Today's Belize News: September 13, 2017

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Today's Belize News: September 13, 2017 #525807 09/13/17 06:00 AM
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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 Elderly lady reported missing in San Pedro Town An elderly woman known only as Mrs. Julia, has been reported missing since Saturday, September 9th. The report was made after a couple of items belonging to her were located near the old dump site south of San Pedro Town. However, she is yet to be found. The report from the San Pedro Police states that on Saturday around 11AM, a Mario Augusto Flores Pe�a visited the station to make the report. According to Pe�a, he found the items behind a residence at the old dump where he goes to feed some dogs every day. He elaborated that the items were a Samsung flip open cell phone, a key, a yellow cap, and a white nylon purse, which he identified to be the belongings of the elderly lady. Pe�a also told authorities that Mrs. Julia lives approximately 100 metres away from where he feeds the dogs, so it was not strange to him to find her items, since the lady usually goes there to bathe and cook, due to the many mosquitoes at her place. 64 Police Officers Trained in Human Trafficking Identification and Referral he Anti-trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Council of Belize in collaboration with the Belize Police Department is conducting a series of training to build the capacity of Police Officers attached to the Domestic Violence Unit and Criminal Investigative Branch. The objectives of the sessions are to provide officers with a clear understanding of human trafficking and its related issues to build the capacity of police officers in victim identification and referral. So far, 64 officers have been trained in one-day workshops held in northern, eastern, and western areas of the country. Ambergris Today Angry Woman By Valerie Woods I am a Belizean woman. Sometimes I'm an angry woman. But: I'm not as angry as I should be watching a policeman manhandle a woman journalist, grabbing her by the waist, dragging her by her breasts and forcing her to the ground. For God sake, stop it. I'm not as angry as I should be watching policemen brutally go after the only woman journalist on the scene and not even a "knack seh" on the large, robust men journalists. I'm not as angry as I should be when a high rank police officer will put on Facebook that he hopes Marisol learns her lesson. A flashback for all those women who had been beaten to their senses and "learnt" their lessons too. No, I'm not as angry as I should be. Local Airlines To Suspend Flights To Caye Caulker For Safety Reasons In a joint press release, both local Belize airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are informing the public of the suspension of all scheduled flights to the island of Caye Caulker effective October 1, 2017. The press release states: "The present state of the runway at the island's airstrip exhibits severe deterioration. As a result, this precautionary measure is necessary to avoid safety and operational challenges beyond acceptable margins for public flight service." Misc Belizean Sources Tropic Air Belize and Maya Island Air suspend Caye Caulker Flights This information has been shared with the Belize Airports Authority and Caye Caulker's Village Council accompanied by a request for urgent renovation of the runway in order to meet the island's approaching tourism high season. Air service will resume to Caye Caulker immediately after completion of necessary renovation works to rehabilitate the island's airstrip. Travelers with itineraries, reservations or tickets to Caye Caulker should contact their respective carrier for information regarding the status of the journey and available alternatives to reach this popular island destination. Re-Opening of the Honorary Consulate of Belize in Chetumal The Government of Belize has officially re-opened the Honorary Consulate of Belize in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The office is headed by the newly appointed Honorary Consul Mr. Luis Montero Maldonado. The re-launch took place in Chetumal on Friday, 8th September 2017 at an event presided over by H.E. Patrick Andrews, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his remarks, C.E.O. Andrews underscored the importance of the re-opening of the Honorary Consulate to serve the needs of Belizean visitors and students who travel to Quintana Roo on a regular basis, as well as to promote cultural, trade, investment, and academic exchanges between Belize and Mexico. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITVET/CET STUDENTS - INTERNATIONAL OZONE DAY Over a dozen students will be receiving scholarships to study Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC). The National Ozone Unit, within the Department of the Environment (DOE), will be hosting an award ceremony on September 13th, 2017 at the Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) Conference Room (Belize City) at 10:00 a.m. Each scholarship is set to cover the cost of tuition for each recipient for the completion of the second year of their RAC programme, and upon graduating, each recipient will receive a basic toolkit for start in the field. The more than dozen scholarship recipients were chosen from 3 designated institutes across the country based on their active partnership with the Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians (ARACT) - ITVET Belize City, ITVET Orange Walk and Cayo Center for Employment Training (CET). The scholarships were distributed among the 3 institutes and recipients were selected based on an application process via these institutes. Statement from Senator Osmany Salas on Queen of the Bay Pageant "This is all I will say about the Queen of the Bay fiasco: It is indicative of the mediocrity, unprofessionalism, complacency, and lack of citizenship that permeates every facet of Belizean society, including our public institutions. Which leads me to the attack by the Police on Marisol Amaya. For all intents and