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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

TV cable prices set to increase June 1st
On Wednesday, May 9th via a press release issued by the Belize Cable Television Operators Association (BCTVOA) customers were informed of the intent to increase the cost of basic cable as of Friday, June 1st. For San Pedro Town residents, the new price for cable is expected to be $60. The BCTVOA indicated that this increase is being driven by demands for payment from the international owners of the cable channels which are currently being pirated. “The BCTVOA has been entering copyright licensing agreements with programmers for authorized feeds. Although the licensed content from programmers comes at an added cost to the cable operators and the subscribers, the cost of maintaining the status would be much greater to the country as a whole,” said BCTVOA. “Impending copyright licensing agreements are an added cost which, unfortunately, brings cable operators to the absolute threshold of what can be absorbed by their businesses.”

San Pedro’s Water Emergency Response Team receives donation
A donation of nine floating marine radios, 10- 50-feet throw ropes, along with other items were officially presented to the Chairman of the San Pedro Tour Guide Association Philip ‘Billy’ Leslie on Saturday, May 12th. The donation came from the non-profit organization Rickilee Response and Rescue (RRR or Triple R Response) based in Houston, Texas USA. The supplies are expected to aid the Water Emergency Response Team on the island, particularly in terms of communication when responding to an emergency at sea. It is expected that with an effective and well-equipped rescue team, the possibilities of a fatal accident at sea will be minimized. Triple R Response was formed in memory of Rickilee Mercer, an American National, who lost her life on the leeward coast of Ambergris Caye on March 1, 2017. Mercer had gone jet skiing around the area of Secret Beach north of San Pedro Town and apparently drowned, after disappearing a day earlier. A few weeks after Mercer’s death, the Triple R Response program was initiated by family friends Traci and Jim Curtin.

July’s Re-registration regulations explained by Elections and Boundaries
After close to 20 years, Belize will undergo a re-registration of voters, commencing on July 1, 2018. The main objective is to ‘clean’ the existing list and ensure that everyone on it is qualified to participate in future elections, including the referendum scheduled to take the long-standing Guatemalan claim on Belize to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) next year in April. The Government of Belize has allotted an $8 million budget for the entire process, and according to Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai, there are certain regulations one must meet in order to be eligible to register. Tamai explained that a person must be 18 years old and a citizen of Belize or a citizen of a Commonwealth country who has resided in Belize for no less than 12 months.

SPTC celebrates island teachers and nurses
To honor Teacher and Nurses week, a dinner was held at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium in San Pedro Town on Thursday, May 16th. The event was hosted by The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and saw the attendance of teachers and nurses from across the island enjoying a fun-filled night. Before protocol was established, attendees enjoyed refreshments as they socialized with their colleagues to the delightful sounds of San Pedro’s Rompe Raja. At 8PM, the event officially began with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by a short invocation. Master of Ceremonies Eiden Salazar Jr. welcomed everyone in attendance before inviting Mayor Daniel Guerrero to deliver the official welcome address.

LOVE FM

BNTU President says school managements are lying
School managements will not dock the salaries of teachers who rallied in Belmopan in March. That was confirmed via a press release sent earlier this week by the Belize Association of General Managers for Pre and Primary Schools which stated quote, “contrary to what has been stated by the BNTU in the local media, there …

The importance of celebrating our teachers
Teachers from across the country gathered at the Civic Center in Belize to celebrate Teacher’s Day. This year’s event was celebrated on a national level under the theme “Literacy: A ladder for learning and earning”. Hipolito Novelo has the story.

A war of words: BNTU President vs. Education Minister l
At today’s teacher’s day event, BNTU President Senator Smith pointed out several concerns and challenges that teachers across the country are dealing with every day. Responding to her concerns was Education Minister, Patrick Faber. Senator Smith believes that the teachers’ concerns did not fall on deaf ears.

