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Man shot and killed at Teddy's music store in Belize City
There was a murder on King Street in Belize City on Wednesday evening around 6 p.m. It happened at Teddy's Music and DVD Rental and the victim has been identified as 36-year-old Jermaine Franklin of Belize City. Police already have a suspect in custody. ASP Alejandro Cowo, Officer in charge...
Jorge Lemus's death being investigated as homicide
Police are now officially investigating the death of Jorge Lemus as a homicide. The postmortem examination certified death due to cardiac thrombosis due to brain hemorrhage due to polytraumatism (head, neck & chest trauma). This past Saturday, Lemus' body was found in a drain that runs along th...
PM speaks on Castro's troubles with sons
Today the media got a chance to catch up with Prime minister Dean Barrow to ask him for his comments on various issues. One of those issues is the bad press that Minister Edmond Castro has had over the past few months, the most recent being his sons being caught with contraband in Orange Walk and ...
Dorian Pakeman back at job as Press Office Director
Another matter the PM addressed is the Dorian Pakeman issue. As you may recall, Pakeman had knocked down and killed 45 year old mechanic Dean Dawson. There were reports that traces of cocaine were found in Pakeman's blood and also allegations that the victim's samples were tampered with to try and ...
Pacheco questioned on Kim Barrow's brother- in- law's nationality
Yesterday, at the Senate Select Inquiry into the Auditor General's report on Immigration departments of Visa, passport, and nationality sections, Addy Pacheco was asked about the nationality certificate for Swedish national Peter Dahlstrom. This case was mentioned in the nationality report and red f...
Addy Pacheco says she was intimidated by Ministers
Another matter brought up in yesterday's Senate Inquiry was the fact that Addy Pacheco received the Won Hong Kim file directly from Minister Penner. That application file was lacking several key components. According to the Auditor Generals' report, Addy Pacheco was interviewed on the matter in whic...
Pacheco says she saw Alvorine Burges at Immigration several times
Chair of the Senate Select Committee, Aldo Salazar, had made it clear that he was not convinced of the accuracy of the testimony as given by whistleblower Alvorine Burgess. Burgess had testified regarding her role as an agent in the processing of visa applications; a role for which she was paid for...
Minister of Education says no tolerance for pedophiles in education system
Last week, we reported on the case of the Valley of Peace Primary School principal who was arraigned for sexual assault of a minor. That minor is a standard 6 student at the school. As we told you, the child reported to police that she was feeling ill and went to the principal's office where he alle...
Two San Pedro cops arrested for armed robbery
Last week we reported on a San Pedro tourist's allegations that uniformed San Pedro police robbed him at gun point. As we said, police were investigating the matter and have now charged two of their own. They are PC Denfield Nelson Ramos, charged with Theft, Extortion and Aggravated Assault with a D...
Arson in Toledo
Toledo police are investigating a case of arson. According to police reports, on Wednesday night at about 10 p.m., 23-year-old Clarentina Coc of Graham Creek Village, Toledo heard a noise outside and when she went to check, she saw a man setting her thatched roof on fire. Coc told police she recogn...
Police preparing charges for driver of weed carrying cattle truck
Yesterday we told you about the huge drug bust in Belmopan where a cattle truck with Belizean license plate made its way into Belize from across the Benque border. Police intercepted the vehicle in Ontario Village and searched it. They found a secret compartment under the pan of the truck and disco...
Over 280 Police officers awarded at ceremony
An awards ceremony was held today, June 22nd, at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan in honor of over 280 police officers. The officers received medals in recognition of their excellent years of service. There were five categories of awards handed out today: the long service good conduct medal w...
Top 25 PSE performers awarded
The annual PSE awards ceremony was held in Belize city on Wednesday. The top 25 performers in the Primary School Examinations were acknowledged with certificates as well as $1000 scholarships to high schools of their choice. Minister of Education Patrick Faber spoke more about the award ceremony. &#...
Amandala
Gunned down as he bought Terminator 3
Jermaine Franklin, 36, a construction worker, was making preparations for a movie night at home when he was gunned down on Belize City's southside.
Sometime around 6 o'clock on Wednesday night, Franklin, a resident of Fabers Road Extension, visited Teddy's Music and DVD Rental, located on #16 King Street.
The DVD he bought, Terminator 3 - Judgment Day, remains in a bag on the counter of the video store because before he could remove it, a man walked into the store and opened fire at him.
