Channel 5
Steep Bail for Drug Plane Trio
There are two major developments on the illegal landing of a drug plane with fourteen million dollars worth of cocaine. The drug, one thousand two hundred and twenty-six pounds of [...]
Millions of Dollars in Cocaine Goes Up in Smoke
Tests confirm that more than one thousand two hundred twenty-six pounds of cocaine were inside bales discharged from a CESSNA aircraft on September ninth. Today, a convoy of heavily armed [...]
John Briceño: “There Are Even Bigger Fish Than That”
On Wednesday, P.U.P. Leader and Orange Walk Town Central Area, Representative John Briceño expressed shock when he learned that Orange Walk Commanding Officer, David Chi, had been implicated in the [...]
Chinese Businessman Perishes 10 Day after He Was Shot
Ten days after he was shot, a Chinese businessman, Jing Wu, succumbed at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Wu was along with his sideman, who is believed to have been [...]
Michael Arnold Shot on York Street
A Belize City resident is the latest victim of gun violence. Twenty-five-year-old Michael Arnold was shot this morning sometime around ten-forty as he was riding his bike on York Street [...]
Belize City Brothers Shot on Neal Penn Road
Prior to this morning’s shooting on York Street, at about seven p.m. on Wednesday night, shots rang out—some say up to nine blasts—on Neal Pen Road Extension. As the echoes [...]
Is Pier 1 Stabbing Connected to Neal Penn Road Shooting?
But was the shooting on Neal Pen Road Extension in retaliation for the stabbing incident at Pier One over the weekend? Coincidentally, earlier on Wednesday, Wayne Leslie, who is the [...]
Pier One Bar Lease Expires in 2019
The shocking bar brawl at Pier One Bar and Grill has some parents concerned over the safety of their children. The park is a place that attracts entire families, especially [...]
Corozal Police Investigate Strange Shooting Incident
A man from San Narciso Village in the Corozal District was injured in a scary ordeal in a contraband hotspot in the north. Wilfredo Pott says that on Tuesday night [...]
Illegal Logging Operation Busted in San Felipe, Toledo
Police busted a logging operation in the southern village of San Felipe, Toledo. On Wednesday, a joint patrol between police and the Forestry Department led to the discovery of three [...]
Elderly Man Claims Unfair Treatment at the Hands of GSU
The following is another story involving claims against the Gang Suppression Unit. Seventy-two-year-old Belize City resident Gladstone Brown and Melda Casimiro Valerio say that their house was raided by members [...]
No Arrest for Kortobacco Heist
Police have yet to levy charges for the major heist which took place at Kortobacco Belize Limited located inside the Benque Viejo Free Zone. The heist took place in the [...]
Duo Charged for Maya Center Robbery; 2 Others Sought
A Belize City man and another from Dangriga have been charged in connection with a robbery on Tuesday night in Maya Center Village in Stann Creek. Just before eight-thirty p.m., [...]
More than $100,000 in Jewellery Stolen from Cayo Businessman
Police in San Ignacio are investigating an alleged burglary at a jewellery store in that municipality. A businessman, Oscar Cano, is reporting that his business located on Savannah Street in [...]
Saldivar or Faber for Party Leader – Minister Elrington Weighs In
Ministers John Saldivar and Patrick Faber have been all over the country rallying support for their bid for leadership of the United Democratic Party. For the past few months, Saldivar [...]
Is the I.C.J. the Only Option?
The Referendum Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched its awareness campaign to educate the public about the territorial claim and taking it to the International Court of [...]
“You are not crazy if you don’t support going to the I.C.J.” – Minister Elrington Takes Back His Words!
Minister Wilfred Elrington says there will be a lot more effort in the awareness campaign outside of Tuesday night’s town hall meeting organized by Great Belize Productions/Channel Five. He says [...]
Leader of Opposition Disappointed with the Chambers
Leader of the Opposition John Briceño says he is disappointed with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Briceño’s comments come after the B.C.C.I. fired off a release eight days [...]
Belize City Mayor Takes on N.T.U.C.B. President
Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner had some strong words for National Trade Union Congress of Belize President, Floyd Neal. On Wednesday, during the P.U.P.’s annual wreath-laying ceremony for George Price, [...]
