Today's Belize News: February 7, 2018

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Today's Belize News: February 7, 2018 #528773 02/07/18 06:21 AM 02/07/18 06:21 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 83,977 oregon, spr Marty OP .
Marty OP	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 Football Federation of Belize reports recent activities The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) held its first meeting with members of Congress for the presentation of the 4-year plan for football for Belize. The session was opened by President Sergio Chuc who welcomed all members and introduced the new Technical Director Phillip Marin. Mr. Marin became the Technical Director with effect from February 1, 2018. Mr. Marin was also named Ambassador of the International Coaching Course (ITK) in January of this year. This course is supported and sponsored by the Federal Foreign Office, Germany. Mr. Marin introduced program plans for 1. Grassroots, 2. Youth football, 3. Women’s football, 4. Futsal and beach soccer, and 5. Coaching Education. Mountain Bike Adventure to be filmed in Belize A mountain bike adventure will be filmed by European Nature Trust in hopes of advocating the protection of the rich diversity of wildlife in Belize. The biking adventure will be filmed by Dylan Haskin along with a team of 12 riders expected to arrive in the country on Sunday, February 4th. The team will be filming the mountain bike adventure from the 5th through to the 11th of February. People can watch the adventure by following The European Nature Trust on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. They will be using the three platforms to share the content from experience using the hashtag #bikebelize2018. San Pedro Tiger Sharks net their third win in the 2018 NEBL season The San Pedro Tiger Sharks continue excelling in the 2018 National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) season, landing their third consecutive victory after defeating Smart Belize Hurricanes on Saturday, February 3rd. The island team faced the visiting team at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium, where after four quarters of intense action on the court, the Tiger Sharks sealed the game with a final score of 73-58. The game was the first 2018 NEBL match on the island, attracting a large crowd of spectators to the auditorium. When the official whistle blew, the game tipped off at 9PM. In the first minutes of the match, the Belize Hurricanes were aggressively challenging the Tiger Sharks, but the home team managed to steal the first quarter with a 20-14 score. By halftime, the island team went back to their locker rooms with a comfortable lead of 40-24 thanks to consecutive 3-point shots by Douglas Valley. Ambergris Today Caye International Bank Honored With Award As Best Private Bank In Belize Joel Nagel, Chairman of the Board of Caye International Bank, responded to the announcement and said, "The bank's success to date has been made possible with the help of visionary board members, dedicated staff, as well as loyal customers and we, are honored having Global Finance Magazine affirm this." Nagel continued, "As chairman of the board, I am immensely proud of the bank's proven track record of success within our region and believe that Caye is well poised to continue its robust growth well into the future." Political Rally Discloses PUP Development Plans For San Pedro With just about a month to go before town council elections, the People United Party (PUP) held a huge political rally which was called Love Fest No.1. The theme of the Love Fest was: ‘One Love, One Soul, One People, that's the sound of PUP’. The focal point of the rally was, of course, addresses by each and every councilor candidate and Mayoral candidate. Each one spoke of their plans of development that will bring progress to the lives of the entire San Pedro and Ambergris Caye. The plans include much needed street improvement with pavement and drains, an organized garbage collection, improved services at the poly clinic with a final goal of having a full time hospital on the island, organized programs to have children and youths engaged in positive learning in library and resource center, organized programs to assist the elderly, organized programs to assist single mothers, job placement opportunities resource center, a shadow youth town council to engage youths in leadership, community engagement and even political involvement and more sporting facilities. All of these plans and others were received with thunderous applause by the audience. Misc Belizean Sources Kindy take note of Archeological site update THE XUNANTUNICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS OPEN WITH VEHICLE CROSSING AT THE FERRY. PLEASE NOTE ONLY TWO (2) VEHICLES AT A TIME. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN. PLEASE CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. Caye Caulker Traffic Office will be open Wednesday February 7th 2018 4th Annual Cheap Sale: The Rotary Club of Corozal Support a Great Cause - The 4th Annual Cheap Sale hosted by The Rotary Club of Corozal will be held March 16th at The Civic Center. Rotary uses the proceeds to support our on-going projects: · Scholarships, which assists students to continue their education- 1st form through 4th form. · We will be updating donated computers to primary schools. · We are partnering with Community Restore so they can provide support to children that need tutoring to meet their full potential in the classroom and daily life. · We hope to support the new Diabetes Center with startup supplies. "El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro" Photographic Exhibition Join us for the opening of the photographic Exhibition of "El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro" on Thurs., Feb. 8th at the San Pedro House of Culture. Traditional Juan Carnaval in Orange Walk The Banquitas House of Culture Team invitates you to join us in the celebration of the traditional Juan Carnaval, as we share entertaining "comparsas", re-enact the