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Posted By: Marty Today's Belize News: August 30, 2018 - 08/30/18 11:56 AM


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The San Pedro Sun

Island resorts test alternatives to tackling the Sargassum epidemic
The business community on Ambergris Caye, particularly those by the beach, is being inundated day after day with large swaths of Sargassum that choke the shores of the island. Several businesses have hired additional staff to keep their areas clean with little success. The unusual bloom of seaweed has thus forced businesses to explore other alternatives to tackle the problem. Some beach resorts have constructed test barriers made of PVC pipes to prevent the floating seaweed from reaching their beaches. Ramon's Village has been experimenting for the past four weeks, with positive results. Manager Einer Gomez says the barriers seem to be working as expected, and their beach looks much cleaner compared to a few weeks ago.

Belize hosts meeting of Directors of Cooperation of the Central American Integration System (SICA)
Belize, as Presidency Pro Tempore of SICA, hosted its first Meeting of Directors of Cooperation of the Central American Integration System (SICA) on 28th and 29th August 2018 in Belize City. Among matters discussed, the meeting received a report on regional cooperation for the first semester of 2018, which highlighted the trend of international cooperation within SICA. The report indicated that the largest donor in the region continues to be the European Union, along with Germany followed by the Republic of China (Taiwan). Other topics discussed were the Preliminary Coordination of the XVII SICA Taiwan Mixed Commission and the coordination of regional cooperation with SICA and other regional entities.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Businessman Charged For Discharging A Firearm In Public
San Pedro Police arrested and charged William James Mulligan, 40 year-old, businessman of San Pedro Town for discharging a firearm in public. Mulligan appeared before Magistrate Aretha Ford on Monday, August 27, 2018 where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was accused of discharging a firearm on the beach in San Pedro Town and because of the serious nature of the offence he was denied bail. Mulligan was remanded to Hattieville prison where he will remain until his next court date on October 31, 2018.

US Government Counter-Narcotics Equipment Donation To Belize Coast Guard
On Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at a ceremony held at the Belize Coast Guard Headquarters, the U.S. Government transferred counter-narcotics equipment to the Belize Coast Guard and counter-narcotics equipment and a secondary entry control point to the Belize Defense Force.

Two Oceana Employees Awarded International Scholarships
Oceana in Belize is proud to announce that two of its employees have been awarded academic scholarships to study natural resource management in the United Kingdom and the United States respectively. Jacinta Gomez, Outreach Program Director, has been awarded a Chevening Scholarship to pursue a Master's Degree in Environment and Development at the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom. Simultaneously, Belize District Field Representative Celeshia Guy will be studying towards a Master's Degree in Coastal Science and Policy at the University of California, Santa Cruz in the United States.

The Republic Of China (Taiwan) Donates To The Governor General's Music In The Schools Program
The Belize House announced on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, that the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Colville Young received a monetary donation for the Governor-General's Music in the Schools Programme to purchase a small consignment of musical instruments. His Excellency also received a donation of souvenir pins for use at his Annual State Reception in September. This generous donation was made by the Ambassador of Taiwan, His Excellency Mr. Charles Liu. In making his donation Ambassador Liu, pledged to continue to encourage and support musical programs in schools throughout Belize, and to renew his commitment to assist in developing and promoting the love of music and the practice of the arts.

Misc Belizean Sources

mzz

Launching of the Belize National Diabetes Self-Care Project
Health Educators received their laptops, projectors and blenders while community workers received electronic scales and will be receiving glucometer and Hp/Cardo kits along with measuring tapes to train and work with some 1,500 diabetics throughout the country of Belize. We are happy for the collaborative effort between the Belize Diabetes Association and Ministry of Health and want to say a special thank you to the World Diabetes Federation for funding this effort.

Banyan Bay's Farmer's Market
Be sure not to miss Banyan Bay's 1st ever Farmer's Market; this Saturday, September 1st. Vendors from across San Pedro will serve, sell, and display fresh food at the grounds of our Conference Center. It's Fresh, Fun & Local.

Help Jardehl Shine for Belize!
Hello! My name is Jardehl Muschamp. First let me tell you why I'm here, then I'll talk a little about myself. Bar�a Academy is a brand-new venture by FC Barcelona, one of the premier and most renowned soccer clubs in the world. It is the only U.S. Soccer Development Academy program in the United States with a full-time residential program, partnered with a top international professional team�it is the most ideal place for players to develop, both on the field and as a person among the most elite youth soccer players from the United States and around the world .

QUEEN OF THE BAY COROZAL 2018
We are surrounded by Beauty and Talent - Another wonderful and great event happening this weekend in Corozal. QUEEN OF THE BAY COROZAL 2018 - Saturday, September 1st starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Andres Campos Civic Center. Contact any Member of the Committee for tickets Amneris Casanova, Murray Nueli, Chan Ofier Casanova or any of the 5 Delegates. This a family affair you definetely don't want to miss.

Cayo BTIA September 2018 Meeting
The Cayo BTIA is having their September meeting next Thursday, September 6th, at the Cahal Pech Resort. Everyone is invited to bring their ideas for the upcoming West Fest.

Water interruption in Belize City, Ladyville on Thursday
Belize Water Services informs customers in parts of Belize City that there will be an interruption in the water supply tomorrow, Thursday, August 30, 2018, starting at 1:00pm. The areas to be affected are the East side of Central American Boulevard, from South Creek to Cesar Ridge Road and the West Side of Central American Boulevard, from Fabers Road to Cesar Ridge Road. Belize Water Services informs customers in parts of Ladyville that there will be an interruption in the water supply tomorrow, Thursday, August 30, 2018, starting at 1:00pm. The area to be affected is Lake Garden area.

