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Posted By: Marty Today's Belize News: March 15, 2012 - 03/15/12 01:29 PM


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The San Pedro Sun

Belize Bank Bulldogs win the15th La Ruta Maya River Challenge
The Belize Bank Bulldogs are the winners of the 15th annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge. The event kicked off its 15th edition of competition on March 9th from the foot of the Hawksworth Bridge on the banks of the Macal River in Santa Elena Cayo. Seventy Three teams in eight different categories raced for 170 miles ending on March 12th in Belize City. The four day challenge was vigorous and tested the paddlers' stamina and perseverance at each leg of the race. The teams, each consisting of three paddlers, canoed the first leg of the race from the country's western twin towns to Banana Bank Lodge outside of Belmopan City. The first leg of the race is approximately 46 miles. The paddlers also had the challenge of wiggling through other areas dodging protruding rocks on the Macal without losing focus. The second leg of the race, the longest part of the challenge, is 60 miles starting from Banana Bank Lodge all the way to Bermudian Landing. One of the most exciting parts of the race is the third day. Along the 36 miles from Bermudian Landing to Burrell Boom, many Belizeans and tourists intercept the race along strategic observation points on the river bank. One such observation point is Burrell Boom where villagers held a fair with live music and other entertainment as the paddlers arrived at the camping grounds. Hundred of Belizeans also camped in Burrell Boom to follow the last 25 miles of race to Belize City on day four of the challenge.

"No nonsense" says new head of SP Police
The Coastal Executive Unit (San Pedro/Caye Caulker) of the police department has a new Officer in Charge stationed at the San Pedro Police Station. The new OC is Assistant Superintendent of Police Vienie Robinson who comes with 27 years of working experience within the Belize Police Department. ASP Robinson takes over from Superintendent of Police Dennis Arnold who was promoted to the second in command of the Special Branch of the Belize Police Department stationed in Belmopan City. Robinson explained to The San Pedro Sun that her goals are to improve the community policing programs and work very closely with the community in the fight against crime. "I am looking forward to working with the community to decrease crime on the island," said Robinson adding that "however I will not tolerate no nonsense." Robinson, one of the top experienced females in the ranks of the Police Department, was the Acting Commandant of the Police Training Academy before being transferred to her new post here on the island. It is not the first time that Robinson is the head of a police formation, having been Officer in Charge of the Traffic Unit in Belize City, Robinson also brings sound knowledge to the island in traffic policing. "I want the public to know that I am here to serve the public. I will be in office everyday to ensure that complaints are followed through and that cases are dealt with," assured Robinson. Besides improving the community policing program, Robinson also wants to improve the police-public relationship thus restoring stronger public confidence in the police department.

Shooting incident in San Juan Area leaves 1 injured
Some time around 3:45PM on Wednesday March 14, 2012, 21-year-old Simon Velasquez of a Boca del Rio address was shot by police in the San Juan Area of San Pedro Town. According to Police, Velasquez was involved in a series of fights since 1PM of the same date. According to SP Police, they received multiple complaints and responded on several occasions, but Velasquez was never around until they responded to a 3:30PM report. Police state that they saw Velasquez, and upon his seeing the officers, he allegedly ran away, with the police setting chase. Velasquez apparently jumped two fences and made his way to an overgrown empty lot in the San Juan Area along the lagoon. Two officers pursued him on foot and found him hiding. According to Police, when the officers came near, Velasquez pulled out a stick and charged at one of the officers.

Ambergris Today

Elvi's Kitchen Names Burger after Ambergris Today
Here is one more reason for Ambergris Today to LOVE Elvi's Kitchen! We are happy and honored to have been chosen by Chef Jennie, to be the inspiration of a special burger that they are naming The Ambergris Today Burger. Yes, Ambergris Today now has a burger named after itself and, not to be bias or anything, the Ambergris Today Burger is GOOD and YUMMY! :) It has a hearty and juicy slab of ground beef with a Chaya-filled center and lots of melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese. Chef Jennie Staines says the burger is very Sanpedrano with its chaya leaves being one of the main ingredients. She used to prepare the burger for her son Oscar Pinelo but had always wanted to add it to the menu at Elvi's Kitchen. It was part of Oscar's idea to present the burger to Ambergris Today.

