Today's Belize News: May 8, 2018

Print Thread

Today's Belize News: May 8, 2018 #530296 05/08/18 06:46 AM 05/08/18 06:46 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 83,938 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 2018 National Agriculture Trade Show- A grand success! Despite high levels of humidity and a baking sun, thousands of Belizeans and visitors alike attended the annual 2018 National Agriculture and Trade Show from Friday, April 27th to the 29th in the capital city of Belmopan. The three-day event was held under the theme ‘Let’s Get Growing,’ and saw hundreds of booths featuring local products, livestock displays, governmental and regional agencies, cultural presentations, mechanical rides, live music and lots to eat and drink among many more. At the end of the three days, authorities from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development, and Immigration deemed it as another successful show with a total of 37,461 visitors attending this year. Tiger Sharks take a bite out of the Digicell Defenders in first semi-final game In a hotly contested game against the Digicell Belize City Defenders, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks squeezed out a win in the first of three semi-finals matches of the 2018 National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) tournament. The island team is eying the big prize, having won all home games in the season. With one win left before the final round, the Tiger Sharks are eager to become the 2018 NEBL champions. Shortly after 9PM on Saturday, May 5th, both teams took over the court at Angel Nuñez Auditorium, trying to establish dominance. The visiting squad quickly went on the offensive, but by the end of the first quarter, the Tiger Sharks had a 21-17 lead. The Belize City Defenders rallied in the second quarter, and with the assistance from Captain Darwin ‘Puppy’ Leslie, they managed to overcome the island team. At halftime, the visiting team had a 45-42 lead as they retreated for the 10-minute intermission. Dia de la Cruz celebrated at the San Pedro House of Culture The island’s Catholic community celebrated ‘Dia de la Cruz,’ signaling the ending of the novenas on Thursday, May 3rd at the San Pedro House of Culture (SPHC). Also known as the feast of the Holy Cross, the event saw a large crowd singing, praying and delighting in the history of the Cross through an exhibit inside the House of Culture. Song and prayer led the event at 7PM, after which SPHC Director, Guillermo ‘Mito’ Paz explained how important the Holy Cross is to Catholics. A representation of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is believed that Jesus Christ died on a cross. Paz further shared that the practice of the celebration was brought to the island by the first settlers that came from the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. “They brought with them the tradition and crosses, and then they passed it on to their relatives so it could survive for generations,” said Paz. Ambergris Today Reef Week 2018 Kick Off With Swim To The Reef Hol Chan Marine Reserve is celebrating its 13th Annual Reef Week from Monday, May 7, 2018 to Sunday, May 13, 2018. A week filled with fun activities aimed to educate on preservation and conservation of our beautiful reef. Swimmers for the "Swim to the Reef" event swam from the Amigos del Mar Pier to the Reef and back! Hol Chan Marine Reserve would like to thank those who participated and invite the public to be a part of their week long events! Belize Embarks On Study To Measure Iodine Intake The Ministries of Health and Education in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Iodine Global Network, will carry out a survey to measure and report on the levels of iodine in children in Belize under a project entitled, “Caribbean Region Urinary Iodine and Sodium Study 2018”. Belize is one of the nine Caribbean countries participating in the project. Son Of The Late Paisano Hajjara Murdered In Belize City Island residents are saddened with the news of the passing Habib Hajjara, son the late Paisano Hajjara, and Belize’s latest victim of gun violence. According to reports, sometime around 3:47a.m. on Sunday, May 6, 2018, Belize Police responded to reports of shots being fired at the corner of Mahogany Street and Western Ave. On arrival police observed a silver Nissan Sentra, four door car with license plate # D7781 parked on the right hand side of Mahogany Street towards the direction of Complex Avenue. Inside the car was the motionless body of a Hispanic male person seated in the driver’s seat apparently dead. He was identified to be 36 year-old, Sbeiro Habib Hajjara, a Honduran, Taxi Driver of a Raccoon Street Belize City. Misc Belizean Sources NATIONAL TOUR GUIDE TRAINING Starts June 4th! Bowen & Bowen donates of two basketball backboards Thank you Bowen & Bowen, Ltd on the donation of two basketball backboards. Councilor Hector Tito Alamilla Jr. and Sports Coordinator Kent Bob Gabourel were on site to receive the donation. Stay tuned as to where these will be placed! Contract Signed for Construction of Airport Link Road The Government of Belize today signed a contract with CISCO Construction Ltd. in the sum of BZ$34,274,306.17 for the construction of the Airport Link Road. The proposed upgrades for the Airport Link Road include the construction of one high-level bridge, which will intersect at the George Price highway and cross the Belize River to intersect the airport access road near Gentrac