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
Volleyball tournament officially starts
Organized by The San Pedro Volleyball Association, along with The San Pedro Town Council, a volleyball tournament began on Saturday, October 7th. The tournament opener spanned into Sunday, October 8th, and was held at the Angel Nu�ez Auditorium. Teams from primary schools, high school and male and female senior teams will battle through the end of November for the championship within their division.
The first games kicked off at 1PM on Saturday with the primary school teams taking the pitch first. The male team from San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School (SPRCS) took on the boys from Holy Cross Anglican School. Both teams battled hard, but after two sets, the team from SPRCS emerged victorious, winning 2-0. The player of the match was Salvador Caliz, with a total of eight points.
Protected Nurse Shark intentionally killed in San Pedro
On Sunday, October 8th, Hol Chan Marine Reserve posted pictures of a Nurse Shark found dead on a beach on Ambergris Caye. The sight caused much outrage in the environmental community, as the animal appeared to have been hacked in half. Nurse Sharks are one of two species of sharks that are protected in Belize, and as such any poaching of this animal is illegal.
"The public is reminded that nurse sharks are fully protected under Fisheries Law. It is an offense, it is illegal to kill a Nurse Shark in Belize. Nurse Sharks are one of the main attractions for tourists coming to San Pedro. The animal in these picture was found dead on the beach, and it was clear that someone had cut the tail off. It was intentionally killed," said a Hol Chan representative.
Misc Belizean Sources
Southern point of Ambergris Caye to be developed
Condos like this is being planned to be constructed.
Corozal Water Cleanup
Saturday, October 14 at 8 AM - 12 PM, Rainbow Beach. CJC EAGLEs Environmental Club is keeping busy...we will be joining efforts with our community in helping Mr. Lincoln Eiley in a water cleanup this Saturday, October 14. We appreciate and applaud his initiative in this undertaking to make the sea safer and cleaner for our community.
Los Finados
Los Finados es una tradicion que realizamos para recordar de una manera especial a nuestros familiares y amigos que ya se han adelantado en el camino.
Defiende tu Tradicion!
Los Finados es una tradicion y es nuestra!
Help Dianny Enriquez
Plesas come out an support us!!!! For my last fundraiser then I get to come back home after my last big doctor chek up!!! 0N Saturday October 14 at the basket ball court BBQ ribs-$12 an BBQ chicken-$10 flour tortilla bake beans coleslaw or rice&beans from 11am on till all sold out!!!! We are also taking down orders so u dont need to wait!! Big thanks to you all for ur support!!:)
Splashers!
Rain can't hold us down!! Great Job everyone!! Join us next week at Crazy Canucks Beach Bar! Sign up Belizean Melody Art Gallery!
Faye Lin Cannon Memorial Service this weekend
Faye's Father, David Cannon, invites the Community to attend.
"I would like to invite all of the citizens of San Pedro
to a Memorial Service for my daughter, Faye Lin Cannon.
It will be held on Saturday, October 14th at the Lions Den in San Pedro.
Please feel free to drop by between 11a and 2pm.
There will be food and soft drinks.
There will also be an art project for children and adults who would like to send messages of Love and Hope to my daughters Zoe, Mia and Siri!
Everyone is welcome, I hope to see you there!"
Dave Cannon
Urban Bird Watch in Corozal Town and Sarteneja Village
October 21st
Belize's representation at this year's Central America Travel Market 2017 in El Salvador
Annual Coastal and Riverway Cleanup!
Oceana Belize would like to express a huge "THANK YOU" to our Wavemakers and all the sensational Belizeans from across the country who came out on September 30th, 2017 to participate in the Annual Coastal and River Cleanup as a part of the global initiative: International Coastal Cleanup. Cleanups were carried out throughout various locations in Corozal, Sarteneja, Caye Caulker, Orange Walk, Belize City, Belmopan, Cayo, Placencia, Hopkins, Georgetown, Independence, Golden Stream, Big Falls, and Punta Gorda. Those postponed due to bad weather will be happening in the coming weeks.
Annual Coastal and Riverway Cleanup!
