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This Week's Stories:
- The President of Venezuela Comandante,
Hugo Chavez dies on 5th.March:
The great President of Venezuela Commander Hugo Chavez died on 5th March, 2013 at approximately 3:55pm EST in the afternoon after battling cancer for over two years. The announcement of his death was made by his vice-president shortly after the President passed away. The rippling effect of a nation dashed into mourning, shock, confusion, uncertainty and despair could be felt all across the globe as the realization that this revolutionary commander who has transformed the image and way of life of the entire Nation of Venezuela both internally and externally, after fourteen years of successive leadership was gone. Countless Nations across the world have expressed their condolences to the Government and People of Venezuela while we in Belize, our other brothers and sister Nations of the Caribbean and Latin America have joined in mourning the loss of the President whose word was as good as gold and whose action assisted and uplifted the lives of countless poor in all our various countries. - Editorial:
The Media plays a critical role in the development of any nation. This role must be taken seriously and guarded by the same consciences that guide us every day in our very lives. There is also the question of Ethics, Moral Obligation and Social Responsibility which goes hand in hand with the principles of patriotism that should be embedded in the fulfillment of our duties in the media as the movers and shakers of this young nation called Belize. Wrong is wrong and right is right.Yes we must be responsible. I can recall vividly a certain headline which appeared in a local newspaper here in Belize which read, (The name of the person has been omitted by us so as to not cause further injury to the family...) "XYZ dies in accident with sweetheart!" That edition of that newspaper sold out that weekend but the damage it did to the surviving family members of the deceased has been irreparable. - Belize Mourns the Passing of President Hugo Chavez
Belmopan.:
The Government and people of Belize join the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in mourning of H.E. President Hugo Chavez who passed away on 5 March 2013. President Chavez was a true friend of Belize and over many years, the Belizean people enjoyed the fruits of friendship and cooperation that the Government and people of the Bolivarian Republic offered Belize under the leadership of President Chavez. - A Twisted Tale of Deceit!:
The Saga of a young, Sittee River, mother and grandmother both of Southern Belize continues today as it was revealed to them that their baby who they allowed to go to the United States for medical reasons in the company of a U.S. couple (who are also members of their church in Sittee River Village, Stann Creek District, Belize) was given up for adoption without their knowledge. A Jefferson county judge in Texas granted approval to have the child named Sarah formally change her last name to that of her adoptive parent, Smith. Xuan and Aaron Smith have adopted Sarah, a baby who was thought to have been abandoned in a bucket by her parents. The story was seemingly a great humanitarian story that a local television reporter in the U.S by the name of Ashley Gaston did a story on it which was featured on their local news. The story headlined, Belize baby found in bucket caught the attention of one of our local Media House here in Belize. Great Belize Production, Channel 5 News then carried the story of baby Sarah as was reported in the U.S in its entirety. Diana McNab, the maternal mother was at home watching the news when it dawned on her that the child Sarah being referred to in that newscast was indeed her child. - Unbelievable Facts:
48. Ways to Use Vinegar ALL over the House and Home.:
1 Clean your computer and mouse. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water, dampen a clean cloth, squeeze well and wipe - use cotton swabs for tight spaces. Remove mouse tracking ball and clean inside parts too. Let equipment dry before putting it all back together. 2 Get rid of mildew. White vinegar works on almost any surface - bathroom fixtures and tiles, clothing, furniture, painted surfaces, and plastic curtains. To eliminate heavy mildew, use full strength and for lighter buildup, dilute with an equal amount of water. 3 Prevent mildew. You can also prevent mildew from forming on the bottoms of rugs and carpeting by misting the backs with full strength white vinegar from a spray bottle. - Missing plane from Belize found in Venezuela !:
On Friday Tropical Vision Channel 7 broke the news that a plane had gone missing in the afternoon of the 21st. February, 2013 from the registeredAir Strip in Spanish Lookout (Mennonite Community in Western Belize). The plane which was reported to be an Aero Commander 500 carried U.S. registration number N345MP, had left Belize airspace failing to file a flight plan, or making the required checks with customs and immigration Missing plane from Belize found in Venezuela ! which is illegal. The plane was suspiciously outfitted with extended range fuel tanks for the purpose of long distance flight. Channel 7 further reported that a Newspaper in Venezuela published that the day after it left Belize, the plane made an illegal, early morning landing at an unauthorized airstrip in the Northwestern region of that country known as Acarigua. The Venezuelan Minister of Home Affairs and Justice,Nestor Reverol told the press the following day that its reconnaissance system tracked the plane when it landed at an airfield in Acarigua. The onboard GPS showed its final destination as the Apura State, which borders with Colombia. Officials of the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations Branch performed a drug screening in the aircraft which tested positive for cocaine residue. - Dealing with Cyberbullying:
Tips for Kids and Parents to Prevent and Stop Cyberbulling:
bullying is no longer limited to schoolyards or street corners. Cyberbullying can occur anywhere, even at home, via email, texts, cell phones, and social media websites 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with potentially hundreds of people involved. For those who suffer cyberbullying, the effects can be devastating, leaving you feeling hurt, humiliated, angry, depressed, or even suicidal. But no type of bullying should ever be tolerated. These tips can help you protect yourself or your child online and deal with the growing problem of cyberbullying. What is Cyberbullying? Cyberbullying occurs when a child or teen uses the Internet, emails, text messages, instant messaging, social media websites, online forums, chat rooms, or other digital technology to harass, threaten, or humiliate another child or teen. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying doesn't require physical strength or face-to-face contact and isn't limited to just a handful of witnesses at a time. - Honey Butter Ham:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. 2. Melt butter in small microwave- safe bowl. Stir in honey, brown sugar, and mustard until smooth; set aside. 3. Place ham in roasting pan. 4. Score the top surface of the ham in a diamond pattern, making the cuts about 3/4" apart. 5. Push a whole clove, point side down, into the center of each diamond in the ham. 6. Spoon half of the butter mixture over the ham. 7. Roast, uncovered, for 20 minutes, then spoon over the rest of the butter mixture. 8. Roast for another 20minutes, then baste the ham with the pan drippings. - Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development to Host
Capacity-building Workshop:
The Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development (FFSD) will be hosting a workshop to build capacity for participation in global carbon markets and other mitigation activities. More specifically, the workshop is aimed at the delivery of detailed information to a targeted audience of government officials, policy makers, members of the private sector and civil society on recent developments in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations regarding markets and mitigation. Realizing that climate change is a pressing and urgent issue; the Government of Belize has made every possible effort to participate in the global architecture which is aimed at facilitating climate change mitigation and adaptation for the benefit of developing countries. As such, Belize signed the UNFCCC in 1992 and ratified the Convention in 1994. - Los proxenetas usan las redes sociales para reclutar esclavas sexuales:
Todo comenzó con una solicitud de amistad en Facebook. "Me pareció lindo y lo acept�", recuerda "Nina", que hoy tiene 22 a�os. Con 18 a�os en aquel momento, jam�s pensó que aceptar la solicitud la llevar�a al horror: cuatro a�os prostituy�ndose por todo Estados Unidos. "Nina" es un seudónimo; CNN cambió el nombre de la v�ctima para proteger su privacidad. De clase media-alta y con planes de ir a la universidad, Nina era una joven solitaria que buscaba atención en Internet. As�, comenzó a intercambiar mensajes con un hombre que dec�a estar enamorado de ella.Hablaron de viajes, matrimonio y hasta de formar una familia. "Me vendió una historia de fantas�a", cuenta Nina. "Cre� que vivir�amos juntos este sue�o", agrega la joven. Se enviaron mensajes durante un mes hasta que decidieron conocerse. El cuento de hadas terminó abruptamente. - Closing Ceremony for
"Business Labs Focused on Cultural Enterprises" Course:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to inform of the closing ceremony of the on-the-spot training course entitled "Business Labs Focused on CulturalEnterprises", on March 8th, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.at the University of Belize, Belize City Campus. - Planet of sound: Meteor blast resonated around Earth:
The meteor that exploded over the steppes of southwestern Russia sent a low frequency rumble bouncing A large chunk of a meteor that exploded over Russia is found in a lake on Friday, February 15. through the Earth, giving scientists new clues about the biggest cosmic intruder in a century. The big boom over Chelyabinsk on February 15 also produced a wave of sound thousands of times lower than a piano's middle C - far below the range of human hearing, according to the international agency that watches for nuclear bomb tests. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization said that sound wave showed up on sensors from Greenland to Antarctica, making it the largest ever detected by its network. - Benedict XVI quits Vatican City for last time as pope:
Amid pomp and ceremony, Benedict XVI left Vatican City Thursday for the last time as pope, ahead of his historic resignation as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. An honor guard of Swiss Guards, the soldiers who traditionally protect the pope, lined up to bid him farewell as he left the papal apartment, alongside senior Vatican officials and staff. Applause swelled as Benedict, looking frail and carrying a cane, climbed into a car that took him to the helicopter that flew him to the summer papal residence, Castel Gandolfo. The sound of bells from St. Peter's Basilica chimed across the city of Rome as the helicopter soared overhead, passing above landmarks like the Colosseum. - Cartoons and Joke of the Week
- Your Weekly Horoscope
- Belize Police News
The San Pedro Sun
2013 Inter-Office Basketball Tournament has begun
The Inter-Office Basketball Tournament is a competition between teams from local businesses of San Pedro and Caye Caulker, San Pedro High School (SPHS) and San Pedro Junior College (SPJC). The tournament takes place on Saturdays and Sundays at the R.A. Nu�ez Auditorium showcasing the island best ballers. A total of nine teams are competing for this year's Inter-Office Basketball Championship. The tournament will see eleven games, and team's scores will be tallied at the end of the tournament to decide the winners. The organizers of the event are Renison Crawford and Focion Riverol. interoffice basketball league 3The tournament started off on Saturday March 2nd and saw a matchup of Latitudes Caf� vs. the Jaguars in game one and SPHS vs. SPJC in game two. It was an exciting night and many islanders made their way out to view the games that started at 8PM. At the end of the first match, it was a tight 56-58 win for the Jaguars. SPJC took the second game against SPHS with a whopping 54-93 win.
Australian travel writer features her Belizean experience online
A travel writer originally from Australia, has been in Belize for the last three weeks. Erin Bender, her husband Josh and her two energetic children have been taking in much of what Belize, and especially San Pedro Town, offers to its tourists. The travel writer posts about their family experiences during their trips to various parts of the world on their website entitled "Travel with Bender." Travels-with-BenderThe website provides travelers with information about the destination the Benders have been to. Through their writing, the Binders give useful tips to get to different places, things to look out for, adventures and dining in various areas and even how to move around when travelling the world with two children. In speaking to The San Pedro Sun, the Benders said that they got to know about Belize and San Pedro Town after they met another tourist who had been in Belize previously.
Claiming issues with employers (BTB), four tourism police in San Pedro resign
The San Pedro Police Station Tourism Unit has lost four policemen in that department. The four officers are Special Constables Dean Dawson, Ian Wagner, Shedrack Dominguez and Donicio Sanchez. Their sudden departure from the department is a result of internal problems within the tourism unit. The confirmation was made by the Officer Commanding San Pedro Police Formation Superintendent of Police Luis Castellanos.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Diane Hall also confirmed that the officers had resigned but would not state the purposes of the resignation. However, according to the officers, the reasons for their resignation have to do with salary, unpaid Social Security Contribution, welfare and other benefits.
In an interview with The San Pedro Sun, Ian Wagner said that the tourism police officers employed under the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) have been treated with much disrespect and no regard for their living situations. "They at the BTB treated us like garbage that is at the bottom of the garbage can. Ever since we have worked under BTB they look on us like nothing. We have gone through whoever and everyone to have our concerns addressed so that they can understand what we are going through, and there was no one to listen to us," said Wagner as he outlined the unit's frustration in trying to get the attention of the upper hierarchy at BTB.
ACTUN TUNICHIL MUKNAL (ATM) INAUGURATION
San Pedro Sun reporter Jorge Aldana attended the ACTUN TUNICHIL MUKNAL (ATM) INAUGURATION of the archaeological site on Thursday March 7th.
Ruta Maya off to a start!
This morning the annual Ruta Maya race kicked off with lots of competitors paddling their hearts out. San Pedro Sun's ace reporter Jorge Aldana is on the scene and will be sharing photos with us through out the day!