Franklin ran outside the store but collapsed in front of the establishment. He had been shot five times in the head and neck.
"Kissing" principal arraigned for sexual assault
A 13-year-old standard 6 female student at Monsignor Romero RC School in Valley of Peace has accused her principal, Johnny Valencia, of sexually assaulting her.
In the presence of her parents, the minor told police that on the morning of Monday, June 12, she wasn't feeling well and so she decided to rest her head on a desk inside the library.
She alleges that while she was in the library, Principal Valencia came up to her, grabbed her by the shoulders, kissed her, and touched her buttocks.
However, the child pushed him away.
San Pedro cops allegedly extort US$500 from tourist
We are in the middle of Police Week, a time when the police highlight their good deeds and do a lot of public relations work to garner public support for their efforts to combat crime, but this did not deter a few rogues in their ranks from going on a rampage in San Pedro (La Isla Bonita).
Reports from La Isla Bonita indicate that two cops extorted money from a tourist, Timothy Braun, on the island on Thursday night, after putting a gun to his head. Fearing for his life, the tourist gave them $500 USD.
ASP Henry Jemmott was understandably ashamed when he got the report. The very disappointed Commander of San Pedro police led an intense investigation into the extortion, which led to the arrest of two policemen: PC Denfield Ramos, who was charged with theft, extortion and aggravated assault with a firearm; and Special Constable Orlando Mendez, who was charged with theft and extortion. A third policeman who was held was exonerated from all charges.
Price of regular gas passes $10 again
At midnight last night, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline, the most common type used by motorists, shot past $10 for the second time this year, with the first price increase being a result of the implementation of further tax levies at the pumps.
However, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight told Amandala that since the tax increases of April 1, implemented to raise additional revenue to finance the Government's budget, no further tax measures have been implemented.
On April 26, the price of regular gasoline went up to $10.26 a gallon, the highest so far this year. Premium gasoline hit its peak price of $11.04 on May 11. Since then, there has been a price ease at the pumps, with the price of premium gas down to $10.53 and the price of regular gasoline down to $9.87.
Lois Lightburn passes at 82, funeral Saturday
We regret to announce the passing of Lois Nathalia Hyacinth Lightburn.
Lois Lightburn was born on August 17, 1936 to William "Bill" Lightburn and Rosita Moody. She was the second of their three children, and Rosita's five children: James Lightburn, Lois Lightburn, Carl Michael Lightburn, Camilla Leslie and Barbara Leslie.
Lois had three daughters: Alva and Natalie Jeffries and Andrea Vernon. She enjoyed being a grandmother to Ryan Rogers and Bria Cross and doted on her two grandchildren.
St. Joseph RC girls (Belize Dist.) and Holy Family RC boys (Stann Creek Dist.) are National Primary School Basketball Champions 2017
The National Primary School Basketball Championships took place last Thursday, June 15, at the SJC Gym in Belize City, where female and male champion teams from all six districts of the country converged to participate in an all-day tournament. The 6 female and 6 male teams were divided into groups of 3, and a round-robin first round of competition determined the top 2 from each group, who then went on to the semifinal knockout round, and then the championship finals.
ITT National Championship Boom Circuit results
The Cycling Federation of Belize (CFB) had a somewhat low turnout for its Individual Time Trial (ITT) National Championship Boom Circuit on Sunday, June 18; but is expecting greater participation in this weekend's Road National Championship, which takes place on Sunday, June 25.
Here are the results for finishers in the ITT National Championships last Sunday:
Elite/U23/Masters (20 miles): 1st place - Tariq Flowers (Benny's Megabytes, 43:37); 2nd Nissan Arana (Westrac Alliance, 44:05); 3rd Giovanni Lovell (Digicell-4G Elite, 45:09); 4th Shane Jones (Westrac Alliance, 45:36).
Masters Category - 1st Robert Liam Stewart (unattached, 45:59); 2nd Stephen Bisset (unattached, 52:42).
Cricket Corner - Easy Does It lost the first to Summer Fever; and Excellence chased Berlan away
Blessed greetings to all! Under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, the Harrison Parks 2017 Cricket Competition continues in high gear, thanks to our kind sponsor, Bowen and Bowen. On Saturday, spectators and listeners heard and saw three-time champ Easy Does It lose the first game in the semifinals against young upstart, Summer Fever. Before continuing, please be reminded that during the regular competition, Summer Fever had lost the two games, home and away, to Easy Does It. Will time repeat itself? Read on, and find out how the game played and finished.
