Today's Belize News: July 27, 2017

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Today's Belize News: July 27, 2017 #524759 07/27/17 06:36 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,392 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	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 Delegates for the International Costa Maya Festival arrive on La Isla Bonita! Activities for the biggest international festival in Belize, the International Costa Maya Festival, began on Wednesday, July 26th, with the arrival of the delegates for this year's Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant. The pageant will officially open the festival on Thursday, August 3rd, with eight contestants from the seven Central American countries and Mexico vying for the title and crown. Miss Honduras delegate Andrea Godoy to replace Kerelyne Webster at Reina de la Costa Maya Due to unforeseen circumstances, the International Costa Maya Festival® has announced that Miss Honduras Kerelyne Isell Campigoti Webster will no longer be participating in this year's Costa Maya Pageant. However, Director of Miss Honduras Mundo Belleza Nacional, Eduardo Zablah, is pleased to present the new delegate vying for the title of Reina de La Costa Maya 2017-2018: Miss Andrea Nicolle Salinas Godoy. 19 year-old Godoy is 5' 7'', and loves to swim, play volleyball, and plays the piano. She is trilingual, speaking Spanish, English, and Portuguese! She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in marketing. San Pedro Sailing Club relocates to Banyan Bay Suites On Sunday, July 16th, the San Pedro Sailing Club (SPSC) enjoyed its first day of 'Sunday Sailboat Racing' off the waters of the beachfront at Banyan Bay Suites, the club's new permanent location. The SPSC's decision to seek out the Banyan Bay Suites as a new home were based on the resort's open beaches, its proximity to the best sailing and training waters in Belize, and a joint passion between the resort's owners and the SPSC to provide free instructional sailing to Belizeans, both young and old. Ambergris Today Miss El Salvador, Miss Mexico, Miss Panama, Miss Nicaragua and Miss Costa Rica have arrived! Miss Honduras and Miss Guatemala will be arriving tomorrow to join Miss Belize and the rest of the contestants on their journey towards the crown of the prestigious Miss Costa Maya International pageant that will take place on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at the Hon. Louis Sylvester Sports Complex. Misc Belizean Sources June 2017 External Trade & Consumer Price Index During the month of June 2016, the All-Items Consumer Price Index stood at 104.4, an increase from 103.7 in June 2016. The prices of goods and services regularly purchased by Belizean Households were, on average, 0.6 percent higher than they were in the same month of 2016 (See Figure 1). For the first six months of 2017, a year-to-date inflation rate of 1.5 percent was recorded. Belize's total imports for the month of June 2017 were valued at $154.7 million. This was a decrease of 4.9 percent or $8 million from imports for June 2016, which totalled $162.7 million, and was as a result of reduced imports across several of the major categories of goods. SBDC Workshop: CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR MANAGERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS Presented by: Ms. Monique Usher, Business Advisor & Ms. Sarita Bejerano, Client Management Officer, SBDCBelize, BELTRAIDE. Location: San Pedro Town Council, Training Room. Workshop Date: August 3rd, 2017. Time: 9am to 3pm. Customer service excellence will give you the competitive advantage you need to survive in a tough and increasingly uncertain business climate. In today's customer-oriented business environment, "people skills" are critical for personal and organizational success. How you handle your customers can directly affect your individual goals as well as your team's and company's performance. This training seminar on providing good customer service gives you the skills you need to communicate professionalism, gain respect, enhance customer relationships and secure an overall competitive advantage through customer service excellence. Cost: $75.00, Includes Lunch Snacks and Refreshments. Say hello to Miss Panama, Miss Mexico, Miss Belize, Miss Costa Rica, Miss El Salvador, & Miss Nicaragua The first Miss Costa Maya Delegates to arrive to the island. Stay tuned for more photos US Embassy looking for gardeners The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for two (2) Gardener positions. The successful candidates 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. The U.S. Mission in Belize provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs. FOREIGN MINISTER OF TAIWAN VISITS BELIZE H.E. Dr. David Lee, Foreign Minister of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is undertaking a three day visit to Belize, 26-28 July 2017, on the invitation of Hon. Wilfred P. Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belize. Today Minister Lee signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation, through which Taiwan will provide $60m to Belize, one third in grants and the remainder in loans which will be disbursed over the next four years. This support will contribute directly to the development of Belize. On the Ministerial visit, Minister Elrington conferred the Order of Distinction on Minister Lee, in recognition of the friendly relations between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and of the valuable contributions that Taiwan has made to Belize over the nearly three decades. CEO RUTH MEIGHAN DEPUTIZES FOR HON EDMOND CASTRO DELIVERS ADDRESS AT OPENING OF 39TH CENTRAL AMERICAN PORT FORUM The Central American Commission for Maritime Transport (COCATRAM), in collaboration with the Belize Port Authority (BPA), Port of Belize and Port of Big Creek, is currently holding the 39th Central American Port Forum at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. The purpose of the Central American Isthmus Port Meeting (REPICA) is to promote the exchange of ideas and experiences through the discussion of port issues. It runs from Tuesday, July 25 until Friday July 28, 2017 and is attended by over 80 participants from the region. The Main address declaring the conference open was delivered by CEO in the Ministry of Transport and National Emergency Management (with responsibility for Ports) Ruth Meighan, who spoke on behalf of the Minister, Hon Edmond Castro. Letter: Dialogue with UN advisory mission concerning the Belize-Guatemala referendum By Belize Progressive Party. The Belize Progressive Party (BPP) takes this opportunity to thank the UNDP for affording the opportunity to dialogue with its UN Advisory Mission that is currently in country, concerning the upcoming referendum with Guatemala. We welcome the inclusion of the UN in the process and respect the purview of its involvement concerning this matter of national significance. With this in mind, the BPP voiced the immediate need for: (1) the GOB to commence and ensure that a transparent re-registration process is conducted prior to any referendum, (2) an unbiased and inclusive education effort through which all views on the matter are acknowledged and given due deference and (3) technical support to be provided to civil society and interested entities toward fostering the necessary dialogue, via an awareness campaign geared toward providing a full-scope of the options which are available to Belize on this matter of critical importance. BTB & JG Black Book East-coast Roadshow 2017. The BTB and JG Black Book East Coast Roadshow...the first stop, Pennsylvania 15th Annual National Tourism Awards We've extended the due date for all nominations to August 11, 2017. Belizean Patriot: Gwendolyn Margaret Lizarraga Gwendolyn Margaret Lizarraga, MBE (11 July 1901 - 9 June 1975) commonly known as Madam Liz, was a Belizean businesswoman, women's rights activist and politician. She was the first woman elected to the British Honduras Legislative Assembly (now the Belize House of Representatives) and the first woman to serve as a government minister in British Honduras, now Belize. Gwendolyn Margaret Smith was born on 11 July 1901 to Sidney Smith and Guadalupe Baeza in Maskall Village, British Honduras. Lizarraga was a businesswoman, who operated a successful chicle and mahogany farm. As she conducted her business inspecting the chicle and mahogany camps, Lizarraga ignored convention, driving a land rover, wearing pants, carrying a gun, and smoking cigarettes. She was very outspoken and authoritative, and not intimidated in her dealings with big companies such as Wrigley's, Castillo and Thurton. She was also known as a compassionate employer and one who supported equal pay for equal work. She urged inclusion of protections for women laborers and equal wages. Channel 7 Today's Senate Hearings Cancelled, Here's Why The Senate Hearings of Immigration were supposed to continue as normal today, but the witnesses who were called, showed up only to find out that the Committee no longer wished to question them. Those witnesses, as we told you last week, were supposed to be the auditors from the Auditor General's team. These were the ones who actually went in and inspected the Immigration Department's records, to unearth all the irregularities. So, they showed up to testify, but after the Committee completed their pre-hearing deliberations, they decided against calling them. The Chairman of the Committee explained it in a briefing this morning: How Much Longer For Hearings? The press also asked the Chairman if the Committee has an estimate of how much longer the hearings will continue, before the entire inquiry comes to a close. The Senate investigation began in November of last year, and is now completing it's 8th month. As we've showed you, Chairman Aldo Salazar thinks that the hearings should have ended already, and today, he said that the Committee has only a few more witnesses to be called. Here's his answer to that question: Hon. Godwin Is Coming The Senate Committee is going to take a break for the entire month of August, until the 30th, when the Senators will visit the Immigration Department, which they planned a few months ago. Some of the