Prime Minister Announces New Cabinet
A new Cabinet was appointed on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, following the re-election of the Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow's administration last week. In total there are fifteen ministers; eleven whom are elected representatives and the other four being appointed through the senate. While the Prime Minister did reshuffle the cabinet some ministers did stay with their same portfolio. Minister Manuel Heredia Jr, stayed with his portfolio of Ministry of Tourism and Culture as well as Minister Pablo Marin stayed with the Ministry of Health. The following is the new list of Ministers and their portfolios.

Belize Awarded in Traveller's Choice Awards for Its Beaches
In January of this year, the BTB was proud to share with you that Trip Advisor, the world's largest internet travel website, had ranked various hotels in Belize as some of the top 25 hotels in the world. Once again, the BTB is thrilled to share, that Belize has once again been ranked amongst the best. Three of our breath-taking beach locations in San Pedro, Placencia and Caye Caulker were just rated the top 7th, 8th and 9th best beach locations in Central America. Visitors loving their experiences in Belize wrote resounding reviews online and shared them with the world. One of the numerous reviews on San Pedro's beaches read: "I loved everything about San Pedro especially its beaches. The clarity of the water and the water's temperature made my vacation extra special. A plus is that the barrier reef keeps the ocean waters calm. It was perfect!"

Blogs

Basic First Aid kit
I am very pleased to report that thanks to Miss Paula's wonderful donations our San Pedro Branch office is ready for action. Yesterday Gigi, Paula and I met up and sorted through all the things Paula was donating to our worthy cause and then we took them over to the office. I did a quick set up so she could see what her stuff would look like and knew I would be going Nate show on the room later in prep for today's first volunteer & member sign up. I am so glad Mary and David are joining me from 10am - 1pm to help man the office. One my tasks this morning before heading to town was to make a Red Cross first aid kit for our San Pedro Branch. I was inspired by the one Paula gave me yesterday that I totally fell in love with, it was also a good reminder that I need to check all of ours and do some restocking. Even though it is a gorgeous warm sunny day Hurricane season is just around the corner and the recent rain is a good incentive to start preparations sooner than later. I must confess it was not until I moved to Belize that I started a first aid kit collection. What got me started was thinking in terms of emergency preparedness kits when hurricane Dean was coming and finding a good way to recycle the plastic packaging our sheets came in. You can see my homemade Hurricane season kit and my emergency light collection in Hurricane Season Belize - time to prepare post from May 2009.

The American Mastodon's Teeth is just one form of evidence of Paleo-Indian occupation in Belize
Today's Belize Photo of the Day is the Teeth of the American Mastodon whose scientific name is Mammut americanum. The American Mastodon first appeared during the early Miocene period and persisted in the fossil record until the end of the Pleistocene era and were widespread throughout North and Central America. This particular specimen was found along the banks of the Mopan River near the small village of Bullet Tree Falls in the Cayo District and today it is exhibited at Chaa Creek's Natural History Centre. The teeth of this extinct creature appear to belong to a middle-aged American Mastodon and is characterized by rounded and pointed enamel-covered cones that wore down with every use and flattened out considerably over time. This proboscidean finding is just one form of evidence of Paleo-Indian occupation in Belize where scientists believed that the Paleo- Indians may have followed herds of large animals such as mastodons, mammoths, horses, and camelids as they crossed the Bering Strait from Siberia to Alaska during the Ice Age.

2 people 1 life: wedding number 12 in Belize�plus THE most amazing Trash the dress!
I was dressed in my beautiful hand-made Mopan outfit. My lack of hair was a bone of contention but Luciana managed to do something with it for me with a splash of gel and a few pins. The last addition to my outfit was my handmade earrings and once I was ready Luciana gathered up buckets of bread she had made for us, a drum (no exaggeration) of homemade cacao drink and a huge chocolate cake fit for 30 people! We drove to the waterfall and emptied the van to the sound of the Marimba. We all stood and listened and then Venustiano invited us down to the waters edge to hold the ceremony. The ceremony was a traditional catholic ceremony and as we said our I do's for the 12th time we looked into each others eyes and listened to the water splash behind us.