Easy Does It took to bat first, and at the fall of the first wicket, 28 was scored. Then the second fell for 68. It started to look good for the champs; but the bowling changed, and wickets started to fall in this order: 3 for 72; 4 for 75; 5 for 85; 6 for 95; 7 for 96; 8 for 97; 9 for 100. All for 101. The super hands of Jermaine Baizar took a toll on the Easy batsmen by taking 5 big wickets. Malcolm Reynolds scored 23, followed by Alexander Reynolds with 22 for their team, Easy Does It.
Belize exits CONCACAF Women U-20 Qualifiers in Nicaragua
Our Belize National Women U-20 squad was expected back home today from Nicaragua, after losing, 10-0, to Costa Rica on Tuesday in the CONCACAF Women U-20 Qualifiers. According to reports gleaned from Futbol24.com, they had lost the Group 1 opener on Sunday to hosts Nicaragua, 5-1; so that puts Belize out of contention in the Qualifiers. Nicaragua and Costa Rica from Group 1, who complete Group 1 play against each other later today, will then join the top 2 teams from Group 2, El Salvador and Honduras, in the classification stage, where the winners of one group play the runners-up of the other group, with the two winners then qualifying as the Central American representatives for the final CONCACAF Women U-20 tournament in 2018.
Editorial: Division and conquest
Two different articles by Adele Ramos, the Assistant Editor of Amandala, in the Tuesday, June 20, 2017 issue of this newspaper which do not appear to be related to each other, certainly are related in the broader scheme of things Belizean. In a page one article, Ms. Ramos writes: "The IMF continues to press the Government of Belize to increase consumer taxes, particularly by upping the rate of the General Sales Tax (GST) from 12.5% to 15%." In a page two article, Ms. Ramos writes: "Cyril Fuller, the stevedore who last week wrote the Christian Workers Union (CWU) demanding that the president, Dale Trujeque, and the negotiating team which has been in talks with Port of Belize Limited as a part of a drawn-out collective bargaining process, step away from the negotiating table, claims that he has been threatened via an intimidating text message from a member of the negotiating team."
From The Publisher
When I was a child, one of the worst punishments my mother could inflict on me was to order me to go "sit in a corner." Life would go on around you as per normal, while you were immobilized, imprisoned in space in broad daylight. After a while, you would wonder if your mom had forgotten about you and your punishment. Remember now, there was no time limit: theoretically, you could have remained in that corner forever, so that as time went along your mind would begin to play tricks on you. When would this end, when would this end �.
Around 8:30 on Sunday morning, Father's Day, an over-enthusiastic young police constable essentially ordered me to go sit in a corner. This humiliation came out of the blue, as we would say. The police had set up a checkpoint at the corner of Vernon and Mayflower Streets. Personally, I hate checkpoints in the city, especially during working hours. This was not working hours, but it was a Sunday morning, God forbid.
A "test designed to discriminate"
Dear Editor,
Belize's education system is designed to create an elite, and a majority failing underclass. Albert Einstein said, "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will lives its whole life believing it is stupid." This is what is happening to the majority of our youth in the education system.
It is difficult to implement change in the education system of Belize and the Caribbean because the decision makers are beneficiaries of the present system. They blame the individuals for their inability to progress in the current education system. Teachers also get the blame for poor student performance. The system is doing what it was designed to do - create a ruling elite and a majority servile class.
Dangriga youth pioneers Hope Run - wants Belize youth at Penn Relays
The 1st Annual Hope Run due to be held in Dangriga on July 8 is the brainchild of Dangriga youth, Kyle Castillo, 24, who is currently studying marketing in Jamaica.
Castillo told Amandala that his exposure to the Caribbean has helped him to see what athletics has been able to do for people, and so he decided, with the help of family and friends, to launch his own initiative-the Hope Run Project-here in Belize.
"The project itself was developed to highlight our athletes and lesser known causes simultaneously� The only currency we can offer to the causes is exposure. For the students themselves, our end game is to get them out and get them exposed to the Penn Relays," Castillo said.
RIGHT TO THE POINT: What really is a common-law union?
