Today's Belize News: August 24, 2017

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Today's Belize News: August 24, 2017 #525406 08/24/17 06:23 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 84,392 oregon, spr Marty OP
OP Marty	FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report. Specials and Events Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials The San Pedro Sun Another successful Kids 4 Clean Water summer camp The children of the San Mateo Subdivision in northern Ambergris Caye participated in the annual Kids 4 Clean Water camp from Monday, August 14th to Sunday, August 20th. The annual event features a five day program that serves as a platform to educate residents of the area on the environmental and health issues associated with its water reserves. The camp aims to teach children about water safety, the water cycle, water pollution, and environmental conservation. This year, the program saw dozens of children taking part in the 6th Kids 4 Clean Water Camp. According to Heather Zwicker founder of the program and representative from Belize Community Conservation, the program has been yielding positive results. "The children have become more aware about the health issues around their neighborhood and are practicing what they learn in the camp when it comes to water safety," said Zwicker. She also stated that many of the participants have become more aware of the importance of protecting the environment and are passing on the message to others. PUBLIC ADVISORY #2: Ciguatera Poisoning Detected in Fish Consumers The Ministry of Health would like to alert the public that 2 further cases of suspected Ciguatera poisoning have been identified. Investigations conducted so far reveal that the barracuda fish from the Turneffe Islands area has been the sole carrier of the ciguatoxin or poison. The public is hereby advised that toxic fish does not have any odor or taste and cooking and freezing does not eliminate the toxin. Ambergris Today Belize Guest Country At Afro-Caribbean Festival, Veracruz, Mexico Belize was the guest country at the 21st Afro-Caribbean Festival in Veraruz, Mexico, held from August 10-12, 2017. The event was hosted by the Government of the State of Veracruz, through their Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Veracruzan Institute of Culture. The importance of the festival is to acknowledge Africanism as a part of the Mexican culture. The event was organized by Belize Honorary Consul in Veracruz Ms. Sandra Vasquez. Belize's Ambassador to Mexico H.E. Oliver del Cid, congratulated the Government of Veracruz and the people of Mexico for recognizing African aspect of their culture. According to the Government of Veracruz website, Ambassador del Cid mentioned in his address at the opening ceremony that "culture is not only to sell tourism or take photographs but to respect and recognize the rights of indigenous peoples who in many cases in Latin America are Afro-descendants." Misc Belizean Sources Belize Carnival 2017 ! Schedule of Events Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) visits Chiquibul Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, Mr. Charles K.Y Liu visited Chiquibul today with Commander General Jones and other Embassy representatives. FCD is thankful for the visit. New welcome signs on Caye Caulker The Caye Caulker Village Council hereby notifies the public that the team at Neon Plastics will install the gateway welcome signs on the island this weekend. Signs will be placed by the entranceway to the airstrip and by Sea Side Cabanas. Scaffolding will be erected in both locations and the public should exercise caution in the vicinity of the signs. Installation will begin on Saturday August 26th and end on Monday August 28th 2017. San Pedro High Administration and staff congratulates our top achievers in the 2017 sitting of Csec examinations. 1. Jenessa Sierra - 13 passes ( NEW RECORD). 2. Aliny Ventura - 12 passes. 3. Alliyah Elliott and Chelsea Zetina - 11 passes. 4. Jahson Wright - 9 passes. Jenessa, Alliyah, Aliny and Jahson will also receive the CXC Distinction Award for passing 6 or more subjects with grades 1 or 2 including English and Mathematics. Aother students getting Achievement Awards for passing 6 or more subject with grades 1, 2 and 3 including English and Mathematics include : Chelsea Zetina, Giselle Caliz, Ilyn Camal, Kelsey Chavez, Rosalinda Fuentes, Laisha Gamez, Gian Guerrero, Itzel Kotch, Angela Luna, Suemi Moh, Kristy Novelo, Solanie Perez, Eileen Reyes, Marthalicia Vasquez, Alina Ventura, Darvin Gutierrez, Jaqueline Villamil and Branden Wade. The University of Belize (UB) welcomes patriotic members of the diaspora� The University of Belize (UB) is the country's only National University. Many Belizeans who left the country after 1981 may not know much about UB, but they would be happy to know that UB is the legacy of the institutions they fondly remember. Several institutions were amalgamated to form UB, including familiar names such as the University College of Belize and the Belize Technical College. So when they hear about UB, they should consider it their Alma Mater as the familiar days they spent at the