Today's Belize News: February 22, 2019

Print Thread

Today's Belize News: February 22, 2019 #535004 02/22/19 07:07 AM 02/22/19 07:07 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, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials The San Pedro Sun Copa San Pedro heads to seventh week of action! Copa San Pedro’s Closing Season 2019 football tournament continues to entertain islanders with intense matches at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town. After six weeks of action, the current standings have Los Catrachos F.C and Legends F.C at the top of the chart with 15 points each, followed by Caye Caulker Islanders F.C with 14 points and Fambo boys with 10 points. Following the top four teams are Terror Squad and G Strikers with nine points. Captain G’s has eight points, and Vince Assassins have seven points. Yet to make it on the chart are Genesis F.C, Ambergris Hope’s and Island Sharks. Copa San Pedro continues this weekend starting on Thursday, February 21st at 7PM. All islanders are invited to come out and support the island teams in their local tournament. Food and drinks will be on sale during all the games. San Pedro Invaders draw 1-1 against Royal Maya Hill San Pedro Invaders hosted Cayo’s Royal Maya Hill for the fifth week of Belize’s National Amateur Women League (NAWL) Closing Season 2019 at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town on Saturday, February 23rd. The intense match saw both teams fighting for a win, but at the end of the game time, it was a 1-1 draw. For their next match, San Pedro Invaders will be traveling to Belize City to face the Black Orchids on Saturday, February 23rd. The game is scheduled to start at 4PM at the MCC Grounds. Photos: Annual Coca-Cola Spelling Bee Zone 5 eliminations American investment manager Brent Borland pleads guilty to Placencia International Airport scam American investment manager 48-year-old Brent Borland has pleaded guilty to running a US$21.9 million fraud in Belize between 2014 and 2018. Borland admitted to falsely telling dozens of investors their money was going to be used to construct an international airport in Placencia southern Belize, promising them double-digit rates in returns for their investment. Borland, a principal at Borland Capital Group, was first charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in New York City, New York, USA on May 16, 2018, for misappropriating close to $6 million from investors. The SEC alleges that from 2014, Borland sold more than US$21 million worth of promissory notes to a large number of investors. They were told that their funds would become a bridge to finance an international airport in southern Belize. San Pedro Pirates win 1-0 against BDF For the sixth week of the Premiere League of Belize (PLB) Closing Season 2019 the San Pedro Pirates traveled to Belize City to face Belize Defense Force (BDF) on Sunday, February 17th. The island team won with a 1-0 score over BDF, managing to remain in the second place position of the PLB rankings for the second week consecutive. The San Pedro Pirates F.C and Belmopan Bandits are technically tied for the first-place position in this week’s standings, with 12 points each. For their next match, the San Pedro Pirates F.C will be playing at home, facing the Belmopan Bandits on Saturday, February 16th. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30PM at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town. Everyone is invited to come out and support the island team in their home match. Ambergris Today Alexis Lawrence Of ACES Wins Spelling Bee Zone Eliminations The annual Bowen & Bowen Ltd. Zone Eliminations Spelling Bee competition took place today, February 21, 2019, at the New Horizon SDA School Chapel where Alexis Lawrence of Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) proved to be the top speller amongst 16 other participating students. Caye Caulker Elementary School and La Isla Cariñosa Academy of Caye Caulker joined six schools from Ambergris Caye in the spelling competition that included Holy Cross Anglican, School, Isla Bonita Elementary School, New Horizon SDA, The Island Academy and Ambergris Caye Elementary. Belize Fisheries Department Launches Belize National Lionfish Management Strategy It has been 10 years since lionfish (Pterois volatinas) was confirmed in Belizean waters and over the course of the decade, considerable efforts have been made to address the threat of the lionfish invasion in our waters. On Thursday, February 21, 2109, the Belize Fisheries Department in partnership with Blue Ventures, launched the Belize National Lionfish Management Strategy 2019-2023. This document outlines the design and implementation of an integrated approach to lionfish management. Prime Minister Dean Barrow Holds Business Forum It has been 10 years since lionfish (Pterois volatinas) was confirmed in Belizean waters and over the course of the