Belize is under a common law system and one that many do not understand or know. But I dare say many do use the word "common law" very openly and easily, but I wonder how many appreciate what it is. There is the well-known "common-law" wife or husband, which is what I seek to address in today's writing.
Just as a background, it must be known that Belize operates under a common law legal system, which it inherited from its "motherland" - England. If I had to find a simple way to explain common law, I would say it is a system of law originating in England, which unlike the civil law system, is based on the unwritten laws derived from English customs and court decisions which then in and of itself form a body of law. By saying it is unwritten, I simply mean it is not codified into statute (legislation), yet the decisions that developed over the centuries are found in the cases decided over the years. Without going into a class of the English legal system, I would say that under the common law system the lack of formality of codifying the law into statutes helped to allow the law to evolve and develop, unlike statutes that makes a strict provision that must be followed.
Six Belize delegates to learn from the Garifuna land struggle in Honduras
This Sunday, the 25th of June, a delegation of six people from Belize will travel to the Caribbean coast of Honduras where they will participate in an organized exchange focused on the Garifuna struggles and victories for collective territories, reparations and ancestral rights. Belize delegates include community members from the Garifuna coast of Yugadan/Hopkins; the communally-held lands of St. Vincent Block/Serru/Cerro in Peini; the Rastafari-led multi-ethnic land reclamation efforts of Harmonyville in Cayo; and from the Black-owned independent media house Kremandala in Belize City.
People-to-people visits have taken place between Belizean and Honduran peoples across maritime borders for centuries and today, cultural and social exchanges are constant. In recent years, organized convergences have focused primarily on groups sharing stories and specific strategies to protect the rights of Black and Indigenous peoples.
Customers dissatisfied with BTL's new network
It was with much fanfare that Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) switched on its new 4G LTE network last December. The new network was supposed to have ushered in a new, faster, and much improved telecommunications experience for its customers. That has not been the case, and the new BTL network has been a continuing nightmare for BTL's customers.
One customer told Amandala that her texting has been problematic: sometimes the texts reached the recipient as late as three days later. She berated her friend, asking "why doesn't she answer her texts," but the friend's phone records showed that she had not received any texts from that person during that period.
Under-5 deaths most common in southside Belize City
Belize City's southside has been known to be one of the locations hardest hit by violent crimes and particularly homicides, but what many people may not know is that it is also the location with the highest child mortality rate in Belize at 22 for every 1,000 children born there, well above the national rate of 12.
A 276-page report launched by UNICEF this morning, looking at the situation of women and children in Belize, unveils the situation of children across numerous indicators; however, key areas in the report focus on the welfare of children, such as early childhood mortality and their nutritional status - whether they are eating well enough to support their wholesome development and a good start in life.
They came on a cruise, and they are now in jail
At about 8:45 Tuesday morning, the cruise tour of three men from the West Indies who came to Belize to tour Harvest Caye on-board the cruise ship, the Norwegian Escape, was terminated in Harvest Caye.
Derson Frank, of St. Vincent; Renaldo Kerron Roberts, of St. Vincent; and Jamal Nathus Celise, of St. Lucia, were arrested and charged with two counts of drug trafficking after the ship's authorities found over two kilos of cocaine in the room they were occupying.
On Wednesday, they were taken to the Independence Magistrate's Court, where they were arraigned and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until August 30.
Ady Pacheco on "Citizen Kim"
Won Hong Kim never set foot on Belizean soil. Yet the South Korean national received a Belizean nationality certificate and a Belizean passport. At the time Mr. Kim came into possession of these sacred Belizean documents, he was lodged in a prison in Taiwan over an embezzlement scandal. How could this happen?
Ady Pacheco, an Immigration officer who has worked with the department for more than two decades, appeared as a witness before the Senate Select Committee today to explain how Kim was able to breach the system.
Pacheco was named in the Citizen Kim saga because, according to the Auditor General's audit of the Immigration Department, she accepted Kim's application even though she knew it was incomplete.
Swiss want "automatic exchange of financial account information" with Belize and 40 other states
Following a meeting last Friday, June 16, the Swiss Federal Council-described as a 7-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of the Swiss Confederation and serves as the collective executive head of government and state of Switzerland-announced that it is seeking to establish agreements for the automatic exchange of financial account information (AEOI) with Belize and 40 other states and territories.
Some of the other countries and territories listed are Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Cayman, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cura�ao, Israel, Columbia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Uruguay.