Soursop Cancer Truth, is this a Hoax?
So you've been hearing about this all magical fruit called soursop with cancer healing ability. This of course sounds way too good and too easy to be true. Questions like: What do studies say on soursop's cancer benefits? Why did they take so long to discover such a simple cure? Why is this thing such a secret if its so great? Does this fruit only have the ability to target cancer cells or are there more health benefits? Where can I buy the soursop fruit? How much of it does one have to consume in order to reap these benefits? If you are a cancer patient or you're close to someone who is, it is definitely worth your time to explore the possibility of adding soursop to the cancer treatment being administered.

PHOTOS: NICH VERY OWN "PADLERS & FANS" IN RUTA MAYA 2012

The Belize Zoo gets another great online recommendation
The article says it all. The Tropical Education Center located across the street also gets mentioned. "The Belize Zoo is widely seen among the best small zoos around the globe. Established in 1983 by just Sharon Matola, the 29 acre zoo is home to only native Belize creatures such as the black jaguar, the spotted jaguar, puma, margay, ocelot, jaguarondi, scarlet macaws, and crocodiles also the famed Baird's tapir called April. An 84 acre Exotic Instructional Center is neighboring the zoo, that you can hike or perhaps canoe through. It's really a unique sort of zoo. Many animals are inside their natural environment. The people are really carefully managed and escorted."

VIDEO: La Ruta Maya Bloopers
This might be considered an LRM blooper. Someone getting mowed down by a canoe.

WMI Belize and Texas A&M do good deeds
Feelgood story of the day. Water Missions International Belize, who have built a few water treatment stations around Cayo, is working with volunteers from Texas A & M down in PG. Thank you, WMI Belize! "Team Texas A & M is doing a great job in Punta Gorda! Since Monday, they have completed yard maintenance on 1/2 of a very large campus (check out the machettes in action), taught 1000 students Health and Hygiene lessons, facilitated the first day of Leadership Camp, painted the housing building for the safe water system, AND begun water distribution to all classrooms! So excited for what today will bring! Having a great time getting to know this group!"

VIDEO: The NICH team receiving their awards
Video of the NICH team at the La Ruta Maya ending festivities in Belize City. The top 3 teams broke the previously held record. Great paddling, everyone. NICH President Ms. Diane Haylock, Brian W. And NICH Paddlers receive award at end of the race, all 3 top teams made it in a new record time.

Channel 7

NEW CABINET SWORN IN
Today, the new Cabinet for the second Barrow administration was sworn in at the Governor General's residence in Belmopan. These events usually carry an air of celebration - as the newly ascended ministers bus in a few supporters to share in the big day. But today, as the UDP starts its second term - it was a mostly business-like affair livened up by a few light moments. 7news was in Belmopan and here's how it went: Jules Vasquez Reporting Prime Minister Dean Barrow walked into a very crowded room at Belize House this morning as the 21 ministers, junior ministers and senator-ministers waited in red neckties and guayaberas to be sworn in. The oath itself was simple:

MINISTER LISEL ALAMILLA GETS APAMO ENDORSEMENT
And while each new, or newly-renewed Cabinet minister has to find his way in the new mode of civil-society-infused governance - two new Ministers have gotten significant well-wishings. Senator Lisel Alamilla, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, Sustainable Development and Indigenous People today received a ringing endorsement from the Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations, APAMO. A press release from that umbrella organization for conservation groups, congratulates Minister Alamilla, as well as the Minister of Natural Resources, Gaspar Vega and Minister of Energy, Science and Technology, Geology and Petroleum, Joy Grant - who is also from a conservation background. APAMO says it looks forward to working closely with Alamilla in, quote, "ensuring that the integrity of our protected areas are maintained and that our natural resources are properly managed for all the people of Belize."

LATE EVENING SHOOTING IN CITY
This evening, at 5:45pm - there was a shooting on Racecourse Street near the Sunnyside bakery in Belize City. The victim is Edwin Moody known as "Dubsta" from Rocky Road who was reportedly riding a bicycle. He was shot to the lower body. Reports from the scene suggest that the gunmen may have been shooting at a nearby house when they caught Moody. Moody was rushed to the KHMH where he is currently receiving treatment. 7news arrived on the scene before the scenes of crime team and note that this is the second shooting at different ends of Racecourse street in three days; the first resulted in the murder of 21 year old David Hernandez. We'll have an update on Moody's condition tomorrow...

