December 30, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Dangriga’s Ligemeri Wanaragua wins Senior Habinaha Wanaragua Jankunu Competition 2017
Dangriga’s Ligemeri Wanaragua won the Senior Habinahan Wanaragua Jankunu Competition 2017 on Tuesday, December 26th in Dangriga Town. The Jankunu competition saw seven teams competing for the title: Irahuñu Lidan Aban, Houn Gurigia, Legemeri Wanaragua, Lalagante Wanaragua, and Wabaña from Dangriga Town, Habariñu Wayunagu from Punta Gorda Town and Seine-Bight Village’s Libaña Biedi. The Habinahan Wanaragua is an annual Jankunu competition organized in Dangriga Town which is known as the “Culture Capital” for its rich preservation of the Garifuna Culture through modern days. The competition is spectacular, colorful and the very embodiment of the Garifuna Culture, as it reunites the best Jankunu dancers throughout the entire country. Usually held the last Sunday of the year following Christmas Day, the date is a practical one. Many Belizeans living abroad return home during this season to attend this magnificent encounter of Jankunu dancers.

Ambergris Today

PIC OF THE WEEK: Traveling Mermaid In San Pedro Belize
There was a traveling mermaid in Belize during the Holidays and she was vacationing around the country taking stunning pictures. Mermaid Hyli caught our attention on Instagram with her beautiful long red hair and gorgeous mermaid tail as her husband took pictures of her at various locations in Belize, including San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. According to her account, she is a traveling Mermaid, making a splash wherever she goes. Visit her Instagram account for more gorgeous mermaid pictures in Belize.

BEL Cautions Against Life-Threatening Practices
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is concerned about life-threatening practices of buildings being constructed and people working dangerously close to power lines, following two fatal incidents this year. Last week, a resident of Independence Village lost his life whilst trimming a tree near high voltage power lines. Similarly, in June, a construction worker was electrocuted in Placencia whilst working near high voltage power lines. The Company extends condolences to the families who lost their loved ones due to these extremely tragic incidents. BEL is pleading to the public to desist from constructing structures and planting trees near power lines.

Misc Belizean Sources

Temporary Closure of the San Estevan Ferry
The public, motorists in particular, are hereby informed that the San Estevan Ferry in the Orange Walk District will be closed to all traffic from 10:00 a.m. today, December 29, 2017, until Wednesday, January 10, 2018. The closure has become necessary to enable urgent maintenance to be done on the ferry. The Ministry of Works regrets the inconvenience.

New Year's Eve Countdown at Central Park
SUNDAY! Come out to the Central Park and bring in the New Year 2018! Music by JLA Sounds, Island Fayah, DJ Debbie, Dajah and DJ JAGO! And don't forget! We will also have CARIBBEAN ROOTS BAND to party the night away! We will have party favors and FIREWORKS!

Job vacancy at Enjoy Restaurant and Bar on Caye Caulker
WAITRESS/BARTENDER.

New Year's Eve at the Radisson
New Year's Eve 2018 at the Radisson with Oscar B - Oscar Benjamin, Supa G and the baddest band in the land Gilharry 7 Band Party all night long with welcome cocktails, party favors, champagne toasts, happy hour prices and breakfast at 5am! Tickets available at the front desk $60 Single and $100 per couple OR call 223-3333 to ask about the full New Year's Eve Party Package with a single or double room for only $170usd!

Benque Youths Christmas Party 2017
The Department of Youth Services had their Christmas party for the youths of Benque, and it was very well attended. Thanks go out to the DYS, Benque 4H Club, and the Opening Roads for Future Generations Organization. Pictures of the event taken by Mr. Murillo. "Benque Children’s and Youths Christmas Party was a Success. Having a total of 216 persons attending, 121 kids and 54 youths and 41 adults. We want to thank every sponsor, volunteer and persons who assisted in making this event possible. This Year’s Children’s and Youth Christmas party was organized by the Department of Youth Services Benque, Benque Viejo 4H Club and Opening Roads for Future Generations Organization. Some of the activities that encompassed this event were lots of games, Piñatas, food, and awards given out by the Benque Viejo 4H Club, and awards given out by our very own officers in Benque recognizing the people that have been there to support our activities and exceptional people who are doing great things in their community."

