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Posted By: Marty Today's Belize News: July 13, 2016 - 07/13/16 11:38 AM


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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Rise and Shine Morning Show, and the Dickie Bradley Specials


The San Pedro Sun

International Costa Maya - it's a party!
The 2016 International Costa Maya Festival is here, and there is some Caribbean excitement in the air! That's right; the committee has secured the performance of the undisputed Queen of Soca: Alison Hinds. In case you can't tell�I am beyond excited! On Friday, August 5th, Costa Maya is elevating our Caribbean roots once again, so you know the party is going to be till the morning. Belizeans and visitors�GET READY TO WINE! But the Friday night fun is not over there, also performing on that night is the Honduran group Yerbaklan. Cesar Castaneda (Csarec), singer/songwriter of San Pedro Sula, Honduras and Jaime Colindres (Jimmy James) singer/song writer of Tegucigalpa, Honduras are no strangers to Costa Maya, having brought their energy to the stage in 2010. Now they will be back with some new and exciting originals.

Ambergris Today

Chef Eva Longsworth Wins Belize Master Chef 2016 Title at Taste of Belize
On Saturday, July 9, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) held its signature culinary event, 'The Taste of Belize." For the first time, the event took place in "Shuga City," Orange Walk Town. The all-day event was filled with competitions, as well as lots to eat and drink. Below is a breakdown of the competitions and the winners for each.

Ambergris Caye's Rapid Growth Puts Stressful Demand on Electrical Consumption
There was electrifying news from Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) at a public meeting held on Monday, July 11, 2016, at the Lions Den in San Pedro Town. A large delegation of BEL employees, both national and local, addressed a small audience of San Pedro residents on all issues pertaining go the smooth delivery of electrical services to the Island. Present at the public meeting were several senior managers/engineers of the electric company to include Mr. Gomez, Mr. Reneau, Mr. Andrade and Mr. Davis. San Pedro engineer, Ernesto "Neto" Gomez gave a general overview of the company's operations on the island. The public learned that electrical power comes from four hydroelectric companies and from Mexico. Interesting was the explanation of the five main causes of failure in the system: The engineers explained that the increased number of blackouts being experienced during the past three years and even more recently is due to the rapid growth of San Pedro and the high demand of their services. San Pedro is growing at a rate FOUR TIMES FASTER than the rest of Belize. This puts a lot of stress on the system and thus the need for upgrading.

Misc Belizean Sourcesmzz

Coconut Production Technology Training
The Ministry of Agriculture is hosting a one-day workshop today on Coconut Production Technology at the George Price Center in Belmopan. The objective of the workshop is to train farmers in good agricultural practices and integrated pest management in coconut production. The main stakeholders participating at this workshop are coconut producers, investors, Extension Officers and technical personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture. Facilitators for the workshop are Dr. Campton Paul and Dr. Evans Ramikhelawan from the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). The workshop is being funded by the European Union (EU) through the Coconut Development Project for the Caribbean. The implementing agencies are the International Trade Center (ITC) and CARDI in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Forest Department's 2nd Annual Savannah Summer Camp
The Forest Department is hosting its 2nd Annual Savannah Summer Camp at the Savannah Forest Station in Independence Village from July 25th to 29th, 2016. The summer camp aims to foster greater awareness and appreciation for the importance of Belize's key biodiversity areas and sustainable forest management initiatives. The Savannah Summer Camp 2016 is being held under the theme: "Changing Young Minds for a Greener Future. This year, more than 80 youngsters, ages six to twelve years, will participate in forest adventure group activities and will be guided by more than 20 team leaders representing the Forest Department, Community Based Organizations and local schools. Each adventure group will be involved in daily learning exercises that will help them to build community spirit, understand the value of sustainable forest management, and engage in hands-on activities that will demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of our forest resources.

The Government of Belize to Receive Funding from the World Bank to Aid the Energy Resilience and Climate Adaptation Project
The Government of Belize under the leadership of Minister of State in the Ministry of the Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities Hon. Frank Mena and CEO in the Ministry Dr. Peter Allen; along with the Energy Director Mr. Ambrose Tillett, completed negotiation with the World Bank which agreed to provide funding for the Energy Resilience and Climate Adaptation Project (ERCAP). An integral component of Belize's national development agenda is to develop strong sustainable energy policies and programmes that underpin the national economy. It is for this reason that since its formation in 2012, the Energy Unit of the Ministry of Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities has been working towards integrating energy in national development planning and decision making to catalyze sustainable development in Belize. This sustainable energy roadmap has five (5) pillars: (i) Energy Efficiency - mainstreaming rational energy to end-use (ii) Renewable Energy - diversifying electricity and heat (iii) Clean Production - industrialization of the agro forestry cluster (iv) Governance - strengthening national capacity for sustainable energy (v) Infrastructure & Access - building resiliency and achieving universal access to modern energy carriers.

DIA DE SAN PEDRO 2016
On Wednesday, June 29, 2016, the San Pedro Town Council hosted the opening ceremonies for the D�a de San Pedro festivities. The opening ceremonies included a blessing by Bishop Christopher Glancy, the welcome address by Mayor Daniel Guerrero, remarks by Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., keynote remarks by guest speaker, Mr. Francisco Verde and closing remarks by Councilor Hector "Tito" Alamilla. Opening night was all about the kids! After the speeches the mascots from Fiesta Mundo from Belize city gave a spectacular show for the children with their favorite characters, Caillou, Elsa, Peppa Pig, Minnie & Mickey Mouse. Following the show, Ozzy the clown was next on stage with his magic tricks! He also had some moms dancing on stage with their daughters - the fathers weren't so brave.

ACP Chester Williams resigning?
It would seem that ACP Chester Williams intends to resign his post with the police department in order to pursue a career practicing law. This is according to a post seen earlier on his facebook page. News 5 reporters have been trying to get in touch with the top cop and those around him for confirmation. We'll have more on this story in tonight's newscast.

Costa Maya 1997!
Lots of great photos!

Farmers Market at The Truck Stop
This Saturday is the Farmers Market at Truck Stop!

The BCCI's Perspective on the BTL Arbitration Award
The Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), having reviewed the details of the BTL arbitration award, maintains the position it has held since 2009 that any nationalization should be an act of last resort since it undermines investor confidence. Further we reiterate our view that the BTL accommodation agreement was an egregious document and that no government should make such a commitment ever again. While the decision to negotiate the settlement of the acquisition of Belize Telemedia Ltd. is applauded, the BCCI cannot support the manner in which the negotiations were conducted. A decision of such magnitude that affects all Belizeans should have had the benefit of consultation with the people of Belize. The BCCI also regrets that it took the government seven years to decide to negotiate. The extensive delay in settlement has cost this country in excess of BZ$150,000,000 in interest at a time when it can least afford to take on any further debt.

Belize's Table Tennis Champ
by Yasser Musa. Taye Parkinson is a player that thinks about what he does on the table. At eleven years old he has become the talk of the Belize table tennis community. Why? Last year he was named the player of the year. He has won tournaments in every category offered - 12 and under, 15 and under, 18 and under, C division, B division and yes he recently won an A division tournament. Over the weekend the Central American tournament known as Codicader was hosted in Belize for the first time. And yes Taye Parkinson delivered. First he and his partner Devesh Hukmani defeated the Costa Rican duo Johnny Vasquez and Steven Aguilar in the U- 12 Boys Doubles. And in a fitting poetic singles final Taye faced the formidable Sebastian Mendoza of Panama. In front of his home crowd Taye displayed a relentless attack game measured with precision serving. The audience erupted in jubilation as Taye delivered the U -12 Boys' Singles victory for his team and for Belize.

Rotary Club of Corozal selling Raffle tickets for a new Verizon tablet
Tickets are $5 for one or 3 for $10. Available at Office Solutions (Fred Orio) 4th Ave, Dr. Marc Nadreau's office next to Frye's, Shipley's Coffee Lounge and Frank's Meats, and members of the Rotary Club. The Raffle will be held 8:00 P.M. at Art in the Park this Saturday, July 16th. You do not need to be present to win but just make sure your name and phone is on our copy of the ticket. Every ticket purchased supports Rotary and all they do for Corozal.