remaining witnesses will be called before the Committee to discuss measures which have since been implemented to strengthen the Immigration Department. You will remember that before the hearings started, Immigration Minister Godwin Hulse publicly discussed a number of changes that were put into place after the Elvin Penner/Won Hong Kim broke in 2013. Fire In Freezone There have been some historic fires in the Corozal Free Zone - that have taken down multiple buildings - but a fire early this morning only destroyed one building. That is the Menandros Store in the Corozal Free - which is one of the oldest stores in the zone - established 12 to 15 years ago. The Fire Department says they responded around 1:00 AM, and found the building engulfed in fire. They managed to contain it but the building was completely destroyed - and eventually caved in. Menandros is Mexican - owned and sold all kinds of items from clothing to groceries. The value of the losses has not yet been ascertained but both the building and the stock were destroyed. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and the investigation is ongoing. Today, the officer commanding Corozal told the media that the building is still cooling off, so it is too early to know the cause of the fire: Errols Smith Charged and Remanded For Friend's Murder Errol Smith, the man who beat his friend, Marlon Peters to death in Santa Elena has been charged with manslaughter. Smith had turned himself in on Monday morning in the presence of his lawyer. The brutal beat down happened on Friday July 14th. Smith and Peters were hanging out that Friday afternoon when they had some misunderstanding one that sent Smith into a rage where he attacked Peters and left him thrown in a Maxi Street yard unconscious. Peters survived but he couldn't hold on anymore and he died a week after, on Saturday. Smith was remanded to prison until September 22nd 2017. Minister Aragon Encourages Gang Mediation From All Parties Last week, Southside Commander Senior Superintendent Marco Vidal raised eyebrows when he said that gang mediators Dianne Finnegan, ACP Chester Williams and Nuri Mohammed should join in with an institution like the CYDP - rather than pursing their own agendas as independent mediators. Dianne Finnegan bristled, while ACP Williams put up a Facebook post saying he was with an institution, one called the Police Department. So what does Minister of State with responsibility for Home Affairs Elodio Aragon think? He was a former Eastern Division Commander himself and he echoed Dianne Finnegan in saying, the peace effort needs all the help it can get: Taiwanese Foreign Minister Visits, GOB Says Nothing The Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. David Tawei Lee and his wife, Mrs. Chih Lin arrived in Belize this afternoon. We cannot say much about the visit, because - in a sure sign of imminent institutional collapse - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn't even send out a press release, or an itinerary. All we got was this video of the formal welcome at an undisclosed location: Grand-Uncle Accused of Molestation In just the past five days, police have circulated reports of 6 sexual assault cases involving minors. The sixth was reported today: it is a case on San Pedro where a man is accused of fondling his 13 year old grand-niece. According to the girl, her grand uncle fondled her in December 2016. Police has detained one person in this case. "Sick" Stepdad To Court And, in more disturbing news, the man who allegedly molested his 2 step daughters was charged with 9 sexual offences when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. He was charged with 3 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with his 10 year old stepdaughter, 1 count of sexual assault and 1 count of assault on a child by means of penetration. He was also charged with 3 counts of sexual assault on his 8 year old stepdaughter and 1 count of assault on the child by means of penetration. The incidents allegedly happened between December 2016 and May 2017. The step dad was remanded into custody until September 28. City Man Shot In Chest In Front Of Home A Belize City man is lucky to be alive after he was shot in the chest late last night. Sometime before midnight, 27 year old stevedore Leroy Gladden was in front of his residence on Black Orchid Street socializing with friends. That's when two men pulled up, and one of them fired several shots at him. Chinese Grocery Robbed In Vista Del Mar Last night between Ladyville and Vista Del Mar - a Chinese grocery store was robbed at gunpoint. At around 8:45, a man ran up on 58 year old storeowner Zheuchu Wu and demanded that he opened the door for his business, Mike's Store. Wu refused, and the man took out a black object resembling a gun, and again demanded that he open the door. He complied and that's when another man who was already in the shop hopped over to the cash register and snatched an undisclosed amount of money. Police are investigating and reviewing security camera video. "Badman" Business at Bella's Backpack On Monday we told you about a Scandinavian tourist who was raped at a hostel on Caye Caulker. Well, tonight the news is about another hostel, this one in San Ignacio. 