Kudos to the Hopkins community on a job well done for the Annual Coastal and Riverway Cleanup! Participants included: Staff and students of Holy Family RC, Hopkins Police Officers, Police Cadets (Hopkins, and Silk Grass), Staff of Hamanasi Resort, and other volunteer Hopkins residents. Thanks to Hopkins UnCut for these great shots!
Channel 7
Date Set For PUP Nomination Deadline
The PUP's internal politics got a whole lot more interesting yesterday when PUP Deputy Leader Kareem Musa called the press to his office to say that he's considering challenging John Briceno for party leadership at a National Convention on November 26th.
But Musa didn't make a commitment - and didn't even discuss a timeframe for a final decision - because he said he didn't know when the party would set the deadline for nominations.
Well, he knows now - because that deadline was set today at a National Executive meeting. Party Chairman Henry Usher discussed the dates:
Musa Says There May Be More Than One Challenger
So the deadline for nominations and the delegate lists is 4:00 pm on October 27th., which gives Kareem Musa or any other challenger 15 days to decide.
Yesterday, Musa told us that he might not be the only one interested in a challenge:..
Hon. Kareem Musa, PUP Deputy Leader (East):
"But there's no challenger in the ring but yet we're getting these letters signed and a lot of the area reps and standard bearers are calling me and saying you're being pressured to sign unto these letters of endorsement and my suggestion to them is: I understand what you're saying but I'm not in a position this is a huge decision for me and for all my supporters, so I can't just make a rash decision even though it's a very small window that we have to make the decision. I can't make the decision right now so my advice to them was he is over Party leader there is no problem signing onto an endorsement letter at this stage on October 26th or whenever the Rules of Engagement are put in place the ball game changers."
Party Chairman Says Briceno Support Is Unanimous
And while the young Musa refers liberally to a lack of party unity and fractured support for the Party leader, the Chairman says that Briceno has met unanimous support in his travels across the country:...
Henry Usher, Chairman - People's United Party:
"From all of his traveling across the country, the party leader has really reached out countrywide. In fact I've have gone on tours with him to almost every village in the south. We've been to every municipality. We've been to every constituency. We've been meeting with the caucuses and at all of these levels he has had unanimous support wherever he goes."
Reporter:
"Yesterday, I think Mr. Musa also mentioned that there was some division within the party. Could you speak to that?"
Musa: Endorsements Are Not What They Seem
And to hear the Briceno camp tell it, that unanimous support is evident in the voluntary offering of endorsements from the party's regional caucuses.
But, yesterday Musa told us those endorsements are the product of not so subtle coercion:...
Hon. Kareem Musa, PUP Deputy Leader (East):
"And, so, I'm not saying it's going to be me, I'm not going to say any names who have been contacting me in terms of they want to be leaders, but I can tell you it's a high possibility we might get a challenge on October 26th or whenever that deadline is set."
"And more important than any and all of this, Jules, is the fact that I am the one getting the concerns, I am the one hearing the calls and saying this is wrong we need to fix this we don't like this steering committee, we don't like the fact that there no standard bearers in place, there a lot of issues."
Kareem's Cash or Briceno's Betty's?
But, if that ball game changes, so will the cost of doing business. You don't need a Ph.D in political science to know that politics is a money game - and right now Briceno - whose family owns SMART and Centaur Cable - has the cash flow to back up his political ambitions. We asked Musa about it:...
Jules Vasquez, reporter:
"Mr. Briceno is a wealthy man, you ain't poor, but, in terms of cash flow..."
Hon. Kareem Musa, PUP Deputy Leader (East):
"I will be straight up with you, and say I could never match the amount of resources that our current party leader has. Never, But at the same time, as another colleague, you could say, Mr. Faber taught us, I think he said, it's all about the base. It's not all about the money."
Orlando Vera Fights For Freedom
Three months ago, we told you about the very bad luck that Orlando Vera was having in the Supreme Court. He's the ballistics expert who had a mighty fall from grace. He went from the Deputy Director of the National Forensic Science Service to incarcerated convict, after he was found guilty of abetment to pervert the course of justice.