Power interruption 6:00am to 9:00am, Sunday, July 17: entire City of Belmopan
BEL to install new voltage regulators at the Belmopan Substation.

50th Flor de la Feria Pageant
The 50th Flor de la Feria Pageant is Thursday, July 14th, at the Cancha Marshalleck. "Are you ready? We are! It's the event of the year! July 14th, 2016 Cancha Marshalleck It's and event you don't want to miss!"

A gift to Belize from Taiwan
H.E. Ambassador Benjamin Ho of the Republic of China (Taiwan) visited NICH offices in Belize City to present a generous donation in support of September Celebrations.

CODE's 2017 Burt Award For Caribbean Literature Open For Submissions
Established by Canadian education NGO CODE with the generous support of the Literary Prizes Foundation and in partnership with the Bocas Lit Fest, CODE's Burt Award for Caribbean Literature celebrates the literary achievements of Caribbean authors while improving young readers' access to engaging, entertaining and relevant books. Now in its fourth year, this annual award recognizes three English-language literary works for young adults (aged 12 through 18) written by Caribbean authors. A first prize of $10,000 CAD, a second prize of $7,000 CAD and a third prize of $5,000 CAD will be awarded to the winning authors. Publishers of winning titles will be awarded a guaranteed purchase of up to 2,000 copies, which will be donated to schools, libraries and literacy organizations throughout the region. To date, more than 15,000 copies of winning books have made their way into the hands of Caribbean youth.

"From Binational Identity to Binational Model-Unearthing Colonial Roots to Effective Management of the Chiquibul National Park, Belize."
William Evans from the University of Virginia presented during the recent Archaeology Symposium a paper titled, "From Binational Identity to Binational Model-Unearthing Colonial Roots to Effective Management of the Chiquibul National Park, Belize." The paper indeed uncovers the beginning of FCD remotely to 1989 and before those times. Thank you Will for the research on FCD.

BELIZE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT!
Congratulations to The Embassy's U.S. Exchange Program Alumni Mr. Ted Mckoy for being the newly elected Chairman of Hopkins Village! In 2009, Ted participated in the Institutions (SUSI) Student Leaders Program in Amherst, Massachusetts. Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Scholars and Secondary Educators are post-graduate level academic programs for mid-career foreign scholars, faculty, practitioners, and secondary educators whose purpose is to strengthen curricula and to improve the teaching about the United States in academic institutions abroad. SUSIs for Scholars are six-weeks long; SUSIs for Secondary Educators are five-weeks. These Institutes are comprised of a four to five week academic residency and a one to two week educational study tour to a different region of the United States. During the Institutes, scholars engage in rigorous academic coursework and panel discussions, interact and establish networks with American scholars meet with experts in respective disciplines, visit civic institutions, and in some cases, participate in research symposia and conferences.

Belize Hotel Association in Salvador - Expovaciones 2016
The Belize Hotel Association, represented by Marketing Director Tessie Duran Tonaco and Office Administrator, Lourdes Moore, participated at the Expovacaciones 2016, held July 9 and 10 in San Salvador. The event, in its 13th year, was held in Pavilion 8 at CIFCO (Centro Internacional de Ferias y Convenciones de El Salvador). Expovaciones is a consumer tourism fair that is open to the Salvadoran public. It is aimed to promote international destinations, packages and tour operator services , and related products for recreation and travel. The event opens one month prior to the main travel period for Salvadorans in August 3-8 for the long holiday weekend celebrating Dia de San Salvador. Statistics have shown large group excursions from Salvador, sometimes up to 275 persons at a time, traveling to Belize, in August as well as Easter and December, over the past years . Their main destination has been Belize City, but recently groups have been visiting Placencia, Cayo, the Cayes as well as doing snorkeling, cavetubing, and ziplining tours. Salvador is proving to be a viable market with much potential especially taking into consideration, the recent decrease in airfare between Belize and Salvador. The Belize Hotel Association received over 400 visitors to the booth, requesting information aboutBelize and promotions available during the summer months. We also received extensive media coverage, including television and radio interviews during the show.

CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS OWNERS
Presented by: Mrs. Nilda Riverol and Mrs. Vicky Heredia. Post/Teaching Description: Manager and Business Advisor SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: La Inmaculdada Credit Union Training Room, 5 Park Street, Orange Walk Town. Workshop Date: July 21st, 2016. Time: 9am to 3pm. Customer service excellence will give you the competitive advantage you need to survive in a tough and increasingly uncertain business climate. In today's customer-oriented business environment, "people skills" are critical for personal and organizational success. How you handle your customers can directly affect your individual goals as well as your team's and company's performance.

Inaugural ceremony for the building which will house the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister, and the Special Envoy of Belize

Another Mayan artifact unearthed
Confirmed! another section of the panel at Xunantunich was found on the Right side of Structure A9

ART IN THE PARK - Saturday July 16th - Corozal Central Park
Special Raffle by the Corozal Rotary Club - All for a good cause. See you there!

Stann Creek Lionfish Tournament
Dangriga this weekend come out and see a great competition, be educated as to how to deal with this invasive Lionfish, and be entertained for a fun filled weekend.

Channel 7

7 Guatemalans Stir Controversy On the Sarstoon
Over the past year, we've covered many of The Belize Territorial Volunteer's patriotic expeditions down the Sarstoon. Well, this weekend a small group of Guatemalans were the ones going down the river. And while the Belizean Territorialists always demand that government enforce its sovereignty over Belizean territory as set out in the 1859 treaty, their Guatemalans counterparts weren't so modest: they want their government to claim the whole thing! A seven-member team posted a video on their "Belice es de Guatemala" page which would be vexing, if it weren't slightly comical. Emanuel Pech translated some of tirade - and here's what they said:... Guatemalan spokesperson (translated): "We are showing you what is the Belizean territory, a territory that belongs to Guatemala in light of the International Court of Justice, in light of the doctrine of International Rights, of the reality of the story, of the truth because it is a territory that was cowardly encroached by the English Crown, and then cowardly by the United Nations in declaring Belize a Guatemalan territory. This Guatemalan territory has to be newly incorporated into what is the national territory."

Sedi Says Guat Civilians Not Ready
This evening, we asked Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington about the escapade. He told us that he also has been briefed of this trip: Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs: "I heard about it. Somebody told me about it yesterday or the day before. But it is not surprising to me. As I have said to most Belizeans, as I have said publicly over and over Guatemalans have been claiming the entire since 1939 - it's nothing new, the Sarstoon situation is nothing new. It is just that some Belizeans seem just to have found out about it really recently a year or two ago and they have sought to make a big issue of it. But I grew up dealing with this issue, as I told you I was in fact arrested and charged for opposing Guatemala's claim to o0ur country. That was in 1968. So it is nothing new. I am fully aware of it and have been opposing it since the early 60s and I continue to do that and will do that until I die. Because this country belongs to us." Daniel Ortiz: "Isn't this particular situation sort of proof positive of why the government of Guatemala may be very careful where it on the diplomatic stage says one thing and on the ground doing something differently, because it does not want to lose the support of this extreme Guatemalan electorate?"

But, Did They enter Belizean Waters?
Today, we also got an opportunity to speak with the CEO in the Ministry of National Security. We asked him if the BDF patrol stationed at the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base could verify if the group entered Belizean territorial waters. Here's what he had to say: George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security: "I was made to understand that on Saturday there was such a patrol that went out there. I was in dialogue with the commander of Belize Defence Force this morning and he reported that on Saturday around 4pm or so, there was in fact a vessel out there. It was raining very hard and it was difficult for them to really identify if it was just the normal Guatemalans who were out there on a day to day basis versus these ones who went out there in my understanding to show their sovereignty of the area." Daniel Ortiz: "Did the BDF in any way try to stop them or to question them as is the norm or has been the norm in the past where the Guatemalans do that to the Belizeans?" George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security: "The troops from my understanding did not do anything of that sort. They observed and the report that I received this morning is that it was difficult for them at the time to say if it was in fact the routine sort of activities in the area versus this specific incident that you are referring to."