purposes, that was an attack on the press -- the fourth estate -- and it is not unprecedented. That should be a matter of grave concern to all of us. While I was happy to see a statement from the Special Envoy for Women and Children and from the National Women's Commission condemning the "manhandling" of Amaya by the Police, I am very concerned that no statement has come from the Office of the Prime Minister on the matter. Belize Fishing Report, Sept. 3rd - Sept. 10th 2017 Probably one of the best weeks ever for this fishery. Ahead of the hurricane reaching Barbuda and the Dominican the fishing has been out of this world. Storms typically bring good fishing days but a storm of this magnitude coupled with great weather has created a record breaking week. New mural at Hol Chan office Pass by the Hol Chan office and check out the finished mural. It took four and a half days to complete with the staff constantly giving the poor artist additional things to add in, even an additional wall to paint, but the results are amazing. Thanks to Chuy Art, for a job very well done. Mural by Eruterio Carillo of Chuy Arts. Belize Airports Authority to Secure Funding for the Reconstruction of the Caye Caulker Municipal Airport The Belize Airports Authority (BAA) is pleased to announce that it is in the final stages of securing the necessary funding from the Social Security Board (SSB) to begin the reconstruction of the runway at the Caye Caulker Municipal Airport. In 2016, the Belize Airports Authority engaged consultants to conduct feasibility studies for the repairs of the municipal airport in Caye Caulker. Based on the results of the study, the BAA subsequently took the decision to reconstruct the facility in line with the long-term vision of the Authority. Hence, a comprehensive design was commissioned. The design is now complete and contractors have submitted bids for the construction works. The rigorous bid evaluation process is ongoing and expected to be completed on or before September 15, 2017. Governor General Receives Donation of Musical Instruments his morning at the Belize House in Belmopan, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Belize H.E. Mr. Harald Peter Klein made a donation of musical instruments to the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young. The musical instruments which included a clarinet, an oboe, a trumpet and a saxophone will benefit the Governor General's Music in the Schools Programme. The Ambassador was joined by his Honorary Consul Ms. Kay Menzies. Tribute to Belizean Patriots Awards Ceremony 2017 Thursday, September 14, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. at the Bliss Institute for Performing Arts in Belize City THE NCC ISSUES PRESS RELEASE TO APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT TRANSPIRED AT THE TENTH OFFICIAL CEREMONY ON SUNDAY RE: Queen of the Bay On Saturday September 9th, the National Celebrations Commission requested a meeting with the Queen of the Bay Committee to discuss the coronation and the decision of the judges. Only two (2) of the members of the Queen of the Bay Committee showed up which was to be a preliminary meeting before a larger meeting with judges and district coordinators. The Commission found it unfortunate that Miss Moya was disrespectful and uncooperative and left the meeting without convincing the commission that a queen other than the Dangriga Delegate decided upon by the judges on September 2nd, ought to be crowned. After consultation and discussion with the judges, majority of the District Coordinators along with coordinator representatives from Orange Walk, agreed that there was not sufficient proof of the judges' intent to overturn the results of September 2nd. The National Celebrations therefore upheld the decision of September 2nd. Belize Heroes, Patriots and Benefactors Exhibition Launch Join us for the Belize Heroes, Patriots and Benefactors Exhibition Launch, today September 13th, 2016 starting at 9:00 a.m. For large groups please make booking arrangements prior to your visit, exhibit runs through October 17th, 2017 Image may contain: text Rock 4 All: A tribute to Saul Pech Are you ready to Rock??? VACANCIES!!! Corozal ITVET is seeking dynamic individuals to join its team in the following capacities: A manatee calf rescue in Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Yesterday morning started with a message from a local fisherman from Sarteneja about a manatee that had entered his beachtrap�.and a request for help to remove it. The Wildtracks Team loaded the vehicle with equipment and headed for Sarteneja, and the waiting boat. The manatee turned out to be a calf - approximately 9 to 10 months old - so not yet weaned. A search of the area revealed no adult manatee - a calf this size would always be with its mother in the wild. She shows signs of dehydration and has some raspy breathing, but is generally in good shape, and it is hoped that she will make a speedy recovery. The decision was therefore made to bring her back to Wildtracks. Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was established specifically to protect its population of Antillean manatees...but every so often they need a helping hand. The beach traps provide fishermen with one of the most sustainable fishing method, catching fish live so that they can be sorted by size and by-catch thrown back alive. These large, heart shaped traps are also manatee-safe. They do, however, occasionally "catch" a manatee, which may then need help to find the way back out. Road buckles in Corozal That is why it is important that when you build in Corozal, especially along the coast, that you pile drive. In many instances, the roads cave in with just the weight of a delivery truck. Very important note. Channel 7 Murder Witness Killed In OW - Family Says He Was Lured To His Death The Tenth of September long weekend is over - and in its wake, there are two murders and one crazy shooting to report. We start in in Orange Walk Town where the story is about the execution of 21 year-old Gustavo Hernandez. Many in the north believe that he was killed because he was one of the