He went to the Supreme Court for bail pending an appeal, and was denied 3 times. He is convinced that the former Chief Magistrate, Ann Marie Smith, wrongfully convicted him of offering to accept a bribe for businessman Michael Modiri so that he, could disappear evidence that police may have used against Modiri in a firearms case.
Vera even tried to get Justice Herbert Lord to recuse himself from as the judge who would hear his appeal. That's after those 3 failed bail applications, and that was also denied.
Truck Driver Charged In Fatal Accident
Yesterday we told you about the fatal accident between miles 32 and 33 on the Southern Highway - on the same stretch of road that had witnessed another fatality less than two days earlier.
32-year-old Sebastian Cucul, from San Isidoro Village was heading to Georgetown Village when he crashed head on into the left side of an 18 wheeler. 33-year-old Hector Amilcar Melara from Hopkins was driving that trailer truck and was heading in the opposite direction towards Belize City.
Eight Million for One Mile
Fabers Road in Belize City is an important thoroughfare - it's an alternate route to the Western Highway, especially for those trucks hauling containers to the Port of Belize on Caesar Ridge Road.
It was last paved 19 years ago - and today, it's all broken up, to the point that, in some parts, is almost unfit for driving, especially after intense rains.
Well, now, Faber's Road - or at least a part of it - is going to get a multimillion dollar makeover. The Ministry of Works today signed a contract with popular UDP contractor the Imer Hernandez Development Company for the "reconstruction" of a one mile portion of Faber's road.
And while it may only be a hair more than a mile being reconstructed, the contract is for almost 8 million dollars. A press release from the Government says that 7.995 million will be used for roadway clearance, including the removal of any remnant structures, obstructions, fencing and the like within the road reserve...
BDF Soldiers To Dominica
For the past three weeks, we have been reporting on the Caribbean island nation of Dominica which was devastated by the Hurricane, Maria's 185 mile an hour winds, which flattened the island's infrastructure, and caused 27 deaths.
They're on a very long road to recovery, and any assistance they can get is needed. So, that's why the Belize Defense Force is sending a company of Belize soldiers to help in the rebuilding efforts.
Defense Ministry CEO Felix Enriquez told the Government Press Office outlined the intended deployment:
Rt. Lt. Felix Enriquez, CEO - Ministry of Defense:
"One of the various partnerships that we are heavily involved with in the region is disaster relief and in that effort the Belize Defence Force and through the Ministry of Defense is sending a platoon of light engineers to Dominica to assist with the reconstruction."
Security Conference In Belize
That opportunity to speak with CEO Enriquez presented itself last week Friday when high ranking military officials from Mexico, Canada, the UK, and the US came in Belize for the 3rd Annual Multi-National Security Conference.
It's a roundtable session where all of Belize's military partners sit down to discuss share security concerns, and how best their military units could assist the Belize armed forces improve their capacities.
Last week's conference emphasized security cooperation and military capacity building for the Belize Defence Force, Belize Coast Guard, and the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre. The representatives from different military units who attended spoke on the importance of their participation in the discussions:
CARICOM Open to Belize Chicken
In February, Quality Poultry Products in Spanish Lookout was HACCP certified. and then in May, it was Caribbean Chicken in Blue Creek. HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point. It is basically a food safety system put in place by businesses to ensure that consumers get clean, quality goods which meet an international sanitary standard.
Now, beyond local customer satisfaction, Quality Poultry and Caribbean should be able to export chicken within CARICOM because of this certification.
PG Bar Owner Explains Extortion
Last night we told you about the two PG cops who allegedly extorted bar owner Joe Bejerano of $3,000. They had initially charged Bejerano for Human Trafficking but offered him to pay them off so he would not have to face the charges. Bejerano is not happy with the unprofessional actions of the police. He told PG TV he wants his money back.
Joe Bejerano, Bar Owner:
"They offered a deal that if I could come up with 1000 dollars for each end she could make this go away."
Reporter:
"$1,000 dollars for each of the ladies arrested."
Joe Bejerano, Bar Owner:
"Yes. I told her I did not have that kind of money she told me that she is the only one that could help me. I could go to prison for 15 years or I could try and go to trial but I will be charged."