decade, considerable efforts have been made to address the threat of the lionfish invasion in our waters. On Thursday, February 21, 2109, the Belize Fisheries Department in partnership with Blue Ventures, launched the Belize National Lionfish Management Strategy 2019-2023. This document outlines the design and implementation of an integrated approach to lionfish management. Issuance Of Voter ID Cards To Commence In March The 2019 Prime Minister’s Business Forum was held Tthursday, February 21, under the theme: “Embracing Innovation for Economic Prosperity”. This forum is a signature event organized and hosted by the Economic Development Council and provides the private-sector an audience with the Prime Minister to table and directly address business climate concerns and recommendations toward an improved service delivery by the government to the business community. Misc Belizean Sources Commencement of the Issuance of Voter ID Cards The Elections and Boundaries Department hereby notifies electors that effective Friday, March 1st, 2019, the issuance of Voter ID cards will commence by phases at the Elections and Boundaries Registration Offices countrywide. The first phase will include all electors whose application were accepted in July 2018 and subsequently approved at revision court. As stated via previous press releases, dates and location for pickup will be announced for villages. ID cards will also be distributed by Elections and Boundaries personnel at the polling stations on Referendum Day, for electors who did not have an opportunity to pick up their ID cards prior to Referendum Day. Attorney Leeroy Banner represents Father Oliver Smalls and all accused are innocent until proven guilty. Therefore Smalls is innocent. Attorneys are perhaps the only group of people with men and women that can be added to the phrase “_________can’t live with them and can’t live without them.” They are the people who best understand the system and have shaped opinions outside of politics. They are the gladiators of the arena. However, this week and apparently last week too, instead of throwing swords to a ravenous horde of media, Banner threw pepitos. Many ate them, but to me, I only heard the cracks of his press release with each annoying pepitos pop. Belize District Zone 5 annual National Spelling Bee results are as follows: 1st Place - Alexis Lawrence of Ambergris Caye Elementary School. 2nd Place - Nicholas Lausen of The Island Academy. Alternate Speller - Angelina Worthington of New Horizon SDA School. Congratulations to all the participants. The Institute of Archaeology at the Sacred Heart College Science Fair! International Mother Language Day February 27th 2019 Inno'on la oh will be celebrating for the second time the International mother language day february 27th 2019. your welcome to join us at ub jaguar auditiorium from 9:30-12.30. You will also hear our beautiful indigenous langueges of Belize like Maaya t'áan(Yucatec Maya),Mopan Maya and Q'eqchi Maya . Sunday Jazz Brunch Every Sunday, until Apr 28 at VIEUX Carr'e CAFE' SEVEN SEAS RESORT, San Pedro. The 2019 Prime Minister’s Business Forum: “Embracing Innovation for Economic Prosperity” The 2019 Prime Minister’s Business Forum was held today, February 21, under the theme: “Embracing Innovation for Economic Prosperity”. This forum is a signature event organized and hosted by the Economic Development Council and provides the private-sector an audience with the Prime Minister to table and directly address business climate concerns and recommendations toward an improved service delivery by the government to the business community. It is also an opportunity to showcase public sector reforms and projects directly aimed at facilitating the private-sector's ability to grow and innovate. Movie Night at KoKo King FAMILY FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES: Movies commence after dark!! Paddington 2 (PG) - Instant Family (PG13) - Kids meals and popcorn available - FULL Duna menu available, plus adult beverages! Yard Sale for South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch We are having a yard sale, planned for May 11, 2019, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon. Kevin Owen has arranged for us to use the lot next to his business, Island Pool Supply, behind the Gas Station. It is a great location. How can you help? We need your discards! You can start collecting those items you no longer want or need and donate it for our yard sale. Items like clean or gently used clothing, any and all household items, jewelry, bedding and/or linens, kitchenware, tools, sporting equipment, artwork, furniture, books. Deliver your treasures to Susan between April 27 and May 4. Please call her at 634-5678 before making your delivery to arrange a time. Hon. Carla Barnett Meets with Benque Viejo del Carmen Town Council On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour, Local Government & Rural