compounds on Freetown Road and in West Landivar in Belize City are being repeated today by young and promising Belizeans with bright futures.But some of the same reasons that lead many to seek new shores in the USA are also preventing these young Belizeans from achieving their full potential, and that is financial instability within the home. And though the cost of attending UB is very low compared to other competing institutions in Belize and in Central America, funding initiatives have helped many such as the the three students below and we want you, a responsible and patriotic member of the diaspora to give back, to share in the building of our people. Scholarship Alert! Here's another opportunity just for you! Do you know anybody who is looking to complete a Bachelors degree in the Teaching of Secondary Sciences(Biology or Chemistry)? Then pass on the message. The deadline has been extended. No previous teaching experience is needed. Non Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply!! BTB Scholarship Awards Ceremony Channel 7 Fuel Going Up For Second Time In a Fortnight For the second time in less than two weeks, fuel prices are going up. At midnight, Premium gas, diesel and kerosene will all see a hike in prices. Premium will go up by 50 cents per gallon while diesel will increase by 44 cents. Kerosene is also seeing a sharp increase, going up 59 cents per gallon. Again, these changes will go into effect at midnight so you still have a few hours to go full up your tank. Another City Murder: Body Found Near CISCO The body of a man was found at around 1:30 this afternoon at mile 3 on the George Price Highway. Police have not confirmed the identity as yet but it is a Creole man about 6 feet tall with a braided hair. He only had on boxers. Police say the body wasn't decomposed and it could have been dumped there as recently as 24 hours ago. We were at the scene and the police gave us a brief comment on what appears to be a murder investigation. "What happened that sometime after ten to two police received information of a body as a result they proceeded on the Goerge Price Highway, this is three and three quarter miles about 300 feet inside the area where police observed the body of a male person only wearing his boxers and he had a large cut to his throat. At this moment the area has been processed and the identity of the person we can't establish it as yet noh." Police and Coast Guard Look For Body After Report of Person Thrown Into Sea Tonight, a police and Coast Guard dive team has broken a search off Belize City's Coast and plan to resume tomorrow. That's after a report was made at about 2:00 pm today that someone had been thrown in the sea. According to reports, two men were driving past Rock Park on Princess Margaret Drive when one of the men reported that he saw someone being pushed off a boat not too far out at sea. The boat then sped off. The pair called police who teamed up with the Coast Guard to form a search team including vessels and two divers, plus one civilian who volunteered. Alleged Murderer Escapes An alleged murderer has escaped from police custody. Yesterday police charged 24 year old Jevon Belizaire for the "Murder" of Ryan Thompson - the Pen Road resident who was killed outside his home in Belize City on Sunday night. Belizaire was suppose to be taken to court for arraignment and remand today but this morning at around 5:30, he escaped from the holding cell at the Raccoon Street police station. Police are not discussing how he escaped, but would only share his picture and say tell us that he is wanted tonight. Minister Says San Pedro Crime Receiving Cabinet's Attention Last week, there were two murders in San Pedro town within four days. So far, no arrests have been made, and there are whispers out of Belize's tourism capital, that there could be tourist cancellations because of the spike in crime. The last one - on Sunday - was particularly prominent - it happened right in the downtown area. Today, the area representative told us the killings are drug related:... Reporter "There have been quite a few murders in San Pedro over the past weeks. Do you think this will affect the tourism there?" Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation: "Well it could, but thank God that up until now it hasn't but yes, that had been brought to cabinet already. They are taking serious measures as to make sure that we can combat those illegal guns that are on the street, but all of this is drug related. There is no doubt about that." Hon. Heredia Dodgy on BAA Issue Heredia was not so forthcoming on the situation with the Belize Airports Authority. There are credible and consistent reports of mismanagement of funds at that statutory body which falls under Heredia's ministry. Today when the media asked him about it, first, he said the Prime Minister had already addressed the issue - which he had not, not in any substantial way at least - and then he said some people may or may not be moving on:... Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation: "We had a consultant that had done a job for the Belize Airport Authority about 2-3 years ago and we are now doing strategic changes that will be made. They might be some, 1 or 2 that might have to go. Others that will be coming in. I believe there are 2 that are in already. But at some point also I have the job every year to appoint a new board if I so wish. If I want any of them to remain, that is up to me and that is what I believe that at the end of the year most of them have been serving for 2 years now. So I am sure that there will be some changes in the board also. Probably the general manager, I don't know up to now if he will leave, but there can be that possibility." Government Won't Lower Departure Fees One civil aviation matter which Heredia is much more conversant with is Tropic Air. He flies the airline to and from San Pedro almost every day - so when the airline recently had to suspend three regional flights due to an increase in government's departure taxes - Heredia certainly got an earful. Still, he said it is not something he can fix on his own - since the revenue from those taxes form a major part of government's finances:... Education Minister Faber Tells Parents To Reject Extra Fees School is about to start again and many parents are ensuring that their children have all the supplies needed. But, some government schools are taking advantage of parents and charging them extra on items like supplies and even school fees. It's against the rules and Deputy Prime Minister Faber recently posted don his Facebook page, quote, "This is way past the mark! Stop the fleecing of students and parents! Parents shouldn't tolerate anything like this from schools! Please report to your nearest District Education Center!" Senate Spars Over Town Council's Amendment Bill On Monday, we showed you the main business at last Friday's House Meeting, which was the Town Council's Amendment Bill of 2017. The Government says that it is trying to put the 7 towns on same level of autonomy of the 2 Cities, by giving them greater financial independence to make loans to finance capital projects. It is currently illegal for any Town Council to make commercial borrowings, but there is a need to legitimize it since these municipalities may have the same financial needs as the 2 cities. So, that amendment to standardize things was passed through the House on Friday, with very light debate. But, that debate turned heated when it went on in the Senate today for over 3 and a half hours. Here are a few snippets of those extended presentations: Person Involved In Vega Land Deal Never Knew Their Name Was Used Last night, we gave you a very detailed look into the latest set of leaked documents coming out of the Lands Department. Once again family members of the Vega clan, namely Ignacio German Vega, Karen Vega and Eduardo Vega ended up getting compensated for pre-owned land they got title to, but which the Lands Department ought not to have sold in the first place. And it all follows a similar pattern, the piece of land in question is either already owned or is Government land. The Lands Department supposedly sells these already owned pieces of land to private citizens not named Vega. Sources tell us that these private citizens are usually chosen because their names won't raise any kinds of alarms. The transactions are made out to look as legitimate as possible, and the less known the individual, the better, and if they have no assets or land holdings, these persons are ideal candidates. Cash-y In The Valley Yesterday the Belmopan Police's Quick Response Team, acting on information received, searched a home in Valley of Peace Village where two men reside. Police asked us not to reveal their names, but the QRT found just under $40,000 in unaccounted cash in their home, confirming the tip. It's not a crime, so no arrest was made, but the Income Tax Department was contacted after the bust and have since assessed them for 50% of the total. Jordan Jilted Her Today Jordan Morey appeared in the Magistrate's Court where he was found guilty of obtaining property by deception. According to reports, Crystal Ayala contacted Morey through Facebook last December to negotiate the purchase of a vehicle. According to Ayala's testimony, she agreed to pay Morey $2000 dollars for a Mitsubishi Gallant. When the two met, Ayala alleges that she handed over the money and Morey signed for it under the name, Jason Saldivar. However, Morey never delivered the car to her. Ayala contacted the police as soon as she realized she'd been conned, and the cops managed to track Morey down. Taiwan Money For Chiquibul Today the Taiwanese Embassy announced that it will be making a donation of $10,000 US dollars to the Friends for Conservation and Development to assist in the conservation of the Chiquibul National Park. The money will be used to help manage and protect the Chiquibul Cave System by raising management presence and increasing visibility in threatened areas. This is the third straight year that the Taiwanese Embassy has engaged in work to assist with Chiquibul conservation efforts. BTB Gives Tertiary Scholarships This morning at BTB headquarters four hardworking students were awarded university scholarships to further their education in the areas of tourism and hospitality. Three of them will