The Reporter
US Embassy furnishes Anti-Drug Unit with 3 vessels
Officials from the United States Embassy handed over three newly-refurbished vessels to the Anti Narcotics Unit of the Belize Police Department during a ceremony today. The donation was handed over at the Coast Guard base and is valued at approximately US $449,000, through the Central [�]
Seventeen youths pass out of Youth Cadet program
Seventeen youths who were enlisted in the National Youth Cadet Service Corps program have completed the course, which began last September. Of the 17, 10 received certificates for having successfully completed the entire 10 months of training. The youths received training in behavior modification, life [�]
Belizean youth gunned down in LA
Eddie Lino, 22, a man of Belizean parentage, was gunned down in Los Angeles, California on Sunday evening. The incident occurred at the corner of Denver and 58th Street. It is reported that Lino was walking when a car approached him and someone from inside […]
Why was Maynor Portillo shot?
Police are investigating the circumstances that lead to the shooting death of 20-year-old Santa Elena resident, Maynor Portillo. Police found Portillo dead after 9:00 p.m. on Friday, June 16 on the eastern side of the Novell’s Convention Center, with a gunshot wound to the head. Portillo's family […]
"Belize has week medium term outlook," says IMF
High public debt, decreasing economic performance, and a lack of strict fiscal consolidation policies, are some of the reasons that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently called Belize's medium term financial outlook "weak." The IMF, following it's 2017 Article IV mission to Belize, issued a statement on […]
US embassy raises LGBT flag again; no protest on perimeter
The hoisting of the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) flag atop the flagstaff at the US embassy, along with the United States flag on Wednesday, drew more people this year to witness it, but except for one senator present, it had no government official in […]
Mayor Bradley weighs in on minimum wage increase
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley is not expressly opposed to raising the minimum wage in Belize, but says that an increase should only come after careful planning. Bradley, speaking on the recent "Raise the Minimum Wage" march, held by Belize Leaders for Social Justice (BLSJ), […]
Yellow Man barred from Senate hearings! But keeps his job as Macebearer
Brian "Yellow Man" Audinett can no longer attend the ongoing Senate public inquiries, but will remain Mace Bearer of the National Assembly, following his assault on several media workers at the National Assembly several weeks ago. On Wednesday, Clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster, […]
DJ Hard Rock’s suspected killer caught
After 3 weeks, the man believed to be behind the cold blooded assassination of Andrew Ian Bennett Sr., the beloved DJ known as Hard Rock, has been detained and charged for murder. David Richard Arnold, 25, was apprehended at a bus stop in Ontario village, Cayo at […]
Fabers Road needs help
The 2017 rainy season got off an active start, and drivers traveling on Fabers Road are learning that the road needs repairs and quickly. Specifically the area of Fabers Road turning off Central American Boulevard near Sister Clara Muhammad Primary school, down to the police substation, has […]
"More than just a sign," says Mayor Bradley
Belize City Mayor Darrel Bradley, explained this week that the City Council's latest Belize sign, placed in the Battle Field Park, is more than just a sign but a part of a greater plan for Belize City. The council held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new […]
BCCI forms alliance with regional chamber
To assist its members with increasing their businesses, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry is forming an alliance with the Chamber of the Americas (COTA). Kim Aikman, CEO of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Gil Cisneros, CEO of the Chamber of the Americas […]
Three remanded for murder of 16-year-old girl
The close-knit community of Santa Familia village, Cayo is reeling after last Friday’s barbaric attack on a young couple left 16-year-old Emy Guerra dead and boyfriend Eliseo Bacab recovering from serious injuries sustained during the vicious attack. On June 16, sometime after 10:00 p.m., Bacab, 22, was […]
Police confirms drug bust at Harvest Caye port
After a week, police have issued official confirmation that there was a drug bust on board a Norwegian Cruise Line ship which was docked at the Harvest Caye Port in the Stann Creek District. Although the incident occurred on Tuesday, June 13, police were tight lipped and […]
Elderly Toledo man drowns while taking bath at river
On Monday evening an elderly man from Santa Elena village in the Toledo district drowned after he went to swim at a river located a short distance away from his home. On Monday at about 1:20 p.m., police were called out to the village where officers observed […]
