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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
Saga's 'Paws and Princesses' fundraiser held at Palapa Bar
On Wednesday, August 2nd, the eight beautiful delegates for Miss Costa Maya represented their countries with vibrant colours and sounds in a National Costume preliminary competition at the Palapa Bar and Grill. The event was part of a fundraiser benefiting the San Pedro Saga Humane Society, which received much support from the girls and both visitors and island residents alike. Patrons enjoyed an evening full of music, raffles, delightful presentations by the contestants and even the opportunity to mingle and get pictures with the friendly beauty ambassadors.
Governor General approves re-registration process to be held in 2018
The national re-registration exercise scheduled for July of this year has been postponed until July 2018. The unexpected re-schedule comes as Governor General Sir Colville Young signed a statutory instrument and proclamation to push back the exercise until next year. The document was officially published in the Government Gazette on June 30, 2017, stating the extension of the timeline of the re-registration process.
To officially validate the re-scheduling of the exercise, the Governor General cited section 3 of the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Belize. According to the law, this section of the Act states the following: "Provides that the Governor General may at any time by proclamation published in the Gazette, either generally or in respect of any division, after, vary or extend all or any of the dates on which of the periods within which and action is to be taken under the specific law.
Miss Belize Michelle Nu�ez is Reina de la Costa Maya 2017-18!
A night of beauty, glamour and cultural pride initiated the 2017 International Costa Maya Festival on Thursday, August 3rd at the Honorable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex. Eight lovely ladies representing the Central American countries and Mexico vied for the title of Reina de La Costa Maya 2017-18. At the end of the largest pageant held in Belize, it was Miss Belize's Michelle Estrella Nu�ez who charmed the judges and captured the crown and title.
After a year's unexpected hiatus, the Costa Maya festival is back, and bigger than ever. The night started shortly after 8:30PM, with an entertaining show of color, music and dance. Taking center stage were Miss Belize Michelle Nu�ez, Miss Costa Rica Glennys Medina Segura, Miss El Salvador Iris Yazmin Guerra, Miss Guatemala Lesly Fernanda Flores Sagastume, Miss Honduras Andrea Nicolle Salinas Godoy, Miss Mexico Ximena Cardoso Gutierrez, Miss Nicaragua Danielle Nicole Hodgson Joseph and Miss Panama Maria Fernanda Jaspe, who were ready to give a show of a lifetime. Following a short dance performance, Master and Mistress of Ceremonies, Eiden Salazar and Tanya Arceo officially introduced the contestants.
Ambergris Caye to soon experience the fastest internet connection in Belize
After the service is completely installed, Ambergris Caye will boast the fastest internet connection in the country, with up to 130Mbps of speed for home and business. According to personnel from BTL, everything is on schedule and works have started from Northern Ambergris Caye heading to the southern part of the island. They also indicated that customers have been notified that as of September 1st the company will be turning down the existing High Speed Internet service in San Pedro Town as it transitions into the new service. They advised customers to make the transition to the new service in order to avoid losing internet connection. It has been revealed that Diginet will offer bandwidth as low as 5Mbps and up to 130Mbps. BTL believes that with the installation of this long-term infrastructural solution, the company will be able to offer more reliable broadband speeds to Ambergris Caye and then to the rest of the country. It is expected that Diginet will provide Belize with a truly reliable connection to the rest of the world.
MarAlliace highlights coral reef health during movie night social
Coral reefs play an important role in the marine ecosystems across Belize, and as such, need to be protected. To further promote the importance of protecting our fragile reef, MarAlliace hosted a movie night on Thursday, July 27th, featuring the Netflix award-winning documentary "Chasing Coral". Held at MarAlliance's office on Coconut Drive at 6:30PM, concerned residents attended the screening, then participated in social discussion after watching the documentary.
"Chasing Coral" was directed by Jeff Orlowski and produced by Larissa Rhose as an exposure piece on the destruction of coral reefs. The documentary was filmed over three years, with over 500 hours of underwater footage from over 30 countries.