study right here in Belize, and one of them will be going to study in Mexico. We spoke to two of the students about their new journey. The total value of the scholarships presented this morning is approximately $31,000.00. Who's The Best House Hothead? Yesterday we went into our archives to sort of demonstrate how unusual and virtually unprecedented it was for PUP Cayo South Representative Julius Espat to walk out of the House of Representatives in protest on Friday, and not be followed by his fellow PUP members. And that look back got us thinking about throwing tantrums in the House of Representatives. Espat is famous for them, but Jules Vasquez did a little digging to find out that he's not alone in his house hysterics:... He may be the latter day Mr. Cool and Calm - here we see him walking away from an argument with Luis Wade, but back in the day, the then opposition leader Dean Barrow angrily hurled a cup on the house floor. The Cost Of The Kingpin Designation Last night, we told you about the seismic shift for businessman John Zabaneh, who got the good news that the US Government no longer considers him a drug kingpin who worked for "El Chapo" Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel. That's the end of a very troubling saga of suffering that Zabaneh, his family, and his employees weathered after the US State Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned him with the kingpin designation 5 years ago. And yesterday, with just the stroke of the pen, they ended it. But, for Zabaneh his reputation and his family's business interests are up in ruin, and they have to start from scratch to grow their banana empire to what it was before 2012. He told us via text, yesterday, quote, "They have my whole family down to poverty, no joke." And back in October 2015, it certainly was no joke when they saw the foreshadowing of things to come. A Telethon For The Pallotine Sisters The Pallottine sisters need to raise over 100,000 to demolish their dilapidated convent and you can help by taking part in a telethon. It will be held this Saturday the 26th at the Bliss from 9:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the evening. Now in mid-July we got a tour of the run-down convent. The sisters told us they have to stay in the rooms in the infirmary until they get another place to live. So they are asking the public to donate to this worthy cause. Today the sisters held a press conference to invite everyone out. Great Belize Productions (Channel 5) wins 8 distinctions at the 2016 Caribbean Broadcasting Awards The winners of the awards were announced on Tuesday night in Nassau, Bahamas during the 48th CBU Annual General Assembly. There was a total of 117 entries submitted in 20 categories by television and radio stations from 10 Caribbean countries. The entries were assessed by a three-person judging panel drawn from Barbados, Jamaica, and Grenada. We are very proud to announce that Channel 5 won 4 awards and 4 special mentions in the television category of this year's awards. Here's a list of our 2016 award winning productions. Channel 5 Channel 5 is Toast of Caribbean Television - Multiple CBU Awards! Great Belize Television's Channel Five has once again emerged victorious at the annual Caribbean Broadcasting Awards Competition held on Tuesday night in Nassau, Bahamas.�� As many as eight coveted prizes [...] Murder by Slit Throat Off George Price Highway There are two murders to report tonight and in both cases, the identity of the victims has still not been established. Just before two p.m. today, police were called out [...] Body Missing after Fatal Beating Observed along Barracks Belize City police are investigating what appears to be a murder at sea.� Shortly after one o'clock this afternoon, officers were summoned to an area on Princess Margaret Drive near [...] Police Goof; Accused Killer of Ryan Thompson on the Run An accused killer is tonight on the run from the law after escaping from police custody early this morning.� Twenty-four-year-old Jevon Belizaire was arrested and charged on Tuesday for the [...] Rural South Rep: San Pedro Murders 'Drug-Related' There have been quite a few murders in San Pedro over the past week, including several shootings. Last Wednesday night, Scott Charles was shot multiple times inside his home in [...] Manuel Heredia Junior Supports Decriminalization of Marijuana "for the Little Man" Minister Heredia says that the trafficking and sale of drugs are at the heart of criminal activities on the island, but are there contradictory rules in place? At last Friday's [...] Ignacio Vega Got Back Land in Belmopan from Belize Bank - How? Recently, further revelations were made about the land-grabbing activities of the Vega family during Gaspar Vega's tenure as Minister of Natural Resources. Tonight, News Five can share some documents concerning [...] Premium, Diesel Prices Going Up Again! Get ready for higher gas prices once again. For the second time in eight days, prices are set to rise at midnight tonight for premium gasoline and diesel. Premium rises [...] The Players in Town Council Debate Revealed During Senate Meeting There was minimal resistance from the Opposition