to Ical's defense.

Beyond The Horizon For St. Matthews Govt. School
Today the students and staff at St. Matthews Government School walked through their brand new 3 classroom building. The construction of this building is just one project in the US Army funded "Beyond the Horizon 2017" initiative. In fact last week the newly renovated Ladyville Medical Center was officially opened. Courtney Weatherburne has more from St. Matthews Government School. Lyle Banner - Standard 6 Teacher: "I have been teaching in the metal building for quite a bit of time and we suffered from getting wet by the rain. The windows weren't properly locked at evening when we left. It wasn't too secure"

A Belizean Wins Texas Safari
Canoeing enthusiasts out of the Cayo District are reporting tonight that Belizean Hener Cruz, a resident of Esperanza Village, has teamed up with an American to win the 2017 Texas Safari. It's a canoeing race held down the entire stretch of the water ways from San Marcos, Texas to the US City of Seadrift. That's an impressive 262 miles of paddling, which started back in 1963, and has now become an annual event. This year, Belizean Hener Cruz and American Kyle Mynar were the first, in the USCA C2 Class, to cross the finish line. Their total time was 39 hours and 29 minutes.

Channel 5

Richard Garcia Shot Dead by Police in Chunox; Residents Demand Justice
An internal and a criminal investigation is underway following the shooting death of Richard Garcia, a handyman in Chunox, Corozal, by police who went to the Garcia's house to carry [...]

O.C. of Corozal Says Officers Felt Threatened
Corozal cops are in hot water after Garcia's death, but they say it's not that simple. Today, Senior Superintendent Dennis Arnold said police had previously responded to several incidents involving [...]

Police Want to Charge 'Rioting' Chunox Villagers
Before we go to break…in respect of the shooting death of Richard Garcia in Chunox, Senior Superintendent Arnold also told us today that Garcia had chances to leave the property [...]

Cotton Tree's Omar Barahona Shot Dead 7 Times, But Who Was the Real Target?
Just days before his departure from his home village of Cotton Tree, a twenty-one year old popular resident was shot and killed. Omar Barahona Junior was at a family get-together [...]

Toledo Teachers' Credit Union Robbed of More than 100 thousand dollars
A well-orchestrated robbery was executed with precision on Thursday at the Toledo Teachers Credit Union in the south. A pair of robbers made away with over a hundred thousand dollars [...]

Ex-F.F.B. Exec Sergio Chuc Challenges Disqualification from Election
There is further controversy leading up to the election for the executive of the Football Federation of Belize which takes place on June twenty-fourth. Former President Ruperto Vicente and Acting [...]

Sergio Chuc Says Supporters Will Not Show Up to 'Rigged' Election
The F.F.B. has since brought in CONCACAF to oversee the election process, but Chuc expects to throw a wrench in that process. �Now, seven associations with two votes each make [...]

Police Rule Out 'Serial Killer' Theory in Corozal Murders
Last week, in the immediate aftermath of the brutal double murder of Zeidy Orozco and Balthazar Lopez, questions were raised as to whether a serial killer may be at work [...]

Thais Cowo Charged for Harm; Says Justice Must Be Served
This afternoon in Orange Walk, twenty-five-year-old mother of three, Thais Cowo of San Pablo Village, was arraigned in the Magistrate's Court on a single charge of harm. She is accused [...]

Owner of Twins' Supermarket Robbed at Home
On Saturday evening, police responded to a report of a robbery at Twins Supermarket on Saint Thomas Street in north side Belize City. Today, it was business as usual at [...]

Accused Serial Rapist Free of 2 Convictions
A serial rapist in Belmopan, accused of sexually assaulting a woman in March 2011, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison.� He was also serving a ten-year stretch for an [...]

84-Year-Old Fights for Life after Orange Walk Stabbing
In Orange Walk, on Saturday afternoon around twelve-thirty, eighty-four year old Pablo Zenon Reyes was standing in front of his establishment, a tortilla factory located on Progress Street. Suddenly, without [...]

O.W. Accident Victim Tells News Five He's Lucky to be Alive
An Orange Walk man says he is lucky to be alive tonight following a traffic accident on the Yo Creek Road on Saturday afternoon. Thirty-six year old Einer Toloza of [...]

St. Matthew's Government School Has New Building
Beyond the Horizon is implementing several projects across Belize valued at over ten million U.S. dollars. The projects include health facilities, as well as school buildings. One school to receive [...]