Ambergris Today
Holy Bible's New Testament Launched in Belize Kriol
On March 6, 2013, historic St. John's Anglican Cathedral will be the venue for the launching of both the book and audio versions of the Holy Bible's Nyoo Testiment eena Bileez Kriol (The New Testament in Belize Kriol). The translation into Kriol began in the early 1990s, involving the Belize Kriol Project of the National Kriol Council working with teams of linguists from SIL, pastors, and others in Belize's religious community, who collaborated with Wycliffe Bible Translators, the Bible Society of the West Indies, and the Belize Bible Society.
When the Belize Kriol Project was formed, two of its major deliverables were the production, testing, and revision of a spelling system for the Belize Kriol language and the production of reading materials in the Kriol language, particularly the Bible. Thus, in 1993, work began in earnest with training those committed to literacy in Kriol in language translation approaches and techniques.
Pre-Schools Celebrate Child Stimulation Month 2013
Early Childhood Education is quite important and for this the entire country of Belize is observing Child Stimulation Month under the theme "Molding Today's Learners into Tomorrow's Leaders".
Here in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, pre-schools have a month filled with activities including Family Talent Day, Hug Day, Grandparents Day, Sports Day, Doctor & Dentist Visits, Cultural Day and visit to businesses, to name a few.
Below are some pictures of ABC Pre-School's Grandparents Day and Sports Day. Be sure to follow Ambergris Today's Facebook Page for more updates on child stimulation month.
Misc Belizean Sources
Mango Bread
Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter a loaf pan and dust inside with flour.
Whisk the eggs and honey!, brown sugar and butter together.
On a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and ginger.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry and mix well until well blended.
Add the diced mango, raisins and lime zest and blend well..
Bake the bread for 1 hour, or until it is golden brown and a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean. ENJOY!
Basic Bookkeeping Workshop by SBDCBelize, BELTRAIDE
Accounting Part 1: Basic Bookkeeping. LEARN ABOUT
Importance of Record Keeping
Keeping track of Income
Keeping track of Expenses
Profit and Loss
Presenter:
Ms. Astrid Salazar Silva
Business and Investment Facilitation Officer for BELTRAIDE
Profile:
Presenter Background:
Graduate of Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, England. Earning a Bachelors in Accounting and Finance
Suspected Drug Plane Plummets into Corozal Lagoon
Early this morning, Friday March 8th, 2013 the Corozal Police, BDF personnel, Civil Aviation Authority and other members of law enforcement were dispatched to an area near the Pueblo Viejo Ferry where a Cessna plane suspected of carrying drugs was found in a shallow inner lagoon off the New River with its nose fully submerged. The site is accessible only by boat or a one hour muddy trek hike.
Corozal Police and BDF were able to take note of the registration. We were unable to ascertain if the plane was found with any illegal cargo, pilot or passengers.
VIDEO: Belizean Style Tough Love
World's Strictest Parents UK ~ Belize. Brash teens Calvin and Rosie try their luck with this unique Central American family...
Open Mic Night at the Soul Project
The Soul Project had another Open Mic night last night. If you play, bring your instrument, and hit the stage. Open Mic nights at the Soul Project are always a great time.
Tonight, the Soul Project will screen Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Cayo Welcome Center Unveiling
The Cayo Welcome Center was unveiled yesterday. The SISE Town Council got some great pictures of the celebration. Afterwards, they had the La Ruta Maya Cultural Night. 1000's came out to enjoy the festivities.
Channel 7
Superbond 2.0: The Deal Is Sealed
A release posted held an hour ago on the Central Bank of Belize Website announced that Superbond 2.0 has been fully subscribed. That means the deal to renegotiate this huge chunk of Belize debt is now complete, all the bondholders have subscribed to the terms of the bond.
Within the next few days they will be given the new bonds in exchange for their old ones. How did it happen? Well, the bond offering went public 3 weeks ago - and the understanding then was that once 75% of the bondholders buy into the new terms, it would trigger what's known as the collective action clause, and force in all the remaining hold-outs.
Well, the release explains that, they got more than the 75%. It says, quote, "holders of 86.17 percent of the country's U.S. Dollar Bonds tendered their bonds�to exchange those instruments for new Belize U.S. Dollar Bonds."