at last Friday's meeting of the House of Representatives to the amendment to the Town Councils Act, which allows for greater power of [...] Government Says Due Diligence Was Done and the Rest is Politics The Government side was hard-put to defend the bill, with Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte accusing the opposition of playing politics with the issue. Dr. Carla Barnett pointed out that Government [...] You Can Now Enjoy Your Social Security in the Caribbean It is the sole province of the senate to accede to the ratification of international treaties and conventions signed by Belize in order for them to be ratified. At this [...] Why Re-Registration is Important for N.G.O. Community Prime Minister Dean Barrow was dismissive of statements made by the Senator for Non-Governmental Organizations, Osmany Salas, concerning the importance of re-registration to our national political system. While not engaging [...] Why Did G.O.B. Refuse to Waive Visa Fees for Visiting Blind Chinese Performers? Is the Taiwanese Embassy meddling in the affairs of government?� It's a suspicion that many in the Belize Chinese Association are grappling with tonight, reportedly following a decision by the [...] Airports Authority to be Shaken Up; Minister Says Finances Are Not an Issue Reports have been circulating that the chairman of the Belize Airports Authority resigned. According to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, it may have been based on concerns raised by an ex-employee, [...] Can Hike in the Departure Tax be Reversed? Speaking about the BAA, there have been concerns about the travel tax that was implemented, particularly so for Tropic Air, which had some regional flights that they had to suspend. [...] 4 Students Handed Tourism Board Scholarships Four students from across the country were awarded scholarships today courtesy of the Belize Tourism Board. They are all pursuing degrees in various areas of tourism and the overall value [...] LOVE FM Family is heart-broken over loss of their child Tragedy struck in southern Belize this morning as a 7 year old student of Dangriga Town was knocked down and killed between miles 3 and 4 of the Stann Creek Valley Road. Harry Arzu has the details. Harry Arzu, Love FM: A 7 year old is dead as a result of injuries she sustained from [�] Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lisa Shoman, will not retract statement Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senator, Lisa Shoman in an open letter to the Prime Minister Dean Barrow referred to a recent comment made by the present Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington in regards to the Guatemalan Belize territorial dispute. She said Elrington's statements were "ridiculous" and "wrong". In an interview, Elrington said that [�] BTV Stands in solidarity with Former Foreign Affairs Minister The Belize Territotrial Volunteers, BTV, has expressed support for Lisa Shoman. In a release, Wil Maheia says the BTV stands in solidarity with the former Foreign Affairs Minister for her public comments regarding the quote, "ridiculous statement by current Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington". End of quote. Maheia is calling for the immediate removal of Elrington [�] PUP Senator Valerie Woods says PM is dodging the bullet Lisa Shoman is receiving even more support, this time, from PUP Senator Valarie Woods. Woods also had some choice words for Minister Wilfred Elrington's comments calling it "disgraceful and egregious". PUP Senator Valerie Woods: "It's a very critical situation that we find ourselves in. This is not about Lisa Shoman she herself has stated that [�] Fish Lovers Beware! The latest advisory from the Ministry of Health states that two other cases of suspected Ciguatera or fish poisoning have been identified. Investigations conducted so far reveal that the barracuda fish from the Turneffe Islands area has been the sole carrier of the ciguatoxin or poison. This is concerning because for some, their favorite Belizean [�] UNHCR holds seminar to raise awarenesss on refugees issues The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR held a one day seminar on Refugee Law and Policy with the staff of the Ministry of Human Development and the Refugees Department. UNHCR Protection Officer Kelleen Corrigan said the objective was to work together with the departments to raise awareness on refugee issues and to exchange [�] No Asylum for Refugees in Belize While the Refugee Department continues to work with various counterparts, it has also been looking at many cases, although none have been granted any asylum in the country. Director of the Refugees Department, Maria Marin, explains. Director of the Refugees Department, Maria Marin: "It's a process, first of all we need to ensure that [�] Carnival set to take place on September 9 The new Belize City carnival route has been finalized and as we have reported, it all gets started on Caesar Ridge Road. The march goes onto Central American Boulevard, right into Vernon Street, left into Belchina Bridge into Douglas Jones Street, through Cinderella Plaza, into Kelly Street, it proceeds to Baymen Avenue and