Police Say 19 Year Old Killed 18 Year Old In Roaring Creek
19 year old Ashton Puerto has been charged for the murder of Maleek Norris. Norris had just left his Roaring Creek home on Sunday afternoon to visit a friend when he passed Puerto on the way. Puerto was sitting under his aunt's home and as he saw Norris, he thought Norris would have attacked him and that is when Puerto grabbed his homemade shotgun and fired at Norris, hitting him in the hip and arm. Norris was rushed to the hospital and Puerto darted away. Police found a knife at the scene believed to be for Norris. Police are looking at two incidents that might have triggered this deadly confrontation: one that happened on Saturday night where Norris allegedly took Puerto's bike and $10 dollars; while the other happened a couple weeks ago where Norris reportedly stabbed Puerto. Yesterday the police told us that they were able to bring quick justice to Norris's family because of the help and cooperation from residents. Puerto will be arraigned tomorrow morning in Belmopan.

"Fatback's" Stepson Apprehended After 7News Bulletin
Eugene Fatback Webster remains in a coma at the KHMH tonight, but his family is feeling some relief after the man who allegedly stabbed him is in police custody. As we told you last night, Micahel Wani Baptist has been at large since the stabbing, and was wanted by police for attempted murder. But the family says the cops weren't doing anything to find him - so they turned to 7News - to ask us to put his picture out there. We did, and 7News viewers in Corozal immediately called police to say they had seen Baptist in their area. He was quickly picked up and by 8:30 this was the picture of him taken at the police station.

"SIKE!": Chester's Fake Facebook Farewell
In the past few weeks fans of the evening news, have seen the many faces of ACP Chester Williams, from fatalistic, to exasperated, to downright "glassy"...indeed, he is a man under pressure - not just from the criminal element on the Southside, but also from his own department, who he says isn't giving him enough materiel and manpower to truly hold down crime on the southside. And this afternoon around 2:00, if you heard something snap, it was Chester, the supercop, super frustrated. He threw up a facebook post saying, quote, "I am delighted to see that a number of experts have emerged and are speaking out on the issue of crime and violence. In light of this I have decided to step aside and leave this type of work for the experts and will be going into the practice of law�." Ok, so�he's a lawyer, right..? And going into the practice of law, well that can only mean private law practice, right. Wrong!

Foreign Affairs, Finally A Space To Call Their Own
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes the news very regularly, especially when the topic of the bilateral relations with Guatemala comes up. But, you'd be surprised to know that this very important Ministry didn't have an office of its own - in the city, it had to be sharing one with the Prime Minister and his wife the Special Envoy for Women and Children, and in Belmopan, it was stealing space from NEMO. That's until today when the Foreign Affairs Ministry signed documents to purchase a 3 million dollar building in Belize City. It's a luxury residence called Casa de Fiori, and it's located at #10 St. Mark's Street. The best part is that Belizeans taxpayers did not spend a dollar for the purchase. It's all a gift from the ever generous Taiwanese Government. This evening, the Foreign Affairs officials opened it officially with a small ceremony, and 7News was there. Here's what the Foreign Affairs Minister had to say about it:

Schizophrenic Stabbed On Saturday
75% of the news last night was about crime and violence, so we left out a few stories, which we're reporting on tonight. First, 22 year old Byron Jeffords a resident of Wagner's Lane in Belize City was stabbed on Racecourse Street with a broken pint bottle. The family told us that sometime around 6:45 pm on Saturday, he went to a shop on Racecourse Street to purchase some cigarettes for a friend. It was then that he was jumped by several individuals who stabbed him several times. He is currently at the KHMH suffering from three stab wounds: one under his arm, one beneath his heart area and one on his chest that injured his lungs. He is admitted in a stable condition and doctors say he is going to make it out alive, but the family fears for the time when he does come out, because according to them, this is not the first time that Jeffords has been targeted with violence. Tiffara Wallace, Sister of Stabbing Victim: "In 2011 when he was 17 years old, he was gunned down on our street Wagner's Lane at the corner whereby he took 9 of them if his foot. His tibia and fibula bone was broken. We never got any assistance or anything to fix back his feet. Them before that when he was about 15 years old, he was kidnapped whereby they tried to cut his throat, they stabbed him in his hand and now in 2016 where we are in, that's when they attempted again to kill him."

Pen Road Basketball Court Shooting
And in the weekend's other act of senseless violence, on Friday night at 10:00, 26-year-old Clifford Anderson was shot to the abdomen on the Pen Road basketball court. Police spoke to us about it on Saturday:.. ACP Chester Williams- O. C. Eastern South: "Police were called to the basketball court on Pen Road Extension and upon arrival they met one Clifford Anderson who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to the hip abdomen area. He was transported to the hospital and he was admitted in a critical condition. The doctors were saying that he had bled internally and that is a difficult issue, hence the reason he had to go into surgery immediately last night. He went through surgery last night and is currently listed in a critical condition at the hospital." Jules Vasquez: "You all know what motivated it?"

Why No Coast Guard At Forward Operating Base?
In our first segment we told you about the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base, where we've learned that there's no Coast Guard presence. That facility was introduced as the Joint Forces Forward Operating Base, but since it was officially opened, we understand that the Coast Guard doesn't have a regular patrol placed there. Now, the Coast Guard is responsible for enforcement of the laws on the territorial waters. That includes curbing the illegal fishing which continues unchecked on Belize's coast just north of the Sarstoon Base. So, we asked the National Security CEO if and when the Coast Guard will have a regular deployment at the base. Here's how he answered that one: Reporter: "The Forward Operating Base at the mouth of the Sarstoon River, we understand only accommodates for the Belize Defence Force personnel as well as a single police officer. There seems to be no room for the Coast Guard. Can you explain to us what went wrong there seeing as though it was built as a joint operating base?"

Coast Guard Explains Why No Gillnets Is Good Policy
Last week Thursday, we showed you the push by OCEANA Belize for an eventual ban on gill net fishing. That's after they canvassed a wide range of organizations, all who agree that this ban is in the best interest of sustainable fishing. The Coast Guard was among those recommending the ban, and today, we asked the Coast Guard Commandant explain why they support it: Admiral John Borland - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard: "Gillnet fishing in my opinion, and my opinion goes back more than 25 years working in the environment, is that its destructive and indiscriminate practice, where the end results are more detrimental than they are beneficial. so that's the coast guard's position and it's not only my position, there are other people in the coast guard that are as equally as competent and trained and educated as I am in the marine environment and dealing with best practices. We don't just do this off the top of our heads, there's a lot of research, analysis and interpretation that's been put into it and so absolutely we are against gillnet fishing."

Hope for The Harbour As Waves Wash In
For months we've been showing you the terrible state of the seafront near the Bliss Center on southern Foreshore. Well, we've been monitoring it for the past few days after we saw a dredge in the area, and it's like Moses pulled back his staff from the red sea. The change and the contrast is remarkable. This picture taken at high tide, shows the water flowing back to the seawall. There is healthy and steady wave action - no doubt to the dismay of the Pelicans and Seagulls who had taken the muddy sea bottom as easy hunting grounds. Now, it's still a work in progress as we also saw a small amount of siltation building up later in the evening. But it's progress, and seawall walkers are glad to see it�

Did Joe Bradley Behave Badly Towards The City Engineer?
The Mayor of Belize City already has a tough job, and it's probably made more so by the fact that he has to be his father's boss. His father, you might say, is no regular Joe - he's Joe Bradley the hard charging, outspoken UDP talk show host. And, according to sources inside city hall, Joe Bradley used that hard talking style on no less than the city engineer - in which he berated and threatened him. It was a dispute on the phone, so no "Joe-blows" were thrown, but insult was surely taken, and we understand that Joe Bradley was written up for misconduct. Well, observers in city hall have been waiting for a disciplinary hearing, but it this has been delayed for some time we are told. In the meantime, the mayor would not return our requests for a comment.

