Belize News Daily, July 21, 2014 to July 31, 2014, Ambergris Caye

Solid Waste Management Authority hosts seminar for San Pedro Stakeholders
The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (SWaMA) held a seminar on Friday, July 25th for island stakeholders and environmental Non-government Organizations (NGO) to discuss matters involving waste management in San Pedro Town. The seminar started at 9AM and saw the participation of several businesses in the hospitality industry as wells as Kenrick Brackett, Councilor in […]

Pilot whale found off San Pedro Town
Authorities on Ambergris Caye are trying to determine what is wrong with a baby pilot whale found in shallow waters off Ambergris Caye. The visibly injured and disoriented whale was found by early risers as they headed out to sea sometime around 6:30AM on Wednesday July 30th near the beach at Ramon’s Village Resort . […]

Emergency Response Tuk-Tuks finally handed over to Polyclinic
On Friday July 25th three health support vehicles were handed over to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II. The tuk-tuks, as they are commonly referred to, are a part of a donation made to the Government of Belize by the government of Dubai, United Emirates in April. Three tuk-tuks were assigned to San […]

New Movie Series at the Paradise Theater
Beginning this Thursday (7/31), the Paradise Theater will be home to a new movie series called “THE BEST NEW MOVIES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF.” The series of screenings, which is being hosted by San Pedro resident and filmmaker Ben Popik, aims to share great new independent films with the movie lovers of San Pedro. “There […]

Charges against Elvin Penner dismissed due to lack of evidence
Area Representative for Caye Northeast and former Minister of State, Elvin Penner was freed of all criminal charges due to lack of evidence during a trial at the Belmopan Magistrate Court on Thursday, July 24th. Penner, who has been charged for illegally facilitating a passport to wanted South Korean National, Kim Won Hong, first appeared […]

Ambergris Today

Saga's Furball Fashion Show with the Costa Maya Queens
Come out to Wet Willy's Cantina on Monday, August 4th and support Saga's annual fundraiser "Furball Fashion Show". Watch the Costa Maya Queens strut the latest fashion from Foreva Fancy and enjoy great entertainment.

Authorities Assist Stranded Juvenile Pilot Whale in Ambergris Caye
Hol Chan Marine Reserve is now thinking of possible ways to assist the animal as it does not have the capacity to hold the animal in captivity while they tend to its injuries. Currently there are tour guides on site protecting the whale from passing water vessels while the authorities figure out a solution to assist the wounded animal.

San Pedro 2014 Tres Pescados Slam Tournament Wrap-Up
The 6th Annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament was a huge success thanks to all the anglers and sponsors that participated in Belize's largest ever fly-fishing tournament. Hats off to Team Yellow Dog Flyfishing for not only slamming on the first day but, holding their ground on day two and three to bring home first place and the coveted slam trophy. Day one saw beautiful weather and wind from the East as teams rallied early to make the most of the conditions. All three species were caught the first day, with Team YELLOW DOG capturing the first slam of the contest and gaining those valuable bonus points. A three way tie for second and two teams tied for third place was sure to make day two interesting. The second morning brought similar weather conditions and teams pushed early on to catch the all important slam. Both permit and tarpon saw the scoreboard as well as numerous bonefish. Team AM FILMS closed the gap on leaders YELLOW DOG with three permit landed and needed only the tarpon on the final day to make things interesting.

Misc Belizean Sources mzz

June 2014 External Trade & Consumer Price Index
Here are S.I.B's latest releases: June 2014 External Trade Bulletin, June 2014 Consumer Price Index Statistical Institute of Belize 1907 Constitution Drive Belmopan, Belize

FISHING REPORT: Week of July 20th – July 26th, 2014
Lots of permit this week thanks to the skills of many anglers, The Tres Pescados tournament was great fun and El Pescador anglers were first and second! Congratulations to the winners: Shaun and Doug who are on the staff of Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures, and to runner up Adam who was just one tarpon away from stealing the show!

SPICY FISH TACOS
Heat 2 cups oil in a heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat to 365 degrees. Use tongs to place one tortilla at a time into the oil. It should start to sizzle right away. Cook for about 15 seconds, then flip over and fold the shell in half, holding in place with the tongs until crispy, about 15 seconds. You may need a little practice at first. Drain on paper towels. Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook fish in hot oil until fish flakes easily with a fork, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and cut into bite-size pieces.

Letter: We are not Diaspora but citizens of Belize
Dear Major Lloyd Jones, I have always held you in high regards for the service you have provided in the Belize Defence Force to defend our country. Like you and I there are thousands of natural born Belizean citizens who have served in the uniformed services in Belize and now reside in the United States and possess dual citizenship. Also, there are Belizeans living in Belize who were born in the United States and Belizeans who were born in Belize and became citizens of the United States that returned home to live permanently. Yet, their rights are being denied due to the ambiguity that exists in our constitution today. All Belizean citizens are entitled to the same rights and privileges under the constitution of Belize despite their citizenship status. For you and others who think the same to deny them of their constitutional rights, it is a gross violation of our constitution and a big blow to the principles of democracy. Our Belizean brothers and sisters who posses dual nationalities can contribute a lot more to the development of our country if we were to amend our constitution and set up the framework for them to participate in the process more meaningfully. There are several countries in the world like the United States of America that grant their citizens the right to vote by proxy and to run for political office with their dual nationalities intact once they meet the residency requirements under their election laws.

BEL in Partnership with Hand in Hand Ministries Belize, Contributes House to Deserving Citizen
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and Hand in Hand Ministries Belize (HHM) under its “Building for Change” Program, today handed over a house, valued at approximately $18,000, donated by BEL, to Ms. Bernadine Lauriano. This is the second year in which BEL supported HHM’s program. A team of 44 BEL employees, along with HHM contractors, worked July 16, 17 and 18 to construct the house which measures 16’ by 16’. BEL also contributed the free installation of a service entrance, valued at approximately $1,000, for electricity supply in the home. Ms. Bernadine Lauriano, the recipient, resides on Aloe Vera Street in the Lake Independence area of Belize City, and was selected as a beneficiary of the program, based on HHM’s specific criteria. As part of the agreement, Ms. Lauriano was required to participate in the construction of her home, attend HHM education sessions, assist with the construction of houses for other beneficiaries, and socially integrate herself in her neighbourhood by encouraging peace and harmony.

Dr. John Morris on his appointment as new Director of NICH
The Institute of Archaeology would like to congratulate Dr. John Morris on his appointment as our new Director. Dr. Morris has worked for the past 30 years in the field of archaeology, first in the Department of Archaeology and then with the Institute of Archaeology since its inception. His appointment takes effect the 1st of August 2014. We would like to extent the best wishes to Dr. Morris in his new role as the Director of the IA and look forward to his contribution in the continued advancement of Belize’s Archaeology.

Channel 7

73 Year Old Dies Three Weeks After Being Shot
And there is another homicide to report tonight it is the result of a shooting which happened three weeks ago. The night of July 10 is when 73 year-old man, Godfrey Jones was shot in his home on Lizarraga Avenue. Well, he passed away at the KHMH on Monday, an unexpected turn for his family almost a month after he was shot. He was shot at 9:00 in the night while socializing with 40 year-old Christopher Mayen in front of his house when 2 men entered the yard and fired several gunshots at them. Jones was hit in the knees, while Mayen suffered an injury to his right leg.

PM Says If US Asks for Dr. Elrington, Extradition Proceedings Would Be Normal
Dr. Errol Elrington is a fugitive on the run from the US Federal Government. But, he's safe in Belize for the time being because the Americans have not requested his extradition. A statement from the US Embassy says, quote,U.S. Embassy is aware of Elrington's status as a fugitive, but is unable to comment further on this issue at this point in time. End quote. But if and when the US Government does request his extradition the Prime Minister says the case will proceed. He gave these remarks at a press conference at the Biltmore Best Western where he was careful to draw the difference between Errol and his brother, the Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington: Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "Dr. Elrington's struggles have nothing to do with minister Elrington except from the point of view that this is his brother and certainly nothing to do with the government of Belize.

ASR Rejected Independent Expert in Bagasse Dispute
And at the press conference - which ran for what must be a record two hours and forty-one minutes Prime Minister Barrow also discussed the impasse in the sugar industry. As we have reported, BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association are far from an agreement on the price of bagasse in fact, it's fair to say, they aren't even in the same ball park! Today, the PM addressed the subject at length. He says government had offered to hire an international expert to study the problem and suggest a baseline figure but that was flatly rejected by ASR as recently as this morning. They say that it is a commercial dispute and as senior long time partners, both sides should be able to come to an agreement. Except, that they haven't and the industry is facing perilous times ahead Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "In that context they are saying the coming together of all stakeholders should start with an ability to work out the issues for payment of Bagasse; That if they can't even solve that problem, it doesn't bode very well for the longer term existence of the industry. Bottom line, I don't know how we are going to be talking about starting another crop unless number 1, the commercial agreement which has expired; A new commercial agreement is reached between A.S.R and the farmers. Number 2, the matter of the quantum of payment for Bagasse is sorted out."

Post Mortem: Stephen John Michael Not Murdered
Last week Friday, schoolteacher Stephen John Michael's father found him dead in his house on Jaguar Avenue. The door was open, he was bleeding from the nose, and there was a pool of blood behind his head. That, along with apparent missing belongings led them to believe that he had been clubbed in the head, and then robbed. But the results of the post-mortem on his body this evening say that he died of natural causes. The medical examiner has certified the cause of death as "acute lung failure and massive pulmonary oedema". The doctor believes that the lung failure is due to natural causes because there signs that he may have been suffering from lung disease. Further specimens have been retrieved and sent for tests for to confirm.

GOB to Set Up Rapid Training Center for 2k BPO Jobs
Business Process Outsourcing or BPO - it's the fancy term for what you might know as call centers.Government says that BPO Companies are banging down the door trying to get into Belize. But, there is a shortage of trained BPO workers and so today, government signed an agreement to open a Rapid Training Institute for potential BPO Workers.The center will be at the ITVET compound, and they intend to train two thousand persons in two years. CEO Mike Singh explained at today's press conference. Michael Singh, CEO Ministry of Trade "The idea is that we will transform a portion of the ITVET campus on Freetown Road into what we call the rapid training institute. The idea being that we will go out, seek at least 100 Belizeans per month, put them into the training, certify them in call centers and at the end of that training we will go through a recruitment drive with the centers so they will come in and directly interview and hire people on the spot. This is what they're asking us to do, this was the model we used 2 years ago that was very successful, the target being that we should have at least 1000 people added to that list within a year and hopefully we get to that 2000 people within the 2 year target, which should make a fundamental difference in our employment numbers."

Rooting Out Corruption at Lands
And while the BPO is hiring, so is the Lands Department. It's part of a new government strategy to bypass the endemic corruption with new staff and new systems.Now, it's not like they can fire anyone we all know that in the public service that's nearly impossible but the strategy is to implement systems that will enforce new levels of transparency and accountability. Cabinet adopted the recommendations at its last meeting and the PM outlined them today. He was backed up by the CEO in the Ministry whop came up with them along with the Commissioner of Lands Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "We will provide for the first time at last for effective service delivery. It's going to cost government, we're going to hire additional personnel, all who will have to be on contract because we don't want people getting permanent appointments joining the public service and then we run into the same problem where no matter what happens you can't get rid of them. The new hires will all be on contract with exit clauses.

Enter Ambassador Alexis
And while those were the positive initiatives unveiled at today's event the headline maker should have been the unveiling of the new ambassador to Guatemala, Alexis Rosado except we kind of beat the Prime Minister to that punch about a week ago. Today, though, the Prime Minister unveiled Rosado's replacement as Foreign Affairs CEO Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "Alexis, as you know is extremely experienced in diplomacy and he has been high commissioner in the U.K for number of years. Held various other posts in the Foreign Service; is very well qualified, not just in terms of academic qualifications but in terms of the sort of personal traits that are going to be required in particular for this assignment. I am satisfied that Alexis is far and away the best person that we would ask to take over in Guatemala City. I will ask C.E.O Lawrence Sylvester who is currently as housing to move over to Foreign Affairs.

PM Says Puerto Azul Still Nebulous
And, of course, it wouldn't be a press conference without some mention of the Puerto Azul project. Indeed, the volume of press releases on the project has far exceeded the body of actual information on the development. And that's because the information that's been released on the project so far shows that it proposes a mega luxury development on the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. So, they say they have to mount massive and sustained resistance to make sure the project does not get off the ground. But, again today, the Prime Minister was like, what project? Here's how he put it Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "Well my difficulty is, I don't quite know what the project is. These people came with some ideas, with a concept they were told what they needed to do to flesh out that concept, and some of the things from the start would be a no go, and as far as I am aware that process is not yet completed; So I am supportive of the notion that the watchdog groups ought to be if not previous, pre-emptive in terms of discharging their role.

BIL Will Build
And while Puerto Azul is in a nebulous stage not so for BIL, that's Belize Investment Limited. That's the special purpose vehicle government designed to oversee and manage the construction of sports facilities in all the districts. All told the projects will come up to 60 million dollars, 25 million of that for Belize City and five million each for the municipalities. Today at the Press conference, Manager Christy Mastry gave an overview of what's happened so far the 6 projects which are in the design stage, and one on which work has started:.. Christy Mastry, General Manager BIL "These are some of the projects we have contracted to date, the first being Victor Galvez which is a recreational field in San Ignacio and that is really an OUTDOOR recreational space that the community uses for running track; So we will be refurbishing the pathways, outdoor courts, the practice football field itself and other small service amenities within the area. The second is Santa Elena, it has little over 10 acres of land and it really has the ability to house 2 full football fields; So what we are doing is dedicating 1 field to performance competition and so forth, and the second to be open to the public and to the youths at all times for practice.

A Hand in Housing
Today, Hand in Hand Ministries with the help of BEL, blessed and donated its 243 house. We spoke to the happy recipient Bernadine Lauriano at the handing over ceremony: Diana Foreman, Co-Chair BEL Social Club Committee "BEL under the guidance of the Hand in Hand Ministries got its employees to volunteer to provide the labor and the company sponsored the materials and alongside contracted services to build a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom facility, 3 block height elevated structure, wooden with zinc roofing and louvers at the cost of approximately 18,000 dollars. The house also comes with a free service entrance because at the end of the day we know that family was not in a position to provide that for themselves."

Public Sector Workers' Trust Explains
5 million dollars plus, that's how much the Public Sector Workers Trust has parked in an account the accumulated compensation from two years of frozen wages when then Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel gave teachers and public officers shares in BTL in lieu of their increments. Today, the Public Service Union sent a release explaining what the money will be used for. The Union says, quote, The Trust will be fully operational in the very near future, at which time all beneficiaries, including current and retired public officers , teachers, nurses, police, soldiers and coast guard, will be invited to submit projects and proposals as per the purpose of the Trust.

Monica Takes a Walk on the Wild Side
"The Ghetto - it's not a pretty word and one we very reluctantly use. But, there's no other way to describe the area known as Jungle in the Pickstock slash - Fort George Area of Belize City. It's been a famous slum in the city for at least four decades and all those years of broken promises, institutional neglect and structural poverty has left it as one of the most run down areas in the city. At the invitation of the residents, Monica Bodden visited today to take a walk on the inside of the Jungle... The jungle is on the street called Lovely Lane between Pickstock and Victoria Streets.

SIB Says...
The latest figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize show that theconsumer price index rose 1.3 percent in June. The increase was caused by higher transport and home rental prices. Rent went up in San Ignacio/Santa Elena, Orange Walk and Dangriga Towns. And the change in transport prices wasn't due to bus fares - which are stable - but due to higher international airfares and motor vehicle prices. The price of vegetables continued to go up due to short supply of cabbage, however, these were offset by decreases in the price of rice, breakfast cereals, pasta and eggs. Punta Gorda and Belize City recorded the lowest inflation rates at less than one percent while prices in San Ignacio/Santa Elena increased 2.4 percent, almost twice national average.

Channel 5

Controversial Contractor Praised by PM…
And while Doctor Errol Elrington’s fugitive status isn’t the government’s concern, the controversies surrounding nephew of the Deputy Prime Minister, Imer Hernandez, aren’t either. Hernandez is a contractor of choice, [...]

Barrow Says IMF Can’t Tell Belize Anything…
At his lengthy press conference the Prime Minister was also asked, as he routinely is, about the state of the economy. There have been unprecedented injections of mostly Petrocaribe sourced [...]

Cabinet Approves Cleanup of Corrupt Lands Ministry…
But while Barrow isn’t paying any attention to the IMF, he’s paying plenty to the hotbed of corruption in his own front yard. So much so that Cabinet has approved [...]

Lands C.E.O. Says It Will Be A Group Effort…
As you heard, accountability will be one of the key premises of the new systems being put in place – making all officers accountable for their actions. A critical component [...]

PM Confirms Appointment of Ambassador Alexis Rosado…
On Monday, News Five reported on the appointment of Foreign Affairs C.E.O. Alexis Rosado as new Ambassador to Guatemala. He will be taking over from the late Alfredo Martinez. It’s [...]

ASR/BSCFA Bagasse Impasse Unresolved….
The impasse between B.S.I./A.S.R. and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association continues to thrive. At a general meeting of sugar cane farmers in Orange Walk and Corozal recently, it was [...]

PM Says Concern About Puerto Azul is Premature…
The Prime Minister was also asked for his response to a move by environmental and conservation entities who have expressed concern about the proposed scale of the mega-tourism Puerto Azul [...]

Dubious Offshore Businesses Claim Matalon as their Home…
The Matalon Business Center, its fourth floor seemingly the most sought-after commercial address in the country, remains under scrutiny tonight. In recent proceedings initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, [...]

Fishermen Protest Abrupt Removal from Marine Parade…
Fishermen and vendors operating along Marine Parade were taken aback this morning when they showed up to their assigned location around ten o’clock only to find it is being dismantled [...]

Hand in Hand Ministries Donates House….
Bernadine Lauriano was all smiles today when she officially received a house from Belize Electricity Limited and Hand in Hand Ministries Belize. To qualify Lauriano had to assist in its [...]

SIB Releases Latest Statistics…Inflation Up…
The Statistical Institute of Belize is reporting a five point seven percent increase in goods imported into Belize in the month of June. That represents one hundred and fifty nine [...]

Government Takes On Call Centre Training…
Today, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Trade and Investment Promotion Mike Singh signed a memorandum of understanding with C.E.O. in the Ministry of Education David Leacock. That M.O.U. envisions the [...]

Mother Nature Carnival Band Celebrates 10th Anniversary….
Carnival 2014 is quickly approaching and carnival groups across the city and other districts are putting the final touches to their elaborate costumes for King, Queen and revelers. But while [...]

CTV3

Hubert Elrington Speaks On His Brother's Arrest Warrant
A warrant is out in the US for Dr. Errol Elrington, brother of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, for federal crimes of racketeering, medical fraud and health care fraud. Dr. Elrington who is the proprietor of Elrington Medical Center in the Michigan area of the US and now the Office of Inspector General within the United States Department of Health and Human Services has listed Dr. Errol Elrington on its list of Most Wanted Fugitives. On the website of the Inspector General, it states that the warrant was issued on October seventh. Elrington is believed to have falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct.

Fire Leaves Woman Homeless
Early this morning the fire department got information of a fire on Rio Grande Street and immediately dispatched a team to the scene. Upon arrival, fire saw the small wooden structure consumed by a large blaze but their quick response the douse the flames prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings and structures. While we could not confirm the cause of the blaze as of news time, Fire Chief Kenneth Mortis says they learned that the owner had just left a few hours ago en-route to Melchor and are investigating a cause. Kenneth Mortis– Fire Chief, OW Fire Service “We try to contain the blaze before it spread to the neighboring structure. It took the fire department approximately three minutes to control the fire and another 25 minutes to totally extinguish the blaze. From our investigation we learnt that the house is owned and occupied by one Miss Olga August who was not at home at the time of the inferno. According to neighbors she left this morning between 4:00am and 4:30am en-route to Melchor.

MS-13 Members In Belize
We first broke the story of a successful sting operation carried out by authorities in the City where it led police to detain the persons behind the latest extortion case reported in Orange Walk Town. Edwin Flores and his girlfriend are accused of attempting to blackmail Wilbert Valencia of eight thousand dollars. The minor was detained at the Lord Ridge Cemetery where she was to collect the drop and she led police to Flores who was at a house on Newtown Barracks. Flores and 3 others have been charged for displaying gang insignia. Police confirmed yesterday that these four persons (Elvin Guiterrez, Jose Reyes, Edwin Flores and Francisco Rodriguez seen on the screen) are known affiliates of the transnational criminal gang, Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13.

Corozal Resident Tied To String Of Burglaries
Tonight, 19 year old Eric Herrera is once again under Corozal Police detention pending further burglary charges. Herrera was apprehended while attempting to break into the home of Reen Thadhani, a 46 year old Naturalized Belizean of 5th Avenue, Corozal Town. When Thadhani arrived home, the individual was about to make himself at home as he had already removed two of the glass louvers from one of the windows. At that instance Thadhani shouted “thief” and that is when her niece and a taxi driver came to her aid. The driver of the taxi chased down the individual who was apprehended and identified to be 19 year old Eric Herrera. Herrera was handed over to authorities and was charged for the crime of attempt burglary.

LOVE FM

Security Measures Stepping Up at Lands Department
The Lands Department has, on countless occasions, has been at the centre of reports on corruption, frustrations and controversies over the last years. In recent years, there have been some attempts in getting the department to be transparent and accountable but it is a challenge and a work in progress. We say, work in progress, because there is another plan in the pipeline with the objective of making the unit more efficient. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sharon Ramclam, presented some of those planned changes. SHARON RAMCLAM “We are looking at an automated numbering system where we can track each and every application that is filed with the department, whether it’s a new lease or a transfer or for a purchase, we’ll be able to track those where we will be able to assign a specific numbering system that will be able to help us track the moving system of that particular application through the system. We are also putting in place a proper tracking system in place for visitors. Everybody who visits any of the lands department throughout the country, will receive a specific receipt, it’s sort of like a ticket saying you visited, this was your complaint, your query, this is the officer who addressed or attended to you and this is what happened and so at the level of the supervisors for those districts and even in Belmopan at the headquarters the supervisors will be expected then to provide updates on a monthly basis on visitations at the various district offices.

Latest Statistics on External Trade Released
The Statistical Institute of Belize has released its latest figures in relation to Belize’s External Trade for the month of June. According to the figures, in June 2014, Belize imported goods valuing almost $159 million, representing a 5.7 percent increase over the same month of 2013. Statistics show that spending on Mineral Fuels and Lubricants and Food and Live Animals rose by a combined $7.3 million. Premium gasoline, milled rice, condensed milk and processed cheese were among the main items contributing to the increase. Thirty percent of imports for the month came from the US at a total of more that $48 million. For June, China was the country which Belize imported goods from the least. As for domestic exports, June was the first month in over a year that there was an increase in the value of Belize’s domestic exports. The value of domestic exports increased by 20 percent to $65.5 million according to the latest external trade statistics.

Public Sector Workers To Invest and Not Distribute Monies
The Public Sector Workers Trust sent out a release today acknowledging the transfer of the $3.06 million dollars from the Government of Belize that had been held in the Government Savings Account for the Trust. According to the release, the Trust will quote, “be fully operational in the very near future, at which time all beneficiaries, including current and retired public officers , teachers, nurses, police, soldiers and coast guard, will be invited to submit projects and proposals as per the purpose of the Trust”, end of quote. So to be clear, the $3.06 million will be invested in projects not handed out to public service workers.

Infrastructural Works For Everyone
Residents of Punta Gorda will be benefiting from some infrastructural works that Government will be carrying out in that municipality. According to Prime Minister, additional financing has been put toward the street infrastructure works for the southern district and priority has been given to the construction of a sports complex. RT. HON. DEAN BARROW “Having completed West Street, we have started two new streets, Olivia Santino Street and Cayo Street, with respect to streets. We will, as a priority, get on with their $5 million municipal sporting facility/ community development project as part of these signature projects that we are doing for each municipality. I believe that what’s been agreed is that it is the multipurpose complex, just as you get into PG, certainly as you get off the plane by the airstrip that is going to be completely re-modelled.” Barrow made it a point in today’s gathering to mention that contrary to the thought of the Punta Gorda residents that they are forgotten, the Government has been making plans for the improvements in Punta Gorda……..Moving on to the western part of the country, the Prime Minister made mention of works being carried out in the twin towns that hopefully will be completed in time for the upcoming September celebrations.

Upgrades and Expansion on National Bank Announced
The National Bank of Belize is about to celebrate its one year anniversary and with that celebration comes plans of expansion, anticipation of additional injected funds and system upgrades. One of those upgrades includes the issuance of ATM cards that will be networked and functional at Heritage bank and credit union automated teller systems. Prime Minister Barrow and the Bank’s chairman, Joy Grant, mentioned some of the plans for the bank at this morning’s press conference. RT. HON.DEAN BARROW “Government is looking to put some additional equity into the National Bank because the initial twenty million dollars is just about all accounted for and has been a phenomenal success story and we mean to continue with it. In moving forward and we’re approaching the first year anniversary with the bank we will be taking deposits first of September and issuing debit cards. We are using the network One Facility which means that the card from The National Bank you could use at all the outlets for Heritage Bank and also Credit Union.“

New CEOs For Housing and Foreign Affairs
With the Chief Executive Officer, Alexis Rosado getting ready to relocate to Guatemala City as Belize’s new ambassador to that Central American country, Government found itself having to make some changes in the upper echelons of the government ministries. Those changes were also announced earlier today during the Press Conference at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel. RT. HON. DEAN BARROW “There is need for a replacement and I will ask CEO Lawrence Sylvester who is currently at Housing to move over to foreign affairs. So Lawrence again as you no doubt well know, was at foreign affairs previously, was also high commissioner to the UK, he was well Permanent PR in New York so again somebody who knows the Foreign Ministry inside out and in whom I have absolute confidence. That then means that the position he leaves as CEO of Ministry of Housing has to be filled and I will appoint Mr. Denton Belisle to be the new CEO in the Ministry of Housing. Denton again was one time CEO at the Belize Social Security Board. He was also in the diplomatic service of this country and was high commissioner in the UK at one point in time, the fact is he has a great deal of public service and I believe will also do well in the Ministry of Housing.”

Belize Appoints New Ambassador to Guatemala
Just over three weeks ago Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, Alfred Martinez passed away in Guatemala City. Martinez’ death left an opening in a very crucial position considering that Belize and Guatemala are in the process of working through the confidence building measures as well as communications regarding the pending referendum on whether we should go the International Court of Justice to settle the longstanding territorial dispute between both countries. Today during a press conference in Belize City, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that he has made the decision, following consultations, to have Alexis Rosado take over the post of Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala.

Patrick Jones

Sugar partners must resolve differences, says P.M.
Cane farmers in the North agreed to have the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB) step in to help resolve their dispute over the commercial agreement with Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) and its partner American Sugar Refining (ASR). BSI says it cannot afford more than 51 cents per […]

PM says no request for extradition of Dr. Errol Elrington has been made
No formal request has been made, but authorities in the United States are determined to get back Belizean-American doctor Errol Elrington, brother of attorney Hubert Elrington and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General Wilfred Elrington. Dr. Elrington is accused of insurance and medical fraud at his clinic […]

Two murder victims succumb; another incident ruled sudden death
Police have confirmed the passing of 42 year old Alida Asencio, the Mopan Street tacos vendor shot in the abdomen and chest during an invasion of her home on Saturday, July 26. She died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital around 12:15 pm on Wednesday. She joins Carlos […]

Home invasion reported in Crooked Tree village
There are reports of a frightening home invasion in Crooked Tree village, Belize district. Information received says that a man walked into the home of a village resident and demanded money. No one was hurt in the incident and indications are that the intruder left without taking […]

No private attorney for writ of mandamus
The Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, is appealing the decision of Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin to order the continued investigation of the Elvin Penner immigration scandal in March. The Office of the Solicitor General is handling the case, but today the Prime Minister told us that because Whylie […]

New Belize ambassador to Guatemala named
Prime Minister Dean Barrow today announced the appointment of Alexis Rosado as Belize’s new ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Guatemala. Rosado who up until recently was the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will replace Alfredo Martinez who died earlier this month. Prime Minister […]

Unions get salary adjustment
Several weeks ago, Prime Minister Dean Barrow had asked the major unions – public service, teachers and senior managers – to conclude the Collective Bargaining Agreement with Government that dates back some five years. While it appears they are still holding out, one key aspect of that agreement, […]

Chopping incident in remote Toledo village; suspect shot by police
A chopping incident on Saturday night in San Vicente village, Toledo, has left one man hospitalized. Petrolino Lorenzo Ramirez, 46, a resident of Santa Cruz village was chopped multiple times when he was attacked by a younger man. The details of what prompted the attack are still being […]

Toledo man charged in fatal hit-and-run incident
After weeks of investigations, police in Punta Gorda town have arrested and charged one man in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident earlier this month. 20 year old George Parham was arraigned on a list of charges including manslaughter by negligence, failure to stop and render aid and […]

Alcalde says BDF soldier behaved rescklessly
Residents of the remote Toledo village of San Vicente are calling for authorities to investigate an unsettling incident in their community on Monday night. Village Alcalde Sebastian Cabb says he was startled out of his sleep around eight o’clock by the sound of about five shots being fired […]

Fire guts house in Orange Walk; homeowner seeks assistance
A house was gutted by fire in Orange Walk town on Tuesday morning. The 15 feet by 20 feet plywood structure with zinc roofing situated on Rio Grande Street, was owned by Olga August. According to reports, the blaze erupted around 6 am on Tuesday. When firemen […]

Blogs

Tikal, Guatemala to Belize City
My alarm went off at 3:40am to prepare for the sunrise tour of Tikal that left our hotel, the Tikal Inn, at 4:00am. However, when I rolled over to shut off my alarm, I realized that it was pouring buckets out. I got up and put my contacts in while Lindsay’s alarm went off about 10 minutes later. We decided to skip the tour because of the rain. It broke my heart a bit because I was hoping to see an amazing sunrise over the tops of the temples and capture them on my camera. But, alas, I will have to do it another time. The downfalls of traveling in the almost official rainy season. The park officially opens to normal tourists at 6:00am so we went back to sleep for a couple more hours. The sounds of the rain and the jungle coupled with travel exhaustion from the previous two days led to a great night’s sleep. We soon set out on the short walk from the hotel to the trail entrance where we paid another Q150 to enter the park. If we had waited and not used our ticket from yesterday then we could have saved Q150. Personally, it was worth the expense in my opinion. Instead of wandering around the trails and taking the long way to the Grand Plaza like the day before, we took the direct trail right to the Grand Plaza. As we started walking up the trail we suddenly heard this racket. It sounded like a mix of dying cows and mating gorillas. Not that I know what that sounds like… We both looked at each other and all I could think of was we were on the Lost island with the polar bear!

Cave Tubing in Belize
Lindsay and I are both budget travellers and thus spent countless hours discussing activities and budget over the phone and Skype. We both agreed that we were willing to spend a little more for the opportunity to go cave tubing in Belize. And I must say, it was my favorite activity out of the whole trip! There are plenty of places to go cave tubing in Belize. We did some research and found out that the best tour company is Vital Nature and Mayan Tours, or often just called Cave Tubing Belize. After our tour I would have to agree, although I have nothing to compare it to, but I wouldn’t go with another company if I ever go back to Belize! I emailed the company prior to our departure to Belize and received a prompt reply within 24 hours from Vitalino. We were able to make reservations for May 16th for the sunset cave tour. We asked if they would be willing to pick us up at the bus station in Belmopan and then drop us off at our hostel in Belize City afterwards. They said they absolutely would! For $75 USD each we got our transportation to and from the tour base, the cave tubing tour, dinner, and rum punch! If we had more people with us, it was just the two of us, the price would have been even cheaper.

Discovering the Beauty of San Pedro, Belize
We woke up early for our big day of snorkeling. Yesterday was rainy and the weather forecast wasn’t really in our favor, but when we opened our eyes the sun was shining! We had to be at the Searious Adventures boat dock by 7:45am. Lindsay and I both slathered sun screen on and walked down to the beach to Estel’s Dine by The Sea for breakfast. Estel’s is pretty much the only place open at 6am. The menu had traditional Belizean foods for a decent price. You order off of their chalkboard menu, which was different. I ordered the fruit with yogurt and water. It only cost me about $5 USD. After a quick breakfast we walked the two minutes down to the boat dock to begin our snorkeling tour. I will go into a more in-depth post about the snorkeling tour because it was awesome! This was my first time ever snorkeling so I was stroked to do this. I’m a water person so if there is water around I want to be in it. Our snorkeling trip brought us to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. I was super excited to snorkel up close and personal with sharks and sting rays. Lindsay, however, was not. But, she willingly (or maybe unwillingly) tried to get over her fears and hopped into the water. :-)

Snorkeling in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
Our half day snorkeling adventure with Searious Adventures started early. Our boat left the Searious Adventures dock at 8am sharp so we had to be there by 7:45am. Luckily, San Pedro is not very big and we could easily walk the 5 minutes from our hostel to the dock. Once we reached the dock, we were handed our snorkeling gear. Carlos, our tour guide for the day, shuffled Lindsay and I into the Searious Adventures’ boat and off we went. But, first we had to pick up more snorkelers along the way from their resort docks. We stopped twice and picked up a total of 6 other couples who would join Lindsay and me for the day. Once everyone was onboard and we made a quick stop to exchange flipper sizes for one woman at another resort’s dock stocked full of snorkeling and diving gear, we were off for the 5-10 minute boat ride to Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The weather was perfect for snorkeling. It was a bright blue sky day with a few clouds. The wind was calm and it was hot. Good thing we would be in the water most of the trip!

Island Hopping from San Pedro to Caye Caulker, Belize
Putting a heavy pack on top of burnt shoulders and back was not a pleasant feeling. I think we both let out a small scream as we put our arms through the shoulder straps. After checking out of Pedro’s Inn, we headed into town for a quick breakfast before catching the 10am ferry to Caye Caulker. Lick’s is closed on Mondays so we had to find a new breakfast place. Luckily, there was another cafe opened just next door with a breakfast menu and free wifi. I was extremely excited to see crepes on the menu and I ordered a plate. Unfortunately for me, the crepe batter was out and the usual cook was not working today. Another plate of fried jack and traditional Belizean food it was! We bordered our ferry and set sail for the 45 minute ride to Caye Caulker. The sky was blue and we knew it was going to be a beautiful day! We didn’t have reservations at a hostel so once we landed at the dock of Caye Caulker, our first mission was to find a place to sleep. We got off the dock and found a lovely little bench in the shade near a sleeping dog. Lindsay pulled out her Lonely Planet guidebook and we weighed our options. A local rode his bike up to us and told us that all the places were booked and he would show us a nice hotel to stay at. We politely told him that we weren’t interested. He stuck around and made a few crude remarks and finally left.

Exploring the Laid-Back Island of Caye Caulker
After canoeing to the split and back, Lindsay and I grabbed our cameras and headed to the split on foot to hopefully get some sunset pictures. Unfortunately, the skies haven’t been very cooperative over the past few nights and the sky was cloudy. It was still a pretty sunset, but not the amazing pinks, reds, and oranges that I was hoping for. While watching the sun set in the West, a dread-locked local came over and asked us if we would like some brownies to enjoy with the sunset. We kindly declined his offer knowing what was really in the brownies. As the final rays of the sun set over the horizon, our stomachs were grumbling with hunger. We decided on eating dinner at Habanero’s Restaurant. It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but Lindsay had her heart set of it after reading about it in her Lonely Planet guide. And I must say the food was fabulous! Everything sounded amazing on the menu, I opted for a grilled chicken salad. It was yummy! We enjoyed our meal on the patio overlooking Front Street. Since it was off-season, it was quiet.

Snorkeling in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Belize
The small island of Caye Caulker, Belize has its own local reef and marine reserve much like the larger marine reserve off the coast of Ambergris Caye called Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Lindsay and I snorkeled in Hol Chan while we stayed in San Pedro and were extremely excited to have the opportunity to snorkel again while staying in Caye Caulker. We booked a half-day snorkeling trip with Mario’s Snorkeling Tours for about $20 USD each. This tour left a bit later than the one we took with Searious Adventures in San Pedro, so we got to sleep in a bit. We walked over to Mario’s office for a 10am departure. We were joined by a couple on a cruise ship from Florida and a woman on vacation from Spain. Once we were all gathered and handed our snorkeling gear, we walked the 5 minutes to the boat dock to load onto our book. Gerald was our tour guide for the day. He was quite the character. He placed us in our corresponding seats based on our weight. He joked with the gentleman from Florida because he was the largest on the trip. Once we were on the boat, we were ready for the 5 minute boat ride to the local reef located about a 1/2 mile off the coast of the island. The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve lies east off the coast and contains five habitats within its 61 square miles: the mangroves, the littoral forests, the lagoon-marsh lands, the sea grass beds, and the local reef. The marine reserve was established following the lobbying from several Caye Caulker stakeholders and the Siwa-ban Foundation beginning in the 1990s. The area was finally designated as a marine reserve in 1998. Our first stop of the day was Caye Caulker’s Shark Ray Alley.

Caye Caulker Back to Reality in Maine (USA)
My final day arrived before I knew it. It was time to say goodbye to island life and Lindsay. Lindsay was staying for another week in beautiful Belize, while I had to go home back to my regular life. Part of me was ready to return back to Maine with its cool spring weather, but the other part of me wanted to stay in Central America. The more I travel in Central America, the more I fall in love with Latin America culture and geography. For a small region, it’s extremely diverse and colorful. I woke early to pack and shower. Takeoff from the tiny Caye Caulker airport at the end of the island was promptly at 9:15am. I needed to be at the airport by 8:45am or else I would be left behind with no refund. Lindsay really wanted to try Glenda’s Cafe that she read about in her guidebook. It was nearby the airport so we decided to spend my last meal with her at the small cafe. The cafe was located in the woman’s clapboard home and served traditional Belizean food with a side of a cinnamon roll. I chose a breakfast sandwich and Lindsay chose the scrambled eggs. Both meals were delicious and filling. I enjoyed it because I knew my next meal would be in the Atlanta airport between my flights.

Answers? A Trip Back To Caye Caulker – Two Times in Two Days
Yesterday I posted about the rumors swirling around the Split at Caye Caulker and about how I thought the easiest way to get the answer about whether or not it was being developed was to ask the owner. I got a bit of negative feedback about this post. About my superior attitude, general nosey-ness. About how I was trying to create drama (I did concede that many times in yesterday’s post) and how I portrayed the caye in a very negative light. These concerns started to weigh on me a bit while I was over there. So…after stopping over at the owner’s home to politely inquire (from his lovely family) if he was available and finding that he was not, I decided to just take a leisurely stroll about the island. Perhaps I’ll shoot him an email. But I’m not expecting much more information. It’s his land. And while plans are still up in the air, I don’t really expect him to share with a total stranger. I mean…I sure wouldn’t. And I expect things will change slowly…if much at all. But it is certainly something I am going to keep an eye on.

Belize Tourism Enjoys Rise in First Half of 2014
Citing a recent article in Belize’s Amandala newspaper, which used statistics released by the Belize Tourism Board, Chaa Creek’s co-owner and GM Lucy Fleming said that continued strong growth in the tourism sector is providing benefits across Belize’s economy and society, benefits that will in turn continue to make Belize more attractive to travellers. “Belize’s economy is now tourism-oriented, so a rise in visitor numbers translates into a healthier, happier society, making Belize even more attractive,” Ms Fleming said. “In short, more tourists mean a stronger tourism product, which will in turn attract more tourists. It’s a very positive, self-perpetuating cycle,” she added. The Amandala article, “Belize Draws 29.3% More Tourists For First half of 2014” (July 18, 2014) noted that “Belize continues to draw more tourists to its shores, with overnight tourist arrivals up 11.8% and cruise tourist arrivals up 36.9% for the first half of 2014, according to data released this evening by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB).

NAFTA and the Future of Canada, Mexico and the United States
The 20th anniversary of NAFTA’s implementation on Jan. 1 has revived some of the perennial arguments that have surrounded the bloc since its inception. The general consensus has been that the trade deal was a mixed bag, a generally positive yet disappointing economic experiment. That consensus may not be wrong. The history of the North American Free Trade Agreement as an institution has been one of piecemeal, often reluctant, integration of three countries with a long tradition of protectionism and fierce defense of economic national sovereignty. While NAFTA was a boon for certain sectors of the economy, particularly the U.S. agriculture industry, the net effect of the world’s second-largest trade bloc remains somewhat unknown. The debate over NAFTA can, however, obscure some fundamental realities about the future of North America and its three major countries. While the formation of the trading bloc represented a remarkable political achievement, NAFTA has remained a facilitating institution whose success has mirrored the ebb and flow in the slow but inevitable economic integration of the United States, Mexico and Canada. What lies ahead for the three countries will not so much be the result of NAFTA as NAFTA will be the result of the strong geopolitical imperative binding the three together. Washington, Mexico City and Ottawa are tied into major global and regional trends that Stratfor has been following over the years, trends that continue to point to a comparatively bright future for the North American triad.

Foodstuffs on Caye Caulker
For such a small place, Caye Caulker has a serious amount of places to eat. And amongst them is quite a variety. I will start this post by saying how impressed I was with the food on Caye Caulker. Bravo to you little island. Now onto the show... Upon arriving from Chetumal, we asked Madi where we should go for dinner – it had been a long day of travel (11 hours to be exact) and she quickly said “Go to Syd’s.” That was a decision we would not soon (or ever) come to regret. They say in sports and business to lead with your best. Syd’s was the best thing on Caye Caulker. Known for their fried chicken it DID NOT disappoint. Being someone who likes to eat and likes to eat chicken, I must say that fried chicken is something virtually never eaten in our house. Luckily Syd does not feel the same way.

International Sources izz

SEALY PROUD TO REPRESENT BELIZE
Among the flag bearers at the opening ceremony of Glasgow 2014 were Olympic champions, world-record holders and a part-gym worker from Ipswich. It is a strange-sounding situation but one which Katy Sealy made the most of after being asked to carry the flag of Belize last week at Celtic Park. In front of a packed stadium and millions of viewers across the world, the 23-year-old proudly led the Central American's small team around the field ahead of her second Commonwealth Games. It was an experience she understandably described as the best of her life and a scenario the English-born heptathlete could never have imagined not so long ago. Having taken up athletics with Ipswich Harriers aged 13, Sealy was just competing at smaller competitions across Great Britain when six years ago her grandfather suggested she made looked at representing Belize. "My grandad and grandma lived out there in the 1960s," Sealy explained. "My dad, my auntie and my uncle were all born out there. "I claim dual citizenship through my dad and about six years ago my grandad said 'could you represent Belize? Would it be possible?' "We looked into it and I had never competed for England or any other country, so obviously it was available for me.

New Study Helps Promote and Build Aquaculture in the Caribbean
Globally, aquaculture is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but the Caribbean has yet to tap into its true potential to expand marine and fresh water aquaculture. The good news is that a recently concluded study will provide the necessary foundation for a region-wide programme to harness more from the culture of fish and other fisheries products. Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), emphasised that: “Aquaculture has the potential to make greater contribution to economic and social development of the Caribbean, provided that appropriate policy frameworks and incentives are provided for stakeholders in the sector.” The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (2014), published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, said that world food fish aquaculture production expanded at an average annual rate of 6.2 per cent in the period 2000–2012 (and 9.5 per cent in 1990–2000), from 32.4 million to 66.6 million tonnes, with growth being relatively faster in Africa (11.7 per cent) and Latin America and the Caribbean (10 per cent).

Have a lot of fun and contribute to important tarpon research
in the Belize Tarpon Tagging Expedition, held Aug. 9-16 and 16-23. Anglers will join UM scientist Jerry Ault and fly-fishing great Stu Apte on the flats of northern Belize to catch, implant satellite tags, and release tarpon. For more information, email Adam Marton at [email protected] or call 312-440-1200, or call Steve McLaughlin at Front Range Anglers at 303-494-1375.

Summer study abroad program caters to UCF biology students
With coral reefs below and the blue sky above, students traded the lecture hall for the Caribbean sea. And their classmates? Nurse sharks, sea turtles, eels and lionfish. As part of a two-credit summer abroad course, 13 students had the opportunity to swim among these marine animals. Biology professor Linda Walters led the group of students. “I am a firm believer that study abroad and other intensive experiences are essential for truly engaging our students and preparing them for 21st-century jobs,” Walters said. In just a week, the course included the study of 60 species in the depths of the Glover’s Atoll, which is about 35 kilometers off the coast of Belize. Considered one of the most diverse sources of coral reefs in the Caribbean, the atoll provides a nursery for sharks and turtles, among other creatures.

Jesuits to merge Southern, Central provinces Thursday
The Jesuit order of priests who have operated at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau for 176 years will, among others, mark a transformation in their regional administration Thursday. Michael Bourg, executive director for advancement for the Southern Province, based in New Orleans, said that province will merge with the Central Province, based in St. Louis. The merger is part of a continuing administrative changeover in which 10 provinces of Jesuits — the Society of Jesus is the order’s formal name — will eventually consolidate into four provinces. The provinces of Chicago and Detroit were the first to merge last year. The new province will include Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The province also includes the Central American country of Belize, where the Jesuits operate two parishes and a two-year college. The merged province includes more than 1 million square miles, six colleges or universities, 13 church parishes, 11 high schools and seven spirituality centers.

Junglecare
In search of a remedy for MS, a journey out of the gridlock of America’s health system and into the jungles of Belize, where medicine men promise cures for everything that ails you. Belize is known for its world-class scuba and snorkeling, its Mayan ruins, and its white sand beaches. But if you know where to look, it’s also a place to buy bottled, natural cures for every imaginable affliction. Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and every day since then I have given myself an injection of a drug called Copaxone, which has a retail price of $60,000 per year. I do not know if the drug is effective, but I’ve felt pretty close to normal for most of the last seven years, so I’m reluctant to stop taking it for fear of what might happen next.

Videos

Video: Melly Sanchez interviewed, 2.5min.
Melly Sanchez is born and raised in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It was her dream to someday open a restaurant. After so many years of managing Caliente restaurant, the opportunity to take over the restaurant presented itself.

Video: Belize & Tikal in 10 Days, 3min.
10 days in Belize (minus the 22ish hours we spent in Tikal, Guatemala). July 2014. Filmed on GoPro Hero 3. Itinerary & Favorites: Days 1 - 3: Cayo District. Drove from the airport to the Cayo, and stopped at the Belize Zoo on the way. Stayed at Cool M Farms in Santa Elena (very close to San Ignacio). Went cave tubing and zip lining with Maximum Adventure Tours. Drove to Mountain Pine Ridge area to check out Gaia Riverlodge, Rio On Pools, and Rio Frio Cave. Visited the Saturday market in San Ignacio and ate pupusas. Explored a little bit of Spanish Lookout. Ate dinner and drank Belekins every night at Ko-Ox Han nah, also known as “Hannah’s.” Day 4: Tikal, Guatemala. Had a guided afternoon tour with a wonderfully into portals and aliens and the movie “Contact” guide arranged by Destiny Tours. Got to hold a tarantula as well as see it shoot acid poo, listened to another guide’s stories about seeing dolphins and other mysterious phenomena in the sky, saw coatis in the wild, and watched the sunset from a top a temple. Stayed at the Jaguar Inn overnight, and left for the beach in the morning. Days 5 - 10: San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Stayed at Cocotal Inn & Cabanas about 2 miles north of town (serene zone away from the party). Enjoyed free use of their bikes and sea kayaks to fish, snorkel, and explore the island. Went snorkeling in Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley with Searious Adventures. Ate pupusas (again) at Papuseria, and the next day ate more pupusas and large quantities of lobster ceviche and lobster burrito at Waruguma across the street. Saw a raccoon in a coconut tree by our pool, as well as plenty of lizards, birds, fish, and other critters. Ate mangos and pineapple from the Greenhouse mart and bought sardines for fishing at Captain Sharks. Every night we watched the sunset in chairs on a dock with a couple Belekins.

Video: I Love Belize by: Yasmine, 5min.
My country is a beautiful place and i love it and now i want the world to know that i love my coutry.

July 30, 2014

The San Pedro Sun

SPTC presents financials to public
Although the figures were presented, hard copies of the report were not made available and the audience had to rely on the power point presentation before them. Members of the public managed to cross examine the figures, with one of the issues having to do with Travelling and Subsistence which amounted to $92,781.62 and miscellaneous expenses which added to $545,524.48 last year alone. “I am not an accountant, but any prudent businessman would want to look at a big figure like the case of the SPTC miscellaneous account and break it down. Add the two accounts and you will see that it constitutes 13% of your annual revenue. Do you mean to say that almost two months of your revenue collected is used for miscellaneous and travelling expenses? It seems that the SPTC has to collect two months of revenue to cover for those two expenses and it something that needs to be looked at seriously,” pointed Andre Perez, a businessman and a resident of San Pedro Town.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Summer Music Camp
Started this week with music teacher Carlos Perrote. Children and adults are learning percussion, guitar, keyboard and steel pan

Tiburon Rum is coming to Belize really soon!
he Belize Rum is winning awards left and right internationally. Cannot wait for everybody to experience it. Ambergris Today already had a special private sampling and the rum is amazing! Congratulations to Tiburon Rum on its latest award!!! We are very excited !! We just won a Silver medal at the Int'l Wine & Spirit Competition in London !!! We share this and all our awards with Travellers Liquors and the beautiful people of Belize!! This make 6 major awards this year!!!!

Misc Belizean Sources mzz

Letter: Garifuna take one giant leap... backward in Barranco, Belize
On July 18, 2014, the government of Belize released through their press office an announcement in essence saying that delivered to the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Mr Gasper Vega from Dr Joseph Palacio, the head of Barranco Village Council, some 39 applications for title to lands in the Barranco area one would presume. See the letter at this site: https://www.facebook.com/GOBPressOffice. The release was written by Palacio. According to the statement, by Palacio and released by the government press office of Belize, it is “a vital step in building the foundation of renewed economic development”. The statement also said this is the outcome of a meeting with the Hon. Prime Minster held several weeks earlier. In the weeks leading up to this moment the government of Belize (GOB) and US Capital Energy, an oil company trying to extract oil from the area surrounding Barranco and other villages, had been working overtime on the villagers to gain their support and to take support away from Sarstoon Temash Institute of Indigenous Management (SATIIM) in an important court case regarding use of land rights of indigenous peoples in Belize. Barranco village is a village of Garinagu. SATIIM has filed a case against the GOB and US Capital Energy seeking that they properly consult the indigenous people who own the land collectively before issuing permits for the drilling of oil. This is a landmark case that will define the rights of Belize’s indigenous groups in accordance with international law to give free and informed consent before the government issues permits to companies which will seek to extract natural resources and their right based again on international law to share in profits from the exploitation of the natural resources within their ancestral lands.

Final series of calculating bagasse prices – Part VI – Cash Flow Savings
Time will tell what these two groups finally agree to do, because the discussion could also look at the cost saved by the factory that uses about 46 percent of the energy in its own facilities. If we utilize BEL’s 20 cents rate, we would find that the company saves approximately $10 million [(107,800,00 kWh x 46%) x 20 cents] in energy costs. This additional argument would then suggest that the total figure is closer to $21 million (A figure closer to what BSCFA estimates), instead of $11.7 million. Even if the payment is based only on the cash-flow savings and the 15.41 percent of fibre, the payment would be about $1.43 per ton of cane. The long run - Whatever method is chosen, it is safe to assume that no business person, including the farmers, would agree to a sharing arrangement that would see the Belcogen plant go bankrupt. Instead, there should be interest in seeing Belcogen become able to supply more power and help Belize become more energy independent.

Scarlet Macaws Taking Flight
Some of the scarlet macaws have left their nests.to go out and start a family of their own. Big up to Scarlet Six, FCD, and the BWRC, whose update says it all. "Two weeks ago we went in with Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand of the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic and our colleagues from FCD for a health check on our chicks at Scarlet Creek. They looked really healthy and sharp and close to fledging. Well, first one left the nest on Tuesday and the second one fledged on Wednesday! This is what real conservation can do for endangered species. Thanks again to our colleagues at FCD and BWRC. 5 more chicks to go!

AFSOUTH maintainers return from MTT in Belize
Ten Belize Defence Force Air Wing maintainers were given the tools to increase their aircraft fleets capability, thanks to the help of two Air Forces Southern Airmen. Master Sgts. Noel Mendoza and Jeremy Jacobs, Aircraft Managers assigned to12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), recently returned from a mobile training team event with the Belize Defence Force Air Wing. “By teaching them the basics of aircraft maintenance management we are helping them build their own program so that they can become self-sufficient and handle their own equipment in-house,” Mendoza said. While in Belize, Mendoza and Jacobs helped strengthen the partner nation’s air and maritime capabilities by teaching 10 maintainers how to establish their own maintenance programs. The MTT was requested by the Government of Belize and the Security Cooperation Office to help the Belize Defence Force Air Wing establish its own maintenance management programs.

Anika Jackson appointed as the new Solicitor g General of Belize
Barbadian attorney, Anika Jackson, who was formerly Deputy Registrar at the Supreme Court in Barbados, has been appointed as the new Solicitor g General of Belize. On August 1st, she will be formally taking over from Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke who has been deputizing since late 2013. She was admitted to Bar in 2001 and specializes in Intellectual Property.

Cornerstone's Self Esteem Summer Camp
The Cornerstone Foundation had their Self Esteem and Trust Summer Camp. They posted some pictures of the art that was created for the project. "Art work done by the children in the Self Esteem & Trust Summer Camp Being hosted by Cornerstone Foundation, this art session was also a friendly competition between the kids to see whose art work would be the one used to paint a Mural on Self Esteem and Trust."

Grueling solo kayak run
Yes, I finally made it! - After practicing for several weeks now, yesterday morning, I took the grueling solo kayak run starting by the foot of my house on the Corozal Bay all the way to cerros mayan site and back. Started at 7:15 a.m. and landed back around 11:45 a.m. The sun was scorching and made the trip a bit harder. Covered a total R/T distance of 5.38 nautical miles or 6.20 miles. The purpose of the solo run was in memory of those families and friends that have fallen as victims of crime and violence, for the recovery of family and friends that are terminally ill and for peace in our communities.

Channel 7

Hubert Elrington Speaks On His Fugitive Brother, Dr. Errol
Last night, we told you about Dr. Errol Elrington, the well-known brother of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington - who has been laying low in Belize - after the US Office of the Inspector General, in the Department of Health and Human Services declared him a fugitive. There is an arrest warrant for Dr. Elrington dating back to October of 2013, in which he is wanted for the federal charges of racketeering, Medicaid fraud and Health Care Fraud. It is alleged that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than four hundred thousand dollars for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct. Those are very serious offences - which carry huge fines and long prison sentences. And, the Inspector General's website says he is a fugitive, who left the states 24 hours after Federal Agents questioned him. We tried to reach Errol Elrington to ask him about the charges but we couldn't find him at the family home where we are told he has been staying. Today, though, we did manage to catch up with his brother, attorney Hubert Elrington, and he told us that Errol's woes were actually caused by an employee, and that Dr. Elrington himself didn't actually do anything wrong:

Tacos Vendor Succumbs
Last night, we told you about the Tacos Lady, "Miss Alida", who was well known to set up near the Atlantic Bank Freetown Branch. She was one of 4 people robbed and shot at her Mopan Street house early Saturday morning. Well, after 2 and a half days, 42 year-old Alida Ascencio passed away just before noon today. Viewers may remember that she was shot in the left side of her chest, and her left abdomen, and she was clinging to life in the Intensive Care Unit. Her family says that the bullet to the abdomen caused massive internal injuries affecting her pancreas, liver, and intestines. In the end, her injuries were too numerous, and she succumbed. As we reported, "Miss Alida" was preparing her chicken for the day's tacos sales at around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday. She was being assisted by 52 year-old Carlos Mayorga, 19 year-old Karina Avila, and 21 year-old Sejhan Avila. Just before 5:00, 2 men barged into the house and held them up at gunpoint. The man with the gun ordered Mayorga to hand over whatever money they had. He opened a locker in his bed room and handed over $2,000 in cash.

Another City Murder, This Time It's An Older Man
Another man was killed last night - and again, it appears to have been a case of wanton violence or being at the wrong place, wrong time. 54 year old Winston Whylie was walking on Victoria Street late at night when a gunman rode up and shot him - for no apparent reason. We went looking for answers today. We warn you that the story does have graphic images of him right after he was shot:.. Robin Schaffer reporting This is Winston Whylie around 11:00 last night, minutes after he was shot on the Victoria street sidewalk. Residents say he was conscious and gasping for air, with a gunshot wound to his midsection. The culprit: a man on bicycle who rode away. Police came to pick him up within five minutes, and the staff at the KHMH tried to save him, but by 1:00 am, he was dead. His family got there too late. Wilma Thompson, Sister of deceased "We went to the hospital me and my daughter and when we got there he was already dead. He was not a person who was violent. His job was fixing bicycles out of Lovely Lane and where he hangs out. I don't know really what was the reason. I can't say until more information comes.

City Has Major Multi-Million $$$ Maintenance Arrears
Up to 4 months ago, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley was having quite a bit of a headache trying to making payments for arrears to Belize Waste Control. Things got so contentious that Waste Control exercised their legal rights and took him to court ensure that pays them. The council owed them as much as 3 months. But, now the council is in trouble the other sanitation company, Belize Maintenance Limited. The company is reporting that they are owed 18 weeks in arrears. That's approximately 1.4 million dollars, and they're contemplating laying off employees to keep the company in operation. This afternoon, Bradley called a press briefing, and he explained that at $78,000 per week owed to BML, the Council will pay when it can: Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor "Every year we have significant obligations in terms of other priorities and I want to be very clear to members of the public. This is a situation that has resulted through deliberate actions of the council and I don't mean that we've wilfully not paid them, but when I took office I look at the Belize City Council Act and the Belize City Council Act says that the major priority of Belize City is to build streets - that's what we are about - infrastructure. And we are putting a significant amount of our resources aside from just the bond. All the earthen street works that are going on, a significant amount of that is being paid for by City Council funds.

Ashcroft Alliance To Court Over BISL Back Tax
13 months ago, the Government nationalized the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize, known as Immarbe and the International Companies, or IBC Registry. They were taken from their previous owner, the Ashcroft-Allied Belize International Services Limited, known as BISL. IMMARBE sold the Belizean Flag as a flag of convenience to international vessels, while the IBC Registry, registered offshore companies which are given tax-free status and assured secrecy in their corporate affairs. During that nationalization, the Government assessed BISL and determined that it owed 30 million dollars in back taxes which Government claims were not paid by BISL over the last 20 years. After a year in court, the BISL finally managed to get its hearing fully heard before Justice Shona Griffith. Outside of court, their attorney, Eamon Courtenay explained to us that his main argument is that the Government is seeking to unlawfully use the tax code as a weapon against his clients:

Courtenay Mostly Mum On Tropic Air Settlement
While we had the opportunity, we asked Courtney about the settlement between Tropic Air and Brett Feinstein's Construction Depot Limited in the land dispute on San Pedro. As we reported last night, both sides reached an out of court settlement. We learnt that Tropic Air will get to continue to construction on its new building and Feinstein's Construction Depot Limited will move to another parcel of land along the airstrip. Today, keeping with the confidentiality terms of the settlement, Courtenay was very brief when we asked about it: Eamon Courtenay "As I said very briefly yesterday to another reporter, the agreement reached is confidential, so I will not go into the details, but all I repeat is that my client is happy."

Mayor Mum On Cari-shores
Today we asked the Mayor Darrell Bradley about reports we've picked up that he has submitted his name as a candidate for the UDP Standard Bearer in Caribbean Shores. We know he's been campaigning in the Shores, so it didn't seem far-fetched. Now, as recent history has shown, trying to get a straight answer from the mayor on matters such as candidacy can be difficult. But when we asked him about the Caribbean Shores candidacy, he gave us as direct a response has he's ever given about his political future. Here's what he had to say: Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor "This election right here I am running for Mayor - that's what I am doing and everything that obtains in terms of my priorities is to be an effective mayor. I think from day one I have said and this has been something that I have meant that I want to leave this city better than I found it. We found a city rot with debt, we found significant challenges and I felt as a resident of Belize City that the council could do more and we have done more and so going forward into this next municipal election which will be in March of 2015, my commitment is to residents of the entire city as their mayor and I am asking people to vote for us not because of anything else but our record of proven success.

