Today's Belize News: August 22, 2017

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Today's Belize News: August 22, 2017 #525362 08/22/17 06:29 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,392 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	*For the latest on Tropical Rainstorm Harvey, click here* 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 Police detain two people for firearm and ammunition possession The San Pedro Police Formation has removed a high powered firearm from a residence in the Boca del Rio area in San Pedro Town. The discovery led to the arrest of 18-year-old Aureliano Pascual and a 17-year-old female, who were both charged for keeping an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The discovery was made on Saturday, August 19th, when police searched a residence in the Boca del Rio Area. The search resulted in the finding of a Ruger .223 Bolt Action Rifle, one magazine, (22) .223/ 5.56 ammunition, (10) .45 ammunition, and (7) .380 ammunition. Both Pascual and the minor were immediately detained and arraigned on Monday, August 21st at the Belize City Magistrate Court. Police detain two people for firearm and ammunition possession Police have detained two persons in connection with the latest homicide that occurred in San Pedro Town on Sunday, August 20th. The victim has been identified as 34-year-old Armando Lopez, Belizean carpenter of the San Pedrito Subdivision, who was fatally shot when he was socializing at a local bar on Barrier Reef Drive. As police continue their investigation, they are also looking for a 16-year-old minor believed to have also participated in the shooting. The general public is asked to assist in order to solve this latest incident. The shootout took place in broad daylight shortly after 2PM on Barrier Reef Drive, one of San Pedro's busiest streets. According to a brief police report released on Monday, August 21st, Lopez suffered from gunshot wounds to his chest and died on the spot. The results of their infant investigation has led to the arrest of two individuals. Suspected Ciguatera Poisoning Detected in Fish Consumers The Ministry of Health informs the public that suspected fish poisoning (Ciguatera poisoning) was detected in persons that had eaten fish bought from a fish vendor in Ladyville, Belize District. Further investigation into these cases has linked and identified that the fish consumed was barracuda. Consumers are warned that ciguatera poisoning is normally seen in predatory fish, mainly barracudas. However, other fish such as the coral trout, red snapper, donu, parrot fish, grouper, Spanish mackerel, red emperor, wrasse, reef cod, sturgeon fish, trevally and moray eel may also cause ciguatera poisoning. It is key to note that this toxin does not affect the appearance, odor or taste of the fish; and freezing or cooking the contaminated fish will not prevent the poisoning. Anyone who consumes fish contaminated with the ciguatera toxin will become ill. SPTC receives donation of school supplies The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) would like to extend its gratitude to Ms. Linda Clark-Fonda of Lake Charles Louisiana. She brought some school goodies to the SPTC while visiting San Pedro Town. Clark-Fonda thanks her friends at the Eye Clinic - Dr. Mark Crawford, Dr. Tom Price, Dr. Lori Goldberg, as well as her friends and grandchildren, who gave up some of their most treasured and personal items to be donated to the children of La Isla Bonita. Minister of Health suggests banning soft drinks in schools After the Ministry of Health's (MOH) statistics in July 2017 revealed that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in Belize, the Minister of Health, Honourable Pablo Marin has called for healthy eating at schools, emphasizing a ban on soft drinks and other carbonated beverages. The announcement was made on Monday, August 14th in Corozal Town, where Marin suggested partnering with other ministries to tackle the root cause of the problem, one of them being the eradication of carbonated beverages and the introduction of healthy food and drinks at educational institutions. Camp Basil Jones encourages at-risk youth to Explore, Create and Aspire Camp Basil Jones is aimed at educating at risk youth on the importance of the environment, and this summer they are wrapping up its 4th annual event. The four-week program is a collaborative effort between Green Reef, San Pedro House of Culture, Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the Department of Youth Service. Each week of the program, up to 20 children travel to the Basil Jones Educational Center in the Bacalar Chico Reserve, North Ambergris Caye, to take part in fun, educational learning activities. Lead organizer, Guillermo "Mito" Paz believes the camp is an excellent opportunity to promote the need for a healthy marine ecosystem. "The Summer Camp gives young people in rural communities, and inner city youth, an opportunity to experience and learn about Belize's natural resources. The program aims to promote conservation and preservation of the Belize Barrier Reef as we work towards youth empowerment in Belize," says Paz. Ambergris Today Police To Boost Presence On Ambergris Caye After Recent Murders "We did boost personnel in San Pedro, as a matter of fact we will be boosting more personnel in San Pedro. I personally will be leaving for San Pedro to do assesment on the ground," stated Assistance Commissioner of Police, Edward Broaster at the Belize City media brief. "I want to ask the residents in San Pedro to cooperate with the police, as we will be conducting vigorous operations on the island to deal with this issue." San Pedro Police has detained two persons in connection with the deadly shooting