MAN STABBED IN OW, DIES
In Orange Walk Town, a 24 year old man has died after he was stabbed in a jealous attack last week. On Friday, bus conductor Cristobal Santos, was walking on San Antonio Street, allegedly intoxicated. Only a few yards away from his home, he saw his wife's cousin talking to her 19 year old ex-boyfriend. Witnesses report that Santos approached the couple, cursing at them before throwing a cup of rum at the man. The men started to fight, and that ended when the ex-boyfriend stabbed Santos in the chest. The perpetrator fled on his bicycle, and Santos stumbled home before collapsing at the door.

SECURITY GUARD, REMANDED FOR 3 YEARS, GETS OFF ATTEMPTED MURDER
24 year-old Dekel Bennett, a security guard for the Battlefield Park, was acquitted today in the courtroom of Justice Herbert Lord of the alleged attempted murder of Dwayne Staine, a PC and Network Technician from Belize City. Staine, testified that on June 14, 2009, at around 3 p.m., he went to buy dog food from a vendor who was located near the park. While he was there, he urgently needed to urinate and decided to do just that on a tree in a secluded area of the Battlefield Park. He told the court, that when he was just about finished, a man, who he knew as Dekel Bennett, approached him and told him that what he had done was against park rules. Staine said that he completely ignored the man because he had already done it.

DECLINING MARGINS, MASSIVE SWINGS, A TALE OF 2 WINS: "BOOTS" AND "CLEAR THE LAND"
Elections were held one week ago - and many in the politics game are still trying to figure out what caught them. For the UDP in particular, the election was a lot closer than they thought it would be - and two interesting studies can be made of Port Loyola and Belize Rural North. In Port Loyola, incumbent and favourite of the Prime Minister, Boots Martinez slid 12 percentage points but still beat his opponent by 800 votes - down from 1,400 last time. In Belize Rural North, Edmund Castro overcame alienation from his party and government to handily defeat his opponent by 500 plus votes, down from 1100 last time. Both survived significant swings and we asked both Castro and Boots Martinez about the election outturn. Castro says he did it in spite of being the odd man out in his party:

DEADLINE TOMORROW: WHAT IF YOU DIDN'T REGISTER YOUR PHONE?
Tomorrow March 15th is the deadline for registering your cellular phone. If you don't - as the public notice says - you face disconnection. Now that's nothing to play with - for most people, your cell phone is your lifeline. So we wondered, have the crowds been rushing the phone companies as the deadline appears in 24 hours? And how many phones have not been registered? And what will really happen if you don't register your phone by the end of business tomorrow? We're sure you have the same questions so we went to SMART and BTL today looking for answers. BTL says about 90 thousand of its customers have registered, but there are still more than a hundred thousand somewhere in the electronic ether:

MAN REMANDED FOR ALL OUT BRAWL
33 year-old Zuner Hernandez and his 32-year-old brother, Roger Hernandez, appeared in court today for allegedly assaulting their Western Paradise neighbor, 31 year year-old Angel Dorado. According to police, at around 4:00 p.m. on March 3, Angel Dorado was in a yard at 8 Miles on the Western Highway, socializing with a male friend, when the Hernandez brothers drove up. The Hernandez brothers got into a verbal misunderstanding with Dorado, which escalated into a physical confrontation.

BELIZE-BASED RAPE CASE DISMISSED IN UK
Last month we told you about the case brought by two former British students against their former high school - after they alleged that they had been raped by a local tour guide during an expedition in Belize. They sued to claim damages for the attack and demanded 100,000 pounds each in compensation from the British school, but the judge has ruled that the teachers were not to blame. The alleged rape occurred in August of 2005 when the girls 15 and 16 at the time were staying at a lodge in Georgeville just outside of San Ignacio. They claim that the tour guide enticed them with rum and entered the cabin uninvited.

ULTRALIGHT'S WINGS COLLAPSED
The civil aviation department has weighed in on the accident that claimed the life of 22 year old Christopher Reimer. Reimer was flying a Polaris Ultralight - which does not conform to a standard air worthiness code. Civil Aviation was aware of the aircraft's presence in Belize, but it had not gotten any official documentation as it is only used for recreational purposes. And so what happened to the ultralight? Well, according to Civil Aviation it was a mechanical failure, not with the engine, but within the structure as the wings simply collapsed and the aircraft fell to the ground, instantly killing the young pilot. According to onlookers, he was flying over the village on Sunday at about 100 feet.