Development, Dr. Senator Hon. Carla Barnett held a working meeting with the Benque Viejo del Carmen Town Council, which was led by Mayor Marconi Sosa. Mayor Sosa thanked the Minister for her visit with the Council. He provided an update on the work of the council to improve the management and administration of the municipality, which includes delivery of services such as garbage collection and keeping the municipality clean, as well as strengthening revenue collection. La Ruta Maya Launch Party 2019 The 2019 La Ruta Maya is just 2 weeks away. The Launch Party will be on Thursday, and will be the biggest one yet. They'll have Supa G, TR Shine, XBand, and the New Sensation Band. They'll have fireworks too. Paradise Theater playing this weekend Serenity, Instant Family, Possession of Hannah Grace, Spiderman, Into the Spider Verse Channel 7 PM Takes Public Swipe At Supreme Court Judge Tonight the Prime Minister is making headlines for taking a public swipe at a Supreme Court Judge. On January 22nd, Supreme Court Justice Courtney Abel made a ruling that raised eyebrows: he said that business taxes which the Belize Bank owes the government can be held against the unpaid UHS debt that Government owes the Bank. That's the 90 plus million-dollar award that the Caribbean Court of Justice has ordered the government to pay the Bank. Parliament has voted against appropriating funds to make the payment. PM Says It's Not The Judgement, It's The Treatment And, speaking to the press after the Business Forum, the Prime Minister elaborated on his issues with Justice Abel and government's complaint to the CJ: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "This was despite the Belize Bank's stock offset which deprive the treasury of approximately 14.1 million dollars. I thought carefully about this and I must say the judicial decision that enabled this is absolutely going to the challenged, especially since it came in circumstances where the bench appeared not just heedless of, but downright rude to the crown and its law officers..." The Imer Hernandez Hemorrhage of Political Capital Continues And that same kind of sliding figure - to mean "nayli all" is what could be said about road works contracts being awarded to Imer Hernandez. A spreadsheet circulated to the media today shows that between 2015 and 2018, Imer Hernandez Development Company has received over 200 payments from the Ministry of Works, totaling in the tens of millions of dollars. All this for a contractor whose works have been known to be less than stellar. It's making news this week, because on Monday, Hernandez's Company got another prize contract of 20 million dollars to pave 10 miles of the Western Highway. Hasta La Vista Alba Petrocaribe And while the Hernandez hemorrhaging of political capital is never a happy subject for the PM - neither was the public announcement that Belize must now close the door on an old friend, Venezuela. We're talking about APBEL, the joint venture company that government had with Venezuela's state owned oil company, PDVSA. Recently, the US imposed sanctions on Albanisa, a Nicaraguan joint venture company with PDVSA. And, although APBEL, which once imported thousands of gallons of fuel from PDVSA, is now dormant, the PM says it will be formally closed next week:.. Did CITCO Staffer Manhandle Micah? The PUP Belize City Council is trying to recover from a bruising and quite dangerous event yesterday. Multiple, reliable reports from within the council tell us that there was an angry confrontation which ended with one of the political staffers assaulting councillor Micah Goodin. The report we have received is that Goodin was choked in the stairwell. Reports tell us that the whole uproar started when Goodin went to the office of the City Administrator querying the release of funds for a program he was organizing. But, there's quite a queue to get payment, and our reports say, the councilor was not happy being at the bottom of the stack for a project which the council caucus had already approved. No Leads In Lord Murder Police have no leads nor motive in Roy Gilbert Lord's murder. He was the well-known Lords Bank resident who was executed on Monday night in Belize City. Lord was on his way to pick up his girlfriend from work, when a gunman pulled up on him. Police gave us the official report at the bi-weekly press briefing. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "On Monday, February 18th, 2019, just before midnight police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they observed Roy Gilbert Lord, thirty-one years of age, a Belizean of Lord's Bank area, Ladyville Village..." Another Plane Mystery Going now to the Orange Walk District, police don't have much to go on when it comes to the remains of the burnt aircraft in that district. Here's what Cowo told us today: ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "Orange Walk Police visited a farm road about eighteen kilometers southeast of Blue Creek Community where on that road police found the burnt remains of a single-engine aircraft and about a quarter kilometer from there police found several containers, some of them containing suspected aviation fuel. At the time of police's arrival, there was no one in the area and no one has been detained so far." Ruthless Robbers in Independence And heading down south to Independence, 3 Chinese Game shop owners where attacked and robbed by a hammer-wielding man. Cops told us more about this incident ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "Independence police visited an area where they visited this Chinese game house namely 'Gameshop" where they observed 3 of the proprietors suffering from several injuries to their bodies. They were transported to the southern regional hospital and thereafter one was brought to Belize City..." More Robbers in Mango Creek And proof of that came when another Chinese business was targeted in Independence. Robbers held up July Store and stole money and electronic items. Here's more from police. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "There was a robbery on Tuesday the nineteenth in Independence Village where Mr. Wen Quong Yian, he reported that whilst inside of his store, July store, sometime after 1:30 p.m., two male persons entered his business establishment, one of them armed with a firearm and one with a machete. One of them was wearing a mask and as a result they robbed him of five hundred dollars cash, a cell phone and an Ipad. Thereafter the two male persons made good their escape." How Much Is The Hawke Worth? The last time that Nigel Hawke made the news was last year December, when Prime Minister Dean Barrow confirmed that his contract as Solicitor General was not going to be renewed. With that tenure finished, Hawke returned to his home country of Guyana. Tonight, news coming out of Guyana says that he resigned as Solicitor General of that country after a very short stint. The Stabroek Newspaper out of Guyana reports that 2 days ago, he resigned with immediate effect. That's after his boss, Basil Williams, the Guyanese Attorney General, allegedly took a tongue lashing from the Guyanese Court of Appeal for what was described as glaring errors in documents submitted to the court. Castro Invokes Disney's Timon and Pumbaa To Make A Pedestrian Point Should there be a pedestrian overpass on the Northern Highway near DK Supermarket? That's what the City Council said after 23 year old teacher Marlena Mortis was killed straddling the barriers in the road, as folks do every day at all hours. Today, the Minister of Transport said putting an overpass will do no good:.. Reporter: "Saying he is holding to that position and hoping that the ministry will consider putting those crosswalks. You thoughts?" Lionfish, the Long View For 10 years, since the invasive Lionfish species appeared in Belizean waters, we've been reporting on the threats and opportunities this presents. The threat is that they feed off local reef fish which can harm the reef ecosystem, so Belize needs to reduce the population of lionfish. And that's where the opportunity comes in: Belizeans have to find wayy to consume and create using the colorful and quite tasty fish. The Invasive, Predatory Lionfish Can Also Be Lovely Also at the launch was a Sarteneja based jewelers group that is doing its part to control the lionfish population. Courtney Weatherburne spoke to the Vice Chair of Be-lioness. These are just a few selections from the Belioness jewelry collection. They are all crafted from the fins or body parts of lionfish. And there is nothing fishy about them because the 14 talented jewelers have perfected the art of transforming these scaly creatures into artistic pieces. The Hicatee Lowdown Last night we told you about the hicatee bust. Well today, fisheries supervising officer Hampton Gamboa gave us more details. It happened on Tuesday night around 8:00. Police searched a vehicle at a check point on the western highway and found 8 hicatee. The 7 persons in the vehicle were fined. Here is more from Gamboa. The group was fined $4,000 for both offenses. They are: (1) fishing of female Hicatee turtles greater that 17.2 inches and (2) transporting in any vehicle more than five turtles. Teachers At OW School Stage Sit-out Students of Bishop Martin High School are tonight unsure whether they will be having normal classes tomorrow, and in the days to come. That's because a contingent of teachers at the school have decided to stage a sit-out as a type of industrial action against school management. The teachers say that they learned last year that 7 of them have supposedly not been legally employed at the school, even though they've been dutifully working there. Gayle Says Suppression Solution Not Working Crime and violence: it dominates the news almost daily. The immediate response of the state has been to