Ambergris Today
Casting Call For Miss America Latina Belize 2017
Interested ladies who meet the following requirements are asked to apply:
� Be between the ages of 18-27
� Never having been married or given birth
� Be of good character and reputation
� Be attractive physically and in personality
S Interested contestants are asked to send a letter of interest
Tropic Air Suspends Service To Chetumal, Merida & San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Tropic Air announces today that it is suspending scheduled flights to Chetumal, Merida, and San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The dates of the last flight to/from those destinations are as follows:
Chetumal, Mexico: Friday, September 1, 2017
Merida, Mexico: Friday, September 1, 2017
San Pedro Sula, Honduras: Saturday, September 2, 2017
Misc Belizean Sources
Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration (MAFFESDI) presented Belize's Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development at a High Level Political Forum hosted by the United Nations at their Headquarters in New York on July 19, 2017.
These national reviews are expected to serve as a basis for the regular reviews by the high-level political forum (HLPF). Regular reviews by the HLPF are to be voluntary, state-led, undertaken by both developed and developing countries, and shall provide a platform for partnerships, including through the participation of major groups and other relevant stakeholders. The VNRs aim to facilitate the sharing of experiences, including successes, challenges and lessons learned, with a view to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The VNRs also seek to strengthen policies and institutions of governments and to mobilize multi-stakeholder support and partnerships for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
BELIZE: An Intimate Portrait
Andr� Lopez' picture book about the culture of Belize is finished, and is available for digital download. Part of the profits will go towards Rotary projects in Belize. It has a comprehensive set of pictures from all over Belize.
"Discover the incredible ethnic diversity of Belize. Visit a deaf school and music school. See the amateur excitement of men and women rodeoing and horse racing. Become intimate with the living Maya, their dance dramas, and the Maya ball game of Pitz. Celebrate the Joys of Independence and the Responsibilities of Freedom during the September celebrations. Come and politic and learn why "...you can't be a good winner if you aren't a good loser..". Know that there are no great cathedrals in Belize, but rather an unlimited supply of humble, welcoming houses of prayer, and follow a good Friday Passion-Play as emotional as any in the world. Meet the people who give the nation its heart and pulse.
The easy reading 22 page Appendix will provide you with all the practical information needed to enjoy Belize, including a chronological history of Belize, and a narration about the Garifuna whose culture UNESCO proclaimed a Masterpiece of an Intangible and Oral history. Familiarize yourself with all the special and religious Holidays, and find out why the Belizean Flag is the most unique flag in the world. Mark your calendar for every festival and event from January through December. Learn about the country- wide annual Cancer Walk, and a plethora of other useful information."
Belmopan Day
Belmopan Day is on Saturday, August 5 at Mae Gordon Park. Lots of surprises! See you there!
The Placencia Breeze August 2017
Pg 3 From the Fire Hearth - Sustainable Seafood Pg 5 Fishing Tournament Registration Pg 6 Placencia Rotary Summer Olympics Pg 7 Croc Corner Pg 9 "Chasing Coral" Pg 10 A Visitor's View Pg 11 Seine Bight News Pg 15 & 18 Placencia BTIA Members Pg 16 & 17 Placencia Peninsula Map Pg 19 Miramar Membership Spotlight / Sports Camp Pg 20/21 Placencia Peninsula Guide Pg 22 PHS News Pg 23 Hurricane Preparedness Pg 26 Community Corner Pg 27 In Memory of Mr. Villamar Godfrey Pg 28 19th Placencia BTIA Saltwater Fishing Tournament / Placencia Rotary News / Police Cadet Kids Camp Pg 29 Where in the World is the Breeze / BHA Board of Directors Pg 30 Placencia Peninsula Happenings Pg 31 Calender of Events
San Pedro Sun looking for reporter
We are willing to train the right candidate. Could that be you?
Caribbean Soca Artist Alison Hinds touched down on the island earlier today
She will be performing live at this year's International Costa Maya Festival on Friday, August 4th!
The Costa Maya Pageant National Costume Competition
Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama - The eight contestants of the Miss Costa Maya Pageant partook in the preliminary competition held at Palapa Bar and Grill. They presented and modeled their national costumes to the crowd that had also gathered to support Saga. The Humane Society held a fundraiser for the animal shelter.
New Conservation Post in the Chiquibul National Park
On Monday, August 31st, the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment and Sustainable Development in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence officially inaugurated the Caballo Conservation Post in the Chiquibul National Park, in an area north of the Caracol Archaeological Reserve. The Conservation Post will be manned by rangers from the Forest Department and Friends for Conservation and Development with support from the Belize Defence Force and the Police Department.
The Caballo Conservation Post will provide for the advancement of law enforcement in the northern part of the Chiquibul National Park, where illegal deforestation, hunting, and logging threatens the health of the ecosystem and where other illegal activities pose a risk to tourism and other economic development.
