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The San Pedro Sun
Large cargo truck tips over in Northern Ambergris Caye
The San Pedro Traffic Department (SPTD) has confirmed that a large cargo truck loaded with lumber tipped over in northern Ambergris Caye on the afternoon of Monday, January 23rd. The vehicle apparently slipped off the road as it attempted to make the curve 3.5 miles north of San Pedro Town. No injuries were reported.
SPTD was called to the scene to assess the situation. According to them, the traffic in that section of the northern road was interrupted for hours as workers unloaded the lumber from the truck. A large fork-lift was then used to pull the truck back onto the road.
The SPTD expressed concern about the use of such large cargo vehicles on the island. The Department believes that such heavy-duty trucks may cause damage to the roads, including the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge which connects the town with the northern part of the island. A meeting with Mayor Daniel Guerrero has been planned to discuss the issue.
Belize Jaguars are out of the Gold Cup Hunt
After the Belize Jaguars played a total of five games against other Central American national teams, the Copa Centroamericana 2017 tournament ended on Sunday, January 22nd. Held at the Rommel Fernandez Stadium in Panama City, Panama, Honduras was crowned champion.
Prior to the finals, the fifth match was played on Friday, January 20th, with the first match being between the Jaguars and Nicaragua. Nicaragua pressured Belize throughout the game, limiting chances for Belize to, but it was not enough to take the win. In the end, Nicaragua took the victory with a 3-1 score. In the second match, Honduras vied against Costa Rica. With both teams rigorously playing, the teams tied with a final score of 1-1. The last game saw Panama taking on El Salvador, where Panama dominated emerging victorious with a clean score of 1-0.
Fire in southern San Pedro Town destroys small building
Early on Saturday, January 21st, a fire destroyed a small structure used as a carpentry shop located in an empty lot between two houses in the San Marcos subdivision, south of San Pedro Town. The San Pedro Fire Department (SPFD) responded quick to the incident and extinguished the blaze without difficulties. No injuries were reported.
According to reports provided to members of the Fire Department, neighbours heard a loud sound early in the morning and a few minutes after they noticed smoke coming out from a carpentry shop. The SPFD arrived quickly on the scene around 7:30AM. According to the official report, the structure was engulfed in flames and even though the fire was quickly extinguished, the building was still destroyed. No damage was reported to any nearby homes. According to fire-fighters, the owners of the shop managed to save a few items and tools before it was too late.
Police Report
*On Saturday, January 21st at 11:45AM, acting on Special Branch information, a joint team of Special Branch and San Pedro Police conducted a search at the residence of 53-year-old Clive Forman in the San Pablo Area. The search led to the discovery of 22 cases of assorted contraband Mexican beer. The goods were confiscated and handed over to the Belize Customs Department awaiting prosecution for the crime of "Being in Possession of Un-customed Goods". *On Saturday, January 21st at 11:55AM a joint team of Special Branch and San Pedro Police conducted a search at the apartment of 21-year-old Saul Bolanos in the DFC Area. Also present at the time was his common-law-wife 25-year-old Anna Haylock and his sister, 27-year-old Carolina Bolanos. The search led to the discover of three cases of contraband Mexican beer, 32 bottles of contraband liquor, 50.6 grams of suspected cannabis and $30,650BZ in cash. All three persons were escorted to the San Pedro Police Station where Saul Bolanos pled guilty to "Possession of Controlled Drugs". The contraband goods were handed over to the Belize Customs Department awaiting prosecution for the crime of "Being in Possession of Un-customed Goods".
Another win for the Tiger Sharks in 2017 NEBL Season
With a final score of 77-62, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks claimed their second victory in the 2017 NEBL season. On Friday, January 20th, the island team faced Orange Walk's Running Rebels in a competitive match. After an action-packed game, the islanders emerged victorious. The game took place at the Orange Walk Multi- Purpose Complex, where the Tiger Sharks began the game with a lead, maintaining it throughout the first quarter of the match, which ended in a 22-19 score. At half-time, the island team was up seven points, 37-30. In the second half, the home team tried desperately to catch up, but the Tiger Sharks had no intentions of losing. At the end of the third quarter, the lead was 57-45, still in favour of the Tiger Sharks. In the final quarter, the island team upped their score, securing their second victory with a 77-62 final score.
