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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, and other specials
The San Pedro Sun
Belizeans still need a visa to travel to Canada
Reports on the internet that Canada had lifted visa requirements for Belizeans were quickly denied and clarified by Belize's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Canadian Consul in Belize City.
The article in question, which was posted on a fake news site, 'CBN-TV.com,' stated that Belizeans traveling to Canada would no longer need a visitor's visa. The false report went so far as to state it was the new commitment Canada had with Belize for 2017, due to the great relations the two Commonwealth countries have. The news about the possibility of the visa waiver went viral, but is simply untrue.
The office of the Canadian Consulate in Belize City told The Sun that there were unaware of any such visa waiver and as far as they were concerned, the visa requirement continues in effect. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belize posted a message via their facebook page. "Belizeans please be advised that there is no truth in this article. Canada has not lifted visa requirements for Belizeans."
Ambergris Today
Pic of the Week - Cold Front and Beautiful Sunsets
It may not look like it, but it's chilly in Belize. A cold front made its way across the country on Sunday, sending everyone into their storage room looking for warm clothes. With Christmas already gone, no one was expecting it to get this cold in January - it's about 70 degrees.
Bollywood's Nargis Fakhri's Beach Selfie in Belize
With a 4.8Mil following on Instagram and 2.26Mil following on Twitter, we are sure Nargis Fakir's posts on her social media pages will bring some publicity to Belize. She is an American model and actress, who mainly appears in Hindu films but a Bollywood celebrity nevertheless. On January 2, 2017, Nargis posted a beach selfie in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize that has her followers jealous.
Online celebrity media followers were envious of Nargis as she "has been posting some rather interesting pictures from her beach holiday and having the time of her life basking in the sun". One headline read: Nargis Fakhri's beach selfie at Belize will give you vacation goals.
Fakhri began her career as a model and appeared as a contestant in the The CW series America's Next Top Model; she made her acting debut in the 2011 romantic drama Rockstar.
Misc Belizean Sources
Inaugural Meeting of New Caye Caulker Traffic Control Committee
Minister of Transport Hon Edmond Castro was special guest at the opening of the inaugural meeting for the new Caye Caulker Traffic Control Committee.
The Caye Caulker Traffic Control Committee has the responsibility and authority to vet applications for all vehicle licenses (mainly golf-carts) on the island, similar to the Traffic Control Committee on San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
Sitting on the new Caye Caulker Traffic Control Committee are Village Chairlady Enelda Rosado and one other member of the Village Council, Mr Miguel Angel Neal. Chairperson of the Traffic Control Committee is Mrs Ruth Staine Dawson, who is appointed by the Minister of Transport. Also sitting on the committee is the CEO in the Ministry of Transport, Ms Ruth Meighan; and the Chief Transport Officer, Mr Tirsio Galvez.
Fundraiser for Lizette Alamina Gutierrez
In the planning stages of a fundraiser for our very own Lizette Alamina Gutierrez, she attended CCRC School and held the title of Miss Caye Caulker. Lizette has been diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer and is in need of urgent medical attention in Guatemala. If you would like to assist with the fundraiser by assisting with the preparation of food, a cash or kind donation please kindly let me know. Lizette has been Mistress of Ceremony for many events on the island and is often on the island gracing us with her karaoke skills.
La Ruta Maya Canoe Race
It's that time of the year to start preparing for the La Ruta Maya Canoe Race. Three cheers to our very own Barracuda, Allie Johnstone, who brought Caye Caulker much glory in this race.
Ms. Sofia Paz passes away
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its deepest condolences to the Paiz family & friends on the passing of Ms. Sofia Paz. Ms. Sofia made San Pedro her home many years ago and made friends with everyone from her very popular fruit and vegetable shop on Barrier Reef Drive, "El Parawe." May her soul rest in peace.
R.I.P. "Miss" Dit
Today they bury her. She lived a long life. My fave memory of her is the home remedy advice she gave me when Shane Zaldivar was just a baby.
RIP Tia Dit.
Channel 7
Killing in PG, Was it Belize City Beef?
2016 was the second most murderous year in Belize's history, and 2017 has started out on its own record pace. 7 murders were recorded in the first six days of the year, and #7 occurred not in the mean streets of Belize City, but in tranquil Punta Gorda. Well, it's not so tranquil anymore after an execution style murder took place in a much-trafficked area of town. The victim had just come out of jail, but a history of violence may have caught up with him. Here's the story with help from our colleagues at PGTV:...