Water interruption in San Pedro on Thursday
Belize Water Services informs its customers in San Pedro that there will be an interruption in the water supply tomorrow, Thursday, August 30, 2018, starting at 1:00am. The area to be affected is the San Mateo area. This interruption is necessary for the installation of a new water main. Due to the upgrade, customers may experience low water pressure and/or discoloration when water is restored. Residents of these areas in San Pedro are advised that water supply should return to normal by 6:00pm.

2018 Junior Ranger Summer Camp
The Chiquibul Junior Ranger Summer Camp has been launched with the participation of 12 children. This First camp is made possible with the support of the British High Commission Office in Belize and Belize Eco-Cultural Tours.

U.S. Embassy Online Auction
The U.S. Embassy Online Auction begins Tuesday, September 4! To view the lots, go to https://online-auction.state.gov/, scroll down the page and click on "Belmopan." Interested bidders must register on the website in order to place bids beginning Tuesday. Lots include three vehicles and a generator. Winning bidders must pay duty to the government of Belize before the Embassy will release the property to the buyer.

July 2018 External Trade & CPI, 2nd Quarter
Total domestic exports for July 2018 amounted to $32.4 million, up 14 percent or nearly $4 million when compared to exports for July 2017, which were valued at $28.4 million. Belize's total imports for the month of July 2018 were valued at $165.6 million. This was an increase of 7.5 percent or $11.5 million from July 2017, when imports totaled $154.1 million. The most recent results from the Statistical Institute of Belize's monthly survey on consumer prices show that as of July 2018 the All-Items Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 105.0, an increase of 0.5 percent from 104.4 in July 2017. The Statistical Institute of Belize's preliminary Gross Domestic Product estimates for the second quarter of 2018 showed that, during the three months from April to June of this year, the country's overall level of economic activity increased by 5.4 percent when compared to the same period in 2017.

ACES relocates croc in San Pedro
What a morning! We woke up to a call about a large croc hanging out in a small puddle in the middle of neighborhood. When we showed up on scene, sure enough there was a very large American Crocodile on the side of the road tucked in some trees, smack dab in the middle of San Pablo. This beautiful boy, measuring in at 11.5 feet, was full of energy and strength! He snapped 2 of our ropes before we were able get him controlled and safely secured! He was relocated by our rickety old golf cart to a location dense with mangrove and loads lagoon channels where he can live freely far from people.

Cuba and Belize Meet to Discuss Migration Flow
The first round of Cuba-Belize Migratory Talks finished today, August 29th, in Havana, Cuba. The two-day meeting was headed by Ambassador H.E. Ernesto Sober�n Guzm�n, Director of the Consular Affairs and Cuban Citizens Residing Abroad Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, and H.E. Patrick Andrews, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belize. During the sessions, both delegations evaluated the behavior of the migratory flow between Cuba and Belize, including the illicit implications associated with it. It was expressed by both countries that this type of meeting is important in order to strengthen bilateral relations, as well as to implement joint actions with the objective of increasing bilateral collaboration in migration matters.

CZMAI Training in Standardization of Methodology for Marine Litter sampling; A Citizen Scientist Approach
The Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMAI) and the Belize Water Services (BWS) have partnered to conduct a workshop on the methodology for marine litter studies in Belize. The workshop entitled "Standardization of Methodology for Marine Little Sampling: A Citizen Scientist Approach", was held on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 in the CZMAI Training Room in Belize City. The objectives of the workshop were to 1) have participants be able to identify and quantify marine litter according to standard international methodology and 2) prepare participants for the upcoming Scouts Association of Belize annual National Coastal and River-ways Cleanup. In total, sixteen (16) volunteers were trained from various organizations which included the Belize Police Department, Scouts Association of Belize, Oceana Belize and the Belize Water Services.

MINISTER OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HON EDMOND CASTRO THANKS NEMO PERSONNEL FOR QUICK RESPONSE TO TOLEDO FLOOD VICTIMS
Excess rainfall over the weekend led to flooding in Toledo, the Southern Highway at Jacintoville (8 miles outside Punta Gorda) being impassable for several hours. It also affected homes in Punta Gorda Town, specifically in Indianville, Hopeville and Magoon Area, as well as Jacintoville and Eldridgeville, some residents losing much of their personal belongings. NEMO personnel were on the ground immediately and have since distributed relief supplies to families affected. A total of 27 families have been assisted.

Ministry of National Security Addresses False Information on Social Media
The Belize Police Department is concerned about the slur of information posted on social media, purported to have been obtained by the police regarding the illegal landing of an aircraft in Belize. The Department has carefully examined the information and hereby refutes its accuracy. In March of last year, the Department confirmed the illegal crash landing of an aircraft in northern Belize. The aircraft was burnt immediately after landing, presumably by those involved in landing it. Shortly after landing, a team of National Security personnel arrived on the crash site and a search of the burnt remains revealed a notebook containing coordinates. Also found were other items believed to have been used to facilitate the illegal landing.

Meeting of Directors of Cooperation of the Central American Integration System (SICA)
Belize, as Presidency Pro Tempore of SICA, hosted its first Meeting of Directors of Cooperation of the Central American Integration System (SICA) on 28th and 29th August 2018 in Belize City. Among matters discussed, the meeting received a report on regional cooperation for the first semester of 2018, which highlighted the trend of international cooperation within SICA. The report indicated that the largest donor in the region continues to be the European Union, along with Germany followed by the Republic of China (Taiwan). Other topics discussed were the Preliminary Coordination of the XVII SICA Taiwan Mixed Commission and the coordination of regional cooperation with SICA and other regional entities.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DONATES VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT TO THE BELIZE COAST GUARD
The Belize Coast Guard today received equipment and assets from the Government of the United States of America valued at over US$612,000. The donation includes three small boats, a container of engine spares, boat parts and other mechanical support supplies. The donation was made possible through the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). This donation of equipment reinforces the US Governments continued commitment to the stability and security of Belize and Belize's essential role in the prosperity of the region and the Western Hemisphere as a whole.