Clean-up of Corozal Bay Area
I congratulate and commend the Corozal Rotaract Club for organizing the clean-up of Corozal Bay Area this morning. Our town progresses when leaders realize that WORK gets done not by sitting idly by but by being actively involved!! Councillor Candidate Otoniel Riverol and I were proud to join the volunteers in getting our feet wet and hands a bit dirty to make Corozal Town's beautiful coast healthier. To those groups and their volunteers who have done the initiative in the past, I salute you. We'll have a better future because of your efforts! Keep Corozal Town clean and Beautiful.

End of Year Water, Shore and Coastal Clean Up 2017
End the year with a BANG! We are very pleased with the turn out for Rotaract's End of Year Clean Up Campaign. We were pleased to see people of all ages come out to support this event. Would like to give special mention to members from the CJC EAGLEs Environmental Club, Ryan Rivera from Oceana Belize, Mr Lincoln E. Eiley, Mrs Colleen Steege and Mr Bruce Steege, you guys were amazing I must say, to Mr. Rigo Vellos and Mr Otoniel Riverol, Mr Richard Quan and members of Corozal Bay, The Corozal Policing Unit that brought out the Cadetes and the Corozal Town Council. United as a community we can achieve so much. Once again, thank you everyone who participated.

Changes going on at the old Sunset Grill in San Pedro

Channel 7

Fareed Ahmad, Questions Abound About Death of 39 Year Old
Last night, we told you about the very questionable death of 39 year-old Fareed Ahmad, the well-known barber from Hattieville who was shot in the face, and then crashed into a vehicle on the side of the road. It happened about a mile away from his home, just after midnight on Thursday. His family believes he was murdered. And while his death has not been established as a homicide, fingers are pointing at his passenger, Woman Police Constable Michelle Brown. She was inside his vehicle with her service weapon. No one has been able to say with certainty what she was doing inside the vehicle - leaving many more questions than answers tonight. On one side, there is a grieving family that is demanding answers and accountability, and then, there are the police investigators who are trying to be fair.

What Was Teacher Killed A Long Way From Home?
In the case of teacher Desmond Lewis, it is more straightforward. The teacher from Independence Village was found on Maureen Leslie Street yesterday morning with his throat slashed and other stab wounds to the chest. Lewis, who lives in Dangriga came to Belize, and he was staying with a friend on that street in Belize City. Reports are that he was found dead kneeling between two bed posts in his friend's home. The Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch shared what information he had on Lewis' murder:

BNTU Says Teacher's Murder Speaks To Intolerance
And, the Belize National Teachers Union also had something to say about Desmond Lewis - who was a teacher and union member. The statement condemns what it calls "a vicious murder" - and alludes to his lifestyle, saying, quote, "(it) is not only unfortunate, but it speaks to the level of intolerance of some of our people." The statement calls him a "hard working, dedicated, appreciated and respected" member of society. They conclude, quote, "We have lost a loyal soldier. Enough is enough. Lives must be respected," end quote.

Police Puzzle Over Man Found Dead In River
Assistant Police Commissioner Myvette also discussed the murder of Errol Gabourel Smith. He's the Roaring Creek resident who was found floating in the river, an area near the Y-Wam Bridge in the village, early on Wednesday morning. Someone shot him in the head and attempted to dispose of his body. But before it could be carried off by the current, it was found by villagers who went to the area that morning. Today, Myvette told us that they have a suspect, who is in the custody of Corozal Police:

PM Says 40 M USD Approved For Caracol Road
Prime Minister Dean Barrow released his annual New Year's message about two hours ago. Mostly, the message focusses on his administration's calling card, which has emerged as infrastructure. And what caught our eye in the 12 minute address is the news that Government has recently secured funding for the full paving of the Caracol Road: Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize: "I just received a letter from the director general of OFID confirming an offer of a 40 million US financing package for construction of the entire Caracol Road." "We had thought we would need several partners to fund a project of this magnitude which will greatly add to the overall tourism vision and open up the natural and environmental wonder of that entire area including Mountain Pine Ridge."

