April 19, 2015

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

Police Report
Drug Trafficking * On Friday, April 10th at about 5:15PM Police Constable Steve Ferguson along with PC Zayne Palacio and other police officers were on mobile patrol in the San Pedrito Area when their attention was drawn to a male person in the immediate area. On Tuesday, April 14th at around 13:30PM, the San Pedro Strike Team conducted a search in an apartment in the San Pedrito Area. The search led to the discovery of 83 grams of suspected cocaine already packed for sale.

Tuk-tuks declared useless for medical transportation in San Pedro
Authorities at the Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II have declared that the two medical support vehicles commonly referred to as tuk-tuks, are unfit for transporting people during an emergency. The tuk-tuks were handed over to the clinic on July 25, 2014, as part of a wider donation from the government of Dubai, United Emirates. Because the medical support vehicles are useless for medical transportation, plans are being made to retrofit them into light cargo vehicles. Since the tuk tuks have been used only twice and because they are unfit for medical use due to the roads on the island, they have been parked at the San Pedro Town Council barracks turning to rust. “We have decided not to use them because they are very flimsy and with the kind of streets on the island, we have recommended not to use them to transport medical patients. We need to have patients as stable as possible,” commented Owen Vellos, Administrator of the Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II.

San Pedro House of Culture Appoints New Committee
The San Pedro House of Culture (SPHOC) is pleased to introduce its new committee for the year 2015-2016. Opened on November 19, 2014 under the able management and direction of Mr. Guillermo “Mito” Paz, this cultural institution has already made an impact in San Pedro with its many events held in its short time of existence. The committee has met and started preparation for the many upcoming events with the hopes of promoting all types of local culture (music, culinary art, visual art and the importance of reviving local traditions that have been slowly dying).

Editorial: If you don’t like it, go somewhere else.
What if your favorite restaurant, the one that you have gone to for years, stopped serving a popular dish that happened to be your favorite as well? What if when you complained about this they told you things have changed, and if you don’t like it go somewhere else? How would that make you feel? Angry… disappointed…maybe a little of both? After all, you’ve given them years of your business and this is how they treat you? Chances are you wouldn’t go back, and you certainly would do your best to spread the word that not only had the place changed, but they didn’t give a damn what their long-time customers wanted. What if, over time, no one really liked the changes at this popular restaurant, nor did they like their attitude towards customers who were unhappy? What do you think would happen to this arrogant restaurant after customers found a different place to eat? What would happen when they told their friends about a new great place they found to dine at, where their business was valued and the customer was always right? It would just be a matter of time before the arrogant restaurant would be hurting for customers, and maybe even forced to close their doors. What would happen to those who worked at the arrogant restaurant? What would happen to the owners who owed money to the bank?

Misc Belizean Sources

SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool)
FCD rangers finalize a two day training on how to use SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) as an improved system of documenting natural and cultural observations whilst on patrols. Since over a year ago FCD has been testing and improving this system. FCD is grateful to the Wildlife Conservation Society for the ongoing training.

GOB/EU rehabilitate San Victor - San Narciso Road
The project is a collaborative effort of the Government of Belize and the European Union geared at improving the infrastructural development of the Agriculture, Tourism and Social sectors of northern Belize. A release from the Government states, that “The San Narciso – San Victor is an important transport corridor in northern Belize and the rehabilitation will result in decreased transportation costs to farmers and improve accessibility for road users in time of inclement weather.”

NICH's Employee of the Year 2014, Debra Wilkes!
Corozaleña Debra Wilkes was recently recognized by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) as 'Employee of the Year' for 2014. In 2012 Ms. Wilkes was appointed as Coordinator of the newly inaugurated Corozal House of Culture becoming the 6th House of Culture in the country under the Museum of Belize and NICH. Debra‘s hard work and commitment in developing cultural events and activities which define northern Belize justifies her recognition. A photographer by trade, Debra first visited Belize in 1992. After several journeys between Canada and Belize, she settled in Corozal Town in 2005. In 2009 Ms. Wilkes, launched the monthly event 'Art in the Park’ at Corozal Town Central Park, coaxing the artistic community to display and sell their creations. Well into its sixth year, Art in the Park has become a national success, nowhere else in Belize is there a monthly event that celebrates art, music, food and community. As coordinator of the Corozal House of Culture, Debra strives to showcase the rich culture of Corozal with importance given to the revival of lost traditions and celebrations. Equally important, she continues the objective of oral historical retrieval.

The Reporter

Canadian tourist accuses policeman of extortion
Police Constable #621 Daniel Requena, attached to the Caye Caulker Police formation is out on bail of $3,000 on a charge of extortion following a complaint against him that he extorted $800 from her. Stephanie Essiambre, 25, reported to police that at around 11 p.m. last Saturday she was with some friends at a house on Crocodile Street on the island when a policeman shoeed up and asked her to show him what she had in her hand. The tourist said when she showed him a handful of weed, he tried to scare her by telling her that if she didn’t give him $800, she would go to jail. She said she complied with his demands but showed up three days later at the police station where he worked to file a report against him.

Belizean students in Grenada for CSME workshop
Nineteen Belizean students were in Grenada this week on a Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market Economy (CSME) mission trip. The mission trip, a part of an on going CSMe project to promote the single market in member states, gathered representatives from the University of Belize, the University of the West Indies Open Campus, and Galen University. During the mission the students were organized into groups of five to cover four major aspects of the CSME: Free movement of Goods; Free movement of Services and skills; Movement of Capital; and The Rights of Establishment. The students, from their discussions, identified gaps within the Grenadian against the best practice model as identified by CARICOM. Those findings were summarized into a report, used to evaluate Grenada’s CSME’s readiness. The Secretariat CSME Public Education Programme coordinated this programme with funding by the 10th European CSME Economic Integration Programme (EIP).

UB holds 5th research symposium
This week the University of Belize held it’s fifth annual research conference at the Radisson Fort George Hotel. The conference, held by the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, showcased research papers from students who were doing their undergraduate thesis. Speaking at the conference, Vincent Palacio, dean of the Faculty of Management, said that the event forms a part of the school’s commitment to national development. “We have been accused of not providing relevant research data, but when you look at some of the topics being discussed here – female entrepreneurship, tourism development in southern Belize, you see that these are national issues,” Palacio said, “so it goes with our mission to provide relevant data to steer national development.” At the conference, students presented research papers such as “No one cares, so why complain?”; a students evaluation survey on the courses and experiences at UB, and “Factors influencing the success of small business in Belize City.”

Four shot in one night; one dead
Four persons, including a woman, suffered gunshot wounds as a result of three shootings on Friday night in Belize City and one of the victims is dead – the casualty of a bullet wound to the head. The incidents occurred on Banak St, Faber’s Road and Jane Usher Boulevard snd the victims are: Vern Magdaleno, 35, who died after he was shot in the head while inside his vehicle at the corner of Fabers Road and Central American Boulevard; Nesanne Usher 18, Aaron Munnings 17, and Wendy Lambey, 49, of #6 Jane Usher Boulevard. Munnings was shot to the leg.

Surveys reveal homophobia is down; domestic abuse, teenage sex are up
Two surveys which the UNAIDS conducted over the past 16 months on issues related to attitudes toward sexuality, sexual education and people’s behavioural practices revealed on Friday that more Belizeans are accepting/tolerant towards homosexuality compared to the wider Caribbean, with the exception of Suriname. The surveys also determined that there is a high prevalence of domestic abuse and teenage prenancy. The first poll, conducted in November of 2013, involved the participation of 773 persons from the ages of 18 to 64, in November 2013. The findings, according to Dr. Ernest Massiah, the Regional Director for UNAIDS in the Caribbean, “Belizeans are perhaps more accepting of sexual diversity… 34 percent of Belizeans said that they accept someone who is gay or homosexual and 34 percent said they would tolerate someone who is gay or homosexual. And that statistic is higher than what we’ve seen in many of the countries in the eastern Caribbean. So Belize is really showing itself to be a more accepting society than we would have first thought.” In fact, Dr. Massiah said that Belizeans are more accepting/tolerant of gays and lesbians today. People are also less discriminatory towards people with HIV than they were 20 years ago, when they were suggesting that HIV should be quarantined.

Patrick Jones

Cahal Pech Village Resort Mourns the Loss of CEO Peter Tonti
On April 16, 2015, Belizeans lost a legend of a man. A pioneer, a visionary and an inspirational leader, Mr. Peter Tonti’s recent passing has left many of those who knew him in shock, disbelief and deep sadness. So great was his love for the country, so firm was his faith in its potential, that Mr. Tonti led, shaped and inspired the country’s biggest economic asset: its tourism industry, ultimately playing a pivotal role in its direction and flourishing success.

Separate shootings in Belize City leave 3 dead
There are reports of three separate shootings that occurred on Friday night in the Old Capital. Information to our news desk reveals that three persons have been fatally wounded. These victims have been identified as 18 year old Nesanne Usher, 17 year old Aaron Munnings and 35 years old Vern Magdaleno. Another individual who sustained a gunshot wound to the lower limb, Wendy Lambey, is currently being treated at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. There is currently no information available of a motive or suspects in these incidents. Belize City police continue their investigations.

Warm and dry weather conditions prevail
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mostly sunny and hot weather today and partly cloudy tonight. Little or no rainfall is expected, however a a chance of isolated thunderstorm is likely to happen this afternoon. Winds will blow East- South East 10 – 20 knots with occasional higher gust. The sea state will be moderate to rough with a small craft caution in effect. High temperatures are expected to be around 89 degrees Fahrenheit along the coast; 91 degrees Fahrenheit inland and a comfortable 71 degrees Fahrenheit up on the exposed areas of the Mountain Pine Ridge and along the Maya Mountains in the south.

Videos

April 18, 2015

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

Cayo Western Ballaz fall to the Tiger Sharks in overtime
The once undefeated Cayo Western Ballaz were handed their first loss in the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) by the defending champs, San Pedro Tiger Sharks. The highly anticipated match took center stage on Saturday April 11th at the San Pedro High School Auditorium in San Pedro Town. After forcing overtime, the home team was able to secure a 79 to 75 slim victory. The Tiger Sharks took an early lead in the first quarter, jump-starting an attack against the Western Ballaz. That show of power on home turf saw the Tiger Sharks going into the second quarter with a four point lead. But the folks from the west are no easy contenders and they slowly began closing in. When the clock stopped for the half time, Cayo Western Ballaz had turned over the scoreboard with a 33-to-31 point lead. The battle for supremacy and respect dragged on into the second half of the game as Cayo Western Ballaz ballooned their lead by ten points at the end of the third quarter. Before a full house, Tiger Sharks had no intention of being rolled over by the Ballaz, and the good tactics of home Coach Rico Black played a vital role in to the last quarter as the home team clipped the Ballaz’s wings and closed in on them. At the end of the long buzzer, the Western Ballaz and San Pedro Tiger Sharks were at 68 points apiece, thus forcing overtime.

USNS Comfort offers its services to the Belizean Community
The US Naval Hospital Ship, the USNS Comfort, is in Belize for nine days providing medical, dental, and veterinary care among several other services. The ship docked nine miles off the coast of Belize on Thursday, April 9th, and has since been working in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Belize Defense Force, and the Belize Coast Guard to train personnel in conducting civil-military operations, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, while providing medical assistance and even engineering support to the local population. The visit to Belize is part of USNS Comfort’s spring tour, Continuing Promise Mission 2015, to provide services to ports across the Caribbean, Central and South America. In order to carry out the activities, USNS Comfort personnel set up an outpatient medical station in Hattieville Government School and Independence High School. Residents could visit either location for one free medical or dental service each day. “The crew and staff of the USNS Comfort will work with their Belizean counterparts on a range of issues including health and transport responders. NGO’s like the Latter Day Saints, charities and the message program have donated three hundred and twenty nine pallets of medical and humanitarian supplies and over a million dollars’ worth of services to help the citizens of Belize. We look forward to the positive impact at the Ladyville Health Center, Independence Polyclinic and Bella Vista Health Center. We are also excited for our planned environmental and veterinary exchanges at Belize Agriculture and Health Authority (BAHA) and the Belize Zoo, just to name a few of the activities that we are doing over the course of the next two weeks,” said Lieutenant General Kenneth Tovo, US Army Deputy Commander at the US Southern Command.

Di V’u: Excellent Food and beautiful views
Located on one of the most desirable spots on the water, surrounded by clear blue sea as far as the eye can see, Di V’u is a treat. Owner Amanda let us know we were in for quite a treat: we’d be tasting a sample of their menu from breakfast through dinner, AND dessert. Yes, there would be cocktails too…after the lunch course… ;) But first, we dig into breakfast with their glorious Coconut French Toast. Following that yummy introduction to Di V’u’s kitchen was a couple of appetizers: pan-fried butterfly shrimp and jalapeño poppers. Crispy fried shrimp were paired with a sweet creamy piña colada sauce, while the the jalapeño poppers, stuffed with a cream cheese and chicken filling, were paired with a tangy mango sauce to mellow the spicy kick of the pepper. Both were tasty, but the poppers’ spice revved it up to my list of favorites. My dining companions seemed to enjoy both appetizers equally, and their appetite for more Di V’u items was teased properly!

Kent Gabourel places second in Weekend Warriors Cross Country
San Pedro’s very own Kent “Bob” Gabourel captured second place in the fifth annual Weekend Warriors Cross Country Cycle Classic. The event, which took place on Saturday April 11th, saw 35 riders participate in the 68-mile race from Santa Elena Cayo to Belize in the A Class Category. Gabourel finished mere seconds behind Robert Mariano in a sprint to the finish line. At Garbutt’s Gas Station in Roaring Creek Kent “Bob” Gabourel stepped up into the front fold and picked up his first station prize. By the time the race got to mile 21 at Gracie Rock Village, it was Robert Mariano and Kent Gabourel in total command of the lead. The duo would ride neck-and-neck up to a few hundred meters from the finish line at Cisco Construction at 3½ miles outside Belize City. A sprint by the duo to the finish line saw Robert Mariano of Digicell 4G taking the A Class title in a clock time of three hours and 33 minutes. Just seconds behind was Kent Gabourel of Benny’s who finished in second place. BelCal’s Calman Williams, father of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Champion Justin Williams, finished in third place. Warren Coye of Santino’s captured fourth while Douglas Lamb of Digicell rounded up the top five.

Long-time island ex-pat claims police victimization
A 66-year-old American national living in Belize for the past 30 years is claiming that the San Pedro Police victimized her by detaining her for no apparent reason. Resident of northern Ambergris Caye, Linda Carter stated that on Tuesday, April 7th, she was detained at the police station for over six hours and was treated unjustly by Officer in Charge of the Coastal Executive Unit, Assistant Superintendent Henry Jemmott. Carter says that the treatment she received was demeaning and even caused her health complications. OC Jemmott stated that Carter was detained for insulting a police officer, an act that is considered an offence under the Laws of Belize. In the Police Act Chapter 138 Section 38 (1) “Any person who- (a) assaults, resists or obstructs; or (b) uses any abusive or insulting language to; or (c) aids or incites any person to assault, resist or obstruct, any member of the Department or a special constable appointed under section 36 in the execution of his duty or any person acting in aid of any such member of the Department, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or in the discretion of the magistrate he may be committed for trial to the Supreme Court.” These are the grounds on which Carter’s detention was justified.

Ambergris Today

St. Francis Xavier Credit Union Holds Successful Quiz Contest
Saint Francis Xavier Credit Union held its very successful and enjoyable credit union quiz contest on Thursday, April 16, 2015. Of all the elementary schools in San Pedro, three schools responded to the challenge and fielded representation. Ninel Pacheco represented San Pedro R. C. School and Caroline Sersland was the voice for Isla Bonita Elenentary while Chelsey Valdez and Karina Moreya were the pride of New Horizon Academy Adventist School. San Pedro Branch Manager, Lina Martinez gave the official welcome and emcee Angel introduced the judges who were Froyland Gilharry, Assistant Dean of San Pedro Jr. College; Jorge Aldana reporter of San Pedro Sun; and Lisa Coleman, Compliance Officer of the Belize Credit Union League.

Belize Telemedia Teams with Global Directories for New Telephone Directory
This past week, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) unveiled their 2015 installment of the annual telephone directory for Belize. The front cover of this year’s directory features an image of the Big Drop Falls in Southern Belize, taken by Belizean photographer, Tony Wrath. Senior brand and events representative of BTL Ellen Borland indicated that this is the first year that the company directory was outsourced to international firm Global Directories, a well-established international directory within the Caribbean, and that they are very pleased with the results. She added that the company prints about 50,000 large and 10,000 mini copies of the directory every year but that print was significantly higher this year.

The Spring/Summer 2015 issue of The TOLEDO HOWLER is online HERE

In this issue we conclude the reminiscences of Don Owen-Lewis who first arrived in Toledo from England in 1953; learn about the health and healing properties of ginger in Arzu Mountain Spirits regular column and introduce the new zipline canopy course at Blue Creek... and lots more. The Chocolate Festival of Belize will be taking place for the ninth year on the weekend of May 22-24th and we hope that many of you will be able to come down and join us for this celebration of cacao. Contact our BTIA accommodation members to make your room reservations or Stephanie in the BTIA office on Front Street in Punta Gorda (details inside The Howler). We hope you enjoy reading and look forward to seeing you down here.

Misc Belizean Sources

Bookkeeping Workshop
Bookkeeping is the heart of any business. Without it, we cannot hope to keep track of the most important part of any business; money. Gain excellent skills in using various accounting procedures and maintain your books efficiently and effectively for the success of your business. On completion of this course, you will have a sound knowledge about the basic steps and techniques used in bookkeeping, including Identify the differences between commercial environment. PRICE: $15.00 ***Snacks and refreshments will be provided*** Presented by: Mr Roberto Kuylen, Business Adviser, SBDCBelize Workshop Date: April 23rd, 2015 Time: 9am to 12pm WORKSHOP LOCATION: BTEC Building, ITVet compound, Freetown Road Tel: 223-3195

Monkey River, Belize
Have you visited Monkey River Bay in southern Belize? Another great area in our beautiful Caribbean Paradise. Once a thriving town, today this coastal community is a quiet village. Severe erosion has ravaged large chunks of the shoreline. But Monkey River is slowly reviving itself as a tourist destination. Fishing has always been a mainstay for residents; this was one of the first communities to form a fisherman's cooperative. These are the people and places that would be among the most affected by offshore oil.

Playwriting Workshop at Benque HoC
It's been a month full of artistry. Riti Sachdeva from OmniRootZ hosted a playwriting workshop at the Benque House of Culture. Thanks, Riti! "Imagine this...Yesterday we were amazed by her mythopolitical approach where global issues are told through mythological lenses. Heartful thanks to OmniRootZ Theatre Produkshunz for their support and many thanks to each participant. Images courtesy to Ms Cindy Castellanos."

SUCCESS!!! USNS Comfort
As the USNS Comfort visit to Belize comes to an end more than 4,748 patients have been seen and over 66 surgeries were conducted on board the ship at NO COST to the patients. Let's wish them a hearty farewell as they depart Belize and move on to their next location to help more people.

Continuing Promise clinic in Hattieville postponed
PLEASE NOTE - Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Continuing Promise clinic at the Hattievile government school will not be open on Saturday, 18 April as previously planned. The USNS Comfort medical professionals regret any inconvenience that this unplanned circumstance may cause.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Friday, April 17, 2015: 08

Students of Sewanee University donate to FCD
Students of Sewanee: The University of the South, Tennessee present the cheque of US$1,545.00 to FCD via skype. Funds will be used for ranger mobilization across the Chiquibul Forest. FCD is grateful to Dr. Jonathan Evans and the students who made this fundraising event possible. Big thanks to all those who donated!!!

WCS 2015 in-water turtle surveys wrap-up at Glover's Reef Atoll
On the last day of surveys the team works up a Green turtle captured in spectacular fashion by Jorge and Ashbert. Check the Glover's Reef Reserach Station Facebook page for the full video soon. Thanks again to all who participated from across Belize's marine reserve network.

Channel 7

Striker Deon McCauley Is Home
On Wednesday night's news, we told you about the fundraising effort organized by a grassroots group of football fans. The group calls itself the Association of Belizeans Concerned with Getting Deon Home. They wanted to show maximum support for the prolific striker, Deon McCauley by raising $5,000 in donations to cover his travel expense, and a weekly stipend to pay him for the next 10 weeks while he trains with the National Team for FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Dominican Republic. The "ABC Deon," as the group became known, took action in the wake of the public outrage which resulted when President Ruperto Vicente announced that, due to FFB rules, they couldn't pay for McCaulay's return. The group gave itself a two-day deadline, asserting that it could get McCauley home from the US by today. Well, they delivered, and at around 1 p.m. this afternoon, Deon McCauley arrived from Atlanta via Miami. 7News was there at the airport to greet him, and he had only gratitude for the general public who gave generously to the dollar drive. Here's what he told us:

FFB Embraces Deon Rejects Bad Rap
The Football Federation of Belize, and its president, Ruperto Vicente, were the target of harsh criticism all this week. That's because they said they couldn't buy a plane ticket to get him home for the national team camp. But, now Deon is back in Belize and so what does the President of the FFB think? Well, he was at the airport to greet the striker - and told us the anger directed at the FFB was misplaced:... Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB "It is a good thing and I have to embrace it as well. It shows that the people wants to participate in the process and they also want to participate in what is now our football. It shows a level of patriotism. It shows a level of commitment to the country. I have to embrace that, but at the same time, we must also understand that they are rules in place. Because we are changing things at the football federation. Nobody comes to the federation or to the national team automatically. Every time we called the national team, even if you have been on the national team for 15-20 years, you have to come back and prove yourself. That is the criteria that has been in place and we are enforcing that kind of criteria. So, for the Belizeans coming to support Deon coming home - to prove himself and try out for the national team - is a welcome gesture. I will not fight against that. It is Belizean and our national team is Belizean team. I am here as the custodian, as the person who sets the standard for our football federation and we the standard for our national team. As I said before, it is no longer business as usual. Our national team has to fit into that kind of program and that is the reason we have this. It is good for football."

Cayo Coast Guard Killers Charged
Three persons have been charged for the murder of 23 year old Aurelio Montero Jr. He is the Coast Guard officer who was found unconscious with a head injury in downtown San Ignacio early on Holy Saturday morning. Montero never regained consciousness and passed away shortly after he was found. Well, Cayo police have now charged three males, including a 17 year old minor for his murder. Apparently, Montero Jr was sleeping on the ground near the Welcome center after midnight on Good Friday. He was likely inebriated - and the three decided to rob and beat him up. They dragged him behind a building and did just that- taking his wallt with his ID and his footwear. Montero who remained unconscious put up no resistance and they are believed to have inflicted the injuries that led to his death. Police have gotten confession statements from three men: 20 year old Windel Obando, 23 year old Saul Ortiz and a 17 year old - all of the Kontiki area in San Ignacio. They have all been charged for murder.

BEL's Big Blackout
Residents of the Belize City northside neighborhoods of Coral Grove, Buttonwood Bay, Belama Phase I and the portion of Belama Phase II between Chetumal Street and Gwen Lizarraga Street had better prepare for a warm Sunday! And on the southside, Nargusta street, St Jude Street, Mopan Street, Hondo Street and a portion of Mahogany street between Mopan And Sitee Streets should do the same. That's because BEL has announced an eleven-hour outage! - that's right half a day of blackout, from five in the morning to four in the evening. This is to replace lamp posts carrying high voltage lines and tension high voltage lines But, even if you live in other areas of the city, you're still going to fell some inconvenience, because there will also be two half hour long city wide outages from 5:00am to 5:30am and 3:30pm to 4:00pm to commission recently constructed Banak and Palotti Substations.

Leased Land For Evicted Squatters
Tonight it seems that the eviction dispute in the Gungulung area of Lake Independence has been settled without a great deal of fuss. Area Representative Mark King told us that he today handed over 12 land leases in Cotton Tree as promised to the dozen squatters being evicted from the 6 acres of private land along the river. The landowner also gave them a grant of one thousand dollars to cover relocation costs. And while this story had a reasonably happy ending, there are scores of squatters in that same area. King says he will deal with them starting Monday through the Land Amnesty programme. Of course it's a losing proposition, because demand always exceeds supply, but King says he remains confident.

Corrupt Cop Caught By Canuck
A Caye Caulker Cop was charged for extortion after he shook down a Canadian woman visiting Belize. It happened on Tuesday night at 11:00 on Crocodile Street. Police Constable #621 Daniel Requena caught her with a small amount of marijuana clenched in her hand. He told her she would go to jail unless she paid him eight hundred dollars. She reported the case to his superiors and they arrested and charged him for extortion. He was arraigned and granted bail of $3,000 and one surety.

Polling Sexual Perceptions
About 16 months ago, The United Nation Population Fund - or UNFPA - released a report which showed a high number of teenage pregnancies in Belize. At that time, Dr. Peter Allen, the CEO in the Ministry of Health made the dramatic declaration, "Our Children are having sex. Our Children are having children." That was a very critical look at a topic which appears to still be taboo within the Belizean society. Well, another survey, this one done by UNAIDS, looked at the society's attitude toward getting tested for HIV, age appropriate sex and sexuality education, adolescent access to condoms and contraceptives, child physical and sexual abuse, the protection of people living with HIV from discrimination, and the attitudes toward homosexuality. In other words, this survey asked random respondents from all over the country about sexual behavior and the attitude toward sex-related issues. About 773 persons, ages 18 to 64, were quizzed in November 2013, and UNAIDS released the findings to the public today. The Regional Director for UNAIDS Caribbean told us what they found out: Ernest Massiah, Regional Director, UNAIDS Caribbean "The first bit is a poll that was on as a nationally representative poll of 773 Belizeans; men and women across the country. And we are asking them questions about their attitudes to sexual and reproductive health, sex education in schools, testing for HIV, domestic violence and child abuse. and what we found is, and I think is really interesting, we found that Belizeans are perhaps more accepting of sexual diversity than perhaps one gets when one looks in some of the stuff in the newspapers.

The case For And Against Senator Ray
Since April second, the dispute in the National Trade Union Congress of Belize has been playing out on the public stage. It's all because Labour Senator Ray Davis abstained in the vote on the Petrocaribe Loan Motion on March 30th. The Trade Union Congress opposes the bill - and wanted him to vote against it. But they never told him that - and the dispute over whether he should have known better continues. If you ask Trade Union Second Vice President Audrey Matura Shepherd, it's a black and white issue - but Jules Vasquez found many shades of grey in the documents he's seen:.. Audrey Matura-Shepherd, 2nd Vice President - NTUCB "I had objected before, on how he voted on the cane issue and how he voted before on the Petrocaribe money." Jules Vasquez reporting Indeed she had - in this November 2014 letter Matura asked how it is that Senator Davis voted yes on the first Petrocaribe loan motion. She said, quote, "in a matter of such great importance we the members of the Trade Union Congress should have a say. So can I please be enlightened as to who come it is that our Senator voted yes and who gave that mandate?"

Auditor General's Report Review
The Auditor General's most recent report on the Government's finances has been released to the public. You'll be able to find it on 7Newsbelize.com tonight - and Jules Vasquez looked inside today for a few juicy buts. Jules Vasquez reporting The auditor general's report for the fiscal year 2011 - 2012. It is almost 300 pages long - but does not provide any screaming headlines. For the second year in a row, the auditor general laments the absence of a functioning Public Accounts Committee. Just like last year, she found bank accounts un-reconciled. - 23 of them in this case. And that's why she gave an adverse opinion - whereas in the previous year she simply with-held her opinion. The police reward fund is one reconciled account where regulations were ignored, saying that withdrawals should not exceed four thousand dollars annually - but in this case - one withdrawal for 53 thousand dollars was made in one day without the Minister's approval. The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance said it is the fault of the public service:

SJC: Taking The Mystery Out of History
"A people without the knowledge of their past, history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." That's the well-known black consciousness mantra of Marcus Garvey and they were brought into harness and currency today at the St. Johns' College 4th annual Reading Fair. The event featured the usual educational and historical displays and activities, but there were also several displays that challenged the conventional approach to learning history and connecting to the past. I found out more when I visited: Other activities held at the fair include a Spanish Spelling Bee that was held in the Art Center, a Poetry Slam section and there was also several Ancient Maya Exhibits.

Cops Care, Really
Today, the Central Christian Primary School got a donation of a printer from Police Precinct 3. It's a good turn after the school participated in the Eastern Division's BLACK March 3 weeks ago. The the printer was handed over today and 7News was there. We spoke with the Commanding Officer about the token of appreciation: Central Christian School is also one of the education centers which benefit from the police's program called the Gang Resistance Education and Training, or GREAT. One of the coordinators organized an event for students who recently passed through the training. They were to show appreciation for their school, and we saw the children in action. Here's what the police coordinator had to say about it: Belize Yellow Pages collaborated with the Police for this effort.

The First Belize Jazz Fest
2 days ago, we showed you how musicians and the government agencies responsible for culture and creative arts were holding workshops to improve the business aspects of the local music industry. Well, that's not the only new initiative that NICH and the Institute of Creative Arts is spearheading to provide local musicians with greater opportunities to showcase their talents. The first ever Belize International Jazz Festival is being planned for the this summer starting on June 5 and ending on June 14. It will feature a group of influential international artists as well as local bands who have been well established and who have generated a following. This morning, ICA officially introduced the Jazz Festival to the public, and 7News was there. Here's what the organizers and the participating musicians had to say about it: Apart from the 10 performances, there will be music workshops offered to the musicians to help them develop their musical talents in whatever instrument they specialize in. The festival will be spread all across the country starting from Belize City, then to Belmopan, to Cayo and then to San Pedro.

Take A Walk In OW Park
Orange Walk Central Park - if you haven't been there recently, you should take a stop in. It's been transformed from a shabby old space to a thoroughly modern park with all the amenities - even wi-fi. It's been opened for some months now - but the World Bank made it official earlier this week. And politicians from both sides tried to claim ownership for the spending space:… Depending on who's in power in the town board - the park is known either as Queen Elizabeth Park - which is the UDP name, or the Central Park which is the PUP name.

Field Of Dreams Achievable
Belize's sports facilities - often have to double as concert venues - and when they do - a football pitch or a wooden basketball court can take a pounding. In fact, many say that a Beenie Man concert in the rain profoundly damaged the MCC pitch. Well, a Trinidadian civil engineer says he can prevent that form happening again. He's offering a product called the I- Trac Matting system and a soil stabilization formula. With these, Christopher Berkeley says you can party all night long on any football field and not worry about how it will look the morning after. He told me more:... Berkeley was busy this week pitching his product to other stakeholders.

Channel 5

Deon McCauley Returns Home to the Jaguars
Belize’s star striker Deon McCauley is back in the Jewel.  As we reported on Thursday, a petition to return McCauley, in time for the Jaguars to prepare for the second [...]

F.F.B. President Says Striker Begins Training on Monday
Now that McCauley is back in the country, F.F.B. President, Ruperto Vicente, says that the ball is in his court and he must now show and prove in the days [...]

Has Beleaguered F.F.B. Executive Rawell Pelayo Tendered His Resignation?
Following a congress of the Football Federation of Belize last Saturday, President Ruperto Vicente informed the media that embattled second vice president Rawell Pelayo was expected to tender his resignation [...]

McCauley Looks Forward to Joining Other International Teams
In February 2014, Deon McCauley inked a one-year contract with the Atlanta Silverbacks to play in the North American Professional League.  During that time he has had to undergo surgery [...]

PM Barrow Expresses Concern on U.S. and European Banking Relations
It hasn’t happened just yet, but the Caribbean and Central American regions are keenly aware that there is some intention by large European and US banks to end relations with [...]

Belt-tightening at B.T.B., PM Says Situation Under Control
The Belize Tourism Board is in a financial crunch and has been for some time. The company which is responsible for marketing Belize, we are told, has had to impose [...]

Pioneer in Local Tourism Industry, Peter Tonti, Passes Away
The tourism industry has lost one of its pioneers. Peter Tonti, the C.E.O. of Cahal Pech Village Resort passed away on Thursday.  Tonti has been visiting Belize since the nineteen [...]

Lorenzo Smith Jr. Arraigned for 2009 Murder of Cellmate
An inmate of the Belize Central Prison serving ten years for arson got some more bad news earlier today. Following a preliminary inquiry this morning, Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith [...]

‘Dalla’ Van Driver Charged for Unlawful Sexual Intercourse
A Belize City mechanic is spending his first night behind bars on remand after he was charged for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor today. Twenty-nine-year-old Francis Avilez, a full-time [...]

And the Survey Says… Homophobia is Down in Belize
What’s the sentiment of Belizeans on LGBT persons? A poll that was done about a year and a half ago shows that people are generally more accepting and that Belize [...]

Musicians, Artists and Engineers Register for 2015 Belize International Jazz Festival
The National Institute of Culture and History is adding yet another event to its yearly calendar…the Belize International Jazz Festival.  Over one hundred and sixty local and international artists and [...]

10 Days of Jazz Fusion Begins on June 5th
The event will feature ten days of jazz fusion and will see the collaboration of local culture makers, business enterprises and globally renowned artists to promote the cultural and social [...]

What Will This Year’s Calendar of Events Include?
But aside from the long list of festivals that will be held over the course of the year, the events within the September Celebrations Calendar will see thousands of Belizeans [...]

September Celebration Theme Competition Kicks Off
And if you’d like to win a thousand dollars, you can also participate in the 2015 “September Celebrations Theme Competition.” All Belizeans, living at home and abroad, are invited to [...]

Taprick and Concego Launch New Punta Albums
Concego and Taprick the Sheriff…they’re well established names on the musical scene and only getting bigger and better. Today, they were guests on our morning show since both are launching [...]

PlusTV

Santino Castillo hands over to Darrell Bradley in Caribbean Shores
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has made much recent use of the press to announce major party news such as the candidacies of Tracey Taegar-Panton and Dr. Carla Barnett in the Albert and Freetown divisions in the next general election...

Northern Two Cayes mortgage holder clarifies legal status of Puerto Azul project
John Mills, holder of the mortgage on Northern Two Cayes in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, today stepped forward to address concerns having to do with the legal status of the ownership of Northern Two Cayes, which is currently held by Northern Two Cayes Company Ltd...

3 Charged for Montero’s Murder
On April 4th, Holy Saturday, 23 year old Aurelio Montero Jr., a member of the Belize Coast Gaurd, was discovered unconscious at the San Ignacio Welcome Center. He had been beaten to a pulp and left their to bleed. Five days later Aurelio passed away as a result of injuries to the head...

Half a million looted from Treasury?
Tonight the Government of Belize faces some financial worries, as police are investigating a reported theft from the Treasury. Certainly more than $350,000 and reports say as much as half a million, up to reportedly a million dollars was taken in several installments...

BTB to scrap increments?
The Belize Tourism Board is reported to be facing a cash crunch that has led to an unpopular plan to end increments for workers, replacing them with 5% end-of-year bonuses...

Government negotiating possible solution for Stake Bank dispute
Fort Street Tourism Village and the Feinstein Group have gone to court over the agreements signed in the early 2000′s for the then-Belize Tourism Village that gave it exclusive rights to dock cruise ship passengers...

Audrey Matura-Shepherd lays into Ray Davis on Senate vote
2nd Vice President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) Audrey Matura-Shepherd last week went on record to call for the removal of Senator Ray Davis as representative of the trade unions in the upper legislature, following his vote of abstention on the Petrocaribe Loan Act of 2015...

P.M. and Former PSU President defend Ray Davis
Today Prime Minister Dean Barrow was called on to defend a childhood schoolmate and said that that relationship did not preclude Senator Ray Davis from being his own man. More importantly, he says, it did not influence that crucial vote that has set the President of the CWU against him...

PM Barrow clarifies banking remarks
At the preliminary meeting before the 7th Summit of the Americas convened last week in Panama,  Prime Minister of Belize Dean Barrow told his counterparts that under pressure from internal regulators, major banks in the United States are “de-risking” in response to strict anti-money laundering regul...

The Thousand Dollar Tour Scam
A man posing as the manager of a tour guide firm made off with over $1 thousand US dollars after he reportedly tricked an American woman into depositing money in an account in exchange for his services...

Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry says No to Petro Caribe
Today the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry placed on the record its endorsement of the Business Senator’s vote against the controversial Petro Caribe loan bill 2015...

Amandala

Kendale Green, 22, on trial for murder of Nigerian taxi driver
In January 2011, police arrested and charged a 17-year-old minor and two adults for the December 26, 2010 murder of Nigerian taxi driver Francis Chukwu, 37, who was found slumped behind the wheel of his taxi, shot in his head while driving on Pitter Street. The two adults, Egbert Daly, 19, and Jermaine Zuniga, 31, were released from the murder charge when the Director of Public Prosecution, in November 2011, instructed that the charge be withdrawn from against them due to a lack of evidence. The case against the remaining accused, Kendale Green, who is now 22, was committed to the Supreme Court, and this Monday, April 13, Green’s murder trial began in the Supreme Court of Justice Adolph Lucas, who is hearing the case without a jury.

$500,000 stolen from Treasury!
Prime Minister Dean Barrow confirmed to the local media today that as much as $500,000 has been siphoned from the Government’s Treasury Department in Belize City. The alarming incident came to light earlier this week, and this past Tuesday, April 14, the Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight, alerted PM Barrow about the findings. Barrow told us that while he cannot confirm the exact amount since the matter is still being investigated, he was informed that it could be “as high as half a million dollars.” Reliable sources have indicated that between $500,000 and $700,000 was embezzled over an unspecified amount of time, and Barrow noted that while the pilfering may have been happening for some time, authorities did not find out about it until recently, which is why no sort of public disclosure was previously made.

“Santi” surrenders Caribbean Shores!
The much-anticipated political face-off between Belize City Mayor, Darrell Bradley and Caribbean Shores area representative, Hon. Santiago “Santino” Castillo, Jr., will never see the light of day, since Castillo announced today that he has made a decision to withdraw from the race. During a press conference which took place at the United Democratic Party (UDP)’s headquarters this morning, Castillo declared that after lengthy consideration, he withdrew his bid for a second term primarily to avoid disunity within the party as it prepares for the general elections. Prime Minister and UDP party leader, Hon. Dean Barrow, told the gathering that he is pleased at Castillo’s resolution to simply hand over the reins without a fight.

Wife, using cellphone, records cops beating her husband
After allegedly beating a man with his club in the process of arresting him, Special Constable Edward Swift, of the Orange Walk police, was arrested and charged with wounding and use of excessive force by police on Tuesday. Swift was taken to the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where he was arraigned on the charge. He pleaded not guilty and was offered bail of $1,000, which he met, and was ordered to return to court on June 20. The victim’s ordeal was captured on his wife’s cellphone – apparently, the officers were so focused on manhandling the victim that they did not notice her recording their actions. Police said that SC Swift and another policeman went to the home of Orange Walk Town resident, Andres Rodriguez, 28, and that Swift beat him up, handcuffed him and dragged him out of his house. They then took him to the police station.

Chamber denounces PetroCaribe Loans Act
After deliberations held at a summit this weekend, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) issued a strong statement this evening, expressing its resounding disapproval of recently introduced legislation which permits the Government of Belize to continue borrowing tens of millions of dollars at a time from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe accord without first getting the approval of Parliament, but furthermore permitting the Government to freely spend those funds outside the limitations of existing financial legislation. Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, president of the BCCI, told Amandala that he has never seen anything like this law, which would essentially permit the Government to borrow when it wants, how much it wants and also to spend it at will. This is “scary legislation writing,” and it sets a dangerous precedent, Vasquez told us. In its statement today, the BCCI said that, “After careful review and research of the Alba Petro Caribe Bill passed in the House of Representatives on March 27th 2015, the Chamber believes that this bill undermines the spirit and intent of the revised Finance and Audit Act of 2005.”

The inevitable oil spill: Belize must get ready!
Next Monday, April 20, will mark 5 years since the Deepwater Horizon disaster—described as the biggest maritime oil spill in history, which pumped 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico over a span of three months, and University of Florida researchers say that affected communities are still being plagued by its impacts. Since that catastrophe, Belizeans have become very aware of the potential devastation that oil spills can cause, and even more so of the reality that Belize is nowhere near prepared to effectively implement a quick response to a large-scale spill. This has heightened calls from the environmental community for a ban against offshore drilling. The reality is, though, that with about a million barrels of petroleum products being shipped into Belize each year and hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude being exported from our southern shores on an annual basis, the risk of an oil spill that could devastate Belize’s coast already exists. According to Commander Paul Lattanzi of the US Coast Guard, who is also assigned as a consultant to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a spill is admittedly inevitable.

Mike’s 8-Ball Tournament in Belmopan – the Big Dance is here!!!
The semifinals got off to a late start on Sunday, April 12, as a number of us were harassed, roughed-up, and humiliated by the GSU on our way to the game. Yes, big guns being pointed at us unnecessarily, with no explanation accepted or given. This experience makes us question the thinking abilities of some of these officers, and understand why at times people complain about police. It was after they identified someone on a motorcycle and they set chase, we were freed to go. It was scary that there wasn’t a check point, but big guns pointed at us to “pull over” in unmarked vehicles. The four teams of the ten that racked ‘em up on the pool table in the semifinals of Mike’s 8-Ball Tournament in Belmopan were: Pelayo’s Electricals (seeded #1), Elements (seeded #2), BRC Shooters (seeded #3), and Las Flores (seeded #4). Here’s how it ended in a best-of-two overall matches with 3 players vs 3 players.

Cricket Corner – Zone One took care of Zone Two
It was a pleasant day on Saturday, April 11, in Rancho Dolores. The All Star game was played in a T/20 format. Zone One took to bat first, and in 20 overs the team scored 102 runs. After a lunch break, Zone Two took to bat, and in 16 overs all were out for 66 runs. On Sunday in St. Paul’s, the Under 15 started. At the closing of the first day, three teams are scheduled to continue this Sunday in Double Head. The three teams are Double Head, Rancho Dolores and St. Paul’s, who have each won one game and lost one. All are invited to come out and watch the finishing. The regular season in the second half continues this weekend with the following scheduled games: ZONE ONE – Western Eagles vs Excelsior at St. Paul’s; Police takes on Easy Does It at Lemonal; and Excellence goes to Sandhill against Bright Star; and in ZONE TWO – Brilliant goes against Suga Boys in Carmelita; Brave Union battles Wicked11 at Flowers Bank; Isabella Uprising travels to Landing to face Berlan; and Cahsu Medicos meets Sunrise in Lords Bank.

U-12, U-13 and Female Football in O.W.
Youth football games were played at the Barracks on Saturday, April 11, for both U12 and U13 players. In U-12 action, Black Water dropped Sandhill, 1-0, on an auto goal; and Young School and Juventus played to a 0-0 draw. In U-13, San Estevan and Orange Walk Central Stars ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Alexis Chan scored for San Estevan, while Jaheem Augustine scored for O.W. Central Stars. Elite Promos dropped Trial Farm Survivors, 3-1, with goals from Phillip Rhaburn, Johan Bull and Jordi Espejo. Trial Farm’s goal was by Franklin Perez. And Belize won, 1-0, over Trial Farm Black Water, the goal coming from Elvis Cabral. On Sunday, April 12, there were 3 female games at the Barracks. Yo Creek Gladiators clipped Guinea Grass, 1-0; Carmelita Young Stars also dropped Chan Pine Ridge, 1-0; and Caribbean Rum Road Runners drew, 0-0, with Carmelita Spanish Town.

Editorial: Belizean politics
Over the last few years this newspaper has referred to the similarities between Belize’s two major political parties – the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP). We mean no disrespect to these two institutions, because they are indigenous, authentic, national, and critical to Belize’s consciousness of itself as a nation-state. The only other institutions in Belize which are national in scope are the churches, and the schools which they own and administrate. But, the churches are not indigenous or authentic to Belize: they are run from foreign headquarters. The churches are imported from outside of Belize. The UDP and the PUP were created and organized in the territory of Belize, by Belizeans. Last year this newspaper made it clear to the Vision Inspired by the People (VIP) of Belmopan and the People’s National Party (PNP) of Toledo that we did not consider them to be viable political institutions because they were not national in scope. For whatever reason(s), these two parties have been unable to make common cause with each other.

From the Publisher
I met the man called Eddie Edmondson at the old Belize International Airport in the spring of 1985. That’s when the newly elected United Democratic Party (UDP) government arranged with the ownership/management of the Chicago Cubs to take leftfielder Gary Matthews out of spring training and fly him to Belize. The country of Belize had gone crazy over the Chicago Cubs because, in those first couple years of pirate and cable television in Belize, the Chicago-based WGN television superstation was the signal we could receive most clearly, and WGN broadcast all Cub games. The Cub announcer, the colorful Harry Carey, was pretty exciting. By the seventh inning “stretch,” he was usually “wet,” or seemed to be. Listening to the Belize City ladies talk back then, I think the sex symbol for most of them was the Cub first baseman, Leon “The Bull” Durham, who was a well-built brother with “geri-curls.”

Trying to ignore voices of the people
Dear Editor, The Department of Environment scheduled an “Oil Pollution, Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Sensitization Workshop” for Wednesday, April 15. They claim the workshop’s objective “is to sensitize NGOs and the Media on oil pollution, oil spill preparedness, response and cooperation”. They plan this to be part of an “on-going revision and updating of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan presently being conducted by the DOE.” The Belize Institute of Environmental Law & Policy (BELPO) has had an ongoing interest and involvement in the area of oil exploration/exploitation in Belize for many years. We started holding workshops on the Petroleum Act in 2003. Godsman Ellis was President of BELPO at the time. We invited the Department of Environment to that 2003 workshop and others that we held, as well as inviting the Geology and Petroleum Department.

CCJ celebrates 10 years; 5 as final appeals court for Belize
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is this week celebrating its first decade of existence as the regional court for the Caribbean and also its fifth year as the final appellate court for Belize. Sir Dennis Byron, CCJ president, who is due to be in Belize next week for a historic sitting of the court here, has expressed the hope that all member states of CARICOM will give the CCJ a 10th anniversary gift of “full accession” to the Court. Currently, only three countries apart from Belize have signed on to the appellate jurisdiction of the court. That’s less than a third of the CARICOM states, which number 15. A CCJ statement issued on the occasion of the court’s 10th anniversary quoted Justice Byron, highlighting the words of Trinidad and Tobago calypsonian, Singing Sandra, in her 2005 composition: “to foreign masters you bow, look how them judges in London, making final decisions for we. To their judgment we must keep bowing, most insulting indeed, why to their council we must be privy.”

John Mills says Puerto Azul’s 8-star vision for Lighthouse Reef not sustainable
US national, John Mills—the mortgage holder for the island property on which the proposed multi-million-dollar Puerto Azul project, promoted as the world’s first eight-star resort, is to be built—has joined leading voices in the environmental community to say, on the record, that the original design of the project just will not work, because it won’t be either environmentally or economically sustainable. Mills pointed, for example, to the proposal to set up a golf course on Lighthouse Reef, located over 40 miles from Belize City – a concept which he says is totally incompatible with the atoll’s status as a World Heritage Site, because of the chemical treatments that would be required to maintain it. This is nowhere near as controversial as the proposed airport on the reef, a proposal strongly opposed by Belize’s environmental community. The latest online promotion of Puerto Azul, a proposed 960-acre development, through its wording and tone suggests that the resort will be operational within the coming months and inaugurated by year-end, featuring suites with underwater bedrooms, for example, which the company claims are already being offered on a time-share basis to as many as 300 clients.

US Capital abandons US$22 mil well in Sarstoon Temash
For about a year, US Capital Energy has been exploring for crude oil in the Sarstoon Temash National Park in Toledo, southern Belize, but today the company will be sending back the coiled tubing equipment it had imported from the US some weeks ago to do further probing at its first well site inside the national park. US Capital Energy’s country representative, Alistair King, told Amandala that the decision to abandon the well was made because high levels of hydrogen sulfide were being encountered. Breathing very high concentrations of the gas, which has a pungent rotten-egg smell, can lead to death, but in smaller concentrations, it could lead to varying health effects, which include loss of smell, conjunctivitis and lung disease. According to King, while drilling the well, the company saw positive signs that oil is there, and they also encountered methane and butane. He told us, though, that despite these encouraging signs, the discovery of high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide forced them to plug and abandon the well – a procedure which he said has been approved by the Government.

Murder trial aborted – new jury to be empanelled
An accused murderer who has been waiting for his day in court for almost five years, learned this morning that he will have to wait a bit longer after the trial judge, Supreme Court Justice John “Troadio” Gonzalez, aborted the trial, which had just began yesterday, Monday, and sent the jury home. Raymond Myers, 30, who has been accused of the May 2010 murder of Francis Figueroa, 27, was sent back to prison to await a new trial date after one of the jurors informed the court that he is a Jehovah’s Witness, and as such, is unable to sit in judgment over someone. Justice Gonzalez questioned the juror, asking him why he had not said something before. The juror replied that he did not quite understand his role as a juror, and it occurred to him that he would have to pass judgment on the accused man.

Keyren Tzib, charged with attempted murder, gets bail
Keyren Tzib, a female who holds the rank of seaman in the Belize Coast Guard, was able to smile with family members and a high school friend who was present this afternoon after Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord announced, “everything I asked for has been given and bail will be granted.” Tzib has been at the Belize Central Prison for the past eight days, since she was arraigned on charges of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm against petty officer Kurt Hyde, who she allegedly shot onboard a Coast Guard boat that was returning to its Belize City base, after a multi-agency operation around San Pedro, on Easter Monday. Under an amendment to the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act, any person who can prove to the court that he or she is of good character with no criminal record, can apply for an expedited bail at the Supreme Court. Prior to the amendment, bail applicants had to wait 10 working days before approaching the court for bail.

