Bail granted to cop who refused to pay for meal
A Corporal of police attached to the Cayo Police Formation who is being accused of committing an aggravated assault was arraigned before Magistrate Michelle Trapp on Friday, September 29, 2017. He is 39-year-old Steven Parham, a resident of Santa Elena and now interdicted corporal of the Cayo Police Formation.
The allegations against Parham are that while attending training with the Gang Resistance Education and Training he visited the New Asia restaurant in Belize City. He ordered a meal and after finishing, he refused to pay and instead drew his firearm at the owners and employees. He left without paying for his meal.
Stolen item recovered by Belmopan Police
Two men are now in custody, charged for the same crime in Belmopan. Police in the Nation's capital have arrested and charged 26 year old vendor Ronald Bradley and 22 year old Kareem Hoare, both from Mahogany Heights, for the crime of robbery. Both men have been remanded until November 27, 2017.
Chinese businessman and manager of the Wei Li Store from the Maya Mopan area in Belmopan had reported that a pair of men had entered his store on September 27th. One of the robbers took out a firearm and demanded cash. In response and fearing for his life, Wei Kuang handed over cash and an iPhone.
Robbed and killed while buying beef
Police from Dangriga have arrested and charged 2 men for the murder of 46 year-old Luis Antonio Sierra, a butcher from Bullet Tree Village. The criminal charges brought against the accused, 34 year-old Saul Campos and 31 year-old Lyndon Lewis, suggest that they and the family of the murder victim have come to the same conclusion. These 2 men were attempting to rob Luis Sierra, a butcher by profession, but their criminal enterprise went wrong when the gunman fatally wounded him.
Luis Sierra's family told the press that he runs a meat and vegetable shop in his home village, and he regularly delivers his products to his customers from Placencia. They believe that he came across 31 year-old Lyndon Lewis, a resident of the Valley Community, in the Stann Creek District. He allegedly began attempting to entice Sierra with a beef sale,that sounded too good to be real.
Club brawl leaves one dead and three injured
Daniel Anderson, a 28 year-old resident of Belize City, was killed in what looks like a bar brawl in which 3 other people were injured. Anderson, a father of 4, had been accused of 3 murders, but he was acquitted of all 3 and set free. His family does not believe that his death has anything to do with his past.
That incident happened early on Sunday morning, October 1 sometime after 3:30. Anderson was at the Bismark Club, located on Queen Charlotte Street, in the Yarborough Area. He was there with his girlfriend, and they were celebrating the 28th birthday of Alex Underwood, when a series of liquor fueled arguments broke out.
Elderly man killed at Butcher Burns
Blake Norman Lewis, an 18 year-old resident of Hattieville, has been arrested and charged for the murder of 62 year-old Marcel Samuels, a resident from Belize City who made a living as a butcher and a jeweler.
Samuels' family has declined any comments to the press but reports are that he and his wife were walking on the Butcher Burns Road, which is just off the George Price Highway at mile 19. They were heading to his live stock farm, located in the very same Butcher Burns area.
Friend kills friend during a fight
Dorian Sutherland, a 31 year-old father of 2 who's also known by the nickname "Sonny", was shot and killed, allegedly by a friend in an evening fight. The two reportedly had an argument which ended violently.
Sometime at around 5 o'clock on Monday, October 2, Sutherland was reportedly sitting down at the car wash at the corner of La Croix Boulevard and Police Street. He would also earn a living there on the days when he was not working jobs in construction.
Illegal loggers arrested & fined for unlawful possession of forest produce
Pablo Valladarez, a 47-year-old resident of Guinea Grass Village, Orange Walk District,was fined $22,838 for illegal possession of Mahogany yesterday. Police and Forest Department officials intercepted Valladarez, Catalino Copo, Nelson Mosa, and Aurelio Mai, residents of Guinea Grass and Santa Martha villages, hauling illegally harvested Mahogany on the Old Northern Highway, Orange Walk District, on 24th September 2017.
Taximan shot and Scotiabank robbed in Spanish Lookout by same robbers
Oscar Cordon a 62 year old taximan from Belmopan reported to police that he was at the Belmopan bus terminal on Wednesday morning when he was approached by 3 Hispanic men who asked him to take them on a trip. He refused but was forced into his vehicle and later thrown into the trunk of his car and driven to an area near Buena Vista in the Cayo district. There he taken out, tied up and in the process shot on the left hand and left there.