National Flag Day in San Pedro
Come raise proudly our Belizean Flag as we welcome the month of September, the month of our Independence! This Saturday at 6:00 a.m. at the San Pedro Town Hall.

Miss San Pedro 2018 Pageant
Don't miss this grand event! We kick off our September Celebrations with the ever so glamorous, the Miss San Pedro 2018 Pageant, this Saturday, September 1st, at the Hon. Louis Sylvestre Sports Complex. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. SHARP! The gates open at 6:00 p.m. Live performances by Marlyn Vansen! Tickets are Reserved: $25, General:$15, Kids:$5 *Note that reserved tickets are still $25 for both adults and kids.

Meet the Queen of the Bay Delegates
Happening Thursday, August 30 at Jamrock Bar & Grill beggining at 7:00 p.m - Meet the Queen of the Bay Delegates.

Power outage scheduled for Sunday, September 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to affect a portion of Belize City
Entire Lake Independence area including Morning Glory Street, Mahogany Street between Central American Boulevard and Sittee Street, St. Jude Street, Hondo Street; Mopan Street, Nargusta Street, Sarstoon Street, Courtney's Crescent; Mahogany Street between Casuarina Street and Holy Emmanuel Street including Black Orchid Street, Jasmine Street, Periwinkle Street and Hibiscus Street; Marigold, Fern and Croton Lanes; Tibruce, Carnation, Heart, Scaber, and Venus Flytrap Streets; Partridge Street, Casuarina Street, Western and Electric Avenues; Violet, Police, Sunflower, Gordon, Canondate, Hyde, Raleigh, Jones, Diego, Balan and Riverside Streets; Mokay Boulevard, Complex Avenue; Cumberbatch, Gladden, Brown and Giles Streets; Lacroix Boulevard, Rootsville; Central American Boulevard, portion Cemetery Road, Daker Street, Coffin Street, Elston Kerr Street, Rosalie Street, Antelope Street Extension, Iguana Street Extension, Pelican Street Extension, Raccoon Street Extension, Sister Mary Benedict Street, Neal Pen Road Extension, Arlington Drive, Trinity Street, Unity Street, Louise Bevans Street, Freedom Street, South Creek Road, Ramsey Street, Muhammed Ali Street, Benbow Street, Rudan Street, Neal Pen Road, Haynes Street, Kraal Road, Supal Street, Boots Crescent, Monroe Street, Matura Street and Doris Brooks Street. This scheduled power outage is necessary for the Company to connect new high voltage power lines and relocate existing power lines.

National Coastal and Riverways Cleanup 2018
The National Coastal and Riverways Cleanup 2018 is only weeks away so mark your calendars and join us on September 29th as we celebrate 27 years of keeping our beaches and coastline plastic and litter free

Channel 7

Tension Mounts At NICH, More Leaks Than An Old Dorey
There was a tense air at NICH today after Cabinet dropped a bomb yesterday and approved the suspension of President Sapnah Budhrani - pending the outcome of an audit. And a review of that very same audit is what had all the NICH directors and senior staff in a meeting until 10:30 last night. President Budhrani led that meeting, going over the 57 page preliminary audit line by line and asking auditor Roberto Matus to justify certain conclusions. At the end of the meeting which ran for 13 hours - multiple sources tell us Budhrani cried - saying that she knows she is being set up and falsely discredited, and those behind it include board members and directors. Like we said, a very heavy meeting - and one where the internal Auditor was challenged on many of the conclusions in his report - which indicts Budhrani for quote, "improper financial management and apparent lack of concern to address irregularities."

Police Tighten The Northern Noose
Tonight, there is an unusual arrest to report in Orange Walk - where a mennonite from August Pine Ridge, was charged for having a .223 rifle being fitted with a scope. He is 24 year old Abram "Abe" FRIESEN and his rifle - which we are told looks something like this one we found on the internet - is licensed, but police say he put a scope on it without the authorization of the Commissioner. Now, that sounds like a pure technicality - and we'd venture to say that pretty much every mennonite in those rural areas has a similiar scope affixed to his rifle. But, police were intent on charging Friesen and we'll tell you why in a few. But, first to the details of the charge. At 9:30 yesterday morning, police went to FRIESEN's home at Camp 23 Shipyard where they found the rifle with the scope. He was detained along with a relative - who is a law enforcement officer - because he had some extended clips.

Kumar and Keyur Gone!?
In October of last year, we told you about Indian nationals Keyur Barot, and Jitendra Kumar who were suspects in a criminal complaint, but also claimed to be human trafficking victims. Their former employer Jack Charles accused Barot of collecting over sixty thousand dollars for him on September 13th., and then absconding across the Guatemalan border with his vehicle and his money and Kumar in tow. The pair were caught 10 days later in Monterey, Mexico, allegedly with 13 thousand US dollars. The SUV was found abandoned in Guatemala. Mexican authorities handed the pair over to Belize police on October first, but they claimed Charles was trafficking them - and thus went into protective custody. That's where they've been for almost a year - that is until yesterday when they were allegedly repatriated to India - starting out on a Copa flight to Panama. It's a surprise move because they were the subject of a heavy criminal investigation, and no one had ever been charged for trafficking them - so that was not established.