The Reporter

Competitors in internet industry sign agreement to benefit customers
This week, a historic cooperation was formed between the internet service providers (ISP) in Belize to collectively establish the country’s first internet exchange point. Nine ISPs, all competitors, gathered for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the University of Belize’s West Landivar […]

Four persons shot!
The Reporter has learned of two shootings around 7 p.m. on Friday night in Belize City that has left four persons with injuries. The incidents occurred on Banak Street and Jane Usher Boulevard. We were made to understand that three of the victims have been […]

Police follow leads in murder of Edward Usher
Police and residents of the Mayflower Street area have said that the motive for Saturday morning’s murder of Edward “Ghost” Usher, 40, inside a yard at #5 Mayflower Street in Belize City, was a long-standing conflict between Usher and other men from the same area […]

Special constable charged for beating man! Police corporal disciplined for not stopping the assault
Edward Swift, 38, a special constable assigned to the Orange Walk Police Station, is out on bail of $1,000 on a criminal charge of wounding, after he was videotaped vigorously beating a man for several minutes on Sunday night. The incident happened at the […]

Dash for Freedom…Prisoner Torres jumps from moving pick-up
Angel Torres, 37, remains at large after he jumped out of a moving police transport while being taken to the Hattieville Prison last Thursday. Torres is facing a charge of aggravated assault and was in the process of being remanded when he fled. Torres […]

Cuba back in grace! Removed from list of state-sponsored terrorism
Washington (CNN) President Barack Obama recommended Tuesday that Cuba be removed from the U.S. government’s list of state sponsors of terrorism. Obam’s deci-sion, long sought by the Cuban government, is expected to expedite plans to re-establish embassies in Washington and Havana. In a brief message to notify Congress of his […]

Long gone FFB exec. Rawell Pelayo expected to bow out gracefully
Following a three hour 8th Regular Congress of the Football Federation of Belize on Saturday, it was revealed that long MIA Senior Vice-President Rawell Pelayo would not be expelled from the federation, but would be allowed to tender his resignation and make a graceful exit. The decision was announced by […]

Squatters given extension to relocate
A group of 12 families in the Gungulung area of Lake Independence who have been squatting on private land near the Chetumal Street bridge, and were threatened with court action if they did not move by the end of this week, have been given […]

Belize and Caribbean address financial conserns at Summit of Americas
Belize along with other Caribbean nations raised concerns about restrictive US policies toward the Caribbean banking sector at the Summit of the Americas and was given assurance by US President Barack Obama that there would be a complete review of their policy. According to […]

Hit and run – man hits pedestrian and literally runs from scene!  
John Baptist, 41, handed himself in to Punta Gorda police on Monday after confessing to knocking down a man and fleeing the scene, leaving behind the victim, Jose Morales, 56, a Guatemalan of Big Falls Village, Toledo, and his vehicle at the scene of […]

Maxboro Mechanic Murdered at Home
Police are seeking several suspects after the decomposing body of Leon Leslie Sr., 31, was discovered in his Maxboro home on Monday, with his throat slit. Leslie was found in the sofa of his living room around 4:40 p.m. His throat had been cut and he had been stabbed multiple […]

Nestor Mendez on new role at OAS
The Organization of the American States’ (OAS) Assistant Secretary General-elect, Nestor Mendez, in fielding questions from the media, reiterated that he hopes to continue to build on the work the organization has previously done in relation to the Belize-Guatemala dispute. Mendez said the OAS […]

Reparations leaders agree to consolidate efforts
Reparations committee leaders from the Caribbean Community, and the United States, have agreed to consolidate their efforts in seeking reparations from former slave-trading and slave-owning nations. The agreement came at the end of a three-day conference which ended in New York on Sunday, by the […]

Puerto Azul owner sets record straight
A debt-holder with intimate knowledge of the ownership status of Northern Two Cayes on the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, the location for the proposed Puerto Azul project, made it clear at a press conference on Thursday that the investors have not yet purchased the property […]

Editorial
The Problem of Guatemalan intruders taking over land in the Chiquibul Forest is but the beginning of a land struggle between landless peasants from Guatemala and the people of Belize. Already the Guatemalans have trespassed along the border, clearing the forest and creating private farms for themselves. If they can […]

Half a million embezzled from Treasury
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, on Thursday, confirmed reports that government had discovered approximately half a million dollars has been embezzled from the Treasury Department. According to Barrow, he first received the report from Financial Secretary, Joseph Waight on Tuesday. He said the embezzling of […]

Fraud and forgery revealed by audit of GOB finances
The Auditor General’s latest report for the fiscal period 2011-2012 has raised concerns over issues that continue to be a problem in the government’s management of public finances, including suspected instances of fraud and inadequate records management. According to the report, other issues that […]

Santi steps down to make way for Bradley
Caribbean Shores Area Representative, Santiago “Santino” Castillo announced on Thursday that he will step down and allow Mayor Darrell Bradley to be endorsed as the official candidate for the United Democratic Party (UDP) in Caribbean Shores. Castillo said he had long, hard nights thinking […]

Patrick Jones

Pastor charged with 4 counts of child pornography offenses
At about ten this morning, Community Policing and Truancy Officers from the Orange Walk Police formation conducted a special investigation and search at the house of a Honduran National in the Black Water Area of Town. According to authorities, they received reports from an official at the Trial Farm Government […]

Toledo Institute for Development and Environment hosts GIS Seminar.
Today, the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) hosted an Informal Seminar about the role of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The seminar was conducted by Peter O’Connor who is an intern from Ireland and has been working with TIDE for the past 5 months. His role is to update […]

Shooting in Belize City
Belize Media Group has been informed about two shooting incidents in the old capital in the area of Faber roads and Jane Usher. There are reports of fatalities but we are unable to officially confirm how many. Unconfirmed reports are indicating that at least 2 […]

Deon McCauley returns home, makes up with FFB
He’s back! National Football Team forward Deon McCauley touched down at the Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) this afternoon on a Delta Airlines flight from Atlanta, Georgia, ending several weeks of back and forth over whether he would be here for the start of training camp ahead of […]

UNAIDS surveys: Belizeans more accepting of LGBT; want more sex education in schools
Two years ago the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) sponsored two surveys: one, regarding attitudes and perceptions toward social and health issues in the Caribbean region; the other, concerning the response to health issues among men who have sex with men (MSM), or homosexuals. Taken together, […]

Students of Trial Farm Gov’t help to paint Hand Washing Mural
In February of this year, it was announced that the Trial Farm Government School had won second place in the Belize Red Cross Poster and Slogan Competition on proper hand washing techniques. Today, members from Red Cross, volunteer Artist Terryl “man at work” Godoy and artistically inclined students showcased their […]

PM promises to keep trying with audit requirements
Auditor General Dorothy Bradley has fingered the Government of Belize for being unable to reconcile 22 accounts as part of its annual audit exercise which resulted in an adverse review charging that it is not a true picture of Government finances as well as contracts being drawn up after work […]

Jaguar’s Striker is back in the Jewel
At 12:53 this afternoon, a Delta Airline touched ground in Belizean soil at the Philip Goldson International Airport with Belize’s striker; Deon McCaulay. For context, on Monday the Football Federation of Belize announced that if McCaulay wanted to play for the National team he would then need to find his […]

Half a million looted from Treasury?
The Government of Belize faces some financial worries, as police are investigating a reported theft from the Treasury. Certainly more than $350,000 and reports say as much as half a million, up to reportedly a million dollars was taken in several installments. But how was it done? Prime Minister and […]

Belmopan Area Students Showcase Talents
The Belmopan Area Expressive Arts began on Wednesday April 15th with students in cluster 3 doing their thing with pride and energy at the Belize Christian Academy grounds. The students recited poems, sang, danced, and played musical instruments as they entertained their parents, teachers, community members, adjudicators and Education Personnel. The students received either a gold, silver or bronze certificate depending on the level of their presentation.

Blogs

Same…Same…Same…The Perfect Weather Continues in Belize
Dear diary, It’s been sunny, warm and breezy for about 2 weeks now. With hardly a dark cloud floating by. I fear I might get a sunburn if I am not careful… The perfect weather on Ambergris Caye continues. Yesterday I took a walk…and hitchhike or 3…from Royal Palms Condos (where I live) about 2 miles south to Grand Caribe Resort about 1.5 miles north. 2 hours later I was back at home, a bit dusty, with some aching feet (Old Navy $2 flip flops aren’t the ideal walking shoe?!?!?) and these pictures.

Farewell Peter Tonti
It is with great sadness that the management and staff of Chaa Creek farewell a former long-time visionary of the Chaa Creek Team. Peter Tonti, who was with Chaa Creek for fifteen years, most recently as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, passed away on April 15th, 2015, leaving a huge void in the entire Belizean tourism industry, where he carved out a legacy as one of the industry’s pioneers and contributors to its early success. Arriving in Belize as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s, Mr Tonti fell in love with the country and people and, when his tour was finished, decided to stay on. It was a time of dramatic change in Belize as the little country evolved from a colonial backwater to become one of the region’s most vibrant sovereign democracies.

Treasure hunting in Belize and a trip to the office
If you live here or plan to move here then consider this: Unless you leave often or have a herd of mules coming in, you will need to buy clothing at some point. While we do have a few new clothing stores in San Pedro, I know several people who will agree that the second hand shops win hands down for name brand choices. You do however, have to be in the mood for a treasure hunting adventure when shopping. :) I used to yard sale and “seconds” shop with my dad as a kid so I grew up with an eye for finding quality gently used things at remarkable prices. I was introduced to the art of the used clothing industry on a deeper level several years back when I lived in downtown Toronto. My old neighborhood has a great vintage clothing district and since I was friends with a few shop owners I even got to visit the factory or “Pick” as they called it. Believe it or not there is an art to finding the right stuff, beyond just knowing quality brands. When looking at jeans it was scanning for Levis with a big “E” that would be similar to hitting triple cherries on the slots. At the time (15 years back) they could net as high as $500 and were a real treasure to find. The pieces in those shops had all been handpicked and often there was a reflection of the owner in the store. At my friend Darcy’s shop it was plaid shirts and Carhart coats. The boys I hung out with at the time had great collections of both. Mine was vintage dresses and aprons – Lucille Ball style.

International Sources

The Disturbing Truth Behind Your Swim With The Dolphins
Throngs of Americans are heading south to the Caribbean right now, for the balmy sunshine, intoxicating evening breeze, turquoise waters … and the opportunity to swim with dolphins. But despite their popularity, swim-with-the-dolphin programs have a dark underbelly, and those on the inside are starting to speak out against them. Swim-with-the-dolphin (SWTD) programs can be found all over the world, but they've become exceptionally popular in the Caribbean in the past decade or so. A former dolphin trainer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Dodo that these programs are inherently problematic — and cetaceans simply do not belong in captivity. "Dolphins are beautiful and amazing creatures in their natural habitat," says the former trainer, who requested anonymity because he still works in the Caribbean hotel industry. "But stick them in a cage, and you watch them change."

Videos

April 17, 2015

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

Letter to the Editor: Randy and Jody Edwards
We have vacationed on Ambergris Caye for several years. We really enjoy the laid back atmosphere of the island and the friendliness of the people of San Pedro. To us the one of the most appealing aspects of the island is the absence of large resort hotels and tall buildings. Restricting development would allow San Pedro to remain an attractive destination for tourists who can perhaps pay a little more rather than becoming a low cost, high volume budget vacation destination. Over the last several years San Pedro has developed from a back-packer destination to a destination that attracts a variety of middle class tourists. We are part of that group and fortunate enough to be regular repeat visitors. Positive headlines about the island shown up in International Press and as a result more and more people are becoming aware of this island paradise. As a result higher income tourists have also started to make the island their regular vacation destination. It would be hoped with this influx of vacationers that the island would continue to develop in a reasonable manner with smaller reasonably sized boutique type developments. San Pedro atmosphere used to be clean, attractive, safe and full of charming locals. We have always felt appreciated and very welcome here but are concerned that things are changing. We had hopes that town would be able to deal with the issues that come with growth. However based on our recent visit I am not confident that this is the case. The most glaring example is the town’s increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic. At times we felt unsafe.

NEMO officials inspect shelters in Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye
While there are no official hurricane shelters on either Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) conducted inspections of buildings that can be used in a case of emergency. The inspections took place on April 8th and 9th in San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker Village. The annual event was carried out by members of NEMO on both islands ahead of the hurricane season, which runs from June 1st to November 30th. According to NEMO Coordinator Jeromey Timrose Augustine-Cayetano, the inspection is an important part of the organization’s responsibility to ensure that residents have a place in case of an emergency. “Even though we have no official center, NEMO still has to prepare in the eventuality of a threat. We must plan for those people who will not evacuate the islands and will need a safer place other than their home to shelter during an emergency,” stated Augustine Cayetano.

Belmopan Comprehensive High School wins 4th Annual San Pedro Softball Cup
For the fourth year in a row, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) hosted the San Pedro Softball Cup among three male high school softball teams. The two-day tournament was held at the Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Arena and saw the participation of San Pedro High School (SPHS), Gwen Lizaraga High School (GLHS) and Belmopan Comprehensive High School (BCHS). At the end of the competition BCHS rose as the winners, taking home the championship cup from defending champions SPHS. The tournament kicked off on Friday, April 10th at 1PM. The teams competed in a three game double elimination. By the end of the day GLHS and BCHS advanced into the finals, leaving SPHS in third place and out of the tournament. The championship match was played on the morning Saturday, April 11th. The two teams took to the pitch ready for a good game. It was a tight match but BCHS took the win, while GLHS settling for second place.

Burn victims responding positively to medical treatment
Because of the nature of the burns, Katerin was taken to the specialized burn center at Shriners. Katerin’s grandmother said that while she has not physically seen her, indications are that the young girl is also responding well to the medications. “Katerin has spoken twice to her mother. It is obvious that she misses her mom because she gets emotional but Katerin is strong. She is still critical, but is reacting well to the treatment. She is being attended by some of the best doctors, but she has a long way to recovery,” indicated Meza. Katerin was flown to Shriners via the assistance of Yvette Burks from the Burn Victim Mercy Fund in Belize City. At home, friends and neighbors of the family, as well as concerned residents of the island hosted a fundraiser to assist the family financially. By all indications, the food sale and beach party on Sunday April 12 was a huge success. Organizers say that they are still trying to collect pledges and they are expected to make an announcement as to how much money was raised very soon.

Ambergris Today

Belize’s Hol Chan Marine Reserve is always full of surprises and your experience is never the same each and every time you visit the national park. There are times you will catch a glimpse of the rare Green Moray Eel or the elusive Spotted Eagle Ray, while at time you will interact with a baby Loggerhead Sea Turtle, but would you every think of having an encounter with a mermaid? Well, they were not ‘real’ mermaids, but close enough to the real thing. Jason Darling and Maria Russo of Sirenalia, an Austin-based mermaid production company that promotes their “mermaids are real” slogan by making silicone mermaid tails and event performances, came to Belize so that their Mermaids could take a dip in our crystal clear waters and frolic along with the marine life at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. “Last Winter Sirenalia and Flashpool Productions went on a retreat to our favorite island in Belize, to snap some pictures and see the sights and start setting up a mermaid retreat to paradise,” commented Sirenalia Mermaid Retreat in their Facebook Page.

Misc Belizean Sources

PUERTO AZUL INTERNATIONAL HOLDING CORP PRESS RELEASE
Puerto Azul International Holding Corp. signed a purchase agreement with Northern Two Cayes Company Ltd. and Lighthouse Reef Resort Ltd, who are the legitimate owners of the Northern Two Cayes at Lighthouse Atoll. All encumbrances on the property are scheduled to be paid from closing proceeds by escrow agent Barrow & Williams. Mr. Mills is aware of this as it was settled through legal arbitration. Puerto Azul has complied with the terms of reference provided by the Environmental Subcommittee, and environmental studies are being conducted to determine the appropriate development for the Northern Two Cayes. The final project proposal will depend on the outcome of these studies.

Streetz Socialism
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez. It’s official, no need to be sentimental Ghost’s burial was indeed ceremonial Killa was betrayed by his garrison boss This was a tragic loss; it came at a hefty cost Many of the youths lost From the science judge had passed on the young street boss Who wasn’t selfish he laid the foundation Fi Kraal Road to become first Division Football Champions McKenzie's murder was more crucial After being shot twice he did not react like a criminal For the streets in a whole he was critical Bring the gangs together through sports Giving books and council to youths that need support All we know is what we heard from news reports But our views they’ve succeeded to distort

Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) apologizes to customers for erroneous statement
"Kindly note that our email sent out yesterday regarding your April billing erroneously stated double billing in referring to the two lines on the bill as explained further in the email. We apologize for the error on our part. Please note that BWS takes great care in ensuring that reading and billing is accurate and fair to all our customers Notice to Customers New Tariffs effective April 01, 2015 Belize Water Services Limited (BWS) informs customers that, effective April 1st, 2015, new tariffs as approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) have come into effect. Customer bills issued in April 2015 covers consumption which spans March through to April and will therefore have the old and new tariffs applied on a pro-rata basis.

Tourist paid over $ 1,000 US for bogus tour
On 15.04.15 at about 4:00 p.m. a 52-year-old American woman visited the San Pedro Police Station and reported that on 12.03.15, she contacted one Gerson Cordon via email and whom made her to believe that he was the Manager of tour company located in San Pedro Town and booked a tour to Guatemala scheduled for 15.04.15. As a result Gerson Cordon made charges to her credit card which amounted to $1008.60 US for tour package to Tikal. On 15.04.15 she visited the tour company’s office located on the beach front San Pedro Town, where she was informed that Gerson Cordon is not employed by the company.

OmniRootZ Theater at Soul Project
OmniRootZ had their live theater production at the Soul Project. It was a packed house. The place for culture in Cayo.

Tiburon Rum Wins Double Gold
Tiburon, one of the newer rums produced in Belize, won big at the WSWA. It won double gold. Congratulations, Tiburon! One Barrel won gold too. "Tiburon rum takes the Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of American competition by surprise by winning double gold best in class award and One barrel takes Gold !!! A very big day for Belize !!!"

Lights, camera, action!!!!
Belize's Love FM journalist and cameraman arrived in Atlanta yesterday to begin filming their documentary series on study in the U.S. Today they met with officials and students from Emory University and Agnes Scott College to discuss admissions, campus life, etc. at these two schools. This is the beginning of a two week tour throughout the U.S. Focused on different types of schools. Their next stop is in Chicago. Upon return from filming Love FM will air the documentary series: Destination Study USA so everyone in Belize can watch and see what options are available to them.

WUHS Health Fair/Polyclinic Pap Smear Campaign
Free services include: HIV testing, Pap smear, health/nutrition info. Saturday, April 18, 8 AM to noon. Dr. Otto Rodriguez, San Pedro Polyclinic II, Manta Ray Street, San Pedro

BTEC Job Readiness Training ( Dangriga)
Since January of 2015 BTEC has taken its Job Preparedness Training on the road starting first in Belmopan and now completing our second cohort in beautiful Dangriga. BTEC extends its gratitude to its partners Ecumenical Junior College, Department of Youth Services, POWA, Women’s Department and the Ignacio Cacho Library for their unwavering support and contributions in making this training a reality. A total of 51 individuals from a wide cross-section of Dangriga’s residents completed the Pre-test in basic English, Computer and Typing of which 20 participants remained focused and actively engaged in order to graduate the three week job readiness program on April 8th 2015. As the name implies, the Job Readiness program seeks to impart professional and career development expertise that will strengthen their employability skills. The program offers soft skills training along with front line telephone etiquette, customer service, and sales basics that can translate to individuals entering the Call Centres. Important to note is that 5 individuals have already obtained gainful employment and we expect the numbers to grow exponentially as we assist these individuals in attaining entry level employment and commencing their careers.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Thursday, April 16, 2016: 63. FANTASY 5: 31 32 23 30 21 A

Playwriting Workshop at Benque HoC
It's been a month full of artistry. Riti Sachdeva from OmniRootZ hosted a playwriting workshop at the Benque House of Culture. Thanks, Riti! "Imagine this...Yesterday we were amazed by her mythopolitical approach where global issues are told through mythological lenses. Heartful thanks to OmniRootZ Theatre Produkshunz for their support and many thanks to each participant. Images courtesy to Ms Cindy Castellanos."

UB Earth Day Celebration
The University of Belize is having their annual Earth Day Celebration next Wednesday, April 22nd. There will be loads of food, fun, activities, and informational booths.

Public outreach among communities in the Municipality of Melchor de Mencos
Thanks to the financing from the British Embassy, FCD’s educator in Peten, Guatemala finalized a year of public outreach among communities in the Municipality of Melchor de Mencos. This year’s work centered around the importance of the Chiquibul Maya Mountains Biosphere Reserve. A total of 28 rural communities and 10 barrios of Melchor de Mencos were visited.

Channel 7

Hon. Castillo Steps Aside For Mayor Bradley In Caribbean Shores
Another UDP Area Representative has stepped down to make way for a new candidate. Santiago Castillo Jr - who was just elected three years ago - held a press conference today to say he wouldn't go to a convention against Mayor Darrell Bradley on June 7th. Instead, he is endorsing Bradley and returning to his family business when his term is ended. The announcement didn't come as a surprise to political insiders; they knew that Castillo had not been active in his division and would have faced an uphill battle against a Mayor whose popular at the polls. And, so, it was basically pride of place that was keeping him in the game - but pride can be an expensive indulgence - and today Castillo told the media that he didn't want to further tax his sole political financier, who is his mother, millionaire matriarch of the Santiago Castillo business empire, Ady Castillo. The Prime Minister made it official at UDP Headquarters this morning:.. Hon. Dean Barrow, UDP Party Leader "Minister Castillo, after a long and anxious consideration, has decided that he does not wish to go forward." Hon. Santiago Castillo, UDP Representative - Caribbean Shores "I've had long and hard nights thinking about this decision. Something that I discussed with my family in details, especially this past weekend and it's a decision that took me a long time to make. In fact, as the Prime Minister indicated, it was solely my decision. When I looked at everything that was on the board, the main reason I made this decision is because as he said, a convention in Caribbean Shores, and I had a personal meeting with the Mayor this morning and I feel and still feel that that would have been like a Manny Pacquiao/Mayweather fight.

Brutality Victim, Andres Rodriguez, Speaks
28 year old driver Andres Rodriguez was beaten by police at his home in front of his wife and son on Sunday night. The video that his wife captured went viral on Facebook and made the news. As we told you one of the officers has been charged for wounding while the others have been will face disciplinary action. Well, Rodriguez came to Belize City today to tell us that outcome is not enough, far from it. He visited our studios today and gave us his personal account of the horrifying incident and told us why he thinks these officers should be sent home. His narrative of the event begins after the police officers approached him in his vehicle and broke his glass window as he drove off. Andres Rodriguez "Says he was beaten for no reason. When I was reaching near to where I live, I realized the police was following me and I stopped in the middle of the road. I didn't even park the car in the garage where I should have park it… and so that is when I stopped and came out of the car and suddenly the police started to hit me without saying anything…they told me nothing. When they started to beat me my only reaction was to get into my house because my house was close by.

Half A Million Stolen From Treasury
Almost half a million dollars has been fleeced from the government treasury - and according to the Prime Minister, it was done by officials playing games with account numbers. He told the media today what is known so far about the scam: Prime Minister Dean Barrow "There is some official or officials who ran some sort of scam in terms of legitimate payments for particular accounts changing account numbers while perhaps retaining the name. It seems initially the bank's only concern that the account number that was given, did in fact exist. What the FS (Financial Secretary) told me was that basically it was the bank or one of the banks that eventually realize that there was a mismatch between the particular name and the particular account number. When the Financial Secretary spoke to me, he did say that it appeared that it could be as high as half a million dollars. The police feel that there is more evidence they need, at least up to Tuesday, before arrests or an arrest would take place."

Upgraded Criminal Charge For Dr. Marco Tulio
PUP Orange Walk East Area Representative Marco Tulio Mendez will face more serious charges of child molestation after the DPP reviewed the file. Months after Mendez was arraigned, the investigation file was finally sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cheryl Lynn Vidal. After going over the evidence, she found evidence for another charge that the officers did not lay against Mendez. This afternoon, DPP Vidal told us that the investigators charged him with indecent assault based on the claim that he allegedly touched these girls in a sexual manner. That's an aggravated assault, but DPP Vidal told us that one of the teenagers reported details more serious than that. She told us that there is evidence from one of the complainants which suggests that Mendez was trying to have intercourse with her. Legally, the offence of attempting to commit carnal knowledge is more serious than aggravated assault. That means that now the case definitely has to go to the Supreme Court - previously it would have been heard at the Magistrate's level. So, that means more bad news for Mendez, who confidently declared on Monday that he will be acquitted when his day in court comes. Here are those comments again:

Making Internet Bandwidth More Affordable
Did you know that even when you are sending an email to your neighbor right across the street - it has to first be routed through Miami? It's nothing sinister, that's just how the bandwidth traffic is routed. But now, a new internet exchange point will be set up in Belize - and all local internet traffic will be routed locally - at no cost to internet service providers like BTL and SMART. It's going through a hub at the UB Belize City Campus in West Landivar - and, in a minor modern miracle, all the major internet service providers have signed unto the initiative. It was spearheaded by a regional group called Packet Clearing House. Bevel Wooding explained that while it may sound technical, the local exchange point it will make a simple difference in your e-life:... Bevel Wooding, Packet Clearing House "Now that access to sites anywhere in the world is normally done through an exchange point. Up to this day, those exchange points that you connect to that, service providers have to connect to, have been outside of Belize. What the parties are agreeing to do today is to bring, to establish, to develop an internet exchange point within Belize. So that the first point of internet traffic exchange is going to happen locally before it happens internationally.

Puerto Azul: Who Owns The Cayes?
Puerto Azul, the name has been in the news for at least 8 months now. That's after it got roundly criticized by the conservation community and the Government for being too "fantastical" to be placed on the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. The first details released on the project last year was that the Italian investors wanted to build a super exclusive eight star mega resort on North 2 and Sandbore Cayes. It got negative publicity because the conservationists say that environmentally, the size and scope of the project will affect the integrity of the natural elements of this World Heritage Site. Well, it appeared that the developers got the message, and they intended to scale it back. Fast-forward to this morning; one American businessman, who has financial interests in the island, decided to go public with his opinions of the project and the changes that the investors are now considering. First, there is a complex backstory to the ownership of the two cayes where the Puerto Azul investors want to put their resort. The cayes are jointly owned by two companies, known as Northern Two Cayes Company Limited, and the Lighthouse Reef Resort Limited. Those two companies are in court. On one side, there is American Jack Black who is being sued by his former business partners, 98 other Americans, who jointly bought the two islands. Then, there is businessman John Mills who bought a mortgage for the complex so that the existing Lighthouse Reef Resort could stay open. It was being foreclosed on by Scotia Bank. He's now a bondholder trying to get paid, and he has an encumbrance on the property in which the owners owe him over 3 million US dollars. So, for Puerto Azul Developers to buy the property from the two companies, he has to be paid first.

PM Discusses Effects Of The US Money Laundering Measures
On Tuesday we told you about what the Prime Minister said at the Summit of the America's about the perilous state of Belize and the Region's banking industry after draconian anti money laundering measures were enacted by the US Government. He said, quote, "there is a crisis in my own country....where the big US banks are 'de-risking' by terminating their correspondent relationships with our domestic banks." Now, if you don't know, that correspondent banking relationship is the bedrock of the international aspect of local banking - that's who the banks rely on to conduct all their international transactions, such as wire transfers. Simply put, these correspondent banks - mainly the bank of America in New York - make it possible to get money from one country to another - without them, international commerce becomes impossible. Today the Prime Minister walked back somewhat from his characterization of it as a crisis; he said no banks have yet lost their correspondent banking relationship.

PM Trying To Resolve Cruise Port Dispute
The Prime Minister is also dealing with another prickly local matter that has international implications. That's the matter of Belize's cruise future. As we have reported, the Fort Street Tourism Village and its competitor, Mike Feinstein's Stake Bank project are in court with the Government of Belize. There is a bevy of suits and countersuits - but the PM says, he's at least gotten both sides to the table to talk:... Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "The development is that, I had a discussion with Mr. Feinstein. Had a discussion with the Fort Street Tourism people, the two of them got together and so there is a little bit more clarity as to where we are, if not necessarily as to the way forward. Again, as to where that solution will come down - as to who the solution will favor - I don't want to be premature. I am trying to be extremely careful because any way you go, there is clearly going to be a degree of discontent. I don't want necessarily to lose FSTV. I certainly, I don't mind saying, would want to see Feinstein as the local, be able to proceed with the development of Stake bank." Of course, the case has already gone to court. Principally, Mike Feinstein is challenging the ability of the Fort Street Tourism Village to collect tax - since, only the government can tax - and all taxes must go into the consolidated revenue fund. The PM says they may have to go to parliament to fix that:...

Auditor General Reports On Government Finances
And while the Prime Minister is playing doctor in the case, the examining physician when it comes to government's finances is the Auditor General, Dorothy Bradley. And her recently completed report for the fiscal year 2001 to 2012 gives a poor bill of health. Bradley has registered an adverse opinion, saying that the audit, quote, "does not give a true and fair view of the government's financial position as at March 31, 2012...": The reason for that is 23 commercial bank accounts which were not reconciled. Today the Prime Minister registered only mild concern:.. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "I'm concerned that we still don't completely have our house in order, but things like a lack of reconciliation, I'm not blaming public officers. But that's hardly the sort of thing that the political directorate can ensure will take place. In terms of contracts being done after works have been performed, that's perhaps a little more problematic, in fact I would say it's a little more problematic. But again there are exceptional circumstances where you shouldn't, but you do move quickly because you feel there's a special urgency to the case. I repeat, they ought not to happen, but look, you're not talking about any case of fraud. You're not talking about any case of any politician or any public servant having made off with monies. I will be very happy that that's not the case."

PM Barrow Discusses Labour Senator's Predicament
We also asked the Prime Minister to weigh in on embattled Senator Ray Davis. Davis is Barrow's former classmate from his high school days at Saint Michael's - and the PM holds him in high regard. He says he too was disappointed in Davis's abstention - since he wanted the Senator to vote "yes" to the Petrocaribe Loan Motion, The union wanted him to vote "no" - but never made that clear to Davis - and the PM says it would be unfair to banish him for that:.. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "I can't understand why some people in the NTUCB, in particular, the vice president would be going after him in this fashion, especially because he seems to be able to show that he did not receive specific instructions. If you don't instruct the man, in effect you're leaving it up to him to make his individual determination. How then are you going to fault him for the determination that he did make. It is my sense that he certainly didn't vote for the bill, but it is my sense that Ray bore well in mind the fact that public officers and teachers have benefited so handsomely from Petrocaribe. They have a seat on the National Bank through which they are benefiting. They have a seat on BIL, so that largest infrastructure projects, they are able to provide oversight for. And that while the argument is that they are 'quarrelling' with the legislation rather than with the program, in a sense the lines are blurred. And so it doesn't strike me as at all surprising that, left to his own devices, Davis didn't feel that this was something he should vote no on. I'm a little disappointed he didn't actually vote yes, but as I said, that apart he's an outstanding fellow and I would hope for the sake of the NTUCB that they don't let go of, really, a person who's a stellar performer."

The Struggles Of the Fisherman
The Belize Federation of Fishers today launched a unique documentary about Belizean fishermen. The over 1 hour production delves into the life of 7 Belizean Fishermen, highlighting their internal struggles as fisher folk on the sea as well as external issues affecting their livelihood. We spoke with some of the starring fishermen this afternoon at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium about what this documentary means to them. They held an AGM this morning where they got to voice their concerns to Minister Lisel Alamilla. Some of those issues include limited funding, strengthening the cooperative and establishing a mechanism to regulate fin fish in Belize among others. The federation is working on selling the documentary in DVD format.

UB Student Research Applied To Real Problems
Today a group of University students presented their findings on a number of interesting research topics. They were presented at the University of Belize's Faculty of Management and Social Sciences 5th Annual Research Symposium at the Radisson. About 7 students gave a 20 minute presentation and engaged other students and lecturers in a discussion. Now, it may sound like a puffed up version of class presentations, but according to the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, it's not just for show; it focuses on how these students can devise solutions to national issues and present new ideas. We met with some of these young researchers this morning and they discussed the extent of their research. Vincent Palacio, Dean, UB Faculty of FMASS "As the national university, it is our responsibility to do investigative work, research. To be able to answer questions of national significance. So, we have all of our students in the business program, before they graduate, they either have to do an internship or they do a thesis, which is a research. In the past we use to have thesis defense at the university where only the faculty members would listen to. When I came on as dean, I felt it was so rich that we should open it up for the entire country. So we decided to have this conference. Five years in going, the topics are very, exciting and interesting. We added the poster component so we have posters all around that you'll see."

PROFILE
Tonight we have another installment in the "I am Belize" Profile Series. This time, the profile is focusing on mediation counseling - and Claudia Groutsche tells the profile, how, by counseling others, she stumbled upon the central conflict in her own life: the conflict with her mother:..

The Telecommunications Blackout of 05
So, this week we are observing the ten-year anniversary of the Troubles of 2005. The country came to a standstill on April 15, 2005 - when the national phone system went down: no land lines, no cellular, no internet, no text. At the same time, there were intermittent blackouts and water service outages. For a while there it was like Belize had turned into basketcase. The whole uproar was about the Musa Administration - public funds used to cover private debts for cronies without any public knowledge or disclosure. Things really started to heat up on April 15, which is when the phone system went down. That's when government swooped in to BTL to take it over by force. Last night we showed you how that weekend ended on April 17th, with Sunday night mayhem in front of BTL headquarters. Tonight, we'll show you how it started on Friday night with Police moving in to take over the utility:... Again, that was ten years ago, in April of 2005. Last night we mixed it up and said March, 2005 - slight confusion created by the fact that our internet archive for those dates are blank - why? Because there was no internet due to the telecommunication shutdown.

Channel 5

Santi Concedes to Darrell Bradley and Steps Down As U.D.P. Caribbean Shores Candidate
Mayor Darrell Bradley has been anointed the U.D.P. candidate in Caribbean Shores, no messy convention, no nasty mudslinging, no big spending and no bloodshed – just…well for lack of a [...]

Was Santi Induced Into Back Down from Squaring Off with Darrell Bradley?
The sudden departure of Castillo raises eyebrows, since when last we spoke to him he was very critical of Bradley, and very confident of victory in any convention. He claimed [...]

Darrell Bradley Lays Out Campaign Roadmap for Caribbean Shores
So on June seventh, there will be a convention, but it will be an endorsement of the U.D.P.’s crown prince Darrell Bradley. It’ll be the Mayor’s first time in the [...]

Half-A-Million Dollars Missing from Treasury!
Following his political announcement, the PM spoke to the media on a myriad of issues, including one very recent and serious discovery. Auditors and the police have been called into [...]

Who Owns the Islands That Puerto Azul Will Be Built On?
Puerto Azul, arguably the largest foreign direct investment in tourism in Belize, should it become a reality, was the subject of a press conference earlier today by a debt holder [...]

PM on Status of Tourism Developments
The government hasn’t been having much luck where mega-million dollar tourism investment in Belize is concerned. The interest is there, and perhaps so is the real intent, but the projects [...]

What’s the P.M.’s Two Cents on the Ray Davis/N.T.U.C.B. Situation?
N.T.U.C.B. Second Vice-President, Audrey Matura-Shepherd has called for the head of Senator Ray Davis because he abstained when asked to vote on the controversial Petrocaribe Bill. Matura has gone so [...]

P.M. Responds to the Auditor General’s Reports
Barrow also spoke on the recent report of the Auditor-General, who reports that she could not get a clear picture of government finances because a number of accounts were not [...]

Quality Internet Services; Stakeholders Sign M.O.U. for local Internet Exchange Point
For the past five years, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union together with Pocket Clearing House has been promoting the establishment of Internet Exchange Points throughout the Caribbean. Exchange Points are essentially [...]

…What Will It Mean for Internet Users?
The installation of the local infrastructure will see a better increase in the services provided to consumers—gaming operations, voice over internet protocols, substantial increases in local bandwidth and local internet [...]

Fisher Folks Meet to Discuss State of Fisheries in Belize
The Belize Federation of Fishers held its first annual general meeting at the Belize Elementary School Gymnasium in Belize City today. The federation started back in 2011, but got incorporated [...]

Minister of Fisheries Weighs in on Belize Fisheries Federation AGM
And if it is recognition from government that the B.F.F. needs, they got it today at its A.G.M. Minister of Fisheries, Lisel Alamilla, attended the event. After a brief presentation, [...]

OW Cops Guilty of Beating Up Andres Rodriguez
Tonight, the officers involved in the vicious beating of Andres Rodriguez in Orange Walk Town on Sunday have been found guilty of excessive use of force.  That is the outcome [...]

Saul Geovanni Ortiz Arraigned for Murder of Coastguard Officer in San Ignacio
A third San Ignacio resident was formally arrested and charged today for the murder of twenty-three-year-old Belizean coastguard officer, Aurelio Montero Junior. On Tuesday, twenty-three year old Saul Geovanni Ortiz, [...]

Glenford Baine Sentenced to Five Years for Gun Possession
Eight months ago, on August fourth, 2014, twenty-five-year-old Belize City resident Glenford Baine Junior was seen hiding a nine millimeter pistol loaded with nine live rounds of ammunitions into a [...]

Petition to Bring Back Deon McCauley
Following a congress of the Football Federation of Belize on Saturday, President Ruperto Vicente reiterated that the organization will not be sponsoring striker Deon McCauley’s return to the country for [...]

What’s the Quota Needed to Return Striker to Belize for World Cup Qualifiers?
That brainstorming led to the realization of a five thousand dollar quota, the total needed to defray McCauley’s travel expenses, as well as a weekly stipend while in Belize training. [...]

CTV3

O/W East Area Rep. To Face More Charges
There seems to be more trouble brewing for the embattled P.U.P Orange Walk East Area Representative, Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez tonight. That is because information from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Sheryl Lyn Vidal indicates that Mendez will be additionally charged for the attempt to commit Carnal Knowledge. Our friends at Channel 7 spoke to Vidal today who confirmed to them that months after Mendez was arraigned, the investigation file was finally sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. After her perusal, she found evidence for another charge that the officers did not lay against Mendez. Vidal said and we quote “one of the teenagers reported details more serious than that. The file shows that there is evidence for the attempt to commit Carnal Knowledge charge. The incident allegedly dates back to 2009. We tried on many attempts to contact his Attorney Dickie Bradley today to confirm this information but our efforts have been futile up to news time. For context, 2 teenaged girls have accused him of inappropriate sexual contact which happened years before the age of consent. Since the report, Mendez has been charged with several counts of Aggravated Assault of an indecent nature.

Santiago Castillo Jr. No Longer To Contest Convention For Caribbean Shores
The convention for UDP Standard Bearer for Caribbean Shores in Belize City was set for June 7th but instead of an electoral battle between current UDP Area Representative for Caribbean Shores Santiago Castillo Junior and current Mayor for Belize City Darrel Bradley, the people of Caribbean Shores will witness an endorsement convention. And it’s not Darrell Bradley that backed down. This morning Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development Santiago Castillo Junior announced that he will not contest the convention and was leaving the road free for Darrel Bradley. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the UDP Office in Belize City and we are sure that it caught many by surprise especially the constituents of Caribbean Shores since they were informed about Castillo’s decision as recently as last night via text message. “So as to keep it from the Press, I did not informed my committee until after the news last night by text, it would have been impossible to call each and every one and it would have been up to right now so I send them a text informing them of my decision that is how I did it because the Prime Minister and I have discussed that I didn’t want news to get out prior to right now.”

Guinea Grass Village In Dire Need Of Police Officers
Residents of Guinea Grass have for years been clamouring for a stationed 24/7 police officer for the growing village but their cries have always fallen on deaf ears. If in the event of an emergency, the Chairman says he relies on his own resources to get help for his people. “The lack of police officer in the village it is an issue because there are sometimes that we have emergencies and we do not have an officer, I would not say it is the officers fault because they are under a command and if they are called out of the village to work on the Orange Walk Station well is not their fault so.” Maria Novelo – Reporter “Hypothetically speaking suppose an emergency comes up and how do you guys goes to get help?” JOSE HERNANDEZ – Chairman, Guinea Grass “Normally when situations like arises, I go in my vehicle as the Chairman and I try to pacify whatever problem is going on.” It is of note that the village does have a small police station outpost but rarely is an officer seen or found there when needed and so the residents of the community rely on the Orange Walk authorities for help.

O/W Police Investigates Traffic Mishap Involving Customs Officers
Yesterday we told you about a Customs vehicle that was mangled and wrecked after it overturned and flipped in a drain off the San Lorenzo Road. When we left you, police had vague information on the report since it happened late in the afternoon. Well today we got the names of the driver and his passengers and an account of what transpired through the Orange Walk Police. “Orange Walk police visited the San Lorenzo road an area about half a mile away from San Lorenzo Housing Site when traveling from the San Roman road when upon arrival it was observed that a red Mitsubishi four door pickup which is the property of the government of Belize attached to the Customs Department and as seen on the right hand side of the road while travelling on the San Roman road overturned with the four wheels on the air; Aaron A. Sheppard 34 years Customs Officer reported he was driving the said motor vehicle in direction of San Roman road to San Lorenzo road whilst reaching about half a mile from the San Lorenzo Housing Site he was approached by another vehicle on the opposite direction which lifted a heavy cloud of dust which blinded him and run off the road and causing him to over turned, travelling with Sheppard was Brian Gill 26 years old and one Williams PC#701 attached to special patrol unit, Sheppard complaint of a pain to his left foot and Williams complain of chest pain and Gill complain of back and shoulder.”

CSCPA Seeks Fair Trade Certification
As we reported in the second segment of the newscast by all accounts, the sugar crop is going well, and the new associations have been working well together. Well, we can say this is certain for the Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association. We spoke with the Chairman of the CSCPA, Elvis Canul who says that they are enjoying a good working relationship with the other associations and BSI. The association has come far as they have held their first annual general meeting on April 12th. Canul says it was necessary to take that step to secure the association’s future. At the meeting the membership elected its official board of directors, were presented the bylaws, a strategic plan and budget. The membership also elected a surveillance committee that comprises of three members. So far the association has 342 registered members from Patchakan, Corozal Town, Louisville, Concepcion, Libertad, Progresso and San Narciso with a total of 91, 429 tons of sugar cane. Canul says they have been receiving favorable recognition within the industry and the communities. “We have been contacted by the government officials, we have been contacted by the different agricultural suppliers, they know that we are a new organization, and they want to work along with us, we have SIRDI, we have the ACPC at all different levels that have been very collaborative and sharing information so that we could get on board and have a good road to where we want to go.”

Guinea Grass Village To Construct Fence On Football Field
And while we had the opportunity to speak with the Chairman of Guinea Grass Village, we felt compelled to ask about the well fare and affairs of the community. With an ever increasing village population that keeps growing, the community has its fair share of difficulties. And despite not having any help from Central Government, the tightly –knit community bands together to make projects come to fruition for the village and residents. JOSE HERNANDEZ – Chairman, Guinea Grass “There is a lot of issues here in the village that needs attention and this village is big and as you might know the lack of resources or the finances we do not have that but thanks to the people that sponsors us and help us that they give a little here and a little there and that is how we carry our projects. This coming week we are going to start fencing our football field and as you can see it it is damaged because vehicles usually crossed the field but we want to start off fencing the football field, I already ordered the post and by next week we should be starting.” It is of note that the Guinea Grass Village has an approximate population of over 4,000 residents.

Belize Chamber Of Commerce Calls For Accountability And Transparency
The controversial Petro Caribe Loans Act is back in the news tonight and this is after the Belize Chamber of Commerce issued a release this afternoon stating their stance on the issue at the same time calling for accountability and transparency. After careful review of the Alba Petro Caribe Bill the Chamber has taken the position that the bill undermines the spirit and intent of the revised Finance and Audit Act of 2005. The Chamber believes that this new Act undermines and effectively reverses all efforts made by the Chamber and the unions in 2005 toward greater accountability and transparency in the handling of public funds. According to the Belize Chamber of Commerce transparency and accountability should be given greater prominence by the Government of Belize particularly due to the absence of a fully functional Public Accounts Committee to report on Government Expenditure. And, according to the chamber, it is for this reason that the organization endorses the Business Sector Senator’s vote against the Petro Caribe Act in the Senate.

PlusTV

Keyren Tzib meets bail on attempted murder charge
After a delay to consider the merits of her case, Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord today set bail of $10,000 for Coast Guard seaman Keyren Tzib, 24, charged with the attempted murder by shooting of Petty Officer Kurt Hyde on Easter Monday, April 6, aboard a Coast Guard vessel docking at the headqu...

Final decision on Albert Vaughan loitering charge in May
This afternoon Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart heard final submissions from both parties in the case against 55 year old activist of the People’s United Party (PUP) Albert Vaughan, who faces a charge of loitering in a public place stemming from the events of August 4 when workers from Belize Maintena...

Belizeans organized to “bring Deon home”
The furore over the fate of superstar footballer Deon McCaulay continues to rage, but according to the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) it is out of their hands: unless Belize’s top goal scorer can pay his way home, he may not make it on to the national team to play in the second round of the reg...

Another disgruntled PUP takes to social media
An explosive article written by former PUP Standard bearer Collet Montejo that criticizes his party’s leadership is making its rounds in social media since it was published in the Amandala yesterday. The article states that quote, "The current leadership of the PUP can see that with names such as Fo...

Measures to quell perception of corruption
Last week plus news reported that a senior worker at the Belmopan City Council Javier Novelowas dismissed from office...

World English Experience for Belmopan Baptist High students
On March 27,11 students and one teacher from the Belmopan Baptist High School travelled to London to participate in the World English Experience, an annual event held at one of the most prestigious boarding schools in London...

Woman critically injured in drive by shooting
A woman was critically injured in a drive by shooting last night, Tuesday April 14. According to reports, sometime about 9:15 p.m., 37-year-old Stephanie Bood of Belize City was shot to the right hand and the buttocks...

Toledo police make arrest in fatal hit and run accident
Earlier this week we told you about a fatal hit and run accident in Big Falls Toledo. Today, police have arrested the person believed to be responsible for the death of  Jose Aldana on Monday of this week...

Dead shrimp floating in shrimp farm pond
Marine products make up a significant part of Belize’s domestic exports; valuing some 112 million dollars in the year 2013.  The shrimp industry is a part of that sector and has had its ups and downs in Belize with a contracting and then rebounding of the market over the years...

Robbery at Dangriga Gas station
There was a robbery at a Dangriga  gas station on Tuesday afternoon. According to the  25-year-old pump attendant at UNO Gas Station on George Price Drive in Dangriga, he was accosted by two men, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun. The men robbed him of his Smart SAMSUNG phone and $706...

13 years for gun possession and weed
Twenty-two-year-old Darrington Lauriano Jr. was sentenced to thirteen years in prison starting yesterday Tuesday April 14...

Belize City men on island with drugs
A group of Belize City men from the Victoria Street Area were found on the Island of Ambergris Caye with cocaine. Police special operations on San Pedro led to the discovery and subsequent arrest of the  5 men...

The Guardian

National Bank issues 842 loans to public officers and teachers - Do Matura and Mora want this to stop?
The President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, Marvin Mora, has latched sides with the Vice President, Audrey Matura in what appears to be an all out campaign to either declare the Petro Caribe bill either illegal or immoral. And as they go about their campaign they have forgotten two crucial things about Petro Caribe, or maybe it is that they are so consumed by their anti-Petro Caribe rhetoric that it is obfuscating what they should know. What Matura and Mora should know is that Petro Caribe is funding the Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL) which is the government operated company which is implementing sporting facilities across the country. BIL is headed by a board of directors one of whom is a member of the NTUCB. If it is transparency and accountability that Matura and Mora are chiding the Petro Caribe bill for, all they need to do is to ask their representative on BIL to appraise them of how the money is being spent. BIL goes through some tedious processes to ensure accountability and we are sure that the union representative there is aware of these. Mora and Matura, please check your representative to see how the money is being spent. What they also need to check is that the National Bank was originally capitalized with 20 million dollars from Petro Caribe and later 10 million dollars was infused to ensure, that most of all, public officers and teachers are able to access finances to make their lives better.

Ambassador Nestor Mendez says he’ll be professional if he deals with Guatemala-Belize negotiations
H.E. Nestor Mendez is the newly elected deputy Secretary General of the Organization of American States. He was elected with a 24-10 margin giving him what Mendez says is a significant mandate. Mendez will hold tenure for five years from July 13 2015 to July 2020. On Wednesday April 15 he appeared on Wave Radio's 'Fus ting da mawnin' where he told the hosts Joe Bradley and Alfonso Noble as much. During the course of the half hour interview Mendez explained that the entire process of getting him elected started in March 2013. During that process the campaign had to convince the membership that Belize has a role to play in the organization and convincing the member states that Belize has a better candidate to offer. At the end of the day Mendez explained that he received a strong mandate where the membership expects him to be a manager for the implementation and offer guidance in the organization to implement what the membership has decided on. Asked what role he will play in the Belize-Guatemala negotiations, he explained that the Secretary General is yet to determine that but "I can assure everyone that I will treat this issue with the highest degree of professionalism, seriousness and respect that this matter deserves." As for now however he was quick to point out that he does not know what role he will be assigned at the OAS but explained that the current Sec. Gen. has expressed that his role will be one of more being a co-secretary general than a deputy.

Hon. Dean Barrow’s Remarks at the Second CEO Summit of the Americas
Bridging the Americas: Productive Integration for Inclusive Development The topic we are dealing with is a large one. But the organizers have tried to be helpful by identifying the sub-areas on which they want to focus. These have been described as "opportunities for promoting investment, facilitating trade and fostering development, in particular in agribusiness, finance, information technology and public infrastructural sectors, as well as active participation of the private sector in the social development of our nations". Now that is a mouthful. And I am not sure that it does not in fact further expand rather than compress the subject. I shall nevertheless try both to follow its markers and remain within the allotted time. But to do that I have had to further distill the theme. I will therefore be concentrating principally on the modalities and strategies necessary to optimize our efforts at the level of regional economic groupings, which groupings are the precursor to Hemispheric integration. I take it as a given that our current stratification into so-called Regional Economic Communities (RECs)-NAFTA, CARICOM, SICA, MERCOSUR, UNASUR-is accepted as the best way of proceeding towards the ultimate goal of hemispheric free trade. Indeed, this very Summit had its genesis in the integration process launched by the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative (EAI) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). But proceeding from that premise, I believe we need to examine and strengthen the operational effectiveness of our current RECs in order to achieve true pan-American complementarity.

