Today's Belize News: June 9, 2018

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Today's Belize News: June 9, 2018 #530894 06/09/18 06:58 AM 06/09/18 06:58 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 83,968 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 PSE results are out; Bryan Joan Roca of SPRCS is in the Top 25 countrywide The Primary School Examination (PSE) results for 2018 are out, and one student on Ambergris Caye did exceptionally well, placing in the top 25 performances across the country. Bryan Joan Roca, a student at San Pedro Roman Catholic School, scored 368 total points out of 400, landing him in the #14 spot countrywide. Bryan Joan Roca takes the top marks for the island. In an interview with The San Pedro Sun during the first phase of the PSE, Roca had declared the exam easy. Now that the final results are out, Roca says he’s quite shocked. “I knew I would do well, but I did not expect to be #14 in Belize!” he exclaimed. Roca’s mother Evelyn Sanchez is beyond proud of him, and she says he handled himself incredibly and independently with her guidance and encouragement. US student volunteers help clean up Ambergris Caye A group of students from Helias High School in Jefferson City, Missouri, USA participated in a coastal clean-up in San Pedro Town on Wednesday, June 6th. The initiative was part of their studies community outreach while in Belize. They were joined by members of the community and representatives from Belize Forestry Department. At 8AM participants separated into groups to tackle different areas of the island. Some headed to the north to clean the beach side, while others decided to tackle the lagoon. After each team had filled their boats, they headed to the Sunset Boardwalk dock to drop off the garbage. Belizeans rally for victims of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano catastrophe Belizeans across the country have come together to assist the millions affected in Guatemala following the catastrophic eruption of the Fuego Volcano on Sunday, May 3rd. The unexpected tragedy left dozens dead and hundreds missing as a river of lava, rocks and mud buried several villages in its path. Residents on Ambergris Caye felt the pain of their Guatemalan brothers and sisters and helped in the cause via a radio-a-thon, canned food- clothes- and dollar- drive. The event raised over $10,000 dollars and truckloads of clothing and non-perishable items that will be sent to those affected in the neighbouring country. Ambergris Today BTIA Holds “For The Love Of San Pedro” Meeting Crime is slowly becoming a major issue in San Pedro and the Belize Tourism Industry Association San Pedro Branch organized a meeting with business stakeholders and the community to come together and discuss the issue that are affecting our island community and to see what actions can be taken to alleviate the situation. The meeting took place on Thursday, June 7, 2018, at the Angel Nunez Auditorium and was very well attended. Good news coming from the was that the San Pedro Police Department will be receiving ten additional police officers and that land has been acquired on North Ambergris Caye for the construction of new military base. Misc Belizean Sources Venture Scouts and relief items for Guatemala Venture Scouts from The Scout Association of Belize and Crew 1 Venturers from Boy Scouts of America working together to collect and sort relief items for Aid to Guatemala.- Central Park, Corozal Town 20000 Acres De-reserved out of the Mountain Pine Ridge To add insult to injury, here is a second subdivision by the same developer as yesterday’s photo in the same 20000 acres that were de-reserved out of the Mountain Pine Ridge forest reserve. The next two photos show roads built along the ridge tops and one built into a heavily vegetated valley where there is a waterfall. The last two photos show what we are losing. Can some one explain to me how any government system that allows this is good? How a disgraced minister now profits from our, all Belizeans, patrimony? Increase in Pump Price of Diesel Oil Preceding Decreases in the Price of all Fuel Products in the Weeks Ahead Belmopan. June 7th, 2018. The Ministry of Finance advises that with effect from midnight tonight there will be an increase in the pump price of Diesel Oil from $10.63 to $10.97 per US Gallon in Belize City. The pump prices for diesel oil in the districts will be slightly higher due to internal freight charges. There will be no changes in the pump prices of gasoline and kerosene. The increase in the price of Diesel is due to a lagged effect on domestic prices from the recent spike in the world oil prices. In recent days, world oil prices have begun to trend downwards, and it is certain that the next shipment of fuel products, which is due toward the end of next week, will result in markedly lower prices at the pump. BELTRAIDE Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), the nation’s leading business advising and entrepreneurial support entity, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 10:00 am in Belize City. This cooperation seeks to foster a closer collaboration between private and public sector. It aims to provide efficient and seamless services to MSMEs, exporters, potential exporters, and potential foreign and local investors in business development facilitation, export promotion and export development through its technical units. It also aims to meet industry specific needs by providing demand- based, short-term training programs for entry-level positions. Father's Day Wrestling Mania! ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLE? The San Pedro Town Council presents its Father's Day Wrestling Mania! Saturday June 16 at the Hon. Louis Sylvestre Sports Complex! DJ Debbie will be in the house with all the latest tracks! You don't want to miss this! Tickets on sale at the San Pedro Town Council. Thanks to Mr. Roberto Canul of Ambergris Divers for your support towards the event. PSE RESULTS ARE OUT! Congratulations to the Top 25 students. San Pedro Public Service fair... “Belize Public Service: moving towards the future with dedication, innovation and perseverance. BTB Chetumal Sales Presentation The Belize Tourism Board in collaboration with BHA and the Honorary Consul of Belize in Chetumal, Dr. Luis G. Montero Maldonado, is hosting a sales presentation at the Fiesta Inn Hotel on June 8th. Seventy travel agents and tour operators from Chetumal and Bacalar, keen on learning about Belize, attended the event. The objective of the sales presentation is to educate the Mexican Travel Trade about Belize and establish mutually beneficial relationships. Representing Belize are Michelle Bowers, BTB Travel Trade & Hospitality Manager, Maynor Larrieu, BTB Digital Manager and Tessie Tonaco, BHA Marketing Director. The event is covered by several members of the Press in Chetumal. Public Servants that have completed 25, 30 and 35 years of service Here is a list of all Public Servants that have completed 25, 30 and 35 years of service serving the Government and People of Belize. They will be honoured during Public Service Week June 17th to 23rd. Congratulations to all! SuperBuy opens new storefront on Middle Street SuperBuy is opening a new storefront on Pescador Drive (Middle Street) as it completes expansion of its downtown store. Caye Caulker BTIA National Tour Guide Training Starts June 13, General Course is $1000.00 BZE Demanding Fair Treatment for Children in the Justice System! The National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) condemns the recent report of a 13-year-old minor being criminally charged for alleged possession of a firearm in the absence of his parent(s), a Community Rehabilitation Officer or a Justice of the Peace, while being treated for a gunshot wound in a local hospital. According to Section 2 of the Juvenile Offenders Act of Belize, a child is defined as a person under the age of fourteen years, as such, the minor in this report is a child. Section 9, subsection 2 of the same Act further states that ‘Where a child or young person is arrested, the police officer by whom he is arrested or the officer in charge of the police station to which he is brought shall, if the parent or guardian lives within a reasonable distance and can be found, cause him to be warned to attend at the court before which the child or young person will be brought.’ Therefore, the above allegation is in direct contravention of this section of the law. Father's Day 2018 Quadrangular! Join us for our 2nd Annual Father's Day 2018 Quadrangular! This Sunday, June 17 at the Ambergris Stadium! General Admission only $5. First game starts at 3:00 p.m. See you there! Channel 7 PSE Results Show Downward Trends in Key Subjects The 2018 PSE results are in and - at the risk of sounding like a broken record - they aren't good. Overall - an increasing number of children received grades in the "E" range - meaning an inadequate grade or less than 50%. For example, in the Math portion of the exam, half the test takers - 3,500 students scored an "E" - and the average grade was 52.6%. Similarly in English, one third of the test takers got an "E" - more than any other grade. In Social Studies, not as many got an "E" - but, still, that was the most common grade. But, what's interesting about this subject is that about 1,100 kids got A's in that subject this year, compared to more than two thousand last year. Again, "E" was the most common grade, what the Ministry of Education calls, quote, "a concerning shift from the B range of 2017." PSE Top Finishers Say They Worked Hard And so, while there's a lot to lament, and a lot of standard 6 finishers feeling not too great about their test scores tonight - there's also a lot to celebrate for the top finishers. We found 5 of the top 7 at Hummingbird Elementary - including Haley Thurton - who tied for first overall with Rolando Umana from La Inmaculada in Orange Walk - they both got a score of 384 out of a possible 400 points. Here they are - along with others in the top 10 - speaking about their results:... Rolando Umana, La Immaculada Orange Walk - First Place Overall: "When I found out I felt really happy. It was a huge surprise for me. I had never expected this, but I work hard and I achieved it." Alleged Highway Robber Remanded 23 year-old Demas Zelaya, a resident of Belize City, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison tonight. Police say that he was one of the pretend cops in a police uniform who carried out that daring broad-daylight robbery of NICH employees on the old Northern Highway. As we reported in May, 3 NICH employees were driving when they came upon what looked like a police checkpoint. They saw 2 men, 1 dressed in a black police uniform, and the other in a camouflage uniform. Security Guard Robber Remanded Last night we told you about Jody Rhamdas, the Supervisor for Brints Security who was ambushed and robbed of two of the security firm's loaded guns. Tonight, police are saying that 35-year-old taximan Erwin Castillo is one of the men who participated in the armed robbery. Castillo appeared before Senior Magistrate, Aretha Ford where he was read three criminal offenses of robbery with a firearm; conspiracy to commit robbery and kept ammunition without a gun license. In court, Castillo pleaded not guilty to all three charges but because it was an armed robbery, he was denied bail and remanded into custody until July 25, 2018. Accused of Sex Trafficking It didn't make the news, but at the end of May, thirty-one year old Honduran Maria Estrella Jimenez Ortega, was charged for attempted human trafficking. Between September 1 and September 30, 2016, Ortega attempted to solicit a 17 year old female to have sex with some fishermen at Caye Caulker. The female, however, refused the offer. She was remanded but went to the Supreme Court for bail today. Ortega. who is pregnant went before Justice Adolph Lucas and he granted her fifteen thousand dollars bail. Her bail was offered on the condition that she reports to Caye Caulker Police every Friday, among others. Ortega was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre. Daylight Robbers Thwarted By Brave Businessman In Ladyville There was a daring armed robbery this morning - but this one happened in Ladyville. A trio of robbers lay in wait for a female employee who works with a collection agency. Reports are that at around 10:00, she was walking out of Sky Supermarket to go over to the Belize Bank which is in the same complex. That's when a robber snatched her money bag. Now, this happened right in front of the airport junction, the busiest intersection in Ladyville. A businessman pulled up at that same time and set chase after the robbers. They dashed through a back street and hopped over a fence - where their escape car was waiting around the corner. The businessman grabbed one of the robbers, who dropped the money bag in the bushes. NCFC Scolds Police For Charging A 13 Year Old A 13 year old Belize City boy who allegedly pulled a gun on a police officer - and was shot for it - has been charged while he recovers in the hospital. Police charged him in the presence of a Justice of the Peace, since, they say, his parents refused to be there. Well, the National Committee For Families and Children has a problem with that. They sent out a press release today condemning police for mishandling a case with a minor. The NCFC says, that it quote, "condemns the recent report of a 13-year-old minor being criminally charged for alleged possession of a firearm in the absence of his parent(s), a Community Rehabilitation Officer or a Justice of the Peace" End quote. Assad, Regarding Gert Last night on the news, we told you about Assad Shoman's new book, Guatemala's Claim to Belize, the Definitive History. At his press conference to launch the book yesterday, Shoman discussed what he believes is the wisdom of Belize going to the ICJ. He pointed out that at the highest level, the Guatemalans have publicly conceded that they most likely stand to gain nothing, other than international respectability. Here's Shoman prefacing that interview 7News did in Washington 10 years ago:... Assad Shoman, Author: "I think it was you who interviewed Gert Roesnthal one time." Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Yes." Assad Shoman, Author: "Interviewed the foreign minister of Guatemala and ask him you think you could win when you go to the court and what did he say? Not a chance." Colonial Records Contained Some Eye Openers On Bze-Guat Back Channels And, that 7News archival interview is part of the historical record on the Guatemalan claim, Shoman dug much deeper. He went into the official records in London, Washington and Mexico City - to see diplomatic cables and confidential notes exchanged by senior diplomats at the time. This gave him a unique perspective since Shoman was a part of many of the meetings which those diplomatic cables describe or summarize. We asked him if he found anything in there which surprised him:.. Assad Shoman, Author: "One of them was for example in 1975 when you had the Commonwealth Heads of government meeting in Kingston Jamaica and George Price went there and he had support from the Caribbean countries and he got support from the others and the British were trying to not have anything stated in the resolution about territorial integrity..." Guatemala’s Needs In Wake Of Violent Volcano Keeping it on Guatemala... 