The Resolution Solution
And while the Prime Minister has his plan for the New Year, what about your New Year's resolution? After last weekend's ham, turkey, and the warmth of family, now, we're turning to the New Year - and, more than just a reason to party, it's time for stocktaking and decision making about 2018. Today we hit Albert Street and asked about folks what they plan to do in the big 1-8: Interviewee 1: "I am from Germany." "Yea I wish you all the best and Happy New Year." Sahar Vasquez, reporter: "Can you tell us Happy New Year in German?" Interviewee 2: "Frohes Neues Jahr and Happy New Year."

AG Frowns Over News Breaking Story of Extradition Request For Attorney
Attorney General Mike Peyreffite says the his ministry has only recently received the extradition request for attorney Andrew Bennett, and the Solicitor General has not gone through it fully as yet. Under the extradition law - the Solicitor General acts as the attorney for the US government so he has to be fully conversant with the facts and convinced of the validity of the request. Peyreffite said that he feels it is unfair to the accused that the news knows the facts of case, before the extradition request goes through its due process.

Police Say Old Man Found On Road Wasn't Killed
Last week we told you about Cladius Meighan, the 80 year old who was found on the shoulder of the road, near mile three on the George Price Highway on Tuesday 19th December. He had a major injury to the back of his head - but no one knew how he got it. That left him critically injured and Meighan succumbed to his injuries on Christmas Day. Today police said they don't think he was killed. ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC, CIB Belize City: "Reference the incident where Mr. Cladius Meighan was found on the 19th December on the George Price Highway, the postmortem was conducted this morning. The doctor has certified that the cause of death due to a fall that he had received and it is not consistent with any road traffic accident or any knock intentionally by anybody. So it was caused by him falling and caused him to go in a coma and thereafter he suffered from a lung collapse that caused his death."

Cops Helping With Man Missing For 3 Days
So, while police say that Meighan died of natural causes, they have no idea where Belize City Resident Jamal Humes is. You'll remember his mother's interview with us in which she said she last saw her son on Boxing Day. Well, today, Police said that they have been trying to facilitate the family in their search for him: ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC, CIB Belize City: "Reference the missing person's [report] of Mr. Humes, at this moment police are along with family members in the Jane Usher and Faber's Road area conducting some searches. As I had mentioned previously, the investigators had been up to eight miles in different areas conducting searches based on information that we have been receiving. Reference Mr. Rodriguez, we have constant communication with the family and up to now we don't have a trace of where he can be."

Police Opened Grave Looking For Pollard
And, the cops are also trying their best to accommodate the family of 49 year old Belize City resident Mark Pollard went missing on a morning run in early July. Assistant Superintendent Cowo say they even went and broke open a grave in Lord Ridge Cemetery to follow up on rumours that his remains may have been in there: ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC, CIB Belize City: "Reference the missing person Mr. Pollard, several rumors have been coming out remains being found. Let me inform you that yesterday we received permission from the Health Department and this morning the police department along with family members broke the tomb of the Pollard's at the Lord Ridge Cemetery and it was viewed and there is no bones additional in there as was allege by other persons. So that matter is still being investigated as a missing person."

Shawn Lord, Clear of Court, Alleged Thief
The cops also shared the details of the case coming out of the San Ignacio Magistrate's Court in which just over 2 thousand dollars went missing from the public purse. ACP Myvette briefed the press on why Shawn Lord, a clerk at the Belize City Magistrate Court, is being accused of theft for the missing money: ACP Joseph Myvette - Head National Crimes Investigation: "Additionally one report was received from the San Ignacio magistrate court regarding the theft of monies amounting to $2,010. The report is that on the 14th November whilst Shawn Lord, 29 years old first class clerk of Belize City was at the magistrate court in San Ignacio doing some work. Two revenue collectors receipts were missing from the revenue collectors receipt book and the monies were not accounted for at the end of the day. As a consequence a report was made an investigation was done and yesterday he was formally arrested and charge for one count of theft. He was taken to court and granted bail."

Dialysis Solution For City
With lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes on the rise in Belize, it's no surprise that kidney failure is following closely behind. And for those with end stage renal failure - the only option to keep them alive is dialysis - which is both costly and scarce. There are probably less than 40 working dialysis machines countrywide - and the majority are concentrated in the north. That's why many with kidney failure have been breathing easier since the middle of this month when a new dialysis center opened here in the city. This has taken the stress of repeated long drives off persons who are already ailing. Today we visited the centre and found out more from the nurse and patients.

