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The San Pedro Sun
Christian Espat charged for August 12th San Pedrito shooting
Police have officially arrested and charged 21-year-old Christian Espat for the August 12th shooting incident in the San Pedrito Area. Espat, a fisherman of the same area, is being charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of dangerous harm, and three counts of use of deadly means of harm. Espat has been transported to Belize City, where he will be arraigned at the city's Magistrate Court.
Police had initially detained two persons in connection with the shooting incident. According to the official report, Police visited the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, where they saw three male persons suffering from gunshot wounds. The persons were identified as one 9 year old student of San Pedrito area, who received a gunshot wound to his left wrist, one 12- year- old student who received a gunshot wound to his right buttock, and Lloyd Tyndall, 27 years old, a farmer of Dump area, Toledo, who received three gunshot wounds to the left side of his abdomen and three gunshot wounds to his left leg.
San Pedro Pirates make their debut in the Premier League of Belize
The newly formed San Pedro Pirates Football Club made its debut in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) on Saturday, August 12th, playing against current champions, the Belmopan Bandits. The game took place at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belmopan City, and the island boys fell short to the home team in a tight 2-0 match. The game opened the new PLB season, which will see semi-professional football teams from across Belize competing for the 2017-2018 League title.
Shyne Barrow resigns from BSCAP; Business owners unhappy with proposed copyright music policy
Belize's Music Ambassador, Jamal 'Shyne' Barrow has resigned as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Belize Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (BSCAP). The announcement was revealed through a leaked letter to the media on Thursday, August 10th, responding to former CEO, Heather Cunningham's claims that the organization owes her over half a million dollars. The leaked letter says that [Barrow] cannot support an organization that will take away from the artists, particularly for administrative costs.
Ambergris Today
SPHS Class Of 1977 Reunion
WOW! Former Principal of San Pedro High School, Mr. Angel Nu�ez, says he fondly remembers his early years at San Pedro High School like if it were yesterday. This weekend he joined part of the alumni of the second gradating class of SPHS. Celebrating 40 years as San Pedro High Graduates included Celi Jean, Ema Varela, Rosela Guerrero, Cris Nu�ez, Gach Guerrero and Luis Nu�ez. (Missing from the pic are - Andy, Bob, Gil, Lupe and Mario - Mario passed away on June 13, 2017.)
BTL DigiNet Corporate Mixer Held In San Pedro
Faster Internet is coming to Belize and San Pedro, Ambergris Caye will be the first to access it. Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) held a DigiNet Corporate Mixer this past weekend, Friday, August 11, 2017 at the Rain Rooftop Terrace.
Special invitation was sent out to corporate businesses and key island personnel for the Telemedia company to discuss the fastest fiber based broadband service that will be available in the entire island of Ambergris Caye.
The mixer was a great opportunity for invited guests to network and also win great prizes. Lucky guests went home with DigiCell items, gift bags and even 4GLTE phones. DigiNet is arriving soon to Ambergris Caye; visit the BTL Branch Office in San Pedro to sign up for faster internet at lower prices! It's gonna be awesome!!!
La Isla Bonita Telenovela To Debut At Barbados Carifesta
Last week La Isla Bonita Telenovela of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, announced that its pilot episode has been selected to be part of the Carifesta, the annual Festival of Arts in Barbados. The cast and crew have expressed their delight to have such an opportunity to showcase the island talent at the festival.
CARIFESTA is the Caribbean festival of arts held every two years by CARICOM AND CARIFORUM countries to celebrate the best in Caribbean culture through music, literary arts, visual arts, theatre, dance and film. It has been a while since Belize has made its presence through film, until now.
Misc Belizean Sources
Downtown Rejuvenation Project at BCCI Expo 2017
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project will be at the BCCI Expo 2017 on Sept. 16th and 17th at Booth #59. Come and learn more about the progress of the Downtown Rejuvenation Project. We will have games and prizes for our visitors. All Children under seven years old get a free helium balloon while stocks last. See you there!
Handing over the Ambergris Stadium to the people of San Pedro Town
On August 8, 2017, the Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL) officially handed over the Ambergris Stadium to the people of San Pedro Town and Mayor Daniel Guerrero was present to accept the honor. Also present at the event was Councilor Hector Tito Alamilla Jr., Mr. Kevin Gonzalez and Mr. Billy Leslie whom attended the National Management Workshop, along with Mayor Guerrero, where they learnt the various guidelines on the proper management of the Ambergris Stadium, as they will serve as the management committee of the said stadium.