21 year old Daniel Nicholson, the manager of Bella Backpack Guest House on Galvez Street said he was at work at about 1:00am this morning when he walked into his room and 3 men in dark clothing and with rags tied over their mouths and caps on their heads ambushed him. US Donates To Forensics Office We hear about many cases that had to be thrown out of court because of lack of evidence. So yes properly collecting and securing evidence especially in high profile cases like murder is a really big deal murderers can walk free without it. That is why all the pressure is on the scenes of crime team to ensure that a scene is not tampered with in any way. Well the scenes of crime team got major help today when the US embassy donated $800,000 US dollars in equipment and vehicles. Courteny Weatherburne has more The Vera Black Eye Shadows The Forensics Dept. And while the Forensics team has gotten a major upgrade with this donation, it also got a major black eye last month when its ballistics expert Orlando Vera was convicted of abetment to pervert the course of justice. In the course of the trial it was revealed that he was offering an accused person to use his skills to get a case thrown out - all for a fee, or a bribe. So how does this important unit guard itself against that sort of expert corruption? The Minister today said there is only so much they can do: Bus Judgment From CCJ For almost 40 years, Froylan Gilharry's company has been operating buses along Belize's Northern route. That is, between the Mexico/Belize border and Belize City. In 2008, an injunction was filed and the Ministry of Transport halted the renewal of bus permits, however they made an agreement with Gilharry to allow him to continue running as usual, despite having an expired license. The Ministry allegedly also agreed to consider the renewal of Gilharry's bus permits once they were accepting applications again. Bringing Women Into Ports Last night we told you the 39th Cnetral American Port Forum. It is being hosted in Belize and the 80 delegates from 8 countries are discussing a number of topics. One of those topics is about the role of women in the port sector. Now there is some level of involvement of women the Commisioner of Ports is a female as well as the CEO of Ministry of Transport is a female. But the Commisioner says more has to be done to get more women on board. Westjet Starts Another Seasonal Flight From Canada To Belize Canadian airline Westjet has announced a new flight to Belize. After the success of its twice weekly seasonal flight from Toronto, the discount carrier has now announced a new flight from Calgary, Canada. It's a non-stop once weekly seasonal service which started on November 3rd, 2017. The price for a one way ticket is estimated at 279 Canadian Dollars. Accused of Pulling Gun On Husband, Asako Walks Free Six months ago, she was accused of committing an aggravated assault with a firearm upon her husband by allegedly pulling his own gun and pointing it at him, but yesterday Asako Solis was declared a free woman. Her husband Elvis Solis says he must look at the bigger picture so he chose not to continue with case against his estranged wife. IDB Looking For Partners In Sustainable Development This evening the IDB held a panel discussion titled "Partners in Sustainable Development". The panel, which was comprised of experts in various different fields ranging from environmental research to economic development, discussed the challenges Belize faces when it comes to sustainable growth, and how the IDB can be used to help Belize overcome those obstacles. IDB's Executive Vice President, Julie Katzman, told us more... What's The Way Forward In BSI/BSCFA Dispute? Last night you heard the Prime Minister and the PUP's shadow Minister of Agriculture comment on the current impasse between ASR/BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. The PM says the parties have to work it out, while the opposition says the Government has to do its part as regulator. Today, Orange Walk East Representative Elodio Aragon - who has many cane farmers in his constituency - took the PM's line, he says both sides have to sit down: A Difference Over Two Dollars Per Tonne And one of the four major issues that's keeping the Cane Farmers Association away from the table is the two dollars per ton that BSI is proposing to pay for direct consumption sugar. That's the higher grade product which BSI wants to produce and export to the Caribbean - but it will have to first invest 22 million dollars to upgrade the plant. And for that it wants a long term agreement from farmers. But the BSCFA is asking how did they arrive at two dollars per tonne. The PUP's Jose Mai - who is himself a cane farmer - explained their concern:.. GSU, Missing Money or Innocent Inquiry? And while that's two dollar per tonne - what about the $60,000 in intelligence gathering money that was supposed to have been unaccounted for at the GSU? We've seen a letter from the CEO in the Ministry of Home Affairs expressing concerns about how that fund