Picked Up A Pickup In Big Raffle
The Rotary Club of Belize has become well known for its Grand Christmas Raffle and this year was no different. The prize is always big - but so is the buy-in - tickets usually go for a hundred dollars each! But there's a good reason for it. The big prize this year was a brand new Ford Ranger off the dealer's lot. The winner went to pick it up today and 7News was there. Dion Robinson told us that somehow he just felt that he would win: "Buying the ticket at the time no I just did it as a form of donation to Rotary but for the last couple days when I knew the drawing was coming up I felt that I was going to win it. This morning I gave my wife the phone when the drawing was about to play. I said hold my phone they are going to call us right now and they did."

Honorary Soca Citizen Returns
If you don't have any new year's plans as yet you can celebrate with Oscar B. He's the performer who's been to Belize so many times, over so many years that we have to call him an Honorary Soca citizen. He's back - this time for Radisson's New Year's Bash. Today, he, along with the Food and Beverage Director at Radisson told us why theirs is the concert of choice for the biggest party of the year. Doors open at 9:00 on Sunday night and the party goes until 5:00 New Years day when breakfast will be served.

Parties Will Be Policed
And while Sunday is the bashment night, many will start their news year's partying from tonight. But while the young, and the young at heart are on the cusp of the biggest party weekend of the year, the police department is concerned about citizen safety. They want to make sure that there are no repeats in the alarming number of deaths from traffic accidents and homicides which happened during the Christmas holiday. Today, Assistant Police Commissioner Dezerie Magdaleno, the Regional Commander for Eastern Division, told the press, that the big New Years party in the City will be as secure as they can possibly make it for such a mass-gathering:

Roadblocks Aplenty This Weekend For Traffic Safety
And to try to prevent drinking and driving this weekend, Police will be rolling out checkpoints all across the country. The Commander of Operations in Belmopan said that if you are a motorist, you should see heightened police presence in all the municipalities and villages: Police are asking for your patience and cooperation should there be any inconveniences caused by the police checkpoints. Additionally, motorists are encouraged to report any issues they may have with officers at these checkpoints. An on-duty supervisor will be available to take complaints of misbehavior if any occurs.

2017, Looking Back
It's our last newscast before the new year, so, we'll end as we always do with our New Year's look back at some of the stories that made news in 2017 - which our editor Lance Howard has been laboring over all week. And for those true news fanatics, who'd like to see the 100 stories that made the most news in 2017, you can tune in on Sunday night at 6:00 or Monday at noon, for the full repeat of those stories. We wish all of you a happy and safe new year - and we look forward to being there for you in 2018.

Channel 5

Police to Question WPC Injured in Fareed Ahmad Shooting/Crash
A female law enforcement officer is tonight a prime suspect in the shooting death of thirty-eight-year-old Fareed Ahmad.  Woman Police Constable Michelle Brown remains in stable condition at the K.H.M.H. [...]

Cops Suspect Special Assignment Team Member after Complaint
It is unclear what injuries WPC Brown sustained during the collision, as she simply complained of pain to her body following the accident.  What is of particular interest is that [...]

P.S.B.’s Chester Williams ‘Chased’ S.A.T. Officers from Scene
According to ACP Williams, who has had extensive experience as an investigator, the shots that were fired came from inside the vehicle.  WPC Brown was Ahmad’s only passenger at the [...]

As Ahmad is Buried, Family, Friends Seek ‘Real Answers’
The killing of Fareed Ahmad brings the murder count for 2017 to one hundred and forty-three, which is the deadliest year since 2012 when one hundred and forty-five homicides were [...]

Desmond Lewis the Target of Hate? Police Will Not Say
The murder of secondary school teacher Desmond Lewis continues to ripple across the southern communities of Dangriga and Independence Village.  The thirty-five-year-old high school educator was butchered inside a residence [...]

Suspect in Errol Gabourel Murder Also Fingered for Shooting, Copper Theft
There is a suspect in police custody tonight, believed to be the triggerman in the execution-style murder of Errol Gabourel.  On Wednesday morning, a body was discovered floating in the [...]