reading of the last will and testament of Don Juan and experience the burning of Juan Carnaval. This will all take place at the Central Park on Sunday February 11th 2018, at 3:00 p.m Belize fishers cooperative closes RFP for traceability system The National Fishermen Producers' Cooperative Society of Belize (NFC) recently closed a request for proposals from vendors of traceability technology. The RFP was launched in search of technology solutions that would assist the NFC in product-data pairing, internal traceability, and verification. The NFC, in its RFP document, explains that these objectives would in turn aid in achieving the wider goal of greater operational efficiency and market access. “The effort to implement traceability will coincide with marketing efforts and development of new buyer relationships,” the document states. Bake Sale Fundraiser for Lizette on Caye Caulker Support a Worthy Cause and come out and get your desserts this Saturday in front Costa Maya. Paint N Splash Join us on Thursday from 2-4pm! Street Repairs on Caye Caulker Street repairs will commence tomorrow, February 7th 2018 on Avenida Mangle Street from the corner of BEL to the corner of Police Barracks. This street will be closed to the public. We ask the general public to please cooperate with us. We do not want any vehicles or bicycles trying to get through the area during the street repairs. We will be advising the public as we move on to other streets. Prime Minister Departs the Country he Office of the Prime Minister informs that the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow departed the country today, 6th February, 2018. Prime Minister Barrow, accompanied by Mrs. Kim Barrow, is on a private visit to attend to some personal family matters. The Prime Minister will return to Belize on Friday, 9th February, 2018. During the Prime Minister’s absence, the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Faber will act as Prime Minister. BTEC Announces the Completion of its Wait Staff and Housekeeping Training Programmes The Belize Training and Employment Centre (BTEC), a unit of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), today, completes its Wait Staff and Housekeeping and Janitorial Services Trainings which provided participants with skills to equip them for employment in the hospitality industry. These three-week trainings were held simultaneously and covered soft skills, customer service as well as industry specific technical skills where trainees were taught the essentials of perfecting their trade. Today, BTEC held a certificate ceremony to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the forty six successful participants. Faith Nazarene Students visit elmopan Police Station On 2nd February,2018 Belmopan police Station received a visit from the students of Faith Nazarene primary school from San Ignacio. Students were taken on a tour of the police station, and they were informed of the roles and functions of the police station. During the visit students were grace with the presence of the Commissioner of Police,Mr Allen Whylie, who remind students of the importance of remaining in school and being responsible citizens. Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Mission Sun, 18 Feb 2018 The World Pediatric Project in collaboration with the Corozal Community Hospital will hold a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery event at the Hospital on Sunday, 18th February 2018, beginning at 8am. Patients seen will be from birth to 21 years. Please bring along Social Security Card. For information call Teresita at 620-3532 or Khandice Tillett 615-6010, or the office at 223-7300. Clinic fee is .00. Postponed until further notice: power outage previously scheduled for San Pedro For Thursday, February 8. Affected areas: entire area north of Boca del Rio and San Mateo. Aldea Mundial Film Preview Aldea Mundial will be at the Soul Project on Wednesday for a meet and greet, and on Friday for a film screening. They are musicians that are biking through Belize, and they brought their equipment, so you know there will be some great music happening, as it always does. They played some Friday night, and it was spectacular(pictures here). FRI 9th: Film screening & Live Music ($10 cover). THE IDEA: A fully bicycle/sailboat powered tour of Belize & Cuba presenting the brand new hot off the press documentary! THE DOCUMENTARY: ‘Aldea Mundial’ (World Village) follows a musical journey through Latin America investigating traditional music, presenting diverse cultural perspectives, and questioning the phenomenon of globalization!" Central American Waterbird Census Where will you be this weekend? Near a Wetland? Then help us count for the Central American Waterbird Census. This year we will cover three main areas. 1. Corozal Bay/Shipstern Lagoon 2. Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary 3. Gales Point to Hopkins Wetlands Dont have a team? Let me know and maybe I can set you in a team. Glenn Patrick Roaden Young Belizean Entrepreneur for February! For the month of February, we are excited to feature Glenn Patrick Roaden as our Young Belizean Entrepreneur! Glenn Patrick Roaden is a graphic designer who started Visuals by Glenn Patrick (http://www.visualsbyglennpatrick.com/). In 2009, Glenn learned how to use Adobe Photoshop and began doing graphic design. Designing for Mervin Budram, Glenn eventually became head of the graphics department. In 2015, Glenn explored going freelance and, by November 2016, Visuals by Glenn Patrick was up and running. His business offers graphic design services for business advertisement/branding and personal designs, as well as website design and development. Glenn recently ventured into photography as well. Glenn sees himself as a role model to other entrepreneurs because he always strives for excellence in his work. He believes Belizeans can reach the same level of quality as international counterparts. Images from day one of the Museum of Belize's 16th Anniversary celebration We would like to extend a huge thank you to Ephesus SDA, Queen Street Baptist and Bethel Primary Schools for making this day a memorable one! Look out for more pictures as the festivities continue including educational meet and greet sessions with our very own Belizean Artists featured in our previous 'Call for Artist' exhibition series. Channel 7 Missing Man Israel Turns Up Dead The Perez family's worst fear was confirmed today: Israel Perez's body was found this morning in Harmonyville. They had to bury him quickly because his body was badly decomposed. 