Tune in to Channel 7 For Olympics
The Rio-Olympic-hype is picking up some serious momentum as we near the starting date for what is arguably the most anticipated international sporting event in the world- next to the World Cup. And the good news for Channel 7 viewers is that we will be airing the full length of the games as we did in 2012 - with the same Caribbean flavor, only with a little more polish. A new organization called CANOC Broadcasting Incorporated signed an agreement with the International Olympic organizers to broadcast the games in a way that highlights our Caribbean athletes without all that American bias you'll see on the family of NBC channels. The CEO of CANOC broadcasting Incorporated flew into Belize for one day to finalize the broadcasting arrangements with the two carriers of the games - Channel 5 and channel 7- the sole rights holders for the Olympics in Belize. He told us about the vision behind the coverage:

Post Masters Converge On Belize
For the rest of the week, the lead officials from the Government Post offices all across the Caribbean will be in Belize for a series of workshops. They're all trying to improve service delivery to their citizens, and so the Universal Postal Union organized a 2 day session explaining how these post officials could access the Quality of Service Fund. All the Countries who are members of the Universal Postal Union contribute to this fund. But, to access it for financing of improvement projects, they have to go through a very rigorous and transparent process of applying - which sounds to us about as slow moving as that Christmas card that arrived in March! So, the Universal Postal Union, and it's Caribbean subsidiary, the Caribbean Postal Union, set up this session to explain to its members how they can make the process less cumbersome and tedious - kind of like express mail!

More Thanks To Taiwan
Earlier on we told you how the Taiwanese had donated a whole new building for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - well that was after lunch; after breakfast they also gave $40,000 to the National Celebrations Commission. Today a short handing over ceremony was held at the NICH office on the corner of Regent Street and Rectory Lane. Both the Co-chairperson of the NCC and the Taiwanese Ambassador spoke about the significance of this donation. As you heard, the funds will be put towards the Pan Yaad Steelband Contest and the Carnival King and Queen Competition.

Table Tennis Phenom Captures Gold
Last night we showed you the CODICADER closing ceremony and gave you an overview of the Belize's performance. Perhaps the most memorable was in the table tennis tournament. The males won 1st place in the Singles and Doubles games and 2nd in the Team Category. Today we met the team at Body 2000 training hard for the next level of competition in Costa Rica. The winning boys and their coach told us all their work, dedication and passion paid off. In 2 weeks, the team will be traveling to Costa Rica for the Central American Games.

Mexico Aided Belizean Officer
For the past 6 weeks, Coast Guard Petty Officer Class 3 Kevin Diego has been struggling to cope with a change of life. His doctors had to perform a below-the-knee amputation after he accidentally shot himself with own gun while he was on duty. The accident almost claimed his life due to medical complications, and it was the generosity of the Mexican Navy which allowed for him to seek medical treatment, free of charge in their country. Today, he was airlifted home, and we got a chance to meet him and his family. He and his commandant told us about the very long recovery he's going through to remain a member of the Coast Guard: Admiral John Borland - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard: "Petty Officer Diego had an unfortunate accident back in April, to be specific, on April 19th where he got shot in his lower left leg. He spent the better part of 2 weeks here in Belize in the medical facility where his situation deteriorated so rapidly that they were discussing to remove his leg on day 3. I had begged them not to because I thought his leg could be saved. We got the Mexican navy involved around day 5. He went to Chetumal for some checks and examinations, somewhere around day 14 he was airlifted again by the Mexican navy to the Mexican navy hospital in Mexico City. He's been there for 2 months, eventually he lost his leg, and he was tremendously infected with gangrene almost to the point where he could have lost his life."

Channel 5

Guatemalan Civilians Claim the Sarstoon
Sometime over the weekend, a group of seven Guatemalan civilians - actually the Guatemalan version of the Territorial Volunteers - claim to have circled Sarstoon Island well within Belizean waters.� [...]

C.E.O. Lovell Says B.D.F. Did Not Interfere With Guat Civilians
The appearance of the militant civilians in the Sarstoon was also raised with C.E.O. in the Ministry of National Security Retired Colonel George Lovell. He explained that the B.D.F. stationed [...]

No Room for Coast Guard at Sarstoon F.O.B.
The forward operating base at the estuary of the Sarstoon River was erected as a joint military installation to house Belize Defense Force and coast guard personnel. There was an [...]

Lack of Coast Guard Presence Gives Illegals Fishers Free Pass
The coastguard's noticeable absence from the immediate vicinity of the Sarstoon River essentially leaves Guatemalan fisher folks free to operate in Belizean waters illegally.� Despite an initial presence in the [...]

Chamber of Commerce Condemns Delay in B.T.L. Settlement
Another issue of national importance is the recent B.T.L. Arbitration Award. The Chamber of Commerce came forward to offer impartial comment on the cost of nationalizing Belize Telemedia Limited. �Prior [...]

B.C.C.I. Cautions G.O.B. against Raising Taxes
According to President Nikita Usher, though, the arbitration award is a done deal so the real commentary must be on the way forward, and how Government will address very critical [...]

Ashton Puerto Charged for Roaring Creek Murder
Eighteen year old Roaring Creek resident Ashton Puerto was detained Sunday night for the murder of another youth, Maleek Norris, also eighteen. The two teenagers were allegedly beefing over a [...]

No Real Update in May 1st Double Murder in Camalote
On May first good friends Akeem Thimbriel and Shawn Lopez were gunned down in Camalote in brutal, brazen fashion. The murders shocked and angered the community which immediately pointed fingers [...]

Silent Witnesses in La Croix Boulevard Double Murder Holding Up Investigation
As we told you in Monday's newscast, eighteen year old Kent Brooks Junior succumbed at the K.H.M.H. on Sunday morning, some eleven days after being shot to the lower back [...]

Police Revisit Cameras in City Hotspots
One initiative that is being revisited by the department to address urban crime is the usage of cameras to capture criminals in the act. Back in 2008, six cameras were [...]

Bennett Walks Free on Attempted Murder Charge
A jury of four women and five men stepped into the deliberating room this afternoon to decide the fate of twenty-three year old Brandon Bennett. Bennett is accused of the [...]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belize City is Now Villa Fiore
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has swank new accommodations in Belize City. It's called the Villa Fiore, a seafront mansion which will also house the Prime Minister's Office. From outside, [...]

Government of Taiwan Foots Bill for Villa Fiore
Just in case you're looking at all this and thinking it's just too much, way too much for government departments in Belize City where poverty is a very prevalent reality, [...]

Barrier Reef System Remains on Endangered List
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to keep the Belize Barrier Reef System on the List of World Heritage in Danger.� That decision comes after a meeting today in [...]

Injured Coast Guard Officer Receives Assistance from Mexican Navy
With all the reports about the realities of a crime wave, there is an uplifting story that has the Diego family of Belize City smiling. Petty officer Kevin Diego was [...]

Coast Guard Wants Gillnets Banned
The destructive nature of gillnet fishing remains a perennial issue for the Fisheries Department.� It is also a serious concern for conservationists, as well as environmentalists, since the practice results [...]

Coast Guard and Mexican Navy Discuss Maritime Agreement
A delegation of high ranking Mexican naval officers met with the brass of the Belize National Coast Guard this morning to discuss the framework of a bilateral agreement between the [...]

Channel 5 to Broadcast 2016 Olympics
The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is coming up in August and aficionados are eagerly anticipating the games.� Today, Great Belize Productions/Channel Five struck an agreement with [...]

Larry Romany Says Programming will Positively Impact the Region
The overall impact of the programming, says Romany, will be felt across the region since its aim is to bring unity among athletes, fans and viewers at home.   Larry [...]

Taiwan Donates to September Celebrations
Today at the Office of the National Institute of Culture and History on Rectory Lane, the Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize handed over a forty-thousand dollars cheque to the Co-Chair of [...]

Ambassador Ho Says Donation is Symbol of Good Relationship
The cultural exchanges and this donation is testament of the strong relations between the governments of Belize and Taiwan and extend beyond education and agricultural initiatives. Ambassador Benjamin Ho says [...]