Guat Ministry Of Education Says "Belice Es Nuestro"
Tonight, news has emerged from the Guatemalan press which shows a map of their country, including Belize - which their Ministry of Education has said should be circulated to all schools.
The report in the Prensa Libre says that the Vice Minister of Education has ordered that quote, "It is right that the territory of Belize is included in the map of the Republic of Guatemala, divided by a dotted line and a phrase: territorial dispute, insular and maritime unresolved," For context, a vice-minister is similar in rank to a Ministry's CEO in Belize. Her letter also raises concern that "they view with concern the fact that some media, print and television are using only a partial map of Guatemala"
Belize's Ambassador to Guatemala Fred Martinez told us today that it, quote, "surprised us tremendously." He called it "a retrogressive step" and "totally out of order." He stressed however that this is the recommendation of the Guatemalan ministry of education - and at this point it is not clear whether it is an official policy. Martinez says he will not be able to confirm until next whether it is or isn't policy.
Farrakhan Still Fiery
At this hour, the public is getting ready for Minister Louis Farrakhan to make his major public address at the Bird's Isle. It was supposed to starts at 6:00, but it hasn't yet.
That is the final and culminating event of his trip - and it is meant to be memorable. Today, at a closing press conference, he told the media why he couldn't wait for an opportunity to address all of the Belizean public. Jules Vasquez reports:
Jules Vasquez Reporting
Flanked by the phalanx of security that accompanies him everywhere, Minister Louis Farrakhan stepped into the Santa Rita room at the Radisson in a genial mood - but in the 67 minute press conference, he was mercurial, at times easygoing and jocular, at times explosive and fiery, and occasionally, he smoldered.
But, overall, Farrakhan says the maturity of his 79 years has tempered his rhetoric:
Louis Farrakhan - Leader, Nation of Islam
"So my anger; listen to me good! It was against our former slave masters and their children. I had no love for them whatsoever, and today, they have to earn my respect, by being in fairer, and more just in the way they treat my brothers and sisters, my people. I am filled with the energy now of love, and the bitterness that I experienced, by seeing what happened to my people - the anger that I had, even the hatred that I had, and the desire to destroy those who destroyed my people, I realized that I couldn't be an effective teacher of the will and wisdom of a God who is the author of all causes, if I didn't understand what he had in mind for our suffering. So with understanding, you grow to study more and bitter less."
High Speed Chase Nabs One Robber
There was a high speed police pursuit on the Northern Highway this morning - and Ladyville police caught one robber while another had to jump into the river to get away.
It started with an armed robbery in Ladyville. At 11:30 this morning when a Mennonite delivery truck was making its usual rounds near the village Fire station when four men held up the truck driver and stole all the cash they could get their hands on.
They escaped in a car, but alert police were in the area and set chase on the Northern Highway - pursuing them right into the Belama area. That's where they ditched the car and ran in different direction, one of them jumping in the river to flee police. They did catch one of the suspects with a portion of the proceeds and he is detained tonight.
However, the rest of them are believed to have gotten off with some of the stolen money. At this time, it is an undisclosed amount of cash...
GOB vs. BAR
Wilfred Elrington is making major news again tonight, but this time not as Foreign Minister, but as Attorney General - and this time he's going up against no less than the Bar Association.
According to a letter printed in the Belize Times today, Solicitor General Cheryl Krusen has written to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court saying that she has been instructed by the Attorney General to send a proposed bill which proposes to amend the Legal Profession Act to quote, "remove the requirement of compulsory membership by attorneys at law to the Bar Association of Belize."
That would be a seismic shift for the legal profession because presently all lawyers who wish to practice in Belize mustbe members of the Bar Association. The bill proposes to relegate the Bar to being only one of multiple professional bodies representing the legal profession.
It is of note that the Supreme Court has ruled that persons cannot be compelled to be members of any group - because it denies them their constitutionally assured freedom of association. This has been well established by those same lawyers in the Citrus Industry where the CGA's monopoly on membership was nullified by the courts.
Teenager Charged For Killing Frank Neal
On Wednesday, 7News told you about 36 year-old Frank Neal, the stevedore who was senselessly killed on Glenn Street. Well tonight, a police are saying he was killed by a 17 year-old minor.