Belize City Council Dragons 2017 Firms' Basketball Champions
The Belize district Basketball Association Firms' Competition came to an end on Friday 29th September, 2017, with the third and final game in the championship series between the Belize City Council Dragons and the Belize Bank Bulldogs at the Swift Hall in Belize City.
This final game was for all the marbles and the two teams had their eyes set on the coveted prize, but in the end it was the Belize City Council Dragons that prevailed over the Belize Bank Bulldogs by the score of 88-86 to walk away with the title.
Belize Athletics Association to hold Annual General Assembly
The Belize Athletics Association will hold its 2017 Annual General Assembly at the Edward P Yorke High School, Princess Margaret Drive, on 21st October, 2017 at 2:00 pm.
All members are required to pay their 2017 annual dues by the 16th October, 2017. All members are asked to please bring along their identification cards.
The highlight of the General Assembly will be the elections of officers for the executive.
Words of Life with Pastor Barry Fraser
In the New Testament letter of James, chapter 2, verse 26, the brother of Jesus writes, "For just as a human body without a spirit is lifeless, so also faith is lifeless if it is unaccompanied by obedience (and works)."
God will not do anything on earth without involving a human being. Therefore anytime we connect with God in prayer concerning His agenda for earth, it gives Him the right to intervene on earth. God gave us His word that we have all dominion on earth and He will not violate it. He is therefore always seeking people on earth to partner with Him to accomplish His vision for earth. That is why the preaching of the gospel was committed to us, and not angels.
Preemptive strike
I took off the month of September due to the national celebrations, but things are heating up again in the realm of Belizean politics, which gives us food for write, so to speak. So let me jump right into it.
The Leader of the Opposition made a bold and calculated move on his inner-party opponents last Saturday 30 September when he set an early date for their national Party convention to elect new or same leadership. The winners will take the PUP into the next General Election and Mr. Brice�o, if successful, seems not to want to go through the whole rigmarole of a challenge to his leadership like the last time too near the big date. Plus he probably is projecting, as many pundits are, that the outcome of the next municipals will most likely end up 60/7 at best for the PUP. But in Belizean politics today, everything is fluid.
AUDREY MATURA-SHEPHARD WROTE: "COME ON FOLKS, WE ARE BEING TAKEN FOR FOOLS."
Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition explains how widespread: "�the entire nation�" The point that we must focus on is the absolute desperation of the PUP. They will do every, and anything to get back in power; perverse. Not because they want to help the People and Country, but because they want to get back at the feeding trough. Too much money is being spent. Like you and I, the PUP see the new, grand Civic Center, the many new, beautiful Sporting Complexes, the very many resurfaced streets, the miles of new paved roads, the new houses for citizens� and they become extremely jealous. Imagine how many baby scholarships Dodo Bird Cordel could have pocketed! Millions (with a capital M) for Musa! Heck, even Ralph would have been tempted to come back!
Us Vs. Them
The AIDS epidemic. Poverty. Job creation. Re-skilling the workforce. A lack of quality education. Belize /Guatemala border resolution. Whose job is it to solve these problems?
We all know the answer: The government duh. How do we know this? Before you start searching for your own answers, the media, believe it or not, have already planted theirs in your mind.
News media set the public agenda every day by telling us what is important to know and how to think about it. When it comes to national challenges such as poverty, unemployment and crime, the media often play a decisive role in defining both the problem and responsibility.
Belmopan Bandits edge out the San Pedro Pirates
The Premier League of Belize Opening Season competition continued over the weekend with 4 games on the schedule.
On Saturday 30th September, 2017, at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town, the defending champions and current leaders in this year's Opening Season the Belmopan Bandits edged out the San Pedro Pirates by the score of 2-1.
The host team San Pedro Pirates was the first onto the scoreboard when Jesse Smith scored his team's only goal of the game in the 45th minute of play to give his team a 1-0 lead.
The San Pedro Pirates took the 1-0 lead well into the second half of the game before the visiting Belmopan Bandits was able to find the goal area. The Belmopan Bandits finally made it onto the scoreboard when Elroy Smith scored the equalising goal in the 72nd minute of play via a penalty kick.
St. Ignatius and St. Martin De Porres boys lead in primary schools basketball competition
The Belize City Primary Schools Basketball competition opened on Monday 25th September, 2017, at the Gateway Youth Centre in Belize City.
There are 12 schools competing in the Boys' competition and 3 schools in the Girls' competition. The schools in the girls' competition are Central Christian School, Muslim Community School and St. Joseph Primary School. Meanwhile, the schools in the boys' competition are St. Ignatius School, Belize Elementary School, Queen Square Anglican School, Muslim Community School, Central Christian School, Wesley Upper School, St. Martin De Porres School, St. Joseph Primary School, St. John Vianney School, Bethel Primary School and Ephesus SDA School.