FFB, the Possibility Of An Alternate Future
On December second, the FFB will have its 11th Ordinary Congress to elect a President and a Vice President. Sounds simple enough, but the last two attempts to do this failed miserably.
It's one more ugly blemish on a Football Federation that's publicly perceived as chaotic. And into this mess steps two relative newcomers - who want to clean up the FFB, and restore some beauty to the beautiful game.
They publicly launched their campaign today and 7News was there:
Daniel Fabro and Frank Sharp are businessmen, but also football lifers - and now they want to save football in Belize by offering themselves as president and vice president of the FFB:
City Council Gets Fancy Equipment
For months we've been showing you all that fancy heavy equipment which the city council got through the IDB funded Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program.
But, all that fancy equipment was like a good "Sunday best" outfit, we only saw it in action once or twice.
Apparently, that's because the 2017 jet-vacuum truck, the 2016 street sweeper, the 2016 asphalt distributor truck, the 2016 backhoe loader, and the 2015 vibrator compactor were being kept scarce like "good cheese" by the Ministry of Works.
Keeping Cancer Message In The Forefront
Its breast cancer awareness month, and to commemorate it, for 4 years the Special Envoy for Women and Children Kim Simplis Barrow along with her team have been releasing Cancer awareness posters. The women featured in the posters including Barrow are battling cancer. Now these posters aren't just pictures - they represent each survivor's journey, but more importantly the posters celebrate hope and strength in the face of cancer. The Special envoy's office usually just emails the posters but this year they invited the media to an official unveiling. It was held this morning at the Belize Cancer Society Office. The theme for this year is "A mile in my shoe."
Girls Rule
Yesterday was International Day of the Girl Child. It is part of the women's empowerment movement but in this case the focus is on young girls and how to overcome the many challenges they face on a daily basis. It is recognized all over the world but Belize has now caught on and observed the day. Member of the UN Gender Theme Group Ann-Marie Williams discussed the significance:
Ann-Marie Williams, UN Gender Theme Group Rep.:
"The first celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child actually rolled around on December 19th 2011. The international day is not a new day but for us here in Belize it seems new. What happened the girl child has been a feature ever since 1995 when the Beijing conference was held. Belize prioritized five major areas and the girl child was not one of them..."
Green Turtle Found Dead
Yesterday a female Green Turtle was found dead off the coast of Punta Gorda. Nicanor Requena and his colleagues came across the lifeless turtle while on a recreational boating excursion. Requena and his colleagues immediately tried to assist the turtle but it was too late. He took to social media to share pictures of the sad sight. Today via phone he told us how it was trapped.
Nicanor Requena, Found Turtle:
"We were on a recreational and basically what we observed was the Tuttle entangled a rope attached to 2 fish traps and what I proceeded to do along with my other colleague was to document it. We took pictures of it and we subsequently reported it to TIDE and to the Fisheries Department who in my opinion are the entities to follow up on it. Based on what I observed it could be that maybe it was a fish trap that was abandoned, but I have no evidence to say for surety that it was what happened."
A Hawksbill's Tale
Indeed,6 of the 7 turtle special that inhabit the waters of Latin American and the Caribbean are threatened with extinction. In 2011, Jules Vasquez found out how researchers at Gales Point Manatee were using satellites to track and preserve Hawksbill Turtles:...
Jules Vasquez Reporting:
Putting a sanding machine to a turtle's shell? That may seem cruel and unusual, but really, they're not torturing this mature female hawksbill - they're trying to help.
What they're trying to do is sand off these tough barnacles that have molted unto her - and while the old girl looked distressed, maybe even despairing - the grinding continued.
Late Evening Murder
And before we close tonight - there is more bad news to report in Belize City. There has been another murder. It happened on Hicatee Street beside Roger's Stadium. We know that a man is dead inside a taxi, which is alongside a ditch. It happened just 10 to 15 minutes ago. Our news team is on the scene and we'll have more on this story tomorrow.
Channel 5
P.U.P. Leader Says 'Any Number Can Play'
By whom will Party Leader John Brice�o be challenged for control of the P.U.P.?� It's a question being pondered by many within the opposition party, in light of the fact [...]