Mark King intervenes on behalf of Lake I Squatters
Almost a dozen families from the Lake Independence area were about to be thrown unto the street when the Area Representative, Hon. Mark King, intervened on their behalf. Property in the Lake Independence Area is turning into prime real estate as a result of Government’s Belize City transformation master plan. The area now being developed as Lake Independence Boulevard will be home to world class sporting and recreation facilities, a national bus terminal, national police headquarters and National Bank of Belize’s Belize City headquarters. Due to this remarkable development, landowners who have long neglected their undeveloped properties in the area are now coming forward to present papers of ownership and demand the removal of squatters. Two weeks ago, the attorney for one such property owner issued eviction notices to squatters in the area which would ultimately cause the uprooting of eleven families from the place they call home. Just before their structures were destroyed and they were thrown out unto the street, Hon. Mark King called the attorney to request a stay of execution on the eviction notices until he can find some place for the people to move.

148 voters determine who is new BNTU president
The presidency of the Belize National Teacher’s Union, perhaps the most powerful union in the country, was contested on Wednesday of last week. It is interesting that while the union is the largest in the country, a total of 333 members were the ones to decide who the president would be. The general meeting to make such a crucial decision for the union came without much fanfare. There are some who say they were not even aware that the meeting would take place and much less that there would be an election to determine who the president would be. Nonetheless the meeting took place in Benque Viejo del Carmen and high on the agenda was the election. There were three persons who had expressed interest in the position, these persons include incumbent Luke Palacio, Belmopan Branch President Frances Avella and Orange Walk Branch president Otilio Muñoz. At the end of the elections Luke Palacio received 148 votes, Frances Avella received 98 votes and Otilio Munoz received 87 votes.

BNTU holds convention in Cayo
The Belize National Teachers Union held its 45th Annual Convention in Benque Viejo del Carmen on April 8th and 9th of 2015 at the Mount Carmel High School. It was a special time for teachers from across Belize to set an agenda for the coming years. During the second day, Luke Palacio was re-elected for the third consecutive time as president of the BNTU. On April the 9th, two resolutions were presented to improve both the Union and teacher’s welfare and are as follows: Whereas the BNTU constitution was revised and approved in 2011, and whereas the Standing Order was not revised; be it resolved that a Constitution Committee be formed to revise the Constitution, Bye Laws and Standing Order. Be it further resolved that it is presented at Convention 2016 for approval. Whereas the revolving loan scheme charges 8% interest on loans, except for professional development loans, which charge 5% interest, be it resolved that medical emergency loans for the members and their immediate family be given at 5% interest upon presentation of proper medical documentation, be it further resolved that any loan made by a retired teacher be charged at 5% interest, be it further resolved that a through accrual study be made before implementation of this resolution.

Bail for Keyren Tzib
Coast Guard Seaman Keyren Tzib has been accused of shooting fellow officer Curt Hyde on Easter Monday. On Wednesday, April 15, eight days after being remanded to the Belize Central Prison she was released on bail. She will have to stand trial at some point on charges of attempted murder, dangerous harm, and use of deadly means of harm. Her attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd, applied to the Supreme Court for an expedited bail hearing on Friday, April April 10. She did so by invoking the amendment to the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act. The premise of the new law is that an accused person can forgo the 2 week waiting period if he/she can show the court that prior to being charged with the current offence, that person was of good character and without a criminal record. Matura-Shepherd submitted arguments before Justice Herbert Lord that Tzib fits this exception perfectly. Senior Crown Counsel Linsbert Willis asked the judge for an adjournment so that he could verify what the prognosis for Petty Officer Kurt Hyde is. After consideration, he granted that adjournment but ordered that a psychiatric evaluation must be done on Tzib to determine her mental health.

Mortgage Securitization - theft of the People’s money

Prime Minister Barrow Leads Belize Delegation at VII Summit of the Americas in Panama
On Saturday, April 11th, 35 Head of State and Government of the Western Hemisphere participated in the historic VII Summit of the Americas held in Panama City, Panama under the theme “Prosperity with Equity: The Challenge of Cooperation in the Americas”. Prime Minister Dean Barrow led the Belize delegation to this three day event. This is the first time that all 35 countries of the hemisphere have participated in a session of the Summit of the Americas, which included the Republic of Cuba, headed by President Raul Castro. Activities came to a close on Saturday, April 11th, after the conclusion of the main plenary session where Foreign Minister Elrington spoke on behalf of Belize. Prior to the plenary, Prime Minister Barrow participated in a Business Forum where he presented on the theme of regional competitiveness. Prime Minister Barrow also participated in a meeting of Heads of Governments of SICA and President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. This followed a meeting held prior to the Summit in Kingston, Jamaica between President Obama and CARICOM Heads of Government.

Separation of Powers
The Separation of Powers doctrine is meaningful and vital to the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries. This doctrine mandates that the three arms of Government namely, the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are kept separate and free from influences by each other. In other words, no arm of Government has power over the other. The legislature within these Countries is elected by their people. The Legislature's role is to make laws, the Executive is empowered to make appointments and execute the laws made by the legislature, while the Judiciary is to interpret the law. In Belize, elections are held every five years. Belize is comprised of two major Political parties, the United Democratic Party and the People’s United Party. From 1998 to 2008 the People’s United Party had served two terms, regrettably it could be argued that during this time, some outrageous atrocities were committed against Belize by the then Government. The Caribbean Court of Justice once referred to members of the People’s United Party as “malignant tumours” and there are basis for that statement. The case of BCB Holdings v AG of Belize fully supports this point. Involved in that case were the Attorney General of Belize who is presently the Leader of the Opposition party (People’s United Party) and the Minister of Finance of Belize, both members of the Executive arm of Government at the time. They secretly gave tax relief to BCB Holdings without informing the Belizean People nor the National Assembly, which was a breach of Separation of Powers.

State of the Art San Narciso - San Victor Road Inaugurated
The extremely important 9.53 kilometer stretch of road from San Narciso to San Victor and the 3 kilometer stretch from the Old Northern Highway to BSI Junction have been paved. The Government of Belize held an inauguration ceremony to mark the conclusion of the project at Mother’s Park in San Narciso Village on Wednesday, April 15. Residents of the area came out for the 10 a.m. ceremony to hear from the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Belize, Ambassador Paola Amadeiand Hon. Hugo Patt. Also in attendance at the ceremony were members of the San Narciso Village Council, the Sugar Industry Control Board; Representatives of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association (CSCPA) and Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association (PSCPA).

Arthur Saldivar at it again
Failed PUP politician Arthur Saldivar, who is a well-known criminal attorney, will be facing criminal charges of his own that is in relation to some sort of domestic situation with the mother of his 2 sons. She has gone to police to report that Saldivar trespassed on her property on Monday, April 13, took her phone and scrolled through her text messages, which she did not give him authority to do. Belmopan Police have confirmed that due to the report they received, Saldivar will be charged with burglary and trespassing on Thursday April 16. Saldivar’s version of events to the press is that the allegations are untrue, nonsense, and a waste of the police and court’s time. He claims that he was outside of the property, and that he only went through the phone because his son brought it to him.

Third Sibling Charged for Murder of Denver Villafranco
BDF volunteer soldier, Denver Villafranco, was ambushed on Complex Avenue and beaten to death sometime around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2015. Police detained three men initially for the incident but eventually only charged brothers, Orlando, 38, and Phil Tyrone Staine, 41, for the murder. Almost three months later, police have now charged a third brother, Kareem Staine, 33, for his part in the brutal murder. Kareem appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 13, where he was arraigned for the murder of Denver Villafranco. In court, no plea was taken and Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith informed him that due to the nature of the offense bail could not be offered. He will be remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May 27, 2015 when he will appear in court along with his brothers to face the charge together. Staine’s relatives say they were provoked prior to the murder. One cousin told us that from December of 2014, Villafranco and his friends, whom he was with the night of his death, had been interfering with the Staine brothers. She told us that prior to the murder two of the Staine brothers had been beaten up badly on the Friday night, January 16, by Villafranco and his friends. She said that when the other brothers came home that weekend and saw their brothers badly beaten with their eyes swollen, they became upset and acted out violently.

Two men ambushed in Roaring Creek, one dies
Best friends, Allan Garbutt and Jermaine “Cheese” Welcome, who are both 24 year-old residents of Roaring Creek Village in the Cayo District, were socializing early on Saturday, April 11, when a gunman ambushed them and shot them without warning. Both young men were seriously injured, Jermaine Welcome passed away from his injuries. According to the information provided to the media, both young men were about to have a quesadilla snack on a verandah of Garbutt’s home in Roaring Creek village. Just before 1:30 a.m. that early Saturday morning, an armed assailant snuck up on them and fired several shots from the yard’s fence. Garbutt was injured on the right hip and shoulder, while Welcome was shot in the lower back. With the same swiftness as he had arrived, the killer escaped back into the darkness of the early morning hours. The family and friends of both men then rushed them to the Western Regional Hospital for emergency medical attention. Garbutt was successfully treated by the doctors on duty, but Welcome was not so fortunate. The doctors tried everything to save Welcome, but about half an hour after they started to operate, he succumbed to the gunshot injury and the resulting damage to his internal organs.

San Pedro Tigersharks halt Western Ballaz in its track
The National Elite Basketball League competition continued on Saturday 11 April, 2015, with three games across the country. At the San Pedro Roman Catholic School in San Pedro Town, the defending champions the San Pedro Tigersharks handed the league’s leading Cayo Western Ballaz its first defeat of the 2015 campaign by the score of 79-75. The top scorers for the San Pedro Tigersharks were Darwin Leslie with 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals, James Milton with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal and Ashton Edwards with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals. Meanwhile, for the Cayo Western Ballaz, the top scorers were Richard Troyer with 33 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; Akeem Watters with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist. Out at the Orange Walk Multi-Purpose Complex in Orange Walk Town the visiting Dangriga Warriors won handily over the home team Orange Walk Running Rebels by the score of 70-55. The top scorers for the Dangriga Warriors were Daniel Nolberto with 25 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal; Edgar Mitchell with 13 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and a steal.

Police United is the number one seed into the playoff
The Premier League of Belize Closing Tournament regular season came to an end on Sunday 12 April, 2015 with three games across the country. At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio Town, the number one seed into the playoffs the Police United defeated the San Ignacio United Team by the score of 6-1. The visiting Police United Team scored the 1st goal of the game when Marlon Mesa scored the 1st of his 2 goals in the 23rd minute of play to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Police lead was extended when Harrison Roaches scored his 1st of three goals in the 30th minute of play for a 2-0 lead. At the end of the first half of the game the score was 2-0 in favour of the Police United Squad. In the second half of the game, the Police United Team picked up right where it left off when Harrison Roaches scored his 2nd and 3rd goals in the 50th and 56th minutes of play for a 4-0 lead. The lead continued to expand when Clifton West scored in the 68th minute of play for a 5-1 lead.

Musa’s Rant
On Monday night I saw a portion of the Dickie Bradley show where the guest was Y. Musa and the topic of discussion was the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project. Musa was embarrassingly emotional in his condemnation of the project; pointing out that this will take us back to the “wretched” days of colonialism and slavery. Some of the anti-colonial sentiments he expressed were too obsessive and he came across as being more political rather than dispassionate. I used my clicker to move on to another program at the second outburst. Musa’s standpoint is not new for the People’s United Party. They seem to want Belizeans to believe that our country’s chronicles began in 1950 with the formation of the PUP and that there is no meaningful history to our country before that year. While no one will ever deny the role Hon. Price played in the achievement of self-government and later nationhood, people actually lived in and loved Belize for centuries before 1981. We cannot refute this fact, and we must accept it gracefully.

YouthTalks
Freedom. Such a simple word, yet the picture it paints in our minds and hearts is great and deep. A small but cherished word. A word that an entire country was founded on. A word that symbolizes one of the most treasured concepts in the world. What did the British fight the Spaniards for? Freedom. Why do governments stand up for its people? Freedom. Why do we hold such pride for our country? Freedom. Why do we fight for justice? For human rights? Freedom. It is a vital part of humanity, one of the most guarded and precious principles of mankind. Everyone wishes to have freedom. This country was created to preserve it in all its forms: freedom of religion, speech, expression, belief – freedom to live the way we wish. Some say, “all men are equal”. If all are equal, why should a person’s right to freedom depend on appearance? What does it matter whether one is black, white, pink, yellow, brown, or olive? Whether one is male or female, short or tall, old or young, fat or thin? We all have the same needs and wants. We all laugh, fight, and work. We all must eat. We all cry salty tears, and when we bleed, it’s always red.

Youth Talks
Growing Up Too Fast Do you remember how old you were the first Christmas morning you woke up and wanted to go back to sleep? If you were like me, you knew what was coming. There was no mystery about whether there would be presents under the tree, or if Santa had written a note and eaten the cookies, like in the stories that were told. Knowing what to expect, it was just another day of vacation. Sleep seems hard to come by as you get older. With homework, more responsibility and even a job, if there's no alarm buzzing, no bus, no teachers, just the satisfaction of lying still for a moment, you give in no matter what. My parents used to do this on Christmas morning, and I never understood why. Now I do. This is one of those defining moments when you know you are losing your childhood innocence. It seems children want to grow out of their childhood; they dream of being adults.

Cordel Hyde’s Negligence Costly for Lake I Squatters
Over 50 Belizean homeowners in the Lake Independence area will soon be forced to break down their houses and move away from the land they cleared and have called home for years. We all know squatting is illegal and such action should not be met with a reward. However, squatting is as much a part of our history as fighting for voting rights, self governance and even independence. People squat when they feel that there is no other alternative. It is then the responsibility of community organizers to work with these people to get them started and take them through the process of legally acquiring the land they have claimed or another parcel that is actually available. There is a shortage of community organizers in Belize; therefore, this type of responsibility falls on the shoulders of elected representatives. Lake Independence has had two elected representatives in the last 17 years. The recent crisis faced by the Lake I squatters brings into focus the type of representation the people in that area have received over these last 17 years. Blatant negligence by the individual elected to represent them throughout most of these years is proving very costly for these poor Belizeans.

Belize and the EU Hold Second “Article 8” Political Dialogue Session
The Second political dialogue session between the European Union and Belize took place in Belize City on Monday, 13 April 2015. The dialogue offers a platform for consultations over a broad range of issues, as well as an opportunity to take stock of progress made concerning ‘essential elements’ of the Cotonou Agreement, including respect for human rights, rule of law, democratic principles and good governance. The meeting focused on the current status of the Belize Guatemala Process, Energy, Climate Change, Security, the Post 2015 Development Agenda, Human Rights, Schengen Visa Waiver, Preparations for EU-CELAC Summit in June2015 and Updates on Regional Processes. Minister Wilfred Elrington led the discussion on the recent developments in the process to resolve the Guatemalan Claim to Belizean Territory. The EU expressed its continued support for the process through the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Facey Julius trying to take credit for Jaguar Paw Road
After going out of his way to try to derail the Petro Caribe initiative that is seeing the investment of millions of dollars into the infrastructure across the country, Julius Espat, now has the face of brass to take credit for the paving of the Franks Eddy road that leads to the Jaguar Paw cave system. If it seems incredulous, it did to us as well until we saw the Belize Slimes saying as much last week. They claim that it was as a result of Julius' lobbying that the road was being done. Compounding the bare-faced nature of Julius is that he is also circulating flyers in the village of Franks Eddy to take credit for the paving of the road. What Julius is not telling people is that under the People's United Party the road was paved only to be broken up within a couple of months of it being done. At the time the paving was done using the PUP's method of 'chip and steal' of course that method could not last very long as most of the money that was supposed to have been used in the paving of the road was actually diverted into the pockets of corrupt politicians. The contractor who then did the actual paving was left with almost nothing, delivering substandard work. That is the way the PUP operate.

Lead Acid Batteries pose environmental risks in Belize
The discussion of hazardous wastes is not a common one in Belize, and for the most part, warning signs such as “No Smoking” and “Toxic Risk” or a vision of the “skull and bones” sign are generally envisioned when the discussion arises. While this is the perception of hazardous wastes, the reality is far different. There are many useful items that only after being fully used are then classified as hazardous wastes, mostly due to their composition. One such item is Lead Acid Batteries. Used Lead Acid Batteriesare considered a hazardous waste and have the potential to affect human health and the environment if not disposed of properly. Used Lead Acid Batteries have three major components, two of which are very peculiar and require special attention when handling and disposing. These components are “lead” and “sulphuric acid”, which are held intact by the plastic cover. In light of the above the Department of the Environment (DOE) has been having discussions with importers and retailers of Lead-Acid Batteries, and with handlers and exporters of used lead-acid batteries, about the development of a Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Programme in Belize.

Teenager Charged for Killing “Ghost”
Shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday, April 13, Percival Alonzo Pilgrim, 18, resident of #34 Logwood Street was escorted to the Belize City Magistrates Court to be arraigned for the murder of Mayflower Street resident Edward Usher, 40, better known as Ghost. Around 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, Usher was walking inside his yard at #5 Mayflower Street when he was approached by a lone gunman who pointed a firearm at him and fired several shots. Police responded to the scene shortly after and saw the motionless Usher face down on the footsteps of a two-story wooden house with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Soon after the shooting, police detained Pilgrim in relation to the crime.

Honduran Women Pleads Guilty to Illegal Entry
Four Honduran women left their native country on March 23, 2015, enroute to seek employment opportunities on the island of San Pedro in Belize. They intended to work as waitresses or bartenders; however, their stay on the island was short because someone tipped police upon their arrival and the women who entered without proper immigration documents were arrested for illegal entry. Cindy Paola Pueto Reyes, 21, Nesly Osmara Lara Sarmiento, 32, Cindy Pahola Zelaya Duenas, 36 and Nodis Vacanado, 29, were arrested and charged with entering Belize illegally on March 29. They pleaded guilty to the charge before Magistrate Ladonna John and were each fined $1,000. They were ordered to pay forthwith or serve six months imprisonment. The women could not pay the fine; therefore, they will serve the time in prison. A removal order has also been issued.

Jealousy may have led to Leon Leslie’s death
Leon Leslie, a mechanic who was well-known in his housing community of Maxboro, was found decomposing in his house on Monday, April 13. He had suffered several stab wounds, and unfortunately, it was his two young sons who found his dead body after they arrived from school. It is believed that he had been killed and left inside his house about 2 or 3 days before his body was finally found. Police don’t have much to go on at this time, but they believed that on Saturday night, there were persons of questionable character who were hanging out with him. His family had seen him that same day. No one heard anything from him for the entire Sunday, and Monday. That wasn’t unusual because he is a diligent mechanic. It was not until his sons went to his house in Maxboro that it was discovered that he had been killed.

Two men ambushed in Roaring Creek, one dies
Best friends, Allan Garbutt and Jermaine “Cheese” Welcome, who are both 24 year-old residents of Roaring Creek Village in the Cayo District, were socializing early on Saturday, April 11, when a gunman ambushed them and shot them without warning. Both young men were seriously injured, Jermaine Welcome passed away from his injuries. According to the information provided to the media, both young men were about to have a quesadilla snack on a verandah of Garbutt’s home in Roaring Creek village. Just before 1:30 a.m. that early Saturday morning, an armed assailant snuck up on them and fired several shots from the yard’s fence. Garbutt was injured on the right hip and shoulder, while Welcome was shot in the lower back. With the same swiftness as he had arrived, the killer escaped back into the darkness of the early morning hours. The family and friends of both men then rushed them to the Western Regional Hospital for emergency medical attention. Garbutt was successfully treated by the doctors on duty, but Welcome was not so fortunate. The doctors tried everything to save Welcome, but about half an hour after they started to operate, he succumbed to the gunshot injury and the resulting damage to his internal organs.

Third Sibling Charged for Murder of Denver Villafranco
BDF volunteer soldier, Denver Villafranco, was ambushed on Complex Avenue and beaten to death sometime around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2015. Police detained three men initially for the incident but eventually only charged brothers, Orlando, 38, and Phil Tyrone Staine, 41, for the murder. Almost three months later, police have now charged a third brother, Kareem Staine, 33, for his part in the brutal murder. Kareem appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Monday, April 13, where he was arraigned for the murder of Denver Villafranco. In court, no plea was taken and Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith informed him that due to the nature of the offense bail could not be offered. He will be remanded to the Belize Central Prison until May 27, 2015 when he will appear in court along with his brothers to face the charge together. Staine’s relatives say they were provoked prior to the murder. One cousin told us that from December of 2014, Villafranco and his friends, whom he was with the night of his death, had been interfering with the Staine brothers. She told us that prior to the murder two of the Staine brothers had been beaten up badly on the Friday night, January 16, by Villafranco and his friends. She said that when the other brothers came home that weekend and saw their brothers badly beaten with their eyes swollen, they became upset and acted out violently.

Police United is the number one seed into the playoff
The Premier League of Belize Closing Tournament regular season came to an end on Sunday 12 April, 2015 with three games across the country. At the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio Town, the number one seed into the playoffs the Police United defeated the San Ignacio United Team by the score of 6-1. The visiting Police United Team scored the 1st goal of the game when Marlon Mesa scored the 1st of his 2 goals in the 23rd minute of play to give his team a 1-0 lead. The Police lead was extended when Harrison Roaches scored his 1st of three goals in the 30th minute of play for a 2-0 lead. At the end of the first half of the game the score was 2-0 in favour of the Police United Squad. In the second half of the game, the Police United Team picked up right where it left off when Harrison Roaches scored his 2nd and 3rd goals in the 50th and 56th minutes of play for a 4-0 lead. The lead continued to expand when Clifton West scored in the 68th minute of play for a 5-1 lead.

Crooked Tree Government School girls and boys are Belize District Primary Schools Softball Champions
The Belize District Primary Schools Softball Competition came to an end on Tuesday 14 April, 2015, at Rogers Stadium with the championship games. In the girls’ championship game, Crooked Tree Government School defeated Pancotto Primary School from Sandhill by the score of 7-1 to capture the 2014-2015 Belize District Primary Schools Softball Championship. The winning pitcher was Charisse Quiros and the losing pitcher was Shanta Williams. In the first game of the championship, Crooked Tree Government School defeated St. John Vianney School by the score of 10-2. The winning pitcher was Charisse Quiros and the losing pitcher was Shanta Williams. In game two, Pancotto Primary School defeated Central Christian School by the score of 10-7. The winning pitcher was Ashia Metzkin and the losing pitcher was Kelsie Fuentez.

National Elite Basketball All Star game this weekend
The National Elite Basketball League All Star Night is scheduled for Saturday 18 April, 2015, at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town with the tip off of the SMART All Star Game being at 8:00 pm. Opening ceremonies and the introduction of players will be at 7:45 pm. The All Star Game will be followed by the Scotia Bank Three Point Shootout, with the night ending with the much anticipated Mek Mi Rich Slam Dunk Contest.

Volleyball to hold open tryouts for junior programmes
The Belize Volleyball Association will be holding open tryouts for the U-18 and U-16 female national teams on Saturday 18 April and on Sunday 19 April at 10:30 am. According to the Belize Volleyball Association the U-16 players must be born in 2000 or after and the U-18 players must be born in 1998 or after. The open tryouts will be lead by Coach Reyes.

Patrick Jones

Prime Minister addresses national issues
Fort Street Tourism Village and the Feinstein Group have gone to court over the agreements signed in the early 2000’s for the then-Belize Tourism Village that gave it exclusive rights to dock cruise ship passengers. Michael Feinstein is now preparing to build his own docking facility at Stake […]

Santino Castillo hands over to Darrell Bradley in Caribbean Shores
The United Democratic Party (UDP) today it called the press to its headquarters to announce another confirmed candidate for the next general election: Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley. Bradley was slated to contest the Caribbean Shores electoral division against incumbent Minister of State Hon. Santiago “Santino” Castillo Jr […]

UB hosts annual research conference
In pursuit of its mandate to assist national development by producing timely and innovative research on national issues, the University of Belize (UB) hosted its annual research conference in Belize City today. The annual conference originated with the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences five years ago as […]

Northern Two Cayes mortgage holder wants payment
John Mills, holder of the mortgage on Northern Two Cayes in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, today stepped forward to address concerns having to do with the legal status of the ownership of Northern Two Cayes, which is currently held by Northern Two Cayes Company Ltd. and Lighthouse Reef […]

Tourism pioneer passes away
It is with heavy hearts and tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of this well accomplished tourism magnate, Peter Tonti on April 16, 2015. Mr. Peter Tonti, has always had Belize close at heart since his arrival to Belizean shores in the 1970’s as a volunteer in the Peace […]

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte scheduled to visit the Republic of China
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Michael Peyrefitte and Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Eddie Webster are scheduled to visit the Republic of China from April 19 to 23, 2015. Belize is the only country in our region which has simultaneously been a member of both SICA and […]

PG Police charge driver for fatal Hit and Run
In the early hours of Monday morning, Punta Gorda police discovered the semi-nude and lifeless body of 56 year old Jose Morales, a resident of Big Falls village in the Toledo District. Authorities say, Morales was walking on the Southern Highway, between Lindo Hill and Big Falls Village when he was hit by an unknown vehicle and left to die. Inspector Ernel Dominguez of the Punta Gorda Police Formation revealed that Morales was a Guatemalan National residing in the village at the time and that the intense investigation by the police lead to the arrest of the culpable driver.

Breaking News: Hon. Santiago Castillo to announce resignation at a press conference this morning
Belize Media Group has just been informed that Hon. Santiago Castillo will announce his resignation as standard bearer for the Caribbean Shores Division at a press conference in Belize City this morning. Hon. Castillo will remain as Minister until the end of his term; however he will not be contesting the Caribbean Shores seat again in the next general election. The Hon. Santiago Castillo is Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development.

Blogs

Five Reasons to Head to Hopkins, Belize for May’s MANGO FESTIVAL
Hopkins is a beach town in Southern Belize (population 1500) that has really held on to its roots as a Garifuna Village. Well maybe that’s the wrong way to say it…it hasn’t held onto anything. It is a tiny Garifuna Village. A friendly place on a long strip of beach that will have you thinking about buying a shack on the Caribbean sea, quitting your job and relocating. Unlike some other larger, more touristy areas in Belize, there has been little development in the village center – and it is full of rustic charm. Think the smell creole bread baking over an open fire or roosters and school kids walking by you on the unpaved street. Or fishing dories pulled up along the beach. That being said…on both the Northern and Southern edges of the village – there are hotels with as many or as few luxuries as you desire. And for such a small village, they have some AMAZING restaurants.

International Sources

The Best Caribbean Snorkeling Islands
Caribbean Journal lists BELIZE as one of the Best Caribbean Snorkeling Islands. Woo Hoo!! Belize : It’s located right on the Western Hemisphere’s longest reef system, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and that means superb spots for snorkeling, from the coast of Ambergris Caye to Lighthouse Reef.

SCV Man Producing Episode of ‘Naked And Afraid’ in Belize
Producer Jimmy Sprague of Santa Clarita is set to work on an episode of the Discovery Channel’s popular television show “Naked and Afraid” in Belize this month. While Sprague worked with a crew of about 90 people during his time producing the CW improv show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, only five people are expected to accompany him on his new endeavor. “Every show is a different challenge,” Sprague said. “On this particular show, ‘Naked and Afraid,’ we’re going to be out there for 21 days– assuming that the contestants make it all 21 days –as opposed to maybe shooting one episode a week like a scripted show.” With a brand new season set to premiere Sunday, April 19, on the Discovery Channel, each episode of “Naked and Afraid” leaves two complete strangers stranded in a remote location without food, water or clothing.

Ratings for Economic Growth for Central America
Belize came in at position seven although having strong numbers in other areas. Belize set a new record for tourist arrivals with a total of 1,207,386. Belize has a small, privatized enterprise economy that is based petroleum export, agriculture, and tourism. Belize 2.0(2015), 3.0(2016), 2.5(2017).

Videos

April 16, 2015

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

Island officers participate in Public Relations Training
Ten police officers from the Coastal Executive Unit participated in a one-day Public Relations Training. The workshop was held on Wednesday, April 8th at El Pescador Resort and was aimed at improving customer service skills at the San Pedro Police Department and Caye Caulker Police Department. Dennis “Deni” Sunderman from Tropic Air and Steve Spiro from El Pescador led the training session, targeting key skills to promote a better relationship between police officers and community members. Officers participating in the training learned proper greeting methods, how to deal with difficult persons and rapport, among other public relations topics. At the end of the training each officer received a certificate of completion. Those officers will now be tasked to share what they have learned with the other officers at their station. “I am proud of the officers that participated and took this training session as a learning experience. We are all about improving customer service for the people of San Pedro and Caye Caulker. We hope that these officers implement what was taught to them and share what they have learned with all their colleagues so as to eventually offer exceptional customer service to all that visit the police station,” said Jemmott.

Two Belizean rums receive top recognition
Belize’s Tiburon Rum and One Barrel Rum took top prizes at the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) 72nd Annual Convention and Exposition. Held from Sunday, April 12th to Wednesday, April 15th, the event is the premier gathering for distributors to seek out new and exciting beverage products. Throughout the event, several competitions are held in search of the top wines and spirits from across the world. This year’s event was held in Grande Lakes Orlando, Florida, USA and saw a record attendance in industry and supplier participation. Among the attendees were Basil Destefano of Tiburon Rum and Amanda Perdomo of Traveller’s Liqours, who both entered their products in the Spirit Tasting Competition. Spirits from all parts of the world were entered in this category to be scrutinized and ranked by professional tasters. In the end, Tiburon Rum captured a Double Gold award for Best Dark/Gold Rum, Best Rum and Best Aged White Spirit in Show. But Tiburon was not the only Belizean rum to take home a grand prize, as One Barrel also took Gold.

SP Lions donate examination tables to the Polyclinic
The Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II has been the recipient of a small but important donation courtesy of the San Pedro Lions Club. The clinic received three examination tables that will help with the efficient delivery of service. The donation was given on March 3rd and immediately after, the tables were put into good use. According to the Administrator of the Clinic Mr. Owen Vellos, the three beds will go a long way in improving service. “When we got additional doctors, there was the need for more examination beds. In the interim we were using regular tables to conduct examinations. The Lions heard of the need and decided to help with the three examination tables,” commented Vellos. The beds were acquired through the Maintenance and Supply Department of the Ministry of Health at a cost of $3,885.14, fully paid by the San Pedro Lions Club. The Administration also took the opportunity to thank the San Pedro Lions Club for their continuous support towards the clinic.

Ambergris Today

Belize Looks into Management of Lead Acid Batteries
The discussion of hazardous wastes is not a common one in Belize, and for the most part, warning signs such as “No Smoking” and “Toxic Risk” or a vision of the “skull and bones” sign are generally envisioned when the discussion arises. While this is the perception of hazardous wastes, the reality is far different. There are many useful items that only after being fully used are then classified as hazardous wastes, mostly due to their composition. One such item is Lead Acid Batteries. Used lead-acid batteries are considered a hazardous waste and have the potential to affect human health and the environment if not disposed of properly. Used lead-acid batteries have three major components, two of which are very peculiar and require special attention when handling and disposing. These components are “lead” and “sulphuric acid”, which are held intact by the plastic cover. In light of the above the Department of the Environment (DOE) has been having discussions with importers and retailers of lead-acid batteries, and with handlers and exporters of used lead-acid batteries, about the development of a Lead-acid Battery Recycling Program in Belize.

San Pedro House of Culture Appoints New Committee
The San Pedro House of Culture (SPHOC) is pleased to introduce its new committee for the year 2015-2016. Opened on November 19, 2014 under the able management and direction of Mr. Guillermo “Mito” Paz, this cultural institution has already made an impact in San Pedro with its many events held in its short time of existence. The committee has met and started preparation for the many upcoming events with the hopes of promoting all types of local culture (music, culinary art, visual art and the importance of reviving local traditions that have been slowly dying). The SPHOC is part of an umbrella organization, National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and as such is guided and follows its mission of being Belize’s premier cultural institution dedicated and creating an environment for the development, conservation, promotion, expression and accessibility of culture in all its diversity. SPHOC is a dynamic community center that is meant to inspire and uplift all through the various cultural areas.

Misc Belizean Sources

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Week of April 5th – April 11th, 2015
Permit fishing was on fire this week (I don’t often get to say “on fire” and “permit fishing” in the same sentence!) Tarpon seemed a little more difficult than normal, and the fair weather meant lots of bonefish. We are getting ready for the influx of big tarpon over the next few weeks.

BTL Alerts Customers!
Kindly note that there is a fraud message being sent via WhatsApp from a +86... number. We urge you to not call or send a text to the number given in the body of the message.

SENIOR POLICE TRANSFERS 2015 for the Northern Regio
Published for general information is the following list of officers who are being transferred effective JULY 1st 2015 from/to Corozal and from Orange Walk:- Superintendent of Police Dennis Arnold currently serving as Officer in Charge of the Orange Walk formation will be transferred as Officer in Charge of the Corozal Police Department. Supt. Andrew Ramirez currently heading the Corozal Police formation since the latter part of 2012 will be transferred as Officer in Charge of the San Ignacio formation. Supt. Ramirez was instrumental in bridging the gap of confidence building measures between the police and the Corozal community at a time when senseless violent crimes were becoming prevalent in the Corozal District. One of the most sensational homicides in Corozal was the senseless shooting of a mother and daughter. Following that investigation, police recovered an empty safe. Clari Fredersdorf and her daughter 18 year old Shanny Fredersdorf were fatally shot at their residence, the Paradise Bay Villas Hotel in mid 2012 triggering a protest from the Corozal community. These two murders still remain unsolved.

BELPO PRESS RELEASE ON DOE MEETING
The Department of Environment scheduled an "Oil Pollution, Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Sensitization Workshop" for Wednesday, April 15. They claim the workshop’s objective “is to sensitize NGOs and the Media on oil pollution, oil spill preparedness, response and cooperation”. They plan this to be part of an “on-going revision and updating of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan presently being conducted by the DOE.“ The Belize Institute of Environmental Law & Policy (BELPO) has had an ongoing interest and involvement in the area of oil exploration/exploitation in Belize for many years. We started holding workshops on the Petroleum Act in 2003. Godsman Ellis was President of BELPO at the time. We invited the Department of Environment to that 2003 workshop and others that we held, as well as inviting the Geology and Petroleum Department.

The Inspiration Center Celebrates 1st Year
Happy anniversary to the Inspiration Center! One year of helping out the kids who really need it. Thank you so much for everything! "As we complete our first year of service to the country, the Management and Staff of The Inspiration Center takes this opportunity to thank all those who helped anyway in making our dream a reality. We would just like say a heart felt thank you"

10th Annual Wine & Cheese Fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Belmopan is having their annual Wine and Cheese Party to raise funds for the Belize Children's Project. They've been preparing for the fundraiser this week. It'll be happening on the 25th of April, starting at 7:00pm, at the George Price Centre. They'll have some great raffle prizes, and will have the silent auction, which always has some great items. "Preparing for the upcoming Wine and Cheese can be fun - especially when done with family and friends. A big effort is being made this year to do great decorations and that takes preparation. So a group of Rotarians and fantastic friends and family got together to make some special decoration. Much thanks goes out to everyone involved - your efforts will help make this a special event and help a group of kids receive medical help that will last a lifetime!!"

Roman Catholic Church Family Sunday
The San Pedro Roman Catholic Church is inviting the general public for a family Sunday on the 26th April 2015. Starting with the 10:00 a.m Mass and follow with free food for families, games for kids and live music till 5:00 p.m. Let's all come together as brothers and sisters and making our island SAFE. God Bless

Orange Walk Central Park inaugurated
This evening, the Government of Belize through its implementing arm, the Social Investment Fund (SIF), officially inaugurated the Orange Walk Central Park. Funds for the park were provided through the Belize Municipal Development Project (BMDP).

Inauguration of the San Narciso-San Victor Road
This morning our team travelled to San Narciso Village for the inauguration of the San Narciso-San Victor Road. The road is funded under the Accompanying Measures for Sugar (AMS) Road Rehabilitation Project 2010, a collaborative effort between the Government of Belize and the European Union to assist in poverty reduction and improving the standard of living for communities in northern Belize.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Wednesday, April 15, 2015: 59

CLARIFICATION ON SPTC loaning equipment
The San Pedro Town Council recommends that anyone intending to use any public space kindly advise us a week or two prior to the event to avoid any double booking or if there is a need for the SPTC to make arrangements.

Belmopan Baptist Takes 3rd at WEE
Congratulations to the students from Belmopan Baptist high school for taking 3rd place at the World English Experience 2015! 12 lucky students travelled to London to participate in the event. Great job!

Belize Bank Scholarship Program
The Belize Bank Scholarship Program is accepting applications for 2015 high school and 6th form scholarships. Read more about it at their website. Submit by June 15th. Thanks, Belize Bank! "Applications are now available for the Belize Bank High School Scholarship Program. Applications can be obtained from any Belize Bank branch countrywide or use the link below to download."

Caribbean Spice
Cayo has another creator of quality jams, hot sauces, spices, and sea salts: Caribbean Spice. They have everything, even a michelada mix, and it's all made here in Mountain Pine Ridge. Belizean Sunshine, anyone? "We make spice blends, sea salts, cooking sauces and other gourmet food products. Everything is Caribbean inspired and made with fresh local products."

September Celebrations call for submissions
Are you planning an event for this upcoming September Celebrations and would like to have it included in the annual calendar...here is the call....

2015 Marine turtle surveys.
This marks the eighth year of In-water turtle surveys at Glover's Reef Atoll. The program, led by Virginia Burns of WCS, includes participants from a number of organizations (Belize Fisheries, UB-ERI, TIDE, Belize Audubon) and Reserves (Hol Chan, Caye Caulker, Sapodilla Cayes, Port Honduras, Southwater, Turneffe) as well as fishers from Hopkins and Sarteneja. It is hoped that the training in population assessment, individual measurements, and tagging received by all participants will facilitate improved understanding and conservation of marine turtles throughout Belize.

Channel 7

Keyren Tzib Gets Bail; Attorney Blames Coast Guard
Tonight, 8 days after she was remanded for allegedly shooting at a fellow Coast Guard Officer, Keyren Tzib, who holds the rank of Seaman, is at home with her family. Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord granted her bail of 10,000 DOLLARS, which she was able to meet about 2 hours ago. As we told you last week Friday she applied to the Supreme Court for an expedited bail on the premise that before this incident, she was a person of good character with no criminal history. At the urging of Senior Crown Counsel Linbert Willis, Justice Lord adjourned that application because he wanted a psychiatric examination done on Tzib, and he also wanted to know the prognosis for the victim, Petty Officer Kurt Hyde. Well, after 3 days of consideration, and reviewing both reports, Justice Lord granted her bail, and allowed her to go home while she awaits trial on these criminal charges. It’s an important relief for Tzib, and her attorney, Audrey Matura Shepherd spoke with the press outside of court about its significance.

Woman Shot On Freedom Street
Tonight a 37 year old mother is lucky to be alive, after she became the latest victim of gun violence. The shooting happened around 9:30 last night on Freedom Street. According to police, Stephanie Bood was walking to her home on Justice Street when a vehicle pulled up beside her and someone from inside opened fire. Bood was shot to her right hand and buttocks and is currently hospitalized in a stable but critical condition. For her family, it is the worst kind of déjà vu since her common law Paul Rubio was murdered 7 months ago. But, fortunately she survived and today we spoke to a friend who told us he heard 4 shots rang out. Friend of Stephanie Bood "I hear the gunshots." Monica Bodden "How many shots?" Friend of Stephanie Bood "I hear 4 shots."

Former PSU President Jackie Willoughby Says Matura-Shepherd Out of Line
Last night we told you about the situation in the Trade Union Congress of Belize where Labour Senator Ray Davis was left in the lurch – after the Trade Union Congress failed to give him a position on the Petrocaribe Loans Bill – even though he had asked for guidance. He abstained from voting and, after that, all hell seemed to break loose – culminating in last week Friday’s interview when Trade Union congress Vice President Audrey Matura Shepherd said that he must resign or be removed. Well, former PSU President Jackie Willoughby – who is now studying law in Jamaica called 7News Director Jules Vasquez today to say that Matura had stepped out of line by publicly going after Senator Davis. Willoughby told us that Matura Shepherd was using, quote, “dishonesty to mar the reputation of Senator Davis.” End quote. She added quote, “Audrey knew full well that at no point has the trade union congress given (Senator Davis) any advice,” end quote. She said Matura’s comments are inappropriate and wrong and that, she, quote, “needs to learn her place,” end quote.

Matura-Shepherd Holds Hardline Against Hon. Ray Davis
But NTUCB Second Vice President Audrey Matura-Shepherd is not easing up - even when we confronted her with internal letters between NTUCB members making it clear that Davis asked for clarification. We’ve also shown you correspondence in which Davis asked for Matura-Shepherd herself to be part a subcommittee which would meet and discuss the position that he should take as senator. That never happened, and Davis clearly laid out what his line of reasoning was. He explained in his email to Matura and other Trade Union Congress members in November of 2014 that the NTUCB membership benefits from Petrocaribe funds through the National Bank of Belize. He stated, quote, “…I’m not going to play Pontius Pilate and pretend that we were not a party to receiving funds..” End Quote. When we spoke with Matura-Shepherd this evening, she dismissed this position as Davis trying to justify his abstention after the fact by putting forward this defence after he’s backed into a corner. Here’s how she explained it:

Gungulung: The List Revealed
For the past two nights, we’ve been reporting on the 12 squatters who are being evicted from a parcel of private property in the Gungulung area. They occupy six acres of riverfront property – which has belonged to private owners for more than five years. The government stepped in to try and offer them another piece of land in Cotton Tree – but many we spoke to didn’t want it. Instead they wanted government to acquire the land – parcel it off to them – and then compensate the private landowner – maybe even with land in Cotton Tree. Unfortunately – that’s not how it works; Government can only acquire land for a public purpose – and in this case, the eviction is already in motion. But, just say the word eviction in Gungulung where there are scores of squatters – and it causes hysteria: everyone fears they’re the ones being evicted. And that misinformation is what the attorney Steve Perrera has been trying to defuse. He’s the lawyer for the private landowner and today he spoke to us at his office about the eviction:…

Former PUP Candidate and Senator Montejo Lashes Out Against Party
In the 2012 general election, PUP Candidate for Cayo Central Collet Montejo came within 44 votes of beating UDP incumbent Rene Montero. That near upset was the greatest surprise coming out of the very close general election, and Montejo was rewarded with a PUP seat in the Senate for his valiant showing. But, shortly after, his fast rising political star seemed to burn out as quickly as it had ascended; internal PUP emails said that he had accrued many bills and needed help to pay them off. Montejo, the politician was last seen endorsing PUP Cayo Central aspirant Luke Espat who lost resoundingly in a convention to Dan Silva. That should have been his swan song – but the opera ain’t over, not quite yet at least. We say that because Montejo penned an open letter to the PUP in yesterday’s Amandala. It is a scathing attack on the PUP in its current configuration. He writes, quote, “the current leadership of the PUP can see that with names such as Fonseca, Musa and Julius Espat as its voice and face, the people of Belize will not vote PUP anytime soon…the party is headed for another resounding defeat at the polls…they are cursed to the point where they will not listen to reason.”

Police Man Charged For Wounding in Brutality Case
Last night we told you about Orange Walk resident 28 year old Andres Rodriguez. He was badly beaten by police at his home on Sunday night. The incident happened after a woman made a report to police that she was being followed by Rodriguez – an accusation he denied. Today we spoke with Superintendent Dennis Arnold in charge of the Orange Walk formation and he condemns the manner in which these officers handled the situation. Arnold told us that the officers tried to approach Rodriguez in the vehicle but as we told you last night, he drove off fearing that he would be robbed. The officers thought Rodriguez was resisting and trying to run away but Arnold says it still didn't warrant such excessive force. As a result of the incident Special Constable Edward Swift – the officer beating Rodriguez with the stick was charged with wounding yesterday. He was arraigned and granted bail of $1,000. As for the other officer in the video who was restraining Rodriguez on the ground, he will be sanctioned for neglect of duty – meaning that he should have intervened and stopped the other officer from using excessive force.

Albert Vaughan Back In Court
On last week Thursday, we told you about how PUP talk show host Albert Vaughan was fighting a loitering charge in the Magistrate’s Court. That charge, as we’ve told you, dates back to August of last year when the sanitation workers did their famous garbage strike when they were employed by Belize Maintenance Limited. Vaughan’s defence was that he was not loitering when the police arrested him along with the other 41 sanitation workers. He says that he was reporting for the Belize Times newspaper and Vibes Radio, but the police targeted him for this charge because he is one of the PUP media personalities who is critical of the UDP government. At last week’s adjournment, his attorney, Kareem Musa, made a no-case submission on his behalf that the evidence put forward by the prosecution has failed to show how he was breaking the laws and was loitering. Today, the police prosecutor was allowed to respond, and after that session, we spoke with Vaughan’s attorney about their chances of getting the charge struck out at this stage. Here’s what he told you:

Rottweilers Bit Tourist in OW
In early March we reported on a dog attack in Orange Walk involving a 6 year old boy. Well, there was another one last night but this time the victim was a tourist. The attack happened last night around 8:00 in San Estevan, Orange Walk. The owner of the 3 Rottweiler’s, Lorenzo Carrillo was at home when he heard screams from outside. When he went to check, he saw two of his Rottweiler’s attacking a man who was camping in the backyard of an old building near his yard. Carrillo then rushed over to get the dogs away from the tourist-traveller. Carrillo told our colleagues at CTV3 that the dogs must have gotten out of the yard from behind their pens and he does not know what triggered the attack because this is the first time his dogs attacked someone. The tourist was bitten to his right arm, under his arm and to his right leg. He was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital for treatment. The Chairman of San Estevan and other officials got involved and suggested Carrillo get rid of the dogs. Carrillo says he does not object to this suggestion.

Another Case Of Police Brutality Caught on Camera
We’ve shown you that police brutality video in Orange Walk, but another has gone viral which captures 2 officers detaining a man in San Pedro. A part of the video shows that the man is on the ground, and that he is submissive to the authority of 2 officers of the Eastern Division Strike Team. While he’s on the ground one officer can be heard cranking a gun and points it at the man, and later on, one of the officers gratuitously kicks the man on the ground. A few minutes ago, we spoke with Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, who heads the Eastern Division Strike Team, and we asked about that video and the conduct of those officers. ACP Broaster told us that the officer who stamped the man on the leg is Special Constable Moralez. Based on the video evidence, this officer has already been reprimanded by the police high command, and he was pulled off the strike team. Broaster explained to us no further action can be taken against the officers unless the man in the video comes in and makes an internal complaint.

The Campaign To "Get Deon Home"
On Monday’s newscast, you heard the position of the Football Federation of Belize in trying to get the country’s premier striker, Deon McCaulay, back home to play for the National Team. The Jaguars are set to play the Dominican Republic in 10 weeks’ time, but according to FFB president Ruperto Vicente, if McCaulay wants to play on the National Team, he’ll have to pay for his own transportation to get back from the US. Vicente explained on Saturday that because McCaulay is not signed to any international football clubs, he is ineligible by FFB rules to be brought home using Federation money. But football fans are clamouring for McCaulay to be a part of the team, but he’s told persons that he can’t afford to come home. So, a group of fans, who call themselves the Associations of Belize Concerned with Getting Deon Home have started a dollar drive to raise the money required to get him on the national team. They want to put together $5,000 by Friday at least, which would pay for McCaulay’s ticket as well as the stipend paid to professional players weekly. We caught up with 2 of those fans taking on this initiative, and they explained how you can help.

Lead and Water Don't Mix
The Department of the Environment along with a couple of retailers are attempting to revitalize a Lead Acid Batteries Recycling Program in Belize. Now many of you may wonder why there needs to be a program for car batteries. Well, according to the main coordinators of the program, the mismanagement or mishandling of used lead acid batteries can have serious environmental and health risks. We spoke with the director of one of the main retailers involved in this initiative and she told us what role her business plays in ensuring that it is successful. Martha Pohl - Director, RENCO "The department I know has been working really hard in organising this. Due, I guess to the current price of lead, it is not feasible for us to do what we're doing which is basically - purchasing old batteries or encouraging people to leave their old batteries when they purchase a new battery. And the we package it off and ship it to the US to a supplier for recycling. We have been working on our own - this is something we had and when environment came then they figured out that our programme is exactly what they were trying to enforce. Or trying to get more people on board and they've had seminars, they've had people that sell batteries to discuss ways of recycling. Most of these people when they take it back home, what are they going to do? Put it on the side of the garage or put it in their yard and then that sand piles up or they make think that they will use it because it has a little bit of life - and they may put it in another vehicle. But once your vehicle is running, you don’t think about things like that."

Because Music Matters
The Music Industry in Belize needs to improve on business management. That’s Jamaican Music Consultant Lloyd Stanbury’s evaluation and he along with Belizean artists and other stakeholders plan on improving on this aspect of the industry among other issues. Stanbury along with NICH and the Institute of Creative Arts have launched a Belize Music and Entertainment Industry Development Initiative. This initiative will focus on providing solutions to these setbacks which will propel the industry forward. We caught up with Stanbury today at one of their consultation sessions at the Birds Isle this afternoon and he outlined some of the challenges Belizean artists face and what can be done to overcome them. Consultations continue tomorrow. The group will meet with artists such as Nello Player, Supa G and Melonie Gillett at Travelers at 2. Other artists are welcomed to attend. After this consultation phase an action plan will be devised.

The Troubles of 2005
You probably can’t remember it now but 10 years ago – Belize had fallen off the map, or at least the communications grid – you couldn’t make a phone call, send a text or an email or access the web: all communication domestic and international had been cut off. The entire national telecommunication system was down – a result of direct action by BTL employees who were in an uproar after a union employee had been fired. If the response of shutting down the whole communication grid seems a bit much – that is because it was the culmination of months of agitation against the Musa Administration – which was found out in 2004 for using public funds to pay private debts. And so, 2005 lurched from one crisis to another – but the biggest one was on March 15th when the phones went dead. Tonight, we dig into our archives to look back at that time when the government had to resort to special legislation to commandeer the phone company. This is a portion our story of the events on March 16th and 17 – nights that shook Belize:… Again, that was March 16 and 17th, 2005. Tomorrow, we’ll have one more look at the events of those tempestuous times – on this the ten year anniversary of the troubles of 2005.

Channel 5

Coastguard Officer Keyren Tzib Out on Bail…
Last Friday, a bail hearing for Coastguard Seaman Keyren Tzib was deferred to today, following orders of Justice Herbert Lord that an evaluation be conducted to determine the psychological condition [...]

…Results of Psychiatric Evaluation Presented in Court
Tzib was returning from a twelve-day operation at sea with a team of Coast Guard, B.D.F., Police and Port Authority personnel. One hundred yards from shore, she allegedly turned her [...]