BTEC and the Mental Health Association of Belize holds Mental Health Facilitator Training
The Belize Training and Employment Centre, in collaboration with the Mental Health Association of Belize and in partnership with the National Board of Certified Counselors - International (NBCC- I) held a two day Mental Health Facilitator Training. The training had participants from a wide cross-section of agencies both public and private.
The Mental Health Facilitator training is designed to improve access to mental health care in a given community by educating and training community members from diverse back-grounds. The training was geared towards increasing awareness to some of the issues of mental health and providing front-line persons with resources that will allow them to offer assistance in the initial stages before referral to a trained counselor.
Go Fund Jerry Ingram
"He ruptured his pupil, causing severe inflammation of the retina and a crack on the eyeball which will need to be repaired via surgery. Currently, he is lacking vision and will need a lot of medical treatment to save his eye and his vision. All of the nerves which send signals to the brain are damaged and his eyeball is dislocated and holding on into the socket by one small tendon."
The eight lovely ladies competing in the 2017 Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant outdid themselves during the Cultural Costume Segment!
Spay and neuter Clinic in Corozal
Hi there pet lover and owners. Here is a poster for a spay and neuter Clinic to be held next Friday, you will find a contact number there too, please call and inquire if you and your wonderful pet are eligible for the clinic. Again thanks for all your support and I wish you and your pet(s) all the best. Dr. Charles.
2017 Costa Maya International Festival
This 4-day festival features delegate beauties and musical artists from Belize and its regional neighbors.
Paradise Theater playing this weekend:
Everything Everything,
Alien: Covenant,
How to be a Latin Lover,
The Mummy.
Channel 7
Living In The Memory of Hurricane Earl
Exactly one year ago around this time, Belizeans were just waiting in their homes and shelters for Hurricane Earl to make landfall. Although everyone braced for impact, Earl - the strongest category one storm any Belizean has ever felt - had no mercy and ripped through the Belize district- and then went on to Cayo and Stann Creek where he damaged crops.
Belize City and Ladyville residents were the hardest hit with major damage to homes caused by storm surge which ranged from three to six feet, and winds estimated to be as high as 90 miles per hour.
Today Courtney Weatherburne re-visited a few of residents to see if they have reclaimed their lives after Earl.
US Embassy Jeep Rakes Down Lamppost On Newly Paved Road
No one was hurt in a major lamp-post collision today at on the northern highway. A 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, property of the US Embassy lost control at mile 7 and careened off the newly paved road.
Police say the driver - a female - received only minor injuries after the airbags deployed. But one of the newly installed aluminum lamp-posts didn't fare off as well. It was yanked out of the ground by the massive impact and was left strewn across the road. This impact destroyed the front end of the Jeep.
Burst A Bladder in Belize, Broke An Ankle In Bermuda
A month ago, the Trinidadian Soca Superstar, Destra Garcia, made headlines all over the Caribbean. That's when she was ordered by the Belize Supreme Court to pay compensation to Belizean Fernando Oliva for jumping on top of him and bursting his bladder. Well, press reports out of Bermuda say that she had an accident of her own, for which she will have to get surgery.
She was performing last night in Bermuda for the Cup Match Summer Splash. She shared the stage with Sean Paul, and during her performance, the stage gave way and she feel through. This video, circulating on social media, shows her talking to the crowd, when she suddenly falls through the stage.
Another Shake-Up At Civil Aviation?
In 2014, we reported on the scandal at the Belize airports Authority where it was uncovered that as many as 76 cheques had been issued to family, affiliates and constituents of the former minister, Edmond Castro.
That led to a massive shakeup at the Belize Airports Authority, where the Board was purged, the manager sent home and the Minister of State stripped of responsibility for that portfolio.
Well, tonight reports say that the whistle has been blown again on unspecified financial irregularities at the BAA. While there are rumors of a shakeup, today when we spoke to General Manager, Nick Ruiz, he said he was in his office as usual - and expected to remain there. He would only say that he has been in meetings with his Minister Manuel Heredia and Ministry's CEO - and that he has spoken to the Prime Minister on the phone about an issue having to do with the departure of the former accountant in June.
Alleged Robber VS. Alleged Fondler in OW, No Charges
Last night we told you about a very bizarre story coming out of Orange Walk.
One man was shot and one vehicle was damaged after two men had an encounter that ended badly.
