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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

Authorities advise to look out for counterfeit currency
Recently there has been a rise in incidents involving Belizean counterfeit currency, leaving a number of establishments suffering the consequences of the fake money. As such, the general public is asked to familiarize themselves with the security features of Belize's paper currency, as set by the Central Bank of Belize. According to Central Bank of Belize, the Belizean monetary bills contain new features that make it harder to counterfeit. Most of the fraudulent paper currency targets the higher denominations, due to the fact that they represent a greater profit. Currently, the denominations being affected are the $50 and $100 bills. The new feature to look for in the $100 bill is an addition of an intaglio overprint of a periwinkle flower over the toucan hologram located on the left centre corner of the bill. In the case of the $50 bill, the foil in the shape of an angel fish now has an intaglio overprint of the Kinich Ahau jade head. Other features to look for are the watermark images. The watermark is there from when the paper is made and it cannot be faked. The $100 and $50 bills feature a watermark of a jaguar, while the$20, $10, $5, and $2 bills feature the image of the 'Sleeping Giant.'

Chiquibul receives new Conservation Outpost aimed at deterring illicit activities
The Chiquibul Rainforest is one of Belize's greatest natural assets, but over the years, the Western border of Belize along the Chiquibul and surrounding areas have been subject to illegal gold panning, logging, and poaching among other activities. Fighting to prevent these illicit activities are the Belize Defense Force (BDF), the Belize Forest Department, Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) and Ya'axch� Conservation Trust. Now, through funding from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) and the Environmental Management Fund (EMF), conservationist have a new post in the Chiquibul National Park from where to lead operations aimed at protecting the area. The Caballo Conservation Post was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, August 2nd. The Conservation Post came at a cost of BZ $115,000 and is part of the Chiquibul Forest Investment Initiative (CFII) that was launched in December 2016. The main objective of the initiative is to increase the management and enforcement presence within the Chiquibul, Columbia and Vaca forest areas.

Another irregular land deal involving Gaspar Vega's family surfaces
After the October 2016 land scandal, involving family members of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture, Honourable Gaspar Vega, his family is once again in the spotlight regarding another alleged land scam. A series of new documents leaked from the Lands Department revealed a number of private citizens who, between 2014 and 2015, were granted permission to purchase parcels of lands along the Belize River and Ramsey Caye, off the coast south of Belize City. However, a few months after, the properties were transferred to members of the Vega family. According to the documents, all the purchasing and transfer of lands took place during the time Vega was in charge of the Lands Department. The first incident involved lots in the Spanish Creek Area along the Belize River. A group of buyers bought the properties for a few thousand dollars, and after a few months, sold their title to two members of the Vega Family. The same apparent scenario took place with Ramsey Caye.

Misc Belizean Sources

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Congratulations to Team Tarpon Club for winning the top prize at this year's Tres Pescados Slam Fly Fishing Tournament!

Women caught with ammunition
On the 04.08.17, whilst Police were patrolling Centennial Park on St. Joseph Street, Benque Viejo Town, when they observed Shanice Monique Flowers and Robin Tameka Whitaker of Mahogany Heights, Belize District, standing near a snack shop behaving suspicious. The police approached the women and asked if they had anything illegal on them and one of them handed over a grey sling bag. A search of the bag led to the discovery of 99 .45 live rounds. Both females have been charged for possession of prohibited ammunition.

Alberto pott Chable from Tihosuco Mexico came to experience the sound of all the fabulous prehispanic Maya instruments
Yuumbotic hermanito Chable along with Faustino Yam and Hugo Carrillo. A small prehispanic Maya drum and authentic maya ball game ball that weighs more than 2 pounds.

Goliath grouper caught with a hook stick in San Pedro
This grouper went to serve many mouths for a fund raising event. Photo by Itzy Rivero.

2017 Costa Maya International Festival
This 4-day festival features delegate beauties and musical artists from Belize and its regional neighbors.

The Reporter

Taiwan holds scholarship orientation for new students
Twenty-four Belizean students converged inside the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City on Saturday, for the 2017 Taiwan Scholarship Orientation. The students along with their parents were hosted by the Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize, Ambassador Charles Liu, among other officials and alumni, and were given a preview of what to expect during their time in Taiwan. Ambassidor Liu said the scholarships provide opportunities to Belizean students to learn not about their areas of study, but also about Taiwan. "We want to give our best experience and knowledge to these students, so when they finish their studies they can come back and make Belize a better country," the ambassador said.

Police and Angelus Press donate to needy south side children
A joint partnership between the Angelus Press Limited and the Police Eastern Division South assisted 300 south side children with backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year. The children were hosted at a brief ceremony and lunch at the Racoon Street police station on Friday, as part of the Police Department's community policing efforts. Minister of State, Elodio Aragon Jr., told the media that the initiative bolsters the ties between the police and the community. "I think we need more of these things, and it speaks well on Angelus Press being a corporate sponsor supporting our young people here on south side Belize. It is these kinds of interaction that breaks down the barrier between the police and the community," Aragon remarked.

