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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

San Pedro High School students win 2018 MOE Youth Innovation Challenge
San Pedro High School students Shanelly Gutierrez, Caroline Sersland, Alan Ayala, Rachel Alamilla and Josani Balam won the 2018 Ministry of Education's Youth Innovation Challenge competition, sponsored by Price Waterhouse Cooper and the international non-profit organization Peacework, at the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City on Wednesday, May 9th. The SPHS' students' innovative idea for their "Destination Tomorrow" project offered a cost-effective solution to simultaneously solve a major environmental problem plaguing Belize as a tourism destination, and earn cash! They proposed to clean up their island by recycling all the plastic bottles littering the landscape and floating up on the beaches, and to turn this plastic waste into cash by selling the bulk raw plastic to Bowen & Bowen Ltd, an environmentally corporate partner who already recycles all their own plastic bottles.

Annelyse Perdue wins 13th Annual Reef Week Trivia Competition
The 13th Annual Trivia Contest held as part of Hol Chan Marine Reserve's Reef Week activities saw the participation of various students from San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker. The competition was held at the Lions Den in San Pedro Town on Wednesday, May 11th, and La Isla Bonita Elementary School student Annelyse Perdue proved that she had the most knowledge of the marine ecosystem, taking the coveted first prize. 12 students from seven different schools showcased their knowledge of the reef. They are Angelo Marin and Jeidy Duran from San Pedro Roman Catholic School, Alexis Lawrence and Faye Chi from Ambergris Caye Elementary School, Annelyse Perdue from Isla Bonita Elementary School (IBES), Xavier Graham and Kimberly Houghton from Island Academy, Lora Cho and Karina Sothz from Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School (CCRCS), Camila Domergue from La Isla Carinosa Academy, Christian Cunil and Daniel Marin from New Horizon Seventh Day Adventist school (NHSDS).

Sargassum blamed for mass fish death on Ambergris Caye; Marine Environmentalists suggest solutions
An alarming number of fish were observed gasping for air and dying along the Boca del Rio beach north of San Pedro Town on the evening of May 7th. Several videos of the fish washing ashore went viral on social media as residents rushed to the beach to witness the rare occurrence. Among the casualties were puffer fish, sardines, needle nose fish, permit and large bonefish. Many marine environmentalists on the island are concerned about the situation, and knowing the possible cause of the incident, have weighed in on what can be done in order to prevent another similar occurrence.

Ambergris Today

Isla Bonita Elementary's Annelyse Perdue Wins Reef Week Trivia
Reef Week's Trivia Competition tested the wits of elementary school children on all things reef and the precious environment and animals that depend on it. Students of Caye Caulker R.C. School joined those from San Pedro at the San Pedro Lions Den for the fun and educational competition that took place this morning, Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Coming out on top after three rounds and a tie-breaker section, with an almost perfect score was Annelyse Perdue of Isla Bonita Elementary School. Rounding up the top three spots were Karina Sothz from Caye Caulker R.C. School in third place and Daniel Marin from New Horizon Academy in second place. Both of them won a Samsung tablet and a school bag full of supples. Annelyse won a laptop computer with carrying case, printer and speaker system.

Belize Signs Loan With IDB To Reduce Climate Vulnerability
On Monday, May 7, 2018, the Prime Minister of Belize, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, and Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Cassandra T. Rogers, 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.

Misc Belizean Sources

mzz

Belgian Chocolate Meets Belizean Cacao
On May 8, 2018, the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) hosted the official Welcome Event for the Belize Cacao Trade and Investment Mission that is taking place from 8 - 11 May, 2018 in Belize. This mission is being held in partnership with the Embassy of Belize, Brussels and the European Central America Chamber of Commerce (EURACEN) with a delegation of potential investors, buyers and technical experts from Belgium and the Netherlands. The mission will serve as a fundamental stepping stone to build linkages with Belizean cacao producers in further stimulating development and improvement in the national cacao industry.

BELTRAIDE Career Fair
Looking for employment or thinking of a career change? BELTRAIDE's career fair will feature more than 500 available jobs!

SISE HoC Marimba Dance Fundraiser
The SISE House of Culture is having their annual Marimba Dance fundraiser on Friday, May 25th. It'll be a marimba night, with Los Hijos del West, and other marimba players. They'll have food and drinks, fun, and dancing. Help out the HoC and have a wonderful time dancing the night away.

BTB at Passport DC 2018

Ambergris Caye Coastal Clean Up
Let's beautify San Pedro! Hol Chan is hosting Ambergris Caye Coastal Clean Up on Saturday, May 12th, to further preserve the environment during Reef Week 2018! Let's show our love once again for the paradise we live in by removing the pollution. We clean the reef, beaches, waterways, lagoon and mangroves to protect the environment as a WHOLE because it is all one connected ecosystem! If we take care of all the working parts, mother nature will continue to provide us with a paradise to enjoy and share with the world. Everyone is invited to the coastal clean up of the lagoon and waterways of San Pedro. Meeting place is at Hol Chan Dock by the gas station at 8:00 am.

Movie Night at KoKo King
Family Friday Movies are here!!!!!! Back by popular demand 'Captain Underpants' and to follow the new 'Wonder' with a beautiful social message for all our kids to follow!! As always, kids meals, popcorn and sodas!!! - Put it in your diary now!