37 year old Tiburcio Fernandez says his passenger 22 year old Abdi Aban held him up with a knife and tried to rob him, while Aban says Fernandez propositioned him for sex, and tried to fondle him.
Both agree alcohol was involved in their Tuesday afternoon outing.
Accused of Killing A Friend, Errol Smith Gets Bail
He was charged with manslaughter after he beat his friend to death in Santa Elena but tonight Errol Smith is out on $5000 bail. Justice Denis Hanomansingh offered bail on the condition that Smith does not interfere with the witnesses for the Crown; that he reports to San Ignacio Police Station every Friday; and that he attends San Ignacio Magistrate's Court on every other adjournment date until the matter is disposed of. Smith is accused of beating his friend Marlon Peters badly. Peters survived but died a week later. Smith was represented by attorney Petagay Bradley who held brief for attorney Arthur Saldivar. Crown Counsel Christelle Wilson represented the respondent.
Land Documents Show Disturbing Pattern
A week ago, we told you about those leaked documents out of the Lands Department which call into question the manner in which family members of former minister Gaspar Vega became the owners of land in the Spanish Creek area of the Belize District, and Ramsey Caye.
Now, Vega has been dogged by allegations that he was showing special treatment to his family, which allowed them to gain plentiful landholdings. He was forced to resign from the Cabinet when a land compensation scandal involving his son, Andre was exposed.
Well, these documents, which have landed on our news desk, suggest that there was an unusual pattern of acquisition which ended up benefitting Vega family members. For several days now, we've been inspecting the 118 files, and there is one specific set of transactions that caught our attention.
A Pound of Placencia Cocaine
The police are reporting finding about a pound of cocaine in Placencia. Last night around 9:15 police searched an abandoned building on the South Side of the village where they found a plastic bag with 214.7 grams, or about half a pound of cocaine, and another with 267 grams, which is more than half a pound of crack-cocaine. No one was found in the area and the drugs were deposited as found property.
UNIBAM Plans To Celebrate Pride In Belize
PRIDE is a gay rights observance celebrated in major cities throughout the world. And starting this weekend it's coming to Belize. UNIBAM, along with partner organizations such as Our Circle and PETAL, will be hosting an official PRIDE Week. Activities aimed at promoting awareness and acceptance will be hosted throughout the country. PRIDE Week's coordinators hosted press conference to talk about the importance of hosting events like this...
Caleb Orozco - Executive Director, UNIBAM:
"I'll start by saying this, what inspired the idea of a pride week? It was a lot of dialogue but mainly our circle suggestion that August 10th 2016 was an historical day not only for the LGBT community but also for our history as Belizeans that a marginalize group finally got their rights acknowledged in court, more precisely if our community is to ever be inspired to defend the indignities and violence that they experience as individuals and a citizen, then we need to then have something to hold on to. So pride week is about building the moral of our community and building the principle or advancing the idea the inclusiveness and respecting diversity matters in our citizenry as Belizeans."
UNIBAM On UWI Professor Brandan Bain Winning His Case
Orozco also spoke to us briefly about a recent Jamaican Supreme Court decision regarding former UWI Professor Brendan Bain. Earlier this week we told you that Bain won a $32,000 US dollars wrongful termination lawsuit against the University of the West Indies after he was fired for his supposed "anti-gay" testimony against UNIBAM in 2014. The court found that Orozco, who says he has read the testimony, told us what he thought of the decision...
BTV Bex About Re-registration Delay
A re-registration exercise is 10 years overdue - and now it's going unto 11 years. The re-registration exercise is to clean up the very messy voters' list. Now it should have been held in July, but the Barrow administration has chosen to postpone it to next year.
But, today the Belize Territorial Volunteers held a press conference to voice their concerns about the latest push back. Here's what they had to say...
Wil Maheia, Leader - Belize Territorial Volunteers:
"Really and truly it's the BTV (Belize Territorial Volunteers) that has the meeting just now. Yes it's at the BPP headquarters, but it's a Belize Territorial Volunteers meeting and basically the discussion was we had two learned attorneys in here and we were discussing the possibility of basically of maybe challenging the extension that the GG [Governor General] signed recently for re-registration and postponing it basically until 2018 and again..."
Third Party - Ready For Municipals?
While we were on the topic of re-registration, we asked Maheia, who is also the Deputy Leader of the Belize Progressive Party, about the party's plans for the municipal elections, and whether they have any candidates ready to challenge to PUP and UDP...