Belize Ltd.; and the construction of earthen embankments, crushed gravel pavements, and two lanes (3.65 m) with shoulders (1.2 m) conforming to a 100kph design criteria. The bridge structure, which is designed to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standards, has a total span of 81.7 meters (3 spans at 26.7 m); a trafficable width of 12.05 meters; and is of a reinforced-concrete build. Belize Embarks on Study to Measure Iodine Intake The Ministries of Health and Education in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Iodine Global Network, will carry out a survey to measure and report on the levels of iodine in children in Belize under a project entitled, “Caribbean Region Urinary Iodine and Sodium Study 2018”. Belize is one of the nine Caribbean countries participating in the project. The survey will include approximately four hundred children, ages 6 to12 years, from four primary schools in the Belize, Stann Creek, and Corozal districts. Children’s height, weight, and head circumference will be measured and bodily fluid samples will be taken for laboratory test analysis. High command of Belize Police Department distributes lunch Region One of Eastern Division On Friday, May 4th, the Minister of National Security, Honorable John Saldivar; Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie and the high command of the Belize Police Department distributed lunch to all the police officers and soldiers on duty on Operation ACT in Region One of Eastern Division, Belize City. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Icetex Scholarship Programme 2018 Scholarship covers : * 100% Tuition * Monthly Living Expenses * Health Insurance * Courtesy Visa * Stipend for books and materials. 2018 Children's Environmental Poster Competition Metal Haven Acoustica III The Metal Haven Acoustica 3 is Saturday at the Soul Project. No Te Creo will be headlining, and their will be plenty of local talent, including Dai Luna. The Soul Project is the perfect spot for a small concert. Nighttime water interruptions in San Pedro Belize Water Services informs customers in San Pedro that water supply will be interrupted from 11:00pm to 4:00am weeknights in order to build storage for the day-time supply. Customers may also be experience low water pressure especially at peak times during the day. BWS apologizes for any inconvenience this is causing our customers in San Pedro. BTB at Passport DC 2018 For the month of May, we are excited to feature Deona Osiris Pilgrim as our Young Belizean Entrepreneur! Deona Osiris Pilgrim is an Artisan Shoe Maker and instructor who started Feet 2 Soles. She is a regular vendor at Corozal’s monthly Art in the Park. On weekends, Deona travels around #Belize, selling shoes at markets and gift shops. Being a creative person, Deona had always been a textile artist, well-versed in the art of creating batik, shibori, tie dye, and hand-painted clothing and jewelry. However, Deona also had an interest in fashionable shoes. After completing her formal training for Artisan Shoe Making and Design in May 2017, Deona realized that it was something she enjoyed doing and decided to pursue it as a career. When Deona’s friends learned of her newly acquired skills, they asked her to make footwear for them. Eventually, the word and Deona started receiving many request for shoes. Deona realized she wanted to work for herself doing what she loved, so in September of 2017 she opened her own small business Feet 2 Soles in Ranchito Village, Corozal. Dr Peter Schmidt passes away It is with regret that we announce the passing of Dr Peter Schmidt. Schmidt is a well known Mayanist. He was the second archaeological commissioner for Belize and has worked at sites in Belize including Cahal Pech and Xunantunich. May he rest in peace. Noches de Cuentos Folkloricos Come listen and learn about traditional Maya stories based on mythical legends that have haunted our generations for centuries. Friday May 11, 2018 at Sandy Hunter Library, Orange Walk Town. Its FREE!! San Pedro Smile Clinic hosting free exams May 10,11, 14,15 On Thursday and Friday, May 10 and 11th, and Monday and Tuesday, May 14th and 15th the San Pedro Smile Clinic located at the Holy Cross Anglican School will be hosting free dental exams. The clinic is open to all island children ages 16 and under and will be held from 8:30am till 3pm during these dates. Are you interested in a career at the United Nations? The UN Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is an exam held once a year for talented, highly qualified professionals to start their career as an international civil servant with the United Nations Secretariat. The list of participating countries and exam subjects have been announced! Find out more today Belize Signs Loan with IDB to Reduce Climate Vulnerability The Prime Minister of Belize, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, and Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Cassandra T. Rogers, today signed a loan contract for US$10 million that will seek to reduce Belize’s vulnerability to climate change and risk with the implementation of climate resilience measures in the tourism sector, and the improvement of disaster risk management governance. The project is a continuation of the Bank’s support for flood mitigation in Belize City, which included the Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Project, completed in 2017. Based on losses as a share of GDP, Belize is one of the countries most affected by