Diane Haylock Off to Taiwan
News Five took the opportunity today to ask Haylock about her new appointment as the Belizean Ambassador to Taiwan.� Now Taiwan is a generous friend to Belize and yearly Belize [...]

Regional Postal Service Professionals Attend Training Workshop in Belize
Since Monday, postal service professionals from across the Caribbean have been engaged in a training program by the Universal Postal Union. Post Master Generals and their deputies convened at the [...]

Belmopan Police to Host Farm Camp for Youths
Community policing is taking on new life in Belmopan, where law enforcement officials are planning to host a farming camp for youths which will take them out into the fields, [...]

CTV3

Park Ranger Assaulted By Illegal Loggers
A thirty four year old resident of San Lazaro Village and Forest Ranger at Programme for Belize here in the Orange Walk District, is lucky to be alive tonight after he was assaulted by five men over the weekend while conducting routine patrols near the Hill Bank and Irish Creek area. Today we spoke to Inspector of the Orange Walk Police Formation, Jose Mendez who told us that authorities are currently looking for a person of interest in connection with this latest incident. Jose Mendez - Inspector of Police, Orange Walk "Joel Navas, 34 year old, forest ranger visited the station and reported that on said Sunday the 10th of July sometime around 2:30pm, he along with other forest rangers were conducting patrols near the Hill Bank area routine where they came across five Hispanic male persons whereby they were conducting illegal activities which is illegal logging, they found an amount and during commotion or the tension and the normal procedures apparently one of the Hispanic male person went to an area and pulled what appears to be a shot gun and threatened the officers that said logs were not be taken, they managed somehow to take some logs and left the area, presently we are still seeking one person who was identified and we are looking for him at this moment."

MOF Not Surprised Of Visit Of Guatemalan To Sarstoon Island
Yesterday we told you about the trip taken to the Sarstoon by members of social media group called "Belice es de Guatemala". The trip was taken by 7 Guatemalans on Saturday and as we reported in yesterday's newscast the Guatemalan expedition claimed to have circled the island venturing well into Belizean territory, bearing Guatemalan flags and Guatemalan maps including Belize as part of their territory. And according to what was posted on their social media page, the trip went without any interference and the expeditioners claim they will return as inclement weather prevented them from docking on the island. Today Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, spoke on the trip taken by the Guatemalan delegation over the weekend saying that he is not at all surprised. Honorable Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs "I heard about it, somebody told me about it yesterday or the day before but it is not surprising to me as I've said to most Belizeans, as I've said publicly over and over, Guatemalan have been claiming the entire country since 1939, it is nothing new, Sarstoon situation is nothing new it is just that some Belizeans seems to have found out about it rarely recently a year or two ago and they have sought to make a big hazy of it but I grow up with dealing with this issue as I told you I was in fact arrested and charged for opposing Guatemala's claim to our country that is in 1968 so it is nothing new, I am fully aware of it and have been opposing it since the early 60's and will continue to do that and will do that until I die because this country belongs to us."

Duly Elected Council In San Pablo Take Over Reigns Of The Community
Village Council elections are over and here in Orange Walk similar to the rest of the country the new elected councils are preparing to take the reins in their respective villages and commence their work. Today in the village of San Pablo the past village council and outgoing chairman Victor Cawich handed over the keys to the Community Center and financial documents to the newly elected Chairman, Javier Sabido. Javier Sabido- New Chairman "Esta ma�ana se hizo el official handing over, del concilio anterior al nuevo concilio, se entreg� las llaves del centro y se dict� ciertas cosas que el concilio va a estar responsable, se mencion� todos las cosas que tenemos para seguir trabajando y se entreg� un financial report tambi�n del concilio anterior."

Young Football Players Head Out To Mexico
On Thursday July 14th young football players from Orange Walk will be traveling to Chiapas Mexico to participate in a football tournament against teams from Mexico and Guatemala. The international quadrangular tournament is geared at creating stronger ties between players from neighboring countries, and coach of the Belize team participating in the tournament under the name Juventud F.C. says this tournament is a great opportunity for the young players to get exposure in an international front. Jorge Nunez- Coach "Nosotros conseguimos una invitaci�n para jugar una cuadrangular en Margaritas Chiapas en el lado mexicano. El equipo que estamos llevando es un equipo nuevo que estoy conformando se llama Juventud FC de Orange Walk l�gicamente con puro j�venes de Orange Walk de hecho estamos de poder tratando de poner ese mismo equipo para representar a Orange Walk en el semi-professional o sea en el campeonato local de nosotros."

Taiwan Donates Thousands Of Dollars For September Celebrations
This year marks the 35th anniversary of Belize's Independence and the 218th anniversary of the Battle of St. George's Caye with celebrations being held under the theme, "Sovereign and Strong - Together as one". The good news tonight is that some of the highlights of the annual September celebrations for this year will be receiving extra assistance as the National Celebrations Commission today received a donation of forty thousand dollars from the Government of Taiwan. The donation was over to NICH by His Excellency Benjamin Ho, Ambassador to Belize from the Republic of China (Taiwan) in an effort to strengthen the cultural exchange relationship between Belize and the Republic of Taiwan.

LOVE FM

Chamber of Commerce Questions the Balancing Act of Servicing Debt and Creating Economic Growth
The BTL arbitration award has been the topic of discussion ever since the final ruling was made late last month, indicating that Belize would have to pay approximately half a billion dollars to Lord Michael Ashcroft for the company. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a release today addressing the award. The BCCI [�]

Barrow Left Washington with Little More Than Tea and Sympathy, Says The Fiscal Times
The woes of correspondent banking continue to plague the Caribbean countries despite several efforts and meetings held to see how best the challenges can be mitigated. When the Caribbean Community met in February in Belize, a special financial task force was put together to see how best the issue can be addressed. Five months later, [�]

Foreign Affairs Minister Speaks on CARICOM 37th Regular Meeting in Guyana
Correspondent Banking was not the only item tabled on the agenda at the recent meetings of the CARICOM's 37th Regular Meetings held in Georgetown, Guyana last week. Belize's Foreign Minister is back in country and he spoke with Love News on the gist of the sessions he sat in. WILFRED ELRINGTON "I thought it went [�]

Belize Coast Guard - An Advocate for Banning of Gillnet Fishing
Yesterday we brought an interview with Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial Volunteers who travelled the Sarstoon on Sunday and found that the illegal fishing by the Guatemalans continue unabated despite the presence of Belize's military at the Forward Operating Base. To add to the offense of entering Belize's waters, the Guatemalans are doing gillnet [�]

Petty Officer Diego Returns Home Following Shooting Incident
A coast guard petty officer has returned from Mexico after being treated for injuries sustained in a shooting incident in April 2016. It is with much assistance from the Mexican Navy that Diego has managed to recover, as explained by Commander of the Belize Coast Guard, Admiral John Borland. JOHN BORLAND " Love News spoke [�]

Mexican Navy and BCG Discusses Cooperation Agreement
Members of the Mexican Navy were in Belize holding talks with officials of the Belize Coast Guard to further strengthen their cooperation in education, training and other areas. Love News spoke with the Commander, Admiral John Borland on the Memorandum of Understanding that he and his Mexican counterpart reviewed today. JOHN BORLAND "Today secondary to [�]

Foreign Affairs Relocates to Casa dei Fiori
The Foreign Affairs Service of Belize is looking to relocate their Belize City offices from the Thurton building on Coney Drive to the Casa del Fiori on St Mark's Street in the King's Park area. Today a contract of sale was signed onto with the realtor of the three storey concrete structure which will also [�]

Jury Says Bennett Is Not Guilty in Stabbing Incident
A jury of five men and four women deliberated for almost four hours today in the court of Justice Adolph Lucas before it found 23 year old Brandon Bennett not guilty of use of deadly means of harm with intent to commit grievous harm, for the stabbing of Kent Moss Jr. The jury's verdict was [�]

Court Says Jarett Is Guilty of Assaulting a Cop
Thirty-one year old Jarett Crawford, charged with aggravated assault upon a police officer with a firearm, was sentenced to three years today by the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith, after he was found guilty of the charge. Crawford and six others were charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and handling stolen goods in relation [�]

PlusTV

Weekend in Belize City: Three murders
We now go to Belize City where three murders have been reported this weekend, while a fourth shooting victim is said to be in critical condition in hospital. The first took place around 9:00 p.m. Friday night on the Pen Road Extension basketball court during which 26 year old Clifford Anders...