7news was there on the scene and at the burial site. Courtney Weatherburne has more. Immigration and Lands Department workers along with Health officials filed into to the Cotton Tree cemetery this afternoon - all to give their final goodbye's to their friend and beloved member of the public service fraternity, Israel Perez. Perez had been missing for a week but this morning around 7:00 one of his close friends found his decomposed body down this road in Harmonyville. It was buried in this shallow grave. His friend, who lives close to where Perez's body was found says he saw Perez's vehicle down this road several times last week but he didn't think much of it because he didn't know Perez was missing until he saw it on the news last night. That's when he and his son went on their own early morning search. Police Speak On Israel Death Before that detention, police gave a statement earlier this morning on this case. Here's more. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head - NCIB: "This morning shortly before 8am, police was called to the Harmoneyville area, where in a shallow grave the decomposed body of a Hispanic male was found which was later identified to be missing Belmopan resident Israel Perez. Police are still on the scene and the investigation is ongoing. Also one person has been detained for questioning in regards to this discovery." As you heard, one person is detained and will face non-murder charges tonight. Ahmad Family Says No ‘Affair’ Between Fareed and Michelle Brown Well known barber and community activist Fareed Ahmad was killed 40 days ago under mysterious circumstances. Police constable Michelle Brown - who was the passenger in his vehicle on the night of his death - has been charged for his murder. But, that's far from the end of the story. There is a deeper tangle of uncertainty which centers around one question: how did the Constable get into his vehicle? Did she and Fareed have a relationship? It seems simple enough - but it's complicated by the fact that Michelle Brown was a member of the Special assignment Team - a unit that Fareed had made a complaint against hours before he was killed. Jules Vasquez reporting: Today, the family said they have clarity: there was no relationship between the two. Jules Vasquez was at the press conference: Today the family of Fareed Ahmad - his father, sister, brother - and, for the first time - his wife of 14 years - came forward to demand that police properly investigate his death. The 21st Is Nomination Day Municipal elections are only a month away, and, in two weeks, the political parties will have their first chance to flex their muscle on the streets of the different municipalities. That's February 21st., nomination day. It's a political carnival full of scenery and mass party noise, but the day is really about a simple process: filling out a nomination form, getting two registered voters to nominate the candidate, and paying a deposit of fifty dollars. Nomination will be held at public offices and locations in all the cities and towns, namely: the Charles B. Hyde Building, in Belize City, the Civic Centre, in Belmopan, the Administration Building in Corozal Town, the Sub-Treasury, in Orange Walk Town, the Administration Building in San Ignacio Town, the Town Hall, in San Pedro, the Town Hall, in Benque Viejo, the Town Hall, in Dangriga and the Administration Building in Punta Gorda. Police Present New Anti-Crime Strategy Targeting Gangs 2 weeks ago, police released the official crime statistics for 2017, which showed 142 total murders, three fewer than the all time high set in 2012. Belize City had the most murders, and most of them were related to gang violence. So, the Police Department and the Home Affairs Ministry have been under sustained pressure to come up with quick fix solutions for a generational problem whose roots run deep into the swamp of social decay and structural poverty. Police had been hinting for months that a major legislative shift in the way they fight crime was on the way, and today, their new National Crime Fighting Strategy was unveiled by Commissioner Allen Whylie at a press conference featuring Police Minister of State Elodio Aragon. Daniel Ortiz has that story: Cops Can’t Work Special Duty Without COMPOL’s Say-So The Government of Belize continues to wrestle with its Tier Three Human Traffic rating from the US State Department. And one area that needs urgent attention is the practice of police working security at bars where human traffic victims are employed as waitresses and engage in commercial sex work. For the police it's called special duty - and it earns regular cops big money from private companies and establishments - as much as 10 dollars per hour. But while it's a welcome stream of income for those officers, the 2017 trafficking in persons report noted that this practice sends a message that police are on the side - and on the payroll - of the traffickers. We got reports last week that the police senior command was cracking down on this practice - and prohibiting police from working security at those shady establishments. Today we asked the commissioner if indeed such a directive was sent. He wasn't happy with the question: Labour And Capital Sit To Hammer Out OSH The Occupational Safety and Health Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives almost four years ago - but it still hasn't been passed. And that's because the bill will bring sweeping changes to rules governing the workplace, and both employees and employers have to be on the same page. A promising step has been taken in that direction