BTV responds to Prime Minister on taking the Belize/Guatemala dispute to the ICJ
The Belize Territorial Volunteers has responded to statements made by Prime Minister Dean Barrow on taking the Belize Guatemala Dispute to the International Court of Justice. The BTV has been one of the most vocal groups against taking the matter before the ICJ. In his statements, the Prime Minister said he was confident that Belize …

Squatter pays for land; learns years after that his receipt its fake
The Reconstruction and Development Corporation, Recondev, has been removing several squatters from the J and W subdivision in the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan this week. When our news team visited the area on Thursday, at least seven houses had been brought down by the corporation. At least three of the families were forced to …

Misc Belizean Sources

Peter Singfield passes away
Peter Singfield passed away on May 15th, he lived in Xaibe, and was known to many as "Snakeman" for his work with Cascabel medicine. He was a good friend and I will miss him a lot. Best wishes to his wife and grand kids. He was as colorful as they come. Being in his presence was an experience and then some. I considered him a friend and mentor and wish him well in his journey into infinity. Bon Voyage my Friend!!!

Fire on Caye Caulker
A wooden home caught fire around 8:50pm on May 19th on Avenida Langosta in Caye Caulker. Witnesses say the blaze seems to be under control.

Stabbing incident!
A pump attendant working at the gas station south of San Pedro Town, was stabbed in an apparent robbery. Police have processed the area and are investigating the incident that took place shortly after 7PM. The injured attendant was taken for treatment at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II. An eyewitness told The San Pedro Sun that they observed police apprehending two suspects, and that one managed to get away. Police have not officially confirmed this statement. We will have an update when further information is made available.

FCD’s work in the Vaca Forest Reserve
Concentrating largely on the implementation of agro-ecological methods in order to reduce forest, land and water degradation inside and near the reserve. To do this FCD’s landscape manager and field technicians work closely with over 25 farmers in the area

Robbery at Caribeña Fuels
Unconfirmed reports are that a fuel station attendant was injured during a robbery at Caribeña Fuels on the corner of Sea Grape Drive and Blake Street, south of San Pedro Town. More details to come as they become available.

Fire on Caye Caulker, Help Wanted
The Caye Caulker Village Council would like the general public to know of the very disheartening news of the fire tonight which completely destroyed the house of Mr. Amin Jimenez and his wife and four children One girl- 11 year old Three Boys- 10, 7, and 6 years old. His parents home Mrs. Dalinda and Mr. Fidel Jimenez suffered extensive water damage. Their daughter and grandson of 6 years currently lives with them. The Council is kindly asking for the community assistance to mobilize assistance in the form of clothes, food, towels, blankets, bedding, toiletries to assist the families.

Mother's Day Celebration 2018
Pictures from the Mother's Day celebration at the Cayo Welcome Center. Lots of prizes and gifts were given to Cayo mothers. Thanks, SISE Town Council! "Mothers, an integral part of our Municipality. Mayor Earl Trapp and the SISE Town Council recognizes your role and salutes you. Mother's Day Celebration 2018 at Cayo Welcome Center."

Chocolate Festival 2018

The Reporter

Mexican Embassy takes Cayo kids on field trip
As a reward for good academic progress, His Excellency Carlos Quesnel Melendez, Mexican Ambassador to Belize, treated a group of students from the Cayo district to an education trip to Mexico. Students from both Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic High School in the City of Belmopan and St. Joseph Roman Catholic School in Cotton Tree Village, Cayo district were beneficiaries of a Free Educational Trip to the Planetario Yook’ol Kaab, Zoo (Zoologico Payo Obispo) and the Museum of Mayan Culture in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. This event was in collaboration with ADO who provided two of their own buses to transport the students. H.E. Melendez, Mexican said that the trip was to award the students for their hard work and commitment to education and improving themselves.

Foreigner charged for Placencia Airport scam
The owner of a New York Investment Firm who has ties to Belize was arrested in New York on Wednesday of this week by federal prosecutors for allegedly scamming over 21 million dollars in funds from private investors for the construction of an international airport in Placencia. Brent Borland 48, principal of Borland Capital Group and co-founder of Placencia Group was charged on Wednesday with securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy count for allegedly promising investors double-digital rates of investment returns related to temporary “bridge” financing for the Placencia airport, investment which was protected by pledges of real estate as collateral.