Reporter:
"The municipal elections, your other hat. Will the BPP be putting up any slates in any of the municipalities?"
Wil Maheia, Leader - Belize Territorial Volunteers:
"Yes, I am wearing my BPP hat right now, I use this opportunity to appeal to Belizeans countrywide if you want to see a serious change in this country, this is your time to get on board with the BPP and offer yourself to be a candidate, because if we get qualified candidates we will run in the municipal elections. But again, more important for us is the fact that there is a clean voters list."
Wholesale Weed All Over City
Police are making finds of whose quantities of weed all over the country. First, in the city: yesterday on Partridge Street Extension they found 416 grams - which is just under a pound of weed, along with a bag containing (47) .223 live rounds - the type used in assault rifles.
And then, on Oleander Street they found 228 grams - which is half a pound in an abandoned lot.
And then on Periwinkle Street, they found 347 grams, or three quarter pound of cannabis. All these are found in the Saint Martinis Area and no arrests were made.
Weed At Wilt's Field
And the GSU made tis own find - this one in the Port Loyola area. Last night at around 8:00, the unit found 299 grams or about two third of a pound of weed along with (15) 9 millimeter live rounds in a cement structure by Cumberbatch field. The drugs and ammunition were deposited as found property.
Cannabis In Cave
And, in Belmopan Police found 6.8 pounds of weed in plastic bags. The officers found them in a cave system in Teakettle Village late this evening.
A Placencia Pusher?
And, in Placencia, a resident was busted with 110 grams, or about four ounces of weed on Wednesday. Police searched James Tillett and the weed was on him. Tillett was arrested for drug trafficking. The 27 year old Tillitt pleaded guilty and was fined $1,100.00 dollars.
A Plan For Tourism
Today the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation hosted a consultation for stakeholders to discuss updates made to their National Tourism Policy. The Ministry has been working with various organizations both within and outside the government to form a plan that will facilitate positive tourism growth. We spoke to the Ministry's CEO, and the main consultant about the policy...
Yashin Dujon, CEO - Ministry of Tourism:
"The national tourism police is an exercise to actually formulate a national policy and updated national tourism policy for the country that will govern the growth and development the tourism moving forward. The policy is based on sustainable tourism principles, so focusing on the social economic and environmental values that we use in the tourism industry on a daily basis and also integrating culture and management into the way forward for us."
Daniel Rode On The Storm
As the top of the news, we make the one year anniversary of that wretched Hurricane Earl. Now, we take a look back at the hours before the storms landfall - and the hours in the aftermath. Daniel Ortiz was riding the storm - and here's what he saw:...
FILE: August 4, 2016
Daniel Ortiz reporting
Just after our newscast, we set out just after 8 p.m. to take a tour around Belize City. Immediately outside of our office, the rain was already pouring down.
Across Swing Bridge, we found a homeless man under assault from the downpour, and out by Marine Parade, some 20 minutes later, the tropical storm force winds were evident in the trees.
UB President Will Lead Central American Council For Higher Education
The President of the University of Belize, Clement Sankat has assumed the Vice Presidency of C-SUCA, which is the Council of Central American Higher Education in Central America. He will hold that post for this Academic year, and then take up the presidency in the following Academic year. CSUCA is the Council of Higher Education Institutions in Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. President Sankat will chair his first meeting on September 7-8, 2017 in Managua, Nicaragua.
Channel 5
Bail Set for Accused in Sexual Assault Case
Fifteen thousand dollars for groping and kissing a teenage minor, that's the bail amount that was set in the Supreme Court earlier today when thirty-two-year-old Freddy Espinosa appeared before Justice [...]
Who Do Police Believe in Orange Walk Shooting/Traffic Accident?
Police are trying to puzzle out a strange incident reported on Tuesday afternoon involving three men from Orange Walk. There was a traffic accident reported in front of M-1 Sugar. [...]
Taxes Cause Suspension of Tropic Air Flights to Mexico, Honduras
Tropic Air has suspended three of its international flights to Chetumal and Merida in Mexico and San Pedro Sula, Honduras. About five years ago, the domestic airline further expanded its [...]
Could Flights Make a Comeback?
According to Greif, the airline company is constantly looking for new routes and combinations to work. He says that if the current tax structures change, the company will revisit the [...]