is used. Today the Minister said its much ado about nothing: Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Home Affairs: "There's no investigation going in any kind of misappropriation of funds that is where the ministry of home affairs was asking about the information funds." Minister Disagrees That He Agrees With Health Stats We also asked Aragon about statistics from the Ministry of Health which show that homicide is the second leading cause of death in the Belize District for the first half of 2017. He said he disagrees, when really he agrees: Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Home Affairs: "In terms of that information, I nearly want to think the opposite. I nearly want to think that non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death in this country. Because murders, we only have about, what? Right now we only have about seventy-odd for this year so far. But I'm thinking that, it might be the opposite." Bandits For CONCACAF The Belmopan Bandits Football Club will make its first appearance in the 2017-2018 CONCACAF Champion's League. That's after qualifying for the tournament as 2016 opening Champion, and the 2017 Closing Champion of the Premier League of Belize. They are going up against Nicaragua in their first match, and they will seek to undo the embarrassment that the Belizean football clubs have been put through in the last 2 tournaments. That's no easy feat, since they are a semi-pro league, while the other clubs from the other countries are professional football clubs. Nevertheless, the Bandits feel that they are up to the challenge, and today, the management introduced the team to the nation in a press conference. 7News was there, and here's what the principals of the football club had to say: Channel 5 Senate Public Hearing Canceled over Dispute about Audit Team Witnesses Those tuning in to Channel Five this morning expecting to see our live coverage of the Senate Special Select Committee's public hearings will have been disappointed to see that they [...] After Break, Godwin Visits Committee; What about P.M.? The Senate Select Committee is now scheduled to go on break for the entire month of August. Chairman Salazar told reporters that their visit to the department is scheduled for [...] A Small Slice of Drama from Part Two of Committee Hearings The Senate Special Select Committee has been watercooler talk across Belize since hearings resumed at the end of April. For better or worse, it has been dominated by the behavior [...] More from Your Paycheck for Social Security Will there be an increase in the amount of money that comes out of your paychecks for social security? That is yet to be seen, but on Tuesday, S.S.B. C.E.O. [...] S.S.B. Wants Stable Investment Options According to Doctor Young, the investment income of the S.S.B. in the utility companies, the private sector and the agricultural industry has been keeping the fund buoyant over the years. [...] Fire Destroys Free Zone's Oldest Store There was a massive fire inside the Commercial Free-Zone in Corozal during the early hours of this morning. According to a late report from the police, around one a.m. Corozal [...] B.S.I. Looks Forward, Wants Farmers to as Well This week, Belize Sugar Industries Limited's managers and senior officials are in meetings in Orange Walk Town, reviewing the recently gone sugar cane milling season. It was a record-breaking and [...] BELCOGEN: 'Piece of Junk' or Worth Saving? Seven years ago, the Belize Co-Generation Energy Project kicked off at Tower Hill, Orange Walk. It uses bagasse from milled sugar to provide up to twenty-five megawatts of electricity for [...] Slight Increase in Inflation; Exports Rebound The Statistical Institute of Belize has released new figures for the month of June, recording a slight increased of point six percent on the All-items Consumer Price Index.� Goods and [...] Police to Get to Bottom of B.D.F. Uniform Mystery The story of the used B.D.F. uniforms�everyone has weighed in from the respective government ministries, including home affairs and defense.� Those worn military garbs were all listed for destruction by [...] It's over for Darrell Bradley, but Not for U.D.P. in City It's now official: Mayor of Belize City Darrell Bradley will not run for a third term in office. A decision not to contest the coming internal convention for the United [...] C.S.I. Belize: Equipment and Wheels for Scenes of Crime, Forensic Service Over a million and a half Belize dollars in forensic equipment was handed over to the Ministry of Home Affairs today. The donation, gifted by the US Embassy, is to [...] Leroy Gladden Shot in Belize City Twenty-seven-year-old Leroy Gladden is fortunate to have escaped grave injuries after coming under gunfire on Tuesday night.� The stevedore, of a Black Orchid Street address, was standing in front of [...] Stepfather Charged in Brutal Sex Assault A fifty-year-old man was arraigned today in the Belize Magistrate's Court after he was arrested and charged with six counts of sexual assault and three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse [...] Ministry Queries G.S.U. Funds but No Investigation There have been reports that some sixty thousand dollars were unaccounted for from the GSU's budget. But today Junior Minister Elodio Aragon says that the funds are not missing from [...] 