Off Duty Cop Springs Into Action Against Shooter With a .45
A man was shot in Belize City last night - and it led to a wild shootout. The victim is lucky to be alive, because the men who shot him used a very heavy caliber handgun, a prohibited .45 pistol. But the shooter is also lucky because an off duty police officer who was buying chicken nearby fired at the gunman. It all unfolded last night at around 9:45 at the corner of Johnson St and Cemetery Road. 30 year old Mathew Smith was buying chicken at a fast food stall when two men rode out from the Johnson street area - and one of them fired several shots at him. They were using a .45 pistol - so it was lethal firepower - but a police Corporal who was also buying fried chicken sprang into action. He pulled out his 9 millimeter pistol and fired several shots at the suspects. They ran off, while Smith was only injured to the arm. Police recovered seven .45 expended shells from the scene. Smith is in a stable condition at the KHMH.

Brodies Says Its Customers Are "Desperate" for Medicines
For the past two nights we've been reporting on a shipment of medicines that's stuck at customs. Tonight, Brodies, who imported the products from a supplier in Turkey, says it is quote, "faced with the sad realization of having to destroy ninety thousand dollars plus of high quality medications…" The company sent out a super-rare press release today saying it has been using the Turkish supplier for years, and the medications are from reputable companies like Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis, to name a few. But the labelling is in Turkish, and the new law states they must be labelled in English or Spanish. Brodies says it is willing to re-label the medicines in English or Spanish, but say the Minister is refusing to allow this.

SIB Says Second Quarter GDP Growth Was Strong
Belize's economy showed strong growth in the second quarter of 2018. That's according to the Statistical Institute of Belize which held its regular quarterly press conference today at the Central Bank. Here's more:... Angelita Campbell, Statistician II: "Contributing to this increase of 5.4%, we have the agriculture hunting and forestry contributing 1.4% to the overall 5.4%. We have electricity and water contributing 1% to this 5.4%, wholesale and retail trade contributing 0.7%, construction at 0.5% contribution and hotel and restaurants at 0.3% contribution." Last year's second quarter growth was less than 1%.

Electricity Production Was Way Up In Second Quarter
And a large part of that strong growth in this year's second quarter was the performance of the secondary and tertiary sectors, namely manufacturing and services. Here are some secondary sector highlights:.. Angelita Campbell, Statistician II: "The secondary industry, which accounts for almost 1/5 of Belize's total economy, increased by 13.4% or 12.4%. Within that sector we have the manufacturing and mining going down by 2.5% or $1.3 million. We have sugar production going up by 6.6%, we have beverages going up by 12.5%, we also have flour going up by 4%- and that is due to market demand.."

Exports Sagged, Imports Ballooned
And while GDP growth was up, the disparity between imports and exports continued to grow at an alarming rate. Put in most basic terms, form January to July of 2018, Belize imported 1.1 billion dollars in products and exports about a quarter of that. Here's a breakdown:... Tiffany Vasquez- Statistician II: "For the period January to July of 2018, Belize's imports were valued at $1.1 billion dollars. This was an increase of 3.9% or $40.4 million when compared to imports of January to July of 2017. It was observed that mineral fuels and lubricants, which accounted for 15% of total imports, was the primary contributor to the overall growth in imports, as that category rose by almost 23% or $29 million dollars. For the period January to July to 2018, Belize's total domestic exports were valued at $258.9 million. This was an overall decrease of 15% or $45.9 million when compared to exports of January to July of 2017..."

Prices Were Stable In July
Meanwhile prices were more or less stable, in July of 2018. This means that the average Belizean household experienced a 0.5 percent increase in the cost of regularly purchased goods and services when compared to the same month last year. What does that mean for your basic foodstuffs? Here's a breakdown:.. Jaqueline Sabal- Statistician II: "There were noticeable decreases observed in the average price of certain meat and fruits and vegetables. Namely the price per pound of ground beef decreased by 1.5%, the price per pound for pork chops decreased 3.3%, pig tail fell 3.1%, the steak fell 4.2% and sweet pepper fell 2.2%. However, these decreases were mostly offset by increased prices in various other food prices, namely, for example, a litre of natural milk increased 6.9%, for red kidney beans the price per pound increased by 11.7%, pineapple went up 22.4%, potato 12.1% and cabbage 7.2%."

Cost of Living Highest in OW, Lowest in 'Griga
So what does inflation mean in your neck of the woods? Well if you lived in Orange Walk, the cost of living was higher than if you lived in Dangriga. Here's a breakdown:... SIB Representative: "Orange Walk Town reported the highest positive increase in prices. Consumers in Orange Walk Town experience the highest increase in butane cost, along with higher food and fuel prices for the month on July 2017. While Dangriga reported the biggest decrease in prices reporting a -2.2% decrease for the month. This was as a result of consumers in Dangriga experiencing below average home rental cost and lower food cost."

Belize Inflation Lower Than Regional Average
A while the cost of living may be high no matter where you live, the index shows that the cost of living is stable. Which is more than can be said for our Caribbean and Central American neighbors. Here's the regional comparison:.. SIB Representative: "In comparison to other countries in the region, Belize's 0.5% increase sits as lowest inflation rate for the month of July 2018. Dominican Republic and Nicaragua reported the highest at 5.2%, with Mexico not far behind with 4.8% and then Jamaica at 3.2% increase." Again, that doesn't mean the cost of living is lower in Belize than in neighboring countries, simply that prices in our food basket, which may be comparatively high, are just more stable.

Re-Branding Galen
Apple, Coca Cola, Nike and McDonalds are just a few examples of trans national brands. Over the years, people have connected with these brands and that connection is only intensifying as these big corporations release new and improved products. Today at the Biltmore, a Las Vegas Brand Strategist Professor Bartolomeo Bialas gave a talk on strategic brand management and how Belizean businesses can work towards being successful like these big brands. Galen University along with Chamberlain Consulting partnered on this workshop and here is more. Sylvia Cattouse, Dean of Faculty of Business and Entrepreneurship, Galen: "We had the opportunity of having a visiting professor, professor Bialas who is a brand strategy expert. He offered, he was visiting Belize and probably vacationing I suspect and he offered us the opportunity to have a brand strategy workshop and we thought instead of just having it at the university for our students, this was the opportune time for Galen University to step up and offer this to the community."