The minor, a laborer of Cemetery road, was arraigned in Family Court for murder today and remanded until his next court date, which is scheduled for April 30.
As we reported, on Tuesday just before 6 p.m., at around Neal was riding on Glenn Street, and he had gone to buy Johnny Cakes. That's when a gunman rode up behind him and shot him in the back of the head.
He fell in the drain, and died on the spot. Neal's Brother was killed ten years ago.
Who's the Woman Of The Year
Today is International Women's Day and this morning at the US Embassy, for the fourth time, the "Belize Woman Of The Year" was honored.
7News was there and found out who got recognized:
Daniel Ortiz Reporting
The 2013 Belize Woman of the Year, Ms. Sylvia Flores, has celebrated several land marks in Belizean history as she scaled the political landscape to its heights, despite a culture of male predominance.
She was the first woman Mayor of Dangriga Town, the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the first woman parliamentarian elected from Dangriga.
She's has served the country as the Minister of Defence, the Minister of National Emergency Management, the Minister of Human Development, the Minister of Housing, and President of the Senate.
From a list of nine other outstanding women, she was chosen by the panel of judges appointed by the US Embassy of Belize.
The Ambassador underscored the importance of the distinct honor of her recognition.
Police Train In Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives
For the past two weeks, the United Nations Regional Center for Peace, Disarmament & Development in Latin America & the Caribbean has been training 44 law enforcement personnel in Combating Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives.
It's been happening at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan and today was graduation day. Officer in charge of the training Academy Linden Flowers told us what they learned and how it will make them better at what they do:
Supt. Linden Flowers - Commandant, Police Training Academy
"The training's effectiveness on the street starts from anywhere the officers from this training are going back within the next couple of days. They will be going back to their work, and it has to do with principles of the importation of firearms and ammunition, as well as identifying explosives that are trafficked across or through our boarders. This will help the customs officer in either of the border stations or the police officers in doing their investigations. They'll be identifying components of firearms, ammunitions and explosives. It has also given them an awareness of the kind of techniques that the elicit traffickers are using in concealing their trafficking trade, and I believe the information they have gain will assist them when they are back in their area of work. They will be able to identify traffickers, and to deter persons trafficking firearms to come into Belize as to use in our local environment, as well as for trans-shipment through onto other parts."
BSI Appoints New Board, First Belizean Chairman
Yesterday we told you about the dividend payout to the former shareholders of BSI, and now that they've gotten that out of the way, the new owners are setting up their corporate governance.
The new board of directors met on Tuesday to declare that dividend. The chairman is Arsenio Burgos, the nominee from BSI Employee Holdings. The long-standing board member becomes the first Belizean Chairman as a gesture of goodwill from the majority shareholder. But his post - though prestigious - is mostly titular because The ASR Group ahs the majority shareholding and has four directors, Jonathan Bamberger Ricardo Lima, Celestino Ruiz and Armando Tabernilla. They are joined by Government's nominee Sir Manuel Esquivel.
For Whom The Bridge Tolls
The City Council has been all over the news this week - as they mark their first year in office. Most of it has been fluff, but the most substantial part came when the council outlined its strategic plan going forward.
A major part of that is the plan for the northern highway between Belize City and the Haulover Bridge. As we told you earlier this week, it's going to be tolled, but we didn't know it would starts to soon. Councilor Dion Leslie told us more today:
Dion Leslie - Deputy Mayor, Belize City Council
"This isn't something that were trying to get at you; it's just that you're going to contribute to the city that you use. So first of all, you'll contribute to the cementing, and concreting of the Northern Highway from the flag monument to Haulover Bridge, and other things as we look at other infrastructure projects throughout. The way it will work is we're looking to get an investor; it will cost somewhere between 10 to 12 million dollars to do the entire project. We will hire separate contractors so that work is done at the same time on the entire highway. You won't have one contractor doing it piece by piece from phases, but what we want to highlight is that at no time will the existing highway be closed. The 2 things that really stick out on the way forward over the next 2 years was of course the concreting of the Northern Highway from the flag monument to the Haulover Bridge and placement of the toll. We're going off Coney Drive, so those are 2 of the major projects that we look to kick off this second year in office with those 2 projects. We're looking at it; we've been in discussion for over the past months with various contractors, various possible investors so those are 2 of the main projects that we look at."