witnesses to the shooting death of 24 year-old Daniel Sosa. You'll remember that explosive case from the end-of-month weekend in July where Sosa was shot in the head inside the vehicle of the prominent UDP, Hilmar Alamilla. Well Hernandez was in the vehicle when it happened, and he would have been called by the prosecution to testify against Alamilla, who's awaiting trial for murder. Hernandez was one of 2 men who gave police statements that Alamilla pulled the trigger on his own friend. But now, he won't testify because on St. George's Caye Day, someone shot Hernandez to death, and his family believes that he was silenced because he knew too much. Police Say There's No Evidential Support For Family's Claims So, while the family has its very strong suspicions, the Orange Walk Police commander isn't so sure that the two cases are connected. He gave a press briefing this afternoon, and said that police have no information to support that: Reporter: "A motive for this murder sir." Sr. Supt. David Chi - OC, Orange Walk Police: "I have a motive but I will not revealed it." Reporter: "Is Hernandez' murder related to the shooting of Daniel Sosa?" Sr. Supt. David Chi - OC, Orange Walk Police: "I have no information on that." Parallel Crowning of Queens And while there are other cases of weekend violence to report, we'll take a detour now, for something completely different. It's the Queen of the Bay - a decades-old beauty pageant that rarely makes headlines. But it is tonight - and that's because of a completely unprecedented event that happened when the new Queen was crowned at the official ceremonies on the Tenth of September. First, though, for some context. One week ago we reported that Stann Creek's Aaliyah Ysaguirre had won the Queen of the Bay Pageant. So she was the Queen Designate who would be installed with the usual pageantry at the official ceremonies on the tenth September - as per tradition. Mass Shooting After J'ouvert The Tenth of September long weekend began in earnest at 4:00 on Saturday morning when hundreds of city residents woke up, put on their rags, and went out into the pre dawn debauchery of j'ouvert. It's a celebration of the carnival spirit, and also a surrender to the reckless abandon of a road march - where anything can happen. But, j'ouvert goers always hope and pray that the "anything" doesn't include gun violence - and to ensure things stay as safe as possible, police are everywhere. But where were they right when they j'ouvert ended and a gunman flashed into a crowd of revelers going home and opened fire? Our colleague Rhonda Crichton was on the scene right after the shooting - and her footage left us asking questions about police readiness:... Army General Concerned About Corozal Explosive Device And while Belize City police are investigating that mass shooting at the J'ouvert, police in Corozal are trying to figure out a sophisticated device which looks to be parts of a remote explosive apparatus. It was found over the weekend, and the BDF Commander, David Jones, says that its existence in Belize a cause for concern. This evening, he granted us an interview via phone to share his views on the discovery of this apparatus which was only missing 2 pieces to become a fully usable explosive. Here's what he had to say: Brig. Gen David Jones - Commander, BDF: "I was informed that a device was found in Corozal. I believe it was on Saturday. One of our officers were given the device from a police officer who subsequently I got it Sunday morning. The device did not have explosives, but it is definitely someone attempting to make a sophisticated improvise explosive device or a more sophisticated bomb which would be the first that we've seen being constructed in Belize." Irma Mashed Up Caribbean, Recovery May Take Years Hurricane Irma is no longer a storm tonight and the remnants of this superstorm are lingering over the southeastern United States. But the effects of this storm will continue to be felt for many years in Caribbean island states where over 30 persons were killed. Countries like Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas, St. Martin, and the British Virgin Islands were thoroughly battered by the storm - and now they are trying to put back the many broken pieces of tier lives, their homes and their communities. In Barbuda, for example, an estimated 90% of the homes were destroyed. We have these interviews from Barbuda courtesy ABS TV:... The Caribbean Development Bank is in the process of providing Emergency Relief Grants of $200,00 US dollars each to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Irma Sat Over Cuba For 48 Hours And while those small island nations were thoroughly battered by the storm, Cuba arguably got it worse than anyone else. The storm sat over the island from 9:00 pm on Friday - when it landed as a Category 5 storm, until it left on Sunday afternoon as a Category three. In those 48 hours, Cuba took a historic pounding. Today we went to the Cuban Embassy where we spoke to the Minister Counselor about the storm, and the recovery:... Orestes Hernandez - Minister Counselor, Cuban Embassy: "We were waiting for Irma maybe in different ways. We were just waiting that she might be, or it might be, crossing to the north of the island but not with that force - it was four and five." Jules Vasquez - Reporter: "And for hours." Orestes Hernandez: "And it took two days, forty-eight hours from the eastern side of Cuba to Matanza's providence, when she turned and go out north. So it took forty-eight hours just blowing everything and destroying most of our provinces. I mean, it affected from the north to the south..." BNTU Scolds PM For Cutting Funding For Senate Hearings In last week Thursday's newscast, we told you about the letter which the Prime Minister wrote to the Clerk of the National Assembly Clerk, informing him that the Government will not be providing any more funding for the Senate Select Committee, if it continues past November. Well, the Belize National Teachers Union - which forced the hearings - has condemned that decision. Their statement says, "The Prime Ministerâ�� has now 