with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize agreeing to form an Occupational Safety and Health working committee. According to a release, they will, quote, "review and arrive at a final position on the OSH Bill that is agreeable to all relevant stakeholders." PM & Mrs. On Personal Leave Prime Minister Dean Barrow has left the country in personal leave. According to a release from his office, "Prime Minister Barrow, accompanied by Mrs. Kim Barrow, is on a private visit to attend to some personal family matters." The PM returns on Friday and Deputy Patrick Faber will be holding over as Prime Minister. BTEC Trains Service Sector Employees After three weeks of training, 46 participants successfully graduated from a Wait Staff and Housekeeping workshop hosted by BTEC. The participants ranged from veterans in the hospitality industry to newcomers who were hungry to learn. We found out more about what they learned: Christine Smith, Manager of BTEC: "Housekeeping, we assume that everyone knows how to clean but there is a skill to cleaning and the skill to cleaning is not just move dirt around but to actually get rid of germs and make sure that you have a clean environment for persons who are there. The training covered the Green Clean, what are the products we use for cleaning, what are the harms of some of these products, and then it went into a full practice on how to clean properly." BPP Goes Humble But Heartfelt For Municipals As we told you earlier in the news, Wednesday February 21st is nomination day for the municipal elections. For the major mass parties - it's a day to test who can mobilize the crowds. But you won't see the third party, the BPP there showing off with any big crowds. That's because they're not about that big money politics. Today at a press conference to launch their municipal campaign, the party told the media why they are fielding only 18 candidates in 5 towns and cities: Patrick Rogers Leader - BPP: "More than half the people registered in these constituencies do not reside at the elections and boundaries address on record. So, when you talk about canvassing to do a campaign, you will find that it's an exercise in futility because the elections cannot be free if they are not fair and giving an alternative part to that, that don't have money to hand out an election day, only a message to try and reach the people before the election day. A list that is compromised is a waste of time." Wanted Canadian Arrested In Toronto Back in May of 2016, San Pedro Town was shaken when the well-known footballer, Melvin Almendarez was shot and killed. The main suspect, Jordan Bacchus, left the country and went back to his home country of Canada. Well, reports out of that country are that Bacchus is now in the custody of Canadian law enforcement. The San Pedro Sun Newspaper reports that Baccus was taken into custody in Ontario on last week Friday. He was detained by the Greater Sudbury Police along with another woman, during a raid at a residence in Northern Ontario. The cops were reportedly conducting a search for drugs on that home. Arizona Killer Is From Belize Over the weekend, 34-year-old, American Kyle Brayer was shot in the head and died in Scottsdale Arizona. There was a massive manhunt for the killer but the hunt is over because he turned himself into authorities and reports say he is a Belizean that grew up in Mango Creek. He is 21 year old Hezron Parks. Parks told Arizona police that he was heading home after spending time a clubs in the Scottsdale area when Brayer who was sitting in a golf cart started saying things to him. Parks says that Brayer then approached his vehicle and moved toward him which led Parks to grab his .40 calibre firearm and shoot Brayer in the head. Former FFB Gen. Sec. Sued Federation For Wrongful Termination The Football Federation of Belize continues to enjoy a period calm and orderly management of the sport after the FFB Congress finally elected President Sergio Chuc and Cruz Gamez to fill the posts of President and Vice President. But, before that, there was over a 1 year and half of turmoil, in-fighting and jostling for power. During that time, the apparently untouchable General Secretary, Michael Blease, was terminated. That dismissal turned into a lawsuit when Blease took them to court alleging wrongful termination. That case was supposed to have been argued today before Justice Courtney Abel, our information says that the attorneys showed up and informed the judge that the case had been settled through mediation. Remembering The Gong @ 73 And we close tonight with footage of a Bob Marley free concert which is happening right now at the battlefield park... Today would have been Bob's 73rd birthday and the concert is being held in honour of his tremendous musical and cultural legacy. Channel 5 Family, Friends Shocked, Hurt by Brutal Murder of Immigration’s Israel Perez The body of a missing Immigration Officer was found today at Harmonyville, off the George Price Highway. Israel Perez, a resident of Saint Matthew’s Village and father of a young [...] Fareed Ahmad’s Family Including Widow Clear His Name in Police Allegations There is another murder for which a motive has still not been established. It is now six weeks since the popular barber, Fareed Ahmad, was murdered in his car on [...] Belizean-American Suspect in Killing of Arizona Fire Captain Twenty-one-year-old Hezron Parks is making the headlines in the U.S. where he shot and killed an Arizona fire captain. According to international media, Parks faces second-degree murder charge and was [...] How Police Will Fight Crime in 2018 2017 ended as one of the most murderous years with one hundred and forty-four homicides. This January, there have been as many as fourteen murders, topping the statistics for the [...] Operation ACT Continues; Cameras on the Watch So what is the fate of Operation ACT now that a National Crime Fighting Strategy has been introduced which will remain in effect for the next two years? The campaign [...] Why Do We Have to Pay so Much for UHS? The scandal that is