then to [�] Belizean culture promoted in Mexico At the the Twenty-First Afro-Caribbean Festival in Veraruz, Mexico, Belize's Ambassador to Mexico Oliver del Cid said quote, "Culture is not only to sell tourism or take photographs but to respect and recognize the rights of indigenous peoples who in many cases in Latin America are Afro-descendants". The festival occurred on August 10 to the [�] Aikman says the present Voting Procedure can determine how you vote Former politician Derek Aikman believes that the vote you cast on election day is not a secret to the politicians. Aikman who is the president of (Belizeans United For Equal Rights at Home and the Diaspora) President of BUFERHD, Derek Aikman: "I think that the time has come when Belizeans must take the scales off [�] Breaking Belize News US warns of heightened violence against travelers in Mexico The U.S. State Department, on Tuesday, updated its travel advisory for visitors to Mexico warning of dangers in areas of the country not included in previous advisories. The State Department's updated advisory now includes, popular Mexican province Quintana Roo, which includes Cancun, Tulum and [�] Premium, diesel and kerosene prices going up tonight Drivers are set to face yet another round of price hikes tonight. Effective at midnight, the prices of premium gasoline, diesel and kerosene are being hiked. Premium is going up by 50 cents, diesel by 44 cents and kerosene by 59 cents. The gallon [�] Police bust Valley of Peace couple with almost $34,000 Belmopan police yesterday busted a couple from Valley of Peace village with $33,995 in unaccounted cash. The couple was busted by the Quick Response Team acting on information received. According to police, the Income Tax department has since become involved in the investigation. There [�] Van set on fire in Rockville Rockville resident, Orin Joseph, 34, reported to police that at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday he and his wife left home to Belize City. Upon their return at 6:00 a.m., however, he noticed that his 1996 blue MPV Mazda van which was parked in front [�] Car stolen in Belize City Melonie Silva, 33, reported to police that between 7:35 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday she parked her vehicle at the corner of Hudson street and Marine Parade boulevard in Belize City.However, when she returned, her red 2013 Kia Sportage was gone. The car is valued [�] Coast Guard searching for man beaten and thrown into sea Officers of the Belize Coast Guard are currently searching the area near the Fisheries Department on Newtown Barracks in Belize City. According to police reports, a man was badly beaten and thrown into the Caribbean sea from a boat about an hour ago. Police [�] Body found near mile 3 on George Price highway Belize City police have just received reports of a body found in the vicinity of mile 3 on the George Price highway. The person was seen with large cut wounds to the neck area, according to police. Details are sketchy at this time but [�] Uncooperative gunshot victim finally talks to police Belize City cops have finally managed to obtain further details about an uncooperative victim who was shot over the weekend.Police have identified him Marquise Conerque, 18. Cops visited Vernon Street around 5:30 Saturday evening where officers saw him with a gunshot wound to his [�] Murder suspect escapes police custody Twenty-four-year-old murder suspect, Jevon Belizaire, is on the run after escaping police custody this morning sometime around 5:30. Belizaire escaped from the Racoon Street police station, where he was being held. "He was allowed to use the restroom, from which he made good [�] Senator Eamon Courtenay calls out San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council At today's Special Sitting of the Senate, Senator Eamon Courtenay referred to a bill presented which will give town councils the authority to create companies through which to borrow money. Courtney alluded that the San Ignacio/ Santa Elena Town council are trying to pay [�] Belize featured as guest country at Afro-Caribbean Festival in Mexico Belize was the guest country at the 21st Afro-Caribbean Festival in Veraruz, Mexico, held from August 10-12, 2017. The event was hosted by the Government of the State of Veracruz, through their Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Veracruzan Institute of Culture. The [�] Two more cases of fish poisoning detected, Ministry of Health issues advisory The Ministry of Health issued an advisory yesterday informing the public that two further cases of suspected Ciguatera poisoning have been identified. Investigations conducted so far reveal that the barracuda fish from the Turneffe Islands area has been the sole carrier of the cigua [�] BDF youth cadet camp concludes The Belize Defense Force Youth Cadet Corps (BDFYCC) held its 11th annual training camp in Independence village, Stann Creek from August 12-19. The aim of the BDFYCC Camp 2017 was to revise and test cadets on all the lessons covered in their syllabus over [�] Belize Network of NGO's records GOB's decision on offshore oil moratorium Yesterday, the Belize Network of Non-Governmental