Stars Academy wins big in Peace Cup competition
The Conscious Youth Development Programme 2017 Peace Cup Football competition continued at the MCC Grounds over the last weekend with a number of games on the schedule.
On Saturday 30th September, in the first game of the day, King's Park Strikers defeated the BDF Warriors by the score of 4-0.
The goals for the King's Park Strikers were scored by Travis Eiley, Chris Flores, Jose Martinez and Julius Allen.
In the second game of the day, Stars Academy blasted 3rd World by the score of 11-3. The goals for Stars Academy were scored by Shemar Thompson (2), Stephan Diego (2), Harold Thompson, Djean Thompson, Sergio Luna, Charles Canton and Dennis Zuniga.
National Track and Field Championship set for October
The Belize Athletics Association invites all athletes and track enthusiasts once again to be a part of a National Track and Field Championship event. The event will take place at the Marion Jones Sports Complex on October 7-8, 2017.
All athletes 16 years and older can participate in the events.
Registration forms can be obtained from and returned back to the Belize Athletics Association via email [email protected] or from their Facebook page (Belize Athletics Association) or at the Marion Jones Sports Complex.
The registration fee to participate in the National Track and Field championship is $10.00.
The events will include: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump, Javelin, Shot Put and Discus.
Sandhill Blue Hawks and Lucky Strike are co-leaders in Leal's Football Cup tournament
The 2017 Leal's Football Cup Tournament continued last Sunday 1st October out in Sanhill with four games on the schedule.
In the first game played, Sandhill Blue Hawks defeated Ladyville FC by the score of 2-1. The goals for Sandhill Ble Hawks were scored by Charles Canton and Arthur Leslie while the goal for Ladyville FC was scored by Andrew Estell.
In game two, Lucky Strike blanked the Sandhill Scorpions by the score of 1-0. The goal for Lucky Strike was scored by Travis Heredia.
The Reporter
Belize's drug treatment court still in pilot phase?
The disproportionate number of inmates on remand awaiting trial at the Kolbe Foundation Prison at Hattieville prompted Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin to join with the national Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC) to explore and recommend the establishment of a Drug Treatment Court for Belize. The […]
Belize wins 2nd Mundo Maya Pok-Ta-Pok World Cup
Belize may not have qualified to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, but the Belize "Ek Balam" team of young men from Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk have won the second Munda Maya World Cup championship, for Pok-ta-pok, the traditional Maya ball game. Didier Novelo, Franz Novelo, Eric Cal, Josue […]
Belize Up Front
After a five week break from writing, it's great to be back. The reason for the partial break is because of my mini vacation in Belize, which ended up being an extended one. Eight days into my arrival at home, I had the unfortunate experience of getting my backpack stolen. […]
Get rid of the GSU, Briceno promises if PUP wins
The Gang Suppression Unit (GSU), known for its rigid, no-nonsense stance on gang activity and street crime, will cease to exist if the People’s United Party (PUP) becomes the next government. PUP Leader, John Briceno, told the media on Saturday that the GSU, whose functions […]
Brazen heist at Scotia Bank Spanish lookout branch
Three brazen gunmen are on the run from San Ignacio police with an undisclosed amount of cash after they successfully breached security protocols at the Scotia Bank branch in Spanish Lookout, Cayo on Wednesday morning. But even before the brazen heist was committed, the thieves […]
Canadian man killed in front of wife and kids
A Canadian national living in Chula Vista, Corozal was viciously murdered in front of his wife and three children on Wednesday night. Just after 10:30 p.m., that day, Canadian contractor, Gabriel Buchina, 38, and his wife, 27-year-old Jeshanah Zetina, along with their children, were returning […]
One dead, one wounded in broad-day San Pedro shooting
San Pedro police are investigating a mid-afternoon shooting which claimed the life of a teenager and caused injuries to another man. Police have two people, including a minor, detained in connection with the murder/shooting. Around 11:30 a.m. on October 3rd, multiple shots rang out in the Boca […]
Belize City man shot to the face at close range
A father of two children is dead after he was fatally shot once to his face on Monday evening following a confrontation with another man in the La Croix Boulevard area of Belize City. Just after 5:00 p.m., on October 1st, Dorian “Sonny” Sutherland, 31, was socializing […]
PM extends Senate inquiry deadline beyond November - Chamber of Commerce agrees
The social partners were not in agreement when Chairman of Senate Special Select Committee, Senator Aldo Salazar, first indicated that the Committee's work would soon be done, and that the government of Belize had spent enough time and money over the past eight months on […]