'claimed' GOB's inability to continue funding the work of the Senateâ��Committee, beyond November 2017, by citing financial constraints due to the institution of the Integrity Commission and UNCAC. However, we are yet to see work and results coming out of ANY of the two aforementioned entities..." End quote. Barroom Brawl Murder Out West Earlier in the news, we told you about the murder in Orange Walk, and the shooting after the Jouvert, but there was another murder. That one happened in Buena Vista Village in Cayo. Police were called out to that village at around 8:50 p.m. on St. George's Caye Day, where they found the body of 22 year-old Jose Ulysess Sibrian, a Salvadoran villager. Their investigation says that he was socializing at a local bar. He got into an argument with another man, who stabbed him in the left side of the chest. Police are looking for one suspect. City Shooting Leaves Man With Shoulder Injury Reports this weekend on social media and WhatsApp were that there had been all kinds of violence, and mayhem in the city. But really, police say that apart form the j'obvert mass shooting, they only have the report of one other shooting. The Southside commander told us about it today:... Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal - Southside Commander: "There was an incident involving Mr. Darwin Martinez, who was accompanied by one of his relatives who was driving his vehicle and they were on their way from an activity heading to Sibun Street. So at the corner of Ebony and Sibun, that is where shots were fired and Mr. Martinez received injuries to his upper shoulder. He has since been discharged from the hospital and we are in the process of getting statements and carry on with the investigation. Well, from what we have gathered it appears to be a random shooting, targeting pretty much anybody in that area. It wasn't targeted at any rival gang, it was in fact just random shooting that they were doing." Caught With A Gun At Carnival Police also recovered a weapon on Carnival day, right on the route of the carnival, after the parade had started. Vidal told us about it:... Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal: "During that Carnival parade there were several operations going on simultaneously and as a result of that operation one person was found with a pistol and he is expected to be charged this morning, or arraigned before the court this morning." Thirty-two year Darren Dawson, a warehouse clerk at Brodies was charged with kept firearm and ammunition without a License. Southside Commander Makes Startling Suggestions About Predecessor's Law-Abiding Ethics And so while there were no gang related murders over the weekend - the Southside commander says the city remains tense. And he admits that it's because gang rivalries have erupted again. Now, his predecessor, Chester Williams had worked out a gang truce in April, and everything seemed calm - but today, in surprisingly candid and bold remarks, said that if you felt things had cooled down, it was a fooling feeling:... Sr. Sup. Marco Vidal: "Currently the situation in some areas is very tense because the rivalries have erupted and we intend to continue with our operations to ensure that we can nip it in the butt." Jules Vasquez, Reporter: "Would you say it is due to, it is owing to the difference in strategy, a difference in approaches taken by yourself as oppose to the previous commander who was constantly involved and advertising mediation activities, which you have said the state has no mediation to do." Putting the Military On Parade So, at the top of the news we've told you about the controversial 10th Ceremony, two Queen of the Bay designates were crowned. But, while that September ceremony became a sort of public spectacle, there were others which went off smoothly. Those included a Military Parade on Saturday September 9th in Belmopan by the Security Forces under the Ministry of Defense, which was re-activated after a 10-year pause. Today, via phone, the BDF Commander told us that he is happy that it is returning, so that the public can familiarize themselves with the different units within the BDF and the Coast Guard: Keeping the Tenth Alive And while that was the ninth in Belmopan, on the tenth in Belize City it was the official ceremony - which apart from the fight between competing queens, followed a staid script written by Simon Lamb many decades ago:... Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City: "219 years ago, our forefathers stood up to defend our Belizean homeland. Fearful and outnumbered, they stood together unified in defense of freedom. So as we gathered here 219 years later, it is fitting that we should recognize that freedom is never given. Freedom is earned through sweat and sacrifice." Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "It was 219 years ago on September 10th, 1798 that the governor of Yucatan and the Spanish armada retreated from our waters. Their mission a complete failure. In the meantime our victory marked a future with much promise as Belize became a nation in the making." J'ouvert 2017 - Welcome to Mudville And while the Tenth was pretty stiff - the j'ouvert on the morning of the ninth was the opposite. It was as wild and loose as it could be. 7News was out on the city street from before four AM - and Angel Noble got the shots while Wilson Grinage got the mud - here's how it looked:.. Carnival Winners Grateful Of course, j'ouvert was the appetizer for the main course of the carnival road march. There were a total of 7 junior bands and 6 senior bands, but in the end only two could be declared winners. For the seniors, it was Titans and for the juniours, it was Mahogany Masqueraders. We spoke to the bandleaders today:... David Matus, BandLeader - Titans: "Overall it's a great feeling, that like you said for the past 2 years we were not able to place where we think we should have been placed for the past 2 years. But I think 2017 set it all. We were ready and we came down with a real different show this time and I think the band nailed it at the judging point. I think they came with the A game and they