A Look Back When Belize Became an Independent Nation
Prime Minister Dean Barrow remains in Havana, Cuba, after undergoing spinal fusion surgery. He’ll spend Independence Day recuperating and is expected to return to the country in a few days. [...]
LOVE FM
Another man shot in broad daylight
A broad daylight shooting has left one man injured. Michael Arnold was walking on Yorke Street when he was fired upon. ASP Alejandro Cowo, Head of CIB, provided the media with the details. ASP Alejandro Cowo, Head of Crimes Investigation Branch: “Police responded to shots being fired on York Street. They visited the hospital where …
Briceno: It was pointless to vote on UHS bill
Earlier this month, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) condemned the Government of Belize for failing to resolve the decade old UHS debt saga on Friday, August 31st in Parliament. The opposition did not get off the hook since BCCI felt that they were also to blame. It described what transpired in parliament …
Illegal Logging Operation found in Toledo
On Thursday a joint police and Forestry Department operation in San Felipe Village in the Toledo District sought out and found an illegal logging operation. The Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, Joseph Myvett said from time to time they cooperate with the Forestry Department in joint operations. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head of National …
Orange Walk Carnival
Belize will be 37 years old tomorrow, way off the calendar but not yet old enough for a midlife crisis. It’s been a bumpy 37th year with unsolved crime; unflattering international categorizations about high murder per capita; being a tier three trafficking country and having a political divide on whether or not to forward Guatemala’s …
Briceno: The nation has lost another great leader in Lindo
Yesterday, the People’s United Party honored the Father of the Nation, George Cadle Price, who led Belize to its independence on September 21st, 1981. The former Prime Minister was well known for his emphasis on service to the nation. It is noteworthy to mention that this week we also lost another great leader, Dean Russell …
Will the new law deter Belizeans from going to Chetumal?
Thousands of Belizeans visit Chetumal on a monthly basis spending an average of one hundred dollars. With the new mobility law, will fewer Belizeans make the trip across the border to Chetumal? The new law will make it mandatory for Belizeans entering Chetumal in their private vehicle and staying for twelve hours to pay two …
SHOOTING IN SAN VICTOR
There have been reports in the north that the Customs Department was in hot pursuit of a vehicle carrying contraband and the chase allegedly ended with the vehicle flipping over. The story changed today and it is still unclear if the Customs Department was involved. According to ACP Joseph Myvett, the police received a report …
Bail for Chi, Friesen, and Anthony
On September 9th law enforcement officers discovered a single engine aircraft with over one thousand two hundred pounds of cocaine on board. Following the discovery, five men, including the Officer Commanding Orange Walk Police, were charged with abetment of the importation of a controlled drug; conspiracy to land a plane at an unlicensed airfield; and …
ROBBERY IN MAYA CENTER
A robbery in Maya Center in the Stann Creek District resulted in the police first chasing a lead on a getaway car, followed by the thieves fleeing on a bus. It happened on Tuesday night, shortly before 8:30. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvett said they have caught a couple suspects and are seeking more. …
2 shot at home on Neals Pen Road
There was a shooting minutes before seven o’clock on Wednesday night in Belize City. Two persons were shot on Neal’s Pen Road. The police department is also looking at the possibility that the two shooting victims may be collateral damage of the Pier One fight which occurred last weekend. Another resident of 95 Neal’s Pen …
Central Bank and CWU signed agreement
The Central Bank of Belize and Christian Workers Union signed a three year collective agreement. Security officers who are represented by the Christian Workers Union are poised to receive a ten percent salary increase...
Amandala
Elrington’s deplorable scare tactics
At a ceremony for the Status of Forces Agreement that was signed today between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Belize, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Wilfred Elrington, area representative for the Pickstock constituency, said that if we vote no to go to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), “The whole country will become refugees if the Guatemalans come across and chase us out.”
Elrington explained that the Guatemalans had been insistent that they get our land: “either that or they want to exercise control over our foreign affairs and our defence. They are not asking for money, they want land. If you give them an inch, they will not stop. We cannot reach any agreement with them that is hopeful.”
Court of Appeal orders new trial for Aracely Cahueque for abetment to murder
In March 2014, Aracely Cahueque, 21, a former Corozal beauty contestant, walked out of the Belmopan Supreme Court of Justice Dennis Hanomansingh freed of a three-count indictment for abetment to murder.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, however, appealed the judge’s decision to acquit Cahueque, and the Court of Appeal has handed down a decision ordering that Cahueque be tried a second time.