the forty-million-dollar loan to the former Universal Health Services, compounded with interest of more than fifty million dollars, continues to reverberate in the public consciousness. The [...] Chamber, Unions Shake Hands on OSH Working Committee The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued two separate statements this afternoon. The first concerns the launch of the first San Pedro Town chapter of the business organization. It [...] The Green Engine Rumbles: B.P.P. Names 18 Candidates in 5 Municipalities It’s definitely election season, but not much has been heard from the third party-alternative camps apart from Belize City’s mayoral candidate Ernesto Torres. That is until today, when the Belize [...] We Still Need Re-Registration, Says B.P.P. It has been legally due at least twice since it was first completed in 1997, but for various reasons was put off and postponed. We are talking about a complete [...] How and Where Your Candidates Will Be Nominated The Elections and Boundaries Department has released the particulars for the next pit-stop in the race to March seventh. In our previous newscasts, we have showed you most of the [...] Deconstructing the Crime Problem As many a weary Belize City resident can tell you, we have learned to appreciate the silences between the outbursts of gun and other violence we report nightly on the [...] Anglican Bishop Says Don’t Give Up on Our Young People On Monday, Anglican Bishop Philip Wright also addressed the crime issue on a general basis. He said we must all acknowledge that crime masks a number of societal problems that [...] Altercation Has Big Costs for City Resident Twenty-eight-year-old Jason Noralez admits to swinging a machete at Llewelyn Courtenay’s bicycle tire and tube valued at thirty-seven dollars. But he says he was acting in self-defence during an altercation. [...] Love Hurts: City Man Must Stay Away from Partner for Valentine’s Just in time for Valentine’s Day, a Belize City couple may be back together. But it may be difficult to celebrate for Allison Cuthkelvin, who is accused of breaking into [...] BTEC continues Training Housekeepers, Wait Staff Over forty persons received job preparedness training housekeeping and wait staff. The Belize Training and Employment Center presented certificates to the trainees today after they completed three weeks of intense [...] CTV3 BSI Addresses Concerns Of Chan Pine Ridge Residents The Belize Sugar Industries has conducted an internal investigation as it relates to the disposal of waste material found on the Chan Pine Ridge road, following several claims made by residents of the area who were alleging that the company is responsible for dumping what appears to be black soil on the edges of the main road which connects the village to Orange Walk Town. Following the investigation, BSI has come to the conclusion that the material found on the Chan Pine Ridge road is not black soil, but waste material coming out from the filter press at the factory. Today we contacted BSI to inquire about the matter and were informed that the company employs a private contractor who is responsible for discarding the material and is also tasked with selecting a designated location to do so. Did Pablo Marin Award Roundabout Project Work In Corozal Town to Cayo Contractors? For several weeks we’ve been reporting on the construction taking place along a roundabout near the Santa Rita area of Corozal Town. The project isn’t being carried out by the Corozal Town Council, but by Area Representative Pablo Marin, so there is very little information available or forthcoming about the source of funding or the cost of the project. What we do know is that the project doesn’t have the unanimous blessing of the local tourism committee who is the body responsible for any tourism-related project in the municipality. Leaked copies of their meetings have shown that members have questioned how Marin came up with the idea and design, if they nor the public was consulted. Members of the public have also expressed concern that the site could create a problem for the heavy traffic in the area. Date Set For Nomination Day The Elections and Boundaries office has released the details of the Municipal Elections Nomination Day exercise scheduled for Wednesday, February 21st 2018 in all municipalities. Nomination Day is held for hopefuls to officially become candidates once they meet the criteria. For Corozal and Orange Walk Towns, the nomination of candidates will take place from 10am to 4pm. The Returning Officer for Corozal Town is Alma Gomez, while for Orange Walk Town it is Hugo Miranda. PM Barrow On Personal Leave Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow in the company of his wife, Kim Simplis Barrow, departed the country earlier today on personal leave. PM Barrow is scheduled to return to Belize later this week on Friday, February 9th, 2018. As is customary, during his absence from the country, Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Patrick Faber will act as Prime Minister. Burglars Target Red Cross Corozal Branch Office The Red Cross Corozal Branch is preparing for a Valentine’s Day fundraiser lunch next week, but today the community organisation learnt that some individuals just don’t have any love to give. Today Red Cross officials found their office building situated in the Santa Rita area of the town broken into and fully ransacked. The burglar or burglars targeted the office by prying open the wooden doors that led to the storage rooms and then ransacked the building in search of valuables. They had access to donated supplies, some electronic devices and other items but at the end of the day, it appears that only a few soft drink bottles and crates were moved and taken. Amandala Belize Magistracy experiencing chronic shortage of magistrates The new Criminal Procedure Rules which came into effect during the last legal year for dealing with cases at the Supreme Court and Magistrate’s Court were designed to address the massive backlog of cases. As it now stands, the rules mandate that disclosure must