Haven House Seeks Funds Through 5K Walk Against Domestic Violence
Domestic violence against women has ended tragically in numerous cases across the country. But women continue to suffer in silence. Over the weekend, an initiative by a nonprofit organization that [...]

Lady Footballers in Charge of Sports Monday
Good evening, I'm James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   [Highlights from the weekend sporting activities�.]

LOVE FM

Belize Sees 1st Microsoft Certification Testing Held
The Microsoft Office Specialist National Championship 2017 took place on Saturday at the Sai Info Tech office on Handyside Street in Belize City. It is a competition that takes place in dozens of countries around the world aimed at testing the mastery of various programs in Microsoft Office. According to the General Manager for Sai [�]

Humphrey's Last Hours Dismisses Suspicion of Foul Play
Last week Thursday, 35-year-old, Mervin Humphreys Junior was found dead on Haulover Creek Street in Belmopan City. His family was notified of his passing and his father, upon seeing the body, expressed suspicion of foul play. MERVIN HUMPHREYS SR "I was called to an area in Belmopan where I found my son lying on his [�]

Two Time Convicted Rapist Acquitted of Third Rape Case
An appeal by Alberto Ical, who was convicted of rape and robbery and was sentenced to 25 years, was allowed today by the Belize Court of Appeal. Ical's convictions were quashed, his sentences were set aside and he was acquitted. But he was not freed because he is serving sentences of 15 years and 10 [�]

Honduran National Freed of Sexual Assault Charges
A man was freed of charges in the Southern session of the Supreme Court. Correspondent Harry Arzu reports. HARRY ARZU "58 year old Jesus Interiano, a Honduran national of Seine Bight village was found not guilty for sexual assault charges in the Southern Session of the Supreme Court here in Dangriga. Interiano was charged for [�]

Police News: Burglary, Arson and Robbery
Twenty-three year old Jamal Warrior, charged with burglary, was sentenced to 7 years today by the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith, after he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty during the trial. On January 29, 2017, Warrior burglarized the home of Sharon Peters, located on Albert Street West. Peters testified that she went [�]

50-Year-Old School Building Needs New Roof
After being constructed almost fifty years ago, the structure that currently houses the classrooms for standard four, five and six as well as an office and a computer lab at St Luke's Methodist Primary School, is in need of dire repairs. It has been about five years now since the faculty and students have been [�]

Fundraising Via Fun Run for Battered Women
Dozens of battered women and children coming out of homes where domestic abuse is present have sought refuge in the Belize Haven House. It is a sanctuary aimed at keeping the women and children safe and one that requires funding to keep functional. This past Saturday saw a fun-run take place as part of a [�]

PlusTV

Gas Tomza robbed of $3,600
Recently, quite a few businesses have been robbed. The latest one is Gas Tomza located at 1 1/2 Miles on the George Price Highway in Belize City. According to police reports, a Salvadoran, 24-year-old Irvin Carranza, reported to police that about 8:40 p.m., on Tuesday June 6, he was inside the estab...

Orange Walk cops bust one for Drug Trafficking
28-year-old Omar Rufino Ramirez, a resident of San Lazaro Village in Orange Walk District, is in police custody pending charges of Drug Trafficking. Customs Officers were the ones who discovered Ramirez with 461 grams of cannabis. Police were alerted and visited the Customs Office at Market Lane in...

Two Mahogany Heights residents charged for Drug Trafficking
Two Mahogany Heights residents were charged for drug trafficking. On Wednesday evening, police conducted a search at the residence of Ryan Edward Gentle located in Mahogany Heights Village, Belize District, where they discovered 523 grams of cannabis. Present at the time of the search were Ryan and ...

Man gunned down in Corozal
Late last night, another murder occurred, this time in Corozal. According to police report, just after 11:00 p.m., 21-year-old Brandon Lee Tesecum of Orange Walk Town was gunned at the Corner of San Antonio and San Andres Road in Corozal District. Tescum received several gunshot wounds to the head...

Missing Corozal Couple found dead
Six days after they were reported missing, the bodies of 32 year-old Zeidy Orozco and 41 year-old Baltazar Lopez were discovered near a garbage dump off a feeder road to the Consejo Area. We are yet to receive details as to the conditions of those bodies, but as we have reported, the couple from Co...

Carlos Perdomo testifies at Senate Inquiry
This morning the Senate Inquiry proceeding got underway and testifying before the committee was former Minister Carlos Perdomo. When the United Democratic Party came into power in 2008, Carlos Perdomo was the Minister of Home Affairs, Defence and Immigration. Today, Perdomo came across as unaware o...

