AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life News Daily news prior to today Today's Belize News: October 21, 2018

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Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Ministry of Health urges Ministry of Education to prohibit the sale of sodas in schools
During the signing ceremony of contracts to extend the Hemodialysis program for Belizean patients who suffer from the end-stage of renal failure, the Minister of Health Honorable Pablo Marin called for the Ministry of Education (MOE) to prohibit the sale of soft drinks in educational institutions countrywide. The announcement was made on Monday, October 8th with Marin stating that this initiative is part of the ministry's action plan to tackle deaths associated with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which are the leading cause of end-stage renal failure.

Friends of Swallow Caye host Manatee Awareness Week 2018
Friends of Swallow Caye held a successful Manatee Awareness campaign in San Pedro Town, Caye Caulker and Belize City from Monday, October 8th to Sunday, October 14th. The week was devoted to raising awareness about the protection and monitoring of these endangered species, which if not protected, they may not exist in the near future. Throughout the week many educational sessions were held at several locations to educate citizens of what challenges manatees are facing and how people can contribute their protection. The Manatee Awareness Week 2018 ended with a fan tour to Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th, where spectators had the experience to view manatees in their natural habitat.

Misc Belizean Sources

We are the proud winner of the 2018 Major festival in Belize Award by the Belize Tourism Board!
Congratulations to the Caye Caulker Lobster Fest Committee

NO permits have been granted for dredging of the seabed around Cayo Rosario
How many over-the-water structures can you count. IN OUR HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE? We see more than 54. FIFTY FOUR! We have asked the Belize Forest Department (Mangroves), Natural Resources (Dredging) and The Fisheries Dept (ANY activity in a marine reserve) to clarify their positions on the Cayo Rosario plan and to say NO to any and all permissions regarding this project. Yesterday, we heard from Michelle Alvarez - the Director of the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Caribbean Tire crosses frontier
The Spanish Lookout settlement started as a remote village in Belize in 1958 and the Texaco Service Station (Central Service which later became Caribbean Tire Wholesale Ltd.) became a part of the community 12 years later, around 1970. This Service Station was establish by some of the senior community members. In the early years all tires were purchased from local suppliers, a few tires at a time, and for lack of proper bridges during the rainy season, these products had to be transported across the river in canoes. Today Caribbean Tire is a well established business with branches all over Belize. In 2000 Caribbean Tire opened its Corozal Free Zone Store, focusing on the Mexican market. Today the business has crossed frontier, perhaps due to the current shaky business environment at the Corozal Free Zone. Caribbean Tire will be opening its largest branch outside of Belize, once again targeting the Mexican market. It will be located in Chetumal, Mexico on Avenida Insurgentes northbound off the Expofer Show Grounds.

And the Benque Urban Birdwatch is a wrap
With... Mississippi Kite, Peregrine Falcon and...Orange-breasted Falcon! Yes an amazing surprise to see this critically endangered species within an urban environment. Thanks to all our participants!

Out and about in the South!
The Embassy team next stop was the Hillside Health Care Clinic to learn about their tireless efforts to provide low cost health care to rural communities throughout the Toledo district. It was a pleasure to meet with the team and hear about their dedication to improving the quality of life of their patients. We met several American students doing part of their medical studies with Hillside and took the opportunity to remind them to vote in the upcoming midterm elections!

16th National Tourism Awards
14 Photos

Ya'axch� Conservation Trust Protected Areas Program Director
Join our team as Protected Areas Program Director! We are securing the services of a Belizean Protected Areas Program Director - with a strong interest in protected areas management and conservation - to contribute to the leadership and oversight of the Protected Areas Program.

A GOOD BELIZEAN MAYA LEGEND TO READ: Xtabay
We all know the Maya Legend of the Xtabai but do we know it's origin ? Una de las historia sobre el origen del Xtabai esta en espanol y en ingles gracias por el apoyo y vamos a mantener nuestra cultura Maya viva en el norte de Belize . Let's preserve our Yucatec Maya culture in Belize . A legend of Xtabay (the female demon) tells of two women who lived in a village in the Yucat�n Peninsula. One was named Xkeban (which means "sinner", "bad woman" or "one who practices illicit love"); the other was Utz-Colel (a good, decent woman). People said Xkeban was beautiful, but sick with lust, and gave her favors to every man who asked her.