The Impact of Hurricane Earl One Year Later
On August third, 2016, residents across the central and northern areas of the Belize District braced themselves in anticipation of Hurricane Earl which made landfall in the early hours of [...]
City Wants to Personalize Your License Plates
The Belize City Council, as part of its revenue generating initiative, is selling personalized license plates to motorists.� The move has generated quite a buzz among car owners across the [...]
Mayoral Aspirant Philip Willoughby Defends Record
This afternoon, we spoke to councilor Philip Willoughby in the 'Pink Jungle' area of Pickstock, where he was donating garbage containers to residents of the hutments, as he did in [...]
Council Must Build 'Softer Social Side'
According to mayoral aspirant Phillip Willoughby, the slings and arrows of his opponents do not bother him, as he is concentrated on bringing even more services for residents of the [...]
UB President Leads Central American Universities
President Clement Sankat of the University of Belize has assumed the Vice Presidency of Consejo Superior Universitario Centro Americano or what is known in English as the Central American Higher [...]
Safe Space for Basketball
The CASSA program, Creating A Safe Space Agenda, is wrapping up its third year. The project has been running now in its third year at YWCA where kids from high [...]
The Y to Put on Summer Exhibit
Over two hundred children are participating in the YWCA's annual summer program. It started in July and will wrap up next week. The YWCA says that the children will be [...]
Alina Rodriguez Gives Back with Books
Over seventy children at the YWCA were treated to a book fair today. The children received free books through the 'Alina Gives Back' foundation. It is a small non-profit started [...]
From Gangsters to Businessmen
Today at the ITVET, as many as twenty-five gang members from across Belize City filed into the classroom where they spent the better part of the day learning how to [...]
Teaching the Belize Plumbing Code
A train the trainer workshop for plumbing instructors for the ITVETs countrywide and field supervisors for Belize Water Services Limited began earlier this week and will continue through to August [...]
For Belize LGBT's, Pride is Showing
Next Thursday, August tenth, marks a full year since Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin struck down Section Fifty-Three of the Criminal Code outlawing sexual acts other than consensual heterosexual intercourse, between [...]
Leslie Says U.D.P. Will Not Underestimate 2018 Election
After two terms of David Fonseca as the first directly elected mayor of Belize City, the United Democratic Party has been on a run of four successive terms in office [...]
Dion Leslie Thrives Out of Media Spotlight
With less than a month to go before polling opens for the U.D.P. municipal convention, mayoral candidates Dion Leslie and Philip Willoughby have been actively campaigning on the ground and [...]
Who Will Be La Reina De La Costa Maya?
In just a few minutes, the twenty-fifth annual La Reina De La Costa Maya Pageant will begin on La Isla Bonita San Pedro. Eight delegates from across Central America and [...]
Healthy Living Tries Interventional Radiology
It's a minimally invasive technique that is becoming increasingly popular in healthcare. And for the past two years it has been offered at the country's main public hospital. It's called [...]
CTV3
Orange Walk Sports Council Accused of Mal Pago
Thirteen Orange Walk men are tonight up in arms and claiming that they have not received full payment for works done throughout last week at the Orange Walk People's Stadium.
The men are pointing fingers at the Orange Walk Sports Council who they say hired them to reconstruct the fence at the stadium. Today we spoke off camera with one of the workers and he told us that at the end of last week, the contractors responsible for the project informed them that they would only be receiving half of their payment and that the other half would be given to them the following Monday when they reported to work. According to him however, when they reported to work on Monday July 31st, no one was at the job site and they were informed that the project had come to a halt, even though they had been hired to work on the fence for an entire month.
Dave Cannon Seeks Support Of San Pedranos
Almost a month has gone by since the tragic death of thirteen year old Faye Lin Cannon in San Pedro Town on Monday July 3rd, after having suffered sexual and physical abuse, allegedly at the hands of her adoptive mother and Step father, Anke and David Doehm.
Today while Belizeans are still up in arms and demanding justice for Faye Lin, her adoptive father, Dave Cannon issued an official statement on the death of his daughter. The statement published yesterday by the San Pedro Sun starts by thanking citizens of San Pedro Town for the support shown in finding out the truth about what happened to Faye and for clamoring for justice for the teen.