extreme meteorological events –mostly hurricanes and tropical storms– in Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 1930 and 2016, the country has been hit by 16 major tropical storms, or one every five years on average, which affected 287,670 people and caused US$635 million in losses. The tourism sector is particularly vulnerable to climate risk, and the situation could worsen in the future due to climate change. COMMUNITY CLEAN UP - BOCA DEL RIO/SAN JUAN Wow! What a great turn out! On Saturday, May 5th at 6 o'clock in the morning, the San Pedro Town Council held its first Community Clean up in the Boca del Rio Area and the San Juan Area. The San Pedro Town Council Staff and volunteers were out at Boca del Rio bright and early, excited to keep la isla bonita clean! After a few hours of hard work, the team managed to take out loads of garbage-filled trash bags - which was very rewarding for the team. Thank you to Castillo's Hardware on the donation of six packs of garbage bags, which were used for the clean up. Look out for our next Community Clean Up date as we tackle another area! HELP JAMIR BEAT CANCER! Two weeks ago we told you the story of eleven-year-old Jamir Valentine, who was recently diagnosed with bone cancer. Valentine is the eldest son of performing artist Positive Vibes. Friends and family have been assisting to raise much needed funds to help Jamir get medical treatment. You can make your donations via the Gofund Me link. Be sure to share this post to help Jamir get the help he needs! Donation for macaw conservation A cheque totalling Bz$3763.26 was handed over to FCD for macaw conservation by Dr. Isabelle Durand of the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic. This donation was made possible through the Marathon event that took place in March. We thank all the runners and BWRC for making this donation possible International Musical Leader to Visit Belize in Educational Fieldwork Thanks to the Global Leaders Program (GLP), American cellist and composer Erin Busch will visit Belize City, Belize from May 20th – June 3rd to collaborate with the National Institute of Culture and History, Belize’s premiere cultural institution, and the National Youth Orchestra & Choir of Belize (NYOCB) an organization that builds civic capacity among the youth of Belize through the arts. Cellist and composer Erin Busch is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Temple University in Philadelphia, USA, where she earned both a BM in Music Composition and a MM in Music Composition and Cello Performance. Erin is a founding member of the Blue Line Quartet, and performs with regional orchestras including Symphony in C and the Philly Pops. Busch has had her works premiered at the Kimmel Center, the Temple Performing Arts Center, and other venues in the Philadelphia region. JESUS KEN A MAYA CAÑERO REVOLUTIONARY One of our Belizean Yucatec Maya brothers from the village of Xaibe in the Corozal district Jesus Ken . Jesus Ken is from Yucatec Maya descent and descendant from one of the most succesful Maya General Bernardino Ken(Cen) from the Maya army of Chan Santa Cruz during the Caste War .He is a Belizean cañero revolutionary who fought for the Caneros in northern Belize. Channel 7 Teenager Killed in St. Matthews It was another killing weekend - with three murders - two in Belize City and on in St. Matthew's village. That brings the murder total for the first 18 weeks of this year to a stunning 66 murders. So, regrettably, tonight, the headlines are about crime, and more crime - though we promise you, that's not the only thing on the news. We begin in St. Matthew's village where were shaken by violence this weekend. 19 year old Roni Casasola was gunned down in front of his family home at around 12:30 Saturday morning. His family says Casasola was loved in the village and that he did not deserve to meet his end like this - shot dead in his mother's yard. Courtney Weatherburne has more. Police Charge Roni’s Alleged Killer Now, police have a different version of events. They say the misunderstanding started at a bar in the village while the family says everything started in front of their house - not at the bar. But, regardless, of that difference in detail, the police have made headway in this case already. The alleged shooter turned himself in. Here is more from police. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Eastern Division: "Mango Creek police visited St. Mathews Village and upon visiting unnamed street in the village, they observe the motionless body of a male person on the StreetSide. That male person we understand that was at a bar in the village and where he had an argument with another male person and as a result the person who he had the argument with followed him whilst he came out of the bar and thereafter fired several shots at his direction." Working Man Murdered in Random Act of Ruthlessness We turn now to Belize City where two men were killed between Saturday night and Sunday morning. The first murder appears to be a textbook case of that overused phrase: "senseless murder". It happened in the Saint Martin's area and the victim was a working man with no ties to the streets. 