CWU President Wants Union Senator Ray Davis Removed
Ray Davis….he is the union senator, who, since the passing of the Petrocaribe Loans Act, has come under much fire for his abstention from vote in the senate. A document [...]

Matura-Shepherd Says She Doesn’t Want to Replace Davis as Senator
As to the criticism that Matura-Shepherd wants to replace Davis as the union senator, the second vice president had some choice words for those persons.   Audrey Matura-Shepherd, 2nd Vice [...]

Orange Walk Officers to Face Disciplinary Action for Excessive Use of Force
A weekend incident between an Orange Walk resident and three law enforcement officers, caught on candid camera, has gone viral. Actually it’s more than just an incident. A Police Constable [...]

EU Inaugurates Sugar Road in San Narciso/San Victor
Today, two completed sections of road were officially inaugurated – that section from San Narciso to San Victor in the Corozal District, and another section from the old Northern Highway [...]

B.S.C.F.A. Chairman Gives Update on Present Sugar Crop
The Road Rehabilitation done in the area of San Narciso and san Victor will benefit the farmers and residents in those communities and in the vicinity. But in the grand [...]

What Became of the Fairtrade Issue and B.S.C.F.A.?
When the crop got underway very late in January, the B.S.C.F.A. which controls a majority of growers, was in crisis mode. On two separate occasions, farmers at the general assembly [...]

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez Faces Additional Charge for Sexual Assault
In February, P.U.P. Orange Walk East Area Representative, Doctor Marco Tulio Mendez, was formally arraigned on six counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature and common assault in relation [...]

Belize City Security Guard Indicted for Carnal Knowledge
Twenty-seven-year-old Nikolai James, who has been on the lam since being accused of sexually assaulting a fifteen-year-old student a week ago, appeared before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith this morning.  [...]

Devon Jones to Face Trial for Maim and Aggravated Assault
Thirty three year old electrician Devon Jones of Iguana Street will stand trial for maim and aggravated assault vehicle following the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry today. Attorney Bryan Neal [...]

World Health Day Observed in Belize, Food Safety is Key
How safe is your food?  That’s the focus of this year’s World Health Day.  While it was celebrated internationally a week ago, the Ministry of Health, the Belize Agricultural Health [...]

Damari’s Amazing Road to Recovery
Nine-year-old Katerin Michel Perez has been at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Boston for one week, following a freak accident which left her severely burned over more than half of [...]

DOE Discusses Oil Spill Contingency
The discussion on offshore oil drilling and its risks continue to be ventilated in the media, and for some time now, N.G.O.s and government have bucked heads on this issue. [...]

PlusTV

Brutal police beating caught on camera
A brutal police beating incident was all caught on camera in Orange Walk by the wife of the victim. The video has made its rounds on face book and a police officer and 2 special  constables are now being investigated. 28 year old Andres Rodriguez was badly beaten on Sunday night at his house...

Shooting leaves Belize City man hospitalized
48 year old Mark Franklin Broaster is recovering at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained when a gunman targeted him around 7:20Monday night in Belize City. The resident of the Pickstock Street area was standing in front of his house when his would-be killers came calling...

Man’s decomposing body found in Maxboro
Police are investigating yet another murder in the Belize District, this one in the residential subdivision of Maxboro. It is not yet clear to police who wanted 31 year old Leon Leslie Sr...

Clearing of Creek buffer in Belmopan
Last week Friday we told you about the squatting and land clearing that is taking place behind the East Piccini Extention Area Belmopan near a designated green buffer that runs along a creek called the mount pleasant buffer...

Family receives death certificate of loved one two years after his murder
In 2013, the family of KTV Latino Star Daniel Aguirre were mourning his untimely demise and were also facing the possibility of losing their home.  As it turns out , Aguirre had placed his home on mortgage for a 27 thousand dollar loan with Scotia Bank...

Coast Guard rescues fishermen near Stake Bank
The Belize National Coast Guard has acquired a reputation for fast acting to save lives on the sea in marine incidents. On Sunday evening a rescue boat went out on a call south of the Stake Bank area to save a group of fishermen. Petty Officer Class 3 Edwards tells us what happened...

Area representative re-states position on squatting
10 Belize City families who were told last week that they had a week to move will be moving to new properties in the area of Cotton Tree, Cayo District...

Belize City to host Business Improvement Areas
In conjunction with the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED), the Belize City Council today hosted a volunteer under the auspices of the Canadian Technical Assistance Program to present the concept of a Business Improvement Area to businessmen and other residents of Belize City, pa...

BTB tightening its finances?
The Management of Belize Tourism Board held meetings today with the various departments to announce to its staff a decision to tighten BTB’s finances...

Santander workers protest unfair working conditions
Last month Plus TV along with other local media houses was invited on a tour of the Santander farms and facilities – a multimillion dollar sugarcane project situated on 20 thousand acres of land privately owned by Guatemalans behind the banana bank area, in Belmopan...

Patrick Jones

Audrey Matura-Shepherd wants Ray Davis out over Senate vote
2nd Vice President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) Audrey Matura-Shepherd last week went on record to call for the removal of Senator Ray Davis as representative of the trade unions in the upper legislature, following his vote of abstention on the Petrocaribe Loan Act of […]

Final decision on Albert Vaughan loitering charge in May
This afternoon Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart heard final submissions from both parties in the case against 55 year old activist of the People’s United Party (PUP) Albert Vaughan, who faces a charge of loitering in a public place stemming from the events of August 4 when workers from Belize […]

Keyren Tzib meets bail on attempted murder charge
After a delay to consider the merits of her case, Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord today set bail of $10,000 for Coast Guard seaman Keyren Tzib, 24, charged with the attempted murder by shooting of Petty Officer Kurt Hyde on Easter Monday, April 6, aboard a Coast Guard vessel […]

Security guard charged with carnal knowledge
A security guard of Belize City has been charged with having intercourse with a minor about half his age. 27 year old Nicoli James was charged with carnal knowledge of a female minor before Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith. The complainant, aged 15 years and 8 months, said to police […]

Belizeans organized to “bring Deon home”
The furore over the fate of superstar footballer Deon McCaulay continues to rage, but according to the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) it is out of their hands: unless Belize’s top goalscorer can pay his way home, he may not make it on to the national team to […]

Northern Two Cayes owner to discuss legal status
According to John Mills, the holder of a substantial encumbrance and mortgage against Northern Two Cayes in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, the owners of the Puerto Azul project have not completed their purchase of the island. He plans to reveal more as to the legal status of the island […]

Custom vehicle overturns during chase in Orange Walk
A vehicle belonging to the Customs Department just overturned on San Lorenzo Road in Orange Walk District. According to reports, custom officers were chasing an unknown pick up truck when they lost control of their vehicle and overturned. The officer has been rushed to NRH for medical treatment. Police are currently […]

GOB and EU inaugurate newly rehabilitated San Victor – San Narciso Road
An inauguration ceremony for the San Narciso – San Victor Road was held this morning at Mother’s Park in the San Narciso Village of the Corozal District. The project is a collaborative effort of the Government of Belize and the European Union geared at improving the infrastructural development of the […]

UB Toledo hosts annual Education Fair
The University of Belize Toledo campus held its annual Faculty of Education and Arts showcase today. This day is set aside for the students of the faculty to display all the projects they have done over the course of the year. The event focused on topics surrounding Belizean History and […]

Drug bust at La Isla Bonita
A random search at an apartment in the San Pedrito Area of Ambergris Caye yielded successful for authorities on the island. According to the report, they conducted a search around 12:30pm on Tuesday where they were met by five male persons. Upon further inspection, authorities made the discovery of a […]

Senior Officers get notice of impending transfers
Reports are that seven (7) Senior Officers from municipalities across Belize have been given notice of their impending transfers. The memo confirms that Regional Commander for the North and Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvette will be transferred to the Garden City of Belmopan. Officer in Charge of the Corozal […]

Troubled Youths benefit from Southside Project
In Southside Belize City, where homicide rates have drastically increased in recent years and the drug trade has become so widespread, joining gangs is seen as the only way to survive for many deprived youths. Youths like 18 year old Rudolph Belisle to whom the idea of getting a high […]

No ‘Black Gold’ in Sarstoon Temash for US Capital Energy
After months of continuous drilling for oil in the Sarstoon Temash National Park, indications suggest that US Capital has been unsuccessful in finding “black gold” in that area. Reports are that their expectations and explorations were ceased after drilling more than 6000 feet. Reliable information reaching our news […]

Two men have been charged in connection with Aurelio’s murder
The murder of Aurelio Montero Jr. is the latest homicide to shock the usually peaceful town of San Ignacio. This 24 year old coastguard seaman from Bullet Tree Village left his home on Holy Thursday with intentions to report to work on Good Friday, but he never made it because he […]

Blogs

Mystery Fruit: Sapodilla – A Tree That Produce Both a Delicious Snack And Chicle
For some reason, when asking details on a new fruit, I am always conversing with someone who speaks mostly Spanish. And since I speak almost zero Spanish, I did get the name: Sapodilla. And she said, I believe, that it is like a kiwi. She helped me pick two – you want them soft to the touch – charged me $1bzd each for them. Not bad. The sapodilla are front and center. Roundish, with a grayish-brownish, dusty thin skin. Skin you don’t want to eat. Mameys – more football like and with very rough skin – sit towards the back near the mangoes.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 200: BELIZE
Oh, Belize. Fifteen years ago, it was one of the first foreign countries I ever stepped foot in — and I’ve been itching to return ever since. This photos from this past week and the one before it should explain why pretty well. While our first week in the country was spent exploring the mainland jungles and beaches, for the second, my sister and cousin and I hit the cayes after waving goodbye to my mom at the airport. Our first stop was Caye Caulker, which immediately swept us away with its small island charm. Next, after both Kirsten and Olivia made their exits, I boated over to Ambergis Caye for a change of scenery. While Caye Caulker was my favorite by a mile, they’re both surrounded by miles of turquoise waters — so, really, you can’t lose. Next, I’m on my way back to Guatemala, though I must admit that I’m feeling a bit lost and struggling to get back in the solo traveler groove since the family departed. It doesn’t help that I’m buried under a pile of work, so my human interaction levels have dropped from near-constant to next-to-nothing as I’ve reunited with my old best friend my laptop. The one thing keeping my sane is breaking for a nightly jog or bike ride. Hopefully by the time I check in next week, I’ll have found my stride again.

International Sources

Belizean beauty
I had the pleasure of spending a few days on this blissful tropical getaway along the Belizean coast this February. The Caye (K) or island is located 21 miles off the coast of Belize City and can be reached by a 45 minute water taxi. It is actually a limestone reef covered by a maritime sand dune and only measures four miles in length. A hurricane back in the 60s initially divided the island into two and is divided by what the locals call The Split. The developed southern end is where you find the village of Caye Caulker while the northern tip has recently become under the scrutiny of international developers. There are currently efforts to dredge the mangrove swamps to try and build some large resorts and homes. Now those of you looking for 5* resorts and amenities would be better served to continue onwards to Caye Caulker’s big brother – Ambergris Caye. Caye Caulker has long been a favorite for the backpacker crowd however there have been recent additions of some lovely upscale accommodations. Everything from luxury condos and bed and breakfasts, mid-range accommodations, hostels and even beachfront camping is available all depending on your personal budget. The true draw to this place is its uniquely laid back ambiance. Brightly painted houses line the beach and sand streets. Coconut palms sway in the warm tropical breezes. Children laugh and play on their walk to and from the small elementary school. Bicycle bells, not car horns ring out as the locals call out greetings. This destination is all about breathing deep, slowing down and living in the present.

Bringing to Light Mysterious Maya Cave Rituals
Discover Magazine did a piece that shows a lot of Actun Tunichil Muknal, and talks about some of its 'subterranean secrets.' "Over the past 50 years, vestiges of religious rituals have turned up in hundreds of caves throughout the land of the ancient Maya, stretching from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula down through El Salvador. Some caves, like Actun Tunichil Muknal, or 'Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre,' contain human or animal remains, as well as ceramic pots, musical instruments, jewelry, small sculptures and stingray spines, which were used for bloodletting. Others contain mysterious stone structures: altars, plaster platforms, pathways and monuments. In some caves, every chamber is adorned with this architecture — an extraordinary feat of engineering in absolute darkness."

Belize’s Hamanasi Resort Completes Renovation Project
Belize’s Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort has completed its recent renovation project. The property’s updated Great House is slated for a grand opening on April 25. The boutique hotel had closed at the end of 2014 to add 10,000 square feet of additions and renovations at what is its main building onsite. The project included the addition of new furniture made onsite in the hotel’s carpentry shop, along with a new “Stargazer’s Deck,” which offers a high-altitude view of far off islands. “The Great House renovation came out of a need to expand the available public space to better accommodate the increase in guests as well as a desire to elevate comfort and design,” the property said in a release. “However, staying committed to sustainability and limiting the carbon footprint were fundamental parts of the process.”

Bakersfield native teaches Belizean children about mosquitos
Preventative Medicine Technician Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Luke Peet, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., attached to Boone Branch Health Clinic, teaches Belizean children about mosquitos at the Independence Polyclinic in Independence, Belize during Continuing Promise 2015. Continuing Promise is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, subject matter expert exchanges, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support and disaster response to partner nations and to show U.S. support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Directors' indemnities foolproof
In Arnold v Belize Telemedia Ltd the Belize Court of Appeal confirmed that indemnities given by a Belizean company to its directors deprived the company of a cause of action to pursue a claim against former directors for decisions taken during their term as company directors. Background. The government compulsorily acquired Belize Telemedia Limited in August 2009. The directors of the then privately held company were deposed by legislative instrument and replaced by a government-appointed board. In 2011 the government-appointed board decided that certain decisions made by the previous board of directors had caused the company to suffer loss and damage. Specifically, it was alleged that decisions of the former directors to make advances to a related company to write off certain related-party debts, make a distribution of shares in specie and pay dividends without making tax deductions had caused loss to Telemedia.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. Fourth Fleet
Seventeen service members from the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) participated in a community relations event at King's Children Home (KCH) in Belmopan, Belize, April 10 in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15). Continuing Promise is a collaborative effort between the United States, partner nations and non-governmental and support organizations to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance, as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support to send a strong message of compassion, support and commitment to Central America, South America and the Caribbean. KCH, one of the very few orphanages in Belize, is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping and providing care for children in difficult circumstances. The Christian-based orphanage, founded 1985, has expanded over the years, opening its doors to hundreds of children. "We are here today to do some paint restoration in the cafeteria, which is really the big project at hand," said COMREL coordinator Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Coreson, a native of Soldonta, Alaska. "I think service members getting in uniform and coming out to help with projects is a great opportunity to work alongside our Belize partners."

The April 5, 2015 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

• Bernard Clings To Life:
  A San Ignacio resident is tonight clinging to life at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was hit by a vehicle that did not stop. Fifty year old Bernard McLaren, known as the bread and bun man, is a self-employed father of three children. McLaren had just visited his kids and was heading home when he was hit by a white vehicle. The driver did not stop to render assistance. The incident happened a little before 9:00 Saturday night when San Ignacio police was called to the low lying bridge of an accident that occurred. Upon arrival police noticed a man lying face down on the side of the street. They recognize the male person to be Bernard McLaren, 50 Belizean Labourer of Branch mouth area. McLaren was unconscious and was bleeding from his head, apparently suffering from a cut wound to the right side of his forehead.
• Link Up Bar Burglar:
  On Wednesday a Santa Elena business woman reported that her establishment was burglarized. Owner of Link Up Bar, Ruby Sabala, reported to the San Ignacio police that her said establishment was burglarized on Tuesday 24 March. She said that about 12:00 pm on that same day she received a call from the owner of the building that the back door of the establishment was opened. Knowing that she had properly secured her establishment, she quickly when to take a look. Upon arrival she noted that the lock was broken off the front door and they exited through the back door.
• Launch Of My Body Is Precious Animations:
  The office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children has partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to produce animated videos from the My Body is Precious “good touch, bad touch” book in the Garifuna, Maya and English languages. This initiative was born out of the belief that all children have the right to get information in a way that they understand and the realization that there are communities, primarily in southern Belize where Garifuna and Maya are the most commonly spoken languages. These are also languages that are rarely used in written form. Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow is proud to be able to extend her advocacy efforts for child abuse prevention to these communities where the children and their families may not speak or fully understand English.
• Mmmm... Hot Cross Buns Recipe:
  love. Belizeans love their hot cross buns as much as the next person, and the favorite way to eat them is slathered with happy cow cheese, dripping in butter or simply dunked in a nice mug of coffee to start the Easter weekend right. Here is a recipe to test out your baking skills!! Hot Cross Bun Recipe Ingredients: Dry * 3lbs flour * 2 packs of yeast * Spice seeds * Raisins * ½ lb shortening * 1 cup brown sugar Wet * Lukewarm coconut milk * Vanilla (about 1 tablespoon) * Essence of your choice Preparation Method: Add flour, yeast, spice seeds, raisins into a mixing bowl Add in the ½ lb of shortening, followed by 1 cup of brown sugar. Mix everything together until incorporated.
• Blazing Battle Of The Two Western Teams:
  Friday night, the clash of two of the power houses in the league, complemented by the in-district rivalry took center stage at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town on Friday 20 March, 2015, as the undefeated Cayo Western Ballaz (7-0) played host to the Belmopan Red Taigaz (5-2). The stage was set from the introduction of the players, as the visiting Belmopan fans came in full force, matching the noise, intensity and fan fare of the home team. The game's intensity peaked from tip off, and the biggest lead in the entire game was 6 points, as both teams demonstrated a high level of concentration, great defense and limited mistakes. With 19 seconds remaining in the game, Belmopan Red Taigaz had a 60 - 59 lead, when Richard Troyer missed a three point attempt, and Jarell Velasquez secured the rebound and was fouled.
• Celebrating Easter In Belize:
  With more than 80 per cent of Belizeans professing Christianity, Easter is the single longest public and Bank Holiday – from Good Friday through Easter Monday. This is a 4 day holiday when residents flee to neighboring Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Chetumal in Mexico, or take to the local beaches, river or nearest bathing pool. Schools are closed for a full week starting from the Monday before the Easter weekend. Government, public utilities and banks shut down at midday on Holy Thursday, for four and a half days making this one of the slowest periods for commerce. The weather is usually very hot, but at times a straggling cold front moves in over the Yucatan Peninsula bringing in clouds and pleasant temperatures. The sale of alcohol is prohibited throughout the country on Good Friday, a day when solemn religious activities are held including all-day church services and processions re-enacting of the Passion of Christ. Regretfully, foreign tourism interests have managed to erode Easter traditions in certain areas such as Ambergris Caye by pressuring local authorities to look the other way to allow the sale of alcohol on Good Friday.
• Where is the BC:
  A rather old fashioned lady was planning a couple of weeks vacation in The Mountain Pine Ridge. She also was quite delicate and elegant with her language. She wrote a letter to a particular campground and asked for reservations. She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped but didn't know quite how to ask about the "toilet" facilities. She just couldn't bring herself to write the word "toilet" in her letter. After much deliberation, she finally came up with the old fashioned term "Bathroom Commode," but when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being too forward. So she started all over again; rewrote the entire letter and referred to the "Bathroom Commode" simply as the "B.C.". Does the campground have its own "B.C.?" is what she actually wrote.
• Sexually Transmitted Infections:
  Sexually transmitted infections (STI), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and venereal diseases (VD), are infections that are commonly spread by sex, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex and oral sex. Most STIs initially do not cause symptoms. This results in a greater risk of passing the disease on to others. Symptoms and signs of disease may include: vaginal discharge, penile discharge, ulcers on or around the genitals, and pelvic pain. STIs acquired before or during birth may result in poor outcomes for the baby. Some STIs may cause problems with the ability to get pregnant. More than 30 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites can cause STIs. Bacterial STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis among others. Viral STIs include genital herpes, HIV/AIDS, and genital warts among others. Parasitic STIs include trichomoniasis among others. While usually spread by sex, some STIs can also be spread by non-sexual contact with contaminated blood and tissues, breastfeeding, or during childbirth. STI diagnostic tests are easily available in the developed world, but this is often not the case in the developing world.
• GOB To Conduct In-Depth Review Of Local Rice Industry:
  The Government of Belize wishes to inform the public that it is fully aware of the request by a local importer to import rice from Guyana, and his claim that imported rice through that channel could be made available to the public at a price lower than the current market price. The Government is also aware that there is severe overproduction in Guyana and they have domestic pressure to market that product at any cost. The government, through the Ministries of Natural Resources and Agriculture, and the Ministry of Trade, Investment, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection, is conducting an in-depth review of the rice industry with an aim to ensure the best action for Belize as it relates to the production and supply of rice to the Belizean public. The first stakeholder meeting including producers was held last week before this became a media story.
• Decriminalization Of Marijuana community and from National:
  Earlier this month a committee authorized to discuss the removal of criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis released its report in which it recommends such removal for ten grams or less possessed. The report is now before Cabinet and today Prime Minister Dean Barrow confirmed that the Government has given its support in principle. However, there are reservations, particularly from the church community and from National Security Minister John Saldivar with regard to the establishment of “decriminalization,” as it is officially termed. The Prime Minister said Government wished to have final consultation with the churches as to their position on decriminalization, though it is prepared to move forward without them if needed. Thousands of Belizeans are expected to benefit from this move, which will include formal rehabilitation and education as well as expunging of criminal records.
• World Cup Qualifiers Belize Vs. Cayman:
  Earlier this month the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) presented the 30-member men’s National “A” Selection Team, dubbed, the Belize Jaguars who have been in training for last night’s game against the Cayman Islands in their first match of the World Cup 2018 Qualifiers. During that presentation, which included the unveiling of their logo, much confidence was expressed in Belize securing a victory despite the absence of the team’s star striker, Deon McCaulay. The forecast for that victory was made based on several factors including the fact that Belize ranks internationally at 41, outdoing the Grand Cayman National Team … but that victory didn’t come to pass last night as the game ended in a nil-nil score last night at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan.
• Buenos Aires Streets Empty As Transport Strike:
  The streets of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, remained largely empty on Tuesday morning as a number of transport workers' unions went on a 24-hour strike. Many national and international flights were cancelled and train and underground stations looked deserted. Trade unionists, who complain about high inflation and high taxes, also blocked some roads. The government has defended its tax system as fair. Blockades Protesters blocking the Pueyrredon Bridge, one of the main access routes into the city, said they would keep the blockade going until at least midday. Strike leaders said buses would not run on Tuesday as drivers were heavily unionised
• International Garifuna Summit:
  An International Garifuna Summit organized by the Garifuna Heritage Foundation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines was held on 8th-15th March, 2015 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The theme of the Summit was “The Garifuna, a Nation Displaced-Cultural Rights, Economic Survival and Reparations." It consisted of several events including Workshops, Conference, Tours, Cultural Extravaganza, a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Garifuna Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer Monument on St. Vincent and Grenadines Heroes Day, March 14th. A pilgrimage to Balliceaux was done on Sunday March 15. Balliceaux is an inhospitable off-shore island where the Garinagu were sent in July 1796 before being exiled from their homeland. More than fifty percent of those sent to Balliceaux died before the exile.
• Criminal On The Run - Caught:
  While on the run, police has finally caught Jose “Pelon” Quintanilla. The incident happened on Thursday, 19 March, 2015, when the San Ignacio police was conducting their mobile patrol; they noticed Jose “Pelon” Quintanilla, on 2nd Street walking with a pink school bag in his hand coming out of an opened lot. As soon as Quintanilla saw the mobile patrol he turned back and ran. Police immediately set chase after him as he ran to an unfinished building where police saw him threw the bag and jumped out the back side of the building. Police then retrieved the pink school bag and continued the chase however, Quintanilla make good his escape through the bushes.
• STAR Humor
• Your Weekly Horoscope and Lucky Numbers
• Letters to the Editor
• Public Notices

Videos

April 15, 2015

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

Bolito vendor robbed
The San Pedro Sun can confirm that two masked men attempted to rob a Bolito vendor on Laguna Drive. Police are currently on the scene.

San Pedro Sun needs full time reporter!
Are you a Belizean looking for a great job opportunity? We are willing to train the right candidate!

Ambergris Today

Flashbacks - The increasing of classrooms at San Pedro High School
Ever since San Pedro High moved into its own premises in 1987, the building of more classroom space has been continuous. This beginning of the second floor has an interesting story according to former principal Angel Nuñez. In 1990 with increase of class sizes, there was need of a larger classroom so Principal Nuñez and Chairlady Martha Guerrero paid a visit to Education Minister Said Musa. They needed 25 thousand dollars to construct this one classroom and knowing how governments operate, they asked for 50 thousand hoping to get the 25 needed. Said Musa readily agreed with the need of the project and also agreed to provide the 50 thousand dollars. So what to do with all that extra money? Two classrooms were constructed that year in what was to be the commencement of the second floor of San Pedro High. In this project a holiday workaton was declared by the Board and students, males and females got to shovel sand and gravel and load the mixer with cement on the day the roof was cast.

Belize’s Tiburon Rum and Traveller’s Latest Golden Awards
Belize just 1UP-ed the competition in Orland, Florida, USA, as it took two gold medals at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) 72nd Annual Convention & Exposition that was held last night, Monday, April 13, 2015. Basil Destefano of Tiburon Rum and Amanda Perdomo of Traveller’s Liqours represented Belize at the convention and took the completion by surprise when Tiburon Rum was awarded with Double Gold Award for Best in Show (Best Dark/Gold Rum, Best Rum and Best Aged White Spirit In Show) and One Barrel Rum taking the Gold Award. “Belize has never done this at the biggest show in the United States,” commented Basil Destefano of Tiburon Rum. “We are getting attention now and so is Belize; it is a very big day for Belize!” The WSWA opened with a record attendance, industry and supplier participation and it is great to hear that Belize did a great job. Congratulations to Tiburon Rum and Traveller’s Liquors for proudly representing Belize!!

Catholic Church Kick Starts Youth Group Activities
The San Pedro Roman Catholic Church has organized a youth group on Ambergris Caye, Belize in order to provide island youth an outlet for them not to only learn more about the church, but also become active members of the community, be social and more importantly have fun. The group has started to meet on Fridays at 6p.m. for an hour at the Catholic Church’s Parish Hall where they participate in activities that include chats about topics related to the Church, arts & craft, mentorship chats, among other fun activities. The youth group was organized by Father Scott who envisions the island youth becoming more involved with the Catholic Church and the community and also providing them with positive activities that will keep them busy and away from negative influences. These activities will include community service projects, fundraiser and even participation in retreats organized by the church around the country.

Misc Belizean Sources

San Pedro Town Council no longer lending tables, tents
The San Pedro Town Council hereby informs the general public that effective April 15, the SPTC will a longer be lending out tables nor tents with the exception of wakes. Also using beaches and parks should be officially requested at the San Pedro Town Council office where a respective fee will be applied. We advise you use the existing rental services available on the island.

Ministry of Health to Officially Inaugurate the National Vaccine Storage Facility
The Ministry of Health in partnership with the European Union and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will be conducting a short ceremony on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 3:00 pm to officially inaugurate the National Vaccine Storage Facility at the Western Regional Hospital Compound.

Belize and the EU Hold Second “Article 8” Political Dialogue Session
The Second political dialogue session between the European Union and Belize took place in Belize City on Monday, 13 April 2015. The dialogue offers a platform for consultations over a broad range of issues, as well as an opportunity to take stock of progress made concerning 'essential elements' of the Cotonou Agreement, including respect for human rights, rule of law, democratic principles and good governance. The meeting focused on the current status of the Belize Guatemala Process, Energy, Climate Change, Security, the Post 2015 Development Agenda, Human Rights, Schengen Visa Waiver, Preparations for EU-CELAC Summit in June2015 and Updates on Regional Processes.

U.S. Embassy Town Hall Meeting in San Pedro
Town Hall Meeting - San Pedro Monday, April 20 at 11:00am in UTC-06 Blue Water Grill - San Pedro, Belize

US Ambassador and his wife tour Chiquibul
We were very happy to be able to take the US Ambassador and his wife out on a tour yesterday. Its always a pleasure to share the beauty of our work area, but more importantly, show the work we are able to accomplish for endangered species in Belize.

Warasa Garifuna Drum School
Warasa drummer and singers doing what we were born to do and what we do best . keeping Garifuna culture and music alive.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Tuesday, April 14, 2015: 56, FANTASY 5: 37 32 4 7 28 N

Corozal: JAMMIN at SCOTTY's BAR & GRILL this Friday!
Come join us this Friday for Roots Rock PayDay on the 17th of this month due to the fact that 15th falls on our day off!! Enjoy all day Happy Hour aka ALL DAY HAPPINESS!!! Selector Skype will be playing music from 6:30 to close

CARTS & CARRIERS CYCLES EXHIBITION
Scenes from the grand opening of the exhibit by Ian Morrison entitled, "CARTS & CARRIERS CYCLES EXHIBITION- Belize in the 20th Century"! Remember the exhibit runs until the end of the month at the Besile Arts Gallery at the Bliss! You are invited to drop in and come see for yourself....

2015 September Theme Competition!
Could you do with a $1000? This will just take a couple minutes...

Channel 7

Maxboro Resident Violently Killed; Decomposes In His House
Last night we told had the breaking news of the murder on the Maxboro Housing Community. Well tonight the grisly details are known about the savage slaying of 31 year old Leon Leslie. As we told you, his throat was cut and he had various stab wounds over his body. Police say he was found on the couch in a state of decomposition. 7News has learned that he was also nude, and his pants were pulled over his head. IT appears that the killer used both a machete and a knife. And then after all that they appeared to have vomited on the victim. Probably worse than all that, the discovery was made by his children after school. That was around 5:00 pm - and this morning, 12 hours later, Dr. Mario Estradabran had to perform a post mortem on site. Leslie was buried immediately after, but the mystery of his gruesome end endures. Today police told the media what they know:.. Supt. Hilberto Romero - OC, CIB Eastern Division "Police responded to a report of a body that was found at Maxboro. Police proceeded to the area, where upon arrival they found the lifeless body of Leon Leslie Sr., 31 years old inside the residence in a seated position on a sofa, apparently dead. The body was partly decomposed. He had stab wounds to the chest and neck area."

Lovely Lane Resident Shot In Front of His House
And while Ladyville police continue to work on solving Leslie's murder, in Belize City, on top of the past 4 recent murders which happened in the past 3 weeks, police must now investigate a shooting which happened last night. The victim, 48 year-old Mark Broaster, was standing on Lovely Lane in front of his house socializing when a gunman approached and fired several shots at him. Police told us today that he was very fortunate to have escaped with only an injury to the right hand and lower back: Supt. Hilberto Romero - OC, CIB Eastern Division "There was a shooting at the corner Pickstock and Lovely Lane, where Mark Broaster was shot to the hand. Information is that he hang around in that area when shots rang out and he received those injuries. He is presently admitted at the KHMH receiving treatment." Mike Rudon, Ch5 "Could you tell us if the shooting in any way connected to the recent spurt of violence?"

Police Brutality Caught On Camera In OW
A man was badly beaten by police in Orange Walk on Sunday night - and it was captured on camera. We warn you the images are intense. We spoke with the victim today - 28 year old driver Andres Rodriguez who told u it was all a mix up. He explained that on Sunday night he was carrying passengers from the Free Zone to Orange Walk. He made his final stop in the Louisiana area, bought some groceries and then sat in the vehicle to listen to music. That was when he saw someone shining a flashlight through his window. He sped off because he thought someone was trying to rob him. But when he got to his house he realized that person had followed him and it turned out to be the police. We also spoke to his wife who was present at the time holding their 1 year old baby while she took this video. She told us the police just stormed in and began to beat her husband. In the background, you can hear her frantically screaming and begging the police to stop beating her husband. She told us today that when she tried to talk to the officers and ask them why they were attacking her husband they simply told her not to interfere. She also told us it lasted for about 8 to 10 minutes while police tried - very unprofessionally - to drag him out of the house using a handcuff.

Chetumal Street Squatters Ask For Leases In Lake I
Last night, we told you about the relief that the Lake Independence Area Rep., Mark King, is offering to the squatters on Lake I Boulevard, right next to the newly built Chetumal Street Bridge. He's trying to help 11 families to relocate after the private owner of the land sent them eviction notices. King has secure land for them in Cotton Tree. They need only apply to the department, and inform him, and he'll try to help them navigate through the process so that they can get an expedited approval. Today, we encountered a group of squatters who aren't included in that list of the 11 families being helped immediately. They have two issues with King's plan. The first is that some want the same consideration from King, and the second, a group of others are refusing to leave the land they are squatting on. They want him to get involved as minister to acquire the private land that they are squatting on, and offer the Chinese land-owners a different piece of land - even their one in Cotton Tree.

Did NTUCB Properly Advise Senator Davis on Petrocaribe Law?
Ray Davis, it's been a tough few weeks for the Labour Senator. He's on the hot seat because he abstained on the senate vote on the Petrocaribe Loan Motion. The National Trade Union Congress says it does not support the piece of legislation and Davis's vote should have been an emphatic "no." Instead, he abstained. Vice President of the Trade Union Congress, Audrey Matura Shepherd told the media on Friday that he either needs to resign or be removed because his vote was not in line with the position of the NTUCB. Two weeks ago, the President of the NTUCB told the media that their position was never directly communicated to Davis - but he should have known. But, perhaps, it's not all that clear-cut because the Unions have been beneficiaries of Petrocaribe funds - in the form of loans from the National Bank. That bank was capitalized with 30 million dollars from Petrocaribe funds - with special priority for teachers and public officers. The trade union congress of Belize also sits on the board of Belize Infrastructure Limited - which is funded by Petrocaribe. That's the contradiction that may have led Davis to abstain in the absence of a clear position from the NTUCB. And, this email sent in November shows that he was awaiting guidance. That is after the first Petrocaribe legislation went to the House in November and Davis voted "yes." That's when Audrey Matura Shepherd questioned him in an email, quote: "In a matter such as this the membership should have a say….how come is it that our Senator voted yes and who gave the mandate?"

Attorney Arthur To Be Criminally Arraigned
Belmopan police say that they will charge Attorney Arthur Saldivar tomorrow. Officer Commanding Howell Gillett says that Saldivar had court obligations today - but has agreed to come in tomorrow. He is expected to be charged for burglary and trespass. His ex-common law - with whom he has two children alleges that Saldivar jumped the fence at her home, grabbed her phone and then went into his vehicle, locked the doors and started reviewing her text messages. He said that he never jumped the fence but that his son brought him the phone which he did review because he was concerned for his children's wellbeing. Now, the allegation and counter-allegation will go to court when he is arraigned tomorrow.

Victoria Street
Police continue special operations on San Pedro where they are trying to root out the source of the recent spate of crime - and that is drugs. Today AT 12:30, they found a group of Belize City men on the island with 88 grams, about three ounces of cocaine. They are 45 year old Cyril Joseph Wade, 34 year old Richard Adderly, 40 year old Edmond Alvarez, 26 year old Edwin Godoy, and 20 year old Joel Young. They were found in a home with 83.8 grams of cocaine, about 3.1 ounces. They will be jointly charged for drug trafficking. Police say they are from the Victoria Street area.

Another Accident At Airport Junction
There was another accident at the dangerous airport junction on Saturday afternoon. 40 year old Edgar Reyes was heading to Belize City from Burrell in his blue Nissan Pickup truck around 3. When he approached the airport junction in Ladyville, he noticed a small gold SUV coming out from the direction of the airport. Reyes began to slow down and also saw the SUV do the same. But Reyes told police that he kept on driving and that is when the driver of the SUV hit Reyes's truck in the right passenger side of the vehicle. Reyes was travelling along with his 11 year old daughter and his girlfriend. Reyes was not hurt but his daughter complained of pain to the head and his girlfriend who was in the front passenger side was complaining of pain to the forehead. Both were served with a notice of intended prosecution but the matter will be settled out of court.

CitCo's Business Improvement Area Workshop
Today the Belize City council held a Business Improvement Area workshop at the Radisson. The main idea of the workshop is to educate members of the private and public sector about the Business Improvement Area and how it can benefit the business community and residents of Belize City. It is a part of the House of Culture's and City Council's rejuvenation project and Mayor Bradley told us how this component will work to enhance the commercial and overall economic performance in the city. Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City "This is an idea that comes from CARILED which is the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project. Which is a project that we're working in collaboration with a Canadian municipal association to really develop the concept which is very vibrant in Canadian cities and the facilitator today is talking about examples that are in Ottawa in Canada. Essentially what it is, is a business improvement area where the stakeholders, particularly business owners and community agents within the community look at areas where they can develop their space for increase economic activity.

Mayor Bradley Welcomes Critics To Downtown Project
Last week Thursday you heard cultural critic Yasser Musa's strong criticism of the Downtown Rejuvenation Project. We asked Mayor Bradley what he thought about Musa's criticism of the project and although he said he was not aware of the entire basis of Musa's argument, he said he welcomes criticism and that this project is just one of many to come. Darrell Bradley, Mayor - Belize City "Well you have to recognize too that this is one project. I mean the City Council, NICH, BTB, we do many different projects. I mean, we had an infrastructure project that looked at streets. Some persons may make a valid criticism that as oppose to spending so much money on streets you could have spent some money on streets and some money on something else. That's a policy political decision which is a fair criticism that when you look at this project, ten million dollars is going to be funded by a loan from the Taiwanese Government. Of course their money is specific to certain things, so that that money has to be spent in accordance with a project plan that they crafted and helped developed. So that there's a certain amount of discretion in that. To say that we could not do something else. It's a criticism, I mean if I wanted to do, like I can think of fifteen different projects that the city possibly can do in the country but the Taiwanese Government is funding a specific aspect of this project."

Murder Trial Aborted: Jehova's Witness Juror Can't Judge Man
For almost 4 years accused murderer 30 year-old Raymond Myers has been waiting behind bars for day in court. He's accused of stabbing 27 year-old Francis Figueroa to death, but tonight, he's back behind bars with a further delay because the Supreme Court had to abort his trial, which started just yesterday. One of the 12 jurors revealed today that he's a member of the Jehova's witness Church told the judge today that he cannot judge anyone. When Justice Troadio Gonzalez questioned him as to why he didn't say something from yesterday when he was selected, the juror told the court that he didn't know and understand his role as a juror. He explained that he just realized that he will be judging the man. The judge tried to explain to him that all he will be doing is to look at the facts of the case as presented to him against the accused and not judging the man. But the juror believed that this is the same as judging the man, which is overstepping into the territory of God. With that he asked permission to be excused. Since the trial was already one day into the trial, Judge Gonzalez was forced to abort the case and dismissed that panel of jurors.

This History of Carts And Carrier Bikes
Young people might not remember them - but for the greater part of the 20th Century, traffic Belize City was populated with wheeled transportation - and we don't mean cars and trucks - powered by internal combustion engines. We're talking about carts and carrier bikes - powered by men! That is the subject of an unusual new exhibit at the Be-lisle art gallery at the Bliss center. It opened yesterday - but the man who put it together is no artist, he's an engineer - one that became fascinated with the culture and craft of cart making. We found out more at the opening yesterday: Courtney Weatherburne reporting Shaved ice, or fresco as it was known is a cultural artifact unto itself. But this exhibit is not about what might latterly be called snow-cones, it's about the cart that carried the ice blocks - those are also artifacts - and one the curator wasn't sure merited its own show:

PM Barrow Says Banking Sector Is Under Threat
Are Belize's banks under threat? Well that's what the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dean Barrow told the Second CEO Summit of the Americas in Panama last week. He was asked to give an address on Productive Integration for Inclusive Development and he spoke in dire terms of the strict anti-money laundering regulations that the US is putting on banks in the region. Here's what he said, quote: "There is a crisis in my own country and in several others in the Eastern Caribbean, where the big US banks are 'de-risking' by terminating their correspondent relationships with our domestic banks. Indeed, even our Central Banks are being cut off; and our financial and trade architecture cannot survive this phenomenon. ....I do not exaggerate when I say that all our noble goals, all our aspirational imperatives, will be rubbished if this noose continues to be tightened around the necks of our smallest and poorest economies." The PM returned on Monday.

Channel 5

Decomposing Body Found Inside Maxboro Residence; Mechanic Massacred
There is a gruesome murder to report in the community of Maxboro on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, thirty-one year old mechanic Leon [...]

2 Cayo Men Charged for Murder of Coastguard
Two men have been charged in connection with the latest homicide in San Ignacio.  Twenty-one-year-old Wendell Ovando, a construction worker of Kontiki area in San Ignacio, Cayo, and a fifteen-year-old [...]

Cocaine Bust in San Pedro, Belize City Residents to be Arraigned for Drug Trafficking
Police are reporting a significant cocaine bust in San Pedro Town involving known members of the Victoria Street gang. It happened at around 12:30pm today in an apartment in the [...]

Labor Department Meets With Santander Employees, Is Salary Issue Resolved?
On Monday night, we told you about the employees who had gathered at the grounds of Santander because they had issues about salaries. Workers were complaining about payments they received [...]

Squatters Disgruntled Over Omission of Names from Relocation List
On Monday, Lake Independence Area Representative Mark King announced that a total of eleven families that have been settling illegally on a six-acre parcel near the Chetumal Street Bridge will [...]

Lake-I Area Rep Explains His Intervention in Relocation Effort
According to the area representative, the expedited process should be completed by the end of this week.  That was, of course, for the initial list of squatters who needed to [...]

Did Law Enforcement Officers in Sugar City Physically Abuse O.W. Man?
On Monday evening, a video was uploaded to Facebook showing a police officer and two special constables attempting to handcuff a man and hitting him in the process, resulting in [...]

Darrington Lauriano Junior Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison
Twenty-two-year-old Darrington Lauriano Jr. has been sentenced to sixteen years in prison after being busted with a nine millimeter pistol loaded with eight live rounds of ammunition.  During the swoop, [...]

Murder Trial of Raymond Myers Aborted
A man who has been on remand for almost five years will have to wait even longer after the jury in his trial for murder was dismissed by Justice Troadio [...]

Will Petrocaribe Be Affected by U.S. Interest in Regional Energy Investment?
As we reported in Monday’s newscast, an energy summit was held in Washington earlier this year and the U.S. is trying to move its energy influence back into the Caribbean. [...]

CitCo Proposes Business Improvement Area
CARILED, the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project is working in collaboration with the Belize City Council and the Canadian Municipal Association to develop a Business Improvement Area concept. It seeks [...]

…Will It Work in Belize City?
But the implementation of the BIA into the city’s framework comes with its compromises. Particularly for the business owners; while businesses will be given the opportunity to develop a collective [...]

Yasser Musa’s Criticism of Colonial Museum Revisited, Mayor Bradley Responds
But the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project, following its launch last week, was blasted by the former President of National Institute of Culture and History, Yasser [...]

F.F.B. Installs New Financial Management Team
As we reported on Monday, the Football Federation of Belize met in congress over the weekend to discuss a number of issues, including preparations for round two of the 2018 [...]

CTV3

More Infrastructural Work Done By The Orange Walk Town Council
A little over a month following their victory at the polls, the Orange Walk Town Council continues its work in the town. One of the biggest projects that the council has embarked on is the rehabilitation of streets within the town. Residents have complained constantly of the deplorable conditions of over ninety percent of the streets. Mayor Kevin Bernard says that streets have always been a priority for the council and they have commenced work on several. We caught up with the Mayor this morning along Saint Peter’s Street where work was ongoing. “The people of Orange Walk clamored that they want their streets fixed and so we had already agreed to these streets before it is just that we were unable to get of course resources and all of that and so we waited until after the election to continue with these works so what we have done, we have done we had gone back and we have prepared Mahogany and Sapodilla because that is the first street that we are going to be paving and we have also done both sides of Liberty Avenue that needed attention and we also want to pave those, we have also prepared Trinidad Street and now we are doing St. Peters Street, of course it will see some other materials going in there thereafter we move on to Oleander Street and at some point we want to do Orchid Drive and Munoz Lane because we feel that these are main outlets that people travel and while these are not the only streets that we will be addressing we want to be able to pave these immediately but at the same time we want to ensure that we can put the second coat on some of the streets that we had done for example Muffles Street, Barbados Street and you have the Belize Street that we want to pass the second coat on so that it can stay much better that it is and Westby Alley as well as one of the streets we want to put second coat as well so that these streets can last.”

Thieves Target Concepcion Roman Catholic School
The once quiet and secure village of Concepcion is seeing a rise in thefts and this morning thieves targeted the Roman Catholic School. According to teachers at the Concepcion RC School, with this incident, the school has been targeted twice leaving two students without their mode of transport. Today, we spoke to Teacher, Jose Ramirez via telephone. JOSE RAMIREZ – Teacher, Concepcion RC “A man from Caledonia came around and the idea was that she borrowed a bicycle we believe that from a family member that ha a child there in school and apparently she took the bike and he did not returned the bike, we understand that he is from Caledonia and so the family was contacted and they just mentioned that he ride up to Caledonia without the bicycle and when they asked him about it she just ignore the question and that is what the family says, this is the second time, just before we went on vacation we also had a similar incident by somebody taking a bike from the school compound.”

Another Vicious Dog Attack In The Village Of San Estevan
Another dog attack has been reported in Orange Walk. Following investigations by our news team, CTV3 News spoke with Lorenzo Carrillo, owner of the three Rottweiler dogs that are the center of the controversy. The incident is reported to have occurred sometime after eight last night when Carrillo was having a conversation with his family after dinner in his home in San Estevan Village. According to Carrillo, he and his family heard screams and went outside to investigate and when they went into their yard, they saw a man being attacked by one of their dogs. Carrillo says that he understands that minutes before, members of the church congregation who were attending a mass at the time had come out and were screaming in fear upon seeing that two of his dogs attacked a man who was camping in the back yard of an old building located adjacent Carrillo’s yard. Carrillo, who preferred to comment off camera, says he reacted quickly and jumped over his fence to get one of his dogs off the individual, who we understand in a foreigner who had set up camp next to his yard.

Mayor Bernard Plans To Put Uniformity For Vendors In Market Square
The Orange Walk Town Council has a number of projects on hand and another important one is at the market area. Mayor Kevin Bernard says there is a need to reorganize the vendors at the market square and have begun meeting with them to achieve this. “We want to start with the clothes vendors, those that sell on their tents to bring some type of uniformity in that area because we have some people that have five tents when and then we have some that have huge tents and we also want to create opportunities for others because it is not fair for one set of family to have six, seven business tents out there when you have others that want a business space at the market to be able to provide for their family that is the thing that we are trying to talk about some people might say that we are going after them but it is not that we are trying to bring opportunity for others but at the same time we had to deal with the food first so we relocated them a bit so there are plans as you know, right now we have prepared the written proposal for the market expansion with the EU and to push forward and even if we don’t get that financing through the EU we are going to seek funding other way so the market expansion will get done within this term.”

"We Got Yah Back" Program With The Orange Walk Coalition Committee
One’s safety and that of his family are always a priority, and being properly informed on our rights and the rights of others is an important part of that. To help the public be better informed and to educate the community on various issues affecting our safety, the Orange Walk Coalition Committee along with the Orange Walk Police Formation personnel will be presenting a new show titled “We Gat Yoh Back, Coalition and Police”. The first episode of the show will be aired tonight. We spoke with the Chairman of the Orange Walk Coalition Committee, Armando Valdez who will also be a part of the panel in the first episode of the program tonight. “We’ll have a panel made up of Policemen officers and members of the coalition committee and we are going to be talking about different issues affecting our community right now and how to deal with it, what to do with it and also invite professional people like magistrates, Attorneys, Doctors, Nurses, Pastors, Priests and so on so that they can inform the people of what they can do, so that we can create a safer community in Orange Walk and that is the whole idea behind it.”

Former Security Boss Of A Lottery Charged In The US
An article released by BBC News is indicating that the former security boss of a lottery in the US has been charged with fraud after allegedly hacking the computer that picks the winning numbers. So what does that have to do with Belize? Well according to the report the court filings suggest there was an attempt to claim the prize just hours before it was scheduled to expire by a company incorporated in Belize. Eddie Raymond Tipton was the security director for the Multi-State Lottery Association when he was arrested in January 2015 by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations after he was caught on closed circuit television buying the winning lottery ticket.

Orange Walk Central To Be Inaugurated, Says Mayor Kevin Bernard
The Orange Walk Central Park has seen a complete facelift and over the past weeks, families have been enjoying the new space with their children. The work at the park has not been fully completed but will soon be as the council will soon be installing a playground. And while that part of the project is finalized, the council will officially be inaugurating the park tomorrow and the public is invited to join in on the event. “I know people may say the children slides have not come in as yet we are right now working with our friend in the diaspora getting contribution because what I saw with the garbage bins that were placed it is a collaboration with the Orange Walk people living abroad and they want to participate further by assisting us at the council to bring in the playgrounds so we are working on all of those things but yes the official inauguration is tomorrow at 4pm at the Central Park and I am asking everybody to be part of that.”

US National Promotes Football In Belize
Over the weekend, the Bel Care Football Youth Academy in Orange Walk was launched signalling much needed sport events for the youths of town. The Academy is one being carried out countrywide thanks to Belizean/American Michael Lindo who lives in New York City. According to the organizer, Lindo has always been an avid football fan and while he is away in the US, his home country Belize has always remained in his heart. And in an effort to get the young ones into the football sport, Lindo has made a significant contribution in the form of equipment to schools and teams countrywide. DEAN FLOWERS – Organizer, BelCare OW “Mr. Lindo resides in New York or the past 54 years but he saw the need to do something positive for the children and the thought the best way to do this is through football so he dreamt of an academy and a such he went to one World Play Project and we were able to get 2350 of these balls that I have here in my hand which are funded by Chevrolet, which is the main sponsor of Manchester United and Belize has received 2350 of these balls and we have intentions to requisition more and we go from district to district launching these projects and we realize that there is greater demand for footballs and for the kids to play so the idea is to get the necessary resources put them in the hands of responsible coaches and just allow for children to play we are not concern about elite football at this point in time in our young stage of the academy we are concern about introducing our children to football and allowing them the opportunity to play have fun and recreate.”