The Political Future of Eric Chang Is Nil
So, while the mayor is committed to offer himself up for re-election in the March 2015 Municipal Elections, what about Eric Chang? As we reported, reliable sources tell us that the UDP higher-ups took the decision that he will not be allowed to offer himself in the next municipal convention. Is it because of the unanswered questions about his association, whether real or perceived, with the Citizen Kim Scandal? We asked the Mayor about it, and he says that only Eric Chang can answer that question: Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor "Eric Chang as a councilor, he has to be within the jurisdiction, he has to be working as a councilor and if he is not then residents of Belize City can blame me. That's something that I am responsible for. As it relates to anything else that there is out there that Eric Chang has done or may have done, that is not within my jurisdiction. I am Mayor and I have certain functions as mayor and it is my duty to ensure that when he is a councilor that I work with him and I ensure that he is doing the job for which residents of Belize pay him.

KHMH Was In Crisis
Two weeks ago, the news broke that the KHMH was having major financial difficulties - which was resolved with supplementary funding in addition to its regular subvention. At the time, chairman Chandra Nisbet-Cansino said that it wasn't a crisis, but a June second email from the hospital CEO Gary Longsworth to the chairman, wasn't quite so circumspect. He said, quote, "This matter is now at the point of crisis and there is the high likelihood we will not be able to meet next month's payroll…we have maxed out our overdraft facility where no further checks can be cut, we have vendors calling every day and not releasing orders because we owe them." End quote. He closed by asking the Chair to appeal for emergency financial assistance in order to, quote, "avert a looming crisis at this institution."

Cops Take 9 Weapons Off The Streets
It didn't make our newscast last night, but the police department released photographs of 9 weapons that they've seized in the past 2 weeks. While they've not released the details of how all these weapons ended up being taken off the streets, we note that the department now has 4 nine millimetre handguns, two .38 revolvers, one 357 magnum revolver, one .380 handgun, and that 5.56 galil military assault rifle, which we first showed you 2 weeks ago.

YES Affirms School Attendance For Needy Kids
Today at the Youth Enhancement Services' Belize City office, students received books, tuition fees, school bags and school supplies as a part of a joint initiative by the Y.E.S. and community policing. The goal of the project is to reduce youth involvement in crime, and it is funded by the United States Embassy. After the items were handed out, Y.E.S. Director Karen Cain told us that the students were chosen based on need. Karen Cain, Director, Youth Enhancement Services "We had kids from St. John's College, we had from Maud Williams, Ladyville Tech, Gwen Liz. So there is a variety right across the board and I know that most of them left from here very happy." Lillian Novelo "Back in my days, I was going through some situation with my family members and things like that. I got pregnant in second form at Excelsior High School and Y.E.S. was there to support me and carry me through my life and things like that. So I've really been there with Y.E.S. and through my life now I am saying that I want to go back to school and Y.E.S. is here sending me back to school and making me have a better life in my thing with my three kids."

Carnival Group Getting Ready For Road
It's only July but carnival fever is already becoming contagious in Belize City's streets. For the past two weeks we've seen children practicing at the corner of Amara Avenue and Dean St. just a few blocks from the office. Our intern Robin Schaffer thought it looked like fun so she decided to join them. The Trench Town Masqueraders practice for two hours Monday to Saturday Afternoons, with 75 children.

Armed Assault And Shooting In Armenia
Belmopan police have confirmed to us that a man was shot in Armenia Village on Saturday night. He was returning home from selling his vegetables, when 4 men ambushed him in front of his house. They were trying to rob him, and during the attack he pulled his machete from his truck and chopped one of the assailants in the face. Police say the robbers shot him because he fought back. Those in the area believe that these robbers are a part of a criminal network establishing itself in Las Flores, just outside of Belmopan.

Channel 5

Belize City Man Gunned Down…
There has been no end to the senseless violence which continues to plague Belize City despite attempts by the Police Department to maintain law and order. Following the wake of [...]

Police Seek One Person of Interest…
Late this evening, Officer Commanding Precinct Three told News Five that Police have been conducting an intense investigation since Monday night, and are following a number of leads which could [...]

Second Victim of Weekend Bloodbath Succumbs…
Honduran national Carlos Mayorga, a tacos vendor, was brutally killed at his house on Mopan Street. Three female assistants were also targeted in the gun violence that occurred early on [...]

Fugitive Errol Elrington Safe in Belize…
Today, attorney Hubert Elrington confirmed what we reported on Monday night that his brother, Errol Elrington, is in Belize and has been here since he fled the US after being [...]

Missing Ipad Turns Up in Ladyville Bakery…
What was attorney Arthur Saldivar’s missing Ipad doing in the home of the Deputy Prime Minister’s brother in Orange Walk? That’s the million dollar question right now for Saldivar. He [...]

Arthur Saldivar Alleges Political Connection…
According to the tracking feature, the Ipad was taken to this home in Orange Walk. We didn’t know it at the time of the interview this morning, but we’ve learned [...]

BISL Takes GOB to Court Over $30 Million Tax Assessment…
On June eleventh, 2013, the Government of Belize assumed control of the shipping and companies’ registries that were managed by Belize International Services Limited. That led to a round of [...]

Mayor Bradley Explains BML Debt Woes…
On Friday, employees of Belize Maintenance Limited were up in arms over City Hall’s mounting debt with the sanitation company. BML had been contracted by a previous city council administration [...]

Bradley Says No Caribbean Shores…For Now…
As it concerns his political future, Mayor Darrell Bradley has always managed to beat around the bush when asked about his intention to return to City Hall in 2015 or [...]

Councillor Eric Chang Bows Out of City Hall Convention…
While Mayor Bradley aspires to a seat in the House of Representatives in the distant future, Councilor Eric Chang will not be running for another term at City Hall. A [...]

Ladyville Woman Charged in Carnal Knowledge Case…
An unemployed domestic of the Ladyville area, who in September 2013 was charged jointly with her boyfriend for allegedly luring a fourteen year-old minor into their car, was back in [...]

Belize City Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter…
Jamie Dawson was twenty-three years when he was first accused of a murder but was instead convicted of manslaughter. Now at the age of thirty five, and after waiting eight [...]

There is a new CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
It is pending official confirmation, but it is known that Alexis Rosado, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be moving on as Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala. The [...]

John Morrison is New Director of Archaeology…
A new Director of Archaeology has been appointed to succeed Dr. Jaime Awe at the helm of the Institute of Archaeology. Following a lengthy board meeting today, Dr. John Morris [...]

New Sol-Gen is Anika Jackson…
Barbadian attorney, Anika Jackson, has been appointed as the new solicitor general of Belize. On August first, she will be formally taking the reigns from Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke [...]

Mayor Bradley on Crime…
The recent spate of crime in Belize City, particularly the unabated rash of gun violence, is cause for great concern and while the Belize Police Department has formulated a plan [...]

YES Donates School Supplies…
In time for the new school year, the Youth Enhancement Services has been offering assistance to youths who would otherwise fall by the wayside. The recipients of the program were [...]

Belize Hosts SICA Meeting…Discusses Way Forward…
The Central American Integrated Economic System, SIECA, as we mentioned is the economic arm of SICA and by joining the offshoot Belize can benefit in a number of ways, particularly [...]

Belize Invited to Join SICA’s Economic Arm…
Since assuming pro tem presidency of the Central American Integration System, SICA, a few weeks ago, Belize has wasted little time in addressing the regional needs of the organization’s membership. [...]

CTV3

14 Year Old Student Sent To Youth Hostel
On Friday we told you about 15 year old Luz Clarita Carrillo, the standard four student who was reunited with her family after being missing for more than a month. As we have been reporting, Luz went missing in June after she was last seen by her guardians heading to school. Their searches led them to a farm on the Santa Martha road where they found her at a location known as Green Shed Farm. And while her family is happy to have brought her home, Luz apparently did not wish to return with her family. Her guardian, Maria Lucia Carrillo, told us today that the girl was used and abused at the location where she was found and is furious since no chargers were levied on the person, (a much older man), she was with. Maria Lucia Carillo – Aunt of missing teen “I catch a private taxi and I went and I saw personally his father told me that my daughter was there and I went straight to the police and I told the police my daughter is in Santa Martha Area.”

Police Dismantles Gambling Ring
A gambling ring in Orange Walk was quickly interrupted by authorities’ mid-afternoon today. The video shows several men at the back of this bootleg DVD stall at the market and police advising them of their offence of illegal gambling. This is an offence because gambling rings require a license and permit. While these men have been carrying out this operation for some time, complaints to the station prompted authorities to break it up.

Burlgary Foiled After House Owner Surprised Theive
While those two burglaries are yet to be solved by police, one burglar is tonight behind bars. Around 5:30 on Sunday evening, Reen Thadhani, 46 year old Naturalized Belizean of #43 5th Avenue, Corozal Town, arrived home only to find a male person of Hispanic decent attempting to break into her residence. The individual was about to make himself at home as he had already removed two of the glass louvers from one of the widows. At that instance Thadhani shouted “thief.” And that is when her niece and a taxi driver came to her aid. The driver of the taxi chased down the individual who was apprehended and identified as 19 year old Eric Herrera. Herrera was handed over to authorities and was charged for the crime of attempt burglary.

Car Chase At Free Zone Lands Three In Prison
While police officers were on high alert at the Northern Border on Friday before and during the transfer of four Belizean prisoners, their attention was drawn to a grey vehicle that was parked on the left side of the road on an unnamed street within the Corozal Free Zone. As police approached the vehicle, the driver sped off and police set chase. During the chase police observed when a male person who was sitting in the front passenger seat threw a parcel out the vehicle which stopped a few seconds after.

Corozal Resident Wanted For Theft
Over the weekend burglars kept police officers from the Corozal Police formation busy as they reported to four cases of burglary. The first victim to be hit was Can Jin Chen, a 30 year old Chinese Businessman from Corozal Town who reported to police that sometime between the hours of 9:00pm on Friday and 7:50 on Saturday morning, his white Toyota Highlander SUV with license plate CZ-03333 was broken into. Chen told police that he left the vehicle parked in front of his business place where someone shattered the right glass window that had a value of $300.00.

Manuel Castillo Still At Large
There is no doubt that the man most wanted here in the north is 37 year old Manuel Castillo accused of orchestrating the murder of former Senator and Mayor of Orange Walk Town Ramon Cervantes Sr., whose badly decomposed body was found buried in a shallow grave on July 5th at a farm located on the Honey Camp Road. While Castillo, along with three other persons have been charged for Cervantes’ murder, tonight he remains on the run and has even managed to make it on Interpol’s most wanted list. On Friday, when news broke out that four men who were in neighboring Mexico were handed over to Belizean Authorities, rumors spread like wild fire that one of them was Manuel Castillo. According to Officer Commanding the Corozal Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez, the Corozal Police Department was flooded with calls made by concerned residents requesting information on Castillo’s detention.

Mexican National Charged For Assaulting Police Officer
Tonight a Mexican National is facing charges for assaulting a police officer. Around 5:00 Sunday morning, Police Constable #1054 Diego Torres, was conducting special duties at the Princess Casino when his attention was drawn to couple that was arguing. The constable approached the couple, identified himself as a police officer and asked if everything was ok. At that moment, another male person who was standing beside the couple pushed PC Torres. Officer Torres immediately informed him of the offence committed and told him that he will be detained. The Mexican National, identified as Darwin Loria Alcoser, started to struggle with PC Torres and that is when other officers intervened and arrested Alcoser who was under the influence of alcohol.

Corozal OC Speaks On Transfer Of Belizean Prisoners
On Friday four Belizeans who were serving time at a Mexican prison were transferred back to Belize to the Kolbe Correctional Facility where they will continue their sentence. Hillian Martinez and Kevin Lincoln Smith, both 35 years of age, 55 year old Miguel Perez and 58 year old Francisco Nunez will serve approximately six years at the Central Prison before they become free men. As mentioned on Friday, the men were transferred to Belize as part of the Mexico-Belize prisoner exchange program. Representing the Commissioner of Police on Friday was Officer Commanding the Corozal Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez, who told us more about the exchange. Andrew Ramirez- OC Corozal “I received along with the Ambassador from Foreign Affairs, receive four individuals their names are: Mr kevin Licoln smith, Heliam Martinez, Francisco Nunez and Miguel Perez these individuals were transferred after been sentenced in Mexico in July 2007, by the way it was 15 years in prison, so these were the four that we took over from the Mexican authorities, the ambassador signed on behalf of the Belizean government and I as the Head Officer on behalf of the Commissioner where the warrant as basically saying that I will sign on behalf of the Commissioner and I am safely hand over these officers to the prison authorities and I did that in the presence of Mr. Earl Jones, the CEO of prison of Friday last.”

Bowen And Bowen Employee Robbed At Gun Point
On Friday afternoon three men of Hispanic decent robbed a duo of Bowen and Bowen employees who were making a delivery in the area of Alta Mira in Corozal. Around 4:00pm, 50 year old Felipe Uk and his sideman were making a delivery in the area of Alta Mira when they were approached by three men of Hispanic decent wearing bandanas over their face and brandishing firearms. Two of the robbers placed their weapons Uk’s head and demanded that he hand over the cash. Fearing for his life, Uk did as he was told and handed over a pouch containing an undisclosed amount of cash belonging to Bowen and Bowen. With money in hand the robbers made good their escape by running into some nearby bushes.

Breaking Leaves Lebanese Nationa Out Of More Than A Thousand Dollar Worth In Items
Police is also requesting the assistance of the public in order to recover valuable electronics that were stolen from 24 year old Lebanese Naturalized Belizean, Ahmed Hatem. Hatem reported to police that between 9:00pm and midnight Saturday, his house was broken into and stolen therefrom was a laptop valued at $1,000.00, a black DVD player valued at $100.00, two perfumes valued at $16.00 and a TV remote control.

LOVE FM

Tacos Vendor Near Atlantic Bank Dies Following Home Invasion/Robbery
Yesterday we told you about the brutal murder of 52 year old Carlos Mayorga. As we reported Mayorga was at his home on Saturday morning along with, 21 year old Sijhan Avila, 19 year old Karina Avila and 42 year old Alida Asencio when two men, one armed with a handgun, entered the house and demanded money. After they got over two thousand dollars, they shot Mayorga to the head, killing him immediately. They proceeded to shoot the three women and the news tonight is that Alida Asencio succumbed to her injuries shortly before midday today. Asencio, who is originally from Guatemala was stationed near Atlantic Bank on Freetown Road daily selling tacos. According to her sister, Edith, arrangements are being made to take her body back home. Before passing away, Asencio had undergone surgery for internal bleeding.

Long Time Archaeology Director Replaced
Dr. John Morris is the new Director of the Institute of Archaeology. Dr. Morris who has been in the archaeology field since 1980 was previously the Associate Director of Research at the Institute of Archaeology. Dr. Morris replaces Dr. Jaime Awe who resigned earlier this month. The National Institute of Culture and History and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation thanked Dr. Awe for his years of dedication to the development of Archaeology in Belize. For the past 38 years, Dr. Awe worked tirelessly and passionately unearthing and explaining the mysteries of the rich Maya culture to a countless number of students, writers, researchers, observers and all Belizeans.

Shyne Is Back in Belize
October 28, 2009 – that is the date that Shyne Barrow, now known as Moses Michael Levi, returned to Belize on a deportation order from the United States. Shyne, who is the son of Belize’s Prime Minister, was given the title of Goodwill Ambassador to Belize and just in case you’re wondering what that means…..the rapper himself was quoted in an online publication of the XXL Music Magazine, as saying, ‘I’m a Goodwill Ambassador for my country Belize….My job is really to go around the world for Belize and get people to invest in the country and to promote the country.” Well, since then there has been silence, in terms of what promotion has been done for Belize by Shyne or what, if any, investments were made through him. Today, Love News ran into Shyne at a bakery in Belize City and we ventured to ask him about the progress he has made as an ambassador for Belize…….but he denied us that interview, saying that he just wanted to have his breakfast. Shyne is a Belizean rapper who moved to Brooklyn, New York in his teenaged years and had made a name for himself in the rap industry under Bad Boy Records. His freedom and status in the industry became suffocated in 1999 after he was imprisoned for a shooting incident in a night club while being in the company of P Diddy and Jennifer Lopez. Shyne served just over nine years in prison and was released and deported to Belize in 2009.

Two Years Later, Romero Cleared of Murder Charge
Joseph Romero has been freed of a charge of murder. Romero was charged for murder in connection with the death of Santos Ramirez which occurred on July 23, 2011. Justice Herbert Lord refused to admit a caution statement presumably taken from Romero two days after the incident. Justice Lord felt there was serious doubt as to whether the caution statement was given freely and voluntarily and found that the prosecution and the police witnesses failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Romero had done so of his own free will. Prosecutor Javier Chan rose up to inform the Court, that in light of the Court’s decision to throw out from the caution statement, which was the only piece of evidence the Police had against Romero the prosecution could not proceed. Romero walked out of the Corozal Magistrate Court a free man. Romero was 17 years old when he was arrested.

Victoria Street Murder Adds to Homicide Rate
Fifty four year old Winston Whylie was shot last night on Victoria Street in Belize City. He was on his bicycle when a gunman rode up to him and blasted the single fatal shot. Whylie was rushed to the KHMH but died three hours later while receiving treatment. We spoke to his friends and family and all of them seem perplexed as to why anyone would want to kill Whylie. His sister, Wilma Thompson Whylie, spoke to Love News. WILMA THOMPSON WHYLIE “According to what the policeman told me, they were riding down Victoria Street and in front of the Glass Shop is where he was shot in the abdomen. I think that is what caused the injury and I heard that the doctors were trying hard with him.” HIPOLITO NOVELO: “Did your brother ever tell you that he had problems with anyone, any enemies, and any feuds?” WILMA THOMPSON WHYLIE “I really can’t say. Now and again a one or two threats but nothing really concrete but I didn’t really feel that anyone would want to kill him. He’s just a bicycle man; he fixes bicycles and hangs out. Everyone knows him for many years.”

Forty Cents Per Dollar and City Still Not Clean
Last week Managing Director of Belize Maintenance Limited Laurence Ellis told Love News he was unable to get a hold of Mayor Darrel Bradley. According to Ellis the Belize City Council owed his company in the vicinity of one point three million dollars. Ellis said the non-payment has left a financial strain on the company. Today the Mayor spoke on the issue. DARREL BRADLEY “Reach out with them routinely about certain things. We always with them in relation to the quality of the service that our residents receive we have a committee that supervises their contracts and their work and they are supposed to provide us with a weekly report, sometimes we don’t get that report and so we are always in a weekly basis engaging with them on various issues on the quality of service.

Additional Charge Brought Against Woman In Sex Incident with Minor
Twenty-seven year old Stacy Leslie, a resident of Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District, who was charged last September with aggravated assault of an indecent nature on a 14 year old girl, was arraigned on an additional charge of abetment to carnal knowledge when she appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. No plea was taken because the offence is indictable. She was released on the same two thousand dollar bail that she was offered when she was charged with aggravated assault. Her next court date is August 5. The incident occurred on September 17, 2013 when the minor reported to the police that she was walking in the Hollywood area of Lord’s Bank when she was approached by John Williams who invited her to join him and Leslie in his car. The girl said she accepted the invitation and Williams drove them to Cayo and later they went to Williams’ home in Lord’s Bank. The girl said Leslie gave her marijuana to smoke and then Williams had sex with her. In September last year Williams was charged with unlawful carnal knowledge.

Senior Counsel Elrington Explains Brother’s Predicament
Yesterday we reported that Dr. Errol Elrington, the brother of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General, Wilfred Elrington and Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington is wanted in the United States of America by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to the US Inspector General’s website, there is a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Elrington in relation to racketeering, Medicaid fraud and health care fraud. The warrant, according to the site, is a result of US investigators, who believe that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 US dollars, for services that he never performed. The website reported that Elrington had employed an unlicensed physician and after being interrogated by Federal and State agents fled the United States for Belize. His brother, Hubert Elrington, told the media that his brother is in Belize and he did not do anything wrong, except to employ another doctor to work in his clinic. HUBERT ELRINGTON “I personally am aware that there is a problem because I think about two months ago this report that you are referring to was posted on the internet so you all must have been sleeping like Rip Van Winkle.”

Belize City Mayor Says Residents Need to Regain Sense of Security
Over the past few weeks Belize City has seen a spike in crime. This has raised concern among the public at large, law enforcement officials and city officials. Mayor Darrel Bradley weighed in on the topic today. According to Bradley the many infrastructural works going on around the city will not be appreciated to its fullest extent unless residents can regain that sense of security. DARREL BRADLEY “We are very concerned. I think that development has to be looked within the human context and all of development has a human face. Whenever we lose any life that is a significant blow to the prospects of growth in our city. I indicated recently, I came back from Los Angeles and one of the things that they had indicated recently in the town hall meetings is that they keep hearing these stories of rampant crime and lawlessness in Belize, which is something that hurts every single plan and program that we have.

To Pay or Not to Pay….Judgement Reserved for Int’l Business Registry
More than a year ago, the Government of Belize nationalized the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize, IMMARBE, and the International Business Companies Registry. These two entities were formerly managed by the Belize International Services Limited, BISL. In the process of nationalization, GOB made an assessment of BISL and the results was that BISL owed 30 million dollars in taxes for a period spanning 20 years. The matter was taken to court and it was heard today by Justice Shona Griffith. Attorney for BISL, Eamon Courtenay, outlined their arguments. EAMON COURTENAY “The Commission of Income Tax assessed the company for taxes for thirty million dollars going back for twenty years and this case was a challenge to that and this case was that Belize International Services was an IBC and IBCs are not subject to tax. They are not subject to tax; the Commissioner cannot tax the company.

PlusTV

Additional sex charge for village woman
A Lords’ Bank woman faces an additional sexual assault charge for an incident which took place in September of 2013. Stacy Leslie, 27, was already charged with aggravated assault of an indecent nature but now faces an additional charge of abetment to carnal knowledge. Leslie is jointly charged with...

One man killed and three women injured in early morning shooting
Who wanted a group of humble, hard-working men and women to die even after robbing them? Police have detained three men of Belize City as part of their investigations into that question, following a fatal shooting incident around 5:00 Saturday morning, July 26. Police information is that around 4:50...

Security guard at Caribbean Shrimp suffering from pellet wounds
There was another shooting incident over the weekend which took place in the Village of Ladyville. According to police reports, at about 10:30 pm, Charlie Macintosh received a phone call from Alejandro Calderon, one of his security guards of Caribbean Shrimp located in the Milpa Area, Ladyville Village, who...

Armenia villager fights off robbers
An attempted armed robbery in the village of Armenia, in the Cayo District, was foiled when the victim fought back. According to police, at around 7:45 pm on Saturday July 26th, Salvador Vasquez, a food vendor of Armenia Village, was arriving home in the company of his wife. Upon...

Another Bowen and Bowen truck robbed
Police are investigating an armed robbery which occurred on Friday July 25th in the Northern District of Corozal. According to Police reports, Felipe Uk, 50 year old Belizean Vendor and Deliveryman for Bowen and Bowen and a resident of San Narciso Village, Corozal, was driving a red Coca Cola...

Motorcyclists killed in car collision
Police continue their investigation into a fatal traffic incident which occurred late on Friday evening. On the 25th of July, at about 5:45p.m. acting upon information received of a fatal traffic accident between miles 6 & 7 on the Phillip Goldson Highway, Ladyville Police visited the area where they saw a Gold colored...

Fatal traffic accident in the south
There was a fatal traffic accident in the south on Saturday night. The incident happened between miles 29 and 30 on the Southern Highway. According to police reports, 38-year-old Guatemalan farmer Jose Lopez, a resident of Cow Pen for the past 4 years, was riding his bicycle in the...

Tropic Air case settled out of court
National airline carriers Tropic Air, based out of San Pedro Town, and Construction Depot Limited, owned by Brett Feinstein of the Benny’s Group of Companies, have been at odds over ownership of a piece of land on which Tropic Air is building a $6 million airplane maintenance complex near the municipal airstrip,...

Machete wielding man shot in the leg by police
A man was shot in his leg when he allegedly tried to attack police with a machete. According to police reports, police received information of a chopping incident in San Vicente Village, Toledo District, at 9:05p.m. on Saturday. The cops visited San Vicente Village church, where they saw 46-year-old...

Murder accused pleads guilty to manslaughter
The Supreme Court accepted a plea of manslaughter from Jamie Dawson, also known as “JJ”, 35. He appeared before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, who will sentence him on August 4. Dawson is accused of the death of Maurice Neal on December 7, 2002 at Bismark Club on Queen Charlotte Street....

Errol Elrington wanted in the U.S.
Information reaching PlusNews indicates that Doctor Errol Elrington is wanted in the United States, by the Office of the Inspector General i n the Ministry of Health and Human services. The release from the OIG says that an arrest warrant has been issued for Errol Elrington, for Racketeering, Medicaid...

New Solicitor General takes office this week
Reports reaching PLUS News are that Government has identified a new Solicitor General who will take office this week. Anita Johnson of Barbados is expected to arrive in Belize on Tuesday, and may take office as early as Friday, but official information is expected to be released later this week. Acting Solicitor General...

Amandala

2 die in motorcycle collision with truck
Two men, Duane Pelayo, 30, of Ladyville, who is self-employed, and Gerald Gillett, a security guard of Belize City, were declared dead at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after they suffered massive head and body injuries – the result of a collision between a motorcycle on which they were traveling, and a truck owned by the Belize Tourist Board. The tragedy occurred around 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, at about Mile 7 on the Northern Highway. Police said that the two men were traveling from Belize City towards Ladyville, when at Mile 7, they overtook a car, and were about to overtake another vehicle when the handle of the motorcycle hit the mirror of the second vehicle they were trying to overtake, causing the motorcycle driver to lose control.

Teacher found dead in his house
Family members and friends of Steven Michael, 28, a teacher of the Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist School, were stricken with shock and grief after he was found dead, lying on his bed in his house at about 6:00 this morning, with blood coming out of his nose. Neighbours who saw him told Amandala that there was a wound in the back of Michael’s head. There was no sign of forced entry into the house, at the corner of Jaguar and Tapir Streets, so it is believed that he may have allowed someone known to him into the home.

5 years for .38 Special and ammo
This afternoon, two women and a man were arraigned before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer on charges of “kept unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunition.” The man, Martin Matura, 29, accepted responsibility for the gun and ammunition, while the women pleaded not guilty, resulting in an unprecedented dropping of the charges against them by the court’s prosecutor. Matura was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for the gun and 5 years for the ammunition. The sentences are to run concurrently, so he will only spend a total of 5 years in prison. The women went home, freed of the two firearm-related charges. Before the hearing began, Kimberly Bedran, 21, was sobbing in court. The mother of a 2-year-old baby was worried that she had no one to take care of her child if she was sent to prison “for something I know nothing about.”

Deadly Mopan Street home invasion
At about 4:50 Saturday morning, two vicious killers entered the home of Carlos Mayorga, 52, a tacos vendor, stole $2,000, shot a kneeling Mayorga to death, and callously shot three females, who were Mayorga’s assistants. The women told police that they all were at their home at 47 Mopan Street when two dark-complexioned men entered the house through the back door. One of the men was armed with a black 9mm pistol and the other had a knife in his hand. The man with the gun pointed it at them and forced them into Mayorga’s bedroom. The gunman then demanded money, and Mayorga was forced to open a locker which was secured with a padlock.

Company offers $10,000 reward for missing employee
Discoverseis Geophysical Services, the employer of Kevin Carcamo, 43, who disappeared in the jungle behind Freetown Sibun in the Belize District last Sunday, July 21, has announced that they are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of the missing Hattieville village council chairman. Carcamo had gone on an expedition with a group of 6 other men to work on a survey line within a densely forested area between Hattieville and Freetown Sibun, but mysteriously vanished during their return trip. Since then, intensive searches have been conducted by civilians, along with military and law enforcement personnel, and yesterday, Discoverseis engaged in another aerial canvass, while a team of divers attached to the Belize Coast Guard scoured the depths of the Sibun River in search of the father of four.

$8,000 blackmail attempt lands man and girlfriend behind bars
A Belize City construction worker and his girlfriend, a 16-year-old Honduran minor, were remanded to prison on charges of blackmail and abetment to blackmail, following their arraignment this morning before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer. Edwin Omar Flores, 23, a construction worker residing at 111 Bain Street, and his girlfriend, who is allegedly in Belize illegally, did not have to enter a plea because their case will be heard on indictment in the Supreme Court. Flores was charged with blackmail, while the minor was charged with abetment to blackmail. The court prosecutor, Inspector Hector Rodriguez, objected to granting them bail. Rodriguez told the court that the offense is a very serious one and carries a prison term of 7 years. He told the court that if they were not remanded, he is of the view that they would interfere with prosecution witnesses.

Editorial: Amandala 45
On August 13, 2014, this newspaper marks the 45th anniversary of our first publication. Amandala began as the newspaper voice of an organization which was called the United Black Association for Development (UBAD), founded on February 9, 1969. In October of 1969, UBAD entered an alliance with an organization called the People’s Action Committee (PAC), and that alliance, which lasted until January of 1970, was called the Revolitical Action Movement (RAM). PAC had been publishing its own newssheet, named Fire; so during the time of the RAM alliance, this newspaper was called Amandala with Fire. When the RAM alliance broke up, Amandala returned to being just plain Amandala. The following month, February of 1970, the publisher and editor of Amandala, the late Ismail Omar Shabazz and Evan X Hyde respectively, were arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy because of a front page story in Amandala called “Games Old People Play.” The article referred satirically to an election petition case taking place following the 17-1 defeat of the Opposition NIPDM by the ruling PUP. The Amandala accused were acquitted in the Supreme Court in July of 1970.

From the Publisher
The use of history for socio-political purposes in Belize has begun anew with the recent formation of a Belize History Association (BHA) under the umbrella of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), which is itself under the umbrella of the Tourism Ministry. The newspaper of the ruling UDP, The Guardian, reported in its issue last weekend that the executive board of the new BHA met on June 26; that they will hold a meeting at the George Price Center for Peace and Development in Belmopan on August 2; and that “the first involvement of the History Association will be a lecture and panel discussion on the Battle of St. George’s Caye at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts in Belize City on September 3, 2014.” There used to be a Belize Historical Association around these parts, you know. The official patron was the Governor-General of Belize, and the extremely low-profile organization essentially served as a vehicle for the pro-Baymen, pro-Battle of St. George’s Caye views of a white American who had become a naturalized Belizean – the late Emory King.

Diaspora answer for Major Lloyd
My beloved sister who resides in Belize sent me a link to a letter to the editor in which Major Lloyd Jones demands to know, “Diaspora, What have you done for me lately?” I will share with you what I shared with her. Feel free to publish if you see fit. It seems to me that the Major is poorly informed and in order to sow the seeds of division among Belizean brothers and sisters, he was all too willing to misuse the quote of a famous historical figure who was rallying his people to stand their ground in unity, even in the face of great adversity. The Major appears to be ignorant of certain facts regarding Winston Churchill – who at one time proposed a common citizenship between America and Great Britain and upon whom was bestowed American citizenship.

Garifuna take one giant leap…backward in Barranco, Belize
On July 18, 2014, the Government of Belize released through their press office an announcement in essence saying that delivered to the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Gaspar Vega from Dr. Joseph Palacio the head of Barranco Village Council were some 39 applications for title to lands in the Barranco area one would presume. See the letter at this site; https://www.facebook.com/GOBPressOffice. The release was written by Palacio and released by the Government Press Office of Belize. According to the statement, it is “a vital step in building the foundation of renewed economic development”. The statement also said this is the outcome of a meeting with the Hon. Prime Minster held several weeks earlier. In the weeks leading up to this moment, the Government of Belize (GOB) and US Capital Energy, an oil company trying to extract oil from the area surrounding Barranco and other villages, had been working overtime on the villagers to gain their support and to take support away from Sarstoon Temash Institute of Indigenous Management (SATIIM) in an important court case regarding use of land rights of indigenous peoples in Belize.

We are not Diaspora, but citizens of Belize, and we are doing something for Belize daily
I have always held you in high regard for the service you have provided in the Belize Defence Force to defend our country. Like you and me, there are thousands of natural born Belizean citizens who have served in the uniformed services in Belize and now reside in the United States and possess dual citizenship. Also, there are Belizeans living in Belize who were born in the United States and Belizeans who were born in Belize and became citizens of the United States, who returned home to live permanently. Yet, their rights are being denied due to the ambiguity which exists in our Constitution today. All Belizean citizens are entitled to the same rights and privileges under the constitution of Belize despite their citizenship status. For you and others who think the same, to deny them of their constitutional rights, it is a gross violation of our constitution and a big blow to the principles of democracy.

Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey, comes to Belize for Centennial tour
Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Mossiah Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), is due to arrive in Belize next week, as a part of a historic tour to Belize which coincides with the centennial celebrations — celebrating 100 years of Garveyism — being held for the Jamaica-born activist of international acclaim. Dr. Julius is a vascular surgeon by profession, but he is also the CEO of the Garvey-Chatuye Initiative. “The centennial tour by Dr. Julius Garvey gives Belize an opportunity to get personally acquainted with the Honorable Marcus Mossiah Garvey and his work to preserve Black Africans and Black African descendants’ identity and culture,” organizers say. Emerson Guild, spokesperson for the UNIA in Belize and the Mutual Improvement Alliance (MIA), formed by organizations such as Belize Emergent Corp and Rasta Inc., told Amandala that this will be Garvey’s first visit to Belize, and they are planning a welcome event for him on Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

San Pedro cop charged with extortion
Constable Elvin Nah, of San Pedro Police, whom police accused of extorting $400 from a man he busted with 4 grams of weed, was charged with extortion in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court today, before Magistrate [...]

Crystal meth precursors seized in Mexico
The precursors are believed to have originated in Belize Mexican authorities have reportedly seized a significant amount of precursor material which is used in the production of methamphetamine, popularly known as “crystal meth”, and which is [...]

Villager, 18, hacks immigrant, 46, in Toledo churchyard
A teenager who inflicted multiple chop wounds upon a Guatemalan national in San Vicente, Toledo, this past Saturday, July 26, is currently recovering from a gunshot wound that he reportedly suffered at the hands of police [...]

Belize’s nightmare continues at UNCAF U-20 qualifiers
In tomorrow’s final day of the UNCAF U-20 qualifiers, Guatemala is still in contention, along with Costa Rica and Honduras, for a spot in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Panama and El Salvador are already secure. [...]

FFB calls players for UNCAF qualifiers in September
In preparation for the UNCAF qualifier for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Technical Development Department is calling the first (25) players for tryouts on Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., at the FFB [...]

Easy Does It did it; new national cricket champs
It was a late start, due to rain, on Saturday in Lemonal Village for Game 2 in the best-of-3 games championship series between Brilliant of Crooked Tree and the young squad that is making waves in [...]

BDBA Firms Tournament weekend games results
The Belize District Basketball Association (BDBA) Firms Tournament 2014 continued over the weekend with 2 games each on Friday and Saturday nights, July 25-26, at Bird’s Isle. In the opener on Friday night, Belize Bank/Airport Authority [...]

C-Ray Cycling Club Youth Summer Series 2014 Week 2 results
Week 2 races were held yesterday, Sunday, in the C-Ray Cycling Club’s Youth Summer Series 2014 at the Marine Parade starting at 1:00 p.m. Tiny Mites (3-5 yrs) – 1st Kyron Staine; 2nd Jayden [...]

Farmer killed in fatal Southern Highway traffic accident
A Guatemalan farmer met his demise this past Saturday night while riding on a bicycle along the Southern Highway – he was knocked down by a motorcyclist who was traveling in the opposite direction. Police reported [...]

Has stalemate b/t Green Tropics and farmers been broken?
It’s been weeks since we’ve heard anything about the land dispute involving the 32 farmers of the Valley of Peace area who had received eviction notices from Green Tropics, ordering them to vacate the premises by [...]

Suicide in San Pedro
Woman, 30, hangs herself The family of Jorjana Eiley, 30, of the Boca Del Rio area of San Pedro, are mourning her death after she was found dead with a belt tied around her neck, lying [...]

Standstill in court-connected mediation for Maya vs GOB
Last month, Madam Justice Michelle Arana ordered a court-connected mediation in the unresolved dispute between the Government of Belize and the four Maya communities – Conejo, Midway, Crique Sarco and Graham Creek – which had taken [...]

Patrick Jones

Eric Chang will not run for UDP City Council election
Essentially drafted to run for a second term as Mayor by party brass earlier this year, Darrell Bradley will meet the remaining ten candidates whom he hopes will take him to victory next March at the United Democratic Party’s municipal convention to be held this Sunday, August 3. […]

City Council prepares to end BML sanitation contract
The Belize City Council has fallen behind by over three and a half months in its payments of the sanitation contract with Belize Maintenance Limited (BML). After making one week’s payment last week, the Council is reportedly down 17 weeks’ worth of payments, though it has different figures. […]

Former registry owners challenge tax assessment
In June of 2013, the Government of Belize acquired the International Business Companies Registry and International Merchant Marine Registry, IMMARBE. At the time of the acquisition, the Barrow administration claimed that then owners Belize International Services Limited (BISL) illegally obtained a 7 year extension of the original contract […]

Winston Whylie murdered in Belize City
Repairman Winston Whylie, 54, of Police Street is Belize City’s latest murder victim. He was shot in the abdomen around 11:00 p.m. Monday night while leaving the vicinity of Victoria Street by a single gunman who was also reportedly on bicycle. Area residents say they heard a single […]

YES gives out school supplies to needy students
Youth Enhancement Services (YES) has been working with the youth of Belize City and surrounding areas to build their capacity for development. Their latest initiative in conjunction with the Community Policing Unit provided school supplies for more than 100 students affiliated with the program. YES Director Karen Cain […]

Maya Leaders Alliance still waiting for oil consultation
The Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association say they will continue to advocate for benefits to buffer communities around the Sarstoon Temash National Park. That is where U.S. Capital Energy will commence drilling for oil next month. The MLA and the TAA issued a press statement […]

Corozal teen boy reported missing
A 15 year old boy from the Finca Solana Area of Corozal town has been reported missing and his family and the police are appealing to the general public for help in finding him. Yefri Romero left home last week after an argument with his mother and […]

Blogs

Major Changes in Caye Caulker? A Bit of Sleuthing Around The Closing of The Split
Rumors have been swirling about the closing of the Split on Caye Caulker. Or more specifically, the closing of the Lazy Lizard Bar and the building of condos and a large hotel in its place. I took some pictures a few weeks ago and posted about some huge cement pilings and got lots of feedback. Mostly people crying “NOOOOOOO!” But none of the rumors have been substantiated. For those who haven’t visited Caye Caulker or Belize, let me back up a bit. “The Split” or the narrow waterway that cuts Caye Caulker in two pieces is famous. Deepened by the powerful Hurricane Hattie in 1961, this crystalline blue, deep split is really the center of the caye literally and figuratively.

The 2014 Eco Kids Summer Camp Graduation and Wrap-Up
When we last left our Eco Kids, it was Friday morning, and in spite of being a little sleepy after a very full Thursday learning about organic gardening, turning earth in to mud at the splash party and enjoying another fun filled, creative evening around the campfire, they were up and raring to go. With some happy campers hitting the pool and others opting for more equestrian adventures with Chaa Creek’s accommodating horses, everyone had another big day and afternoon, characterised, as one councillor put it “well spent with smiles and laughter” and lots of anticipation as the stage was cleared for the Epic Song Contest. And Epic it was. After making sure everyone was wellfuelled with a big dinner, the competition began with Team Howler Monkey performing their Eco remix of “Magic in the Air”. Next up were the Jaguars hitting the high notes with “Moves Like Jaguar…” oops, sorry, Mick, that’s “Moves Like Jagger”. Team Tapir did “Let her Go”, and the Toucans closed with their regal rendition of “Royals”.

“Time to Say Goodbye” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
I know that I’m relatively new to this blogging malarkey but even if I do say so myself I’ve taken to it like the proverbial “duck to water.” Commandeer the iPad (not too difficult because John tends to leave his around within easy access of me), whack out a couple of paragraphs. Include a few photos ((OK, I haven’t mastered using either of his two cameras yet (I will though) so I have to depend on others to take them for me)) and, voila – put it “out there” and hope someone reads it. That’s been the case with my previous few editions but this one? Well, that’s an entirely different matter. I knew that I was going to be leaving my Dad Frank. He told me a few months ago when he was informed that his time serving as a member of the British Army had been extended by two years that I could not go with him, as we’d planned, to live in Scotland with him.

What You Can Expect In The Monkey River Jungle Tour
The nature of rivers is the flow of water, carrying nutrients and life from highlands to the sea. During the journey from altitude to sea level, tropical rivers support an astonishing array of life. The headwaters of most rivers lie deep in the Maya Mountains. Here, the forest is dense, tall and mostly untouched. The water is cold and clear as it gurgles out of the group, merging with other streams and eventually growing into a flowing upland river. Wildlife center their activities on these upland waterways. Trails meandering along these rivers are excellent ways to spot wildlife. As you near the mouth of the river, vegetation changes to predominantly mangrove. Some of the mangrove stands lining and the winding rivers are tall and stilted. The mangrove is home to another community of animals. During the migration months, many songbird migrants travel through the mangrove, taking advantage of the large amount of insect life. This habitat is perfect to sit still and bird watch. Easily the most popular river tour is the Monkey River, which winds its way from the Maya Mountains through dense jungle forest and mangrove swamp before emptying into the Caribbean Sea. It is a popular jungle river trip, particularly for its wildlife sightings, jungle walk tours and great tarpon fishing. Both day and night tours are offered from Monkey River Town.

10 Customer Service Tips
The People aspect of business is really what it is all about. Rule #1: Think of customers as individuals. Once we think that way, we realize our business is our customer, not our product or services. Putting all the focus on the merchandise in our store, or the services our corporation offers, leaves out the most important component: each individual customer. Keeping those individual customers in mind, here are some easy, down-home customer service tips to keep ’em coming back! 1. Remember there is no way that the quality of customer service can exceed the quality of the people who provide it. Think you can get by paying the lowest wage, giving the fewest of benefits, doing the least training for your employees? It will show.Companies don’t help customers… people do.

SALAD BAR – WALNUT, PEAR AND CRISPY BACON SALAD
Preheat the broiler to high. Arrange the bacon on a foil lined broiler pan and cook under the preheated broiler until well browned and crisp. Let cool, then cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Meanwhile, heat a dry skillet over medium heat and lightly toast the walnuts, shaking the skillet frequently, for 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool. Toss the pears in the lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Put the watercress, walnuts, pears and bacon into a salad bowl. To make the dressing, whisk the oil, lemon juice, and honey together in a small bowl or pitcher. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then pour over the salad. Toss well to combine and serve.

International Sources izz

No-Take Zones in Belize Could Rebuild Conch, Lobster, and Grouper Populations
The islands of Belize are surrounded by vibrant blue waters, beautiful and unusual marine creatures, and the largest barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere. But even in Belize—one of the least densely populated Caribbean countries—these marine animals and ecosystems are not exempt from exploitative human activities like overfishing. A new report, however, from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) suggests a solution for Belize’s marine life—and particularly coral reefs—to recover: expand no-take zones. The report, published earlier this month, shows how no-take zones in Belize can help both economically valuable species like lobster, conch, and grouper recover, and nearby reef areas recolonize. To compile the report, a leading expert on marine protected areas (MPAs) looked at no-take zones of varying sizes, locations, and regulations from around the world and examined their success based on those factors.

Videos

Video: CAMP JOY 2014, 4.5min.
This year, 2014, East Lake Community Church took a group of 22 students and adults to lead and operate the first special needs camp in Belize. It was an amazing time of worship, play, and education. We can't wait to go back to catch up with the locals and be prepared to serve these beautiful children.

Video: Belize's Gloria Serrano: Central American Shot-put Champion!, 4min.
Belizean athlete Gloria Serrano became the Central American Shot-put champion in 2013 where she beat the best of the meet from Central America and the Caribbean in the Central American & Caribbean Games in 2013. A dynamic Belizean female athlete, Serrano continues to train hard under the legendary Belizean athletic coach Fred Evans, and has continued a tradition of the rise of Belizean women in sporting disciplines in Belize.

Video: Belize Mission Trip 2014 - Day 1 Vlog, 4min.
So I recently went on a mission trip to Belmopan, Belize with a friend of mine named Frank. We had been on many trips in the US but never on an international one. So I decided to do something different this year and did a daily video blog. I hope you like them!!!

July 29, 2014

The San Pedro Sun

McKenna Rockets to host basketball camp
The newly formed McKenna Rockets Basketball Team in San Pedro has joined up with Gabriel “Gaby” Nuñez, Deputy Mayor and Councilor in charge of sports, to host a two week summer basketball camp. Starting Monday, August 4th to Friday, August 15th, the camp will be held at the San Pedro High School Campus. It is for children between the ages of eight to 16 and is free of charge. There are limited spaces and only the first 60 players to register by August 4th at 8:30AM will be accepted. In addition the summer camp will host two basketball games at the end of the program. The games that will be played are the McKenna Rockets against Caye Caulker Basketball Team and ABS Warriors from Belize City against Caye Caulker Basketball Team. A fee of $5 for adults and $2 for children is being charged to watch the games. The date for the game will be announced later. For more information contact William Burke at 661-7205.

District Education Office receives donation from visitors
The San Pedro Town District Education Office of the Ministry of Education received donations from two vacationing couples on Ambergris Caye. Two sets of educational materials were delivered on Monday July 22nd, and will be used as part of the teachers’ training being planned for the summer. Terri and Danny McGuire and Jenie and Karen Morgan are frequent visitors to the island, and on this trip, they decided to bring school materials that could assist in the teaching of the island’s children. According to Terri, a special education teacher from Texas USA, the donation is a form of giving back to the San Pedro community, a place that she plans to retire to in the near future.She said that she also encouraged her vacation companion to do likewise by bringing along the much needed educational materials.

Anabel Kumul officially charged for Felix Alamilla’s murder
According to the deputy commanding officer of the San Pedro Police Formation, Inspector of Police Henry Jemmott, Kumul was formally charged for the crime of murder following the instruction of the Director of Public Prosecution. Kumul is the prime suspect in the murder investigation of Alamilla which occurred sometime around 6AM on Wednesday July 23rd inside a building (under construction) on South Ambergris Caye. According to Jemmott, Kumul, who is Mexican, was apprehended sometime around 7:30 AM on the same day of the incident. He told The San Pedro Sun that police were placed at various exit points on Ambergris Caye and a team of police officers sighted the suspect as she approached a local airline hangar. Jemmott explained that when Kumul saw police, she attempted to flee, but police set chase and quickly apprehended her.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week: That Romantic Spot in Paradise
There are many spectacular spots on La Isla Bonita, but do you remember where you got your first kiss, first date or even where you got engaged? The elderly couple in the picture is proof that true love exists. Every day at exactly 5:30p.m. this lovely couple walks to the beach with their dog and sits at their favorite spot gazing out to sea; they enjoy the spectacular view where, we believe, they shared the best memories of their lives together - and still do every day.

25 Years Ago Lifestyles of San Pedro Differ Much from Today
While Belize City residents depended on government to give them free water which they got from public pumps on the streets, Sanpedranos of yesteryears enjoyed abundance of free water in their own yards. This was possible due to the shallow wells which were dug in the sand. Of course I am talking about the beach lots, the front street (now Barrier Reef Drive) and the middle street (now Pescador Drive). Land on the back street was too close to the lagoon and the wells produced brackish water. The well water was used for everything including the laundry, doing the dishes, bathing and drinking. As you can imagine, Sanpedranos at the time used water very generously because it was in abundance and the wells never went dry. So while today we have to pay for bottled purified water, in the past it was absolutely free. Rain water was filtered by the sand as it seeped down form a gigantic water table some ten to fifteen feet below the surface.

Free Skin Cancer Screenings at Zen Arcade
Dr. Lopez will be doing free screenings at ZEN ARCADE AUGUST 9TH FROM 1:00PM TO 6:00 PM PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GENEROUS OFFER FROM DR. LOPEZ for more information on the Doctor see his website.

Belize Tourism Board Presents New Uniforms to Airstrip Taxi Association
On Friday, July 25, 2014, Minister of Tourism Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. presented new uniforms to members of the San Pedro Airstrip Taxi Association as part of the Belize Tourism Board’s work in improving all aspects of the tourism industry in the country. Members of the San Pedro Airstrip Taxi Association just recently completed a Public Relations and Hospitality Training seminar that was provided by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and the uniform were part of Hon. Heredia’s promise to the association for completing the seminar. Hon. Heredia says that the other taxi association on the island will also be taking the seminar and will be receiving new uniforms upon completion.

Misc Belizean Sources mzz

Letter: Celeo Alvarez and the finances of CABO and ODECO
I am not writing this piece for any personal gain, Belize desperately needs to prepare a cadre of youths who will succeed us. I reiterate that all countries need to register CABO, which is the only way to keep it alive and strengthen it and keep it alive with Sidney Francis as the current president. Sidney Francis and Mirta Colon need to stop being nice. It is not about being anti nor pro, I will acknowledge that Celeo has done some good things for CABO going in the international community. However he is power hungry and I am not afraid to say it to his face. The proof is in the eating. It is in what is going on now. If Celeo was interested in the interest of all black people he would not be doing this, everywhere he goes and undermine the current structure. Everywhere he goes and line people up using his divisiveness of Garifuna versus the other, this is divisiveness. He, Roy Cayetano and the others do it just like politicians, when in the space they are so willing. This is so terrible and it is just since he has no longer been the leader. I understand that Celeo Alverez, the president of ODECO and general secretary of ONECA/CABO, allegedly resigned when he was being questioned about the misuse of funds that came to ONECA/CABO through ODECO as its fiscal agent. Rather than deal with it he stepped away so he did not have to answer the questions asked and now that he believed that it was forgotten is he making another advance to destroy CABO to advance ODECO or regain political control of the ONECA/CABO organization?

TV Interview with PM Barrow
If you didn't get a chance to view Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow's up close and personal interview Sunday night, click on the link

Captive wildlife licensing procedures meeting July 30 in San Pedro
You are cordially invited to join Belize Forest Officer, Ms. Victoria Cawich, and Belize Bird Rescue Manager, Celeshia Tuy, at 7pm on the evening of the 30th of July at the San Pedro Lions Den. Ms. Cawich will be giving a presentation on the wildlife laws of Belize and how they affect owners of captive wildlife, particularly parrots. During the evening, there will be an opportunity for parrot owners to receive full instructions on how to obtain a licence to possess their bird legally and thereby avoid confiscation once the amnesty period ends on December 31st 2014. Also, those with an interest in parrots will have a chance to question parrot experts on the appropriate care of a captive parrot so they may conform with licence requirements, and thereby ensure a long and happy life for their captive bird. Ms. Tuy from Belize Bird Rescue will be available to give 1-on-1 advice, and if necessary, to arrange to visit homes and help parrot owners find a way to conform to the minimum standards required for licensing. This will be a very interesting evening for parrot lovers, parrot owners and those who are interested in wildlife conservation in Belize. We hope you will be able to be there.

Western Ballaz Basketball Summer Camp
The Western Ballaz are having their first Basketball Summer Camp. It starts next Monday, August 4th, at 9am, and will be held at the SHC auditorium. A big thanks to the Western Ballaz for giving back to the community. "It's this time of the year again!! Basketball Summer Camp will be starting on Monday, August 4 at 9 a.m. at SHC Auditorium. Children ages 5-18, males and females are invited. We watched many of these children go from CAMP to CHAMP!!!"

Mexican Assaults Corozal Police Officer
On Sunday July 27 around 5:00 a.m. Police Constable #1054 Diego Torres was in Police uniform conducting special duties at the Princess Casino at the border, when his attention was drawn to a male person and a female person arguing. As a result, he approached the said person and identified himself as a police officer and inquired as to what was the argument about. That was when another male person who was standing beside them, pushed PC Torres without uttering a word. PC Torres immediately informed him of the offence committed and told him that he will be detained. He then started a struggle and he told PC Torres "HUEPUTAS POLICIAS"

Corozal Crime news over the weekend
DRUG TRAFFICKING - On Friday July 25, about 11:15 a.m. Corozal Police were on special operations mobile patrol due to a prisoner exchange that was to take place, and were within the Commercial Free Zone Compound when PC J. Jimenez’s attention was drawn to a grey in color car with Orange Walk license plate C- 00086 which was parked on the left side of the road on an un named street within the Free Zone Compound.

Power Interruption Entire Cayo District
Power Interruptions, 6:00am to 6:30am and 5:30pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday July 29 and 6:00am to 6:30am and 5:30pm to 6:00pm, Wednesday, July 30: Entire Cayo District. BEL to replace equipment on the transmission system in the Cayo District.

12 AF medics depart Belize after training
Three International Health Specialists and three non-governmental organization personnel departed Belize after conducting the Global Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Instructor and Provider Courses from July 22-24. “The most rewarding part of this project was working with dedicated healthcare professionals from throughout Belize. Additionally, the U.S. military members and volunteers of this event put a great deal of effort into making this event successful.” Dr. Gerry Prince, LDS Charities. The goals for the course were to prepare the Belizean providers to train others within their country, as well as improve the overall obstetrics care throughout the country.

Panel warns of Central America’s increasing dependence on Petrocaribe
As Costa Rica debates the pros and cons of joining the Venezuelan oil financing program Petrocaribe, energy experts meeting in Washington warned that countries already addicted to Petrocaribe’s cheap oil could face catastrophe if the Venezuelan economy under President Nicolás Maduro implodes. Most of Petrocaribe’s 17 members are Caribbean island nations, but the roster also includes three Central American countries: Belize, El Salvador and Nicaragua. A fourth, Guatemala, joined in July 2008 but pulled out last November after complaining that Venezuela had changed the terms of the deal, making its oil exports less attractive. In addition, Honduras was invited this February to rejoin Petrocaribe after having been suspended by Venezuela in 2009. Prior to that suspension – which followed the overthrow of then-President Manuel Zelaya – Honduras was receiving 20,000 barrels of oil daily to fuel its electricity power generation plants. Thanks to Petrocaribe, the Zelaya government bought that oil on a deferred basis, paying 60 percent within 90 days and the remaining 40 percent over a 25-year period, at an interest rate of only 1 percent.

TOSTONES
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Trim ends from plantains, then cut a slit down one side. Peel plantains, beginning at the slit. Slice crosswise into 12 pieces, each about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Place in a large bowl. 2. Toss plantain slices with oil and 1/8 teaspoon of the salt. Transfer to a large nonstick baking sheet or two smaller sheets (these can be lined with nonstick foil if they're not nonstick), laying slices flat. 3. Bake plantain slices at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Place a few slices on a cutting board, and press gently with the bottom of a glass or measuring cup. Turn over (bottoms will be lightly browned) and return to baking sheet. Repeat with all slices. Coat plantain slices lightly with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Return baking sheet(s) to oven and bake an additional 5 minutes, until crisp. Serve tostones warm with Cilantro Cream on the side for dipping.

No Churn Sour Sop Ice Cream/No tub needed
Sour Sop as it's know in Belize or Guanabana as it's known in other Latin countries is a wonderfully healthy fruit. It can be eaten as is or you can make desserts from it. This ice cream doesn't use any ice cream tub and no churning. All you need is a hand mixer and some patience as you wait 8 hours for the dessert to set.

Imagine... Corozal Youth Art Exhibit
The Corozal House of Culture is dedicated in developing and promoting cultural artists of all ages. We are delighted to open our first youth art exhibit. Two talented Corozaleños' Carlos Carrillo and Maggie Gray will showcase a wide scope of visual art. Please join us this Saturday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in support and appreciation of their artistic endeavours, as we open this inaugural exhibit. Courtesy Corozal House of Culture.

Part V of a series of six - The Sugar Cane Industry is everyone's business
An alternative approach - Accepting the BSI gross revenue figures is but only the first step. There exists, at this point, a fork in the road in terms of what valuation method to employ. On one end, we could calculate 29 percent of the aforementioned gross revenue of 11,752,577 (based on the fact that on average bagasse makes up 29 percent of cane). This would equal 3.4 million = (11,752,577 x 29%). Since we’re talking about per ton of cane, then we could divide by the total number of cane delivered in 2013 to arrive at a price of $3.17 per ton of cane = ( 3,408,247/1.078 million tons of cane). However, BSI officials would be the first to remind that not all of that 29 percent of bagasse is fibre; on average, 48 percent of it is moisture. Even 50 percent of the average amount of bagasse is less than what Carballo quoted in a interview with the media. Therefore, let us use BSI’s figures that say the company extracted 15.41 percent of fiber out of last year’s cane deliveries. This percentage would yield just over $1.8 million, and would give farmers $1.68 per ton of cane.

Benque Rotaract Service Day
The new Rotaract Club of Benque had a community service day. Thanks, Rotaract, and keep up the great work! "Today the club visited Dona Rosa Maradiaga to fix her chicken coop 'gallinero.' She had expressed that her fan wasn't working and asked if anyone knew how to fix it. The club decided to purchase a new fan for her & members donated money towards this. Members also donated wood, nails, staples to fix her coop. This is our first community service project. It's an effort to connect with the elderly in our town and assist them in anyway we can, or just keep them company. Next week we'll visit another elderly woman as our project continues."

Channel 7

Gunmen Kill Kneeling Tacos Vendor and Shoot Three Females
This morning patrons of the tacos lady near Atlantic Bank on Freetown Road - didn't see "Ms. Alida" there - and that's because she is in the KHMH intensive care unit fighting for her life. Alida Ascencio was one of four victims in a brazen home invasion and shooting which left one man dead and three females with gunshot wounds. It happened at dawn on Saturday morning, when two men walked into a home on Mopan Street with the intent to rob the tacos vendor who was up early preparing chicken. But, instead of just robbery, they turned the gun on all four persons in the house. It's an act of gratuitous and excessive cruelty and Police told the media more today.

BTB Driver Says Motorcyclist Veered Into His Lane In Double Fatality
When we left you on Friday night, it was with the tragic news that there had been a double fatality on the Northern Highway near mile 7. Two men on a motorbike were flung across the road when they collided into a Nissan Navarra. One of the men was found 13 feet away from the point of contact, the other was found 41 feet away. Monica Bodden was out there on Friday night, and she has the full details in tonight's story:.. Monica Bodden reporting The fatal traffic accident happened between miles 6 and 7 on the northern highway - at around 5:45 on Friday evening. Traffic was backed up for miles and for hours as police processed the scene.

Police Say MS-13 Members Set Up Foiled Extortion
Last week Friday, we told you how police foiled an extortion attempt of a businessman in Orange Walk and charged a man who they say was caught in the act during a sting operation. That man is 23 year-old Edwin Flores, and tonight, he and his girlfriend remain at Belize Central Prison. Still police continued to investigate the crime, and at this time they now believe that he is a member of the MS-13 gang. Today, the high command of the Police Eastern Division held a press briefing, and they explained how Flores was caught in the act.

Police Say MS Members Also Set Fatal Kimmie's Fire
And good police work hasn't stopped at that foiled extortion attempt. According to police, 21 year-old Francisco Rodriguez, was with Edwin Flores at the time of their sting operation, and he was picked up by police. Under questioning, he has reportedly confessed to setting the fire on Newtown Barracks which destroyed Kimmies Bar, Business Computer Systems, and Pandora's Café. Viewers may also remember that 21 year-old mother of 3 Jacqueline Arteaga perished in that fire. The Officer Commanding Eastern Division's Criminal Investigations Branch explained how the details emerged about the Kimmie's Fire, and how Rodriguez is also linked to an armed robbery in Benque Viejo.

Foreign Minister's Brother A Wanted US Fugitive
Dr. Errol Elrington, he's well known in Belize as the US-based younger brother of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and attorney Hubert Elrington. But tonight, news has emerged that he's a wanted fugitive in the United States. The website of the office of the US Inspector General in the Department of Health and Human Services has him listed on its "fugitive profiles" page. It details that in October of 2013, an arrest warrant was issued for Elrington for racketeering, Medicaid fraud and health care fraud. The website says Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than four hundred thousand dollars for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct.

9 Days Missing, Police Not Giving Up On Hattieville Chairman
Tomorrow morning will make it 9 days since Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo left his village home; he hasn't been seen since. Hope is fading fast that he will be found alive - but this morning, the officer commanding Ladyville police told us that law enforcement remains committed to the search. Robin Schaffer reporting This swatch of red is the last known area where Kevin Carcamo was seen. Since then, two helicopter flyovers of the area have crisscrossed it north and south, east and west. The blue and yellow lines show the route that the helicopter took in two flights last week. Both of them showed no sign whatsoever of Carcamo.