Corozal Heritage Plaza Public Consultation
If you consider yourself a proud Corozaleno, it's time you become involved in the planning of our town. Let's sit on the sidelines no more. Tag your Coro peeps and let your opinion count. Also share this invite with those that always complain how they are never informed about what's going on.
Belize Fishing Report, August 7th - August 13th 2017
Permit around in large numbers. Each of our permit anglers are getting multiple shots during the day and most have been successful landing the elusive permit. First time anglers are often the most successful. Funny how it works that way for the first time permit anglers!
Belize has been nominated for destination in the AFAR Travelers' Choice Awards! Vote for us now at http://AFAR.com/TravelersChoiceAwards � #AFARtravelerschoice
The rich #mangrove forests along the Haulover Creek are simply amazing
Mangroves protect our coastlines from storms, prevent erosion and provide habitat to hundreds of species of marine and land animals. Why wouldn't we protect them?
Belizean Patriot: Elfreda Standord Trapp Reyes
Elfreda Reyes (1901-1992) was a labor organizer, suffragette, women's rights activist and political activist during the British Honduran struggle for independence from Great Britain. She helped found the Jobless Workers Union and pushed for labor reforms, including wage and hour laws, as well as the Women's League, which fought for social, economic and political empowerment of women.
Benque Maya Site
On the outskirts of Benque Viejo Town is a small medium size Maya site that at one time served as the household of a rural elite family. Previous archaeological investigations of the settlement indicate that it was affiliated with the large ancient Maya city of Xunantunich.
Keep Cows And Save Jaguars
#KeepCowsAndSaveJaguars is the new campaign slogan for the human-jaguar conflict work here in southern Belize! At Ya'axch�'s summer camp, 30 children of the Maya Golden Landscape learned about the elusive jaguar, its prey and how livestock farmers are becoming more in conflict with this apex predator. They also learned how to use a camera trap which Human Jaguar Conflict Officer Marchilio Ack uses around cattle ranches to get a better picture of the problem.
Channel 7
San Pedro Shooter Hurt Two Kids
Police have charged a 21 year-old San Pedro resident for a weekend shooting on the island which left an adult in critical condition at the hospital, and 2 minors injured. He's this man, 21 year-old Christian Espat, a resident of the San Pedrito area, and reports to 7News are that he has caught the attention of police before.
It happened on Saturday night just after 9:00 in the San Pedrito area, which is also where the main suspect lives. 27 year-old Lloyd Tyndall, a resident of Toledo, was at the "Easy Does it A&A Wood Work Shop." Also with him in the yard at that time was a 9 year old boy and a 12 year-old boy. And that's when 2 gunmen, who were wearing rags covering their nose a mouth, ran into the yard and opened fire.
Two Men Killed In Hit And Run's On Phillip Goldson Highway
On Friday night's news we told you about the road safety project on the Western highway which brought down the accident rate significantly since 2013. In fact, from January to July 2017, there had only been one fatality between Belize City and Belmopan.
Well, tonight - just like that - the accident rate had trebled - and there are two more fatalities to report, right on the stretch of road between miles 38 and 44.
The first happened on Saturday morning at 1:00 am. That's when Oscar Cermenio was killed in a hit and run within Cotton Tree Village at mile 44. We spoke to the first responder to the accident who saw him lying in the road.
Man Dies Three Days After Hit And Run
And there was another hit and run but this time in the neighboring village of St. Matthews - just 6 miles away. It happened on Thursday night. Father of 11, Juan Chavin was riding home after he had been hanging out friends. But he was knocked down between miles 37 and 38 on the Western Highway. His son rushed over after he got the call, only to see his 57 year old father splayed on the road - gasping for air. The 57 year old lived for three days, but cumber to his injuries yesterday. We spoke to his son about this tragedy today.
Cops Catch Caribbean Tyres Safe-Cracker
Police have moved quickly to crack the case of a big money burglary - after a thief cracked the safe at Caribbean Tires in Spanish Lookout.
Sometime between 6:15 on Friday night and 7:15 on Saturday morning, a man wearing a cap pulled low over his face, wrenched off the door of the iron safe, and stole 20 thousand US dollars and five thousand Belize dollars.
But, by this evening, San Ignacio police had arrested the culprit and recovered the money. The San Ignacio Officer commanding told us more via phone a short while ago:..
Police About Turn, Prepare Arrest Warrant For Castro
Last week, we were closely following the case of 21 year-old Kevin Brown, the basketballer from Camalote Village. You'll remember him as the island visitor who was mobbed and beaten by a group more than 10 men on Sunday August 6, during the Costa Maya weekend.