San Pedro Charges Five Persons In Possession Of Large Volume Of Cocaine
San Pedro Police have arrested and charged five men for having in their possession a large volume of the highly addictive Cocaine. According to island cops, they conducted a search at an apartment in the San Pedrito Area around 12:30pm today where they were met by five male persons. Upon further inspection, authorities made the discovery of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine. The men were placed under arrest and escorted to the San Pedro Police Station where they were identified as 45 year old Cyril Wade, 34 year old Richard Adderly, 40 year old Edmond Alvarez, 26 year old Edwin Goody and 20 year old Joel Young. The men were jointly charged for drug trafficking. The drugs weighed a total of 83.8 grams.

25 Year Old Drowns In The New River
A twenty five year old man drowned over the weekend in San Estevan Village in the Orange Walk District. Alejandro Arjona, a Belizean living in Cancun, Mexico was socializing with a group of men near the San Estevan Ferry area on Sunday evening when he jumped in the river. According to one of Arjona’s cousins who was socializing with the group, when Arjona jumped in the river he pulled him out. But Arjona asked to be left alone and shortly after went back into the water, went under and never resurfaced. The men he was with tried to look for him and found his body shortly after. He was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital and pronounced dead at 6:42 Sunday night. Alejandro Aurelio Arjona resides in Cancun and was on a two week visit at his grandmother who lives in San Estevan Village.

PlusTV

Third Belize City murder in four days, police charge teenager
While Roaring Creek has seen a spate of murders over the past few months,Belize City has seen three incidents of murder in the last six days dating back to the end of the Easter weekendThe latest was brazen and disturbing, but police have solved it rather quickly...

Roaring creek men shot; one dead, other hospitalized
One man is dead and another critical in the hospital after they were both shot early Saturday morning in the village of Roaring Creek.The two men, Allan Garbutt and Jermaine Welcome,were sitting on the verandah of Allan Garbutt’s home, eating fried chicken and socialising just before 1:30 that morni...

Football Federation’s decisions on McCauley and Pelayo
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) met in General Congress over the weekend to discuss its plans and objectives for football in the coming year...

Lake I squatters to move to Cotton Tree
Last week a group of persons squatting on a private piece of property in the area behind the Lake Independence Boulevard reported that they were being given a week to move after receiving formal notice of eviction, some for the third time, as they have been caught previously twice on the Government ...

Man drowns but wife says she believes it is murder
A 58 year old Guatemalan, living in the village of Camalote, Cayo was found floating in the nearby river  on Sunday morning around 11 am apparently dead...

Mexican man drowns in Orange Walk
There was another drowning , this time in Orange Walk.  According to police reports, on April 12, 25-year-old Alejandro Aurelio Arjona of Cancun, Mexico drowned near the ferry at San Estevan Village.  Arjona was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and was accompanied by his cousin of San Es...

Hon. John Briceno back in court today
Back to court news:  Hon Tulio Mendez was not the only Area Representative who went to the Orange Walk court house today.  Hon. John Briceno, Orange Walk Central Area Representative, was also back at court today after his first arraignment  on February 4...

Man sought for carnal knowledge of girl
And speaking of  sexual crimes, a 27 year old man of Belize City is being sought by police for the carnal knowledge of a minor...

Orange Walk East Area Rep back in court
Orange Walk East Representative Marco “Tulio” Mendez was back in court today . This was his second appearance at court after he was criminally charged in February of this year...

Big Falls villager dies after suspected Hit and Run
One person is dead after what appears to be a hit and run accident in Big Falls Toledo. According to reports, the body of Big Falls villager Jose Moralez was found on the  left hand side of the road leading to village of Big Falls, about half a mile from the Big Falls bridge...

Kareem Staine charged with Denver Villafranco’s murder
In January of this year, 23 year old Denver Villafranco  was murdered while walking  on Mahogany Street. He was attacked by three men, one of whom stabbed him  to the right side of the abdomen. Villafranco, a volunteer for the Belize Defence Force, did not survive the attack...

Arrests in murder of Coast Guard found beaten at Welcome Center
Police have also made arrests in connection to the murder of  Coast Guard Aurelio Monterowho was found badly beaten at the Welcome Center in San Ignacio last Saturday and succumbed to his injuries the following Tuesday...

Amandala

“Ghost,” 40, slain in “Ghost Town”
Tensions were high in the Mayflower Street area of Belize City on Saturday following the shocking broad daylight murder of an individual who was well-known in the area and spent a lot of time there. The incident took place at around 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, inside a yard that is located at #5 Mayflower Street in the area known as “Ghost Town,” the base of the reputed Ghost Town Crips. Police said that Edward Usher, 40, also known as “Ghost,” a resident of the area, had just entered the property when he was ambushed by a gunman. Upon seeing the assailant, Usher reportedly tried to subdue him, but was blasted with a bullet in the neck.

Iguana Street resident gunned down in Trench Alley
Michael Horace Foreman, 32, better known as “Popeye,” a resident of Iguana Street Extension in the Collet area, and the son of a police superintendent, was shot to death around 10:30 last night, Thursday, April 9, while sitting on a bucket in a yard in Trench Alley. His killer reportedly sneaked up from behind, and shot him in the back of the head. Police transported Foreman to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), where he was then rushed to the Belize Medical Associates for a CT-scan to examine the extent of the injury he received. The scan revealed that the bullet was lodged in his head. About three hours later, Foreman was returned to the KHMH, but died of his injuries at about 4:30 this morning, Friday.

Percival Pilgrim, 20, charged for Ghost’s murder
Police say that internal gang warfare has erupted in “Ghost Town,” as the Mayflower Street area has come to be known, between factions of the Ghost Town Crips. On Saturday, the war claimed yet another life when Edward “Ghost” Usher, 40, was executed on his own turf. According to reports, Usher had been shot in the neck, head and back. This afternoon, police brought Percival Pilgrim, 20, to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, where he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, who arraigned him on a single count of murder “for intentionally causing the death of Edward Usher by unlawful means.”

Maxboro man found naked and decomposing
Two children who went to visit their father at 32 Maxboro this evening after school were horrified when they opened his house and found him naked and decomposing in a sofa in the hall of the house. Leon Dennis Brodhurst, better known as Leon Leslie, 31, of Maxboro, had been stabbed about 7 times in the chest and his throat had been slashed. His trousers had been thrown over his face. An onsite autopsy will be conducted on Leslie’s body by Dr. Mario Estrada Bran, police coroner, and his team from the National Forensic Unit at about 6:00 tomorrow morning, after which the body will be buried immediately. Leslie’s stepfather, Steven Staine, told Amandala that he was last seen by the family on Saturday, when he had gone to the house to spend time with them and to have lunch with his mother. He was well, but reported that he had been threatened.

CCJ may hear its first criminal appeal from Belize
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), usually based in Port of Spain, Trinidad, is scheduled to hold its first sitting in the country of Belize next Monday, but that visit will be historic for more reasons than one: that is because the CCJ will deliberate on its first application from Belize to hear an appeal for a murder conviction. The CCJ is slated to hear arguments on Monday, April 20, 2015, on whether it should grant special leave for Gregory August, 26, to appeal against the Queen, following a conviction back in 2012 by a jury, after hearings before Supreme Court Justice Adolph Lucas. The Court of Appeal heard the case last year, and upheld the conviction of life in prison, handed down by the lower court.

Ian Morrison showcases Belize’s cart and carrier cycle culture
In a city abuzz with all sorts of automobiles, including the latest models of SUVs, young Belize City residents may not be able to imagine an era when the popular modes of transportation were manually-built carts and carriers, propelled by a human engine. The most popular vestige of this era in our history is the bicycle carts, since, on a smaller scale, some city vendors still make use of these fuel-free modes of transportation. Some of these carts traditionally sold fresco (crushed ice with syrup) in the streets, and many of them still do! Ian Morrison, an engineer by profession, said that as a child, he loved building things with his hands. His curiosity led him on a search for information to put together a book on these types of vehicles that were used in the past, but when he met with Noel Escalante, the photographer prodded him to take it to the next level and to launch an exhibit instead. Morrison took up the challenge and two and a half years later, he unveiled the Carts & Carrier Cycles Exhibit at the Belisle Art Gallery, at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts in Belize City.

Judge will rule on Keyren Tzib bail application Wed
On Easter Monday, April 6, a Coast Guard vessel was returning to base after a multi-agency operation around San Pedro, but before the boat docked, there was a shooting on board and Keyren Tzib, 24, who is employed in the Belize Coast Guard as a “seaman,” was arrested and charged for the shooting. Tzib was arraigned on attempted murder and two related criminal charges when she appeared before the Chief Magistrate on Tuesday. She was remanded to prison and has to apply to the Supreme Court for bail. Having completed the necessary paperwork, this morning, Tzib and her attorney, Audrey Matura-Shepherd, appeared before Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord to argue the bail application.

Bob Lightburn Half-Marathon results
The Bob Lightburn Holy Saturday Half-Marathon, named after the legendary marathon champion of the 1960’s, started off from BTL Park just a few minutes after the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic on the morning of April 4; but on Holy Saturday, everything is Cross Country, so not many fans were around to witness the finish of the foot race, which saw some notable veterans as well as some promising young runners, both male and female, completing the grueling 13.1 mile journey. The man himself, Bob Lightburn, appearing not a pound over his running weight, was on hand to say a few words to the runners before the start, and to present the trophies and medals after the race. A private group, led by Ian Gray and including Darwin Rhaburn and others, organized the race, which was traditionally conducted under the auspices of the Amateur Athletic Association. According to Gray, assistance was also received through the efforts of Belize Olympian Collin Thurton in the U.S.

FFB wants embattled Rawell Pelayo to resign
A senior Football Federation of Belize (FFB) executive, who in June of last year pleaded guilty to conspiring to contravene US narcotics laws, will be given an opportunity to resign, rather than to be booted from his post. That was the decision that was made at the FFB’s 8th Congress which was held this past Saturday, April 11, at its headquarters in Belmopan. After the session, FFB President, Ruperto Vicente, told the media that although Pelayo’s expulsion was on the agenda for the day, it was later struck off to give him an opportunity to meet with the Federation and make a more orderly exit instead. He said, “Mr. Pelayo is a member of the football family, and we want to treat every member of our football family with respect.”

PLB playoffs start Wednesday
The Premier League of Belize Closing Season wrapped up its regular season over the weekend, and with the final games yesterday, the top 4 teams and their seeding have been determined for the playoffs which get under way on Wednesday of this week. In a ruling made on Friday by the Disciplinary Committee, FC Belize, who defaulted to Police United on Wednesday of last week, was suspended from the rest of the tournament, so their scheduled Saturday night game was awarded to Belmopan Bandits with a (3-0) score applied. The last 3 regular season games were played yesterday, Sunday. At the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga, home standing Wagiya defended home turf with a 3-2 win over Placencia Texmar Assassins. Meanwhile, at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, the home team was not so fortunate, as visiting Police United bombed San Ignacio United by a 6-1 margin.

NEBL first ever All Star Game
he National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) resumed after the Easter break with some key games that had significant playoff implications. Fans are reminded that all games have a live webcast, where the play-by-play, along with box scores, are available for all games. Fans can follow every game live on the internet, as scores are in real time, at nebl.sportingpulse.net. Dangriga Warriors get huge win in Orange Walk. The Dangriga Warriors (3-5) got a much needed victory against Orange Walk Running Rebels (2-6) at the Orange Walk Multi-Purpose Complex on Saturday night, maintaining a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot with Belize City No Limit. No Limit gets revenge against city rivals, as Chippy Rudon scored 38. Belize City No Limit (3-5) got a huge win Saturday night at Bird’s Isle, where they narrowly edged the Belize Hurricanes (2-6), after they were trailing by 9 points in the fourth quarter, to come back and secure a 59-56 win. No Limit was led by Gregory “Chippy” Rudon, who had the game high 38 pts, to go with 2 assists and 2 rebs, on 71% shooting from the field.

The fraternity of the law
In February of 1970, more than 45 years ago, the then publisher and editor of this newspaper, Ismail Omar Shabazz and Evan X Hyde, respectively, were arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy. Her Majesty’s Government of British Honduras alleged that Shabazz and X Hyde were attempting to bring the colony’s administration of justice into disrepute by publishing a front page story in Amandala entitled “Games Old People Play.” At the time of the offending article’s publication, there were a couple election petition cases taking place in the Supreme Court of British Honduras. This was in the immediate aftermath of the general election of December 8, 1969, in which the ruling People’s United Party (PUP) had won 17 seats, while the Opposition National Independence Party (NIP) and the People’s Development Movement (PDM) coalition (NIPDM) had won just one seat. The NIPDM candidate for the Freetown constituency, Henry Fairweather, had filed an election petition against the electoral victory of the PUP Freetown candidate, Premier George Price.

From the Publisher
Every now and then you will hear informed people refer to the late Lee Kuan Yew and the economic miracle he accomplished in Singapore, a former British colony, but informed people will not always explain that the foundation of Singapore’s success was and is an extreme and rigid discipline. In Belize, another former British colony, we are blessed with many more natural resources than Singapore, but there is a raging indiscipline in Belize which is evident as soon as you have to enter the streets. The way drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians behave here is in a most disorderly manner. Our societal discipline in Belize is a major obstacle as we try to develop our young nation-state. Perhaps enough has been said about the corruption of elected politicians and other public “servants” in Belize. This column will focus more on the indiscipline of the individual citizen. Those of a colonial mentality will be quick to blame self-rule and the replacement of British supervision as the reason for Belize’s present lawlessness. If this is so, it did not have to be so. Belize could surely have moved from colonialism to self-rule without moving from order to disorder.

Cassandra … the PUP saga
Dear Editor, The current PUP leadership makes the Belizean people feel a bit like Cassandra, the mythological Greek daughter of the king of Troy who could see the future – most famously, her city-state’s doom – but was cursed such that no one would listen to her. This is a bit of an exaggeration some may say, but is it? The current leadership of the PUP can see that with names such as Fonseca, Musa and Julius Espat as its voice and face, the people of Belize will not vote PUP anytime soon, and hence, the party is headed for another resounding defeat at the polls and apparent doom, but they are cursed to the point where they will not listen to reason. The polls, though not scientific, speak clearly to the voters’ fear, fatigue and downright frustration at the names aforementioned. One only needs to walk or talk to the common man, the man on the street, who, incidentally, makes up the majority of our voting population, to understand why, despite the missteps of the ruling administration, the PUP, in the eyes of the majority, with its current leadership constitution, is not an option or a risk the voters are willing to take.

Holy Emmanuel Street residents to be displaced…again
A group of Holy Emmanuel Street residents, who are once again in danger of being displaced by the proposed development of the area near to the Chetumal Street Bridge, are trying to make their voices heard by speaking out against the latest prospect of land eviction. Amandala understands that a few weeks ago, Jia Wei Li, an Asian businessman, sent a representative along with police officers to the area to inform over a dozen families who reside in the vicinity of the strip cleared for access to the bridge that they must vacate their homes by April 15 or face eviction. Today, a few of those affected families decided to alert the media of the situation because they understand that they will eventually have to move because the new land owner reportedly has a legitimate title, but they believe that they are being pushed around by authorities who promised to assist them to find an alternative place to live. We spoke to Consuelo Urbina, who told us that they have been trying to contact their area representative, Hon. Mark King, in order to be relocated and compensated for the properties that they have occupied, but to no avail.

Belize more “liquid” than ever!
Bank savings accounts and shares in the major utility companies are some of the financial investment vehicles that have been traditionally used in Belize; however, in recent years, we have seen new investment vehicles emerge, with the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) launching into debentures to the public and the Belize City Council offering the chance for the public to invest in municipal bonds. For BEL and the Belize City Council, offering these financial options has both ensured that they have been able to raise tens of millions of dollars without paying the double-digit interest rates charged by commercial banks, and enabled persons with extra money to earn more interest than the banks are now offering. Ervin Perez, managing director and partner of Legacy Fund Limited, says that were it not for legislation that imposes a floor on interest rates – a minimum of 2.5% which banks must pay customers who save with them – the rates would probably have plummeted to well below the existing norm, which means that savers would get virtually nothing for putting money in the banks.

Rebellion at Santander sugar mill
Not long after the work week started at Santander’s sugar milling facility today, a group of approximately 75 discontented employees initiated a protest on the premises. The reason, we were told, is that some of the workers believe that they are being underpaid and subjected to unjust working conditions, among other issues. When Amandala arrived at the area just before midday, three truckloads of riot personnel from the Belmopan police were leaving the compound, since tensions had subsided by that time, but we were informed that some six officers remained stationed at the facility, which is presently under construction, in order to keep the peace. A few of the workers who participated in the protest spoke with the media this morning, and they said that they felt cheated by their employer, which allegedly has been paying them much less than had been promised.

Where is Keia?
The Gentle family of Nutmeg Street of the St. Martin De Porres area of the city are trying to determine the whereabouts of Keia Gentle, 16, who disappeared from their home on Wednesday morning, April 8. She is believed to have run away. Police have since begun a search for her and her photo has been posted at the precinct stations in Belize City. Keia’s mother, Ava Belgrave, said that she is so worried about her daughter that she cannot sleep. Ava told Amandala that Keia was well-loved and cared for at home. However, on Wednesday, she saw two girls with her daughter who she believed had run away from the “Children’s Home”. She asked the two girls to leave, she said.

Judge will rule on Keyren Tzib bail application Wed
On Easter Monday, April 6, a Coast Guard vessel was returning to base after a multi-agency operation around San Pedro, but before the boat docked, there was a shooting on board and Keyren Tzib, 24, who is employed in the Belize Coast Guard as a “seaman,” was arrested and charged for the shooting. Tzib was arraigned on attempted murder and two related criminal charges when she appeared before the Chief Magistrate on Tuesday. She was remanded to prison and has to apply to the Supreme Court for bail. Having completed the necessary paperwork, this morning, Tzib and her attorney, Audrey Matura-Shepherd, appeared before Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord to argue the bail application. After hearing arguments from the applicant’s attorney as to why bail should be granted, the state, which is being represented by Senior Crown Counsel Lindbert Willis, was “not prepared” with an argument opposing bail, because “the time was too short.”

Patrick Jones

Area representative re-states position on squatting
10 Belize City families who were told last week that they had a week to move will be moving to new properties in the area of Cotton Tree, Cayo District. But it has come to light that there are many more families living in the area of the […]

Shooting leaves Belize City man hospitalized
In Belize City, 48 year old Mark Franklin Broaster is recovering at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained when a gunman targeted him around 7:20 Monday night in Belize City. The resident of the Pickstock Street area was standing in front of his house when his […]

Man’s decomposing body found in Maxboro
Police are investigating yet another murder in the Belize District, this one in the residential subdivision of Maxboro. It is not yet clear to police who wanted 31 year old Leon Leslie Sr., residing in house 271 in the subdivision, dead, but it was clear that the deed […]

New Vaccine Storage Facility to be inaugurated
A new Vaccine Storage Facility will be inaugurated on Wednesday at the Western Regional Hospital Compound. This new facility which will primarily be used as storage was constructed after officials from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) carried out several evaluations of the National Vaccine Storage Facility and saw the […]

Escaped convict sought by police
Today, 37 year old Angel Torres who escaped from the police while being transported to the Belize Central Prison remains on the run according to authorities in the north. As we’ve previously reported on Thursday afternoon around 1:45pm as he and other prisoners were being transported to spend day one […]

Murder in the Belize District
Yesterday evening around 5pm, based on information received Belize City police visited the community of Maxboro in Sandhill Village in the Belize District. Upon their arrival at a residence, they observed the lifeless body of 31 year old Leon Leslie Sr on a sofa inside his beige color bungalow house. […]

Mayor Bradley defends Downtown Rejuvenation Project
Last week artist and former director of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) Yasser Musa came out guns blazgrey Mayor Bradley defends Downtown Rejuvenation Projecting against the House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project, calling it a “colonial bomb” designed to blow up in Belizeans’ faces and charging that NICH generally has been neglecting its human resources – artists, artisans and musicians who are working to preserve Belizean culture. grey Mayor Bradley defends Downtown Rejuvenation ProjectToday Mayor of Belize City Darrell Bradley offered a rebuttal of sorts, acknowledging that some of Musa’s criticisms are fair, if not completely cognizant of the scale and development of the project. First Bradley addressed the criticism of unfair distribution of resources, challenging Musa to publicly give his input. He said that it is not enough to simply criticize; one must be willing to join in if necessary to make your opinion count.

Belize City to host Business Improvement Areas
In conjunction with the Caribbean Local Economic Development Project (CARILED), the Belize City Council today hosted a volunteer under the auspices of the Canadian Technical Assistance Program to present the concept of a Business Improvement Area to businessmen and other residents of Belize City, particularly those in the downtown area stretching from Birds’ Isle to Regent Street West including several of the landmarks to be renovated under the $15 million Taiwan-funded Downtown and House of Culture Rejuvenation Project. In simple terms, a BIA, which was first established in the Canadian province of Ontario, brings together local businesspersons and commercial property owners and tenants to work together, along with the local government, to organize and carry out physical improvements and promote economic development in their area, for the cost of a simple membership fee.

Blogs

A New Visit to The Most Fascinating Property on Ambergris Caye – Essene Way
Fact: There is no property on Ambergris Caye more interesting than Essene Way. (Can facts be based solely on my opinion?) The original owner (back in the early 1980s) was the heir to the Perrier water fortune. He developed the Belizean Hotel – it had six beautiful cabins and a lounge – and the third hotel north of the bridge after El Pescador (1974) and Journey’s End (1984). After his death, the place was sold to some developers who tried and failed at building and selling condo-cabanas (the ones you see now). The bank took it back and sat on it for a while. The current owner bought it during the 90’s and went nuts spending and building. The super-large structure on the property now was to have been his family home. The aim was to have his family live there after the disaster that was to be Y2K. He put up the largest solar-panel installation in Central America, he brought in an array of pairs of animals & a lot of black dirt for growing food. He built a survival dome and stocked it with food. And so…it is in its current state. Here are the pictures of what is there as of yesterday. Fascinating and hauntingly beautiful. I’m glad there are people living there…this huge property on one gorgeous stretch of beachfront might, otherwise, creep me out. On the south end of the property nestled just up against Captain Morgan’s Resort is the only more current development – these condos.

International Sources

New Canadian Initiatives in the Americas
At the seventh Summit of the Americas (April 10 to 11, 2015) in Panama City, Panama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the following projects aimed at strengthening health, security and democratic governance, and border management across Latin America and the Caribbean. Health: Canada is a global leader in ending the preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children in the developing world, including in the Americas. Maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) remains Canada’s top international development priority. To further support this priority in the Americas, our Government is announcing the following projects:

Canadian couple chronicles pirate attack survival story on video
The couple set sail March 27 on the boat they hired from an American captain in Belize, bound for Roatan – one of the idyllic Bay Islands off Honduras. “We met him, our captain, online and we were working as crew members in exchange to learn how to sail,” Reinholdt told Global News in a Skype interview from Mexico, where the couple is now recovering from the ordeal. They were attacked just a day later, and less than a day away from their destination, when they moved to anchor closer to the Honduran shoreline to avoid stormy seas for the night. It was about 5:00 p.m. on March 28. Reinholdt said the four men in a fishing boat came after their vessel as they went to anchor for the night. “It was going at such great speeds that we really thought this was odd,” she said. As a precaution, Wasinger and the captain told her to go down into the cabin. At first the young men said they only wanted gas for their boat. But they continued to tail and circle the vessel even after Wassinger said there was no fuel to spare.

New mesoamerican pine beetle described
A newly-discovered species of tree-killing bark beetle, Dendroctonus mesoamericanus Armendáriz-Toledano and Sullivan, has been described in a paper published online in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America by a group of researchers that includes a U.S. Forest Service scientist. Numerous and diverse studies by a research team that includes members from the U.S., Mexico, and Norway determined the organism to be a species new to science and provided information needed to manage the insect, which may share responsibility with the southern pine beetle for catastrophic damage to pines of Central America in recent years. Researchers have found mesoamerican pine beetles attacking eight species of native Central American pines and have collected the insect from Belize, southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Videos

April 14, 2015

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

Letter to the Editor: Shopping Nightmare
My wife loves shopping while on vacation. Yes, she also likes the beach, sun tanning and swimming in the ocean and fine dining. But her biggest interest is shopping while on vacation. At home she has a job, a family, a household and hardly any time to shop for anything but groceries and daily household necessities. While on vacation, she feels relaxed, has all the time and dedication plus some substantial savings planned to be spent during our vacation weeks. That’s when she feels really in the mood to shop and one could say: “she shops until she drops”. On previous vacations we even had to purchase a new, third suitcase just to have the additional space to pack all her shopped items for our flight back home. She buys local art and souvenirs, swim wear, fashion and gifts for me, friends and family and of course plenty of things for herself. I usually park myself at a local bar in the center of a shopping district to have a few drinks while she zigzags through every shopping street, hitting every shop there is in town; not one store is left behind, not one item un-inspected but considered for purchase. She goes through every rack and shelf in every boutique, souvenir shop and store she can possibly spot.

Key Lime Pie Baking Adventures at Celi’s Deli!!
Rosy makes a mean Key Lime Pie that is piled so high with merengue, with a homemade crust and thick, creamy custard that you just cannot resist! After years of watching pie after pie disappear shortly after being put out on display, I had to get into the kitchen and learn her secrets!! This is a perfect pie to make for Mom on Mother’s Day. It’s also really good for a weekend get together with friends. I mean, really, you don’t need me to tell you when to eat a pie – if you can make it and have the ingredients, why not do it and eat it!

Letter to the Editor: Beware Standing by a Principle in Belize!
I refer to articles “Local Rates vs Tourist Rates” and “Sticking it to the Rich Man”, The San Pedro Sun, April the 4th. My wife and I were in Belize for a short while, in the event shorter than anticipated, earlier this year. By no means rich, we had worked and saved hard to earn our holiday and, pensioners of 77 and 73 respectively, travelling independently, using small hotels and local transport we had set out to sample the experiences that Belize had to offer, meet some of the people and enjoy our modest holiday. On February the 3rd, during a bus journey from Belize City to San Ignacio we were overcharged our fare. Naturally I resented this assumption that a foreigner offers to the venal an opportunity for making “a little on the side”, never mind his abuse of his employers’ trust. I took practical action. At the Belmopan bus station I explained to the driver what his colleague had done, removed a key from his panel and promised to return it when I was refunded the overcharge. I expected the matter to be rapidly resolved. How wrong I was! It was immediately demonstrated to me how rapidly, in Belmopan at least, police action is resorted to in order to resolve a minor squabble. The bus was immediately driven to a local sub police station. Inside the station an officer, considerably taller than me and about half my age, who later claimed to be 901 (he wasn’t wearing his number tags) held me by the throat against a wall whilst repeatedly shouting at me, (the F word was prominent) before bundling me roughly into a toilet. While this took place officer 1506 Mitchell was repeatedly shouting at my wife. I surrendered the key.

BzSA members to attend a World Class Laser Sailing Clinic
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) will hold a five-day Laser Sailing Clinic at the National Sailing Academy on Antigua, West Indies from July 14 to 21, 2015. This clinic and four others like it in other regions of the world will launch the 2015 Youth Worlds Emerging Nations Programme, and Belize has been invited to attend. ISAF is underwriting virtually all significant expenses of those who participate, including members from the Belize National Sailing Association (BzSA). BzSA is now among the Member Nation Authorities (MNAs) that ISAF recognizes. The goal of ISAF’s Emerging Nation Youth World Clinics is to give skills and knowledge that both the sailors and their coaches will take home and use to build and further develop sailing training and racing in their home countries, all for the benefit of future generations. To this end, part one of the ISAF programme provides funds for BzSA to send one coach and up to three sailors to the five-day clinic, as long as one of them is female. BzSA’s share of the costs is limited to funding one half of the airfare, which is estimated to be $400US per person. BzSA will be seeking financial support to meet this expense.

Belizean Senator Lisa Shoman to lead OAS electoral observation mission in Guyana
Senator Lisa Shoman will be leading the Organization of American State (OAS) Electoral Observation Mission that will witness the electoral process of the May election in Guayana. The decision was announced on April 8th by the Secretary General of the OAS His Excellency Jose Miguel Insulza and Guyana’s permanent Representative to the OAS, his Excellency Bayney Karran. A ceremony to sign the agreement took place in Panama City, Panama in the context of the Seventh Summit of the Americas, scheduled to be held on April 10th and 11th. The Secretary General expressed his hope that “this will be a very good moment for Guyanese democracy,” and his conviction is that, “as always, the government of Guyana will give the Mission all the facilities they need to do their job well.”

Ambergris Today

Tourist Expresses Sadness over Garbage Situation on Ambergris Caye
I recently visited your beautiful country and spent a little over a week in Ambergris Caye and San Pedro. My husband and I enjoyed snorkeling and swimming in the beautiful clean water and were very appreciative of the warmth as we came from upstate New York, USA where it’s been very cold. We also very much enjoyed how friendly everyone was in the town and how delicious the food is everywhere we ate. One thing that greatly bothers me however is the amount of garbage everywhere is; on the beaches, in the town, on the roads etc. Isn’t there some way that this can be changed? Don’t people feel pride in where they live? Later I was shocked to find out the Town is using garbage as land fill in the some of the housing areas for the poor and migrant workers. Why is this a good idea? Surely, you can see how toxic chemicals would be leaching into the ground and water which is so close by.

25 Years Ago: Making Your Own Homemade Palmetto Broom
Quite a group of skillful people in San Pedro in years gone by! We have seen the home made drum ovens, the hand corn mill, and the all-metal irons that required actual fire to heat them. Today I will take you through the fabrication of brooms to keep the house and the yard happily clean. We are first going to manufacture a broom at no cost whatsoever and put it to use inside the house. Material: 4 palmetto leaves 1 short piece of stick for handle A piece of sturdy string or wire First some explanation on the palmetto leaves. There is also the local palm leaf known as thatch or ‘taciste’ in Spanish. They grow all over the island and if you want to see them in abundance drive by around San Pablo. Now take the four palm leaves and fold each one individually into a tight cone-like structure. Then put all four leaves together and tightly fasten them unto the end of the piece of stick. Tightly wrap the string or wire about half way down the bundled palm leaves allowing it to fan out into an eight to ten inch diameter.

Residents Claim Excessive Force by Anti Drug Unit in San Pedro
Just as it seems that the ADU, GSU and BDF are doing a great job of keeping a strong presence on the island and causing a significant drop in criminal activity on the island, residents are now complaining of roughhousing (manhandling) by the same officials who are suppose to keep the peace. Ambergris Today got a hold of images and a video of two members of the Anti Drug Unit (ADU) using excessive force, and even pulling out a gun, on a resident as they conducted a search on his person. Although it is not known if the man committed an offence, other officials reviewing the footage clearly indicated that the two ADU personnel did use excessive force when one kicked the man while he was down and clearly not showing any resistance. Plus, watch the video and see how one ADU officer takes out his gun, points it at the man on the ground and loads it in the middle of the busy street. The man in the video was later arrested with no clear indications of the charges set on him.

Misc Belizean Sources

Beltraide ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS WORKSHOP
You have a passion ... a hidden talent. Do you know what it takes to turn that skill into a successful business? Attend this workshop if you are an entrepreneur, new business owner, innovator or a 'closet' business person. Prepare to be informed, motivated, and focused on your business plan for action. The workshop is FREE and information - PRICELESS! It designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or who may be at the beginning stages of starting a business. This introductory helps aspiring entrepreneurs assess their abilities to lead and manage a company; as well as, evaluate market and sales potential for their products/services. Start-up costs, financing options, and business planning are introduced, along with necessary steps to get started. Location: BELTRAIDE office- Belmopan Workshop Date: April 16th, 2015 9am to 12pm. Kindly register before April 15th, 2015

Passing of Mr. Anthony Stephens
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its deepest condolences to the Stephens family on the passing of Mr. Anthony Stephens. May his soul rest in peace. Mr. Anthony Stephens is brother to our long time employee Mr. William Stephens Sr. and uncle to our employee Mr. William Stephens Jr.

The 5th International Red Carpet Affair Caribbean Style
Saturday April 18th 2015 Alpine Village Center 833 Torrance Blvd, Torrance C.A 90502 Starring Lova Boy - Calypso Rose - Daddy Tracey - Caribbean Dynamics - Michael Wagner - Guwie Posse - Sam Hamilton Music by:  DJ MIsta B & Albez & DJ Money Belizean Vibez Crew Details: Admission $30 Adv $35 at The Door | VIP Floor Adv $40 Door $50 | VIP Upper adv $35 Door $45 Ticket Outlets Alpine Village 310.327.4384 LIttle Belize 310.674.0696 Belizean Paradise 323.973.7710 Mar's Caribbean 310.323.5000 Pelican Restaurant 323.232.5487 Joan & Sisters 323.735.8952 Stones 323.751.5526 Jean Dawson 323.632.3735

Commentary: Garifuna Nation: Justifications for long overdue Garifuna reparations
By Wellington C. Ramos. When studying the history of our Garifuna people there are several theories that are known to us and they are as follows: Theory 1 -- Thousands of years before the Europeans came to this part of the world, a group of Africans migrated to the Caribbean known as the “Mende” people. This tribe is comprised of about twelve and they now occupy some countries in West Africa mainly in the Ivory Coast. They intermingled with the Caribs and the Arawaks and brought about the people now known as “Garifuna”. The Arawaks are from the Orinoco region in South America and the Garifuna language is mixed with Arawak, Carib and some ethnic African language. Garifuna people’s DNA reflects all these cultures in it. Evidence: Renowned historian Dr Ivan Van Sertima supports this theory and published his findings in the book titled: “They Came Before Columbus”. Other anthropologists and archaeologists have supported this with research done in Mexico to show that the Olmecs, who gave rise to the Mayas and Aztecs, are descendants of Africans also. To support this there is a research done by Clyde A. Winters titled: “Africans Came Before Columbus”.

Feel the Heartbeat at Soul Project
The Soul Project was the stage for Feel the Heartbeat. The Winsom Foundation fundraiser was lively, with music, art, and some humor too. The sculptures from Paint Up a Storm were on display.

Thinking about applying for the CARSI Economic Support Fund Grant but have questions?
The U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, Belize announces a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to strengthen citizen security by focusing on job creation and providing alternative activities and better education for youth at higher risk of gang affiliation and/or engaging in criminal activity. Contingent upon the availability of funds and quality of proposals, U.S. Embassy Belmopan intends to issue three to five awards in an amount not to exceed $900,000 in total funding. Each award will be for an amount between $100,000 and $400,000. Project periods should not exceed two years, and the anticipated start date for successful proposals is September 30, 2015. This funding will support U.S. Government objectives under the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) to target the underlying factors contributing to violence and crime in Belize.

Walk/ Run for Awareness 5k
San Pedro, April 26. Walk or Run to create awareness for children with disabilities and to support Ambergris Caye Elementary School

Caye Caulker Lobster Fest 2015
Friday, June 26 Miss Lobster Fest Pageant 7 p.m. Entrance fee TBA Pageant After Party 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Entrance fee TBA Saturday June 27 Opening Ceremony Color Explosion Pt. 2 (Powder Party) 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance Free!! Saturday Night D.U.I Presents Glow Fete 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Entrance fee TBA Sunday, June 28 Games Foam Party DJ Competition - DJs battling for the title of 'Lobster Fest DJ 2015' 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Entrance Free

Pepperoni Dave passes away
We lost one of our best friends here at Crazy Canucks and a wonderful man yesterday. Dave (Pepperoni Dave) lost his battle with cancer. We will forever remember all the laughs, your stories, horseshoe throwing, dice playing....and your love for game shows and sports. May you rest in peace and our thoughts are with Denise and family. We will drink a Crown Royal in honor of you! Love always.... The Crazy Canucks family and friends.

Neotropical River Otter
While going up some slow-moving tributaries, looking for macaw nests, sometimes our neighbors seemed puzzled. Neotropical River Otter

Belize and the EU Hold Second “Article 8” Political Dialogue Session
The Second political dialogue session between the European Union and Belize took place in Belize City on Monday, 13 April 2015. The dialogue offers a platform for consultations over a broad range of issues, as well as an opportunity to take stock of progress made concerning 'essential elements' of the Cotonou Agreement, including respect for human rights, rule of law, democratic principles and good governance. The meeting focused on the current status of the Belize Guatemala Process, Energy, Climate Change, Security, the Post 2015 Development Agenda, Human Rights, Schengen Visa Waiver, Preparations for EU-CELAC Summit in June2015 and Updates on Regional Processes.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Monday, April 13, 2015: 47

CARTS & CARRIER CYCLES
Final preparations being made for the opening of Ian Morrison's exhibit entitled: CARTS & CARRIER CYCLES, Belize in the 20th Century- "Man-Powered Machines". Opening this afternoon at the Belisle Art Gallery at the Bliss starting at 3:30 p.m. exhibit runs until the end of the month, drop in anytime free of cost to see the role these carts played in the economic development of Belize....

Channel 7

Man Called "Ghost" Killed in Ghost Town Turf
There were three murders this weekend - one in Belize City; one in Camalote; one in Roaring Creek. We start in the City on Saturday morning where Amin Edward "Ghost" Usher was killed at the far end of Mayflower Street - which is the base of the Ghost Town Crips. And he should have been safe there because Usher is considered an elder in that neighborhood, but it seems a younger gang member had beef with him - and committed murder in broad daylight. 7News was on the scene and Daniel Ortiz has the story:.. Daniel Ortiz reporting Shortly after 9 on Saturday morning, Mayflower Street was chaotic, heightened emotions ranging from grief and mourning in one corner, and rage and hurt in another. One of its well-known personalities, 40 year-old Edward Usher, aka "Ghost", was executed in this yard at #5 Mayflower Street, in the presence of other residents who were socializing with him.

Two Men Shot, One Dead Roaring Creek
The weekend's first murder happened at 1:30 am on Saturday morning on Roaring Creek village. A pair of 24 year olds, Jermaine Welcome and Allan Garbutt were shot as they hung out at a home in roaring Creek. Welcome didn't make it and today Courtney Weatherburne asked his family why they believe he had been shot. She spoke with Allen's Grandmother, Maud Richards and Hadie Welcome, Jermaine's mother: Courtney Weatherburne reporting Early Saturday morning, two best friends were having a quesadilla snack right in front of this veranda. They were standing right here just about ready to eat when they were shot at from behind. They tried to escape the blasts but both collapsed in the yard. 24 year old Allen Garbutt fell here behind the veranda while his lifelong friend - Jermaine Welcome - laid close by, gasping for breath.

In Camalote Police Say Drowning, Family Says Murder
The body of 59 year old Candelario Jaime was found near the river in Camalote. A group of kids from the village found his body about 5:30 on Saturday evening. According to his family, Jaime goes to take a swim every day at around this time and returns to his house after but this time he didn't. We went to Camalote to find out more from his wife Felipa Jaime. Felipa Jaime, Wife Translated "Well honestly before I went to church he said he will go swimming and them he come back and mind the house and so went and when I came back he did not come back and I said well I didn't know what happened and it was already night so I couldn't go out so the next day I started to think bad like…something bad had happened and so I went to find him and when I told the neighbors there and one told her that she went down by the river some suspicious men were coming up from the river and so she said if he is not there. Something bad must have happened. Then she told me lets go together and go check at the river and when some kids went down who knew how to swim , that's when they found him, they found his body."

Murder in Maxboro
And tonight, Ladyville police are in the Maxboro housing community in Sandhill village processing a murder scene. 31-year-old Leon Leslie Sr. was found in a decomposed state in his home - he had apparently been stabbed or chopped to death - and his throat was slit. Police could not comment because they just got to the area about half an hour ago. We'll have more on his disturbing and apparently violent end tomorrow.

Attorney Arthur Faces Arrest
Belmopan police have confirmed that attorney Arthur Saldivar will face criminal charges tomorrow. The charges stem from a misunderstanding between Saldivar and the mother of his two sons. The two are separated - and she alleges that Saldivar trespassed on her property today, took her phone and scrolled through her text messages. Police told us that is the report they received and they expect to charge Saldivar for burglary and trespass tomorrow. Saldivar told us the allegation is nonsense and a waste of the court's time. He told us he doesn't see what he can be charged for. He says he was outside the property and did scroll through the phone because his son bought it to him. He says he is concerned for his children's wellbeing - and that is why he checked the phone.

Hon. Tulio Mendez Speaks! (Just Not To Channel 7)
2 months ago, the biggest story coming out of the north was the child molestation charges which were brought against disgraced Area Representative Marco Tulio Mendez. He's accused of inappropriate contact of a sexual nature with 2 minors who claim that they were molested before the age of consent. Viewers may remember how the entire press core camped outside of the court room in Orange Walk Town, waiting for Mendez to make his exit from his initial arraignment. As we showed you, instead of facing the press as an elected member of parliament, Mendez chose to run away, and wait for the scandal to die down before he gave any meaningful comments to the media. He went back to court today for a routine adjournment, and this time, he was more forthcoming - because there was only one Orange Walk based media house there. Here's what he had to say about the charges he is now facing: Reporter "Since it has been open to the public about the situation that you are going through, which is in front of the court right now, how has it been? Are you still a member of the parliament?"

Briceno Faces Adjournment in Court For Traffic Offence
Mendez's fellow parliamentarian from the north, John Briceno, has also been facing criminal charges at the Magistrate's Court. As we told you, he's been charged with driving without due care and attention, failing to report an accident, and harm upon Christopher Hendricks, who is the Deputy Prime Minister's driver. As we told you, Hendricks says that Briceno ran over his foot with a gold Toyota Prado that he was driving on Thursday, January 22 at the Belize High School of Agriculture Compound, located in Trinidad Village, Orange Walk. They were there for the inauguration of inauguration ceremony for the San Lazaro to August Pine Ridge Road. Hendricks' version of events is that he was standing near the gate of the compound when Briceno pulled up in his Prado. He claims that Briceno ran over his foot and then drove off.

FFB Will Give VP Rawell Opportunity For Orderly Exit
The Football Federation of Belize held it's 8th Ordinary Congress on Saturday. The purpose was to give the highest decision making body a report as to what the federation is doing in with football this year, and what is the plan for next year. It was mostly housekeeping with the Federation unveiling plans to develop the sport from the grassroots level all the way up to the semi-pro league. One of the agenda items was the expulsion of Senior Vice-President Rawell Pelayo from the FFB executive. As we've shown you, he was sentenced to 2 years in prison in the US for conspiracy to smuggle half a kilo of cocaine into New York. That basically calls his eligibility as an executive member into question, but instead of kicking Pelayo out, the Federation decided to allow him to tender his resignation and make a graceful exit. 7News was at the meeting on Saturday, and after the 3 hour congress meeting, we spoke with FFB President Ruperto Vicente about the Pelayo situation:

MARK KING GIVES LAND...
The new Chetumal Street Bridge has been operational at the Western end of Belize City for four months now - and the squatters who had set up on what is now the road are now just a very faded memory from 2011. But fast forward to 2015, and the hardscrabble "Gungulung" neighborhood that runs adjacent to the new bridge's southern approach is the scene of another squatting squabble. But, this time government is playing peacemaker not enforcer. 11 families along the river are squatting along a piece of the river bank which is private property. The landowner has sent them an eviction notice - but they have nowhere to go. So, the issue has now fallen, inevitably, to the Area Representative Mark King. Today he called the media to UDP Headquarters in Belize City and told us that he had worked out a solution:.. Hon. Mark King, Area Representative - "Lake-I" "What we are looking at is that they were given notice of the eviction by a law firm, I think Godfrey's Law Firm and I was notified like a week and a half ago by the persons being evicted. I took note that these persons were all Belizeans unlike the Emmanuel squatters whereby several of them or majority of them were not Belizeans. These persons were all Belizeans and the end of the day they live in the Lake-I Constituency.

One More Charged For BDF Reservist Villafranco Murder
In January, we told you how BDF volunteer Soldier Denver Villafranco was beaten to death. Brothers Phil and Orlando Staine were arrested and charged with murder, and tonight, their other brother, 33 year-old Kareem Staine, has joined them in jail. He was arraigned late this evening before the Chief Magistrate on a single charge of murder, and due to the nature of the offences, he was remanded; he will be brought back to court on May 27, along with his other brothers. Villafranco was walking on Complex avenue and at about 7:30 p.m. on January 17. When he arrived at the Sunflower Street intersection, 3 men ambushed him. One of the men clubbed him over the head with a crowbar, another slashed him in the abdomen and stabbed him several times in the chest, and the other punched him several times. They left him lying in a drain, and that's when police arrived and tried to rush him to the KHMH for medical treatment. He died 10 minutes later while undergoing surgery.

Santander Workers Rebel, Rattled Manager Calls The Cavalry
In March we told you about the big investment Green Tropics - now known as Santander will make in sugar cane production and the job opportunities available. Well, the supervisors and managers at Santander will have to appease and convince their existing workers before they take on any more. This morning at around 11, over 40 Santander workers spontaneously protested on the company compound. They are complaining about what they say are low wages and that they are not being paid for the long extra hours they have to work. Today we caught up with the group of disgruntled workers at the site and they were quite candid in explaining their complaints, despite the heavy police presence. Arturo Maroquin, Disgruntled worker, SANTANDER "We are here because we work hard every day and yet they don't want to pay us the correct money. They told us to work Easter and when we got our pay, some of us get fifteen dollars/twenty dollars. Some of us got $150 and for our social security they took out $19. Now they're telling us to go work and we have no rights. The helper is just getting $35, yet we have to pay our own bus from Cayo everyday which is $5. For a Coke it's about $2, for a biscuit it's about $1.50, a shilling chips is 50 cents."

Murder Victim "Ghost" Was Muslim Convert
At the top of the news - we told you about the murder of Edward Ghost Usher and showed you the explosive aftermath deep in the territory of the Ghost Town Crips. The narrative of his demise seems simple enough - gang man, killed by youth in gang land. But it's not that simple, really. Today in a sit down with Usher's mother - Evadney Welch- she told Monica Bodden how her son changed his life and became a Muslim. Still, she told us that her son was constantly harassed by police officers who created a bad name for him. Evadney Welch, Mother of Deceased "He was born and raised on #3 Kraal Road. We came to live here in 1977, and have been living here for 37/38 years. He grew up back here, went to Lake I School, graduated from there. He was a nice young little boy. He use to sell bottle, picking up bottles about and selling them. I use to get up in the morning and make 10lbs of Journey Cakes, and he use to sell them.

Coast Guard Rescues Fishermen With Failed Engine
Weekends in the dry of April are a perfect time for recreational fishermen to head out on the weekend for fishing. But a crew of eight almost got stranded when the engine on their skiff started sputtering on Sunday near Goff's Caye on Sunday afternoon. They called 911 quickly and the Coast Guard had to rush to their rescue. 7News was at Old College Road near the Port of Belize when they were hauled in on choppy waters:

Cancun Man Drowns in OW River
At the top of the news, we told you about the drowning in Camalote in which the family of victim suspect foul play. Well, there was another drowning, and this one happened in Orange Walk yesterday. 25 year-old Alejandro Aurelio Arjona, a resident of Cancun, Mexico, was found floating in the river in an area near the San Estevan Village Ferry. Police believe that he was under the influence of alcohol, and in that state, he and his cousin went to the river back. His cousin reported that without warning, he jumped into the river. His cousin made sure to retrieve him, but Arjona did it again. He requested that his cousin leave him alone, and only 2 minutes afterwards, he went under. He didn't resurface, and hours later, he was discovered near the ferry. He had drowning.

Channel 5

Deadly Weekend Shooting in Roaring Creek; One Dead, Another Critically Injured
Tonight, a small community in Roaring Creek Village known as Hattieville is still in shock, and residents are afraid, following a bold execution of one man and the attempted murder [...]

Saturday Morning Bloodbath, Ghost Murdered In Ghost Town
The second murder of the weekend occurred after nine on Saturday morning in the heart of Ghost Town gang territory. Five bullets made its mark on forty-year-old Edward Usher inside [...]

Another Staine Brother Arraigned for January Murder of B.D.F. Soldier
On January seventeenth, B.D.F. soldier Denver Villafranco was stabbed and killed in Belize City. Three days after, Police arrested forty-one-year-old Phil Staine and thirty-eight year old Orlando Staine and charged [...]

Santander Workers Protest Salary Arrangement
Were Santander employees protesting salary issues this morning? Well, that was the word going around. Over twenty workers were in front of the company’s offices today querying about pay they [...]

…Company Rep Explains Misunderstanding
So, were the employees protesting or not? Santander rep in Belize, Beverly Burke says it wasn’t a protest but rather a miscommunication in the issuance of payments made on Friday, [...]

Marco Tulio Mendez Back in Court in Sugar City
People’s United Party Orange Walk East Area Representative Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez was back in court today after being arraigned on six charges stemming from allegations made by a pair [...]

Attorney Dickie Bradley Explains the Nature of the Case Against Mendez
In court on behalf of Mendez was Senior Counsel Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley.  He explained the nature of the charges brought against his client.   Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley, Attorney for Marco [...]

F.F.B. President Vicente Says Rawell Pelayo Will Resign From Football Executive
Rawell Pelayo was deported to Belize last week after serving time in a U.S. jail cell for his purported role in drug trafficking.  The name has also been synonymous with [...]

Will Deon McCauley Be Back for Second Round of World Cup Qualifiers?
The issue of Rawell Pelayo wasn’t brought up during the ordinary congress of the F.F.B. on Saturday but the future of star striker Deon McCauley in the upcoming home and [...]

European Union Doubles Its Contribution to Development of Belize
2015 is deemed historic and significant for Belize and the European Union because this year, the country has received a whopping forty million Euros, which is almost double the amount [...]

EU Ambassador on Energy Dependence
An energy summit was held in Washington earlier this year and the U.S. is trying to move its energy influence back into the region. But in Belize, for some time [...]

Ambassador Nestor Mendez on the Way Forward for O.A.S.
Belize’s Ambassador to the O.A.S., Nestor Mendez, in a historic vote became the new Assistant Secretary General Elect of the organization.  The post becomes effective later this year in July [...]

…Where Does Belize/Guatemala Dispute Stand?
But with a Belizean representative holding the second to the highest seat in the O.A.S. hierarchy, will it help with the resolving the Belize-Guatemala dispute?   Nestor Mendez, Assistant Secretary [...]

MLA Prepares for Upcoming CCJ Judgment
The Caribbean Court of Justice during its inaugural sitting in Belize’s jurisdiction will preside over an upcoming land rights claim involving the Maya communities and the Government of Belize.  The [...]