'Banditos' to Storm Nicaragua; They'll Be Wearing New Gear The Belmopan Bandits won the Premier League of Belize and that qualified them as the team to represent the Jewel in the 2017 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League. In its first [...] Kaina Martinez and Future Athletes Run the Track in Seine Bight Over two hundred children, ages five to seventeen, registered with Kaina Martinez's annual track and field games held over the weekend in Seine Bight Village on the peninsula, catering to [...] LOVE FM Senate Committee Not Seeing Eye to Eye Every Wednesday since November last year we have been bringing you the highlights of the Senate Hearing into the auditor general's reports. Like last week, we intended to do the same tonight however, today's hearing was cancelled. That's because committee members were not able to reach a consensus regarding the three witnesses scheduled to testify [�] Did Ady Pacheco Lie to Senate Committee? And before that happens, will Prime Minister Dean Barrow be summoned to testify? Throughout the senate hearing, several questions have been asked that witnesses have not been able to answer appropriately or in full. One of those questions has to do with the stop order given to discontinue security clearance checks for visa applicants, specifically [�] SSSC Takes a Month Off There is no telling when the Senate hearing will come to an end. It has been going on for about eight months. Chairman of the committee, Senator Aldo Salazar says he believes it is winding down. ALDO SALAZAR "For my part I have been wishing to wind it down from very early. I have my [�] SIB Releases June Figures on Belize's Cost of Living The prices of household goods are still high according to the Statistical Institute of Belize. On average, goods and services went up by 0.6 percent. While food and non alcoholic beverages, which the SIB says have remained relatively stable since late 2016, saw a small increase of 0.6 percent, the highest inflation was recorded in [�] Free Zone Store Destroyed by Fire A well-known business establishment inside the Corozal Free Zone was gutted by fire last night. The two storey structure known as Menandro's Company Limited specialized in the sale of clothing and apparel and has been in existence for over a decade. Officer Commanding the Corozal District, Superintendent Sinquest Martinez furnished us with the preliminary findings. [�] Hotel Manager Beaten and Robbed of $20K Plus In San Ignacio, police are investigating an aggravated burglary. According to police, 21 year-old Daniel Nicholson, the manager of Bella Backpack Guest House on Galvez Street in San Ignacio was at work when he was attacked. He told police that around one o'clock this morning, when he was entering his room, he was approached by [�] Home Invasion in Belize City Leaves Two Injured Two Belize City residents were injured in a home invasion that happened last night at a residence on River Side Street. Love News understands that sometime after three this morning at least five men broke into a home while the owner of the house was asleep. The men forced their way through a screen door [�] Peters' Suspected Murderer Remanded to Prison 29-year-old, Errol Smith of Santa Elena Town, Cayo District was arraigned on the charge of manslaughter earlier today and was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until September 22, 2017. Smith was detained earlier this week after 38-year-old, Marlon Peters passed away following a physical altercation with him. The altercation occurred on Friday, July 14, [�] Minor Admits to Injuring Chee; No Charges Rendered On Monday we told you that a minor was in police custody after it was alleged that he had beaten 22-year-old, Trevaun Chee on Friday afternoon. Love News has been reliably informed that the minor was released and no charges were laid against him. Chee's mother was notified by the police this morning of the [�] UB's 7th President Speaks of First 5 Months in Office Earlier this year it was announced that Professor Clement Sankat would head the University of Belize. Since his appointment, Sankat has been running the university as the seventh president. His position will become official tomorrow when he is installed at a ceremony in Belize City. While in Belmopan, our news team caught up with the [�] Belize Takes VP Seat at CSUCA The University of Belize has been invited to join the Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano, CSUCA. In fact, through its President, Professor Clement Sankat, UB is asked to take up the post of vice president of the regional body. CSUCA is a consortium of Central American universities which promotes the development of scientific, technological and humanistic [�] Family Feels Jilted Following Not Guilty Verdict In Dangriga Murder Trial A family from Dangriga is up in arms after a verdict of not guilty was delivered in a murder case that occurred in 2014 in that