that took place in downtown San Pedro, Ambergris Caye in broad daylight, shortly after 2p.m. on Sunday, August 20, 2017. They are also on the lookout for a 16-year-old minor believed to have participated in the shooting. High-Powered Firearm Found In San Pedro San Pedro Police is reporting the discovery of (1) Ruger.223 Bolt Action Rifle, (1) magazine, (22) .223 or 5.56 ammunition, (10).45 ammunition and (7) .380 ammunition. during a search they conducted at a residence in the Boca del Rio Area of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize. As a result police detained and charged 18-year-old Aureliano Pascual and a 17-year-old female, on August 19 for kept unlicensed firearm, kept ammunition without license and kept prohibited ammunition. They were arraigned in Belize City Magistrate Court today, August 21, 2017. Suspected Ciguatera Poisoning Detected In Fish Consumers Individuals who consume any fish that contains the toxin can experience many symptoms including tingling and numbness in fingers, toes, around lips, tongue, mouth and throat; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and/or abdominal cramps, joint pains, headache, and difficulty breathing. The gastrointestinal or stomach symptoms normally appear within 24 hours of exposure and those of the nervous system can appear one to two days later. Lots Of Rain Coming - Remnants Of Tropical Storm Harvey Approaching Belize The National Emergency Management Organization in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the public that remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to cross over the country tomorrow Tuesday, August 22, 2017. There is still a chance for redevelopment before it reaches our coastline. We can expect wind gusts, heavy rainfall and squally conditions. The public is advised to take actions to protect life and property. If you are exposed to bad weather conditions make the necessary arrangements to lessen the impact on your home and family. Misc Belizean Sources NEMO Advisory #2 :REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM HARVEY APPROACHING BELIZE The National Emergency Management Organization in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the public that remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to cross over the country tomorrow Tuesday 22 August, 2017. There is still a chance for redevelopment before it reaches our coastline. We can expect wind gusts, heavy rainfall and squally conditions. Fourth Road (Santa Elena/San Ignacio By-Pass) Project - Lot 5 George Price Highway, Liberty Street and George Price Avenue A contract was signed today, Monday, August 21, for Lot 5 of the Fourth Road Project, which is rehabilitation works within Santa Elena Town, Cayo District. The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, today signed the construction contract with Belize Roadway Construction Ltd. in the amount of BZ$6,968,955.40 to carry out the drainage and pavement rehabilitation works in Santa Elena. The scope of works includes rehabilitation and drainage improvements of 1,870m on the George Price Highway between Three Flags and Loma Luz Blvd. intersection - Hawksworth Bridge; 160m along Liberty Street; and 1,940m along George Price Avenue between Loma Luz Blvd. intersection and Hawksworth Bridge. Power interruption 7:00am to 2:00pm, Friday, August 25, San Pedro: Pescador Dr, San Pedrito, Elliot Subdivision, San Pablo, San Marcos and DFC Area BEL to replace poles and grips carrying high voltage lines; and install high voltage mid-spans in the area. SBDC Workshop: Cash Flow Management & Budgeting, Part 4 of the Accounting Series Presented by: Mr. Jorge Gentle, Business Adviser, SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: 14 Orchid Garden Street, Beltraide Conference Room, Belmopan. Workshop Date: August 21, 2017. Time: 9am to 12 noon. Cost: $60.00, Includes Snacks and Refreshments !!!!Being responsible for the budget and cash flow means you're playing a vital role in your organization's future. Your budget and cash flow management enables you to pinpoint critical variables that impact profit so your company can successfully pursue its goals and continue to grow. Splashers Come paint with us this Thursday at Crazy Canucks Beach Bar. We will be painting "Mr. Flamingo". BELTRAIDE and Belize Spa & Wellness Association conclude Maya Spa Experience Competition; and the winners are� An award ceremony was held on the 21st of August 2017, at 10:00 am at the Belize Training and Employment Centre (BTEC), to announce the winners of the first ever "Maya Spa Experience Brand Competition". The competition, which was organized by BELTRAIDE and the Belize Spa and Wellness and held on the 14th and 15th of August, aimed to have certified massage therapists collaborate with three other persons, in developing their interpretation of an authentic Maya Spa Experience to create a signature Belizean massage that can be identified in any resort both at home and abroad. The branded massage will be copyrighted and promoted extensively, with a special showcase at this year's BCCI Expo. BELTRAIDE Hosts First Talent Fair 2017 In an effort to better match Belize's talent capacity with investment demands, the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), through its technical units of BelizeINVEST and the Belize Training and Employment Centre (BTEC), held its first ever Talent Fair 2017 on August 17, 18 and 19 at BTEC on the ITVET Compound in Belize City. The first edition of the Talent Fair held in Belize City registered over 300 attendees with various skillsets across industries. BELTRAIDE looks forward to providing additional support to match talent capacity with existing and future investments in Belize across the various