Burned body still not verified as Pamela Lino's
There have been a number of unsolved cases in which police seem to have no more leads to follow. As we told you at the top of our newscast, there has been a second kidnapping and murder of a couple in Corozal. It is the second such case in 5 weeks. Both of those cases, at this moment, are unsolved c...

Breaking Belize News

San Pedro Mayor and Tourism Minister square off over island's municipal dock
Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia Jr. and San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero, both of the United Democratic Party (UDP), are at odds due to differing opinions over a matter concerning San Pedro Belize Express' free use of the island's municipal dock, according to a report from the San Pedro Sun.San Pedro Belize Express began using the municipal dock in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl in August 2016 and has not paid any fees to the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) as instructed by Minister Heredia, according to Guerrero. The Town Council claims it is losing thousands of dollars a month due to Heredia's interference and advising the company to refrain from making payments.

Businessman robbed in Belize City
Quan Pan Chan, a 42-year-old businessman of St. Thomas Street, Belize City reported to police that around 4:10 p.m. on Saturday, he was on the second floor of the building adjacent to his home and he was approached by a man. The man pulled [�]

San Pedro police find gun and ammo
On Saturday, June 10, 2017 around 11:30 a.m., San Pedro Police found a grey T-shirt containing a .38 revolver with black electrical tape around the handle and three .380 live rounds in its cylinder in an open lot on Mangrove Drive in Boca del [�]

Motorcycle stolen in Seine Bight
On Saturday, around 9:18 a.m. George Rowland, 30, of Seine Bight village, Stann Creek, visited the Placencia Police Station and reported that between June 9th at 10:00 p.m. and June 10th at 6:00 a.m. someone stole his black 2014 Honda motorcycle which was parked [�]

House intentionally set on fire in Pomona
Errol Acosta, 26, of Deloro site area, Pomona Village, Stann Creek reported that on Saturday at about 2:00 a.m. while at home along with his common-law-wife Marcelina Perez and his two children, he heard footsteps on his verandah. Acosta told police that he then [�]

Mental patient stabs elderly man in Orange Walk
According to police reports, on Saturday around 12:15 p.m., police received information of a stabbing incident at Reyes Tortilla place situated on Progress Street, Orange Walk town. Police visited the area where cops saw blood stains on the ground and a kitchen knife with [�]

Tourism Minister wants to strengthen ties with Barbados
Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia Jr. has expressed pubic interest in partnering with the government of Barbados to strengthen the tourism product in both countries. Heredia told the online publication Barbados Today, that he believes both countries have several areas of opportunity for collaboration. [�]

Police report on Chunox resident killed by cops
On Friday evening around 5:20, acting on information received of a shooting incident in Chunox Village, Corozal District, police visited the village where the body of Richard Allen Garcia, 44, was seen lying on the ground with a machete in his hand. Police investigations [�]

Blogs

Love is in the Air: Hermit Crabs, Butterflies, Conch, Manatees, Oh My
Spring and summer are in the air and love is all around. And while Belizeans often call rainy days and cold fronts "baby making weather", the animal world likes a little warmth. Or something� Best not to speculate. But here are some interesting animals behaviors during this season. Many you can see, but let's start with one we can't.

Shipstern Nature & Wildlife Reserve - Everything You Need to Know
Currently officially known as the Shipstern Conservation and Management Area, Shipstern is a large area of land of 21,500 acres (8,700 ha) in Belize's northern Corozal District. Although not contiguous in design, Shipstern is centered on the Shipstern Lagoon, one of the largest inland lagoons in the country. The conservation area is designed to protect rare forest trees, including seasonal and dry coastal tropical varieties. The entrance to Shipstern is 3.5 miles (6 km) from the village of Sarteneja in Corozal District. From the village of Sartaneja, it's possible to walk to the reserve. There is also a daily bus that leaves Belize City to Sartenaja, with a stop at Orange Walk Town.

Gales Point Village in the Belize District
Originally an outpost for hardwood loggers during the colonial era, today the village is home to fishermen who make their living from the nearby lagoons that are home to an astonishingly vibrant ecosystem. Many villagers are focused on protecting the lagoons and their playful inhabitants, the Indian or Caribbean manatee as well as the sandy beaches where the large sea turtles lay their eggs. Gales Point is in Belize District just a short drive from Belize City. The village itself is located on a long, narrow peninsula that extends two miles into the Southern Lagoon.