Breaking Belize News

Oceana celebrates moratorium on offshore drilling
Today, Oceana Belize joined with its international body for it’s annual Hands Across the Sand event, in which environmentalists joined hands to say ‘No’ to off shore oil drilling. […]

Are JP’s charging you for their service?
The Ministry of Natural Resources today issued a notice to all Justices of the Peace. The public is advised that this is act is illegal and they should not be made to pay any fee for the services of any JP. […]

CARICOM shares Cuba’s grief over tragic plane crash
Yesterday, CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque sent a message of condolence to the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz Canel in the wake of the tragic plane crash in Havana which killed many. […]

Girl killed by falling tree
Reports to BBN indicate that yesterday morning, a 10-year-old girl was killed by a falling tree in the Toledo district. Valentino Teul, 58, of San Pedro Columbia was cutting down a tree when it fell on his granddaughter, Emilda Che. […]

Blogs

We Need Your Help: Saving Cayo Rosario, Preserving Hol Chan Marine Reserve & The Next Steps
Since we feel that the public was NOT properly consulted on this controversial project and that any feedback that was obtained was basically disregarded, WE NEED YOUR HELP. We also feel that the assessment done by the developers and their consulting firm is wrong. This is not a lifeless area. Or an area insignificant to our community*. NOT AT ALL. We want to send a packet of letters to each member of NEAC – the National Environmental Appraisal Committee – who have the approval authority for this project.

Poc Ta Puk game was held at Santa Rita Mays Temple
The To'one Masehualo'on (We are Maya ) did there First Maya Symposium Chactemal Mural on Santa Rita was held inside Dreams in Corozal. It is a two days workshop to promote and teach the public the history of Maya in Belize. On Friday May 19, 2018 everyone gathered to witness tha Ball game Poc Ta Puk challenge game. The Mesoamerican ballgame was a sport with ritual associations played since 1400 BC by the pre-Columbianpeople of Ancient Mesoamerica. The sport had different versions in different places during the millennia, and a newer more modern version of the game, ulama, is still played in a few places by the indigenous population. The rules of the game are not known, but judging from its descendant, ulama, they were probably similar to racquetball, where the aim is to keep the ball in play. The stone ballcourt goals are a late addition to the game.

International Sources

THE VIEW FROM EUROPE: China’s rapidly advancing Caribbean role
FOR some years now, China has sought to deepen its relations with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It has done so as a part of a long-term geo-political strategy that is accompanying its rise to super power status. Its objective in every nation in South and Central America and the Caribbean is to support development through investment and trade, and then over time to enlarge its economic, political and security role. Up to the early part of this year, its emphasis has largely been on delivering support on a bilateral basis. It has also tended to conflate Latin America and the Caribbean’s interests, barely differentiating its priorities or thinking in relation to smaller states.

The Caribbean Presence At The Royal Wedding Of Prince Harry And Meghan Markle
Caribbean nationals like billions around the world were enthralled with the Royal Wedding Saturday between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. But one Caribbean national and two with roots to the region, got to share in the big day News Americas has found while the flowers of 12 Caribbean nations were carefully stitched into the bride’s veil. Here’s what Caribbean nationals should be celebrating, and the world should know.

Videos

Francisco Puga on Ambergris Caye, 7min.

Hands Across the Sand held in San Pedro Town!, 1/2min.

Santa Rita Maya Temple Maya Reenactment, 20min.

Santa Rita Maya Temple Maya Reenactment 2, 16min. We were live from Santa Rita Maya Temple Maya Reenacment.

Trade Winds - Belize, 4min.

Belize - SPICE FARM (photos), 3min.

Belize Whale Shark, 1min.

BELIZE: NGO Director Mindy Pratt acknowledges UNFPA’s support in fight against #GBV, 3min. Ms. Mindy Pratt, Director of the Haven House which is the only shelter for battered women in Belize, talks about the support given by her NGO and UNFPA Caribbean to persons who are suffering from gender-based violence. She was addressing our media team on the 11th of December, 2017 at our Liaison Office in Belize.

SPRING BREAK IN BELIZE!, 15min. Spring Break in Belize was such a fun time! I was in the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye. Its a truly beautiful country! Amazing people, food, destinations and Belizeans know how to PARTY!

Belize Diving Video, 3.5min. Belize Diving Video.

Belize, 17min.

BDF FC vs Belmopan Bandits SC, FINALS!! GAME 1 , 2.5hr.