109 are now confirmed dead in that country, while 197 are still missing in the wake of the catastrophic volcano that erupted there 5 days ago. Tonight, the Guatemalan Embassy in Belize is saying what they need help with. They need equipment for shelters, Field tents, cold food rations, personal hygiene supplies, medication for pain relief, water filters and mobile toilets, telecommunication equipment, infrastructure services, and medical and surgical equipment. Ballistic Test on Found Gun Was Revealing So many times on the news - you hear about "items labelled as found property" - and pretty much that's the end of it. But, these items, especially if they are firearms, can have an important afterlife as evidence if a match is found in ballistics testing. Sources tell 7News that's just what happened with this 9 millimeter pistol which was found tucked under a house on Dolphin street two months ago. We are told that ballistics tests on the firearm show that it may have been used in a the 2015 murder of businessman Ruben Perez. How They Felt About Re-Registration in 1998 AS we've been reporting, the re-registration exercise starts next month. That means that all registered voters - will have to go back and re-register. Even if you just registered today, or on the last day of June, you'll have to go back and do it again after July first. Accordion to the law, A re-registration should be done every 10 years, but it's been 21 year since the last one was done. Tonight - to put it all in perspective - we have an interesting study in contrasts. Folks Upbeat, Practical About Re-Reg Exercise And now, two decades later, Sahar Vasquez went back into the streets to see how people feel about re-registration today. We found a lot less suspicion and negativity. Call it a more educated electorate, or maybe it's a less unpopular government, or maybe because it's not a year from a general election - but folks who Sahar Vasquez spoke to, seemed pretty ok with the process:... Interviewee 1: "Well it will take time. They should have left it how it was and you do that all over it will take a lot of time." Sahar Vasquez, reporter: "So you are still going to re-register though?" Interviewee 1: "Yea I will do it because they want to see who still lives in the area." Interviewee 2: "It does not matter how I feel because of no matter how I feel you still have to do it. If you want to partake in the voting process." An Ocean Of Worry Today people all over the world are celebrating World Oceans Day. Some countries organized beach clean ups, marches and even launched online campaigns such as #Zeroplasticlunch and The Last Straw. Well, Belize is doing its part too. There are several information booths all over the country to spread awareness on the importance of our oceans. Vice President of OCEANA, Janelle Chanona told us more about this observance. A presentation was also held at the Marina Towers Another Dead Manatee But it wasn't all smiles and celebrations today - around midday, a dead manatee washed up in the Buttonwood Bay area behind Brodies. Manatee expert Jamal Galvez was on scene and based on his preliminary examinations, he says it seems it was struck by a boat. It was bleeding from its nose. Chanona also got word of the tragedy and told us more about it in her interview. Janelle Chanona, VP OCEANA Belize: "It is tragic that on World Ocean Day when everybody is trying to feel good, just around noon we got another alert that a juvenile manatee has wash ashore. It's really important for people to realize that given how long it takes for these creatures to continue their specie that we really need to assess what we are doing and obviously what we are doing needs to change..." PC Benjamin Faces Firearm Charges We kept following up on the story last week about the police officer who pulled a gun on another cop and was not criminally charged - even though court action was requested. Well, yesterday, 27 year old Police Constable, Leonard Albert Benjamin of a Santa Elena Town address was formally arrested and charged for Aggravated Assault with a firearm. There is credible information which suggests that the police senior command wanted to sweep this one under the rug with a disciplinary charge. The incident was caught on camera and criminal charges were only pursued at 7News reported on what appeared to be a cover-up. KHMH: The Roof Is On Dire Since Mid-march the KHMH has been operating in emergency mode, where the hospital had to cut back services because the roof over a third of the hospital was structurally compromised. Iron supports were used to prop different portions of the roof until a permanent set of repairs could be made. Well, finally, on Monday, June 11, these repairs to the roof will start. A press release from the KHMH says, quote, "...a plan to address these failures has been identified and will be applied over the course of the next few months. During this time, the full cooperation of the general public, patients and staff is being requested, as these repairs will affect the level and safety of service delivered. " End quote. Collective To WOMEX The Garifuna Collective has made a name for Belize all over the world. They've toured all over the US, Europe, and Canada, even playing down under in Australia. And, on October 27, the Collective will get a world stage at the 2018 WOMEX event, which will be held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. WOMEX, which is short for World Music Expo, is a very prestigious international event where fans and some of the big names in the world music industry attend to enjoy and discover great musical talents. Andy Palacio performed at the expo back in 2007, and that same year, he and Ivan Duran won a Womex Award for their accomplishments on the Watina album. Well, this time around, The Garifuna Collective will get their opportunity, and they say that their objective is to trail blaze and open doors for other Belizean musicians. The Music Ambassador hosted a press conference for the Collective to tell the nation that they intend to make Belize proud: Seawell Suing GOB After Years In Jail 14 months ago, Mark Seawell was released from prison after 6 and a half years on remand for an extradition request from the US. That ended the 10-year saga that he and his other Seawell brothers endured, and well, he is now preparing to sue the Government of Belize for false imprisonment. Today's edition of the Amandala Newspaper reports that his attorney, Anthony Sylvestre, has already filed his lawsuit with the Supreme Court Registry. In it, Seawell notes that he was imprisoned for 2,376 days, and he is seeking damages for that prolonged time in detention. He has named the Attorney General of Belize and the Superintendent of Prisons as the defendants in this suit. Channel 5 City’s Haley Thurton, O.W.’s Ricardo Umana Joint-Top of P.S.E. Hummingbird Elementary of Belize City has consistently produced top scorers at the P.S.E.; but this year, students at the private primary school, over performed clinching five of the top ten [...] Exam Chief’s Tough Talk: “We are Failing our Children” But while the joy of the top twenty-five and other high scorers is unconfined, the overall picture of the results remains under par. The mean score for English dipped two [...] Mark Seawell Challenges Government over Extradition Detention Fourteen months ago, Mark Seawell was released from a decade of incarceration, six and a half years of which was under notice of extradition to the United States. Along with [...] Garifuna Collective Represent Belize at WOMEX Celebration The Garifuna Collective is making a huge comeback at WOMEX, that’s the World’s Music Expo held in Spain. Back in 2007, Andy Palacio won the prestigious award. Well this year, [...] N.C.F.C. Jumps into Debate on Charges for Minor, 13, over Firearm Elwin Pitter, the minor who was shot by the police remains at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital recovering from injuries he sustained. Police maintain that the thirteen-year-old was shot because [...] Macaw Poachers Detained in Chiquibul Two Guatemalans were detained inside the Chiquibul Forest some four kilometres from the western border on Wednesday. Rangers attached to Friends of Conservation and Development came upon a group of [...] 