In that fight, near the Banana Beach Resort, he suffered a massive blow to the head, and he's still recovering from that injury. Well, police say that he and other eyewitnesses have given statements naming his attackers, and it's a surprising turn of events.
ACP Pressed on Castro/Fitzroy Flip Flop
Assistant Commissioner Broaster also had to explain the police department's flip flopping on the status of Jafari Castro.
He answered a few pointed questions from the press on the Police Press Office's denial, and their change of position.
Here's the back and forth:
Isani Cayetano - Ch 5 News:
"Can you clarify for us what may have been a confusion in terms of, at least the Castro brother being named in the first instance, and then the police department having mentioned that this individual wasn't wanted for questioning at that time, or anything involving the incident. Now, you have since walked that back to issue a warrant for his arrest."
Police: PC Monima Tampered With Sample
And while that looks like a public fumble, the police also has few other embarrassments that they must manage. The latest happened in Corozal, where a police officer is being accused of tampering with evidence.
A police corporal reported to his bosses that at around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, he placed a urine sample he collected from a defendant in a special refrigerator at the Corozal Police Station's traffic office. This urine sample was supposed to have been used in the prosecution of an alcohol related offence.
Supt. Dinsdale On Leave
And while we had an opportunity, we asked Assistant Police Commissioner Williams about other cases involving police officers charged for improper behavior.
10 Days ago we told you how Superintendent Dinsdale Thompson was caught by customs in Arenal with contraband pharmaceuticals.
ACP Williams says that Thompson is on leave at this moment, and the Professional Standards Branch is attempting to compile a file which will be sent to the Security Services Commission. Here's what Assistant Commissioner Williams had to say about the procedure that will be followed for Thompson's case:
Delays In Chunox Excessive Force Investigation
So, while his office is directly in charge of the Dinsdale Thompson investigation, he told us today, that the head of the National Crimes investigation Branch is in charge of the inquiry into the shooting in Chunox.
That's the one where Richard Allen Garcia, a resident of the village, was shot and killed by police in June.
The officers have reported to their bosses that he approached them with a machete, which forced them to defend their lives by using deadly force. The villagers have rejected that completely, but the cops are still not finished with their investigation into that shooting.
Three Teenagers Survive Scary Accident
3 teenagers are at the KHMH tonight fighting to stay alive after they were involved in a serious accident yesterday morning in San Ignacio. It happened at around 10:30. Justin James was driving his Toyota truck heading towards the Loma Luz Boulevard when his brother in law, Azel August came up behind him in his SUV and bumped the Toyota's rear end. August was trying to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle. Seeing the damage, it is something close to a miracle that everyone survived the impact. Courtney Weatherburne went to Cayo to find out more about this accident.
Albert James Sr., Father:
"I just hope and pray, hope, everybody hope and pray that he make it through."
And that's hope for his 19 year old son Justin James. He was in an accident near the Rene Montero Bridge on Sunday morning.
Former Alleged Murderer, Kendale Green Back Before Court
Today 24-year-old Kendale Green appeared in the Magistrate's Court, where he was charged with deadly use of harm and wounding. According to reports, Green shot one Margaret Ramirez on Thursday and was subsequently caught by police and arrested. Green appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser who explained that she would take no plea because his offense is indictable. She was likewise unable to offer Green bail because the offenses were committed with a firearm. Green was remanded into custody until October.
The Grabbed Kayja's Phone
Two more men appeared in court for criminal charges today. Joshua Augustine and Antoine Rivero were both charged with robbery by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. According to police, on Friday, Kayja Arnold was standing near the Princess Hotel and Casino talking on her cellphone when someone suddenly grabbed her by the neck. Arnold says another person then made a stabbing motion towards her. Fearing for her life, Arnold handed the phone over, but managed to flag down a police mobile patrol and report the incident not long after. The cops then tracked down and apprehended Augustine and Rivero.
Cops Shoot Alleged Rapist As He Rides Off
On Saturday a 19-year-old woman reported to police that some time around 4:30 that day, she caught a ride with a stranger on a motorcycle, heading from Hopkins to the Southern Highway junction. But driver didn't stop at the junction; he continued past Maya Center Village and eventually turned down a feeder road between Miles 18 and 19. After they stopped, the man allegedly forced himself upon the woman and raped her. She was eventually able to escape and ran onto the highway where a passerby gave her a ride to the Santa Cruz Police Station.