Caye Caulker Water Taxi Blamed For Manatee Death
On Saturday evening at around 5:30, passengers returning to Belize City via Caye Caulker Water Taxi heard a loud bang as they were entering the Harbor near the Fort Street Tourism Village. According to eyewitness reports, after the bang, the vessel stopped briefly, then moved at a significantly slower pace into the harbor. One of the passengers contacted the Belize Port Authority, and when a search was conducted, a mature manatee was found dead in the no wake zone. Well Port State Control Officer Martin Garcia along with Manatee Expert Jamal Galves held a press conference today where they spoke about the incident and the implications it has for the Antillean Manatee population in Belize.

325 Arrests, Police Say Quality of Life Arrests Paying Peace Dividend
For the past 2 weeks, we've been telling you about the police crackdown on the quality of life crimes in Belize City. It's caused major inconveniences to residents of the city, who claim police harassment and uneven application of the law. But, the high command of the Eastern Division told the media today that they make no apologies for the crackdown. They says that they've made 325 arrests for these petty offenses, and 225 have been completed in the court with convictions and fines. More importantly, police say that the targeting of persons committing these crimes has helped to get gang violence under control. Here's how they explained why:

Tropic Air, Feinstein Reach Secret Settlement On San Pedro
The land dispute involving Tropic Air in San Pedro has been settled. Both parties informed the court today that they had reached an out of court agreement and that the details are confidential. We have learned that Tropic Air will get to continue to construction on its new building and Feinstein's Construction Depot Limited will move to another parcel of land along the airstrip. Tropic Air had lease to an area within which Construction Depot had a title.

Shrimp Farm Watchman Shot
A watchman was shot on Saturday night in the Milpa Area of Ladyville at the end of Marage Road. It happened at Caribbean Shrimp Farm around 10:30 pm. Police told us more. Supt. Chris Noble, OC - Ladyville "A gentleman who's a watchman in a farm in the area did receive an injury that we are suspecting is a shotgun blast. The gentleman has been taken to the hospital and treated and we are looking at who may have been the persons targeting him." Alejandro Calderon received multiple, mostly superficial pellet wounds.

BGYEA and GOB Can't Meet In Mediation
Since BGYEA started challenging the Government over the land in the buffer zone for Harmonyville, the two sides can't seem to agree on anything else. The ongoing court litigation has reached the point where Justice Courtney Abel believes that court-ordered mediation can yield a resolution. We were outside of court today, when BGYEA and it's attorney emerged from the hearing, and their attorney told us that they certainly hope that the mediation will help: Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney for BGYEA "Two orders were given by the court: the first one is a mediation order. Both parties, the attorney for the government and I, on the instruction of my clients, believe that it is a matter in the interest of all that can be settled. So we consented to mediation which will be worked out through the courts. That means we'll get an independent mediator to put the issue on the table and I think that's good, it's always good to try and settle your problems with talking because if you don't then the court will make a decision. The second order that was given is that in case the talk doesn't work out then there'll be full trial."

Police Move Checkpoint To Keep Up With Criminals
Motorists passing by mile 4 on the Western Highway may have noticed that police have moved their checkpoint from that booth where the entrance of the Coast Guard Base is. If you're wondering why that decision was made, the commanding officers from Eastern Division say that criminals found a way to circumvent it, which defeated its purpose: ACP Dezerie Phillips, O.C., Eastern Division "The decision was made to remove the checkpoint where we believe that it would be more efficiently or effectively managed by the right officers out there. Because just having a building and having officers in and around there is a different result than what we are projecting. We believe it would be more effective and beneficial to everybody at the location where it's at."

QR Newspaper: Bze Mex Northwester Border A Smuggling Hotspot
Chemical precursors - the kind that used to be smuggled through customs into Belize by the container-ful - haven't been in the news much recently. But, you can be sure that this important ingredient in the manufacture of crystal meth continues to be smuggled through Belize. The Quintana Roo based Mexican newspaper Por Esto reports that 400 litres - or about 100 gallons were intercepted in a Mexican village named Pioneros Del Rio on Thursday. The articles explains that the pre-cursors came from Belize in a Dodge van and were accompanied by four men, all Mexicans. The paper quotes Mexican Authorities as saying that there may be a narco-lab or a narco-warehouse in Belize which produced the precursors.

Police Shoot Machete Wielding Pablo Escobar in San Vicente
There was a vicious chopping followed by a police shooting in the remote San Vicente Village, Toledo District on Saturday night. The first victim was a Mayan descent male 46-year-old Petrolino Lorenzo Ramirez of the border village of Santa Cruz, Guatemala. He had multiple chop wounds and was taken to the Hospital. Police went looking for the suspect - who they found holding a machete. Police say they told him to drop it, but instead he raised the blade in the air and attempted to throw the machete towards the Police Officer. The police officer shot him with rubber bullets but he was undeterred. The Police Officer then pulled his gun and fired one shot hitting him in the right upper leg. He was then disarmed and transported to the Punta Gorda Hospital where his name was learned to be Pablo Escobar, an 18year old Belizean of San Vicente Village.

Police Bust Weed Move In Free Zone
Around 11:00 last Friday morning 3 people were arrested for drug trafficking in the Corozal Free Zone. While police were on mobile patrol, they approached a grey car parked in the Commercial Free Zone Compound when it sped off leading to a brief police chase. The driver threw a parcel out the window before coming to a complete stop. When the police recovered the discarded package, they found what appeared to be one kilo of cannabis. Police subsequently arrested 39 year old electrician Jose Manuel Matus, 32 year old Noeli Maeli Manzanilla, both of whom are from Paraiso Village in Corozal as well as 18 year old Brian Steve Martinez, a laborer of the Rainbow Town Area in Corozal Town for drug trafficking.

"JJ" Guilty of Murder
35 year old Jamie Dawson, also known as "JJ", is at prison tonight, awaiting a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to manslaughter. He was supposed to stand trial for the murder of Maurice Neal, but instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter when he was taken before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. Viewers may remember that Neal was shot and killed on December 7, 2002, at Bismark Club, located on Queen Charlotte Street. Dawson stood 2 previous trials. He was found guilty of manslaughter at the first trial which took place in 2004. He then appealed that conviction, which was allowed by Court of Appeal. He was allowed a retrial, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict in 2006. Nicholee Lewis, the person who identified Dawson as the gunman, was killed before he could testify.

Community Health Workers Certified
47 community health workers were certified by the Ministry of Health on Saturday in Belize City. The certification ceremony was held after a 16 month long training program which involved new recruits as well as veteran workers. They were introduced to a new curriculum which strengthened leadership and communication skills. At the ceremony on Saturday, Arlette Sheppard spoke more about the updated curriculum. Trainees included workers from the rural, urban and coastal areas of the Belize District, and the purpose of the training program was to strengthen primary care services in Belize.

Matura Takes Gun Plea, Family Gets Free
32 year-old Martin Matura, a resident of 3188 Unity Street, is spending his first night of a 5-year prison sentence, after admitting in court that he was carrying an unlicensed weapon. Police reported that on Saturday, they went to his house, and they were accompanied by the K9 Unit. The dog detected that something was buried in the yard, and when it was dug up, they realized that it was a bag containing a .380 revolver with 3 rounds of ammunition. 49 year-old Margaret Vasquez and her daughter, 21 year-old Kimbery Beltan were present at the time, and so they were charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm, and keeping unlicensed ammunition. Matura went to the station on the following day handed himself in, and told police that the gun was his.

PM: "Up Close And Personal"
In February, the Prime Minister gave a remarkably candid interview to the press outside the National Assembly. It was during the cheque scandal at the Belize Airports Authority and he spoke plainly about corrupt acts by his ministers threatening to cause his government to come undone. After that he said he would address it at length during a long form interview. We were told the PM was having some difficulty selecting a media personality with whom he felt he could do the interview, and so, after five months, his office settled on Steve Duncan, a banker who hosts a UDP talk show. He's not a media personality by any working definition, but he was Johnny-on-the-spot for the PM in what is called an "Up close and personal interview." The 77 minute interview aired last night simultaneously on all channels, and the PM discussed a wide range of issues, including his misbehaving ministers and all the credibility they have caused his administration to lose:..

Major Car Rental Companies In Belize
Tonight the Belize Estate and Company Limited car dealership is having its official launch of the company's rental division with two internationally recognized brands, ALAMO Rent a Car and National Rental in Belize. Those are marquee international franchises and to make this venture a success, Belize Estate Company Limited say they have partnered with a company from Trinidad. Both Alamo and National are owned by Enterprise Holdings - which is the largest car rental service provider in the world with 1.4 million cars and trucks.

No Luck In Commonwealth Track
On Sunday, Belize participated in another round of Commonwealth Games events, with unremarkable results. Kaina Martinez placed 6th out of 8 in 100 meter race, finishing with a time of 12.12 seconds, 20 seconds slower than her personal best. Mark Anderson did not do much better in his 100m heat, placing last at 8 out of 8. The Athletics portion of the Commonwealth Games will continue tomorrow where Martinez and Anderson will compete the 200 meter races while Brandon Jones competes in the Men's Long Jump. As for the Shooting Competition, adopted Belizean Andy Wigmore shot 33 shots out of a possible 50 for the day. He will compete again tomorrow against Canada, Scotland, Norfolk Island and the Falkland Islands.

Channel 5

Bizarre Home Invasion – Four Shot One Killed…
There was deadly invasion in the early hours of Saturday morning. It was over in a matter of minutes, but by then one man was dead and three women injured. [...]

Two Dead in Friday Evening Accident
But at the start of the weekend, a terrible road traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway on Friday evening resulted in the death of two men and blocked the [...]

Michaels’ Death Still a Mystery…
The death of Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist teacher, Stephen Michael Junior, shocked the community. Michael Junior was found dead on a bed inside his home at the corner of Jaguar [...]

Man Dies in Boom while Socializing…
Police have not released the name of a man who died at the health centre in Burrell Boom on Saturday. According to reports, the man was drinking in front of [...]

Hunt for Missing Chairman Intensifies…
Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo has been missing since July twentieth and the search for him has continued unabated. The Discover-seis employee went to work that day and never came home. [...]

Discoverseis Says Reports of Missing Explosives are False
In the wake of the unexplained disappearance of Hattieville chairman Kevin Carcamo, reports have been spreading like wildfire across the community that the company, for which he worked, had lost [...]

Elrington Sought by Police for Medical Fraud…
A Belizean fugitive wanted by the US has been spotted in Belize. Physician, Errol Elrington, a sibling of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is wanted in the United States on [...]

Over 300 Detained for Quality of Life Crimes…
Quality of Life Crimes…they are on the books and are now being enforced as a way to target criminal elements. Over three hundred persons were detained in the past three [...]

9 Firearms Removed from City Streets…
The Belize City Police Department, under its new head of command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dezerie Phillips, at its press conference today spoke of the success of several ongoing initiatives [...]

Caribbean Shrimp Watchman Shot…
A security guard is recovering at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was shot on Saturday night. Alejandro Calderon told Police that he was inside his home at Caribbean [...]

Two Persons Charged After Blackmail Sting…
A twenty-three-year-old man, Edwin Flores and his sixteen year old Honduran girlfriend have been charged with the alleged extortion of an Orange Walk businessman. The couple is accused of attempting [...]

One Man Charged in Kimmie’s Bar Arson…
The arrest of Edwin Flores resulted in the arrest of another Honduran national, Francisco Rodriguez. On June twenty-five, a massive early morning fire on Newtown Barracks gutted two massive wooden [...]

MS-13 Gang Members Rounded Up by Police…
Both the arson and the sting operation that resulted in the arrest of a couple involved in the extortion of eight thousand dollars from an Orange Walk businessman also led [...]

Mother and Daughter Freed of Firearm Charges…
Margaret Vasquez, her daughter, Kimberly Betran and son-in-law, Martin Matura were before the court late this afternoon to answer to the charges of Kept Unlicensed Firearm and Ammunition without a [...]

Mediation Ordered in BGYEA Land Dispute…
The ongoing dispute between the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association, BGYEA, and the Government of Belize, over the use of the road reserve adjacent to Harmonyville, will see both parties [...]

Discussions Between BGYEA and G.O.B. Will Be Private…
While BGYEA and government have been given a forty-five day window during which the matter should be discussed and resolved, the proceedings will be kept off the record. According to [...]

PM Speaks About Corruption in his Administration…
If you were glued to the TV over the weekend, you probably caught at least a bit of the Prime Minister’s extended sit down with banker Steven Duncan. It clocked [...]

…And about his Legacy
And while the PM can speak openly about the corruption of some members of Cabinet, he maintains that he personally has held firmly to his integrity, and that, more than [...]

Female Manatee Killed in Water-taxi Mishap…
It has not been a good year for manatees; a growing number of the endangered mammals has been killed in boating accidents. Over the weekend, a mature female manatee perished [...]

CTV3

Opposition Weighs In On Appointment Of New Ambassador To Guatemala
Prime Minister Dean Barrow is expected to announce the name of the person who will hold the post of Belize’s new Ambassador to Guatemala, sometime next week. That person, who will more than likely be CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexis Rosado, will replace former Ambassador Alfredo Martinez who passed away on the night of July 8th at a hospital in Guatemala. While Martinez’s shoes will definitely be one difficult to fill, It is believed that Rosado has enough experience to get the job done as he is well versed with the Belize/Guatemala Territorial Dispute. While the Guatemalan Government will have to approve Rosado’s appointment GOB does not expect a rejection. But does the Opposition support Rosado’s appointment as Ambassador to Guatemala? We asked Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca. Honorable Francis Fonseca- Leader of the Opposition “I don’t want to comment on it until the government has officially state it that that in fact is their decision, I have heard the same reports that the government is considering appointing His Excellency Alexis Rosado who is currently the CEO in the Ministry of foreign affairs to the port of Ambassador to Guatemala but I want to wait until that is official but I will say that I know Alexis and I believe that he will serve Belize as well in any capacity.”

Cane Farmer's Day Celebrated In Corozal
After a productive crop season, today the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association once again celebrated their annual Dia De Los Caneros only that this time the vent was celebrated in Corozal. Each year at the end of the crop season, BSCFA organize a day with an elaborate opening ceremony, musical presentations, booths, products on display and the invasion of crowd and good cheer from cane-farmers from the eighteen divisions of the northern districts. Reporter Victor Castillo and video Journalist Jesus Melgar were at this year event. Here is that story Victor Castillo – Reporting Under the theme of “Celebrating 55 years in the sugar cane industry, strengthening the development of our small farmers” more than one thousand caneros celebrated their day. A parade led by the Corozal Community College Marching band followed by religious mass, marked the opening of this year’s festivity. El Dia de los Caneros now forms part of tradition and is basically held in honor of the closing of the crop season.

Opossition Says Penner Must Be Brought To Justice
When the Wong Hong Kim passport scandal first broke out in the month of August 2013, public outcry increased when news spread that a Government official was involved in the immigrations scandal. Former Minister of State Elvin Penner was accused of allegedly being involved in the issuance of a fraudulent Belizean passport to Korean national Kim Wong Hong. The passport was issued in the first weeks of September 2013 while Wong Hong Kim was in detention in Taiwan. More than five months passed and still no criminal investigation was launched into the passport scandal by Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie. So, the People’s United Party decided to take Commissioner Whylie to court by filing a writ of mandamus in the Supreme Court. The aim was for the judiciary system to rule that Whylie must commence an investigation into the passport fiasco. In a landmark presiding, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin ordered Commissioner Whylie to commence the investigation. And that’s what got the ball rolling. But today, Penner is a free man; at least for the time being because according to the PUP, they will do everything in their power to ensure that he be brought to justice.

Four Belizean Prisoners Serving Time In Mexico Handed Over To Local Authorities
In July of 2005 the armed forces of three counties collaborated to thwart cocaine run with an estimated value of six million Belize Dollars. Four Belizeans and a Honduran National were intercepted in a boat some twenty-five miles east of Caye Caulker after being chased by members of the Belize Police Department, B.D.F. and the DEA. Mexican authorities were also contacted as the boat headed north. Investigations revealed that the vessel made its way from Colombia. As an international team of law enforcement personnel attempted to board the vessel, shots were fired and a Honduran national, Jesus Castillo Orellano was shot and injured and authorities managed to detain the other men on board.

KHMH's Whistle-blower Speaks On Current Financial Issues Plaguing The Hospital
In December of 2011, Delroy Herrera, a former store clerk of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, who was fired two months earlier, came forward with stinging allegations of financial mismanagement at the hospital, allegations which prompted Prime Minister Dean Barrow to order a special audit of the hospital’s operations by the Auditor General. Herrera had signalled that KHMH management had been violating the hospital’s regulations on procurement in overpaying the US suppliers. Since then, Herrera, dubbed as the ‘KHMH’s Whistle-blower, was accused by the KHMH of stealing 30,000 electronic files, including private patient information, and faced arrest last December. Two years later, his court case is yet to be heard and today he dropped by our studios to share with us his sentiments towards the case and to publicly say that if authorities had listen to him back then, that today history would not be repeating itself. Screen_Shot_2014-07-25_at_8.06.48_PMDelroy Herrera – KHMH whistleblower “It’s already written now and is just to post and log in the court system to get started from there.” Maria Novelo – Reporter “Why do you find it important that you kind of expose what is happening internally at the KHMH?” Delroy Herrera – KHMH whistleblower “Basically, I find it to expose anybody especially whose party claim to be one of transparency and one of those who has tampered any kind of corruption as to them they having their gums coming around doing the same thing they were going to stamp out so I find it more important to show you that you said to do this and do that but you are living in a glass house.”

Mexican Authorities Confiscate Chemical Precursor To Make Synthetic Drugs
Mexican authorities have confiscated 1, 400 liters of chemical precursors believed to be used to make synthetic drugs and have arrested four men, reports the Mexican press. The chemicals the reports indicate were smuggled from Belize. The Mexican Army intercepted the vehicle, a Ram 350 Van near the Pioners del Rio community located in the conflict zone between Quintana Roo and Campeche, near the border with Belize and Guatemala. The chemicals were being transported in seven drums. The four men arrested were not armed and were identified as 28 year old José Alberto Ávila Reyes, 48 year old Ricardo Hernández Reyes, and Francisco Gómez Chanelo, all of José María Morelos town in the state of Quintana Roo. Thirty three year old Crisanto Zapata Zapata of the Pioneros del Río community was also arrested. The chemical as mentioned is believed to come from Belize and were being taken to Pioneros del Rio where Mexican authorities suspect smugglers have a drug lab and which they are presumably trying to locate.

PUP Leader Disagrees With Proposed Payment Of Fifty One Cents Per Ton Of Bagasse For Cane Farmers
Presently, negotiations between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and the Belize Sugar Industries Limited on the payment of bagasse, is at a standstill. There is no telling when negotiations will resume after the membership of the BSCFA rejected BSI’s proposal of 51 cents payment per ton of the by-product used by the company to produce electricity which is then sold to the national grid. During Sunday’s Annual General meeting, which is where cane farmers rejected BSI’s proposal, the association was tasked to resume negotiations to be completed by October 15th with the Sugar Industry Control Board acting as intermediary. While BSI is willing the to pay cane farmers 51 cents per ton of bagasse, cane farmers are asking for $10.00 but are willing to settle for a little less, how much is left to be seen. The situation has caused uproar in the Sugar Industry as both sides are making it their business to make their story known. And while sentiments vary, we asked Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca to weigh in on the issue. And apparently he is also not satisfied with BSI’s 51 cents per ton of bagasse offer.

PUP Disappointed In Outcome Of Penner Case
The fact that the case against former Minister of State Elvin Penner, for his alleged involvement in the Wong Hong Kim passport scandal, was dismissed yesterday at the Belmopan Magistrates Court due to lack of evidence, did not come as a surprise to Belizeans. COLA, the organization that took Penner to court, has 21 days to appeal the case that was struck out after four adjournments, and that is exactly what they intend to do. The case against Penner began on March 27th after he was charged for two immigration offences. The case fell through since COLA could not get its hands on the investigative file basically stashed away by Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie, who COLA requested, be summoned to court so he could hand over the investigative file. That application however, was denied by Magistrate Aretha Ford and the case was thrown out. As mentioned at the top of the story there are those who are not surprised with yesterday’s outcome, amongst them, is Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca.

Electrical Malfunction Causes Fire In Black Water
Yesterday we told you about a fire in the Black Creek Water area of Orange Town that left a family of four homeless. When our news crew left the scene, fire personnel were rummaging through the remains in hope of deciphering what caused the blaze. Today we got an update from Fire Chief, Kenneth Mortis, who informed us of the source of the fire. Kenneth Mortis – Fire Chief, OW Fire Service “We did conclude after investigation that the fire was as a result of an electrical malfunction that the Jones family sustained within the premises.” Maria Novelo – Reporter “We understand too that they were sharing electricity, could that has been the cause?” Kenneth Mortis – Fire Chief, OW Fire Service “If the truth been told that they were sharing electricity, that could have very well be a factor, electricity sharing between houses that is fully furnished with all the electrical commodities it tend to draw more than what one house can sustain, there may be speculations that that was the case then if that is the case then if could be a factor, I am not at a position to disclose whether that was been done or not but like I partially told you guys yesterday from our finding son the fire scene we can conclude that the fire did started out of an electrical malfunction.”

Extortionist Taken To Court
Yesterday we broke the story of the Orange Walk businessman who lives on the Chan Pine Ridge Road that became the latest victim of extortion. While we told you that an operation was launched by police and that a woman was detained by authorities while the money transaction took place in Belize City there was not much that we could have revealed since the matter was under investigation. But tonight police have official released the details of the case and have even charged two persons including a 15 year old Guatemalan female minor. He is no other than 23 year-old Edwin Flores who allegedly tried to extort Wilbert Valencia of $8,000.

LOVE FM

Prime Minister Speaks on Corruption and His Administration
Dean Oliver Barrow has been Belize’s Prime Minister since 2008 when the United Democratic Party garnered 25 of the 31 seats in the House of Representatives during the general election. Four years later, in an early call for election, Barrow was granted a second term as Prime Minister, albeit by a slimmer margin. It was a historical time for Belize when Barrow first emerged as the country’s leader in 2008 since it was the first time that Belize had elected a Prime Minister of Creole descent. For many, it was also dubbed historical, as Barrow’s victory was gained on a platform of helping the poor, taking out corruption and roping in those who were excluded from opportunities and assistance by the previous administration. Five and a half years later, with curve balls thrown at Barrow via the speculations, accusations and acts of some of his Cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister gave an up close and personal interview with his long-time friend and supporter, Stephen Duncan; that interview was aired on some local channels this past weekend. Prime Minister touched on various issues, corruption being one of them.

Home Invasion of Tacos Vendors Leaves Family Mourning and In Prayer
“At around 5 o’clock on Saturday morning, 52-year-old, Carlos Mayorga; 21-year-old, Sijhan Avila and 42-year-old, Alida Asencio were at their home on Mopan Street in Belize City preparing for work. 19-year-old, Karina Avila was still sleeping in one of the rooms. Suddenly, two men with t-shirts over their faces, one brandishing a 9mm pistol and the other a knife, barged in through the back door and immediately took the trio into Mayorga’s room. There the two men demanded money. We understand that Mayorga told the men that he forgot where he had place the key for the money drawer. He was immediately pistol whipped. At this point Asencio ran into the room where Karina Avila was sleeping. The gunman ran after her and instructed both Asencio and Avila into Mayorga’s room. We were told that Mayorga took out a machete to force the money draw open. He was then ordered to his knees and fatally shot.”

Police Awaits Post Mortem Results for Michaels
Last Friday the body of twenty eight year old Steven Michael Jr. was found inside his bedroom at his home on Tapir Street in Belize City. Police at the moment are treating the matter as sudden death but Michael’s family believes that he was murdered. Today Senior Superintendent of Police, Commanding Precinct 2, Alford Grinage, updated the media in regards to that investigation. SR. SUPT. ALFORD GRINAGE “Since then we have begun an investigation because after speaking to relatives and the father of the deceased person we have learned that there are some items that are missing from the residence. We learned that there is a flat screen TV that is missing, a laptop computer, his wallet and also a cellphone that was taken from the residents. We are not at this time able to say if these items were taken upon his death or before so that matter is still under investigation and we are following other leads. The post mortem is being conducted tomorrow and from there we will know what to do from there; if it’s a murder or a natural death.

Belize Institute of Management Celebrates 40 Years
The Belize Institute of Management (BIM) has been in existence for over forty years. With its structure being a landmark in Belize City in the West Landivar area, for the last twenty years, the institute has progressed over the years in terms of the varied topics offered in short term training courses. Love News met up with Rainaldo Guerrero, Chairman for the Belize Institute of Management, who gave us an overview of the facility and what they offer. “We are a management training organization. We do short term training for most businesses in Belize throughout the country but strictly within the areas of management which include finance, marketing production, lots of soft skills for businesspeople, some technical skills and so on. We don’t do long term training like what the sixth forms do or the Universities would do. What we do is, in fact, the icing on the cake on what others have done.

Couple Robbed and Husband Shot for Their Vegetable Earnings
A businessman from Armenia Village is recovering from gunshot wounds. Correspondent Fem Cruz has the details. FEM CRUZ “A business man of Armenia Village on the Hummingbird highway is in serious condition after he was shot several times. According to the wife, Iris Vasquez, on Thursday evening, July 24 sometime around 4 o’clock, she and her husband Salvador Vasquez left home in their white Isuzu truck en route to Punta Gorda to sell wholesale vegetables. On their way back home on Saturday, July 26 around 7:30pm they were held up at gun point in front of their home by two armed masked men demanding all the money they had. They refused to and at that point her husband was shot.” IRIS VASQUEZ “Thursday evening I left my home at 4 o’clock and I reached Dangriga then I left Dangriga to go straight to PG. Saturday when I came after I sold my vegetables, when I reached home about 7:30PM I saw a vehicle stop in front of the junction to my house. My husband then asked ‘what happened to this man; maybe they’re drunk’. My husband started the truck and that’s when two men came out of their vehicle. One went directly to my husband and the other came to me. One of them put the gun to my head and he told me to give him my wallet and I told him that it’s not his and when he had the gun to my head I took it and hit him and he fell. I jumped out of the truck and hid in a Hibiscus bush. I stayed there and I saw when these men shot my husband and I prayed for God to help me and I started crying for people to hear me. Only Jesus could have saved my life in that case because the man already had the gun to my head.”

Shotgun Blast Injures Watchman at Shrimp Farm
A man was shot over the weekend. Police say that Charlie Macintosh reported that on Saturday night at around 10:30 he was informed that one of his security guards was shot at his shrimp farm. When he rushed to the scene he saw one Alejandro Calderon suffering from multiple pellet wound all over the body. Calderon shared that while he was inside his quarters he heard a noise outside. When he went out to check, someone fire a single shot in his direction. ASP Christopher Noble shared more. ASP CHRISTOPHER NOBLE “We got that information late Saturday night, early into Saturday morning. We understand that earlier in the night a gentle man who is a watchman on a farm in the area did receive an injury that we are suspecting is from a shotgun blast. The gentleman was taken to the hospital and treated. We are looking into who may have been the persons targeting him or if he was just in an area where someone may have fired a shot and injured him, we are not certain of how and why at this stage but it is on the investigation and we are looking into it.”

Investigation into Missing Chairman Intensifies
Chairman of Hattieville, 43-year-old, Kevin Carcamo is still missing. A ten thousand dollar reward has been put forward by the Discoverseis Company for information leading to the safe return of Carcamo. Today, Executive Officer of Rural Belize, ASP Christopher Noble, updated the media on the search for the missing chairman. ASP CHRISTOPHER NOBLE “The investigation is still ongoing with the search for the chairman. We are still hoping for the best outcome. We are not in a position, at this stage, to say that we are not going in a positive direction; we are going in a positive direction. It will now become something quite uncomfortable for some people, our investigation has to be done and it has to be done thoroughly. As a colleague of mine mentioned, no stone will be left unturned. We have started doing a more intense investigation strategy and now we will be holding onto persons for clarity with regards to our investigations. We are still having active searches in certain areas and we expanded that search over the weekend with persons going into these areas to physically check particular places, the Coast Guard is still on board with us. We are still looking of Mr. Carcamo and we are hoping for the best outcome.”

Dawson Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Third Murder Trial
Thirty-five year old Jamie Dawson, charged with the murder of Maurice Neal, pled guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter when he appeared today before Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin. Dawson will be sentenced on Monday, August 4. Neal was shot and killed on December 7, 2002, at Bismark Club, located on Queen Charlotte Street. Dawson was tried two previous times for murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter at the first trial which was held in 2004. He appealed and his appeal was allowed by Belize Court of Appeal and a retrial was ordered. The jury was unable to reach a verdict at the retrial which was held in 2006. Nicholee Lewis, the person who had identified Dawson as the gunman, was killed. Dawson was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre. Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith represented the prosecution.

Matura Gets Five Years for Buried Revolver
Thirty year old Martin Matura, a resident of Unity Street, was given two five year sentences today by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser after he pled guilty to kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license. The sentences are to run concurrently, so Matura will only serve five years. Two other persons were charged jointly with Matura, but the charges against them were withdrawn. The Police reported that on July 26 they went to Matura’s residence along with their K9 Unit. They said that when they went to the yard near to where the bathroom is situated, the dog indicated to them that something was buried there. They said when they dug about four inches into the ground they found a black plastic bag that contained one .380 revolver with three rounds of ammunition. Only the women were at home at the time but by the following day Matura went to the police station and handed himself in. He told the police that the firearm was his. As a result, he and the women were arrested and charged.

U.S. Wants Elrington For Health Care Fraud
Tonight, there is news coming out of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that involves a Belizean relative to Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington. According to a published page on the US Inspector General’s website, there is a warrant for the arrest of Errol Elrington which was issued last October. The warrant, according to the site, is a result of racketeering, Medicaid fraud and health care fraud. US investigators are of the belief that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 US dollars, for services that he never performed. In addition, it is believed that he had employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct. Elrington was reportedly a licensed physician who practiced medicine in the Redford, Michigan area and was the owner of a private medical centre, Elrington Medical Centre PLLC. But while he had his own company, he held the position of the Chief Medical Officer at another medical facility unaffiliated with his clinic.

PlusTV

Patrick Jones

Dr. Errol Elrington listed as a fugitive wanted in the U.S.
The Office of Inspector General within the United States Department of Health and Human Services has listed Dr. Errol Elrington on its list of Most Wanted Fugitives. Dr. Elrington who is the proprietor of Elrington Medical Center in the Michigan area of the US is wanted on […]

Teenager found; family upset with the authorities
A 15 year old girl Orange Walk girl who was missing back in June has been found; but her family is not happy with the way the case is being treated. Because of her age, the name of the child is being withheld, but confirmed reports are […]

BGYEA sent to mediation with Government
This morning, the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association (BGYEA) returned to court for a case management conference as it looks for a way past the Government, who wants it to desist from a planned initiative to plant corn in the Harmonyville buffer zone with the George Price Highway. […]

Tropic Air land case settled out of court
The San Pedro-based airline Tropic Air and Construction Depot Limited, owned by Brett Feinstein of the Benny’s Group of Companies, have been at odds over ownership of a piece of land on which Tropic Air is building a $6 million airplane maintenance complex near the municipal airstrip. Construction […]

New Solicitor General takes office this week
Reports say that Government has identified a new Solicitor General who will take office this week. The new senior attorney has been identified as Anita Johnson of Barbados, who is expected to arrive in Belize tomorrow and may take office as early as Friday, but official information is […]

Belize hosts SICA economic integration meeting
Belize recently took over the pro-tem presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA). For the next six months, it will lead the isthmus’ discussions on major issues of the day. It hosted its first meeting today and we spoke with CEO in the Ministry of National Security, […]

David Gegg owes Social Security
Sixty-four year old David Gegg, the owner of Cruise Solutions and Sun Dancer Belize limited, was charged with 2 counts of failure to make Social Security contributions no later than 14 days after the end of each month. This was in respect to the number of persons employed […]

Man jailed for unlicensed gun and ammunition
Thirty year old Martin Matura, a resident of 3188 Unity Street, was sentenced to two five-year terms by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser after pleading guilty to keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license. Senior Magistrate Fraser stipulated that the sentences are to run concurrently, therefore Matura […]

Armed men hold up delivery truck in Corozal
A pair of employees of Bowen and Bowen were held up and robbed at gunpoint on Friday afternoon. Felipe Uk and his sideman were in the process of making a delivery in the Alta Mira area of Corozal when they were accosted by three armed Hispanic men wearing […]

Tropical Wave shows signs of development
Conditions will become highly favourable later this week the development of a Tropical Wave as it approaches the Eastern Caribbean. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center says that the Tropical Wave, which is located several hundred miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, is currently producing disorganized cloudiness and thunderstorms. But the NHC says that environmental conditions will become favourable for gradual development. Forecast models increase the possibility for development to 30 percent in the next couple of days, but by the weekend, the chances of development goes up to 70 percent. The Tropical Wave is moving westward at 10 to 15 miles per hour.

The things you see on the George Price Highway
Every now and then while out covering stories, my reporters would come across incidents they were not specifically assigned to cover. One such incident was witnessed on Sunday afternoon. A pickup truck was transporting many more passengers that it was license to carry. And what’s more, those passengers were being transported in a manner which is clearly a danger to everyone in the vehicle. This incident was captured on the George Price Highway on Sunday afternoon on the approach to Hattieville village. Our reporters counted as many as two dozen people packed into the back of the small pickup truck. And there were people crammed into the front as well.

Blogs

My Lovely Neighbors: Mata Rocks Resort, Ambergris Caye, Belize
I have posted photos of Mata Rocks Resort since the very beginning of my blog (June 2011 if it comes up on Belize Jeopardy). Mata Rocks is the small, lovely hotel just north of me and one of my very favorite beach bars - both for the scenery and for the bartenders. My friend, Jamie, who was visiting for two weeks found that her allergies to my cat pack were kicking into gear. She decided to take a short air conditioned/dander-free holiday next door at Mata Rocks. And for me? It was the perfect time to take advantage of her frailties and take a few pictures. Let’s start outside at the Squirrel’s Nest – the uber-cute, white washed palapa bar with the lovely pink and lavender stools. The nest was also named BEST HIDDEN BEACH BAR GEM on my last “Best Bars of San Pedro List”. It’s a very cool spot to spend a late afternoon. ALSO, a super fun fact, did you know that the original BC’s Beach Bar (the now closed but FAVORITE beer drinking spot) was first located right here at Mata Rocks?

OIG Fugitive: Errol Elrington
On October 7, 2013, an arrest warrant was issued for Errol Elrington, M.D., for racketeering, Medicaid fraud, and health care fraud. Investigators believe that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct. According to the Felony Complaint, Elrington was a licensed physician practicing in the Redford, Michigan, area, and was the owner of a private medical center, Elrington Medical Center PLLC (EMC). Elrington allegedly employed an unlicensed physician to treat patients at EMC when he was not there, then billed Medicare and Medicaid as if he performed the services. Though he was the owner of EMC, Elrington spent most of his time employed as the chief medical officer at another medical facility that was unaffiliated with EMC.

Major Study: Monsanto GMO Corn Can Cause Damage to Liver and Kidneys
A scientific study that identified serious health impacts on rats fed on ‘Roundup ready’ GMO maize has been republished following its controversial retraction under strong commercial pressure. Now regulators must respond and review GMO and agro-chemical licenses, and licensing procedures. A highly controversial paper by Prof Gilles-Eric Séralini and colleagues has been republished after a stringent peer review process. The chronic toxicity study examines the health impacts on rats of eating a commercialized genetically modified (GM) maize, Monsanto’s NK603 glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup.

SALAD BAR – ROAST BEEF SALAD
Preheat the oven to 425. Rub the beef with pepper to taste and Worcestershire sauce. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a small roasting pan over high head, add the beef, and sear on all sides. Transfer the dish to the preheated over and roast for 30 minutes. Remove and let cool. Bring a large pan of water to a boil, add the beans and cook for 5 minutes, or until just tender. Remove with slotted spoon and refresh the beans under cold running water. Drain and put into a large bowl.

International Sources izz

You'll Spend All Day On This Gorgeous Drone Map
Think of it as a better version of Google Street View, because it has drones. A new website, TravelByDrone, lets people from around the globe pin their own drone videos to a massive world map. TravelByDrone makes sure each video that makes it to the map is high quality and isn't overly promotional. There are currently 3,500 videos -- from all seven continents -- on the site. "We want to give you the chance to discover the world from the perspective of drones," the company said on its website. For example, you can soar over a zebra stampede in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Or hover over the fog in San Francisco to watch the sunrise.

Why We Love the Tropics – 100 Colors of Hibiscus!
What’s your favorite part about the tropics? Is it the warm sea breezes? Maybe the laid-back lifestyle? Maybe it’s just the idea of being in a land that offers more freedom. Or maybe getting some of your life back by having great domestic help? Today, let’s see some Hibiscus! First, you have to understand that these flowers are HUGE!

Coach helps start track and field camp in Belize
An Oral Roberts University coach helped start a track and field camp this summer at the Marion Jones Sport Complex in Belize. ORU assistant track and field coach Shawn Venable partnered with the Belize Athletic Association to host the free camp that drew more than 40 athletes, ranging from children to members of the Belizian National Team in attendance. The attendees worked on everything from general strength exercises to fine tuning their skills. Both Venable and the Belize Athletic Association plan to continue holding the camp each year.

Videos

Video: TV Interview with PM Barrow, 1hr 17min.
If you didn't get a chance to view Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow's up close and personal interview last night, click on the link.

Video: Cahal Pech - Cayo District of Belize, 2min.
Cahal Pech is a Maya site located near the Town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize. The site was a palatial, hilltop home for an elite Maya family, and though most major construction dates to the Classic period, evidence of continuous habitation has been dated to as far back as far as 1200 BCE during the Early Middle Formative period (Early Middle Preclassic), making Cahal Pech one of the oldest recognizably Maya sites in Western Belize.

Video: Branch Mouth - Mopan River, 2min.
Branch Mouth is the meeting place of the Mopan River, coming from Guatemala, and the Macal River, flowing down from Mountain Pine Ridge. The confluence of these rivers forms the beginning of the Belize River, which flows northeast to the sea.

Video: belize 2014, 15min.
i filmed my family vacation this year… hope you enjoy sorry its a little long there was a lot of footage :)

Video: Missions Boot Camp 2014, 8min.
Highlights from our Missions Bootcamp this summer where kids trained, mentally and physically, for missions trips to NYC and Belize.

July 28, 2014

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Chocolate Cake
“Hello, Lupe. How are you doing?” “I’m doing well, thank you,” Lupe said. “And how are you this morning Anna?” “I’m alright,” Anna said. I was sitting the deck at the Holiday Hotel, drinking my morning coffee when these two local ladies came in and sat at the table next to me. “How is the […]

Tropic Air announces increase in service Roatan, Honduras
Press Release San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, July 24, 2014 “We are very excited to be increasing our service to Roatan in response to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of our passengers”, said John Greif III, President of Tropic Air. “Roatan has become an important part of our network, and a source of growing tourism […]

Caye Caulker Police Report
Minor Sexually Exploited On Monday 14th July, 2014 at about 3:30pm one, Doris Maldonado 40 year old(D.OB. 12/5/75) Honduran National. Domestic of Caye Caulker Village visited the Caulker Police station along with her daughter who is minor of 15 years old and reported that her daughter reported to her that she has been having sexual […]

Doctor Love: Gossip and Relationships
Readers, please send your letters. They can be emails, formal letters or handwritten notes. They are edited solely for grammar and spelling. Also, they are sometimes edited for length. Dear Doctor Love, I have a best friend who I have always been able to talk to about anything. I tell her my troubles and she […]

Misc Belizean Sources mzz

Georgina "Gina" Eiley. Passes Away
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its deepest condolences to the Eiley family on the passing of Georgina "Gina" Eiley. May her soul rest in peace. Gina was the daughter of Mr. George and Atlantida "Tanta" Eiley.

Part IV of a series of six - Calculating Belcogen’s gross revenue
At this point, we must recall some of the norms discussed in Part III. If BSI has the minimum standard output of kilowatt hours (100 kWh) per ton of cane, then last year’s crop (of 1,078,000 tons of cane) would have had the potential to produce about 107,800,000 kWh. We’ve already established that most mills keep between 45 to 50 percent of this energy output for their own uses. If the factory uses, for argument sake, 46 percent of that total output, and only sells the surplus 54% percent to BEL, it would generate gross revenues of $11,758,824 =[ (107,800,000 x 54%) x 20 cents]. It’s important to note that this figure is awfully close to the gross revenue figures alluded to in BSI’s newspaper ad. (If 97% of its gross revenue is $11.4 million, then 100% gross revenue would be about $11.7 million).

The Reporter

BGYEA preparing for court with meeting Sunday
The Belize Grass Roots Empowerment Association (BGYEA) held a membership meeting on Sunday morning at Harmonyville to inform members about the association’s upcoming case to answer for trespassing at the Supreme Court. The meeting drew a crowd of just over 100 members who all had to cross the buffer zone to get to the meeting area because of lack of roads in that particular area. BGYEA President, Nigel Petillo informed the members present that by crossing the buffer zone to get to the meeting they had all broken the law, which, states that it is illegal to walk or fly over the buffer area. Petillo told The Reporter that the meeting was important to keep their membership informed about the status of BGYEA’s litigation as well as to deal with internal matters such as land ownership and fees.

Mexican woman charged with common-law husband’s murder
Annabel Kumul, a 36 year-old Mexican of Quintana Roo is remanded to the Hattieville Correctional Facility for the stabbing murder of Felix Alamilla. Alamilla suffered stab wounds at around 5 a.m. on Friday while inside a room two miles away from his home with Kumul. Kumul, who police reportedly arrested near the airstrip in San Pedro, was remanded until August 24.

US will send back Central American youths who flock there
President Barack Obama has informed Central American leaders that his government will send back migrant children who are flooding into the United States illegitimately. Obama met with the presidents of El Salvador Guatemala and Honduras at the White House on Friday to discuss the problem at the US-Mexico border. Since last October US authorities have detained more than 50,000 children, many traveling alone, at the border. Obama acknowledged his Central American counterparts for their ongoing efforts within their own nations to discourage children from travelling illegally to the US, but added that more work must be done to combat the challenge.

Patrick Jones

Playoff schedule set in Cayo women’s softball competition
The Camalote senior women’s softball team clinched berth to the playoffs in the Cayo Softball Association competition which culminated today. Camalote defeated Las Flores in the first game on the schedule today and waited for the conclusion of the game between Esperanza Wolverines and University of Belize […]

Man killed, three women injured in early morning shooting
Police in Belize City are investigating an early Saturday morning murder in the old capital. Sometime between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., on Saturday one man was fatally shot and three women sustained injuries when two intruders invaded their Mopan Street home. Dead is Carlos Mayorga, while the women […]

Future youth leaders trained in CARICOM program
The future is now for 30 youth leaders from around Belize, who this weekend in Santa Elena Town underwent special training to prepare to become effective leaders in their respective communities. The young men and women who traveled to the weekend event will, at the end of the training, […]

Should I stay or Should I go?
By Richard S. Harrison, BSc Pharm, MBA “Life is a characteristic distinguishing physical entities having signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate. The first known attempt to classify organisms was conducted by the Greek philosopher […]

Blogs

Menacing Lionfish Made into Gorgeous Jewelry in Placencia, Belize
BUT…there is another way to do your part fighting this fish. (Don’t you like when it takes me 200 words to get to the point? An actual newspaper editor would not approve.) I have heard and seen (on facebook and at a booth at the Lobsterfest) about Kaj Expressions. A Belizean woman in Placencia making beautiful jewelry from the lionfish spines and I wanted to meet her and take a closer look. We finally coordinated a meeting… And then the STUNNING lionfish jewelry. Follow her Facebook page to see updates as she designs more. NONE of these were in the shop…she sells out quickly. I mean…seriously…bring one of these necklaces home. Wear it with a simple dress or a white collared button down? And you have everyone you know jell-jell-jealous.

International Sources izz

Ramadan starts Monday in 100 countries
Muslims in 100 countries across the globe will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on Monday, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents. Only Nigeria celebrated Eid on Sunday after Sultan of Sokoto Abubakar Sa'ad II announced the end of Ramadan late Saturday, amid confusion about the start of the Muslim feast. Five countries – Oman, Morocco, Gabon, Tanzania and Azerbaijan - have so far announced that Eid al-Fitr will start on Tuesday. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will make announcements on Eid start on Monday.

Videos

July 27, 2014

The San Pedro Sun

FFB Stadium ready for CONCACAF Championship League
With the CONCACAF 2014/2015 Champions League scheduled to start Tuesday, August 5th, final construction work is being made at the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Stadium to meet international standards. The Belmopan Bandits were drafted on Wednesday, May 28th to compete in the league, on the condition that FFB would renovate the only FIFA certified stadium in Belize to have all amenities that other international fields possess. The FFB Stadium received $1.8 million from FIFA for the upgrade. Those include proper lighting, seating for 5,000 people, separate shower stalls and locker rooms for participating teams and referees, and a football pitch landscaped with Bermuda grass (a special type of grass required by FIFA standards).CONCACAF officials inspected the stadium on Thursday, June 19th and Friday, June 20th. Even though the football pitch was not completed at the time, officials declared that the FFB Stadium met required standards, thus allowing the Belmopan Bandits to participate in the CONCACAF Champions League. The football pitch has recently been completedand the field is now fully prepared for the first match.

The Belize Cancer Society of California works in Belize
On Monday July 21st, Arlette Pilgrim president of the Belize Cancer Society of California, USA visited the island town of San Pedro to make a donation to The San Pedro Cancer Society. The Belize Cancer Society of California is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness, educating and raising funds to assist in cancer care throughout Belize. Pilgrim has been working with local cancer societies in Belize since 2012. While in the country on her most recent trip, Pilrgrim visited the island to hand over a donation to Miguel Perez, president of The San Pedro Cancer Society. The contribution consisted of three pairs of prosthetic breasts, a few nightgowns, and various teaching materials and equipment, including a breast exam teaching tool that will aid in the instruction of proper self examination. Other visits in the country included several areas in the Belize City District such as Albert Street, Pickstock, and Lake Independence where Pilgrim visited homes teaching women and men how to perform proper self examinations for breast cancer. Pilgrim also visited the Cancer Societies of both Belize City and Orange Walk where in addition to making contributions also provided the community with educational flyers and brochures that aid in fostering awareness.

Without a Master Plan, development in San Pedro Town continues to grow haphazardly
San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye is the fastest growing municipality in the entire country. With growth comes development, and for over 25 years, the island has been developing unchecked. That is because there is no master plan guiding development on Ambergris Caye, and there has never been one. That was confirmed by the Chairman of the Master Plan Committee for San Pedro Town, Fidel Ancona. Ancona told The San Pedro Sun that the first time there was a serious attempt to develop a master plan was 26 years ago. “There was already some sort of a master plan done by the Belize Water Services, since it was an Inter-American Development Bankloan requirement for the introduction of potable water to San Pedro. Under the Mayorship of Pedro Salazar, we worked around that plan, to establish a master plan and that has been a guide for development ever since,” said Ancona. Former Mayor Salazar served as Mayor of San Pedro Town from 1988 to 1991, but after he left office, the master plan was never approved. Since then, development has taken a entirely different angle, with larger buildings being erected, often going unregulated.

Misc Belizean Sources mzz

Belize Zoo is Fully Accessible
The Belize Zoo has finished making all of the pathways accessible. It was a 2 year journey, and it's the only accessible nature destination in Belize. Congratulations! "After 2 long years of fundraising and awareness, The Belize Zoo is so very proud to let the world know it is now the first and only accessible nature destination in Belize! All the Zoo pathways have now been completed and are wheelchair, walker, stroller and even high heel friendly! We thank all our friends, partners, colleagues, and patrons that made this goal a beautiful rose coloured reality here at 'the best little zoo in the world!'"

CTGA Tourism Eco Camp Starts Tomorrow
The Cayo Tour Guide Association's Summer Tourism Eco Camp starts tomorrow. The kids are going to have an amazing time, especially with all the great places they'll be camping. "The Tourism Eco Camp was designed as a tour, which is why we decided very early into the planning that we would change the scenery every few days. So the campgrounds are at Black Rock Lodge, Nabitunich, Duploys Jungle Lodge and Crystal Paradise. Thank you very much to these resorts for helping us in various ways, from giving us food and activities to do around the resort, and above all, for hosting us at their beautiful location. "

High School Book Drive
Feelgood news of the day. Fuego and the Treatery have teamed up with the Winsom Foundation to raise funds to buy school books for local high school students. All you have to do is like the picture, and they'll donate $1 to the cause. Thanks! "FUEGO & THE TREATERY have joined forces with the WINSOM FOUNDATION to buy school books for underprivileged HIGH SCHOOL kids this fall.......for EVERY LIKE we will donate $1.00 to the FUND. HELP US TO RAISE MONEY for EDUCATION!!"

PlusTV

Teacher found dead in his Belize City home
Police are currently investigating what appears to be the murder of 28 year old Stephen John Michael, a teacher at 7th Day Adventist School. According to police reports, at around 7:12 am on July 25th, police visited #7685 corner of Jaguar and Tapir Streets in Belize City where they...

US Capital Prepares to Drill
A convoy of eight large heavy duty trucks transporting oil rigs could be seen going in a southerly direction early this morning. The large trucks, which came from across the Mexican border, were headed enroute to the Temash 2 drill site near Sunday Wood Village in the Toledo...

BML to Release Workers due to CITCO’s Debt
About 50 individuals employed at the Belize Maintenance Limited (BML) will be sent home on Monday due to financial constraints of the company. The Belize City council currently owes the sanitation company 1.3 million dollars and according to Lawrence Ellis, owner of BML, that 3.1 million does not include...

PUP Disgusted But Not Shocked that Penner Walks.
In a press release issued on Friday, the People’s United Party expressed their gross dissatisfaction with the way the Elvin Penner Prosecution was struck out calling it a “Dark Day for the Belizean Nation.” According to the press release, “ Elvin Penner, the individual who many Belizeans feel is...

Ram-jam buses and fed-up commuters
Edmund Castro in 2012 , as the new Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, appeared determined to address some of the overwhelming problems faced by regular commuters. As it turned out, one of the most pervading problems was the overcrowding of buses. Several amendments were made to...

The Reporter

Home invasion turns deadly
A home invasion on Mopan Street turned deadly as one man was killed and three others were shot just before 5:00 a.m on Saturday. The Reporter has confirmed w that Carlos Mayorga was shot and killed while Alisa Ascencio, 41, was shot in the […]

CitCo arrears may cause BML to downsize
Belize Maintenance Limited has avoided dismissing 50 employees on Monday, thanks to a payment from the Belize City Council on Friday. The company may still find itself having to contemplate retrenching some workers next week, however, if the Council fails to make another payment […]

Brazil releases $13 billion to boost economy
Brazil’s central bank has announced plans to boost economic growth by reducing the amount of money commercial banks keep in reserve. The bank says the measure will free up $13 billion which the banks could lend. The announcement comes less than three months before presidential […]

Company offers reward for safe return of missing employee
There is now a reward for the safe return of Kevin Carcamo, the chairman of Hattieville who has been missing for the past five days. Carcamo, an employee of Discoverseis Geophysical Swrvices disappeared while on the job in the Freetown Sibun area behind Hattieville Village. […]

The Belize Times

SABOTAGE!!! – Court dismisses case against Penner, COLA will appeal
To no one’s surprise, Elvin Penner, the disgraced former UDP Minister, walked out of the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court from the Immigration criminal charges on Thursday morning 24th July, 2014. The UDP’s Penner is the first Government Minister to be caught red-handed in a scandal of major proportion over Belize passports. So stink was the stench of the scandal that PM Barrow, knee deep in his Government’s corruption cover-up, had to shovel Penner out of his Cabinet in September of last year. Barrow at first publicly told Belizeans he would support the disgraced Penner to the maximum. He hastily visited Penner’s constituency and at public meetings was caught on camera telling Cayo voters that he had “millions upon millions of dollars” which he would spend to keep Penner as the elected area representatives. Subsequently, Barrow has done everything possible to prevent Penner from answering to the nation. First, a citizen’s effort to recall Penner was sabotaged when personnel from the Elections and Boundaries, overstepped their authority and deprived just a sufficient amount of voters on the recall referendum, which would have removed Penner from office as the Area Representatives for Cayo North East.

KHMH In Crisis!!! – CEO urges PM to intervene; blasts Ministry of Health for lack of support
Reports of the financial woes at the nation’s main public referral hospital, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, have been greatly understated according to a letter written by the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth which was sent to the Chairlady of the Board, Chandra Cansino. In the May 30th 2014 letter, leaked to the BELIZE TIMES, CEO Longsworth explained to Cansino that the financial situation is so terrible that the hospital has been denied supplies by certain vendors who have been demanding payments owed to them. Longsworth warned, “…this matter is now at the point of crisis” and added that there is a possibility that the hospital “will not be able to meet next month’s payroll”. Earlier this month, when Cansino gave media interviews regarding the almost 600 members of staff and the likelihood that they won’t benefit from the Government’s salary increase, she seemed to overlook the fact that the hospital’s financial crisis may deny the staff’s regular pay.

Mother of 2 accused of common-law husband’s murder
37 year old Anabel Bacelis Kumul, a mother of two children, has been detained by the Police in San Pedro as the main suspect in the vicious stabbing murder of her common-law husband, 28 year old Felix Alamilla. Kumul, who is of a Mexican nationality, was arrested around 7:00am on Wednesday morning outside the Tropic Air office on the island. Her common-law husband died about half an hour earlier at the San Carlos Medical Center from multiple stab wounds he had sustained. Unconfirmed reports are that on Wednesday Alamilla was sleeping at a house he takes care of in the Boca Ciaga Area, when around 5:30 that morning Kumul arrived and attacked him with a knife. Alamilla sustained stab wounds to his thigh, shoulder and one of his eyes. He was rushed to the medical center on a golf cart by his step father but he did not survive.

It not now…when?
It is becoming painfully and increasingly obvious that besides throwing concrete over every grassy knoll, this current UDP administration has absolutely no clue as to how to govern this nation. Things are out of control in every aspect; be it judicial, economical, educational or moral. New laws are being written, old ones are being amended but yet, the guilty walk and only the innocent are going to jail. We are closing down schools and firing teachers but more children are out of school than ever before. Politicians are growing rich and traveling the world in style while the number of people below the poverty line grows exponentially. Oil companies and big business get lavish accommodation agreements but the unemployment figures continue to rise. It seems we have busted loose from our every social and philosophical mooring. Captain, this ship is adrift and the seas are getting rough! Unfortunately, this administration has succeeded in creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear that has silenced many of the powerful voices in our society. Those not docile and submissive have been bought with prestige, profit or even cake; ‘tis a sad state of affairs indeed.

Barrow’s Doing
Most Belizeans would not be surprised that Elvin Penner walked a free man from the private prosecution initiated by the brave Citizens Organized for Liberty thru Action (COLA). This is because even though the private prosecution was suggested by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, he had already declared on national radio and television, many months ago, that he does not see anything criminal in Penner’s actions. Anyone who knows how Barrow rules, will tell you that his declaration was as good as a royal decree. Even the Commissioner of Police trembled at Barrow’s trumpeting. He found a cave to hide. The news, therefore, is really that COLA will not back down and plans to appeal the travesty that took place at the Magistrate’s Court this Thursday, July 24th morning. The case was just about to get interesting, with COLA seeking the Court’s permission to summon Commissioner Allen Whylie, Immigration Minister Godwin Hulse and even Prime Minister Dean Barrow to Court. Many believe they are keeping information about Penner secret from us all. But the truth will come to light! While Penner walks after giving away our passport and nationality to an international fugitive, hundreds of normal Belizeans are being carted off to Court like heavy criminals for much, much less wrongs such as not riding a bicycle equipped with bells and lights.

Customs advances to softball playoffs
Customs/Central Bank bombed Telemedia 24-11 by mercy rule in their first win to qualify as the No. 4 seed entering the Belize City interoffice softball playoffs at the Rogers Stadium over the weekend. They were led by Gilbert Gordon and Marlon Garnett, who scored 5 runs each, while Sasha Brown scored 3 [...]

Edgar Rogers wins 1st Annual Spartan Fitness Club Bodybuilding Classic
The taller, leaner, more sculpted Placencia fitness buff, Edgar Rogers, took 1st place in the Overall Category to win the 1st annual Spartan Fitness Gym Bodybuilding Classic organized and hosted by Mr. Belize, Rigo Vellos and Spartan Fitness Gym. Rogers had won the Over 70 Kilos Category. 2nd place in that category [...]

City Boys Jrs. wins 2014 SMART Mundialito
The City Boys Jrs. won the 2014 SMART Mundialito championship, blasting the Ladyville Rising Stars 4-1 in a penalty shootout at the Yabra green in Belize City on Saturday. The Ladyville Rising Stars held the City Boys Jrs. to a nil zip draw through regulation time and overtime, going to a penalty shootout to decide the winner. City Boys’ Shadrick Lord, Denzell Carr, Ken Galvez and MVP Akeem Sutherland converted their penalties, but only Kenroy Allen scored for Ladyville.

Godwin Hulse should launch special Passport investigation in Taiwan
Belize City, July 21, 2014 The much-publicised and maligned Kim Won Hong passport, issued by the Passport Department of the Ministry of Immigration, is a crucial piece of evidence in the ongoing prosecution of corrupt UDP Area Representative Elvin Penner. This ...

Delusional Sedi!
Belize City, July 24, 2014 Attorney General Sedi Elrington was playing Simple Simon on Wednesday night in an interview with UDP station Channel 7 about their Government’s oppressive and overreaching gun laws which is jailing innocent Belizeans. Dean Barrow’s gun laws have been jailing people left, right and center. Children, minors, and ...

Freddy Bencomo Debuts at the Factory
By Katie N. Usher "I work, I have a regular job, I've had it for 18 years. I paint at night and on the weekends, when I have free time," he said calmly "And you farm?" "Yes!" He responded, completely dodging my attempt ...

AMAZING GRACE – Would You Accept A Beer From Jesus?
Like the aged veterans who always came together to play dominos outside the village Chinese store, believers enjoy coming together to share stories, sing songs, and blast out resounding ‘amens’ and ‘hallelujahs’ that shake the rafters of the ceiling. They call this meeting ‘church’. Every Sunday (and Monday prayer meetings ...

HOME ECONOMICS – The Enemies of Industrial Growth Part I
By Richard Harrison Belize’s colonial history left the country inheriting laws, policies and practices....and culture...of harvesting raw materials and sending them abroad...with preference for importing and consuming finished products. Production and value-adding is not a part of our genetic make-up or conditioning. Amendments to our laws, policies and practices since Independence ...

Cervantes family unsatisfied with Police investigation
“My dad wasn't kidnapped to extort money out of our family, he was killed. It was a contract or a hit to kill him,” – Ramon Cervantes Jr. Belize City, July 20, 2014 The family of murder victim Ramon Cervantes Sr. has ...

Ariel Rosado Memorial Foundation awards 30 scholarships
Belize City, July 15, 2014 The life of avid cyclist and attorney-in-the-making Ariel Rosado, whose sudden and untimely passing saddened the country in May 2011, has been immortalized in acts of kindness and a commitment to uplift human kind. Parents Dr. Alvaro ...

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE – How Not to Govern!
By Dolores Balderamos Garcia Last month there were a slew of graduations all over the country. In Belize Rural Central we had our share as well. Flagship high school for the constituency, Ladyville Technical High School, held their graduation I believe for the tenth time, and they consistently produce good graduates ...

PUP STATEMENT ON DISMISSAL OF PENNER CASE
July 24, 2014 Today is a DARK DAY for the Belizean Nation. Elvin Penner, the individual who many Belizeans feel is most directly responsible for the illegal sale of our Belizean nationality and passports, walked freely out of the Magistrates Court in Belmopan City today without even answering one single question ...

REFLECTIONS OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE – A new vision for Southside Belize City
By Francis W. Fonseca This past Saturday I spent the day on the Southside of Belize City visiting with residents in the Mesopotamia Division and participating in a Yard Meeting in the Port Loyola Area. Southside Belize City represents both the “good” and “bad” of Belize. Residents are vibrant, energetic, passionate and loud. ...

Time for Action Against Corruption in Public Health Service
Dear Editor, I would really like to know how much corruption or distasteful action Belizeans will ignore in the Ministry of Health before they get riled up and demand the removal of those persons who are depriving the country of funds needed to assist people in need of help. With the present ...

Diaspora, what have you done for me lately?
Dear Editor, “Churchill in 1940 emphatically refused to make plans to dispatch the British fleet to American ports in the event of Britain’s defeat, and he argued against evacuating children to Canada. Both measures he thought were “defeatist”. Any discussion of transferring the fleet he wrote “is bound to weaken confidence ...

