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Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.
The San Pedro Sun
Belizean conservationist Rafael Manzanero weighs in on environmental challenges affecting Ambergris Caye
The San Pedro Sun had the opportunity for a one on one interview with Executive Director of Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), Rafael Manzanero. The FCD manages the Chiquibul Rainforest Reserve in western Belize, and its Chief shared his views on sustainability, weighed in the challenges Belize's marine and terrestrial eco-systems are going through and what Belizeans as a whole nation can do to better manage these sensitive resources.
Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation launches Job Portal
With tourism experiencing continues growth and becoming one of the leading industries in Belize, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has launched a Job Portal. This free, fully managed, interactive, and user-friendly web application is designed to connect tourism supported employers and job seekers. With this Job Portal employers can create and post tourism related vacancies and can easily make edits to any job submissions. Job seekers can upload their resumes and search for jobs by using key words. They can also remain in the loop by creating job alerts on feature that sends new jobs straight to their email.
Police remove drugs and ammunition from San Pedro streets
The Special Operations Team along with officers from the San Pedro Police Formation found drugs and ammunition during an operation in the San Juan Sub-division on Thursday, August 29th.
According to the police report, around 11:45AM they conducted the operation in the said division, where they found a black plastic bag containing 30 5.56 live rounds of ammunition that were marked with the initials (FC). Police also found 222.8 grams of suspected cannabis. No one was found around the area of the finding, thus, the drugs and ammunition were labelled and deposited as found property.
2019 September Celebration activities announced!
With the month of September well on its way, the 2019 National Celebration Calendar has been released along with this year's September celebration theme: "From Maya Grandeur to Modern Glory, Together let's Shape the Belizean Story". The calendar of events lists the Queen of the Bay Pageant, Carnival King and Queen Competition, and the anticipated Carnival Road March and the other various activities taking place at the different municipalities across the country. It is also a guide to the many national events that showcase our patriotism, our appreciation of our historical achievements, and our love for Belize.
Various Belizean Sources
Special presentation of the Mexican documentary film: Maize in time of war
The Embassy of Mexico in Belize invites you to the special presentation of the Mexican documentary film: Maize in time of war From director: Alberto Cortes.
Friday, August 30th - 6:30 p.m.
Mexican Cultural Institute - Belize
Special screening on the occasion of National Day of Mexican Cinema 2019. Trailer.
"Corozal" sign is being built right next to Children's Park
Hey, Corozal, here is something definitely you want to visit in the future. A brand new "Corozal" sign is being built for the public right here in Corozal. This will attract hundreds of locals, even, tourists from all across the globe to visit Corozal even more.
This "Corozal" sign is being built right next to Children's Park in Corozal. The sign will have Colorful painting as it finishes. And, it will be completed by next week. This sign is being built by the Corozal Town Council.
Marine Litter Beach Clean-Up with Head of British Diplomatic Service
A beach marine litter survey and clean-up will be held on Sunday, September 1st, 2019 starting at 7:30 a.m. at Belizean Beach (just outside of Belize City). The survey/clean-up will be conducted by local participants, including the Belize Defence Force Cadets, Belize Audubon Society and Belize High School, as well as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry responsible for Environment and the Chief Environmental Officer. As part of his official visit to Belize, the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (PUS) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, Sir Simon McDonald will participate in the beach clean-up/survey along with the British High Commissioner for Belize.
Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 12 PM - 6 PM, at The Split. Society! Leashed pets are also invited!
Where: The Split, Caye Caulker between Aria Kat Art - Gallery, Boutique & Coffee Bar and Pizza Al Taglio
We have more than $1,600 in raffle prizes donated by our awesome business community! Raffle tickets for sale for $10 at Aria Kat Art and Pizza Al Taglio all week! In addition, we will have a "Dog Dip" for a small charge, and a portion of the proceeds from Art Print and Coffee purchases at Aria Kat Art, and Pizza purchases at Pizza Al Taglio will be donated to the Caye Caulker Humane Society!
The Conservation issue of Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle was released this week at the Eco Expo. It's free online. The theme of the entire issue is conservation and Belize's journey towards becoming completely eco-friendly. Timely indeed, and worth a read.
"Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle (CC+L) is a creatively designed publication that caters to those curious in nature and those with a passion for travel. With the world moving at a fast pace, and with publications traditionally static, Caribbean Culture and Lifestyle blends print and digital with multimedia platforms.