Cahueque’s entanglement in the criminal justice system came as a consequence of the murder of Raylene Dyer, 18, who was killed in October 2010. According to evidence given in court, Dyer’s head was cut off and her body was dumped in the river around the Roaring Creek area. Dyer’s body was never recovered. The motive established for the murder was that Cahueque allegedly wanted Dyer’s baby.
Baby born at home after hospital turned mother away
News of a woman giving birth to a baby boy at a relative’s home after she was told by the Corozal Community Hospital that she wasn’t ready to deliver, spread like wildfire on social media yesterday. Fortunately, the baby was safely delivered by the father, but there has been much public criticism of the hospital that told a pregnant mother to go home while she was in labor.
In an interview with CTV3, the baby’s father, Jaime Hernandez, age unknown, said that he and his wife, Elena Hernandez, went to the hospital after she began experiencing what felt like labor pains. After being examined by a nurse and a doctor, she was told that the pain was simply due to hunger or gas, and that she should go home and eat.
Guatemalan aggression in the Sarstoon, but Hon. Saldivar blames BTV
Last Saturday, the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) held their third annual Eco Challenge, with the route of the race being from Barranco, a village in the Toledo District, to the Sarstoon Island and back to Barranco.
The kayakers were to paddle around the island, but that didn’t happen. Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) prevented the kayakers from doing so by blocking their path with gunboats. This extremely provocative move took place despite the presence of Belize’s Forward Operating Base on the north bank of the Sarstoon River.
National Service Day held in remembrance of Rt. Hon. George Price
Today marked seven years since the Father of Belize’s Independence, Right. Honorable George Cadle Price, passed away and was laid to rest at the Lord Ridge Cemetery in a massive state funeral that saw thousands of Belizeans line the streets of the old capital to get a glimpse of the funeral procession for the man who is credited as one of the founders of the nationalist movement that led Belize to independence in September 1981.
This morning, a number of PUP executive members and supporters converged on the Lord Ridge Cemetery to pay their respect to Price, who was Belize’s first national hero, in a wreath- laying ceremony.
SMART commissions book to promote reading in students
The telecommunications company, SMART, is giving back to the community by commissioning the production of a children’s book designed to motivate kids to put down their electrical devices and read instead. The book, Do The Smart Thing, was launched yesterday at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza.
According to Adelaide Sabido, public relations representative from SMART, they wanted to collaborate with different organizations which are involved in improving literacy among students in Belize. They also wanted to find a fun avenue to motivate students to want to read more.
Football tournaments under way in Corozal
This week, the Corozal Football Association (CFA) marked the 6th week of our ongoing U-15 Male and U-17 Male Tournaments. There are a total of 5 teams for the U-15 Male, and 10 teams for the U-17 Male tournaments. It has been going well; all teams trying to top the ranking scores. In addition, this week we launched a U-17 Female and a U-10 Male/Female tournament. For the U-17 Females, we have a total of 4 teams; and there are 5 teams for the U-10 tournament. Another success for Corozal!
Three games were played on Saturday, September 15: (U-15) Corozal Invaders clipped Rising Stars, 1-0; (U-17) Libertadores and Bacadia Warriors played to a 3-3 draw; and (U-17) Caledonia also drew, 3-3, with Progresso United.
Bandits’ protest dismissed; standings remain; Verdes leads at Week 6 of PLB 2018-2019 Opening Season
As reported in our Tuesday issue, the nil-nil draw on Saturday night last between San Pedro Pirates and Belmopan Bandits out at Ambergris Stadium had resulted in a protest lodged by the Bandits. But on Tuesday, the Premier League of Belize (PLB) secretariat informed us that, “The point of contention was cleared by the referee; therefore, the protest had no validity and was dismissed.”
Quickly reviewing the weekend results, they are: On Saturday night, San Pedro Pirates FC drew, 0-0, with Belmopan Bandits SC at Ambergris Stadium; and Altitude Assassins FC clipped Wagiya FC, 2-1, at the M.A. Stadium in Independence. Then on Sunday afternoon, BDF FC dropped Police United FC, 3-1, at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium; and Verdes FC crushed Freedom Fighters FC, 5-0, at the Santa Elena Sporting Complex, to take first place in the standings.