Police took the woman back to the scene where she was able to identify the alleged rapist by his tattoo. Police ordered the man to stop but he sped off, causing police to set chase. During the chase, the cops fired one shot hitting the motorcyclist on the left foot and disabling the motorcycle. The man was then taken back to the police station, where he was identified as 19-year-old Andy Pop and later transported to the Southern Regional Hospital.
PSU Pres Eldred Neal Re-Instated For a Week
He may only have a few more days left in the job - but Eldred Neal has been reinstated as president of the PSU. A release from the PSU says that at a Special Meeting on Saturday Neal apologized for, quote, "uttering those discriminatory words against the Garifuna people of this country and members of the council of management."
So, with that, the council of management agreed to lift his suspension, but on the condition that he does not char the union's Annual General Meeting which will be held this Saturday. A new president will be elected at that meeting.
More Gold Panners Caught
A joint patrol team in the Chiquibul has caught 6 more Guatemalan goals panners. They caught them on Saturday the 12th in the area of Ceibo Chico which is five miles within Belize in the southern Chiquibul.
The patrol team, comprising BDF and an FCD park ranger heard voices coming from a camp near the Ceibo Chico creek. They approached and saw four men digging inside a pit, while two others were carrying water in small containers. FCD says the water is used to sift out the earth coming out from the pit, as they separate the gold deposits. Two camps were equipped with clothes, food, machetes and a homemade shotgun.
Customs Caught Cervezas
And while those Guatemalans were looking for gold - in the north their gold is contraband. And in San Victor village on Saturday, Customs intercept 79 cases of it - in Corona And Superior Beers. This major contraband cargo was impounded at customs in Corozal.
Taiwan ambassador Rejects Jimmy Morales Boast About 650 Million USD Support Package
10 days ago, all the news was about the 650 million US dollar assistance program that Guatemala had gotten from Taiwan to build a road right up to the Atlantic coast. It was announced by president Jimmy Morales who was reported as saying, quote, "By the grace of God, in a few months, if God helps us, we will officially offer, no longer a highway to the Atlantic but a 4-lane freeway to Puerto Barrios, before 2020".
Well, God may help, but the Taiwanese say they aren't - because the kind of assistance exceeds their foreign affairs budget. Here's how the Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize put it today:
Taiwan Helps Corozal Community
We caught the Ambassador at the Corozal Community Hospital where Taiwan, donated about $222,000 US to the Ministry of Health in Corozal. The donation will be used to provide funding to the Ministry's Renal Failure Prevention Project, which has so far trained 137 medical workers in dialysis treatment. This morning Minister of Health Pablo Marin and the Taiwanese Ambassador spoke on the importance of the project..
Some of the money will be used to facilitate a national survey to identify Belizeans at risk of chronic kidney disease.
PG Cops In Crosshairs
So, early in the news, we told you about a number of the recent cases that have landed on the desk of Assistant Police Commissioner Chester Williams. He's no longer in charge of the challenging Belize City Eastern Division South jurisdiction, but make no mistake, he has no shortage of work at this time.
On Friday's newscast, we told you about the extortion case from PG where two officers were accused of shaking down a principal for $400. That happened on Tuesday, after they found that her vehicle's insurance expired. ACP Williams told us why they've acted swiftly to charge 2 of their own:
PC Franklin Ramirez Has Troubles Ahead
In our last story from today's press conference with the head of the Professional Standards Branch, he told us that Police Constable Franklin Ramirez will be facing disciplinary charges, as well as the firearms offenses he's now charged with.
He's the officer who was busted by the Mobile Interdiction Team while he was driving a vehicle which was carrying a gun hidden in a secret compartment under the dashboard. It is believed that he and his 3 passengers were bringing the weapon from across the Guatemalan border.
Assistant Police Commissioner Williams told us that he is overseeing the internal investigation being conducted by the MIT:
A Class For Massage
Today BELTRAIDE and the Belize Spa and Wellness Association launched it first ever "Maya Spa Experience Brand Competition". The event is designed to have a certified massage therapist along with three other collaborators, develop an authentic and easily identifiable Maya Spa experience. Twelve teams have signed up to be judged by a panel of experts in both the spa and beauty industry, as well as Maya culture. We spoke to the organizers and some of the judges about the competition so far...
The overall goal of the competition is to develop a signature Belize massage.
Saldivar's Slate Prevails, Easily
And finally tonight we have the results of the UDP's municipal convention in Belmopan. The bottom line on this one is that the slate of 6 put together by area representative John Saldivar was elected - meaning that the only person left off the slate, Anna Banner Guy was the only one not elected.