540 trees planted along the Mopan River in Peten
Today members of Todos Por Un Mundo Verde (TPUMV) of Melchor, alongside more than 125 persons from the Environmental Police (DIPRONA), Military Unit, FCD, Canada Fund, Institute of Forestry (INAB), Science and Technology College, Ministry of the Environment, DESPENSA store and the Town Council of Melchor planted 540 trees along the Mopan River in Peten. The arduous task of watering these plants will be done by youth members of TPUMV and DESPENSA. This activity is funded through the Canada Fund for Local Initiative.
New River community petition
The New River community petition sheets can be found at each of the following locations for persons who want to sign. Only persons with IDs (Passport, Social Security, Driver's License or Voter's ID) should sign. Tomorrow Saturday, August 31st, we will hit the streets, from Central Park starting at 7:30 a.m.
Channel 7
The Coral Killer Comes to Belize, What Can Be Done About It?
In July, the Fisheries Department sent out a release alerting the country to a new disease affecting corals in this region. It's called Stoney Coral Tissue Loss Disease and it's killing corals in the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve -which is the only area where it has been detected so far in Belize.
Well, the Fisheries Department along with its NGO partners have been busy trying to get a hold of this disease by researching and testing different treatment options. Cameraman Codie Norales and I tagged along with the coral reef monitoring task force on an expedition to Bacalar Chico Marine reserve to see first-hand the damage this disease is causing, and what the team is doing to try and prevent it from spreading. Here is that special feature on what can only be described as the most detrimental coral disease this region has seen:
Florida's Fight Against Stoney Coral Tissue Loss Disease
So as you heard in the story, the disease was first detected in Florida in 2014 and since then, marine experts there have been researching and conducting lab tests, among many other interventions. But, still, they don't have any concrete answers either.
We got an interview with the Director of the Smithsonian Marine Station in Florida, Valerie Paul. She also manages the Carrie Bow Cay field station which is located on an island on the reef in Belize. Paul discussed some of the efforts that have been tried in Florida to better understand this disease, but also underscored how little is still known about this outbreak.
What Can You Do to Contain The Coral Killer?
Although not much is known about stony coral tissue loss disease, it is still important to monitor it and prevent it from spreading. Nunez from the fisheries department discussed how you can help in this effort.
Alicia Eck-Nunez - Marine Reserves Operations Manager, Fisheries Department:
"We contacted our partners at the Ministry of Tourism who then contacted BTB and other partners with the education and outreach materials asking all our stakeholders that come in contact with the reef environment to please if you see the disease go the AGRRA.org website, report the disease, if you can take pictures of it to send to us we need to know if it is already spreading to the rest of the country so we could respond..."
Mob Deals With Man Who Injured Common-Law
Police were called out to the corner of Vernon street and Lindo's Alley at 5:30 this evening where this Ford Escape was left abandoned on the sidewalk. Reports say the driver had to flee after he came under attack.
Eyewitnesses in the area tell us that the driver had allegedly injured his common law wife, and was trying to speed off, when, bystanders, who saw what he did, attacked the SUV, punctured the tire, broke the back windshield and caused various other damages.
Man Dies After Night of Birthday Celebration
27 year old Rasheed Pollard - celebrated his birthday yesterday - but lived less than three hours into his 28th year; the father of two died in an accident just before 3:00 this morning.
It happened at mile 4 on the Phillip Goldson highway. He was driving back into the city after a night out celebrating his birthday with family and friends in Ladyville.
But something went wrong and he slammed into a lamp-post which caused his vehicle to flip.
A postmortem later revealed that Pollard died from traumatic shock due to multiple blunt force trauma. Earlier today his aunt told us how terribly this sudden death has devastated his family.
Man Dies After Ninja Bike Flips On Southern Highway
And there was another fatal accident that claimed the life of another man - this one in Southern Belize.
At about 2:00 this afternoon, 37 year old Greg Perez was riding a Ninja style motorbike when he lost control and crashed near Medina Bank village between miles 63 and 64 on the Southern Highway.
Business Senator Praises Government For Tax Admin. Loan
A series of 3 loan motions were passed in the Senate today, which authorizes the Barrow Administration to borrow a total of 148 million Belize dollars, to execute important government projects.
The first motion for a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank for a project to strengthen the country's tax administration. The Government will borrow 28 million dollars to improve the abilities of the newly amalgamated income and GST departments, which is now known as the Belize Tax Service. The goal is to improve the capacities of these tax administrators so that the way they conduct business is more efficient, and therefore results in increased revenue collection.
During the Senate debate on this loan motion, Business Senator Mark Lizarraga had a rare congratulation for the Government:
Disaster Loan Not A Debt Disaster
The second loan motion that was debated in the Senate today was another from the IDB for 20 million Belize dollars.