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Basketball Federation writes to PM over management of Civic Center
The Belize Basketball Federation (BBF) has written to Prime Minister Dean Barrow expressing concern over suggestions and indications in newspapers that the newly constructed Belize Civic Center would be managed under a private concession model rather than a government managed model. According to the BBF, it has not been consulted as one of the critical stakeholders with regards to usage of the new facility. The federation fears that management under any private operator, in an effort to "maximize operating margins", will result in cost of access levels for the sporting community which will be expensive and prohibitive.

Belize advised to monitor developing weather systems
The showers and thunderstorms associated with a strong tropical wave located over the central Caribbean Sea are beginning to show some signs of organization this afternoon, and satellite wind data indicate that the wave is producing a small area of winds that are just below tropical storm force. Additional development of this system is possible while it moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph, and a tropical depression or tropical storm could form over the northwestern Caribbean Sea before it reaches the Yucatan peninsula late Monday or Tuesday.

The Belize-Guatemala-Taiwan Relationship
This week it was reported that Taiwan will provide funds to Guatemala to build a road labelled as the "road mentioned in the 1859 Treaty between Britain and Guatemala". The natural question flowing from that announcement is how this event impacts the Belize-Guatemala relations. In an interview with Foreign Affairs officials in Belize, the immediate impact was unclear, since the CEO Pat Andrews stated that an analysis is currently underway to determine the possible impact on trade and long term relationship.

Vega- Banos land hustle; a family affair
Yesterday, BBN reported on documents showing a paper trail exposing a supposed land scheme in which members of the Banos family acquired vast amounts of prime land from the government of Belize and sold them to members of the Vega family including Eduardo and Alma Vega. The documents show that family members of former Deputy Prime Minister Gaspar Vega own over 13 acres of land on Ramsey Caye, located just south of Belize City through suspicious land transactions.

US Embassy vehicle crashes into lamp post
Yesterday, BBN reported of a road traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway. According to reports, the vehicle is the property of the United States Embassy. The vehicle lost control around mile 7 and collided into the lamp post.

PM Barrow’s cousin shot dead in the USA
A Belizean living in the US was killed last Friday. She has been identified as Grace Frazier, 22. According to police information she was riding in a Nissan Altima along with Brittany Clay, 20. Upon reaching in the 12200 block of SW 218 street, Miami, someone opened fire on them.

Sarstoon protocol in limbo
After several rounds of negotiations, the governments of Belize and Guatemala are no closer to establishing a protocol for the equitable use of the Sarstoon River. Belize's Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado, explained that Belize has tried and is still trying to dialogue on the issue, but that Guatemala is not reciprocating the effort. "We're on a standstill basically� we've been trying to sit down with them to continue but they still resistant," Rosado said.

No referendum anytime soon
Belize has no plans in the immediate future to hold a referendum on taking the territorial dispute with Guatemala to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). While the Government of Guatemala has recently announced that it will proceed with its own referendum, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Afairs, Pat Andrews, said that the country has two, more pressing, commitments to attend to.

Thirteen-year-old charged for unlawful sexual intercourse
According to a report from 7 News, a minor is out on bail for a sexual offense charge. The minor, who is 13 years old, is accused of sodomizing his little cousin, who is 5 years old.

High ranking police officer busted with contraband
Last night, 7 News Belize reported that a Superintendent of Police was caught with contraband yesterday. The officer was transporting pharmaceutical products and was busted in Arenal Village, Cayo District.

American driver plunges into creek in southern Belize
Benjamin Paul ,47, an American national along with his family of 3 were involved in a traffic accident on the Hummingbird Highway yesterday afternoon. According to reports, Paul was driving a rented black jeep and upon reaching between miles 28 and 29 while passing across a one lane bridge, he lost control of the vehicle and ran off the bridge falling into the creek.

Blogs

ISLAND RUMORS
No matter where you go, despite the language, culture, currency or average gdp per capita, people will talk shit about you. This is especially true for an island with a population less than 1500 people. After a few months on the island, people started to spread rumors that I was a fugitive. I thought it was a pretty cool rumor, but not everyone can be so lucky in regards to the rumors being spread about them. A good female friend of mine had rumors going around that she was sleeping with not only me, but other tourists around the island. Many of these rumors tend to be about business as well.