Independence High School Invaders stun Honduras 6-2 in boys football at CODICADER Games in Panama
(F) St. Ignatius High lost 3-1 to Guatemala on Sunday afternoon. Guatemala’s Andrea Alvarez Donis, Julia Lopez Hernandez and Nayeli Bocel Perez each scored a goal, to lead 3-0 before Kelly Dawson scored for Nashus, making it 3-1 at the half. No goals were scored in 2nd half.
(F) Ashley Rodriguez, lately of Rumberas fame, scored Nashus’ only goal in their 6-1 loss to Panama on Friday morning at the FIFA Goal Project Stadium – Estadio Luis E. Cascarita Tapia.
(M) The 2018 NSSSA male MVP Alwynn Zelaya and Alexis Chan each scored a goal in Independence High boys’ 7-2 loss to Panama at the Maracana Stadium on Saturday.
BDFA Interoffice Football concludes at the MCC
The Belize District Football Association (BDFA) McLean Insurance Brokers Interoffice Football Tournament 2018 concluded on Saturday, September 15, at the MCC Grounds, where the championship final was preceded by the third place game.
In the third place game, Fort St. Tourist Village won, 3-2, over BWS. Tourist Village got a goal each from Thomas Castro, Carlos Lino and John Castro; while David Robateau netted both goals for BWS.
And in the championship game, it was MOE Sports/Premium Wines with the 2-1 victory over Ramada/Habet. Steven Baizer and Melhelm Hernandez shook the net for MOE, while Kareem Flowers scored for Ramada.
Editorial: Three decades and seven years ago …
Many of us Belizeans have not viewed political independence as a challenge to consolidate our status as a nation-state. Rather, we have been encouraged by leaders of various descriptions to see these annual commemorations of our September 21, 1981 independence primarily as opportunities, or just reasons, to indulge in the merrymaking which has become a focus of so many of our lives. Have fun, the Belizean people are repeatedly being told, have fun.
Unfortunately, crisis is a characteristic of the human condition. Fun is something you’re allowed to have when you have survived or overcome crisis. Belize in September of 2018 is a nation which is experiencing some serious challenges. We have not done a good job of preparing ourselves for these challenges during the 37 years of our independence.
From the Publisher
This year’s September celebrations, the last before next April’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) referendum, are almost over. Soon, Settlement Day and Christmas will be upon us. After that, April 10 will stare us directly in the face. The days dwindle down, to a precious few, as the song says.
I find it strange that Belize never, ever reviews the incidents involved with the Heads of Agreement in mid-March of 1981. These incidents were unprecedented in my lifetime, and no events of equal drama have transpired in Belize since then.
I say I find it strange, but the silence is not strange if we had expected the then ruling People’s United Party (PUP), or the then Opposition United Democratic Party, which was in relative wreckage following their 1979 general election disaster, to want to remind Belizeans of the anti-Heads uprising, an uprising which may be blamed for the violent deaths of Sylvino Riveroll in Corozal Town and then of the musician/policeman Pete Matthews at the Queen Street Police Station.
Another successful Soundfest with honours going to Zoila Clarke and Lucio Alcoser
Dear Editor,
On Friday, September 14, 2018, the 17th edition of the Soundfest was held at the beautiful Bird’s Isle. The brainchild of Tony Wright, also known as “The Real Deal Music Ambassador of Belize,” the Soundfest was attended by many Belizeans from home and those visiting from abroad for the September celebrations.
The show flowed smoothly, featuring many Belizean talents. There were giveaways and lots of food and drinks. The highlight of the show was the presentation of lifetime awards going to two Belizean icons who have given, and continue delivering to The jewel, their undiluted talent from their hearts and souls.
Belizeans, open your eyes
I ask this question – Do Belizeans want to be the second Palestine in the middle west of the world, who have lost their homeland?
Now is the time for Belizeans to open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts and stand united as one people in defense of our national sovereignty and the sanctity of our borders.
In relation to the convention between Her Majesty and the Republic of Guatemala, relative to the boundaries of British Honduras, signed on the 30th of April 1859, I consider this great historical event so important for the permanent national security of our independent nation of Belize that I feel obliged to reproduce in writing the exact contents of this great achievement as a guarantee for our national existence with our secured national boundaries in perpetuity.