priority sectors for investment. Manatee found dead Dead female manatee found with visible boat marks, swollen vaginal opening and lactating. Don't believe it's the one we are looking for and sadly there could be a very young orphan calf in the area. Now we are searching for an injured mother and her calf and a young orphan calf in the Vista Del Mar area. Birdfair 2017 Channel 7 Death Was Lurking At Home For Belize City Man There were 3 murders over the weekend, but we start first with the Belize City shooting of 24 year-old Tyron Thompson, aka "Fish". It happened at around 9:30 last night on his home on Neal's Penn Road Extension. Reports to are that he was only just arriving home, and shortly after walking up the stairs to his home, someone opened fire him. His family believes that the shooter was lurking in the darkness, waiting for him to come home. He was injured the chest and the leg and first responders rushed him to the KHMH, where the doctors performed emergency surgery. But, he had major organ damage, and he died from internal bleeding at around 2:56 this morning. San Pedro Daylight Downtown Killing Is Due To Turf War The spike in crime on San Pedro continued this weekend, and it claimed the life of 34 year-old Armando Lopez, a native of the Corozal district who had been living on the island for over 10 years. He's the second man to be gunned down and killed in 4 days, and his shooting is the third incident in San Pedro Town in 8 days. It happened yesterday at around 2:40 in the afternoon, in broad daylight, and in the heart of Downtown San Pedro. Lopez was sitting inside the Winner's Spot bar, an area that sees many tourists passing through. Cops Find High Powered Weapon On San Pedro And as part of that island - wide crackdown, the police got a high powered assault rifle off the streets. They found this Ruger .223 Bolt Action Rifle along with 1 magazine, as well as one dozen .223 or 5.56 ammunition, with ten rounds of .45 ammunition, and seven rounds of .380 ammunition. Police detained and charged 18 year old Aureliano Pascual along with a 17 years old female for kept unlicensed firearm, kept ammunition without license, and kept prohibited ammunition. Another Chopping Murder In Stann Creek And the last murder which happened this weekend was as a result of a chopping in the Southern Village of Santa Cruz. Yesterday morning at around 9:00, Independence Police found the body of Salvadoran Juan Jose Ortega in a drain. It appears that he had been chopped in the head and neck, but apart from those details, police currently don't know much about this murder. The Acting Commander of Eastern Division shared what information police have at this time: Man Dies Days after Being Shot By Customs Officer Dwayne Almendarez was shot by a customs officer last week in a violent confrontation in Yo Creek Village last week. He died from his injuries on Saturday. As we first reported six days ago, The Customs Department and the BDF were conducting a joint search on a bus travelling from Santa Cruz to Orange Walk Town along the Yo Creek road. During the search, the passengers on the bus began to argue with the officers, leading to the bus being evacuated. The confrontation continued onto the road and things continued to escalate until one of the officers retaliated, firing several gunshots, four of which hit Dwayne Almendarez. Residents along the Yo Creek Road managed to capture some footage of the altercation, and we've pieced together what we could about the events leading up to shooting... TS Harvey Dissipates, Will Dump Rain On Belize, Yucatan Tropical Storm Harvey had everyone on edge last week. Many people were pretty much preparing for the worst because Friday's weather report had stated that the storm was moving west at 21 miles per hour with maximum winds of 40 miles per hour. So if you were wondering what happened to Harvey, well over the weekend the storm dissipated and it is now only a tropical wave. But don't get happy too fast, this wave will still bring a lot of rain. In fact, the showers started this afternoon and according to Acting Deputy Chief Meteorologist Derrick Rudon, the rains will continue later on tonight and tomorrow morning. Here is Rudon with more on the Tropical wave formerly known as Harvey. Eclipse Was Blighted In Belize By Overcast Skies Today in the US, fans of the solar eclipse were gazing up at the sky by the tens of thousands to see this once in a lifetime celestial event. Those in places like Portland, Oregon and Charleston, South Carolina got the best view: they are in what is called the path of totality, meaning they got to see the total solar eclipse. Well, Belize was way below that point. We got about a third of an eclipse, between 11:30 am and 1:15 pm - and we didn't see any one looking up for it. We did try to get a shot of it but all we saw was Tropical Wave Harvey's dark clouds hovering. The MET Office told us more about it:... Sir Manuel Puts NEAB in Check The bill to decriminalize small quantities of marijuana was taken to the House of Representatives for a first reading on Friday - and the public debate on this hot button has only just begun. NEAB - the National Evangelical association of Belize has weighed in with the most force thus far: they issued a statement saying that the Association and, quote, "it's 250+ represented churches expresses its disagreement with intent and steps of Government to decriminalize marijuana, a move that we are convinced is an incremental step towards legalization." The statement then goes unto say, quote, "As Prime Minister Esquivel stated emphatically to us in private and public meetings, "the Church is the conscience of the nation." Albert Rep On The Weed Issue And while Sir Manuel is on the liberal side