took it away. So that was where they workouts paid an important part for us this year. A part from beautiful costumes we had that on lock." How Was The New Route? And what about that new Carnival route? Well, the juniors and senior winners differed on that:.. Notably, the carnival reached the Marion Jones stadium almost an hour later than it used to reach the BTL Park on the old route. Tropic Air and Maya Growl, GOB Responds Today, Tropic Air and Maya Airlines put out a very rare joint press release saying they were suspending all scheduled flights to Caye Caulker effective October 1, 2017. They say that this is following up on request for urgent renovation of the runway to meet the island's approaching tourism high season. Service will resume after rapids are made. Well, by news time the Belize Airports Authority fired off a press release saying help is on the way. The Release says that it is in the final stages of securing funding form the Social Security Board to begin reconstruction of the runway. The project will cost over 7 million dollars and has been in the design state since 2016. Bid are being evaluated and that should be finished by the end of this week. CLOSE WITH TENTH And that's 7news for tonight Thanks for watching, I am INDIRA CRAIG. WE LEAVE YOU TONIGHT WITH HIGHLITE SOF THE TENTH PARADE. Channel 5 Controversy Boils Over; 2 Queens of the Bay Crowned Simultaneously The official Tenth of September celebration was reduced to a mockery of the prestigious Queen of the Bay. It all played out on live television from the Memorial Park where [...] Coordinator Zenaida Moya Sticks to Guns In the aftermath of Sunday morning's national embarrassment, and indeed even before, social media has been blowing up with recriminations between members of the judging panel and other observers. �Persistent [...] Boiton Wants Zenaida Out; ex-Mayor Says No The icing on the cake on Sunday was an announcement of a letter from Emma Boiton, long-time pageant coordinator, who effectively terminated Moya's tenure as coordinator under the authority of [...] Zenaida & Patrick Clash over Right to Name Queen Earlier you heard the members of the National Committee's comments regarding their meeting with Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Patrick Faber on Saturday. Faber has confirmed to News [...] Stann Creek Committee Says Pageant was Unfairly Re-Judged On Saturday afternoon, the Stann Creek District Queen of the Bay Committee held a press conference in Belize City at the Biltmore Plaza. The Committee felt, at least at that [...] NICH Makes Public Apology Now�at news time, the National Celebrations Commission issued a statement apologizing to the various dignitaries present on Sunday, both Esmeralda Cal and Aaliyah Ysaguirre and the people of Belize for [...] Witness in High Profile Murder in Orange Walk is Slain There is a troubling murder to report tonight; a witness in the murder of Daniel Sosa was killed execution style in Orange Walk. Full disclosure in the case against highly [...] Police Say Link to Daniel Sosa Murder is Not Only Angle in Case While we were unable gather officially from police the motive for this latest homicide, the Officer Commanding Orange Walk Police, Superintendent David Chi acknowledges that the murder of a key [...] Murder Accused Targeted Among 6 Shot in Cinderella Plaza Police presence was heavy at major events over the weekend, but that did not avert any violence. Not for Akeem Augustine who was set free of a murder charge on [...] Darwin Martinez Sustains Injuries in Shooting Shortly after ten o'clock on Saturday night, gunshots rang out on Ebony Street, at its intersection with Sibun Street, where passengers inside a vehicle were being targeted by a pair [...] Explosive Found in Corozal Town An explosive device was retrieved in Corozal Town over the weekend when police in that jurisdiction were handed a sophisticated bomb, complete with a remote detonator.� While an actual charge [...] Buena Vista Man Killed after Brawl A Salvadoran national was killed in the Cayo District over the weekend. He was at a bar when another man took his drink and consumed it. A fight ensued outside [...] Body Retrieved This Evening from Macal River San Ignacio Police are on the scene at the moment where a body was found in the Macal River. Sometime after three this afternoon the body of a man was [...] Brodie's Clerk Found Along Carnival Route with Gun Throughout the many festivities on carnival day, the Belize Police Department was working overtime to keep criminals at bay.� Along the parade route officers kept a watchful eye for suspicious [...] Are Police Responsible for Rise in Gang Rivalry? Did the police department intentionally turn a blind eye to certain criminal elements and allowed them to carry on with illicit activity in return for keeping the peace in Belize [...] Airlines to Suspend Flights to Caye Caulker This morning, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air announced that they will suspend all scheduled flights to Caye Caulker effective October first. That's because the runway at the airstrip on [...] Teachers' Union Sends Warning over Senate Committee Last week News Five shared correspondence from Prime Minister Dean Barrow indicating that after the current allocation runs out in November, the Government would not continue to fund the Senate [...] Titans & Mahogany Masqueraders Take Carnival The 2017 Carnival Road March got off without a hitch. Thirteen bands, seven juniors and six seniors battled in various themes and revelry as they took on that two mile [...] Premier League Tops Post-Holiday Sports Monday Good evening, I'm James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities�.] OnlyinBelize campaign September is the perfect time of year to roll out our #OnlyinBelize campaign. Post those unique Belize moments and use our hashtag #onlyinbelize & #news5live. You may see your photo featured on our page and newscast! CTV3 Two Women And One Minor Injured In Traffic Accident Three persons including an 8 year old boy were seriously injured following an accident on Saturday evening in Corozal