THIEVES CLEANED OUT SOUTHWATER VACATION HOME
This weekend a man discovered that his vacation home was ransacked, and over $14,000 dollars in items were stolen. 49 year old Mark Bowman, who lives on Stann Creek Valley Road reported that sometime between the 10th of September 2011 and the 8th of March of this year, his 2 storey house in South Water Caye was cleaned out. The stolen items include a freezer, a washing machine, spea guns, kitchen knives, a television, liquor, beddings, fishing lines, shotgun cartridges and, for good measure 18 pairs of short pants, all to a total value of $14,000 thousand dollars. Mr. Bowman told us he does have suspects in mind, and the investigation will continue.

BIKE RALLY FOR WOMEN'S MONTH
It may have gotten lost in all the election hype and post-election reconstruction, but it's women's month and one of the centerpiece events is the annual Women's Bike Rally. It is scheduled for this Saturday in Belize City at the corner of Western Avenue and the Western Highway. We found out more about it today: Icilda Humes - Director, Women's Department "As you may all know, March is Women's Month. In Belize, we are perhaps the only country to have designated an entire month to celebrate International Women's Day, which is actually celebrated on March 8. And on an annual basis, we plan activities countrywide, along with other government agencies and civil society partners to celebrate the achievements of women to recognize them for all the hard work that they continue to do throughout our country.

Channel 5

Ministers Swear Oath and Set to Task
There are twenty-one members to the new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, that's only one less than the previous Cabinet when the Barrow administration had a super majority in his first term. The ministers and ministers of state took the oath this morning at Belize House. The first official meeting of Cabinet is ...

PM explains choice of Senator to Minister
In the Senate, there are twelve members; six of them are representatives of the government. The list includes Juliet Thimbriel, Gerardo Marconi Sosa, Charles Gibson, Joy Grant, Liselle Alamilla and Godwin Hulse. At his press conference at the NEMO headquarters in the Capital on Tuesday, the Prime Minister explained why he brought in Hulse and ...

Boots lost Works Ministry, but it's all good
His boots were made for walking amongst the people of Port Loyola, and though he moved to the North side of town, Anthony "Boots" Martinez received the mandate of his constituents with a smaller margin of victory. The former Minister of Works lost an economically strong ministry with major infrastructural projects underway. The PM, however, ...

B.Q. who no longer; AG Elrington resumes post
During his first term as Prime Minister, Dean Barrow changed the constitution to appoint an Attorney General from the private sector. According to the prime minister, the ministry was taken from Minister Wilfred Elrington so he could concentrate on Foreign Affairs. Barrow then appointed Bernard Q. Pitts as the Attorney General, in June of 2010. ...

APAMO welcomes new Cabinet Appointments
Prime Minister Dean Barrow picked Lisel Alamilla as the minister with responsibilities for Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment and Indigenous People. Alamilla, the former Ya'axche Executive Director, came under fire when it resigned from the Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage during its campaign for a referendum on offshore drilling. Alamilla's rapport with the Association of ...

Troublemaker shot in San Pedro
Twenty-one year old Simon Velasquez is tonight undergoing medical treatment under police guard. Earlier today, he was shot when he was being pursued by two cops in San Pedro. It is alleged that Velasquez was involved in a number of altercations this afternoon and that he physically attacked several persons. At three-forty-five p.m. police were ...

F.F.B. Big Elections: will Bertie be dethroned?
For at least a decade, the president of the Football Federation of Belize has been Doctor Bertie Chimilio. There have been many controversies over the years, with many unsuccessfully trying to unseat Chimilio from his F.F.B. throne. In 2011, former Minister of Sports John Saldivar came close when he prevented the F.F.B. from hosting international ...

Orange Walk Mayor in hot seat over firings
This morning a string of reports were circulated about the firing of some thirty-one employees from the Orange Walk Town Council. According to the reports, the newly elected Mayor, Kevin Bernard, has been heavy handed on workers, terminating their services almost immediately since taking office, after he was sworn in last Friday. Earlier today, we ...