O.A.S. Recognizes Students in Model Summit
A Belizean delegation participated in a simulation summit for the O.A.S. at the end of last month in the Caribbean. They joined over a hundred delegates for sessions to role-play [...]

Sporting Highlights with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   It was billed as a monster showdown out at San Pedro where Saturday night the defending champion, Tigersharks, hosted [...]

CTV3

O/W East Area Representative, Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez Re-appears in Magistrate Court
This morning, the Orange Walk Magistrate’s court was abuzz with activity as both Area Representatives for Orange Walk Central and East Constituencies re-appeared for their on-going cases brought against them. Viewers may recall in January of this year, Orange Walk East Representative Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez was arraigned in the magistrate court and slapped with six charges including aggravated assault of an indecent nature and common assault of two minors. Reports were that the complaint made against him stemmed from offenses that go back to 2005. Also making an appearance was Former leader of the PUP, John Briceno who was read with three traffic violations stemming from an incident on January twenty-second during which he allegedly ran over the foot of Christopher Hendricks in this gold Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. Hendricks is the driver for cross-town political rival Gaspar Vega. And while both cases have been highly sensationalized in the mainstream media, both parliamentarians were back at court this morning and that’s where we start our coverage….. Reporter Maria Novelo has the lead story tonight…

Dr, Marco Tulio Mendez Is Still Orange Walk East Area Representative, He Says
And so while Mendez is faced with a huge hurdle in the courts, we felt compelled to ask him about his future political career. The Orange Walk East Area Representative has gone on record to state that he will not be seeking re-election in the next General Elections and plans on retiring on the advice of his doctor because of chronic ill health, resulting from an old spinal injury. As mentioned, Mendez is still the elected PUP Area Representative in the National Assembly for Orange Walk East and while rumours are that he will resign from the post triggering a bi-election in the Orange Walk East constituency, today he told us he’s not going anywhere….. “Yes, am still a member, I haven’t resigned and of course I am just going through course of the legal process, I haven’t resigned and I am still representative of the Orange Walk East Area.” Maria Novelo – Reporter “The opposition Mr. Elodio Aragon has been pushing for your resignation?”

FFB Awaits Mr. Pelayo's Resignation
The Football Federation of Belize held its eighth ordinary congress in Belmopan on Saturday and on the agenda was the discussion surrounding the expulsion and role of Rawell Pelayo as an executive member of the Federation. As we’ve reported, Pelayo was arrested in 2013 when he flew to Houston for the Gold Cup in July of that year where he spent 21 months in a detention center in the US. Pelayo faced a narcotic charge on June 30th 2014 when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle half a kilo of cocaine into New York. Last week Pelayo was released and on Tuesday was deported back to Belizean soil. And while he holds the position as senior vice president, today President of the Federation Ruperto Vicente says Pelayo will receive a graceful exit and discussed the issue of incomplete accounting for the Gold Cup monies, which was reported to have stayed in his luggage when he was detained. “Mr. Pelayo is a member of the football family and we want to treat every member of our football family with respect, yes he was an agenda item for today’s meeting but we remove that from the agenda is because we want to give Mr Pelayo an opportunity to submit his resignation which he has indicated that he will submit that resignation and for that reason we move that item from the agenda.”

US Naval Hospital Ship Arrives In Belize
The US Naval Hospital Ship, USNS COMFORT arrived in Belize late last week and has begun working in different communities providing outpatient medical, dental and preventative medicine and health education services. The team is focusing primarily in the Hattieville and Independence areas but this afternoon, they reached out to the community of San Victor Village in the Corozal District to provide a small assistance to the students in the village. Dalila Ical – Reporting The school received the pleasant surprise last week that the children were to receive a generous donation from members of the US Armed Forces. That donation was handed personally to each child enrolled at the school, all 192 of them. Eighteen preschoolers were also given a gift. School Principal Ramiro Castillo says that students are yet to receive some foot wear that he indicated were a necessity at the school.

Trouble Brewing At Santander Sugar Factory
In March of this year, we told you about a new player in the Sugar Industry called the Santander Group who invited the media over for a tour of their facilities. At the time, the company boasted that it had already pumped in approximately ninety million U.S. dollars into the project, as well as employed roughly eight hundred men and women, a majority of whom are Belizeans. Well tonight, things are a bit sour in that Company since the employees staged a protest in front of Green Tropics in the Cayo District and the police were called in to maintain order. We have been informed that the workers feel they are being treated unfairly and their working conditions are not up to par. Arsenio Estrada, one of the workers who spoke to our colleagues at Plus Television, says they were “Sold lies” to gain employment. ARSENIO ESTRADA – Worker, Santander “Actually I was told a lie; I was told that I was going to making so much amount of money so I came. I am actually a scale welder, I help build the US Embassy and I worked several places before and actually I was the pride of my welding skills right here, they didn’t give me a welding test, they only told me take $40 and if you don’t want it just go home and I noticed all the other guys coming after me were taking it and they all took a test and that determined their raise and up to now a whole year and I haven’t receive a raise, me and several other guys here.”

PlusTV

Michael “Popeye” Foreman is latest City murder victim
For the second time in as many nights, police are investigating a murder in Belize City, also near the center of town. This time the victim is no stranger to police or the press. He is 32 year old Michael Horace Foreman, also known as “Popeye”, of an Iguana Street Extension address in Belize City...

Police update on recent murder cases
Earlier this week Mark Rhamdas was killed in Belize City and Jamie Chavarria was killed in the same area one week earlier. Are the cases related? We will have police’s response to that shortly, but first Superintendent Hilberto Romero updated the press on the status of the Rhamdas murder. Supt...

Supreme Court defers decision on Keyren Tzib bail application
Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord has reserved decision on an application for bail made today by 24 year old Seaman of the Belize National Coast Guard (BNCG) Keyren Tzib,  charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm in an attack on colleague Petty Officer First Cla...

City councilor speaks on Javier Novelo termination
Yesterday, we told you about the non-renewal of a contract for senior worker at the Belmopan City Council, Javier Novelo, who worked for over 9 years at the Council’s Engineering Department and a year and a half as the head of that department...

Former PUP mayor complains about new UDP council firings and hirings
In related news, the Dangriga Town Council is in the process of restructuring the council and unlike the Belmopan City Council which did not change party colour, the Dangriga Town council shifted from a PUP town council to a UDP town council...

US Naval Hospital Ship in Belize on humanitarian effort
The U.S. Naval Hospital Ship- USNS Comfort , arrived in Belize on Thursday morning. Onboard the ship were over 1,000 crew members consisting of Navy doctors and surgeons who have come to Belize on a humanitarian mission...

BAY Does Volunteer work with Navy Meds
Members of the Belmopan Active Youths also known as BAY will be travelling to the medical sights in Hattieville and Independence over the next 6 days, not to receive services from the navy medics, but to give services...

Murdered John Doe identified
Yesterday we reported on the unidentified man who was found badly beaten at the Welcome Center in San Ignacio. The victim was taken to the KHMH but succumbed to his injuries while admitted at the hospital...

A Community of Squatters in the Heart of the Country
In 1962, Belmopan was chosen as the new capital after the devastation of hurricane Hattie left Belize City in ruins. Since then, the City of Belmopan has been rapidly expanding, so much so that there is no more available land to inhabit according to RECONDEV and the Lands Department...

Supreme Court grants three bail applications
Four men accused of varying crimes today applied for bail in the Supreme Court before Justice Herbert Lord. 23 year old Ronald Michael and 30 year old Alrick Smith are out on bail of $10,000 each.  Michael and Smith are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and Michael alone with attempted murder...

Patrick Jones

Concerned Dangrigans on a Mission to Restore Beach
The massive erosion along the coastline continues to cause concern to coastal residents and Dangriga is no exception. The Brothers and Sisters Keepers Group (BSK) have certainly made its mark along the northern beach of beautiful Dangriga right in front of the Garden of Gethsemany (Dangriga Cemetery). Visitors […]

Galen University students participate in Model OAS General Assembly
The 7th Summit of the Americas organized by the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama City, Panama, is complete; however today in Belize City a group of Belizean students displayed the knowledge that may make them future diplomats participating on Belize’s behalf in such events. The OAS […]

Third Belize City murder in four days; police charge teenager
Belize City has seen three incidents of murder in the last six days dating back to the end of the Easter weekend. The latest was brazen and disturbing, but police have solved it rather quickly. Around 9:20 on Saturday morning, April 11, police visited a yard on Mayflower […]

Rotary District 4250 holds training seminars
The Rotary International organization is one of the single largest humanitarian organizations worldwide with over 34,000 clubs in most countries. Belize’s 9 clubs are located in District 4250 which covers the Northern Triangle of Central America along with Guatemala and Honduras. In July this year, a new District […]

Deon McCauley’s place on national team discussed at FFB General Congress
Fresh from a disappointing performance in the opening round of 2018 World Cup qualifications where Belize narrowly squeaked by the lowly Cayman Islands, and a promising debut in beach soccer where Belize won one of three games in group play at the regional championships in El Salvador, the […]

Rawell Pelayo to leave FFB
He was a vice-president in the Football Federation of Belize accompanying Belize’s first-ever national side to go to the Gold Cup to the United States in 2013. But two years later Rawell Pelayo returned home in disgrace, having served 21 months of a two-year sentence in New York […]

Coast Guard rescues fishermen near Stake Bank
The Belize National Coast Guard has acquired a reputation for fast acting to save lives on the sea in marine incidents. On Sunday evening a rescue boat went out on a call south of the Stake Bank area to save a group of fishermen. Petty Officer Class 3 […]

Lake I squatters to move to Cotton Tree
Last week a group of persons squatting on a private piece of property in the area behind the Lake Independence Boulevard reported that they were being given a week to move after receiving formal notice of eviction, some for the third time, as they have been caught previously twice on […]

Disgruntled Workers at Green Tropics Protest
This morning around 11:45 am police and BDF soldiers were dispatched to Green Tropics Enterprise in the Cayo District to quell a protest that was started by a group of disgruntled workers. Sources say that a group of employees were organizing a demonstration to complain about their wages that they […]

Lisa Shoman will lead the 20 member Electoral Observer Mission for the May 11th General Elections in Guyana
It was confirmed by Guyanese Ambassador, Albert Ramdin that the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Belize, Lisa Shoman will lead a 20 member Electoral Observer Mission for the May 11th General Elections in Guyana. This group was developed by the Organization of American States (OAS) to […]

San Estevan Villager drowns
Orange Walk police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the drowning of a San Estevan Village resident. According to authorities, they responded to a distress call sometime on Sunday and upon arrival saw the motionless body of 25 year Alejandro Arjona laying face up in the New River, near the Ferry. […]

Hon. Briceno and Hon. Mendez back in Court, find out more what happen here
This morning two parliamentarians appeared at the Magistrates Court in Orange Walk Town to answer to charges placed against them. We are talking about Orange Walk Central Area Representative John Briceno who was accused of running over the foot of Gaspar Vega’s Driver, Christopher Hendricks on January 22nd of last […]

Belize Weather Forecast: Mainly Fair Weather
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mainly fair weather for the next few days. The weather for today will be mainly sunny with a few cloudy spells and partly cloudy tonight. Winds will blow to the East to South East at 10 to 20 knots. The sea state […]

UPDATE Breaking News: Body of Man Found in Big Falls Village
A man’ body was discovered early this morning by residents of Big Falls Village in the Toledo District. The body was found on the side of the southern highway. Witnesses at the scene are saying that it appears to be a hit and run incident. However, police haven’t process the […]

Chuc’s Gas Station on Bullet Tree Road Gets Robbed
Last night around 9:25pm, San Ignacio Police responded to a robbery at Chuc’s Gas Station on Bullet Tree Road. According to police, two masked men of dark complexion approached the gas attendant and pointed a .38 revolver demanding money. Fearing for his life, the gas attendant handed more than $600 […]

Military Sea hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) Visits Belize
A special ceremony for members of the Continuing Promise 2015 Organization was held in Belize City on Friday, April 10th. Thousands of members from 70 non-governmental and international organizations got together to share ideas and provide much needed services for improving the lives of Belizeans. Continuing the Promise is […]

The March 22, 2015 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

• Harrison Drops The Bomb:
  Just 75 days ago Richard Harrison was a national candidate for the People’s United Party and glowing endorsements from his party leader Francis Fonseca. But in quick time after his historic defeat he has faded into obscurity; Harrison disappeared from public view before the votes were finished counting in the Cayo North bi-election. But he has re-appeared quite suddenly with a searing political commentary called “A Post Election View From Under The Bus.” Harrison starts by saying that the party leadership, quote “threw him under the bus” when it endorsed his replacement Michel Chebat without his knowledge. Harrison takes this as disrespect after all he gave in the failed bi-election effort. He then asks, provokingly, “if they cannot uphold their own party’s constitution while in opposition, how can they be expected to uphold the national constitution while in government?”
• Launching Of “A Walk Through El Cayo”:
  The Institute for Social and Cultural Research today launched a publication titled “A Walk Through El Cayo.” The 48-page paperback book gives a concise history of many of the public spaces around San Ignacio and Santa Elena or what was known in the early days of the settlement as El Cayo. Contributors to the publication included Diana Askari, Francisco Galvez, Jr., Luis Gentle, Hilda Mencias, Hernan Ochaeta and Hector Silva, Sr. Field researchers were Giovanni Pinelo and Selene Solis and the editorial team was led by Nigel Encalada, the Director of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research. Among the areas highlighted in the book are the Hawksworth Bridge, the old San Ignacio Hospital, Sacred Heart Church as well as early business enterprises in Santa Elena town. Copies of the book were given to primary schools that were present at the official launching ceremony which was held at the Cayo Welcome Center. The San Ignacio Library and media representatives who attended also received copies.
• “A Post Election View From Under The Bus.”:
  Municipal elections in Belize are held every three years and were scheduled for March 4, 2015. General elections to elect members of the House of Representatives are held every five years and must be held by March 2017, but can be called by the Prime Minister at any time before then, with only 30 days notice. Suddenly, in mid-November 2014, People’s United Party (PUP) elected area representative for Cayo North (Hon. Joseph Mahmud) resigned as standard bearer for his party, and I (among others) was called by senior party officials inviting me to participate in intra-party convention to elect a new standard bearer that would represent the party in the next general elections. After some consultation with people in the area, I decided to accept this invitation, and started to do some ground work in the division.
• Official Swearing In Of The New Mayor And Councillors Of San Ignacio and Santa Elena:
  The new San Ignacio/Santa Elena town council officially took office on Monday, March 16, 2015. Mayor Earl Trapp and his councillors were sworn in during a short ceremony held on Sunday afternoon at the Cayo Welcome Center by Senior Justice of the Peace Elulogio Cano. Prior to the start of the swearing in ceremony, Mayor Trapp and the councilors went around greeting the people who had gathered to witness the event and to enjoy the entertainment provided by the Super Furia Band.
• Land Fraud Cases:
  The Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA), through the Lands and Surveys Department, has launched an investigation into fraud cases involving land titles that were recently discovered. The preliminary investigation suggests that there is a systematic effort being orchestrated by persons of both foreign and local nationalities to obtain property by fraudulent means. The perpetrators use fraudulent international passport and other forms of identification to usurp the identity of real land owners to obtain property and subsequently proceed to fraudulently transfer land titles to prospective buyers by forging signatures of MNRA officials in an effort to make the documents appear legitimate as though they were issued from the Lands and Surveys Department. It appears that the con artists are targeting properties owned by absentee landowners who reside abroad.
• National Elite Basketball League - All Star Night:
  The NEBL will be hosting its first ever All Star Night on Friday, April 10 at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town. The All Star Game will tip off at 8 p.m., with North versus South. Entrance fee is $10 general admission and $15 for VIP seating. Children under 10 years of age pay $5. Teams from the North will be Orange Walk Running Rebels, Belize Hurricanes, Belize City No Limit and San Pedro Tiger Sharks and teams that make up the South are Belmopan Red Taigaz, Cayo Western Ballaz, Dangriga Warriors and Toledo Diplomats. The starting five for both teams will be selected by the fans, via Facebook likes. Fans are encouraged to visit the NEBL Facebook page, click on the picture of their player and “Like” their favorite player. The players with the most FB “Likes” will be the starting 5 for both teams. Only 2 players from one team can be on the starting 5.
• Bishop Martin Project:
  Twelve twelfth grade students from Toronto District Christian High School (TDC)(Ontario, Canada) landed in Belize City last week Wednesday, March 11. They stayed in San Ignacio making a daily trip to Bishop Martin Roman Catholic School where they began construction on a new cafeteria. TDChristian sends down students every year during their 'March Break' off school to volunteer their time here in Belize. This year's team consisted of twelve students, Monika, Sewa, Allison V., Chloe, Joey, Katie, Gavin, Melissa, Mark, Arie, Allison E., and Amber, as well as three chaperones, Ms. Marg, Mrs. Evelyn, and Mr. Rod. During their time in Belize the students learned new skills, interacted with elementary students, and toured the country.
• The Forgotten History of Gay Marriage:
  Editor’s note: This post is a Care2 favorite. It was originally published on March 14, 2012. Since then, there have been many changes and advancements in LGBT rights around the world. The information in this post still holds true, though, and is an important reminder. Enjoy! Republicans and other opponents of gay marriage often speak of marriage as being a 2,000 year old tradition (or even older). Quite apart from the fact that the definition of marriage has changed from when it was a business transaction, usually between men, there is ample evidence that within just Christian tradition, it has changed from the point where same-sex relationships were not just tolerated but celebrated. In the famous St. Catherine’s monastery on Mount Sinai, there is an icon which shows two robed Christian saints getting married. Their ‘pronubus’ (official witness, or “best man”) is none other than Jesus Christ. The happy couple are 4th Century Christian martyrs, Saint Serge and Saint Bacchus — both men. Severus of Antioch in the sixth century explained that “we should not separate in speech [Serge and Bacchus] who were joined in life.” More bluntly, in the definitive 10th century Greek account of their lives, Saint Serge is described as the “sweet companion and lover (erastai)” of St. Bacchus.
• GOB Improving School Environment For Students & Teachers In Belmopan:
  The Government of Belize recognizing the critical importance of ensuring a more pleasant school environment for the delivery of quality education to students provided school furniture and computers to the Belmopan Methodist High School in the nation’s capital. The donation includes 100 student Armchairs, 15 chairs, three teachers desks, one cupboard, three book shelves and four computer tables valued at $14,525; coupled with 10 computers and accessories valued at $31,299.41 totaling $45,824.41. Funding was made through the Commonwealth Debt Initiative (CDI). Students of Belmopan Methodist High School will now have more efficient access to Information Technology due to the donation of the equipment.
• Kidney Stone:
  A kidney stone, also known as a renal calculus or nephrolith, is a calculus formed in the kidneys from minerals in the urine. Kidney stones typically leave the body by passage in the urine stream, and many stones are formed and passed without causing symptoms. If stones grow to sufficient size (usually at least 3 millimeters (0.12 in)) they can cause blockage of the ureter. This leads to pain, most commonly beginning in the flank or lower back and often radiating to the groin or genitals. This pain is often known as renal colic and typically comes in waves lasting 20 to 60 minutes. Other associated symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, fever, blood in the urine, pus in the urine, and painful urination.
• Mexico Supreme Court Frees Man After 23 Years In Jail:
  The Mexican Supreme Court has ordered the release of Alfonso Martin del Campo Dodd, a Mexican-American who was jailed in 1992 for the murder of his sister and brother-in-law. The court ruled that Mr Martin del Campo's confession had been extracted under torture and that there was no other evidence against him. Mr Martin del Campo said police had placed a plastic bag over his head to make him confess to the double murder. He is expected to be freed shortly. In a four-to-one ruling the judges said Mr Martin del Campo, who holds both US and Mexican citizenship, should be freed "in light of the proof that torture was used to obtain his confession in the two crimes, without there being any incriminatory evidence".
• Ambassador Nestor Mendez Elected New Assistant Secretary General Of The Organization Of American States:
  The Office of the Prime Minister of Belize is pleased to announce that H.E. Nestor Mendez, Ambassador of Belize to the United States, Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), and High Commissioner to Canada, was today elected for a five-year term as the new Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States. The post of Assistant Secretary General is the second highest office in the OAS, it is a highly competitive post to obtain, and holds senior responsibilities in that hemispheric organization. The Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs embarked on two years of active diplomacy and campaigning to achieve the support of the majority of countries in the Americas for this post. Ambassador Mendez contested the election against Ambassador Bayney Karran, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the OAS, and secured the election with 24 votes against 10 out of a total of thirty four Member States. This is the first time that a Belizean has been elected to such a senior office in the OAS.
• Breastfeeding 'Linked To Higher IQ':
  A long-term study has pointed to a link between breastfeeding and intelligence. The research in Brazil traced nearly 3,500 babies, from all walks of life, and found those who had been breastfed for longer went on to score higher on IQ tests as adults. Experts say the results, while not conclusive, appear to back current advice that babies should be exclusively breastfed for six months. But they say mothers should still have a choice about whether or not to do it. Regarding the findings - published in The Lancet Global Health - they stress there are many different factors other than breastfeeding that could have an impact on intelligence, although the researchers did try to rule out the main confounders, such as mother's education, family income and birth weight.
• Prince Charles Meets Barack Obama At The White House:
  The Prince of Wales has met US President Barack Obama at the White House during his visit to the country. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met Mr Obama and vice-president Joe Biden at the Oval Office. The president told the prince that the Royal Family was fondly regarded by the American people. The prince also visited an adult education school and took part in 10-pin bowling during this part of the four-day "goodwill" tour. Mr Obama and the prince last met four years ago when he flew to the US a few days after the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Mr Obama told the prince it was "fair to say that the American people are quite fond of the Royal Family". The prince replied: "That's awfully nice to know."
• The World Pediatric Project:
  In collaboration with –The Ministry of Health, Friends of Pediatrics, and the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Is offering treatment for patients from birth to 21 years suffering from : NEPHROLOGY * Nephratic syndrome * Protein in urine * High blood pressure * Any other kidney problems SPINA BIFIDA * Spinal cord protrudes from the back as a lump or opening draining sac at birth UROLOGICAL CONDITIONS * Hernia / hydrocele – swelling in the groin or scrotum * Phimosis – penis foreskin balloons because of tightness of skin * Labia Adhesion – fused vaginal lips. Vaginal opening appears to be closed.
• STAR Humor
• Your Weekly Horoscope and Lucky Numbers
• Letters to the Editor
• Public Notices

Blogs

Blue Forest Contribution to Belize Sustainable Development
This week's SN Blog Posting presents information on the Blue Forest Contribution to Belize Sustainable Development and how the Blue Forest is so important in carbon sequestration, human ecosystem services, and climate change. Learn what the blue forest is and add your ideas to this discussion so that we can begin looking for common views of sustainable development that lead to integrated solutions. By public dialogue we can explore how a country like Belize can become viable and prosperous, how it can develop strategies toward being socially inclusive and environmentally healthy.

Weather, Basketball, Great Food: Things That Make Me Happy to Live in San Pedro, Belize
Here’s a photo of the great weather plus an interesting new boat in town. Or at least one I hadn’t noticed before… Complete with a slide. The manatee statue in Central Park was getting prepped for a new paint job. While in two days, I watched the swing set (just south of the manatee) go from this…wonky… to this.... LUCKILY – Blue Water Grill is raising money this month to build a new one! Eat at the restaurant (easy…it’s delicious), donate some money, they will match it and at the end of April, the total will be used to build a bigger, better swingset. Perfect.

7 Astonishing Belize Caves you should Explore!
Caves tell the history of Belize, having been an intricate part of the Maya religion and culture. The Maya used caves as ceremonial sites and evidence of these activities can be found inside these caves. Relics, principally in the form of shards of pottery, are very common. Here are 7 astonishing caves in Belize you should explore: 1. Actun Tunichil Mukna (ATM Cave) 2. Barton Creek Cave 3. Actun Loch Tunich Cave 4. Rio Frio Cave 5. St. Herman’s Cave 6. Chechem Hah Cave 7. The Caves Branch

Ocean Rescue Swimmer Course Placencia Belize
Fire Management Consultant and Robert’s Grove Resort Placencia Belize 2015 Ocean Rescue Swimmer Course This course will cover basic water rescue skills needed for Surface Water Rescue and Surf Rescue requirements. Class will include information on the aquatic environment, a thorough explanation of the drowning process, how to perform a rescue in the open water environment, use of basic rescue equipment, medical care of injuries specific to the aquatic environment, search and rescue procedures. Date and Location Robert’s Grove Resort Placencia Belize. June 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Class starts at 08:30 The Inn at Robert’s Grove is situated on the Placencia Peninsula, an 18-mile stretch of paradise that is just out from the mainland in southern Belize, where the best beaches in Belize are located.

International Sources

Spicy Spotlight: Marie Sharp's
I had the opportunity to interview the iconic Marie Sharp, the person whose name I see and speak every single day. Marie Sharp’s was our top-selling brand of 2014, and even people who DON’T eat hot sauce have heard of her sauces. For nerdy little me, this was a brush with a celebrity, even if only through a series of emails. However, I quickly got over being a little star-struck once I saw how humble she was. “We have hundreds of visitors to my factory,” she told me. “If I am recognized, they all want to take pictures with me or for me sign bottles of hot sauce or sign their Marie Sharp's T-shirt, but I prefer to remain incognito. I am not a big fan of publicity, however I am happy to meet with my fans. I am a normal, hard-working person that continue to partake in the daily running of the factory.” Perhaps this attitude is the reason why her business remains so successful to this day. All 12 sauces are her own recipes crafted with the goal of producing sauces with heat and flavor—not trying to make the hottest sauce in the world—and she’s good at it. Despite her achievements, she hasn’t let her success go to her head. In fact, the three words I would use to describe Marie Sharp are hard-working, humble, and classy. You can see why when you hear her tell the history of her business:

No Water. No Life. Belize Kids4CleanWater
Hi! My name is Cathy Power. I am an Early Childhood Educator from Canada. I volunteer with an organization called Belize Community Conservation. Welcome to the launch of my fundraising campaign. Thank you for taking a moment to stop by and thanks for being so interested in what we are doing. There is a smile out there with your name on it! Myself, together with two brilliant ladies, Heather from Belize Community Conservation and Mary Beth from Caribbean Student Environmental Alliance (S.E.A.) have been investing our time with the children and families in a community that is crying out for help. The three of us along with a bunch of beautiful Very Important People (V.I.P.) have put together an amazing experience for some really special kids each year. We call it Kids4CleanWater Belize. We have been making a splash in a very rewarding community on Ambergris Caye, Belize called San Mateo. Our program is just a drop in the bucket but that is how you get the bucket filled! Take a few minutes to watch the video I have posted here and you will see for yourself the impact we are having in a community that needs this program and with children who are bright and shining stars. The future.

Remember when Mo' Mojo Music visited Belize for their American Voices concert tour of the region earlier this year?
Check out the photos the band posted of their first (and best) stop on their five country tour!!!

Leonardo DiCaprio Taps Jason McLennan to Design “Restorative” Eco-Resort in Belize
Founder of the Living Building Challenge, sustainability aficionado and architect Jason McLennan has been commissioned by famed actor Leonardo DiCaprio to design a 68-vila eco-resort on a private island in Belize. Dubbed the “Blackadore Caye, a Restorative Island,” the ambitious 42 hectare (104 acres) project will be carried out by New York developer Delos by 2018. The resort will feature an arc of floating suites built over the water and a network of artificial reefs and fish shelters, along with 48 millionaire villas and an indigenous plant nursery focused on manatee conservation. “My goal was always the fact that I wanted to create something not just environmental, but restorative,” said DiCaprio. “A showcase for what is possible.”

Titanic Hero’s Eco-Resort in Belize Aims to ‘Heal the Island’
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is building a luxurious eco-resort on a tiny island off the Caribbean coast of Belize. DiCaprio, who in recent years has become an environmentalist and green speaker, wants to demonstrate how the hospitality industry can prosper by reviving the ecology rather than destroying it. Sandwiched between Mexico and Guatemala, Belize is said to be home to the world’s most biodiverse marine life. Significantly, it was the cradle of Mayan civilization. Here lie the temples that tell the tale of Mayans. With secret beaches and Mayan ruins, Belize offers one of the most beautiful Caribbean escapes for tourists. The island in question is called Blackadore Caye, which DiCaprio purchased with Jeff Gram in 2005 for $1.75 million. The actor, according to reports, fell in love with the Caribbean country after he stayed at Gram’s luxury resort, Cayo Espanto, in 2004. New York City-based Delos has reportedly agreed to develop the resort, while architectural firm Jason F McLennan has designed the blueprint of the project.

Local fly anglers to hear about bonefishing
Bonefishing in Belize will be the subject of Tuesday’s North Louisiana Fly Fishers meeting at the Conservation Conference Center at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge in south Bossier City. At the 6 p.m. event, Erik Dilts and Frank Harmon will talk about the crystal clear water in Belize, which produces big bonefish capable of being handled with a fly rod. “On a recent trip the duo experienced lessons learned with travel, fishing and weather,” according to a release from the organization. There will be a demonstration on how to tie the perfect bonefish fly. The conference center is located at 150 Eagle Bend Point, Bossier City. For more information, contact Scott Irwin at (318) 469-0854.

Marines set for new mission in troubled Central America
About 250 Marines are preparing to form the U.S. military's first rapid-response task force to be based in Central America, where they'll train with local forces battling drug cartels and stand ready to help in the event of hurricanes and other natural disasters. The members of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-South are gathering at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, for a mid-April certification exercise prior to their June deployment to four Central American countries. The unit includes about 100 Marines from the Camp Lejeune's 8th Engineer Support Battalion, plus detachments from II Marine Expeditionary Force and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Like the Marine Corps' other task forces designed to respond to contingencies occurring within designated combatant commands, SPMAGTF-South will be dispersed throughout U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility. Four CH-53E Super Stallion heavy-lift helicopters and the bulk of the Marine engineers will be based in Honduras, with other teams working in the neighboring countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize, said Capt. Armando Daviu, a spokesman for Marine Corps Forces South.

Final Kiwanis travel film of season on Mayan world
The Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs of Northern Door brings the audience of its Travel and Adventure Film Series to Belize and Guatemala for the sixth and final showing of its 2014-15 season, “Worlds of the Maya,” which will be presented live by movie maker Sandy Mortimer. It was in what is now those two Central American countries that the ancient Mayan civilization once occupied the eastern third of Mesoamerica. Similar to the Greeks, the Maya were religiously and artistically a nation, but politically, the civilization functioned with as many as 20 sovereign states in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Excelling in mathematics, astrology, massive building techniques and agriculture, the Maya contributed a wealth of scientific and artistic accomplishments which continue to amaze modern scientists.

Canadian Prime Minister announces regional initiatives
Canadian Prime Minister announces several new regional initiatives that will promote health, security, democratic governance and border management in Belize. Canadian Prime Minister Announces New Initiatives that will Benefit Belize - Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on April 11, 2015,support for several new regional initiatives that will promote health, security, democratic governance and border management in Belize. He made the announcement on the final day of the VII Summit of the Americas. He was joined by Rob Nicholson, Minister of Foreign Affairs.“Canada is actively working with its partners in the Americas to improve the lives of citizens across the region. I am pleased today to announce Canadian support for a range of initiatives that will strengthen health, security and democratic governance, border management and the rule of law across Latin America and the Caribbean. In today’s increasingly dangerous world, we must work to ensure that our hemisphere embraces good governance and democratic rights.” –Prime Minister Stephen Harper.Stuart Savage, Canada’s High Commissioner to Belize commented: “Canada is committed to improving security, especially in the Caribbean and Central America, in a manner that strengthens the rule of law, viable economic opportunities and social development.

La Zona Libre agoniza
La nueva Reforma Fiscal, que ocasionó el incremento de algunos impuestos en el país, y la fluctuación del dólar, generan un panorama sombrío para los comerciantes asentados en la zona libre de Belice, quienes consideran que de seguir con esta situación, en un periodo de cuatro a cinco años este sitio podría cerrar sus puertas. Hasta hace cosa de dos años era común observar largas filas de vehículos que entraban a este sitio y de comercios saturados de clientes que se arrebataban de las manos los diferentes artículos que se ofertaban, situación que ahora no es así. Los tours de compras que se realizan específicamente para venir a comprar a la zona libre de lugares como Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán e incluso de diversos lugares de Quintana Roo, ahora es cosa del pasado.

Videos

April 13, 2015

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

Letter to the Editor: Barbara Castle
Dear Mayor Guerrero and San Pedro Town Council, I recently visited your beautiful country and spent a little over a week in Ambergris Caye and San Pedro. My husband and I enjoyed snorkeling and swimming in the beautiful clean water and were very appreciative of the warmth as we came from upstate New York, USA where it’s been very cold. We also very much enjoyed how friendly everyone was in the town and how delicious the food is everywhere we ate. One thing that greatly bothers me however the amount of garbage everywhere is: on the beaches, in the town, on the roads etc. isn’t there some way that this can be changed? Don’t people feel pride in where they live? Later I was shocked to find out the Town is using garbage as land fill in the some of the housing areas for the poor and migrant workers. Why is this a good idea? Surely, you can see how toxic chemicals would be leaching into the ground and water which is so close by.

Wolfe’s Woofer: The Heart Of A Hustler
“It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?” Brian said. “It sure is,” I told him. “From the deck here at Fido’s I can watch the waves breaking on the reef and feeling the wind coming off the ocean.” “Days like this remind us of why we live here,” he said. “What I like about coming to Fido’s at this time of morning is that the place isn’t open yet. I can sit here in the peace and quiet and try to get some inspiration for this week’s column.” “Good luck with that,” he said, as he went back up upstairs to the office. Presently, one of our local beach hustlers came along and called to me from the beach. “Hey man, gimme a cigarette.” “No thanks. I don’t want a cigarette.”

Police Report
Aggravated Robbery: On Wednesday, April 8th, Rosa Perez reported to the San Pedro Police that on Tuesday, April 7th she was robbed. Perez stated that after closing her establishment, namely ‘Angelicas Store’ in the DFC Area, at 10PM, she and her husband, Eduardo Monroy went home. Possession of Controlled Drugs: On Tuesday, April 7th, acting on information received, Juan Moralez a volunteer Special Constable, along with three members of the Strike Team (PC C. Munnings, PC S. Ferguson and PC Z. Palacio) conducted a search on the residence of Willis Ray Estrada Davis on Sail Fish Drive. Wounding: On Wednesday, March 18th at around 11:19AM, 31-year-old Mario Tosta visited the San Pedro Police Station and reported that on Sunday, March 15th he was wounded. Tosta stated that between the hours of 1AM and 1:30AM he was socializing with friends at a resort south of San Pedro Town when a Hispanic male came out of nowhere and hit him on the left side of his face near his left eye.

Doctor Love: Children and Haircuts
Dear Doctor Love, I have a four year-old son who constantly defies anything I tell him to do. If I tell him to pick up his toys or to get a bath he will fight me on it every time. Is this normal for a four year-old? /s/ Worried Dear Worried, The Doctor checked with some colleagues in the field of pediatrics. They say this is common behavior for the age of four. The majority say that he is just using assertiveness in struggling for his independence. Most agree that this is the time to begin simple negotiations to change his behavior. For example; “If you take a bath, you get a cookie. If you don’t take a bath you will get none.” That’s what the experts say. That kind of negotiation should give you a child who must be bribed for everything from getting good grades to taking out the trash.

Misc Belizean Sources

In Belize, climate change drives coastal management
A five-year project launched here in Belize City in March seeks to cement a shift in view of climate change and its impact on Belize’s national development. The Belize Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation Project (MCCAP) has dual goals: putting in place structures to ensure continued protection for marine protected areas, and ensuring that those who benefit from use and enjoyment of those areas are educated on the dangers of climate change and given means of sustaining their lifestyles without further damage to precious natural resources. Approximately 203,000 Belizeans live in coastal communities – both urban centres such as Belize City and the towns of Corozal and Dangriga, as well as destinations for fishing and tourism such as the villages of Sarteneja, Hopkins, Sittee River, Seine Bight and Placencia. For these persons, and for Belize, “Climate change is not an environmental issue. Climate change is a development issue,” said World Bank representative and senior environmental specialist Enos Esikuri, who noted that keeping the focus on the environment on this issue would result in “losing the audience” – those who make their living directly from the sea through fishing and tourism.

LOTTERY DRAWING for Sunday, April 12, 2015
First: 4040 Second: 9008 Third: 4099 Missing: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Table and photographic record of many of the mangrove plantings I did, from 2007 to 2010 with Adrian Vernon
Three year survival was pretty good for most of these plantings, but I'd be very interested to know their current state. I haven't been to Belize recently, but I can see some of these mangroves on Google Earth. I'd really like feedback about these plantings. They were done literally for the cost of gas to collect and plant the propagules in conjunction with several other projects. Much more could be done.

Belize Interlocking Pavers & Blocks
Belize Interlocking Pavers & Blocks is a new Cayo business that creates compressed blocks which are more than twice as strong as concrete. They can color them if needed, and they last around 40 years. They were at the SHC Business Expo, and had some cool examples of their work. You can find lots of their designs on their fb page.

Voice of the West 2015
The Rotary Club of San Ignacio is having their 13th annual Voice of the West Elocution contest. It'll be on Thursday, April 16th, at Hode's.

Paint Up A Storm 2015
This year's Paint Up a Storm went well. This year, it was at the Cayo Welcome Center, which was the perfect venue for it. The medium this year was wood scraps. Some interesting...things...pieces of art...were created. One looked a lot like a ship. Check out the great pictures captured by Daniel Velazquez. A big thanks to the Winsom Foundation for making this happen.

The Reporter

Two men shot in Roaring Creek; one dead
Jermaine Welcome and Alan Garbutt, both aged 24 of Roaring Creek Village, Cayo were shot just before 1:30 a.m. while at a house in the village on Saturday night. Police say the gunman fired at them from outside the yard. Welcome suffered bullet wounds to the lower back and died the same night and Garbutt suffered gunshot wounds to the right hip and shoulder and is in a serious condition.

Michael ” Popeye” Foreman shot dead
Belize City police are following one lead in connection with the Thursday night murder of Michael Foreman, 32, also known as Popeye. Foreman was sitting on a bucket in an open lot in Taylor’s Alley at around 10:30 p.m., when someone approached him from behind and shot him in the back of the head. Foreman died while receiving medical treatment.

Patrick Jones

Love Chocolate? Don’t Miss The Belize Chocolate Festival
Each year in the month of May, Belizeans and chocolate lovers flock to the Toledo District for their annual Chocolate Festival. Since the festival’s inception in 2007, it has been a raging success attracting hundreds of visitors who get to sample all the wonderful treats made of chocolate. The ever popular event is designed to raise awareness of the Toledo District as a responsible tourism destination, and to extend the tourist season. It helps improve the lives of many families, whether through direct employment in the tourism industry, or through the ‘ripple effect’ of spreading the economic activity throughout the District. The 9th Annual Chocolate Festival will kick off on May 22nd, with a Wine and Chocolate Gala from 7pm to 11:30 pm. The event continues throughout the weekend with a plethora of cultural presentations and many family activities.

Blogs

Belizean Food – Typical and Traditional Things To Try
Belizean food is simple, always fresh and amazing. If you’ve traveled in Central America you’ll notice that there are many similarities between Belizean cuisine and traditional food found in places like El Salvador, Costa Rica and even Mexico…but each meal has a slight twist – it might be a few added ingredients or the way it is eaten. So take advantage of Belize being a melting pot of cultures and experience an explosion of flavours that will enchant all of your senses. Here’s a basic guide with a list of the best things to taste – bookmark this page or write it down, your culinary adventure awaits! Appetizers Conch fritters Ceviche Cheese Dip Belizean Pico de Gallo Breakfast Johnny Cakes Fry Jacks (fried flour dough) Chaya with Eggs Flour Tortillas Meat Pie

Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program: A Benefit of Retiring in Belize
Retiring in Belize: Savvy retirees are increasingly relocating to the sunny shores of Belize, the unique country in Central America where English is the official language. Now that the nation offers special advantages for pensioners and retirees, seniors from the United States, Canada and Europe are choosing to move to Belize. Retired Persons Incentive Program The Retired Persons Incentive Program (RPI) is open to anyone 45 years old and older providing that they meet certain minimum requirements. The RPI currently requires that all candidates prove that they receive a monthly income of US $2,000 or more through a pension or annuity. Belize welcomes RPI qualifying participants, recognizing the value and cultural benefit that people from around the world bring to the table. As natives and expats relax in a laid-back melange of English-speaking cultures, RPI qualifying participants are able to make the most of the experience by enjoying untrammeled access to their income. RPI Benefits: The first immediate benefit for qualified RPI participants is that Belize will waive any and all customs duties on taxes when you import your personal effects. The RPI also allows participants a generous transportation allowance, meaning retirees can also bring over their car, boat or light plane without having to pay any import duties or taxes.

International Sources

Great Barrier Reef fish populations 'restored to pre-European settlers levels'
Banning fishing in sections of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has succeeded in restoring fish populations to levels not seen since the arrival of European settlers, a 30-year study has found. The controversial bans, which were expanded to a third of the reef area in 2004, have led to a sharp increase in the numbers and size of fish – a finding that could be used to push for similar zones to be set up in other reefs around the world. The study, which examined underwater survey data for coral trout from 1983 to 2012, found the total mass of the fish was about two and a half times higher in the reserves. Scientists said the levels were as high as they had been since the arrival of British settlers more than 200 years ago. “There are more coral trout in the reserves and their average size was bigger,” Dr David Williamson, from James Cook University, told ABC News.

Restoring the World's Coral Reefs
In a new paper for Nature, researchers, including scientists from WCS, say fish are key to the health of the world's coral reefs, many of which are currently in crisis due in part to overfishing. To restore these systems, the scientists say the reefs need at least 500 kilograms per hectare of fish biomass (or about 50 percent of a reef's carrying capacity). At that level, the systems could sustain local fisheries without collapsing. How bad is the current situation? According to the World Resources Institute, more than 20 percent of coral reefs have disappeared in the last 30 years and some 75 percent remain threatened.

Belize hosts opening ceremony for Continuing Promise 2015
An opening ceremony was held to celebrate the arrival of hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) and its crew as part of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15) April 10. Continuing Promise is a collaborative effort between the United States, partner nations and non-governmental and support organizations to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance, as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support to send a strong message of compassion, support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean. “On behalf of the over 1,000 crew members aboard Comfort, I would like to thank everyone for welcoming us to Belize,” said Capt. Sam Hancock, CP-15 mission commander. “We are excited to meet, interact and provide medical, dental, veterinary and engineering services to the people of Belize while working alongside our Belizean counterparts.”

Pirates rob Canadian couple on sailing adventure in Honduras
Calgary couple say they were terrified when armed pirates boarded their sailboat and demanded money, then abandoned them on a remote part of the Honduras coastline. Andy Wasinger, 46, and Loretta Reinholdt, 54, set out on the adventure of a lifetime two weeks ago, helping transfer a boat from Belize to the island of Roatan in Honduras and learning to sail in the process from an American captain named Dave. But just a few days into the adventure, a small fishing boat pulled up and the sailboat was boarded by four men armed with guns, a harpoon and a knife. They ran the sailboat aground and took about $3,000 cash and anything of value they could find, then disappeared while the captain and the Calgary couple obeyed their orders to go below deck and stay there. The trio then spent four days in the jungle, drinking rainwater and using the sail as a makeshift tent, until they were found and rescued by some hikers.

Seventh Summit Of The Americas Hailed As Historic
The historic face to face between the United States and Cuba, energy solutions, climate change, peace in Colombia, and Argentina's long-standing claim of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, were among the many issues highlighted at the seventh Summit of the Americas, which concluded on Saturday in Panama City, Panama. This year's summit, the first in history that included representatives of the 35 independent countries of the hemisphere, had addresses by the 27 heads of state and government, five foreign ministers and three permanent representatives to the Organization of American States (OAS). Heads of state representing lands from Tierra del Fuego to the North American tundra pressed their concerns in a marathon session at a Panama City convention centre. However, it was all overshadowed by the first substantial face-to-face encounter by sitting US and Cuban leaders since 1958, as presidents Barack Obama and Ra?l Castro seek to restore diplomatic relations and lower the combative tone that has prevailed since ties were severed 54 years ago.

Seventh Summit of the Americas Concludes in Panama
The Seventh Summit of the Americas, the first in history that included representatives of the 35 independent countries of the Hemisphere, concluded today in Panama City, Panama following addresses by the 27 Heads of State and Government, five Foreign Ministers and three Permanent Representatives to the OAS. The first plenary session included the presentation of the host, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela, and the presence of the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, included addresses by 14 Heads of State. The second plenary session featured addresses by the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Perry Christie; the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson-Miller; the President of Uruguay, Tabaré Vazquez; the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves; the Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart; the President of El Salvador, Salvador Sánchez Cerén; the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne; the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina; the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega; the President of Haiti, Michel Martelly; the Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell; and the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Kenny Anthony.

OAS Welcomes the Birth of a New Era of Inter-American Relations
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today welcomed during the inauguration of the Seventh Summit of the Americas the new era of “dialogue, respect for freedom, inclusion and cooperation” that has begun with the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Hemisphere taking place today and tomorrow in Panama, a “historic moment” in which for the first time the 35 independent nations of the Hemisphere are represented. “Sometimes, in real life, our simultaneous commitments toward respecting sovereign equality, full inclusion, and respect for democracy and human rights pose dilemmas that are difficult to resolve. But intervention, exclusion, political repression, and confrontation are no longer acceptable or useful in inter-American relations,” said the OAS leader at the Anayansi Theater of the Atlapa Convention Center in Panama City, where the Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela inaugurated the Summit.

Videos

April 12, 2015

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

Leonardo DiCaprio unveils plans for Blackadore Caye: a Restorative Island
Award winning movie star, Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed plans for a multi-million dollar eco-resort on Blackadore Caye in Belize. DiCaprio, who is a publicized environmentalist, bought Blackadore Caye several years ago. The project, called Blackadore Caye: a Restorative Island, is expected to be the epitone of luxury while promoting sustainable development and improving the local ecosystem. The resort is expected to open in 2018 and is developed by Paul Scialla, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Delos Developments. Located about 7.5 miles west of Ambergris Caye, Blackadore Caye is about 104 acres in size. The resort is expect to feature 68 villas, 48 estate home, a private club house, world-class restaurants, a spa and wellness center, the Deepak Chopra Center for Renewal and Anti-Aging, and several infinity pool among other first class amenities. But the resort won’t be just about luxury, the development will also consist of artificial reefs to protect the island from erosion and shelter juvenile fish, a nursery to grow indigenous marine grass to support a manatee conservation area, and mangrove trees will be replanted to replace invasive species. “The main focus is to do something that will change the world. I couldn’t have gone to Belize and built on an island and done something like this, if it weren’t for the idea that it could be groundbreaking in the environmental movement,” said DiCaprio an interview with New York Times.

SP Lions Annual Pancake Bunny Brunch a success!
The San Pedro Lions would like to thank Madisco for donating the pancake mix and Running W Meats for donating a portion of the sausage. Other businesses who donated supplies include Paradise Market, Super Buy, Rocks, El Dorado, Amaya’s Store, My Brother’s Store, Caye Value Store, La Divina Providencia, Local Grocery, The Greenhouse, Mark’s Store, San Pedrano Store, Ambergris Store, Save On, Costless, Best Price and Publics Supermarket. A special thanks go to Peace Corps volunteers Diana, Crystal and Jason, and face-painters Melody, Sasha and Sandy. The Lions sincerely thank all who helped with the event and businesses who made the fund raiser a success, together WE SERVE our community!

Guest Editorial: Time flies…
While I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, it’s been fun trying to figure it out so far. April 11th officially marks 10 years at The San Pedro Sun for me, and that number brings about some serious reflection. Being a part of The San Pedro Sun and My Beautiful Belize has given me chances to visit, explore, meet and see new people, places and things. From dining out to rappelling down a waterfall, to staying overnight in fabulous hotels, to road-tripping through the little dirt roads of our country’s villages…I’ve been allowed to enjoy these experiences throughout the years. The best thing about my job has been meeting people from all walks of life. I’ve enjoyed shooting the breeze with people who’ve blown me away with their life stories, their talent, their gifts and their passion for life. I’ve seen people come and go.

Increase in street vendors near the park causes concern
But authorities have been ignoring the issue for years, because relocating the street vendors can affect the local politicians in future elections. But with local elections gone, what are the plans for the park and the street vendors? Mayor of San Pedro Town Daniel Guerrero took the opportunity to address this question for The San Pedro Sun. Once the vendors are relocated to a new location, the SPTC will help to direct tourists into the new area. The SPTC hopes that vendors should be relocated before the next high season.

Misc Belizean Sources

Woman of the Year: Martha Pulido
Congratulations, Martha Pulido, for being awarded a Woman of the Year award from the Ministry of Human Development! She works with Cornerstone, as the head cook. Thanks for all you do.

March 29, 2015 - April 4, 2015 Belize Fishing Report
Huge tarpon week with decent weather and some good anglers in house! Jenn and Hackney have come to visit us at least twice a year for many years and although they have caught all species all sizes, in all weather, tarpon were the jewel of this trip with several fish to the boat. Somehow Jenn believes she is not competitive, but let’s just say she is determined! She gets the job done. John finished up his grand slam (over the week) with his biggest tarpon of his career (Are the migratory tarpon arriving early this year?) Rick and Peter had some success, Bob hooked up a bunch but was suffering from the odds – it is usually 1 tarpon landed for every 10 hooked syndrome) Andy Mill has a great scene in the film Chasing Silver when he was in a 0 out of 19 dry spell! Andy and his son will be at El Pescador this summer for the annual tarpon-tagging tournament. Kelly did not suffer from the odds and landed 3 tarpon!! Reed got tarpon on their first attempt and his buddy Denny lost one real close to the boat – what heartbreak!!

It's amazing to think that something so tiny will be a little green parrot within a few weeks
These tiny, tiny babies were rescued from a felled tree by a BTL Telcoms engineer in Corozal. He did a truly fabulous job of keeping them warm and safe all the way to his home in Dangriga. His wife Arshellie immediately contacted BBR, and Sarah and Nancy headed down to Dangriga to meet the wonderful family and their precious charges. From a description of birds in the area of fallen nest, they are likely to be yellow loreds. They are only hours old: the smallest weighs 10g. Nancy warmed food and Sarah showed Arshellie and her young daughter how delicate the feeding process is.