Coming Soon,Complete Health Package
In collaboration with Caye Caulker's Health Fair, Dr. D's Clinic is excited to contribute quality care for the community by offering a Health Checkup Package on Tuesday May 15th. Promotional offer will include Laboratory tests, all for an affordable price.

Mother's Day Care Package @ Dr. D's Clinic
Saturday May 12th!!! * Medical Consultation with Dra. Cruz * Clinical Breast Exam * Education on Self Breast Examination * Pap Smear BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!!! PLEASE CALL (226-0911/ 620-2369)

San Pedro High School wins Innovators Challenge Competition
San Pedro High School just won first place at the Innovators Challenge Competition. Second Place: E.P. Yorke. Third place tie: Belize High School and Ocean Academy. All schools did an excellent job! More details of the competition coming. Congrats SPHS!!

Workshop in Belmopan on Vector control
The Vector Control Unit in collaboration with PAHO is conducting a two day workshop in Belmopan with Vector control, Public health Inspector and Surveillance personnel of the Epidemiology Unit to finalize details of a National Action Plan for Malaria Elimination in Belize. The aim is to reach the goal of Malaria Elimination by 2020 and certification by 2022. For more information contact: Kim Bautista, Chief of Operations, Vector Control Unit, Moh.

Reviewing Belize's Draft Trade Policy
Yesterday, the Directorate General for Foreign Trade met with its Public Sector Partners to review Belize's Draft Trade Policy, in preparation for the final stages of the policy development process. The Trade Policy development process commenced in 2017 following the launch of the Cabinet approved National Trade Policy Framework (NTPF) in June 2016. The GOB secured Technical Assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat under the Hub and Spokes II Programme which is aimed at Enhancing Trade Capacity Development in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). Through this programme, Belize has been provided with a National Trade Adviser (NTA), who among other functions is leading the National Trade Policy development process.

FOrum on Chactemal Murals & Maya Society of Ancient Chactemal
A tremendous lot of energy and generous support has gone into preparing the most dynamic and academic encounter that has ever been planned and assembled in Beautiful Corozal town, Belize. Please join The Maya cultural groups To'one Masehualoon NGO and The Northern Maya Association of Belize for a ground breaking academic and cultural experiences as we explore the hidden secrets of The Murals of Chactemal a Santa Rita Hill, Corozal town, Belize. See the complete expression of the Maya culture as we merge the material aspects of the discussion on the murals with the spiritual expression and traditions as reflected in the hetzmek ceremony, The Pok ta Pok Maya ball game, The maya wedding ceremony reenactment and a real and legal Maya wedding. A profuse Thank you to our generous supporters, NICH Belize, Institute of Archeology of Belize and Professor Ben Backus PhD New York, USA.

Cristo Rey River Fest
The Cristo Rey Village Council is having their first River Fest and Expo on Sunday, May 20th. They'll have water activities, races, food, entertainment, and eating contests. "Cristo Rey first Annual River Festival and Expo Fair. All Roads leads to Cristo Rey on May 20, 2018. MAKE IT A DATE!! DON'T MISS IT!!"

Belize at Around the World Tour- Passport DC
The Belize Hotel Association proudly represented Belize at the Passport DC, Around the World Tour, which was held on Saturday May 5, in Washington DC. This annual event is organized by Cultural Tourism DC, and allows for Embassies within the area, to open their doors to visitors, so they can enjoy cultural presentations, music, food , and learn about the tourism attractions of each participating Embassy's country. The Belize Hotel Association and several other local organizations and companies, were invited by the Embassy of Belize in Washington to showcase our beautiful country. Alongside these representatives, hundreds of guests were welcomed all day, by our Ambassador of Belize to the U.S.A, H.E. Daniel Gutierrez, our Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. and our Director of Tourism Mrs. Karen Bevans.

History of Fisheries
San Pedro House of Culture hosts History of Fisheries during Reef Week Fair! The National Istitute of Culture and History (NICH), through the Museum of Belize and the San Pedro House of Culture invites you to the "History of Fisheries" exhibit launch at the 13th Annual Reef Week Fair. Thursday May 10th, at 9:00 AM we showcase the exhibit " The Reef helps to define Belize's Culture & Traditions".

Belize Constitution: Schedule Defining Belize. Land and Sea
LET'S NOW DEAL WITH THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTIONS . Is the I.C.J. Authorized to alter the Belize Constitution ? - NO ! Is any ruling by the I.C.J. on Our Sovereignty valid ? - NO ! Can the I.C.J. alter our Territorial Integrity ? - -- - - - - - - -- - NO ! SO WHY THE HELL SHOULD WE GO TO THE ICJ ? In answering the three questions above, I invite you to read very CAREFULLY what our Constitution says on these questions. PART VI, Section 69 (3) House of Representatives. - - I quote. " A Bill to alter this Section, Schedule 2 to this Constitution or any of the provisions of this Constitution specified in that Schedule, shall not be regarded as being passed by the House of Representatives, UNLESS on its final reading in the House, the Bill is supported by the votes of not less than Three Quarters ( THREE QUARTERS ) of all the members of the House. "