Town. The accident happened on San Andres Road, right at this junction that leads to the Baeza Layout area between a motorcycle and a vehicle. Corozal Police have released very little information about the incident, but we understand that 26 year old Melanie Requena was driving the motorcycle with two other passengers, 40 year old Claudia Arana Martinez and her 8 year old son. The motorcycle was travelling from San Andres Road into the cutoff when they were reportedly hit from behind by an incoming vehicle. BNTU Threatens PM With Strike Action If Senate Select Committee Is Sabotage The Belize National Teacher's Union has reacted to the Prime Minister's notice letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Eddie Webster, which informs that his Government will no longer provide any more financial support to the work of the Committee. The PM's letter, dated August 3rd, followed a correspondence by Webster, in which he requested $124,202 to cover the cost of the Senate Select Committee's hearings operation through to November 2017. Guatemala Congress Voted To Keep Jimmy Morales Immunity The Guatemalan congress has voted against the lifting of President Jimmy Morales' immunity from prosecution, blockings further legal action against the President as a result of allegations by the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, which is known as CICIG. The head of CICIG, Ivan Velasquez, has made corruption accusations against Morales' campaign. The specific allegation is that about $825,000 in financing for Morales' 2015 Presidential campaign was hidden and that other expenditures had no source of funding. Homemade Bomb Found In Corozal Town Corozal Town is making major news tonight after what seems to be an improvised explosive device was found in a yet to be disclosed area of the town on Saturday evening. Police authorities have disclosed very little, except for giving confirmation that that the device wrapped in a bag was found. From the photos we've seen, the device seems to have been assembled with a number items including a phone, which normally is the trigger. Now, an I.E.D.�found in Corozal Town?? That takes strange and scary to a whole new level for the normally quiet, peaceful municipality. Honorary Council Re-Opens In Chetumal Quintana Roo In December 2016, Jorge Valencia's term as Belize's Honorary Consul to Chetumal came to an abrupt end. His responsibilities included helping tourists with visa application to Belize and assisting Belizeans who travel across the border with tourism and commerce information and who might find themselves in trouble. Since Valencia's contract ended last year, the office of the consulate was nonfunctional and all queries were directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That has since changed with the re-opening of the Honorary Consulate headed by the newly appointed Honorary Consul Mr. Luis Montero Maldonado. LOVE FM Another explosive found raises serious concerns Authorities are seriously concerned over the recent assessment of what has been classified as a remote controlled explosive device. That device, though not fully assembled, was reportedly handed over to Corozal Police sometime late last week. The device was then taken to the Belize Defense Force on Saturday night for analysis. Today, Brigadier General David [�] Eye-Witness to Murder Executed Police in Orange Walk are investigating the fatal shooting of 21 year old Gustavo Hernandez. He was shot early on Saturday, September 10. Hernandez was walking one of his female friends home on San Antonio Road when a masked gunman rode up to him and shot him. He was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital [�] BNTU says No Way to derailment of hearing The Belize National Teachers Union says it will not sit idly by and allow the Senate Select Committee hearings to be derailed before it comes to its natural conclusion. The BNTU is responding to the recent correspondence from the Prime Minister to the Senate Select Committee in which he stated that the Government would be [�] MLA & TAA say the attack against media is a violation of Human Rights The Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA) and the Toledo Alcaldes Association(TAA) are the latest organizations to condemn last week's incident which took place in Orange Walk at a PUP demonstration where journalist Marisol Amaya was man-handled by the police. The release said that the act conducted against Amaya is a violation of Human Rights. Further, the [�] No Flights to Caye Caulker in October Effective October 1, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air will suspend flights to Caye Caulker due to the deterioration of the island's airstrip. A release from the airlines stated that the temporary suspension of the flights have become necessary to avoid safety and operational challenges beyond acceptable margins for public flight service. Further, it stated [�] Not one but Two Queens of the Bay The scandal surrounding the coronation of the 72nd Queen of the Bay continues to garner national attention. Over the weekend, the public saw two young women crowned as the 72nd Queen of the Bay, one recognized by the National September Celebrations Commission and the other, after a revision of the scores, was recognized by the [�] What went wrong with the Judging of the Queen of the Bay? Throughout the course of the weekend, when Love News spoke with Moya on the matter, she has maintained that the subjective score by each judge was not tampered with, and stressed that what affected the final tally was where the appropriate deductions were applied. We asked whether the Committee, since it was conducting a revision, [�] After Queen Drama - Moya receives letter of ejection And while Moya speaks of taking steps to improve the judging system of the Queen of the Bay pageant, there is the matter of her removal as Coordinator of the event. As we have reported, Moya was handed a letter signed by former Coordinator Emma Boiton requesting she remove herself as Boiton would resume the [�] Celebrations left a number of persons injured The September celebrations continued