Jules Vasquez reporting:
On Friday night at 7:25, Alex Palacio Jr became the 7th murder victim for 2017.
The 35-year-old was killed on Santa Maria Street in Punta Gorda town - a shocking event for this quiet community.
Shocking also for his family; his cousin says they are still struggling:
Father Says His Son Was Troubled By Threats
And while we spoke to Alex Palacio Jr.'s cousin in Belize City, PGTV spoke to his father, Alex Sr., this afternoon in Punta Gorda. His son had just left his home when the killers appeared. He says they had been lurking and his son was troubled:...
Alex Palacio Sr., Father of Deceased:
"He went home to his aunt's house. When leaving his aunt's house, I told him to hurry up so we can prepare tea. He said 'yes dad I'm coming back right now' but he never did come back. He left this house between here and that street there when he was shot. He ran down that street until he cold after he got shot. When you get cold you have to drop. It's there where he stayed."
Reporter:
"Did he say that anybody was threatening him? or did he say anything at all?"
Alex Palacio Sr., Father of Deceased:
"No, he told his sister in U.S.A that someone is threatening him so I think he was afraid maybe because I like to panic or he didn't want me to feel bad."
Man on Motorbike Killed in Explosive Hit And Run
And from murder in Punta Gorda, we turn now to the fatal traffic accident in Ladyville in which a man's motorcycle exploded and burnt him to death.
He's 21 year-old Jamalsky Young, a Ladyville Resident who was on his way to work last night, sometime after 9 o'clock. He was on his motorbike when a hit and run driver crashed into him. The young man's motorbike erupted into flames while he lay unconscious and the driver sped off. Today, our news team went looking for answers in Ladyville, and Daniel Ortiz has that story:
Daniel Ortiz reporting:
21 year-old Jamalski Young passed away here in Ladyville, right in front of Blues Bar. His body caught on fire after the motorcycle he was on exploded. Police believe that Young was driving to work at the Sky Gas Station, which is less than a quarter mile away.
Robbery Foiled Before It Happened By Cops' Sharp Intel.
Belize City Police were able to foil a robbery today after they intercepted a mini-van full of young men. It happened around 2:00 this afternoon when the cops say, the men planned to rob Northern Fishermen's Cooperative - only thing is the Co-op never even knew anything about a robbery. It seems the cops had major advance intelligence and were waiting for the men before they could pull off the robbery. They detained five suspects as well as a taxi driver at the scene, and recovered one 9mm handgun from the taxi. We'll have more on this tomorrow as they are all held pending charges.
Chetumal Returns to Normal
After one night of ruction on Thursday January fifth, Chetumal was back to normal this weekend. News reports from the Quintana Roo capital say that 32 businesses were damaged, most of them drug stores. And the drug stores were targeted because most businesses had closed early on Thursday due to riots in other parts of Mexico.
56 persons were detained in Chetumal and 11 - including one woman - are expected to be charged.
But there have been no incidences of vandalism or unrest reported in Chetumal since early Fridaty morning.
State police however are keeping a high and visible profile in the shopping malls and on Avenida Heroes (E-RO-ES). Police can be seen guarding department stores and main streets.
Other businesses that were damaged by the vandalism have remained shuttered - and some have even welded those shutters closed while repairs are underway. Chetumal finished up its Tres Reyes holiday on Sunday - which is usually a time of major sales.
School Resumes For Real
The Ministry had their say, and the teachers had their way�school started in earnest today January ninth after teachers and students had their full Christmas vacation. This morning we made the rounds and it was business as usual, with teachers and students turning up en masse at all primary schools.
While a few of them did show up last week, the numbers were far fewer and they were dismissed early. But today, school went right through, just as if the ministry and school managements hadn't even issued a directive telling everyone that school started on January third.
So it now remains to be seen what happens next with the other two-planned make up days in April before the Easter break. Again, the ministry and school managements agreed on these days, but the unions have demanded to be a part of the decision making process. The school year must have 180 regular school days in every school year, and without the make up days, that mandatory minimum will not be met.