Channel 7

Fired City Admin. Says She Was Wrongfully Terminated
City Administrator Candice Miller was terminated yesterday. It's one more chapter of what may have been a firing foretold. That's because ever since Miller signed a new four year contract in September 2017 - she has been at the center of political controversy. Her contract became part of the PUP's campaign to "clean up" city hall - so much so, that when they were elected - there was enormous pressure to send her home - along with that much talked about contract. And, so it has been done. But, that's far from the end of the story. Miller granted us an interview this evening saying, and giving us documents to prove, that she was wrongfully terminated. She told us that there's no validity to the three grounds given for her dismissal because she operated by the books:

CWU President Criticizes CITCO Firings Of Union Members
So, while that's the position of the now former City Administrator, there are 5 other employees who are also without a job at this time. 2 out of the 5 are presently members of the Christian Workers Union, and in disciplinary matters such as their termination yesterday, the CWU leadership was to have been notified. That didn't happen, and so they immediately reached out to their President, Evan "Mose" Hyde, and his team for consultation. It makes for an interesting dynamic that in his capacity as CWU President, HYDE suddenly becomes an adversary of his brother-in-law, Mayor Bernard Wagner - who is married to Hyde's sister.

Faber Denies Giving Order To Dock Teachers' Salaries
It's been in the news recently that the Ministry of Education and some school managements, plan to dock the salaries of the teachers who took part in the anti-crime rally in March. Today we asked the Minister of Education about it and he said it's fake news - he never directed that any teachers' salary be docked - but that's not the whole story, here's more:... Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education, Youth, Sport, and Culture/Deputy Prime Minister: "I am looking very carefully, I have seen that one newspaper has gone on record on the front page, this is the Amandala newspaper to say that Faber wants to dock the salaries of teachers and another media house I believe channel five, I can't say definitively who has blamed the ministry of education..."

Faber Says BNTU Won't Pay For Teachers' Day
But it seems there's more trouble ahead between the teacher's union and the Ministry. Next week Friday is Teachers day and this year teachers all over the country are expected to converge on the Belize City Civic centre for a national celebration. But the eager anticipation is slowly turning into grim foreboding. And the dispute is over dollars. The Teachers union is expected to put one-third of the money to cover the day's expense but they are saying that they just don't have the finances to cover their part. The Minister of Education said he is not very pleased about the situation.

Mayor Says "Restructuring" Necessary At City Hall
At the top of the news - you saw our interview with the City Administrator who's been fired, and you heard from the President of the CWU - who says due process was not given to the two union members who were fired from city hall. Just a few minutes ago, the City Council sent its own statement saying, quote, "...two weeks ago….The Mayor reported on the poor fiscal condition of the council's finances. He articulated clearly, restructuring was an inevitable and necessary component to achieve financial stability and the fulfillment of the council's mandate….After more than two months reviewing of the departmental structures….the council made the decision to part ways with five staff members….responsible and transparent administration of the city will always be at the forefront of all decision making, as we continue with the organizational restructuring." End quote.

Policing and Priests Try to Increase the Peace
Yesterday we showed you prison inmates enlisted by Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett clearing the bushy lots on Jane Usher Boulevard. The area has been a hot zone for crime recently. Today the police work continued but this time with a different twist: Deputy Compol Chester Williams teamed up with Church pastors to go on a different kind of meet and greet - finding a safe space between policing and praying. We were there and found out more about their message: Chester Williams - Deputy Compol: "Today we have the Council of Evangelical Churches who are with us today and we are in the Jane Usher, Freedom Street, Loyd Bevans, and Unity Street area. We have three pastors with us today and each of them has an area that they have been assigned to so as to be able to minister to those persons in the area..."

Policing Gang Warfare Like Fighting Fires With Water Pistols
And while they pray for peace - the police must always prepare to contain gang warfare. We asked Williams about the ongoing crime in this area and he said they are taking measures to turn the city around but sometimes rivalries flare up unexpectedly. Chester Williams - Deputy Compol: "Our crime fighting strategy continues, we continue to look at it. It is something that keeps growing, we need to always revisit it to see where we can make adjustments. And, yes we have had a few spikes in between but those are always expected. You would understand that whenever there is a gang flare-up that it will require additional police activities where the flare-up is occurring..."

Ready For Re-Registration?
Re-registration isn't been delayed for ten whole years - but after months of debate - it's finally happening. The Governor General has issued the proclamation for re-registration to commence countrywide on July first. "We expect that registration centers across country will be opened on the 2nd of July 2018. Basically, we encourage all the persons who have been registered to come out and reregister. Persons who have not yet registered and qualify to be registered, to come out and register. Persons who suffer from old age or some physical incapacity, those persons can contact the registering officers countrywide and we will reach out to those person to accept their applications. When it comes to qualifications, the persons who qualify to get registered and to reregister..."

FCD Says "Yes" Vote Emboldening Incursions By Guats
Last month, we took you to Guatemala City to show you how the majority of the 26% of the Guatemalan Electorate who did show up voted "yes" to the ICJ. Well, the Friends for Conservation and Development are reporting tonight that this "yes" vote is creating worrisome incursions in the Chiquibul. The FCD says that a group of their rangers were on patrol yesterday in the Southern Chiquibul, when they discovered a "complex array of human activities". They found that this area, which is better known as South Cebada, had fresh survey lines, and plantations of beans, corn, and bananas. These clearings, which were done by Guatemalan farmers, went as far as 2.7 kilometers in the Chiquibul, which is Belizean territory. The have reason to suspect that these farmers are from San Marcos and Las Brisa de Chiquibul. Aerial recon missions indicate that the recent human activity is escalating.