The Reporter

NEIGHBORHOOD Biz. - VERTS FRIED CHICKEN
As The Reporter embarks on the new series to showcase Belizean businesses, we highlight a Belizean restaurant that has challenged the status quo on fried chicken, Verts Fried Chicken and More, located at #43 Euphrates Avenue. The owner, Belizean born Calvert Webster, has been involved with food since his teens. After spending the majority of his early life in the United States Webster, known locally as "Verts" joined the US Army right after high school where he served as a cook for just under two years.

NAME BRAND SINCE 2004
These days when I get in a Facebook back and forth with people and they feel defeated they are quick to remind me that I was soundly beaten by Edmond "Clear the Land" Castro in the 2015 general elections. Clear the Land (the then two-time UDP representative) received 2,100 votes and I received 1,500 after only six months of political work. This was the best performance against Clear the Land since his 2008 victory, but yet to some my 2015 defeat, though honorable, is supposed to make me think less of myself. Their desire shall go unfulfilled of course, because Maja was Maja before politics and he remains Maja after politics; in other words Maja dah name brand since 2004!

Breaking Belize News

Body found in Belize City identified
This morning the body of a man was discovered near Bravo Motors in Belize City. He was observed with various knife wounds to his body. His body was transported to the Belize City Morgue where it was later identified as Wilson Street resident, Charleston Cleland Jr.

Belize~ Honduran Caravana Exodus
By Richard Harrison: A phenomenon of biblical proportions is taking place right in front of our very eyes. I was aware that life was getting harder in neighbouring Honduras�but never did I imagine that the frustration would cresendo into the mass exodus of around 4,000 who got up and left unbearable suffering in their country en route to the hope and promise of the prosperous north�they have passed through Guatemala and are currently at the southern border of Mexico.

Former Mexican ICJ advisor optimistic of Belize's case
A group of Belizean journalists were in Mexico this week meeting with Former Mexican advisor at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Carlos Bernal. The trip is a part of the United States Embassy in Belize's ICJ education campaign. The campaign is titled , "From Fear to Facts; Demystifying the International Court of Justice."

Jimmy Morales to Trump: Conditions can't be placed on US aid
The 'March of the Migrant', as it has been termed, is currently at the Guatemala-Mexico border seeking help from Mexico to enter their territory. The march began with a little over 1,000 Hondurans last week Saturday just days after Central American leaders had met with US Vice president, Mike Pence to discuss migration.

Three outstanding Belizean artists receive Artist Emeritus Award
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, Minister with the portfolio of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture along with Sapna Budhrani, President of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) yesterday presented Florencio Mes, Myrna Manzanares and Gerald "Lord" Rhaburn with the title of Artist Emeritus at the Museum of Belize.

BNTU should not dictate on hardship allowances, says Faber
The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the Ministry of Education are sorting out some big issues in the educational system including the re-categorization of hardship allowances for teachers. Last week, the BNTU issued a strongly worded statement warning the Ministry to cease from disrespecting them since the meeting dates were set and were not adhered to.

Patrick Faber to Elena Smith: "Cry baby"
There are several on-going issues that the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the Ministry of Education are trying to resolve. One of the issue is proposal 22. Proposal 22 proposes that the Government of Belize pay in full the salary of teachers at grant aided secondary schools.

Corozal cops find .9mm pistol
Corozal police have deposited a .9mm pistol as found property. On October 18th, just after 3:00 p.m., upon conducted a search in an overgrown lot in the Dominguez Layout in that municipality, police discovered an unarmed .9mm pistol in a sack.

Two convicted of Richard and Maria Stuart double murder
Milton Maza and Eli Lopez were today found guilty of the double murder of attorney Richard Stuart and his wife Maria in 2010. In a trial without jury, which began in July, Supreme Court Justice, Colin William's found the duo guilty. However, the convicted murderers will not be sentenced until November 9th.

Orange Walk police seize illegal ammunition
Orange Walk police have labeled 20 yellow Fiochi brand 20 gauge cartridges as found property. At around 4:20 p.m. on October 18th, members of the Orange Walk Police Department conducted patrols and searches on the August Pine Ridge and San Felipe road, which lead them to the discovery.

International Sources

CCJ president perplexed at C'bean people's non-acceptance of regional court
President of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, says after 50 years of political independence, he remains perplexed that Caribbean people are still finding "excuses" in support of the London-based Privy Council as the region's final court. Justice Saunders, who will receive an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) later on Saturday, said that he however remains confident that like other regional institutions, the CCJ will be embraced by all the people of the Caribbean.

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