Organizations (BNN) issued a statement stating that it is recording the announced intention of the government to legislate an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil exploration in Belize's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone as a move respectful of [�] Belize City gangsters hide bullets in candy wrapper Criminal elements in Belize City have become more innovative in the concealment of illegal items that fuel their criminal activity.During a search yesterday on Fern Lane, the Police's Southside Strike Team discovered 5 bronze WIN brand .380 auto rounds of ammunition inside a candy [�] Mother worries about her two missing sons Two Belize City children have been reported missing since last Friday and their mother, Kimberly Oshon, fears the worst. One of the missing children is Jaheem Blandford, 16. He is muscular built, measures about 6 feet tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has [�] John Zabaneh removed from US list of Kingpins He was called a Kingpin and his associates were referred to as, "Sinoloa Cartel Operatives in Belize." His business, Mayan King Agro Enterprise, the nation's largest banana producer recorded huge losses because he could not conduct business above the table as banks wanted nothing [�] Cayo basketball association hosts annual youth camp The San Ignacio and Santa Elena Basketball Association, (SSBA) this week continued to hostits annual youth basketball camp at the SHC auditorium and the Santa Elena Sports Complex. The camp currently has over 100 participants, from the twin towns and runs from 8:00 - [�] Queen of the West pageant stirs controversy The Queen of the West pageant was held in San Ignacio town on Saturday, August 12, at the Octavia Waight Center. There were five contestants from Cayo vying for the title. At the end of the night, the judges decided that the new Queen [�] Blogs Did You Get Yours? I Didn't This morning I got a phone call from Belize Telemedia asking if I had received the letter about their new fiber optic internet. The rep. Brianna went onto explain that they had changed the deadline to September 14th - I was thankful, as the previous one was already passed and I hadn't received the letter. I decided to write this for anyone on BTL that may be in the same boat and did not receive an email notification to pick a plan - contact them now. Reason being, if you don't get sorted by the new due date you run the risk of being cut off. I also know those of you daydreaming of living here appreciate knowing costs so you can mentally work out your monthly budget while in planning stages for Living in Belize. TOONE Masehualoon; Ms. Adela Pederson promoting her Mayan Teaching around Belize Yuumbotic to our generous host Mr. Domingo Pott and Kristell Garcia at Radio Turquesa in Corozal Town, Belize. Together we accomplish more. Come out and participate in this unprecedented free event in Orange Walk town on September 2nd, 2017 at 9 am as we celebrate for the first time in the history of Belize a true Maya hero, Marcus Canul. For more information visit their Facebook at TOONE Masehualoon. Guatemala to raise awareness of history and dispute with Belize with 227,000 "army" to take case to ICJ The Government of Guatemala launched an information campaign to raise awareness of the history and the long-standing territorial dispute with Belize, which will involve an "army" of 227,000 teachers, in order to bring the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The plan promoted by the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs seeks to teach four million students on territorial, maritime and island litigation with British colonial, which according to Chancellor Carlos Raul Morales comes from before the Conquest. "It will be a campaign of sensitization, not politics so that the population also knows the subject about Belize before the popular consultation," explained the head of the Guatemalan diplomacy during the launching of the program in the headquarters of the Ministry of Education (Mineduc). International Sources Local resilience succeeding against a global ocean of threats By Nicanor Requena and Leobihildo Tamai. Whether you enter tropical seas as a tourist or a researcher, or to ensure your family's sustenance and sense of place as we do, two divergent trends loom on the horizon. First, our coral reefs provide an astonishingly rich source of biodiversity, protein, jobs and income, and can for generations to come. But second, they face existential threats. As native Belizeans, we know what's at stake. Respected marine scientist Dr. John Bruno just delivered the latest diagnosis following his many summers visiting our backyard. Twice-daily surveys showed him irreversible degradation of the western hemisphere's largest barrier reef. Worldwide, reefs are under siege from sediment, plastic, algae, polluted runoff, hypoxic zones, invasive species, and perhaps most importantly, overfishing. Worse still, a changing global climate has made tropical waters hotter and more acidic, transforming some reefs into bleached and barren coral graveyards. These are urgent and dangerous threats. But there is every reason to be hopeful