Family Travel Advice For Visiting Belize With Kids
If you're considering a family vacation to Belize, hear me out, you’ve come to the right place. I have a niece and nephew and the first thing I realized when traveling with kids is that picking the right destination is key. You need to take them somewhere that has the wow factor (somewhere that will keep them entertained and keep you sane). Of course, a major part of making a family trip a success is making sure that the adults also have a great time, and Belize has plenty to keep kids and parents happy (and in my case, the uncle, happy). I will list the best family-friendly tours and activities, the best time to visit, health and safety concerns, and some of the best resorts that cater to children.

International Sources

A new species of Cinnamomum (Lauraceae) from the Bladen Nature Reserve, southern Belize
Cinnamomum bladenense is a new tree species discovered in the pristine Bladen Nature Reserve! Congratulations to Gail Stott, Steven W. Brewer and Ya'axch� Conservation Trust rangers on the discovery. Our passionate parabiologist rangers helped make this amazing find while demarcating vegetation plots and tagging trees for long term biodiversity monitoring in the 100,000-acre protected area.

Panola College nursing travels to remote jungles in Belize
Reyna Avila recently completed a course at Panola College in Transcultural Nursing in the remote jungles of Belize with her instructor, Dr. Barbara Cordell, RN and Dean of Nursing at Panola College. The course is connected to a group called Project Belize that consists of doctors and nurses who have been traveling to serve Belize's poorest residents for thirty years. This year, forty-four people went to the Toledo District to hike to villages that have no doctor or nurse. "We are often the only medical personnel these people have seen since we were here the year before", says Cordell. Avila and others provided nursing assessments and treatments to over 1500 patients in a four-day period. Often antibiotics were given, sometimes pain medicines, rarely a minor surgery was performed, but everyone got vitamins, a toothbrush, and education concerning health issues. "The trip to Belize was amazing! I wish every student nurse could experience the wonderful people we saw at the clinics," said Avila.

Different kind of goal
Kids helping kids. It's something that makes this world a better place. A whole bunch of south suburban girls soccer players plan to do their part later this month. Lincoln-Way Central, East and West, Tinley Park, Sandburg and Andrew all will have representatives on what is being called a "Lovin' On Kids" mission to Comayagua, Honduras from June 27 to July 2. One of the leaders of the group is Matt Young, the director and coach of the Ignite Soccer Club. Last year, a group of 15 players, coaches and parents traveled to Belize. They met and shared soccer skills with the local children. While they were there, they also undertook and financed a project to rebuild a roof and install a stove ventilation system in the home of an elderly woman in need. This year, the group has doubled in size.

Exercise Tradewinds starts today
THE start of a five-day multi-national maritime security and disaster response exercise is scheduled to start today in Chaguaramas and will continue until June 17. Code named Exercise Tradewinds, it is a United States military-led exercise within the Caribbean region which started in the mid-80s. National Security Minister Edmund Dillon is assuring the public that there would be no restriction to their movements as most of the exercise would be carried out in the north-western part of the country, specifically Chaguaramas. "You will see a number of troops from outside of TT and they would be wearing uniforms and carrying arms and that is done under our Visiting Forces Act. Involved are 20 partnering nations including Bermuda, Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts/ Nevis, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, Surinam and Guyana.

Caribbean Tourism Organization helps strengthen competitiveness of tourism companies
As part of an on-going partnership with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and its Hospitality Assured (HA) certification program, the European Union under its Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) program last month hosted an HA Business Advisor Training Workshop at the Curacao Chamber of Commerce in Punda, Williemstaad, Curacao. Participants came from the Curacao Tourist Board, the Curacao Innovation & Technology Institute; and Creating Milestones, a management solutions company.

Fixing Central America is the focus of high-level Miami summit
Regional presidents, U.S. Cabinet members, the vice president and top Mexican officials will meet in Miami this week to take on some of the most vexing problems plaguing El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the battered countries of Central America's Northern Triangle. Drug trafficking, gang violence and other criminality have taken their toll, resulting in 50,000 murders over the past three years in the Northern Triangle, and that insecurity - combined with widespread corruption and lack of economic opportunities and development - has contributed to a massive outflow of the countries' residents. Most of them have ended up in the United States. The Conference on Prosperity and Security, set for Thursday and Friday, is being convened by both the United States and Mexico, a country crisscrossed by drug trafficking, organized crime and people smuggling routes.