Blogs

Last Days Of Belize Summer Vacation…
Or so it feels like it…rather than spending most of the days on the computer (or traveling or eating), I’ve been hitting the beach. My most bestest friend Jamie (who is a 7th grade math teacher – pause to shudder over the thought of hoards of pubescent children) usually visits me for 4-6 weeks during her summer break but this year, it was a piddly TWO. She won’t even be here to pose with the Costa Maya girls this year! Here she is in 2011 with the festival’s beauty queens at Fido’s.

The Eco Kids Rule – Another Chapter in Our Jungle Book!
We promised an update on the Eco Kids educational summer camp, and as our budding environmentalists rounded the half way mark of this weeklong educational adventure the job just got harder – not from trying to find things to write about, but by having way too many cool things to pick and choose from. There’s no doubt the Eco Kids have definitely hit the right balance between education and fun while giving their dedicated camp councillors a run for their money. So, to pick up from where we left off, we’ll start with July 22nd, scheduled as water activities day. Safety comes first with Eco Kids, so when it was determined that the usually tranquil Macal River was running a bit fast this day, the fun was moved to Chaa Creek’s infinity pool, showing once again that whether they be from the city, villages or countryside, all kids share a love of water. Refreshed and ready for action, the kids then broke into teams for the annual Maya ball tournament, with Tapirs v Toucans and Jaguars v Monkeys. The winning Monkeys and Tapirs duked it out in round two, with Monkeys claiming victory, and, according to some reports, the actual local howler monkeys loudly celebrating the triumph throughout the jungle that night.

SALAD BAR – CAJUN CHICKEN SALAD
Make three diagonal slashes across each chicken breast. Put the chicken into a shallow dish and sprinkle all over with the Cajun seasoning. Cover and let chill for at least 30 minutes. When ready to cook, brush a stove top grill pan with the corn oil, if using. Heat over high heat until very hot and a few drops of water sprinkled into the pan sizzle. Add the chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly cooked. If still slightly pink the center, cook a little longer. Remove chicken and set aside. Add the mango slices to the pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Remove and set aside.

International Sources izz

Panama U20s seal CONCACAF, Pan Am Games berths
e at the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, posting a 3-0 win over Guatemala in the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) qualifying tournament on Friday. For complete schedule, results, table and scorers, click here. In addition to earning a ticket to Jamaica next January, the Panamanians also secured a berth in the 2015 Pan American Games. Here’s a recap of the tripleheader action at the Estadio Cuscatlan: Honduras 5, Belize 0 In the opener, surging Honduras (8 points) won its second straight game and posted its third consecutive shutout, topping Belize (0 points), 5-0. Bryan Rochez (65’, 74’ pen) netted twice in the second-half, while Junior Lacayo (42’) and Rolin Alvarez (45’) staked the Catrachos to a 2-0 just before the break. Fredy Medina (71’) had made it 4-0 with his second goal of the competition. The Hondurans will be guaranteed one of the four qualifying spots with a win against Nicaragua on July 29, but can also progress earlier, depending on results of matches two days before. Belize has been eliminated from contention with two games left on its schedule.

Videos

Video: ProWorld, Belize, 2min.
I've had the amazing opportunity to intern with ProWorld in Punta Gorda, Belize at the 'Youth Empowerment Center' for the month of July! Hanging out with kids was nothing short of entertaining; we enjoyed photography workshops (done by yours truly), art projects, painting a mural, yoga, cooking, soap making, drumming, hiking, snorkeling, and so much more! Enjoy! :)

Video: Belizean Legends: Glenda Ellis, 14min.
The first in series of documentary series called Belizean Legends that will profile Belizean softball legend Glenda Ellis as she discuss with host Bilal Morris how Belize beat the 1970's's softball world champions team the United States in the 1979 Pan-American Games. Ellis was the player that hit the winning home run that gave the Belize team a 2-1 victory over the United States.

Video: Chicken drop in san pedro belize, 5min.
This is a local gambling game where the chicken is allowed to drop on a board of numbers. You win if he drops on your number.

Video: Dji Phantom 2 over Belize's Great Blue Hole, 2min.
Aerial footage of the Great Blue Hole after our Great Blue Hole dive with Huracan Diving and Itza Lodge! This was before I got FPV on my Phantom 2, so I unfortunately couldn't see what I was filming at the time.

Video: Sharks in Belize, 6min.
GoPro footage of us having some fun in Belize. Snorkel with the sharks.

Video: Belize Snorkeling GoPro, 5min.
Filmed by: Austin Admire Music by: Dexter Britain- Until the Day Filmed in San Pedro, Belize- Shark/Ray Alley. July 2014.

July 26, 2014

The San Pedro Sun

Promoting proper sanitation with the SWaMA
On Monday July 21st The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (SWaMA) set up a public information booth at the Central Park. The booth provided vast information on what the entity is and how they operate in the country. Established in 2000, SWaMA is the entity responsible for the coordination and control of municipal solid waste as well as for setting the standard for proper waste management. Throughout the day members of SWaMA tested community members with trivia questions on sanitation among others, awarding small prizes to those that proved their knowledge. Questions ranged from “Have you ever heard of SWaMA, if so where?” to “Why do you believe littering is such a major problem?” Six youngsters interning with the company also hit the streets visiting households and shared information on the organization and sanitation control via flyers to those who could not make it to the booth. Flyers provided readers with information on the classifications of waste, identifying items that make up municipal solid waste such as household items, commercial and institutional waste and why proper disposal must be regulated. SWaMA promotes sanitation so as to protect public health and safety and to preserve and protect the environment and natural resources.

Belize Infrastructure Limited plans on renovating Ambergris Stadium
For months, island footballers have been complaining about the deplorable condition of the two football fields on Ambergris Caye. San Pedro Town is among the several municipalities of Belize that do not have a proper sporting facility, even after a multi-million dollar investment was made to renovate one of the island’s fields. But the General Manager of Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL), Christy Mastry has confirmed that the problem will be addressed as plans are ongoing for the renovation of Ambergris Stadium, located on the south end of Ambergris Caye. San Pedro’s two fields, the Ambergris Stadium and the Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Arena, are improperly landscaped, prone to flooding and inadequate for sporting activities. The Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Arena was inaugurated in March, 2014 and replaced the “Saca Chispas” Football Field. The arena was initially intended to have an improved football field, but even after completion, the arena’s landscape is not suitable for sports. Mastry stated that several changes were made on the original design for the Honorable Louis Sylvester Arena.

9th Belize International Film Festival awards international and local directors and producers
Best Narrative Feature sponsored by Belize Bank Limited – Only You / Abo So, directed by Juan Francisco Pardo and produced by Audio Visual Institute of Aruba. Best Documentary Feature sponsored by Belize Bank Limited – The Pathways of Aissa / Los Caminos de Aissa, directed by Rolando Diaz and produced by Luna Llena Producciones Best Short Film sponsored by the National Institute for Culture and History (NICH)- Tom’s Diary, directed by Oscar Kightley and produced as part of the Commonwealth Shorts Writers Program Special Mention – Passage, directed by Kareem Mortimer and produced as part of the Commonwealth Shorts Writers Program Best Short Documentary sponsored by Oceana in Belize – PLACEnta, directed by Jules Koostachin and produced as part of the Commonwealth Shorts Writers Program Special Mention – Fight against the Lionfish Invasion directed by Katja Dohne Best Animation sponsored by NICH – Noka: Keeper of the Worlds, directed by Shaun Escayg Best Music Video sponsored Belize City Council – Jenko’s “Through the Alley,” directed by Kenneth Grant Jr. and produced by Poconobwy Productions

Ambergris Today

Rugby Sevens – First Rugby In Belize
Preparations are being made for the first rugby clubs to be established in Belize, focusing on the hugely popular and fast growing Sevens game, which will make its debut in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games. Rugby Sevens is a variant of the traditional rugby union game in a number of ways, chiefly: * Seven players on the field only (2 Props, Hooker, Scrum half, Fly-half, Centre & Winger) * Seven minute halves, instead of forty minutes, with one minute half-time * All conversions are drop-kicked, not place-kicked * Only three players in the scrum instead of eight “Rugby Belize plans to focus on the development of rugby sevens as a forerunner to growing a full regular (15 man) team, and prepare to enter Belize into the next Commonwealth and Olympic games. Rugby Belize Global Ambassador, Jono Woodward, is himself an experienced sevens player and is enjoying a very successful pro-rugby career in sevens.” Explained Tony Gillings, Founder of Rugby Belize.

Belizean Student Takes Second Place in Regional FCCA Competition
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce that two Belizean students were awarded prizes in the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Environmental Poster Competition. Belize’s Junior Division representative, Amber McKoy of Grace Primary School (pictured below), placed second at the regional level. For her entry, Amber was awarded $1,500USD. As the second place school, Grace Primary also won $1,500USD.

Misc Belizean Sources mzz

Applications for 2015/16 Chevening Scholarships open 1 August.
Applications for 2015/16 Scholarships will open on 1 August 2014. In the meantime, those interested in becoming part of the prestigious Chevening community should sign up for alerts through our country pages. Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The programme makes awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses at universities in the UK.

MOTORCADE through the City of Belmopan on Sunday
There will be a BIG MOTORCADE through the City of Belmopan on Sunday, July 27th at 10 am to welcome home the Belmopan School of Talent U12 Team who placed 3rd in the Codiacader Games in Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Come out and show your love and support for out little ones who made us so PROUD!!

BELIZE BOYS U-12 SELECTION (14 photos)
MEET THE BELMOPAN SCHOOL OF TALENT U-12 SELECTION. 3RD PLACE CODICADER U-12 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, GUATEMALA. (Belmopan Bandits/Anfernee Lopez)

RESTORE Belize is pleased to announce that nine (9) fourth form students under the I AM Belize Scholarship Program have successfully completed their course requirements for high school and have graduated.
Four of these graduates received special honors for outstanding performance. Six of the graduates were assisted with funds from the Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust (BNECT), presently the major funder in the Program, and three were assisted with funds from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT). The Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust is currently the primary funder of the I AM Belize Scholarship Program, which is being implemented through RESTORE Belize. Initial funding was received from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) in October 2010. Generous assistance has also been given by private individuals through the Adopt-A-Student Programme.

Today, would have marked the 91st birthday of Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson
Born in 1923, in Belize City, he was the second son of Peter Edward Goldson and his wife Florence Matilda Babb Goldson. He attended St. Mary's Primary School and although he never had the opportunity to go to high school he studied at night and successfully obtained the Cambridge University Overseas Junior certificate in 1939 and the Senior School Certificate in 1941. From 1941 to 1947 he worked in the British Honduras Civil Service. While in the Civil Service, Goldson started his career in journalism editing the "Civil Service Chronicle", "OUTLOOK", a cultural quarterly of the St. John's College Literary Society and writing short stories and sketches for the BBC in London. With the advent of the Nationalist Movement, he wrote news items for the Belize Billboard. The plight of the workers in Belize led him into trade unionism. He became the National Organizer of The General Workers Union in 1949 and later became its General Secretary.

Let's give up for the Corozal cane farmers
Ongoing ceremonies and events...come out and enjoy. It is a beautiful day on the Corozal Bay!! Special promotions and discounts! (8 photos)

The celebration begins
"Celebrating 55 years in the sugar cane industry, strengthening the development of our small farmers" - Truly a labour of love.

A heartfelt congratulations to the BSCFA Corozal Division and all the sugar cane farmers and their families for a job well done
Hats off and a well deserved celebration. We invite the entire community to come out and enjoy all day activities between the Rotary Park and the Corozal House of Culture. The Mass commences at 8:30 a.m. with the official ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. following with cultural presentations and dances. Special appearance by the CCC Marching band at 11:00 a.m. Come out and take advantage of a bright and beautiful day with wonderful people. Plenty of giveaways, raffles, and promotions. Wheel and deal with all sorts of goodies to take home. Things are already kicking off. No need to stay home bring out the entire family and show your support to our hard working cane farmers and their families. Power to the people in the struggle. (4 photos)

IDB President Visits Cayo Welcome Center
The president of the IDB, the organization that funded the Cayo Welcome Center, got to visit the amazing new downtown Cayo. "Inter-American Development Bank’s President Luis Alberto Moreno was in the country briefly yesterday, and I had the opportunity to give him a tour of the Cayo Welcome Center."

BWRC Wildlife Fundraiser
The Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic, which has saved or rehabilitated 100's of animals(157 in 2013) is having another fundraiser. Help them out if you can. Thanks, BWRC! "Thanks once more for your support in sharing this campaign and helping us raise a 3rd of our 10 K goal in one week! Here another lucky BWRC patient example: 'Mike' the Yucatan squirrel was received as a 35 g orphan, raised and eventually released in the Crested Caracara Reserve. Note: Unlike in the US, in Belize squirrels are rather rare, so this was our first fully rehabbed squirrel and we were fortunate enough to be able to observe him for nearly two weeks after release - thriving in his natural home :) "

Team Belize at Commonwealth Games
The Belize Team is at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. They are ready to start the games, but first, they had to take some selfies. They got some pictures from the opening ceremonies. Go Belize! "Behind the scenes at opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games"

Benque Summer Art Program
The Benque House of Culture is getting ready for another spectacular Summer Art Program. If you want to learn how to marimba dance, weave baskets, or speak Maya Mopan, then they invite you to register. Contact them for more information. "Summer Art Program 2014 is back and better than ever, sign up today and don't miss out!!!!!!!!!!!"

Debra Wilkes Honored by NICH
Debra Wilkes, coordinator for the Corozal House of Culture, has recently been named Employee of the Quarter by the Museum of Belize and Houses of Culture which functions under NICH. Debra is a professional photographer and naturalized Belizean who has lived in Corozal full time since 2005. The very popular monthly Art in the Park in Corozal is her brainchild and she has coordinated activities there since 2009. She has been the Coordinator for the Corozal House of Culture since its renovation and reopening in 2012, and continues to support craftsmen and artists of all ages and genres. She loves the rich culture in Corozal and her contribution to its highlighting and preservation continues to be invaluable. This is a well deserved recognition. Congratulations, Debra!

Channel 7

Fatal Accident Kills 2 Men On Motorbikes
There has been a fatal accident on the Northern Highway. It happened just before 6:00 this evening at mile 7 on the Northern Highway. Our team is currently on the scene, and all we can confirm at this time is that two persons are dead after a head on collision involving a motorcycle and a BTB pickup. Traffic on the highway is completely blocked so the traffic jam on this Friday evening currently stretches for miles. Mike Rudon, Ch 5 "Sir could you give me an idea of what you saw? I know that you were right behind the accident when it happened." Eye Witness "I saw the cycle fly passed me and hit into a black truck on the side of the road. When it hit the black truck it cut away right into a BTB vehicle and right up in the air and flat on the ground." Mike Rudon, Ch 5 "It seems that the BTB truck was on its side just from looking at it. Was the cycle overtaking or did it lose control when it knock the black vehicle?" Eye Witness "It overtake the black truck and hit the mirror on the black truck and then it went over to the left and the BTB truck look like it was trying to get out of the way off the road, but it still hit him." Mike Rudon, Ch 5 "Could you tell from what you saw if death was instantaneous from the cycle?" Eye Witness "When the thing happen, I got out of my car and the one in the middle of road looks like he was dead, but the one on the fence was breathing for a while and then he stops and then we thought that he must have died too."

Father Claims Schoolteacher Murdered
Early this morning, 28 year old school teacher Stephen John Michael was found dead in his house which is off Faber's Road Extension. His family believes it was murder: they say that he had been robbed and clubbed in the head. 7News was at the scene around 8:00 am and we found out more:.. Steven John Michael Sr., Father of Deceased "I found my son on his bed dead." Robin Schaffer reporting Early this morning Michael made the discovery no father ever wants to face. A neighbor called to his attention that the door to his son Steven Jr.'s home on Jaguar Avenue was wide open. Steven Sr lives just behind his son and so he went in to check: Steven John Michael Sr., Father of Deceased "I didn't see any physical injury. He was bleeding, I can't say though his nose, but he was on his back and you could see a spot of blood behind his head in his bedroom. I feel like they chance my son and I am not afraid to say it because certain stuff is missing from out of the house. As I get in I could see the TV missing, the laptop, the phone and his wallet are missing. All I could say is that they chance my son."

Family Says Murder, Police Say Sudden Death
As you saw in that interview with his father, he believes that Stephen Michael was killed in his own house. That suspicion is based on his conclusion that his television, his wallet, and his cellular phone were all stolen. This morning the Police Press Office released a statement saying that foul play was suspected, but that apparently changed 3 hours later. Police investigators who are handling the case, aren't so sure, and today they told us that the case is being treated as a sudden death for now: Sgt. Robert Novelo, OC - CIB Precinct 2 "So far the investigation is in its preliminary stage and we cannot say at this time whether its a murder and we could classified it as a sudden death at this time." Mike Rudon, Ch5 "Could you tell us what police found when they were called to the scene?" Sgt. Robert Novelo, OC - CIB Precinct 2 "Police found Mr. Steven John Michael, 28 years of age, he was lying on his bed inside is bedroom." Reporter "However there were signs that blood was coming from his mouth?" Sgt. Robert Novelo, OC - CIB Precinct 2 "Yes, blood was seen coming from his mouth."

Police Sting Operations Foils Extortion
Police foiled a major extortion attempt with a sting operation. 23 year-old Edwin Flores, allegedly tried to blackmail a businessman and extort him of $8,000, and tonight, he and his girlfriend are at the Belize Central prison for it. The complainant, Wilbert Valencia, a business man from Orange Walk Town, reported to police that on Tuesday, Flores contacted him and demanded that he hand over $8,000 dollars or else, a member of his family would be killed. In view of what happened in Orange Walk recently with Ramon Cervantes Sr, you can guess how this would cause quite a scare. Valencia told police of the extortion attempt, and the cops set up a sting operation where police waited at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. That's the location that Valencia's blackmailer demanded that he deliver the money.

Reward Offered For Hattieville Chairman"s Safe Return
Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo has been missing for 5 days, and though the intense searches have been fruitless, the civilian and military authorities have not given up. But now, the company that Carcamo was employed with is offering a reward to anyone who can assist them to find and return Carcamo safely. Discover-seis Geophysicial Services released this flyer today in which they are offering a $10,000 dollar reward to anyone who can provide them with information which leads to the authorities finding Carcamo alive. As we've reported he was last seen in the Freetown Sibun are of Hattieville with his work crew on Sunday. He reported to work, but he didn't return with them at the end of the day.

Four Prisoners Returned From Mexico To Belize
7News has confirmed that there are 4 Belizean Prisoners who arrived at the Belize Central Prison this afternoon after being transferred from a Mexican Jail. The transfer took place this afternoon where the Mexican Authorities transported these persons to the Belize Mexico Border. They were all convicted of Firearm offences in that country, and they've served out a part of their 10 year prison sentences. The reason that these prisoners were allowed to be transferred is because they made the request to the Mexicans who have a longstanding arrangement with Belize, which is known as the Agreement between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Mexican United States on the Execution of Penal Sentences. The transfer was only made possible after a lengthy process of application through the Foreign Affairs Ministry of both Governments, and it was overseen today by Belizean Ambassador Said Guerra, a Consular and Protocol Officer within the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

US Capital Ready To Drill
US Capital Energy, the Government, and Mayan Communities of the South have been ordered to participate in court-ordered mediation, but the oil company isn’t waiting around: it announced today that it should be ready to start drilling within a months’ time.

PUP Says Penner Acquittal A "Dark Day"
"A dark Day for the Belizean Nation", that's what the Opposition Party is calling yesterday's acquittal of Former Minister of State Elvin Penner. As we told you, Magistrate Aretha Ford struck the case out against him for the immigration offences because, in her opinion, there was a lack of evidence before her for the criminal trial to continue. Today, the PUP released a statement saying quote, "We share the disappointment, disgust and anger of so many Belizeans in respect of (yesterday's) decision, but we are not shocked by it." The Opposition adds, quote, "This case did not fail because of a lack of evidence. It failed because the UDP placed its political interests ahead of the national interest."

Salvation Army To The Rescue For Fire Victims
Yesterday we told you about a house fire on Plues and Berkely Streets which affected 4 families, leaving 3 structures destroyed. Well, today the Salvation Army made a donation to one of the fire victims, Jenisse Ramirez who is the mother of the unsupervised children who accidentally set their house ablaze. After the items were handed over, we asked Ramirez how she and her children are coping with the aftermath.

Fire Department Making Strides In Water Cannon Response
So with all the recent news about fires, fire hazards and fire safety, there's one more tip to make you safer. In case of fire, call 90, or 911. It may seem obvious, but it's not that simple because those numbers go through a police operator before they get to the Fire Department. Now you can call the Fire station directly at 207-2579, but that is not a hotline, it's a business phone so it might be busy. And one more thing we've learned this week is that after the fiasco with the disastrous fatal fire on Newtown Barracks, the fire Department has apparently enhanced its deployment and rapid assessment of fire threats. On two recent fires we've seen the early and effective deployment of the water cannon - which was late to the scene in the Newtown Barracks fire.

What"s The Plan For Climate Change?
Like many other low-lying coastal nations, Belize is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Today a group of organizations and stakeholders gathered at the Coastal Zone Management Authority Institute in Belize City for the Belize District regional consultation on a National Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Action Plan. Topic discussed at today’s consultation included regional and national overview on climate change and how it has impacted Belize.

Robin Goes Bell Hunting
All this week we've been reporting on the crackdown on quality of life crimes. This has resulted in scores of arrests for minor offences such as bikes without bells or lights. The effect has been a rush on these items at the few stores which still sell bells and lights. To keep up with demand, bike storeowners have had to dig up old stock – since no one has been buying these items for decades – including our intern Robin Schaffer who went bell-hunting today.

Dara Riding For The Kids
On Sunday, grassroots philanthropist Dara Robinson will hold his third annual Ride for Hunger. This is Dara's 7th year of running a feeding program out of his own home, but he seemed just as dedicated to project today as he was when he first began. We asked him how the Ride for Hunger has evolved over the past three years. The ride begins in front of the SMART building on the Northern Highway, then continues through Hattieville before running back down the Western Highway and ending at the SMART building. Registration starts at 6 am and there a $5 registration fee, but all donations, including food and care packages are welcome. Dara's next fundraiser, the Lucky Dube 7th annual tribute will be held at Bird's Isle on August 3rd.

Rastaman Vibes For Sunday Earth Strong
Every year on the 23rd of July, Rastafarians celebrate the birthday of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I who is the Supreme Messianic Figure in the Rastafarian belief. So, the Belizean Rasta United will be hosting their 8th annual Selassie I Earth Strong Concert this weekend. Today we asked the organizers of the event the meaning behind the concert and who will be performing: The concert will be held at the BTL Park on Sunday July 27th from 2 pm to 11 pm. It is a free event, and all are invited to attend.

Belize Athletes Get Ready For Commonwealth Track and Field
The track and field segment of the 20th Commonwealth games will begin this Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland. For Belize Kaina Martinez and Mark Anderson will compete in their 100 meter qualifying heats. Kenneth Medwood and Brandon Jones will also start their qualification processes next week as Medwood competes in the 400 meter Hurdles and Jones competes in the Triple Jump and Long Jump. Finally, on Wednesday, Katy Sealey will begin her events in the Heptathlon Competition which will end the following day.

CCJ Explains
Earlier this week, we told you about the labour conflicts at the Caribbean Court of Justice Headquarters in Port Of Spain Trinidad. Well, now, the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission has retained a Public Relations and Crisis Communications Agency which sent a lengthy release to all regional media today. It refers most pointedly to Dr. Leighton Jackson's attack on the court. He is the Jamaican acting registrar of the court who was reportedly fired and has been bad mouthing management practices at the court. The release says the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission is "responding to set the record straight and to protect the Court, which is much larger and more important than the personalities involved." They say that Dr. Jackson was not Dismissed but that the Dean of the Law Faculty at UWI wrote the President of the CCJ Wrote the court a letter saying that it is "necessary for him to return to his full duties." As for the restructuring which Jackson criticized as being secretive, the release says that he was invited to a review of the structure and manpower requirements of the court - but went to Jamaica instead.

Channel 5

Breaking News: traffic fatality claims 2 lives
As we reported earlier, late this evening a traffic accident took place around mile seven on the Philip Goldson Highway. Two persons died when the motorcycle they were riding on [...]

Drilling equipment lands on Temash National Park
U.S. Capital Energy is tonight one step closer to drilling for oil in the Sarstoon Temash National Park. On Thursday, a convoy of vehicles carrying heavy equipment used to set [...]

D.P.P. Office issues directives on case against Nasley Sommerville
Belizeans have been following with much interest the curious case of Nasley Sommerville, formerly the administrator of the Southern Regional Hospital. She has been under investigation for at least [...]

$10,000 reward for information on the missing Hattieville Chairman
A candlelight vigil for the safe return of Hattieville Chairman, Kevin Carcamo will be held tonight, five days after his mysterious disappearance behind Freetown Sibun. Carcamo vanished while reportedly returning [...]

P.U.P. has its slate for municipal elections
Municipal elections are set for early next year, and already mass party machinery is cranking up for the election of slates in all municipalities. It doesn’t exactly have the fever [...]

P.U.P. proposed amendment to Firearms Act
One issue that the People’s United Party is tackling is the draconian gun laws. The leader of the opposition says that the party has written and submitted an amendment to [...]

Berkley Street fire victim get help from Salvation Army
On Thursday morning, three families were displaced by separate fires in Belize City. Today, Jenise Ramirez and her two children, ages six and four, received some assistance courtesy of Salvation [...]

Man and female minor charged for blackmail
Coming up, we’ll have a report on the fatal traffic accident… But in the court, a twenty-three-year-old man along with his sixteen year old girlfriend, who is originally from [...]

Residents comment on failed Penner prosecution
Last September corruption came to light when the Penner immigration scandal was first exposed. This involved the corruption in the issuance of Belizean passports to individuals who did not qualify. [...]

M.O.E. hosts closing ceremony for expressive arts camp
For students interested in creative arts, a summer camp hosted by the Ministry of Education is the perfect setting to engage in the many facets of the arts. This year [...]

A camp for at-risk youths
There was another camp taking place, but outside the city where at risk youths were engaged in various activities. News Five’s Isani Cayetano files a report. Isani Cayetano, Reporting [...]

CTV3

Traffic Accident Claims The Life Of Orange Walkeno
Sometime after 1:30 today police and traffic personnel were alerted of a road traffic accident on the Yo Creek road, approximately two miles from Orange Walk Town. When officials arrived on the scene they saw an army truck in the middle of the road and a Suzuki jeep on the right side of the road extensively damaged. Our news team arrived shortly after the incident and Reporter Maria Novelo filed the following report. Maria Novelo – Reporting Nadir Munoz was on his daily routine for his employer, providing and selling tortillas for the Maya Tortilla Factory in the surrounding villages of Orange Walk Town. Shortly after one today little did he know his ride back to town would be his last as two miles on the Yo Creek Road he collided into this army truck, and slammed into the left side of the road where his jeep came to a halt.

The World of Gangs, How Close Are They To Your Neighborhood?
Most if not all have heard of gangs and their crimes that range from petty to heinous and in the past, Orange Walk residents have been privy to some of these at the hands of gangs. But what happens when gang members from other much more organized groups enter Belize and how do we know where they are and who they are? Viewers may have seen gang insignias around town but often pay no heed as news of their criminal activity in the district is relatively low to non-existent. Following the information we have received, we thought it would only be appropriate to share the following information with the viewing public and raise the awareness of how serious and how dangerous some of these international gangs are and how close they are. Gang activity in Orange Walk Town is relatively low but the gang tagging seems to be popping up more frequently in all corners of the town. Among the most popular being the Trial Farm Crips also represented as 30’ and Trial Farm Bloods also represented as 20’s. Also visible in town are the LA tags in the Louisiana Area and the Baka Town Crips also from that side. These are all gangs believed to be organized by Belizeans. Then there are these…..tags from the MS 13, or the Mara Salvatrucha Trece.

Case Against Former Minister Of State Elvin Penner Dismissed, COLA Not Back Down As An Appeal Is On The Way
This morning in the Belmopan Courtroom, the case against former Minister of State Elvin Penner was thrown out on the first day in trial. The private prosecution was brought against Penner by COLA on passport and nationality offenses. Now, today, Penner is free and cleared of all charges in the Immigration scandal but the prosecution, COLA, was outraged by the decision. It has been a tedious matter for COLA which, despite scrutiny, pressed on with the case. President of COLA Geovanni Bracket said that despite the road blocks they encountered in the process and the turn of events, they are thankful to at least have been able to reach this far. Despite the court’s decision, though, an appeal may be in order. COLA’s Attorney Kareem Musa explained what transpired this morning in the courtroom.

San Pedro Cop Charged For Extortion
Sticking to the subject of extortion, San Pedro Police have arrested and charged one of their officers attached to the San Pedro Police Station for extortion. According to the San Pedro Sun Police Constable No 1308 Elvin Nah, was arrested and charged today following an incident that occurred on July 6th. The San Pedro Sun reports that on July 17th, at about 5:00pm, a male person visited the San Pedro Police station and made a formal report against PC Nah. The individual stated that on July 6th, at about 1:00am, he was heading home when he was stopped by police officers while passing in front of a store on Pescador Drive. The individual reported to authorities that a search was conducted on him by a Hispanic police officer who found two small plastic bags with suspected cannabis on him. The man was then taken to the San Pedro Police Station where the suspected drugs, amounting to four grams, were weighed. But no charges were levied against the individual. Instead he was told by the Hispanic cop that that for four hundred dollars he could be set free.

Two Corozalenos Face Several Charges Of Bike Theft
Tonight two Corozaleños are under police custody pending investigations of a number of bike thefts. According to 29 year old Antonette Armstrong, a teacher of 2nd Street North in Corozal Town, sometime around 8:30 on Tuesday night she was at home when she heard a noise coming from her front gate. At that instance she thought it was her mother-in-law coming to visit. With that in mind, Armstrong opened her front door but saw that no one was at the front gate which was open. She then decided to check the back of the house and that is when she noticed that her 24” beach cruiser bicycle was not where she had parked it earlier. As she ran out to the yard, she saw a male person wearing a white jersey shirt speeding off with her bicycle heading towards Santa Rita Road.

Another Extortion Call Is Made, Police Make Arrest
Over the past month we have been hearing about the growing instances of extortions taking place around the country and the north it is no exception. While authorities are being tight lipped piecing together what may be a momentous breakthrough as it pertains to crime incidences, we have been reliably informed that a sting operation proved successful for authorities. Information to our newsroom is that a businessman who lives on the Chan Pine Ridge Road in Orange Walk is the latest victim of extortion. We are informed that the caller requested a large sum of money and if there was non-compliance on his part, he and his family would face grave consequences. After notifying police of the incident, a sting to catch the perpetrators in the act was set up by authorities. The caller arranged for the exchange to take place in a certain area in Belize City and that is where the police waited for the perpetrator.

Matura Also Charged For Mischievous Act
Apart from facing other possible bike theft charges, Rocky Matura has been additionally charged for mischievous act. Yesterday, at about 10:30am, Corporal number 441, Adrian Marin and PC #854 Marco Cob both attached to the San Narciso Police Sub-station were conducting patrols on the San Narciso/San Victor main road when their attention was drawn to a couple walking on the road carrying a luggage. One of the officers approached the male and female of Creole decent and informed them that a search would be conducted on their luggage for illegal drugs. The search revealed nothing incriminating.

Fire Leaves Family Of Four Homeless
A blaze displaced a family of four in the Black Water Creek area of Orange Walk Town mid-afternoon today. When our news crew arrived on the scene, fire personnel had already gotten the fire under control but were scavenging thru the rubble to decipher what caused the fire. Reporter Maria Novelo and video journalist Jesus Melgar filed the following report. Maria Novelo – Reporting When fire officials received the call of a fire in the Black Water Creek area of Orange Walk Town, it was a little too late to salvage the house or its contents. Chief of operations at the Orange walk Fire Service, Kenneth Mortis, says the fire started from an unoccupied bedroom of this cement bungalow structure.

San Joaquin Fiesta, Its Tradition And Culture
Each year in the month of August residents of San Joaquin Village in the Corozal District celebrate the day of their patron, San Joaquin. While here in Belize the event is celebrated in a span of three days, the official opening ceremonies kicks off the 8th of August in the community of Bacalar in Quintana Roo, Mexico where residents also pay tribute to the patron San Joaquin. This year is no exception as preparations are already underway for the celebration to take place. Reporter Victor Castillo tells us what to expect this year in the following report. Victor Castillo – Reporting The traditional Feria de San Joaquin is an event celebrated by both Mexicans and Belizeans as both countries share the same history. While Belize and Mexico are separated by an international border, they share no boundaries when it comes to the celebration of the event. Each year residents of San Joaquin Village in the Corozal District and those of the community of Bacalar in Quintana Roo, Mexico, honor their patron saint San Joaquin. And this year our interest in getting a firsthand look at the celebration and its history led us to Bacalar where organizers of the event met to finalize preparations.

Alexis Rosado Appointed Ambassador To Guatemala
Following the death of former Ambassador Alfredo Martinez, the Government of Belize has been left with the task to appoint a new Ambassador of Belize to Guatemala. Even before an official announcement is made reports are already suggesting that C.E.O in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexis Rosado is Governments favorite for the post. It is expected that Prime Minister Dean Barrow will officially announce Rosado’s appointment as Belize’s new Ambassador to Guatemala sometime next week during a press conference.

Traffic Accidents Claims The Life Of Orange Walkeno
Sometime after 1:30 today police and traffic personnel were alerted of a road traffic accident on the Yo Creek road, approximately two miles from Orange Walk Town. When officials arrived on the scene they saw an army truck in the middle of the road and a Suzuki jeep on the right side of the road extensively damaged. Our news team arrived shortly after the incident and Reporter Maria Novelo filed the following report. Maria Novelo – Reporting Nadir Munoz was on his daily routine for his employer, providing and selling tortillas for the Maya Tortilla Factory in the surrounding villages of Orange Walk Town. Shortly after one today little did he know his ride back to town would be his last as two miles on the Yo Creek Road he collided into this army truck, and slammed into the left side of the road where his jeep came to a halt.

LOVE FM

Two Confirmed Dead in Traffic Incident
A fatal traffic accident occurred sometime after five o’clock this evening. The incident occurred at mile seven on the Philip Goldson Highway and involved a pickup truck and a motorcycle. There were two people on the motorcycle heading to Ladyville while the truck was headed to Belize City. It appears to be a head on collision killing both people on the motorcycle. We will have more details in our subsequent report.

Flores Sets Up Girlfriend (Minor) to Pick Up Blackmail Money
Twenty-three year old Edwin Flores, a construction worker of Belize City who allegedly tried to extort eight thousand dollars from a businessman, was charged with blackmail when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. Flores’ girlfriend, a 16 year old girl from Honduras, was charged with abetment to commit blackmail. No plea was taken because the offences are indictable. The prosecutor objected to bail for Flores on the grounds that the offence is of a serious nature and if granted bail Flores might interfere with the complainant. Senior magistrate Fraser upheld the objection and remanded Flores into custody until September 16. In addition to that, Flores owes the court 750 dollars so a warrant has been prepared for him to serve the time in default of payment of the fines. Senior magistrate Fraser ordered that Flores be taken to the hospital before he is taken to prison.

Two Fires Consume Homes in Old Capital
Today’s infernos mark the fifth house fire for the month of July with three of them being caused by minors playing with incendiary items. Meanwhile, fire officials have told Love News that the cause of the San Pedro fire has been concluded as being undetermined. Reports are that there are some residents, who have not been cooperating with the investigators and therefore the cause of the fire remains as undetermined.

PlusTV

Elvin Penner Case thrown out for lack of evidence
The case against ex Minister of State Elvin Penner was struck out on Thursday. The Cayo Northeast area representative was being tried for alleged wrongdoing in the passport scandal via a private prosecution since the state decided not to pursue the matter in the courts. Government Ministers had gone...

Fatal traffic accident on Yo Creek Road
There was a fatal road traffic accident in Orange Walk on Thursday afternoon. The victim was identified as Nadir Munoz. According to reports, Mr Munoz was driving a jeep belonging to Maya Tortilla on the Yo Creek Road. At mile two on that road, and...

Man drowned, alcohol may have been a factor
A 29 year old Belizean labourer of Long Bank Area Dangriga Town was found floating in the Old Belize River near the banks of White Swan, Hope Creek Village on Tuesday July 22nd apparently dead. According to police investigations, 29 year old Roque Magdaleno Sanchez Jr. left his house...

Family of four in Orange Walk homeless due to house fire
There was a fire in Orange Walk on Thursday afternoon. A house located in the Black water creek area of Orange Walk was completely gutted by the blaze. Four persons resided at the house and while investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire, preliminary indications are that...

Maurice Tomlinson case continues before CCJ
On Thursday morning a short case management conference was held between the parties in the original jurisdiction case of Maurice Tomlinson vs. Belize and Trinidad and Tobago. Maurice Tomlinson, a gay Jamaican residing in Canada, is seeking the court to overturn provisions of each country’s immigration law which he...

Man charged for robbery of security guards
Three security guards participating in a routine escort were held up last Thursday, July 17 on Oleander Street. Police have now charged 23 year old Francis Arana with two counts of robbery and one count of aggravated assault. According to Marlon Wade, employed with Fort Point Security Services, they...

San Pedro Man killed during dispute with common law wife
28 year old Felix Eduardo Alamilla is dead after he and his common law wife got into an argument. Early this morning, Wednesday, Mr Alamilla was stabbed to his head, chest and leg, allegedly by his common-law wife. We spoke to the Officer in charge of the investigation, Sergeant...

Amandala

Police fight crime by arresting bicycle riders
Hundreds of Belize City residents are currently up in arms following the implementation of a once dormant law which has now come into effect as Belize City police have begun to seize both bicycles and cyclists who lack bell and light. The move has affected hundreds of cyclists, mostly the poor whose bicycles are in fact their “vehicles.” Police have said that the move is an attempt to get a handle on a wave of violent city shootings and murders in the recent past; however, affected citizens are of the opinion that these are petty offenses and that they are being unfairly targeted by police who do not exercise any discretion in the performance of their duties. Since the start of the month, a contingent of police officers and BDF soldiers have been deployed along main thoroughfares across the city to monitor persons who hang out on the street side, persons drinking in public, along with persons found to be guilty of the aforementioned bike offences, but many of the people who have gotten arrested and charged for what are known as “quality of life crimes” simply do not believe that the law is serving its purpose.

71-year-old attacked by 4 rottweilers
Less than a month ago, on the night of Friday, July 4, three dogs attacked and killed Jeffrey O’Brien, 23, a fisherman of Independence, and on Saturday evening, an eerily similar incident occurred, in which a senior citizen was attacked and mauled by four rottweilers. The victim of the attack, Mckesson Garrett, 71, of Belize City, was bitten on the hands, arms, legs, and foot, and a piece of his nose was ripped off by the dogs. He is now admitted to ward at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he is recovering from the injuries. The incident occurred about 4:30 on Saturday afternoon, at the home of Garrett’s friend at Mile 4 on the Philip Goldson Highway. Garrett, who has served several years as Chairman of the Belize City branch of the Belize Ex-Services League, told Amandala that his friend had invited him to his house and had released the dogs in the yard. But after his visit, as Garrett was walking out of the yard, the dogs, without provocation, attacked him and began to bite him.

Penner case struck out
The Hon. Elvin Penner, the former Minister of State with responsibility for Immigration who is accused of violating the public trust that accompanied his Cabinet portfolio, walked out of the courtroom of Belmopan Magistrate Aretha Ford in silence, ignoring reporters’ questions, after the Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action’s (COLA) private prosecution was struck out for want of prosecution. At 9:19 a.m., the court was called to order and Penner took his seat in the dock, as attorney Kareem Musa, COLA’s attorney and prosecutor in the case, began addressing the court. Musa told the court that COLA has made partial and then full disclosure to the accused Penner, who was charged with two offences, under the Summary Jurisdiction Procedures Act, for his role in securing a Belize passport and Belize nationality certificate for an imprisoned South Korean, Won Hong Kim.

Jealousy, rage and murder in San Pedro
Anabel Matilde Bacelis Kumul, 36, a Mexican of Othon P Blanco, Chetumal, who is a resident of the Mosquito Coast area of South Ambergris Caye, was taken to the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday, before Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez and charged for murder. She will be brought back to court on September 19. Felix Alamilla, 28, a caretaker and tour guide of the Mosquito Coast area of San Pedro, was stabbed to death early Wednesday morning while he was sleeping, and police say his girlfriend, Kumul, is the killer. A police press release of Thursday, July 24, 2014 stated: “Police visited the Medical Center, where they saw the body of a Hispanic male person with what appeared to be stab wounds to the left thigh, left upper shoulder and left side of head. Initial investigation revealed that about 5:15 a.m., 28-year-old Felix Eduardo Alamilla, Belizean manager of the Boca Ciega area, San Pedro Town, was sleeping at a residence in the area when he was allegedly attacked by his 38-year-old common-law wife, Anabel Bacelis Kumul, a Mexican domestic of the Boca Ciega area, San Pedro Town, who inflicted his injuries.”

Minors playing with lighters cause 2 fires
A 75-year-old grandmother was rescued from a mid-morning fire that occurred on Southside Belize City today. That fire was one of two that resulted in agonizing losses for at least four families whose residences and belongings were either totally destroyed, or underwent extensive fire and water damage, all because of youngsters who were reportedly playing with lighters in both instances. When we arrived on the scene of the blistering inferno on Berkeley Street, we observed neighbors and area residents in a state of panic and desperation, as they frantically tried to keep the hungry flames at bay until firefighters arrived on the scene. As the fire ravaged the 2-storey wooden/concrete structure, generating intense heat and emitting thick, dark gray smoke, the firemen had to utilize breathing apparatuses, and the conditions hindered the efforts of the civilians who were assisting in the firefight. Orin Smith, Station Officer at the National Fire Service, later told us how firefighters sprang into action when they received the call about the fire on Berkeley Street, which destroyed two homes and damaged another.

Report on Belize Central Prison brings to the forefront troubling questions of human and constitutional rights violations
Between 40 and 50 members of the legal profession attended a roundtable discussion on conditions at the Belize Central Prison entitled “Behind The Prison Gates,” that the Bar Association held in partnership with the Death Penalty Project, a London-based NGO that has been working in Belize for the past 20 years. Recently, the Death Penalty Project partnered with Marine Parade Chambers and were instrumental in two murder cases in Belize – the appeal of Lavern “Anti-Christ” Longsworth and the trial of Felicia Chen, whose murder charges were both reduced to manslaughter and were given sentences consistent with the sentencing guidelines for persons whose offences fall within the category of diminished responsibility under the law, due to their mental condition at the time they committed the crime. The roundtable discussion, held on Friday, July 18, 2014, got underway after opening remarks by Eamon Courtenay, SC, President of the Bar Association of Belize; Parvais Jabbar, Co-Executive Director of the Death Penalty Project and Hon. Kenneth Benjamin, Chief Justice of Belize.

Verden Blease, 51, arraigned on 3 more counts of carnal knowledge
A Gwen Lizarraga High School teacher who was remanded to prison in January on five counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature and two counts of carnal knowledge of a minor between 7-12 years old, was arraigned on three more counts of carnal knowledge when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Verden Samuel Blease, 51, a resident of 18 Neal Pen Road, who has been out of prison on bail, was arraigned on the additional three carnal knowledge charges when he appeared in court before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith. He was, however, spared additional remand time and was released on the original bail that he had posted. On Monday, January 13, 2014, Blease was arraigned on the seven charges, after a 12-year-old minor and her mother reported to police that he had been having sexual intercourse with the minor when she was between the ages of 7 and 11. The sexual assaults occurred in the period between 2008 and 2012.

Grandmother, 72, charged with drug trafficking
Eight members of a Supal Street family, including a 72-year-old grandmother, were arrested and charged with drug trafficking after a Gang Suppression Unit raid of their home this morning turned up 6.5 grams of cocaine. They were all arraigned in court on the charge late this afternoon, and were released on bail, after they entered a not guilty plea.tamika faber The GSU conducted a raid at 3150 Supal Street, the home of Marina Elizabeth Plunkett, 72. When the GSU arrived at Marina Plunkett’s home, they were armed with a search warrant. At the time of the search, all eight persons were inside the yard where the suspected drug was found in a plastic bag, which was inside anther plastic bag.

Smart 13 & Under Football Tournament 2014 ends, City Boys are champions
All roads led to Crooked Tree this past Saturday, where the first of a best-of-three games series in the cricket finals (of the Harrison Parks National Cricket Competition 2014) was to be played between the home team, Brilliant, and Easy Does It of Lemonal Village. From around 10:00 in the morning, visitors started convening on the grounds. At 10:30 a.m., it was known that Brilliant had won the toss and had decided to bat first. What a lovely day it was! A big crowd had gathered in the village playing field, friends and families of both teams, and cricket fans that came out just to watch the game. Well, the game started. The Easy team took the field, and first two Brilliant batsmen went out to face the bowling of Kenroy Reynolds and Cyril Banner. These two batsmen started to show good defensive plays. After a few overs, one of the batsmen was out. Brilliant had 13 runs for the first wicket. When the 2nd wicket fell, they had a comfortable 73 runs. There was noise coming from Brilliant’s corner, where friends and family gathered. The remaining inning went this way: 3 for 75; 4 for 92; 5 for 105; 6 and 7 for 116; 8 and 9 for 123; all for 131. Raynard Gillett and Arturo Wade scored 34 and 27, respectively. Andrew Banner took 4 wickets.

“Pa Rush”, Carlton Rushford visits home
One of the original Raiders and also my one-time teammate on Milpros, Carlton “Pa Rush” Rushford stopped by the zinc fence this afternoon to share a few moments with old friends. A younger brother of Michael “Suffudge” Rushford of 1975-76 Charger fame, Carlton played his first senior football season with Landivar before joining Parra’s Milpros for the 1983-84 competition in which Milpros prevailed in the championship game, 4-1, over Bailar’s Royal Rentals. He was the stopper for the legendary “Rest of the World” Coke Milpros team that went undefeated in the 1985-86 Belize City Competition. The tall and multi-talented Carlton was also an original member of the Raiders basketball team in the inaugural semipro season in 1992, leaving Belize for the U.S. a couple years later, after the Raiders had claimed the championship.

Easy Does It takes the first one
The 3rd Annual Smart 13 & Under Football Tournament, which started back on May 10 of this year, climaxed on Saturday, July 19, at the Yabra Football Field where the 3rd place game was followed by the championship match, and then the awards ceremony. In the 3rd place game which started at 10:00 a.m., Brown Bombers got a goal apiece from Jovann Ramos and Dion Cacho to defeat Collet Strikers, 2-0. Missing from the Collet lineup was their star defender, Shemar Bowen, who had already been selected for the Best Defender award. The championship match between #1 seed City Boys and #2 seed Rising Stars was another “down to the wire” affair, as the 20-20 regulation ended scoreless, and the 5-5 overtime period also failed to produce a goal. So it was on to penalties, and two early misses by Collet allowed City Boys, who were perfect from the penalty spot, to clinch the championship with their fourth kick, winning by a 4-1 margin.

EDITORIAL: The thuggish side
Whenever you see the ruling UDP behave in an aggressive or threatening manner, you must understand that they learned from the best: they learned from the PUP. During their glory years from 1950 to 1984, there was a distinctly thuggish side to the PUP, a side which has been lost amidst the canonization of their late Maximum Leader. The two major political parties are like gangs in many respects, except that they enjoy all the rights and privileges of the Belizean state when they are elected to office. When the UDP or the PUP are in office, they comprise a large gang which is blessed by Buckingham Palace, represented in Belize by the Governor-General. The behavior of political parties in Belize when they are in office represents a manifest threat to those who would dissent on public matters. In office, Belizean politicians can and do make life uncomfortable for those citizens who dare to speak out openly. The politicians have their “dirty works” departments, which can hire various “specialists” in the community to harass and intimidate dissenters.

From the Publisher
For the last two decades or so, it has been characteristic of new political candidates in Belize City, when the UDP or the PUP first send them into a constituency, for them to start organizing football and basketball marathons and tournaments. Through these sports mechanisms, politicians can build energy which is favorable to their cause. Out in Belmopan, John Saldivar has been using sports for politics for at least twenty years; basketball and football have served him well in his constituency. Saldivar has risen from rural anonymity to become the powerful Minister of National Security. This is his second term in Cabinet, and Saldivar has achieved national political recognition. John is a “big man.” Most of you readers do not want to hear about sports, even though I have spent these four and a half decades trying to convince you that sports is more than sports: sports is sociology; sports is economics; sports is politics; and sports is life.

:Letters: How about a donation to the Fire Department?
In the news lately you guys have been reporting many fires, and that is what I would like to talk about, when was the last time that the Fire Department had a meaningful donation? Where are the new equipment? In the last ten years according to the news, the Police and the Belize Defense Force along with the Coast Guard have all had big donations: so far the Fire Department has had nothing much, no new fire truck, no new respiratory equipment, no new lines, or fire hoses. The Fire Department has a long way to go, The wonderful thing in this, is that the Fire Department has been and is doing a wonderful job without the new equipment they need. Imagine the job they will do if they had what they need. We need to look into how we can get improvement in the Fire Department before something happens more than what already has, as in San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Cleghorn Street, and Hattieville. We should look at how to improve the Fire Department. Training and education are the first improvement in the man power. Get more people to join the Fire Department.

Letters: Educated fools
There is nothing worse than an educated fool. So many people, in leadership positions and positions of responsibility, perhaps educated abroad, returned to Belize and became big fish in a small pond and have been treated like royalty. They have enjoyed privileges and a standard of living not available to the masses, the uneducated majority. And, they have become pompous, fat, and lazy. They are so proud of themselves that they stopped growing, closed their minds, and as a result are stagnant and stale. I laughed out loud when I heard that the PhD’s at the University of Belize were upset that a man with only a Bachelor’s degree had been appointed President of the University, making him their boss. Never mind that this man has a wealth of experience and has continued to grow, reinvent himself, and to even maintain himself physically by regular visits to the gym.

Letters: Diaspora, what have you done for me lately?
Lately, some members of the Belizean Diaspora in the USA have been clamoring for political power; arguing that dual citizens should be allowed to hold elected political office in Belize. There has been no clear articulation about how such an arrangement would work in practice, particularly about how such dual citizens would avoid the obvious conflict of interests that are bound to arise in the practice of state craft. Some argue that naturalized Belizeans are allowed to hold such office and therefore it is unfair to disallow “born Belizeans” the opportunity to hold high political office as well. Of course, this is comparing mangoes and oranges. No apples here, sorry! I do not support the view that dual citizens should hold elected political office in Belize, simply because it seems wholly self-defeating. Why should we grant political power to those who do not have to remain in Belize to live with the consequences of their political decisions?

Dr. Alvaro Rosado refutes allegations of mismanagement of Fund
After being accused of gross financial mismanagement by one of its co-founders yesterday, Dr. Alvaro Rosado, president of the Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation, flanked by the entire board of directors of the foundation, organized a press conference at the University of the West Indies (UWI) campus today to make clarifications in response to the claims of misappropriation made by the foundation’s former treasurer, Bruce Sanchez, Sr. Sanchez, Sr., who staged his own press conference yesterday, Thursday, was appointed vice president of the foundation’s board of directors, and acted as a co-signatory for the foundation’s cheques, but he began boycotting the foundation by refusing to sign the cheques after he claimed that he noticed improprieties within the structure of the foundation in the handling of its finances. Sanchez, Sr. said, “It’s over $13,000 in cheques that either he alone signed, his wife alone, or both of them, excluding us, contrary to what the bank agreement said, which we have here. We weren’t aware of it [the cheques]; we, means me and my son, weren’t aware of it.

Father, 43, dies in traffic accident in San Jose
There was a fatal traffic accident near the village of San Jose in Orange Walk early this past Sunday morning that took the life of a Cristo Rey villager, while his wife, son and daughter – who were also occupants in the vehicle in which he was traveling – have been hospitalized. According to Northern Regional Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Joseph Myvette, police went to the scene of a traffic accident at Mile 62 on the Philip Goldson Highway on Sunday at about 6:00 a.m., and upon arrival, they saw a Ford Escape SUV with license plate BZ C- 45968 overturned on the left side of the road. After further investigations, Myvette said, police found out that the driver, Remijio Botes, 43, had been traveling in a northerly direction with three other persons when he lost control of his vehicle and overturned.

$350 mil, 30 megawatt facility from cohune nuts
Rudolph Castillo, an economist and former corporate manager at the Belize Bank, told Amandala today that he has partnered with EKOL, an energy corporation in the Czech Republic, in coming up with a $350 million proposal [...]

Puerto Azul is not for Belize, says alliance of 7 NGOs
A group of 7 local and foreign conservation NGOs, including Healthy Reef Initiative, the World Wildlife Fund, Oceana in Belize and the Belize Tourism Industry Association, have evidently strengthened their resolve against the Puerto Azul project, [...]

Legal battle over BTL and BEL goes to the Caribbean Court of Justice
The protracted legal battle over the nationalization of two major utility companies, the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), is set to enter a new round inside the Caribbean Court of Justice [...]

Climate outlook for August, September and October 2014
The National Meteorological Service provides weather and climate information and products of various timescales such as daily, weekly, monthly. This service has now been extended to providing seasonal climate outlooks of projected rainfall for a three-month [...]

12 volunteers from Taiwan’s top university visit Belize
Twelve students from Taiwan’s top university, National Tsing Hua University, paid their own way to travel to Belize, where they intend to build people-to-people linkages, particularly with their peers here, as they impart some of their [...]

The Reporter

US president meets with Central American leaders
Leaders from Central America have informed US President Barack Obama that they are working on a “comprehensive plan” that will look at why their youths are migrating to the United States. The meeting with the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala tok place at the White House on Friday as Washington struggles to find a solution to what many consider a humanitarian crisis. Obama and Presidents Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala, Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras, and Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador announced their commitment to prevent people from undertaking this dangerous journey an.d to work together to promote safe, legal, and orderly migration.

Mystery surrounds teacher’s death
Stephen John Michael Jr., a 28-year-old Seventh Day Adventist school teacher, was killed in his home and found early Friday morning. Michael’s father, who lives across the street, found him lying nude in his bed with a spot of blood at the back of his head after being alerted by a neighbor that his front door was open. According to Sergeant Roberto Novelo, head of CIB at Precinct II, police don’t suspect foul play and are classifying the case as a sudden death at this time. The police report sent prior to that however, said that police suspected foul play. According to Novelo, there were no signs of forced entry, though some of Michael’s belongings were missing. Post mortem results won’t be available until Monday.

Ambassador Ho speaks of students’ mission to Belize
Twelve volunteer students from Tsing Hua University in Taiwan are on a working visit to offer their expertise in the area of information technology to local students in western Belize. From the time they arrived last week until they leave on August 24 the […]

Caneros reject offer and call for continued bagasse negotiations
SAN ROMAN, COROZAL DISTRICT, Sun. Jul. 20, 2014 The Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB) will be asked to intervene in the commercial agreement dispute between cane farmers and sugar product producers after the farmers’ latest rejection of what the producers say is their final offer. […]

BSI’s gets technical with bagasse renumeration
Belize Sugar Industries, owned by the American Sugar Refineries (ASR) group, maintains that it has given the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association a fair remuneration for bagasse based on the amount of fiber the company uses. Olivia Avilez, BSI’s officer for Cane Farmer Relations, explained […]

Domestic fight ends in fatal stabbing
A woman faces possible charges of murder following the fatal stabbing of her common-law husband, Felix Eduardo Alamilla, 28, of San Pedro Town. The incident happened at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday at Alamilla’s workplace, about five miles outside of the town where he was the caretaker of a building. […]

Belize delivered Kim’s passport, but just can’t deliver it back!
by Louis Wade Won Hong Kim was in a Taiwanese prison about to be extradited to his home country of South Korea to answer to charges of embezzlement of Half a Billion dollars when the bright idea surfaced that, IF he were a citizen of another country, the officials must […]

Foreign Affairs hosts forum on water security
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a public forum this week on water security and the effects of Climate Change. The forum was held at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts on Wednesday night, and is a part of the ministry’s efforts to hold a forum every month. The forum […]

CCJ appeal for GOB acquisition of BTL and BEL starts
The final appeal of the case regarding the government’s acquisition of BEL and BTL began Wednesday via teleconference with Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Wednesday’s session was mostly case management and scheduling a timetable for the appeal. The hearings are expected to start in […]

BELIZE SCHOOL COUNSELLOR ASSOCIATION (BSCA) TO HOST FIRST SCHOOL COUNSELLING CONFERENCE
The Belize School Counsellor Association (BSCA) was formally established in October, 2012. The mission of the BSCA is to represent, support, and develop professional school counsellors in Belize and to encourage efficient delivery of counselling services at educational institutions. The BSCA’s objectives are to aid in educational and professional development […]

IDB President meets with Belize’s Prime Minister
Inter-American Development Bank President, Luis Alberto Moreno met today with Belize Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, to exchange information and provide an overview of the IDB’s activities in the country. President Moreno and Prime Minister Barrow also discussed the current IDB portfolio as well as future projects for Belize. The current […]

BCCI OSH amendment proposals
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has submitted proposed amendments to the recently tabled Occupational Safety and Healthy (OSH) Bill to the Public Service, Labor, Industry and Trade Committee. The revision submitted by the BCCI includes 46 suggested amendments, 54 points of […]

Eu ban forces vessels to change Belizean flag
The European Union (EU)’s ban on fishery products and services from Belize has affected several international vessels and forced them to start finding alternatives to the Belizean flag. Three tuna vessels belonging to Thai Union Frozen Products and one belonging to Spanish tuna catcher, […]

No comment on replacement ambassador to Guatemala, says CEO of Foreign Affairs
The person chosen to replace Ambassador Alfredo Martinez as Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala is a matter solely for the Prime Minister to decide, says Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexis Rosado. Rosado, a career diplomat, has been cited by several local media houses as the one […]

Editorial
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has submitted a number of thoughtful and relevant amendments to the Bill called the Occupational Safety and Health Bill now before the House of Representatives. The Chamber is not opposed to the legislation in principle. It is saying that it is too ambitious […]

Penner Walks COLA says they will appeal the case
The private prosecution case against Elvin Penner, the former minister of state in the Ministry of Immigration, has been dismissed. Magistrate Aretha Ford on Thursday struck out the case against Penner because it lacked evidence for a trial, but Citizens Organized for Liberty through […]

Two fires same story: children were playing with lighters
Two houses in two separate areas burned down Thursday morning and reports indicate that both fires were caused by unsupervised children who were playing with lighters. One of the fires occurred on Berkely Street and the other was in the Conch Shell Bay area. A […]

Conch Shell Bay grandma charged for public gambling
Gambling is what the police claim five Conch Shell Bay area residents were doing when they found them with a deck of cards on a slab. Three females, including a 64-year-old grandmother and three males, were at the corner of West Collect Canal and Conch Shell Bay area when police detained them. All five appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stewart, where they were all read a single charge of gambling or “assemble to gamble.” Initially, all pleaded guilty to the offence, including Quinn Arnold but after the facts were read in court she protested saying, “I nuh agree with it because dah nuh such it happen.”

Patrick Jones

School teacher found dead in his bed in Belize City
Police in Belize City suspect foul play in the death of a man who was found dead in his bed this morning. The body of Steven Michael, Jr., 28, was found just after 7 o’clock this morning inside his home at the corner of Jaguar and Tapir Streets in Belize City. A preliminary report from police say that Michael, Jr. was found lying face down in his bed and bleeding from his nose. Reports say that Stephen Michael, Jr. was last seen alive by his father around 8o’clock on Thursday night. Authorities say that a television set as well as the victim’s wallet and cellular phone were missing from the house.

Blogs

It’s Not Too Late to Enjoy a Summer Vacation in Belize
Summer has peaked and the days have begun getting shorter, but there’s still plenty of time to discover what so many savvy travellers have – Belize is one of the best summer vacation destinations on the planet, and especially convenient if you’re based in North America.

Press Release – Belize People’s Front on Elvin Penner’s Case Dismissal
The Belize People’s Front is alarmed and dismayed on hearing that the charges against area representative and former Minister of State in the Immigration Department have been dropped for a lack of evidence. While we respect the decision of the court, much more could have been done to ally the doubt that the state was not in collusion with stifling the investigation in an effort to protect the partisan politics that the existing giants maintain. The trust of the people have been broken once again, not just by the elected official, but by the state’s collusion in not adhering to the Constitution as it pertains to elected officials in public office. These acts are treacherous and should not be condoned by a lack of mobility and inaction by the Police Department and the Director of Public Prosecution. The trust of the people have once again been ignored and the blatant disregard for honour and good governance have once again taken a back seat to partisan politics.