Ambergris Today
Work Commences for San Pedro Children's Home
In late December, The San Pedro Lions Club and Raise Me Up announced the desire of turning the old San Pedro Lions Clinic building located in the Airstrip Area into a children's home to serve the island community. On schedule, the project commenced January 21, 2017.
The inside walls are coming down, floors are being reinforced and the ceiling is being fixed. Volunteers from the U.S. are working on getting most of the place in shape before handing it over to local workers on Thursday, January 26, 2017.
Much work still lies ahead and help is needed from volunteers, friends and businesses who would want to see the children's home become a reality. Those interested in helping, donating, or volunteering in the repairing of the old building can contact any Lion member or Raise Me Up at 607-1765 or 630-1241.
Traffic Woes, Too Big for Island Roads?
This gives new meaning to the word 'Truck Stop'. A delivery truck too big for the streets of Ambergris Caye slipped off the road on North Ambergris Caye yesterday, January 23, 2017, as it attempted to turn the curve just before Captain Morgan's Retreat.
The delivery truck was loaded with lumber and tipped over to one side with the weight of the heavy cargo. The incident backed traffic on the north side for a some time.
This poses a few questions:
* Do we really need those gigantic vehicles on the island?
* Can the job be done with smaller cargo trucks?
* Why are they allowing so many vehicles on the island?
* Are we losing our island charm with all this traffic?
Misc Belizean Sources
VACANCY FOR TRAFFIC WARDEN GRADE 1 in San Pedro
APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:
�Letter of Application
�Resume
�(2) two letters of recommendation
�Copy of Valid Driver's License
�Copy of Valid Social Security
�Valid Police Record
�Applicants must have successfully completed High School
level (minimum). Please provide copy of certificate.
�Applications deadline by February 3rd, 2017.
Peace Corps Belize is looking for a Q'eqch Linguist
Peace Corps Belize is looking for qualified candidates with native fluency in the Q'eqchi, Spanish and Kriol languages to work as long-and short-term Language and Cultural Facilitators in Belize!
This is a great opportunity for teachers with background in teaching second languages and primary or secondary education. For more information on the job requirements, duration, salary and how to apply, visit: https://belize.usembassy.gov/job_opportunities.html
KELLY'S ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH IN BELIZE
If you are visiting (or already in) San Pedro, Ambergris Caye pin these dates on your calendar. It is "KELLY'S ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH IN BELIZE - JAN 27th to FEB 12th, 2017" - Here is the schedule and a couple of proposed dates for the Catamaran Cruise to the Reef!
Jan 27 - 2nd Annual Kelly McGuire Deck Bar Concert hosted by Kurt and Karoline Huettl at Casa de Quest, 4.7 miles south, red and white fence, Meet and greet at 1 pm, show 2-5 pm, All are welcome, come and spread the word. The party... will go on after the show. BYOB, Ice will be provided, and bring a snack to share. Contact Kurt cell in Belize 636-9367.
Press Office Only can give information to media
For the past four years, police commanders, deputy commanders, the police press officer and his staff were authorized to give information to the media in an effort to enhance the free flow of information between police and the media.
However, approximately three weeks ago, an unoffical announcement was made that open discourse between other police personnel and the media would no longer be tolerated and that, all request for information must be channeled through the Police Press Officer.
On January 15th, 2017 a meeting was held in Belize City where the Minister of Police, Elodio Aragon, confirmed that the police will now streamline the way police information is passed to the media, making the Police Press Officer, Rafael Martinez, and his office, the conduit for information to be given given to the media.
Vanilla Hills Lodge Wins Again
Congratulations, Vanilla Hills Lodge! The Bullet Tree B&B took 1st place in Central America on Trip Advisor's Top 25 B&B's. Well done!