Rest of National Executive Posts Also Up for Grabs
According to Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher, every other position within the national executive is up for challenge.� He goes through the necessary procedures of nomination. Henry Charles Usher, [...]
Thanks for Support, But Brice�o Says He Didn't Ask for It
On Wednesday, Deputy Party Leader Kareem Musa, in an interview with the media, said that endorsements for Brice�o's leadership were being gathered from caucuses across the country.� That effort came [...]
Chairman Says 'Nobody Knows' Who Will Run for Leader
At present Brice�o's office remains unchallenged, but that's subject to change in the weeks ahead.� The party chairman confirmed this fact when the question was put to him bluntly. [...]
P.U.P. is (Mostly) One; National Convention Intended to Strengthen Unity
In some corners there has been talk of discord within the People's United Party, a perceived lack of unity that continues to affect the P.U.P. at the polls.� In our [...]
P.U.P. Chair Says it's Time to Unite
While the party chairman agrees that there is no friction within the P.U.P., he says that members of the party should rally around the slate of candidates leading up to [...]
The Youth are Inheriting the P.U.P.
The infusion of new blood into the political organization is a concern that has been shared among members of the party. On Wednesday, Kareem Musa spoke unequivocally on what he [...]
C.C.J. Turns Down Sunshine Intervention in B.T.L. Case
In advance of hearings next week, the Caribbean Court of Justice today rejected an application by Sunshine Holdings Limited to intervene in the final appeal between the Government of Belize, [...]
The Case Against Franz Parke for Court of Appeal
As we reported on Wednesday, a fixed date claim form filed at the Supreme Court pits Leader of the Opposition John Brice�o against the Attorney General and Prime Minister Dean [...]
Search Resumes for Erwin Rodriguez as Mom Makes Frantic Appeal
Last week, we showed you the search for Erwin Rodriguez that led to the discovery of his bike in an area called "Dike," located off Faber's Road. The seventeen-year-old has [...]
Friends Keep Looking for Chrisstofer Roggema in the West
Chrisstofer Jan Roggema is missing and his friends need help to find him. Roggema is a Norwegian-Belizean businessman who has been living in Belize for more than twenty-five years. He [...]
Fabers' Road to be Redone for $7 Million
Faber's Road is getting a major upgrade which is expected to commence immediately.�� The contract, to the tune of seven point nine million Belize dollars, was signed today for the [...]
Daniel Fabro, Frank Sharp Join F.F.B. Presidential Race
The Football Federation of Belize remains in administrative turmoil, despite several unsuccessful meetings of its executive to try and bring order to the organization.� Notwithstanding the chaotic state of affairs, [...]
M.O.H. Says Pink Eye Cases Have Not Peaked - 9,000 in a Month
This evening, following meetings with the Pan American Health Organization and gathering of formal reports, Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero updated News Five with the very latest statistics [...]
Survivors Gather to Launch Anti-Cancer Flyer
Every year in May, Belizeans are reminded of one of the most deadly diseases affecting citizens - cancer. The threats and risks are numerous and there are several types of [...]
ComPol Vs C.E.O. over Immigration Investigation
The position of the Belize Police Department almost from the break in the Elvin Penner/Won Hong Kim scandal has been to take a back seat. It waited for internal investigations [...]
Why Nationality Review is More Complicated than One May Think
As testified to by former director of Immigration Ruth Meighan and confirmed by others, as many as two thousand persons received nationality directly connected to the 2012 elections which did [...]
Time to Review Guat Nationality Applications
The Nationality Vetting Committee, according to C.E.O. and member Edmund Zuniga, continues to try to seek out legal information on how the Republic of Guatemala handles renunciation for those wishing [...]
Healthy Living Reviews Pink Eye Plan
We know you may be tired of hearing about the eye infection sweeping across the country. But it is not a time to let your guard down. The public health [...]
CTV3
Shaenna Gilharry Vies In East Indian Pageant In T&T
Miss East Indian Belize 2016-2017, Miss Shaenna Gilharry, left for Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday to participate in the International Divali Queen Pageant which will be held on Monday, October 16th.
Shaenna has been an active member of the Corozal Organization of East Indian Cultural Heritage organization and has participated in leading roles in traditional Indian dances during cultural festivals, pageants and performances at schools.