Alleged Child Molester Gets Off
He was accused of sexually assaulting a 7 year old girl by fondling the child in her private parts, but, today, the charge against 60 year old Franz Hamilton was withdrawn in the # 2 Magistrate's Court. The reason? There were discrepancies in the evidence. But the case is a little more involved, because Hamilton's bail was revoked earlier this year when he was accused of threatening the child's mother. He was charged with attempted suppression of evidence. That charge was also withdrawn.

Cops Commended for Community Work
We know all about the officer of the month awards but today at Old Belize, the police held a big awards ceremony to recognize all the officers and partner agencies who have helped in community policing initiatives. Here is more from the ceremony.

Cops Teach Kids About Court
The courtroom is the last place anyone wants to end up but today it was transformed into a fun space for a group of kids. These kids were taken to court to learn about all that happens there. It is an initiative between police and the courts. We dropped by to find out about this experience. 25 kids participated. They got certificates and school bags and supplies after the day long event.

Data. Journalism. Training.
As news reporters, we cover a number of workshops. Well, today we participated in one at the BTEC training room. The main topic was data journalism. It is an important form of journalism that uses data and technological tools to produce more accurate and compelling stories. Presenters from Columbia and Peru gave presentations on this topic via web conference. Reporters from different media houses including Channel 7 attended. Here is more. Henry Wade, Local Coordinator, Trust for the Americas: "It is part of a series of trainings that we have provided to the civil society organizations, journalists, NGO's, members of the business community etc. Today's training is focusing on data journalism so we have international experts connected from various parts of the world online through a webinar format and they are sharing with us best practices, case studies that can be applied to the Belizean context."

What's In A Label?
And right across the room from the data journalism training, was a Beltraide workshop on proper labeling practices for small business owners. We dropped by to find out more about the importance of product labels. Nicole Zetina, Research and Analysis Officer, Beltraide: "So EXPORT Belize is a technical unit of Beltraide and to have clients send their products outside of Belize you need to have standards- labelling, packaging, you need to know your distribution channels so today we are talking about export labeling. The components of a label, the importance of a label, to ensure that your label is visible, is attractive."

BTL and UWI Give Real Meaning To Open Learning Concept
Registered students of the University of the West Indies can now access preferential rates from BTL whether mobile data or fixed internet. It's part of a progressive new deal signed today between the vice-chancellor of the UWI Open Campus and the CEO of BTL. We were at the signing of the MOU and here's what we learned about how the MOU gives real meaning to the concept of Open Learning:.. Dr. Luz Longsworth, Vice Chancellor - UWI Open Campus: "What it will do is to enable students who are studying online with the UWI Open Campus to access special rates for internet connectivity. It also will see a collaboration between Digi and the Open Campus in enabling students from other parts of Belize to access their facilities in different parts of Belize to access the internet if they don't have their own equipment or if they don't have internet connection at home. So what this means is opening up Belize a lot wider for studying with the Open Campus online."

US Cool With Coast Guard
They may have had a kerfuffle last year about the use of Coast Guard vessels as free rides for Minister John Saldivar's sports teams, but things seemed to have been ironed out between the US and the Ministry of National Security. That's because yesterday the US handed over a million Belize dollars' worth of equipment, including three small boats, a container of engine spares, boat parts and other mechanical support supplies. The vessels will facilitate operations within shallow waters frequented by smugglers.

Channel 5

What Will be the P.U.P.'s Vote for Friday's U.H.S. Bill?
In two days, parliamentarians will be asked whether or not the Government of Belize should use monies from the consolidated revenue fund to pay the ninety-plus million dollar Universal Health [...]

Revisiting the Postponement of the U.H.S. Debt Payment
In December 2017, on the heels of a final sitting of the House of Representatives for that year, Prime Minister Dean Barrow discussed the U.H.S. debt with the media.� At [...]

Minister of Culture Patrick Faber Refutes Allegations Made Against Sapna Budhrani
This Thursday, the Board of Directors of NICH will be breaking its silence on the conundrum President Sapna Budhrani finds herself in.� On Monday we revealed the results of an [...]

Ministry of National Security Responds to Social Media Posts on Suspected Drug Plane Landings
The Belize Police Department is tonight responding to social media posts made by a Facebook account under the name "Vincent Edwards." The sensational posts make reference to suspected drug plane [...]

Opposition Leader Criticizes G.O.B.'s Response to Suspected Drug Plane Landings
Opposition Leader John Brice�o today reacted to Government's position on what is calls 'false information on social media.' �Brice�o says that the government is not doing enough to address the [...]

Brodies Set to Lose $90,000 in Medication Due to Importation Regulation
As the issue over the importation of pharmaceuticals continues to unfold, Brodies and Company Limited, which has one of the biggest pharmacies, says that it stands to lose ninety thousand [...]

Machakil Ha Students Walk through Mud to Get to School
Machakil Ha is one of the most southernmost villages in the Toledo district and has a small population. The children from the village have to attend school at Corazon Creek [...]

Mathew Smith is Targeted While Buying Food Near Fibbers
Thirty-year-old Mathew Smith escaped grave injury on Tuesday night after being shot once in the upper right arm near the corners of Johnson Street and Cemetery Road.� The incident happened [...]

Reunited: Missing P.G. Boy Found
There is relief for the Jacobs family of Punta Gorda. That's because their son, Robert, who had been missing, has been located. On Tuesday, Robert and Alicia Jacobs made a [...]