U.S. CARSI gives $1.75 Million in ESF grants to 5 organizations
Five organizations in Belize have received a total of $1.75 Million in grants from the United Staates' Cemtral American Region Security Initiative (CARSI), through its Economic Support Funds (ESF) program. Charge de Affaires Adrienne Galanek signed over the grants to representatives of each organization at […]
The Billion-Dollar Question: How to fill Belize's SME Credit Gap? Part 4
Last week's "The Business Perspective" looked at asset-based financing (ABF)'s ability to help address the access-to-credit constraint that we have been discussing for the past four weeks, especially as it pertains to the potential usefulness of movable assets and establishment of a secured transaction registry as measures to help narrow […]
Drug stores now required to have MoH certification
Pharmacies, pharmaceutical importers and wholesalers are now required to have certification from the Ministry of Health, as of November 1, in order to operate legally in Belize. The new rule became necessary to follow after the Ministry discovered two months ago that pharmaceutical products were […]
Editorial
The idea of Party Leader John Brice�o to call a snap convention of the PUP later this year is a good one. The next general elections are going to be of the greatest importance to the future of democracy and development in Belize and indeed, the very future of the […]
Doehm discovered dead! Police suspect Suicide
Thursday morning was not business as usual for a Princess Hotel housekeeping employee who entered a room on the fifth floor sometime after 11:00 a.m., to do her normal chores and stumbled upon the occupant – a man – dead. The news quickly spread, after […]
Fire guts Turtle Inn Resort in Placencia
A fire which tore through the Turtle Inn Resort in Placencia on Thursday evening was contained by fire personnel and volunteers, but not before it completely wiped out the establishment’s office, winery, and kitchen area. Initial findings by police suggest that at 2:30 p.m., five […]
Villager and homeless man murdered
Police have launched two separate murder investigations after two bodies were found in different municipalities on Thursday morning, starting with a body found floating in the Belize River near the Banana Bank Lodge in Cayo and another in the San Cas plaza in Belize City. […]
Pink eye infections almost double in one week!
The number of pink eye cases in Belize has almost doubled in a matter of only one week, and now stands at well over 5,000 cases, with the Belize district accounting for more than half that figure! A check with the Ministry of Health on […]
100 strong protest 'Gas Pain'
The “gas pain” issue which motorists have been complaining about for the past several months became centre stage on Wednesday morning, when about 100 spirited protesters, bearing placards and Belizean flags, joined the Belize Leaders for Social Justice and social activist, Raymond Rivers, for a […]
Amandala
Cops say David Doehm, 59, committed suicide
David Doehm, 59, an American businessman of San Pedro who was out on a bail of $10,000 granted by the Supreme Court for a charge of cruelty to a child for the death of his step-daughter Fay Lin Cannon (who was found dead in the home of Doehm and his wife, Anke Doehm, in San Pedro on July 6), was found dead in a hotel room in the Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City at about 12:30 this afternoon.
The hotel's cleaners who went into the room found the body.
Police reported that Doehm was lying on the bed with a bag covering his head, and that a tube connected the bag covering his head to a small nitrogen tank.
Mike Garbutt, 60, found dead at San Cas Plaza
Michael Garbutt, 60, a homeless man who often could be seen around San Cas Plaza and the surrounding area, was found murdered this morning about 2 o'clock. He was found lying face-down on the concrete in the San Cas Plaza in front of the American Airlines office. He had been stabbed in the chest, there was a huge gash on his head - likely the result of a forceful hit, and his jaw was broken.
Mike, as he was popularly known, was wearing a pair of long blue jeans pants and a brown T-shirt. The security guard at the plaza, while conducting regular checks, found him lying on the concrete. Police were called and Mike was taken to the morgue of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Pink eye cases double 2016 count: almost 8,000 cases reported
Teachers, students and workers have been coming down with conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pink eye", in an unprecedented wave that seems to be striking like a plague across households in Belize. Latest reports from the Ministry of Health indicate that over the past four weeks, a total of 5,434 pink eye cases have been documented, bringing the total for the first 40 weeks of the year to 7,720.
Notably, this is more than double the amount of cases reported for all of 2016, at 3,302. Over the past four years, the average amount of cases per year has been less than 3,000. Of note is that last week alone, 3,288 cases were recorded, exceeding the amount of pink eye cases reported for any given year since 2013.