She got 512 votes, about two hundred too few to get elected. The UDP's returning Mayoral candidate says he's happy with the slate of three new comers and three of his current councillors:
There was a total of of 1,067 votes cast. The PUP also had a municipal convention on Sunday - but theirs was in San Ignacio/Santa Elena. A total of 846 ballots were cast in a convention for a mayoral candidate. Former councillor Marconi Matus won with 345 votes.
Channel 5
Police "Officially" Confirm Suspects in Kevin Brown Beating, including Jafari Castro
After a week of much hesitancy and serious backpedaling, the Belize Police Department has finally confirmed the names of three men, including Jafari Castro, who are wanted for the vicious [...]
ACP Broaster Denies Any Political Interference in Case
So with all the confusion surrounding the whodunit mystery, is the department attempting to protect Jafari Castro and his alleged accomplices?� According to ACP Broaster, there hasn't been any political [...]
Cop Charged for Unlawfully Removing Urine Sample
This morning, Police Constable Ismael Monima was taken before the Corozal Magistrate's Court for tampering with evidence. The junior officer is being accused of perverting the course of justice after [...]
Chester Williams Says No Mercy for Cops Accused of Wrongdoing
On Friday, Monima was charged with Perverting the Course of Justice and was held in lockdown until today when he was arraigned. Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that [...]
Superintendent Dinsdale Thompson to Face Security Services Commission over Drugs
Superintendent Dinsdale Thompson is on personal leave from his desk at the Queen Street Precinct, amid an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Professional Standards Branch.� A probe into the [...]
Police Nab Suspect, Cash in Caribbean Tire Robbery
Some twenty thousand U.S. dollars in cash, five thousand dollars in checks and an undisclosed amount of Belizean currency were stolen over the weekend from the Caribbean Tires office in [...]
2 Primary School Students and 1 Adult Injured in Shooting on Ambergris Caye
There's more crime to report�a trio, including two minors, escaped grave injuries on Saturday night when a pair of gunmen opened fire on them at a woodwork shop in San [...]
Anna Banner Guy is Odd Woman Out in Belmopan
This weekend, there was political activity in two major western municipalities. The incumbent United Democratic Party sought to fill six councilor seats from seven participants in Belmopan, joining an incumbent [...]
P.U.P. Returns Marconi Matus in Twin Towns
In San Ignacio/Santa Elena, the People's United Party gathered at Sacred Heart College. �Former mayor Marconi Matus defeated rivals Javier "Colonel" Castellanos and Arthur Smith to head up the team. [...]
Corozal's Marin Backs Richard Quan to Replace Hilberto Campos
Last week we told you that Mayor Hilberto Campos of Corozal Town will not be seeking reelection in the upcoming Municipal Elections 2018 and already two U.D.P. hopefuls have put [...]
N.G.O.s Say No Excuses For Re-Registration
The Belize Network of Non-Governmental Organizations has joined the call for re-registration even though it has been put off to next year. In a press release, the organization says the [...]
P.S.U. Re-Instates Apologetic Eldred Neal
An official mediation between members of the Council of Management of the Public Service Union and its president, Eldred Neal, took place on Saturday in Belmopan. An official statement from [...]
Belmopan Mayor: We Didn't Get Request to Save School Land
On Friday, we showed documents detailing the transfer of just over an acre of land in the Las Flores area to a resident by the Belmopan City Council. Amy Anabella [...]
Cop Catches Rapist in Maya Center
While the police department is reeling from a string of infractions conducted by its own, one officer is being commended tonight for apprehending an alleged rapist over the weekend.� The [...]
6 Guats Caught Going for Chiquibul Gold
Friends for Conservation and Development have reported the detention of six Guatemalan gold panners over the weekend in the area of the Ceibo Chico creek in the southern Chiquibul National [...]
Man Charged for Antelope Street Shooting
Twenty-four-year-old Kendall Green is back behind bars tonight following a shooting incident last week. This morning, Green who is no stranger to the police or to the court was arraigned [...]
2 Shooting Incidents in Jane Usher Area; 1 Injured
There were two separate shooting incidents in Belize City on Friday night. Teenager Alden Lara was on Levi Slusher Street in the Jane Usher Boulevard area when he was shot [...]
Have You Seen Missing Helen Adolphus?
A teenage girl from the west is missing and police and the family needs help in locating Helen Adolphus. The fifteen-year-old ran away last Tuesday from the area of the [...]