increase paramilitary policing operations in the hopes of suppressing crime and violence. It works for a few weeks and months, and then, crime spikes once again. The authorities say that this is the usual ebb and flow, the action and reaction between law enforcement and lawlessness. But how can such violence be accepted as normal? The Vital Truth About Vital Stats All this week we've been reporting on the difficulties that the PIUP is having with the Vital Statistics Department. The opposition argues that many thousands of Belizeans stand to be left disenfranchise because the department is not moving quickly enough to process their voters registration in time for the referendum. Today the Prime Minister said that Vital Stats is apprised of the urgency of the situation and is doing its best to work with even the most difficult cases:.. PM Will Get Legal Opinion to Counter the PUP's Speaking generally about the ICJ referendum, the Prime Minister discussed the legal opinion put forward by three PUP attorneys - and held back on his criticism. He discussed this within the general context of assessing Belize's readiness for the referendum:.. Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister: "The fact that these three gentlemen have done, what appears to me, to be an extraordinary amount of work- and I must congratulate Anthony Sylvester, whom I gather is doing most of the heavy lifting- because the case, I didn't read it in any great detail but, as I saw it, it was well set out, it was well researched, ultimately to me, entirely unpersuadable..." On The Ground With The Yes Vote And while the PM handles ICJ matters at the policy levels, on the ground his area representatives and standard bearers are out trying to rally that yes vote. We asked one of the UDP's three term representatives how it's going: Hon. Edmonf Castro- UDP Area Rep, Belize Rural North: "In the beginning I said I will wait to get the information, educate myself on the issue and then I will make a decision. When you guys asked me a year ago that was my answer. So, I spent time to get the information and we are going around my constituency providing the information to our people so that they can make an informed decision on a yes vote, so we can put this Guatemalan dispute, once and for all, behind us." Maskall, Let There Be Water And keeping it in Belize Rural North, we also asked Castro about the situation in Maskall. Reports out of his home village tell us that the water supply had been out for two weeks - a tremendous inconvenience to villagers. That;S what we got yesterday, but when we asked about ti today, he seemed very ready to answer:.. All Indians, No Chief At Fire Dept. And from the villager water system, to the man in charge of the water pumps on the fire trucks there's been no fire chief for 8 weeks since Ted Smith reached retirement age. Castro seemed in no rush to find a new chief:... The Big FIBA February Dance Tomorrow night, the Belize National Basketball Team will be competing in the 2nd round of the FIBA World Cup Americas qualifiers FIBA World Cup Championships, which will be played right here at the Belize City Civic Center. The team is hoping that the general public will come out and support them, so that they can enjoy the full benefit of home-court advantage. The tournament is a big deal because if Belize places first or second, they advance to the next round of the Tournament where they will meet the powerhouses of the hemisphere. But first, Team Belize has to take on Cuba, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda in this round. The Mystery of the Mexican There's been quite a bit of furor raised about last week's detention of Mexican Gonzalo Herrera Castilla in San Pedro. He's a former Mexican government official who served in the Ministry of Public Management in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo - and Mexican media reports say he is wanted for the offense of 'Illicit use of Power.' Police detained him in Belize last Thursday for illegal entry and suspected money laundering. We are told the FIU was looking at 14 thousand US dollars at his home for the possibility of money laundering. But, after holding him unlawfully for 5 days, he was released on Tuesday - facing a minor immigration charge. Man Shot on McKay And in the final bit of police news tonight, a Mckay Boulevard resident was fortunate to escape with only minor injuries after a man fired at him, causing him to crash into a fence. This happened on Tuesday night around 9:00. Police told us more. Police say this shooting stems from a dispute between both men. Mencias and 86 Others Want BEL Top Spot Almost 100 people have applied for BEL's soon to be vacant post of CEO. That's according to the Prime Minister. We asked him today if one of his star appointees will get the job:.. Reporter: "Is there any truth to John Mencias running Belize Electricity Ltd.?" Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "I know that John Mencias has applied to become CEO at Belize Electricity Ltd., but so have 86 other persons. So I dont know how that will go." Channel 5 PM Barrow says Supreme Court Justice Dismissive of Crown Counsels Prime Minister Dean Barrow hosted the 2019 Prime Minister Business Forum today. About three hundred guests from the private sector were at the Civic Centre when the PM used the [...] Imer Hernandez “is entitled to and will continue to bid for contracts.” Imer Hernandez is not only a relative of the former Deputy Prime Minister, but also a very vocal and strong supporter of the United Democratic Party so it is no [...] PM says Imer Hernandez Won IDB Contract Fair & Square As it relates to the recent contract that Imer Hernandez was awarded by the Inter-American Development Bank, Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that the tender process is done pursuant to [...] Contractor General Post Vacant Due to ‘Stupid’ Law In the absence of a Contractor General, contracts awarded by the Government are currently being sent to the office of the Solicitor General for revision. Godwin Arzu’s contract was not [...] ‘Blackaz’ Killer is Still on the Loose In the crime blotter…the murder of Roy Lord remains an open investigation after police were forced to release a suspect in their most recent homicide case. The thirty-one-year-old was shot [...] Abelardo Castilla Remains Free on La Isla Bonita Despite Interpol Listing A pair of men, both of whom are Mexican nationals, has been fined by customs and immigration authorities in Belize, even though one of them is wanted by Interpol for [...] Remains of Suspected Drug Plane Found in OW District The charred vestiges of a small single-engine aircraft believed to be a drug plane was found in a remote area of the Orange Walk District earlier this week, on Tuesday. [...] Industrial Action by Teachers at Bishop Martin High School A sit-out started by seven teachers has morphed into full industrial action by all teachers at the Bishop Martin High School in Orange Walk. Today, the entire teaching staff was [...] PM Praises Joint Legal Opinion, But Says It’s ‘Unpersuadable’ Attorneys Anthony Sylvestre, Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley, and Kareem Musa say the 2008 Special Agreement is invalid. The trio of lawyers published a thirty-eight-page Joint Legal Opinion that calls into question [...] PM Barrow says Challenge to GST Amendment Can’t Happen Aside from an appeal of the Belize Bank ruling by Justice Courtenay Abel, Prime Minister Dean Barrow says that the government also has plans to challenge lawsuits filed by tour [...] Bye Bye Alba Petrocaribe Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro is hell bent in not allowing U.S. aid into the country. The embattled president closed Venezuela’s border with Brazil on Thursday until further notice amid a [...] Nigel Hawke Resigns as Solicitor General of Guyana The appointment of Nigel Hawke as Solicitor General of Guyana was short-lived. Hawke served in that capacity here in Belize for about four years, exiting the post in December of [...] 2019 Prime Minister’s Business Forum: “Embracing Innovation for Economic Prosperity” The annual Prime Minister’s Business Forum was held today at the Belize City Civic Centre. The Prime Minister’s presentation lasted about twenty-five minutes and while his statements about a sitting [...] Jovy Carballo is Shot at During Ambush on Raccoon Street Ext. A resident of Lake Independence is lucky to have escaped serious injury when he came under gunfire a long way from home on Tuesday night. Thirty-two-year-old Jovy Carballo was driving [...] July’s Store is Robbed in Mango Creek A store owner was robbed in Independence Village on Tuesday afternoon by a pair of thieves armed with a handgun and a machete. Wen Quong Yian was relieved of five [...] Dr. Gayle Back to Deliver Lecture on Crime and Violence Renowned anthropologist Dr. Herbert Gayle is back in town and will be delivering a public lecture on Friday at the Bliss Institute. Dubbed the Failure of Suppression, why and how [...] P.U.P. Councilor Micah Goodin Involved in Kerfuffle at City Hall P.U.P. Councillor Micah Goodin was allegedly involved in a kerfuffle on Wednesday night at City Hall. Reports are that the young councilor allegedly aggressed the City Administrator and had to [...] National Lionfish Management Plan 2019-2023 is Launched Since 2008, we’ve been reporting about the Lionfish. And if you’re wondering why ten years later we are still talking about – well, that is because this fish is impossible [...] Fisheries Department Talks Hicatee Regulations On Monday, a police patrol near mile thirty-two on the George Price Highway intercepted a vehicle transporting eight live hicatees. The turtles were confiscated and released back into the wild. [...] Stake Bank, an Inch Closer to Become a Reality It took years to move