1 Charged for Brints Security Gun Heist Supervisor for security firm Brints Security, Jody Rhamdas, was ambushed and robbed of two black nine-millimeter pistols by three masked and armed men on Wednesday afternoon, June sixth. A first [...] Caye Caulker Woman Out on Bail after Making Indecent Proposal to Minor Thirty-one-year-old Maria Estrella Jimenez Ortega, a resident of Caye Caulker, was arraigned on May thirty-first in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court for attempted trafficking in persons in relation to a [...] 13 Shelters Identified by City for Hurricane Season On Thursday, we shared the City Emergency Management Organisation’s plans and preparation for the hurricane season. Also discussed was the issue of shelters across the City. According to CEMO, the [...] New Council Tackling Manhole Covers Covers for manholes? Mayor Bernard Wagner says yes. When he took up office in March, he also took up a contract, done under Darrel Bradley’s administration, to get the manholes [...] Oscar Quiroz Races Omnium Event in Georgia Twenty-four-year-old cyclist Oscar Quiroz departed the country on Thursday to compete in the fifth annual Healthy Newton Omnium. It’s a competitive cycling race being held in Newton County in Georgia, [...] Ex-Lands Officer Says He was Forced Out of Department Seven public officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources were terminated, according to a press release from the Ministry of Natural Resources last week. Additionally, the ministry made clear that [...] Southern Regional Gets Medical Lab The Southern Regional Hospital has a brand new lab. The new facility was inaugurated on Thursday in Dangriga where the funders, PROBITAS, foundation that provides medical resources, training and funding [...] The Do’s and Don’ts of Internet Marketing The Small Business Development Center, a unit of BELTRAIDE, holds monthly workshops across the country to help businesses get acclimated to modern practices and initiatives. On Thursday, several businesses gathered [...] Introducing Miss Universe Belize Delegates Meet the delegates of the 2018 Miss Universe Belize. The eleven ladies were selected from a pool of thirty-two applicants following auditions, background and social media checks. The candidates will [...] LOVE FM Hummingbird Elementary top performer in PSE The PSE results are in and the overall picture is not a very good one as more than half of the students who sat the exams scored less than satisfactory in all four subject areas. There was a tie at the top as Haley Thurton of Hummingbird Elementary School and Rolando Umana of La Inmaculada … Mark Seawell sues GOB for unlawful detention Mark Seawell is suing the Government of Belize for unlawful imprisonment. He was jailed for since 2007 on an extradition request from the United States Government. He was accused of importing drugs into the US in the mid-1990s. His extradition case begun in 2011. Seawell filed for a writ of habeas corpus in the same … Cordel Hyde says PUP got it wrong in Port Loyola Cordel Hyde says the People’s United Party got it wrong in the Port Loyola Division. Gilroy Usher Senior was endorsed instead of facing Belize City Councillor Dr. Candice Pitts in a convention. Yesterday, Hyde, a deputy leader of the party, told the press that he believes that a convention between the two was the best … Cordel Hyde comments on reports of Zenaida Mora running for the PUP Last week reports surfaced that former UDP Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya was interested in running in the Mesopotamia Division for the People’s United Party. When we asked Moya about it she said she is not discussing who she is running for, if she is running at this point in time. She also said that … FCD Rangers detain poachers in the Chiquibul FCD rangers managed to detain two of five poachers on Wednesday. The group of five Guatemalan nationals was discovered by rangers who were on a training exercise inside the Chiquibul Forest. They were caught with three curassows and one crested guan, both types of birds. They were also in possession of two scarlet macaw chicks … Manatee killed on World Oceans Day As Belize joined the world in celebrating World Oceans Day, environmentalist here are upset that a manatee washed up on shore in Belize City. Manatee Research Associate at Sea to Shore Alliance, Jamal Galves confirmed that the ‘young juvenile fell victim to boat collision’. Galves expressed his unhappiness with the matter and so did Janelle … NCFC demands fair treatment for children in the Justice System A thirteen year old Belize City boy has been charged with firearm offences after he pulled a gun at law enforcement officers. It happened on Saturday the thirteen-year-old pointed a .38 chrome special revolver at officers who were responding to a tip concerning a suspicious person. Officers shot the boy on both legs and he … World Oceans Day celebrated in Belize Belize joins the world today in celebrating World Oceans Day. This year’s initiative is focused at preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean. According to the United Nations, 8 million tonnes of plastic per year ends up in the ocean, wreaking havoc on wildlife, fisheries and tourism. Plastic pollution costs the lives … PlusTV TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIFE OF ELDERLY MAN A fatal road traffic accident in Cattle Landing Village claimed the life of an elderly man. According to reports, 29 year old Daniel Aurelius was riding his Red Lifan motorcycle from Punta Gorda Town to Cattle Landing Village when he knocked down 56 year old Hector Ramclam who was walking along the... WILSER ECHEVERIA GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER Today, 22 year old Wilser Echeveria was found guilty of manslaughter and not murder. That was the verdict handed down today in the Belmopan Supreme Court. Echeveria was charged with the 2014 murder of 64 year old Panamanian Diplomat Jose Rodrigo De La Rosa Stanford. The Diomat’s body was found... SANTANDER WILL BE FINED, IT WILL TAKE TIME Will Santander be fined for the violation of its Export Processing Zone license? Over the past two weeks, various stake holders have pitched in on the issue, including the 3 cane farmers associations. The associations are demanding that Santander face the maximum penalty available for their violatio... CHESTER RESPONDS TO POLICE COVER UP ALLEGATIONS One of the top stories that made the news earlier this week had to do with a 13 year old minor who was shot by Police officers over the weekend for pointing a gun at the officers. In an Interview with Chanel 7 earlier this week, a parent of the 13 year old minor insisted that the gun was planted on ... COLA stands WITH KREMANDALA! C.O.L.A. in a press release issued today says that they stand with the Kremandala organization against the ill-explained decision by government-owned Belize Telemedia Limited to withdraw advertising from the media group. It says “The statement issued earlier by B.T.L. is half-baked and makes n... SECURITY GUARDS IN SECURITY VAN ROBBED A security van carrying four Security Guards was ambushed and robbed on Magazine Street in Belize City early this morning. The guards are all employees of Brint’s Secuirty Company. Police tells us more about this incident Wilfredo Ferrufino, National Crimes Investigation Branch: There was another r... POLICE CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT Last week, we reported to you that a conflict ensued between two San Ignacio Police Constables in front of the San Ignacio Police Station. Reports were that PC Leonard Benjamin pulled his assigned 9 millimeter pistol on PC Obed Arzu during a personal dispute. Today police informed us that 27 year ol... Another fuel price increase There will be another fuel price increase as of midnight tonight. Diesel is going up from $10.63 to $10.97 per Gallon in Belize City. The pump prices for diesel oil in the districts will be slightly higher due to internal freight