municipality. Correspondent Harry Arzu was outside the courtroom and has the story. HARRY ARZU " CCJ Tells Transport Board to Pay Up Belize's Transport Board has been ordered to pay forty thousand dollars forthwith to businessman, Froylan Gilharry Sr. The order came from the Caribbean Court of Justice earlier today as it finalized the case between both parties. The case dates back to 2008 when the Barrow administration had sought to revamp the public transportation system resulting [�] Athletes Return From Commonwealth Games 2017 WRITTEN BY RENEE TRUJILLO A Belize delegation returned from the Bahamas today after local athletes competed in several disciplines. The media met up with them at the airport earlier today and spoke with the head delegate, Orson Butler. ORSON BUTLER "The team was five athletes and two officials. Tricia Flores, she is responsible for the [�] GSU Gets Drugs and Firearms GSU Officers searched a residence on Apollo Street, Belama Phase Four where they found thirty seven grams of marijuana. Present at the time of the search were twenty two year old Shawn Wade and two females. Initially the trio was arrested and charged for possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply. When they appeared [�] Breaking Belize News Man robbed at gunpoint at work; Thieves take about 20K in cash A man was robbed at gunpoint in Cayo this morning. Police reports reveal that shortly after 12 this morning, 21 year old Daniel Nicholson, a Manager at Bella Backpack Guest House on Galvez Street in San Ignacio town was about to enter his room [�] Man found dead in his apartment This afternoon, the body of a Belize City man was removed from his apartment on Gill Street. He has been officially identified as Henry Terry. According to the police press office, police are treating his passing as a case of, "sudden death." © 2017, [�] Senate Select Committee pauses until September The Chairman of the Senate Select Committee, Aldo Salazar, and various of his colleagues in the UDP have expressed their desire to bring the hearings into the Auditor General's report to an end. Today, Salazar told the media that the hearings of the committee [�] Early morning fire in Corozal Freezone At around 1 a.m. today, there was a fire inside the Corozal Freezone. Reliable information to BBN is that one of the oldest duty free stores in the zone, Menandros Co. Ltd., was ablaze. Reports to our newsroom are that the building was devoured by the [�] Social Media For The People by Richard Holder Richard Holder is presenting his new exhibition entitled "Social Media For the People" (#SM4TP) at The Image Factory Art Foundation in Belize City. The exhibition opens on Friday, July 28, 2017 from 6 to 9 pm. The artist will be available for interviews tomorrow at 10:00 am for a preview of [�] Grocery Store robbed in Ladyville Last night around 8:50, police visited My Store located on Manta Ray Boulevard, Ladyville Village where Zheuchu Wu, 58, reported that around 8:45 pm, a male person approached him at his store and demanded that he opened the door. Wu refused and the man then took out [�] Senate Select Committee cancels meeting today The Senate Select Committee today convened in Belmopan. However, the hearing was cancelled because the committee could not reach a consensus on interviewing the audit team. According to the Chairman of the Committee, Aldo Salazar, he believes that the Auditor General herself should testify [�] Granduncle sexually assaults minor A 13 year old female student of San Pedro Town visited the San Pedro Police Station along with her mother and reported that sometime in the month of December, 2016, her grand uncle went into her room and fondled her indecently. Police detained one [�] Belize City man shot early this morning This morning around 12:05 a.m., Belize City police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where cops saw Leroy Gladden 27, a stevedore of an Orchid street address suffering from a gunshot wound to the right side of the chest. Initial investigations revealed that Gladden [�] Errol Smith charged for "manslaughter" On Monday, Errol Smith, 29, had handed himself over to police in the presence of his attorney. Smith and Marlon Peters were socializing on Friday, July 14 when they got into an altercation which led to Smith beating Peters unconscious. Peters was taken to [�] Blogs Stunned On Caye Caulker, Belize - The North Side's Biggest New Development On our return to Ambergris Caye - after swimming and eating in Caye Caulker - we stopped at the new beach club/restaurant/lounge/bar and more on the North side of the island. The side that until very recently was basically undeveloped, the side that only got electricity in the last year or two. The new place is called Koko King. And to stay that I was STUNNED is an understatement. This patch of mangroves just a few hundred yards north of the split (on the calm leeward side of the island) has EXPLODED! Perhaps the most impressive thing to me is that THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WATER TAXI! It picks people up every hour and a half in Caye Caulker town. As long as you spend $10bzd at Koko King, it