43 year old Mechanic Daniel Guardado 43 was just out on a Saturday night - looking for a friend to show off his new motorbike. That's when a gunman - who was looking for someone else - seems to have decided to kill the first person he saw - and it was Guardado. Another Cabbie Killed And then early on Sunday morning - a taxi man was killed in the same St. Martin's area, probably about a quarter mile from where Guardado had been murdered. Well know taxi man Sbeiro Habib Hajjara was murdered at the corner of Mahogany Street and Western Avenue in the early hours of Saturday morning. Hajjara was out socializing at a popular club in Belize City when he left to drop a client home. Shortly after he was shot three times. Today Sahar Vasquez found out Hajjara was a loved taxi man, friend, and family member. 36-year-old taxi man Sberio Habib Hajjara would often start his morning by sending out cute GIFS or a positive voice message to his friends and family but now that positivity and charisma he once radiated are gone forever. Cops Have Few Clues on Habib Today the police told us what they know about that murder. According to them, it doesn't seem like he was robbed nor was he known to associate in any troubled activity. ASP Alejandro Cowo- OC, CIB: "They observed a gray in color Nissan car with taxi license plates facing towards the passport building. Upon closer inspection, inside the vehicle police observed a male person with several gunshot wounds to the body. He is a Honduran national. So far what police has gathered is that he was at one of the night clubs in Belize City and that he had picked up some passenger and was supposed to transport some passenger in the Mahogany area; and that is where his body was found. So far, we don't have any suspect and the motive is something that we are still trying to establish." Are The Innocent Being Targeted? So, there are no easy explanations for why Habib was killed. He's just another working man murdered - hours after another working man, Daniel Guardado, was murdered in the same area for no apparent reason. We asked police about the very worrying implication that innocent people are being targeted. Here's what the Deputy Police Commissioner had to say: Chester Williams - Deputy Commissioner of Police, Commander Operations: "While some may think that police effort should be able to avert any incident, we do not police the homes and the minds of people. When you have these murders that are not gang related, they are very difficult to predict..." Cops Working To Quell Gang Rivalries But, the cops say that they that they hope to have more success with the gang related murders and shootings, particularly those in the Port Loyola area - where 4 people were shot and one murdered in just 25 hours last week. 29 year-old Jason Sutherland was killed at his house on Central American Boulevard, which is only a few blocks away. Though it remains unconfirmed, there is reason for police to suspect that he was killed in some sort of gang rivalry. The Deputy Police Commissioner told us that police are trying end these conflicts. They are aware, however, that as soon as they help resolve one dispute, others sprout up to replace them very quickly. Here's how he explained the difficulties in trying to maintain a lasting peace: Three Vehicles Crash, One Life Lost There was a fatal 3 vehicle collision on the Western Highway this morning. It happened at mile 32 near Cheers restaurant. It was a terrible accident and Courtney Weatherburne has more from the scene. Crushed and mangled beyond recognition. The other truck craned on its side. Headless swine carcasses splayed on the pavement - cargo from one of the trucks. And not too far off, a BATSUB Truck lodged in the bushes. That was the scene at mile 32 on the Western Highway. The 3 vehicle collision happened around 10:45 this morning. The driver for one of the vehicles was killed due to the massive impact. Deceased Was A Farming Man Today at the scene, the media spoke to the deceased's brother. He is Pastor Ayala, the elder brother to 58 year old Miguel Ayala, the man who died in the crash. Pastor explained that he was driving the vehicles with the pigs:... Pastor Ayala, Brother of Deceased: "His left hand side everything is chopped off and I see the truck after it was hit it was tossed to the other side. The other vehicle I don't know if it was behind my brother or on the same lane and the truck stay at the middle. I am not sure." A New Road To Bridge Two Major Highways A 34 million Belize dollar contract has been signed for the construction of a major new thoroughfare. It's the Airport Link Road - which will go from mile eight on the Western Highway over to the Phillip Goldson International. Another one of those inscrutable Ministry of Works Press releases omits many major details - but we can tell you that the road will be eight kilometers, it will take two years to build and work should start in a month. It will include a high-level, 268 foot bridge, which will, quote, "intersect at the George Price highway and cross the Belize River to intersect the airport access road near Gentrac Belize Ltd." End quote. Price Alley Fire Is Costly On Friday a family of 11 lost their home in a vicious blaze. The fire happened minutes before midnight. The owner of the home 40-year-old Andrew Fuller woke up to the smell of smoke coming from the side of his home. He urgently called the fire department but by the time they got there the damage had already been done. According to Station Officer Smith, there were two structures on the property and one of them was an abandoned lot. That is where the fire started. Orin Smith - Station Officer, National Fire-Service: "We had 2 units responded to that location. On arrival at the scene, found was 2 wooden structures fully engulfed in flames. Following