Taiwan Helps Health Ministry Tackle Kidney Disease
The government of Taiwan stepped up to the plate today with a generous donation of cash and equipment. This gift will be used to assist the Ministry of Health in [...]
The Highlights on Sports Monday
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of weekend sporting activities....]
CTV3
Taiwan Ambassador Sets The Record Straight On Funding For Guatemala
Last week Taiwan's Ambassador to Belize H.E. Charles Liu addressed the controversy triggered by reports from the press in Guatemala that the Taiwan Government had offered their Government up to $680 million in support during a visit by Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lee.
The controversy is that Lee had been in Belize just day's prior and had presented a $60 million financial assistance package to Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Ambassador Liu told the media that the amount didn't sound right and that he didn't believe the reports, but would look into it. Today, Ambassador Liu was in Corozal handing over some much needed equipment to the Corozal Hospital which we will tell you about in a few. But first here is what he told us when we took the opportunity to ask him what's up with the reported big love for Guatemala, and he confirmed what he already suspected.
PSU President Reinstated Under Conditions
On Saturday a special meeting was held at the Public Service Union headquarters in Belize City with the aim of seeking a resolution to the recent contentions within the union as it relates to the suspension of President of the PSU, Eldred Neal.
As you may be well aware, Neal's suspension came about as a result of derogatory remarks made by him against the Garinagu community during a private conversation among himself, President of the Belize Water Service Workers Union, Lorelei Westby and General Secretary of Belize Energy Workers Union, Marvin Mora which was recorded without Neal's knowledge and later leaked to the media.
Sarteneja Resident Venture Into Food And Cosmetology Businesses
Back in January we had introduced the group of 30 men and women who were enrolled in a 6-month skills-based training course aimed at providing alternative opportunities to those in fishing communities in northern Belize that are most affected by climate change. The training was a project conducted by the Fisheries Department with support from the World Bank's Adaptation Fund under a project known as Marine Conservation and Climate Adaption Project. Having completed the course, this past Saturday August 12th the first graduating cohort of 29 men and women joined their families in special ceremonies held at ITVET Corozal.
Among the graduates, two students, Jose Alvarado and Deidy Munoz, both of Sarteneja Village, were recognised as the top achievers in the Food Preparation and Cosmetology courses.
Following the ceremonies, we got feedback of the initiative from graduate Jose Alvarado.
Minister of Health Pick Sides In UDP Convention
As we have previously reported, the United Democratic Party will be holding a convention to choose a Mayoral and Councillor Candidates to contest the upcoming Municipal elections this weekend. The two individuals vying for the post are Richard Quan and Rafael Castillo. Quan is currently an employee managing the Traffic Department, and Castillo is a former Deputy Mayor and current Councillor under the Hilberto Campos-led Town Council. There have been rumours that Quan enjoys major support in the UDP, including the support of UDP Area Rep Pablo Marin. Well, today the Minister of Health wasn't shy about confirming those reports and even explained why in Sunday's race Quan will have his full support.
Guatemalans Detained For Panning For Gold In Belizean Territory
Over the weekend, a patrol unit consisting of BDF soldiers and an FCD Ranger managed to detain six Guatemalan nationals who were panning for gold in Belizean territory near Ceibo Chico, Southern Chiquibul. Official reports indicate that on Saturday sometime around 3:00 p.m., the patrol unit detected the sound of voices which came from a camp located near the Ceibo Chico Creek.
Upon approaching the said area, authorities observed four male individuals excavating inside a pit while the other two men were carrying water in small containers which is used to sieve the soil coming out from the pit, separating it from the gold deposits. A total of two camps were located which contained clothing, food items, machetes as well as a homemade shotgun which was hidden under the clothes.
The Reporter
Accident leaves three injured
A traffic accident on Sunday morning has left three persons injured.
The incident happened at around 10:30 when Azel August, 19, of Santa Elena town was driving a Pontiac SUV on the Loma Luz Boulevard in the direction from Hon Rene Montero Bridge towards the La Loma Luz round-about, when he collided into the rear end of a Toyota pickup travelling in the same direction.
As a result, Justin James, 19, who was driving the pickup, as well as Thais Escober, 18, suffered severe head injuries and were taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Woman raped; suspect caught
A woman was reportedly raped on Saturday in the Stann Creek district.
Maria Teul, 19, reported to police that sometime around 4:30 p.m., she got a ride on a motorcycle with a man she did not know. She said the lift was supposed to from Hopkins village to the junction of the Southern Highway, but when they reached the junction, the man did not stop, and proceeded past Maya Center village to a feeder road between miles 18 and 19 and raped her. She said that she saw a tattoo marked "Rosita" on the man before she managed to escape and run to the highway, where a passerby helped her to the Santa Cruz police station.