Videos

So cool, baby reef shark came to check us out, 1min.

Belize NOW | Episode 22 - Friday, June 9th, 2017, 28min. A new Children's Agenda is launched, new customs and immigration forms are implemented and Southwest Airlines inaugurates new flight service to Belize. These stories and more on this week's edition of Belize Now. Thanks for joining us on this Friday, June 9th, 2017!

Belize NOW Features Devin Daly, 10min. A young and talented Belizean-born athlete is making moves in the basketball world. Last weekend, he celebrated one of his first wins at home in almost 5 years with the Belmopan Bandits who faced-off against the San Pedro Tigersharks to close the 2017 Season of the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL).

U.S. Marines train Belize coast guardsmen, 1.5min. U.S. Marines with Belize Detachment, Security Cooperation Training Team 17, conduct a final patrol exercise with members of the Belize Coast Guard near Belize City, Belize, May 3-5, 2017. The coast guardsmen demonstrated their ability to conduct patrols to use in real life situations as part of the basic infantry skills course taught by the SCTT Marines.

Promo for "Cayo...Adventures in Belize.", min. This promo is a teaser for the destinations TV show, "Cayo...Adventures in Belize." Produced by Steve ODell. Commissioned by Mayor Earl Trapp. Seen in Belize on PlusTV.

Three ribbon cutting ceremonies!, 1min. St. Matthew's Government School, Western Regional Hospital, new Double Head Cabbage Health Clinic

CARIBBEAN TIRE TV AD, 1min.

Travellers Segment, 12min.

Flavas Entertainment - Launch of The Soca Season, 27min.

Women in Fisheries Forum - June 13th, 2017, 26min.

Golden House of Governance, Democracy & Patriotism, 22min.

Accountability & Transparency as tenets to good Governance, 46min.

Flash Back Video & Sexuality in the Caribbean - Taboos & Misconceptions, 52min.

Sarteneja Fisher Fair 2017, 1min. Here is a brief summary of what happened at the Sarteneja Fisher Fair 2017. Congratulations to the Winners of the different competitions.

PACT Celebrates 21 Years!, 2.5min. Today marks the 21st anniversary since the launch of PACT as Belize's national Conservation Trust! PACT was designed to aid the promotion and conservation of Belize's natural and cultural heritage through grant funding. We officially opened our doors on June 6, 1996. To date, we've provided BZ $33.9 million in aid and funded over 500+ project, scholarship and capacity building grants. We thank all our friends and partners in conservation and look forward to many more years of service!"

LEADING EDGE HOLIDAYS presents CORAL CAYE - BELIZE, 3min. Talking about Luxury, how about FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA'S HIDEAWAY IN CORAL CAYE, BELIZE !!! Everyone likes the idea of escaping to an island, but wouldn't it be handy to know which ones also have decent cocktails? Opened last October, this is Francis Ford Coppola's latest idiosyncratic hideaway, part of his family of bohemian retreats from Basilicata to Buenos Aires. A speck of sand, trees and mangroves, eight miles from the mainland and part of 200-odd cayes and atolls that make up the 185-mile Belize Barrier Reef, the second longest of its kind in the world. The style here is rustic-chic and intimate: there are just two sweet salmon-and-cream wooden cottages with verandahs, hammocks and outdoor showers, plus a big sand-floored Great House adorned with conch shells, Mayan carvings and musical instruments.

See the World Famous Chicken Drop on Ambergris, Caye Belize 2017, 6min. What is the "Chicken Drop" you ask? See for yourself as this 30+ year old tradition on Ambergris Caye happens yet again. Just one of those things you have to do when you visit Belize.

CISaustralia - Volunteer in Belize, 2min. For most of us space exploration is a dream, but you can feel like an astronaut discovering a foreign planet as you dive and explore the blue waters of the Caribbean when you volunteer for the Belize Marine Conservation Project.

You Betta Belize It, 3.5min.

SOLT BELIZE MISSION TRIP 2017, 12min. This Summer, 13 young missionaries from seven different states set out on the adventure of a lifetime! Serving alongside the SOLT teams already present in Belize, the missionaries engaged in many of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, bringing a jolt of enthusiasm and generosity to the stability of the service already present there.

Belize 2017, 5min. Just a little glimpse of my fifth trip in five years visiting my favorite people in the world!

Belize - Shark & Ray Alley and Great Barrier Reef Snorkel 6 7 17, 22min. An awesome experience that was about 10 min by boat from Caye Caulker in Belize.