a brief sized up the fire department went into operation extinguishing that fire. As a result of that fire both structures were destroyed. Preliminary investigation revealed the fire originated from a structure that was 10 by 20 in size, elevated some 6 feet off ground, owned by a person who resides within the US. That structure, we understand had no occupant and no utility. The smaller structure behind it was occupied by a family of 11 that were left without a home as a result of this fire." Stove Caused Fire This afternoon at around two another fire occurred at the upper flat of Chinese vendors home on Central American Boulevard. Station Officer Orin Smith gave us a few details and it seems the fire was caused by a stove that was not properly turned off: Orin Smith - Station Officer, National Fire -Station: "On responding to that fire, arrival on scene, we saw smoke and flames coming from a window on that lower flat of a 2-story concrete structure. Preliminary investigation revealed that the lower flat was occupied as a shop by a Chinese vendor who occupied it. That individual had left the structure to retrieve their child at the school. That individual reported that prior to leaving the home there were doing some cooking and they had turned off the stove. Apparently, the stove was not fully turned off as a result, the fire destroyed the kitchen area of that structure. The upper flat was not damaged as a result of the fire" Man Survives Shooting on Blvd. At the top of the news, we told you about the 3 weekend murders. Well, there was another shooting in which a man was hurt, but very fortunately, he survived. On Sunday morning, 38 year-old Tyrone Stevens, a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard was at the Belikin Boulevard Shop, which is located at the corner of Central American and Jane Usher Boulevard. He was there to purchase several items when when he came under fire. GSU Got A Gun While Responding To Shooting The GSU has taken two more guns off the street. They found the first in an empty lot last night on Flamboyant St. in the St. Martin's area. It's silver CZ brand 9 millimeter pistol which was bundled up in a plastic bag. Today at the bi-weekly police press conference, the cops say that they actually came upon it while responding to reports of a shooting in the area: Tour Company Owner Wants Police To Arrest Bus Thief Early on Friday in Forest Home, which is just outside of Punta Gorda Town, a group of men stole two Blue Bird busses from Romero's Charter and Tours. The next morning one of the busses was found many miles away by Bladden - it had overturned. The next stolen bus was miraculously returned. Today, we spoke to Stephanie Romero who says they took a big loss - and they want the culprit arrested and charged: Man Accused of Incest With 13 Year Old Daughter A father was charged for incest today. The forty-two year old fisherman of a Faber's Road Extension address, who allegedly had sex with his 13 year old daughter appeared today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. He was denied bail because of the nature of the offence and he was remanded him into custody until August 7th. On May second, the girl and her mother reported to the police that some time in December 2017, she visited her father at his house and he had sex with her. PUC To BEL: Connect Caye Caulker To Grid As we told you last week - your light bill is going up - slightly - starting in July. The Public Utilities Commission issued its initial decision for BEL's annual review proceeding last week. It granted BEL a modest increase in the rate per kilowatt hour, but not quite what the utility had asked for. Today at a press conference, the PUC Chairman explained that one of the main reasons was BEL's slow movement on phasing out diesel generators on Caye Caulker:... Checking Your Child’s Iodine Intake You may know that iodine is a key nutrient for your body's normal function. Without it, you could develop a thyroid problem, known as goiter. And it is essential during pregnancy and infancy. But, the body doesn't produce iodine so you have to get it through your regular diet. Now, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education along with international partners will be carrying out a survey to measure the levels of Iodine in Belizean children. It's a regional project called the Caribbean Region Urinary Iodine and Sodium Study 2018 and it runs from today May 7th - to next week Thursday at four primary schools in the Belize, Stann Creek and Corozal Districts. IDB Sponsors 10 Million USD For Climate Change Belize is in the hurricane zone and along with other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean we have experienced serious storm damages. And that provides all the reason to invest more in climate change resilience. That's what the IDB has done. Today the government of Belize and the IDB signed a $10 million US dollar loan contract. As it states in the release the main focus is "to reduce Belize's vulnerability to climate change and risk with the implementation of climate resilience measures in the tourism sector, and the improvement of disaster risk management governance." Here is more from the signing. Take ‘Em to Church, Chester! Love them or hate them, the Gang Suppression Unit doesn't appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. For residents living in gang infested neighborhoods, they're viewed with deep suspicion and distrust, but some sectors of society, see them as the necessary