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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

Wolfe’s Woofer: Lottery Winner
“What a beautiful day!” said the man at the next table. “Is the weather this nice the whole year around?” “Usually,” I told him. I was sipping my morning coffee and reading my book at a table on the deck of the Holiday Hotel when I met Harvey, a tourist from the U.S. “For me, there’s more than the weather to make this a beautiful day,” he said. “My son is arriving this morning. He just won three million dollars in the New York state lottery.” “Wow! That’s a lot of money. Is he going to share with you?” “I should think so. His mother and I have devoted our lives to giving him the best we could on our limited income. It’s been a struggle but it’s finally paid off.” “Dad!”

Doctor Love: Depressed
Dear Doctor Love, All the time my daughter was growing up I encouraged her to get an education, to choose a good career and be financially stable before marrying and starting a family. She did that and now she is financially set and is living with her longtime partner. Now, she has decided that she does not want children at all. I am devastated. There are no grandchildren in my future and I have such a huge feeling of loss and sadness. When my friends talk about their grandkids or I see a photo on social media of my best friends’ pregnant daughter I almost cry. Instead of having children, my daughter travels all over the world, drives a luxury car and owns her condo and she says she doesn’t want to change all of that to have a baby. I expected to have little children laughing around my house in my old age and now that dream is gone. I won’t bake cookies with a little granddaughter. I won’t read to a grandson. This hurts so badly. What am I going to do? /s/Depressed

Misc Belizean Sources

mzz

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
MONDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2018: THE XUNANTUNICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS OPEN WITH PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ONLY AT THE FERRY. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

This is the most selfless, loving thing I've encountered all day
Yesterday, my faith in the good of mankind was renewed. This pelican showed up several days ago at the Iguana Reef Inn with its upper mandible (upper beak) broken almost clear through. It appeared as though someone had taken a machete to it. The pelican was unable to eat by itself as the beak would bend backward. So Eric Wilder, his staff, and hotel guests hand fed it sardines. It was clear to everyone that the pelican’s days in the wild would be limited. Yesterday, with long distance veterinary advice from Dale Wilson, Iguana Reef Inn hotel guests, staff, and visitors performed “surgery” on the beak on the beach in an effort to give this pelican another lease on life. They placed antibiotic ointment on the beak, fitted a PVC pipe to the beak, glued the beak together with a resin (using the PVC pipe to strengthen it), and used zip ties to keep the everything in place. The zip ties will be removed in a day or two. They then gave the pelican about 8 sardines (the first few were put down its throat to ensure that it had food in its belly) but the pelican was actually able to use his “new” beak and pick up fish on its own!! The pelican later went into the water and swam away, which we took as a good sign. Updates to come.

1st Belize National Research Conference
The 1st annual Belize National Research Conference will be held on the 21st and 22nd of March. The subjects range from education to history to technology to culture and anthropology. It'll be held at UB's Jaguar auditorium. "This conference is a forum for the public presentation of research which has been carried out or is ongoing in Belize. It is a joint initiative of NICH, Galen University, UB, and UWI Open Campus, and is being hosted under the theme: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN BELIZE."

Are you applying for the YLAI Professional Fellowship?
These are the YLAI Fast Facts you should know!

Reef Week Instagram Contest
The Reef Week Belize Instagram contest is underway! It’s the time to submit your photo(s) or video(s) to showcase the 2018 theme: Our Reef Rocks! Protect it! Don’t Neglect it! To submit your entry for the Reef Week Instagram Contest, you must simply: Tag Oceana Belize’s Instagram page (@oceana_bze) to original photos and videos that showcase the theme of Reef Week Belize 2018: “Our Reef Rocks! Protect it! Don’t Neglect it!” Show us an example of a before and after “change” you’re making in your community to positively impact Belize's economically important marine resources (see video for examples).

Pedro Carrillo telling stories
The Maya elder Pedro Carrillo from San Lazaro(Orange Walk) sharing stories to school children at Banquitas House of culture .

The Reporter

PUP convention sees massive turnout
The People’s United Party (PUP) held its much anticipated national convention in Belize city today, starting with a march through city streets, which drew a massive turnout and ended at the ITVET compound for speeches by party leaders. The parade started on Fabers Road and the crowd of party supporters stretched for several blocks. Party supporters marched with flags and banners down Central American Boulevard to the ITVET compound. PUP Leader, Johnny Briceno told the Reporter he was happy for the “monumental turnout” and said the turnout has set the stage for the PUP to win the upcoming municipal and general elections. Briceno estimated 15,000 supporters at the convention at its peak. The ITVET compound was filled to capacity during the rally.

Police department introduces new policy on ‘special duties’
The Belize Police Department, this week, announced changes to its policy on officers working ‘special duties’. The policy-change was influenced, in part, by the U.S. State Department’s 2017 report on Human Trafficking, which cited the department for dispatching officers to brothels that often employ human trafficking victims. The new policy requires proprietors to apply to formation commanders at least 72 hours prior to the event and include a description of specific duties and requested time frame. If approved, business owners will be given an invoice and payment must be made to the Treasury Department. The policy change follows the Human Trafficking report, which listed Belize as a Tier 3 country, the worst possible ranking, and worst among Central American nations. Belize was also recently put on a list of countries banned from applying for specific US work visas.

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Maya communities on the brink of food shortage due to climate change
By Valentino Shal: The village of San Benito Poite has found itself in desperation as acres of corn and beans have been washed away by unexpected flood waters last Thursday. The nearby Poite river usually floods but in the rainy season and so farmers who have their “matahambre” corn crop on the banks of the river were not expecting any flooding in February.