B.T.L. to Purchase 2 Fire Trucks for San Pedro Town
Earlier in the month a massive fire in San Pedro Town destroyed ten houses and left eighty-seven persons homeless. The fire which occurred in the Boca Del Rio Area of [...]

G.D.P. Up 5.4 Percent
The Statistical Institute of Belize says that the Gross Domestic Product went up by five point four percent. It is a relatively big growth when compared to the second quarters [...]

Jack Charles Cries Foul as Alleged Vehicle Thieves are Flown Back to India
A pair of Indian nationals was flown back to their home country on Tuesday after spending almost a year in protective custody in Belize.� Twenty-four-year-old Keyur Barot and Jitendra Kumar [...]

Abram Friesen Charged for Tampering with a Firearm
Police report today that on Wednesday, a search was conducted at the house of twenty-four-year-old Abram Friesen of Camp twenty-four Shipyard. There, the officers found a semi-automatic assault-type rifle for [...]

The National Community Oriented Policing Award Ceremony
The strategy of community policing has been met with a level of success in keeping neighbourhoods safe across the country. The approach allows the police to interact and connect with [...]

Achieving Competitive Advantage through Brand Positioning
A brand management training entitled "Achieving Competitive Advantage through Brand Positioning" was held today at the Biltmore Plaza. It was organized by Chamberlain Consulting and Galen University and seeks to [...]

A Final Webinar Session with Journalists on Open Government Ecosystem in Belize
You were first introduced to the organization last week when it held one of a series of webinar sessions at the BTEC offices at the ITVET compound in Belize City, [...]

Teaching Children About the Judicial System
Twenty-four kids from ages eight to fifteen from region one received a tour of the court houses and participated in a mock trial today. The kids were in court, joined [...]

B.T.L. and UWI Sign M.O.U. that Benefits Students
The University of the West Indies, Open Campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Belize Telemedia Limited today. The M.O.U. establishes the terms of a joint initiative between the two [...]

Local Company Kicked Out by Venezuelan Company to do DigiNet Works?
Has Belize Telemedia Limited hired workers from Venezuela to replace Belizeans who are installing lines as a part of the DigiNet roll out?� The C.E.O. of the company has denied [...]

LOVE FM

SIRDI hosts its annual Sugarcane Field Day
Cane farmers from the Orange Walk District gathered in Trial Farm Village for an open day that was organized by the Sugar Industry Research Development Institute. Reporter Sitnah Blease was there and filed this report. Sitnah Blease: "With the recent cost of sugar prices being extremely low, many cane farmers struggle at the mere thought �

"Promoting an Open Government Ecosystem in Belize"
Earlier this year, the Organization of American States (OAS) in collaboration with the US Embassy in Belize rolled out the "Promoting an Open Government Ecosystem in Belize" project. The project seeks to establish management practices based on openness, accountability, and easy access to public information. There were four workshops held in August geared towards promoting �

"Achieving Competitive Advantage"
Last week, Belize Telemedia Limited rebranded its main products. Many businesses used their brand to help give them the competitive edge. Today, Galen University and Chamberlain Consulting hosted a workshop to equip businesses with tools to help them use branding to their advantage. Participants learnt how to identify market opportunities; navigate high-velocity markets and the �

Cost of living up by 0.5 percent
The inflation rate for the first seven months of 2018 stood at 0.1 percent. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July, 2018 has been released by the Statistical Institute of Belize earlier today and the inflation for July, 2018 compared to July 2017 is 0.5 percent. This means the average cost of living went up �

GDP up by 5.%
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total goods and services produced by Belize within a given year. The Statistical Institute of Belize has released the data for the second quarter from April to June. Belize produced goods and services totaling $765.3 million. There is increase of $39.5 million or a 5.4 percent increase from �

Imports up by 7.5%
Imports are up 7.5 percent and domestic exports are up 14 percent for July. For tonight's newscast we will concentrate on Imports. From January to July 2018, the United States was the country from which we imported the most. 42 percent of Imports valuing 462 million dollars came from the US. Statistical Institute of Belize's �

Mismanagement in SIRDI and SCIB
Belize's sugar industry has had its fair share of scrutiny over the years. Carlos Itza, the Chairman of the Sugar Cane Production Committee and a Board Member on the Sugar Industry Control Board is accusing the Director of Sugar Industry Research Development Institute (SIRDI), Marcus Osorio and the Chairman of SICB, Gabriel Martinez, of mismanagement �

Fight lands two persons in hospital
Two persons were injured in a fight on Caye Caulker last night. According to Police, 47-year-old Amado Watson and 33-year-old Kathleen Perry were along with friends socializing at a sports bar on the island when they got into an argument with other patrons. The argument escalated into a fight. Police say when they arrived on �

Quick action of police officer saved man's life
A Belize City man is recuperating from a gunshot injury. 30-year-old Matthew Smith was reportedly buying food on Cemetery Road last night when two male persons fired several shots in his direction. Smith was hit to the right upper arm. A police officer was purchasing food at the same time and fired several shots at �

US Government donated counter narcotics equipment to Belize
The US Government has donated counter narcotics equipment to the Ministry of National Security. The equipment comes from the U.S. Southern Command and it was funded by the U.S. counter-narcotics program office at a cost of six hundred and twelve thousand dollars. This equipment will assist in the fight to counter the activities of transnational criminal �

BNE Charitable Trust & Galen University signed MOU
Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust and Galen University signed an MOU and agreement for partnership in a new "Galen Student Loan Program". The partnership is designed to make education more viable and accessible to all Belizeans needing assistance to further their education through Galen University.