We are very excited to have been awarded with the 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice awards. It is the third time in a row that we got this award. TripAdvisor is one of the most important platforms when it comes to plan the vacation and choose hotels or lodges to stay. For us it is always very exciting the read the reviews. Most of them are so lovely and personal and many times we were very touched while reading them.
Belize Tribute to Evan X Hyde
Bring your family, bring your friends! It's Black History Month celebration in beautiful Dangriga, Belize. Feb 5, 3pm
Rotaract Benque Food Distribution
The Rotaract Club of Benque distributed food and toys to young and old...but not in that order. Thanks, Rotaract!
"Today the Rotaract Club of Benque Viejo placed a smile on the elders of our community and families as well as kids by giving them food hampers and toys. Community service is all about Service Above Self:
Wildfire Artmosphere Soft Opening
The Wildfire Artmosphere has moved into its new spot in the Manzanero building downtown, and they are having their soft opening this Saturday, January 28th, at 7:00pm. They'll have spoken word poetry throughout the night. They have some preparation pictures posted.
"We are ready to welcome folks to our new location. This soft opening should be fun and inspired. Art Happens Here!"
Channel 7
Two More Island Cops For Extortion: The Beat Up And Shook Down a Tourist
Two San Pedro police officers are have been criminally charged after an outrageous allegation of extortion was made against them. A US tourist named John Courtenay told police that on Sunday night at around 8:00 he was accosted by two police officers who pulled up on him in a police vehicle. They searched him and also assaulted him during that process. They then took him to an ATM machine where he says the officers forced him to withdraw two hundred dollars which he handed over to them. Island Police were quick to criminally charge two of their own: PC David Jimenez and PC Derwin Marin for the crimes of extortion and wounding. They were arraigned yesterday where they pleaded not guilty and will re-appear in March. It happened in the center of town, so Police were able to review security camera footage from businesses in the area to build their case. Courtenay has left the country, but the prosecution will continue based on his sworn statement.
Another Shooting in Violence Ridden Conch Shell Bay
In last night's news, we told you about the Sunday night, Conch Shell Bay murder of Clinton Frazer, aka "Hog". Well last night, there was another shooting on Lindo's Alley, right down the street from Conch Shell Bay, and right near to Frazer's home.
The victim this time is 19 year-old Keimar Nicholas, also known as "Bwee" (Bee Wee). Reports say that he was shot while he was playing basketball on a court which is actually a part of his yard. According to police, Nicholas and 2 friends were on the court when a tall, unknown man rode up, fired several shots at them, and darted out of the area.
Nicholas was injured in the neck, and he had to be rushed into emergency surgery to save his life. Fortunately the doctors at the KHMH were able to treat his wound save his life, and today, they had to perform an additional surgery to stabilize his condition.
Police have since combed the area, and they found this gun and this bike on a nearby street, and they have since arrested and charged one man. He's Enfield Fitzgibbon, and he has been criminally charged, but Nicholas, the young man he is accused of shooting, remains hospitalized.
Police Move Quickly To Charge Shooter
As you saw in our story, police were swarming the area looking for anything that could help them. Apart from the gun they found last night, the police also found this gun in this red shirt, which was hidden in what looks to be a concrete garbage bin, built onto a fence. We're also told that in a nearby yard, police found an undisclosed quantity of marijuana.
As for the shooting itself, as we told you, police have already arrested Endfield Fitzgibbon. This evening, the police reported that he has been formally charged with Attempted Murder, Dangerous Harm, Use of deadly means of harm. It is expected that he will be arraigned at the earliest convenience.
Our archives say that this is not the first time that Fitzgibbon has been criminally charged.
Cops Say Henry Harris Killed "Hog"
Police were also quick to make an arrest for the shooting death of 44 year old Clinton Fraser, aka "Hog". He was killed in that same area on Sunday night - while his brother Michael Fraser was shot in the leg. Yesterday police charged 23 year old Henry Harris for the murder and he went to court today. He appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser where no plea was taken because the offence is indictable.