over the weekend in Belize City. While it did not result in any one being killed, it was not for lack of trying as there were several shooting incidents that occurred. The first one occurred shortly after Jouvert, where several persons got shot. This morning the police department held a press [�] Military Parade - a Spectacular Event! On Saturday, September ninth, the first ever Military Parade was held in Belmopan. Correspondent Fem Cruz spoke with Minister of Defense John Saldivar on the new event he said will hopefully become an annual one. Minister of Defense John Saldivar "This is the first of its kind military parade that the Belize Defense Force and [�] The Reporter Editorial The Social Security Board announced this week that it is running out of money! It is losing money at the rate of a million dol- lars a month more or less. ! About half of this million is going to pay a pension to people who have retired and are now drawing monthly sums from their Social Security insurance. This is the fastest growing area of expense because men and women are living longer and more and more pensioners are being added every year. . In Belize there are more than 100,000 people who pay Social Security every week on what they earn. The businesses and enterprises who employ these 100,000 men and women are required by law to deduct this money from their salary and to pay it in to the Social Security Board at the end of each month. Breaking Belize News Body found in Macal River unidentified; post mortem to be conducted According to police reports, a body was found shortly after 2:00 today in the Macal River. The body was retrieved a short distance from the new bridge. Police believe it to be a case of murder as the body was reportedly found with stab wounds and was in a state of decomposition. Governor General receives donation of musical instruments Today, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Belize H.E. Mr. Harald Peter Klein made a donation of musical instruments to the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan City. Body found in Macal River near Trapiche Confirmed reports to BBN indicate that a body was found in the Macal River in the outskirts of Trapiche in Santa Elena Town a short time ago. Chamber of Commerce holds Expo Belize Market Place 2017 The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) today announced the dates of its annual Expo Belize Market Place. This year's Expo will take place on September 16th and 17th from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the ITVET Campus on Freetown Road in Belize City. The Expo will offer BCCI's membership a wonderful opportunity to update the Belizean public on its accomplishments and services. Man dies in fatal traffic accident in Belmopan According to police reports, after midday today, Belmopan police visited the junction of Cemetery Road and East Ring Road in Belmopan, Cayo District where they observed a man in a drain on the right side of the road with head and body injuries. The man was identified as Jose Cucul. BNTU blasts GOB for pulling funding from Senate Special Select Committee The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) issued a bold statement today to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, registering its contempt with a correspondence sent by him to the Senate Special Select Committee. In that correspondence, according to the BNTU, PM Barrow indicated that the government would no longer be able to continue funding the work of the committee beyond November 2017. Maya Leaders and Toledo alcaldes condems use of police force on Marisol Amaya Today, the Maya Leaders Alliance (MLA) and the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA) issued a release condemning the force used by police on KREM News Director, Marisol Amaya. The release says that the Maya leaders and the Toledo Alcaldes hold sacred the belief in human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Belizeans. "No peace under Chester's watch," says Vidal New Commander of Police Eastern Division South, Senior Superintendent Marco Vidal, believes that the era of gang mediation led by former Southside Commander, Chester Williams, did little to effectively stop the violence in Belize City. "If you would go in and speak to the very people who speak about peace, you would see that there was no peace. And there were a number of underlying issues that prevailed in that same period," Vidal said. "Augustine was the target," says police Police have confirmed that Akeem Augustine, the man recently acquitted for the murder of Ardon Belgrave, was the intended target in the post-jouvert shooting on Saturday morning, where six people were injured. Superintendent Hilberto Romero, explained that two men on bicycle approached Augustine while he was traveling with a group on Kelly street in the Cinderella Plaza area. One of the two pulled out a gun and opened fire, injuring the entire group, which included four minors: three male and one female. Latest update on Hurricane Jose The National Hurricane Center (NHC) continues to monitor closely Hurricane Jose that is located in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Jose is currently a category one hurricane and is moving slowly eastward with little change in strength. As of this morning, the center of Hurricane Jose was located near latitude 27.5 North and longitude 68.3 West. Police raid in Ghost town leads to discovery of bullets September 11th, was a day set aside to commemorate the Battle of St. George's Caye. However, instead of resting on their laurels, officers in Belize City conducted a raid of the Mayflower area, also known as Ghost Town. Bella Vista family homeless after September 10th fire A family in the Toledo District is homeless after their home burned to the ground on September 10th. Esmeralda Ical, 19, a house wife of Bella Vista Village, told police that at around 8:30 p.m. she was at her neighbor's house when she noticed that her house was engulfed in flames. Burglars raid Belmopan home over the weekend Burglars in Belmopan made off with over $15,000 in valuables over the weekend. Brodam Santos, 24, told police that between Saturday night and Sunday morning while he was away someone broke into his home in the Lomas Las Flores area of Belmopan. Macaw season concludes The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera) representing Belize's largest parrot species is locally endangered due to poaching and is listed in the Wildlife Protection Act as a species of conservation concern. For Belize, it is estimated that the population are around 200 individuals (Matola & Sho 2002). Nationally, the Chiquibul Forest is the key foraging and breeding habitat for the species. SSB increases online presence The Social Security Board (SSB) is making itself more accessible to Belizeans by increasing it's online presence. This morning the SSB announced the launch of its first social media account via Facebook, and it's online portal, which allows employers greater convenience in making payments. Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales keeps immunity, escapes corruption investigation Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales will keep his immunity from prosecution in an ongoing probe into corruption by his government over unaccounted campaign financing after Guatemala's congress voted overwhelmingly on Monday in Morales' favor. Witness in Daniel Sosa's murder killed over the weekend On Sunday, BBN reported of a man that was shot to the forehead in Orange Walk. Gustavo Hernandez, 22, was found on the San Antonio Road around 5:30 Sunday morning. Belmopan man cut to the throat This morning around 1:10, Belmopan police visited the San Martin Area where they saw a man with a large cut wound to the throat. The man was identified as Concordio Cucul,28. Blogs My Life in Belize August Wrap-Up: Highs, Lows, Books, Shows and Eats August was relatively quiet as things slow down on the Caye and in Belize. Here's my August wrap-up brought to you a bit late - my first full month of being 44. Best trip: This was my only trip this entire month - 3 nights spent at Cayo Frances Farm & Fly on the West Side of Ambergris Caye. There is a full time resident camp manager - but he headed home to Corozal for a one week vacation. I spent three days in the middle of nowhere on Ambergris Caye. It can be done! Best Food Eaten: Sushi Lunch for my birthday at Jyoto Restaurant and Sushi Bar Really REALLY gorgeous sushi for a very reasonable lunch prix fixe price. I need to do this again very very soon. 8 Facts About the Placencia Sidewalk that May Surprise You For most visitors to southern Belize the word "history" is synonymous with the thousand-year-old cities of the ancient Maya. But in the charming village of Placencia there is a historical monument that while hardly ancient, continues to fascinate with every footstep. 1. The Placencia sidewalk started as a personal walkway for a high maintenance bishop! Okay. Maybe Bishop Dunn was a sweet and humble chap but his feet were far more tender than those of the local barefoot fishermen. So, he requested that a concrete walkway be constructed from his house to the nearby Anglican church and school. Little did he know that this need for comfort would be the beginning of the village's first economically vital "road" and later a reason for girls to don heels and wedges for the otherwise arduous trek to the club. International Sources Irma turns Caribbean island paradises into nightmares Strung like beads along the northeast edge of the Caribbean, the Leeward Islands are tiny, remote and beautiful, with azure waters and ocean breezes drawing tourists from around the world. The wild isolation that made St. Barts, St. Martin, Anguilla and the Virgin Islands vacation paradises has turned them into cutoff, chaotic nightmares in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which left 22 people dead, mostly in the Leeward Islands. Looting and lawlessness were reported Saturday by both French and Dutch authorities, who were sending in extra troops to restore order. The Category 5 storm snapped the islands' fragile links to the outside world with a direct hit early Wednesday, pounding their small airports, decapitating cellphone towers, filling harbors with overturned, crushed boats and leaving thousands of tourists and locals desperate to escape. Mexico & Central America's Leading Boutique Resort 2017 Ka'ana Threepeat at World Travel Awards Videos Carnival Road March (September 9, 2017), 4hr. Day three of Carnival mas camps, 6.5min. The final night of mas camps, 6min. Girls reaction to belize trip, 7min. Kaya - Marine Conservation Project in Belize, 1.5min. Volunteer in Latin America and learn about marine conservation in Belize with PADI certification. You will gain an internationally recognised diving qualification and help improve the habitats of marine wildlife. Based on a tiny private island in the Sapodilla Cayes, off the coast of Placencia, this award winning marine conservation project has worked in conjunction with the fisheries department for the past 7 years researching issues affecting the world's second largest coral reef. ZENAIDA MOYA Breaks the Silence, 3hr. Ms. Moya on a televised "Talk Show" tells Ernesto V�squez of Love Fm that she felt that the Honorable Minister acted hostile towards her and felt her safety was compromised when an intoxicated #DPM "talked-down" to her in a closed door meeting recarding his decission to crown Ms. Stann Creek as the Queen of the Bay. Belize delegation discuss the World Festival of Youth and Students 2017, 21min. Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation launch Belize Youth Challenge Program, 21min. Ya'axche Conservation Trust discuss partnership to mitigate human jaguar conflict, 32min. Bert Belize Carnival Safety Tips, 23min. Belize National Carnival Commission, 28min. Grace & You Carnival Wine Shrimp, 19min. Belize National Teachers Union, 35min. US Embassy in Belize Remembering 911, 16min. Freedom of Press, 39min. Parallel Crowning of Queens, 8min. Ep2 Kiteboarding and Snorkeling in Belize - BusyFindingTime, 17min. Our visit to San Pedro, Belize on Ambergris Caye over 4th of July, 2017. Police Check Point Talk Show, 60min.