Health Ministry tells Brodies NO to Turkish Drugs
James Brodie and Company Limited has been having some issues with the importation of pharmaceutical products into Belize. Since July, 2017 a regulation was created that was stringent on imported pharmaceuticals and required a certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice from drug producers. Certain labels had to be in English or Spanish but a portion of Brodie's imports were Turkish.

Breaking Belize NewsPJ

Researchers to document the depths of Belize's Blue Hole
A team of researchers, including scientists, conservationists and filmmakers have announced a historic expedition to [�]

Belize's export products suffering
Today, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) release official statistics for the month of July [�]

Belize sees increase in imports and exports in July
Today, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) released its statistics for the month of [�]

Police department concerned over information regarding 'illegal drug planes'
The Belize Police Department today informed that it is concerned about the slur of information [�]

Statistical Institute of Belize: Cost of Living was up in July
Today, the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) released its consumer price index survey for the [�]

Ministry of National Security denies allegations of state involvement in narcotics trade
Yesterday a social media post went viral after it released purported coordinates of clandestine airstrips [�]

NEMO assists flood victims in Toledo
Excess rainfall over the weekend led to extreme flooding in the Toledo District. The Southern [�]

Belize Bureau of Standards to host Metrology training for its staff
The Belize Bureau of Standards is hosting a five-day training this week for its metrology [�]

Will GoB pay $90 million plus for guaranteeing UHS loan?
The controversy surrounding a judgement against the Government of Belize for guaranteeing a loan for [�]

Two Oceana employees awarded international graduate scholarships
Two employees of Oceana have been awarded international scholarships to pursue their graduate degrees this [�]

Man sentenced to 15 years for manslaughter
Yesterday Justin Lemoth, 29, was sentenced to prison for the 2014 death of Richard Waight Jr., [�]

Teenager missing in Punta Gorda, Toledo
The family of 16-year-old Robert Jacobs is seeking the public's assistance in locating the missing teenager. [�]

Blogs

Often Overlooked Place for Tacos on a Stick With a View
Because of it is slightly off the beaten path (but easy to reach) D'Office Bar and Grill is an often overlooked place. After seeing my cheap food in downtown San Pedro write up, a longtime Belize traveler and a tacogirl.com reader wrote me wanting to promote it one of their favorites. I have eaten there a few times but after seeing Kris's picture below of tacos on a stick, I will definitely be going back soon. I'm Kris Shoemaker and I've been coming to San Pedro for more than 30 years now. In the spirit of full disclosure I must admit to you I am a total foodie. Over my years in San Pedro, I have come to love the culture, the people, and the food! My true love is the small local restaurants that serve Belizean dishes prepared the local way. For the past several years my "favoritest" of favorites has been D'Office.

What Fun Is ONE Stop Shopping? Errands in San Pedro
Living on an island in the Caribbean Sea for 11 years�one would think that my most frequent blog topic would be snorkeling or sunning. But my #1 is running errands. Not AT ALL what I thought of when I moved down to Belize to find a different way to live, to dial it back a bit, to "live the dream". Despite the connotations, running errands is not a bad thing. In fact, on a good day, I LOVE it. Checking out what's new at different shops (who got in a fresh shipment from the US or new fruit from the mainland), chatting with some of my favorite people - like Evalia and Adam at the Greenhouse or Samir and Mahmoud at Caye Mart or Maite at Harmouch Hardware and getting lunch. On a red hot dusty day, I can get very cranky, very quickly.

Iguana Trail
Our property is known for the award winning Green Iguana Conservation Project and this drink is the perfect way to cool down after seeing our iguana sanctuary! Mix the ingredients in a tall glass. You can throw it in the blender with some ice for a Frozen Iguana Trail or serve it on the rocks!

Posted By: Marty Re: Today's Belize News: August 30, 2018 - 08/30/18 11:57 AM

International Sourcesizz

Blue Springs native missing in Belize
A Grain Valley man fears for his mother's safety after she disappeared in Central America. Sherris Stringham, 67, went missing in Belize. Her son and daughter are worried and are trying to do everything they can to find her and bring her home safely. "Trying to grasp anything we can to hold onto the fact that she is still alive," said Matthew Hall, Stringham's son. "We are hoping that doing this interview we can get this out. Get her picture out that maybe somebody has seen something, seen her vehicle and they can contact us." The Blue Springs native recently retired and moved to Belize. Her family says after decades of driving a school bus and checking groceries at Hy-Vee, she scraped together all she had and retired to Hopkins, a village in Belize.

Migratory Talks Between Cuba and Belize Conclude
The first round of migratory talks between Cuba and Belize will conclude today in this capital after fulfilling two days analyzing the problems in this field affecting both countries. According to Ernesto Soberon, director of Consular Affairs and Cuban Citizens Residing Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participants in the meeting reviewed yesterday the migratory flow, including the illegal ones associated with the issue. The meeting was fruitful in order to contribute to the achievement of orderly, safe and legal migration, Soberon, leading the Cuban delegation, tweeted. According to the official, about 647 Belizeans traveled to Cuba in 2017 and 45 Cubans traveled to Belize in an orderly manner.

Cuba, Belize Reiterate Willingness to Strengthen Ties
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Belize Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Patrick Andrews today reiterated their willingness to deepen collaboration relations between the two countries. According to a note from the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Rodriguez and Andrews -who traveled to the island for the first round of migratory talks between the two nations- exchanged on issues of bilateral and international interest. According to the Cuban authorities, during the migratory conversations, that concluded this day, the migratory flow and the illicit ones associated to the issue were reviewed.