LOVE FM

Belize’s Chief Justice Impressed Following Visit to Central Prison
The Chief Justice of Belize, Kenneth Benjamin made history today when he visited the Belize Central Prison in Hattieville Village, Belize District. In an interview, Benjamin noted that he views it important for the judiciary to have a clear understanding of what the prison system is like as this is the place where most times they send persons who appear before them. “We are out to see the connection between the criminal justice system and the correctional service because at the end of the day when we sentence in the courts they often end up in the hands of the prison. I’ve always advocated that judicial officers who do sentencing must have some idea as to where they are sentencing the accused defenders to and so it is imperative that we see that the facility is properly ran and that the facilities meet all the constitutional requirements for proper housing of inmates. I have been so impressed by everything that I saw. I sincerely think not what one would expect in the prison facility. If you would allow me, I will give you two examples; I saw a woodwork shop that exists and is comparable to any that one would se ein any part of the world and even the private industry. I saw a radio station that reaches out to the inmates. It is jail based and produces programming that is very appropriate to prison and I suspect that may be one of the only radio station in any prison in the world. Now that I have visited the prison, it is necessary for us to maintain contact and that there be free communication in the criminal justice system with the correctional service to ensure that from both sides of the fence, we are meeting all of the goals that are expected from us by the community.”

Investigators Seek Connection Between Recent City Murders
Belize City police are investigating yet another murder. Last night at around 11 o’clock, officers responded to the sounds of gunshots near Taylor’s Alley. There they found 32-year-old Michael Horace Foreman, known as “Popeye”, lying on the ground. Foreman was sitting on a bucket in the open lot through Taylor’s Alley when a gunman snuck up on him and blasted the single fatal shot. Foreman was shot to the back of the head and died early this morning while receiving treatment. The Commanding Officer of Eastern Division’s Criminal Investigation Branch, Superintendent Hilberto Romero, spoke on what their investigation has revealed so far. “Police personnel visited Taylor’s Alley where a shooting had occurred. They found one Michael Foreman with an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the head. He was immediately transported to the KHMH where he succumbed to his injuries around four thirty this morning. Investigations revealed that he was along with two other persons in that alley and sometime after a shot was heard and his body was found. He had entered that alley with two other persons and the information that we have is that he was seated on a bucket and somebody came up to him and shot him. We don’t have an exact motive, we are doing our investigations. ”

Reid Gets Bail in Case of Kidnapping
Forty year old Amir Reid, one of two men who were remanded into custody on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, was released on a bail of $10,000 that was granted to him today by Justice Herbert Lord. The bail was offered on the condition that he don’t interfere with the complainant either by himself or through a third party or go within 100 yards of the complainant. The charges arose from an incident that occurred on Monday, March 16. The complainant, Abel Lara, reported to the police that he was on Faber’s road when two men grabbed him, tied him up and put him in a van. Lara said they took him to mile 8 on George Price Highway. Lara said he managed to escape by lying to his captors, telling them that he was going to take them where a stash of cannabis was hidden. He said that while he was walking with them to the alleged stash spot a vehicle drove by and his captors fled. He then got a lift fro the driver of the vehicle and he was taken to the nearest police station. The second accused, 24 year old alexander Lopez, is still in prison. Reid was represented by attorney Michael Peyrefitte while the Crown was represented by Crown counsel Linsbert Willis.

Man Accused of Carnal Knowledge Gets Bail with Conditions
Sixty year old Santos Gonzalez Dubon, a Guatemalan national with permanent resident status in Belize who has a charge of carnal knowledge of a child under the age of 14, was offered a bail of $10,000 with one surety for the same amount today by Justice Herbert Lord. The bail was offered on the condition that the surety is a Belizean, that the petitioner don’t interfere with the complainant either by himself or through a third party and that he reports to Bella Vista Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dubon was arraigned on March 11 in Independence Magistrate’s Court. He was remanded into custody until June 11.

Accused Conspirators in Murder Case Get Bail of 10K
Two men who were charged with conspiracy to commit murder were released on bails of $10,000 that were offered to them today by Justice Herbert Lord. They are 23 year old Ronald Michael and 30 year old Alrick Smith. Michael was also charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm. They were offered bail on the condition that they do not interfere or communicate with the complainant either by themselves or through a third party and that they are not to go within 100 yards of the virtual complainant. The charges arose from an incident that occurred on March 16 in Ladyville. The complainant, 29 year old Kenroy Arnold when a vehicle pulled up with 2 men inside and one of them exited the vehicle and opened fire. Arnold was shot in the back and right hand. Michael and Smith were represented by attorney Cynthia Pitts Robateau while the Crown was represented by Crown Counsel Linsbert Willis.

Family of Burnt Victim in Boat Explosion Holds Fundraisers
It has been just over a week since boat captain, Romaldo Badillo was injured in a boat explosion in the Hangar area right after he and three other men launched the vessel to set sail for the Easter weekend. Of the four men, Badillo was most severely injured and had to be flown out of the country for medical attention as he had received third degree burns to about fifty percent of his body. While he is hospitalized in Guatemala, family members and friends are here in Belize trying to raise monies to cover his medical expenses. As part of the fundraising efforts, an account was opened on the website, www.gofundme.com. Up to news time tonight, that fund raising venture had garnered just over sixteen thousand dollars.

Father of Coast Guard Seaman Speaks on His Son’s Murder
Yesterday we told you of an appeal by the Belize Police Department for the public’s assistance in identifying the body of a man who passed away at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City on April 8. After we ran the story we were informed that the man, who was found unconscious at the Welcome Centre in San Ignacio on Saturday, August 4, was identified as member of the Belize Coast Guard. The man was identified as Seaman Apprentice 1202, 23-year-old, Aurelio Montero Junior of Bullet Tree Falls Village, Cayo District. Love News met up with his father, Aurelio Montero Senior who spoke to us on the last known whereabouts of his son. “The last time I saw my son was on Thursday. He was at home on leave. He told us that he was going to report to work the Friday and he spent most of the day with us, Thursday but he went out Thursday night; you know how boys go out and have fun. But we were expecting him to go to work the Friday and so, we never bothered about him again to know where he was because we know that he was about to go to work on Friday. That’s what happened.”

The Reporter

Cervical Cancer awareness drive hits BTL Park
The Belize Cancer Society of California, held a cervical cancer awareness drive entitled, “Not Clear – Get Checked”. The drive was to inform women of all ages on the symptoms of cervical cancer and the risks associated with not detecting it early. The event had several unique features, including the giving away of free bras and panties as a symbol of reaching out to women, the “I am my sister’s keeper” pledge and the distribution of leather wrist bands. Arlette Pilgrim, president and founder of the Belize Cancer Society of California explained that she felt the event was necessary because getting the information out to women can save their lives. “It’s serious because younger women are dying of cancer, and I can see them suffering in the process, and I just don’t want to see another woman get diagnosed with cancer and have to sit at home to die,” Pilgrim said.

Fundraiser for injured boat captain draws major public support
The events to raise funds for the injured boat captain, Romaldo “Romi” Badillo, 59, drew major public support on Saturday at the Hour Bar parking lot in Belize City. Nydia Riverol, Badillo’s sister-in-law and one of the organizers of the event, says that through their supporters they managed to sell over 1,500 barbecue tickets. The family also held a telethon which was still ongoing at the time of Riverol’s interview. “The public support has really been tremendous,” she explained. “We have had corporate sponsors, like Bowen and Bowen and BTL, but the best support came from his family and friends.” She added that all the updates the family has received on Badillo’s condition have been positive, and that they remain hopeful that he will survive the ordeal.

FFB will allow Rawell Pelayo to resign
The Football Federation of Belize will allow former Vice President, Rawell Pelayo, to resign rather than be expelled, FFb president of the FFB Ruperto Vicente announced on Saturday. Vicente, speaking after the eighth regular congress of the FFB held at the Radisson Fort George Hotel, said that the FFB would grant Pelayo the courtesy out of respect. “We wanted to give him the opportunity to submit his resignation, which he has indicated he will do,” Vicente said. “Mr. Pelayo is a member of our football family, and we want to treat all our family members with respect.” He added that it is a part of the FFB guidelines that no member being charged criminally, be it nationally or internationally, can serve on the executive of the FFB. The federation had released an agenda prior to the congress, which had Pelayo’s expulsion as one of the orders of business for the day; however that agenda was revised and the motion removed.

Patrick Jones

Breaking: Murder in Roaring Creek Village
Belmopan police are investigating a shooting incident that has left one man dead and another clinging for his life in that municipality. According to authorities, around 1:15am this morning, 24 year old Allen Garbutt and Jermaine Welcome were among a crowd of men socializing at a yard in the Hattieville area of Roaring Creek Village in the Cayo District when a lone gun man approached the crowd and open fire in their direction. The volley of bullets hit Jermaine Welcome to the lower back and Allen Garbutt sustained gunshot wounds to his body. Both men were transported to the Community Hospital where Welcome succumbed to his injuries and Garbutt is listed in critical condition. Police have no suspects at the time or have confirmed a motive but their investigation continues.

BREAKING NEWS: Murder in Belize City
Belize Media Group has been informed about a murder that just happened a few minutes ago in Belize City. Our sources are indicating that Edward Usher also known as “Ghost” has been shot on Mayflower Street in Ghost Town. This is a developing story and we will be updating it shortly.

BREAKING: FFB contemplates fate of Executive, Rawell Pelayo
Days after being deported back into Belizean territory, the fate of Rawell Pelayo, Vice Chairman of the Football Federation of Belize hangs in the balance in the football world. Reports are that the Federation plans to expel Pelayo today during its 8th Ordinary Congress which is scheduled in Belize City. The expulsion is under the grounds that Pelayo lied to gain eligibility to run for office in the FFB and having a criminal record prior to his detention in the US, two years ago.

Blogs

Thankfully there was no tipsy taco
Belize adventure tours – Stand Up Paddleboarding. For those of you that have not done it but are interested and want to know more, think of stand up paddleboarding (SUP) as a cross between kayaking and surfing, minus the big waves, plus a paddle. Many people are daunted by this sport and should not be because anyone can do it. If you are reasonably steady on a bike or can walk a thin line, you can paddle board. A little balance, a great teacher to correct your form and you will be gliding across the water in no time. This tour is an excellent way for beginners to see how they like paddleboarding and the boards at the sailing school are specifically geared towards easy learning. For expert level paddleboarders the location is tranquil and serene, plus you can set your own pace and make it a more challenging work out. The tour leaves from Belize Sailing School at Caribbean Villas Hotel and takes place north inline with Grand Caribe Resort and Captain Morgans (we could see them in the distance) on the west lagoon.

Chocolate Festival of Belize: A Festival to Attend Before You Die
The ninth annual Chocolate Festival of Belize and Toledo will take place on 22nd, 23rd, and 24th May 2015. The event kicks off with the Gala event, Wine and Chocolate on the Friday night from 7pm to 11:30pm. The event is being held for the second year at Garbutt’s gorgeous marina on Joe Taylor Creek. Surrounded by both the lagoon and the ocean this night brings you nothing but good times, good friends and live music from the Caribbean Roots Band all the way from Corozal, an array of delectable hors d’oeuvres including deep fried lion fish and shrimp and, of course, how could we forget – Chocolate from Belizean chocolatiers! The Taste of Toledo Street Fair is held on Front Street in Punta Gorda town, from the Uno gas station all the way down to the Punta Gorda library. The pedestrian-only street fair features cultural displays and areas showcasing Toledo’s five main ethnic groups: Kriol, Maya, Garifuna, Mestizo and East Indian. Each area displays art, food and music from their culture. It is like passing from a Maya town to a Garifuna town in just a few steps. Barbecued food, chocolate making, kayak trips, chocolate farm trips, there’s something for everyone. Live local music will play in the fair, on stage as well in the streets. Taste exciting new chocolate flavours, watch local dance groups, buy local food, crafts, and relax with a cold beer while enjoying live music on stage outside the court building. Cacao for Kids will be at the Punta Gorda Methodist School grounds, where there will be tons of fun for the kids.

International Sources

DiCaprio Just the Latest Celebrity to Join the Hotel Business
The actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently announced his plans to build an eco-resort on private Blackadore Caye in Belize, a property expected to open in 2018. But he’s far from the first celebrity to enter the hospitality game. He joins a cadre of fellow actors, musicians and athletes, including the 11 below, who have broadened their portfolios (and their brands) with properties around the world. Francis Ford Coppola: Belize, it seems, is a relative hot spot for celebrity hoteliers. The film director Francis Ford Coppola has two properties in the Central American nation, including Turtle Inn on the beach in the sleepy south coast town of Placencia. Andy Murray: The Scottish tennis star Andy Murray branched into the hotel business last year with Cromlix, a 19th-century estate near Dunblane, just over 40 miles northeast of Edinburgh, which he renovated and turned into a 34-acre luxury resort. Richard Gere: Richard Gere, the actor, is behind the Bedford Post Inn in Westchester County, N.Y. The dormered property dates back to the 1780s and now hosts eight guest rooms, most with fireplaces and marble bathrooms, some with terraces.

Billionaire pollster Lord Ashcroft upsets Tory high command
Lord Ashcroft has a favourite parlour game for those occasions when a select group of Conservative MPs come to his grand townhouse in Westminster for an evening of fine dining and gossiping. The peer and pollster likes to play word association, presenting the adjectives and descriptions that spring into the minds of voters when they see pictures of Britain’s political leaders. One attendee says: “He shows David Cameron first and it is quite damning: ‘Cameron’s out of touch, he’s not one of us’. Ashcroft doesn’t write the script, he is reporting what he finds, but he does delight in tweaking the tail a bit.” His sardonic ribbing of the prime minister is typical of the self-made billionaire, who was once firmly inside Mr Cameron’s political tent and is now most certainly not. “He does it all in a straight-faced way,” another Conservative says.

Garifuna celebrates heritage at Boro Hall
From 2010 on, the New York State (NYS) Assembly and later the NYS Senate began to recognize through proclamations the Garifuna community in the metro-New York area. The Bronx and Brooklyn have the greatest concentration of Garifuna outside of Central America (Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua). State Senator Eric Adams (representing Flatbush, Crown Heights, Park Slope, Sunset Park and Prospect Heights) promised that when elected borough president of Brooklyn he would recognize the Garifuna community. “He kept his promise,” said culture activist Jose Franciso Avila as he began his keynote speech at the Garifuna Heritage Celebration at Brooklyn Borough Hall on April 7. “Brooklyn is the head of the (next generation) Garifuna resurgence,” he said, citing the community organization Mujeres Garinagu en Marcha (MUGAMA).

Gays want the right to move freely within CARICOM
Jamaican attorney and gay rights activist Maurice Tomlinson is urging the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to force the Trinidad and Tobago government and Belize to scrap immigration laws which prevents gay people from entering both countries. According to Tomlinson, the relative provisions in the laws of both countries are against the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which provides for free movement of CARICOM nationals within the region. “As long as they remain on the statue books there is the continued threat of denial of entry and prosecution,” Tomlinson attorney, Trinidadian Douglas Mendes SC submitted at the start of a two-day hearing of Jamaican’s legal challenge, at the CCJ in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

The Radical Vision of Toni Morrison
At 84, she sits comfortably as one of the greatest authors in American history, even as her uncompromising dream for black literature seems farther away than ever. Not too long ago, Toni Morrison sat in the small kitchen attached to the studio where she was recording the audiobook for her newest novel, “God Help the Child,” telling a roomful of strangers stories that I will never forget. The studio, a small, refurbished barn in Katonah, N.Y., was more than a hundred years old, but only a few rustic touches remained, like a sliding barn door and knotty pine floors. A solid kitchen table had been laid with fresh fruits, muffins and tins of jam. Beams of sunlight reflected off the blindingly white snow outside the glass window. A young woman from Random House kept mentioning her sunglasses, how it was bright enough to wear them inside. Everyone giggled at her nervous chatter, but they seemed to be mostly laughing at her brave attempt to make small talk in the presence of Toni Morrison.

Videos

April 11, 2015

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

Another successful Easter Monday Cycling Race
The San Pedro Cycling Club held its 4th annual Easter Monday Cycling Race on Monday, April 6th. Island cyclists of all ages came out for a morning of racing fun in hopes of winning trophies, medals and prizes. The race was divided into three categories to accommodate all cyclist of all levels: under 12, under 15 and seniors. The race route was from Calvio’s Bike Shop and Rental in Boca del Rio to Captain Morgan’s Resort on northern Ambergris Caye, and back. In the under 12 category, racers had to ride one lap. The young boys raced like upcoming champions, and Adrian Cobol made a last minute sprint allowing him to take the win. Jose Valle managed to take a close second, while third place went to Leroy Arzu. Fourth place went to Joshua Fuentes, while Nestor Castillo rounded off the top five. The last race of the day was the highly anticipated five-lap senior category. Participants in this category are well seasoned cyclists. Not only did the top five finishers receive prizes, but station prizes for the first finisher of each lap were also given. Charles Garay took the first station prize, Michael Roland took both the second and fourth station prize, and Arden Garay took the third station prize. The first place winner of the senior category was Andrew Vasquez who performed exceptionally well in the last lap. Charles Garay took second place while Kian Ancona took third. Jose Rivera took fourth place and Arden Garay ended off in fifth place.

Renovation of Police Barracks is almost complete
The renovation of one of the existing San Pedro Police barracks by the San Pedro Business Community is almost complete. Currently in its fourth week of construction, the three bedroom barrack building now has new roofing, flooring, doors, windows, exterior and interior walls. The barracks also saw new electrical wiring being placed to ensure the building is more fire resistant. Finishing cosmetic touches are being made before the building is officially presented to the police. Officer in Charge of the Coastal Executive Unit, Assistant Superintendent Henry Jemmott says he is grateful for the assistance offered towards the alleviation of some of the officer’s deplorable living conditions. “The San Pedro Police barracks has come a long way from what it was at first. Old rotten and poorly constructed buildings are being replaced with the help of the San Pedro Business Community. I couldn’t be happier for the support that has been offered. The officers are finally getting a decent place to rest after a long day’s work,” said Jemmott. Renovations started on Monday, March 16th, and are being headed by Contractor Armando Graniel Jr. Work is expected to be fully completed by next week.

Belizean-American Justin Williams wins the 87th Cross Country Cycling Classic
Belizean-American Justin Williams captured the garland for Belize at the 87th annual Cross Country Cycle Classic on Holy Saturday. Thousands of Belizeans rejoiced when Williams crossed the finish line from amongst 100 riders including 25 foreigners. The annual event saw the cyclists ride from Belize City and into the westerns hills up to Santa Elena/San Ignacio, then back to the old capital for a total of 142.8 miles. After the ceremonial ride through Belize City from the BTL Park to the Faber’s Road, the riders took off with high hopes of capturing the garland. The 2014 defending Champion, Mexican cyclist Juan Pablo Magallanes, was not in the line-up of the race as he is currently participating in a two-week event in Mexico. However, six former champions completed the start-up, which included Darnell Barrow, Giovanni Choto, Shane Vasquez, Michael Lewis, Chris Harkey and Bill Elliston.

Another Sail Boat runs aground on the Reef
Authorities are assessing damages made by yet another boat running aground on the reef. The sail boat “Do Sea”, belonging to 76-year-old Carecen Charles O’Connor, crashed into a portion of the Belize Barrier Reef on Wednesday, April 1st at an area close to Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Since then, Hol Chan Marine Reserve has removed the vessel from the reef, but due to a damaged hull could not bring it to land, so it was left sitting over a sea grass bed for the meantime. According to Sherlette Martinez of the Belize Port Authority, O’Connor was attempting to enter the reef late on Wednesday night, when to due to the waves, the vessel landed on the reef. After failed attempts to remove the vessel, O’Connor was left with no other choice than to swim to shore. He landed safely at about three miles south of San Pedro Town. The relevant authorities were informed on the incident and of Thursday, April 2nd, steps were taken to alleviate the stress the vessel was causing on the reef. Manager of Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Miguel Alamilla stated that an attempt was made to bring the vessel to land. “After we learned about the sail boat, we went there to see what the situation was. We got some help and managed to remove the boat from the crest of the reef where it was stuck. During the crash, the vessel had sustained serious damage to the hull and water was already going into the boat. We couldn’t bring it back to shore so we had to leave it in an area where it would not cause more damage,” said Alamilla. Due to the damaged hull, the vessel has partially sunk, which will present difficulties when removing it from the sea.

Diving – and snorkeling – Lighthouse Atoll
Did you know that three of the four true atolls in the western hemisphere – Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe Islands and Glover’s Reef lie 30 to 60 miles off the Belizean mainland, just beyond the spectacular Meso-American Barrier Reef? Just one more reason why Belize is uniquely amazing! Atolls are an incredible creation of ring-shaped coral reefs that have a coral rim that partially or completely encircle a lagoon. Jacques Cousteau made this unique natural phenomenon famous back in the 1970’s when it took his team several weeks to map out a path for their ship Calypso into these uncharted waters. Later, Cousteau declared the Blue Hole one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. For divers today, 50 years after Cousteau’s famous expeditions, it is exhilarating to descend and discover the same waters as this renowned explorer.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week: Spectacular Sunsets to get Married By in Belize
The northern hemisphere of the globe enjoys the naturally occurring Aurora Borealis, but come sunset time in Belize you can enjoy spectacular display of colors in the darkening skies just as stunning. Pictured here is a couple who got married at Chabl Mar resort in Placencia, Stann Creek, Belize. The setting in southern Belize was perfect for the couple who decided on a Destination Wedding in paradise. - photo by Jose Luis Zapata Photography

Rugby Belize Promotes Sport in San Pedro
Along with the continuing efforts to establish a strong rugby club and affiliation in Belize, Rugby Belize founder Tony Gillings and San Pedro club organizer Martin Dawson, held a clinic to continue promoting the sport amongst the youth of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Rugby Belize is developing the sport in the country by organizing Rugby Seven teams all over the country to compete against each other in order to form a national team to send to the Olympics. The Rugby organization came up with a program called ‘Get into rugby – try, play, stay’ which influences people to play. Given this, it gives Belize a great opportunity to participate. Rugby Belize was out at the Boca del Rio Park during Easter weekend and took advantage of the fact that school was out and invited the island youth to try out the game on the beach.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belizeans on the Button!
36% of Belize on Facebook:- According to a recent survey carried out by (ICT) Information and Communications Technology-Pulse over 36% of Belizeans use Facebook as their preferred social media network. ICT-Pulse also reported that Belize has one of the slowest Internet speeds in the region. According to the survey 118,000 Belizeasn representing more than thirty six percent of the country's population, is active on Facebook as or March 2015. In its 2014 survey, just over 28% of the population was active on the social media site. In 2013 that number was only 23%. Of the 24 Caribbean nations surveyed, most saw increased activity on Facebook as well. ICT-Pulse attributed a significant portion of the increase to the growing young teenage population in the region. The minimum age for creating an account is 13.

Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow and U.S. President Barack Obama shake handsToday’s photo of the day is of Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow meeting U.S. President Barack Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama this week.

USNS Comfort is in Belize!!!!
TSgt Keisha Harris welcomes the USNS Comfort medical team to Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for the first round of medical and dental prescreenings! This is the final screening step for patients to be cleared. Once patients are cleared, they will be scheduled to receive surgery on board the USNS Comfort throughout the week.

Belize Documentary Film Course Coming
Another documentary film course is going to be offered soon. The last one was done during the Summer of 2013, and many of the student documentaries took place in Bullet Tree Falls and around Cayo. The one about the Green Iguana Conservation Project was great. This time, they'll be teaming up with Cayo's Wildlife Institute. "WE WILL BE OFFERING NEW WILDLIFE INTRODUCTION TO DOCUMENTARY FILM COURSE SOON, AND COLLABORATION WITH WILDLIFE INSTITUTE http://www.wildlife-institute.com/ MORE INFO. AND PROMO VIDEO COMING SOON, HERE IS OUR LAST CLASS REFLECTION VIDEO."

Everyone loves a white sandy beach
But mangroves are one of the coolest features of our marine ecosystem. Through a combination of functions, mangroves contribute significantly to the Belizean economy. Mangroves are tropical plants that are adapted to loose, wet soils, salt water, and being periodically submerged by tides; Four major factors appear to limit the distribution of mangroves: climate, salt water, tidal fluctuation and soil type; There are more than 50 species of mangroves found throughout the world. Three species of mangroves are native to Belize: Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) and White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa); Mangroves trap and cycle various organic materials, chemical elements, and important nutrients in the coastal ecosystem; Mangroves provide one of the basic food chain resources for marine organisms; Mangroves provide physical habitat and nursery grounds for a wide variety of marine organisms, many of which have important recreational or commercial value. Mangroves serve as roosting and nesting sites for many of our birds. Mangroves serve as storm buffers by reducing wind and wave action in shallow shoreline areas. Mangroves assist in protecting water quality and clarity by filtering runoff and trapping sediments and debris.

National Geographic Highlights The Growing Popularity of Inland Belize
A recent National Geographic article highlights a growing new trend in Belize tourism that sees more and more travellers choosing to explore the little country’s inland attractions rather than spend their entire vacations on Belize’s Caribbean seacoast, according to the owners of Belizean eco resort The Lodge at Chaa Creek. Lucy Fleming, who with her husband Mick opened The Lodge at Chaa Creek on Belize’s Macal River in 1981, said that such articles are indicative of a shift in Belize’s reputation as primarily a Caribbean sea destination and premier dive spot. “Not so long ago, when you mentioned Belize, you received blank looks. By the 1980s, as word spread, people would respond with comments like, ‘Oh yes, that’s where Jacques Cousteau explored the Blue Hole. The beaches and diving sound great.’ “Now, more and more, people are mentioning the pristine rainforests, wildlife and Maya temples and sacred caves. Media attention like the recent National Geographic article is helping to drive a trend towards inland adventures, and we think that’s great,” she added.

Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow's Presentation at the II CEO Summit of the Americas in Panama, yesterday
"And I certainly do not leave off from my belief that the current constructs governing our integration movement are the correct ones, if only they can be adapted so as not to exacerbate power disequilibria, so as not to constrict and degrade the weakest among us. That our economics must not lose sight of our humanity, is a central caveat. But once that is accepted it allows us to declare in all conscience that our manner of proceeding is not just a good way, but the best way."

NEBL All Star Game
The NEBL will be having the All Star game next Saturday, April 18th here in Cayo, at the SHC auditorium. 4 Western Ballaz made the team. Way to go guys! "The All Star South Team has been announced. Starting Five : Elvis Usher Jr., Kurt Burgess, Jareel Velasquez, Travis Lennen and Daniel Nolberto Reserve Players: Terrel Eskridge (BRT), Stanley Flowers (CWB), Jamir Flores (DW), Richard Troyer (CWB), Trevaugh Usher (DW), Macario Augustine (DW) and Farron Lourian (BRT) Big UP to our WB players for making the ALL Star South TEAM - Elvis, Chengo, Ritchie, and Ivan"

Belize History Association Logo Competition Winners
The Belize History Association announce winners of their logo competition at the House of Culture today! First place Mr. Joel Cho from San Antonio, Toledo and second was won by Jeremy Cho from Yo Creek Orange Walk. Their entries were combined to form the new BHA logo, it was selected from among 53 entries submitted. Congratulations to them and a special thank you to all those who took part in the competition.

Channel 7

Coast Guard Shooter Keyren Tzib Applies For Bail
Since Tuesday, we've been telling you about 24 year-old Keyren Tzib, the Coast Guard officer with the rank of "seaman" who shot her male colleague, Coast Guard Petty Officer Kurt Hyde on Easter Monday. Today, she went to the Supreme Court before Justice Herbert Lord to apply for an expedited bail hearing after being remanded to prison on Tuesday for the charges of attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm. Her attorney, Audrey Matura-Shepherd, served the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, with the application documents yesterday evening, and in just a few hours, the Supreme Court granted her an audience. She was seeking to invoke the amendment to the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act in which an accused person does not have to wait 2 weeks in jail before their case can be heard. The condition is that if the defendant can show that he or she is of good character with no previous convictions then the bail hearing can be moved up to an earlier date. That's just what happened today, and in response, Crown Counsel Linbert Willis asked the court to grant him more time to be able to provide more information about the case to the Supreme Court. He told the court that the short notice was not enough time to get all the necessary details. One such important issue was the current medical status of the victim, Kurt Hyde, and what the doctors are forecasting about his recovery from the gunshot injury he suffered.

Second City Killing in 31 Hours
Last night we told you about the murder of Mark Rhamdas on Albert Street West. Well, last night at around 11 o'clock, 31 hours later, there was another shooting in the city, which ended up being fatal. 32 year-old Michael Foreman, aka "Popeye", was in a yard inside the well-known gang territory known as Taylor's Alley. He was hanging out with 2 men when a gunman approached from behind and shot him to the back of his head. He collapsed, and police were quickly called in to rush him to the KHMH. They put him in the pan of a police mobile - which might not have been optimal for someone with a shot wound to the head - but, still, he clung to life until around 4:30 a.m. when passed away while undergoing treatment. Foreman's mother is a senior police officer - but he has a long rap sheet. Today, the commanding officer of the Criminal Investigation Branch in the Eastern Division discussed what police have so far on this murder: Supt. Hilberto Romero - OC, CIB Eastern Division "Police personally visited Taylor's Alley where a shooting had occurred. They found one Michael Foreman, with an apparent gunshot wound to the back of the head. He was immediately transported to the KHMH where he is succumbed to his injuries this morning around 4:30AM. Investigations show that he was along with two other persons in that alley and at some point the shot was heard and his body was found."

Expulsion of Rawell Pelayo On Agenda, But More Orderly Exit May Be Possible
The Football Federation of Belize is scheduled to have its eighth ordinary congress in Belmopan tomorrow and one of the agenda items is the expulsion of FFB Executive Member Rawell Pelayo. As we have reported, Pelayo who was snatched up by US Authorities when he flew to Houston for the Gold Cup in July, 2013, spent 21 months in US custody before he was deported to Belize on Tuesday. The FFB Congress had previously voted to keep him on as senior vice president - and the Federation seemed to think that he had gotten off narcotics charges. But as we have shown you, on June 30th of 2014, Pelayo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle half a kilo of cocaine into New York. And was sentenced to two years. So now, looking at this agenda, it seems that the Federation wishes to expel him. But, sources tell us that agenda item was actually finalized 60 days ago - and it will probably be stricken from tomorrow's agenda. That's because FFB Executive members seem to be planning a more graceful exit for Pelayo - one that he might be disposed to accepting. They expect to meet with him next week, likely to discuss an orderly departure.

Out of Season Lobster On Seas
Today the fisheries department busted two fishermen with illegal lobster. The Fisheries team was on patrol around 3:30 this afternoon when they spotted a 25 foot skiff west of Caye Chapel. As soon as the team approached, the fishermen began to throw items overboard. That raised red flags and the patrol team brought the men along with the out of season lobster to the Fisheries headquarters this evening. According to the team, the fishermen 18 year old Jim Ramirez and 45 year old Kirk Barrow are well known offenders and they have been eluding the team for months. But in the end, the pair were caught with only 4 out of season lobster - because the majority was thrown overboard. The team also found equipment used to harvest lobster such as hook sticks, diving masks and fins. Both men will be offered fisheries bail and will be summoned to court on Monday.

BWSL Lays Off Temporary Workers
In the last two years, BWSL spent over five to seven million dollars replacing mains in municipalities across the country. This was part of the municipal development project and the street paving drive in the city. But now work in the municipalities has tapered off BWS has laid off at least 100 temporary workers. Chairman Alberto August told us that there were twenty additional groups of five men each working around the country to meet the massive request for work on the special projects countrywide. But now that they have been laid off, he says it is only temporary. August says BWS will soon begin a new round of works to connect 100% of the country to water mains and the workers will be re-hired for that.

PUP Allege Nepotism At Belmopan City Hall
Political sparks are flying in the Belmopan City Council - and the new Mayor Khalid Belisle is being accused of nepotism - not on his own behalf, but on the part of his political patron, Belmopan Area Representative John Saldivar. The allegations come after head of the engineering section Javier Novelo was released at the end of March - after the new council decided not to renew his contract. Now, he had requested a renewal months ago and outgoing UDP Mayor Simeon Lopez expressed an interest in renewing it. Lopez did so knowing that he was retiring and wouldn't be around when the contract expired on March 31st - sort of like writing a cheque he wouldn't be around to cash. And when the new mayor Belisle refused to cash it - Lopez cried foul - here's what he told Belmopan's Plus TV yesterday. Simeon Lopez, Former Mayor "I was quite surprise and shocked when I understood that his contract was not renewed as of the end of March. I don't know why so abruptly his contract was terminated, because the contract specifies that you need to express your interest or renewal at least three months before your expiration date, and he did that. I know that he had been experiencing some difficulty with one of the City Administrators who was there, and at the time I was the one who was protecting him more than anything. And then after the new Council was elected, I know the same City Administrator had come in to do what they call a transition period, and that was one of her recommendations to not renew the contract of Mr. Novelo. I understand it was done by a round robin phone calls from the office of the Council to the other elected Councilors."

The Petrocaribe Scaleback In Full View
While domestic troubles continue in Venezuela - the Petrocaribe programme is still rolling in the 18 countries that signed unto the initiative. But, it has been somewhat scaled back, principally with deliveries of premium fuel. Belize hasn't received premium fuel through Petrocaribe since the start of the year, and a report from Barclay's Emerging Market Research Unit at the end of March found that, overall, since 2012 Venezuela's oil deliveries to Petrocaribe countries have declined 50%. The report notes that even Cuba, which is Venezuela's principal ally, is receiving almost half the oil it once received. The Barclay's report quotes Petrologistics, which tracks oil tankers around the world, and they say that the decline in deliveries increased after August 2014, when oil prices started to decline. The report notes that, quote, "The average since then, compared with the first eight months of 2014, is 24% lower." Even Cuba has received about half of what it received in 2012. Deliveries to The Dominican Republic and Jamaica have declined 56% and 74%, respectively, since 2012.

US Steps Up To Gain Clout As Venezuela Declines
And while Venezuela's Petrocaribe largesse may be dwindling somewhat - make no mistake it's still rolling and Barclay's estimates that in the past decade, Venezuela has lost out on over 50 billion dollars with the fuel supplies it has provided to its reginal partners under concessionary terms. Now that's much, much, much more than the United States - which is supposed to be the regional superpower - has given during the same period. But, now that Venezuela's petrol power is fading somewhat the US is positioning itself for a re-assertion as the regional leader. That certainly seemed to be the subtext to a US Caricom summit held in Jamaica yesterday. He's there to talk about his government's Caribbean Security Energy Initiative that encourages use of non fossil fuels - meaning less dependence on Venezuela. The US would fund green energy initiatives which meet its standards. And to show his affinity for the Caribbean, US President Obama visited the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston and, in an address to a youth town meeting, made it clear that he is Barack in Jamrock:

Matura-Shepherd Says Senator Davis Should Step Down
Last week, we told you about the meeting that the principals of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize held to discuss the actions of Labour Senator Ray Davis at the last senate meeting. As we told you, he abstained when it was time for the senate to vote on the Petrocaribe Loans Bill, and with a 6 to 5 majority, it was passed to by the Senate after the House did the same. The NTUCB said its clear position was opposing the bill, not abstention and so they asked him to account for his actions. As we told you, Second Vice President Audrey Matura-Shepherd has called for him to step down as the senator representing the unions, and that issue has to be discussed by the entire membership of the NTUCB. So, if you're wondering if Matura-Shepherd's action seems excessive, we'll that's just what the media asked today. She explained why Senator Davis needs to seriously consider vacating the post: Audrey Matura-Shepherd "We said in the meeting and I am prepared to say publicly - I have called for the removal of Mr. Ray Davis as senator. It's not a choice that mine. There should be canvassing of all the different branches of the union, because he represents not only one person or one sector - every sector. I make that call because I believe that already on three occasions, I have seen where his vote has not been in line of what the position of the NTUCB has been.

Wanted To Be Waitresses, Ended Up In Jail
For many Central American women trying to survive in Belize - working in bars as "waitresses" is sometimes the only way they can do it. But a water taxi whistleblower tried to put a stop to that earlier this week. Four Honduran women 21 year old Cindy Paola Pueto Reyes, Nesly Osmara Lara Sarmiento, 32, Cindy Pahola Zelaya Duenas, 36 and 29 year old Nodis Vacanado arrived in Belize illegally on March 23rd through Benque Viejo. From there they were headed to San Pedro to find work - but based on the call form the water taxi terminal, they were tracked down by the Immigration Department which took them to court today. They were arraigned before Magistrate Ladonna John in Court #4 for illegal entry. Duenas was very emotional and cried uncontrollably during her arraignment. They will have to serve 6 months and wait for the Immigration Department to make arrangements for them to be send back home to Honduras at the end of the jail term.

The Look Of The New Phone Book
It's time to put away or store your old phone books because the 2015 telephone directory is now available. An official launch was held today at BTL's Customer Service Center this morning. Now, the main attraction and excitement about the launch of a new telephone directory is the cover page and the additional features and information inside. Well, in this year's publication, the new features are built around the theme of tourism. Ellen Borland, Senior Brands and Events Rep. - BTL "This year the cover boast the Big Fall Waterfall at Bocawina National Park in Southern Belize. It highlights one of the scenic locations that is rarely visited by our visitors and locals alike. It is also important for us to make mention of it there is a need for us to do public awareness in conservation of our local reserves and national parks. One of the main reasons why we made mention and we chose Big Falls is that it goes highlighting with our 'All about Belize' section. Which is locally known as our tourist section and this is highlighting locations where visitors and locals can go and enjoy Belize rather than looking to go abroad or crossing the borders for vacation. You can enjoy Belize and enjoy your vacation right here at home.

The Police Want You
Tomorrow, the Police Department is hosting the examination for their first recruitment drive for the year. Applicants countrywide will report to the examination centers in each of the 6 districts at 7 a.m. to take the written test. Today, the Public Relations Coordinator, Douglas Hyde discussed with us what is expected of these recruit hopefuls when they show up tomorrow to take the exam: Douglas Hyde, Public Relations Coordinator "The Belize Police Department will be carrying out our national police recruitment examination tomorrow the eleventh of April 2015 at 7AM sharp. We want to share with all persons, the applicants, specifically the places where used as the examination centers. In corozal, we have the Corozal Community College, all applicants from the Corozal District can attend there. Muffles High School, all applicants of the Orange Walk District can go there. Gwen Liz. High School, all applicants of the Belize District. The Belmopan Comprehensive High School, all applicants from the Cayo District. The Delile Academy, all applicants of the Stann Creek District and UB Punta Gorda Campus, all applicants from the Toledo District. As a reminder, all Applicants are asked to be at the examination centers at 7AM and please bring along your ID card along with your writing utensils. I've noticed that every year the participants/applicants have been rising, and last year we had over a thousand applicants and we expect more or less that we probably have two-thousand applicants this year. The police academy, who is in charge of the examinations along with the Ministry of Education, we have worked on the logistics, in terms of the preparation for these persons and we are ready for all applicants."

Will McCauley Heed The Football Call?
The Football Federation of Belize is preparing for the second round of its world cup qualifiers against the Dominican Republic in June and they have sent out the call for players. Striker Deon Mcauley's name is on the list and the good news is that FFB Executive members are reported to be in direct contact with him and expect him to be a part of the team - though terms still have to be worked out. Mcauley was one of the most prolific goal scorers in the world during the 2011 world cup qualifiers.

Unity between Belize And Jamaica
There is a new Reggae band that is trying to reach great heights in Belize. They call themselves The Blue Hole All Stars and they bring an interesting element to the musical scene - the band members consist of 11 Belizean and Jamaican singers and musicians. Now we have heard about Belizean and Jamaican artists performing together on stage but these All Stars took it to another level and merged both musical styles and flavors. Today we spoke with the founders of the band and they told us how the idea came about and about the future they hope to realize. The band has performed on Caye Caulker during the Easter break. They are organizing a Mother Day tribute performance at Bird's Isle.

FCD Come Again
And before we go tonight - we have a correction to make to a story we ran last night. IT was about the 2 Guatemalan Xateros who were caught inside the Chiquibul with thousands of leaves. We said erroneously that they were caught 200 kilometers inside Belize - well, that was a mistake. They were actually found 21 kilometers inside Belize - which is about 12 miles.

Channel 5

Keyren Tzib Appears in Court for Bail Hearing
On Easter Monday, twenty-four year old Coast Guard Seaman Keyren Tzib shot a senior Coast Guard Officer, Petty Officer Kurt Hyde, as they returned to base on board a vessel [...]

Tzib Ordered to Take a Psychiatric Evaluation
Keyren Tzib is to return to Court on Wednesday, April fifteenth at two-thirty in the afternoon. At that time, a determination on her bail will be granted, based at least [...]

Michael “Popeye” Foreman Murdered In Belize City
This week has been a particularly violent one … there have been three murders in the same number of days. On Thursday night, just before eleven o’clock, thirty-two year old [...]

Who Killed Mark Rhamdas? Will Surveillance Video Tell?
While there have been no leads in the murder of Foreman, twenty-seven year old Ladyville resident, Ehud Haulze remains in police custody in connection with the murder of twenty-four year [...]

Murdered “John Doe” is Aurelio Montero Jr.
San Ignacio Police have been piecing the story together of a man who was found badly beaten at the San Ignacio Welcome Center and died five days later at the [...]

Lake I Squatters Say They Are Not Getting a Good Deal
On Thursday night, we reported that thirteen families were facing eviction from their homes in the Lake Independence Boulevard area. They have been removed twice before for squatting, but now, [...]

Audrey Matura-Shepherd Wants Union Senator, Ray Davis, Gone!
Senator Ray Davis, union representative, has come under sustained fire for abstaining to vote on the Petrocaribe Loans Bill. On April first, the N.T.U.C.B. met to discuss the controversial bill [...]

Matura-Shepherd on Davis – Round Two
As we told you, the Petrocaribe Bill was discussed by the N.T.U.C.B. after it was actually passed, and not before. So we wondered if perhaps the abstention by Senator Ray [...]

Businessman Busted With Over US $100K
American Businessman and owner of the Palapa Bar in San Pedro, Scott Harnish, was busted with over one hundred thousand U.S dollars in his home. On Tuesday, April seventh, it [...]

Well-known Criminal Figures Receive Bail
Three Belizeans and a Guatemalan were among a group of thirteen persons whose bail application was heard today by Justice Herbert Lord. The four were successful in obtaining bail. Well-known [...]

Undocumented Honduran Nationals Charged
It was an emotional time in court for five Honduran nationals who were caught illegally in the country; they are facing jail time since they are unable to pay their [...]

Want To Join The Police Department? Recruitment Test is on Saturday.
The Belize Police Department will be carrying out its national recruitment examination on Saturday at seven a.m. across the country. Today, Public Relations Officer of the department, Douglas Hyde took [...]

U.S. Naval Ship Makes First Stop In Belize
The US naval Hospital ship, named the USNS Comfort sailed into Belizean waters earlier this week. It’s the first stop of a tour in the Caribbean and Central and South [...]

British Troops, the Series Continues
Earlier this week, we aired part one of a series produced by ITV News of the UK on the experience of British soldiers in Belize. Tonight, we have the remaining [...]

British Troops, the Series Ends
While battle readiness is equal parts physical and mental preparation, accuracy in identifying and eliminating hostile targets is a skill that is acquired with practice.  Penetrating and negotiating thick foliage [...]

Haitians Dead Following Capsized Boat
And finally in our newscast, we turn to the Caribbean where a tragic event has occurred in Haiti. A total of twenty-one Haitians died and nineteen others are missing after [...]

PlusTV

Belize City man murdered in front of family
25 year old Mark Anthony Rhamdas Jr., also known as “Judas,” became the latest target of murder in Belize City...

Murder in San Ignacio; victim unidentified
A man was discovered unconscious at the Welcome Center in Cayo on Saturday. He has since died and police say they are looking for the murderers  and are trying to identify the victim who appears to be of Maya decent. According to police, on Saturday April 4, at about 1:27 a.m...

Why was CITCO Chief Engineer Terminated?
A senior worker at the Belmopan City Council is out of a job after the new Mayor, Khalid Belisle  and his council have made several changes.  One of those changes includes the non-renewal of contract of Javier Novelo...

15 year old recuperating after hit by vehicle
A 15 year old girl from the San Martin Area might miss the first few days of school next week Monday because she is recuperating at the Western Regional Hospital after a traffic accident in the Maya Mopan community put her in the hospital.  According to reports, sometime after 8 o clock this mornin...

Albert Vaughan loitering case draws to close
Last August, PUP activist and reporter Albert Vaughan was charged with loitering in a public place during the riots by then-workers of Belize Maintenance Limited (BML) against the Belize City Council...

Belize History Association unveils logo
It was established last year to promote the gathering and preservation of Belize’s history, and the Belize History Association (BHA) is moving full steam ahead in that goal...

Amandala

In 2015 Cross Country, Justin Williams “brings home the bacon” for Belize
This year’s edition of the 87th Annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic climaxed with a dramatic sprint that was successfully orchestrated and executed by Belizean-American Justin Williams, 25, who went on to claim the hard-fought victory just after midday last Saturday, April 4. Justin and his brother and teammate, Corey Williams, 21, formed part of an early breakaway group of 7 riders who separated themselves from the peloton just outside Hattieville, while the race was on its way to San Ignacio Town, Cayo. That group momentarily merged with a chase group of 4 just a few miles before the race reached the Belmopan junction, and the lead group of 11 reached the halfway point in San Ignacio in an impressive 2 hours and 35 minutes, just four minutes off the record that was set in 2009 by Costa Rican Marcos Antonio Rios.

Murdered and dumped in Seine Bight lagoon
The decomposed body of George Richard Maskall, 18, of a Belize City address, was spotted by a fisherman yesterday, Tuesday, floating in the lagoon behind the village of Seine Bight in the Stann Creek District. Authorities today reported that, acting upon information received sometime around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, Placencia and Dangriga police visited the lagoon behind Seine Bight, where they discovered the body of Maskall, also known as “Lucifer”, floating face-down, dressed only in a short green cargo pants. Because of the advanced state of decomposition of the corpse, an onsite post-mortem exam was conducted, which certified the cause of Maskall’s death to be “stab wounds to the heart (right atrium) and sharp force injuries to the chest,” and the contributing cause to be “blunt force trauma to the chest”, which indicated that Maskall was brutally murdered.

Mark Rhamdas, Jr., ambushed and fatally shot
The gun violence in Belize City has again claimed a life. Mark Anthony Rhamdas, Jr., 25, a resident of Albert Street West, was shot in the chest and abdomen at about 6:00 last night by an unknown killer who ambushed him and his girlfriend, Etheline Mejia, 21, also of Albert Street, as they were traveling on his motorcycle through an unnamed alley between Southside Meat Shop and U2 Shop. Both Rhamdas, the father of four children, and his girlfriend were hit by the shots fired by the unknown assailant, and the killer then escaped out of the area. Rhamdas, who is well-known to police, was a former “tumbler” who participated for many years in acrobatic performances, known locally as “tumbling”, during parades or other events in the city.

Gasoline for head lice causes severe burns for girl, 9
Katerin Michel Perez, 9, of the DFC area of San Pedro Town, whose head was treated with gasoline to get rid of lice, suffered major burns to her body when her body was ignited by the stove in her family’s kitchen. She is presently fighting for her life at the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Doctors said that Perez suffered third-degree burns to 53% of her body, and that the injuries to her arms, hands and face are especially severe, and she is listed in a critical condition. According to the San Pedro Sun, at about 7:30 Good Friday night, April 3, the girl’s scalp was treated with gasoline to get rid of parasites. However, when she passed near a lit stove in the kitchen, the fumes from the gasoline in the girl’s head ignited, and she was quickly engulfed in flames. Her mother and father, who were at home, rushed to help their daughter, and the mother herself suffered burns to her body and hands. Neighbors went to help them, and they were all taken to the San Pedro Polyclinic in the vehicle of a neighbor, then they were rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), and the little girl was flown out via an air ambulance to the burn victims unit at the Shriners Children’s Hospital. Her mother, Carolina Dominguez Meza, sustained second degree burns to the hands and face and has been admitted to the KHMH in a stable condition.

Boat engine explodes; 4 injured, 1 seriously
The Easter holiday for four men who were about to travel to the cayes on Holy Thursday became nightmarish when the inboard engine of the boat in which they were travelling exploded and the boat erupted into flames at about 1:00 on the afternoon of Holy Thursday near the “Hangar” boat landing by the seashore in front of the Belize City Municipal Airport. The men onboard the boat were George Gonzalez, 34; Wallace Flowers, 41; the owner of the boat , Steven Bradley, 52; and the captain of the boat, Romaldo “Romy” Badillo, 59, all of Belize City. Three of the men suffered varying degrees of injury and burns to their bodies. Wallace Flowers was given six stitches over his left eye and was released from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) that same afternoon, while George Gonzalez has been admitted to ward at the KHMH. He will remain there for at least a month to avoid the risk of getting an infection because he suffered second degree burns on his hand and left leg. He also suffered first degree burns to the right hand and right leg.

One major hurricane predicted for 2015
In the last 5 years, the Atlantic Basin has generated 79 named storms, 37 hurricanes and 13 major hurricanes over the course of the hurricane season, which spans June to November each year. That works out to an average of 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes each year. This year, though, forecasters Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray of the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University are predicting a much quieter season. Their April 9, 2015 forecast, issued earlier today, calls for a total of only 7 named storms, 3 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane. “We anticipate that the 2015 Atlantic basin hurricane season will be one of the least active seasons since the middle of the 20th century,” the researchers say. “It appears quite likely that an El Niño of at least moderate strength will develop this summer and fall. The tropical and subtropical Atlantic are also quite cool at present. We anticipate a below-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean,” they added.

Keyren Tzib charged with attempted murder
This afternoon, CIB police officers escorted Keyren Tzib, 24, a six-year veteran female seaman of the Belize Coast Guard, to the Magistrate’s Court, where she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, who arraigned her on three criminal charges in connection with a shooting incident on Easter Monday, April 6, onboard a Coast Guard vessel returning from San Pedro after completing a multi-agency operation. Tzib, who was represented at the arraignment by attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd, was not required to enter a plea, because she was charged with attempted murder, an indictable offense which will be heard in the Supreme Court if the prosecution succeeds in making a prima facie case at the preliminary inquiry stage. In addition to the charge of attempted murder of Kurt Hyde, 37, Petty Officer First Class, who Tzib allegedly shot once with her Coast Guard-issued M4 Carbine rifle, police also charged Tzib with use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm.