Shooting leaves three injured
Three persons are recovering from gunshot injuries they suffered in San Pedro on Saturday night.
Police say that shortly after 9:00 p.m., they learned of a shooting and went to the San Pedro poly clinic where they saw Jaheem Martinez, 9, with a gunshot wound to his left wrist, Armando Bernardino Hernandez Jr., 12, with a bullet wound to the right side of his buttocks, and Lloyd Tyndall, 27, a farmer of Dump area, Toledo with gunshot wounds to the left side of his abdomen and left leg.
Breaking Belize News
Police recover money stolen from Caribbean Tires; employee detained
BBN reported on Sunday that Caribbean Tires in Spanish Lookout was robbed of over $50,000.
David Remier, 54, reported that between the hours of 6:15 pm on Friday, August 11, 2017, and 7 am on August 12, 2017, someone broke into the business establishment and damaged an iron safe by wrenching off the iron safe door located in a room at the lower flat of the building.
Belize Network of NGOs call for Re registration before Municipal elections
The Belize Network of NGOs (BNN) today issued a statement expressing its grave disappointment that the national re-registration exercise that was to have been initiated in July 2017 has been postponed to next year.
According to the BNN, given the impending national referendum regarding taking the Guatemalan claim to the International Court of Justice, the urgency of compiling a legitimate voters list is stronger than ever.
Belize financial regulator warns of bogus securities company
The International Financial Services Commission (IFSC), Belize's financial regulator, has issued a warning regarding Trine Markets Group Ltd.
According to the IFSC, it has noted that Trine, which operates under the trading name TRINEMARKETS, is falsely claiming to be 'controlled' by the IFSC.
PUP introduces San Ignacio/Santa Elena Municipal Slate
The People's United Party (PUP) held a convention on Sunday, August 13, 2017 in San Ignacio to elect its Mayoral Candidate that will represent the Party in the March 2018 Municipal Elections.
According to the PUP, the venue for the convention was Sacred Heart College and three Mayoral Candidates vying for the title were: Javier Castellanos, Marconi Matus and Arthur Smith.
Belize to get big bucks from IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is set to provide close to US$800,000 in technical cooperation grants of US$400,000 each for Development and Integration Development for Mesoamerican Project member nations.
Belize is a member nation which stands to benefit along with Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic.
Vehicle claims life of man on bicycle
A fatal road traffic accident in the Cayo District has claimed the life of one man.
According to police reports, just before 11 p.m. on Thursday night police visited mile 37 on the George Price Highway where they saw 57-year-old Juan Eulalio Chavin Vitzil of St. Matthew's Village on the road side motionless.
He was observed with injuries to the head and body.
Unitedville teen goes missing (again)
A minor from Unitedville in the Cayo District has gone missing without a trace since Saturday. However, it is not the first time she has done so. According to police reports, Radiance Gillett, 52, a missionary of Unitedville told police that , sometime between [�]
Bull valued at close to $12,000 stolen from farm
A businessman of August Pine Ridge Village in Orange Walk District is in a state of distress after his American Brahma Bull valued at $11,700.00 was stolen from his farm situated one mile north of August Pine Ridge Village. According to police reports, Felipe [�]
Corozal police find homemade gun
On Saturday night police in Corozal town took a homemade gun off the streets and out of the hands of criminal elements At around 10:30 p.m. Corozal police visited an empty overgrown lot on 2nd Street North, Corozal Town. A search of the lot led [�]
Dangriga man busted with weed in Belize City
At around 4:30 pm yesterday, police were on patrol in the area of West Collet Canal in Belize City conducting stop and search operations. Police reportedly stopped and searched Carlos Roland Coronado, 28, who is from Dangriga town. The searched led to the discovery of [�]
Moist conditions to continue
The 24-hour forecast is for moist and unstable conditions to continue with a few showers and some isolated thunderstorms. The wind will blow from the east to southeast at 10-20 knots. The sea state will be choppy to moderate. High temperatures are expected as [�]
Blogs
The Phoenix Hotel is giving back to the community
"The resort has been awarded recognition for its continuous community efforts and fundraising for various causes such as Oceania and hosts popular weekly beach cleanups to help keep Belize beautiful."