of the issue - what about the rest of the UDP? Today we spoke to the Albert Division Area Rep, Tracey Taegar-Panton about her thoughts on the expected passage of the bill, and how it could affect her constituents... Hon. Tracey Taegar-Panton - Min. of State, Trade: "I certainly was, am a member of Cabinet that supported that the amendments be made, I feel that far too many of our young people are marginalized because they get charged for a small quantity of marijuana. A lot of the residents in my division certainly use marijuana as a way of relaxation rather than alcohol. And so, alcohol as you know is legal, and I think that we need to do something to change the dynamics in terms of clogging up our court system for small uses of marijuana." PSU Has a New President The Public Service Union has emerged from a messy internal dispute to elect a new president at its 95th Annual General Meeting held over the weekend in Belmopan. She is Doreth Obermayer Cayetano who beat out Gerald Henry by 7 votes in a close race. Herman Pastor - who chaired the meeting in place of outgoing president Eldred Neal - remains First Vice President, while Jerome Lozano is second Vice President and Fayne Nicascio is Secretary General. "Police Operations Simultaneous Everywhere" At the top of the news, we told about the 3 murders which happened over the weekend. But Police aren't just sitting on their hands. You may have noticed that during the last few days of last week, police had an unusual increase in checkpoints all over the country. That's part of their POSE, or Police Operations Simultaneous Everywhere. Today, the Belmopan Operations Commander apologized for the inconvenience it may have caused you, but assured, that the operations were a success. Here's how he outlined the number of seizures and arrests these operations led to: PM: Taiwan's Millions Not Free Money Much has been made of the 60 million US dollar Memorandum of Understanding which the Taiwanese Foreign Minister Dr. David Lee signed when he was in Belize. And why not? 60 million US is a lot of money - especially in lean times. Observers have suggested all kinds of ways it could be used, but the Prime Minister told us on Friday, don't get too excited, it's part of a continuing budgetary support program which Belize gets every year: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "That is the normal 4 year framework agreement that we have you know. The last one came to an end and so this is the new one. It's not any new money. It's exactly what we've been getting. It's just that as I said the last cycle ended and this is the new cycle." The 60 million US dollars is programmed for four years. Santa Elena Will Get New Roads An over 6 million dollar upgrade project has been signed and now the residents of Santa Elena, Cayo will be able to enjoy new roads. The Works CEO along with Works Minister Rene Montero told us more about the streets that will get immediate attention: Errol Gentle, CEO - Ministry of Works: "This is part of the 4th Road Project being sponsored by the Government of Belize and the Caribbean Development Bank and as you can recall we had 4 different lots or sections of work being done under the 4th road project." Hon. Rene Montero, Minister of Works: "This involves the upgrading of the street, the George Price Highway from Three Flags to the Hawksworth Bridge with sidewalks and electricityâ�� lights in the middle which will enhance and improve the aesthetic view in Santa Elena." A Fire In The Family? A woman's vehicle was set on fire at her Santa Elena home. 21-year-old Andra Acevedo was at her house on Friday the 18th when she picked up on the strong aroma of gasoline at 2:45 in the morning. By the time Acevedo went to check, her $11,000 SUV Mazda Tribute had been set on fire. She saw a man outside but he ran away. Our information is that it may be one of Acevedo's family members who lit her vehicle on fire. CODICADER Delegation Cancelled Because Of Storm When we left you on Friday, over 100 of Belize's student athletes were ready to go to the CODICADER games in Honduras on Sunday. But in a massive disappointment for all, they didn't go after all. The looming threat of Harvey forced the cancellation of their trip. That decision was made on Saturday when Harvey was still a Tropical Storm. It's a major letdown - especially seeing that the storm dissipated without event. But the director of the sports council says he stands by the decision. He told us why today:... Ian Jones, Director of the Belize Sports Council: "The delegation that was to travel on Sunday morning did not go. We had to make a decision and the ultimate decision is that we would cancel that travel. So this year for CODICADER majority of our athletes are no participating. The volleyball, team was already in Honduras so they proceeded to represent us and partake in the CODICADER games." Table Tennis Players Did Well Against Best Youths In World Even though our CODICADER athletes were not able to attend their competition we had two boys from Belize representing us at the 2017 International Table Tennis Federation Junior and Cadet open in El Salvador last week. These boys went up against competitors from all over the world and made it into the second round. In fact one of them came within a few points of earning a bronze medal. We spoke to them when they returned to Belize today: Two weeks ago Taye and Devesh made it to the semifinals at the 2017 U-13 and U11 Table Tennis Championships in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Another Dead Whale In Southern Waters Another whale has died in the waters of Southern Belize. TIDE, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment reports that on Friday the massive 30 foot whale was sighted