for a brighter future. Why are we so optimistic? Because in communities across Belize we have witnessed a practical solution that has turned fishermen and fishing communities into stewards of the sea, slowing and reversing overfishing, empowering fishermen and coastal communities, and bringing coral reefs and the sea back to life. U.S. Warns Citizens About Traveling to Cancun US State Department warns its citizens as the deadly violence next door in the state of Quintana Roo increases! The U.S. State Department warned its citizens about traveling to parts of Mexico including Cancun and Playa del Carmen, as homicides rise at resorts popular with American tourists. The advisory issued on Tuesday upgraded the warnings for two states, Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur, saying turf wars between crime gangs have led to a surge in violence . The only warning for Quintana Roo in a December statement was about lack of cellular and Internet service in some areas. Underwater Archaeologists Uncovering Secrets of Sunken Pirate City Port Royal was the English mercantile capital of the New World, and as such, an important and wealthy centre for trade and commerce for the entire West Indies. Known as the 'wickedest city on Earth,' the town was famous for its loose morals, pirates and bullion. On June 7th 1692, Port Royal was destroyed by an earthquake, quicksand and a final crushing blow of a tsunami. Two thirds of the city was wiped out, sending it to the bottom of the sea. "Port Royal is a true sunken city - but not only that, it is a catastrophic site," said Dr. Jon Henderson, an underwater archaeologist at the University of Nottingham, UK. A Timeline of Earth's Average Temperature One of the great illustrated time lines I've seen...simple but the end of course is noteworthy These Caribbean Nations Are Eyeing A Black Gold Future Oil fever exploration seems to be sweeping the Caribbean suddenly with some announcing a black gold or oil future or others announcing plans to drill for the precious commodity. According to Oil Price they are: The Bahamas also recently publicized their plans to invite international companies to drill in deep waters off the coast, pointing not only to Guyana and the Gulf, but also to neighboring Cuba's oil reserves as an indication of what treasures may be laying under the surface of the sparkling Caribbean Sea. And Grenada and Belize are also urging international firms to begin offshore oil exploration in their nations. A Revived Harvey Makes Little to No Impact on Belize The remnants of Tropical Storm Harvey passed by Belize barely noticed yesterday. While the system had redeveloped to become Tropical Depression Harvey by this morning after degenerating last Saturday, it did not pack much of a punch, and a hurricane hunter sent to investigate it earlier today found maximum sustained winds remain near 35 miles per hour. Videos How to avoid Maga Season - Family Budgeting, 33min. Indian Culture, 23min. Public Service Union New President, 31min. Belize Barrier Reef by OCEANA, 2min. "The bedrock of our economy�the lifeline of so many industries. The office�and the playground!" Our Belize Barrier Reef is that and so much MORE to thousands of Belizeans! Listen to her pleas. Stand up, and speak up, because we are in this together! Maya ruins of Belize, 90min. Join me to river boat trip to see the Maya ruins in the Lamanai and then to go to the Chan Chich Resort in the middle of the jungle of Belize, awesome location . CLIFF JUMPING AND CAVE EXPLORING IN BELIZE, 13min. Explored the Nohoch Che'en Caves on the way to San Pedro. It was definitely one of the most amazing things Ive done! Cliff jumping and exploring pitch dark caves was by far the best way to start day 3. University of the West Indies, 40min. Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 24min. Belize, May 2017, 7min. Our trip to Belize in May of 2017. Llegando a Belize city, 2.5min. Primer Dia Belize City 2017. Blue marlin catch and release in Ambergris Caye Belize, 9min. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye in Belize - Golf Cart Drive Through, 1.5min. Belize Diving & Snorkeling Tours - Hamanasi Resort Reef Adventures, 2min. Dive into the brilliant blue waters of the Belize barrier reef! Experience the best diving and snorkeling adventures in Belize with Hamanasi resort's experienced PADI 5-star certified dive team and snorkel guides. Whether you SCUBA Dive or Snorkel, and no matter your skill level we'll help you safely experience amazing adventures in the underwater world of the Belize barrier reef! worlds buffest kid in belize, 15sec. hi my name is randall and i am already fit i just started working out in july and now im stronger than ever you guys can be fit too just never give up thats all i said when i workout never give up and look at me now Belize Trip, 7min. Belize, 4min. Summer 2017. Butts Up ATV Adventure - Belize, 10min. Start to finish of the ATV adventure through the jungle of Belize. This ATV ride was offered through Butts Up Cave Tubing. Lot's of fun. Enjoy! San Pedro, Belize, 2.5min. What it's really like TRAVELLING WITH BOYS + 50 SHADES of GREEN// Belize Travel Vlog - Day 2, 9min.