Far right capitalism like monarchy
Architects of capitalism worried about what would happen to the system when everyone had all the material goods that they wanted. We know the answer to that¯marketers came along to convince people that what they had wasn’t enough. The capitalists, maybe more than socialists, invest a heck of a lot in research. And the marketers are always at the ready to pounce to get the sales going. They’re the ones who found out that a super prime girl posing beside a bottle of rum could make a fellow change his brand, and such.
Allow me a little pause here so we can retrace the steps to the glory of the material world. We know that there is nothing new under the sun. Every invention of man is really a discovery. The wheel was born when man saw an orange rolling on the ground. A monkey using the spring in a bent branch to catapult himself through the trees, a feathered seed flying through the air, a frog going downstream on a piece of board, lightning brightening the skies, all these things gave man ideas when he observed them.
Salinas de Gortari: one of the worst Mexican governments …
In this time of uncertainty Belize is going through, I thought it important to consider certain historical issues that arose with projects that were conceived by the representatives of the corporations and the neoliberal capitalist think-tanks. It is very important for us to bear in mind that the Anglo-Guatemala-Belize issue is not something surprising, since the objective from the birth of the United States of America has been to extend its hegemony throughout the Latin American and Caribbean countries, with the starting point being the 1823 Monroe Doctrine. Thereafter, there was the first American continental war, in which the United States seized more than half of Mexico´s territory.
Expo 2018 saw decline in attendance numbers, but hailed as a success by BCCI
Thousands of Belizeans in search of a good bargain and wholesome fun and entertainment converged at the 22nd annual Expo Belize Marketplace on the ITVET campus (old Technical College campus) on Saturday and Sunday. Although the number of persons who attended this year’s Expo is less than the number of those in attendance at the Expo last year, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) hailed it as a “landmark event.”
The BCCI, in a press release issued yesterday, Monday, reported that this year’s Expo had the participation of 110 companies which were spread out in 189 booths across the vast ITVET campus.
Mexican vehicle insurance requirement deferred for about 5 months
Belizeans traveling to Chetumal will likely not be denied entry because their vehicles don’t bear the Mexican vehicle insurance, as was announced previously. The Mexico Honorary Consul to Belize, Dr. Luis Montero Maldonado, told us there has been a delay in the implementation of the new Mobility Law enacted by Mexico because the Mobility Institute has not yet been established as the main body with the mandate to carry out and enforce the new laws which came into effect on September 12.
The Mexico Honorary Consul to Belize told us that there will be a delay of about 5 months before the administration begins its operation.
Dr. Maldonado explained to us in an interview today that authorities at the border are requesting that vehicles entering Mexico have the mandated insurance coverage, but a clarification must be made.
Steven Moss, 24, accused of murder, committed to stand trial in Supreme Court
Steven Moss, 24, charged with the murder of Daniel Anderson, 31, was today committed to stand trial in the January 2019 session of the Supreme Court by the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser, after a preliminary inquiry was held to determine if there was enough evidence to establish a prima facie case against him.
Moss had agreed to a paper committal — a process that would involve a submission by the Crown of all of the evidence it intends to rely on without it being challenged by Moss.
Moss is also charged with 2 counts of attempted murder and 2 counts of use of deadly means of harm with intent to cause dangerous harm.
Dennis Haylock, 37, committed to stand trial for unlawful sexual intercourse
Dennis Haylock, 37, a resident of Lords Bank in the Belize District, who has been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl 14 years and 11 months old, was today committed to stand trial in the January 2019 session of the Supreme Court by the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser, after a preliminary inquiry was held.
Haylock had agreed to a paper committal, whereby all of the evidence that the Crown intends to rely on is submitted to the court without it being challenged by him.
The incident occurred in May 2017 in Lords Bank.
The Reporter
IN THE NAME OF CORRUPTION
Some years ago,I was speaking to a friend of mine, a brilliant political mind from the Middle East. He opened my eyes to look at corruption from a completely different angle.
Where I thought the Government was creaming from the top of the money pile, this conversation really made me look at incidents I have been exposed to in our country and made me understand better why politicians would risk their ‘reputations’ to protect seemingly common petty criminals.
Khaled AlSa’di said to me that our Government usesour judicial system to protect low-level officials or petty criminals, because they are key players in a criminal system.