is free. Statistical information about tourists visiting Belize Tourism in Belize has grown considerably recently, and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow has stated his intention to use tourism to combat poverty throughout the country. The growth in tourism has positively affected the agricultural, commercial, and finance industries, as well as the construction industry. The results for Belize's tourism-driven economy have been significant, with the nation welcoming almost one million tourists in a calendar year for the first time in its history in 2012. International Sources 'Visionary' project to save the Belize coast provides valuable framework A coastal zone management plan designed to safeguard Belize's natural assets has produced a win-win opportunity for people and the environment, providing a valuable framework for other coastal nations around the world where overfishing, development, and habitat degradation are increasingly serious problems. The new research, published in the International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, is both community-driven and science-based and serves as a revolutionary example showcasing how integrated planning can be beneficial for both nature and people. Belize's coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows support a high diversity of marine species, and are also critical to the economy, with more than 60% of the population depending on ecosystem services such as tourism, food, and coastal protection. Ecosystem services are the benefits people can obtain from nature. Unchecked development, overfishing, and offshore oil exploration have put these ecosystems and the benefits they provide at unprecedented risk and in 2009, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger. Hollywood Meets Belize: New Found Hub for Blockbuster Productions In a robust display of style, class and culture, the Belize Film Commission held its' 3rd Annual luncheon to connect industry executives in Hollywood with key members of the Belizean Diaspora to offer Belize as a core nucleus for the motion picture business. Producing far more than its sultry "Caribbean" flare, Belizean representatives say the Afrocentric Country is the perfect backdrop for Hollywood film production. At the intimate gathering, held in the backyard of a swanky Pacific Palisades home, the Sentinel spoke with Belizean actor, producer, and film commissioner for Belize, Nigel Miguel. Miguel says the continued endeavor to bring Hollywood to Belize benefits its' natives both directly and indirectly. "Belize is a production friendly county with incentives and rebates and we have what we believe is the prettiest backdrop for your story or live event," he said. Belize launches next phase of payment overhaul The Central Bank of Belize has launched a new electronic cheque clearing system which will form part of its larger Automated Payment and Security Service System (APSSS), allowing for payments to be processed within 24 hours. The central bank began reforming its national payment system in 2010, when it developed an information system - the APSSS - which connected banks into a data-sharing network. "APSSS allows participants to operate using technologically advanced features and security, includ Videos Hangout with Belize Tourism, 25min. Day 4 Dive 1 Part 1 Belize A lot of Sharks and Cave Swim Through, 2min. Day 4 Dive 1 Part 1 - Shark 0:00 - Shark Pet 2:15 - Shark 7:00 - Cave 7:40 - 13:30 Shark - Shark 16:00 -Shark 1800 - Shark 19:10 - Spotted Fish 12:15 The fundamentals of singing with Sandra Bradshaw, 26min. Conferring the Order of Distinction of Belize on Dr. Hon. David Tawei Lee, Foreign Minister of Taiwan., 2.5min. Bus driver's disregard for safety, 4min. This is a video here showing what's happening every single morning with J &J Bus Line on the road. This happend this morning before Rio Coco before. These people don't have conscience honestly they don't give a dam about peoples lives. They think that this is a game playing on the road daily daily.... hanging on the other busses schedule then when they see that the bus is behind the drive on the other side of the road not letting the other one go and overtake them. Just because they feel like doing it. Then when they see people thats how they park blocking the whole highway so that they would pick up the passengers. People from those areas Cotton Tree and St. Matthews are aware of what'shappening there they pass through this daily. Mangrove Park Tour, 2min. This morning the Friends of Corozal United for Sustainability (FOCUS) invited everyone to come "face to leaf" with Corozal's mangroves. It commenced from 9am-noon, at Mangrove Park. There was activities to help you learn more about the importance of these wonderful trees in our life, and their role in fighting climate change. We took the children in an adventure of discovery (tour) of our very special Mangrove Park, including red, black, and white mangroves, and their allies, the Buttonwood. Belize Honeymoon 2017, 7min. Tech Monkeys Belize, 1min. Offering professional graphic design and printing services. Belize Adventures, 4min.