Chicki Blue and The Chinese Restaurant Owner
Wilfred "Chicky Blue" Nicholas, rose to fame as part of the Penta-Lakers basketball team as an elite-semi-pro baller. But tonight he's making the news after he got into a scuffle with the son of a Chinese restaurant-owner. That ended when the man chopped him in the head with what could have been either a machete or a meat cleaver.
It happened on Friday night after the Green Jade Restaurant was closing. Nicholas and his family were celebrating an annual memorial for his deceased step-son who was killed in 2009.
He went to the restaurant to buy food for his grandchildren, but Green Jade was closing for the night. The Chinese business owners say that they tried to turn him away, but he refused to leave, insisting in an aggressive manner that he be served. They say that he was trespassing.
He, on the other hand, says that the Chinese restaurateurs disrespected him and shoved him, which led to the scuffle. Today, we spoke to his wife who was outraged the behavior of the business owner, who could have seriously injured Nicholas, or worse.
Multiple Stabs For Mai
And while Chicky Blue Nicholas got away with minor cut wounds, and a few missing dreadlocks, 30 year-old Jesus Mai, whose family is from the Ladyville area, is currently hospitalized in a critical condition.
That's after 5 or so men jumped him in Lord's Bank Village on Friday night, and followed him all the way to the Lords Bank junction, where they stabbed him multiple times, leaving him to bleed out in a drain.
His family, who sells fruits right across the street saw him severely injured, and they rushed in to help. Today, we spoke with his aunt, who was the first to try to get him help:
Myrna Ramos - Aunt of Stabbing Victim:
"Somebody came for me and told me that he was in the drain all stabbed up. So, I went and I saw him. He was in the drain, drowning in the drain, and we tried to drag him out, but the police stopped us from trying to get him out. But, I can't see my nephew drowning in the drain and hurting like that. So, I got some other people who helped me take him out from the drain, and that's how we got him into an ambulance. Then came the police, and police don't want you to move the body. But, I tried to help him, as quick as possible to take him out. He was seriously injured."
Another Rural Home Invasion
And the bad news out of Ladyville continues...
On Thursday Steven Wade was visiting his girlfriend's home on Hibiscus Street in that village. While he was making his way from the bedroom to the kitchen he was confronted by a man wearing black clothes, a white mask and armed with handgun. The intruder then robbed them both of iPhones, assorted personal items and the keys for a white 2010 Ford Escape. The intruder then fled in the same vehicle. With that theft, the total value of all the stolen items comes up to just under $28,000.
We note that a Ford Escape - presumably the same one - was found burnt to a crisp the next day near Lake Gardens which is not far from Ladyville. Also, we note that there was another home invasion on Thursday in Belize rural - this one happened outside Hattieville and the victim was an elderly gentleman.
Two Minors Are Suspects In Cabbie Shooting
There was a shooting yesterday on Police Street in Belize City. 24 year old Kyron Santiago was sitting inside his taxi on Police Street when two young men pulled up. One of them fired several shots at Santiago, hitting him in the lower back and right hand. Santiago was transported to the KHMH where he was admitted in a stable condition.
Cops later discovered a .38 revolver believed to be used in the shooting, which led to the detention a 16 and 17 year old.
Bus and Truck Crash, Ten Injured
Ten people were injured in a collision between a Westline Bus and a cement truck on Saturday. According to reports, the cement truck reversed onto the George Price Highway and into the path of the passenger bus. Seven people received minor injuries, while three remain in critical condition at the KHMH. Investigations into the accident continue, and both drivers have been served Notices of Intended Prosecution.
Top Shelf Contraband
At around 6:30 on Saturday morning the Ladyville Police and Customs Department, acting on a tip, stopped and searched a Guerra bus at the Burrell Boom junction. After sweeping the bus they found 37 bottles of contraband liquor in a concealed compartment. The alcohol, which ranged from tequila and vodka to Bailey's and Kahlua was confiscated by Customs.
The guilty parties were identified, and the case was settled out of court today. Customs says such settlements are covered by a confidentiality clause, so they cannot disclose details of the names. The liquor is believed to have originated in the free zone.
GOB Owes The Ashcroft Alliance Another $50M USD After US Supreme Court Denial
The government of Belize tonight finds itself owing the Ashcroft Alliance another 50 million US dollars. It's the result of a court hearing in the United States where this morning the US Supreme Court refused to hear Government's appeals of judgments in the cases of Belize v. BCB Holdings Limited et al. and Belize v. Belize Social Development Limited. According to a statement from Sidley Austin LLP - which represented BCB and BSDL, this victory clears the way for both companies to collect on the judgments which, including interest, is approximately U.S. $50 million dollars.