GSU removes gun and ammunition from streets
The Gang Suppression Unit on Sunday night recovered an improvised or homemade handgun shortly after David Hernandez was shot and killed on Racecourse Street. While responding to that shooting, the GSU was tipped off about a gun that was thrown into a yard on George Street. The officers searched the yard and found the weapon ...

Squatter and Cop Brother go after Landowner
There is no shortage of land disputes and tonight a Belize City resident claims the property she owns continues to be illegally occupied. The unwelcome tenant refuses to leave and Kenisha Velasquez says the situation is now escalating and her family is coming under serious threat. News Five's Delahnie Bain reports. Delahnie Bain, Reporting Lot ...

Center for Community Resource Development Open House
In celebration of women's month, the Center for Community Resource Development, held an open house today. While it is gender inclusive, the NGO has been successful in attracting women, mostly single-mothers, to join its community-based development program. The women are training in a number of areas and some have since started their own small businesses. ...

Peeing in Park Attempted Murder Trial, dries up
Undefended in court today, twenty-four year old Dekel Bennett was freed of an attempted murder charge, also beating the alternative charge of dangerous harm with intent to cause harm. The charge stems from an incident in June of 2009, when according to Dwayne Staine, he went to Battlefield Park to buy a hotdog. He was ...

CTV3

Peseros Allegedly Banned From CCFZ
Tonight details are still sketchy but reports reaching CTV3 News are that approximately six money changers from the Corozal District have been banned from entering the Corozal Commercial Free Zone after orders were given by CEO of the Free Zone Raul Rosado. But that is not all because reliable reports indicate that peseros at the Santa Elena Border will now have to pay an additional $50.00 to enter the free zone and offer their services to visitors who are interested in changing Belize and U.S currency to Mexican pesos. CTV3 News understands that previously the management of the free zone charged peseros $50.00 to enter the zone. But sources indicate that right after elections the more than 40 peseros were informed that their entrance fee to the free zone had been increased from $50.00 to $100.00. In fact we understand that if it was for CEO Raul Rosado, the UDP Candidate who ran in Corozal Southeast and lost against Florencio Marin Junior, all money changers would have been barred from entering the zone. What exactly is the problem? Well, reports are that since most of the peseros are either from the village of San Joaquin or live in the Corozal Southeast constituency, Rosado gave orders that they not be allowed to enter the zone since they voted for Florencio Marin Junior.

Corozal Police Detain Three Men For Cowo's Murder
It was Corozal's first murder case for the year 2012, and today police announced that they have three individuals detained in connection with the murder of Orange Walk Resident and taxi man, 60 year old Antonio Fernando Cowo. Among the three individuals, Corozal Police believe they have the murderer in custody. The three men are expected to appear before the Corozal Magistrates Court tomorrow where charges will be levied against them. At around 4:30pm on February 10th, Cowo's dead body was found lying on the back seat of a green Ford Escort with Orange Walk license plate with what appeared to be numerous stabs wounds to the chest. The vehicle was parked in some bushes approximately 200 yards off the San Andres Road in the Corozal District.

Car Theft Reported In Corozal
A Canadian Teacher residing in the Corozal District is tonight out of more than $5,000 after her vehicle was stolen. According to 53 year old Jacqueline Ann Milligan of #32 Santa Rita Road, sometime between the hours of 7:00am on the 9th of March and 5:00pm on the 11th of March her white Ford Escort Car with license plate number CZL-C18797 valued at $5,000 was stolen whilst parked at a parking lot adjacent to the Thunder Bolt Water Taxi situated on 1st Avenue Corozal Town. So far no one has been detained and police investigations continue.