He was remanded until March 10. Notably, he was not charged for shooting Michael Fraser. That attempted murder charge is still pending.
The Making of a Belizean Terrorist?
Police sources have confirmed that a man identified as a terrorist who was killed in the Philippines is a Belizean. They say that the man identified as Sudanese/ Pakistani Abu Naila is actually Belizean Nadir Ali Ahmad. The name Abu Naila means "father of Naila" - which refers to his daughter, one of three children still living in Belize.
He and his Filipina wife identified only as Kadijah were killed 17 days ago in southern Phillipines when police there were hunting down a terrorist group known as "Ansarul Khilafa Philippines".
Filipino police said that Abu Naila and the female - believed to be his common law wife - Kadija resisted arrest by attempting to lob a grenade against the arresting officers. The police responded by opening fire, killing the two.
Abu Naila is described in newspaper reports from the Phillipines as the right hand man of Maguid, who established the Ansar Al-Khilafa terrorist group in 2013. Filipino police say he was training there to be later deployed to Syria as part of the Islamic State forces. They found a number of explosives at his camp and describe him as a bomb expert.
GSU Made A Big Weed Bust
The GSU came up with a major weed bust yesterday when they searched Elsworth Morter's home on Lavender Street in Belize City.
First, they searched Morter and found a one and a half ounce bag of cannabis. Then they searched the house and found another 1 and a half ounce bag of weed behind a TV. They then checked inside two cardboard boxes where they found the main stash: 54 more parcels of cannabis, which together weighed just under 30 pounds.
Morter was arrested today and charged for one count of possession of controlled drugs for the bag found on him. He, along with Jose Zelaya, Joseph Lopez, Tyron Macfoy, Shenique Perez, Keara Hemsley, Eugene Macfoy and Vivian Fuller, who were all present when GSU searched the house, were charged with possession for the bag of cannabis found behind the TV. They were all also charged with possession of controlled drugs with the intent to supply another for the 54 parcels found in the home.
San Pedro Police And The Pusher
San Pedro police also caught an alleged weed wholesaler today. Emmett Lopez was arrested after police found six ounces of marijuana. It was parceled off into dozens of bags for retail sale. Lopez was charged for Drug trafficking and is being held pending arraignment.
Chamber of Commerce Tries To Spur Productivity
Today the Belize Chamber of Commerce hosted a workshop aimed to improve productivity in small and micro enterprises. The event was held so that stakeholders in the private sectors could learn and discuss methods for making the workplaces more productive. We spoke to the Chamber's Vice President of Commerce, Rufino Lin, and Vanessa Phala from the International Labor Organization about the event...
Rufino Lin, Vice President of Commerce - BCCI:
"Productivity is all around us. Anybody who owns a vehicle will measure how many mile they get per gallon. That is a level of productivity. The engagement today is productivity in the workplace. How do we improve our outputs from the inputs that we put into any business enterprise? Today's workshop is to bring together a wide sector of employers and representatives of the labor union to be able to work together and engage in that public discussion of improving productivity in the workplace."
"I am sure that we will focus on the types of inputs that we have; we have in the generation of goods and services; we have inputs of labor; we have capital; we have also materials that we use to produce goods. So the discussion will be on how can we make more efficient use of those inputs to produce goods and services in the economy."
Chamber To GOB: We Need To Talk
Earlier this month, the US Supreme Court ruled that the government had to cough up 50 million US dollars in arbitral award payments to Ashcroft Allied companies. But the Prime Minister has said that the government will not pay the awards for, quote, "PUP Corruption" and because the Caribbean court of Justice has ruled otherwise.
Well, the Chamber of commerce definitely wants to talk to government about that, and a host of other issues - mainly, taxes - and what new ones will be coming in the next budget. President, Nikita Usher told the media that a meeting is planned for next week...