south of Punta Gorda in the vicinity of Orange Point. They say that the baleen whale was beached and local fishers were trying to dislodge it from shallow water. One of the fishers told TIDE that he saw the whale making an effort to swim out to the deep for at least three hours, but it kept circling back to shore. They note also that blood was coming from the whale's blowhole and one of its fins seemed injured. The Maya Massage Winners Last week we told you about BELTRAIDE and the Spa and Wellness Association's "Maya Spa Experience Brand Competition". Certified massage therapists and their teams were challenged to come up with a Maya themed spa treatment that incorporates all five senses. Each treatment was judged by a panel of Maya culture and spa experts, and today the winners were chosen. We stopped by the award ceremony to speak to the winners, as well organizers about what's next for Belize's very own spa experience... House Meeting Main Business Was For San Ignacio Town Council On Friday we had lots of news form the House Meeting - but not much of the actual business of the house. And that's because there wasn't much to cover. Indeed, at a shade over two hours, it was one of the shortest house meetings in memory. For the government, the main business was a Bill to amend the town councils act to make provision for greater autonomy for funds for capital projects. It's a way to allow the San Ignacio Town Council to raise a private loan for its new town council. But the leader of the opposition was doubtful:... Musa Calls Re-Reg Postponement "Government By Decree" That bill was passed in a single day - the only legislation passed on Friday. But, the PUP's senior member Said Musa was concerned about what was not brought to the house. He's upset with the government for delaying the re-registration exercise to next year in the manner that it did - through an instrument signed by the Governor General. Musa called it Government by decree:... Rt. Hon. Said Musa, PUP - Fort George: "From suggesting and indeed submitting to this honorable house that that thing has to be done over and properly brought to this honorable house if you really want to postpone the holding of the re-registration to 2018. We cannot in a post independent Belize believe we can get away with things like this. It is legislation by decree." Briceno calls For Government to Break Sugar Standoff And also speaking on the adjournment, Opposition Leader John Briceno spoke about the impasse in the Sugar industry. Where ASR/BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association cannot agree on the way forward. Briceno said he had just met with the BSCFA the night before and here's what they told him:... Hon. John Briceno - Leader of the opposition: "Last night I met with the association along with the honorable member from Orange Walk South and during our discussions they made it abundantly clear. They have no intentions of disrupting the 2017/2018 sugarcane season. They want to continue to negotiate with BSI so that they can have an agreement that is going to be fair to both sides; both to BSI and to them as the cane farmers. But then here lies the problem." Channel 5 Ryan Thompson Gunned Down over Misunderstanding Another violent weekend across the country has ended with three murders being reported.� Two men were shot and killed in Belize City and San Pedro on Sunday, while another man [...] Carpenter/Fisherman Murdered in San Pedro On Sunday afternoon, in the heart of San Pedro Town, gunfire erupted inside a bar, just a stone's throw from the Central Park. Thirty-four-year-old Armando Lopez, who was originally from [...] Scott Charles: Were Drugs a Motive for Murder? Four days prior to Lopez's murder, his friend Scott Charles was targeted inside his home in the Bayside neighborhood. Charles heard a knock and when he opened the front door, [...] Broaster Heads to Ambergris for Crime Assessment The gun violence on the island began one week ago in the San Pedrito area of town. On August twelfth, Lloyd Tyndall was shot multiple times to the abdomen and [...] 4 Arrests for Firearms in San Pedro, Corozal Over two hundred rounds of ammunition and six firearms were taken off the streets during operations conducted across the country. A significant amount of those came from San Pedro, for [...] Laborer Hacked to Death Down South, in Santa Cruz There was also a murder in Santa Cruz Village over the weekend.� On Sunday morning, shortly before ten o'clock, Independence police were called out to the roadside community where they [...] Police Strike a POSE over Weekend A countrywide law enforcement operation which began at the stroke of twelve last Wednesday morning has resulted in a number of seizures, including contraband alcohol, illegally harvested seafood, firearms and [...] Salvadoran Shot While Running from Police A Salvadoran national is under police guard at the Western Regional Hospital where he is receiving medical attention for a gunshot wound he sustained on Saturday.