from the drawing board to its ground breaking, but the Stake Bank project is finally on its way. On Wednesday, the symbolic launch of the [...] The National Basketball Team is Ready to Take on Antigua, Cuba and Bahamas The national teams from Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba and the Bahamas are in Belize for the qualifying round of the FIBA World Cup games that is taking place at the [...] St. Luke’s Methodist Primary Gets a Playground The Rotary Clubs of Edmonton, Canada and Belize gifted the Saint Luke’s Methodist Primary School with a playground. The outdoor recreational space is fitted with swings, slides and ladders for [...] Healthy Living: Kidney Association Fundraiser It’s the place many people turn to when they are in a crisis. That’s because when someone is faced with a sudden diagnosis of kidney failure and needs emergency dialysis [...] 2019 Prime Minister’s Business Forum is currently underway at the Belize City Civic Center The purpose of the economic forum is to chart a course for public/private collaboration on the development of the country. LOVE FM Police say Mexican Nationals released The police also gave an update on the case of the two Mexican nationals, forty year old Manuel Villanueva and fifty year old Gonzalo Albelardo Herrera Castilla, who were busted in San Pedro Town on money laundering and customs charges. Castilla, who is from Chetumal, Quintana Roo is also wanted there on local charges. However, … Police updates City Murder and Shooting at Press Briefing The Officer in Charge of CIB also briefed the media on the murder of Roy Lord which happened just before midnight on Monday in Belize City. ASP Alejandro Cowo: “Police visited the KHMH where they observed Roy Gilbert Lord 31 years of age. A Belizean of Lords Bank Area, Ladyville Village. He was seen with … Man with Hammer Goes Wild on Owners of Game Room Assaults have occurred with guns, machetes and knives. Rarely do we hear of other tools being used in the commission of a crime. But in Independence Village, guns are not as accessible. The officer commanding CIB explained that three businessmen were assaulted by a man wielding a hammer. ASP Alejandro Cowo: “At about 10:30 PM … Plane Torched after Landing Last week Thursday we were showed a video a plane circling a field. At the time the police said it was a crop duster. We didn’t hear anything more about it until today. After removing the cargo, the pilot disappeared at the plane was torched. ASP Alejandro Cowo, the Officer Commanding the CIB said that … The Reporter The Huge Stake Bank Project & Cruise Tourism – Part 3 Exactly 7 months ago, The design and planning illustrations were released to the media and THE REPORTER highlighted the business opportunities and impact of the huge project called Stake Bank. Today developers and designers, financiers and dignitaries, Cabinet members past and present, distinguished guests and media were invited to the groundbreaking of what promises to be a spectacular cruise port destination in Belize, just minutes from the mainland. Breaking Belize News “Belize Rural North will vote ‘Yes’ to the ICJ,” Says Castro Area Representative for Belize Rural North, Edmond Castro, said that he is confident his constituency will […] Belize City Mayor wants pedestrian ramps on the Goldson Highway, Edmond Castro disagrees Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner thinks that the Central Government should install more pedestrian crossings along the […] “Maskall water problems solved,” says Edmond Castro Maskall Village on the old Northern Highway has been without running water for two weeks, an inconvenience […] Another eight weeks until Fire Service gets new chief The Belize National Fire Service has been without a Fire Chief for over eight weeks, following the […] Prime Minister’s Business Forum 2019 held in Belize City Around 300 members from the public and private sectors gathered at the Belize Civic Center today […] Dr. Herbert Gayle on violence reduction and the “failure” of suppression By Aaron Humes :Anthropologist and social researcher Dr. Herbert Gayle of Jamaica is back on Friday with another presentation […] Notice: Phone service interruption for Government departments and Ministries The Ministry of Finance, Assets, and Utilities Management Unit inform all ministries and departments in Belmopan […] Muy’Ono Hospitality assumes management of The Placencia Resort Muy’Ono Hospitality, an innovative management company for resorts and tour operators in Belize announced today […] Stake Bank developers break ground on new cruise port facility The developers of the Stake Bank Cruise Port broke ground on the island yesterday at […] International Mother Language Day 2019 commemorated in Belize Today, International Mother Language is celebrated under the theme: “Indigenous languages matter for development, peacebuilding and […] Time to start eat lionfish! By Aaron Humes: The invasive red lionfish has been an unwelcome guest in Belize’s maritime waters since 2008, overwhelming […] Thieves rob July Store in Bella Vista Police are investigating a robbery that occurred on Tuesday, February 19, in Bella Vista, Stann […] Authorities find 70 containers with aviation fuel and burnt plane in Blue Creek, Orange Walk Authorities are investigating the illegal landing of an aircraft that touched down on Tuesday, February […] The Governor General Can’t Be and Shouldn’t Remain Silent By Dr. Gerald Zuniga: Ever since the inception of Belize as an independent, constitutional, parliamentary, democratic nation […] Female minor raped in Belmopan There is another disturbing report of abuse of a young girl, this time coming out […] Authorities warn of illegal harvesting of Hicatee turtles On Monday, February 18, the police mobile patrol intercepted a vehicle transporting a total of […] Health CEO looking at ways to keep nurses in Belize Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ramon Figueroa, said that the ministry […] Government says that Imer Hernandez contract was approved by IDB The Government of Belize (GOB) today issued a statement in relation to concerns raised by […] Belize outperforms Cayman Islands in tourism growth Belize has outperformed the Cayman Islands in terms of tourism sector growth, according to a […] PUP attorneys say Special Agreement needs parliamentary approval Signed ten years ago, the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala was reached in Washington […] Blogs K's Diner If you want to enjoy a little southern food while visiting Ambergris Caye, K’s diner is the spot. This little gem is conveniently located right next to Tropic Air. It recently opened with a scrumptious menu and will satisfy all of your southern cookin’ appetites. From the fried chicken, shrimp and grits, to the milkshakes, you can’t go wrong. The playful atmosphere, with the high top tables, and the spinning stools, has all the fixin’s to ensure a great time for any tourist. Stop in and say hello to the owner, Holly Haynes-Boren, or as we know her here on the Caye: “BELIZE Island Girl”. International Sources Belize Telecommunications Industry Revenue, Sales and Growth Rate 2019-2025 MarketResearchNest.com adds “2019 Future of Belize Telecommunications Market- Trends, Outlook and Growth Opportunities of Mobile, Fixed Landline and Broadband Markets”new report to its research database. The report spread across in a 65 pages with table and figures in it. The Belize Telecommunications report – 8th series from OGAnalysis provides a complete view of the Belize telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market. Videos 2019 Prime Minister's Business Forum, 2hr20min. TRAVEL DIARY /// BELIZE 2016, 5min. In the summer of 2016 we packed up our bags and headed to Belize to celebrate our friends tying the know! It was hot, it was humid, it was a great time. We were only there for a short week so we made sure to make the best of it. (We stayed in Corozal, also took a day trip to Bacalar.) The highlights of the trip were the wedding, hanging out with everyone and eating, exploring the Lamanai ruins, and swimming with sharks, yes you read that correctly SHARKS! It was such a terrifying experience since I can't swim so I was already panicking trying to figure out the vest situation while sharks surrounded me. But I did it, and no regrets! The water was the MOST beautiful water I've ever seen; rich vibrant blues, and perfect temperature. Will definitely have to visit again in the future! Belize Wild Cane/Bagasse Bio Fuel, 2min. Cogeneration of Bagasse is one of the most attractive and successful energy projects that have already been demonstrated in many Sugarcane producing countries such as Mauritius, Reunion Island, India and Brazil. Combined heat and power from Sugarcane in the form of power generation offers renewable energy options that promote sustainable development, take advantage of domestic resources, increase profitability and competitiveness in the industry, and cost-effectively address climate mitigation and other environmental goals. The Friendliest Nurse Sharks in the World - Belize, 3min. These nurse sharks we saw while diving in Belize were so friendly and comfortable around humans that they would literally swim up to you and bump against your leg. They were super cute, almost like sea dogs! Feeling the Wind in Belize, 1min. Belize City water taxi February 2019, 52min. Hummingbirds at our breakfast table, min. Belize is home to many different species of hummingbirds. Our feeders have over 7 resident species. I could watch them all day long. Our open air dining area provides the perfect vantage point to enjoy their magical presence. Hummingbird selfies are a must! Our Honeymoon in Belize!, 9min. Xunantunich Archaeological Site, 21min. Belize, San Pedro Flats Fishing With Guide George Bradley!, 12min. Bone fish and tarpon.