It's called the Contingent Loan for Natural Disaster Emergencies, and it is supposed to be used in times of natural disasters to, quote, "enhance the comprehensive disaster risk management of Belize by fostering improvements in five main areas disaster risk governance, risk identification, risk reduction, disaster preparedness, and financial protection." End quote.
Here's what the NGO and Business Senators had to say about this one:
Hon. Osmany Salas - NGO Senator:
"I rise to give my strong support to this loan motion. It goes without saying that being in the middle of the hurricane belt..."
Senate on Substantial Sarteneja Loan
But, the biggest loan motion of the day was the one for 100 million Belize dollars. The Government of Taiwan has agreed to lend the Belize Government that entire sum at concessionary rates to upgrade the Corozal-Sarteneja Road and to build the Pueblo Nuevo and Laguna Seca Bridges.
For this one, several senators complained loudly that for the large sum of money that the Senate was being asked to give permission to the Government to borrow, there were hardly any detailed breakdowns about how the funds would actually be spent. That triggered a lengthy back-and-forth, and here are a few excerpts of the debate:
AG Calls Out Fellow Senators on Support for Municipal Bond Bill
From there, the Senate moved on to bills brought from the House of Representatives, and among those was the Belize City Council (Municipal Paper) Bill.
AS we told you, this one will allow Mayor Bernard Wagner and the current PUP Administration to sell bonds commercially, which will give them more cash flow at rates cheaper than commercial borrowing.
You'll have noticed that several of the Senators kept returning back to the fact that they knew very little due to the lack of background information provided by the Government on the 3 previous loan motions.
It was during the Senate's debate on the Municipal Paper that Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte suggested that the complaining senators were only doing so because they were taking a partisan, anti-government approach. Here's how he made that point this afternoon:
The War of the Worlds Over LPG Private Public Partnership
Another Bill that sparked quite a bit of back and forth at the Senate today is the National Liquified Petroleum Gas Project Bill.
It was tabled at the last House meeting 2 weeks ago, and the model being proposed in this bill is a public-private partnership, where the state would protect a monopoly on the supply of LPG, which we know better as butane.
The project proposes that a new entity, which is called the National Gas Company, will take over the responsibility to supply the entire country with butane.
Bush Fires Encircling City Dump
Belize City residents - especially those on the Southside - woke up this morning to a blanket of thick smog and the filthy smell of burning garbage. And that's likely because the wind shifted overnight to blow in from the west.
What you were smelling was a bushfire that has been touching at the edge of the city dump for two weeks. Everyone only learned of it this morning when the wind blew the smoke into the City's population center.
This fire is being caused primarily by the persistent hot and dry weather conditions, as well as moderate winds, but the situation is worsened by overgrown bushes on the properties surrounding those sites.
Belize's Boy and Girl Footballers Phenomenal In Regional Competitions
On Monday we told you how Belize's Female Under 17 National Selection did Belize proud by coming out on top of their group in the CONCACAF 2020 qualifier.
The games were played in Barbados - but their return was delayed by hurricane Dorian.
So, they just returned today, and were whisked to the Marion Jones Stadium for a congratulator press conference and luncheon.
Mexican Cyclist Banned for Belize Race
And while those teenaged phenoms light the way to a stellar football future, the news continues to be bad in cycling.
Last night we told you how Belize's National Road Champion, elite cyclist Nissan Arana has been suspended for four years for use of a banned substance.
Well, tonight, there is news that another top rider, this one a Mexican who's always a contender in Belizean races - has also been suspended.
Arte Cubano At Image Factory
Tonight, at this hour, the Image Factory is opening a new art exhibition by Cuban artist Carlos Rafael.
Rafael's show in Belize is part of the Image Factory's ongoing efforts to strengthen ties of friendship and solidarity with Cuba.This morning we were invited to a viewing of the exhibition and got to speak to the artist about his eclectic inspirations and how he came to exhibit in Belize.
Carlo Rafael - Artist:
"This exhibition that I've brought now in August 2019 is an exhibition that is made up of more than fifty paintings, I've brought landscapes, I've brought some portraits, and I've also brought some fans, I bring things from Cuba, Belizean things, and Caribbean things..."
Carlos Rafael along with other artists and professionals from Panama, Belize, and Mexico are among this year's carnival judges.
Another New Carnival Route
And the route has just been finalized for the carnival which those international judges will oversee.
This year's Carnival - which starts at 1:00 next week Saturday afternoon - will have another new route this year.