be given as quickly as possible and new cases must be disposed of within a timeframe of six months from the time of arraignment to completion of the case. The Criminal Procedure Rules, however, will do no good in addressing the backlog of cases if there are fewer judges and magistrates to enforce them, and new cases continue to overwhelm an already clogged-up criminal justice system. Israel “Prince” Perez, 27, still missing after 8 days Today marks eight days since St. Matthews’ villager Israel “Prince” Perez, 27, left home and has not returned. Today, Amandala spoke with his brother, Orlando Perez, who told us that the last time he saw his brother was Saturday, January 27, which was one day before he was reported missing. He recounted that his brother had visited his barbershop in Belmopan, as he would normally do before he goes home. However, he left at about 9 p.m. after declining an invitation to go to a nightclub. Civil Service Credit Union “bites the dust” Last April, the Central Bank of Belize announced that it would be liquidating the Civil Service Credit Union in Belize City, which has been in existence since the early 1950s. Today, Amandala spoke with the chief liquidator and accountant, Cedric Flowers, who provided an insight into the ongoing process. He said that due to mismanagement, the Central Bank ordered the credit union to close down its operation. And so for now, the company isn’t functional, but hasn’t been declared bankrupt; instead, it is insolvent because it cannot pay its bills. For now, one part-time employee handles the administrative affairs of the business. Fugitive Jordan Bacchus arrested in Canada He is a wanted fugitive in Belize, on the run for almost two years, but he may soon be extradited to Belize for murder after he was arrested in Canada and charged for illegal drugs. On Friday, Canadian national Jordan Bacchus, 28, was busted by police in Northern Ontario with 384.45 grams of cocaine and 10.46 grams of “purple heroin” which is heroin mixed with the extremely potent opioid fentanyl. These drugs have a street value of $45,000 Canadian dollars. According to Drug Squad Det.-Sgt. James Killeen, during the search his officers also seized $25,000 in cash along with other evidence, including digital scales, detailed debt lists and a money-counting machine. Jacqueline Willoughby takes on NTUCB It has been almost one year now since the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) held an extraordinary general meeting at which the Christian Workers Union (CWU) president, Floyd Neal, was elected to the post of president of the NTUCB. Prior to Neal’s election to the NTUCB presidency, however, there was the issue of back dues that the CWU had owed the NTUCB that led to its suspension in August 2013. Amandala is in possession of an exchange of letters between NTUCB First Vice President, Jacqueline Willoughby, and the NTUCB General Secretary, Patrick Balan. In her letter, Willoughby addressed the issue of her 1st Vice President post. United States versus Andrew Bennett inches forward with verification of evidence Attorney Andrew Bennett, for whom the United States Secretary of State has issued an extradition request to Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court of Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser this morning, along with his legal team, for the formal verification of the evidence that the US has built against him for the seven counts of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering for which he has been indicted in the US District Court of Puerto Rico by a US grand jury on July 2, 2015. When the hearing was called to order, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs foreign service officer, Jenina Urbina, took the witness stand and explained to the court that she is in charge of the South America Desk at the ministry and that she received some documents from the United States Government that were authenticated under the seal of Belize Ambassador to the US, Francisco Daniel Guterrez. Weekend Warriors “A/B” Series 1 Race #2 of Sunday, February 4 This is a POINT SERIES of 4 Races which started last week Sunday, January 28. Unfortunately, I had a race scheduled last week in Valladolid, Mexico, so missed Race #1; but my teammate and buddy Warren Coye came in 2nd last week, so the team’s job was to defend him. Thing is, we have one of the smallest teams out there, so the 5 of us had to ride smart. As they blew the whistle, there was a vicious attack, and Team Santino’s best pacer, Daniel Cano, who is Weekend Warriors (WW) Time Trial Champion, got on the front and chased it down. After he caught the front runners, there was another attack; and after he caught that one, there was another. PLB Week 4 results and standings All four games in Week 4 of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2017-2018 Closing Season were scheduled for this past Sunday, but only three were played; the Wagiya FC vs Belmopan Bandits SC game at the Carl Ramos Stadium was postponed due to the field condition following heavy rains. In a close and controversial contest at the Ambergris Stadium, home standing San Pedro Pirates FC clinched a 2-1 victory over visiting BDF FC when Colombian import Carlos Pertuz blasted from point blank range past BDF goalie Tevin Gamboa. Highking Roberts had given the Pirates the early lead at the 16th minute, but Shane “Chucky” Flores caught Pirates goalie Yusef Guerra out of his goal and drove in the equalizer for BDF shortly after resumption of play at the 47th minute. Chief’s Saturday Race results – February 3, 2018 After a week of constant rain and very little training, the sun finally peeped out this morning, and so did 42 riders for today’s race from Leslie’s thru Boom to the Philip Goldson (Northern) Highway Junction and back to OLD BELIZE for the finish. We chose this finish because the road is smooth, wide and straight; but most importantly, much safer, as the finish at Leslie’s is in terrible shape after all this rain. The 42 riders featured 25 Elites, 12 Weekend Warriors (WW), and 5 Juniors. At 