� Twenty-four-year-old Juan Jeremias was [...] P.M. Concedes: Vega Land Deals 'Is What It Is' They were first mentioned to Prime Minister Dean Barrow a few weeks ago, at which time he claimed not to have seen them. But one hundred and eighteen leaked documents [...] New Amendments to Laws, Start of Lands Re-Organization And perhaps in acknowledgement of the continued problems in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Prime Minister Dean Barrow brought three bills to the House on Friday for first reading. The [...] What's Going on at Airports Authority? The Belize Airports Authority was featured in a patronage scandal in 2014, when then-Minister in charge Edmond Castro was discovered to have used its funds for work in his Belize [...] Julius Espat Says it's Time for Petrocaribe/BIL/BTB Audit Cayo South Area Representative and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Julius Espat, is anticipating next Monday's meeting of the committee in Belmopan to examine, consider and ultimately report on [...] P.S.U.'s New Garifuna Prez: Belizeans First! Former president of the Public Service Union Eldred Neal has handed over the reins to a Belmopan-based public officer, Doreth Cayetano Obermayer, who was elected over Gerald Henry Junior by [...] Weed Not Decriminalized Yet: Businessman Zane Galvez Busted Even as the Misuse of Drugs Act is in the process of being amended to decriminalize possession of less than ten grams of marijuana, today businessman Zane Galvez was hauled [...] A New Father Jailed for Prohibited Firearm at Store Twenty-one-year-old Dwight Orosco appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer on charges of keeping a prohibited firearm and unlicensed ammunition for a point-twenty-two pen gun and three rounds found next to [...] The Former Tropical Storm Harvey to Cross Belize Tonight The National Meteorological Service is reporting that the remains of what was once Tropical Storm Harvey are expected to reach the coast of Belize or the Yucatan Peninsula early on [...] Where Were You for the Total Solar Eclipse? Most of the United States got a rare opportunity this afternoon when they witnessed a total eclipse of the Sun. While solar eclipses generally occur twice a year, the Moon [...] Unveiling the New Maya Spa Experience Belize's certified massage therapists were busy last week developing their interpretations of a signature Belizean massage, conveying an authentic Maya spa experience. BELTRAIDE and the Belize Spa and Wellness Association [...] James Adderley Puts the Sports in Sports Monday Good evening, I'm James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities�.] CTV3 Hit And Run Victim Passes At The KHMH For several weeks our news-team has been following the tragic incident involving sixteen year old Orange Walk teen, Monique Morey who was victim of a hit and run almost one month ago. Tonight we have very sad news to report as the sixteen year old girl succumbed to her injuries on Saturday morning while in the Intensive Care Unit at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. The incident took place on Monday July 31st at around 5:00 in the morning on San Andres Street in the Union Town area while Morey reportedly made her way home. Reports are that the teenager was later found by a neighbor. Quan Wins Mayoral Candidacy For UDP In Corozal On Sunday the United Democratic Party held a convention to elect a Town Council slate in Corozal Town for the upcoming municipal election scheduled for March 7 2018. As we had reported in a previous newscast, there were two candidates for Mayor including incumbent Councillor Rafael Castillo and Traffic Manager Richard Quan. As we had also reported, despite being a current-serving Councillor, Castillo had a great disadvantage because the Corozal Bay Area Representative Pablo Marin had openly signalled his support for Quan over the young candidate. There were also credible reports that Hilberto Campos supported Quan. This support also meant that the UDP institution was fully behind Quan, and Castillo was fighting an uphill battle. The results of the convention have indicated just that as Quan put a pummelling on Castillo, garnering 1274 votes over Castillo's 375. Belizeans Get To View Partial Solar Eclipse Today millions of American citizens bore witness to a once in a lifetime experience as they had the opportunity to observe the much anticipated solar eclipse, a celestial event in which the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the sun in its entirety or only a portion of it for approximately three hours. It was a historic moment as the last time the US observed a total eclipse was back in 1979. For this eclipse in particular, the longest period where the sun was completely blocked by the moon was scheduled to last approximately two minutes and forty seconds. The path of totality is a relatively thin ribbon, around 70 miles wide, crossing the U.S. from West to East including 14 different states. The first point of contact occurred in Lincoln Beach, Oregon at 9:05 a.m. where its totality began at 10:16 a.m. and then made its way through other destinations all the way up to South Carolina. PM Barrow Says Vega Land Documents Show No Actionable Illegalities For several weeks, the media has been attempting to get some clarity on a cluster of leaked copies of land documents which reveals that the family of former Lands Minister Gaspar Vega has been acquiring large areas of land in various parts of Belize under strange circumstances. What the documents show is that persons purchased parcels of land from the Ministry of Natural Resources, during the time Vega was the Minister, for very low prices. But those land-owners are only temporary as various members of the Vega family then swoop in and acquire them all. The documents show dozens of land becoming the property of the Vega family in the Spanish Creek Area of the Belize and Cayo Districts. But what is strange about the circumstances is that in the same manner the Vega family acquired another cluster of land, just outside Carmelita Village here in the Orange Walk District. So could there be more? Breaking Belize News Senior parliamentarian calls out colleagues After the sitting of the House of Representatives on Friday, 7 News asked senior United Democratic Party (UDP) whip Micheal Finnegan about supposed tensions within his own party. Finnegan was not afraid to say what he thought of his colleagues. Jules Vasquez of 7news [�] " It is what it is," PM