Sunshine Case Starts
3 months ago, we told you fight between the Government controlled company, Sunshine Holdings Limited and the Ashcroft Alliance. They're in court over compensation money that the Government paid the Alliance in the half a billion-dollar settlement for the BTL acquisition of 2009. Today, Justice Courtney Abel heard opening arguments in a 3-day trial to determine just who should have been paid, and who should not. As viewers are aware, it has been over 8 years that the Barrow Government and the Ashcroft Alliance has been fighting over the nationalizations. Last year, in November, GOB finally finished paying off the settlement, but not long after that, Sunshine Holdings began crying foul.

Youth Make Sense Of Social Problems
Literacy and Financial Security was the theme of this year's Youth Innovation Challenge. High school students spent months coming up with a single fix for language and financial literacy. Today, those months of hard work came to the ultimate test, The youngsters showcased their solutions at today's competition. We were there and got to hear more from the young problem solvers. In the past, the Youth Innovation challenge has presented high school students with the task of solving massive problems like crime and youth unemployment. The students always seem to come up with ingenious ideas and solutions, making it hard for judges to even pick a winner and this year was no different. This time around the brilliant young minds had come up with a way to demonstrate how knowing to read and write can assist a person in having financial security down the road.

Weed In Teakettle Truck-Back
Police made a major marijuana bust in Teakettle Village. At about 2:00 this afternoon, the cops were on a joint operation when they came upon a vehicle of interest. The driver of this truck, a blue Great Wall Wingle, spotted the cops closing in, and he attempted to evade them. He ended up crashing into a hill, and before the cops could get close, the occupants abandoned the vehicle and ran into the nearby bushes. The cops searched the vehicle and found 1 crocus sack, which loaded with 40 pounds of weed. They also found another sack with 20 more pounds. Both the drugs and the vehicle were taken into custody, and the cops later found out that the truck is actually a rental.

First Coke Planes, Now Boats Bound For Bz?
In more drug news…the Honduran Press is reporting that their coast guard intercepted a narco vessel headed for Belize, and loaded with 700 pounds of cocaine. The authorities reportedly made the discovery on Sunday, April 29. The vessel, "Angeline", flying the Panamanian national flag, was intercepted by the Honduran military and police in Puerto Castillo, Colon, Honduras. The crew included 2 Colombians and 2 Hondurans. Press reports indicate that they were initially released because nothing illegal was found on the first search of the vessel.

Did Alleged Conman Catch The Cops?
He's so clever he even conned the cops! Last Friday, Luis Velasquez was taken to court after he was nabbed in Maskall Village. He was wanted by the Supreme Court for fraud, in a debt of $40,000 owed to L and R Liquors. We spoke to one man who says you can add 600 dollars to that: Voice of: Man who signed up for bartending course "I contact him through Facebook trying to get certified trained to be a bartender." Jules Vasquez reporting: This is Luis Velasquez's Facebook page - which looks top notch - he's worked with BTEC, and as the page suggests he even mixed a cocktail for Prince Harry. So our interview subject happily paid: Voice of: Man who claims he was conned: "We came to an agreement and we met. That same day I paid him $600. You can see the receipt right there, in cash full." And that is when police showed up.

Patt Family Wants Men Charged For Beating
Tonight, a family from Caledonia village is very concerned about their loved one who is on life support. Demetrio Patt was in an accident in Trial Farm on April 27th - but his family says it's not the accident which caused his injuries, but a beatdown by the men who own the car he crashed into. After that Patt was hospitalized at the KHMH with a head injury - and tonight he is only surviving on life support. The family says they begged police to take a statement form him when he was conscious but they refused. They want the men who harmed him to be charged.

Channel 5

Sunshine Holdings Makes Challenge for Piece of B.T.L. Compensation
After being halted at the Caribbean Court of Justice, Sunshine Holdings Limited, which owned over eleven million shares in Belize Telemedia Limited, is taking its case for compensation for the [...]

C.W.U. Intervenes on Behalf of 2 Fired CitCo Employees
The uproar continues tonight over the terminations of six employees of the Belize City Council on Tuesday. They were sent home without warning and, according to at least one letter [...]...

Was Cecil Jenkins' Termination Due to Political Plans?
Like his fellow employees, Jenkins, who had been at City Hall for twelve years, has no idea why he was in the firing line. But he suspects a particular reason [...]...

U.D.P. Warns More Firings to Come
The United Democratic Party has thrown its support behind the fired employees, claiming in a press release that more firings are to come because it is aware of what it [...]...

Nothing for National Teachers' Day?
May eighteenth has been set aside as National Teachers Day, in honor of the many contributions educators have made towards the development of the nation.� Across the country, schools will [...]...

B.N.T.U. Explains Spending and Teachers' Day Plans
While the education minister blames B.N.T.U.'s dropping out on a lack of willingness to participate financially, the union president says that significant funds have been spent documenting the plight of [...]...

Teachers’ Day Plans Still Being Reviewed
Notwithstanding the bad news, Faber says that other avenues are being explored in order to make good on his promise.   Patrick Faber, Minister of Education "Given that news that [...]...