charges, according to GOB. There will be no... JP Association and AG office remain at odds? Over the years,there have been numerous reports against JP’s who unlawfully request payments for their services. Belize has approximately 4000 registered JP’s and of that number 600 JP’s come under the National Association of Justices of the Peace. In order to join the Association, one must go throu... Re-Registration of Electors set to commence July The Elections and Boundaries Department is enacting Statutory Instrument No. 47 of 2017 which is a proclamation issued by the Governor General altering the date for the commencement of the re-registration exercise to be carried out from 1st July 2017 to 1st July 2018. The exercise paves the way for ... Police Operation Yield More Drugs Another Drug Operation by police officers resulted in the discovery of more drugs. Reports are that around 11;30 a.m. yesterday, police conducted an Anti-drug operation in the area of Oleander and Flamboyant streets. As searches were conducted in an abandoned house, police say a pink knapsack was d... OSWALD ARNOLD STILL MISSING AFTER 21 DAYS 20 year old Oswald Arnold of Roaring Creek Village, who was last seen on Thursday 17 May, has still not been found. According to police, the leads that they have been following yielded no results. Investigator Wilfredo Ferrufino gave us an update. Wilfredo Ferrufino, National Crimes Investigation B... RET International’s Consultation on Corruption RET international held a Stakeholder Consultation at the George Price Center for Peace and Development this morning. The event was organized to address the culture of corruption, trafficking in person and Gender based violence. In attendance were various stake holders, including the Association of t...

Re: Today's Belize News: June 9, 2018 [Re: Marty] #530895 06/09/18 06:58 AM 06/09/18 06:58 AM
Joined: Oct 1999 Posts: 83,968 oregon, spr Marty OP .
Marty OP	Amandala Mark Seawell, 48, sues GOB for false imprisonment An unusual lawsuit for false imprisonment has been filed at the Supreme Court Registry by Belizean Mark Seawell, who was the subject of a United States extradition request and was imprisoned on a related arrest warrant for 2,376 days, for which he is now seeking damages. Seawell, 48, named in his claim as defendants the Attorney General of Belize and the Superintendent of Prisons. Mark Seawell was released from prison on April 6 last year, on a writ of habeas corpus that was granted by Belize Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin. Second trial begins for Orel Leslie, Brandon Baptist and Tyrone Meighan Almost one year ago, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) affirmed a Belize Court of Appeal decision that three men, Orel Leslie, Brandon Baptist and Tyrone Meighan, who were accused of the 2012 murder of ex-Belize Defence Force soldier James Noralez, should get a new trial by a different judge as soon as practicable. That new trial was scheduled to begin this morning before Supreme Court Justice Colin Williams, but the court was unable to proceed with the trial because the key prosecution witness, Aaron Paquil, failed to show up at court, so the matter was adjourned to the afternoon session. Fuel prices rise for the tenth time this year We have been periodically reporting on the steady increases in gas prices throughout the year. Tomorrow, June 8, will mark the tenth time this year that gas prices have risen, and we are only halfway into 2018. The first couple of increases were on January 6 and 13, followed by increases on March 3 and 27. April saw gas prices rise on the 1st, 14th, and 25th. Prices rose again on the 16th and 23rd of May. Prior to January 6, premium gasoline prices had been at $11.07, regular at $10.40, diesel at $9.50, and kerosene at $5.89. Belizean, Fiorman Gillett, charged in US federal court for distributing meth According to a report from The Virginia Pilot, a daily newspaper based in Norfolk, Virginia, a mix-up in the destination address on a package led US authorities in Texas to seize it from a FedEx facility in Houston. When the package got in the hands of police, a Belizean man, Fiorman Erick Gillett, 48, was charged in a US District Court in Norfolk with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gillett pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this year. BTL’s failed attempt at damage control The news that Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), a telecommunications company that the government nationalized and “enshrined in the Constitution of Belize,” had implemented an unannounced advertising boycott of the three KREMANDALA companies — KREM Radio, KREM Television and Amandala newspaper — began resonating on social media last week. The BTL boycott, which was not officially announced to KREMANDALA, was exposed on the Belize Breaking News (BBN) website last Wednesday. Hon. Cordel Hyde supports Paul Thompson for Albert Opposition People’s United Party supporters are fiercely battling in the days leading up to a contested convention to elect a standard bearer to represent the party in the next general election for the Albert constituency. The present PUP Albert caretaker, Senator Paul Thompson, suddenly found himself in a war with his fellow party member, Senator Valarie Woods, who has tossed her hat into the political ring and is trying to wrestle away the division from him. Cricket update Greetings from the Belize National Cricket Association (BNCA)! Two matches were played on Saturday, June 2, in the Sir Barry Bowen Harrison Parks 2018 Cricket Competition. The results are as follows: Easy Does It won over Western Eagles with a score of 226 to 182. For Easy Does It, Aaron Muslar top scored with 103 runs, and Glenroy Reynolds took 4 wickets. For Western Eagles, Casper Smith top scored with 27 runs, and H. Gordon took 5 wickets. Belize City primary schools football playoffs begin Friday at the MCC They started on Monday, May 14, with games at the MCC Grounds daily in the afternoons, and today, Thursday, June 7, the regular season is completed for the 20 male teams and the 9 female teams in the Belize City Primary Schools Football Tournament 2018, being coordinated by the National Sports Council (NSC). The boys teams were divided into 4 groups of 5 teams each, and they played a single round-robin of 4 games each. The girls had two groups of 5 and 4 teams, respectively; so their round-robins consisted of 4 games for one group, and 3 games only for the other group. Benque Viejo Youth Volleyball Tournament in full swing Benque Viejo Town Council, Belize National Sports Council – Benque, and Department of Youth Services – Benque, have organized the “Benque Viejo Youth Volleyball Tournament,” playing at Benque Cancha on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Games are played at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. The tournament started on April 24 and will finish on June 28. Points up to May 29 are as follows (GP = games played): RedNex 15 pts (GP 5); Ultimate Warriors 15 pts (GP 5); Benny’s Warriors 11 pts (GP 5); Alfa Warriors 11 pts (GP 5); Hall of Fame 8 pts (GP 4); Los Rebeldes 8 pts (GP 6); Wise-Up 8 pts (GP 4); MCHS 7 pts (GP 5); Shiratorizawa 3 pts (GP 5). Editorial: Disrespect, and discrimination After 49 years, we know how these things work. Such a decision as the one made last month by the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) to initiate a boycott of Kremandala with respect to BTL’s advertising promotions, such a decision would have to cross the desk of the Maximum Leader, the Right Hon. Prime Minister, Dean O. Barrow. This is not to say that such a decision was his idea, and it is not to say that Cabinet Ministers around him may not have been pushing the boycott idea. But the Prime Minister had to give the seal of approval. In so doing, Mr. Barrow disrespected an authentic, indigenous process which began before he went to law