Breaking Belize News
US Embassy hands over over $400,000 US in boats and equipment to police
Today, the U.S. Embassy handed over maritime assets which consisted of three boats and equipment, valued at approximately US$449,000, to the Belize Police Department. All three vessels were seized by Belizean authorities and now refurbished and equipped to fight criminal activities. The handover ceremony [�]
750 students graduate from Gang Resistance training in Cayo
By Zoila Palma: Yesterday, a total of 750 primary school students graduated from the Gang Resistance Education and Training ( GREAT) Program in San Ignacio Town. Officer Commanding San Ignacio Police, Supt. Richard Rosado indicated that "This is a testament to the formation's commitment to the expansion [�]
The saga for Belgian couple continues - BTIA Cayo reaches out
Yesterday, BBN reported that a Belgian couple, Allan Dropsy and Jagoda Cwojdzinska, claimed San Ignacio Police took their passports and stole $550 cash from them. After the story was posted, BBN was contacted by the Belize Tourism Industry Association, Cayo Chapter (BTIA-Cayo) and they [�]
Dr. Jose Mena wins Physician of the Year
By Margaret Mena: On June 16, 2017, my father, Dr. Jose Mena, won Physician of the Year for Ochsner Health System. Josie, as I fondly call him, is the best father a girl can ask for. He is kind, loving, and funny in his own cute, five [�]
MIT bust 72 pounds of weed
On Wednesday morning around 10:30, the Police Mobile Interdiction team bust a huge amount of weed totaling 72 pounds in Ontario Village, Cayo. The drugs were reportedly being smuggled. Thirty seven parcels of weed were packed into a compartment in a cattle truck. The [�]
Mek Wi Teach Yuh how fi beg
By Giselle E. O'Brien: Once upon a time, when time was time Monkey chew tobacco, and spit out white lime� There were once two families of mice. The father of the first family, Mr. Charlie Price, had long curling whiskers. He owned the biggest cheese factory in [�]
9 Bus drivers convicted for traffic offenses in Orange Walk
The following persons (drivers) were charged for the offences listed below by Officers of the Department of Transport. Name of Driver Bus Company Offence (s) 1 Shane Pollard Maria's Bus Company "Carried excessive passengers on a public service vehicle" 2 Alfredo Rodriguez [�]
Santa Familia villagers demand removal of police officer
A sixteen-year-old villager was brutally murdered last Friday night in Santa Familia Village, Cayo. Emy Guerra and her boyfriend were attacked at the football field. On Wednesday night, villagers met to discuss their concerns about the escalating crime situation in their village. Villagers were [�]
Police issue official report on downtown Belize City murder
Jermaine Franklin, 36, was killed on Wednesday night in downtown Belize City. On Wednesday around 6:00 p.m., police visited King Street in Belize City where they found Franklin on the street dead in front of Teddy's Music and DVD Rental. Investigations revealed that Franklin [�]
GOB Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday between the Government of Belize (GOB) and Microsoft Service at an official ceremony held in Belize City. This agreement marks a new step in a long-term relationship between Belize and global technology giant (Microsoft LLC) to [�]
Belgian tourists plea for assistance; claims passport and money stolen by San Ignacio police
Two Belgian tourists contacted BBN today to plea for assistance from the Government of Belize, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any relevant authority. Allan Dropsy and Jagoda Cwojdzinska, the two Belgian tourists, are asking for any assistance that they can get. Dropsy told [�]
Romantic Dining at Aji Tapa Bar and Restaurant
Whether you are travelling, or call Ambergris Caye your home, chances are that you're looking for that perfect spot to have a fabulous date with your significant other. Aji, located about 2.5 miles north of Sir Barry Bowen Bridge can deliver just that. Nestled within the picturesque Bella Vista Resort, its roadside entrance features lush mangroves and tropical plants lining the pathway to the restaurant; complete with a bridge over the lagoon. When the food arrives, it takes center stage! Spanish-inspired cuisine, complemented by wines or cocktails, sure to excite the taste buds. Aji's speciality, the seafood paella, is always a great choice to share with your date. Indulge yourself and have a fantastic date night!
Grilled Lobster Tails - A Belizean Foodie Favorite
Belize's 2017 Lobster Season is officially open which means that across the country, households and restaurants will be serving up a variety of Lobster dishes for their families, patrons and guests, throughout the next several months.
Now, while everyone may have their preference as to how to cook the marine crustacean (boiled, broiled or baked), we're going to share how to grill lobster tails.