Both judgments date back to a dispute that started in 2009 when the Barrow administration rejected the Musa Administration's Accommodation Agreement. The Ashcroft Alliance took it to arbitration, lost, and then it ended up in the US courts, where they also lost, and tried to appeal it all the way to the US Supreme Court. That's the final court of appeal in the US - and now that they won't hear it, the lead Litigator Benno Kimmelman told us via phone from New York what it means for the government of Belize:
West Street Fire In PG
On Friday evening Punta Gorda police responded to a house fire on West Street. There they found a small wooden structure with a zinc roof engulfed in flames. The house and all of its contents were completely destroyed. None of the two residents were in the house at the time, and the police and Fire Department are investigating.
Channel 5
U.S. Supreme Court Shuts Down Final Attempt to Avoid Arbitration Awards
The Government of Belize is on the hook for more than one hundred and twenty million dollars after the United States Supreme Court today declined to hear the petitions for [...]
Belize Moving Closer to Superbond 3.0?
Government will have to find a hundred and twenty million dollars even as Superbond renegotiations take place. But is Belize closer to obtaining debt relief from the Belize 2038 Bonds, [...]
Alexander Palacio Murdered in Punta Gorda
Weeks ago, Alexander Palacio was released from prison on parole for a manslaughter conviction. But his life was taken over the weekend in Punta Gorda where he was seeking refuge [...]
Police Stop Major Robbery Attempt at Northern Fishermen
Six persons are in detention this evening after police stopped an armed robbery in progress at the Northern Fisherman's Cooperative's offices on North Front Street in Belize City this afternoon. [...]
Why Did Chinese Restaurant Owner Chop "Chickie Blue"?
A well-known foreman at the Port of Belize escaped death after he was chopped twice to the head on Friday night. In Ladyville, the Nicholas family was having an annual [...]
Family Wonders Why Owner is Now Pressing Charges
Police came out to the scene within minutes because the incident occurred just around the corner from the Ladyville Police Station. An injured Nicholas and his wife were escorted to [...]
Schools Re-Open for Real; Teachers Will Say How They Want to Make Up Classes
"Free paper bun" for thousands of students countrywide on this Monday, after schools formally re-opened following a three-week holiday break. The Ministry of Education, with support from managers of schools, [...]
Jamalski Young's Horrific Death; Burns to Death after Explosive Traffic Collision
A Ladyville man lost his life in an accident in Ladyville village on Sunday night. He was heading to work when it is alleged that a vehicle was reversing on [...]
Passengers Injured When Cement Truck Hits Bus Accidentally
There was another accident, but fortunately there were no fatalities. It occurred at mile ten on the George Price Highway, and while no one perished, several persons suffered various degrees [...]
Couple Robbed at home in Ladyville; Robbers Set Stolen Ford Escape Afire
There was a home invasion in Ladyville just before midnight last Thursday on Hibiscus Street. Twenty-six-year-old Steven Wade reported to Police that while he was inside his girlfriend's house in [...]
Teenager Detained in Police Street Shooting
Police detained a seventeen year old minor of Belize City over the weekend. He may face charges in the attempted murder of Kyron Tyrell Santiago. On Sunday afternoon, Santiago was [...]
Cross-Border Jasmine Alert: Teen Kidnapped by Mexican Father
This Friday, thirteen-year-old Anaseily Gonzalez was allegedly kidnapped; her family believes it is by her Mexican father, forty-three-year-old Javier de la Cruz. De la Cruz was recently released from a [...]
Corozal Police Dropped Ball in Missing Person Investigation?
According to Menzies, the Jasmine Alert program is not as effective as intended. While anyone under eighteen years of age falls within the program, the police should immediately start investigations [...]
What Caused Fire in P.G.?
Two buildings went up in flames in Punta Gorda over the weekend; one was completely destroyed and the other partially damaged by the blaze. A couple who resided in one [...]
National Team Prepares for Central America in Sports Monday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. {Feature including national team weekend friendly games; Weekend Warriors cycling race and C.Y.D.P. football match….}