hard buffer between the lawful and the lawless. For the police, they are a disciplined unit which performs. And, the police top brass displayed their support for the unit, yesterday, when they accompanied members of the controversial unit to a church service at Wesley on Albert Street. A Novel Way To Approach Conflict Resolution So, while the department shows unity with one of it's notorious units, they also want to play nice with the civil society organizations who want to lend a helping hand to address the problem of crime. It's on everyone's mind, and as we told you, it needs to be curbed as soon as possible before 2018 becomes the bloodiest year on record in Belize. Today, at the bi-weekly police press conference, the Eastern Regional Commander told us that he has set up a new Conflict Resolution Office at the Raccoon Street Police Station. Here's how he explained how it will work, and what it hopes to achieve: Channel 5 3 Weekend Murders: Daniel Guardado Executed on Partridge In Belize City, the murder count went up by two over the weekend and now stands at more than thirty. According to police an alarming sixty-six homicides have been recorded [...] Taxi Driver is Murdered in the City The second murder victim in the city is a taxi driver who was murdered at the corner of Mahogany Street and Western Avenue not far from where mechanic, Daniel Guardado, [...] In St. Matthew’s, Cayo, Determined Killer Pursued Roni Casasola In the wee hours of Sunday, the third murder in a period of twenty-four hours was recorded, this time in Saint Matthews Village in the Cayo District. Nineteen-year-old Roni Casasola [...] 3-Car Pileup Takes Miguel Ayala A fifty-eight-year-old father of eight from Valley of Peace perished on the George Price Highway this morning. Miguel Ayala, a handyman, was heading to Belize City this morning transporting meat; [...] Family Speaks Out on Death of Jason Sutherland The family of Jason Sutherland is still coming to terms with his murder which occurred last week Thursday. A gunman discharged as many as nine shots killing the twenty-nine-year-old Belize [...] Tyrone Stevens, Another Gun Victim A man was shot on the corner of Central American and Jane Usher Boulevards on Sunday morning around eight-thirty. Thirty-eight-year-old security guard Tyrone Stevens was outside a nearby grocery store [...] Police Say Gang Rivalry Shifted from Lake to Port The question everybody is asking now is, what’s driving all these violent crimes, and what can police in Belize City do to contain it? A few weeks ago, the headlines [...] Dangriga Protests Crime Spike; Police Offer Assurances This coming Thursday, there will be a peaceful demonstration in the evening in Dangriga. There were two murders and a shooting incident in a week’s span, sparking action from concerned [...] Minor Suspected in Bus Theft from Charter Service Late on Thursday evening into Friday morning, robbers stole two buses from Romero’s Charter Service in Forest Home village, Toledo District. The thieves took a forty-eight seater and a fifty-two [...] P.U.C. Approves Rate Increase for Electricity There is an old claim that nothing is certain but death and taxes. But for the past two years or so, it was virtually guaranteed that Belize Electricity Limited would [...] Cost of Power Increased; Consumers Decrease Use There are two reasons, according to the P.U.C., that B.E.L. is getting back some six million dollars in what are called “annual corrections” based on the most recent annual tariff [...] Why Caye Caulker Can Benefit from B.E.L. Linkup Residents of Caye Caulker village are powered by diesel generators – one of the few remaining areas in Belize not connected to Belize Electricity Limited’s power grid. The Public Utilities [...] B.W.S. Takes Regulator to Court Over Rate Decrease Back in January, the Public Utilities Commission issued a preliminary decision to lower rates for water and sewerage by an average of six point three nine percent from April of [...] Teachers to Withhold School Contributions in Payback for Salary Deduction President of the Belize National Teachers’ Union, Senator Elena Smith, has confirmed to News Five that the ten Union branches this weekend voted to withdraw donations and contributions to those [...] Mysterious Fire Wipes Out Andrew Fuller A Belize City man’s house burnt down on Friday night. Andrew Fuller lost everything when the fire destroyed his home on Price Alley off Victoria Street on north side Belize [...] Chinese Shop’s Kitchen Burns as Owner is Out There was another fire, but this one was contained rather quickly. It happened around twelve this afternoon today on Central American Boulevard in the lower flat of a commercial building. [...] Father Remanded for Incest with Daughter, 13 A forty-two-year-old fisherman is accused of incest with his daughter, thirteen years old. He was read the indictable charge before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford and no plea was taken. The [...] Accused Fraudster Nabbed by Police in Maskall Thirty-six-year-old Luis Velasquez faces judgment in the Supreme Court for a debt owed to a company even as he faces potential charges for alleged fraudulent activity. On the strength of [...] Intellectual Property and Industry Competitiveness BELTRAIDE, in partnership with the Belize Intellectual Property Office , Citrus Research and Education Institute of the Citrus Growers Association and World Intellectual Property Organization is hosting a three-day workshop [...] Are Our