Barrow says of land irregularities At Friday's sitting of the House of Representatives, the media got the opportunity to ask Prime Minister Dean Barrow about the controversial Vega- Banos land scheme, which was reported in the wake of several documents leaking to the press. The documents showed a pattern [�] Belize monitoring remnants of Harvey The National Hurricane Center (NHC) continues to monitor the remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey. As of this afternoon, the NHC reports that showers and thunderstorm activity has increased today in association with the remnants of Harvey, but the system still lacks a well-defined center [�] Ministry of Works signs contract for road rehabilitation project in Santa Elena Town A contract was signed today for Lot 5 of the Fourth Road Project, which is rehabilitation works within Santa Elena Town, Cayo District. The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Works and Transport signed the construction contract with Belize Roadway Construction Ltd. in [�] Total solar eclipse happening today Today, the continent of North America will experience a total solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse is when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, lasting for up to about three hours from beginning to end. Total solar eclipses occur [�] Elfreda, your daughters are being humiliated By Valentino Shal: The Political Disempowerment of Women in Belize Political empowerment remains out of the reach of Belizean women but it doesn't have to be. Not with the long history of women's political activism in Belize. Anne S. Macpherson starts the introduction to her book, "From [�] NEMO issues advisory on remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) in collaboration with the National Meteorological Service hereby informs the public that remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to cross over the country tomorrow, Tuesday, August, 22, 2017. There is still a chance for redevelopment before it reaches our [�] Blogs Mechanical Ride's in Corozal Part 2. Usually, the ride's come to Corozal, shortly after the San Juaqin Fiesta event. Once a year, it is alway's assemble at the Civic Center in Corozal. This year it is a little different. Two different place's and two events will happen at the same time. Half of the rides are located in front of the old Social Security office and the other half of the rides are located at the Civic center. This past weekend a number of families came out to enjoy the first weekend of the Mechanical Rides 2017. Kids, that are still on vacation are lucky enough to enjoy the rides this past weekend. It is alway's getting more fun every year as many surprising things they bring for the kids to enjoy right before school opens. So, to all corozalenos come out and bring out your family for an amazing weekend something to do in Corozal kids can enjoy. The Picture's below shows the second half of the rides in front of the old Social Security office: International Sources Spectacular rebirth of Belize's coral reefs threatened by tourism and development Just below the surface of the turquoise sea, coral flutters majestically amid schools of puffed up porcupinefish and fluorescent blue and yellow angelfish. The gangly staghorn and fanning elkhorn corals are thriving in swimming distance of Laughing Bird Caye, a tiny Caribbean sandy islet in southern Belize, thanks to a restoration project that is yielding striking results. More than 90,000 corals grown in sea nurseries have been planted in shallow reefs, increasing coral cover in these southern warm waters by 35%. Marine creatures are reproducing, and about 90% have survived natural and manmade pressures for almost a decade. Hailed as the most impressive coral reef restoration effort in the Caribbean, its success is linked to a grassroots movement uniting fisherman, tour guides, scientists and environmentalists working to conserve the 700-mile Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) - the second largest barrier reef in the world. Belize-National Evangelic Asso. Against Marijuana Legalization The National Evangelic Association of Belize (NEAB) criticized today the draft bill project of the Belizean government to decriminalize the possession of cannabis or marijuana. The fact occurred 72 hours after the Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow would send the Committee on Health and Human Development, the currently criticized draft. In the case of being passed the document, this country would allow to consume or possess marijuana in quantities which not exceed 10 grams or less than a half of an ounce. Similar experiments to decriminalize marijuana in the US failed, remembered the leader of NEAB, Louis Wade. Celebrate All Ethnicities Of Caribbean Lest you think that I jested in Stabroek News a few Mondays ago about the visuals the Caribbean presents when it comes to identity, let me remind you again that Indians and other ethnic/ethno-cultural groups exist in the region. Indians, many of whom are Hindu, make up roughly half the populations of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname. Sadly, since the inception of Carifesta, this has been the reality. The indigenous peoples of the region have been here for thousands of years. And there are significant numbers of them in Belize, Guyana, and Dominica. If Caribbean people ourselves don't know about these other peoples in our midst, how are outsiders meant to know? From One to Another; Don't Just Work for Education, Make Education Work for You Dr. John Lopez - Belize native, United States immigrant, First-Gen student. Ask him about the weather in Belize and he'll answer you with the Weather App. Ask him about the population of the