BTV/BPP Considers Legal Pressure For Re-registration Process
On Tuesday the Belize Progressive Party slammed the Barrow Administration for refusing to carry out a re-registration exercise that would clean up the voters' list. The last re-registration was done in 1997, which means one was due in 2007 and the other in 2017, but both were postponed, with the first due to nearing elections. In the case of the exercise this year, the Government is saying it simply cannot afford it. The Belize Territorial Volunteers, whose leader is also the Deputy leader for the BPP, today came out in support. They held a meeting at the BPP's office to discuss what they can do to put some pressure on the Government.
Guatemala Congress Approves Plan For Referendum On Taking Belize To The ICJ
And it seems that in Guatemala, there has been a heightened pace towards the holding of a referendum. This week their Congress approved a proposal to authorise the electoral body to start preparation for a referendum to be held before the end of the year. The proposal was supported by 102 votes, while 14 objected. Those in objection raised concerns about funding, the electoral body has reported that they have secured 300 million quetzales for the process. The decision by the Congress was celebrated by Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, who in a statement said that the topic of Belize has been a priority for his Government and that the Congress' decision is an important step towards a definitive solution to the dispute.
New Day Care Opens In Corozal Town
Child rearing has its growing challenges in modern society. With the traditional practice of stay home moms being replaced with working moms, finding proper care for children at the toddler stage is at times a tedious and difficult process. For one mom in Corozal, the struggles of finding good care for her young ones pushed her to open a private day care facility known as Bright Beginning Day Care in the town, which aside from setting a high standard, seeks to provide the needed care services that as a parent she always wanted.
BPP Worried About Referendum
While on the topic of the voter's list, Maheia expressed concern that if Belize proceeds to holding a referendum on whether to take Guatemala's unfounded claim to the International Court of Justice, Belizeans should be concerned that the voters will come out of the same padded list. Wil Maheia, Belize Territorial Volunteers: "Again this all adds up into pressuring the people to lets go to ICJ to settle this thing and they are saying ICJ is the only way when even within our own government, our own little Belize right here we are talking about discussions and negotiations and mediations before you go to court right so we now that we have not exhausted all the possible negotiations that could happen to settle the dispute even before going to court we should concentrate on that instead on trying to ram it down to the Belizean people throat to go to court because that is what they are doing right now..."
LOVE FM
Mayas Want A Place in the Tourism Policy?
There was a vast representation of the stakeholders in the tourism sector at the presentation of the National Tourism Policy. Among them were representatives of the Maya Leaders Alliance. Spokesperson for the Alliance, Cristina Coc says they are quote, "intimately concerned with the various national policies where it concerns the Maya lands� people�and their development," [�]
Tropic Air Grounds Flights to Multiple Destinations
Tropic Air has announced the suspension of its routes to Chetumal, Merida and San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The last flight to Chetumal and Merida is scheduled for September 1, and September 2 for San Pedro Sula. The company issued a press release explaining why the decision was made. Tropic Air says the decision was made [�]
Teen Pregnancy Rises in the Southern Belize
The social challenge of teenage pregnancy remains relevant in Belize as several organizations are fighting to have young persons educated on the consequences of early sexual activity. After sitting down with Joan Burke-Skeen of the Belize Family Life Association, our reporter, Renee Trujillo produced this report. Recently, the Ministry of Education took a firm decision [�]
Sankat to CSUCA For 2017/2018 Academic Year
The President of the University of Belize, Clement Sankat has assumed the Vice Presidency of Consejo Superior Universitario Centroamericano, CSUCA, or the Central American Higher Education Council. His appointment will be effective for the July, 2017 to June, 2018 academic year. He will then assume the Presidency for the following academic year. Sankat, takes the [�]
TAA Wants Alcaldes to Be Listed
In a statement issued on Monday, the Toledo Alcalde Association called on the government of Belize to regularize the Alcaldes jurisdictions and to publish the list of Alcaldes in the Gazette, which it has been failing to do. The statement titled, "Response to the Government of Belize's Discriminatory Acts against the Maya People," was released [�]
No Protection for Witnesses in Daniel Sosa's Murder
Two persons were inside the vehicle of Hilmar Alamilla when 24 year old Daniel Sosa was shot and killed on Saturday morning. The two young men are the two most important witnesses in the case against Alamilla who has been charged for murder and is on remand. When Alamilla was taken to court he was [�]