Kids Getting Enough Iodine and Salt? The Ministry of Health is undertaking a two week survey to measure and report on the levels of iodine in children in Belize. Four hundred school children between the ages [...] Controversial P.L.B. Championship Tops Sports Monday Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities…] LOVE FM Man loses home to fire Forty-one-year-old Andrew Fuller is lucky to be alive after he escaped a fire on Friday night. He was sound asleep in his house when he noticed smoke creeping into his home in Belize City. Fuller realized that his house was catching fire. Hipolito Novelo reports. The house was not insured. The value of the damages … Minor fire reported in Belize City The National Fire Service prevented a major fire this afternoon on Central American Boulevard in Belize City. Firefighters were called out to a store where smoke was seen originating from the lower flat of the two storey cement building. Fortunately, the fire was quickly controlled and extinguished before further damage was caused. Station Manager, Oren … GOB and Cisco construction sign $34M contract A contract valued at just over thirty-four million dollars was signed today between the Government of Belize and CISCO Construction Limited. The money will be used for the construction of the Airport Link Road. Works will include the construction of one high-level bridge, which will intersect at the George Price Highway and cross the Belize … PUC explains why your light bill will increase Lower revenues and a higher cost of power, these are the two main reasons why Belize Electricity Limited asked the Public Utilities Commission to increase electricity rates. As we told you last week, the PUC agreed with BEL but the figures differed. BEL recommended an increase from thirty six point nine-nine cents per kilowatt-hour to … Caribbean Region Urinary Iodine and Sodium Study 2018 being conducted in Belize In the next two weeks, approximately four hundred students between the ages 6 to 12 will participate in a survey to measure levels of iodine in children in Belize. The Ministries of Health and Education, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Iodine Global Network have joined … PLB football match causing controversy A decision by a referee during a football match for the Premier League of Belize Championship finals is causing much controversy in the football arena. Belize Defence Force Football Club has protested the decision by Referee Christopher Reid to determine a penalty goal by a BDF player against Verdes FC as illegal. BDF FC protested … Know your IP rights Laws which protect the rights to intellectual property do exist in Belize but are seldom enforced. In Belize BELIPO, the Belize Intellectual Property Organization is the entity responsible to administer the intellectual property legislation of Belize and promote knowledge of intellectual property law in Belize. Today BELIPO is one of the key players at a … The Reporter Traffic accident reported on George Price highway A traffic accident reportedly occurred sometime around 10:30 this morning on the George Price highway. The mishap occurred near Cheers Restaurant and Bar and involved two pickup trucks that crashed into each other and ended up off the side of the road. The Reporter will […] Breaking Belize News Thieves steal two buses in Forest Home village On Friday PGTV reported that thieves stole two buses from Romero’s charter service situated in Forest […] PUC justifies amended rate given to BEL Today the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) held a press conference at the Radisson Fort George Hotel […] Ministry of Health prepares to launch Iodine deficiency survey The Ministry of Health held a workshop today at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza, […] Airport link road contract signed for $34 million The Government of Belize today signed a contract with CISCO Construction Ltd. in the sum […] Belize signs $20 million loan with IDB to reduce climate vulnerability Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow, and Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), […] Climate change workshop to be held in Belize this week The National Climate Change Office (NCCO), which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture,Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, […] PUP holds 3 endorsement conventions over the weekend This past weekend, the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) held three endorsement conventions throughout the country. […] Police charge Dean Galvez with murder Over the weekend three men were shot and killed in Belize. We report that police […] BNTU stands firm against salary deductions The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) has voted to withdraw donations and contributions to those school managements […] Belizean student offered $120,000 scholarship to attend US university Maria “Paula” Salazar-Valiente, a student at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor Township, Michigan, who grew […] Three vehicles collide on George Price highway According to reports, there was a road traffic accident involving three vehicles near Mile 33 […] Positive Vibes seeking assistance for son battling cancer Garif Valentine, a father of four and musician popularly known as “Positive Vibes” received less […] Help Rotary Club complete Santa Elena park project The Rotary Park in Santa Elena town is used daily by neighboring children and students. […] Made in