SALAD BAR – WARM BEEF NICOISE
Place the steaks in a shallow dish. Blend the vinegar with 1 tablespoon of the orange juice and a teaspoon of mustard. Pour over steaks, cover, let stand in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Turn over half way through the marinating time. Place the eggs in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Remove and plunge the eggs into the cold water. Once cold, shell and set aside. Meanwhile, place the potatoes in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer for 15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and set aside.

International Sources izz

Like a kid in a candy store
While I love the Ozarks as much or more than anyone I know, even I like to go on a vacation from time to time. My wife and I really like the beach, especially the Caribbean and the Riviera Maya (or Yucatan area of Mexico) and try to visit those areas every year or so. My wife says her favorite part of the ocean is that little strip of sand where it meets the land. So a couple weeks ago my wife and I spent a week traveling. We took a cruise to two places on our “bucket list” of locations we want to visit. The trip included stops in four countries, but one was someplace we had visited several times, and the other was simply an add-on because it was the fourth stop on this particular loop. We started by flying to Miami, then boarded the boat with stops in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Cayman Islands, and then back to Miami.

CYNK Stock Crushed After Trading Halt Is Lifted
With no revenue, no assets and one employee, how did CYNK stock jump 25,000% earlier this month? CYNK Technology (CYNK) resumed trading Friday, and plenty of shareholders probably wish it hadn’t as they watched CYNK stock plunge nearly 85%. penny on chart 185x185 CYNK Stock Crushed After Trading Halt Is LiftedIn what’s been the scandal of the summer, CYNK — a penny stock trading over-the-counter — shot up 25,000% in a matter of days in early July. Then the Securities and Exchange Commission stepped in. Never mind that the Belize company has no revenue, no assets and one employee. For a short time, CYNK stock had a market cap of $6 billion, which is bigger than about a tenth of all companies in the S&P 500. That was bound to get the attention of regulators even when it comes to the OTC market, which is largely left to its own and therefore home to all sorts of dodgy companies. The SEC halted trading in CYNK stock on July 11 to investigate “potentially manipulative transactions” and the “accuracy and adequacy of information in the marketplace.”

Obama hauls Central American leaders to White House to order them to stop immigration flood – but they blame HIM for ‘ambiguous’ policies
President Barack Obama met with the leaders of the three Central American countries at the forefront of the illegal immigration debate this afternoon. Obama held a joint meeting with Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and El Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren to discuss their 'shared responsibility' to promote 'safe, legal, and orderly migration' to the America, according to the White House. Vice President Joe Biden, who met with Molina and Ceren last month in Guatemala, also attended today's meeting at the White House. Neither Obama nor the Central American leaders took questions from the press after the meeting, but Honduras' Hernandez said on Thursday that he planned to ask Obama to do more to clear up 'the ambiguity' surrounding the country's immigration laws, including the president's Deferred Action for childhood arrivals program, and to step up law enforcement efforts to shut down drug smugglers and cartels.

Videos

Video: Belize is the North American Paradise, min.
The Discovery Channel has a North American video series, and they have a clip about Belize. It's appropriately named, 'Belize, a North American Paradise.' It's not long, yet a lot is on there. "Belize, with the highest concentration of pristine rainforest in Central America and the second largest coral reef in the world, is a North American paradise."

Video: Welcome to Belize, 3min.
Video and pictures of different IBS events in Belize, IBS Summits and IBS Facilitators,

Video: Lale Snorkeling in Belize, 3min.
Snorkeling the Hol Chan Marine Reserve with Raggamuffin tours in Belize. The best snorkeling experience Ive had.

July 25, 2014

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro Cop charged for extortion
San Pedro Police have arrested and charged one of their uniformed colleagues who is being accused of extortion. The accused is Police Constable No 1308 Elvin Nah, and he is currently attached to the San Pedro Police Formation. He was arrested and charged on Thursday July 24th following an incident that occurred on July 6th. According to Deputy Commanding Officer of the San Pedro Police Formation Inspector Henry Jemmott, on July 17th at about 5PM, a male person visited the San Pedro Police station and made a formal report against PC Nah. “He stated that on July 6th, at about 1AM while heading home, he was stopped by police officers in front of a store on Pescador Drive. A search was conducted on his person by a Hispanic police officer and as a result two small plastic bags with suspected cannabis were found. The individual was then taken to the San Pedro Police Station where the suspected drug was weighed and amounting to four grams.”

PADI expels Amigos del Mar Dive Shop
One of the oldest dive shops on Ambergris Caye has been expelled from the PADI dive organization network. The expulsion was made effective on Thursday, July 17th, and as a result, Amigos del Mar Dive Shop can no longer conduct any PADI certified courses or represent themselves as PADI members. Also expelled as a PADI affiliate, on the same date was Marciano Mendez who conducts dive training at Amigos. Due to confidentiality code, PADI cannot disclose the reason for the expulsion, but has assured that expulsion is the last resort when addressing issues with members. PADI Quality Management Manager, Linda Van Velsen told The San Pedro Sun that before any establishment is expelled, PADI follows an extensive process that includes fact checking, getting all perspectives about the issue including the members, and, when necessary, offers corrective retraining and cooperative compliance before expulsion is considered. The San Pedro Sun contacted the owner of Amigos del Mar Dive Shop, Albino “Changa” Paz but he declined to comment on the matter.

Government of Belize Compensates Public Officers and Teachers for the 1995-1997 Increments Freeze
The Ministry of Finance is pleased to announce that it has today authorised the Accountant General to transfer the balance of some $3.06 million held in a Government Savings Account to the Trustees of the Public Sector Workers’ Trust, which has been established to hold funds in trust for all public officers and teachers whose annual increments were frozen during the period 1st April 1995 to 31st March 1997. It may be recalled that in 1995, the Government of Belize had agreed to give the Public Service Union and the Belize National Teachers Union some 794,732 shares in Belize Telecommunications Limited (now Belize Telemedia Limited) as compensation for the suspension of annual increments of public officers and teachers during the fiscal period 1995 to 1997. These shares continued earning dividends which were kept in a separate Government Savings Account in trust for the affected public officers and teachers.

Second Annual Action Twenty 24 Summer Camp
Action Twenty 24 is back in San Pedro hosting a one week sports summer camp. The second annual summer camp started on Monday, 21st and is scheduled to conclude on Friday, July 27th and operates in partnership with Lighthouse Christian Radio. Over 70 children are participating in the camp which is being held at the San Pedro High School Campus. According the Action Twenty 24 organizer, Chris Burnette, the camp is held to teach sports skills to children while promoting love and community unity. “Many parents find it challenging to take care of their children during summer as they have to work. As part of the camp we care for the children and ensure that they are out of trouble and have a productive summer,” said Burnette. Throughout the week the children will learn basic skills in football, basketball, volleyball and baseball, all while learning Christian values. “Our aim for the camp is to simply put some smiles in the children’s faces, make them happy and keep them safe.”

Vince’s Warriors take the lead of the Island Cup Football Tournament
Football action is back to San Pedro with the official kickoff of the Island Cup Football Tournament. After several unfortunate delays, the tournament kicked off on Sunday, July 20th at the Ambergris Stadium. Eight teams entertained football fanatics in four thrilling matches, but at the end of the day it was Vince’s Warriors who took the lead of the tournament. The first game was between San Pedro High School (SPHS) Football Team and Dorados. The young athletes from SPHS stood their ground, but in the end it was the Dorados that took the win in a close 2-1 point match. Next to take the field was Joker FC against recent tournament champions, Legends FC. It was a tight match which saw Legends FC pull a few tricks to win the match in a 3-2 point game.

Caribbean Belle Weddings features stunning Conch Creative photography
The fabulous duo at Conch Creative photography has gotten a gorgeous spread in one the newest wedding publications: Caribbean Belle Weddings. A publication dedicated to all wedding things across the exotic Caribbean, Caribbean Belle gives a glimpse into the locales that so many adventurous couples opt for their special day. The six-page spread features photos by photographer Maya Papovic, and the pictures show the beauty of Belize’s Cayo District, in particular Francis Ford Coppola’s Blancaneaux Lodge and one of the prettiest Maya ruins in Belize: Xunantunich.

Ambergris Today

Top 10 Things To Do In Belize
Traveling around my own country has been one of the best experiences in my life. Belize has so much to offer to the daily traveler. Land, air and sea adventures, we got it! It is just amazing going around this country of mine, meeting people from all walks of life and observing the mixture of cultures leading to the endless dishes of Belize. Therefore, if it is your first or second visit to Belize, I have made your vacation a lot easier and much more fun by providing you with a list of the Top 10 things to do in Belize.

Tropic Air Announces Increase In Service Roatan, Honduras
Tropic Air announces, that effective November 1, 2014, it will increase service to Roatan, Honduras from four times weekly to daily. “We are very excited to be increasing our service to Roatan in response to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of our passengers", said John Greif III, President of Tropic Air. “Roatan has become an important part of our network, and a source of growing tourism and trade business to Belize. The next logical step is for us to increase the frequency to daily to allow traffic to grow even more”.

Belizeans Unite Against Italian “Mega-Luxury” Project On Remote Coral Reef
Belize’s largest conservation and tourism organizations, as well as members of the public, have joined forces in opposition to a proposed seven star mega-resort on Belize’s most remote coral reefs. The project, named Puerto Azul, would transform two private islands on the northern side of the Lighthouse Reef atoll. The brainchild of Italian promoter Domenico Giannini, Puerto Azul was launched during the 2014 Cannes Film Festival at a lavish celebrity-studded party. Belizean ministers of government were also flown in for the occasion. Opposition to the project is based on its massive scale in an undeveloped area that is over 50 miles from the nearest mainland supply depot. Lighthouse Reef, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean and is home to the world renowned Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye Natural Monuments; both are protected areas and World Heritage Sites. The developers want to build what they describe as a “citadel of luxury” inclusive of underwater suites, a golf course, amusement park, submarine base, hospital, super-yacht marina and Formula 1 race track, all serviced by a two mile long international airport to be dredged from the sands and productive sea grass beds of the Lighthouse Reef atoll. The resort’s proposed one thousand guests would be served by a small city of two thousand employees.

Misc Belizean Sources mzz

One-day session for business owners and NGO's regarding waste management
Tomorrow, July 25, the Solid Waste Management Authority from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture will be having a one-day session for business owners and NGO's in the environment sector at the Sunbreeze Hotel Conference Room from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This session will contain various activities and methods of awareness in regards to waste management. The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority is currently implementing a project in four municipalities along the Western Corridor. These municipalities include San Ignacio/Santa Elena, Belize City, San Pedro Town/Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The project seeks to address the country's inadequate solid waste management practices by putting in place new and improved infrastructure for the management of solid waste, increasing public awareness and changing current behaiors and practices through communication and social mobilization and building capacity of local authorities responsible for solid waste management.

Part III - Belize Sugar Industry's and Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association's arguments:
As mentioned earlier, the company has offered to pay the farmers .51 cents per ton of cane. How did they come to this figure? BSI basically utilized last year’s figures for cane production and payment for cane which Carballo placed at $74.20 per ton. Now, please recall that, out of the average of 29 percent of bagasse in cane, Bio-Energy said that not all of it is fiber. According to Carballo, last year, the amount of fiber found in the cane was approximately 53 percent of the total bagasse content. “So, based on the cane price for 2013, and taking the percentage of fiber that is in the cane which is 15.41% 29% x 53.14%), that amounts to a payment of $11.43 $74.20 x 15.41%) per ton of fiber and so based on the quantification of the amount of fiber that is used to generate electricity to BEL, we are valuing that fiber at $11.43 per ton of fiber, and that comes up to the sum of $550,000 = ( 48,119 tons of fibre x $11.43), or 51 cents = ( $550,000/1,078,000 tons of cane delivered in 2013) per ton of cane.”

TV Interview with PM Barrow Sunday the 27th
Tune in this Sunday, July 27th at 8:00 p.m. for an exclusive one-on-one interview with Prime Minister of Belize Hon. Dean Barrow. "Up Close and Personal: A Conversation with Hon. Dean Barrow" will air on Wave TV, Channel 7, Nortevision Channel 10, Channel 5, Love TV, and Krem TV. This is an interview you don't want to miss!

Belize Takes 3rd in Codicader U-12 Games
Congratulations to the Belize U-12 Football team for coming in 3rd place at the Codicader Games! Wilfredo Galvez scored the most goals - video of one of them - in the tournament, which was held in Guatemala. Excellent sportsmanship! "AWESOMENESS! PROUD BELIZEANS!! CONGRATS to the Belmopan Football School of Talent U-12 who won today's game against Guatemala 4-3 and took 3rd place in the Codicader Games in Retalhuleue, Guatemala. And that's your morning dose of awesomeness from some very talented young Belizeans! 2 Goals scored by Wilfredo Galvez Jr (Buddy), 1 by Brent Dubon and the other by Kelvin Gordon!! Buddy scored 9 goals in the Tournament. That's the most scored by any player in this Tournament! Pics to follow later! BIG UP to Coaches Leslie Flowers, Kenneth Budna, Jacqueline Pelayo and all the Parents who believe in these youths. The journey continues........"

Cayo Power interruption 6:00am to 2:00pm Sunday, July 27
from Unitedville to the Benque Viejo border, including, Benque Viejo Town, San Ignacio Town, Santa Elena Town, the villages of Esperanza, Georgeville, Unitedville, San Miguel, Duck Run 1 and 2, Billy White, Bullet Tree, Santa Familia, Cristo Rey, San Antonio, Santa Cruz, Succotz, Corozalito, Arenal and surrounding areas. BEL to replace equipment on transmission line in area and carry out maintenance works at the San Ignacio Substation.

GAIA Riverlodge in Belize is now Green Globe Certified and harvesting fresh produce
Tucked away in the Pine Ridge Forest and surrounded by the Five Sisters Waterfalls, GAÏA Riverlodge is an eco-tourism hotel dedicated to preserving Belize's natural beauty. span> In a series of environmental initiaties, GAÏA Riverlodge has announced that the hotel is now Green Globe Certified. As one of only five properties in Belize to receive this presitious certification, GAÏA Riverlodge is proud to uphold the highest standard of sustainability. The hotel has also developed a fresh vegetable garden on-site, which will harvest zucchini, cucumber, cilantro, basil, arugula, lettuce, tomato, cabbage, cantaloupe, sweet pepper, mint and corn. Guests can now enjoy this hyper-local cuisine at GAÏA's restaurant.

Belize Tourism Enjoys Rise in First Half of 2014
Citing a recent article in Belize's Amandala newspaper, which used statistics released by the Belize Tourism Board, Chaa Creek's co-owner and GM Lucy Fleming said that continued strong growth in the tourism sector is providing benefits across Belize's economy and society, benefits that will in turn continue to make Belize more attractive to travelers. "Belize's economy is now tourism-oriented, so a rise in visitor numbers translates into a healthier, happier society, making Belize even more attractive," Ms Fleming said. "In short, more tourists mean a stronger tourism product, which will in turn attract more tourists. It's a very positive, self-perpetuating cycle," she added. The Amandala article, "Belize Draws 29.3% More Tourists for First Half of 2014" (July 18, 2014) noted that "Belize continues to draw more tourists to its shores, with overnight tourist arrivals up 11.8%, and cruise tourist arrivals up 36.9% for the first half of 2014, according to data released this evening by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB). "That translates to 141,921 more cruise tourists and 19,693 more overnight tourists compared to the first six months of 2013, or an overall sector growth of 29.3%," the report concludes.

Healing through humanitarian assistance projects
Three international health specialists and three non-governmental organization personnel are participating in a humanitarian assistance project in Belize from July 21-25, which encompasses the Global Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Instructor and Provider Courses. By participating in humanitarian assistance projects such as Global ALSO, U.S. military medical forces have an opportunity to broaden their experiences and support improvements for our partner nation medical professionals. “Humanitarian assistance projects, such as Global ALSO, help to provide a clear understanding of the medical capabilities of our partner nations, and a chance to identify areas of improvement and ways to advance skills,” said Capt. Ricardo Sequeria, family medicine resident assigned to the 96th Medical Operations Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. “You get a chance to know them, to really build relationships, and to leave with a sense of collegiality.”

Home Made Breakfast Burrito
An easy breakfast burrito. The wrap is very easy to make and you can put anything you want on the inside. No need to buy frozen breakfast burritos again.

Belizean Curried Fish
Joe shows us how to make Curried Fish as he use to make it when he was younger. This dish is spicy hot and absolutely delicious. If you love curry you will enjoy this meal.

BTB Tourism Statistics - July 2014
The Belize Tourism Board released the stats for the first half of 2014. "Tourist arrivals continue to go up!"

Rotaract School Drive
The Rotaract Club of Benque is organizing a school drive to get much needed materials for local students. Any school supplies you can donate would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rotaract! "Support our FILL A BACK PACK 1st ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE! Every child counts! Let's make a difference!"

July 14 - July 20 2014 Fishing Report
Special congratulations to some new double haulers, Elizabeth is a rocket, Tom can throw, Tonya doubled the length of her cast this week, throwing 70 feet by the end of the week, Bethany picked up the double haul on her third casting lesson and it was fun to see the enthusiasm and improvement in all who took part in the daily classes.

Channel 7

Private Prosecution Against Penner Thrown Out!
In March of this year, Elvin Penner made national headlines when he became the first elected area representative to be criminally charged for official wrongdoing during the tenure of his own Government. Tonight, however, he's at home with his family, and he has been cleared of all charges brought against him. As has been widely reported, he was implicated as the chief arranger in the issuance of the passport and nationality certificate of South Korean Won Hong Kim. Still, police never criminally charged him - and only launched a criminal investigation after the Supreme Court told them to do so. And when the police didn't charge him, COLA did launching a private prosecution against Penner. But, the private prosecution was short of a critical element, first hand evidence. And so, after only 4 short adjournments the case was struck out of court today. 7News was there in Belmopan when the disgraced former minister was acquitted and Daniel Ortiz reports: Daniel Ortiz reporting After 4 short adjournments, Former Minister of State Elvin Penner walked out of court a free man. The two immigration offences, brought against him by COLA's Geovannie Brackett and Nedal McLaren were thrown out.

Did The State Protect Hon Penner?
But if, you've been following the case, as we have, it may have crossed your mind that today's outcome couldn't have happened any other way. That's because all the police evidence needed was being kept out of COLA's reach - and according to the expert in prosecutions - the DPP -from what she had seen of that there wasn't enough to bring a charge. Currently, their case file for the Citizen Kim passport is still within the Department, and the official line at this time is that the case is still under investigation. But, COLA lays blame at the feet of the Commissioner of Police for the failure of the private prosecution. How do they get to that conclusion? That's just what Daniel Ortiz tried to find out: Daniel Ortiz reporting In the days leading up to today's hearing, Attorney General Wilfred Elrington gave an interview to the press in which he spoke candidly about what he saw as the impending failure of today's case. Those remarks incensed those within the COLA ranks.

Where Is The Citizen Kim Passport?
One piece of evidence which surely didn't make it into the case today was the original passport which was issued to South Korean Won Hong Kim. Best information says the passport is in the possession of the Belizean embassy in Taiwan. It was supposed to be brought to Belize in May, but that never happened. And because it has not appeared - the true whereabouts of the passport has been opened to conjecture. The question of its whereabouts was put both to COLA and to Attorney General Wilfred Elrington, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and they gave two very different answers. Here's what they had to say: Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Attorney General "As far as I know I haven't heard anything on that. But let me ask you this question since you've asking me so many question: why you want the passport to come to Belize?" Reporter "It's of public interest." Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Attorney General "People are just curious about it."

Fire Leaves 4 Families Homeless, 3 Structures Destroyed
There were two house fires this morning in Belize City - and children playing with fire caused both of them. The more serious one happened at around 10:00 am on Plues and Berkely Streets - right around the corner from our studio. Monica Bodden spoke to the 4 families in 3 houses who had lost everything.. Monica Bodden reporting The fire started from the upper flat of this two storey green building - and within minutes, the entire structure was up in flames. Fire fighters were called out to the scene on Berkley and Plues Street just after 10 this morning - and went into quick operation mode in attempt to control the blaze in the congested location. It wasn't long before the fire spread to this 14 by 14 one bedroom structure on the same premises. Concerned neighbours lined the area from front to back- while some even risked their lives to run inside the heated buildings to remove gas tanks and even animals.

Another Fire Set By Child
The first fire started an hour before that one - at around 9:15 am - and again, kids were the culprits. Luckily, it was a small fire, easily contained. Neighbors say it was started by a child playing with a lighter. One of the residents spoke with us off camera and told us how the community sprang to action when they saw the house ablaze. Voice of Neighbor "We were in our spot and then my sister ran out and said fire. When we came at the back we saw that the mattress had already catch fire. After that my brother-in-law, he has one foot and he actually pulls out this mattress while we were getting water to try and out it." Robin Schaffer "How did the fire start? Do you know?" Voice of Neighbor "Actually my cousin said that it's my little cousin light the mattress because no one was at the upstairs at the time where the fire started, only the baby and they said that he had a lighter and he lighted the sheet and the sheet catch fire underneath the mattress."

Kumul Charged For Common-Law's Murder
38 year old mother of two, Anabel Kumul was charged for the murder of her common law husband today in San Pedro. She was arraigned and remanded about 30 hours after she allegedly stabbed the 28 year old Felix Alamilla in his leg, chest and eye. The wound to the leg severed an artery and it is believed that caused him to bleed out. According to reports - Alamilla had gone missing from home for two days and that was supposedly what triggered Kumul to head out at dawn yesterday to find him at a house where he had been spree-ing with friends. She allegedly found him asleep, then jumped on him and started inflicting the stab wounds. Kumul is a Mexican resident on San Pedro and police say they caught her trying to take a flight off the island at 7:00 am.

Cop Charged For Extortion
She wasn't the only one San Pedro police took the court today - they also charged one of their own for extortion. Constable Elvin Nah was charged for extortion after an island resident complained that Nah shook him down for four hundred dollars. The complainant - whose name is not being released - alleged that at 1:00 am on July eighth, Nah stopped and searched him and found two small plastic bags containing cannabis. He took him to the police station where he weighed the drugs at four grams. Nah allegedly then told the complainant that he could set him free without charges if he paid him four hundred dollars. The complainant says he then handed Nah eight fifty dollar bills and was set free without charges. The report was made on July 17th and that's when police started reviewing security video at the police station and questioning officers who were on duty.

Hattieville Chairman Still Missing: Villagers Pray
Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo has been missing for 4 days now, and today the extensive searches to try to locate him continued. The seismic testing company that he was working for when he went missing has stepped up their search and they are joined by the Police, the BDF, and now the Coast Guard. But though the searchers are numerous, as time goes by, the community is losing hope of finding him alive, and so they are organizing a prayer session to implore his safe return. One of the organizers spoke with us about it today: Vanesha Rhaburn, Friend of Kevin Carcamo "We call this event a "Hattieville Community Call to Prayer" because at this time we are desperate for answers about our chairman, he has been missing for 4 days. It's hard for us to believe that a man would be missing in his own terrain. We know that somebody knows something and they are not talking. At this point we have no one else to turn to but to God to help us and to speak to the persons that know what happened that day because we do not accept what is going on."

Quality Of Life Crime Crackdown Causes Court Congestion
On Monday we showed you just a sample of the vicious public backlash resulting from the police crackdown on so called quality of life crimes - those minor, always overlooked offences, such as riding a bicycle without a bell or light. And while there's been a public backlash, what we saw today was the administrative aftermath. Scores of people lined up at the police prosecution branch waiting for hours to pay their fines. It was not a happy scene as the queue ran up and down 2 flights of stairs and spilled outside the door onto the street. We spoke to one of those very many crammed into the office, Wilbert Meighan Jr. who told us about his experience. Wilbert Alfred Meighan Jr. Aka Beansie- fined for bicycle offence "Well there was a commotion here today. It was totally unnecessary, especially in my incident because it was Monday morning and I was on Cemetery Road. I did came out from West Street and was heading down Cemetery Road contrary to traffic. But I saw the police from Euphrates coming walking and I got off my bike went in the yard in front of Salvation Army where they sell journey cakes and powder bun and I went to

Man Busted For Bicycle Bell Carried Crack
But while many lampoon and lambaste the bicycle crackdown, yesterday, it led to a drug arrest. 45 year-old Stuart Smith was riding his bike contrary to the flow of traffic on Lizarraga Avenue, and that drew police attention on him. When they inspected his bike, they found out that he didn't have a bell or a light, so they began questioning him about it. He remained unusually quiet, and that made the officers suspicious, and so they searched him. They found out that the reason he wasn't talking is because he had a piece of foil paper under his tongue. When they took it out of his mouth, and opened it up, they found that there was an undetermined amount of crack cocaine.

And The PUP's Candidate For Albert Is ...
For months, there has been speculation about who will run for the PUP in the Albert division. There was supposed to have been a convention in May, and at the time three candidates submitted their name. But, the party brass asked them to stand down to make way for a candidate with a higher profile. Speculation was rampant that it would be Dickie Bradley, a former PUP candidate in Queen's Square. Well, tonight, we can confirm that it isn't Bradley. The likely PUP Standard Bearer for Albert is Paul Thompson, well known as the president of the Belize Basketball Federation. Thompson - who worked as Mark Espat's political officer in the Albert between 1996 and 2006 - confirmed today that he has put in his name as a candidate for Albert. We say he is the "likely" standard bearer because it is not clear if he will face a convention challenge. But, political insiders suggest that since the party brass directly courted his candidacy - they are expected to clear the way for him to be endorsed as a candidate who would not have to face a convention challenge.

Capital Police Still Looking For Stolen DOE Pickup
Last night, we told you about the Department of Environment Vehicle which was stolen in broad daylight yesterday from the busy market square in Belmopan. Today, investigators were no closer to figuring out how the thief managed to pull it off, but they were able to brief us on what they know so far about it's last known whereabouts: Inspector Dennis Myles, Acting OC - Belmopan "What we do know is that Mr. Edgar Eck reported to us sometime after 9 yesterday morning he parked his brown 2008 Toyota Hilux in front of the environment office and from there it was stolen. The person from the environment - we had recorded statements from those persons and there is no definite lead in regards to the investigation." Reporter "Is it a case where he did had his key with him and maybe the window was bashed in to get access or using duplicate keys?"

Alleged Robber Remanded
23 year-old Francis Arana, a Lavender Street resident who has been on remand since Monday for Firearm offences, was brought back to court today for additional charges. He's believed to be one of the men who targetted a Bowen and Bowen delivery team last week Thursday, but instead of taking money, they went for the security guard's gun. As we reported, the incident occurred around10:30 a.m. Marlon Wade, a security guard employed by Fort Point Security, reported to the police that he and two other security guards, Eddie Arnold and Chester Mclaren, were making a delivery in a Ford Ranger pick-up truck. When they reached Eleven Shop on Oleander Street they were approached by 3 men. Wade said one of the men wore a stocking mask and was armed with what appeared to be a .38 revolver while the others wore no mask and were unarmed. He said at gunpoint, they stole a 9 millimeter pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition in its magazine, which is owned by fort point Security and has a value of $3,000 dollars. Wade said they also stole a Samsung cellular phone belonging to Arnold, which has a value of $1,200. Because of the report from the security guard, Arana was charged with aggravated assault and 2 counts of robbery.

What To Do In Case Of Fire
There have been a rash of fires in the city recently - and apart from the massive loss of property - since May, two lives have been lost. But what should or can you do in the event that fire comes breathing down your door? It's a possibility that none of us would event want to consider, but it's real, and today Station Officer of the Belize National Fire Services, Orin Smith briefed the media on what to do when there is a fire and how to prevent one from happening. Here are some demonstrations - set to the very persistent din of a fire alarm. Orin Smith - Station Officer, National Fire Service "Here I have in front of me a lighter gun, a candle, a cigarette lighter, a box of match - these are all tools that adults used. I am appealing to the adults to train the children. These are not toys for the children to play with and by all means do not leave these tools in easy-reach of children. Children have a natural way of learning. They will learn by imitating what they see adults do. If there are smokers in the home that use cigarette lighters, if they placed these things in easy-reach of children they will use them. Some home don't use matches, they either use a lighter or a lighter gun or have an electric stove that you can just press the button and that stove light up. If they have these tools, do not leave them in easy reach of children."

Artist Releases "Presshah"
Freddy Bencomo a 39 year old Belizean artist is making his debut tomorrow night at the Image Factory. He has been painting from about 2002, but has lacked the confidence to display his work - until now. We stopped in to see his exhibit called "Presshah" hoping to reveal the hidden talents of this local artist: Presshah launches at 7:pm tomorrow night and will be on display until the end of July..

City Closes Summer Camp
The Belize City Council today closed its summer camp. It happened at the Skills Center on Magazine Road and Councilor Alain Gonzalez told us what the camp focused on: And while at this afternoon's camp closing, we caught up with Major Darrell Bradley who is back in country after a visit from LA and LV, that is, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The Mayor plans on keeping close ties with Belizean Americans living in the city of Los Angeles.

Belize Triathlete Fails To Finish Swim
Today, the 20th Commonwealth Games began in Scotland with 6 events, one of which was the Triathlon. Belize's only Tri-athlete, the defending Lion Man Champion, Kent Bob Gabourel competed against 40 other tri-athletes from across the commonwealth. But, it didn't go well. Regrettably, he was unable to complete the swimming portion - which is the first leg of the three stage event. In the end, England won both 1st and 2nd place with South Africa placing 3rd. Belize's Andy Wigmore will participate in the Shooting competition on Monday, July 28th. On another note, today Katy Sealy and Gregory Lovell joined 140 athletes from 70 other nations when they had lunch with the Queen.

BCVI Gets Major Boost
This morning the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired received a generous donation from the Lions Club International Foundation. There was a handing over of a 2 story addition for the Belize Lions club's existing building, which houses the National eye clinic. Eye care equipment for the Diabetic Screening and Treatment Project were also donated. Today we spoke with Deputy Director of BCVI, Carla Musa who told us more. Carla Ayres Musa, Deputy Director, BCVI "BCVI was very happy to have our official handing over from the Lions Club to us for two projects that we've been working on together since about 2011. We've gone through the process of submitting proposals and having them reviewed and actually implementing them and we did the official handing over today." "The first project that we worked on was a standard grant with Lions International and that allowed for the expansion of the facility that we are in right now. This use to be the outside space and people use to have to wait in the rain and in the sun and because BCVI and Lions have had a relationship over a few decades now, we have the same goal of preventing blindness and we thought that it would be great to team up with them because this is their building that we work out for us to be able to expand and offer more services. That was the first portion that we handed over today we were handed to."

Will Belize Accede To Munitions?
Belize may soon become the 85th country to accede to the convention on cluster munitions. Now, you're probably asking, why is this news since Belize has nothing to do with cluster munitions? Well, a UN activist group is trying to make Central America the first sub region which has acceded to the treaty and Belize is the only holdout. We spoke to a representative for the Cluster Munition Coalition, Hector Guerra, who explained to us why Belize's accession is important even though no cluster munitions have ever been used in the country. Hector Guerra, Rep. - Cluster Munition Coalition "Most of the countries in the Caribbean and Latin America are on board. As a matter of fact Central America is about to become the first sub region worldwide fully on board the convention of cluster munitions, the country that is missing is Belize. We know that it shouldn't be difficult for the country to accede to this treaty because it has never use, produce, and stockpile or transferred or being affected by cluster munitions. One way of showing the interest that Belize has for this would be to participate in the 5th meeting for states parties coming on in September in San Jose, Costa Rica. It will be the first international meeting around the convention Cluster Munitions taking place in Latin America and the Caribbean, but most important it's going to take place in Central America, so it's an excellent opportunity."

Channel 5

COLA Excoriates Attorney General, Says He Should be Ashamed of Himself
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, on more than one occasion, has expressed his doubt that Elvin Penner could be successfully prosecuted, maintaining the difference between factual guilt and legal guilt. Attorney-General [...]

Francis Fonseca Says Sedi’s Comments Aren’t Surprising
P.U.P. Leader, Francis Fonseca, himself a former Attorney-General, also took issue with the comments of Elrington, but like the outcome of the case, he says they weren’t surprising. He says [...]

Belize City Fire Guts Berkley Street Residence
There have been four fires in the past sixteen days in the Belize District that have unfortunately been caused by children playing with lighters. The incidents have prompted the Fire [...]

SATIIM Says Penner Acquittal Is an Injustice to Belizeans
The reaction of the crowd outside the courtroom was immediate. As Elvin Penner and his family walked to a parked vehicle, there were cries of ‘thief’ and ‘you should be [...]

Government Vehicles Missing…Again
If you’re the driver of a late model government ride, especially a Toyota Hilux, you may want to be careful where you park. That’s because there are some brazen thieves [...]

Tortilla Vendor Perishes In Road Traffic Accident In Orange Walk
There was a fatal road traffic accident today in the Orange Walk District. Sometime around two o’clock this afternoon, two vehicles traveling in opposite directions along the Yo Creek Road [...]

Belize City Restaurateur Fined For Undersized Lobsters
Belize City businesswoman Heidi Andrades appeared unrepresented in magistrates’ court today where she pleaded guilty to a fisheries offense after being busted with thirty-nine undersized lobster tails at her restaurant. [...]

San Pedro Family Acquitted of Ammunition Charge
Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez this morning found a San Pedro family of four not guilty of the charge of possession of six rounds of unlicensed ammunition. This matter came to public [...]

Belize Off To A Rocky Start At Commonwealth Games 2014
The Commonwealth Games 2014 opened in Glasgow, Scotland on Wednesday night to much fanfare. Belize is among seventy-one nations participating in the multi-sport event. With a delegation that spreads across [...]

Belizean Athletes Upbeat About Commonwealth Outing
Belizean cyclist, Gregory Lovell, and Flag Bearer, Katy Sealy, were selected from the delegation to dine with Queen Elizabeth the Second and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Commonwealth Games [...]

CitCo Hosts Summer Camp for Belize City Kids
Summertime is extra special for children and youths who are attending interesting summer camps. Over at the Skills Training Center on Magazine Road, the City Council wrapped up two summer [...]

BCVI Formally Handed Keys to New Office Space
BCVI and the Lions have been in partnership for decades. Today, the official handing over of two projects that BCVI was able to secure through the local Belize Lions took [...]

Healthy Living: Medical Mission Works With Inspiration Center
Currently, the Friends of Pediatrics N.G.O. is hosting a highly anticipated medical mission for Belizean children. Over thirty families will be directly impacted by the work of two visiting medical [...]

CTV3

Corozaleno Arrested For Aggravated Assault
A custom official on duty at the northern border got a brush with death after he was nearly dragged by a fleeing Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. The incident occurred around 11:15pm on Monday. Martin Lino, assistant security for the Customs Department at the Santa Elena Border, reported to police that he was at the Customs Check point carrying out his duties; when a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven at the time by 21 year old Benigno Loria, a laborer of San Andres Village approached the checkpoint. According to Lino, he was doing his routine search inside the vehicle and upon finishing the interior of the vehicle, he then asked the driver to open the hood of the engine for him to check the engine area. But what happened next took Lino by surprise. Upon sighting the police, Loria reversed the vehicle and managed to drive away from the checkpoint and headed back across the Mexican Border.

Felix Brothers Free After Eight Years
Brothers Maurice, 30, and Emory Felix, 27, are free men tonight after spending approximately 8 years behind bars and facing 3 murder trials. Viewers may recall that the brothers were accused of killing mechanic Mitchum Heredia, 29, at his T-Street resident on April 10, 2006. Main witness Romel Palacio Jr., had testified that he witnessed the brothers approach Heredia, who was in his Nissan Maxima vehicle, with guns drawn. One of them spoke to him and then both fired shots to his head and continued to fire, resulting in multiple gunshot wounds. In October of 2007 a jury found them guilty but the Court of Appeal ordered a retrial after finding a material misdirection of the jury by Justice Adolph Lucas. A second jury sitting before Justice Herbert Lord four years later was unable to reach a verdict. For this trial, the prosecutor Sheiniza Smith successfully applied for a change of venue, citing alleged jury tampering in the previous trials to Justice Gonzalez.

GOB Unfreezes Increments From 1995 to 1997
Today the government announced the authorization to the Accountant General to transfer the balance of 3.06 million dollars held in a Government Savings account to the trustees of the public sector workers trust including teachers whose annual increments were frozen during April 1st, 1995 to March 31st 1997. For context, in 1995, GOB had agreed to give the Public Service Union and the National Teachers Union some 749,732 shares in Belize Telecommunications (now Belize Telemedia Ltd) as compensation for the suspension of annual increments of public officers and teachers during the fiscal period aforementioned. These shares say the release, continued earning dividends which were kept in a separate Government savings account in trust for the affected public officers and teachers.

Cigarettes Smuggled From Belize Confiscated In Guatemala
A few weeks ago Guatemalan Authorities confiscated a cargo truck carrying more than fifty cartons of contraband cigarettes believed to have originated from Belize and this morning authorities hit the jackpot again. According to today’s edition of La Prensa Libre, the bust occurred in the Municipality of Poptun, Peten. A total of seven hundred and ninety thousand cigarettes, smuggled from Belize into Guatemala were confiscated. The driver of the vehicle 33 year old Guatemalan National Calos Humberto Rodriguez Gomez was detained by authorities and now faces criminal charges. The cigarettes have a value of three hundred and ninety five thousand Quetzals.

Stolen Bicycles Recovered By Corozal Police
Keen observation and quick response by police has landed two in police custody and led to the recovery of stolen items. Superintendent Andre Ramirez, Officer in Charge of the Corozal Police Formation told us more about the detention. Andrew Ramirez - Officer in Charge of the Corozal Police Formation “This afternoon the police officers posted at the San Narcisco Sub-station upon detaining these two individuals they decided to apprehend them and during the process they referred them to the Corozal police station for interview as the main man wanted for the Corozal CIB for questioning as a result Corporal Valladares who is the newly appointed supervisor for the CIB section here in Corozal did the interview and as a result the police were taken to the Xaibe village where approximately five bicycles were found in a yard, now we believe that these bikes excluding one that has been identified by one of the victim, the other four are stolen good and they are requesting, asking the member of the public who had bicycles stolen especially here in Corozal, if they can visit the Corozal station and look at it and see possibly for identification purposes, several of the stolen bikes based on the interview were taken in Concepcion village and San Victor villages, so the persons in these villages had bought bicycles in the past we are requesting that these bikes be turn over to the police for further investigation because if the investigation leads to these individuals then mostly we would be proceeding with criminal charges against them because it is a crime to be buying stolen goods.”

Two Belizean Students Awarded For Environmental Poster Competition
Two Belizean students were awarded prizes in the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Environmental Poster Competition. According to the Belize Tourism Board, the Belize’s Junior Division representative, Amber McKoy of Grace Primary School, placed second at the regional level. For her entry, Amber was awarded $1,500USD. As the second place school, Grace Primary also won $1,500USD. Belize’s representative in the Senior Division, Dengry Hernandez of Ladyville Technical High School, didn’t place but his quality submission was recognized with a consolation prize of $200USD.

Three Men Charged For Beating Of Pregnant Woman
This morning three of the six men detained by Corozal Police for their involvement in a Sunday night scuffle in the Village of Chunox in Corozal, were arraigned at the Corozal Magistrates court. Eighteen year old Rolanie Mendez, 22 year old Jose Gonzales and a 16 year old male minor all from the Village of Chunox were jointly charged for one count of harm against 20 year old Mariacel Tun. The trio was offered bail of $800.00 each and a surety of the same amount and are scheduled to reappear in court on the 24th of September 2014. For context, the incident played out on Sunday at around 10:00pm. According to Tun, who is said to be four months pregnant, she was at home when she heard a loud noise coming from outside her residence. As Tun, her mother and some friends stepped outside to see what was the matter, she noticed that four male person were beating her common law husband, 19 year old Jose Danilo Monzon, with what appeared to be a shotgun. Upon seeing that her common-law-husband was basically defenseless, Tun tried to assist him but at that instant was stopped by two of the men who grabbed her by the hand and threw her to the ground. As if that was not enough the men hit her several times. Tun defended herself by biting one of her attackers who punched her on the left eye.

Man Stabbed In San Pedro By Common-Law-Wife
28 year old Felix Eduardo Alamilla was fatally stabbed this morning on Ambergris Caye allegedly by his common-law-wife. Alamilla was a caretaker and a resident of Mosquito Coast on the island. Initial investigations revealed that at around 6:15 Alamilla was sleeping on a coach in the living room of a house located in the Boca Ceiga Area, south of San Pedro when he was allegedly stabbed with a knife by his common-law-wife 37 year old Mexican National Anabell Cumul. Alamilla, who we understand was the caretaker of the building, was stabbed on the head, chest area and leg. It is alleged that the deceased had an affair outside their relationship and did not come home for two days; police are citing this case as a crime of passion.

LOVE FM

Is There a Take-Over By Mexicans at the Northern Border?
Belizean taxi drivers operating at the northern border are up in arms over whst they say is unfair conditions. Reporter Arturo Cantun has the story. “Tension is building at the Northern Border between Belizean and Mexican taxi men. It’s a recurring problem that over the years the appropriate Belizean authorities have failed to address. Once again Belizean taxi men who operate at the northern border are expressing concerns and now demanding that the authorities look into the matter as it’s taking away food from their mouths and of their families’. Love News understands that the problem is because Mexican taxis are allowed to park in front of the Princess Casino at the foot of the old Mexico Belize friendship bridge. We visited the area and spoke off camera to some of the Belizean and Mexican taxi operators who each told us their side of the story. According to Belizean Taxi operators, Mexican taxi operators are allowed to park in front of the casinos and take up most of the parking space.

Centre for Visually Impaired Boasts Expansion and New Equipment
Members and stakeholders of the Belize Council for the Visually Impaired and the Lion’s Club gathered inside the Lester Young building on Princess Margaret Drive this morning for an official opening of an extension to the BCVI’s offices. In addition to an expansion of workspace, the eye clinic also acquired new equipment to better serve its patients. Love News spoke to the Deputy Director, Karla Ayres-Musa. “Well BCVI and Lions have actually been in partnership for decades; we have the same goal which is preventing blindness throughout Belize. Many people know the Lions building and that building on Princess Margaret Drive actually houses BCVI’s clinic so the work that we do as far as operation and actually treating people is actually done out of a Lions building. The first part of the handing over today is the handing over of the newly constructed and expanded building so we were able to create more waiting space for our patients thanks to the contribution from Lions and the second portion is our National Diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment program. Through the Lions we were able to purchase a lot of equipment that is needed to be able to conduct very detrimental screening throughout the country, so these cameras that we purchased are portable to allow us to do that and we also have done a little bit of training to get our screeners up to par to be able to carry out the program.”

Caught With Crack Cocaine After Riding Contrary to Traffic
A 45 year old man, who was riding his bicycle without bell and against the flow of traffic, was busted with an undetermined amount of crack cocaine. When police stopped him he was unable to speak properly due to the crack hidden under his tongue. He is Stuart Smith, a resident of Lizarraga Avenue. Smith was charged with possession of a controlled drug, causing a bicycle to proceed up a one way street and rode bicycle without bell. He pled guilty to the charges when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. He was fined 100 dollars for the drug offence and 25 dollars for each of the traffic offences. He was given until August 31 to pay the fines. If he defaults on payment he will serve six weeks. Yesterday Smith was riding a black female beach cruiser bicycle on Victoria Street against the flow of traffic when he was stopped by the police. After the police realized that he was unable to speak properly they made him open his mouth and after he did so they retrieved an aluminum foil that contained an undetermined amount of crack.

Firearm Offence Sends 23-Year-Old to Prison
Twenty-three year old Francis Arana, a resident of Lavender Street who was remanded to prison on Monday for a firearm offence, was brought today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser and charged with two counts of robbery and one count of aggravated assault. Arana pled not guilty to the charges. He was further remanded into custody until September 26. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on July 17. Marlon Wade, a security guard employed by Fort Point Security, reported to the police that he was driving a Ford Ranger pick-up truck and he had along with him security guards, Eddie Arnold and Chester Mclaren and when they reached Eleven Shop on Oleander Street where they were to make a delivery they were approached by three men. Wade said one of the men wore a stocking mask and was armed with what appeared to be a .38 revolver, while the others wore no mask and were unarmed. Wade said they stole a 9 millimeter pistol with 12 rounds of ammunition in its magazine from him, the property of Fort Point Security, which has a value of three thousand dollars. Wade said they stole a Samsung cellular phone valued at one thousand two hundred dollars from Arnold and they committed an aggravated assault on Mclaren.

The Guardian

Big Payday for Public Officers
It is a good year for public officers as the government of Belize announced on Wednesday, July 3rd, that 3.6 million dollars which was being held in a Government Savings account has been transferred to the Trustees of the Public Sector Workers’ Trust. The money accumulated after the UDP government in 1995 gave the Public Service Union and the Belize National Teachers Union 794,732 shares in Belize Telecommunications Limited, now Belize Telemedia Ltd. (BTL). The shares were given in lieu of a freeze in increments between April 1, 1995 to March 31, 1997. This represented compensation for the frozen annual increments for public officers and teachers. Since the time of the transfer to present the shares have been earning dividends which were held in a separate savings account in trust for the public officers and teachers.

IDB continues support for Belize
On Monday of this week, President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Luis Alberto Moreno met with Prime Minister Dean Barrow. In a release, Moreno has assured IDB’s partnership with Belize, aiming to spend some $30 million US dollars for this year alone in Educational Areas and Transport Infrastructural works. Under education spending, a 10 million U.S. dollar project “Education Quality Improvement Program” will be implemented by June of this year. Infrastructural work will also be done to rehabilitate sections of the George Price Highway bringing it up to international standards while simultaneously making it more resistant to climate changes. This program of works will be approved in November.

Ashcroft refusing defeat
The Ashcroft Alliance and Fortis Energy Belize Limited refuse to accept their loss in the Court of Appeal. In May of this year, the Appeal Court ruled that the Government’s Acquisition of your electricity company, and the re-acquisition of your telecommunications company was done lawfully. The Ashcroft Attorneys promised that there would be a very vigorous appeal of that decision, and it began on Wednesday, July 23, before the Caribbean Court of Justice. Though it was mostly case management, the Guardian has learnt that attorneys Eamon Courtenay, representing the British Caribbean Bank and Fortis Energy Belize Limited, and Godfrey Smith, representing Dean Boyce and the Trustees of the Employees Trust, have all filed an appeal against the Government of Belize.

“Strengthening Public Private Partnerships for Growth”
Attendees at the Prime Minister’s business forum had a chance to participate in intense two-way dialogue with the UDP Government last Thursday at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza Hotel. This marks the third annual Forum hosted by the Prime Minister and exceeded all expectations, proving the importance placed by this administration on the need for partnership in growing the economy. Over 200 top level business and government leaders attended the Public and Private sector dialogue. This event made it clear that this administration under Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow has made a concerted effort to reach out to the private sector to discuss and address its concerns on Belize’s national development. The event echoed the theme of “strengthening partnerships for growth,” while also reminding the attendees of the diligent efforts of the Government to achieve this goal.

Juan de Dios Moguel delivers lands in Yo Creek
On Sunday July 20, Lease Approvals were handed out to over 180 residents of Yo Creek village in the Orange Walk South Constituency. The approvals came after the UDP Standard Bearer in that area identified the need for land to be secured for residents there. With the help of Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Gaspar Vega, Moguel was able to secure the lease approvals and these were handed out to residents, some who are first time land owners and others who have been using and occupying their land but who have not had the opportunity to have secure tenure.

Two Halves
I found it amusingly ironic that within the same week in which yet another self-proclaimed PUP champion of the poor, Dickey Bradley, was promoting the allegorical novel “Animal Farm” in his show, a writer from Toledo was using Orwell’s same poignant style in the Guardian to describe the man called Ch’oc. What I did not find amusing was the accusation that the latter is living the life of the rich and famous, while promoting the philosophy of communal land ownership for his fellow Maya people. I myself have read “Animal Farm” about four times, the first being at Muffles as a literature course taught by the late Fred Martinez. It is one of the best novels I have ever read and the greatest example of unethical leaders imbedded within the different local organizations today. And while Bradley was quick to use the story to point fingers at the UDP, I think he should have first looked at the man in the mirror, and then at the rest of the PUP administration between 1998 and 2008.

Public/Private Sector Forum to Strengthen Partnership for Growth
Private sector representatives from financial institutions, wholesalers, construction companies, energy, agricultural, tourism sectors and others joined Government officials on Thursday, July 17, for Prime Minister Barrow’s 3rd Business Forum. The first forum was held in November of 2011 and the event has significantly strengthened the relationship and trust between Government and the private sector. This year’s forum was held under the theme “Strengthening Partnership for Growth”. The only reason there is a third Business Forum is because of the tireless work of a committee that was formed during the first. That committee evolved into the Economic Development Council. Amparo Masson was the President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the time of the first business forum. Shortly after that forum, she was appointed by Prime Minister Barrow as Special Liaison to the Private Sector, working directly out of the Office of the Prime Minister. Masson was also selected to be Co-Chair of the Economic Development Council along with Mike Singh, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Trade. The Economic Development Council is comprised of ten members: five from the private sector and five Chief Executive Officers of Government. In the words of Prime Minister Barrow, the Council’s role is “to identify and implement those approaches, activities and operations that will raise the level of business activity in Belize on a sustainable basis; that will expand jobs, incomes, and business profits; that will improve and expand the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector operations; and all with a view to improving, as rapidly as possible and on a sustained basis, the living levels and quality of life of all residents of our country.”

Ariel Rosado Foundation’s Credibility Takes Major Hit
Donors to the Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation are keeping a close eye on the dispute between the Sanchez family and the Rosado family over the use of the organization’s funds. The Sanchez family and Rosado family are “co-owners” of the foundation which was launched in January of 2012. However, for over a year the two families have had disagreements about the use of the money by Dr. Alvaro Rosado, father of the late Ariel Rosado. The dispute was not made public until after the parties were forced to appear in court on Monday, July 14. Since that court hearing, both families have shared their sides of the story to the public. Alvaro Rosado, President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, was first to break the silence. After presenting scholarships to 30 students on Wednesday, July 16, Rosado explained to the press that the Sanchez directors have refused to sign cheques for over a year because they disagree with the way the funds are being used. He said, “Their idea of what the foundation was all about was not our idea… We may be able to discuss some things but what is certain is the funds must be used to provide scholarships and sporting opportunities.” Rosado’s statements gave the impression that the Sanchez family wants the funds to be used for things other than scholarships. Bruce Sanchez Sr. says he can not allow his name to be dragged in the mud like that and decided to bring his side of the story to the public.

Cane Farmers say no to BSI proposal
The sugar cane farmers from the north have rejected the offer from Belize Sugar Industries Limited for a reasonable bagasse payment. BSI continues to believe that 51 cents is fair and equitable, but farmers want much more. That decision got an overwhelming support during their annual general membership meeting on Sunday, July 20. After the negotiating team from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association presented the BSI model, farmers were invited to make comments to their 909 other peers. Those who took the microphone had only negative comments against the company, claiming that the factory owners are taking advantage of the small farmer. When the motion was put to the floor to give the negotiating team more time to convince the factory owners for a higher payment, it got the support from the entire congregation. That is now the decision of the farmers. Their negotiators must now try to keep bargaining with BSI in hopes of getting a bigger payment for bagasse.

Presentation of Credentials to the Governor General of Belize
Ambassador of the Philippines His Excellency Catalino R. Dilem Jr. and Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) His Excellency Benjamin Ho presented their credentials to the Governor General of Belize His Excellency Sir Colville Young today at the Belize House in the City of Belmopan. Ambassador Dilem stated that his country continues to enjoy a friendly and fruitful relationship with Belize and they look forward to strengthening that relationship through trade and other areas. Ambassador Ho expressed his Government’s deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Government and people of Belize for their friendship and stated that the endeavors of Taiwan are to continue to promote interests of mutual benefit to both countries.

The Governor General graciously received the credentials of the ambassadors and warmly welcomed them to Belize.

Towards a General History of Belize
Efforts to continue strengthening the History Association as a viable organization continues as the Executive Board prepares to hold a meeting at the George Price Center for Peace and Development in Belmopan on August 2, 2014. The purpose of this meeting is to review and approve the draft Articles and Memorandum of Association for the establishment of the Belize History Association as has been reviewed by a lawyer. The executive board of the History Association had met on June 26, to review and make suggestions for amendments and queries with the lawyer; a series of steps necessary for a way forward towards a greater understanding on the History of Belize. Following the August 2, meeting, the first involvement of the History Association will be a lecture and panel discussion on the Battle of St. George’s Caye at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts in Belize City on September 3, 2014.

KHMH improves Emergency Department
The Accident and Emergency Department at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is the largest and busiest unit in the country of Belize. Each year there are more than 30,000 encounters and all categories of emergencies are managed successfully there. It is the only hospital with a mass casualty plan and would be the site for care even for air traffic accidents, if they were to occur. Despite the many successes especially in trauma care, it has been recognized that this very important resource requires a major strengthening to deal with the more complex issues that match the evolving role of the KHMH as the only Tertiary Care Public facility in the country of Belize. The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, has entered into a relationship with the Medical College of Wisconsin with the aim of providing advanced training in Emergency Medicine to a group of doctors and nurses currently working in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department. A two year structured curriculum has been developed and since January 2014, there has been ongoing targeted training being conducted by certified Emergency Medicine Specialist Doctors and Nurses affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin, which entails three two-week sessions per year, where the instructors travel to Belize and train KHMH A and E staff, and one two-week observer period for the KHMH staff in Wisconsin.

UDP to the rescue of Incompetence in O.W.
Just a few months ago there was a riot on Facebook concerning the state of the streets in Orange Walk Town and particularly the state of the portion of the Phillip Goldson Highway that passes through that Municipality. On the ground, creative banners that possibly cost thousands of dollars to create, install and maintain could be seen in strategic locations along said route. Money they could have donated to the Orange Walk Town Council to put towards the fixing of one of those horrible streets. All and sundry in the PUP camp criticized the UDP area representatives, standard bearers and the UDP Central Government. The blame fell squarely on the UDP government for everything, including the streets within the Town of Orange Walk which invariably fall under the purview of the Town Council. Now, not all citizens that were complaining truly understand this. The local authority, being the town council, is responsible for everything that happens within the town. They must ensure that streets are fixed, drains are cleaned, garbage is picked up…etc., and that is why they collect taxes from the residents of the town. The taxes in return must be put to work for the people who pay them, but in Orange Walk Town it is anyone’s guess where the money goes. The streets in Orange Walk Town are truly UDP to the rescue of Incompetence in O.W.

Recovery assistance for Prince Street Fire Victims
On Friday, July 18, fire ravaged through the homes of 4 families on Prince Street in the Albert Division. The families lost everything they owned and they appealed for assistance from the government. That assistance came quickly as councilor Philip Willoughby was first to mobilize under his portfolio in charge of the City Emergency Management Organization (CEMO). Through CEMO, resources from the National Emergency Management Organization were mobilized and on Wednesday, July 23rd, the 4 families that were affected received assistance to get them to start to normalize their lives. Each of the families received relief items including first aid kits, mops, brooms, pots, a gas stove, a gas tank, clothes, mattresses and beddings.

Kaina Martinez is Trailblazer of the Week
This week's feature is on a young Belizean athlete who has made us proud countless times and is currently in Scotland to represent Belize once again in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Kaina Martinez, known to many as Kaina Arzu, is a well-known accomplished Belizean athlete; both locally and internationally. She was born in Independence Village, Stann Creek District and was raised in Seine Bight by her single mother who never failed to teach her the importance of building character and being a good citizen. Kaina's love for sports dates back as far as 1999 when she attended the St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Primary School and participated in the 4th National Primary School Sport Championships. She was a part of the 1999-2000 National Primary School Volleyball, Basketball, Softball and Football champions. Here history was made as St. Alphonsus was the first Primary school to win all four national championships in one year. That year, Kaina was awarded MVP (Most Valuable Player) for both basketball and softball. She went on to Independence High School where she continued in her love for sport and represented her school on numerous occasions.

Two new UDP ladies for Belize Rural Central
The Belize Rural Central constituency has two new representatives as a result of bi-elections which were held in Lord’s Bank and Western Paradise Village. The elections became necessary after the chairman of Lord’s bank resigned as well as a councilor from Western Paradise did the same. While there were actual elections in Lord’s Bank, there was an endorsement in Western Paradise. The new Chairman of Lord’s bank is Shirlett Martinez who was soundly elected to the position receiving 145 votes. There were a total of 232 ballots cast with her opponent. William Smith, receiving 75 votes and 12 being spoilt. In Western Paradise, Paulette Gentle was endorsed as a new councilor.

Health Hookup
Doctor's Order - Back to basics – Proper Diet I shall start off with a disclaimer, I am not a nutritional expert, however, I am a doctor and the advice I’m giving you here is what I have given my patients in the past. One of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle includes a proper diet. Interpretation of what a proper diet is where things get tricky. According to the World Health Organization (2011) Belize’s estimated prevalence of obesity is greater than 30%. What does this mean? That at least 3 out of 10 Belizeans is obese, not just overweight but one level “heavier” than overweight. Excessive weight at this level can lead to negative health effects such as heart conditions, diabetes, and joint pain.

Vanity comes with a Price
Are you lured by the atmosphere of brand – names, especially those sophisticated designer logos? If the answer is “yes” then you will more likely overspend if “you’re so vain”. Vanity may be one of the main driving forces in consumers to spend more of their hard – earned money on high-end brand name products. It is not only that they care about impressing others, but the more likely they will to overspend. The more focused the individual is on his thoughts, feelings, and impressions that he makes of others; the more he will seek outwardly recognizable status symbols. Vain people do not only care about looking good to others, but more importantly looking good to themselves. Many of us evaluate ourselves in relation to other people. In psychology, there are three types of social comparison, namely downward social comparison, converse process, and upward social comparison. In the downward social comparison and converse process, the individual feels better because he views himself as more fortunate than others when he compares his situation with other people’s situation; thus, he will more likely accept his situation. Furthermore, in the upward social comparison, the individual will feel worse if his peers are outdoing him; therefore, he will rebuke himself for letting someone else outdo him.

Youth Talks - The World of Writing
Writing is often times taken for granted. As humans we sometimes forget that it is very important and that we use it on a daily basis. Writing is something that is all around us. It exists in signs, books, brochures, newspaper and chats. Language is so diverse that every group of every kind communicates in distinctive ways. For example many words have different meanings to other people. What may mean one thing to us may mean the next to others. So why is it essential for people to write? Most of the things that we learn from come from books, columns, brochures and many others. Writing provides readers with information. Whether this information is factual, an opinion or argument is very important. Each reader is different and may communicate differently. Readers are of different ages, cultures, religions and communities. Hence what the writer writes must be in a proper language in order to prevent bias, misinterpretations, or even false information from going across. Since many people may read what is already written, the writer has to be precise with what he or she is trying to say. The writer can’t just assume that what he or she is writing about is factual to some extent because readers may believe it and thus carrying false information to others. In today’s world we find much false information in writings that are especially found around the web. People sometimes take their opinions as being true and end up writing it in Wikipedia or other websites for others to read. In order for the right information to be told or written to others, accuracy with words, statements and statistics being used is needed. In writing it is good making sure that the correct information is given to others.

Stabbed for no reason
Family and friends of 27 year-old Oscar Lambey are trying their best to cope with his sudden death, after his body was found early on Friday, July 18. He had been stabbed to death. The reason, it comes as particularly difficult for his loved-ones, is that he was an avid Evangelist, who worked hard to become a preacher. He visited the watchman of the Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church the night before, and he had a conversation with him. After they talked, the watchman went back to his duties, and it was not until the next day, at around 6:30 a.m., that he discovered Lambey’s body. He suffered 3 stab wounds to the chest and back, and his attackers left him to die right in front of the gate of the church on Wilson Street.

Separate Accidents claim two Lives
The lives of two men were claimed this weekend due to traffic accidents, 1 in the north, and another in the west. The first one happened just after midnight on Sunday, July 20. 62 year-old retiree Alfonso Manzanero was returning to his house in Belmopan, and on the way there he ran into a ditch. 3 strangers tried to help him, and when they towed his vehicle out of the drain, his vehicle spun and knocked him down. He was rushed to the Western Regional Hospitals for head and body injuries, but he succumbed while undergoing treatment. A post mortem has confirmed that he died from those traffic accident injuries. About an hour later, a family of 4 from the Corozal district had a terrible traffic accident, where the patriarch passed away. 43 year-old Rejemio Botes was driving his wife, Vianney Botes; his son, Emmano Botes; and his daughter, Giselle Botes. They were heading home to Cristo Rey, Corozal, but on the way, Rejemio Botes lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road. The vehicle struck a big rock, and the impact sent Rejemio Botes into the windshield. It is believed that the force of the impact caused him to suffer serious head injuries, and he died on the scene. His 9 year-old daughter, Giselle, reportedly dragged herself out of the vehicle, got onto the road, and signalled a passer-by for help. Everyone else was rushed to the hospital in time.