Step 1:
Buy fresh lobster from your local grocer or fish market, if possible. Frozen tails work, too - but you'll need to allow for some time for them to thaw in the refrigerator.
Step 2:
Cut the shell with a pair of kitchen shears, but go no further than the tail. With a knife, split the meat along the same path as the shell cut line, being careful not to slice all the way through the lobster...
Fascinating Facts About the Lost City of Xunantunich
Thousands of years ago, the Maya empire stretched from Mexico in the north down to El Salvador in the south. They built enormous stone cities in the middle of the jungle, only to abandon them around the year 900 AD for reasons still unknown to modern archeologists. One of the largest Maya cities ever built, now called Xunantunich, was lost for centuries until it was discovered by accident when a villager in Belize came across a ghost of an ancient Maya maiden in the 1890s.
At the time, Belize was still a British colony, and so an expedition set out from the capital to explore the villager's stories. They then discovered the site of Xunantunich, a Maya term meaning "stone woman". Xunantunich is unique in that it is the oldest continuously excavated Maya site in the country.
Your Guide to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Belize's most beautiful and biodiverse protected areas. Named for the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains that resemble a cock's (rooster's) comb, this massive nature sanctuary measures more than 150 square miles of roadless wilderness that is home to hundreds of bird species and exotic wildlife.
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for having been the world's first dedicated wilderness sanctuary for the indigenous jaguar. Today, a team of scientists carefully monitors the jaguar population as well as the other four native big cat species of Belize.
Belize: 5 Undeniable Reasons Why You Won't Ever Want To Leave
Staying and vacationing in Belize is tons of fun. One might even say it's too much of it, though the validity of that concept could and should be questioned. There's a lot to do here, even more to see and a multitude of experiences to have; enough to keep you here for a long time. With all that happens here, it's no wonder some visitors never want to leave!
Here are 5 things that will make you not ever want to leave Belize:
Technology and Tourism
As you may know, every year I write about travel trends that may impact Belize. The purpose is to reach many Belize tourism businesses that may not have established marketing departments or chief strategists that advise them on the impending changes to the tourism industry. For this version of my travel trends discussion, I will focus on technology and how incredibly important it currently is for the tourism industry. For example, take food tourism's popularity, where restaurants are destinations. Restaurants should know that guests will be taking pictures and sharing it on social media, which means they need to optimize their restaurants for social sharing. Wi-Fi is a must, as well as good design and good lighting. Guava Limb is an exemplar of this.
The Belize Blue Hole Experience
The Blue Hole is part of the larger Barrier Reef Reserve System, a World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is a world-class destination that lands on the bucket list for many around the world.
Scuba divers are particularly attracted to this site for its abundance of marine life species and clear waters. Home to nurse sharks, giant groupers, reef sharks like the blacktip and Caribbean reef, as well as really cool formations and caves throughout its 300-meter width and 125-meter depth, the Blue Hole is a must-visit spot if you are in the country.
There are so many ways to enjoy this spectacular formation, and to be honest, you don't even have to be a diver!
SanPedroScoop: An Opinionated Guide to Belize Turns 6 Years Old
6 years ago this week I started a blog without much of a plan. I had moved to Ambergris Caye 4 years before - managed a bar for 3 and a half of those years - and was ready to get out and experience Belize. I'd barely been off this rock�
I wanted to explore this awesome country, take some pictures and write a diary. I really had no idea that so many people would tune in. I've had months with over 100,000 different readers from all over the world. Now that's pretty crazy.
My life has changed immensely. I've moved from San Pedro town to 7 miles north Ambergris Caye - an area I used to consider "the bush" or "out in the sticks" and sometimes still do. I went from being single for years to having a boyfriend that I love. I went from being a crazy cat lady to being obsessed with my dog.
Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge
Photographs
Mr Belize "Rigo Vellos" to give Scholarship's to Primary School Students
To all Corozal Primary School living in Corozal, If you are attending primary School or Secondary School you may be able to benefit from a tuition scholarship by Mr. Belize Body Builder, Rigo Vellos. Rigo Vellos is a body Builder who has been around Belize competing on Body Builder Fitness Club. He now own's his Gym in Corozal called "Spartan".
As stated by Rigo Vellos, Going ahead with his fitness club, Spartan Fitness Club, the scholarships have become a true reality.