When history, modern sophistication, Caribbean beaches, and a free happy hour come together in one place, we need little convincing to visit. Then you throw in The Phoenix resort's prime location, pristine property, and "give where you live" philosophy, and we're ready to relocate to the charming town of San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye in Belize.
The upscale resort sits where the historic Paradise Resort Hotel, Ambergris Caye's second ever hotel, was originally built in 1970. Owners Jerry and Linda McDermott sold the property in 1991 before repurchasing in 2004. Today, the McDermotts' daughter Kelly McDermott Kanabar, her husband Mukul Kanabar, and their business partner Mark Maggiotto have started from the ground up, turning the ever-favored thatched cabanas and beachfront bars into a high-end destination.
International Sources
Why These Mexican Writers Are Ditching Spanish for Ancient Languages
It was standing room only in the Los Angeles Central Library last July. The crowd of some 300 ranged from multigenerational Mexican immigrant families to young Californians of indigenous Mexican extraction to academics, some of whom had traveled across the country for the event. The participants enjoyed readings of poetry and short stories and a rap performance by Pat Boy. And yet none of the material was in Spanish - it was in Zapotec, Tzotzil, Mayan and other languages spoken long before Europeans washed up on the shores of what is now Mexico.
Octavio Paz, Juan Rulfo, Rosario Castellanos, Carlos Fuentes � Mexico's Spanish-language literature is one of the richest in Latin America. But for hundreds of years, the literature written in languages that existed before European colonization were all but silenced on the global scene - even though they were well-recognized by many Mexicans. Now, interest in this writing is surging worldwide. And it has its own rich history: In some traditions of pre-Columbian Mexico, when an estimated 130 languages were spoken, books were bound in deerskin, students were obliged to memorize poems and songs, and a misused or forgotten word was considered a cause of illness or death.
Uptick in Atlantic tropical systems may continue as new features bear watching
In the wake of Gert, a large batch of thunderstorms over the central Atlantic Ocean has the potential to spawn a tropical depression and storm this week.
Gert will turn away from North America but has become the second hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic season.
Thousands of miles farther to the southeast, a plume of moisture continues to grow westward from Africa to the south-central Atlantic.
Interests from the northern islands of the Caribbean to the Bahamas and coastal areas in the southeastern and south-central United States may want to monitor the progress of this area of disturbed weather.
Most of the inhibitive dust, dry air and strong westerly winds aloft may remain north of the path of the area of concern through this week. The lead system may pave the way for others in the train.
Young boy allegedly abducted by mother three years ago back in Canada
Police in southern Alberta say a young boy allegedly abducted by his mother and taken out of the country three years ago is back in Canada.
A brief statement from Lethbridge police says the four-year-old boy returned on Saturday and is in the care of his father, who has sole custody of the child.
The family is requesting privacy and no further details are being released.
Last week, police said the boy's 33-year-old mother had been arrested in Belize.
October 2017 - Trade Mission To Belize
Tri-County Regional Black Chamber of Commerce (TCRBCC) will host its fourth quarter International Business Development and Investment Opportunity Trade Mission in Belize for October 10-14, 2017 and October 17-21, 2017. TCRBCC's third quarter trade mission to Belize, July 18-22, 2017, resulted in the formulation of TCRBCC's International Strategic Plan designed to create an advantage for small business owners seeking small to medium sizable investments in Belize to achieve international entrepreneurial success.
New Data Reinforces Link Between Guns, Violence in Latin America
New US government data tracking the international flow of firearms provides additional evidence that guns remain a driving force behind high levels of violence and insecurity in Latin America.
The National Tracing Center (NTC) of the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) released new firearms trace data on August 8. The data covered the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean; Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama in Central America; and also Mexico.
For each region, pistols were the most common type of firearm that authorities traced. Of 2,340 firearms traced in the Caribbean, almost two-thirds were pistols. In Central America and Mexico, that figure was more than 50 percent.
Archaeologists Have Uncovered One of The Biggest Maya Tombs Ever
An international team of archaeologists working in Belize has uncovered one of the biggest royal Maya tombs ever, containing a male corpse, animal bones, obsidian blades, and hieroglyphic panels that offer new insights into the legendary 'snake dynasty'.
The team uncovered the tomb in Xunantunich, an ancient city in Western Belize that once served as a ceremonial centre for the Maya, under the stairway of a temple.
"In other words, it appears that the temple was purposely erected for the primary purpose of enclosing the tomb," team leader Jaime Awe from Northern Arizona University told Alan Yuhas from The Guardian. "Except for a very few rare cases, this is not very typical in ancient Maya architecture."