How taking extended time off makes people like Simone Biles even better at their jobs
Sometimes a resume gap is the best thing for your career. U.S. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles took an unprecedented two years off from competition, and a year off from training, after winning four gold medals and a bronze in the 2016 Rio Games. And that time spent sunning in Hawaii and zip-lining in Belize paid off: She dominated the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Boston last week, winning gold medals in all five events - becoming the first woman to do so since Dominique Dawes in 1994. When asked how the 2016 Olympics version of herself compares to this post-sabbatical Biles, the 21-year-old champion told USA Today, "I would probably beat her," adding, "I feel like I'm in a better place." Her coach Laurent Landi agreed: "She's stronger. She's better."

Caribbean food innovations recognised in Paris
Two Caribbean companies have been selected as finalists in the SIAL Innovation Awards 2018 in Paris, France, for their product innovation. They are Caribbean Cure Ltd of Trinidad and Tobago and Naledo Belize Ltd. SIAL is regarded as the world's largest food innovation exhibition and hosts the SIAL Innovation Awards each year to recognise those who help to shape what we eat both today and tomorrow. Taking place in Paris from October 21-25, 2018, the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Union is supporting 12 food and beverage producers to participate at SIAL under the Caribbean Kitchen banner.

2 to 3 tropical threats may form in Atlantic during 1st part of September
With the peak of hurricane season close at hand, there are signs that the tropical Atlantic may soon spring to life with the potential for direct impact on the coastal United States in the days ahead. People along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, as well as the Caribbean, have enjoyed an extended period with no great concern for tropical activity during August. However, things are likely to change, and that change may be rapid. "There are signs now that wind shear may drop over a significant part of the Atlantic basin over the next couple of weeks," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bernie Rayno. "In the short term, there is an area just west of the coast of Africa, near Cabo Verde, that bears watching," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

Videos

  • The Amazing Life of Sand, 2.5min. There's a story in every grain of sand: tales of life and death, fire and water. If you scooped up a handful of sand from every beach, you'd have a history of the world sifting through your fingers.

  • Sea grass and now, dead fish, 1/2min. Fish kill, San Pedro.

  • Morning with a Crocodile, 26min. Early Morning Crocodile Removal from Neighborhood by ACES. Thank you ACES / American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, Chris Summers & Christina Manzi for the amazing work. The creature will be released back into the mangrove habitat way up in North Ambergris Caye away from civilization.

  • Consulate of Belize in Chicago Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 22min. Belize's newest consular office opened in downtown Evanston on Sunday. At a well-attended Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, Chicago-area Belizeans were introduced to the new Honorary Consul. Mrs. Leticia Castellanos was welcomed to her new office by Belize's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency F. Daniel Gutierrez.

  • Baumhaus, 2.5min. Unique Tree House / Baumhaus for your vacation in Belize Green Valley Inn

  • Snorkeling at San Pedro, Belize, 3.5min. A little snorkeling adventure.

  • Health People, Beautiful Life: Maya Healers of Belize (2015), 14min. This is the story of the members of the Maya Healers' Association of Belize, a group of Q'eqchi' and Mopan healers in the Toledo District who have come together to form an association to promote their work and correct the false understanding that many have of their dedication, training and healing knowledge. In this film, the healers speak freely of the challenges they face as they seek to help their people, and they demonstrate various aspects of their medical and spiritual practice. The film is in the Q'eqchi' and Mopan languages with English subtitles.

  • Belize National Teacher's Union - Update, 31min.

  • Belize Police Department - How to prevent home invasion/aggravated burglary, 50min.

  • Belize Jiu-Jitsu Social Project, 27min.

  • Belize's Gorgeous San Antonio Falls!, 5min. I wanted to have more fun while I was here but I couldn't really because of my hair and I wanted to jump off the falls but again my hair and honestly I woulda been too scared to anyway. It was ICE COLD but since it was hot you kinda get used to it and it was very refreshing~!

  • Thousand Foot Falls, 15sec. Thousand Foot Falls is known as the highest waterfall in Central America. The Falls actually send water plummeting down a 1600' granite cliff into a deep gorge. For birding enthusiasts, a half-day visit to the Falls with a talented private guide Mariposa Jungle Lodge includes a search along the way for the Orange-Breasted Falcon, that nests around the Falls, the American Kestrel, or maybe even a sneak peak at the Great Stygian Owl.

  • Orange Walk Expo 2018, 20min.

  • The British High Commissioner in Belize, 30min. The British High Commissioner Peter Hughes OBE, spent the past 5 years in Belize

  • Back to school trimming drive 2018, 24min. Organizers are Edmond Staine and Julie Dena

  • Morelets Crocodile?, 10sec. Seen today at Pilgrims Pond Whilst Birding around 5.00pm

  • Crystal Cave "Mountain Cow Cave", 6min. The team at Belizing.com visited the amazing Mountain Cow Cave, aka 'Crystal Cave.' One of the coolest caves in Belize. Worth a watch, and definitely worth exploring. "This caving experience in wonderland was an experience of a lifetime! Although the trip was extremely strenuous, it was definitely worth it! Not many are fit for the challenge to explore the wonders of the Crystal Cave; but, if you get the chance to go, do it! Belize Caving Expeditions has excellent guides that are experienced in their field of cave expeditions and other trips. They will make your spelunking trip worthwhile!"

  • Lands of the Maya - Guatemala and Mexico, 4min. LANDS OF THE MAYA is the result of two years of hard work on my camera, editing, colour grading and sound design skills. This video captures a 4 week journey trough Guatemala, Mexico and Belize. In short: Vulcanoes, whale sharks, Maya temples, waterfalls, culture and food!

  • Mayors Proposal (full version) Belize, 14min. Produced for Mayor Earl Trapp for the consideration of perspective investors.

  • Sports Talk Show, 2hr.
  • © Ambergris Caye Belize Message Board