school at the University of the West Indies. When he was studying his law books in Jamaica, the founders of this newspaper were standing trial in the Supreme Court for seditious conspiracy. From the Publisher Publisher’s RESPONSE. In his covering note to this letter, Mr. Young asked that his letter be left unedited, and so the newspaper has honored that request. AMANDALA publishes this letter because we know there are many people who share Mr. Young’s views, and most of them are readers of AMANDALA. This newspaper is a forum for debate, and even arguments; we perform a public service and get paid for it. Mr. Young has also assured us that this letter is exclusive to AMANDALA. I am a man who has no problem with criticism, except when it becomes personal, and I dare say Mr. Young has come close to being personal instead of analytical in his letter. Be that as it may, I can assure him that my father is not so petty or small-minded as to let Mr. Young’s criticism of his son “erode the friendship.” Personally, I admire Mr. Young and think he is a good and faithful Belizean. A little about Venezuela I want it understood, that I understand that any country south of the Rio Grande that doesn’t kowtow to the American (US) lead is doomed to experience economic hardship. No, following the American lead is not a complete failure in our part of the world. There are a few countries (particularly some colonies) in our region that have done/and are doing fairly well. But the American lead is a disaster in far too many countries. Woe to the suffering country that wants to find its own solution. America will make sure that they fail. We know the benefits of following the US lead. There are some educated elite and merchants who feed big. And the world for the rest is trickle-down, with dreams, almost all “pipe”, of joining the rich and famous one day. Criminalizing our young men he UDP government and this Prime Minister, a lawyer by profession, whose professional career started out with defending many young men caught up in the system, have a lot to answer for, in regards to what can only be described as an epidemic of “paper” crimes that are being committed by the young men of our country, from north to south, east to west. Belize City’s Southside has been the heart of the problem, but the evidence now shows that a new paradigm of moral and ethical adventurism has taken over our agile and ambitious young men, who are caught up in a lifestyle outlook focused on “getting there,” “getting what’s mine,” and getting a “piece of the action.” Belizeans, if not the British, then who’s got our back? For the past few weeks, ever since Guatemala voted a YES to go to the ICJ on April 15, I have been hearing some of the consequences that Belize may face if our decision to go to the ICJ is a NO. Some of the comments are: We may be faced with “a war”, we will be “abandoned” by our friends, we will be “ostracized” by the international community, funding towards our existence will be “cut off”, etc., etc. As I have mentioned to Nuri Muhammad on KREM’s Morning Show on May 11th, all of the above should be considered “noise in the marketplace” and Belizeans should “check their change,” which is information available to them between 1859 and 2018. Back to reality… with no phone in hand I was pondering on how I have had the privilege to grow up in both the old technological world and the new technological world. I say “old” meaning the days when human interaction was more in person and we actually met people face to face and interacted and made time for each other. In the new world it has become a virtual world; the internet facilitates the new medium. I am glad my interface with the new world has been while I was already mature and able to appreciate the difference of what it was before cell phones and social media and internet. Yeah, I want to reminisce about the old days, simply because it felt real and I learnt social skills from those human interactions. 1 dead, 1 injured after motorcycle hits man in Cattle Landing A road collision claimed the life of a man on the Southern Highway yesterday. Information to us is that Hector Ramclam, 56, a resident of Cattle Landing, was walking on the Southern Highway in the village at about 9:00 last night when a motorcycle that was traveling from Punta Gorda to Cattle Landing hit him. The motorcycle was being driven by Daniel Mejia, 26, of Punta Gorda. As a result of the collision, Mejia fell off his motorcycle and both men fell onto the pavement. However, Ramclam got the brunt of the collision’s impact, as he suffered massive head and body injuries, while Mejia only suffered minor injuries. Otoxha villagers ask for BDF presence to help clear border A press release issued by the Ministry of National Security a little over a week ago had stated that the alcalde of Otoxha Village, which is located on the Temash River in the Toledo District, had reported that some villagers had noticed areas along the border, in Belizean territory, that had been illegally cleared. When interviewed, Wil Maheia, head of the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV), had informed this newspaper that he and a group of BTV members had visited the site and they reported that they saw a large amount of deforestation. The Ministry of National Security had said that they would increase BDF presence in the area. U.S. resolution to suspend Venezuela from the OAS defeated; Belize and 10 others abstained A United States resolution to suspend Venezuela from the Organization of American States went down in defeat on Tuesday, when the 34-member OAS called an extraordinary assembly to vote on the resolution. In order to succeed the resolution needed the support of twenty-four countries, but it only received the support of nineteen countries. The US resolution found support among the fourteen countries that make up the so-called Lima Group: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia. Beware of rabies outbreak in cattle Yesterday, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) issued a press release warning the public, especially cattle farmers, of an outbreak of rabies that has been affecting cattle in the Belize, Orange Walk, and Cayo Districts. Today, we spoke to Dr. Miguel Depaz, Director of Animal Health at BAHA, who told us that this outbreak has been ongoing since January 2016. The first cases surfaced in the Toledo District, and then the disease eventually spread to the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts. The Reporter Motorcyclist injured in road accident A motorcycle driver is seriously injured following a road traffic accident in Independence village, Stann Creek this evening. The driver was taken to the Southern Regional Hospital for treatment. The Reporter will have more information on this incident as soon as it is available. NCFC condemns police charging injured youth in absence of his parents The National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) issued a statement today condemning the Belize Police Department for criminally charging a 13-year-old minor for alleged illegal firearm possession of a firearm in the absence of his parent(s)r any relevant agents of the state. The NCFC noted that […] Poachers found in Chiquibul Friends of Conservation and Development, the NGO that co-manages the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, managed to detain two of a group of five Guatemalan poachers found in the Chiquibul this week. FCD reported that its rangers were on a training exercise some 4 kilometres from the western border […] Diesel and kerosene prices rise again! During the last gas price adjustment, the cost of Kerosene was spared any increase while the cost of Diesel went up by only three cents per gallon; however, this week both types of fuel saw substantial increases. In the eighth gas price adjustment for 2018, […] No movement on Chetumal Street repairs Eight months after Prime Minister Dean Barrow declared the Lake Independence Boulevard a failure, the stretch of road has sunk further into disrepair, with no sign of meaningful remedial works. As the road continues to deteriorate, cracks, sinkholes and general distortions are becoming an even more common […] September theme competition open to public Staff Reporteer The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) this week announced the opening of the 2018 September Celebrations theme competition. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and be invited to the official September ceremonies as a distinguished. NICH says all Belizeans living at […] Volcano erupts in Guatemala, killing more than 60 people A volcano erupted in Guatemala without warning on Sunday, killing more than 60 people who were attending to market day activities below the volcano. Plumes of hot, molten rock, gas and ash bolted thousands of feet into the air, covering entire villages. Due to the […] Diaspora group challenging Immigration Department over voter re-registration A group of Belizeans in the Diaspora called Belizean Citizens Abroad, are petitioning the Minister and Department of Immigration and Nationality over the fact that Guatemalan citizens will be allowed to participate in the upcoming voter re-registration exercise. The group is calling for the Immigration Department to: […] Banning single-use plastics and Styrofoam may prove ineffective without planning and enforcement Belize has joined a global wave by committing to curtail the use of single-use plastics, styrofoam and plastic cutlery by 22 April 2019, but a report just released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) captioned Single-use plastics: A Roadmap for sustainability, points to challenges […] Is GOB using BTL to punish Kremandala? BTL stops advertising with media entity; defends position On May 11, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), one of the two major telecommunications company and one of Belize’s biggest advertisers, wrote to Krem Radio, Krem TV and the Amandala newspaper informing that it would no longer advertise with the three companies, with immediate effect. From […] What are you spending on? SIB conducts Household Budget Survey The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) is carrying out a countrywide survey with the major goal of tracking spending patterns in Belize as a means to update the list of items in the Consumer Price Index (the report that tracks inflation). The Household Budget Survey consists of […] An Object Lesson The Barbados Labor Party (BLP)’s complete win at the polls and parliament certainly signifies the will of the Barbadian people for Prime Minister Mia Mottley to lead them to better days. However, less than a month into office, the new head of government announced that they had no choice but […] Boy, 13, shot twice by police; cops say they had to shoot Elwin Pitter, 13, is in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) with two bullet wounds in his lower legs and a fractured right foot after police shot him during what they believe was an unavoidable incident. It happened around 4:30 on Saturday afternoon when the […] Fake cops escape with $20,000 in home invasion Two armed bandits, who posed as police officers, stole over $20,000 from a Taiwanese national in a home invasion at his Ladyville home on May 31 around 8:50 p.m. According to police, Liang Gee Fong, 64, and his wife were at home that night when they heard […] Dangriga mayor’s driver commits suicide in front of teens accusing him of sexual assault Maurice Serrano, 61, the driver for Mayor Francis Humphreys of Dangriga, ended his life suddenly just outside his house on Monday afternoon, in the presence of two young girls who had accused him of unlawful carnal knowledge. Just moments before that, Serrano was reportedly at […] Hopkins man accused of rape at Mango Fest A Hopkins man, Edward Bowen, 22, is out on $5,000 bail after being accused of raping a minor at last weekend’s annual Mango Fest. Bowen was arraigned in Dangriga’s Magistrate COurt on Tuesday. Bowen was arrested on June 4 after a minor, 17, reported to […] Editorial The Government of Prime Minister Barrow will do irreparable damage to its reputation if it decides to grant voting rights to nationalized Guatemalans without first amending the Constitution which prohibits precisely such a thing. There is general agreement among the Opposition and the government that in justice and equity something […] Price hike expected due to trade tariffs The cost of living in Belize could be taking another hit, as the price of various imported goods are in danger of going up due to an ongoing trade war among the United States, Mexico and Canada. Mexico imposed taxes of between 20 and 25 […] Belize abstains on vote to suspend Venezuela from OAS For the second time in as many years, Venezuela has successfully garnered majority vote at the Organization of American States (OAS) to hold its seat as a member state, this time against a notion by the United States to have her suspended. This came amid […] Home insurance premium to rise The cost of home insurance in Belize is expected to increase before the end of the year as several insurance agencies have already started informing customers of the coming increase. The insurance premiums are set to increase following a series of natural disasters that ravaged […] US Capital applies for new oil concession While the oil industry in Belize is facing a major decline, with only one company producing and several relinquishing their concessions, US Capital Energy Limited is preparing to start over, in a revised concession area. According to Director of the Petroleum and Geology Department, Andre […] Fabers Road incomplete and already cracking The controversial Fabers Road rehabilitation project still has months to go before completion; however cracks are already beginning to show on the portions of the street that have been finished. Eight months into the project, visible cracks are popping up along the route, in various […] Hugo for UDP Leader? Word spread this week that there may be a third man who wants to throw in his hat for the leadership of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and potentially for Prime Minister of Belize, if the UDP is successful at the polls at the next […] Breaking Belize News National Committee for Families and Children demands fair treatment for children The National Committee for Families and Children (NCFC) today issued a statement condemning the […] Manatee found dead on World Oceans Day Today is celebrated globally as World Oceans Day. Among the many strategies being implemented […] 15 year-old-minor raped in Santa Elena, Cayo San Ignacio Police are investigating the rape of a minor from Santa Elena Town. According […] Francis Fonseca: “Our education system is deeply flawed and continues to fail our students” This year’s results of the Primary School Examinations (PSE) are out and paint a very […] Can Belize learn lesson from Barbados’ economic crisis? The small island nation of Barbados in the Caribbean, like Belize, has its dollar pegged […] Cordel Hyde: PUP should allow contested conventions everywhere Last month the People’s United Party (PUP) endorsed businessman, Gilroy Usher Sr., as its standard bearer […] Rotary’s President comes to Belize Rotarians across Belize are excited to host Rotary’s President, Barry Rassin and his wife, Esther […] Belize City Council to cover all open manholes Before he left office, former Belize City Mayor, Darrel Bradley, had undertaken an initiative to […] Assad Shoman’s new book launches tonight Belizean writer, historian and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Assad Shoman launches his new book tonight at […] Belizean student earns two full scholarship to the University of Oxford Belizean national, Robin Schaffer, will be furthering her studies at the