CWU and CENTRAL BANK SIGN NEW CBA
The Christian Workers Union has negotiated a new collective Bargaining Agreement with the Central Bank of Belize, allowing the security staff to get a 10 percent salary raise.
The CWU announced the new CBA today, explaining that agreement is for three years with 5 percent of the increase taking effect in 2018, 3 percent in 2019 and 2 percent in 2020, without any reduction to other benefits being received.
POLICE SEEK ASSISTANCE IN IDENTITY OF MAN IN VIDEO
Police in Orange Walk are seeking your assistance in the apprehension of this man, identified as Fredrick Rhaburn Jr. of an Orange Walk Town address who tried to rob an undisclosed Chinese establishment a short while ago.
SECURITY GUARD ATTACKED AT 1.30am BY 3 MEN
Security Guard Adan Martinez, 55, is lucky to be alive after he was attacked at around 1:30 this morning by 3 men who tried to take his gun. Martinez, who was on duty at Maria Chang and Sons on Castle Street...
Breaking Belize News
Belmopan man detained for handling stolen goods
Police have detained a fisherman from Belmopan city for handling stolen goods. Deborah Morrison, 26, a […]
Young woman raped by 2 men
Police are investigating the rape of a 20-year-old Belmopan woman. The young woman reported that on […]
Four phony security guards charged for gun, ammo and failure to produce license
On September 17, 2018 around 2:00 p.m., police went to the Benque Viejo del Carmen free […]
Two men shot in Penn Road incident last night
Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred yesterday. Around 6:50 last night, police went to […]
“ Nothing special about Sarstoon,” says Belize’s Foreign Minister
The University of the West Indies and Channel 5 Belize yesterday held a town hall meeting […]
Central Bank security guards getting raise of pay in new collective bargaining agreement
Security officers of the Central Bank of Belize (CBB) that are represented by the Christian Workers […]
My Independence day Reflections
By Charles Leslie Jr. :BELIZE CONSTITUTION:
Preamble:
Whereas the people of Belize-
(b) respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe that the operation of the economic SYSTEM must result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to subserve the common good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all,…
Drug plane suspects get bail
Peter Friezen, Norman Anthony and Superintendent of Police David Chi, three of the five men […]
Two brothers shot in Belize City
A shooting in Belize City has left two brothers injured. They are Everald Tablada and […]
Corozal held its 2018 Carnival Parade
A month of festivities is held around Belize in the month of September. Carnival in each district is held on different dates. Today I blogged about the Corozal Carnival float parade. So, sorry that I could not continue going live. Usually, the Carnival is always held on the 20th of September in Corozal. Because everyone loves to go to Orange Walk on the 21, of September. Corozal felt the September Celebration on Thursday, September 20, 2018, with Colorful floats that gathered at the roundabout by the Corozal Hospital at 3pm. By then, the people had already lined up all through the main streets of Corozal parade Line. Main floats came out very decorated, creation, drum line, businesses and other floats that participated in this year's event.
Citizen input through Primate-Watch Belize helps monitor monkey populations
However we look at it, primates – the Yucatan black howler monkey and the Central American spider monkey, are coming under increasing pressure in Belize. Both considered globally endangered, their main threat is from agricultural expansion – with hundreds of acres disappearing under bulldozers each year.
Using citizen science, we are starting to map primate distributions across Belize, asking people how populations are doing in their area, and to send reports and photos in to the Primate Watch Belize Facebook Group, linked to the Wildtracks page, to build a picture of what is happening in Belize. This will be combined with community surveys and protected area data to provide a much better picture of how our monkeys are doing in Belize, and what steps we can take to ensure that they continue to live in Belize’s forests in the future.
Join us! Make a difference for the conservation of these species in the long term! Add your sightings (species, location number in troop, adults / young), photos and comments online at Facebook.
International Sources
Students dive into their research in Belize
UTRGV students studying abroad in Belize this summer explored one of the most famous dive sites in the world - the Great Blue Hole.
“You dive down and it’s just open blue, just beautiful,” said Chelsea Pavliska, a UTRGV graduate student from Liberty Hill, Texas.
The Ocean, Coastal and Earth Sciences major was one of the students enrolled in the coral reef ecology course in Belize, led by Dr. David Hicks, director of the UTRGV School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences.