Procedures Not Followed, but Minister Washes Hands of Salary Deduction
The tangle between the B.N.T.U. and the respective schools management over salary deductions stemming from a planned but unsanctioned anti-violence rally back in March is free of the Ministry of [...]...

Jamaica, Buoyed by Refinery, Lower Gas Prices
There's news about a reduction in gas prices tonight, but don't jump up and down - because it's not in Belize. The Jamaica Gleaner reports that prices in that island [...]...

Re-registration is Almost Here; Elections and Boundaries Meets the Press
The re-registration exercise commences on July first of this year and will conclude at the end of December. This exercise prefaces the ICJ referendum on April tenth of next year [...]...

Weeding Out Names from the Voters' List
The purpose of re-registration is to clean up the voters list. As of April, there are two hundred and four thousand, eight hundred and two persons on the list and [...]...

How Budget of $8 Million is Prepared
It is going to be a big task, as the last re-registration happened back in 1997. And with its scope and size to clean up the national voter list, comes [...]...

F.C.D. Sounds Alarm on New Border Activity in Chiquibul
The result of the recent referendum on taking the unfounded Guatemalan claim on Belize to the International Court of Justice in Guatemala has led to a renewed assault on Belizean [...]...

Man Admits Death Threats, Attack on Ex
It is considered a lesser offense, but a domestic dispute escalated to the courts after Moises Flores of Holy Emmanuel Street admitted to threatening his former partner with her life. [...]...

Going "Outback" in Crooked Tree
The popular proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," was the message behind an initiative carried out today by Region One Commander, Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett and Crooked [...]...

Preaching Financial Literacy to Youths
Ten high schools took part in the fifth Youth Innovation Challenge held at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex in Belize City. The students are honing their skills at this early [...]...

Evangelical Churches Join Police Meet and Greet
Cops and Churches are working together to curb crime. Today, in the weekly meet and greet sessions, police officers were accompanied by three pastors of the Evangelical Churches. We caught [...]...

Official Conflict Resolution Office Formed by Police
Conflict resolution is high on the police department's agenda when dealing with rival gangs in Belize City.� For the most part, the crime and violence that continue to plague the [...]...

CitCo Fires 6 including City Administrator Candice Miller
Two months after first entering office, the Belize City Council has begun clearing house, starting at the very top. �News Five has confirmed that there were six terminations by the [...]...

Honduras Stops Ship with Cocaine Cargo Headed to Belize
We have been reporting on the frequency of suspected drug planes - at least seven since November 2017 - landing in northern and central Belize. The abandoned planes are usually [...]...

5 Belizeans Held for Not Declaring Money Allegedly Tainted by Drugs
There's another bust that has given Belize a black eye in the international press. A judge in El Salvador has ordered further detention for seven persons, including five Belizeans, who [...]...

Dean Galvez to Court for Murder of Roni Casasola
A Saint Matthew's villager was escorted by police to a courtroom in Belmopan this morning and arraigned for murder. Twenty-one-year-old Dean Galvez was well-known to murder victim, Roni Casasola who [...]...

Mom Mourns Only Son Habib Hajjara, Lost to Gun Violence
Thirty-six-year-old Habib Hajjara was ruthlessly done away with inside his taxicab on Sunday morning when someone shot him at point-blank multiple times while driving his vehicle along Mahogany Street.� The [...]...

Eric Mendez Charged in Attempted Murder of Tyrone Stevens
An air-conditioning technician is accused of the attempted murder of a Belize City man on Sunday. Thirty-eight-year-old Tyrone Stevens remains in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, but he has identified [...]...

Where Will the Teachers Be on Teachers' Day?
Teachers Day is quickly approaching; this year, the activities are intended to step up to a national celebration which will bring six thousand teachers from all over the country under [...]...

LOVE FM

Stiff penalties for false information
In speaking with the media, Chief Elections Officer, Josephine Tamai cautioned that individuals can incur penalties for giving false information in attempting to re-register. Josephine Tamai - Chief Elections Officer, Election & Boundaries: "When the list is published I would like for persons like yourself to view that lists, to look to see if you have �

Political parties will play a key role in re-registration
The Chief Elections Officer said that the success of the national re-registration exercise depends on every individual. However, she admitted that the political parties play a crucial role in executing the process since they have the ability to mobilize persons. Josephine Tamai - Chief Elections Officer, Election & Boundaries: "We have met with the political parties, �

NGC keeping Garinagu's culture alive
The National Garifuna Council (NGC) was formed to help keep the culture alive and improve the livelihood of Garinagu. Sandra Miranda, President of the NGC spoke with Love News about some of the accomplishments of the NGC over the years. Sandra Miranda - President of NGC: "We've done a lot of promoting the culture at �

Churches join police in efforts to curb crime
Today saw the birth of a new partnership between the Police Department and the churches in Belize. As we have reported before, the department, in its efforts to curb the ongoing gun violence in Belize City, has been embarking on a number of community oriented initiatives. One of the partnerships they had been seeking was �

Ministry of Education wants students to learn financial literacy
In Belize, most young adults are forced to learn financial management after being hired for the first time. A few must learn to do so while studying, but often times without proper guidance leading them to dabble in risky financial behaviors. It is one of the many things that is not taught in schools, but �

Still no justice for Barranco
Last month, the villagers of Barranco met with the Chief Forest Officer, Wilber Sabido, in the hope of getting approval for logging license concessions for five applicants who had been denied. However, in the meeting, they learnt that not only would they not be getting their licenses, but another person, Ruperto Blanco, who is not �

BNTU will not pay a cent towards Teacher's Day celebrations at Civic
It is expected that the Civic Center on May 18 will be packed to maximum capacity with teachers from across the country. The venue has been selected to be the place where more than six thousand teachers will be for Teacher's Day which will be celebrated on a national level. But who is paying for the �

CWU writes CITCO over terminated employees
Six employees were laid off by the Belize City Council yesterday. Two of those employees are members of the Christian Workers Union (CWU). In an updated statement, CWU President, Mose Hyde told Love News that the union "does not believe due process was afforded our members and it has sent letters to the City Council �

Long over-due re-registration final set to take place
There have been numerous calls for the voters' list to be cleaned up, especially in view of the upcoming referendum on taking the Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice. The re-registration process is long overdue and today, Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai said the process will begin on July 2. However, the process �

No Guatemalan should be granted Belize Citizenship, says BNTU
Guatemalans should not be granted Belizean citizenship, this is the position of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (BCCI) the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB). For the past few weeks, Love News has been reporting that the BCCI has written to several government representatives including the �

Former Contractor General attempts to submit missing reports
Love News has confirmed that at the end of April the former Contractor General, Godwin Arzu attempted to file his missing annual reports. Arzu's contract as Contractor General was not renewed by the Government at the end of 2017 after Senators pointed out that he had not submitted reports since 2012 as mandated by the law...

BNTU leaves teachers to vote their conscience for ICJ Referendum
The Belize National Teachers Union, BNTU, will not be putting forward a national position on whether or not to take Guatemala's dispute to be resolved by the International Court of Justice, ICJ. Belize will hold its referendum on April 10, 2019. President, Senator Elena Smith says that teachers will be left to vote with their conscious and understanding of the matter.

Stepfather allegedly rapes step daughter
A fourteen-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her stepfather. Accompanied by her mother, the teenager told San Ignacio police that in March 2018, her stepfather had "sexual intercourse with her against her will". Authorities say "that a medical examination is yet to be considered and police are investigating."

BNTU waiting for Proposal 22 negotiations to conclude
The Government of Belize and three unions namely the Public Service Union (PSU), the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM), and the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) have yet to finalize negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement...

Maya Leaders continue to push to have government honor the Consent Order handed down by the CCJ
The Maya leaders of Maya communities in Southern Belize continue their fight towards the guaranteeing of land titles to the Maya people. Monica Magnusson, the attorney representing the 39 communities in the case at the Caribbean Court of Justice, presented a statement at the 17th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, UNPFII...

Fireman charged with armed robbery in Corozal Town
A firefighter has pled guilty to armed robbery in Corozal. (VO STARTS) 28-year old Anthony Alexander Patnett is accused of robbing China Store located on 7th Avenue on Saturday afternoon. According to reports, a masked robber arrived on a bicycle brandishing a firearm which he pointed at the Chinese grocer...

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Hopkins Mango fest coming soon
Hopkins Mangu (mango in Garifuna) Fest will be held on June 2 and 3 in Hopkins [�]

Fireman from Corozal freezone charged for armed robbery
On Saturday afternoon, a lone gunman entered China Store on 7th Avenue, Corozal and held [�]

Mexican Cultural Institute to host art showcase
The Embassy of Mexico in Belize today announced that in partnership with the Belize District [�]

700 pounds of cocaine almost entered into Belize
Honduran media outlets are reporting that over 700 pounds of cocaine was destined for Belize [�]

AC technician charged for attempted murder
On Sunday morning, BBN reported on a shooting incident that occurred at the corner of [�]

Two more dead manatees found this week
Yesterday, conservationists reported seeing a large dead manatee with its intestines hanging out, floating down the [�]

Dead fish wash up on beach and river bank
BBN readers have shared with us some videos of dead fish washing up along the [�]

Belizean football coaches attend training
Belizean coaches are attending a five-day international training course at the Footabll Federation of Belize (FFB) [�]

Five Belizeans remanded to El Salvador prison for money laundering
Five Belizeans accused of money laundering in El Salvador, will not make [�]

Blogs

Don't Stop Belizing! Hold Onto This 8-day Belize Itinerary
It's hard to believe that paradise could exist on Earth - until you travel to Belize. This part-Central American, part-Caribbean dream destination has everything you could ever want in a vacation: luxurious beaches, unique culture, thrilling adventure, natural beauty, and so much more. Though no sane person would ever want their Belize vacation to stop, few Americans have more than 10 days to devote to a trip. Thus, without further ado, here's your 8-day itinerary for an amazing Belize vacation.

The Best Mayan Ruins in Belize
The Mayan temples in Belize are some of the best Mayan ruins in all of Mesoamerica. For those of you that have never heard of Mesoamerica, it is the region and cultural area in the Americas that extends from central Mexico to Honduras, this includes the countries of Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The ancient Maya civilization flourished in this area and created sprawling cities with extraordinary trading channels that ran from north to south, and east to west. Their era of greatness came to an end but they left magnificent remnants of what was once a great empire. If you've been to a Mayan site, you'll know that Maya archeology isn't only for history buffs, and if you haven't been before, trust me, you're missing out. Below I list the top Mayan ruins in Belize and also include two that are nearby, which you can visit when you're in Belize.