Protesters chant - the price of fuel gone too high!
Inclement weather did not deter about 100 spirited citizens from gathering at the BTL Constitution Park on Cemetery Road this morning to participate in a protest against the government's taxation which has sent the cost of fuel to new highs over the last few weeks.
Shortly after 10:00 this morning they began congregating at the nearby Puma Gas Station that lies across the street from the park.
A number of prominent Belizean leaders joined the protest, which was organized by community activist Moses Sulph.
The Senate's 35th sitting; Director of Immigration, Diana Locke, appears again
On Wednesday the Senate Select Committee held its 35th sitting to investigate the findings of the special audit on the Immigration Department. The Director of Immigration, Diana Locke, who was called again to testify, has now made a total of four appearances before the committee.
Immediately after Locke took the oath, Senator Elena Smith directed her to the issue of taxi drivers who, like UDP Ministers and UDP officials and some Immigration officers, were "hustling" at the Immigration Department. When asked if persons at the Immigration Department may have facilitated the taxi drivers in a hustling ring, Locke vehemently denied that notion. Here is a portion of that exchange:
BNTU documentary on 11-day protest
One year ago the Belize National Teachers' Union (BNTU), went on a monumental eleven-day strike to get the Government of Belize to adopt good governance measures. Those good governance measures include, but are not limited to, the reactivation of the Integrity Commission, the appointment of the 13th Senator, and the signing of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
The BNTU, without the help of its sister unions in the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), forced the administration of Prime Minister Dean Barrow to heed its call. To mark their historic achievement, the BNTU released a documentary on the protest.
"In the Paint" - Interoffice Basketball
The Belize Bank Bulldogs will go down in Interoffice Basketball history as one of the greatest teams ever to play in the tournament, advancing to four straight finals and knocking on the doorsteps of winning three championships in a row. But for all their team culture and accomplishments, the Belize City Council Dragons were determined as well, to break-through and bring home the coveted championship.
Last Friday night, before an elated crowd at the Swift Hall Auditorium, the Dragons' faithful could not wait for the final buzzer, as they applied the last touch of polish on a thrilling season by surging past the Bulldogs late in the fourth quarter, to capture the 2017 Interoffice championship by the final score of 88-86 in a final and decisive game 3.
Some background before Hogan's flashback
We promised to share some of our discussion with visiting Belizean from Los Angeles, USA, Charles Hogan, who has dedicated himself over the past thirty-five years to organizing and managing a team of Belizean players, the L.A. Warriors, to participate in the L.A. Municipal Competition, as well as regular annual hosting of, or visits to, other Belizean teams in Chicago and New York. But we thought it was important to give some background first.
As can be seen from the accompanying picture of the 1980 L.A. Warriors provided by Hogan, there was an interesting mix of veterans and younger players on these teams. We can identify a few stars of the 1970s MCC on this picture, namely goalie, the late Rupert "Canalete" Anderson (lying down in front) and Rudolph "Peru" Olivera (4th from left in back row) of the 1976-77 White Label champions of Belize City; and "Mundo" Myvett (2nd from left in front row) of 1971 Spurs fame. Charles Hogan, who never played 1st Division football in Belize before migrating to the States in 1973, is kneeling in the front row, second from right.
Leal's Football Cup 2017 Week 7 update
The Leal's Football Cup 2017 Tournament continued on Sunday, October 1, with 4 games played in Week 7 of the tournament at the Sandhill Football Field.
In game 1 on Sunday, Sandhill Blue Hawks dropped Ladyville FC, 2-1, with a goal each from Charles Canton and Arthur Leslie; while Andrew Estell scored for Ladyville FC. Game 2 saw Lucky Strike clipping Sandhill Scorpions, 1-nil, on a goal by Travis Heredia. In game 3, it was HVYSC with the 3-1 win over Burrell Boom, courtesy of a goal each from Curtis Young, Jadon McGregor and Michael Myvette; while Burrell Boom's only goal was by Dennis Munoz. And in game 4, Maskall Strikers bombed Sandhill New Site Warriors, 4-0, with a goal apiece from Damian Castro, Alfred Garnett, Darwin Vigil and Samuel Leslie.
Eagles U-20 Club and other Cayo teams invited to Belize vs Chetumal basketball games in Chetumal
The Eagles U-20 Basketball Club, along with Western Queens female team - who are the back-to-back champs of the BECOL Basketball 2016 and 2017 seasons, Benque Riders male team, and Aubrey Eagles U-15 male team have been invited by the Manatees de Chetumal Basketball Club to take part in Belize vs Chetumal games on Saturday, October 14, in Chetumal, beginning at 4:00 p.m. Belize Time at the Nohoch Sukun Gymnasium.