"At the moment we are providing 4 Primary School and 1 High School tuition scholarships, which will be academic-driven and community-service based. Successful applicants will be required to keep good grades and give back to our community while having the support and assistance to a number of organisations that can benefit from volunteer work," he posted to Facebook.
La Milpa Mayan Ruins in Belize
Located in the north of the country in Belize's Orange Walk District, La Milpa is is the third-largest Maya ruin site in Belize. Although excavations continue and much of the site is still being documented, visitors to La Milpa can tour more than 20 courtyards, two ball courts, and explore 85 structures, including four large temple pyramids.
La Milpa lies in the middle of the Rio Bravo Conservation area, an enormous 250,000 acre (1,101 square kilometer) site in northern Belize currently being operated by the non-profit domestic NGO Programme for Belize.
La Milpa is open every day throughout the year and there is currently no entrance fee.
La Milpa is approximately a one and a half-hour drive from Orange Walk Town just off the Chan Chich Road in northwest Belize near the borders with Mexico and Guatemala. The easiest way to find it is to follow directions to the La Milpa Jungle Lodge which is located just outside the Maya site.
International Sources
Increased rainfall in the Caribbean reducing drought impact
The Barbados-based Caribbean Drought & Precipitation Monitoring Network (CDPMN) is reporting increased rainfall across parts of the region, reducing short term drought impacts, particularly in the eastern Caribbean and the Guianas, and Jamaica. CDPMN in its latest Caribbean Drought bulletin for the months, March, April and May, noted that rains are expected to continue during June to August, particularly in Belize, the Greater Antilles, the Leeward Islands and Guyana, with little concern over drought, at least until at the end of August.
Videos
5th Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 4min. Earlier this week, UNICEF in partnership with the Government of Belize launched the results of the 5th Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS5). Understanding the invaluable support that empirical data offers public advocacy for children in Belize, UNICEF alongside its government partners launches the results of the fifth Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS5). #ForEveryChild
Let's put on the lens of Melissa and Michael to understand the results of the survey.
Both Michael and Melissa are 17 years old and they are both young Belizeans. Michael and Melissa's parents most likely registered their births with the civil authorities before they were 5 years old. There is about 67 percent chance that both Michael and Melissa come from a female headed household. When Michael and Melissa where under 5 years old, Michael was more likely to be underweight, stunted, and wasted than Melissa was and there is also a nine percent (9%) chance that Melissa was exclusively breastfed compared to Michael.
Ribbon Cutting for Clinic in Ladyville, Belize, 1min. Ribbon cutting ceremony held for clinic expansion in Ladyville, Belize as part of Beyond the Horizon 2017
Belize 2017, 5.5min.
Mike & Terrilynn Belize Vacation 2017, 8min. Take a journey with Mike & Terrilynn on their all inclusive vacation at Coco Plum Island Resort and explore the best of Belize both inland and on the island.
Belize Jungle Paintball, 4min. Footage of jungle paintball in Belize, Central America.
Belize: Week one: CAYO, 8.5min. A weekend in Cayo district.
World Music Day - Leela Vernon, 2min. For World Music Day, we honor the memory of Belizean music legend Leela Vernon, Queen of Brukdown, who passed away in February 2017. She may be gone, but her music and legacy lives on Belize and around the world.
, 11min. Belizean Enchilades is delicious and easy to make. All you need is corn tortillas and tomato sauce and Dutch cheese. Anything else is optional.
How to Make Belizean Enchilades, 11min.
Belize Now | Episode 24 - Friday, June 23rd, 2017, 30min. In tonight's headlines: The Government of Belize signs an MOU with Microsoft, Public Officers and Police Officers celebrated this week, and representatives from the Caribbean meet in Belize to discuss climate change. These stories and more on this week's edition of Belize Now. Thanks for joining us on this Friday, June 23rd, 2017!
Social Media Training, 3min. News Five's Duane Moody returns to Belize after attending a three-day social media training to create a regional guideline for the media as it relates to best practices. The workshop, which was hosted in Bridgetown, Barbados, was organized by Public Media Alliance and UNESCO and saw media professionals from across the Caribbean streamline particular processes when using social media for news. Here's a report done by our friends over at NCN News in Guyana. Jennifer Persaud is one of the participants of the workshop; she files this report.
Belize City Fishing in around the sea side..., 10min.
Belize Progressive Radio, 3hr. Belize Progressive party talking about burning issues that is plaguing the nation of Belize.
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