Accused Car Thief out on Bail
Winfield Tasher, 40, is out on bail after he was charged on Friday, July 18, with theft of a motor vehicle. Chika Essel, a naturalized Belizean from Nigeria, reported to police that sometime between Thursday, March 6, and Friday, March 7, 2014, Tasher stole his 1992 Toyota Corolla from in front of his house. Tasher appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser to answer to the charge. He pleaded not guilty and told the Magistrate that he was renting the vehicle from Essel to provide taxi services to tourists. He says the vehicle began to experience problems and he left it on the road. Tasher says he was unable to get in contact with the owner and had to leave the vehicle for a while. When he returned the vehicle was gone. Senior Magistrate Fraser granted bail in the sum of $4,000 plus one surety of the same amount. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 11.

Five Conch Shell Bay Resident Charged for Gambling
Five Conch Shell Bay residents appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Monday, July 21, to answer to a charge of gambling. According to police, the individuals were found gambling at the corner of West Collect Canal and Vernon Street on Sunday, July 20. The accused are 64-year-old Marie Trapp, 42-year-old Jermaine Hyde, 42-year-old Mounthcreef Joseph Flowers, 31-year-old Jeffery Jacob Craig and 25-year-old Quinn Melinda Arnold. All except Quinn Arnold pleaded guilty before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stewart. They were fined $100 plus $5 cost of court. Arnold was granted bail in the sum of $300 plus two sureties of the same amount. She is scheduled to reappear in court on September 4.

Municipal Court Prosecutor Out on Bail from Gun Charge
Joseph Nunez, 40, is out on bail after he spent three weeks on remand for gun and ammunition charges. He is a former police officer who is now employed as a Municipial Court Prosecutor but the law man is in trouble with the law after he was busted with a firearm loaded with 15 live rounds of ammunition on Sunday, June 22. Nunez was busted shortly after he intervened in a domestic dispute between a friend and his friend’s wife. According to reports, Nunez convinced his friend, who was intoxicated, to hand over his licensed firearm because the argument with his wife was getting heated and out of control. Nunez took away the gun, got on his motorcycle and headed for home. Unfortunately, police spotted Nunez riding the cycle with no helmet and no back light. The officers stopped Nunez and as they approached him he informed them that he had a gun on him. The firearm is licensed to his friend who is a security guard. Nunez does not have a gun license and as a result he was arrested and charged for being in possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license.

Inmate Charged for Stabbing Incident inside Belize Central Prison
Giovanni Ramirez, 20, is serving five years in prison for robbery and more time could be added to his sentence for allegedly stabbing Jamal Ariola, 23, inside the prison on Wednesday, July 16. Ramirez allegedly stabbed inmate, Jamal Ariola, multiple times with a ‘bora’. The incident occurred sometime around 10 a.m. Ariola is said to have been engaged in a conversation with Ramirez when he suddenly felt a sharp pain to the left side of his chest. It was then that he saw Ramirez with a sharpened metal object known as a bora in his hand. Ramirez continued to stab Ariola and he was left with wounds to the hand, back and left foot. He was taken to the medical center where he was admitted to ward. Police were called to the prison and recovered a six inch instrument near the area where the stabbing incident took place. Ariola’s injuries were classified as wounding.

Shoplifter Gets Six Years stealing $11 worth of Products
Flamboyant Street resident Sherwin Leslie, 55, will have six years to think about an Armor-All he stole from Uno Gas Station on Central American Boulevard. Leslie appeared before Magistrate Hettie-Mae Stewart on Tuesday, July 22, and wasted no time in pleading guilty to a single charge of theft. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 20. Leslie walked into the convenience store when the cashier was away from the desk and took an Armor-All. He hid it under his shirt and tried to walk out. Unfortunately for Leslie, PC August who was working at the gas station saw the play unfold. August approached Leslie, took away the item and restrained him until a police mobile arrived at the scene.

Wilfred Stanley in Prison for pawning stolen Items
Wilfred Stanley is in Prison after he was convicted on six counts of handling stolen goods. Janelle Reyes, resident of Freshman Lane in West Landivar, reported to police that her home was burgalrized sometime between 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, and 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2014. An assortment of jewelry and other items were taken from the home.

Belize’s Flag raised in the Commonwealth Games Village
The International Zone of the Commonwealth Games Village in Glasgow, Scotland was the centre stage for the raising of the Belizean Flag during the team’s Official Welcome Ceremony to the XX Commonwealth Games. During the short but impressive ceremony that included the raising of the Belizean Flag, the playing of the National Anthem of Belize and the exchanging of gifts between the Chef-de-Mission of Belize and the Lord Provost of the City of Dundee, Scotland, the Belizean Team along with its Commonwealth Games Assistants were treated to a cultural performance by the National Youth Theater of the United Kingdom.

FFB President’s Cup for female teams
The Football Federation of Belize inform all female teams from each of the Football District including Independence Village to send a representative to a very important meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 26, at 10:00 am at the Football Federation of Belize in Belmopan. The meeting will discuss the FFB President’s Cup Women Division and the Secretariat is asking all to make a very extra effort to attend and to be on time.

City Boys is Smart 13 and U Football Champions
The 3rd Annual Smart 13 and U Football Tournament came to an end on Saturday, July 19, 2014. In the championship game, City Boys won over Rising Stars in penalty shoot out after the game ended 0-0 in regulation time. In the game for third place, Brown Bombers blanked Collet Strikers by the score of 2-0 to capture the third place position. The goals for Brown Bombers were scored by Jovann Ramos and Dion Cacho.

Progresso FC takes over lead in President’s Cup Tournament
The FFB President’s Cup Tournament continued over the week with three more games on its schedule. On Sunday July, 20, at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga Town, the visiting Sagitun FC edged the host team Pomona United by the score of 2-1. The goals for Sagitun FC were scored by Darren Thompson in the 2nd minute of play and Rollin Burgess in the 65th minute of play. Meanwhile, the goal for Pomona United was scored by Jevon Aranda in the 60th minute of play. At the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in the City of Belmopan, Roaring Creek United defeated Estrellas FC by the score of 4-2. The goals for Roaring Creek United were scored by Kenny Williams in the 11th minute of play, Alden Coleman in the 35th minute of play via a penalty kick, Alexander Watson in the 40th minute of play and Orin Reneau in the 83rd minute of play via a Penalty Kick.

Dara’s 3rd Annual Ride for Hunger
Dara Robinson will be holding his 3rd annual Ride for Hunger on Sunday, July 27. According to Robinson, the ride is organized to raise funds for his feeding program where he feeds almost 50 children in Belize City. The ride is scheduled to start at 6:30 from in front of SMART on the Philip Goldson Highway making its way to the Burrell Boom road and returning back to Belize City from the Boom road junction with the George Price Highway in Hattieville and then back to the Philip Goldson Highway in front of SMART. There will be refreshments and music will be available up to midday. Riders who will be participating should cover a $5.00 registration fee and all riders are asked to wear a helmet. Robinson says that all riders will be provided with a raffle ticket as well as servicing and healthy snacks and drinks while they participate in the ride. Those who are unable to make it on time to pay for the registration can do so at the end of the ride. For persons who do not wish to ride but want to contribute they can do so by providing non-perishable items, school supplies or cash.

Another Devastating Prince Street Fire
A Friday night fire near downtown Belize City, has left 3 families homeless after their house on Prince Street burnt down. It happened at around 8:30 p.m. on July 18. What police and the Fire Department have been able to piece together so far is that one of the 4 children on the upper flat was playing with a lighter. Somehow, the child lit the bed on fire by mistake, and then it spread to the walls. It’s a wooden house, and so it spread quickly to the other parts of the upper flat. Shortly after the Fire Department arrived on the scene, but there was not much they could do because the blaze was already out of control. They manage to out the fire within 15 minutes of their activation, and they saved the 3 other house which were in the same yard.

Painting over the signs of gang activity
The Cayo Neighborhood Watch Association (CNWA) in collaboration with the San Ignacio Police Formation will be deleting graffiti in different areas of San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town on July 29th from 6:00 to 7:00 am. Graffiti has been noted to be near the Eden High School in Santa Elena Town, at the end of the Hawkesworth Bridge and in the Santiago Juan Layout Areas. Three different teams will be painting over these unsightly markings on public places, which are indications of or are a precursor to gang activity. “We are dealing with graffiti in those areas, it is a sign of gangs and of course we don’t tolerate that, we want to let them know that it is being seen and dealt with... to let people know that there are volunteers that care about clean, good community,” says Ernie Braun, Chairman of the CNWA.

Desperation Squared
I make it a point to steer clear from commenting on the different practices and traditions of the several religious denominations that exist in Belize today. This is because many scholars hold firm the opinion that religious intolerance between differing faiths has sparked the most appalling conflicts in our world’s civilized history; several of these deadly conflicts continue without abate even to this day. That said, and I say this tongue in cheek, I will risk one comment here on a ritual which I thought was pretty uncommon and bizarre, especially coming from a nationally recognized organization who participated in this ceremony. Last week Wednesday January 15 the leadership of the People’s United Party went to sing “happy birthday” songs at the tombstone of the late Rt. Hon. George C. Price, and then later went on to sponsor a press conference at Independence Hall, evoking the former PUP leader’s name several times during the in-house political rally.

Patrick Jones

Maurice Tomlinson case continues before CCJ
This morning, a short case management conference was held between the parties in the original jurisdiction case of Maurice Tomlinson vs. Belize and Trinidad and Tobago before the Caribbean Court of Justice. Tomlinson, a gay Jamaican residing in Canada, is asking the court to overturn provisions of each […]

Destructive fires caused by child neglect: Fire Service
Separate fires at either end of Southside Belize City in four hours this morning claimed two structures and left as many as seven persons homeless. Both fires were caused by children left unattended or out of the reach of adult supervision who were playing with cigarette lighters. Tragic […]

Art from Corozal at Image Factory
The Image Factory’s latest exhibit features a Corozal artist and farmer who paints stunningly life-like images with the help of acrylic paint on canvas. From Bob Marley to bad guys of the West, no topic escapes the attention of first-time exhibitor Freddy Bencomo. We got a preview of […]

Fire guts house in Orange Walk town
An Orange Walk family of four is without a roof over their heads after fire gutted their house this afternoon. The bungalow house that was destroyed by the fire was located in the Black Water Creek area of Orange Walk Town. The cause of the blaze is […]

Fatal traffic accident on the Yo Creek road
There are reports of a fatal road traffic accident in Orange Walk. According to reports, a jeep belonging to Maya Tortilla, slammed into a truck that was parked on the right hand side of the road around 2 o’clock this afternoon. The incident happened at mile two […]

Plane vanishes from radar; believed to have crashed
Another aircraft has been “lost” and hundreds of souls believed to have perished in another plane crash. According to international media reports, the Air Algerie flight with 116 people on board disappeared from radar about 50 minutes into what was to have been a 4-hour flight from Burkina Faso to Algiers. Flight 5017 is believed to have crashed in a remote part of Mali.

Police Academy entrance exam this weekend
Reports from Belmopan say that the case against Cayo Northeast area representative Elvin Penner for alleged wrongdoing in the passport scandal has been thrown out. Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action, (COLA) was pursuing a private prosecution of Penner. Indications are that the case was thrown out for lack of evidence this morning in the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court when the case resumed before Magistrate Aretha Ford. COLA has indicated that it will appeal and has 21 days within which to make that appeal.

Private prosecution of Elvin Penner thrown out
The Belize Police Department has announced the venues for the entrance examinations for persons wishing to enter the Police Training Academy. The examination will be administered on Saturday, July 26. In Corozal the examination will be administered at the Corozal Community College; Orange Walk it is at Muffles High School; for Cayo it is at the Belmopan Comprehensive High School; in Stann Creek it is at the Delille Academy, in Toledo it is at the UB Campus and in Belize City it is at the Gwen Lizarraga High School.

Blogs

An Afternoon And Stand Up Paddle Boarding With Friends at X’tan Ha Resort, Ambergris Caye
Travel 7.5 miles north on Ambergris Caye and you almost feel like you are in a different part of San Pedro. Yesterday, my friends and I hopped aboard the Coastal Express Water Taxi…to spend the afternoon at X’tan Ha Resort…on the beautiful beach, near the Mexico Rocks snorkeling site. It’s about 30 minutes up there…we dropped off tourists and resort employees along the way. At almost that exact spot, the water seems to look like a giant swimming pool. Here are some of my pictures from yesterday. For many more (and photos of the pool and the buildings, you can check out my last year’s visit.) When you hear people say that there are no beaches in Belize…now you know that they are DEAD wrong.

Branding: The Key Pillar to Success
When creating a brand identity, you’ll want to establish defined guidelines that cover all of the following elements such as name, colors, logo, fonts, design imagery, or a combination to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers from those of other sellers. From a customer-relationship perspective, having a strong brand is obviously advantageous. Word of mouth is a powerful form of marketing as customers attest their satisfaction and promote the product/ service.. For instance, when Belizeans think of hot sauce, they think of Marie Sharp’s Pepper Sauce. You want to have that kind of immediate, definitive relationship with your buyers as well. At the mentioning of a product customers can identify a brand that meets their stands out in the market.

Rugby Sevens – First Rugby in Belize
Preparations are being made for the first rugby clubs to be established in Belize, focusing on the hugely popular and fast growing Sevens game, which will make its debut in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games. Rugby Sevens is a variant of the traditional rugby union game in a number of ways, chiefly: Seven players on the field only (2 Props, Hooker, Scrum half, Fly-half, Centre & Winger) Seven minute halves, instead of forty minutes, with one minute half-time All conversions are drop-kicked, not place-kicked Only three players in the scrum instead of eight “Rugby Belize plans to focus on the development of rugby sevens as a forerunner to growing a full regular (15 man) team, and prepare to enter Belize into the next Commonwealth and Olympic games. Rugby Belize Global Ambassador, Jono Woodward, is himself an experienced sevens player and is enjoying a very successful pro-rugby career in sevens.” Explained Tony Gillings, Founder of Rugby Belize.

PASSING OF A FRIEND
Ambergris Today’s blog and host Jesse Cope passed away yesterday the 23rd of July. He was an icon here on the island and will be dearly missed. Rest in peace Jesse

SALAD BAR – PROSCIUTTO WITH MELON AND ASPARAGUS
Trim the asparagus, cutting in half if very long. Cook in lightly salted boiling water over medium heart for 5 minutes, or until tender. drain and plunge into cold water, then drain again and set aside. Cut the melon in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut into small wedges and cut away rind. Separate the prosciutto slices, cut in half and wrap around the melon wedges. Arrange the salad greens on a large serving platter and place the melon wedges on top together with the asparagus spears.

International Sources

Bloomberg Untangles CYNK Technology Corp’s Strange History
When CYNK Technology Corp (OTCMKTS:CYNK)’s stock price exploded earlier this month, the story of an asset-less product-less company valued in the billions went viral in the financial blogosphere. Most people assumed it was a pump-and-dump scheme that had somehow reached the stratosphere, but when the price kept going up in the face of steady ridicule, short sellers found themselves getting squeezed by what was obviously some sort of fraud. The problem was that no one could tell exactly what had happened. Lots of people tried to call Cynk’s listed number, to no avail, so Bloomberg Businessweek reporters Zeke Faux and Dune Lawrence went down to Belize and have put together the most comprehensive back story we’ve seen. Kueber says that he has no idea what’s going on with the company that he founded, and that he hasn’t been buying or selling shares, but he moved to San Pedro, Belize (where Romero is from) around the same time that CYNK Technology Corp (OTCMKTS:CYNK)’s relocated to Belize. Besides, it’s not that far-fetched to think that someone starting a pump-and-dump scheme would operate through a proxy.

In Belize, a curiously common address among fishy stock deals
Some of the market’s most noteworthy recent cases of questionable stock deals seem to be coming from a single floor in a single office building in Belize City, Belize. Two weeks ago, the Securities and Exchange Commission asserted in a lawsuit that two brothers, Mike and Andrew Affa, conspired with others to manipulate the stock of a company called Amogear, which claimed to produce clothing for mixed martial arts fighters, but the SEC says in reality did nothing. The Affas, who are from New Jersey and New York, met in Boston to discuss their business plans with a friend and another person who, unbeknownst to them, was an FBI agent. When it came time to place the trades that would get the fraud rolling, though, the SEC says the Affas did it through a tiny offshore brokerage firm called Titan International Securities, which is located on the fourth floor of an office building called the Matalon in Belize City. The Affas have denied the SEC’s allegations. Titan is not a defendant in the suit.

What nature should we protect?
Conservation biology shares the distinction with medicine in that it is a science that is given a moral imperative. Like medicine, conservation biology is an amalgamation of different fields (ecology, genetics, environmental science, etc) brought together for a single purpose.The question now is what exactly is that problem. Conservation biology has historically focused on protecting nature for nature’s sake. There has been pressure in recent years for a more human-based approach: one that focuses on what nature can do for humans through ecosystem services. These are known as the biocentric and anthropocentric approaches, and their proponents are locked in a heated debate. In the June issue of the scientific journal “Conservation Biology,” this debate came into the spotlight. To an extent both sides are right. If purely anthropocentric and biocentric points of view are considered along a spectrum, many conservation projects exist largely in the middle. The Community Baboon Sanctuary in Belize was an example of a conservation effort that would likely please both camps. Two hundred landowners agreed to set aside twenty square miles of land to protect rainforest and the endangered howler monkey. The project was an early and largely successful example of ecotourism and has been in place since the early 1980s. This stands in contrast to many other projects that have simply left poverty stricken populations without access to resources.

Britain 101 – Understanding How the British Write Dates, Weeks and Measure Things Differently from an Expat
As a Briton happily marooned in Minnesota, land of 10,000 wind-swept ice-bound lakes, my mind often turns to the minutiae of the differences between the United Kingdom and the United States. We all know that I say ‘tomatoh’, and you say ‘tomayto’, but, before we call the whole thing off, let’s try and clear up some of this confusion, shall we? Date order Like all right-thinking people, I’m a big fan of the British stand-up comedian Stewart Lee. Who has not nodded in agreement, as he discusses, in mock solicitude, the ‘tragic events of the 9th of November’? 9/11 (‘September the 11th ’) was a wake-up call for many reasons; but for the more pedantically minded it was the first concrete global indication of a particular American eccentricity; when enumerating dates, American convention puts the month first. As far as I can tell (by searching on the internet) the USA is one of only two countries in the world that reverses a pretty self-evidently logical convention. The other one’s Belize.

Videos

Video: Training of Facilitators Testimonials - Extended Cut - Belmopan, Belize, 7min.

Video: Search for Cynk's $6B Leads to Shack in Belize, 4min.
Bloomberg's Zeke Faux reports on his trip to Belize on the trail of Cynk, a company with no assets, no revenue, and one employee, that for one hour in July had a market value of more than $6 billion. He speaks on Market Makers."

Video: Belize Road Safety Training, 6min.
In June 2014, The Government of Belize launched its Youth and Road Safety Capacity Building Project with the commencement of an intensive two-week training course for 19 youths ages 18 to 25. It is expected that over the two-year lifecycle of the CDB funded project, over 2,000 youths ages 16-29 will benefit.

Video: You better Belize it, 6min.

Video: Grandparents Hulse (BELIZE), 3min.

Video: Belize - Termites, 1min.
Tasting live termites in the Belizean jungle. Thanks to our guide, Patrick, with Belize Nature Travel for introducing us to this woody, minty, protein rich snack.

Video: belize 2014 nunez family, 4min.
family vacation summer of '14.

Video: Cave Tubing! Mystery Meat WTF? Day 4 Vacation Cruise Ship Belize, 4min.

July 24, 2014

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Costa Maya Festival tickets
Here is everything you need to know to buy your Costa Maya Festival tickets. See you at the festival.

Belizean Student Takes Second Place in Regional FCCA Competition
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce that two Belizean students were awarded prizes in the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Environmental Poster Competition. Belize’s Junior Division representative, Amber McKoy of Grace Primary School, placed second at the regional level. For her entry, Amber was awarded $1,500USD. As the second place school, Grace Primary also won $1,500USD. Belize’s representative in the Senior Division, Dengry Hernandez of Ladyville Technical High School, didn’t place but his quality submission was recognized with a consolation prize of $200USD.

Belizeans Unite Against Italian “Mega-luxury” Project on Remote Coral Reef
Belize’s largest conservation and tourism organizations, as well as members of the public, have joined forces in opposition to a proposed seven star mega-resort on Belize’s most remote coral reefs. The project, named Puerto Azul, would transform two private islands on the northern side of the Lighthouse Reef atoll. The brainchild of Italian promoter Domenico Giannini, Puerto Azul was launched during the 2014 Cannes Film Festival at a lavish celebrity-studded party. Belizean ministers of government were also flown in for the occasion. Opposition to the project is based on its massive scale in an undeveloped area that is over 50 miles from the nearest mainland supply depot. Lighthouse Reef, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean and is home to the world renowned Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye Natural Monuments; both are protected areas and World Heritage Sites. The developers want to build what they describe as a “citadel of luxury” inclusive of underwater suites, a golf course, amusement park, submarine base, hospital, super-yacht marina and Formula 1 race track, all serviced by a two mile long international airport to be dredged from the sands and productive sea grass beds of the Lighthouse Reef atoll. The resort’s proposed one thousand guests would be served by a small city of two thousand employees.

Ambergris Caye Camp Starfish caters for children with special needs
There are several summer camps taking place across the island and the newest offering is the extra-special Ambergris Caye Camp Starfish! Dalia Alamilla and Dianela Hancock have organized this camp primarily for children with special needs. Camp Starfish commenced on Tuesday, July 22nd at the Lions Den and is the first summer program for children with mental or physical disorders that may impair their development. Alamilla spoke of the reason for the camp. “San Pedro doesn’t have any agencies or organizations that work with special needs children. So many parents are unaware of the assistance and opportunities that are available for the development of our children. The camp was designed to offer support for these children and to assess the population of children with special needs on the island.” The camp is being held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of the week from 9AM to 11AM until Saturday, August 9th.

Island boy in Scotland: Following triatlethe Kent Gabourel
While many Belizeans travel abroad for vacations and leisure, it’s not every day one gets the opportunity to enter new borders as an ambassador for their country. For island and national triathlete Kent “Bob” Gabourel the opportunity to represent Belize at the 2014 Glasgow Common Wealth Games is an honor. Kent will be proudly competing amongst such world-class athletes like England’s Brownlee brothers, and Jamaica’s Olympic gold medalists Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. But he has also been immersing himself in the experience, making new friends from across the world and enjoying every bit of the land and culture. The San Pedro Sun has been following the island’s star athlete for years, and we can’t help but to do the same now that he’s at the historic games. We’ve been enjoying his infectious Facebook posts showing him wholly immersed in every bit of his time abroad. Kent fits the bill of sports ambassador perfectly.

Domestic dispute leaves one man dead
San Pedro Police is investigating the circumstances surrounding a domestic dispute that left an islander of Ambergris Caye dead. The victim has been identified as 28-year old Felix Eduardo Alamilla, a caretaker of a Mosquito Coast Area of San Pedro Town. Preliminary police information indicates that sometime before 6AM today Wednesday July 23rd, Alamilla and his common-law wife were involved in a domestic dispute in which the woman inflicted stab wounds to his head, chest area and leg. The wounded Alamilla was rushed to the San Carlos Medical Clinic where Dr. Giovanni Solorzano pronounced him dead on arrival.

San Pedro Public Library educates children on the importance of water
The San Pedro Public Library is hosting a summer program to educate children on the importance of water conservation. The program started on Monday, July 21st with a group of 25 children participating. The program will run through Friday, August 1st. Throughout the program, children will learn about the importance of saving water, the availability of water, the water cycle and the necessity of water to living organisms. They will also enjoy watching fun videos, do arts and crafts, and play educational games. At the end of each week’s lessons, the children will be questioned on what they have learned and receive prizes for answering correctly. According to head librarian Iracela Acosta the program aims to educate children and promote the conservation of our Belizean waters while providing in a fun summer activity. “Children will understand how important water really is, especially to us in San Pedro as we do live on an island and are surrounded by water. We want to encourage the children to take care of the water by not polluting it and saving as much potable water as they can,” said Acosta.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Community Shocked at Sudden Death of Sanpedrano After Domestic Dispute
Island residents are still trying to grasp the fact that a son-of-the-soil is dead today after an early morning domestic dispute. San Pedro Police is today investigating the circumstances around the death of 28-year-old Felix Eduardo Alamilla, a local Sanpedrano. According to preliminary information received by the San Pedro Police Department, a domestic dispute took place around 6a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014, between Felix and his common-law wife where she inflicted deadly stab wounds to his head, leg and chest. Felix was rushed to the San Carlos Medical Clinic where Dr. Giovanni Solorzano pronounced him dead on arrival.

SAGA Board Directors Train with Leading Dog Experts Abroad
Humane animal captures, proper handling and caring of pets and the overall welfare of animals on the island are the top priorities for the San Pedro SAGA Humane Society. For this reason and many others, Katia Marin, Board Director of SAGA HS, traveled to United States to train with leading dog experts. Katia Marin, owner of Pampered Paws, one of Belize’s leading pet grooming centers, is an animal lover and board director of SAGA HS. She received her certificate as a professional groomer and veterinary assistant in Houston, Texas. At first Pampered Paws only offered grooming services and pet supplies but in 2003 Katia received her Master Degree in Dog Training in New York and began to offer overnight boarding, pet “day care” and dog training.

Jesse Cope of San Pedro Daily Passes Away
Ambergris Today, along with the community of Ambergris Caye, is saddened to share the news of the passing of Jesse Cope, who ran the San Pedro Daily website. Posts on message boards indicate that he fell ill earlier this week and was admitted to Belize Healthcare Partners in the city where he succumbed to his illness yesterday evening, Tuesday, July 22, 2014. Friends and family indicate that Jesse was well cared for during his last days and passed away peacefully without any pain. His family has been notified and is in touch with Dr. Lerida Rodriguez and will be making arrangements with her as to the final preparations.

Misc Belizean Sources

"CANE FARMERS DAY" to be celebrated in Corozal
The end of an awesome Sugar Cane season calls for celebration, even in the advent of an embattled closed season. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association Corozal Division celebrates 55 years. This years motto "Celebrating 55 years in the sugar cane industry, strenghtening the development of our small farmers" will bring together every farmer and his family in Corozal to celebrate his labour of love. The BSCFACD invites the general public to bring your family out and extend that handshake of gratitude and apprciation to our to our norteño brothers and sisters. The venue will be between Rotary Park and the Corozal House of Culture. Days events and activities will include the following: Date: FRIDAY, July 25th

African Descendants
One hundred African descendants are now returning from Guatemala After attending a conference with ONECA In attendance were Creoles, Ketchi, Maya from Guatemala Other indigenous peoples and the Garifuna Celebrating their origin from Africa This was a historic event sanctioned by ONECA and AFROSA In collaboration with the Guatemalan youth minister It saw the participation of the youths from different countries in Central America We discussed their participation in making the Garvey/Chatoyer initiative a realization Twenty years ago ONECA was formed in Dangriga To bring African descendants together To empower them to set up a parallel system Two years later they held their first conference in Panama

AFSOUTH facilitates Global ALSO Instructor Course
Three international health specialists and three non-governmental organization personnel supporting 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) provided a Global Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Instructor Course to eight Belizean health care providers. Global ALSO is a training program designed to improve the skills and knowledge of maternal health care providers in regards to managing obstetric emergencies. "The Global ALSO program is one more step, one more piece of the puzzle to decrease the maternal and neonatal mortality/morbidity rates throughout Belize," said Dr. Lesley Atwood, former ALSO Board chair and family medicine provider at Allina Health. "The team-based, hands-on sessions are designed to complement the existing evidence-based protocols from the Ministry of Health."

Expression of Interest Notice – Dominicana Moda 2014
The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) will be collaborating in the organization of Dominicana Moda 2014 (DM2014) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Caribbean Export is highly committed to the development of the Fashion sector in the Region and seeks to enable opportunities such as these to engage relevant stakeholders and foster sector-wide integration. This collaborative effort will provide a great opportunity for emerging and established fashion designers in the Caribbean to expose their vision at a regional and international stage, thus positioning the Caribbean as an international go-to location for Fashion design and ingenuity.

Benefits of Joining | International Exchange Alumni
Have you participated in a U.S. Embassy Exchange Program? Were you a Belizean Fulbright Scholar, Humphrey Fellow, Youth Ambassador, International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alum, U Grad Participant, or any of the many other U.S. Department of State exchange programs faciliated by the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan? If so, WE NEED YOU! Stand up and take pride in your glowing achievements. As the best of Belize, we want you to join the Belizean Alumni Association! The Belizean Alumni Association will allow you to network and build projects in Belize with fellow Belizeans who have participated in U.S. State Department exchange programs. You will join an elite community dedicated to the enrichment and sustainability of Belize.

Channel 7

Love Kills: In San Pedro Woman Stabs Common Law Sleeping In Another House
Tonight, a 37 year old Mexican woman is detained pending a murder charge after she allegedly stabbed her Belizean common law, 28 year old Felix Alamilla to death in his sleep. His crime? He hadn't come home for two nights and had apparently taken up with another woman – that is according to reports. So, at dawn, she went to find him at the far south of the island in the Boca Del Ciera area and stabbed him to death. After that she tried to flee San Pedro. Tonight she is detained and has confessed to police. Monica Bodden went to San Pedro to find out more: Monica Bodden Reporting This golf cart parked inside the compound of the San Pedro Police Station was what transported Felix Alamilla to a private clinic early this morning.

Will CEO Alexis Be Ambassador To Guatemala?
Last night you saw Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington avoid answering the question about who Belize's new ambassador to Guatemala will be: he said that is the prerogative of the Prime Minister who will reveal it shortly. But, tonight, 7News has learned who will take up this senior and sensitive diplomatic posting: we have been reliably informed that the current CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexis Rosado will be appointed Ambassador to Guatemala. He is a very senior official with more than a decade in the Ministry – moreover, in Central America the CEO is considered Vice-Minister so his appointment would denote the level of import Belize places on this key diplomatic posting. We contacted Rosado who would not confirm. He only said, quote, "whoever he chooses to appoint, I'm sure the PM will announce in due course." End quote. He added that any proposed appointment to another country must receive the approval from the receiving state – in this case, Guatemala – before the accreditation can be effected.

Government Vehicle Stolen In Broad Daylight
Belmopan Police have confirmed that a government vehicle assigned to the Department of the Environment was stolen from its parking space in the market square this morning. It's the second government vehicle to have been stolen from in front of its office in 8 days. The market square is one of busiest places in Belmopan, but that didn't stop the thief who also struck in broad daylight. The vehicle, a brown 2008 Toyota Hilux pickup, was used by DOE personnel a half hour before its theft. The last authorized driver parked the vehicle in front of the office, and when DOE employees checked back on the vehicle, they found out that it was gone! The license plate number is BMP B-0108, and anyone who has information on it whereabouts is asked to contacted the nearest police. Belmopan police are still looking for Mayor Simeon Lopez's municipal government vehicle, which was stolen last week Tuesday.

Verden Blease Charged Again For Abuse
In January, we told you about former Gwen Liz High School Teacher, Verden Blease. He was charged with 2 counts of carnal knowledge and 5 counts of incident assault. Well, he's back behind bars because of new charges of the same nature. 12 year-old girl has reported to police that Blease has been sexually assaulting her from the time she was 7 years-old. Because of her report, Belize was charged with 3 additional counts of unlawful carnal knowledge. He was on bail when he showed up to court today, but that was confiscated, Magistrate Ann Marie Smith remanded him to prison until August 7.

Granny Marion Explains How She Got Charged For Drug Trafficking
Last night we told you how 8 persons who were in a yard at 3150 Supal Street were charged for drug trafficking after police say they found three bags of crack cocaine in the yard. All eight were detained and arraigned late yesterday – including the 71 year old matriarch Marion Plunkett. Now, a 71 year old charged for crack possession with an intent to supply? That's a first! So today Monica Bodden went to the yard on Supal Street to talk to Marion Plunkett about the charge: Monica Bodden "You are charged with possession of a controlled drug with the intent to supply to another. I'm guessing this is your first charge, how old are you ma'am?" Marion Plunkett – Claims Police Harrassment "72." Monica Boden "First time?" Marion Plunkett – Claims Police Harrassment "First time in life, my son that is younger he stood up in court and said, well first time mom, first time they searched the house through and through. All my speakers, like they wanted to buss the speakers. I told them no, I just bring these from America."

Hon. Elrington: The Gun Law's Unintended Consequences
And while that alleged joint enterprise for drug trafficking swept up eight persons, another similar law that has garnered much criticism for its use and misuse by police is the gun law. The last controversial case we reported on was predicament of the Smith family from Giles Street. Right after the funeral for their teenaged brother and son, the entire family was arrested and charged with firearm offences earlier this month, even after they tried their best to explain to the police officers that the gun did not belong to any of the residents. They were released last week Tuesday, after a week on remand, and at the end, it was proven in court that they didn't have to endure that ordeal for that unlicensed weapon because one of the persons charged accepted guilt for it. Yesterday, our colleagues from KREM News spoke with Attorney General Wilfred Elrington about cases like the Smith's, and he said that the Government did not foresee the unintended and painful consequence the application of this amended law would create:

Acting DPP Post Will Be Shared
And at the end of our newscast last night, we told you about the study leave that Director Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal went on. She has actually been out of the office since last week Tuesday, and holding over as the acting DPP is Senior Crown Counsel Cecil Ramirez. Elrington, explained yesterday that she applied for the study leave a few weeks ago, and it was approved earlier this month: Hon. Wilfred Elrington – Attorney General "My information was that she wants to be given study leave for a period of 3 months. That application has been duly made and approved of by the prime minister." Alindy Marisol Amaya, News Director KREM News "For when?" Hon. Wilfred Elrington "I think she is going be going from the 15th of July, I think she started already, and for 3 months. If my recollection is right, and during the course of the 3 months that she will be away, 2 of the crown councils will act in her place. One will act for the first 6 weeks and that person I have been told is Mr. Cecil Ramirez and for the remaining 6 weeks Ms. Willis will act, Linbert Willis, he is going to act for the remaining 6 weeks so that is going to completing the 3 months period.

Jail For Barrow Burglar
54 year-old Anthony Mortis is jail tonight, and he's serving the first day of a 7 year sentence after he was convicted of burglary today in Magistrate's Court. The incident happened just before 8 a.m. on May 22 of last year at the Belize City home of 51 year-old Frank Barrow on Crown Cone Avenue in Coral Grove. Police constable Roy Eck testified in the trial against Mortis that that he and other police officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress and when they arrived at the scene he saw Mortis peeping through a crack at the back door of the upper flat. Eck said when he searched Mortis he found 2 gold earrings and another piece of jewellery in his pocket. In his defence, Mortis testified and denied committing the offence. He said that it was the police who took him to the house where the burglary was committed.

CCJ Contending With Cluster Of Ashcroft Alliance Appeals
In May of this year, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision on the Governments Acquisition of BEL, and the reacquisition of BTL. At that time, the attorneys for the former owners, the Ashcroft Alliance and Fortis Energy, promised that a vigorous appeal would be brought before the Caribbean Court of Justice. That appeal officially began today via teleconference where the court held the first case management session. Eamon Courtenay, attorney for British Caribbean Bank and Fortis; and Godfrey Smith, attorney for Dean Boyce and the Trustees of the Employees Trust were both present, along with Nigel Hawk, the Acting Solicitor General of Belize. There are 5 different appeals of the same case, and so the court decided to consolidate them into one big appeal matter. After the session we spoke with Godfrey Smith outside of court about the beginning of the final appeal on this case: Godfrey Smith - Attorney for Dean Boyce/Employees Trust "I'm sure that you aware this is the continuation of the long outstanding nationalization cases against Telemedia, the nationalization of Telemedia and Fortis. We represent Dean Boyce and the trustees of the BTL trust as you are aware. The last judgement did not go in our favor except for one portion that dealt with retro activity and the exercise here this morning was merely to obtain leave from the CCJ and to do a timetabling exercise to schedule the matter for hearing."

Government "Waiting And Seeing" On Puerto Azul
Last night we told you about the renewed drive by the conservation and tourism organizations, including OCEANA, the BTIA, the Belize Audubon Society, APAMO and others to block the Puerto Azul project. Today, the media asked Tourism Minister Junior Heredia about it – and he said that government cannot dismiss the project out of hand because it could create jobs: Hon. Manuel Herredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism "At this point it is premature or to be making second guesses to what will happen and what not. As a fisherman, 30 years fisherman, I use to fish that area; I think I know that area better than any other NGO and loving the reef which was my life. Anything that would destroy my reef will destroy the tourism industry; I will not be for that and for that reason I must wait for everything to be completed They will analyse if it is possible or not. What I cannot accept that once you have a project before it even starts there is this negativity, let us stand up as Belizeans, look at what we have, and see how best we can use it and then move ahead."

Operation Clearwater Cleaning Up San Pedro
So, the headline tonight was that San Pedro had racked up another murder – in what has been a particularly violent year for the island. But this one was a crime of passion, not preventable by event the best policing. And heightened police activity is what the island has been seeing since the first week in July. The sustained operation has targeted petty criminals on the island and drug peddlers. The cops believe those small acts of lawlessness are driving bigger ones – and pushing up the island's violent crime. And operation Clearwater has driven a reduction in both major and minor crime. We got a review of it today: Sergeant Lenancio Bol - Investigator, San Pedro Police "The operation clear water is still ongoing in San Pedro Town and it is very successful at this time. If you notice, all the news, or statistics you have, it definitely shows that there is a major reduction in terms of crime across the board, whether it is major crime or minor. We do have, we definitely have a lot of changes in regards to it. The operation targets mainly includes the drug peddlers and especially we had a number of thefts in terms of golf carts and things like those. So it is definitely at a minimum based on the operation we have ongoing."

3 Months For Less Than An Ounce
3 grams of weed is hardly an ounce but a Belize City man will spend 3 months for it. 33 year-old Theodore Swazo, a resident of Vernon Street, was sentenced 3 months in prison today after he was found guilty of drug possession in the Magistrate Court. 2 members of the Gang Suppression Unit testified in his trial before the Chief Magistrate that on February 17, they saw him come out of a yard on Iguana Street. When he saw the officers, he tried to throw away a small amount of weed, which they retrieved. It was only 3 grams, and so they charged him with drug possession. After hearing all the evidence, Chief Magistrate Smith found him guilty and sentenced him to 3 months in jail.

Hattieville Chairman Still Missing
Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo has now been missing for 3 days, and so, his family is still in the grips of anxious worry. This evening, one of his bosses, Marvin Manzanero, the Assistant Project Director, for Discover-seis Geophysical Services, told us that the company still has its employees fully activated in an attempt to find him. Manzanero added that they've increased the area of their search, along with the civilian and military authorities, but no sign has been found of Carcamo. As we told you, Carcamo is known to be an experienced hunter, and he's considered a capable bushman.

Alleged Land Swindler Charged
30 year-old Meredith Bregal, a Ladyville resident, is out on bail tonight after she allegedly defrauded a landowner of money from the sale of their land. The incident occurred June 18th. 68 year-old Everith Sedacy reported to police that Bregal told her that she knew someone who was interested in buying her piece of land in Gardenia Village. Bregal says that Sedacy introduced her to the person. The deal was struck, and Sedacy was to collect $8,000 for the land. The trouble is that when she went to collect her money, the person says that Bregal had already showed up, and a cheque was written out to her on behalf of Sedacy. When she contacted Bregal to collect her money, Bregal told her she indeed cashed the cheque, but someone stole the money from her. They agreed on a repayment schedule, but to date, Bregal hasn't paid her any money.

Relief For Fire Victims
On Monday we told you about a fire on Prince Street that left 3 families homeless and without possessions. Well, today NEMO made donations to the affected families to help them in the wake of this tragedy. Councillor Phillip Willoughby told us more: Donations include mattresses, cleaning supplies, clothing and other care packages. 4 families are being aided.

Teaching Lions To Swim
The Belize Lion Man competition takes places in September, but every year, the greatest challenge for the Belizean triathletes is swimming. Well, Denise Diaz, an experienced swim instructor, is hoping to change this by hosting a swimming competition along with a group named "Knead Belize" on Sunday, July 27th. The longest lap of the competition is 750 meters which is about half a mile, and about half of the lion man swim. We caught up with Diaz at the competition site on Marine Parade where she told more about the meet: The competition will begin at 9 am to give time to competitors from other districts time to arrive. Another pre Lionman competition will be held on August 10th.

A Barn Owl In Collet!
When you think of spectacular and mysterious birds like the barn owl you'd probably think they would be most at home in the wild, but this evening we found that barn owls like the concrete jungle just fine. Why is that? Well, it is because this owl's favourite meal is rats and small rodents – and this city has no shortage of those. But things went wrong for one of these barn owls a month and half ago who was found snagged on a pipe clamp. Caretaker Allison Jenkins found the injured bird and called the Belize Audubon Society whch then contacted the Bird Sanctuary & Rehabilitation Center. When we spoke to Allison today, he told us how he became attached to the owl: Allison Jenkins - Caretaker "First, it wasn't much my concern but the second day the longer you look into the face of the owl, you see a sympathy that he has and that is what really got to me the second day. I received a call about 3 weeks after, surprisingly, telling me the bird that I had called him about is in good health and is doing well in recovery and they started keeping me in touch with it and there we are."

B'zean Diplomat Going For Senior OAS Post
At the top of the news, we told you how CEO Alexis Rosado is poised to become the next Belizean Ambassador to Guatemala. Well, currently, there is a move by the Organization of American States to get Belizean Ambassador to the US Nestor Mendez elected as the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS. That was the decision that Belize took at the last SICA meeting in the Dominican Republic. He reportedly has the support of the other member states, but it may play out that his boss at the OAS could be a Former Vice President of Guatemala. Yesterday, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington briefed the media on the SICA agenda item in which Former Guatemalan Vice President Eduardo Stein was officially announced as a candidate for the office of the Secretary General: Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs "The prime minister specifically pointed out that we had committed to another country before the announcement of this times candidacy, so he could not join in that decision by the rest of the SICA members. The prime minister was specifically clear on that, we also have a candidate for the deputy secretary general position. That is our own Ambassador Nestor Mendez in Washington and that time the prime minister put forward his name and it was my impression that we also got the commitment of the countries, the SICA countries that they would support Ambassador Mendez; But in relation to the Guatemalan candidacy the prime minister pointed out very clearly that in fact we had already committed to another candidate before we were aware of the Guatemalan candidacy, he was not in a position to join the consensus."

The Big BTL Payback For Unions
Way back in 1995 – in the bad old days of retrenchment – the then Esquivel administration froze increments for public officers for two years – and gave them 800 thousand BTL shares instead. Well, today, almost 20 years later, it was payback time – and Government authorised the Accountant General to transfer the balance of $3.06 million dollars held in a Government Savings Account to the Trustees of the Public Sector Workers’ Trust. The fund has been established to hold funds in trust for all public officers and teachers whose annual increments were frozen between 1st April 1995 to 31st March 1997. In 2007, the share certificates were transferred to the PSU and the BNTU, and now the three million dollars is the proceeds of dividends accumulated from the shares between 1997 and 2007. The trustees are Ray Davis, Nadia Caliz, Philip Castillo and Enrique Iglesias representing the PSU, BNTU,Nurses Association of Belize, the BDF and the Belize Police Association.

Channel 5

A Tour Guide Stabbed To Death On La Isla Bonita By His Common-Law Wife
A domestic dispute ended in murder early this morning in the north end of San Pedro. A tour guide, Felix Alamilla who is also a caretaker of a luxury rental, [...]

Day 3: Still No Signs of Missing Hattieville Chairman
It has been a little over seventy-two hours since the unexplained disappearance of forty-three-year-old Kevin Carcamo, who disappeared on Sunday while returning through a densely forested area behind Freetown Sibun. [...]

$3 Million in B.T.L. Dividends to be Managed by Associated Union Trustees
More than three million dollars has been placed into an account which will be administered by four union trustees. The funds represent dividends for shares which were offered to public [...]

B.T.L. and B.E.L. Nationalizations Heard at CCJ
The seemingly unending litigation involving the government’s acquisition of the country’s telecommunications and electric utilities became complicated long ago. But it may all be approaching an end, one way or [...]

Alexis Rosado Appointed New Ambassador to Guatemala
The speculation about who will be named as Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala in the wake of the death of former Ambassador Fred Martinez is over. It is known that [...]

Minister of Tourism Says N.G.O.s Are Too Pessimistic About Tourism Development
The Puerto Azul Project has been mired in controversy since it came to light that Italian developers were preparing to invest in the development. On Tuesday, the environmental community reacted [...]

Guess Who Else Was In Cannes For Puerto Azul Launch!
When government ministers Manuel Heredia Junior and Erwin Contreras attended the Cannes Film Festival in May, where they hobnobbed with the rich and famous on the French Riviera. The occasion [...]

Superman Comes to the Aid of Fire Victims On Prince Street
A late night blaze on Prince Street in Belize City Friday night completely destroyed the upper flat of a wooden home. It was allegedly started by a child playing with [...]

Verden Blease, Former Gwen Liz Lecturer, Charged for Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Today, a former Gwen Liz teacher was slapped with additional charges of three counts of carnal knowledge for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a minor who was seven years [...]

Belize Bank Awards Thirteen Scholarships Countrywide
Eight high school and five sixth form students will continue studies with scholarships from the Belize Bank. Accompanied by their proud parents, the deserving students were presented today with the [...]

Belizeans Shine In Regional Environmental Poster Competition
A pair of young Belizean artists has placed highly in a regional tourism and environmental poster competition hosted by the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association. While they did not win the [...]

What’s Going On At San Pedro Clinic?
Earlier, we reported on the murder of San Pedrano, Felix Alamilla. His death has brought to light a serious problem on the main tourism island of San Pedro. For years, [...]

Belize At Commonwealth Games 2014
The Commonwealth Games opened earlier today in Glasgow, Scotland. This station is airing the games daily at two o’clock in the afternoons beginning today through August third with two-hour highlights. [...]

CTV3

Taxi Driver Charged With Drug Trafficking
Tonight, 30 year old Armando Vasquez, Belizean electrician of Diego Street, Corozal Town, is under police custody waiting to be charged for drug trafficking. On Monday, officers of the Border Patrol Team were on official duty at the Northern Border check point when they searched a taxi car driven at the time by Vasquez and found 505 grams of suspected cannabis. Today Officer Commanding the Corozal Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez, released the details of the incident.

Cane Farmers Are Not Permitted To Realease The Names Of Those Involved In Fruad
A few days ago the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association received the bad news that they were suspended by FLOCERT after receiving 8 non-compliances following an audit conducted a few weeks ago by the organization. Four of those non-compliances are considered major and include child labor at the cane fields and the fraud of $78,000. As previously mentioned the audit revealed that during the period of 16th March 2012 to 15th May 2014 some employees of the association paid themselves increased salaries. The audit also showed that payment for loans obtained by some employees had been entered in the registry when the reality was that monies for the loan had not been deducted from the employee’s salary.

New Assistant Commissioner Of Police Meets With Officers Of The North
Curbing crime is no easy feat and for members of the police department who endure copious amounts of scrutiny and criticism it can be a daunting daily process. While we are aware that crimes can happen at any moment, authorities are then tasked to work as diligently as they are required by standards that govern them. This morning in Corozal, the top brass of the north including Corporals, inspectors and commanding officers met with the newly promoted Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett in a re-strategizing meeting. ACP Myvett says under his command, they are revisiting their crime strategy for the next 5 months in a proactive effort to fight crime in the northern part of the country. Screen_Shot_2014-07-22_at_7.44.06_PMJoseph Myvett – ACP. Belize Police Force. “This achievement is certainly going to assist the north in that it is a high requisition and therefore the decisions that are made will certainly have more impact both in receiving in receiving cooperation from Belmopan as well as in our crime fighting efforts, today we are just about to meet in revisiting our crime strategies in order to continue to plan for a further reduction in crime over the next five months and as I said before I really, really want to recognize both formation commanders superintendent Ramirez from Corozal and Superintendent Arnold in charge of Orange Walk for their dedication and effort who have brought us to this point and I am looking forward for their continuous cooperation in order for us to reach our set goal for this year.”

BSI/ASR Represented At Cane Farmers AGM
On Sunday the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association held their Annual General Meeting where the association’s Board of Directors discussed a number of issues with its membership. High on the agenda was the proposal of the Belize Sugar Industries Limited to pay cane farmers 51 cents per ton of bagasse. Proposal which cane farmers rejected resoundingly. BSI is of the mind that cane farmers are not receiving the right information hence their rejection for the 51 cents payment. In order to disseminate their information to cane farmers, BSI met with members of six branches and even requested that they have representation in Sunday’s AGM. Sources told us that the company wrote a letter to the BSCFA requesting that they form part of the meeting’s agenda thus having an opportunity to address cane farmers. To date we are unaware if BSCF responded to BSI’s letter. What we do know though, is that BSI had representation at the AGM, not as a company but as a cane farmer. As you may well be aware the company is a registered cane farmer under Research and C.G.P. So that gave them all rights to participate in Sunday’s meeting and opened a window to set the record straight.

O/W Town Council Addresses Abandoned Overgrown Lots In Town
The Orange Walk Town Council has embarked on a project that will see several over grown lots cleared. According to Mayor Kevin Bernard, the issue has been a major concern for residents and has been voiced repeatedly at neighborhood meetings. In sight that is a huge concern for residents the council decided to take action and with the assistance of Councilor Ladrick Sheppard the work began this week. Ladrick Shepard “This over grown lots has been a hazard to everybody, in these overgrown lot there are roaches, rats, snakes and all different types of rodents that sometimes goes inside the house and we have been in the council going for the third year now that these over grown lot that no one have any knowledge of who are the owners of these overgrown lots and nobody really wants to chop it so it was an initiative that we took from the council by the Mayor that has decided to take advantage of the dry moment right now and see if we can chop these overgrown lots.”

Banquitas House Of Culture Holds Summer Program, Music and Production
Summer programs are abounding in Orange Walk but the next one we are about to hear of is perhaps the first of its kind for youth in Orange Walk. We are talking about music and production, a summer class being facilitated at the Banquitas House of Culture. Here is a look at what the participants are learning. Dalila Ical – Reporting Normando Esquilliano – Facilitator “I came here and I am going to teach them the recording procedure to song writing and you know how to have a final production at the end of the day.” Normando Esquiliano is facilitating a week of music and production lessons to at least ten interested teenagers from Orange Walk Town. While the number of participants seems low, their interest is genuine and serious as stated by Lucreshia Keyz.

Pregnant Woman And Common Law Husband Nearly Beaten To Death
Tonight there is disturbing news coming out from the village of Chunox in the Corozal District as reports indicate that a woman who is with-child was pushed to the ground and beaten by two men from the same village. The incident played out on Sunday at around 10:00pm. According to 20 year old Mariacel Tun she was at home when she heard a loud noise coming from outside her residence. As Tun, her mother and some friends stepped outside to see what was the matter, she noticed that four male person were beating her common law husband, 19 year old Jose Danilo Monzon, with what appeared to be a shotgun.

Customs Officers Accused Of Using Excessive Force
Oftentimes we hear of incidences involving custom officers and their random check points near the Rio Hondo, Santa Cruz and San Antonio Villages as they are an authorized governing body that monitors illicit contraband activities from Mexico into Belize. While we know of rampant ‘contrabandistas’ making away with hundreds of dollars’ worth of uncustomed goods, this next story will make you think if the authorities who are tasked to defend our borders used excessive force. According to the complainant, who choose to remain anonymous, around 9:30 last night whilst accompanied by his wife and another person to pick up relatives at a church in San Lorenzo Housing Site, he saw a vehicle hidden in the bushes and could not at the time make out who it was.

Harvest For Kids Conducts Belize Camping Experience
Viewers may recall the stories we have aired on the Harvest for Kids project. The initiative is a fund raiser for Belize Camping Experience, a program in which summer camps are designed and held for children primarily in underprivileged circumstances and at risk children in Belize City. The program has been a success in the city and after much success with their fund raisers, this year organizers extended the program into Orange Walk Town. Here is a look at what that experience has been like.

LOVE FM

DFC Gets Ten Million Dollar Boost From Caribbean Bank
The Caribbean Development Bank, CDB, has given Belize’s Development Finance Corporation, DFC, a US10 million boost. The loan will allow DFC to provide finances for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises as well as student loans, credit for low-income housing and also for energy efficiency/renewable energy projects. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are crucial to Belize’s economy and are estimated to account for a significant share of economic activity and employment generation. However, these enterprises are usually faced with a number of obstacles including access to financing. With the loan DFC will be able to carry its objective which is to improvement of home ownership, human development and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

PlusTV

CCJ to hear utilities nationalization cases
On Wednesday morning via video conference, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) granted special leave for the final hearing of the nationalizations of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). Citing precedence for direct application to the court for special leave, the CCJ struck out the sole...

GOB compensates teachers and public officers for 1995 to 1997 increment freeze
All public officers, teachers and open vote workers whose increments were frozen during the period 1995 to 1997 may now be entitled to benefits payable to them, even those who have since retired. That is because the Ministry of Finance announced that it has authorized the Accountant General to...

Minister Vega addresses fight over bagasse
The fight for a cut in bagasse continues with the ever looming possibility of the 2009 sugar crisis repeating. In the last meeting of farmers which took place in San Roman Village, Corozal on Sunday July 20th, the Farmers unanimously decided to reject BSI/ASR’s proposal of 51 cents per...

Brawl in Chunox leaves man critical at KHMH
A brawl in Chunox village has left one man critically injured at the KHMH. 20 year old Mariacel Tun of Chunox Village, Corozal District, reported that on Sunday 20th of July 2014 about 10:00pm, she was at home along with her mother and some friends when she heard a...

180 lots distributed in Yo Creek
180 lots were distributed in Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk District, a project headed by Juan De Dios, UDP Standard Bearer for Orange Walk South. We caught up with the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, who was in the Village of Yo Creek on...

Coalition of organizations say no to Puerto Azul
Puerto Azul is no where off the ground as yet; there is no government approval, and the developers have not even closed on the property as yet. However, opposition to the development of the mega resort on Northern and Sandbore Cayes has prompted loud opposition....

Plane crashes in Spanish Lookout
A plane crashed in Spanish lookout over the weekend but miraculously the pilot was able to walk from the wreck without major injury. The plane, a yellow crop duster, used in the agriculture industry to do spraying and inspections was piloted at the time by Johnny Braun. Photos of...

All Gay men should take antiretroviral says WHO
Men who have sex with men, whether they consider themselves healthy or not, are now being advised by the World Health Organization to take antiretroviral drugs.That is because HIV infection rates among gay men are exploding around the world, even in those places considered as more “open minded” and...

Nasley Somerville did not appear before PSC Hearing
It was scheduled that Nasley Sommerville was to appear before the Public Service Commission on Tuesday morning, to answer to allegations of misappropriation of hospital funds. At least Tuesday was the date that all media houses had written down for the Commission’s meeting with Ms Sommerville. But while the...

Belize welcomes Taiwanese youth volunteers
Members of a Taiwanese Rotary youth group are spending their summer vacation in Belize helping out with various projects in the country. They were welcomed on Tuesday by newly-arrived Ambassador Benjamin Ho. Benjamin Ho – Ambassador, Republic of China (Taiwan) “I welcome you here. I hope you...

U-20 footballers lose two games so far
It has been a long and dreary week for the Belize Under 20 selection which has suffered defeat after defeat at the U-20 UNCAF Qualifiers which is being held in Cuscantlan Stadium in San Salvador. As we told you on Monday night, since Friday the Belize team has played two...

FFB train coaches to work with young players
The FFB is doing more than training young players, they are also working on equipping coaches with necessary training and experience to work with young players and harvest their skills to a professional level. We saw the grassroots program, which aims to train coaches to work with kids six...

Minister of Agriculture comments on Harmonyville buffer zone
When we spoke to the Minister of Agriculture Hon. Gaspar Vega on Tuesday, we asked him to wade in on the controversial size of the buffer zone at Harmonyville. The story was that in the early stages, Harmonyville had been drafted by BGYEA representatives with a buffer zone not...

Caye Caulker Chronicles

Back To School Drive
Help us to Build a Backpack for needy children!

Patrick Jones

Accused shooter of Stephen Buckley waits for trial
In April of 2010, Belize City resident and construction worker Stephen Buckley was shot in the face while he and his companions were stopped by police on Kraal Road. The resulting injuries put an end to his work career and led to a meager existence until Prime Minister […]

CCJ scheduled to hear utilities nationalization cases
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has granted special leave for the final hearing of the nationalizations of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and Belize Electricity Limited (BEL). Citing precedence for direct application to the court for special leave, the CCJ struck down the sole objection of the Government, […]

Tourism Minister calls attacks on Puerto Azul premature
A joint statement from several of Belize’s environmental organizations espoused opposition to the Puerto Azul project, variously described as a proposed “citadel of luxury” by its developers, and a “Disneyesque city” by at least one of its opponents. With plans for underwater suites, golf course, amusement park, submarine […]

Emory Felix and Maurice Felix murder charges dropped
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Tuesday formally and quietly filed a notice of nolle prosequi against brothers Maurice and Emory Felix. Officially, it means the case is being dropped for lack of evidence but can be brought back at a later date if that […]

Eight, including a grandmother, charged for crack cocaine
A 72 year old woman and 7 other persons were charged with drug trafficking for 6.5 grams of crack cocaine when they appeared on Tuesday before Magistrate Herbert Panton. They are 72 year old Marion Plunkett, 25 year old Michael Plunkett, 24 year old Kathlee Reyes, 34 year […]

12 months for pawning stolen jewelry
Thirty-one year old Wilfred Stanley, a laborer of 173 B Neal Pen Road charged with 6 counts of handling stolen goods, was sentenced to 1 year for each count today by Magistrate Herbert Panton after he pleaded guilty to the charges. But Stanley will only serve 1 year […]

90 days for “dropped” drugs
Watchman Theodore Swazo was convicted of possession of controlled drugs today before Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith and sentenced to three months in prison. On February 17 of this year around 10:00 a.m., two officers of the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) were on mobile patrol on Iguana Street when […]

Teacher further accused of carnal knowledge
In January of this year, 51 year old teacher Verden Blease was accused of carnal knowledge and aggravated assault of an indecent nature against a 12 year old student of Belize City. The minor says she was assaulted by Blease on a regular basis beginning from when she […]

Woman charged for theft of land payment
30 year old Meredith Bregal has been charged with theft in relation to a land sale dispute. She appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart and pleaded not guilty, going free on bail of $3,000. Bregal is not to contact the complainant, Everith Sedacy, or any other witnesses; she […]

Man caught red-handed in burglary jailed
54 year old Anthony “Campa” Mortis will spend the next seven years in jail after being convicted of burglary. On May 22, 2013, an officer on mobile patrol responded to a call of a burglary in progress at the Crown Cone Avenue, Coral Grove, Belize City home of […]

Blogs

Rumble in the Jungle – The Eco Kids Are Here!
The Eco Kids summer educational adventure camp is now underway in the lush jungles of Belize, with Chaa Creek once again hosting twenty four budding environmentalists in a week long learning adventure that combines fun with hands-on education. And, midway through the camp, fun is definitely the name of the game here, with the camp councillors and kids all enthusiastically reporting that a good time is being had by all. The adventure kicked off last Sunday (20 July) at the Macal River Camp with lots of merriment and activity as everyone went over the rules, sorted out sleeping arrangement in the lovely rustic casitas (the camp’s pole house style bungalows) and settled into camp life with their first learning adventure – Chaa Creek’s popular Creatures of the Night guided nature tour. After checking out porcupines, wolf spiders and other nocturnal flora and fauna around their new home, the happy campers returned to enjoy their first night in the forest. As one of the guides remarked, “It’s amazing how quickly the kids bonded with one another and friendships are born.”