Belize Expo coming soon The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) will be hosting the first ever “Made […] Belize City students benefit from Project Smile Marie Calabrese is an American dentist who has volunteered her time to help […] Belize embarks on study to measure Iodine Intake The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in partnership with Pan American Health […] Blogs Let's keep Corozal a visitation Town Corozal, Belize is a quite slow paste growing town. Very limited things are happening around town, except those weekly bar activities, sports activities, visiting the touristical places of Corozal. Corozal has several spots to enjoy your day at the beach. Maimi Beach and Rainbow beach are both common to go visit on a Sunday. Corozal has stunning views when it comes to the month of May to September. And, we need to do our part to keep Corozal clean and tide. There's garbage bin that was installed around town for garbage to be thrown. Corozal are visited by many tourists coming to Corozal and we have more things for them to enjoy and visit. I was surprised this past weekend that there were tourists wandering around Corozal. Over on the weekend I saw a group of tourists riding on the bicycles along the beach. International Sources Mayfield Heights dentist travels to Belize to offer her services to children in need When dentist Dr. Marie Calabrese was completing her residency program at the Cleveland Clinic 20 years ago she spotted on the wall of the specialist with whom she was studying an article telling of doctors working abroad to help the underprivileged. "I thought then that that's what I wanted to do some day," she remembers today. That "some day" has come to pass -- twice -- and Calabrese has felt the experience so rewarding that she is looking forward to traveling and offering her services once more. Specifically, Calabrese has traveled, in 2016 and again in February of this year, to Belize City in Belize. Formerly known as British Honduras, and still a British commonwealth, Belize is located in Central America, along the Caribbean Sea. To the west of the city are jungles. BC High students build home in Belize Twelve Boston College High School juniors and school staff spent their April vacation helping construct a new home for Miss Florence, a 72-year-old woman in Belize. The group of volunteers went to Belize to assist an organization called “Hand in Hand Ministries” to build a home for a family in need, reflect on their place in the world, and pray together. Hand in Hand provides simple yet stable housing for people in Appalachia and Central America. The BC High group built the 349th house for the Hand in Hand Ministry Building for Change Program. This was Miss Florence’s first home ever. All she owned was a mat and the clothes on her back. BC High went beyond and bought her a mattress, sheets, a pillow and comforter. The boys gave Miss Florence a home and a place to rest. Videos Learning the basics of using a computer, 1min. Knowing the basics of using a computer is a key element in remaining competitiveness in today's job force. This is your chance to learn the basics about computers and increase your likelihood of landing a job! - Training runs from May 14-18th at BTEC on the ITVET Compound on Freetown Road in Belize City. - Pre-testing is required and can be done from May 7-9th at BTEC during normal work hours. - Computers will be provided during training. - To register, visit BTEC or call 223-0322. Victoria House, 2min. Jumping for JOY, 2.5min. Construction update for HOPE CarePoint in Belize. Scuba Diving in Belize (Great Blue Hole, Turneffe, and More!), 10min. Belize is an amazing scuba diving destination. You'll see more sea life than you can imagine and have the chance to dive down to 135 feet in the Great Blue Hole and the incredible clear waters of Turneffe Atoll. Link between Crime and Drugs Rise & Shine 7 May 2018, 90min. Belize Best Western Biltmore Plaza - Drink Specials, 14min. on Open Your Eyes National Nutrition and online Study in Belize, 26min. on Open Your Eyes The Belize Police Department & nternet Watch Foundation - Fight Online Crimes, 47min. on Open Your Eyes Canta DESPACITO imitando a 21 cantantes, 3min. Este 19 de Mayo se presenta por primera ves en La Isla Bonita - Francisco Puga. Boletos en venta por solamente $25.00 en Radio Arrecife. Sabado 19 de Mayo comensando a las 9pm en Paradise Theater. Alli nos vemos!!! MUSIC WEEK!!!!, min. Music Week is right around the corner. See what the Office of the Music Ambassador has planned for this year's celebration. MAY 17th,18th,19th, Belize City Civic Center. CRD Youth Resiliency Awards Profile: Adler Smith, 4min. The Community Rehabilitation Department in the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation held in first Youth Resiliency Awards on April 26th, 2018 where it honored 99 clients for the positive strides they have made to rise above adversity. See Resilient Youth Adler Smith's the video bio. We Found Neverland! (Disney Peter Pan), 10min. Who knew Neverland was in Belize? Turneffe Atoll, at least according to the Film Theory crew. Worth a watch for the interesting take on history. Cave Tubing Belize, 15min. San Ignacio, Belize: A Traditional Market, 2.5min. CSSC went fishing in and around Belize, 2.5min. Sharks at the beach of Half Moon Caye eating left overs of today's fishing expedition, ugh! Eight of us girls caught 26 fish within a couple of hours in the morning, not bad at all! We were very happy!