Shaenna was crowned Miss East Indian Belize 2016 - 2017 by outgoing Miss East Indian queen, Miss Asia Gilharry.
Prime Minister Meets With Representatives of IDB
As we reported on Tuesday Prime Minister Dean Barrow is currently in Washington D.C attending official meetings. Today the Prime Minister met with the executive Director of the Central American Constituency, Mauricio Silva at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as well as with the Junior Counsellor for Belize Elvira Mendez, in order to receive an update on the Corporate IDB matters.
Prime Minister Barrow today also attended a courtesy meeting with Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of American States, His Excellency Nestor Mendez and Belize's ambassador to the United States His Excellency Daniel Gutierrez.
Crimes In Corozal, Circumstances Investigators Cannot Ignore
On Tuesday we told you about the arrest of 52 year old Apolonio Kiow in Corozal Town, for the cold-bloodied murder of 38 year old Canadian national Gabriel Bochnia.
Kiow is the one accused of pulling the trigger on Bochnia, fatally shooting the construction contractor, as he opened the gates to his yard outside his home in the Chula Vista area around 10:30pm on Wednesday, October 4th. The attack was calculated and callous, as Bochnia's wife and three children witnessed the attack inside a waiting vehicle. His wife, 27 year old Jeshana Zetina, went to help her husband and the gunman then fired at her, but the gun reportedly misfired.
LOVE FM
Three Police Officers facing disciplinary charges for theft
Last month we reported on the three officers attached to the Special Patrol Unit who were being investigated for allegedly stealing 27 parcels of cocaine. The accused are Corporal Clinton Thomas, PC Kishane Peck and PC Albert Augustine. An internal investigation by the Professional Standards Branch revealed that the information is credible. The three officers [�]
Chairman comments on Hopkins' water problem
This newsroom has received numerous reports of water interruptions in Hopkins Village that has been affecting villagers and businesses alike. We spoke to the chairman, Ted McKoy for clarification. Ted McKoy - Chairman of Hopkins Village "The water situation in Hopkins is one that cannot be seen as a problem so to speak because I'm [�]
Ministry of Works donates maintenance equipment to Belize City Council
The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Works handed over to the Belize City Council, road and canal maintenance equipment procured by the Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program, with financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The equipment handed over includes a 2017 jet-vacuum truck, 2016 street sweeper, 2016 asphalt distributor truck, 2016 backhoe loader, [�]
Pink Eye causing problems for BERT
Belize Emergency Response Team, BERT, has announced that conjunctivitis or pink eye is affecting its capabilities. A statement from BERT states quote, "the organization is currently being impacted by the ongoing conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) infection, therefore, Non-Emergency Land Ambulance Services are being affected." End of quote. The public is asked to minimize Non-Emergency Calls to [�]
The Guardian
God help us! - Another Musa as PUP leader
Any observer, seeing the dismal performance that Johnny Brice�o has been having as the leader of the PUP, saw a challenge coming to his leadership from a mile away. But in an attempt to put any potential challenger at a disadvantage, Brice�o called a snap national convention in which he expected to be endorsed as leader of the PUP on November 26. But not so fast, says Kareem Musa; he is now openly defying Brice�o and in a cagey and underhanded manner, called the press to his office to say that he is being asked to run as the leader of the People's United Party.
The mere fact that he had the audacity to call the media to his office to put his tail between his legs and say that he is merely considering it, shows this man's slick.
Diplomatic immunity saves American from charges in triple death
An accident on the George Price Highway claimed the life of 2 young women, and a 1-year-old child, all from the same family living in Bella Vista, Belize City. The driver, who may be at fault for the accident, is a US Diplomat, and he is protected from prosecution by his diplomatic immunity.
Police say that it happened sometime around 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, 2017, between miles 2 and 3 on the George Price Highway. 30 year-old Samantha Castillo; her 1 year-old baby, Deanna Castillo; 23 year-old Martha Mayeli Vasquez, Samantha Castillo's sister-in-law; and an unidentified 6-year-old girl were all traveling in a blue and grey Honda Element SUV.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