No Deon = No goals for Belize: FIFA
While listing the teams that have qualified for the next round of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers in the region on its website today, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) noted the absence of star striker, Deon McCaulay, in Belize’s opening matches against the Cayman Islands national team. In an article subtitled “No Deon, no goals for Belize,” FIFA referred to the omission of McCaulay as “one of the big surprises of the first round [of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers].” McCaulay – who plays club football in the United States for NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks – was glorified for finishing the Brazil World Cup 2014 Qualifiers as “the top goal scorer worldwide, ahead of even superstars like Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie.” In its criticism of the latest Belize Men’s National “A” Football Selection, known as Belize Jaguars, FIFA added that “what was not a surprise was how the Jaguars struggled to score without him [Deon]. They drew 0-0 at home and needed a stunner of a free-kick from Elroy Kuylen in the return leg to see off the Cayman Islanders and avoid disaster by the width of one slim away goal.”

NEBL basketball returns
The NEBL resumes this weekend with Week 9 games after taking Easter break. The regular season has 14 weeks of games (2 round-robins), so teams are now jostling for playoff positions, as they enter the second week of Round 2. Upcoming games All three games this weekend will be played on Saturday night. Undefeated Cayo Western Ballaz (7-0) will take their unbeaten streak on the island as they take on the defending champs San Pedro Tiger Sharks (5-2), who have not lost at home in two seasons. This game will be shown live on Channel 5 at 9:00 p.m., and this game will prove to be extremely crucial for both teams, as they try to lock up the #1 seed going into the playoffs, and home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Belize Yellow Pages Hurricanes (2-5) will remain in the city, as they travel to Bird’s Isle to take on Belize City No Limit (2-5) at 9:00 p.m.; and Orange Walk Running Rebels (1-5) will be hosting Dangriga Warriors (2-5) at the Orange Walk Multi Complex in Orange Walk Town at 9:00 p.m. These last two games will be very crucial, as all four teams are fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot, while the Belmopan Red Taigaz (5-2) will have a bye this week. Tiger Sharks vs No Limit controversial game resolved: A three-member appeals committee met to decide the outcome of the game between San Pedro Tiger Sharks and Belize City No Limit. It was ruled that the last shot counted before the buzzer sounded, and as a result, the game has been awarded to San Pedro Tiger Sharks, who won 88-87. All Star Selections: All Star Night will be held next week Saturday, April 18, at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town. Tip-off will be at 8:00 p.m., followed by the Three Point Shootout, then the Slam Dunk Contest. Below are the players that made the All Star Teams, along with the participants of the Slam Dunk and Three Point contests. For the South team, the starters are: Daniel Nolberto (PG) – Dangriga Warriors; Elvis Usher, Jr. (SG) – Cayo Western Ballaz; Travis Lennan (SF) – Belmopan Red Taigaz; Jarrel Velasquez (PF) – Belmopan Red Taigaz; and Kurt Burgess (C) – Cayo Western Ballaz. The reserves are: Terrell Eskridge (PG) – Belmopan Red Taigaz; Stanley Flowers (PG) – Cayo Western Ballaz; Jamir Flores (SG) – Dangriga Warriors; Richard Troyer (SF) – Cayo Western Ballaz; Trevaughn Usher (SF) – Dangriga Warriors; Macario Augustine (PF) – Dangriga Warriors; Farron Louriano (C) – Belmopan Red Taigaz. The team will be coached by Douglas Smith of Cayo Western Ballaz, and the assistant coach will be Bernie Tarr from Belmopan Red Taigaz.

National Team players to train for Round 2 of World Cup 2018 Qualifiers
The Belize National A Team continues its preparation for the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. Our Jaguars will be going up against Dominican Republic in the month of June. The following players have been selected to return for training on Mondays and Tuesdays, starting April 13: Woodrow Wilson West; Tevin Wilford Gamboa; Dalton Calbert Eiley, Jr.; Denmark R. Casey; Andres Makin; Stephen Martinez; Deon McCaulay; Jarett Nicholas Davis; Khalil V.M. Velasquez; Trevor Bruce Lennen; Carlton Thomas; Highking Arthur Roberts; Elroy Edwin Kuylen, Jr.; Nahjib Kazim Guerra; Shane Armstrong; Ian Elvis Gaynair; Amin Paul August; Marlon Meza; Delone Darren Torres; Daniel Jimenez; Jordy Leonel Polanco. International Players: Shane Orio; Michael Salazar; Allan La Flore; Brian Hulse; Elroy Alexander Smith.

Belizean Youth to attend World Class Laser Sailing Clinic in Antigua, West Indies
Belize has been invited to attend the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) 5-day Laser Sailing Clinic at the National Sailing Academy on Antigua, West Indies from 14 – 21 July of this year. ISAF (See note below) is underwriting virtually all significant expenses of those who participate. The Belize Sailing Association (BzSA) is now among the Member Nation Authorities (MNAs) that ISAF recognizes. The goal of ISAF’s Emerging Nation Youth World Clinics is to give skills and knowledge that both the sailors and their coaches will take home and use to build and further develop sailing training and racing in their home countries, all for the benefit of future generations. To this end, part 1 of the ISAF programme provides funds for BzSA to send one coach and up to three sailors to the 5-day clinic, as long as one of them is female.

Editorial: Colonialism, nostalgia, and tourism
There was a class of native people in British Honduras, primarily Creole people in the capital city of Belize, who accepted British colonialism, and, in fact, embraced that colonialism. These are people we may describe as Anglophiles. They admired British dress, British speech, British manners, British ideas, British literature, British diplomacy, and so on, and all this amounted to a vote for the British Empire, which was, undeniably, an imperialist and racist institution. Two aspects of British colonialism in Belize must never be swept under the rug. One is that, while the British administrators accepted the Garifuna people here in the first part of the nineteenth century, the same Garifuna people they had tried to exterminate in St. Vincent, it was clear by the early twentieth century that the Garifuna were being discriminated against where postings in the public service were concerned. It was the Roman Catholic Church which opened up opportunities in teaching for those members of the Garifuna people who were more intellectually inclined. The second aspect of British colonialism here which must never be forgotten is that the Maya and Mestizo refugees from the Caste War in the Yucatán who came to Belize in the second half of the nineteenth century had a tough time under the British. Entry into the public service, again, was pretty much closed to Maya and Mestizo Belizeans in the first half of the twentieth century.

From the Publisher
By Tuesday evening this week, I realized that Calman Williams, the father of Justin Williams, the 2015 Holy Saturday Crosscountry cycling champion, and his brother Cory, who sacrificed his own race (he finished fifth) to bring his brother home to victory, had made a mistake by staying so far in the background. Calman consciously tried to make sure his sons got all the attention and glory they deserved. He succeeded in doing that, but had he made himself available to the Belizean media, then a lot of these “questions” on Belize’s social media about the authenticity of the Williams brothers’ Belizean-ness would have been exposed as, to my mind, frivolous and irrelevant. Calman is a totally roots Belizean brother who migrated to Los Angeles soon after he began riding Crosscountry in 1984. He had fallen in love with Crosscountry, as we Belizeans all do, and began coming home from L.A. every year just to ride the race. According to him, he was actually in good enough shape to ride on Holy Saturday 2015, but decided to coach his sons instead. (Calman is about 53 years old.)

Major Jones on courage and discipline
Dear Editor, The business of nationhood is a rough game as small nation states are under constant pressure by those who wish to exploit both their people and their natural resources. It is my thesis, therefore, that if Belize is to survive as a nation state it will have to do so on a foundation of courage and discipline. In 1776 when the colonists in Boston, Massachusetts could no longer bear the yoke of Mother England they decided to fight back. That decision required both courage and discipline because in 1776, Great Britain was considered a true superpower. Between the time of the Boston Tea Party and the start of the American Revolution, the colonists had to develop and maintain the courage to seek their independence. Britain was not going to make it easy, so they also had to develop the discipline to stay the course, even when things seemed all but lost. It is upon this foundation of courage and discipline that the mighty USA now stands. It has been 33 years since Belize’s independence, an independence “won” without bloodshed or any great sacrifice, for that matter. The result has been a timid and ill-disciplined people. It is not my intention to insult the Belizean people: I simply have no other words to describe our post-independence conduct.

A look at fuel importation from Venezuela
The price of premium gasoline went up again last night, from $8.80 a gallon to $9.36 a gallon, and the price of kerosene increased similarly from $5.45 a gallon to $6.13 a gallon, while the price of regular gasoline remains at $8.80 a gallon and the price of diesel actually fell from $7.97 a gallon to $7.26 a gallon. Another price change may be coming in the next few weeks, when the next shipment of fuel products lands in Belize from Curaçao. The Ministry of Finance is the entity which sets the pump prices, based on the cost of the fuel from the supplier, as well as the cost of landing the product here in Belize. In total, the country is expected to receive about 50,000 barrels of fuel products, the bulk of it being diesel (25,000 barrels) and regular gasoline (18,000 barrels). The remainder will be jet kerosene, which can be used for both domestic and commercial purposes (such as airlines). John Mencias, deputy chairman of Alba PetroCaribe Belize (APBEL), the joint venture company which Belize and Venezuela had established to manage the PetroCaribe program, under which fuel is imported from Venezuela, said that the shipment should be loaded early next week and arrive in Belize between April 9 and 12. Although the shipment will be a few days behind the original schedule, Mencias said that Belize has enough fuel supplies to last until the middle of the month.

Caribbean urged to reverse decline in aquaculture
Fisheries officials who spoke at the 13th Meeting of the Caribbean Fisheries Forum, held in St. George’s, Grenada, earlier this week, highlighted the need for collective action by the 17 member states of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), in order to overcome the mounting challenges which confront the fisheries and aquaculture sector of the Caribbean. Senator Simon Steele, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of Grenada, the keynote speaker for the event, elaborated on some of the challenges: among them international and local economic pressures and rising input costs; threats to fish stocks and habitats from pollution and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; as well as the adverse effects of climate change. “We have no shortage of challenges,” said Steele, adding that, “To confront these challenges as small island developing states with vulnerable economies, it is of critical importance that we strengthen our cooperation and unity within the region, since we share common principles in developing, managing, and utilizing the living marine resources in a responsible and sustainable manner – which is why forums such as this are of such importance to us.”

The BLACK Parade: march for peace and crime reduction
A massive crowd of about 2,500 people marched in Belize City in solidarity with police, in a demonstration against crimes and violence that was dubbed “BLACK” — Be Loving And Cease Killing, which is an initiative of the Not in My City anti-crimes campaign. The aims of the 6-mile march through the high-crime areas of the city were to denounce crime and violence, to foster harmony between the police and the community in their fight against crime, to encourage young men to stop the senseless killing of each other in the streets, to bring various communities together, and to encourage people to be peaceful with each other so that residents of Belize City can feel safe. The demonstration started at about 7:30 Friday morning from the Yarborough area and made its way through several streets in high-crime areas, including Jump Street or Wagner Lane, Pink’s Alley, George Street, and Mayflower Street, among many other hot spots and crime-ridden areas. The procession stopped at spots where criminal gangs are known to hang out, and participants engaged in moments of silence and reflection to remember those who lost their lives due to senseless violence, and a pastor said words of healing in their memory. Individuals in these areas were also urged to denounce violence.

Marion Jones Sports Complex opened, but not quite completed
After a series of delays and on-and-off construction that spanned several years, a “soft” opening of the Marion Jones Sports Complex was held today by present Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Hon. Herman Longsworth. Since the last groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium in August 2009, the projected launch of the state-of-the-art facility had been put off multiple times. Still, the high-caliber multi-purpose sports complex is nearing completion, even if it is only in parts. At this point, the contract for the bleachers and accompanying facilities is complete, and the sports complex is in a usable state. During a media tour of the long-awaited stadium this afternoon, Longsworth elaborated on the progress of the project and its current stage.

Senator Shoman to head OAS mission to observe Guyana elections
Opposition Senator Lisa Shoman, who has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador for Belize, will lead a mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) to observe the May 11, 2015 elections in Guyana. Shoman, who is also a senior attorney in Belize, told us today that this will be the OAS’s 5th mission to observe elections in Guyana. The OAS observed elections in Guyana in 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2011. Shoman told us that this is the second time she is getting to serve as chief for this type of OAS mission. According to Shoman, back in 2001, she was Chief of Mission for the OAS’s election observer mission in Jamaica. “This one is going to be quite big, because it’s not only the election for presidency, but there are several other races at stake,” Shoman said.

NTUCB votes unanimously against new PetroCaribe Loan legislation
At an emergency meeting held last night, the General Congress of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) unanimously voted to reject the recently introduced PetroCaribe Loan Act, which has also been rejected in this week’s vote in the Senate by the private sector, the churches and the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP). The law contains provisions which allow the executive arm of Government to borrow unlimited amounts from Venezuela, under the PetroCaribe fuel accord, and also to spend those funds without prior approval from Parliament, providing an exemption to the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act which requires prior parliamentary approval for any government debt of $10 million or more. The Barrow administration has defended the law by saying that the peculiar nature of the transaction, under which 50% of Belize’s fuel bill for petrol imports from Venezuela is automatically converted into a 25-year loan, is not provided for in existing law. When the bill was tabled for approval in the Senate this Monday, Ray Davis, the senator for the NTUCB, which had not yet met to formulate an official position on the law, abstained from casting a vote, but the other social partners registered their disapproval of the bill with a “no” vote.

Online City Hall tax payment service now in effect
In an effort to move away from manual payment methods, which often result in long lines of disgruntled customers, the Belize City Council (CitCo) has teamed up with Atlantic Bank to provide a real-time Property Tax and Trade License online payment feature. As a result, taxpayers in the commercial capital are now able to log onto either CitCo’s or Atlantic Bank’s websites and meet their tax obligations using a credit card effective today, April 1. According to Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley, not only are the automated services geared towards making governmental services easier for city residents to access, but these services will also serve as an option for Belizeans living abroad who had been clamoring for an alternative tax payment mechanism. After a step-by-step demonstration of this automated payment method, Atlantic Bank’s Electronic Banking Manager, Pedro Lozano, spoke about the security protocols of the new service.

GOB meets with rice producers to discuss reduction in price of local rice
Senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture today met with local rice producers in Belmopan to “discuss the way forward with rice production in Belize” following recent tensions which arose over the proposed importation of the staple grain. Those local producers have been expressing concerns to the Agricultural Department regarding the plans of businessman Jack Charles to import Guyanese rice and sell it for 69 cents per pound, which is almost 50% cheaper than the local product. At the end of today’s meeting, both sides agreed that the “draft revised standards for rice” will be finalized within a month, which suggests that different grades of rice will now be sold at different prices. According to a release that was later issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture, agreements were also made for all rice sold on the domestic market to be pre-packed to indicate origin, quantity, and quality, among other basic packaging requirements. This is expected to be fully implemented within two months.

Barrow heads Belize delegation to historic hemispheric summit
Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow is leading a delegation to the Seventh Summit of the Americas, being held in Panama City, Panama, later this week. Barrow’s delegation includes his wife, Kim Simplis-Barrow; Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Wilfred Elrington; Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado; and Belize’s Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Nestor Mendez, who also appears at the OAS-led summit as Assistant Secretary General Elect for a presentation to youth representatives attending the triennial hemispheric gathering. This is the first time that Cuba will be participating in the summit, the largest political forum for the Americas, being held under the theme: “Prosperity with Equity: The Challenge of Cooperation in the Americas.” Cuba’s participation brings the total number of participating states now to 35. Cuba’s inclusion in the summit follows a successful vote at the last Summit of the Americas held in Colombia in 2012, as well as the recent normalization of relations between the US and Cuba, which is to be represented in Panama by President Raúl Castro Ruz.

BEL proposes a 10.4% reduction in light bills
A fall in crude oil prices has meant that power generation from traditional fossil fuel sources has become less expensive, and now the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), a government-owned utility company, says that with Mexico shifting to more renewable energy options – particularly hydropower – consumers should see further savings on their light bills. Since last January, the average electricity rate has dropped from 48.65 cents per kilowatt hour to the current rate of 41.29 cents per kilowatt hour – a total reduction of about 15%. If the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approves BEL’s request, consumers could see a reduction of another 10% or so, which would constitute a total rate reduction of 24% since last January. However, the current rates should remain in effect until the end of June 2015.

Drug crisis affecting thousands of mental health patients
The Cayo Consumer Association has successfully lobbied for urgent intervention by the Ministry of Health to address the scarcity of first line medication used to treat thousands of mental health patients in the country, many of whom suffer from schizophrenia and who have traditionally been administered Risperdal to treat their condition. We were advised this evening that the San Ignacio Hospital, which had been experiencing a shortage of the medication since last December, is being supplied with 78 pills, while the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan will receive 500 pills. This supply is nowhere near enough to meet the current demand. Speaking with Amandala this evening, the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Allen, said that he had not yet received any correspondence on the matter from the Cayo group, and he was only advised of the drug scarcity this Monday, when it was broadcast on local media.

The Reporter

Decision on Albert Vaughan loitering case due next Wednesday
Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart is to decide next Wednesday, April 15, on a charge of loitering in a public place filed against radio personality and activist for the Peoples United Party (PUP), Albert Vaughan, during protests by workers for Belize Maintenance Limited (BML) in August […]

US Navy medical mission in Belize
The United States Navy Vessel, the USNS Comfort and its crew are in Belize on a medical mission to provide surgeries and other much needed healthcare services. The mission, entitled “Continuing Promise 2015” was officially launched on Friday morning at the Fort George Memorial Park, […]

BTL unveils 2015 Directory
The Belize Telemedia Limited unveiled the 2015 installment of its annual telephone directory, at a brief ceremony at its Church Street office in Belize City on Friday. The front cover of this year’s directory features an image of the Big Drop Falls in Southern Belize, […]

Wrong attitudes keep Belizean youths from employment
Cultivating negative work attitudes and ethics have kept many of Belize’s youths from maintain employment, says Dianne Finnegan, coordinator of the Belize National Youth Apprenticeship Program (BNYAP) “A major factor is the lack of respect, loyalty and value for the workplace”, Finnegan explained. “People, especially […]

Salud Mesoamerican 2015 project goes into phase 2
This week people in the healthcare system gathered in Belmopan for the second operation meeting of the Salud Mesoamerican 2015 (SM2015) Initiative. The four-day workshop began on Tuesday at the George Price Center for Peace and Development in Belmopan, and gathered representatives from entities such […]

Toddler dies of multiple skull fracture; Human Services confirms history of child abuse
New details surrounding the death of an 11 month-old baby girl who died from multiple skull fractures caused by blunt force injuries last week, reveal that she was a victim of child abuse. The child, Mia Lopez, died at her home at 8694 Curl Thompson […]

Police charge woman Coast Guard officer with attempted murder of colleague
Coast Guard officer, Lt. Keyren Tzib, 24, is facing a charge of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm after she shot Petty Officer, Kurt Hyde, 37,n in the face on Easter Monday. The shooting happened as the two, who […]

IDB urges Latin America and Caribbean countries to increase productivity and efficiency
A recent report published by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) said that governments of Latin American and Caribbean countries need to increase revenue generation and harness it through better spending to cope with projected economic difficulties. The document, the 2015 Annual Macroeconomic Report, cited that […]

PM Barrow to meet Obama, Maduro and Castro in Panama
Prime Minister Dean Barrow is attending this weekend’s Summit of the Americas in Panama, where regional leaders will converge, including the presidents of the United States, Venezuela and Cuba. Barrow left Belize on Tuesday and made a presentation on Thursday at the second CEO […]

Caribbean leaders gather for clean energy symposium
Leaders from across the region gathered in St. Thomas on the Virgin Islands to participate in the first ever Caribbean Clean Energy Technology Symposium (CCETS), aimed at disseminating information on clean energy efficiency and security for the region. The symposium, the first of three […]

City residents can pay property tax on line
Belize City residents can now pay both property tax and trade license expenses from the comfort of their homes or offices via the Internet, through a partnership between the Belize City Council and Atlantic Bank. The Belize City Council announced the launch of its […]

Castillo charged for killing stepson…chopping stepdaughter!
Patrick Anthony Castillo Sr., 42 year old security guard, was taken to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and formally arraigned on one count of murder, for the chopping death of his stepson, Guatemalan, Jose Maderos, 20, and one count of wounding for chopping his 13 year-old step-daughter, Linda […]

Captain in boat explosion still critical
Captain Romaldo Badillo, who was severely burned in a boat explosion last Thursday, is in Guatemala receiving treatment for second and third degree burns he received to 75 percent of his body. Badillo’s family will hold a telethon on Saturday from 10 a.m. to […]

Actor, Leonardo DiCaprio to build 5-star eco-resort at Blackador Caye
Leonardo DiCaprio, the main actor in the movie, “Titanic” is planning on building a five-star, ecological, luxury resort on his privately owned island, Blackadore Caye. DiCaprio purchased the 104-acre Blackadore island for $1.75 million in 2005, when he first visited Belize and described the […]

Obama urges Caribbean to drop Petro Caribe in Jamaica
United States President Barack Obama reiterated his country’s position that the Caribbean must seek energy alternatives to PetroCaribe during a CARICOM summit in Kingston, Jamaica on Thursday. The summit was dominated with discussions about energy and security but Obama’s attendance has been viewed as […]

Do you know this man? Police request assistance in identfying dead man
The police are seeking the assistance of the public in identifying an unknown man who was badly beaten on Wednesday in San Ignacio and later died in Belize City. According to police, the man who was first found unconscious in San Ignacio’s Welcome Center, […]

Editorial
The action of the Barrow Government in by-passing the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives has produced a disquieting effect, even among men and women who passionately support the party. The United Democratic Party is expected to approach the voters of Belize, perhaps early in the year 2016, […]

Poverty elimination – the real indicator of economic performance
While a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is one of the most popular methods of indicating economic performance, Senator for the Private Sector, Mark Lizarraga, contends that it does not give an accurate picture of the economic impact. GDP growth is calculated by taking performance, […]

House search uncovers over US$100,000 Case handed over to FIU for further investigation!
The home of an American businessman, Scott Harnish, operating on La Isla Bonita in San Pedro, was raided Tuesday afternoon by police, and while nothing incriminating like firearms, amm-unition or drugs were found, cops discovered a significant amount of US currency. The case of […]

Rawell Pelayo deported from US after plea bargain
Former Football Federation of Belize Vice President, Rawell Pelayo, was deported to Belize on Tuesday after spending almost two years in a US prison for drug-related offences. Pelayo’s release came after he made a plea bargain in June of 2014, admitting to a conspiracy to […]

$15 million facelift for downtown Belize City
The entire downtown area of Belize City, from the House of Culture to the Swing Bridge, will soon be the subject of a comprehensive renovation project. Entitled the “Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project”, the plan is a joint effort by […]

Gasoline lice treatment causes freak accident
Nine year old Katerin Michel Perez, is clinging to life at the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, after she suffered severe burns at her home in San Pedro Town. The child whose home is in the DFC Layout area, was badly burned in a freak accidentt around […]

The Belize Times

Santi Quits!! – Barrow’s leadership in jeopardy
The United Democratic Party’s (UDP) race in Caribbean Shores is about to take an interesting twist as Area Representative Santino Castillo is planning to call it quits and surrender his Caribbean Shores standard bearer seat to recently re-elected Belize City Mayor Darrel Bradley, according to reliable sources. Santi, we understand, has been consulting with close political allies ahead of the June 7th convention and his latest position is that he will not ride to victory but fade into political darkness. Santi has tried his best to insulate Caribbean Shores from a divisive convention and when it became public knowledge that Bradley the upstart newcomer was eyeing his seat, Santi made it publicly known that the party had been advising Bradley to instead focus on the Freetown Constituency which is held by the humble and hardworking PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca. That would not work on the stubborn Mayor, however, and rightly so since he knows he would get the lashing of his lifetime if he had gone that route. Reports are that the Mayor was adamant about Caribbean Shores and he forced the Party into a deal. He would only run for Mayor in Belize City for a second term if they opened the gates in Caribbean Shores.

THE COLONIAL BOMB
This morning the Government and NICH announced their plan for a national COLONIAL MUSEUM in Belize City. They proudly announced that $15 million dollars would be blown away on it. They even had the nerve to print a document saying that such a project will: (a) increase people’s knowledge and appreciation of their colonial heritage, (b) increase their willingness to preserve the heritage and (c) increase their awareness of their self-identity and identity as citizens. All three objectives are fundamentally flawed and smacks of intellectual arrogance and stupidity. Last year when the Minister of Culture announced that, “the Belize City House of Culture will be transformed and established as the national Colonial Museum of Belize,” I called it retrograde, racist and disturbing and that it is rank disrespect to our resistance heritage. At today’s announcement they are now calling it the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation, but that is just a cosmetic joke. The crowd called NICH must mark April 8th, 2015 as a celebration of colonial and myopic thinking.

Ministry of Health runs out of Antipsychotic meds!!
The health system has been spinning from one crisis to another. Reports from throughout the country indicate that there is a shortage of the important antipsychotic medicine, known as Risperidone, in Belize at this time. At the moment Government pharmacies are no longer dispensing this medication. Risperidone is available at a few select stores, but they are sold at exorbitant prices. Risperdone is a Second Generation (atypical) medication with very few side effects and is used to stabilize patients, who suffer from both bi-polar and schizophrenic disorders. While other medication, such as Stalazine, is available, these bring with it many side effects. Patients on Stelazine or a First Generation Anti-Psychotic meds will have many relapses, because they will be unable to deal with the side effects (pyramidal symptoms). As a result sufferers of these debilitating conditions are now walking a tight rope around the country; unable to find the funds to buy Risperidone.

Murders in Belize City, Seine Bight, O.W. & San Ignacio
Despite commemorating the Holy Week in Belize, the number of murders spiked over the last nine days, with homicides in various areas of the country. Last night, Wednesday April 9th, 25 year old Mark Anthony Rhamdas Jr. and his common law wife, 21 year old Etheline Mejia, were shot as they travelled on a motorcycle through an unnamed alley near Berkeley Street in Belize City when someone fired gunshots at them. Rhamdas, who resides nearby at #39 Albert Street, was shot on the left side of his chest, while Mejia was shot on her left buttocks. Rhamdas was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital but did not survive the injury. Mejia is receiving treatment and recovering. Meanwhile, on Tuesday April 7th morning, Placencia Police found the body of 18 year old George Richard Maskall floating in a lagoon behind Seine Bight Village in the Stann Creek District.

THINK ABOUT IT
OUR DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK We agree. The recent Petro Caribe/Dean Barrow law is the worst piece of legislation to be passed since independence. The intention of the law is worse than the law itself. The effect of the law is something no true democracy can tolerate. The Constitutional Opposition has a duty to our country to put out a policy commitment that when it becomes the government it will repeal the law. The Opposition must also take careful legal advice and say in no uncertain terms that if the Prime Minister broke the law as stated in the amendment to the Finance & Audit Reform Act No. 31 of 2010, then the Prime Minister will be charged for each count of criminal wrong doing. The amendment to the Finance and Audit Reform Act 2005 which is to be found in Act No. 31 of 2010 says as follows:

Crossing the tee in Country
From what was considered a mere expedition in 1928, the Annual Cross Country Classic has evolved into what remains the single most prominent sporting event in the country and the region even. We need to get this race placed on the International Cycling Calendar. That would require of course, raising the bar and opening the race to professional riders which would also mean that our own local boys would have to step up their game considerably. This year’s winner, 25 year old Justin Williams, the son of well-known and long-time contender Andrew “Caliman” Williams who himself has ridden many but has never won any Cross Country Classics. The elder Williams migrated to the US but has been returning each year religiously to partake in the Cross Country Classic. Williams has three sons who have followed in his footsteps and have taken up the sport of cycling. Champion Justin Williams himself has been riding in races in Belize for over ten years and has continually caught the eye of the racing pundits. This year, admittedly with the aid of some very hard pacing by his younger sibling, Justin was able to capture the coveted crown and make not only his father but Belizeans across the nation happy and proud. For his efforts, the Champ took home the first place prize of $6,000 along with four trophies and numerous other prizes. A few years ago, someone conceived the idea of giving extra prizes to any homegrown Belizean rider who wins the races. The rationale is that the bonus prizes would act as an incentive to the local riders who are believed to have it more difficult than foreign riders. As a result of being the first Belizean to cross the finish line, Williams also received an additional bonus of $15,000 plus a parcel of land. This is where the controversy develops.

What you see if what you get!!
The unbelievable behaviour of Prime Minister Dean Barrow in rushing through a most egregious law two (2) weeks ago remains the number one concern of all right thinking Belizeans. How could Mr. Barrow have sunk such low to put himself above the law, above the constitution and above the National Assembly? Is it sheer arrogance and hubris that he is so all powerful and can do as he pleases? Is it that he is genuinely threatened by the enormity of what he has done since September 2012 in secretly withdrawing almost three hundred million dollars from PetroCaribe fund without any prior approval or compliance with the laws of the land? Or is it the nature of a person transformed by despotism and power as he seeks a third term? We think it is all of the above. We think also that it is the nature of Mr. Barrow to behave as he has. He is what he is. When Mr. Barrow became Prime Minister in 2008 he immediately set about to weaken the Constitution, which is the supreme law of Belize.

Belize sailors train for ISAF World Class Regatta
Eight young Belizean sailors of the Belize Sailing Association (BzSA) have completed an intensive 10-day training clinic on Laser class sloops conducted by the Sailing Center’s professional sailing Coach Juan Mazzini over the Easter vacation from March 28 – April 6. The clinic was the first step towards an international training course in Antigua, from which the young sailors may possibly qualify to compete in the 2015 ISAF Youth World Championship regatta to be held in Langkawi, Malaysia from December 27, 2015 to January 3, 2016. The successful candidates were: Antonio Ricardez, 14, Belize City; Christopher Young,15, Corozal; Isaac Ritchie, 15, Placencia; Patrick Rhamdas,15, Placencia; and four from San Pedro: Jerdon Anderson, 15; Jorge Olivarez, 15; Blanca Velasquez,14, and Sarah White, 14.

Albert Davis wins Bob Lightburn Holy Saturday Half Marathon Classic
19 year old St. John’s College Junior College student Albert Davis outlasted and outdid dozens of experienced marathoners as he won the 13.1 mile-long annual Bob Lightburn Holy Saturday Half Marathon Classic in 1:22:52. Davis won 3 trophies, a Brodies’ gift basket & a SMART phone. Vashty Alarcon who represented the Belize Coast Guard, finished 22nd overall, but was the 1st Female to finish in 1:54:18. She won 3 trophies, a Brodies’ gift basket & SMART phone.

Team BelCal’s Justin Williams wins Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic
Team BelCal’s Justin Williams brought home the garland to Belize when he won the 87th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic held by the Belize Cycling Federation of Belize on the George Price Highway. The race was decided in the last 30 miles when the lead breakaway of 11 riders splintered as Weisse and Jimenez-Godinez attacked, and only the Williams’ brothers (Justin and Cory) and David Henderson stayed with them. This lead breakaway eventually opened a 40minute lead on the next chase group, and Byron Pope and Chris Harkey tried to bridge the gap, but it was too little, too late. In the last miles into the city, it was Cory Williams on points sweeping the station prizes as his older brother Justin sheltered in the back of the pack conserving his energy for the final sprint. Weisse jumped out first but Justin stuck with him and when Weisse faltered swung out and around him to take the win.

Rt. Hon. Said Musa’s 2015/2016 Budget Debate Speech
San Pedro Ambergris Caye has been described as La Isla Bonita. It is a beautiful island or perhaps more accurately a beautiful peninsula with long stretches of white sandy beaches, protected by the spectacular barrier reef; luxury homes and fabulous hotels and condominiums. But there is a dark side to this beauty and opulence and that is the back a town areas like San Pedrito and San Mateo. There you will find people, workers living in swamp filth and abject poverty; areas where children have to wade through stinking disease – ridden, mosquito-infested, rat infested dung and garbage on their way to school. San Pedro has become two towns, one that glitters for the tourists, the other that is a ghetto where hard working families live. It is a symbol of what the country of Belize is fast becoming. Yes, Mr. Speaker, we may say we are living in one nation: A Belize sovereign and independent. But in Belize of today our society is deeply fractured. So you may ask what does this have to do with the budget? I would answer; it has everything to do with the Budget and with the economic policies that the Government pursues. Because in the midst of plenty as the Prime Minister tells us the country is enjoying, the easy money of the Petro-Caribe bonanza, the poor struggling working families are not feeling it.

UDP Neglects – PUP Works!!
For a long time the Hon. Jose Mai and the village Council have been asking the Ministry of Works to do repairs on Yo Creek village streets. The Ministry of Works has never done so. At the Inauguration of Orange Walk South highway, Hon. Mai spoke personally to the Minister of Works and requested his intervention. The Minister responded that he was unable to repair the streets in Yo Creek because his Ministry did not have money to do so. He referred the Hon. Mai to the Prime Minister. When the PUP area representative finally made contact with Prime Minister Barrow, the Prime Minister told him that his Government was unable to allocate funds for the repair of streets in Yo Creek. Hon. Mai did not give up, however, and his persistence has proved worthy. With assistance of Tiechrob and Sons, the Hon Jose Mai procured fifty (50) loads of crushed material from David Dyck of Blue Creek construction who then provided two dump trucks to transport the crushed material. The total value of the work being done in Yo Creek is $ 5000.

Finally…Jaguar Paw Road Paving Underway!!
After witnessing the road conditions to Jaguar Paw deteriorate for the past years, the paving of the road is finally underway. Thanks to the persistent lobbying of Area Representative Hon. Julius Espat, Frank’s Eddy community residents and tourism stakeholders the 5 ½ mile road is being paved at a reported value of $4.8 million. As is expected, the UDP will try to take credit for the work, but it if so then they must also take credit for failing to maintain the road, and once it had become badly dilapidated, taking three years to give it any attention while they spent millions and millions of dollars on political gimmicks.

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE – IN THIS TO MAKE IT!!
The long Easter weekend has certainly been a welcome break and a time to rest, recoup, and reflect. I give kudos to all Belizeans who have made the most of the down time, even though many pockets may not have allowed a Cancun or Placencia vacation. I for one agree that relaxation time does not mean that we have to spend loads of money. As a matter of fact when we live within our means, we can do so and not have to worry about paying bills later for activities and trips we really cannot afford. There are beautiful places in Belize right in our own backyards. The very heavy rains, iguana rains, of the end of March caused the Mayflower trees to blossom in all their glory by the beginning of April. On the “Two Cents Cam” conducted by KREM Television’s Yaya Marin (a lady whom I have come to respect greatly for the principled stands she has taken against Governmental and Police excesses and corruption), Belizeans almost to a man and woman knew the exact length of our Barrier Reef. God’s goodness has indeed given this land and sea to us to appreciate and to cherish, with more and more Belizeans doing exactly that by being fully aware of the natural bounty we enjoy. Additionally, it seems that in total we cannot have asked for more beautiful weather conditions for the holiday.

If the Petro-Barrow law is bad…why is it good for the UDP?
“This Bill is intended to circumvent the reporting requirements established by the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act 2005. “This Bill will have the effect of vesting in the Cabinet…the ultimate decision as to how funds will be spent and on what, removing all constitutional requirements among others for Parliament to play its role in the authorization of spending. “This Bill will have the ultimate effect of emasculating and robbing the Belizean public of their right through their duly elected representatives of having a say through parliamentary debate.” – Senate Meeting, March 31, 2015 He Voted NO to the Bill!!

Time to March for Jobs and Poverty Elimination
Dear Editor, Concerned Belizeans need to consider having an unemployment March in Belize City to show the government that we aren’t happy with a life of endless Poverty. Despite consecutive Budgets of over a billion dollars, more Belizeans are living in poverty today than 5 years ago. According to the Central Bank figures over 41 of Belizeans are living below the poverty line. That is almost half the population. Despite a billion dollar Budget, in Southside communities like Collet, Port Loyola, and Lake Independence many people have to eat noodles daily to survive, because they can’t find work. With over 12% unemployment over 35,000 Belizean can’t find jobs.

Humphreys’ Shameless and Insensitive Actions
Dear Editor, Kindly allow me an opportunity through this medium to highlight the travesty that occurred in Dangriga and to call on every Dangrigana and all those who support us to unite to take a stand against the senseless political victimization and discrimination against our fellow Dangrigana, Garifuna brothers and sisters. Wednesday 1st April 2015 marked 28 days since the people of Dangriga elected Francis Humphreys as Mayor of Dangriga. Humphreys who dresses like the Slave Master with his white colonial hat, is being true to his reputation and to the UDP’s shameless policy of UDP first, Belizean second and PUP last. Last week Humphreys demonstrated his lack of respect for his Oath of Office and to the Garifuna Nation by firing in the first instance six (06) Town Council employees. None of six employees committed any infraction except that they are perceived to be PUP and known Garinagu. These brothers and sisters were immediately terminated under the guise of restructuring and redundancy.

Luke Palacio Re-elected BNTU President
The BELIZE TIMES has learnt that veteran educator, Luke Palacio, was re-elected as the National President of the Belize National Teacher’s Union as the BNTU’s National Convention held today, April 9th, 2015 at the Mount Carmel High School’s Auditorium in Benque Viejo del Carmen. The news that Palacio, a known fire-brand, is once more the BNTU President is expectedly unwelcome news to the Barrow Administration who was forced after protests in Belmopan to give teachers an overdue salary adjustment, although it ended up being minimal. Also elected to serve in the BNTU Executive is Mr. George Mejia as Treasurer.

Premium Gas Now $9.30
Before the March 4th elections, fuel prices were dropping like deadweight as the UDP Government pulled all the tricks to sweeten up the electorate. Back then, just a month ago, Premium gas stumbled to $8.01 while Regular gas was $7.57 and Diesel gas fell to a low $7.21 in Belize City. But with the election long gone, the Government has resumed its gouging tactics. Regular fuel is now $8.88 while Premium shot up last week without any notice to consumers to $9.30. Shame on GOB for hoodwinking voters. You know when the early election is coming when fuel prices begin to drop again.

Patrick Jones

Stephen Okeke to sue TV Ramos foundation over bust
This afternoon, sculptor Stephen Okeke told us via text message that he is taking the Thomas Vincent Ramos Foundation and director Ivan Ramos to court to recover the remainder of the $35,000 he is owed for the bust of the great Garifuna leader and founder of Garifuna Settlement Day. […]

Supreme Court defers decision on Keyren Tzib bail application
Supreme Court Justice Herbert Lord has reserved his decision on an application for bail made today by 24 year old Seaman of the Belize National Coast Guard (BNCG) Keyren Tzib, charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm in an attack on colleague […]

Michael “Popeye” Foreman is latest City murder victim
For the second time in as many nights, police are investigating a murder in Belize City, also near the center of town. This time the victim is no stranger to police or the press. He is 32 year old Michael Horace Foreman, also known as “Popeye”, of an Iguana […]

BWS announces Water Rate increase
Belizeans are about to see an increase of 2 percent in their water bills starting this month. According to a statement issued by the Belize Water Services Limited (BWS), effective April 01, 2015, the new tariffs approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) have come into effect. Customer bills issued […]

Belize Raptor center makes handsome donation to Belize Bird Rescue’s rehabilitation efforts
The Belize Raptor Center, a non-profit organization registered in both Belize and the US donated the sum of $20,000 dollars for the rehabilitation of the raptor center at Belize Bird Rescue, a Non-Governmental Organization. The barn consists of 5 rehabilitation cells; Two 12’ x 12’ and two 12’ x 24’ […]

Attorney for Keyren Tzib applies for bail
This morning, 24 year old Keyren Tzib appeared at the Belize City Supreme Court where she requested from her attorney to apply for bail. Tzib was charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm after she shot a Coast Guard colleague on Easter Monday. The […]

Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow Meets U.S. President Barack Obama at the Summit of the Americas
Today’s photo of the day is of Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow meeting U.S. President Barack Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama this week. Photo courtesy by Government of Belize

BTL launches 2015 Directory
This morning communications giant, Belize Telemedia limited launched its annual 2015 Telephone Directory amongst a crowd at the BTL Park. The cover depicted features a snapshot of Big Drop Falls which is located in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park in Southern Belize. Inside the directory itself, is an expanded publication of contacts for Businesses and individuals across the country. Since 2006, BTL has partnered with Global Directories to self-publish the Directories which are available in classic, pocket sized and readily available online. The 2015 Phone Directory is available at all BTL offices countrywide as well as outlets such as Courts Belize LTD, A and R Enterprises and in Ladyville at Sky Super Market.

BREAKING: Murder in the Old Capital
Right now Belize City Police are investigating a late Thursday evening murder in the Old Capital. Sometime around 9:42 pm, Belize City police visited an open lot next to Tailor’s alley on cemetery road where they discovered the lifeless body of Mike Foreman, also known as “Popeye” who had a single gun shot wound to the back of his head. Initial investigation reveals that Popeye was sitting on a bucket when a gun man walked into him firing the fatal shot. Belize City Police are planning a press briefing later today.

ICJ: Belize Dances With The Devil
grey ICJ: Belize Dances With The DevilThey say that when you dance with the Devil, you do not change the Devil, the Devil changes you. Let us look at the Devil we continue to dance with, and I will add, continue to dance for. 1960 to 1996 The Guatemalan civil war lasted from 1960 to 1996 or 36 years. It was said to be a fight between mostly the Government of Guatemala and various leftist rebel groups supported chiefly by ethnic Mayan indigenous people and Ladino peasants, whom made up the rural poor, however it was a fight, it was the Guatemalan government slaughtering poor indigenous Mayans. It was genocide and a gross human rights violation against these civilians. 1944 – 1954 The United States backed a coup d’état in 1954, usurping the power from the popular leftist government that was brought to power via democratic elections during the Guatemalan Revolution in 1944 and 1951, and installing their puppet military regime of Carlos Castillo Armas. Armas was followed by a series of conservative military dictators.

Blogs

Belize, Star of Stage and Screen…
OK, not living around Broadway or London’s West End, we don’t really know about the stage part, but Belize has definitely been featured on screen lately. In the span of two days, we were delighted to see Belize pop up on two of our favourite television shows – on the animated antics of American Dad, and then… hold it…hold it… on the season finale of “Better Call Saul”. How cool is that? On American Dad, Hayley gets a job just as the company’s manager decides to organise a teambuilding retreat to– you guessed it – Belize! Now, there was no way animation was ever going to do justice to the beauty, sights, sounds and general vibe of Belize, but it was weirdly wonderful to see it in cartoon format, complete with funny looking palm trees and a rather imaginative take on Belize’s Philip Goldson International Airport. There was also a certain amount of realism involved, as Belize was portrayed as a place where romance happens. It was great to see, but what we really liked was the fact that Belize is now so firmly established in public awareness that American Dad writers chose it as the company’s destination of choice.

“White Wedding” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Well I’ve managed to wrest control of the iPad from Ziggy after his blogging escapade and thought I bring you up-to-date with what Rose and I have been up to. Feeling a little down after saying goodbye to Frank last Wednesday Rose and I had the perfect pick-me-up. We had a wedding to go to. And a beach wedding at that. The son and wife-to-be of friends of ours had decided that they would tie the knot on Ambergris Caye and they arrived to find that all arrangements had been taken care of by his mother Connee and step father Bill at Exotic Caye Beach Resort . Rose and I arrived early – we’d been told that the wedding would start sharply at 15.30 hours . Yeh, right! “I just need the bride and groom to turn up and I can get this ‘show’ on the road”. Groom and Best Man. I mean Woman, in place.

I Know You Don’t Want To…But Let’s Talk Hurricane Season 2015
It’s early. I agree. With beautiful weather like this? Who wants to talk about hurricanes? But June 1st is the official start of the Hurricane Season and weather services are now issuing reports…our San Pedro NEMO group is meeting with the new Town Council (National Emergency Management Organization)… …and while storms tend to swirl in late August, September and October (Sept 11th is the peek date), smaller storms have been known to creep up early.

International Sources

A Close Look At The Analog Years Colorado State Are Using In Their 2015 Hurricane Season & My Thoughts On What It Might Mean
In their updated forecast released on April 9th, Dr. Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University put forth several analog years that may be similar in the overall weather pattern & even the potential tracks of this year’s tropical systems. Those analog years are: 1957, 1987, 1991, 1993 and 2014. Let’s take a look at each of those analog years & see what each season brought: 1957: The 1957 hurricane season started early with a June major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico (Audrey) which made landfall along the upper Texas coast and across southwestern Louisiana. Activity quieted down in July into August with only Tropical Storm Bertha making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana state line in early August. During September, we had major hurricane Carrie come very close to impacting Bermuda with Debbie making landfall on the Florida Panhandle as a tropical storm. Also in September, Tropical Storm Esther came ashore in southeastern Louisiana during mid September. Activity then shut down for the season during October and November.

Inside Belize: British Army soldiers put through their paces
In our series of special reports into the British Army's overseas training exercise in the jungle of Central America, we've seen how soldiers from across the country are learning basic survival techniques, including how to source food and water - and start fires in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable. As part of the programme, troops are being taught different styles of attack in live firing ranges. It's training, which more of our military could be put through as Britain ends its combat mission in Afghanistan.

'Passing on the blessings': NWF residents rally for Belizean boy
Until today, Julio Chi had a branchial cleft cyst, a congenital abnormality that resulted in a lump on the side of his neck. "Because of this, the boy doesn't grow well and he gets repeated respiratory infections — mainly upper respiratory infections," Dr. Joseph Peter, a Crestview pediatrician, said. The result is what he called global developmental delay: "He doesn't talk now," Peter said. "He just makes some noises here and there." But three physicians — Peter, of Crestview Pediatrics, along with Dr. Joseph Siefker and Dr. Richard Barnett, of Fort Walton Beach Medical Center — and numerous Northwest Florida residents, want to see a better life for this 4-year-old Belizean boy. ANNUAL MISSION: Operation Medical Care — a group of Crestview area volunteers including Peter and his wife, Bernadine — visits Belize each year to provide free services for impoverished residents. Last fall, Angelica Chi walked 5 miles from her Orange Walk home seeking care for her son.

Jungle warfare is tough test for city soldier
Pictured:The troops sampling the water from a jungle vine. A Company, Second Battalion The Prince of Wales Royal Regiment (2PWRR) have been training to live fight and survive in the jungles of Central America. The 'Tigers' have been learning jungle warfare in the heart of the Belizean forests. From finding food and water, creating fire, to fighting and patrolling, the unit have experienced it all.

US Marines plan force in Honduras for hurricane season
The United States wants to deploy a force of about 250 Marines to Honduras to provide humanitarian help during the region’s hurricane season, officials said Friday. Honduran officials are weighing the proposed task force, which would operate out of Palmerola air base from June to November. The contingent also would assist Central American forces on efforts to counter narcotics trafficking. “We have requested that the Marines be present in Honduras from June through November 2015, during hurricane season, to support Honduras and other countries in the region in the event of a hurricane or other major disaster,” the U.S. embassy in Tegucigalpa said in a statement. Pentagon officials insisted the proposal would not involve the permanent deployment of U.S. troops, a sensitive political issue in a region where U.S. forces historically sided with authoritarian regimes. “It’s only on a temporary basis,” said Captain Armando Daviu, public affairs officer for U.S. Marine Forces South. “It’s set up to be a quick response emergency force.”

IFF Panama: Central America on the Right Track for Growth
As the leaders of the Americas, including U.S. President Barack Obama, meet in Panama City for the seventh Summit of the Americas, they will be all too aware that it is the economies of Central America that are leading growth in the region. And, according to a report published on Tuesday (April 7) by the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America will continue to lead the way in 2015 with Panama, with an expected 6 % increase in GDP over the coming year, at the forefront. Central America, which consists of seven countries (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), is also on the right track for growth in its theatrical movie market, according to Luis Vargas, Managing director of Rentrak for Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia and Venezuela.

At Summit of Americas, US Faces Charged Environment
When President Barack Obama meets Friday and Saturday with other leaders of the Americas, he will encounter a charged environment full of factions – some allied with him, some arrayed against the U.S. and most trying to secure an economic future amid diminishing resources. Obama's participation in this year's Summit of the Americas comes as his administration seeks to normalize relations with Cuba but also as it takes a tough stand against the government of Venezuela and its harsh attempts to silence dissent in the oil-rich but economically struggling nation. The U.S. is clearly the biggest economic power and, as such, the most influential voice in the hemisphere. But its sway over Latin America is limited. Even U.S. allies have not been ready to march in lockstep with their big neighbor to the north.

Remarks by President Obama in Town Hall with Young Leaders of the Americas
RESIDENT OBAMA: Greetings, massive! (Laughter and applause.) Wah gwaan, Jamaica? (Applause.) Can everybody please give Aubrey a big round of applause for the great introduction? (Applause.) I want to thank the University of the West Indies for hosting us. Big up, You-Wee! (Applause.) Thank you. I’ve been making myself at home here. (Laughter.) It is great to be in beautiful Jamaica -- not only because I’m proud to be the first President of the United States to visit in more than 30 years, but because I just like the vibe here. (Applause.) I was born on an island, and it was warm, and so I feel right at home. And I’m grateful for the warm Jamaican hospitality that I received this morning, including from Prime Minister Simpson-Miller. I also had the chance to meet with leaders from across the Caribbean, where we focused on issues of shared prosperity and shared security. And tomorrow, I’ll meet with leaders from across the hemisphere at the Summit of the Americas in Panama.

Remarks by President Obama in Meeting with SICA Presidents, April 10, 2015
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, thank you, President Molina. Let me, first of all, thank our friend, the President of Panama, and the people of Panama, Vice President of Panama, for the incredible hospitality and the outstanding arrangements for this summit. It is good to see all of you again. The last time we met was in Costa Rica, and we, I thought, had a very productive discussion. And rather than just talk, I think our goal was to make sure that we had concrete actions that we could take that would improve our economies, the opportunities for our people, security in the region. And this is very important to the United States, not just because of proximity, not just because our neighbors who are represented here are very close by, but because we have incredible bonds as people. There are Americans who make enormous contributions to our society every single day who come from Nicaragua and El Salvador and Belize, and all the countries that are represented here today.

Videos