Roger Banner of Roaring Creek killed over drugs
Police have given details of the third murder reported from over the weekend, that of a Roaring Creek man, 29 year old Roger William Banner, who police say was shot multiple times to the body and head as he sat on the canal rail speaking to his girlfriend. The incident took place on West Canal near ...

Kent Brooks Jr is latest murder victim
Added to the toll of murders reported over the weekend is 18 year old Kent Brooks Junior, who was shot along with Keiran Morrison on the night of June 29th on Lacroix Boulevard. Brooks died in hospital after being removed from life support on Sunday. We spoke with his father, Amandala newspaper prin...

18 year Roaring Creek resident killed in front of several people
Four persons were murdered over this past weekend in the nation of Belize. We start with the one that is closest to our media . Maleek Norris who was gunned down in front of children and several witnesses on Sunday afternoon. Ofouse, just a couple of miles away in the village of Roaring Creek. The...

Belize City man stabbed with broken bottle
Besides the three murders in Belize City this weekend, there was also a stabbing incident. 23 year old Byron Jeffords, a resident of Wagner's Lane, was stabbed with a broken bottle while on Racecourse Street. According to police reports, on Saturday 9th July, 2016, sometime before 7 p,m, 6Je...

Sanjay Lino acquitted of murder of Ernesto Myvette
After almost 5 years on remand for the murder of a Sand hill resident, tonight, 22 year old Sanjay Lino is free of murder after the victim's son told the court he is not sure of the identity of one of 3 men whom he met on their way to his father's grocery shop in Sandhill village and who he told pol...

Police report slight increase in major crimes for first half of 2016
Police are reporting no major changes in terms of tackling major crimes, including murder. 50 more major crimes - defined as murder; robbery, burglary and theft; and rape and unlawful sexual intercourse (previously carnal knowledge) were reported in the period January to June 2016 - a total of 1 tho...

After mayhem, a "mini-truce" established on Southside
On Friday, an intervention was held with most of the major players in the current gang warfare plaguing the City. Police swept up a number of persons in an anti-gang operation on Friday morning and they were held up to late Friday night. The operation included searches at the home of known gang affi...

Posted By: Marty Re: Today's Belize News: July 13, 2016 - 07/13/16 11:38 AM

Amandala

"Fatback" goes into coma
Eugene "Fatback" Webster, 50, reportedly is in a coma following a near-fatal knife attack by his stepson last Wednesday. He was stabbed many times in the neck, back and arm. Webster was listed at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in a stable condition after police found him lying in his blood at his Los Lagos home. When police went to his home on the morning of the incident, "Fatback" was still talking and was able to tell police what had transpired. Police reports had revealed that four knives were used in the stabbing after an early morning argument took place between Webster and his stepson.

Brother vs sister on ML Street, Lake I
Elton Audinette, 40, a resident of ML Street in the Mahogany Street Extension area of Lake Independence, and one of his neighbours, his very own sister, are currently at odds because, he says, she is laying claim to a portion of the street and is blocking access to his house from under her elevated one-flat house, and is demanding that he go around the yard to go to his home. Audinette is refusing to do that, and is demanding that she dismantle her house, which he says is located on the road, so that he can have easy access to his home. On Wednesday, Audinette visited Amandala and outlined the challenge he is facing. He said that when his mother died in 2008, she left her property, on which two houses were located, and she had given him power of attorney prior to her death. Despite the fact that he has documents for the property, his sister wants to force him off the property, and is making life very inconvenient and uncomfortable for him, he says.

Murder in "Another World"
Maleek Norris, 19, of Roaring Creek, died after a gunman blasted him in his lower abdomen and right arm with a homemade firearm that fires shotgun cartridges, at about 2:30 yesterday afternoon in Roaring Creek. Norris was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital, but he died shortly after. His body was taken to the morgue, where it will undergo the mandatory postmortem exam to certify the cause of his death. Reports are that Norris was walking on a road in the Another World area when the gunman came up and shot him. His neighbours rushed him to the hospital. Police, who conducted a quick investigation, arrested the alleged killer and recovered the homemade gun. Police said that they will charge him with murder and possession of a prohibited firearm.

Guatemalans stirring waters of the Sarstoon
Even as Belizean and Guatemalan officials have publicly committed to working out a mechanism of cooperation on the Sarstoon, to diffuse tensions at Belize's southern border with Guatemala, reports have beeen made of increased presence by Guatemalan civilians in the area this past weekend. On Saturday, July 9, 2016, a group of persons who posted on the "Belice es de Guatemala" Facebook page, published videos of their 7-member expedition to the Sarstoon River-an expedition which they say is a start of a nationalistic movement to reclaim Belize. This evening, the Facebook page of "Kaibiles Fuerza elite ejercito de Guatemala y soldados regulares" shared 6 photos of group members with the Kaibiles. The group said that this Saturday, they were in the "adjacency zone" (the phrase the Guatemalans use because they do not want to acknowledge our borders). They said that they thought they would have had the support of those who are always talking but only 7 showed up. The group contends that they have taken the first step in starting the real fight. They signed the Facebook note "kaibil"-the name of Guatemala's elite military, suggesting that the group may have some military ties.

Murder on Plues Street: father of 4 shot 15 times
Four children of Belize City, the youngest being one year old and the eldest being 20 years old, are now without their father, Kariem "Buzzard" Hafiya, 40, of Plues Street, a NICH Belize security guard, who was murdered on Plues Street at about 3:30 this morning. Police said that Hafiya was returning home after his night shift at NICH (National Institute of Culture and History), and entering his back gate, when he was ambushed. The gunman approached him and fired about 15 shots at him. Hafiya was hit in the head, chest, abdomen and other parts of his body. He died on the scene. Hafiya's common-law wife, Arechia Flowers, told Amandala today that she was at home when she heard a barrage of gunshots. She did not look out right away because of fright, but when she did look out shortly after, she saw him by the gate. He was already dead.

Major crimes up by 5% as incidences of murder outside the Belize District increase
Even as Belize police make gains in tackling crime in Belize City, and particularly on the City's southside, indications are that the incidences of major crimes have spiked elsewhere, outside the district. The official police statistics released today indicate that major crimes were up 4.9% for the first half of 2016, with the largest increase being for carnal knowledge and the largest decrease being for rape. There was a marginal increase in the number of murders, from 73 recorded for the first half of 2015 to 74 recorded for the first half of 2016. Although the number of murders nationwide remained relatively unchanged, there was a drastic shift in where the bulk of the murders occurred.

Youth Summer Series 2016, Week 1, Sunday, July 3
Forty two youths showed up this afternoon on the Marine Parade Boulevard for the first day of the 3rd Annual C-Ray Cycling Club's Youth Summer Series. As our club continues to promote the development of youths who dream of one day becoming a future cycling champion, we dedicate our time and efforts into making their summers especially exciting. All races are age specific to foster healthy competition amount the participants. Similar to the High School Cycling Series, points are given according to the order in which the participants finish; at the end of the 5 races, the participant to accumulate the most points wins overall. Weekly, winners are given ribbons, and for the finale, they receive a C-Ray T-shirt, school bag with school supplies, medals and other prizes. Every Sunday in the month of July, races start at 1:30 p.m. on Marine Parade in front of Celebrity Restaurant. Registration is free. Bikes and helmets are provided for those who do not have.