A No-Shoes Lifestyle In Low-Key Placencia Village, Belize
Placencia Village looks like a postcard. Jauntily colored wooden Caribbean homes, beach bars, and coffee shops abound, and little stores sell wood carvings and Mayan souvenirs. All the while, you can see the Maya Mountains on your right and the sparkling Caribbean Sea on your left. There are palm trees and endless beach. Expats report that when they make the move to Belize, their lifestyle changes drastically. Sue Vasquez, a seven-year resident in Placencia, says, "I no longer drive anywhere. I take my bike or just walk into the village for my shopping. I love to shop at the local farmers' markets instead of at a huge grocery store for produce."

Thank You Teachers!
Teachers Day or "Thank a Teacher Day" began only as a day, then a week, and has now become a month of appreciation and gratitude. Therefore, they should be appreciated all year round; their responsibilities are never-ending. Some of us have been fortunate to have teachers who not only go above and beyond for us and for our children, but who also teach us more than the average.

Belize in November: Weather, Places to Visit & Activities
November might be a month of increasingly cold nights across Canada and the United States, but the average daytime high in Belize is a beautiful and sunny 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius). The clear blue skies, balmy temperatures, and exciting festivals going on throughout the month of November make it the perfect time to visit.

12 Reasons Belize Honeymoons are Trending Big Time!
1. No hassle travel. Who wants to spend those first precious hours holed up in a tourist class airline cabin when you could be making sure the hammock on your resort balcony is big enough for two? It only takes a couple of hours to get to Belize from North America; what's more romantic than being rested and ready for love? 2. Belizeans can't wait to welcome you. Fall in love with everyone you meet-not as much as you love your new spouse, of course--but when you emerge from your love nest, people you meet everywhere you go are so warm and friendly, you'll be posing for selfies with them.

Lip smacking, finger licking fruit treats of Belize!
Kinnep, Coco Plum, Craboo, and Molly Apple may sound like local nooks and crannies in little Belize, but in actuality they are names of native fruits that thrive in Belize's rich tropical soil. While Belize boasts a wealth of delicious tropical fruits, most of our produce have a fresh, unique taste just as their quality. The most common are bananas, mangoes, papayas, pineapples and melons. Below is a list of the unique fruits that are native to Belize which form a fundamental part of our heritage and identity. "Dragan Froot," "Craboo," "Five fingers," "Sowa Sap," "Mamey."

10 things to pack when traveling to Belize
Belize is a fascinating country and is Mother Nature's best kept secret snuggled between Guatemala and Mexico and bordered by the Caribbean Sea, this is as tropical as it gets! Let us walk through this list of Must-Packs for your upcoming vacation in tropical paradise! Travel Documents - These are the most important things you need to pack before leaving for your Adventure in Belize. Passport, driver's license, plane tickets and travel itinerary (if you have one) should all be tucked away in a secure and easily accessible area, such as your carryon or purse pocket. Adventure in Belize

Lamanai Maya Ruins
Located in northern Belize, the ancient Maya ruins of Lamanai are very special. Unlike other colossal cities built by the ancient Maya which were abandoned long before the arrival of Europeans on the continent, Lamanai was continuously occupied right until the early part of the 20th century. Because of the city's unique history, Lamanai is one of the few Maya cities for which we know the original name. Originally misheard by Spanish monks, the original name of the city is Lam-ayin, which means "submerged crocodile." Lamanai, on the other hand, means "submerged insect." Archeologists are now convinced that "submerged crocodile" is the correct name as evidenced by the numerous statues, figurines, and art depicting crocodiles that have been found at the site.

Corozal showcased an annual photographic Exhibit about the "Las Mujeres De Flores"
Today, the Corozal House of Culture presented a photography exhibit under the name "Las Mujeres De Flores". women of flowers. It commenced at 10am with a short ceremmony and along with a group young and adults were informed about the history of the Las Mujeres De Flores. The Women of Flowers is an intimate portrait full of everyday experiences of women within the isolated Mennonite communities in Nuevo Ideal, in the state of Durango and La Onda, in Zacatecas, Mexico. The images focus on the emotional bonds between these women and reveal moments of peace and harmony that lead us to perceive their lifestyles as something more than a bunch of conservative and rigid rules.

International Sourcesizz

GARIFUNA SHIPWRIGHT ART IN PUNTA GORDA BELIZE!
We here at "Belizean Legends" are proud to present the upcoming documentary short film called, "Garifuna Shipwright Art In Punta Gorda Belize", at the 7th. Annual Garifuna International & Indigenous Film Festival (GIIFF) on Sunday May 27, 2018 at the Electric Lodge Theater in Venice, California.

Sista Freda Sideroff On The Annual Garifuna International Film Festival (GIIFF)!
An exclusive May 5, 2018 interview with Sista Freda Sideroff, the founder of the Garifuna International & Indigenous Film Festival (GIIFF) on KPFK Los Angeles. Sista Freda spoke about the highlights of the upcoming Seventh Annual Garifuna International & Indigenous Film Festival (GIIFF)to be held from Friday May 25, 2018 to Sunday June 3, 2018.