PUP holds massive national convention
Today, the People’s United Party (PUP) held its National Unity Convention in Belize city. The Opposition, PUP mobilized supporters from across the country. PUP leaders described it as ‘ the biggest convention in the history of Belize’.

Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin on the move?
According to reports from Guyanese newspaper, Demerara Waves, Chief Justice of Belize, Kenneth Benjamin, is being appointed as Chancellor by Guyana President, David Granger, despite rejection from the opposition leader in that country.

Can the Broken Belize Police Department Be Repaired?
Crime remains one of Belize’s most concerning issues. There were 142 murders in 2017, the second most in a year on record. The new year has already seen 18 murders, as of publishing of this article. It could be worse, sure, but certainly it can also be better as well.

Blogs

My Weekend on Ambergris Caye: Color, Color, Colors!
The island is absolutely hopping – new businesses are opening daily. Literally. The streets are full of tourists and golf carts and starting today with…dancing and paint. AND… CARNAVAL IN SAN PEDRO – a one of a kind holiday to party into Lent. Mardi Gras. The weather is absolutely gorgeous – the sky and water are sparkling…bluer than blue. Poco Loco Food Court opened on Thursday to lots of excitement. Shielded behind a fence for AGES, this business is smack dab in the middle of Front Street and every color of the rainbow. There are four…make that five stalls within the “food court” and lots of super cute seating. There is a creperie (which is not open yet but very soon), a burger spot, a “Mission style” burrito place, a bar and a salad spot. Here are my pictures.

International Sourcesizz

Wild X-rated Naughty Island holiday offers tourists a week on deserted island in Belize… and clothing is OPTIONAL
The luxurious 16-acre island off the coast of Belize will host 50 amorous couples for a week of debauchery. A "NAUGHTY Island" is offering an all-inclusive, "clothing optional" holiday to couples off the coast of Belize. But the chance for amorous couples to live out their fantasies does not come cheap, with villas costing up to £12,000 for the week-long stay. Organisers Naughty Nawlins have partnered with Dream Pleasure Tours for the adult couples only island takeover off the coastal town of Dangriga. "The island will be clothing optional just for our week, making this a once in a lifetime experience," it says on their website. It offers guests the chance to explore the island or spend the days on its "clothing optional beaches where turquoise water shimmers in the warm Belizean sun". The 16-acre island is said to be a 10-minute boat ride from the second largest barrier reef in the world.

Videos

  • A short little butterfly video for you, 1min.Ask about seeing the butterflies after you do the chocolate tour at the Cockscomb Basin entrance.

  • The Bad Bunnies Comparsas Group!, 2min. Sing, dance, and enjoy!

  • Las Pocahontas Comparsas Group!, 2min.

  • The great carnival of st. Peter! Long live the tradition!, 1min. El Gran Carnaval De San Pedro! Foam party and painting in full swing at the Central Park!

  • Dance performances at the official opening of the great carnival of San Pedro!, 1/2min. Long live the tradition!

  • Bad bunny is in San Pedro, happy Carnival., 1min. It's CARNAVAL time in San Pedro

  • Movimiento Las Nalgas, 5min. Mens’s Comparsa Carnaval 2018

  • San Pedro Carnaval 2018 Street Dancing, 15min.

  • PUP National Convention and Rally, 4hr.

  • Live from the corozal carnaval 2018., 9min.

  • Comparsas in Corozal., 1min.

  • Corozal comparsas at jammrock, 2min.

  • BTB Presents San Pedro 'La Isla Bonita", 2min. Welcome to Paradise... Your dream vacation awaits!

  • Belize 2018, 4min. The adventures continue...

  • "Into The Descent" (Scuba Diving Belize Barrier Reef & Travelling The World), 7min. Into The Descent is a video of why scuba diving is important to me including commentary done by the creator of RunningFromWinter (A travel blogger from Canada). Dive spots include The Great Blue Hole and surrounding dive spots on the Belize Barrier Reef. Thanks to Belize Diving Services for being a part of this amazing dive trip. Sea turtles, sting rays, reef sharks, amazing coral reef and even an eagle ray. What is scuba diving to me? It's my life.

  • Howler monkeys Belize, 4min. Visiting howler monkey preserve in Belize with great friends. Community Baboon Sanctuary in Bermudian Landing.

  • Belize 2017, 5min.

  • 6 way hybrid attempt Tsunami Exotic Boogie Skydive Caye Chapel Belize 11 Feb 2018, 1min. we didn't really make it, but we sure had fun!

  • Belize Service Trip, 13min. Bridgewater State University students travel to Belize City, Belize to take part in a service trip. Students spent the week at Saint John's Primary School engaging in classroom activities, playing with the students at lunch, partaking in a Photo Voice Project, and constructing a shade structure for lunch time.

  • Great Black-Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga), Crooked Tree, Belize. February 10, 2018., 1/2min.

  • Green-backed Sparrow (Arremonops chloronotus), Crooked Tree, Belize. February 10, 2018., 1/2min.

  • Wonderful Belize, 6min. A recent trip to Belize which featured pleasure cruising, deep sea fishing, snorkeling and crab hunting. Belize is a unique English speaking country in Latin America that is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was founded and settled by pirates and is a great place to be. There is only two seasons in Belize, Lobster or Conch. If you have not been you should go. If you have been, then you know.

  • Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), Crooked Tree, Belize, February 10, 2018., 1.5min. A Limpkin patrolling the edge of a wetland at dusk. A Northern Jacana walks in the foreground as Social Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher, Tropical Mockingbird and Limpkins call in the background.

  • Snorkeling in Belize, 4min.

  • Belize 2018, 24min.

  • Ecotourism In Belize Local Attitudes, 4min.

  • Freedom Fighters FC vs Belmopan Bandits SC, 2.5hr.