IS CAYE CAULKER GAY FRIENDLY?
Is Caye Caulker gay friendly? The short answer is no, not really. Like any country or city you cannot generalize about the values and perceptions of all based on those of a few. However, it is much easier to measure the attitudes of a population towards a particular topic when the sample size is so small. It is no surprise that the locals who work with tourists adopt more liberal views, and tend to be more tolerant of subjects like homosexuality. Whether they have acceptance for it is an entirely different question. A common Belizean Creole term you'll hear around the island, is "Batty Boy" which literally means "Butt Boy" in English and is a pejorative word for a gay or effeminate male. I've even heard kids say it in front of their parents, from whom they are likely to have learned it.

How To Follow Belize On-Line
There is something about Belize that seems so friendly, so comfortable, so�totally do-able. 11 years ago, that very same feeling hooked me. And I get emails almost every day from those daydreaming or seriously planning to make a move. And while this can be a snap decision - no one should move to a totally new country without doing some research. So I've compiled some blogs and websites that it makes sense to follow. Life at a resort for a few weeks or months is very different from a permanent move. Plus, it's a handy list for those who just love Belize. So here are some suggestions from around the country. Please let me know if you have any others. The more information, the better.

International Sourcesizz

Mayas commence "Seed" year with New Fire ritual
The Mayas, heirs of one of the great pre-Hispanic cultures of ancient Mexico, last week started the year "Seed", the 5,125 of their cosmogony, with a ritual that coincides with the date of the beginning of their rebellion against the creoles and mestizos in Yucat�n, informs "El Universal"newspaper. A ritual of new fire by six priests will mark the end of the year "Fire macaw with solar face" (Guacamaya de rostro solar) and the beginning of "Seed, rebirth in maize and ceiba," (Semilla: renacimiento del maiz y la ceiba), explained to EFE Eduardo Rivera Coss, director of the Bakt�n Project, an organization that promotes the ceremony. The annual transition of the Mayan culture has as its epicenter the Tihosuco community in the state of Quintana Roo, although it is also celebrated in M�rida, the capital of the state of Yucat�n.

Videos

  • La Sonora Dinamita putting everyone to dance their favorite cumbias!, 1min.

  • Grupo Crash from El Salvador on day 3 of Costa Maya Festival!, 1min.

  • Alison Hinds @ Costa Maya Fest!!! WOW!!!, 2min.

  • Diving the Great Maya Reef, 3min. Scuba Diving Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize Barrier Reef, and National Marine Park of Cozumel.

  • Belize Caye Caulker, 2.5min.

  • Simply Belize: The Yucatec Maya Part 2 Caste War & the myth of the Empty Land, 8min.

  • The Yucatec Maya Part 2 Caste War & the myth of the Empty Land, 8min. Bio:The Yucatec Maya(Most came from the Yucatan peninsula what is now the Campeche,Yucatan and Quintana Roo States , escaping from the Guerra Social Maya better known as Caste War in 1840's). There have been evidence that their were still Yucatec Maya living in the extreme northwestern part of Belize in the Rio Bravo area before the massive migration of Maya from Mexico. The British reported several attacks in 1788 and 1801 from the Maya. A Yucatec Maya group name the Iciache Maya which territory included northwestern Belize and Southern Mexico resisted to the British expansion of logwood cutting. The Iciache Maya with the help of Maya who migrated to the San Pedro Yalbac area defeated the British Troops in December 21,1866 Which is known as the Battle of San Pedro Yalbac. Others are descendant of the Yucatec Maya group known as the Cruzoob Maya rebels who migrated to Belize from Chan Santa Cruz Areas. Today Many Yucatec Maya work as Cane farmers,milpero,Teachers,Soldiers,Police and other jobs. Note: When they speak in this documentary about the Central Maya they referring to the Yucatec Maya group known as the Cruzoob Maya and when they refore to the Souther Maya they referring to the Yucatec Maya group known as the Iciache Maya.

  • Simply Belize: The Yucatec Maya Part 3 Caste War & Sugar Cane, 7min.

  • A Day in Belize | JK Students 2017, 18min. A Day in Belize | JK Students 2017

  • Return of the Matriarch Retreat in Belize December 2017 (Natural Soap from a Leaf - Red Bell), 1.5min.

  • Belize, Summer '17, 7min.

  • Belize '17, 6min. Lovely trip to Belize.

  • Belize Slideshow, 3.5min.

  • Belize: Blue Hole and Fish, 4min. Belize is famous for the Blue Hole, where you can fly over and for its coral reef, second just to the Australian one. Of course, we are visiting both places! Have a look with whom we are swimming in the end!!!

  • BELIZE VACATION 2017!, 12min.

  • Caracol Maya Archaeological Site Belize, 41min.

  • Bezkresne, dzikie głębiny (4) Wybrzeże Belize, 76min. (1080p, 2016) Majestatyczne rafy koralowe, tajemnicze jaskinie i szczeliny, a pośr�d nich piękne, rzadkie i zagrożone gatunki zwierząt. Opowieść o .

  • QUEEN OF THE WEST CONTESTANTS, 8min.