Only People Named Peter and Wendy Are Eligible to Win This Free 'Neverland' Tropical Dream Vacation. Here's How to Enter
Peter Pan may just be a children's tale, but one lucky Wendy-and-Peter duo can get as close as possible to experiencing their own magical adventure. You'll have to go without Tinkerbell, unfortunately. A famous Youtuber recently claimed to have "discovered" the geographic location of Peter Pan's Neverland-a tiny island off the coast of Belize called Turneffe Atoll. To celebrate, the country is paying for real people who share the names of the story's main characters to visit the island for free. Belize's tourism board is soliciting entries from twosomes named Wendy and Peter, and says it will randomly select a couple to get a free stay at Turneffe Atoll. The couple needn't be romantically involved; a representative tells MONEY the duo could be friends, siblings, coworkers, or even two random people who met over social media.

Peter Pan's Neverland Found in Belize
What happens when a well-known YouTuber reports that they found "Neverland" in your country? You start a tourism campaign to promote awareness. That is exactly what the Belize Tourism Board has done, capitalizing on a YouTube video from The Film Theorists that says the Turneffe Atoll is home to the fictional fantasyland that Peter Pan was so fond of and where no one has to grow up.

Seven holiday destinations that rely on tourism: where your hard-earned dollars can make a difference
The following six countries - and one special administrative region - are among the most heavily depen�dent on our holiday money, according to a 2018 World Travel and Tourism Council report. These are destinations where every dollar spent is disproportionately beneficial, especially if we stay in locally owned hotels, eat at family-run restaurants and let the multiplier effect - a trickle-down dividend that circulates our cash through host communities - do the rest. Boasting the northern hemisphere's largest barrier reef and gin clear Caribbean waters teeming with multicoloured marine life, Belize attracts divers, big game fisher�men and beachcombers. The Central American country also played host to more than a million cruise line passengers in 2017, although not everyone is convinced of the financial benefits.

5 ways the Caribbean can lead in disaster preparedness
If the names Harvey, Irma, and Maria - in that order - don't elicit some bad memories for you, it's likely you were far away from the Americas in the Summer of 2017. For those living in the Caribbean, Central America, and the United States, the trio of major hurricanes began as temperamental neighbors you wished would just move away, but ended up staying much longer, and causing more damage than anyone would have expected. Country recovery estimates that the aftermath of these super storms range in excess of $190 billion, and will likely take years. Following the brutal storms, the Caribbean Community worked to mobilize international support for its hurricane-ravaged member countries through the CARICOM-United Nations High-Level Pledging Conference: "Building a more Climate Resilient Community."

Attenuating effects of ecosystem management on coral reefs
Managing diverse ecosystems is challenging because structuring drivers are often processes having diffuse impacts that attenuate from the people who were "managed" to the expected ecosystem-wide outcome. Coral reef fishes targeted for management only indirectly link to the ecosystem's foundation (reef corals). Three successively weakening interaction tiers separate management of fishing from coral abundance. We studied 12 islands along the 700-km eastern Caribbean archipelago, comparing fished and unfished coral reefs. Fishing reduced biomass of carnivorous (snappers and groupers) and herbivorous (parrotfish and surgeonfish) fishes. We document attenuating but important effects of managing fishing, which explained 37% of variance in parrotfish abundance, 20% of variance in harmful algal abundance, and 17% of variance in juvenile coral abundance.

Videos

  • THE GARIFUNA INTERNATIONAL & INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL (GIIFF)!, 11min. It was an honor for us here at "Belizean Legends to have had the privilege to feature on, "The Belize Art Shop", the awesome Garifuna Belizean Queen, Sista Freda Sideroff, the founder and producer of the Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival (GIFF). This feature is a long awaited one on the Garifuna international activist and woman Sista Freda. We want to inform our Belizean Legends audience to see and share this exclusive interview with Sista Freda Sideroff and her dynamic work in the preservation of the Garinagu, its culture, language and people.

  • Belize: Snorkeling trip, 5min.

  • Birds of Belize, 6min.

  • Traveling in Belize with Career Expert Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich, 57min. Travel Podcast

  • Belize 2018, 11min.

  • Birds of Belize, 5min. Photos of birds taken on grounds of Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge boasting a beautiful tropical garden and authentic Belizean rainforest.

  • Accion Deportiva, 60min.

  • Nurse Week - "Nurses A Voice to Lead:Health is a Human Right", 39min. on Open Your Eyes

  • The Belize Humane Society(BHS) - continuing its responsible pet ownership awareness campaigns, 28min. on Open Your Eyes

  • Stacey Amaya of Stacey's Hand Made Crafts, 20min. on Open Your Eyes

  • The Belize Salvation Army - update on upcoming programs, 13min. on Open Your Eyes

  • Un-Belizeable, 4min.

  • Guatemala & Belize Trip ; HD - Central America, 35min. Antigua, Lake Atitlan, San Pedro La Laguna, San Juan La laguna, Santiago Atitlan, Panajachel, Lanquin, Flores, Tikal, Belize, Caye Caulker Guatemala & Belize

  • Cave Tubing Tour in Belize, 5min. Down the memory lane - this video was shot whilst working for Carnival Cruise Line, as AV Technician onboard one of their ships, Carnival Valor.

  • Sports Talk Show May 9, 2hr.

  • Children from Yucatec Maya descent from San Narciso RC school Corozal, 1min.