Winty J Story: Part 6
W: Dehn bwai gaan and get dehn ting� Now, I di get bruk een now, yo no� I actually di get bruk een now� Part 6 W: Wi see wahn sax brand new� guitar brand new� base� drum.. but I have to learn now� how fi keep dehn ya ting clean� and set them up. And when a look back at it now� Chalwa, it was a, what� it was a responsible job I was doing there� A: Yeah, a mean� W: Da me haf to tek care a dehn instrument dem, yo no�. When dehn done play, dehn just pack up and dehn go�. Da me haf to go get wahn cab� move them� and set dem up eena di house weh wi wahn practice� or weh pah wi wahn play� A: Da wahn big responsibility dat, yes�

Editorial: Leaving it to God �
A few months ago a hard working father died in his early fifties on the Southside of Belize City. In his relatively short life, he had buried three young, grown sons at various times. We know of a mother on the Southside who has also buried three young sons. The carnage continues on the Southside, as it has continued for the last quarter century. Whereas in the beginning of these neighborhood wars in Belize City, mothers used to call for justice when interviewed for the television evening news, now there is resignation, fatalism even. The common refrain from grieving mothers involves "leaving it to God �" This is how it has been for the last several years. July is a time of year when Belizean parents, and on the Southside many of the parents are single mothers, are scrambling to prepare their children, as best they can, for the school year which begins in late August and early September. Almost all parents in Belize believe that the least they can do for their children is buy their uniforms, their underwear, their footwear, their books, their schoolbags, and pay all their school fees so that their children's education continues and their children have some kind of a chance in life.

From the Publisher
CHI KU - an expression of popular Chinese culture, literally means to "eat bitter," in order to endure great hardships. I would suggest that the first place where significant collusion involving high-ranking individuals from the two major political parties here began in the offices of a new law firm established during the latter part of the 1970s. At the time, the ruling party was the People's United Party (PUP), and the Opposition was the United Democratic Party (UDP). In the old days, it was considered very suspicious for people from the two parties to be too friendly. This began to change amongst the Belizean attorneys in the late 1970s. Inside the offices of the late Barry Bowen's Bowen & Bowen on King Street, a major friendship across political lines began a few years later, in the early 1980s. It was a friendship between Michael Finnegan, a confidant of UDP Leaders Lindo and Barrow, and Ralph Fonseca, who had been very close to PUP Leader, Rt. Hon. George Price, from Ralph's childhood. Nevertheless, inside the UDP Finnegan's loyalty was considered absolute. At Independence Hall, so was Ralph's loyalty to the PUP.

Britain comes first!!!
The U.S military budget for 2016 is $521.7 billion. According to usgovernmentspending.com, in FY 2016 total US government spending on welfare- federal, state and local - is "guesstimated" to be $1,084 billion, including $610 billion for Medicaid, and $474 billion in other welfare. Illiteracy Statistics - statistic brain Number of U.S. adults who can't read ���������.32,000,000 Percent of prison inmates who can't read�������.70 % Percent of high school graduates who can't read����.19 % Percent of U.S. adults who can't read (below a basic level)���..14 % According to http://winnyc.org/wins-nyc-homeless-crisis/ New York City alone has the following: Each night in New York City nearly 60,000 people come "home" from work, school, job searches, food shopping, and doctor's appointments to a homeless shelter. They have no house, no apartment; no place can they call their own.

Belize aims to export sheep
Currently, there is a shortage of sheep meat on the market, but Gabino Canto, project manager for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Belize, told Amandala that two projects being funded by the Government of Taiwan and the European Union (EU) are providing fresh stocks that would not only help farmers to meet an increasing domestic demand but that would also enable them to establish an export enterprise. On Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture and local farmers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which establishes the framework for a project titled, "Promoting Agri-Business Development in Northern Belize", funded by the EU and implemented by the FAO and the Government of Belize. The BZ$2 million project spans 30 months, from January 2015 to June 2017.

Barrow, Saldivar and Whylie say nothing as Belize City continues to "bleed blood"
Several gang leaders and their affiliates were today scooped up by Southside police after the city recorded three murders in one day and a total of four murders in one week. The anti-gang operation was activated at 3 a.m. and by 10 a.m. today, several individuals were in police detention. According to ACP Chester Williams, "the purpose of this operation was to conduct searches at the homes of these known gang affiliates for firearms and drugs�" He further revealed to Amandala that another purpose of this operation was to discuss the issues that had led to a surge in violence. This afternoon, an intervention with these gang affiliates was held at the Racoon Street police station. However, Amandala was not allowed to take photos or record interviews, as the nature of the intervention was said to be confidential.

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Dara returns to fundraising for feeding program
They're still weeks away, but founder of Dara's Feeding Program Joel "Dara" Robinson stopped by this morning to begin promoting the 5th annual Ride for Hunger to be held at the end of the month, and the Tribute to Lucky Dube concert on August 7th, [�]

Accused robber jailed for shooting at police officer
31 year old Jarett Crawford, charged with aggravated assault upon a police officer with a firearm, was sentenced to 3 years today by the Chief Magistrate, Ann-Marie Smith, after he was found guilty of the charge. Crawford and 6 others were also charged with robbery, [�]

Jury acquits man over stabbing
23 year old Brandon Bennett was this afternoon unanimously found not guilty of use of deadly means of harm with intent to commit grievous harm for the stabbing of Kent Moss Jr. by a jury in the court of Justice Adolph Lucas. Moss was stabbed [�]

Belize successfully hosts the CODICADER Games 2016
The CODICADER Games 2016 concluded over the weekend and Belize fared well and also received good reviews as the host country for the event. The young athletes competed in basketball, volleyball, table tennis and football. In basketball, Panama placed in first place and Belize got [�]

Turan Transfer Speculation
Europe's Elite Clubs are on alert as Turan is up for sale. Turkish international, Arda Turan, is edging closer to a move away from Barcelona as the Catalan giants already made their midfielder available for transfer. The 29-year-old Turkish star signed for Barcelona last summer [�]

Taiwan gifts $40, 000 for September Celebrations 2016
This morning Diane Haylock Co- Chairperson of the National Celebrations Commission (NCC) of the National Institute of History and Culture (NICH) received a cheque for $40,000 from Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan to Belize HE Benjamin Ho. The fund is expected to finance [�]

World Bank to aid Energy Resilience and Climate Adaptation Project in Belize
Belize has received commitment from the World Bank to fund the Energy Resilience and Climate Adaptation Project (ERCAP). GOB, under the Ministry of Energy, began these discussions with the World Bank in 2014. Around the same time, it also began collaboration with the Belize [�]

Forest Department hosts second summer camp
The Forest Department's Savannah Summer Camp 2016 for children is scheduled to kick off on July 25th and run until the 29th at the Savannah Forest Station in Independence Village. This year's theme is "Changing Young Minds for a Greener Future" and is aimed at increasing the [�]

Rangers assaulted at gun point by log cutters
A Programme for Belize Ranger filed a report to Orange Walk Police that on Sunday sometime around 2:30 p.m. while on patrol with other rangers, they came across five Hispanic men between Hill Bank and Irish Creek who were conducting illegal logging. The ranger said he informed the gentlemen [�]

Showers expected to continue
The general situation for today is for a slight increase in moisture as a weak tropical wave crosses the country. The 24-hour forecast is for some cloudy spells with a few showers and thunder storms over most areas, then mostly over the south later tonight. [�]

Ronaldo Vs. Messi
It is 2016 and the tide has certainly changed. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each contested a major international tournament this summer. Both managed to get to the finals! But only one came out a winner. For years, Ronaldo has been seen by many as [�]

6 ways to boost, energy and empower Belize
"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe." - Frederick Douglass The PUDP failed [�]

Belize: The Value of Lobster to the Nation
Spiny lobsters, also known as langouste or rock lobsters, are a family (Palinuridae) of about 60 species of achelate crustaceans, in the Decapoda Reptantia. Spiny lobsters are also, especially in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Bahamas, sometimes called crayfish, sea crayfish, or crawfish [�]

Blogs

Cook-off Highlights a Taste of Belize
What is the taste of Belize and what food come to your mind when you think of a good home-cooked Belizean meal? I bet you can't come up with one answer. Belize's culinary diversity adds to its uniqueness, to its cultural richness, to its flavor, to its taste. In charge of delivering that taste of Belize are our country's chefs, from the youngest to the oldest, seasoned professional chef to the amateur just learning from grandma's cooking. The Taste of Belize is the Belize Tourism Board's signature culinary competition geared at developing the culinary arts in the country. I discovered that the event is not only a celebration of food, but a platform for the recognition of some of the best talent in the industry. The BTB hopes that through this medium, the Belizean public will continue to appreciate and applaud the efforts of those who continue to raise the bar through their services and products. There is plenty of food to sample at the event as vendors, restaurants and food shops set up in booths, but the food prepared by the chefs in competition is reserved for the judges. Taste of Belize is more of a competition where you can witness chefs, pastry chefs/decorators and bartenders showcase their talent and skills.