The Eagles would like to thank our sponsors - Atlantic Bank Limited; Atlantic Insurance Company Limited; Cayo Steel Works Limited; B.E.L.; Medina's Construction Company Limited; Mr. John Searle, Global Travel Services; Ms. Witty, Quick Stop Personal Finance; Ms. Dora Gonzalez, Tropic Air; Public Utilities Commission; The Wash; National Sports Council; and Wellworth Store.
Editorial: God bless the teachers
This Tuesday the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) marked the first anniversary of their epic 11-day strike which brought Prime Minister Dean Barrow's United Democratic Party (UDP) government to its knees last year.
The BNTU leadership had made a visionary decision some months ago to commission the making of a video documentary of the strike, and they introduced that documentary to their general body of teachers, the media, and invited guests at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel on Tuesday.
Because of the BNTU's October 2016 strike, Belize is in a better place politically than we are financially. After 36 years of independence, many Belizeans now understand our system of governance to be merely cosmetic insofar as our pretensions to democracy are concerned. The political party which wins general elections, and whose Party Leader becomes Prime Minister, proceeds to enjoy five years of virtual monarchy.
From the Publisher
Most of us human beings, especially in this Western, capitalist world, spend a lot of time dreaming about money. We would like to own lots and lots of money, in order to buy anything and everything we want for ourselves and our loved ones. There is another aspect to money: money is power, in both personal relationships and public power struggles.
There are a few human beings who actually live out their fantasy. Take Bill Gates, for example. He has acquired so much money that it is totally impossible for him to spend all of it, no matter how long he lives, so he has built philanthropic institutions in order to give away as much of his money as he can.
We native Belizeans are mostly descended from African slaves brought to the settlement of Belize in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and from refugees fleeing the Caste War of the Yucatan who arrived in the Belize settlement in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
Pay the JP
It's a wonder, this insistence that JPs work for free. You'd think by now that our leaders would have allowed a token their way, a $2 or $5 per transaction say. These government people actually get angry (or feign so) when some JPs get shady.
One JP told me that they were very circumspect about whom they signed for, so they weren't swamped with their JP duties. But they saw JPs about who were carrying on full time jobs. The JP told me that people asked for services mostly for passport (immigration), and for lands business. They said that on rare occasions a person would push a little chum in their direction after they had signed.
Belize up front
After a five-week break from writing, it's great to be back. The reason for the partial break is because of my mini vacation in Belize, which ended up being an extended one. Eight days into my arrival at home, I had the unfortunate experience of getting my backpack stolen. It was by far the most important piece of luggage I had since it contained all my cash, travel documents, my work ID, various other ID that I need for work, my laptop with all my information that I have accumulated from the days of working in the oil & gas industry and every newspaper article I have written. The sad part, that of all the places I expected this to happen, Belize City being the top of the list, PG was the last place I expected it to happen.
A telling omission!
The largest mass shooting/murders in US history is not this recent Las
Vegas Sunday event, in which 58 people plus the white killer, who was
said to commit suicide, died. Again, this kind of inaccurate reporting
is to be expected from an essentially white, ignorant and racist
media.
The largest were the following:-
The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890 in which at least 150 American
Indians were killed.
Right to the Point: The violence we have come to accept
The new generations we have living amongst us seem more sensitized to accepting violence around them. While growing up our parents protected us from viewing violence and allowed us to enjoy our years of innocence. We were so shielded that if we were looking at a movie and some scene of the slightest violence like a fight was shown they would either change the channel or have us cover our eyes until that portion passed. I remember when the movie "Carrie" was showing, they said it was X-rated because of the violence and contents and refused to allow us to see it. Of course when I got older and saw the movie, I really could understand that it contained "violence" because of violence. In analysing the plot, it could have been seen that there was an element of psychological abuse on the girl Carrie, who eventually ended up using her powers to burn down the school with those classmates who bullied her. The ending was violent, I must agree. This is how much they guarded us from becoming desensitised to the violence. I did not get to see that movie until I was mature enough to deal with it.
Edwin Hernan Castillo, 38, convicted of murder, gets life in prison
Edwin Hernan Castillo, 38, may spend the remainder of his life in the Belize Central Prison for the murder of his friend, Javier Ack, 27.