University of Oxford on […] Moya to PUP? Cordel Hyde clueless! For weeks speculations have been that former Belize City Mayor, Zenaida Moya, would serve as the […] Illegal hunters from Guatemala busted in the Chiquibul Forest On Wednesday morning rangers from the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) were conducting a training […] Blogs Hatchet Caye, an Emerald Isle Paradise With an estimated 75 cayes within the area, it is easy to dream of boarding a sailboat and exploring them all for days on end, and we are impressed when William rattles off names like Lark Caye, Laughing Bird Caye, Round Caye and Moho Caye along the way. The majority of cayes within this Placencia/Laughing Bird Caye Coastal Planning Region are either wholly or partly owned or leased. Located on the edge of the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, Hatchet Caye is privately-owned with secluded areas reserved for their resort guests while hosting a public area where visiting fishing/snorkeling/diving/sailing groups are welcome to enjoy their Lionfish Bar & Grill and beach area. Upon our arrival, this popular eatery and watering hole is bustling with jovial island hoppers and resort guests. We are greeted with a refreshing glass of rainbow-colored juice and resort manager Dasha welcomes us to our home for the next two nights. International Sources Hurricanes are moving slower, making them more deadly, study says Tropical cyclones have grown more sluggish since the mid-20th century, a new study says. A study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, June 6, says that hurricanes are lingering in one place for longer. The study determined this by focusing on the “translation speed.” The translation speed measures how quickly a storm is moving over an area, for example from the Florida Keys to the Florida Panhandle. To analyze the changes in translation speeds, the researchers tapped into a global data set on past tropical storms. The data include estimates of the latitude and longitude of each named storm’s center at six-hour intervals. Belize strips Damanzaihao of flag, leaving it stateless In the latest setback for the colossal 50,000 metric ton vessel Damanzaihao -- the largest fish factory vessel in the world -- Belize has revoked its registration. The International Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) stripped the Damanzaihao of its flag, with NGO Sea Shepherd's legal department claiming credit. The vessel was stripped for failing to appropriately complete its vessel registration materials and notify Belize of its record of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to a statement. The move renders the vessel stateless, according to Sea Shepherd, which has been working to get the vessel arrested and de-listed in the region. Stalking the elusive permit from a fishing boat in Belize I was standing at the front of a 23-foot-long panga in the Bay of Honduras, some 10 miles northeast of Punta Gorda, Belize, as my angling partner, Nelson Mathews, was perched in a seat below. A group of frigatebirds circled above, reminiscent of cruising fighter jets, while several pelicans and cormorants watched from a snag on a mangrove island nearby. The low-lying Maya Mountains were just visible through a thin haze to the west. My right hand held a 10-weight fly rod; my left, a size-6 Bauer Crab fly. At my feet, 40 feet of fly line lay coiled. The blue-green water danced before my eyes, assuming different shades from the ever-shifting substrate three feet below - sometimes turtle grass, sometimes coral or sand. This did not make it any easier to spot my elusive quarry, the permit. From an elevated platform in the back of the boat, our guide, Scully Garbutt, pushed the boat along silently with an 18-foot graphite pole. His eyes seemed at least as sharp as those of the ospreys that patrolled below the frigatebirds. After a time, he called out calmly, "Permit, ten o'clock. Point your rod." I pointed my rod to where I thought the fish was. "A little to the left." I adjusted. "Yes. Do you see it?" "No." Local cardiologist takes expertise overseas A cardiologist with Berger Health System has returned from Northern Belize where he traveled in February to provide much-needed medical care. Dr. Gregory Lam worked with a charity called Partners for Medical Relief, a Cincinnati-based charity that takes volunteer physicians to Belize three times a year to provide free medical care. The group of volunteers worked out of a hospital in the city of Corozal. Dr. Lam said medical teams would travel up to three hours from their base there to set up treatment camps for the day in rural villages. In total, the volunteers performed over 100 surgeries and over 1,200 medical evaluations during their one-week trip, and the teams treated anywhere from 200 to 400 patients each day. Miami’s Must-Visit Caribbean Food Event: Caribbean305 In just its second year, the Caribbean305 event has become one of the country’s top Caribbean fetes for foodies. And it’s coming up soon. This year’s Caribbean305 returns to the Treetop Ballroom at Jungle Island in Miami, aiming to highlight the art of Caribbean cooking and all things Caribbean. The event is being held on June 23 starting at 8PM. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, which presents the event each year, is bringing together top chefs and mixologists from around the region, along with showcases of rum, dance and Caribbean music. This year’s event will feature culinary creations from 16 teams from around the Caribbean, including Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and the US Virgin Islands. Secret to whale shark hotspots A study has uncovered the secret to why endangered whale sharks gather on mass at just a handful of locations around the world. The new insights into the habits of the world's largest fish will help inform conservation efforts for this mysterious species, say the researchers. Large groups of whale sharks congregate at only around 20 locations off the coasts of countries including Australia, Belize, the Maldives and Mexico. Why the sharks, which can reach more than 60 feet in length, choose these specific locations has long perplexed researchers and conservationists. The new study, by researchers at the University of York in collaboration with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), has found that the shark "aggregation sites" show many common characteristics -- they are all in areas of warm, shallow water in close proximity to a sharp sea-floor drop off into deep water. Videos Belize dolphins, .5min. Just a little of what we see everyday near the Belize Barrier Reef. Bottlenose dolphins are such friendly creatures. Bridges connect communities, people, and cultures!, 1min. The Government of Belize ... Moving Belize Forward! Watch a clip of BCVI's President having her cataract removed, 1min. Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in Belize but can be removed in most cases in under 20 minutes. Belize Now \| June 8, 2018, 28min. In tonight’s headlines: The Elections and Boundaries department prepares for re-registration, Nemo Is making sure everything is in place for this year’s hurricane season, and BELIPO hosts a seminar on patents. These stories and more on this week’s edition of Belize Now. Thanks for joining us on this Friday, June 8th, 2018! A sneak peak of the Men At work 2018 Inside Corozal NICH, 2min. Men At work event 2018, 17min. Pets in Belize? Your Questions Answered - Paradise Guy, 6.5min. I'm going to share valuable information about bringing your pet to Belize, adopting a pet in Belize, and traveling from Belize with your pet. I will also show you some local veterinary clinics, grooming operations, and even where you can buy pet food. As always, if you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected] I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you and maybe your pet when you travel to Belize.