7:19 a.m., we were off. Everyone seemed to be full of energy after a week of plenty rest, so the attacks were immediate and hard. Within a few miles, about 15 “heads of state” of the Belize cycling world separated themselves from the peloton, and would never be seen again. I got a puncture at Mile 10, so became an official and service man to the entire peloton. Official results from WW Series 1 Race #2 of Sunday, February 4 Here are the OFFICIAL results from yesterday’s Weekend Warriors (WW) Race #2 of the current 4-race Series. Race #2 went from Cotton Tree Village to Cisco Construction, for 38 miles, for the “A/B” riders; with the “C” class riding from Democracia Village, for 28 miles. Both races started at 8:30 a.m. Top “A/B” finishers: 1st Place – Mark Gentle (FT Williams, 1:42:10); 2nd Preston Martinez (Digicell-4G, st); 3rd Kirk Sutherland (Digicell-4G, st); 4th Warren Coye (Santino’s, st); 5th Santino Castillo (Santino’s, st, 1st “B” rider); 6th Alvan Gillett (Kulture Megabytes); 7th Roque Matus (M&M Engineering); 8th Dean Belisle (Bel-Cal); 9th Hector Tzuleta (Valvoline, 2nd “B” rider); and 10th Sean Duncan (Smart, 3rd “B” rider). Editorial: Where is home? The election of a Black American, Barack Obama, to the presidency of the United States in 2008 had been seen by some observers as heralding a so-called post-racial third millennium in America. At the same time, scholars had been predicting that by the middle of the 21st century, White Americans would have become a numerical minority in the U.S., even though they would still essentially control the American economy. When you add to the two Obama presidencies and the demographic predictions for White minority status, the fact that White Americans had been losing a lot of jobs because of American corporations’ outsourcing of factories and jobs to the rest of the world, you can understand how the stage was set for the Donald Trump presidency, clearly the result of fears and bigotry in America’s White majority population. They’re not ashamed about his game It is quite interesting to watch the people called Democrats, the liberal wing in the USA, how they run the gamut, so to speak, to find a reason or reasons why the man Donald Trump is now the leader of their country. They go here, there, and everywhere, and ignore the stark fact of too much LGBT. It must be a serious thing over there, this furor about how the dastardly Russians infiltrated the American political machine and warped the minds of the gullible people. They accept that their people will swallow a whale, or an elephant, if you package them right. It’s not right to laugh at anyone (especially not right to laugh at your friends), but I think we’re allowed to smile when we think of the one that installs presidents in our region, the one who makes numberless attempts to disrupt the Cuban government, getting a dose of their own medicine. Magistrate’s vehicle stolen and set on fire The vehicle of a Belize City magistrate was stolen, and then set on fire. Magistrate Shanti Morrison, 34, of Ladyville, told police that she parked her Ford Escape in front of her house at about 6:00 Saturday evening. At about 6:00 Sunday morning, she checked for her vehicle and it was nowhere to be found. Police were called and the search for the vehicle began. Yesterday morning, the Ford Escape was found on Chetumal Street Extension, completely destroyed by fire. Bus driver charged with wounding another bus driver A fight between two bus drivers who work for the same company, Lopez shuttle, resulted in one of them, Manuel Alonzo, suffering a wound to his face and the other, Aldoray Flowers, 35, being charged with wounding. Flowers, a resident of 1058 Chancellor Street, West Landivar, wanted to plead guilty to the charge with an explanation when he appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. He backed down on the guilty plea, however, when she told him that he could get a sentence of up to 7 years in prison for wounding. Abel Lara, 21, committed to stand trial for unlawful sexual intercourse At a preliminary inquiry that was held yesterday before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser without any consideration of the evidence, Abel Lara, 21, a resident of Ladyville charged with unlawful sexual intercourse, was committed to stand trial in the next session of the Supreme Court, which will commence on April 3. Before she committed him to stand trial, Chief Magistrate Fraser asked Lara if he had any witnesses he wished to call, and if so, to give her their names. Lara submitted the names of two witnesses, Sheree Robinson and Gerald Abraham. Michael Lemus, 18, offered bail of $1,500 After a heated political confrontation out west last week, an unrepresented Michael Lemus, 18, appeared before Magistrate Aretha Ford today in the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court. He pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated assault and two counts of use of threatening words. He was offered bail of $1,500 and ordered to return to court on April 5, 2018. Police reports revealed that last Thursday, Earl Trapp, the mayor of Santa Ignacio-Santa Elena, reported that at around 6:15 p.m. he was campaigning with several councilors on Alta Vista Street in San Ignacio Town when a taxi with Benque Viejo Del Carmen license plates stopped a few feet from them. Breaking Belize News PM Barrow departs country on personal leave The Office of the Prime Minister informs that Prime Minister Dean Barrow departed the country […] City and Town council nomination and election day announced Today, the Elections and Boundaries department announced that nomination of candidates for election in the […] New President of ‘Our Circle’ hails from San Ignacio, Cayo Today ‘Our Circle’, an LGBT-centered organization, welcomed its new president, Joshua George Munoz, a San […] Body found is that of missing GOB employee, Israel ‘Izzy’ Perez This morning BBN reported that the body of a person was found in Harmonyville, located […] Museum of Belize celebrates 16th Anniversary Yesterday, the Museum of