The Fairy Princess Barefoot Bride – Belize Wedding
If you read our blog regularly, you’ll know that we love shoes. The reason – well, not many people wear them here in Belize, the home of the barefoot bride. But along comes a dress, every so often, that takes our breath away – and this is one of them. We’ve never had one quite like it and we loved it! It flounced, it flew and it was fabulous. In fact, it made our bride look just like a fairy princess. Therefore, this blog deserves a proper beginning. Once upon a time there was a very beautiful bride.

A commentary on Stasis in Belize
During my study of Belizean history at the University of Belize, we often talked about “why are things the way they are? And how can we make a change? In our history sessions, Professor Iyo would often make reference to “stasis” as a way of understanding the Belizean status quo (i.e. the existing state of affairs). As his students, he would recommend that we read his co-authored paper with Michael Rosberg entitled: “Theoretical Perspectives on the Stasis of Class Relations in the Caribbean: the Belize Case Study”. I recall that Prof. Iyo would employ two analogies to introduce us to the concept of stasis. He once drew a spiral on the board. A spiral he would remark is a gradually progressing curve which emanates from a central point. For the spiral to take shape, it encircles the path of its previous inscription. Therefore, the spiral has a directional flow but it is non-linear, gradual and apparently redundant. The second analogy, he often used, was comparing stasis to the movement of the earth. The earth sits on an axis. It gradually spins, completing its axial rotation and revolution, only to do so again and again. Like the earth and the spiral, the Belizean society has been moving (changing) but has been constrained by an axial positioning which is theorized as the economic mode/relations of production (e.g. slavery; relationship between ‘master and slave’ or capitalism; relationship between employer and employees).

Media, Politics, and Hegemony in Belize
In recent news, the People’s United Party (PUP) held a press conference in which they critiqued what has been called the ‘Mother’s Day Cheer’ program. The ‘cheer’ involves the distribution of about $800,000 to $1,000,000 to United Democratic Party (UDP) representatives for redistribution to mothers in their respective constituencies. No funds were given to the fourteen PUP representatives in parliament. The PUP referred to the program as an act of “blatant political corruption”. In this reflection, I focus on the media’s coverage of the press conference. I analyze what is included and excluded in the various media reports. I also examine the comments of politicians in the media. I contend that the media as well as politicians are explicitly and implicitly contributing to the ‘normalization of party politics’ in Belize. By way of this reflection, I am also attempting to improvise and develop a theoretical framework towards understanding and challenging the current political regimes in Belize. I hope to elaborate on this framework in future posts.

SALAD BAR – MEXICAN SALAD
1.In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and drain excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning, chili beans and French-style dressing. Fill the dressing bottle 2/3 full of water and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. 2.Crush the bag of chips, open the bag, and toss the broken chips into a large bowl with the lettuce, cheese and tomatoes. When the meat mixture is done, combine it with the lettuce, tomatoes, chips and mix well. Then, add salsa and sour cream.

Paint Party
“Splash Paint Party” is Thursday at 3:00 at Crazy Canucks! Going to be a good one! Hope to see lots of smiling faces and beautiful art!

International Sources

Sixth Grader's Science Fair Lionfish Project Rattles Ecologists
By showing that lionfish can live in fresh water, 12 year-old Lauren Arrington has alerted ecologists to the potential for these fish to migrate upstream in rivers where they would pose a threat to the ecosystem. The invasive species, which can be found along the Florida coast, has only been studied in saline, ocean-like conditions. Arrington's project was unique in that it asked the question: What is the lowest salinity lionfish can tolerate? The results blew away professional ecologists. NPR explains how she did it: "It was just a small, sixth-grade project, and I really didn't have all the tools necessary," she says. Her dad, who has a Ph.D. in fish ecology, suggested that she put the fish in tanks instead. Lauren then put six different lionfish in six different tanks where she could watch her subjects closely. Lauren was given a strict set of rules by the science fair organizers. The most important one: Her fish could not die.

Searching for Cynk: The $6 Billion Penny-Stock Debacle, From Belize to Las Vegas
The Matalon, a six-story glass building in Belize City, Belize, towers over a lot littered with old refrigerators and washing machines. Jagged rebar sticks out of unfinished cinderblock structures nearby, and the view, across Haulover Creek, is of a cluster of corrugated metal shacks. This is the listed address for Cynk Technology (CYNK), a company with no assets, no revenue, and one employee, that for one hour in July had a market value of more than $6 billion. Until that inconceivable run, no one had ever heard of Cynk or the social network it claimed to operate—no one, that is, outside the murky, volatile market for penny stocks, where fraud is rampant and regulation scant. Cynk had begun trading in 2013, for a few cents a share. The price stayed there, hugging the bottom, until June 17, 2014, when shares that had last changed hands at 6¢ spiked to $2.25, a gain of 3,650 percent. The stock kept surging, drawing the attention first of penny stock gossips, then the sharper finance blogs, and finally—as Cynk’s gain topped 36,000 percent, giving it a greater worth on paper than companies such as Urban Outfitters (URBN)—all of Wall Street. On CNBC, in the New York Times, and all over Twitter (TWTR), the strangest story of the summer was the mystery listing from Belize. Calls to Cynk go unreturned. In filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Cynk lists its offices as the Matalon’s Suite 400. There is no Suite 400. The building manager says the company has never had an office there. There are no $6 billion companies in all of Belize, a country where workers earn as little as $80 a week. What Belize does have is a reputation as a haven for offshore businesses with difficult-to-trace records and little oversight.

From Tikal to Belize
Tikal was a spectacular adventure into the jungles of northeast Guatemala. We woke to Howler Monkeys growling high in the trees above. After breakfast we met our driver and loaded the van. Within a few hours we would be in Belize. Belize is just south of Mexico and east of Guatemala on the Caribbean. We wound our way through the Belizean jungle gently decreasing our elevation as we came into Belize City. The four hour ride went quickly and our driver easily found the pier in which we would grab a boat to one of the Cayes. A Caye is a low-elevation, small sandy island formed on the surface of a coral reef. Because traveling to Belize was not part of my original itinerary I wasn’t quite sure where we would actually be going. The next boat leaving Belize City was heading to Ambergris Caye and to the town of San Pedro. Within minutes of arriving in the big city, our bags were thrown on the boat and we were zipping through the gentle Caribbean Sea. Upon arriving in San Pedro, we grabbed our luggage and began heading to the tiny town. A woman asked if she could point us in the direction of our hotel. I explained that we had no reservations and would be looking for a hotel. She was beside herself as she exclaimed “you mean you came to San Pedro without reservations – you’re kidding, right.” I assured her we were not. A few short steps later I met Eric.

Caribbean 2014 Tourist Arrivals by Country of Origin
Following is a summary table of Caribbean tourist arrivals from the Caribbean Tourism Organization:

Glasgow 2014: Five names to inspire and follow at the Games
Kent Gabourel: "I hate to see young guys throwing away their lives" Country: Belize Sport: Triathlon Competition date: 24 July Competition venue: Strathclyde Country Park In the sixth most violent country in the world, there are plenty of opportunities to step on to the wrong side of the tracks. Kent Gabourel, Belize's former football captain, hopes that becoming the first triathlete from the Central American country to compete at a Commonwealth Games can create a legacy that will help persuade youngsters in his homeland to ditch the gangs and the streets for a world of sport. But this 34-year-old is already a sporting social worker. "When I get back, I want to carry on racing triathlon, into our neighbours Guatemala and Mexico, and drag some kids along with me," he says. "Drugs and gangs are the main things I worry about. They deeply affect our community. "I hate to see young guys throwing away their lives in such a manner, so I try and get them to come over onto the sports side."

Videos

Video: WE BELIZE IT, 6min.

Video: Sun & Clouds ~ Belize, 1min.

Video: CSM Missions To Belize 2014 Highlite Video, 9min.
WakyMC Youth Missions Trip To Belize Through Thirst Missions...Absolutely A Fantastic Trip...Can't Wait To Go Back :)

Video: Waterfall Rappelling in Belize, 1.5min.
Waterfall Rappelling (abseiling Adventure) in Belize - These guy at Belize Jungle Masters do waterfall rappelling as a hobby, and also do guided rappelling for those visiting Belize.

Video: Bannister Island Belize City, 4min.

Video: Sailing to Belize, 16min.

Video: Venezia del Caribe Resort and Spa Interior Fly-Through, 3min.

Video: Anderson Vacation in Belize June 2014, 45min.
Vacation at Hamanasi in Belize 2014

Video: Exploring Mysterious Bottom of Belize Blue Hole by Ramon Llaneza, 7min.

Video: Belize - Iguana Conservation Project, 3min.
Visiting the crazy iguana kids at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel in San Ignacio, Belize. Big thanks to our guide Humberto for a great time! This tour was arranged by Belize Nature Travel. Thanks to Patrick for accompanying us on this adventure. The Iguana Conservation Project is dedicated to education and conservation of the endangered green iguana species in Belize. They breed and release these wonderful animals to help replenish the local population. Their efforts will hopefully prevent future overhunting and keep this species thriving for years to come.

Video: Belize, 6min.
Just Clarissa Falls.

Video: The Hospitality Tour : Ka Ana Belize, 3min.
Florie voyage du Mexique à l'Argentine avec un projet: partager ses compétences en gestion hôtelière pour un lit et cela en collectant les meilleures pratiques des hôtels en matière de développement durable pour Hopineo.org.

Video: Diamante Beachfront Suites, Belize - Construction Update - July 2014, 1.5min.
Hello from beautiful Ambergris Caye, Belize! At 5-6 weeks per level of both buildings, final preparations are underway for casting of our final levels (Penthouse levels) in Buildings A and B of Diamante Beachfront Suites.

Video: Lucky - First Week at Wildtracks, 1min.
Lucky was stranded on an isolated beach near Belize City, and rescued by Jamal Galves, the manatee coordinator of the Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute. Brought to Wildtracks for rehabilitation and eventual release back into the waters of Belize, Lucky is the second calf to arrive at the Centre in the last two weeks - a sad indication of the increasing toll boat traffic is having on the manatee population in front of Belize City.

Video: Belize Cultural Foundation September Celebration 2014 - BCF, 3min.
Biggest Belizean 2 Day September Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 20th and Sunday, Sept. 21st 2014. In June 2000, a few Belizean Americans organized a meeting intended to introduce the concept of a new charitable organization that was soon after formed as Belize Cultural Foundation (“BCF”). Presently, the primary source of raising funds for the organization has been through the success of the “Belize Independence Day Celebration Dance” and “Fiesta At The Park” events. These annual events, as of date have been the largest “turn out” of Belizeans in Los Angeles, throughout the years. BCF’s immediate goal is to extend the Youth Soccer League programs throughout the entire country of Belize and to incorporate a “girls” soccer league.

July 23, 2014

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Mayors from Belize converge on Ambergris Caye on working visit
Mayors from across the country were at Las Terrazas Resort on Ambergris Caye on Friday July 18th as part of the monthly Belize Mayor’s Association (BMA) meeting. This month, the Mayor of San Pedro Town Daniel Guerrero hosted the Mayors from the various municipalities of Belize, and several areas of mutual concerns were discussed. According to the Mayor of Belmopan and President of the Belize Mayor’s Association, Simeon Lopez, during the monthly meetings, the mayors discuss projects and plans for their respective municipalities. “We keep in touch with what is happening in the various municipalities through these meetings. We had presentations on the Belize Municipal Development Project (BMDP) which is basically a plan that shows how we intend for the municipality to grow by 2030. We also had a presentation by the country coordinator of the Caribbean Local Economic Development Program (CARILED). She shared information about the project and how it intends to grow in the fiscal year 2015/2016,” said Lopez. He added that the BMDP is in its second phase, which will see the execution of various infrastructural projects in some municipalities.

Ambergris Today

Staying Young, Rejuvenated and Healthy with Dance and Yoga at Zen Arcade
Zuzana is very energetic and motivational; she teaches various dance styles each week and the dance lessons are very fun, especially since they are focused on fitness. Both Angel Sofie and Gerry are dance fanatics who have had their fair share of hard work in the dance classrooms and performing on stage but they can both say that Zuzana kicked their butts with a good work out during her dance class! It was extremely fun and anyone can do it!

San Pedro Taxi Driver Charged with Drug Trafficking and Discharging Firearm in Public
After receiving reports from people who heard gunshots in the neighborhoods of the San Pablo and DFC Area, on Saturday, July 19, 2014, the next day San Pedro Police visited the residence of Juan Menjivar located in the San Pedrito area of San Pedro Town investigating a shooting incident which had allegedly took place in the DFC area of San Pedro. On Monday, July 21, at 2:00p.m., police arrested and charged 30-year-old Juan Menjivar, Belizean taxi man of San Pedrito Area and a 15-year-old male of San Pedrito area for the crimes of drug trafficking of 1,413 grams of cannabis. Menjivar was additionally charged with discharging a firearm in Public, uncustomed goods and for the possession of over $10,000.00 believed to be the proceeds of drug trafficking.

Misc Belizean Sources

CDB providing US$10 million loan to Belize's Development Finance Corporation
The capability of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in Belize to provide financing for priority sectors in that country has been given a boost by a loan of US$10.5 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Among the DFC’s lending objectives are the improvement of home ownership, human development and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs are fundamental to the economic landscape of Belize and are estimated to account for a significant share of economic activity and employment generation. However, they are usually faced with a number of challenges including limited access to, and the cost of financing. The CDB loan will allow the DFC to provide finance for these MSMEs as well as student loans, credit for low-income housing and also for energy efficiency/renewable energy projects. The DFC was originally established in 1963 to expand and strengthen the economy of Belize by providing funding on affordable terms to individuals or groups seeking to develop key economic sectors, who would otherwise be unable to access resources from other sources on reasonable terms. DFC is wholly owned by the government of Belize.

BIFF at Cayo Welcome Center
The Belize International Film Festival screen a movie at the Cayo Welcome Center. Another Cayo Film Festival is in the works. "Commonwealth Shorts Film Screening hosted by Kareem Mortimer, Filmmaker from the Bahamas. Photos By Alejandro A. Tovar"

Open Water Race
27 July, 2014. 350m and 750 m freestyle open water swim at Sandlighters Promenade

6th Annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament
The 6th Annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament is set for this weekend July 24-26, 2014, at the Holiday Hotel in beautiful San Pedro, Belize.

Call for Proposals
Caribbean Export officially announces results of the Call for Proposals for both the Accelerated and Regular Procedures grant facilities that was published on the January 17, 2014. Accumulated Amount Awarded EURO 143, 578.49

Kings Promotion and Zabaranks present: SEAN PAUL LIVE IN BELIZE NOVEMBER 29, 2014.
Belize City

Corozal Police Crime News
On Monday 21st July 2014 about 8:45 p.m. the Border Patrol Police Team were on official duties at the Northern Border check point when a grey in color 4-door Chevy Llimina car bearing L/P C-CZL D-00441 approached the check point and the Police recognized the driver to be one Armando Vasquez. The Police ordered him to park on the side so a thorough search could be conducted on him and the vehicle. The search revealed nothing incriminating on him. The Police proceeded to search the car in his presence and upon further search, the Police Officer noticed the driver seat was torn and a pillow was set on top of it. He then removed the pillow and pushed his hand in between the seat sponge and took out two transparent plastic bags, each containing green leafy vegetable substance suspected to be Cannabis.

Opening night photos of the 9th BELIZE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in Placencia

Channel 7

Chairman of Hattieville Still Missing, Concerns Mount
Tonight, the authorities continue to search for Kevin Carcamo, the missing chairman of Hattieville Village. The last time his family saw him was on Sunday, when he left very early to report to work, but at the end of the day, he wasn't with the rest of his crew. He's part of a group of men who work for Discover-seis, an oil exploration company which does seismic testing to find where oil is located in commercial quantities. They were searching for oil a few kilometres away from Freetown Sibun, just past Hattieville, but he never returned from that expedition. Today, we found police and other civilians out searching for him, and Rural Executive Officer told us this evening that the longer he's missing, the more worried they are about his health:

Septuagenarian Charged For Crack Possession; Neighbors Say Police Set It Up
This morning police descended on a home at 3150 Supal Street. When they left, they arrested everyone in the yard, even a 72 year old for drug possession. And so this evening, those eight persons were taken to court and arraigned for drug trafficking of 6.5 grams of crack cocaine before Magistrate Herbert Panton. They are 72 year old Marion Plunkett, 25 year old Michael Plunkett, 24 year old Kathlee Reyes, 34 year old Carlos Mckenzie,28 year old Kareem Williams,19 year old Tamika Faber, 44 year old Raymond Alvarez and 22 year old Sheffield Fitzgibbon. They all pled not guilty to the charge. Marion Plunkett was offered a bail of $500 on her own recognizance while the others were offered a bail of $1,500 each. Now you're probably saying what's a 72 year old doing going to court on a drug possession charge? Well, her neighbors say she didn't possess anything; they say the GSU planted the drugs - one of them spoke to us off camera:..

Vicious Beatdown in Chunox Injures Young Couple
Tonight, a man from Chunox village in the Corozal District is in critical condition at the KHMH after a vicious beat down. It happened on Sunday night at around 10:00 in Chunox when four men pounced on 19 year old Jose Danilo Monzon right in front of his house and gave him a vicious beat down. His common law wife, 20-year-old Mariacel Itzel Tun tried to intervene and they beat her up too - even though she is pregnant! He was left in a critical condition and has been transferred to the KHMH while Mariacel's injuries were certified as Harm and she had to see a gynecologist because she is four months pregnant and was experiencing pain to the lower back and the abdomen. The four men have been detained but were not charged today.

Felix's Finally Free
The Felix brothers, Emory and Maurice are finally tasting freedom tonight after eight years on remand and three murder trials. Court reports say the nolle pros document was finally filed after their most recent hung jury in mid May. The brothers Maurice and Emory Felix, had been on remand for the murder of Mitchum Heredia since 2006 and had three trials which ended in hung juries. They have maintained their innocence throughout and claimed that they were at home at the time of the murder in April 2006.

One Year For Man Who Pawned Jewelry
Today thirty-one year old Wilfred Stanley, a laborer of Neal Pen Road was sentenced to 1 year in prison after pleading guilty to 6 counts of handling stolen goods, namely jewellry. Police charged Stanley on May 19th after they recovered $8,750 worth of jewelry from pawnshops - all the items had been stolen from a house in West Landivar. The jewelry belongs to 29 year old Janelle Reyes, and it was taken when the house was burglarized between April 9th and April 12th. Some of it was recovered on May 16 from three pawnshops: J L Quick Loan, JEC Company Limited and Fair Brothers, but over $2000 worth of jewelry is still missing. Stanley said in court that he was only helping a friend when he pawned the jewelry.

Police Say Accident Was Not Foul Play
Last night, we told you about 68 year-old retiree Alfonso Manzanero, the man from Belmopan who was knocked down when 3 men tried to help him get his vehicle out of a ditch. Police have been treating his death as a fatal traffic accident, but there were some strange aspects of the case, which had to be scrutinized. The post mortem has been conducted on his body, and today, the acting officer commanding Belmopan Police told us that its findings support that Manzanero died of an unfortunate accident - not any kind of malice or foul play. Here's how he explained it: Inspector Dennis Myles, Acting OC - Belmopan "Yesterday around 1:30 the post mortem on the body of Mr. Alfonso Manzanero was conducted in Belize City where the medical officer certify the cause of death was traumatic shock due to road traffic accident." Daniel Ortiz "Sir, can you just briefly explain to us what the evidence presented to Belmopan police is in relation to how this gentleman was knocked down?"

Nasley Was A No-Show
Nasley Sommerville, the administrator of the Southern Regional Hospital who was implicated in an audit, was a no-show at her public service commission tribunal hearing today in Belmopan. As we've told you, the Auditor General believes that she was involved in the misappropriation of just over 366 thousand dollars of public funds. We're told that there was an indication that she would show up with her attorney for the tribunal hearing today. That hearing was to have started at 9 a.m., but when she didn't present herself, the case had to be adjourned. We're told that the reason she didn't show up was because she hadn't been properly notified. So, the hearing will have to be rescheduled for another day. But today, we've learned a little more about the origin of those public funds which went missing. The 366 thousand dollars which was misappropriated actually comes from Social Security. The way it worked is that the SSB paid out monies to the different hospitals for the use of maternity and prenatal cases, but it wasn't placed directly into a Government of Belize bank account. Those monies actually went into a special account - which should have had oversight of the accounting officer, in this case the CEO.

Administrative Disquiet At CCJ
The Caribbean Court of Justice is the highest Court in Belize, Barbados and Guyana but right now the court is under pressure at its headquarters in Trinidad. News reports from Port of Spain say that the court is facing internal legal battles resulting from a series of dismissals, resignations and suspensions of senior managers. The Court says it is restructuring after 10 years, but half of the 72 employees have joined a union to lodge grievances against the court - mainly about a change in the salary payment system. On top of that, the court's senior managers have hired an attorney who is preparing to file suit against the court according to the Trinidad Sunday Express. Perhaps most damning is the account from the dismissed acting registrar of the Court, Jamaican Dr Leighton Jackson, who was escorted out of the Court's Headquarters in May. He told the Jamaica Gleaner, quote, "Based on the incidents of mismanagement, arbitrariness and judicial misconduct, I think the current structure of the court is incomplete and insufficient" end quote.

Who Will Replace The Great Fred in Guatemala?
Today, the Prime Minister and his Ministers held a Cabinet meeting in Belmopan, and on the agenda was a discussion of a replacement for the Late Alfredo "Fred" Martinez, who was the Ambassador to Guatemala for 11 years. The news on that topic is that the Government has found someone who they believe is capable of replacing Martinez as Ambassador. This afternoon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke with the media about the progress of that Cabinet Meeting, in which the replacement was discussed: Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs "I can tell you that we have made good progress I think so far. I think the Prime Minister is having a press conference very shortly. It's the Prime Minister's responsibility to appoint ambassadors and therefore he is going to advise the nation on that matter at the earliest possible time. I think he says he is going to have his press conference next week Wednesday. I don't know if its tomorrow or next week, but he regards the replacement of the ambassador in Guatemala as a matter of the utmost urgency and importance. He has acted on the matter with alacrity and I think he is going to notify the nation of the appointment certainly within the next 7 days."

Environmental And Tourist Groups Keeping Up The Fight Against Azul
Puerto Azul - we haven't heard that name in the news for a while but the campaign to block the development is still going strong. Today the six conservation and tourism organizations opposed to the project issued a release saying, quote, " Belize's largest conservation and tourism organizations, as well as members of the public, have joined forces in opposition to a proposed seven star mega-resort on Belize's most remote coral reefs." The release says that the investors are moving forward with the studies required for environmental clearance but notes that government has not approved it - and neither have they bought the island. The conservation groups say that selective clearing is also happening on the cayes.

Mayor Bradley In The City Of Angels
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley is on an extended west coast tour of the United States. It started in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 11th when the City Council accompanied the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage the Belizean diaspora in that area. They held the first Belizean Town Hall Meeting in Las Vegas where Ministry staff updated Belizeans living abroad on their benefits when moving back to Belize. Minister Elrington and Mayor Bradley then spoke about government issues and programs for Belizeans, updating them on the state of their country. Mayor Bradley then moved on to Los Angeles where toured of different government departments and met with dignitaries such as the President of the City Council, the Director of City Services and the President of Public Works in LA. Unofficial reports say he snagged two street sweepers for Belize.

Taiwanese Volunteers Visit
Today, Taiwan's new Ambassador to Belize, Benjamin Ho held his first press conference. He introduced 12 visiting student volunteers from a prestigious technical university called the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. They will be touring rural Cayo and visiting various schools in the area to donate computers and school supplies. Our intern Robin Schaffer found out more. Robin Schaffer reporting 12 students from the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan are in Belize. Today at a press briefing, Ambassador Benjamin Ho, told us about the university and why the students are here. Benjamin Ho, Ambassador of Taiwan "Tsing Hua University, a prestigious university not only in Taiwan. The university is just like MIT in the States. The university is very strong in technology and science, but they are also the liberal arts education too. They want to go to remote areas to help those under privilege people to network with the other part of the world particularly the internet. This is their purpose of coming over here. They come here to bring their love, not only their love, but also bring quite a lot of gifts."

DPP On Study Leave
We hear it on the news almost every night - that the file is being sent to the DPP for her review. But, what happens when the DPP goes on study leave? According to reports, that's just what has happened: Cheryl Lynn Vidal has gone on three months approved study leave. Those reports say that in the interim a Senior Crown Counsel will act in her post. Vidal has been DPP since mid 2008.

Channel 5

Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo Still Missing 48 Hours Later
The family of Kevin Carcamo, the Hattieville Chairman, is clinging to hope tonight. It is forty-eight hours since the linesman, who is employed by Discoverseis, has been missing. A search [...]

Nasley Somerville A No-show At PSC Hearing
Nasley Sommerville, the former administrator of the Southern Regional Hospital, was a no show at a scheduled Public Services Commission hearing today in Belmopan. Sommerville was named prominently in an [...]

Puerto Azul Versus Conservation Community
There are still more questions than answers where the Puerto Azul mega-tourism project is concerned. Government has maintained that it can’t provide much information because the concept is still in [...]

Do you believe the quality of life laws are affecting only the poor people?
And tonight’s question is: Do you believe the quality of life laws are affecting only the poor people? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or [...]

GSU Raids Supal Street Residence Elderly Woman Arrested for Drug Possession
The Gang Suppression Unit conducted an operation today in the south side Belize City. The target was a property on Supal Street belonging to an elderly resident, seventy-two year old [...]

Corozaleno Armando Vasquez Charged With Drug Trafficking
A Belizean electrician from Corozal has been charged with drug trafficking after a search of his car yielded a significant stash of cannabis. The Border Patrol Team was on operations [...]

Sherwin Leslie Gets 6 Years for Stealing Armor-All
Fifty-five-year-old Sherwin Leslie, a car washer, who was accused of stealing an eleven-dollar Armor-All, has been sentenced to six years in prison. Allegations are that on Sunday, Leslie, a resident [...]

Taiwanese Ambassador Benjamin Ho Begins Tour of Belize
Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Benjamin Ho arrived in the Jewel last Thursday and on Monday presented his credentials to the Governor General to Belize. It is the [...]

Taiwanese Volunteers In Belize for Social Programs
Each year, through the sponsorship of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), approximately two hundred volunteer groups from various universities in Taiwan are sent abroad to assist communities [...]

Belizean Football Coaches Receive Professional Training
Germany recently beat out Argentina to emerge victorious in the 2014 World Cup – a dream of football federations across the world and certainly one for Belize. Every journey has [...]

FFB President Comments On Belize’s Performance In UNCAF
F.F.B. President Ruperto Vicente says that FIFA has already approved the plan which will focus on youths and their coaches. It’s a long term project, but the road to the [...]

BDF Summer Camp Teaches Children Life Skills
It is summer so camps are popping up all over the place. By all accounts one of most popular is organized by the Belize Defense Force and hundreds of youths [...]

Bring It Lights Up The Bliss For Another Week
If You Can Sing it, Bring it! The song competition gets underway at nine, live from the Bliss. While the stakes are high for the performers, tonight’s theme is not [...]

CTV3

BSCFA Want More Than Fifty One Cents Per Ton Of Bagasse
With a resolution passed by cane farmers, the only other option is to go back to the drawing board, that’s if BSI accepts. Cane farmers clearly stated yesterday that they want more than the 51 cents payment per ton of bagasse BSI is willing to give them. At first they asked for $10.00 but with BSI not budging cane farmers are prepared to compromise. Alfredo Ortega- Vice Chairman, BSCFA, COM “We clearly know that we can get a better price than fifty one cents so that is where we are at this point, farmers want a just payment for their bagasse.” BSI has stated on the record that if the company would pay cane farmers the $10.00 per ton of cane delivered for bagasse, based on the 2013 crop results, the requested payment would amount to BZ$11.4 million, or 97% of Belcogen’s gross revenues from sales to BEL. This would cripple the company, says BSI. On the other hand cane farmers are saying; “show me Belgogen’s financial records and we move on”.

Manuel Castillo Disappeared In Thin Air
And as to the alleged ring leader behind these crimes, Manuel Castillo, who has struck fear in the lives of many in the North since his disappearance, police say they are following all leads in hope of putting him behind bars. Maria Novelo – Reporter “Any leads as to the mastermind of these crimes, Mr. Manuel Castillo who we know has been placed on Interpol’s most wanted list.” Joseph Myvette – Assistant Commissioner of Police “That Is as far as we know that he has been placed on Interpol we are continuing our investigation but there is no new information as to where he might be.” Police believe Castillo has absconded to either neighbouring Guatemala or Mexico. The 37 year old fugitive is wanted for the kidnapping and murder of Ramon Cervantes Sr. and the murder of Sonia Abac. It is of note that Castillo was deported from North Carolina in 2004 for drug offences and possession of weapon with intend to kill.

Ramon Cervantes Junior Admits A Hand-Cuff Was Used In The Murder
As you heard, not much was said by Myvett when it comes to the investigations into two of Orange Walks most vicious murders. But police are not only being tight lipped with the media, the family of Cervantes Senior has also been kept in the dark as they know little about the on-going investigation. A few days ago when questioned about the alleged involvement of two officers in Cervantes’ murder and the allegation that a handcuff belonging to the department was used to bind the hands and feet of the former Senator and Mayor, Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie, simply stated that investigations were ongoing and they were looking at the issue of discipline. Whylie would also not confirm whether Cervantes was indeed handcuffed or if the manacle is connected to the department. But one person that has decided to speak out is Cervantes’ son, Ramon Cervantes Junior. Yesterday while at the cane farmers AGM, Cervantes Jr. responded to Whylie’s comments. Here is what he stated.

Climate Change Forum Takes Place In Orange Walk
The National Climate Change Office in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center has embarked on a national consultation geared towards the creation of a policy, strategy and action plan to address climate change in Belize. These are expected to assist the government to address adverse impacts of climate change on the national economic and sustainable development of the country. The consultation for the northern region was held today in Orange Walk Town at the District Education Center. Ann Gordon, who is the National Coordinator for Climate change in the National Climate Change Office under the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, expanded on the consultation.

Cane Farmers Reject BSI Proposal For Fifty One Cents Payment Per Ton Of Bagasse
A resounding no to BSI’s proposal that was the outcome of yesterday’s Annual General Meeting held by cane farmers at Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico in San Roman, Corozal. A number of issues were discussed during the AGM but at the top of the agenda was BSI’s proposal to pay cane farmers 51 cents per ton of bagasse. After months of negotiations, the Board of Directors of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association went back to its members seeking approval or rejection for the proposal. The outcome was as expected as cane farmers did not think twice when they ordered their directors to go back to the negotiating table. Cane Farmer “I know he is a giant company and he is chancing us cane farmers, he doesn’t know that three o’clock in the morning these men are already out and the women too and the fifty one cents cannot buy even a soap to what the shirt and the pants that the men dirty on the fields. I would like you to know that we are not fools, we know what the bagasse is putting in all your pockets but you try to lie to us but let me tell you this religiously that every penny that you steal from your poor brother you will pay for it on your death dead and that is in the bible."

Case File For Sonia Abac's Murder Yet To Be Sent To The DPP
More than two weeks following the heinous deaths of businessman Ramon Cervantes Sr. and Sonia Abac, authorities are still trying to piece together the puzzle that shrouds their demise. While 3 people, two of them residents of Trial Farm and one Guatemalan were charged for Cervantes’ murder along with Manuel Castillo who remains on the run, not much has been heard or reported on the investigations. But today we managed to get an update on the case. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvette, says while the incidents are believed to be linked, those investigations are on-going and police is still in the process of compiling statements. Joseph Myvette – Assistant Commissioner of Police “There are some works that are still continuing that we are trying to conclude before the entire file is submitted to the DPP for perusal and direction.”

Standard Four Student Still Missing, Police Have No Clue Of Her Whereabout
For several weeks we have been reporting on the disappearance of Standard 4 student and 15 year old teen, Luz Clarita Carrillo who was last seen by her guardian heading to school on the 24th of June. Since then, the family claims that they have gotten a note stating that she has been kidnapped and in another instance, a phone call that told them not to worry since Clarita was in good hands. There are many allegations and speculations as to her whereabouts and today while we got a chance to speak with Assistant Commissioner Myvette, our digging got us nowhere.

O/W Business Man Receives Extortion Call
A few weeks ago Orange Walkenos played witness to two murders which were recorded in less than one week, that of Ramon Cervantes Senior and Sonia Abac. The death of both individuals sent shock waves throughout the north and since then Northenos are living in fear. And apparently they have all right to be since there seems to be an apparent surge in extortions being reported in the North, the latest being that of Rene Cuello, well known businessman and avid karaoke singer. According to Cuello, he received a phone call last week Thursday July 17th. The person on the other line, a male individual, identified himself as belonging to the ZETAS, a cartel that operates in Mexico. Cuello says he did not entertain the international call which came from a 12 digit number; hence it could not be traced.

Traffic Accident claims The Life Of Corozal Resident
Tonight, a family from the Village of Cristo Rey in the Corozal District is mourning the unexpected death of one of their own who perished in a traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway on Sunday morning. Reporter Victor Castillo has the details in the following report. Victor Castillo – Reporter It was a little after 6 am on Sunday morning when Ana Che received a telephone call, not knowing that at the other end of the line were members of the Police department with bad news of her Uncle, 43 year old Remijio Botes who succumbed to his injuries sustained in a traffic incident. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Joseph Myvette said Botes lost control of the vehicle. Joseph Myvette – Assistant Commissioner of Police “Yesterday morning sometime around 6am police visited mike 62 on the Phillip Goldson Highway where upon arrival a ford escape vehicle with license plate BZ C- 45968 was seen on the left hand side of the road overturned where upon further investigation it was revealed that the driver Remijio Botes was traveling from north to south direction along with three other persons when he lost control of his vehicle and overturned.”

LOVE FM

Shooting Investigation Leads to Big Drug Bust
Thirty year old Juan Menjivar and a fifteen year old male minor were busted with more than a thousand grams of marijuana and ten thousand dollars in cash by San Pedro Police. The bust occurred late on Sunday night during an investigation of a shooting incident in the DFC area of San Pedro Town. According to San Pedro Police, they met the 15 year old male minor and Menjivar at a house in the area. Menjivar produced his licensed black nine millimeter firearm with eight nine millimeter live rounds in the magazine. San Pedro police then further searched of the house where they discovered ten thousand dollars in US and Belize currency, eight liters of Hennessy and three brown parcels containing one thousand four hundred and thirteen grams of cannabis. Menjivar, a Belizean taxi man of San Pedro Town, and the 15 year old minor were arrested and charged for drug trafficking, discharging a Firearm in Public, un-costumed Goods and for the possession of over $10,000.00 believed to be the proceeds of Drug Trafficking.

Village Chairman Goes Missing
Members of the Ladyville and Hattieville Police stations, the K9 Unit and other personnel spent the day in search of the chairman of Hattieville Village, Belize District. 43-year-old, Kevin Carcamo is an employee of Discoverseis Company and was a part of a team working in the Freetown Sibun area yesterday when he did not return home. Love News visited Carcamo’s home today and spoke to his common-law-wife, Shawn Bonner, who told us what led to her making a missing person report just after midnight last night. SHAWN BONNER “I made the report last night about ten to twelve because a young man came by my house last night asking if Kevin was at home and I said that no he had not reached home yet. I told him that Kevin was still at work but he told me that everybody had come from work already. I said, “Oh my God, you all left Kevin over there”. I went next door to my neighbor to ask if he had seen Kevin because they work at the same place and he said yes so I said I would have to call Discoverseis right away. I called them and they didn’t know either; so, he came and we went to the police station together.”

Farm Worker Drowns in Pond
A post mortem was conducted on the body of a 57-year-old watchman employed at Fresh Catch Farm in La Democracia Village, Belize District early this afternoon at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. Thomas Garcia, a Guatemalan national, who resided in the Cotton Tree Village in the Cayo District, was found floating in Pond 16 on the farm just after nine o’clock this past Friday night. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Christopher Noble gave us information coming out of their preliminary investigations. ASP CHRISTOPHER NOBLE “On Friday we did get that information, sometime after 7pm, to say that a gentleman had been found in one of the ponds in the tilapia farms. The body was located and we had people go out there. The gentleman is an employee of the farm and we are expecting results of a post mortem later today. We at this stage are very young into it and we did some work over the weekend into it and we hope that we could put closure to it by days end. That gentleman is an elderly man and he is not a born Belizean but migrated to Belize his family had been communicated with and the embassy relevant to his nationality has been communicated with.”

Inmate Arraigned for Prison Stabbing
Twenty year old Giovanni Ramirez, an inmate at Belize Central Prison, was charged with wounding when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. Ramirez pled not guilty to the charge. His case was adjourned until September 19. The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on July 16. Twenty-three year old Jamal Ariola, an inmate at Belize Central Prison, reported to the police that he was in the yard of the prison talking to Ramirez when all of a sudden he felt a stab to the left side of his chest and he saw Ramirez with a piece of steel, known as a “Borer” in his hand. He also reported that Ramirez stabbed him several times on his hand, his back and left foot.

Man Drops Charges Against Spouse
A forty-four year old female security guard who handcuffed her husband and tied his feet then beat him on his head with a mall, was charged with wounding and using threatening words when she appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. She is Nathalia Wade, a mother of three, who resides at Milpa Site, Ladyville. Wade pled not guilty to the charges.

Cane Farmers Association Works Towards Corrective Measures
The other matter discussed during the cane farmers general meeting on Sunday was the suspension from Flo-Cert and investigative audit that revealed that thousands of dollars were misappropriated by several employees of the association. Arturo Cantun reports. ARTURO CANTUN REPORTS: “The audit from Flo-Cert shows that approximately 78 thousand dollars of Fair-trade funds were misused by certain employees of the association. This includes employees getting overpaid; others getting salary advance and others getting loans, despite those Fair-trade regulations clearly indicate that funds should not be used for such. Ortega updated us on what steps have been taken.” ALFREDO ORTEGA “I think we have recovered in the vicinity of $6000 dollars and so we need to recover about $72,000 dollars more to complete the $78,000.”

Governor General Receives Credentials From Incoming Ambassadors
arrived in the country last week and today Ho officially presented his credentials to the Governor General of Belize, Sir Colville Young. He succeeds Ambassador David Wu, who departed Belize on July 12. Ho has served in Hawaii, United Kingdom and Singapore. Ambassador Ho was also previously posted to Belize as First Secretary and Senior Specialist from 1994-1998. The Ambassador of the Philippines Catalino Dilem Jr. also presented his credentials to the Governor General. Dilem stated that his country continues to enjoy a friendly and fruitful relationship with Belize and they look forward to strengthening that relationship through trade and other areas.

PlusTV

Chairman of Hattieville Missing
Police say that the Chairman of Hattieville has gone missing. Sunday evening, July 20th, Shawn Banner, common-law wife of Chairman Kevin Carcamo, visited the Hattieville Police sub-station and reported that Carcamo left for work with Discoversies Oil Company at 5:45am but did not return home as per normal. Kevin Carcamo works with...

Housefire erupts near downtown Belize City
Fire broke out in Belize City on Friday night in an area that has become used to such hazards. A yard on Prince Street, between Albert Street and East Canal, became a hazardous scene that brought hundreds of Belizeans out of their beds just after 8:30 p.m. The top...

Shootings in the Old Capital; are these ones random?
There were some shooting incidents reported in Belize City this weekend but the they appear to be random and arbitrary. A34-year-olddriver for Election and Boundaries was driving a red government Wingle on West Collect Canal heading towards Mex Avenue on Sunday night. Upon reaching the junction of West Collect...

Dead man found in shrimp pond
On Friday, police visited the Fresh Catch Farm located in La Democracia Village, Belize District where at pond 16 they saw the nude body of a male Hispanic person floating face down in the pond. The body was retrieved and was identified as 57-year-old Thomas Garcia, Guatemalan watchman of...

Fatal traffic accident in Belmopan; family wonders if foul play involved
Alfonso Manzanero, a resident of Nanche St. in Belmopan, died early Sunday morning after what relatives believe is a peculiar set of circumstances. According to Belmopan police, at around 1:15 on Sunday morning Alfonso Manzanero was driving his Mitsubishi SUV on the North Ring Road when he reportedly lost...

Guinea Grass man stabbed to the chest
On Sunday afternoon, Orange Walk Police visitedthe Northern Regional Hospital where they saw 32-year-old Felipe Camara of Guinea Grass Village, Orange Walk District, suffering from stab wounds to the center of his chest and to the center of his abdomen. Initial investigation revealed that at around 4:00p.m. that evening,...

San Pedro taxi man arrested for drug trafficking
On Sunday night, police visited the residence of taxi driver Juan Menjivar, located in the San Pedrito area of San Pedro Town, investigating a shooting incident which had allegedly occurred on Saturday in the DFC area of San Pedro. At the house, police met a...

Cane Farmers reject bagasse proposal
More than 700 cane farmers from the Orange Walk and Corozal districts gathered at the Escuela Mexico Auditorium in San Roman Village, Corozal, on Sunday July 20th., to keep members of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association abreast of the situation concerning bagasse, and to reach a general consensus...

BSCFA suspended from FLOCERT over misappropriated funds
The afternoon session of Sunday’s Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association meeting dealt with misappropriations of BSCFA funds of some 78 thousand dollars, for the period of September 2011 to May 214. Audit showed records of 10 people with irregular salaries between the period of March 2012 to May 2014 and...

Prisoner charged for prison yard stabbing
20 year old Giovanni Ramirez faces further charges related to an alleged attack on a fellow inmate of the Belize Central Prison. He pleaded not guilty to charges of wounding before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer and was sent back to prison until September 19 when his case resumes. Around...

Belize’s Soccer Teams Play Abroad
Last week Thursday we told you about the Football Under 20 Male team which travelled to El Salvador to participate in this year’s UNCAF Qualifier. The games are being held from the 17th to the 29th of this month at the Cuscantlan Stadium in San Salvador. Since Friday, the Belize...

Capital Culture to dramatize “Rose Slip”
On Saturday June 26th at the George Price Center, Capital Culture, Belmopan’s very own drama group, will be dramatizing a popular Caribbean play called the “Rose Slip.” The play, written by Douglas Archibal, is centered in Jamaica, however, according to Beverly Swasey, play director of Capital Culture, the group has adapted the...

Amandala

Warring Ladyville couple bound to keep the peace
A Ladyville couple who have had a stormy, violent relationship was ordered to keep the peace for one year when the woman appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer to be arraigned on charges of wounding and use of threatening words against her husband, who professed his love for her and asked the court to drop the two charges. When Magistrate Frazer asked Natalia Wade, 44, a security guard of 100 Milpa Site, Ladyville, what was her relationship with the virtual complainant, a man who was wearing a fez in the courtroom rose and identified himself as Keith Staine. He told the court Wade is his wife and he was the one who filed the police report against her. When the 39-year-old Staine removed the fez from his head, a number of injuries became visible. Frazer told Wade, “I am seeing scars on him and he went to the police to make a report against you.”

Cañeros “outraged” at BSI’s 51-cent bagasse proposal
In a unified show of defiance today, local cañeros gave an outright “thumbs down” to a proposal which was made by factory owners, Belize Sugar Industries (BSI)/American Sugar refineries (ASR), at a general meeting staged by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA) at the Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico in San Roman Village, on the outskirts of Orange Walk. The sugarcane farmers are outraged by BSI’s offer to pay them 51 cents per ton of bagasse, especially since they (the cane farmers association) retained the expertise of technical professionals who have informed them that in reality, the farmers should be able to get up to $4 per ton of bagasse, a valued byproduct of sugar cane, which is currently sold by BSI to power producers BELCOGEN, who, in turn, sell it to the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) after it goes through its process of production. Prior to the meeting, BSI/ASR had given the farmers an ultimatum – requiring that the BSCFA and their members make a decision by the beginning of next month, August, to either accept the 51-cent bid, or receive nothing at all. After the meeting, when we spoke to the vice chairman of the BSCFA’s Committee of Management, Alfredo Ortega, he made it clear that based on the farmers’ response, BSI’s offer is simply unacceptable.

Security guard, 58, found floating in tilapia pond
The body of a security guard was fished from a tilapia farm in La Democracia this past Friday, and based on the circumstances surrounding his death, his family is convinced that foul play led to his demise.pull quote - drowning According to police, Tomas Garcia, 58, a security guard who was employed at the Fresh Catch Tilapia Farm in La Democracia, was discovered floating face-down and nude at Pond 16 late Friday night. Today, Amandala spoke to Rural Executive Officer, ASP Chris Noble, and he said that, at the time, police were awaiting the results of a post-mortem on Garcia’s body to determine whether he was a victim of foul play. He said, “On Friday we did get that information sometime after 7:00 p.m. saying that the gentleman had been found in one of the ponds in the tilapia farm. The body was located, and we had people go out there to look into it. The gentleman is an employee of the farm and we are expecting results of a post-mortem later today. At this stage, we are very young into it; we did some work over the weekend and we hope that we could put closure to it at least by the day’s end.”

Preacher stabbed to death in church yard
A well-known preacher in the community, Oscar John Lambey, 28, of Rivero Street Extension, was found dead at about 6:20 this morning in the Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist compound, in the Cinderella Plaza area. The death of the preacher occurred just 24 hours after Lionel Sampson, 28, was found dead at about 6:30 yesterday morning, Thursday, after being shot and killed while walking in the Iguana Street Extension area on Gravey Street in the Collet Division. Sampson was the eleventh person murdered since deadly violence escalated, beginning June 7, 2014, when a 16-year-old girl was shot in the Princess Hotel and Casino parking lot. The bullet is still lodged in her chest. Lambey was found by the caretaker of the church when he was making a routine security check this morning in and around the compound. Inspector Santiago Ciau of Precinct 1 Police said that at about 7:00 this morning, they responded to the report of a dead man in the compound of the Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Church on Wilson Street, and on their arrival, they saw the body of a man lying face-up on the ground about 10 feet behind one of the buildings on the compound.

Hattieville chairman disappears
At present, an extensive search is underway between the villages of Hattieville and Freetown Sibun in the rural Belize District as co-workers and authorities are trying to find the current acting Hattieville chairman, Kevin Carcamo, 43, a seismic surveyor who left his Hattieville home yesterday morning for his workplace, Discoverseis, where he embarked on a routine trek to conduct seismic surveys along with six other employees in a vast area covered with bush and swamp on the outskirts of Hattieville. Carcamo’s family became worried about his whereabouts late yesterday evening when he did not return home after work, after which his common-law wife, Shawn Banner, made a missing person’s report to the Hattieville police, who, along with Carcamo’s colleagues, immediately began a search that lasted until the wee hours of this morning, Monday. So far, the search has proved futile, and today, Amandala spoke with Rural Executive Officer, ASP Chris Noble, who told us about the police’s efforts in tracing Carcamo since receiving the report late last night.

FedEx faces Federal indictment over shipments for online pharmacies
The internationally-famous courier, FedEx, the Memphis, Tennessee corporation which also provides services to Belize, is facing a major federal indictment on allegations that it facilitated online pharmacies in packaging and distributing drugs, allegedly in violation of US laws. Fox Business quotes a FedEx spokesperson as saying: “We want to be clear what’s at stake here: the government is suggesting that FedEx assume criminal responsibility for the legality of the contents of the millions of packages that we pick up and deliver every day. We are a transportation company – we are not law enforcement. We have no interest in violating the privacy of our customers. We continue to stand ready and willing to support and assist law enforcement. We cannot, however, do the job of law enforcement ourselves.”

Two men found guilty of burglary: one fined, the other gets 5 years in absentia
Two Belize City men who were each being tried for one count of burglary before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer were found guilty of the offense at the conclusion of their case late this morning. Frazer imposed a $1,000 fine on Christopher Gillett, 19, one of the two accused who was present in court. Gillett, who was a minor when he was charged for the offense which occurred on February 17, 2012, was ordered to pay his court fine by October 31. The other accused man, Keron Swasey, 20, who did not appear in court today, was sentenced to 5 years in prison in absentia. Police charged the two with burglary after they entered, as trespassers, the home of Emily Stanley, located on Fabers Road in Belize City. Stanley did not see the two when they entered her home. The two convicted men made off with six Oran glass louvers, three metal chairs, a table and a basin. The men later took police to two separate locations where the stolen items were found.

Police find prohibited Galil 5.56 assault rifle and prohibited .357 Magnum revolver
Four firearms – which include a prohibited, high-power Galil 5.56 assault rifle, and a prohibited .357 Magnum revolver – were confiscated by police on Friday. The other two confiscated firearms are a 9mm pistol and a 32mm pistol, one of which is believed to be the pistol used in the armed robbery of a security officer guarding a Belikin delivery truck on Oleander Street in the Lake I area at about 10:00 Thursday morning. The pistols were found during an intense search that took place shortly after the robbery in the area. Police said that the 32mm pistol has been labeled as “Exhibit,” while the other three firearms have been labeled as “Found Property” and will be handed over for destruction.

Editorial: A different game
Between 1979 and 1984, this newspaper proved, at least for the benefit of ourselves, that the 4 percent of the electorate which we demonstrably influenced, could have a decisive effect on general elections under certain circumstances. We did not experience any euphoria on appreciating the significance of our role, but rather we went through a period of sober analysis. In national elections, one is dealing with people’s lives; one is dealing with the direction and the fate of the Belizean nation-state. A large amount of the energy in Belizean election campaigning is financial energy. Belize’s is a small, struggling economy, and any injection of substantial liquidity into the system immediately raises energy levels amongst the Belizean people. Post-modern election campaigning has become a matter of the two major political parties acquiring the millions needed for campaign financing, and then organizing their members and supporters on a salaried basis to work from house-to-house and from street-to-street compiling the information which will enable the parties’ election generals to bring out the maximum amount of favorable voters on election day itself.

From The Publisher
I think the Bible predicts that God will destroy the world again, as He did in the time of Noah, but on the second occasion He would do so with fire, instead of with water as on the first occasion. The physicists say that it is inevitable that the sun, which is earth’s primary source of energy, will burn itself out, whereupon human life, as we know it, will come to an end. Personally, you and I don’t have to worry about this, because we ourselves will come to an end long before this happens. Each of us has two worlds, you know. There is our personal existence, which is our own world, so to speak. And then there is the world at large, the world out there. Most of us expect that our personal worlds will come to an end before the world at large does, but there are religious sects which, from time to time, give specific dates for the end of the world. At this point, all their believers start making preparations for the end, but it has never happened so far. So, they have to go on living, and sometimes the sects even come up with new dates, just to keep all their followers on their toes, I guess.

Dara’s annual bike ride & Lucky Dube Tribute July 27
Well-known grassroots Belizean humanitarian, Joel “Dara” Robinson, of Belize City, is once again embarking on two annual ventures through which he aims to raise funds to support his feeding program which caters to needy primary school [...]

SSB hosts 2014 scholarship awards ceremony SSB hosts 2014 scholarship awards ceremony
The Social Security Board (SSB) handed out scholarships to several students today as part of its annual scholarship program. The ceremony was held at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel, and Communications Officer for SSB, Gayle Ozaeta, told [...]

Prince Street fire leaves 8 people homeless
On Tuesday, July 8, a two-flat wooden house, the property of Eloise Hyde in Hattieville, was completely destroyed by fire at about 9:00 that morning, leaving 13 people homeless. The fire service said that a child [...]

Orange Walk girl, 13, reported missing since June
Luz Clarita Carrillo, 13, a standard four student of Louisiana Government School, has been missing for almost a month now, since June 24. Her guardian said that she last saw the girl that Tuesday morning, June [...]

Belize shut out in first two matches at UNCAF U-20 qualifiers, rough days ahead for Belize football
The Belize National U-20 squad is yet to score a goal, having lost its first two games at the Central American U-20 qualifiers in El Salvador on Thursday of last week and this afternoon, respectively. On [...]

FFB President’s Cup weekend results
The FFB President’s Cup tournament continued with 3 games played yesterday. Down south at the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga, visiting Sagitun FC clipped the home team Pomona United, 2-1, with goals from Darren Thompson (2’) [...]

City Boys are champions of Smart 13 & Under Football Tournament 2014
The 3rd Annual Smart 13 & Under Football Tournament climaxed on Saturday, July 19, at the Yabra Football field where the 3rd place game was followed by the championship match, and then the awards ceremony. In [...]

Rural softball results from Burrell Boom; Lords Bank this Sunday
The Belize Rural Senior Female/Male Softball Tournament 2014 continued yesterday, Sunday, with 3 games, 1 male (M) and 2 female (F), being played in Burrell Boom. Female and male teams from the villages of Lords Bank, [...]

Hall of Fame notes
My father, C.B. Hyde, told me yesterday that there was an induction ceremony for a first Belize Sports Hall of Fame sometime around 1992; and subsequently, about four or five years later, another attempt was made [...]

Patrick Jones

Stephen Okeke explains why he destroyed the TV Ramos bust
When we last left the issue of the Thomas Vincent Ramos bust created by Stephen Okeke, it was sitting outside his Northern Highway home waiting on a group of prominent Garinagu and others to raise the funds to buy it. However, Okeke has been consistently attacked on the […]

Belize welcomes Taiwanese youth volunteers
Members of a Taiwanese Rotary youth group are spending their summer vacation in Belize helping out with various projects in the country. They were welcomed today by newly-arrived Ambassador Benjamin Ho who wished them the best for their stay and encouraged them to see as much of the […]

Belize represented at Central American Black Youth Summit
With Belize’s black population facing an epidemic of drugs, gun violence and attendant social ills, local black leaders have joined with their counterparts from Central America to seek answers to these and other major issues affecting black youths across the isthmus. The tenth Youth Summit of the Central […]

International black professionals to visit Belize
There are two upcoming events of interest to the black community in Belize. Starting next week, professionals of African descent from around the world descend on the Jewel and the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City to discuss the problems of black people and potential solutions. Co-organizer […]

Garifuna youth take part in cultural retrieval activity in Punta Gorda
A two-day workshop on cultural survival is underway in Punta Gorda town. The St. Peter Claver College Extension is the venue for the event which has as its stated objective to engage youth of the municipality in cultural survival activities. This week’s workshop is being sponsored by the youth […]

Blogs

A Summer Day in San Pedro, Belize – Sun, Chocolate and Pupusas
I have a friend visiting for 2 weeks – my very best friend. And since I disappeared for 4 days of her visit to attend the amazing Belize International Film Festival down in Placencia, we absolutely need to do fun things for the remainder of her visit. Luckily, with the gorgeous weather and the water and the good eats, this is not hard. I picked her up at Mata Rocks Resort right next door…she is staying there for a night or two (between her dog sitting gigs) and the morning was perfect on the pool deck. We actually started the day quite spiritually with a guided meditation class and then beginners’ yoga at Zen Arcade. Love this spot. And love that I can finish all that wellness off with a $10bzd bean burrito that SO hits all the right chakras.

Drones Join the Human Effort to Protect the Belize Barrier Reef!
We’ve heard the expression before, but a real-life example is currently underway in Belize, where drones are actually being put to good use. A recent NY Times article shows how Australian environmental technology is being used to monitor destructive, illegal fishing activity along the Belize Barrier Reef, and, with other Green applications planned for the future, giving the non-military use of drones a good name. Belize Fisheries Department personnel are now being trained up to operate small but highly effective drones to patrol Belizean waters in a bid to combat illegal fishing, just as this year’s lobster season begins. It seems only fitting that Australia, with the world’s largest Great Barrier Reef, has developed drone technology that is coming to the aid of Belize, home to the world’s second largest barrier reef.

“It’s My Party” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Hi Ziggy here so none of that “out on the veranda with a mug of black coffee” twaddle! It’s been some time since I last managed to wrest control of his (John’s, that is) iPad and let you all know how I am faring and a visit to Ambergris Caye at the weekend presented the opportunity. So, here goes. Nine of us set off from Price Barracks, Ladyville on Saturday morning and caught the 09.00 hours (I’m from the military so I use the 24 hour clock) Belize Water Taxi service to San Pedro. We docked around 10.30 hours and then marched – when you’re in the Army that’s what you do, you don’t just walk- to Pedro’s Hotel where we had booked rooms for the night and dumped our kit bags (I didn’t actually have a kit bag because my Dad carried my stuff in his). And then we were ready to start celebrating Tod’s twenty-second birthday. Let’s PARTY!

Belizean Business DirectoryThe Consulate of Belize in Florida is compiling a Belizean Business Directory

Tasty Fruits To Try In Belize
Ok fruit-lovers, I’ve complied a list of the top fruits to eat in Belize and I’m sure you’ll thank me for it. These juicy and delicious fruits can be found at the local farmers market, small convenience stores and food vendors on bicycles. Also, most restaurants serve fruit-platters during breakfast. But no matter where you get it, it’s always good and fresh! Here are 20 must-have Belizean fruits:

Caye Caulker Plaze Hotel, Belize Review
Caye Caulker is to Belize what Pai is to Thailand. A chilled out backpacker hangout. It’s been famous for this for decades and shows no signs of changing it’s demographic just yet. The island is pretty small, but even by Caye Caulker standards this place is convenient. Literally 100m from the boat dock and you’re there. As you guys know, I wouldn’t even check in to a hotel with free wifi, so this place has that covered. Air con, snazzy shower, balcony check, check and check. I find that I get so much more work done in boutique hotels like this than some dingy dorm with mosquito nets so for all flashpackers and career breakers – this is the place to be.

Cave Tubing in Belize
Belize City is not the kinda place you wanna spend much time, but there’s one thing you HAVE to do if you’re transiting through, it’s just 40 minutes or so from the city that you have to try – cave tubing. Only a couple of operators offer the service for independent travellers (the clientele is mostly made up from cruise passengers), but the guys at CaveTubing.Bz can both sort you out and pick you up for the day trip tour. The story behind the owner from CaveTubing.Bz is pretty cool – he grew up super poor, became a dishwasher at an American owned tour company in Belize, eventually promoted to tour guide, then cave tubing guide. He saved all his tips, all his salary and opened his own operator and it’s now the second biggest tour company in the region – he owns a zip line centre, about 7 buses, 50 staff and he is super nice too. I love success stories like this, so I was only ever going to go with these guys.

ReefCI Lionfish Statistics Quarterly Report – Q2
Here are our results for Lionfish Q2. September is Lionfish month with ReefCI in Belize, want to help us reach the 5,000 mark? We have removed 4,325 Lionfish so far this year!!!! Anyone know how many juvenile species we have saved?

Simply Marvellous: 10 Gorgeous Photos of Cahal Pech Village Resort in Belize
Perched on top of the ancient hills of Cahal Pech Maya Ruins is Cahal Pech Village Resort, one of the largest hotels in San Ignacio Belize. The resort is comprised of 23 palm thatched cabanas, 14 standard rooms, 5 spacious suites, 9 deluxe suites, 3 fresh water swimming pools, a gourmet restaurant, a fully stocked bar, a gift shop, a fleet of tour vehicles and a cadre of professional staff that is responsive and will go beyond to make your stay unforgettable. Here are 10 gorgeous photos of Cahal Pech Village Resort:

10 Photos You Definitely Need To See Of San Ignacio Resort
Belize offers a variety of luxury accommodations from the beautiful beaches of the south to the Caribbean waters on the Cayes to the adventurous jungles in the west. San Ignacio Resort Hotel is happy to make the top 25 list being the only luxury accommodation in Cayo offering a luxurious convenient location nestled in the hills of San Ignacio amongst 14 acres of lush vegetation. They are also known as the “ONLY JUNGLE IN TOWN” and rightfully so. Below are 10 beautiful photos of the hotel:

SALAD BAR – WALDORF SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD
Place the apples in a bowl with the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Leave for 40 minutes. Using a sharp knife, slice the celery very thinly. Add the celery, shallots, garlic, and walnuts to the apple and mix together. Stir in the mayonnaise and blend thoroughly. Add the cooked chicken to the bowl and mix well. Line the serving dishes with the lettuce. Pile the chicken salad into the serving bowls, sprinkle with pepper and garnish with chopped walnuts.

International Sources

The 6 Most Overrated Travel Destinations In The World
The Yucatan Peninsula is lovely - it belongs on any bucket list. Just skip Cancun.