During the Northern Session of the Supreme Court on Tuesday, he appeared before Justice Herbert Lord for sentencing. Lord sentenced him to life in prison and indicated that he must serve 25 years before applying for parole.
Castillo, who has been imprisoned since 2012, still has to serve 19 years and 9 months before he can apply for freedom.
More than 100 murders from January to date
Official data published by the Belize Crime Observatory (BCO) indicates that there have been more than 100 murders in Belize so far this year. The count up to September 27, 2017 was 101, according to the BCO, and since then, at least 3 murders have been reported, bringing the count to 104. (We have yet to get an official tally.)
Although the murder count is slightly down, 2017 is almost on par with 2015. For the year 2016, the second highest murder count on record in Belize was reported at 138, up from 119 the year before.
The year 2017 got off to a very bad start, with murders outpacing the 2016 count for the period January to March, largely due to a spike in March. That month has seen the most murders so far this year, with a tally of 19.
Lyndon Lewis, 46, charged with murder for Luis Sierra's death
Farm owner Lyndon Lewis, 46, of Valley Community, Stann Creek District, has been arrested and charged with murder for the death of Luis Sierra, 46 a butcher and businessman of Bullet Tree Falls, Cayo District, who was shot and killed on his, Lewis', farm.
Police said that Lewis was initially charged with conspiracy to robbery and was taken to the Dangriga Magistrate's Court on Monday, where he was offered bail of $3,000, but he was rearrested as the investigation into Sierra's death continued, and after further investigation, Lewis was then charged with murder.
HRCU rebuts Belize City Council
The Belize City Council appears to be having a serious cash-flow problem that has affected its sanitation workers, whose salaries were not deposited in a timely manner at the Holy Redeemer Credit Union (HRCU). The check should have been deposited in time for the sanitation workers to have received their salaries on Friday, September 29.
When the Council tried to lay the blame at HRCU's door, the credit union fired back with an unusual press release this afternoon, which points to the fact that the check from City Hall was late, as late as today. Mayoral candidate, City Councilor Dion Leslie, told the media today, "The Council did meet our pay last week; I know the majority of the City Council employees have gotten their pay, their pay has been deposited into their account, so I don't what is the issue, whether it be something on our end or something on their [HRCU's] end."
Breaking Belize News
Still no arrest for the murder of Canadian man
Police have not arrested or charged anyone for the murder of Gabriel Bochnia, 38, the [�]
Belize and El Salvador sign memorandum for technical cooperation in the area of security
Belize and El Salvador have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Technical Cooperation in [�]
Mr. Belize Rigo Vellos seeks 6th Body Building Title
The 2017 Belize Body Building and Fitness competition will take place this Saturday, October 7th at the Bliss Center for [�]
GOB: Pump price of regular gasoline to reduce
According to a Government of Belize press release, a new shipment of Regular Gasoline is [�]
Police issues report on Turtle Inn fire
Yesterday afternoon around 2:45, police responded to reports of a fire at Turtle Inn Resort located between [�]
George Coleman missing at sea
issing George Coleman, the caretaker of Tobacco Caye is missing. Friends believe that Coleman is [�]
National Council on Ageing holds conference in Belize City
On Wednesday the world celebrated International Day of Older Persons. In keeping up with global [�]
Belize Bureau of Standards tells enterprises to package their goods properly
On Thursday the Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) held a consultation with producers of prepackaged goods. [�]
Diana Locke returns to Senate hearings
Yesterday, the Senate Select Committee hearings resumed with testimony from current Director of Immigration Diana [�]
New tree species discovered in Belize
A new species of tree has been documented in the forests of southern Belize. Parasenegalia [�]
PM promises lower fuel prices, Briceno not convinced
Amid growing public outcry over the high cost of fuel, Prime Minister Dean Barrow recently [�]
Police seeking escapee Alberto Kuylen
The police is asking the general public to be on the lookout for an escaped [�]
Tasting Chef Omar Pereney's creations at La Palmilla
Some of my fondest memories are set inside a smoky thatch-roofed kitchen, my small, wizened grandmother at her fire hearth concocting some kind of tasty meal for her large family. You never knew who would be sitting at her table, for my cousins were numerous, and her heart generous. From chaya leaves chopped and saut�ed with shallots in cohune oil, to her version of sweet tomato jam spread out on homemade bread, it was always a delicious surprise for us.
Decades later I found myself sitting at one of the most romantic restaurants on Ambergris Caye, enjoying a meal that brought back memories of that small, smoky kitchen. But there was no wizened grandmother at the stove; instead, it was wunderkind Venezuelan Chef Omar Pereney, who at age 21 has accomplished so much more than I have in my 35 years on this earth.