Nikita Usher, President - BCCI:
"We are addressing that issue. We have a meeting next week after which we will be coming out with our statement. But also I think you should be wondering what is going to happen about the next budget presentation and BCCI is more concern about the budget presentation than so much as the comment that was made."
BelAm Mother Wants Cops To find The Person Who Beat Her Son Into A Coma
Tonight, one of the sons of Belizean American Cynthia Genaro is hospitalized at the KHMH, where he has been for approximately 2 weeks now.
Genaro, who tells us that she rarely travels to Belize, is here on a visit along with her son who travels back and forth from the US. She has another son who lives here, and is appears that he took his younger brother on a night out in Orange Walk Town. That was January 7th, and reports say that while they were exiting a popular night club in that Town, they were jumped and savagely beaten by 8 men believed to be part of an Orange Walk gang.
The eldest brother got the worst of it, and he has been hospitalized ever since. His younger brother, who recovered, has since reported the entire incident to the Orange Walk police. But, the cops are not moving with the type of pace that the family is happy with, and today, Cynthia Genaro granted an interview to our colleagues from CTV3 News. Here's how she explained the family's complaint:
Kadeem Back Behind Bars
Kadeem Anderson was remanded for murder when he was just 16 - and he got off three years later in 2015. He spent all that time in remand, and he is back in jail tonight after he was charged with firearm possession.
Yesterday afternoon police intercepted Kadeem Anderson riding his bike on Curassow Street. When he saw the police, Anderson hopped off the bike and dashed into a nearby yard, where he threw an object over the fence. The police apprehended Anderson as he was escaping, and took him to the area the object was thrown. There they found a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver with six live rounds of ammo. Anderson has been remanded for keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license.
Gillings On A Mission To Popularize Rugby In Belize
Rugby is not a sport most Belizeans are familiar with. The full contact sport - which is popular in countries like Australia and New Zealand, often likened to American football without body armor, and is praised for its emphasis on teamwork and rugged athleticism. For the last two years, Tony Gillings has been trying to teach the sport to young Belizeans. We spoke to Gillings, who is the President of Rugby Belize, about how and why he wants to develop the sport in Belize...
Rugby Belize will be holding it's second annual three day youth camp in March.
New Israeli Ambassador Takes Tough Questions
As we showed you yesterday, Israel's new Ambassador to Belize, Jonathan Peled was accredited in Belmopan. And, as is the custom with visiting Israeli Ambassadors, he requested an interview with the media today to discuss Israel's relationship with Belize. Now, if you follow world news, you'll know that Israel is one of the most polarizing nations in the international community - and that's because of the hostile relations the Jewish country has with its Arab neighbor, Palestine. Israel's violations of international law in occupying Palestinian territory are well documented, and, just last month, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank. Now, with that kind of history, what could Israel have in common with Belize, which is also fending off its neighbor Guatemala? That's what we asked today:...
H. E. Jonathan Peled - Israeli Ambassador:
"We are here, not only to present my credentials, but to seek ways to foster our relationship and deepen the cooperation between our two countries."
Shady Smokes Busted In a Bus
Customs in the Orange Walk District caught a stash of contraband cigarettes on a BBOC bus last night. The 40 cartons are all Chinese off-brands, such as Hill and Sonny - and they were intended to arrive in Belize City where the cheap smokes are sold for a massive profit. They are believed to have originated from the Corozal Free Zone. Another 15 cartons were intercepted last week.
Lindo's Alley, The Hotbed
Earlier in the news, we told you about last night's shooting in the Lindo's Alley area, which led to 19 year-old Keimar Nicholas being hospitalized at the KHMH tonight.
Police have been very active in the area, and we showed you how they found a gun and marijuana there this evening. Well, the police are reporting tonight the cops have found another gun and more marijuana.
The cops say that a few minutes ago a joint GSU/Strike Team conduct search on most of the abandon lots in the Conchshell Bay Area and this is our result. A .22 Pistol load with 1 live round aloung with about 1/2 lbs of Cannabis.