Belize Electric sees a brighter future for the power grid on Ambergris Caye
The utility message from last night was pretty straightforward: We feel your pain (especially BEL's chief engineer. Literally, as he lives here on Ambergris Caye and was without power and water like the rest of the community). While power outages have been much worse in the past, we're not satisfied with where things are today. Things will be getting better, in the near future. That near future could come as soon as Sunday, when a 25 megawatt transformer is scheduled to go online in the system that supplies the island with power. What does that mean and how is that a big deal? Think back to the Christmas blackout. BEL anticipated a surge in demand and figured that it would top out at 8.5 megawatts. But when everyone lit up, apparently demand surged over 11 megawatts. The sucking sound you hear is equivalent to your cistern running dry. But followed by darkness and an eerie silence. Silent night, holy night. The 25 megawatt transformer ensures that the system will have the capacity to meet future demand for some years to come.

Do it yourself adventure from Belize to Tikal
Often people opt to take the road less traveled and figure out how to do something themselves instead of taking a group tour. As is the case with Doug Behm who wrote this guest post, which came at a perfect time. One of my custom tacogirl luggage tag winners Kim G wrote to give me her mailing address and followed up by asking about an inexpensive tour from Belize to Guatemala. I immediately wrote back and let her know useful information was in process of getting blogged and that could help her solve her wanderlust wondering. My wife and I recently spent nine amazing nights in Belize, and while the country has a wealth of things to do and see within it's borders, the main attraction that drew us to the country in the first place was actually in Guatemala. Tikal, located roughly 100 miles from Belize City (as the crow flies), has some of the most impressive Mayan ruins in the world and rightfully belongs on any frequent traveler's bucket list.

Manatee Tours in Belize
Belize has the most manatees of any country in Central America. These playful and gentle creatures can be found in the waters just offshore from Belize City, locations like the popular tourism destination of Caye Caulker, and in many of the country's marine reserves. Manatees are herbivorous mammals that are commonly called sea cows. Belize is home to the West Indian manatee (trichechus manatus) that can grow up to 13 feet (4 meters) long and weigh up to 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms). Manatees enjoy lazy days in the warm waters of the rivers of Belize and the Caribbean, spending approximately half of the day resting in shallow waters with the other half slowly swimming in search of food. There are manatees found up and down the entire coast of Belize but there are currently three protected manatee areas that will give you the best opportunity to see one of these gentle giants. Northern Lagoon - located inside of the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern part of the country. Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary - located approximately seven miles from Belize City. Gales Point Manatee Wildlife Sanctuary - located in the Southern Lagoon just offshore from the southern part of Belize District. The West Indian manatee species found in Belize can be spotted all year-round.

International Sourcesizz

Special Report: Caribbean countries entangled by U.S. financial crackdown
Burdened by chronic back pain, Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow avoids traveling abroad, his colleagues say. But in January, he flew to Washington and visited one government agency after another on a singular mission: reconnecting his country to the U.S. financial system. A U.S.-educated lawyer, Barrow made his case before agencies with chief oversight of American banks, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the U.S. Treasury's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. His Belizean delegation described how their country had been shunned over the last year by large, reputable American banks, a trend that threatens its tiny economy. As banks scrub their books of potentially risky businesses amid a tightening regulatory noose, major U.S. financial institutions have ended relationships with regional banks across the Caribbean in the last four years, Caribbean officials and bank executives say. This so-called "de-risking" or "de-banking," in which banks pull out of certain lines of business and even parts of the world, has intensified. Enhanced scrutiny on financial fraud and new regulations to stem money laundering and terror finance are all at play.

Crestview food festival raises thousands for Belize medical mission
What do Cajun red beans 'n' rice, Vietnamese pork tacos, Korean bulgoki, Peruvian pickled fish salad, southern peach barbecued chicken and Filipino lumpia have in common? Together, they and cuisine from several other countries raised more than $3,300 to purchase medicine for Operation Medical Care's ninth annual medical mission to Belize. Chefs for Sunday's International Food Festival were mostly among the volunteers who leave Aug. 31 for the weeklong annual mission. "We'll arrive in Belize at 11:45, get our stuff to the hotel, put on our scrubs, then travel an hour and a half inland to Orange Walk," Operation Medical Care treasurer Sharlene Cox said. "We go to see patients at two businesses and we get done about 6 o'clock that night after having been up at 4 to get to the airport." Businesses throughout the Orange Walk District and neighboring communities donate facilities for the mission to receive patients. More than 300 people attended the July 10 International Food Festival, hosted by Bob Sikes Elementary School and raising more than $3,300 to purchase medicine to be distributed in Belize by Operation Medical Care.

Whale sharks added to endangered species Red List
The new IUCN Red List reveals that growing human pressures on whale sharks and slender hammerhead sharks are putting these species at an increasing risk of extinction. Both the shark species are now listed as Endangered. Numbers of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), the world's largest fish, have more than halved over the last 75 years as these slow-moving sharks continue to be fished and killed by ship propellers. Although conservation action in India, the Philippines and Taiwan has ended large-scale fishing of whale sharks in these countries, they continue to be fished in other locations, including southern China and Oman. As whale sharks and tuna are often found together, the sharks are frequently caught by tuna fishing boats. Unregulated fishing is also behind the fast-falling numbers of the distinctive slender hammerhead shark (Eusphyra blochii), whose shape makes it easily get tangled up in fishing nets. This species has moved from Near Threatened to Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

A tiny island in Belize was just named the best destination in Central America
Ambergris Caye, Belize, has been named the leading destination in Central America by the World Travel Awards for two years running. Belize's largest island, which is also often considered Belize's crown jewel, is easily accessible from the mainland and holds countless opportunities for adventure, from diving at the Great Blue Hole to checking out a place called Shark-Ray Alley. Here's why this Caribbean island beat out other travel hotspots such as San Jose, Costa Rica, and Tulum, Mexico.

Videos

  • Killer land sail contraption on Caye Caulker, 1min. Dedicated to my brother, Greg L�pez AKA Gypsy, who always wanted one of these on the island. Jacob, thank you for letting us put a hole through your deck.

  • Caye Caulker, Belize, 13min.

  • Window on the World Belize, 30min. Our Host Alecia Henson talks with Dr. Scott Wells and students Abby Finder, Blair Freed and Cicy Bentz about their recent trip to Belize. Recorded July 6, 2016 in the Ruth I. Kolpin Studios at KGCS-TV on the campus of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin Missouri.

  • Belize City to Caye Caulker Travel, 9min. Another day backpacking with Jermaine. Today we're off to Belize city then to Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker is a set of islands off the coast of Belize. Very very beautiful islands. Adventures to get to those islands. First we got to get off the bus look for a taxi take a taxi to the water taxi $15 for round trip ticket that's good up to three months. Once on the water taxi they told us that it will take about an hour to get to Caye Caulker. The entire journey only seen about 45 minutes or less. Supplies we arrived a bit earlier than expected. At first I was a little nervous it look like it was going to storm outside and I found myself getting a little boat taxi.

  • Codicader U13 Girls Volleyball Belize vs Nicaragua 2016, 12min.

  • Belize 2016, 5min.

  • Belize in Under 8 Minutes!, 8min. I condensed over 1 hour of footage from my trip to Belize into a short, 8-minute movie for anyone interested in seeing the country of Belize! Enjoy :)
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