Corozal Town Council Swore In To Office
Last night the UDP Mayor for the Corozal District Hilberto Campos and his team of six councilors were sworn into office during an official ceremony held at the Town Hall. During the ceremony Mayor Campos announced the councilor's portfolios and the name of the Deputy Mayor of Corozal Town, two time councilor Jude Budna. As it pertains to the portfolios- Guillermo Arana will be in charge of drainage system, slaughterhouse management and cemetery, Jude Budna's portfolio consists of youth, sports and youth programs, Rafael Castillo is in charge of market management, sanitation, health and the environment, Stacy Chi has taken up education, educational and literacy programs and social welfare, Daisy Marroquin is in charge of women affairs, neighborhood watch and security and Elva Perez has taken up park and play grounds, culture and tourism. Mayor Hilberto Campos is responsible for Infrastructure, Finance Management and Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister's Portfolio Chopped In Half
Yesterday the Prime Minister of Belize the Honorable Dean Oliver Barrow announced his new Cabinet and from all indications there were certain Ministers who instead of being promoted were demoted since their portfolios were basically chopped in half. One of those Ministers is Honorable Gaspar Vega who previously held the portfolio of Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment. That Ministry was restructured and renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture. This saw Vega losing geology, forestry, PACT, Environment and Petroleum. Vega's Ministry will now consist of Lands and Land Management, Mining, Land Surveys, Physical Planning, Hydrology, Solid Waste Management and the Agriculture Sector. The areas of Geology, Forestry, Pact and the Environment will now fall under the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, Sustainable Development and Indigenous Peoples which will be headed by Senator Liselle Alamilla. As for Petroleum it will now fall under the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities awarded to Senator Joy Grant.

CEO Line Up For GOB's Fifteen Ministries
And just as he announced his new Cabinet the Prime Minister also announced the names of the Chief Executive Officers of the 15 Ministries yesterday. Sharman Hyde was named the CEO of Finance and Economic Development while the CEO of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture will be Beverly Castillo. Mike Singh will be the CEO of Trade, Investment, Private Sector Development and Consumer protection. When it comes to the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries, Sustainable Development and Indigenous People the CEO will be Dr. Wendel Parham. Dr. Colin Young will be the CEO of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities while Alexis Rosado remains as CEO of foreign affairs. Carlston Goff will be the CEO for works and Transport and Col. George Lovell will be the CEO of National Security. Dr. Peter Allen remains as CEO for Health and Lawrence Sylvester retains the post of CEO of Housing and Urban Development. Taking a look at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture the CEO will be Lindsay Garbutt while Candelaria Saldivar will be the CEO for the Ministry of Labor Local Government, and NEMO. David Leacock remains as CEO for Education and Youth while Judith Alpuche remains as the CEO for Human Development. And the CEO for Public Service and Elections and Boundaries is Marion McNab.

Belize's White Sandy Beaches Rated The Top 7th, 8th and 9th Best Beach locations In Central America
Trip Advisor, the world's largest internet travel website has once again placed Belize on its top list of places to visit. Three of the country's white sandy beaches located in San Pedro, Placencia and Caye Caulker were recently rated the top 7th, 8th and 9th best beach locations in Central America after visitors wrote resounding reviews online and shared them with the world. In January of this year Trip Advisor ranked various hotels in Belize as some of the top 25 hotels in the world. Countries get awarded by Trip Advisor based on excellent reviews and high consumer ratings. According to Director of Marketing and Industry Relations for the Belize Tourism Board Yanick Dalhouse the recognition will definitely help to create more awareness of Belize as a 'choice' tourist destination.

LOVE TV

Restaurant owner injured in Placencia robbery
A robbery in Seine Bight has left a man hospitalized after receiving gunshot wounds. According to police reports they received information of a robbery at Mangoes Restaurant and bar located in the Maya Beach Area of the Placencia Peninsula, at around ten p.m. Upon arrival at the scene they saw fifty six year old Canadian businessman Frank Da Silva, suffering from a gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen. Da Silva reported that while at his business place with two customers, two male persons entered. One of the men had a handgun which appeared to be a 9 millimeter pistol and ordered the owner to hand over the cash from the register. Da Silva complied by handing over approximately one thousand dollars in cash. While leaving the establishment one of the culprits fired several gunshots towards Da Silva, one of which caught him in the right lower section of the stomach. Da Silva then returned gun shots at the culprits who still made good their escape. According to a person in the area, the assailants were of dark skin complexion, one about six feet tall and the other shorter and they were not wearing any masks. The person informed Love News that Da Silva was taken to the Dangriga hospital and later transferred to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for further treatment. According to the resident a number of home invasions have been occurring in the area but have not been made known to the public. Placencia Police told Love News that they have detained seven persons for questioning.