“I don't know very many places where you get to go diving for your research or diving for a class, like at UTRGV,” Pavliska said.
The Great Blue Hole is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest coral barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.
ITU finalises coordination for Caribbean and Central American digital switchover
The ITU has finalised the coordination process that will enable digital switchover to go ahead in Central America and the Caribbean region.
The global telecom body worked with regional regulators the Comisión Técnica Regional de Telecomunicaciones (COMTELCA), the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) to finalise the cycle of regional frequency coordination meetings on the use of the VHF band (174-216MHz) and the UHF band (470-806 MHz) at a meeting last week in Belize City, Belize.
That meeting, the final of four that took place across the region over the last 18 months, stablished the basis for formal frequency coordination inter-government agreements for broadcasting and mobile services in the VHF and UHF bands.
Caribbean sugar producers want protection from white sugar imports
With the region no longer enjoying fixed quotas and guaranteed access to the European raw sugar market, the region’s four remaining sugar producers have asked governments to clamp down on refined, or white, sugar imports, saying they can meet the required average demand for 100,000 metric tons.
This week, Guyana, Jamaica, Belize and Barbados petitioned the council of trade ministers to order governments to increase import taxes on white sugar imports in a bid to restrict merchants in the region from buying white sugar from Colombia, the U.S. and other markets.
In the past year, the four countries have been moving to switch from raw brown sugar manufacturing to white, or refined, sugar after their decades-old sugar protocol with the EU collapsed when the EU ended the fixed quota system, guaranteed prices and a market of indefinite duration in October of last year.
Videos
SPRCS Independence Rally in San Pedro, 11min.
J'VOURT happened this morning right at Corozal, 2min. It commenced at 4am.
J'VOURT in Corozal, 7min.
Memories of the Rt. Honorable George Cadle Price, 1.5min.
SPRCS Independence Rally, 7min.
SPRCS Independence Rally, 3min.
Sights of San Pedro | Ambergris Caye, Belize, 4min.
UTRGV study abroad students dive into research in Belize, 2.5min.
Barracuda Hunting in San Pedro Belize, 10min.
Official Flag Raising Ceremony Memorial Park, 2.5hr.
Channel 5 Obituaries, 1min.
Highlight of the Corozal Carnival 2018, 8min.
The Belize Soca and Culture Festival, 40min. Kes The Band - Artist
Rupee - Artist,
Troy "DJ Dalla" Flowers - Promoter,
Omar "Mr. Flava" Arzu - Promoter.
Belize City Council - Independence Day City Fest, 33min. Councilor Allan Pollard Jr. - Traffic, Community Participation, Public Relations and Special Events.
Ian Mariano Sr. - Public Relations Personnel.
Culture Apparel - Clothes, 12min. Marcus August is the creator behind Culture Apparel. We spoke with the young entrepreneur about his inspiration and design process. You can currently get T-shirts, Tank tops, hats and slides by contacting him on Facebook.
Belize Medical Associates - Health Tips, 23min. Dr. Fernando Cuellar
The Department of Youth Service - Nominations for the Annual National Youth Awards, 19min. Lisa Lewis - Youth Empowerment Coordinator, Department of Youth Services,
Renata Samuels - Youth Intern Officer, Department of Youth Services.
KHMH - 23rd Anniversary, 37min. Michelle Hoare - CEO, KHMH,
Tylon Tillett - Public Relations Officer, KHMH.
Flag Raising Ceremony 2018, 2.5hr.
EXTRO Frankie Reneau Rass, 9min. Frankie Reneau’s extravagant, extended rendition of the national anthem
21 Gun Salute and Flag Raising ceremony! Happy Independence Day!, 11min.
Flag raising ceremony commemorating Belize’s 37th Independence Celebrations, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, 28min.
San Pedro High School reenacts the raising of the Belize Flag for the first time. Independence Day 1981, 21min.
Fireworks in Corozal, 15min.
2018 Corozal Carnival parade, 4min.
Miami Beach 2018 Corozal Carnival, 11min.
Fireworks in San Pedro, 6min.
COROZAL parade 9/20/2018 BELIZE, 33min. There are multiple parades and celebrations during the month of September for Belize Independence.
Snorkeling Belize Barrier Reef, 5min.
Took some small clips of my snorkeling vacation in Belize. Tons of coral, exotic fish, and some squid.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