Belize celebrated its 16th Anniversary. Annually, the Museum sees visits from […] Why World Cancer Day was important to Belize For some, Sunday, February 4, 2018, was just a regular day, but for those who […] Another high-end attorney hired by Government of Belize According to reports, the government of Belize has hired the services of another high-end attorney […] Body found in Harmonyville, Cayo According to reports, police have found the body of a person in Harmonyville, Cayo. Police […] Blogs Coconut Oil – Flavoring Belizean Cuisine Coconut oil is as synonymous to Belizean Cuisine as the tropical sea is to the Caribbean. While we surely enjoy every aspect of the coconut – its refreshingly sweet water, succulent meat and even use its husk and shell for crafts; the oil has to be my favorite use of this versatile drupe. Used in everything from stews to pastries and of course, our delicious Rice & Beans – coconut oil is a staple in most households – used to create that perfect family meal. This natural oil gives off a tropical aroma to kitchens across the country, and a true taste of Belize to your meal. International Sources 6 Great Places to Retire Where it’s Easy to Fit In When planning your retirement overseas, many factors come into play. Low costs, real estate, and healthcare are some of the main concerns…but what about being able to mix well with the community or make friends with the locals? If you can integrate easily in your new surroundings it will help to ensure that you feel safe, secure, and—most importantly—at home in your new home. IL’s recently published Annual Global Retirement Index takes all these aspects into account when rating and ranking its top retirement destinations. Because the sense of “fitting in” is so important when looking for an overseas retirement destination, it has been given its own category. Below are the six countries that came out on top: In a three-way tie for third place we have Belize. Belize is a gorgeous, welcoming country with one foot planted in the Caribbean, and the other in Central America. In Belize you can pick from locations and lifestyles, from a laidback seaside lifestyle on the coast, or on a caye (island), or at the foothills of the Maya Mountains, in an inland village, or remotely, surrounded by lush rainforest. Caye International Bank Honored with Award as Best Private Bank in Belize aye International Bank is proud to announce that it has been included in Global Finance Magazine's 2018 list of the World's Best Private Banks. The bank was listed as the best bank in Belize for the current year and has built an exceptional reputation for privacy, security, and financial stability in the international banking world. The prestigious award from Global Finance Magazine is based on a number of factors, including information collected from industry sources, public filings, company documents, and recommendations by analysts and consultants. Volcán de Fuego from Earth and space Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego began a new round of explosive activity on January 31, 2018. This volcano – located about 40 miles (70 km) west of Guatemala City – is known for its explosive activity, spreading ash plumes, and spectacular lava flows. This eruption was its first of 2018. It ended after about 20 hours of activity. Meanwhile, photographers on the ground were busy as well, taking in the dramatic show this volcano provides. Impact Justice continues effort to increase regional pool of restorative practices trainers The Canadian government funded Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice) project, is sponsoring a three-day training of trainers workshop in Belize City, Belize, from February 5 to 7, to certify six persons as restorative practices trainers. The workshop, which is the first part of the certification process, is being facilitated by the International Institute of Restorative Practices, Canada. Videos #DaretoJumpSweepstakes, 17min. on Open Your Eyes The State of Children - as told by through the eyes of Councilors, 38min. Open Your Eyes Belize Cancer Society - World Cancer Day, 47min. Open Your Eyes Wild pigs, 1min. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Dangriga Multipurpose Center, 45sec. The Culture Capital now has a new place for sports, cultural performances, and a home away from home in times of disaster. At 3.5 Million dollars, the new Dangriga Multipurpose Center is a welcomed addition! Snorkeling in Belize, 4min. Such beautiful coral and sea life! Snorkeling and Swimming with Sharks and Manta Rays in San Pedro, Belize, 5min. A dream came true.. ELIMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL BOWEN AND BOWEN NATIONAL SPELLING BEE COMPETITION HERE IN THE NORTH, 7min. Each year during the month of February, primary school students are provided with an opportunity to participate in the annual Bowen and Bowen National Spelling Bee Competition which welcomes top spellers from all districts to compete against each for a chance to be crowned as the national Spelling Bee Champion. PUP MAYORAL CANDIDATE RIGO VELLOS CHALLENGES UDP CANDIDATE RICHARD QUAN TO A DEBATE, 2min. Exactly 30 days are left for the municipal elections scheduled for March 7th and the political temperature in the north is incrementing feverishly on a daily basis. The political climate in Corozal Town got warmer yesterday when we met PUP Mayoral Candidate Rigo Vellos and members of his slate campaigning in the Santa Rita area of the Town, and Vellos seized the opportunity to challenge UDP Mayoral Candidate Richard Quan to a public debate. Vellos says the public deserves one. NATIONAL CRIME FIGHTING STRATEGY 2018 IS LAUNCHED, 14min. When it comes to murder count in the Jewel, 2017 stood as one of the highest in our history with 142 murders recorded at the end of the year. Those figures were only a few numbers shy of the deadliest year recorded in the past decade for our country, which was back in 2012 when the murder rate was up to one hundred and forty-five. Cinnamon hummingbird rain bath, 1min. Police Check Point Talk Show, 60min.