Guat National Out on Bail After Fondling Minor
Thirty-two year old Guatemalan national Ferdy Espinosa, an employee of James Brodie and Company who was remanded into custody on a charge of sexual assault, was released on a bail of $5,000 that was offered to him today by Justice Denis Hanomansingh. The bail was offered on the condition that he does not interfere with [�]
Smith Gets Bail on Manslaughter Charge
Twenty-nine year old Errol Smith, a laborer of Santa Elena, Cayo District, who was remanded into custody on a charge of manslaughter, was released on a bail of $5,000 that was offered to him today by Justice Denis Hanomansingh. The bail was offered on the condition that Smith does not interfere with the witnesses for [�]
VIA - An Alternative to Pap Smears
The Pap Smear Test dates back to the nineteen twenties and was named after a Greek doctor, George Papanicolaou (PA-PA-NI-KO-LAO). It is a test designed to detect cancerous cells inside a woman's cervix. Less than a century later, an alternative was found known as the VIA or the Visual Inspection using Acidic Vinegar. In Belize, [�]
NEMO and Village Leaders Meet to Talk Disaster
The National Emergency Management Organization, NEMO, met with village leaders of southern Belize with the purpose to establish the roles and responsibilities of those leaders during a disaster. More than fifteen leaders of villages in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts attended the one day conference which featured presentations from the regional commander Keith Emmanuel. [�]
BFLA Commends Government on Sex Education In Schools
Yesterday we told you of the training of trainers' workshop being held this week at BTEC surrounding adjustments made to the HFLE Curriculum for the upcoming academic year. It is a bold move by the Ministry of Education after they came under pressure in 2012 over the contents of the HFLE Teachers' Manual that was [�]
Willoughby Unfazed by Lack of Support
Yesterday Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley publicly endorsed City Councilor Dion Leslie in his bid for the UDP Mayoral Candidate. After two terms Bradley decided to step aside due to personal reasons but is still holding on to the hopes of one day becoming an area representative. And while he attempts to make that dream [�]
Overlooking Willoughby's Contributions to CITCO
Certainly, the mayor's support for Dion Leslie will negatively affect Phillip Willoughby's bid for the post. But what made Darrell Bradley support Leslie instead of Willoughby? Well yesterday, he gave reasons why; reasons that Willoughby does not agree with. DARRELL BRADLEY "He has been right there by my side over the last five and a [�]
Robber Kills Guatemalan Salesman
A Guatemalan man has died after he succumbed to gunshot wounds he sustained on Saturday during a robbery, and police are looking at another case of murder. Police say that 39 year-old Josue Ambrocio Arizandieta was in Belize City along with 45 year-old Walter Lopez on business. The men are salesmen for a Guatemalan company [�]
Trial Set for 2016 Murder of Delvin Parham
Valentine Baptist, charged with the murder of Delvin Parham, has been committed for trial in the October session of the Supreme Court. Baptist was committed for trial after a preliminary inquiry was held today in the court of Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. Senior Magistrate Fraser asked Baptist if he had any witnesses he wished to [�]
Guatemala Congress Says Referendum Is A Go
About two years ago, in 2015, prior to the elections in Guatemala, the issue of holding a referendum on whether to go to the ICJ surrounding the Belize/Guatemala matter was taken before their Congress. The proposal, however, was shot down by their Congress due to Belize's amendment to the threshold of its referendum laws. Today [�]
Making Breastfeeding Sustainable
There was not much fanfare or publicity on the celebration of Breastfeeding Week but it did begin yesterday and will run up until Monday, August 7 under the theme "Together We Can Make Breastfeeding Sustainable". The Ministry of Health noted on their social media page that they are celebrating in collaboration with the Pan American [�]
Training the Trainers for 2017/2018 Curriculum
Yesterday we told you of the training sessions being conducted in Belize City with selected educators from across the country. The training sessions are being done through the Ministry of Education and have to do with the revised curriculum for three particular subjects. Love News spoke with John Newport of the Quality Assurance Development Services [�]
Mayor Dispels Rumors of Mass Termination
A couple a days ago, reports emerged suggesting that about twenty people were fired from the Belize City Council. Yesterday Mayor Darrel Bradley clarified that the people laid off were temporary workers whose time had come to an end due to the completion of a project. DARRELL BRADLEY "We haven't done any mass terminations what [�]
Readdressing the City's Entertainment Strip
If Councilor Dion Leslie goes on to defeat Phillip Willoughby in the August 27 UDP Convention and subsequently garners the hearts and votes of Belize City voters, what will be one of his instant focus as the mayor. Yesterday the Mayoral aspirant was asked about the famous Belize City party strip and the reported interest [�]