It will start as usual on Central America Boulevard at the corner with Faber's Road. And from there it will go, as usual unto Central American Boulevard. But after it crosses the Belcan Bridge, it will turn right unto Freetown Road, and then left unto St. Thomas Street, and head straight to the Marion Jones sporting complex.
Channel 5
Rasheed Pollard Perishes in RTA After Celebrating His 27th Birthday
There has been outpouring of grief following the untimely death of Rasheed Pollard. Pollard, who by all accounts was loved by many, perished this morning after celebrating his twenty-seventh birthday. [...]
Gregory Perez loses his life in an RTA in the South
There was another fatality; this time in southern Belize. As seen in this video, a motorcyclist reportedly lost control of his red Ninja motorcycle in the area of Golden Stream, [...]
Nissan Arana is Banned from Cycling for Four Years
Popular Belizean cyclist Nissan Arana has been banned from participating in any officially sanctioned sporting event after testing positive for performance enhancement drugs. The decision was handed down by the [...]
Nissan Arana Tests Positive for Performance Enhancement Drug
Under Arana's suspension, the U.C.I. has requested that the Cycling Federation of Belize withdraws his license for the duration of the ban in accordance with specific articles related to the [...]
Newly Appointed PUP Senators Make Debut
Doctor Louis Zabaneh and Isabel Bennett were today sworn in as Senators for the Opposition, People's United Party. Doctor Zabaneh and Bennett replace former Senators Paul Thompson and Valerie Woods. [...]
Senators Express Concerns over Liquefied Petroleum Gas Project Bill
The Liquefied Petroleum Gas Project Bill was today debated in the Senate. The Government and the National Gas Company have entered into an agreement which the Prime Minister has labelled [...]
Sarteneja Road Loan Motion Sparks Heated Debate in Senate
Today the Senate approved three loan motions totalling one hundred and forty eight million Belize dollars. The government borrowed fifty million U.S. dollars from the Taiwanese Government for the upgrading [...]
A US$14 Million Dollars Loan for Strengthening Tax Administration Project
The Senate also approved a fourteen million U.S. dollar loan from the Inter-American Development Bank. This chunk of money has been earmarked for the strengthening tax administration project. Monies will [...]
Senators Get Feisty over US10M Loan Motion
The Government also borrowed ten million U.S. dollars from the Inter-American Development Bank for natural disaster emergency contingencies. G.O.B. approached the bank for financial assistance to facilitate the execution of [...]
Senate Debates the Belize City Municipal Paper Bill
The Belize City Council during this time of the year faces�cash flow problems caused by the 'seasonal nature of tax collections'. Earlier this year, instead of resorting to high-cost traditional [...]
Two men acquitted of Drug Trafficking Offense
After awaiting trial for two years for a drug trafficking offense, Pastor Mark Humes and Michael Nugen were acquitted of trafficking over ten pounds of weed. The ruling was handed [...]
A Tourist is Convicted while on Vacation in Belize
A visitor on Carnival Cruise Lines from Yonkers, New York was convicted while on vacation with his family in Belize. Thirty-nine year old Brian Keith Gibbs assaulted a police officer [...]
Decision on Transportation Industry Woes Postponed Yet Again
There are tensions bubbling in the transportation industry. The Belize Bus Association and representatives of the Government were scheduled to meet on Thursday morning to finalize the way forward regarding [...]
FFB and National Sports Council celebrate young athletes who excelled at the CODICADER and CONCACAF Women's U-17 championship games
At the Marion Jones Sporting Complex this afternoon, there was a gathering of Belize's finest athletes. The Football Federation of Belize and the National Sports Council held "A celebration of [...]
Young athletes and team leader say discipline and focus has lead to excellence
The athletes and coaches were all in a celebratory mood. Kate Jones, a striker for the national U-17 team and Cayshaun Meighan, who participated in the U-15 CODICADER games, spoke [...]
Dominque Noralez to represent Belize at UN Youth Climate Change Summit
Belizean, Dominique Noralez, is among five hundred youths selected to attend the U.N. Youth Climate Change Summit to be held in September at the United Nations in New York. The [...]
YWCA embraces technology integrating tablets into its preschool program
Over at the Y.W.C.A., a group of pre-schoolers are being introduced to technology at an early age. The "Y" successfully secured a set of forty tablets which is now at [...]
Titans Kicks of Mas Camp with “Showtime”
As the carnival date draws near, one of the most prestigious bands brought out its a-game on Thursday night. Even though they will not be competing this year, the current, [...]
New route Revealed for Carnival Road March 2019
The Carnival Committee has released the route for the 2019 Road March. And there is a difference over last year's route. The spectacular event takes place next Saturday, September seventh [...]