The State’s Secret: Belize’s Money Laundering Regime – Analysis
Nestled on the northeastern coast of Central America, Belize is often named one of Central America’s most beautiful vacation destinations. With its ornate coral reefs and rainforest, the small English-speaking country has plenty to offer for tourists looking for tropical adventures. Yet, Belize is rapidly becoming known to the international community for attracting many drug trafficking organizations known for transporting marijuana and cocaine into North America. Since the country’s currency is conveniently pegged to the U.S. dollar, Belize also offers nonresidents the opportunity to run offshore accounts. Money laundering has become a prime form of funding for many criminal organizations. As a result, the United States Department of State has recently named Belize one of the world’s “major money laundering countries.”[1] One might ask, “Are all poor countries more open to private investment?” No. However, in nations like Belize, there is a greater problem of overall government mismanagement, which can lead to illegal private investments typically going unnoticed or unpunished by government officials. According to the U.S. State Department, Belize has a complete catalogue of rules and regulations that should be serving the purpose of monitoring various government investments. These regulations include such measures as the Fiscal Incentives Act, Export Incentives Act, the Export Processing Zone Act, Commercial Free Zone Act, International Business Companies Act, the Trusts Act, Offshore Banking Act, and the Gaming Act and Companies Act, which “offer some attractive incentives to investors, but in practice these incentives are often not realized.”[2] This means that while Belize has taken measures to prevent underground ventures from happening, its constituents are failing to realize the power of the current laws and the potential negative consequences of not adhering to them. Hence, this shows the vulnerability of the state and highlights the money laundering issues facing Belize.

This 26-Pound Folding Kayak Fits in the Trunk of a Car
Boating just became much more accessible thanks to Oru Kayak, a 12-foot-long, 26-pound kayak that folds up into a 33 x 29-inch carrying case. Oru Founder Anton Willis came up with the idea after moving to San Francisco and realizing his apartment was too small to fit his kayak. He launched a Kickstarter for a foldable boat, which successfully raised $443,806 and brought Oru Kayak into production. Oru Kayak was also featured on Shark Tank, where Willis accepted a $500,000 deal for 25 percent from Robert Herjavec. The boat is made from one sheet of corrugated plastic, with simple connections for easy assemblage. Oru Kayak is so beautifully built that it was even showcased at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Air Forces Southern medics arrive in Belize to facilitate obstetrics course
Three international health specialists and three nongovernmental organization personnel supporting the 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern, or AFSOUTH, arrived in Belize recently to facilitate the Global Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Instructor Course. As partners in international health, AFSOUTH teamed with Belizean health care providers to increase medical capabilities in the country. The need for the instructor course came about during New Horizons Belize 2013. During that time, a group of international health specialists along with the nongovernmental organization Project HOPE conducted a one-week maternal health assessment across the regional hospitals, clinics and health posts. The observations from the assessment enhanced the course discussions the following week when 30 Belizean healthcare providers from around the country went to Dangriga, Belize, to attend the two-day Global ALSO Provider Course.

Drones take flight over Belize coastline to monitor illegal fishing activity
Unsustainable fishing in Belize has placed growing pressure on local anglers and the country's celebrated coral reef systems. Decades of decline has led to the introduction of catch limits and even the European Union blacklisting seafood imports from Belize for a perceived lack of action against illegal fishing. In an effort to better regulate the industry, the Belize Fisheries Department has begun using drones to monitor coastal areas for unlicensed and unlawful activity. Working with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Conservation Drones, an organization that develops low-coast UAVs for conservation efforts, the Fisheries Department began testing the vehicles in July 2013. Following full implementation of the program last month, the drones will now be used to locate fishing vessels operating illegally in marine protected areas. "Belize has been a leader in the establishment of marine protected areas, including the world-famous Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, but fishing regulations are difficult to enforce on the open sea," says Julio Maaz, Communities Fisheries Coordinator for WCS’s Marine Program in Belize. "Drones offer a means of improving the rate of detection of illegal activities at a fraction of the cost required for patrol vessels."

Cayman Islands, Belize See Big Increase in European Tourists
Belize and the Cayman Islands are seeing significant improvements in tourism from Europe, according to new data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The Cayman Islands received 15,466 European tourists in the first five months of 2014, a 29.8 percent over the same period in 2013. Belize received 18,836 arrivals from Europe in the same period, a 25.9 percent improvement over the first five months of 2013. Those were the largest increases in European tourism of any destinations with complete reporting to the CTO. Dominica saw a 17.2 percent increase in European tourism, with a total of 7,379 arrivals through May, according to the CTO’s data. In the same period, Antigua and Barbuda received 44,242 European tourists, an 11 percent jump over the previous year.

SOVEREIGN DEBT RESTRUCTURINGS IN BELIZE: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES AHEAD
Summary: This paper examines the causes, processes, and outcomes of the two Belize sovereign debt restructurings in 2006–07 and in 2012–13 that occurred outside of an IMF-supported program. It finds that the motivation for the two debt restructurings differed, as the former was driven by external liquidity concerns while the latter was motivated by a substantial increase in the coupon rates and future fiscal solvency concerns. Despite differential treatment between residents and non-residents, both 2006–07 and 2012–13 debt exchanges were executed through collaborative engagement, due in part to the existence of a broad-based creditor committee and the authorities’ effective communication strategy. However, while providing temporary liquidity relief, neither of the debt restructurings properly addressed long-term debt sustainability concerns. Going forward, the success of the 2012–13 debt restructuring will still depend on the country’s ability to strengthen fiscal efforts and public debt management framework.

Videos

Video: MANATEE SIGHTING AT CORAL CANYON, TURNEFFE ATOLL, 2.5min.
The Manatee is large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows.

Video: Dawn of the Maya Documentary, 53min.

Video: Fade to Black in the Belizian Jungle, 2min.

Video: My body is Precious, 6min.

Video: 20,000 Strong Women Empowerment, 7min.

Video: Belize Vacation 2014, 21min.

Video: Coral in Belize, 2min.

Video: Snorkeling in Belize, 5min.
Snorkeling in Belize Excursion Carnival Valor.

Video: Belize!, 4min.
Snorkeling after a great dive and some fishing . . .

Video: Monkeys at Xunantunich, Belize, 1min.

Video: Cow Hoof Soup! Bennys Kitchen San Jose Succotz Belize, 2min.
A stop at Benny's Kitchen for cheap authentic local food after a fun day at the pyramids. But the kids get more than they bargained for when trying the local favorite dish.. cow hoof soup!

Video: Belize Monkey River Eco Tours Placencia, 5min.
Head out on a fun day with Monkey River Eco Tours Placencia Belize to Monkey River to see crocodiles, birds, turtles, herons and howler monkeys up close!

Video: Belize Cave Tubing Cave Tubing R Us, 6min.
Go cave tubing with Cave Tubing R Us. Travel With Kids joins David at Cave Tubing R Us in Caves Branch Belize for a fun day of adventure and learning nature and hisotry!

Video: Feeding Machismo the tapir - Belize Zoo 2012, 1min.

Video: Bocawina Zip Line, Belize, 5min.
GoPro in Belize doin da zipline mon, last February

Video: Yoga and Dance Classes at Zen Arcade, San Pedro, Belize, 2min.
Zen Arcade Health and Wellness Center is the place to go to when you feel like rejuvenating your mind, body and soul. The dance classes are not only fun, but very energetic and healthy. While yoga provides the opportunity to wind down and de-stress.

July 22, 2014

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro Taxi Driver charged for Drug Trafficking
On Sunday July 20th at 11:00p.m., police visited the residence of Juan Menjivar located in the San Pedrito area of San Pedro Town investigating a shooting incident which had allegedly occurred on Saturday July 19th in the DFC area of San Pedro. At the house, police met a 15-year-old male of Hispanic descent of San Pedrito area and 30-year-old Juan Menjivar who produced his licensed black 9 millimeter SIG SAUER SP 2022 with eight 9mm live rounds in the magazine. Further searches of the house led to the discovery of over $10,000.00 in US and Belize currency, eight (8) liters of Hennessy and 3 brown parcels containing 1,413 grams of cannabis.

Those loud Black Howler monkeys
Did you know that there are 15 species of Howler monkeys? Belize is a great place to observe one of those species: the Black Howler Monkey. They are native to South and Central American forests, and are among the largest of the New World monkeys. Famous for their loud howls, which can travel up three miles through dense forest (!!!), howlers are great to observe in their natural habitat! The Community Baboon Sanctuary in Bermudian Landing is the right place to go for that fun experience! Nearly 13,000 acres of national park forms part of the Meso-America Biological Corridor in the Belize River Valley area. The sanctuary is located about 26 miles outside of Belize City and nestled deep in a forest that has been voluntarily protected.

BTB makes donation to San Pedro Red Cross for fire victims
On Thursday, July 17th, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr. made a donation to the San Pedro Red Cross (SPRC) on behalf of the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) to aid the victims of the Sunday, July 6th Boca del Rio fire. The Minister’s donation was made in the form of a check of $5,000 which is to be shared to the property owners affected by the fire. In addition BTB employees also made a personal donation of clothing, food products and toiletries to be given to those that lost everything in the fire. Receiving the donation was SPRC members Eiden Salazar, Laurie Norton, Shirlee Arnould and Frank Panton. “We are glad to have received the donation and will ensure that it is put to good use.

Ambergris Today

Tourist Arrivals in Belize Continue To Go Up!
For the first half of this year, cruise passenger arrivals are at 527,037 visitors showing an increase of almost 37%. Overall, Belize saw over 142,000 more visitors in 2014, when compared to the first half of 2013. The month of June alone recorded the highest increase with 120.2% more cruise passenger arrivals when compared to June, 2013. March has seen the most arrivals with 115,227 cruise passengers. There have been 57 more cruise ship calls in 2014 than there were in 2013 through the same time period.

Pic of the Week: She’s The One – Wedding Engagement in Ambergris Caye
Wedding Photographer Jose Luis Zapata found the perfect scene for this photo shoot where he captured the Canadian couple Dan and Kjersti during their engagement shoot in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. “This couple thought that San Pedro, Belize was the perfect place to get engaged,” commented Jose Luis who was hired to capture this special moment in the lives of Dan and Kjersti.

Flashbacks: When Tupac and Snoop Dogg Visited San Pedro, Belize
Quite a few people will remember these Flashback pictures taken in the early 1990’s when the late rapper Tupac, Snoop Dogg (now Snoop Lion), Mc Hammer and Suge Night vacationed in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. They were international celebrities in their prime of popularity at the time. Just coming out of winning his murder trial in 1993, Snoop Dogg and the group came to Belize to blow off some steam. Very few celebrities who visit the island will come out to interact with the locals as a normal visitor would do. Of course they are celebrities and do not like to be hounded by too many people when they are trying to have a relaxing time during their vacations. But Snoop, Tupac, Mc Hammer and Suge managed to make a big impact on the island residents as they really interacted with the people, hung out at local restaurants and bars, walked down the streets like they were locals and even enjoyed a few games of basketball with the local boys at Central Park.

Prepare a Delicious Conch Mango Ceviche
Sweet and Sour is a most popular way of preparing food. Well, we discovered and tested out this new way to prepare the popular ceviche here in San Pedro. Here is the sweet and sour version in the hors’dourve/appertizer category - Conch Mango Ceviche. The regular conch ceviche is already delicious and everybody loves it, so here is the opportunity for you to love it up even more and spice it up with some sweetness. You will immediately develop a taste for it and a liking that will last way beyond the summers.

Belize Solid Waste Management Authority
The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority invites the community of San Pedro to visit their booth at Central Park and learn how to manage your waste. Friday, July 25th the business community is invited to Sunbreeze Hotel for a dialogue meeting.

Misc Belizean Sources

Employment Opportunity
The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) is a statutory body of the Government of Belize mandated to perform functions and duties related to: 1) Trade Development and Promotion 2) Investment Generation and Promotion 3) Enterprise Development and Facilitation BELTRAIDE operates within the portfolio of the Ministry of Trade, Investment Promotion, Private Sector Development, and Consumer Protection. BELTRAIDE is seeking the services of a suitably qualified and experienced person for the post of Human Resource & Administration Director.

Ambassadors from the Philippines and the Republic of China (Taiwan) Present Credentials to the Governor General of Belize

Mayor Daniel Guerrero was invited for a social gathering over at Mahogany Bay Village
Where he welcomed the attendees (realtors and potential investors) to San Pedro.

Ambassador Moreno travelled to Big Creek
This past weekend to visit the Southern Partnership Station, Spearhead Vessel, currently stationed in Belize. Southern Partnership Station 2014 is a U.S. Navy deployment focused on subject matter expert exchanges with partner nation militaries and security forces. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet employ maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

Summer Art Wave
The Corozal House of Culture in collaboration with the Corozal Community Hospital developed the Community Mural Project. Today our active youths began painting the mural at the hospital; depicting healthy living and a healthy community.

Belize Youth Movement Corozal on the Go!
Successful Cleaning up Campaign conducted this past Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bacadilla Park, South End. More events are planned by the BYM Corozal. Youths are welcome to join. "Youths Moving Forward with New Visions for a Better Corozal. Keeping Corozal Clean!!! (5 photos)

An important read for the sugar cane farmers
We bring you Part I series of V regarding various methods used to calculate the price of bagasse. The ongoing standoff between American Sugar Refining,the principal shareholders of Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI), and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association seems to have entered a new round: one in which there seems to be a great degree of uncertainty over what price should be tagged onto bagasse. On one end, the farmers are saying that the price should be somewhere between $3.00 and $10.00 per ton of cane. The company, after having finally accepted, the universal fact that bagasse is a by-product,is understandably trying to keep their costs as low as possible. The company, within the last few weeks, has opted to divulge its methodology via a full-page advertisement in the newspapers and radio talk shows. There has also been one telling interview with BSI’s Chief Financial Officer, Belizario Carballo, on LoveFM’s sister station, Estereo Amor, in which he said 2013’s bagasse payment ought to be .51 cents per ton of cane. BSCFA has, of course, responded, saying that .51 cents is way too low.

Delmar Sutherland, re-known soccer player from Ranchito Village, Corozal silently passes at the Corozal Community Hospital
The Corozal Daily expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the late Delmar Sutherland. May he rest in Peace and be remembered in his Glory.

Channel 7

Friday Night Fire on Prince Street Leaves 3 Families Homeless
Tonight, 3 families, including 4 children are homeless after their residence on Prince Street was destroyed by fire on Friday night. But, the fire caused a scare in the general downtown area because at the particular location where the fire started, there were 4 houses clustered in the same yard. That yard is less than a block away from Albert Street, the commercial section of Downtown Belize City. Couple that with the fact, that we've seen block-burners in this exact area before, and that made the fire all the more dangerous. That blaze broke out at around 8:30 p.m., just down the street from our Channel 7 studios, so we were on the scene shortly after. Daniel Ortiz has the timeline: Daniel Ortiz reporting The fire raged at this two-storey house on Prince Street, while the firemen got their hoses going. Even with civilian assistance, the first hose was not enough to douse the flames. Another firefighter then climbed up his ladder and tried to get closer and smother the blaze. The air around him was thick with ashes, still, he laboured on undaunted. That direct assault lasted for about 2 minutes, but then the water pressure dropped; and the fire was untamed.

Fire Department: Blaze Started By Child Playing With Fire
The Fire Department is particularly concerned about this fire because they've determined that it was an accident, where a minor is believed to have been playing with fire, which got out of control. That's the second time in two weeks that this has happened; the other case was in Hattieville. So, when we caught up with Station Manager Orin Smith today, he had a strict warning for parents. Sharday Arnold - Fire Victim "Around 8:40 I was in my room, I got a phone call from my aunt and after the phone call I was combing my hair - I was fixing to go out with my sister and at that time I began to smell smoke, so I assume that it was my metal fan. I plug it out of the wall but then I still continue to smell smoke. At that time I heard footsteps outside of my door, so I open my door and I saw my roommate two kids to my left and they were like aunty we need water. So I ask what do you need water for and I look to my right and their father came out of the room and he was crying asking for water. I look passed him at that time and I look into the room I saw that the entire wall was engulfed in flames, so my instinct was to run downstairs to get assistance from my ex-boyfriend who lives downstairs. So I went there and he came upstairs with a bucket and then the kids came down when he was going up. But when he got upstairs, I don't know if it was electrical wire or something pop and at that time the flames started to spread, so people just started to come out of the house and just waited for the fire engine to reach to extinguish the fire."

Crackdown on Quality of Life Crimes Causes Community Uproar
There has been public outcry from the community and the families of the victims of the recent spike in gang related crime and violence in Belize City. The police have been harshly - and some would say unfairly - criticized for letting things spiral out of control. So, police have taken a pro-active step - but one that's not winning them many fans on the street. It's a crackdown on petty crimes. The idea is not a new one: it's been tried successfully before in larger cities where it's called the "Broken Windows Theory." The idea behind it is that if you leave a broken window and don't fix it, pretty soon, the door will be broken, and then, eventually, the whole house will be falling down. So, it's law enforcement that's trying to fix the big problems, by starting with the small, often overlooked, ones. But what happens when the small ones have been left so long that they've become a way of life? That happened on Friday night when over 10 people were picked up for breaking the traffic laws because they weren't using bells and lights. Now, you might be saying, bells and lights on bicycles - in 2014? That's like, so 1980's, right!? So on Friday night, it was like a throwback party - except no one was dancing or laughing.

Pedro Police Find Stash of Cash, Weed and Contraband At Cabbie's Crib
San Pedro police followed up on a man who discharged a firearm in public and ended up finding a stash of cash, weed and contraband. Last night, police got a report that a town taxi man had fired his licensed pistol in front of a bar. License or not, that is an offence, and police went to search his home in the San Pedrito area. They found 30 year old Juan Menjivar and a 15 year old male relative in the house and recovered the loaded Sig Sauer pistol without incident. But a search of the premises then turned up more than $10,000.00 in US and Belize currency, (8) liters of Hennessy and 3 brown parcels containing 1.4 kilos - or about three pounds of weed.

Man Found Drowned At Fish Farm, Police Investigate
Ladyville police are awaiting the results of post-mortem which was conducted on Thomas Garcia, who was found in one the ponds belonging to the Fresh Catch Tilapia Farm, located in La Democracia Village. At this time, it's an apparent drowning, but police are following up to ensure that it is. Garcia, a 58 year-old Guatemalan National of Cotton Tree Village in Cayo, was found floating face-down in the pond, and his body was nude. Today, we spoke with police about what information they have so far: ASP Chris Noble - Rural Executive Officer "On Friday, we did get that information sometime after 7p.m. to say that a gentleman had been found in one of the ponds in the tilapia farm. The body was located and we had people go up there to look into it. The gentleman is an employee of the farm and we're expecting the results of a post mortem later today. We, at this stage, are very young into it, we did some work over the weekend into it and we hope that we could put closure to it by day's end."

Worries Mount As Hattieville Village Chairman Missing
And while the discovery of his body is the worst news for Garcia's family, police are hoping that they will find missing Hattieville Resident Kevin Carcamo in good health. Carcamo, who is the Chairman of the village, went to work early yesterday, and he hasn't been heard from since. The rural executive officer spoke to us about what information investigators have at this time: ASP Chris Noble - Rural Executive Officer "They came to us late last night, early this morning several things have been done to attempt to locate him. We are hoping that the gentleman is located alive and in good health. He works for the company in that area and that requires going into the bush. We believe that there might not be cell service in that area, so we have sent personnel into the area that is working with the BDF, the K-9 Unit and ourselves, along with villagers and the company he works with."

Man Caught In Accident Dies As They Try To Pull His Vehicle Out
2 men died this weekend, one of them in the bizarre and freakish aftermath of an accident. Police say that just after midnight last night, they visited an area of the North Ring Road where they saw this silver Mitsubishi Sport Utility Vehicle, owned by 62 year-old retiree Alfonso Manzanero. Manzanero was driving his vehicle and lost control just a short distance from his home. He ended up landing in a ditch, and that's when 3 men allegedly offered to help him. They reported to police that while they tried to pull Manzanero's vehicle out of the drain, their Ford Pickup instead lunged forward and knocked him down when the towing chain snapped. He suffered injuries to the face, abdomen, knees, legs and hands. He was taken to the Western Regional Hospital alive, but he passed away while undergoing treatment.

Hard Talk In Sugarland
As we've reported, the sugar cane season turned out ok after all - even after a much-delayed start. But, sugar cane farmers still aren't happy; they scheduled a meeting with their association to discuss bagasse. As we've told you, the agreement for amicable industrial relations ended, two weeks ago, and by that time, the cane farmers and the factory owners were supposed to have arrived at a signed agreement for a bagasse payment. That never happened, but the factory owners have since moved from a flat out no to an offer of 51 cents per tonne of sugar delivered. The association's negotiating team took that offer to the membership yesterday, and 7News was there for that marathon 5 and a half hour meeting in San Roman, Corozal. Daniel Ortiz reports: Daniel Ortiz reporting 910 cane farmers and their families gathered for their AGM, the first since the 2013/2014 crop season finished. One of the main items on the agenda was an update from the negotiating team on the bagasse dispute.

OW Farmers Angry About Audit Revelations
And earlier this month, we told you how some of the employees of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers swindled the association of approximately $78,000 dollars. As we reported, an audit of the association's finances revealed that one of the supervisors had been paying herself and other employees' bonuses on each pay cheque. It was quite a lucrative scheme, and they got away with it for over a year, until it was revealed by a spot-check audit. Yesterday, the management of the cane farmers association revealed the details to those 910 cane farmers, and they were understandably upset that they had been ripped off by their own: Alfredo Ortega - Vice-Chair, COM, BSCFA "In any place whenever funds are misused it is not taken lightly by the members. I think that we have come with a clear presentation to them based on the audit report that we have. There will always be people who will jump here and there based on certain things that are there, but we are coming clear to them. We are not hiding anything. We have presented the names of the people who were involved and what we are looking forward to is to recuperate the funds that were not used properly from these people who are involved in the situation."

Cervantez Jr Not Satisfied With Compol's Comments
One of the cane farmers who attend the meeting was Ramon Cervantes Jr, the politician son of the slain Ramon Sr. We asked him to react to last Wednesday's interview with Police Commissioner Allen Whylie. Specifically the part about those police officers who's names were called early in the investigation of Cervantes' abduction, torture and murder. Here's what Cervantes Jr had to say: Daniel Ortiz "Are you satisfied with his response?" Ramon Cervantes Jr., Son of Deceased "Not really, I am not satisfied." Daniel Ortiz "The matter with these officers - how certain are you guys, the family and friends that those handcuffs - how certain are you that those were found when your father's body was found?"

IDB President In Belize
President of the IDB Luis Alberto Moreno is in Belize and he met today with Prime Minister, Dean Barrow. It is their second meeting in less than two months; they met in Miami at the end of May. According to a release, Moreno confirmed the IDB's commitment to partner with the Government of Belize on a number of projects. This year IDB spending in Belize is focusing on the education and transport sectors for a total of $30 million US dollars. The first is the "Education Quality Improvement Program" - a 10 million US dollar project approved by the IDB in June. The second project is for the rehabilitation of sections of the George Price Highway to bring it up to international standards, while ensuring better climate change resilience. That is expected to be approved in November.

Smart Students At SPISE
Earlier this year we told you about 3 gifted Belizean high school students, selected to attend SPISE, a prestigious science camp in Barbados. Well, it started on July 19th and and SJC 4th form graduates, Siian Rancharan, Mishek Musa and Digna Ramirez of Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico have joined 18 of the best young science minds from the region at the Cavehill Campus of the University of the West Indies. The camp is called the Student Program for Innovation in Science and Engineering, and it includes a four-week session of university-level math and science. At the end of the program, the students will demonstrate their projects and present their business plans. It will end on August 16th. The camp hopes to groom the next generation of science, engineering, business and technology leaders in the Region.

Songsters Take It To The Stage
The September festivities are about 2 months away, but the National Celebrations Commission is making sure that the songs you'll be jumping up to in the streets for Carnival 2014 are the best. They're doing it by holding their annual National Song Competition, but this year, they're doing things a bit differently. Starting from Last week Thursday, they've been holding knock-out rounds in the Northern, Western, Southern and Central Parts of the Country. Those who make past the knock-out round, gets to compete in the finals. On Saturday night, the Commission Hosted the Central preliminaries at the BTL Park, and 7News attended. Here's a few highlights from that competition: The Northern knock-out round was held in Orange Walk on Last Week Thursday, while the Western knock-out was held on the San Ignacio on Friday. The Southern knock-outs happened on Sunday, and though we've requested the results of these competitions from NICH we haven't gotten them.

New Ambassadors Present
Today, the Ambassadors of Taiwan and the Philippines presented their credentials to the Governor General in Belmopan. The Philippines Ambassador is Catalino R. Dilem Jr, and the Twainese Ambassador is the already much publicized Benjamin Ho.

Channel 5

Massive Search Underway for Missing Hattieville Chairman
At this time a search party is combing the area of Freetown Sibun near Hattieville looking for Chairman Kevin Carcamo. Carcamo is employed as a linesman by an oil company [...]

Alfonso Manzanero: Was He Killed Or Did He Die In Fatal Mishap?
The mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of sixty-two-year-old Alfonso Manzanero, a retiree of Belmopan, has raised more questions than answers for his grief-stricken family. On Sunday morning, Manzanero was reportedly [...]

Deadly Road Traffic Accident Claims Life of Cristo Rey Resident
There was another fatal road traffic accident early Sunday morning, this one in the Orange Walk district. Forty-three year old Remijio Botes was allegedly killed instantly when he lost control [...]

Guatemalan Caretaker Drowns In Tilapia Pond at Fresh Catch
A caretaker of Cotton Tree Village lost his life at the start of the weekend when he drowned inside a fishpond at Fresh Catch Farm in La Democracia on Friday [...]

3 Families Displaced In the Wake of Weekend Fire
A fire swept through a wooden house on Friday night; in its wake three families were left homeless. All indications are that the blaze erupted in the upper flat of [...]

Cane Farmers Meet to Discuss B.S.I.’s Bagasse Payment Proposal
There is no sign of flexibility in the current bagasse impasse between B.S.I. and the B.S.C.F.A. Cane farmers met in San Roman, Corozal District, on Sunday to decide on a [...]

B.S.C.F.A. Discusses Missing Money
Between the end of 2012 and April 2014, several employees of the B.S.C.F.A. collaborated to steal money from the association. They did it by targeting the payroll system and paying [...]

San Pedrano Juan Menjivar Slapped With Slew of Charges
The long arms of the law caught up with a minor and another resident of San Pedro. It all started with a shooting and ended with an arrest for drug [...]

Giovanni Ramirez, In Jail for Robbery, Charged for Stabbing Inmate
Last week Wednesday, a prison inmate was stabbed in the prison grounds but it was not fatal. After concluding the investigation, another inmate, twenty year old Giovanni Ramirez was charged [...]

Charges of Wounding Withdrawn Against Nathalia Wade for Beating Up Husband
Last Friday, thirty-nine year old Keith Staine came to News Five studio with a bruised-up face and forty-five stitches to the head. Staine claimed that his wife, forty-four year old [...]

Weekend Shootings in Belize City
Gun violence in the city continued over the weekend, but luckily no one was injured in either of the shootings. Around ten-twenty p.m., the thirty-four-year-old driver for Election and Boundaries [...]

IDB President meets with PM Barrow in Belize
In other news…Inter-American Development Bank’s President Luis Alberto Moreno was in the country briefly today. He met in Belmopan with Prime Minister Dean Barrow during which the bank’s activities, [...]

Ramon Cervantes Jr. Voices Displeasure with Investigation into Father’s Murder
Three men have been charged for the kidnapping and murder of seventy-one year old Ramon Cervantes Sr., and Police are actively hunting for another man, Manuel Castillo. The body of [...]

Cervantes Family Seeks Justice for Belizeans
The heinous, cold blooded murders of Ramon Cervantes Sr. and Sonia Abac have shaken the community of Orange Walk, and are grim wake up calls that safety and security in [...]

Sportscaster James Adderley Returns with Sports Monday
Good evening I’m James Adderley and here’s the sporting news. Belize opening game Thursday at the UNCAF U-20 Football Championship was very disappointing as our boys took a 6 [...]

The Reporter

New Belize City Centre to cost $25 M
Construction of the new Belize City Centre facility is expected to cost $25 M to build and will take between 20 and 24 months from the time it is scheduled to start in early 2015. Anthony Thurton and Associates (ATA) obtained the contract a […]

Union and BCCI propose amendments to OSH Bill
Both the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) have proposed amendments to the tabled Occupational Safety and Health Bill. According to BCCI President Arturo Vasquez, the chamber has submitted a total of between 50 […]

Cervantes family believes police investigation fell short
The family of Ramon Cervantes Sr., of Orange Walk is still reeling from the kidnapping and brutal murder of their loved one two weeks ago but reports are that they are not pleased with the way the police investigation has evolved. Someone close to […]

ComPol maintains Penner file still incomplete
Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie told reporters on Wednesday that the Elvin Penner case file on the passport/visa scandal is still incomplete and that investigations are ongoing. Whylie, therefore, maintained that due to the ongoing investigation he cannot turn over the Penner files to anyone […]

Vector Control unit gets new vehicles
The vector control Unit of the Ministry of health received 11 vehicles this week to increase the units’ operational capabilities in urban and rural communities. The vehicles, Toyota Hilux 4×4 pickup trucks, were handed over at the Belize Diesel and Equipment Company Limited’s compound in […]

PM hosts third annual business forum
Prime Minister Dean Barrow held his third annual Business Forum on Thursday in which members of the private sector met with the public sector to discuss ways to strengthen Belize’s business climate. Mike Singh, chief executive officer in the Ministry of Trade and Investment […]

Desiree Phillips on goals as new OCED
Desiree Phillips, new the new officer commanding Eastern Division, said her main focus after assuming her new role is to boost the moral of officers, rebuild community trust and focus on crime reduction. “We will continue to remain steadfast but there is a lot […]

Gino Peck promoted
Gino Peck, the police corporal who earlier this year was found guilty of two counts of keeping unlicensed and prohibited firearms and ammunition, this week received a promotion to the rank of sergeant. On Wednesday afternoon, Peck was one of 166 police men and […]

Belmopan Mayor Simeon Lopez’ vehicle stolen
Belmopan Mayor, Simeon Lopez, lost his vehicle on Tuesday afternoon when someone he did not authorize opened the SUV and drove off with it. According to Mayor Lopez, he discovered the vehicle missing from in front of his office after he had completed an […]

Thursday morning murder
A 28-year-old man was killed around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday after being shot several times near the Raccoon Street extension. According to Sergeant Ismael Westby, of the Crimes Investigation Branch Precinct Two, Lionel Sampson was walking along Gravy Street toward the Raccoon Street extension […]

KHMH staff get special A&E training

Four members of the Accident and Emergency staff at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital began special A&E training in Wisconsin, USA, this week. Dr. Rigo Montejo, Dr. Marta Habet, Nurse Shirlee Samuels (Sister) and Nurse Joelito Obligado started participating in high fidelity simulations and close observership with instructors on Monday, […]

Renan Briceño not guilty of murder

Renan Briceño, the man accused of shooting and killing a 19-year-old at Palm Island in 2011, was found not guilty in the Supreme Court by Justice Troadio Gonzalez Wednesday. According to Gonzalez, the prosecution led by Crown Counsels Shanice Lovell and Portia Staine failed to prove that Briceño was the […]

Every now and then the State of Belize pauses to pay tribute to an extraordinary Belizean, who in some way has influenced the course of Belizean history. Such a person was the late Fred Martinez of Orange Walk, former Belizean Ambassador to Guatemala, and prior to that, Chairman of the […]

BSI gives cañeros ultimatum Company says farmers have up to August 1st to decide
The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association has two weeks to accept the formula proposed by Belize Sugar Industries for bagasse remuneration before the offer expires, announced Chief Financial Officer for BSI, Belizario Carballo Jr. BSI wrote to the cane farmers this week informing them that […]

KHMH CEO’s contract denied! Another audit underway!
The Board of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, KHMH, has decided that it will not grant a request made by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Gary Longsworth, to extend his contract for another year after it expires in October this year. In an interview with […]

Smith family released from prison! Family says they might sue the police department
Alrick Smith, 52; Sandra Casey, 47; Leon Smith, 22; Tamika Smith, 19; Ishaida Brooks, 20; and a sixteen year old minor have been released on the order of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl-Lynn Vidal after charges of keeping an unlicensed gun and ammunition […]

Boy finds body while playing in church yard

A boy playing in the open lot adjacent to the school on Wilson Street, discovered the lifeless body of Oscar John Lambey, 28, at around 6 a.m. on Friday, July 18th. Police confirmed that the body had four stab wounds to the upper part of the torso. They believe Lambey […]

Vulgar sexual comment prompts violent attack
A man saw his head bashed in by a 2 by 4 stick after hurling an in-descent sexual comment to Ernest Meighan. Meighan, a 57-year-old fisherman and machine repairman of Queen Charlotte Street in Belize City, appeared before Magistrate Herbert Panton in Court 3, […]

Patrick Jones

Ramon, Jr., questions officers’ involvement in kidnapping/murder
Son of the late Ramon Cervantes, Sr., Ramon “Monchie” Cervantes, Jr., registered his disappointment with Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie. This comes after the top cop told reporters last week that police were instructed by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to lay charges against […]

Cane farmers reject paltry bagasse payment
At Sunday’s special general meeting in the Corozal District, over 900 caneros told their management to reject an August 1 deadline set by producers Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) to accept what they consider a paltry offer on the payment for bagasse. The BSI/ASR offer is for 51 […]

Stephen Okeke wants copyright compensation for use of his sculptures
Do you know who created and assembled the Drums of My Fathers Monument at the entrance to Dangriga Town? If you guessed Stephen Okeke, you’ve been paying attention. But there are many who do not know that, because the many pictures, videos and other footage of the monument […]

Fire Service says housefire caused by child’s play
Fire broke out in Belize City on Friday night in an area that has become used to such hazards. A yard on Prince Street, between Albert Street and East Canal, became a hazardous scene that brought hundreds of Belizeans out of their beds just after 8:30 p.m. A […]

Prisoner charged for prison yard stabbing
20 year old Giovanni Ramirez faces further charges related to an alleged attack on a fellow inmate of the Belize Central Prison. He pleaded not guilty to charges of wounding before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer and sent back to prison until September 19 when his case resumes. Around […]

Troubled couple ordered to keep the peace
A domestic dispute resulted in charges at the Magistrate’s Court for a Ladyville woman, but the complainant says he is willing to pick up the pieces and try again. Security guard Nathalia Wade, 44, pleaded not guilty to charges of wounding and using threatening words before Senior Magistrate […]

Barranco villagers submit applications for farm land
Residents of Barranco village in the Toledo district are awaiting approval of formal application for land to be used for agriculture purposes. Over three dozen applications were delivered to Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture Gaspar Vega last week by the chairman of Barranco village Joseph Palacio and […]

Blogs

A Day At Tiny Ranguana Caye off Placencia, Belize…This is All I Need!
Unlike the Northern Cayes (Ambergris, Caulker, etc.), the barrier reef, as you move farther south, is no longer visible from the shore. To get out to the crystal blue shallow waters of the little cayes and the barrier reef, it’s a bit of a boat ride. Saturday morning – I made last minute arrangements to hop aboard the dive boat at the Inn at Robert’s Grove to head out to their private caye. ..PRIVATE CAYE! for some snorkeling and picnic lunch. We pulled up as close as we could to the dock and the mooring post. The dive master told me that a few months ago, this dock was in the water. But with the unusual high winds of this spring/summer, all the sand has piled onto the leeward side of the island.

3 Delightful Day Trips in Belize you can’t miss!
Fortunately, Belize has such a variety of awesome day trips that visitors can choose from a menu of a la carte activities and mix and match day excursions to create their own rich, totally satisfying holiday adventures. So, in the spirit of “I’ll take one from column A, one from column B, and finish off with a treat from the desert trolley”, here are three sumptuous choices from Belize’s smorgasbord of activities. 1. Picnic at an ancient Maya temple. 2. Canoe down the Macal River. 3. Exploring San Ignacio Town.

SALAD BAR – COBB SALAD
Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and put into a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss with 1/2 cup of the dressing. Divide the lettuce among 4 large individual serving bowls. Arrange the cheese, meats, eggs, and avocado, like the spokes of a wheel, on top of each salad. Scatter the tomatoes, cucumbers, and croutons on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and pass the remaining dressing at the table.

QUEENS GROUND
All docks and beaches are “public” here on the island. They are considered “Queens Ground”. Anyone and everyone may access any dock. You do not have to purchase items at a bar or restaurant to use them. “The Truth” was told that last weekend some people were asked to leave a dock since they were not buying food or drinks at the bar and restaurant.

International Sources

Ever Wondered Why the World is a Mess?
By Roberto Savio. While the Third World War has not been formally declared, conflicts throughout the world are reaching levels unseen since 1944. Of course, for the large majority of people throughout the world, news about these conflicts is just part of our daily news, but another share of our daily news is about the mess in our countries. This is so complex and confusing that many people have given up the effort to attempt any form of deep understanding, so I thought it would be useful to offer ten explanations of how we succeeded in creating this mess. 1) The world, as it now exists, was largely shaped by the colonial powers, which divided the world among themselves, carving out states without any consideration for existing ethnic, religious or cultural realities. This was especially true of Africa and the Arab world, where the concept of state was imposed on systems of tribes and clans. Just to give a few examples, none of the present-day Arab countries existed prior to colonialism. Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, the Gulf Countries (including Saudi Arabia) were all parts of the Ottoman Empire. When this disappeared with the First World War (like the Russian, German and Austro-Hungarian empires), the winners – Britain and France – sat down at a table and drafted the boundaries of countries to be run by them, as they had done before with Africa. So, never look at those countries as equivalent to countries with a history of national identity.

Drones on a Different Mission
Belize has made a great effort to protect its coral reef system — the largest in the Western Hemisphere — by establishing more than a dozen protected areas. But patrolling large stretches of ocean and coastline and enforcing fishing regulations takes time, people and boats. Or drones. In June, the Wildlife Conservation Society began training operators from the Belize Fisheries Department to use two drones to help track illegal fishing activities. The drones went into use just at the start of lobster season. This is only the beginning, said Julio R. Maaz, community fisheries coordinator for the conservation society in Belize, who hopes the drones will prove a cost-effective way to “monitor our national waters.” And it is just one example of the growing use of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, in conservation. video Video: Studying Birds, With a Drone’s HelpMAY 6, 2013 The military use of armed drones is well known and contentious. But the use of much smaller unmanned planes, closer in size to the remote-controlled planes hobbyists fly, is spreading into all sorts of areas, particularly when they are equipped with cameras.

CDB providing USD10 m loan to Belize’s DFC
The capability of the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in Belize to provide financing for priority sectors in that country has been given a boost by a loan of USD 10.5 mn from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). Among the DFC’s lending objectives are the improvement of home ownership, human development and the development of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs are fundamental to the economic landscape of Belize and are estimated to account for a significant share of economic activity and employment generation. However, they are usually faced with a number of challenges including limited access to, and the cost of financing. The CDB loan will allow the DFC to provide finance for these MSMEs as well as student loans, credit for low-income housing and also for energy efficiency/renewable energy projects. The DFC was originally established in 1963 to expand and strengthen the economy of Belize by providing funding on affordable terms to individuals or groups seeking to develop key economic sectors, who would otherwise be unable to access resources from other sources on reasonable terms. DFC is wholly owned by GOBZ. About the Caribbean Development Bank

China.org.cn names Belize a top Dive Destination in the World
There is not an article on Belize that is published on the Internet that doesn’t mention the great blue hole…the blue hole remains the most majestic and awe-inspiring attraction in Belize. This time the great blue hole was listed on www.china.org.cn, a popular Chinese web portal on the Internet. The article entitled “Top best dive site in the world” describes the great Blue hole as follows: The Great Blue Hole is a large submarine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. Formed during the last ice age, the hole is circular in shape, over 300 meters across and 124 meters deep. As a part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve, a World Heritage Site of the UNESCO, the hole features crystal-clear water, multi-colored stalactites and stalagmites, Caribbean reef shark and other rare fish species. Just imagine diving in the blue clear water with sharks, parrotfish and octopuses swimming beside you in this natural wonder! Location: 2 hours away from Caye Caulker Island or San Pedro by boat Depth: 124 meters Visibility: 15-30 meters

Swimming With Sharks, Turtles and Eels Part of UCF Summer Program
Thirteen University of Central Florida biology students swam among nurse sharks, sea turtles, eels and lionfish this month as part of a hands-on summer abroad course. The students spent a week studying more than 60 species in the depths of the Glovers Atoll, about 35 kilometers off the coast of Belize. The atoll is considered one of the most diverse sources of coral reefs in the Caribbean, providing a nursery for sharks and turtles among other creatures. “I am a firm believer that study abroad and other intensive experiences are essential for truly engaging our students and preparing them for 21st century jobs,” said Biology Professor Linda Walters, who led the group. “It is expected that marine science undergraduates have field and research experience to make them marketable for graduate school or the workforce.” The two-credit hour course included some classroom instruction at UCF and then a flight to Belize, where the group stayed at a remote facility in the atoll. The entire team snorkeled each day to observe and photograph dozens of species that call the atoll home. In the evenings they discussed the tropical marine biodiversity they had encountered and the impact of threats to the world’s oceans, such as climate change, overharvesting and acidification. They also collected data, completed some analysis and put presentations together on what they learned.

SCUBA DIVING BELIZE WITH THE BEST: CHUCK & ROBBIE’S DIVE SHOP
When I was perusing Trip Advisor and other dive sites for recommendation for reputable divers in Belize on Ambergris Caye, time and time again, I would read the same thing: “Robbie” “Chuck and Robbie’s” Then: “Robbie is the best!” and “Can’t wait to dive with Robbie again.” I thought I would ask around to my dive friends and I actually know a gal that lives on Ambergris Caye that is also a travel writer, Erin De Santiago of Our Tasty Travels, so I thought I would ask her what she thought. Again, the same thing: “I use Chuck and Robbie’s — Robbie is a friend of mine and his instructor got me through my certification after I had not done it in 10 years which was after I had a horrible experience trying to certify in Mexico the first time.”

Videos

Video: Do u wanna dance - lil june, 2min.
Mellowvision: Videographed at the Belize CayeFest on July 6th. 2014 @ the Hollywood Park Casino in Los Angeles Ca. Lil June is a Punta Rock Artist -A Garifuna Belizean- In this video he performs one of his hit -DO YOU WANNA DANCE-

Video: Training of Facilitators - Belmopan, Belize, 7min.
ROAD: Youth for Road Safety

Video: "HERE WE GO AGAIN" -RAS INDIO-, 3.5min.
Ras Indio is a Belizean Reggae artist who live in Belize. He travels to Los Angeles frequently . .. Here is a Mellowvision clip from a show which he did @ the Belize Cayefest on Jully 6th. 2014 -Ras Indio-

Video: Bird on a Mission: Mr. Blue meets a Frigatebird, 4min.
It's not often that you can find a cool bird to sing about, but this frigate bird off the coast of Belize gives Seanie Blue the perfect opportunity to show off a small part of "Wildbird," the song about a bird who thinks it can use music to bomb the world to its senses. This short piece is less than four minutes of the 33-minute version of Wildbird, and was sculpted into existence by Ariel Francis and Blue a year ago. the plan was to get an illustrator to animate the entire song, but until that happens snatches of it can be presented in similar videos. Shot by Blue in the waters near Caye Caulker, using a Go Pro supplied by Matt Hoffman on a recent tour of Tikal and Belize. The original jazz version of this song was written by Seanie Blue and Helena Protopapas (aka Nicholas Smith-Jones) with Peter Fox and Sandra Bishop, and this version is part of a radical makeover by Blue and Francis featuring the works of David Huron (on how expectation determines the emotions evoked by music), and by Daniel Levine (on the brain's abilities to shape both the listening experience and the memory of that experience), and by Aniruddh Patel (on how language influences music in the brain). One of the surprising findings of this project was the discovery that Mr. Blue can actually sing on key!

Video: Belize Kids and Boats Idyllic Days | Homestead Kids, 3min.
What are some of the things kids do while living in Belize? Here are a few scenes of what the love doing during the days that are not so busy in Belize. Mind you - most days are quite busy, but the days off are nice and peaceful. This beats sitting in front of a tv or computer playing mindless video games or something like that. The kids love paddling their outrigger canoe and jumping out of it into the warm Caribbean water. If not in their outrigger, they love sailing with Papa in the sailboat. The old sail is pretty worn out, but still pushes the boat along in the wind. Idyllic days for any kid.

Video: bonefish Belize, 4:15min.

Video: The Hospitality Tour: Ile de Caye Caulker au Belize, 1min.
Florie voyage du Mexique à l'Argentine avec un projet: partager ses compétences en gestion hôtelière pour un lit et cela en collectant les meilleures pratiques des hôtels en matière de développement durable pour Hopineo.org

Video: Mr. Peters On Belizean Music, 6min.
In rare interview with Belizean Journalist Bilal Morris in 2006, the Belizean musical legend, the late Mr. Peters who popularized the Belizean genre of music called Brukdong speaks about Belizean music and some of the challenges that are facing traditional Belizean musical art forms like Brukdong and its lack of appeal to a younger generation of Belizean musical artists of today. Mr. Peters and a Belizean Soca artist called Swaappy, speaks out about the threat that traditional Belizean musical art forms faces in the rise of a foreign pop music invasion in Belize since the 1990's.

Video: Belize Missions Report 2014, 75min.
This video provides information about our 2014 Mission Trip to Belize.

Video: A Week in Belize, 24min.
A weeks worth of adventure, amazing people, and an inside look into international missions.

Video: Red Snapper Being Filleted in Belize, 1min.

Video: Red Snapper Being Filleted in Belize Part 2, 1min.

Video: More Squid off Karpata dive site, Belize, 1min.
Watch closely & you can see some color changes, July 3, 2014.

July 21, 2014

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Native of Australia
My telephone rang. When I picked it up Melody was already talking. “I need a favor,” she said. “Sure,” I said. “What’s up? What do you need?” “There are only two more days of school. Can you take Davin in the morning and pick him up when class is over?” “Sure.” “How are you doing, […]

Police Report
On Sunday, July 13th, 49-year-old Heidi Horan visited the San Pedro Police Station and reported that on the same date a person had entered her home with intention of burglary. According to Horan, while in her bedroom of her condo south of San Pedro Town, she saw someone coming up the stairs. She walked out and noticed a man standing in her kitchen. Horan asked the man what he wanted and he held up a coffee cup that was on the table and said “I want some water.” Horan gave him the water and then he left. Horan informed her husband, Ricky Horan what had happened as a result Mr. Horan followed the man and got the cup back. Mr. Horan informed the manager of the incident.

Doctor Love: Housing Issues
Readers, please send your letters. They can be emails, formal letters or handwritten notes. They are edited solely for grammar and spelling. Also, they are sometimes edited for length. Dear Doctor Love, My mom and I have always gotten along well. When I finished studying in another country and came back she suggested that I […]

Misc Belizean Sources

National Song Competition in Cayo
The Institute of Creative Arts had the National Song Competition for the Cayo District on Friday. 100's of people showed up for the wonderfully creative songs that were presented and sang. The winners go to the finals, which will be held on August 9th in Belize City.

CTV3

Corozal Resident Charged For Bike Theft
A man from the Corozal District is tonight facing the long arms of the law after he was detained for bike theft. is no other than 28 year old, Marlon Charlie Belizean unemployed of College Road, Corozal Town, who is accused of stealing a black and gold beach cruiser belonging to 28 year old Jair Aguilar, Belizean messenger of Corozal Town. Aguilar reported to police that between 10:00am and midday yesterday he parked his bicycle in front of the Corozal Town Hall and it was stolen stolen.

Flow Of Belizeans To Chetumal Quintana Roo, Mexico Drops Drastically
The flow of Belizeans traveling into Chetumal Quintana Roo, Mexico, has decreased by about 37% from 2008 to date, according to an analysis done at the Embassy of Mexico in Belize. That’s not good news for the neighboring countries economy. Well aware of the impact the drop of visitors from Belize could cause, President of the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism, Ligia Sierra Aguilar is already taking measures to restore the central business and tourism market between both countries.

New Taiwan Ambassador Arrives In Belize
Yesterday Taiwan’s new Ambassador to Belize arrived in the country. His Excellency Ambassador Benjamin Ho and his wife arrived at the PGIA yesterday morning where they were welcomed by a number of Taiwanese living in Belize. Here is what he told our colleagues of Seven News when he landed at the PGIA. Benjamin Ho, new Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize "My government decided to appoint me as ambassador here. I was very excited. Without hesitation, I accepted immediately. I have so many friends, old friends. As I come here I will make more new friends. I think myself as a Belizean, so since I am here I would like to work together with your people hand in hand so that we can work together and we can strengthen our policies in many respect like infrastructure development, like in medical cooperation, like human resource training, education - all kinds even in energy and the environment. These are issues of common concern that we can try to work together."

One Mile Of Road To Be Paved In Corozal
On Wednesday June 18th of this year, we reported on the 4.4 million dollars that was allocated to commence road works and to “concrete” parts of the Philip Goldson Highway in Corozal from in front Social Security Building right up to the Santa Rita Hill. When we first aired the report, BTL and BWS were carrying underground works thus seeing a delay in the infrastructural project. But with BTL’s and BWS’ work complete works on 7th Avenue have begun as one mile of road is being prepped to be cemented. Reliable sources tell us that the first portion of the road and the drainage being built to alleviate the flooding in the South End of Corozal Town will be cemented today.

Dr Alvaro Rosado clarifies
Since Thursday’s press conference at which Bruce Sanchez Sr., and his son, Bruce Jr., Accused Drs. Alvaro and Dorla Rosado of misappropriation, the wife and husband fired back. The conflict over the Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation, formed in honor of Ariel Rosado, the couple’s son, has mainly to do with the Bruce’s perception of way the couple was handling the entity’s finances. The Sanchezes, who are co-founders with the Rosado’s of the foundation, have accused them of improperly using the funds and of inadequately providing receipts. On Friday, flanked by other members of the foundation’s executive, Dr. Alvaro Rosado explained that he never misused monies from his deceased son’s foundation. The board members denied any abuse of the monies and contend that the work of the foundation has basically halted because the Sanchezes have refused to sign cheques. The board members say that cheques made out to the Rosados were reimbursements for out-of-pockets they made on foundation work.

Powerful Colombian drug lord arrested in Spain
Hernan Alonso Villa, also known as “el Raton” is in Spanish police custody after he was arrested on a road in southern Spain following a month-long tracking operation. He is suspected of being head of a gang of 200 people linked to international drug trafficking and extortion. Villa is considered one of the main leaders of a group which operates around Medellin. The suspect was carrying $54,000 US in cash when he was arrested. The group to which Villa is connected was a part the 1980s Medellin Cartel, led by Pablo Escobar. It now reportedly has relations with members of the prominent Mexican Sinaloa Cartel.

Patrick Jones

Fatal road traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway
A traffic accident early this morning on the Phillip Goldson Highway has left one man dead and two of his family members hospitalized. The victim has been identified as Remejio Botes, a resident of Cristo Rey village, Corozal. According to reports, Reyes was driving his SUV towards Cristo Rey early this morning when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle and ran off the road at the entrance to San Jose village in the Orange Walk district. Botes died on the spot while his wife and two young children were taken to the Northern Regional hospital for treatment.

Women’s Resource Centre opens in San Marcos village, Toledo
A women’s resource centre was inaugurated today in the San Marcos village, Toledo. The project was realized through the efforts of the leaders of the community and the Toledo Maya Women’s Council. Funding was provided through a United States-based organization called Rivers of the World, (ROW). Juanita Chi who is the Chairlady of the Toledo Maya Women’s Council says that the new resource centre is a much needed facility for her community, while Executive Director of the National’s Women’s Commission Pulcheria Teul says empowering women is a benefit to the entire country. Residents of San Marcos village came out in numbers today to witness the ribbon-cutting and inauguration of the new Women’s Resource Centre is equipped with four sewing machines and has space for other activities.

Warm weather conditions prevailing
Warm and mostly dry conditions will continue to dominate the weather over Belize the first half of the work week. The general forecast for Belize and her coastal waters is for partly cloudy skies tonight. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with only isolated or showers of thunderstorms developing. Winds over the open sea and along the coast will be easterly at five to fifteen knots, producing choppy sea conditions. Low temperatures at dawn will be around 79 degrees Fahrenheit along the coast; 74 degrees Fahrenheit inland and a cool 70 degrees Fahrenheit up in the hills.

Cane farmers reject BSI/ASR offer of payment for bagasse
Cane farmers have rejected the offer of 51 cents per ton of fibre proposed by Belize Sugar Industries/ASR and negotiations for payment for bagasse will continue. Approximately 700 caneros are today attending a meeting at the auditorium of the Escuela Secundaria Mexico in San Roman village, Corozal. During the Sunday morning session, the farmers discussed a report on the ongoing negotiations and in the end farmers agreed that August 1 is too short deadline for reaching consensus on payment for bagasse. The farmers have rejected the offer of from BSI/ASR for payment of 51 cents per ton of fiber as opposed to a ton of sugar cane. While it might seem insignificant, the farmers are holding firm to their demand for payment based on the per ton of sugar cane and not per ton of bagasse.

How to Fix the Belize Economy
Belize is 31 years into Political Independence. It finds itself in a position where unemployment is over 18%, with an even higher unemployment among the young population….poverty is over 40%, as more and more the middle-class is being wiped out….GDP growth is below the Latin American average of 3-4% per annum….the weekly newspapers largest earnings from adverts come from notices selling off people’s hard-earned assets….many of the largest investors have gone into receivership, have closed down operations, or have been sold off at cents on the dollar to local and foreign sharks….a large percentage of working Belizeans are living from paycheck to paycheck, taking short-term loans at scalping interest rates from the many loan-shark services that have sprung up all over Belice….the municipal and central governments are having to take draconian measures to collect their tax revenues, including threat of jail time for hard working citizens….the Government of Belize can’t find the money to pay its debts and running all over the place to beg our foreign friends for debt forgiveness, lower interest rates and extended terms of payment….its budget hinges on life-support from Taiwan….the monopoly electricity distribution company has to resort to large debenture issues at relatively high interest rates to keep its operations going, while raising rates by almost 20% to pay for the expensive debenture credit ….the PM is running with palms open to beg Mexico for concessionary rates for its supply of electricity….the families take home less and less groceries every week, as the price of basic goods have been rising at an unprecedented pace, while real-income falls….the country broke its all-time record for violent crime in 2012, and the beginning of 2013 looks like it will be worse.

Blogs

Day Two in Placencia for the Belize International Film Festival at The Inn at Robert’s Grove
Friday was day two of the International Film Festival here at Robert’s Grove (and around the country of Belize) and there were things to do! I chose the cheapest mode of travel. Ritchie’s Bus. It only comes 4 times a day but you can not beat the price for the 4 mile ride. $1bzd. OH! You can beat the price and borrow a bicycle from the resort and ride to the village. 10 minute later I was in the village of Placencia, just across the street from this sign at someone’s house/Thai massage studio. I had received a tip earlier in the day that Siripohn does an AMAZING stir fry from her home on Friday’s ONLY.

The July 20th, 2014 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

Bateman Alleges Brutal Police Treatment:
Santa Elena resident, Simon Bateman Jr, 25, this week had another run in with the law; this time however, he has lodged a report against at least two policemen who allegedly brutalized him in the process of detaining him. In a report to the police, Bateman, Belizean laborer from the Hillview area in Santa Elena informed that at around 11:45pm on Saturday, July 12, he was socializing with his female partner, in the pool table area inside the Blue Angel’s Nightclub when he was approached by a team of four policemen dressed in camouflage combats. One of the policemen allegedly approached him and demanded to know: “da you di smoke di weed up yah?” He reportedly asked the policeman “what weed?” This he said was met by a swift punch to the mouth while another policeman held him in a choke hold from behind.
106 Years Of Age – Truly A Blessing:
Wednesday, July 16, 2014: Very few are those who live to reach one hundred years of age. Even fewer are those who go beyond 100. One such person is Mrs. Camilla Espinoza blessed to be among relatives on the occasion of her 106 birthday. That’s right a century and six years. We were at the Octavia Waight Center today for this very special event. She has outlived all her children and so she was surrounded by nieces, nephews, grand children, great and great- great-grand children. Born in July 1908, Camilla could be the oldest woman living in Belize. She was born in Punta Gorda Town. She came to Cayo as a young girl, got married in the west and never went back to PG. Her husband passed away four years ago. She joined the center in February of 2005 and says that she loves the place. A broken hip has confined her to a wheel chair. She speaks mostly Spanish but understands English.
Lesson #1 In Belizean Political History:
The study of history is important because each generation needs to know about the people, events and actions of a former generation in order to make wise decisions in their time. With every five year general election cycle, a new cadre of voters is added to the national voters list. The voting population in Belize grows by about 9% every five years. It is therefore important for us to let them know from whence we came in order to afford them the opportunity to make informed and wise decisions in their time. Here now is lesson #1 in the political history of Belize: After five years in opposition, the People’s United Party (PUP) was reelected to office in 1998. Those18 year old voters who will be voting for the first time in the scheduled 2017 general elections were not yet born in 1998 when the PUP was elected. By the time the PUP term ended with their reelection for a second term in 2003, those who will be 18 in 2017 and voting for the first time would have just turned four and of kinder garden age. The real rape of the nation by the PUP began in their second term, between 2003 and 2008, by the time the PUP were booted out of office in 2008, they left the nation with the infamous two BILLION dollar SUPER bond choking the national economy. The new 2017 voters were only nine years of age and merely heading into Std III of their primary school education when the PUP was booted out of office in 2008. At that tender age they had very little, if any knowledge of what had politically taken place in the first nine years of their young lives.
Visit Dibary Store:
process of the old making way for the new. There was a time several years ago when the food we ate was sold from behind a counter. The customer would enter the store, stand in front of the counter and ask for the item. The store keeper would get the item and hand it to the customer. The customer would pay the bill and depart the store. In those days the customer dare not go behind the counter. Times have changed. Today the customer walks the isles, gets the merchandise, pays and walks out. Infrastructural development removes the old and ushers in the new. This change can be seen on Burns Avenue in San Ignacio, the upgraded lower section of Burns Avenue is already attracting the new. One such example is the recently opened Dibary Store, next to Venus Hotel.
BTB Donates to San Pedro Fire Victims:
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr, presented a cheque of five thousand dollars ($5,000) to the Belize Red Cross San Pedro Branch, in aid of the residents affected by the fire. The cheque, as a part of the Belize Tourism Board’s contribution, was presented along with boxes of clothing, food items and toiletries donated by the BTB staff. Hon.Manuel Heredia Jr saysthe BTB and staff were willing to assist, ‘We are very happy that we are able to provide some support to the families affected by this fire and while the donation in no way can compensate for their loss, we sincerely hope that it will ease their displacement and bring some semblance of comfort in their lives. As soon as we heard of the fire, we started looking into ways to help and I must say that the BTB staff gave generously to provide the families with in-kind donations.
Obese Women 'Show Signs Of Food Learning Impairment:
Obese women may have a "food learning impairment" that could explain their attitude to food, research from Yale School of Medicine suggests. Tests on groups of obese and healthy-weight people found that the obese women performed worst when asked to remember a sequence of food picture cards. Writing in Current Biology, Yale researchers tested 135 men and women. The findings could lead to new ways to tackle obesity, the study says. Study author Ifat Levy, assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, said the difference in the performance of the obese women compared with the other groups was "really striking" and "significant". The tests looked at an individual's ability to learn and predict the appearance of pictures of food or money on coloured cards.
Elect Your UDP Team:
As the United Democratic Party (UDP) continues to prepare for the Sunday, July 29, 2014; convention for the election of the team to represent the party in the March 2015 municipal elections, a meeting was held today with the candidates offering themselves for election in the convention. The meeting, called by the UDP National Chairman Alberto August, was cordial and informative. All candidates in attendance candidly discussed and agreed upon the manner in which the July 29 convention will be conducted. Voting begins at 9:00 am at the Sacred Heart Primary School in San Ignacio. The polls will close at 6:00 pm. The counting will begin immediately after the last ballot is cast. Notorious for attracting a large number of persons offering themselves as candidates for the UDP, this time around is no different. Of the nine municipalities countrywide, this western municipality is the only one in which a convention will be held for the election of a mayoral candidate.
Malaysia Jet Crashes In East Ukraine Conflict Zone:
A Malaysia Airlines jet carrying 295 people has crashed in east Ukraine on a flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. There are no signs of survivors at the scene of the crash near the village of Grabovo, in rebel-held territory close to the border with Russia. Both sides in Ukraine's civil conflict accused each other of shooting down the plane with a missile. It is still not clear why the plane came down. It is the second disaster suffered by Malaysia Airlines this year.
Alzheimer's Disease:
Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease, is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death. It was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Most often, AD is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer's can occur much earlier. In 2006, there were 26.6 million people worldwide with AD. Alzheimer's is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050. Although Alzheimer's disease develops differently for every individual, there are many common symptoms. Early symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be 'age-related' concerns, or manifestations of stress. In the early stages, the most common symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events, known as short term memory loss.
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