United States and he'll answer you with Google Search. Ask him about the value of education and Dr. John Lopez will answer you with his success story. A featured speaker at the 2017 GlobalMindED Conference, Lopez is a representative, dedicated to the advancement of educational equity and inclusivity, of the higher education and policy sectors. He currently acts as the special assistant to the President and Chief Administrative Officer of Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) and a director of the WICHE branch of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). SARA is intended to promote interstate, postsecondary distance education (online courses) through the voluntary replacement of the current state-by-state system and its subsequent issues with a nationwide reciprocity system. Belize: moratoria per le attivit� petrolifere offshore nella barriera corallina La Barriera corallina del Belize, patrimonio mondiale dell'Unescodal 1996, ospita quasi 1.400 specie e rappresenta una fonte fondamentale di sussistenza per oltre la met� della popolazione del Belize. Nell'ottobre del 2016, una decisione per consentire test sismici per la ricerca del petrolio (airgun) appena a un chilometro di distanza dal sito aveva provocato proteste sia a livello locale che internazionale rispetto all'impatto potenziale sul sito e sui suoi esclusivi ecosistemi. Per questo la Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage, della quale fanno parte anche Wwf e Oceana ha accolto con favore �la decisione del governo del Belize di introdurre una legislazione per stabilire una moratoria permanente sull'attivit� petrolifera offshore all'interno e nelle zone intorno alla barriera corallina del Belize� e sottolinea che si tratta di �Un deciso passo in avanti per il sito patrimonio Unesco e la conservazione marina a livello globale�. Whale shark study assesses population The study's lead author, Jennifer McKinney with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, notes that the study is the first of its kind to demonstrate "both a population assessment and the regional connectivity of whale sharks using a non-invasive method of studying the patterns of its unique spot patterns". McKinney additionally stated, "My colleagues and I have been observing the repeated use and movement between multiple aggregation sites by numerous whale sharks throughout the region, and we are excited to share this information with the public and wider scientific community. "In terms of whale shark studies, I think it's really important to broaden your scale so that is appropriate for the whale shark ecology and this paper really highlights the fact that we have a single population of whale shark in the Western Central Atlantic." Tropical system brings heavy rainfall and high winds to Belize and Honduras Shower and thunderstorm activity increased on Monday in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey and heavy rainfall and gusty winds are likely to spread westward across Honduras, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula during the next couple of days. According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, the system still lacks a well-defined center of circulation but some development is still possible before it reaches the coast of Belize or the Yucatan Peninsula early Tuesday. Videos Hummingbirds Ultra Slow Motion - Amazing Facts, 5.5min. Over 20 amazing Facts about Hummingbirds. Slow motion footage of the hummingbird in Full HD. Great for school nature projects. Watch hummingbirds fly in ULTRA slow motion. Watch the humming bird hover and fly backwards in slow motion. Videos of hummingbird babies (chicks) being fed and much more. Inauguration ceremony for Marion Jones Lighting, 7min. On Tuesday, August 15th, a celebratory atmosphere occupied the Marion Jones Sports Complex, since, for the first time, it came alive in the night time. An inauguration ceremony was held to unveil the new, FIFA-certified lighting system, donated by the Mexican Government via the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation. Film Industry for Belize?, 6min. The Belize Film Commission is making efforts to strengthen independent film pursuits in Belize and to make the country a greater film destination for foreign investors. What does this mean for Belize? Total solar eclipse 2017, min. Watch as the the eclipse crosses the United States. TAS Belize Limited \| IICA Good Agriculture Practice [Documentary], 8min. Agriculture is vital to our country's economy. it provides income to a large sector of the country, and provides foreign exchange to the economy. Greg Norman introduces a private island resort in Belize, 2min. Belize Technology Report (episode 4) New Buildings Ltd, 20min. Produced by Steve ODell. Airing in Belize on PlusTV. Sea horses Ambergris Key in Belize 2017, 1min. The calm before the storm formerly known as Harvey arrives, 1min. The Belize Barrier Reef plays a pivotal role during storms and hurricanes, absorbing a significant amount of the storm waves' energy which limits the damages to coast and shorelines. Oceana the fight to safeguard the heritage of Belize, 30min. Misuse of Drugs Act. potential social Impact ( Marijuana Bill), 55min. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, 19min. Wild fox in Belize, 1/2min. Welcome To The Wyndham Grand Belize, 5min. Belize Aquaculture, 18min. Eclipse in Belize City, plus remnant of Harvey, 1.5min. Sea'sing d Day in Belize - A day with SEAduced by Belize, 3min. Reviewing and re-living our full day adventure with SEAduced by Belize aboard their 58' houseboat, Sea's d Day Dolphins in Turneffe Atoll, Belize, 1min. Group of dolphins during our dive in Turneffe Atoll with belize diving services! Incredible!