Tropical Storm Nate Moves Off Our Coast
I'm getting quite a few questions this morning about the weather. It's been an incredibly active storm season around the Caribbean thus far and we in Belize have been lucky.
Today, as Tropical Storm Nate skates a few hundred miles off shore, our good fortunes continue.
We still need to monitor the storm websites - the storm season is May 1 to November 30 - and October can be the most active season around Central America.
Take a Culinary Adventure to the Coast
When you stay with us at Ka'ana Resort you get to experience the best of both worlds - ruins and reef. We are excited to announce that our sister property Itz'ana Resort & Residences, located on the coast, is currently accepting reservations and will be officially opening their doors on December 15th, giving Ka'ana guests the opportunity to experience both the jungle and sea all within family!
The journey from Ka'ana to Itz'ana is a stunning scenic drive through the mystical Maya Mountain range along Hummingbird Highway. From Sleeping Giants in the mountain range to culinary adventures throughout, this drive has become a favorite of guests and now will be part of the experience when traveling from Ka'ana to its new sister resort Itz'ana. Here are just a few stops you can check out along the way.
8 Green Ways to Experience Belize in 2018!
As far as Central American countries go, Belize has not always been known as a "must-see" travel destination when compared to our more renowned neighbors, Mexico and Guatemala. Over the last 15 or so years, however, Belize has built a reputation founded on the local determination to protect the rainforests, farms, reefs, and overall ecosystems found within. With the rise in the popularity of ecotourism, and the government protecting 40% of the land for conservation purposes, Belize has positioned itself as a leader in the field.
Your search for an Eco-conscious accommodation destination in Belize will be a short one as many of them are in varying degrees of the phrase. We're not sure if Belizeans consciously try to live green or if respect for nature is inherent within us but it certainly is a prominent attitude. Be it through connecting with indigenous Maya people through education programs or learning about sustainability efforts from guides, Belize's commitment to the environment shines, even as tourism grows.
International Sources
Toronto father of three shot and killed in Belize
A Canadian father of three from Toronto was shot and killed in Corozal, Belize, Wednesday.
Police spokesperson Raphael Martinez said Gabriel Bochnia was shot Wednesday night as he and his wife and their three children were returning to their home in the Chula Vista area of Corozal, 135 km north of Belize City, near Mexico.
Martinez said as Bochnia, 38, got out of his vehicle to open the gate, a man with a rag over his face came from behind the bushes and shot him in the abdomen.
He died of his injuries in hospital.
Martiniez said Bochnia's wife, 27-year-old Jeshanah Maritza Zetina, and the children were not injured and the attacker fled the scene.
Opposition mounts to Jamaican's appointment as judge in Belize
The appointment of a Jamaican to serve as a Court of Appeal Judge in Belize, has been met with ferocious opposition resulting in a row in that commonwealth country.
According to Belizean media reports, the oppositions surrounding Franz Parke's appointment comes from two standpoints - his qualifications and his past.
Reports have surfaced, which suggest that Parke has very limited knowledge of Caribbean law, though he has been an attorney in the US for over two decades.
Critics, including the Belize Opposition People's United Party, have pointed out that the laws in the US and in the Caribbean are very different and argue that Parke does not meet basic requirements to hold the job.
Videos
Reeling in that last one before the sun goes down, 1min. Amigos Del Mar Dive Shop
"Reach the Light" - latest video with Yung Proti-Jay the Traffic Man, 1min. Thanks to the partnership with The Belizean Youth for Road Safety, the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and The Belize Road Safety Initiative! See and share! Your life is important to us! Thanks for tuning in!!!
Turneffe Island Resort, 2min. Adventure on Turnoff Island Resort. Fished everyday with KP who helped me earn my IGFA inshore slam. 16 different species in 5 days of fishing Belize amazing waters.
Dad Shows Us How to Make Garifuna Hudut | MUKBANG | Belizean Culture, 20min. Dad shows us how to make traditional Garifuna Hudut. Afterward we sat and eat the meal.
A conversation with Kendis Gibson about the role of the media, 44min.
Grace & You - Stuffed Jerk Conch w/Coconut Cream Sauce, 19min.
A taste of magic with Rotary Club of Belize Sunrise, 30min.
Belize's First Line of Defence Episode 1, 14min.
Belize's First Line of Defence Episode 2, 19min.
Miss Earth Belize 2017 Eco Beauty Video, 3min. Iris Salguero.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