Murder in Mahogany Heights
Police are investigating an apparent murder. Sometime around six o'clock this morning Police visited the Mahogany Heights area where they saw the lifeless body of twenty three year old Herman Garbutt with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. The body was transported to the Karl Heusner morgue for a post-mortem examination. Police also recovered three expended nine millimeter shells and two nine millimeter slugs from the area. Police investigations continue.

Good Samaritan murdered in Orange Walk
A murder was reported in Orange Walk Town on Friday night. Reports are Police responded to reports of a stabbing incident on San Antonio Roadjust before midnight. On arrival they saw 24-year-old Cristobal Natividad Santos suffering from a stab wound to the abdomen. Initial investigations reveal that 20-year-old Trinidad Pineda of trial farm Village and Melanie Leiva were engaged in an argument when Santos tried to intervene he was stabbed. Santos was rushed to the Northern regional Hospital however he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment. Pineda will be charged with murder.

PlusTV

Swearing in ceremony held for Ministers of Cabinet
Belize House was abuzz with activity as all the ministers designate made their way into the compound to participate...

PM appoints Ministry CEOs
In yesterday's newscast we told you about Prime Minister's appointments of Ministers, Minister of States and the fo...

Hon. John Saldivar appear on Rise and Shine
As well Belmopan area rep and now minister of National Security and Police, John Saldivar, visited rise and shine t...

Hon. Boots Martinez extends gratitude to Port Loyola
Port Loyola area rep and the new minister of Human Dev, Social Transformation and poverty alleviation Anthony "Boot...

UB student government is swindled out of its funds
Kaprie Marie Dawson, Vice President for the Student Government at the University of Belize, Belmopan Campus, report...

Election Day set tomorrow for FFB aspirants
It's a big day for the Football Federation of Belize (FFB). The Executive Committee of the FFB will be holding an O...

Foster mother reports missing 15 year old
SHEREE LEWIS, a foster Mother at Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center reported to police that on Sunday around 11:00am...

National Standard Bearers of the PUP meet
The National Standard Bearers of the People's United Party met yesterday at Independence Hall. That meeting was to ...

International Sources

Nicaragua Real Estate Development Gran Pacifica Hosts Tsunami Skydivers
Tsunami Skydivers Founder Rich Grimm lit the smoke signals at Gran Pacifica to indicate a safe jump zone for 20 skydivers from all over the USA and Canada. With over 205 members of the group and 140 jumpers in all, it was the largest skydiving exhibition in Nicaragua's history. The jump consisted of a fly by at 12,500 feet to site the landing zone on hole number 3 of the Pacifica Golf Club followed by a 1 minute free fall and chute opening at 3,000 feet for a glide in and touchdown. Rich and the Tsunami Skydivers have been Jumping into Ambergris Caye, Belize for the past 7 years and decided to try a new location. Michael Cobb, Chairman and CEO of ECI Development with residential resort communities in Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and soon Panama, was on hand to greet the jumpers.

Canadian Govt Invites Applications
The Government of Canada is seeking applications from Canadian institutions for the Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships Program. Scholarships are for student and research exchanges at the college, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Canadian institutions must submit applications on behalf of candidates. Students must be citizens of one of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitt's, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos.

Treaty Energy Updates on Belize and Texas Oil Projects
Belize Update: Andrew V. Reid, Chairman and Co-CEO of Treaty Energy Corporation, stated, "Treaty Energy has acquired the 'Wireline Logging Truck' with all supporting equipment, a system valued at over $200,000 that will be used to wireline log SAN JUAN #2 and all future wells in Belize. The truck assembly is having new cables and new electronics installed, and based on the current time line, the Wireline Logging Truck will be leaving for Belize on Friday, March 16th. Pictures of the new Wireline Logging Truck will be posted to the website." Mr. Reid added, "Max Mohamed of RedRock Exploration, Inc. will meet the Wireline Logging Truck on its arrival in Belize and will proceed to perform the wireline logging of the SAN JUAN #2 well." "Mr. Mohamed has been retained by Treaty Energy to take responsibility for oversight of all Belizean operations and will report to Stephen L. York, President of Treaty," added Mr. Reid. "Our Belizean Project Manager, Keon Garbutt, will report to Mr. Mohamed." Max Mohamed will be working out of the new Treaty Belize Energy Ltd offices that are located at the Independence Airport outside the Village of Independence, Belize.

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