Cycling Is Back
This Sunday, the sport of cycling returns to some sense of normalcy with the riding of the 32nd Smart Belmopan Classic. The race is from Belize City to Belmopan and back on Sunday.
Official Kwame Scott told us more:
Kwame Scott - Race Organizer
"This race, traditionally and historically, has always been the biggest race second only to the cross country. The 100 mile race; being 3 weeks before Cross Country, is very significant because riders get to test their legs in such a fashion that they don't have to worry about making mistakes. You can gamble. You can go out and run. You don't have to worry if you get caught because the 140-mile run is in the next 3 weeks."
Jules Vasquez
"How are the strongest riders going into this race?"
Kwame Scott
"Most of the favorites hail from the Western Spirits Cycling Team who easily has the best team assembled. They have the current Cross Country champion, and Shane Vasquez the past Cross Country champion. They have Ron Vasquez, the defending champion of this particular event, and there's Peter Choto who has also won this event 2 years ago. I must say also that we have foreigners in the race. So far, we've confirmed that 2 deadly foreigners in this race should be John Delong and Scotty Weis of Hincapie Cycling Team which will add lot more fire to this event. While there's rumbling going on in the hierarchy of cycling, with all the bureaucracy, and the constitutional challenges back and forth, there's still love on the asphalt. They're still rivalry on the asphalt; riders want to race."
Running Down The River With Ruta Maya
And so while the Belmopan Cycling Classic starts this weekend, the 2013 La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge started this morning in San Ignacio.
With the help of our colleague Rhonda Chrichton, we have the first few minutes of the start of the race, and the subsequent finish of the first day at Banana Bank.
The Belize Bank team was the winner of the first leg of the race. They arrived at Banana Bank a little more than 5 hours after the start.
Bronze For Belizean Softballers
The tenth Central American Games started a week ago and sotball was the first discipline to have a go at it. The Belize Female National Softball team competed against El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and host country Costa Rica. Belize started out well with a 4-1 record which meant a chance to play in the medal round.
But Guatemala defeated our girls 2-0 to advance to the gold medal game. And then, El Salvador defeated Belize by the score of 14-4. So, the team returned home today with bronze medals. 7news was at the airport to greet them:
Gregory Moguel - Coach, Female National Softball Team
"We went up against El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and Costa Rica. The tournament was fierce, and our competition was up against Guatemala and Salvador. The Panamanian team is a very great and hard-hitting, team but they didn't have the level of pitching that we had. We played pretty well in our regular tournament, and we placed second which we played Guatemala because 1 played too. When we played that day, obviously we had great opportunities, bases loaded at least 2 times for us to score runs, and we did not capitalize. I think the team played well. They did what they had to do, but they just didn't come through at the point where we should have come through. We were there for basically a week; the contingent for us was 16 players, and I have 2 assistant coaches along with a pitching coach, and the head of the delegation. So, it was basically about 21 people from the softball delegation."
Women's Art For Women's Day
As part of the observance for women's day, Last night the 5th annual Women In Arts exhibition was opened at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. The exhibition featured 29 artists- some of who are writers, poets, visual artist and a fashion designer. These women are from across the country and this particular exhibit is a part of celebrating women's month. The theme is "The Bliss Chronicles" - and here's a glimpse.
Kim Vasquez - Program Officer
"We had the opening of the women in art, our annual exhibit women in art, and it is the fifth year we have been doing it here at N.I.C. We had a really powerful a really fun night last night. We have 29 artists participating this year including 8 writers, a first for us in women in art including the writers, and we are very pleased to have creative writing this year in the exhibit. We have one fashion designer Rebecca Stirm, who is also a part of the exhibit this year. We put out a call for entries, and we did that some months ago. The requirement is that you must just be a woman; you must be female. You don't have to have any prior experience; we work with a few agents, and we try to work with somebody every year. This year, we worked with Melissa Quan. This was her first time curating an exhibit. She's an artist herself; she did an spectacular job. We did a news chronicle theme this year, so she was able to use recycled newspaper a lot in the decoration and the putting together of the pieces. We try to get participation but from across the country. So, we try to make sure we have artist represented from each district."
Channel 5
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