Uncle Sam Has Eyes on Lawyer Andrew Bennett for Alleged Money Laundering
Forty-six year old Andrew Bennett is said to be wanted by U.S. authorities in connection with money laundering charges in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte [...]

Traffic Blocking: Police Expand Eyes across Belize for New Year’s
The lengthy Christmas weekend was an exceptionally violent holiday across the country where a number of road traffic fatalities and homicides were recorded.  As a result of all those incidents, [...]

Policing Belize City with Reflective Vests
In Belize City, where a majority of the outdoor festivities will be concentrated, additional measures are being put into place to mitigate instances of crime and violence.  Not only will [...]

Family Asks Information for Safe Return of Eugenio Rodriguez
Father of two, twenty-four-year old Eugenio Rodriguez, was last seen two weeks ago when he came home from work as a security guard at Good Care Pharmacy on Cemetery Road. [...]

Jamal Humes Remains Missing Despite Searches
The families of Jamal Humes and Eugenio Rodriguez continue desperate searches for their loved ones who have been reported missing in separate disappearance over the past few days.  This morning, [...]

A Greenhouse in Your Backyard: Couple Practices Hydroponics
Have you ever wanted to grow your own vegetables or herbs at home but haven’t been able to because you don’t have the space to do it? If so, hydroponic gardening [...]

Western Villages Lit Up; B.E.L. Warns Against Close Contact with Power Lines
With only two more days to go before the end of the year, Belize Electricity Limited says it has met its promise to connect four communities with electricity. The villages [...]

R.O.C. Calms Down Central Prison with Yoga
Yoga at the Belize Central Prison? Yes. You heard right. The ancient practice which includes breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for [...]

Deon Robinson Collects Ford Ranger from Rotary
Deon Robinson is the lucky winner of the 2017 Ford Ranger Pickup truck in the Rotary Club raffle. The raffle has been ongoing for almost a decade and was the [...]

What’s Your Commitment for the New Year?
2017 is winding down and while most residents are finalizing their plans for the festive weekend, it is also a time for reflection on goals achieved in the past year. [...]

2018 is Opportunity to ‘Do Right by All Men’
2017 has truly flown by, so fast even we cannot believe it. News Five has brought you the good and the bad, the ups and the downs over the course [...]

LOVE FM

Police woman is a suspect in the murder of Ahmad
WPC Michelle Brown is a suspect in the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Fareed Ahmad. She is at the KHMH under heavy police guard. Brown was inside Ahmad’s BMW SUV on Wednesday night when they crashed into a parked truck near Mile 17 on the George Price Highway. Brown is a member of the Special Assignment …

Public wary of SAT
This is not the first time that the Special Assignment Team, SAT, has come under heavy scrutiny. Members of the public, especially those in Southside Belize City, have made allegations against members of the SAT including harassment and police brutality. The functions and purpose of the SAT was explained by Officer in charge of the …

One person detained in connection with murder of Lewis
The Belize Police department continues to investigate the murder of 35-year-old Desmond Lewis, who was killed on Thursday morning in Belize City. Today ACP Joseph Myvett, Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch spoke of the case. ACP Joseph Myvett – Head of the National Crimes Investigation “Thursday the 28th December sometime around 2:40 AM …

BNTU condemns the murder of teacher
Today the Belize National Teacher’s Union issued a release condemning the murder of Desmond Lewis saying the attack on quote, “our teacher is not only unfortunate but it speaks to the level of intolerance of some of our people”. The BNTU calls on the public to share any information that can lead to authorities solving …

Police say Meighan fell to his death
On the night of Tuesday, December 19, Belize City Police found 80-year- old Claudius Meighan unconscious near mile three on the George Price Highway. He had injuries and was rushed to the KHMH where he was admitted in a critical condition and consequently died. Initially, it was believed that Meighan had been either a victim …

Body found on Water Lane; police don’t suspect foul play
The body of a man was found early this morning on Water Lane in Belize City. ASP Alejandro Cowo says that no foul play is suspected. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City “In reference to the Water Lane male person that was found dead this morning. Police visited an abandoned lot on Water Lane …

So far 140 murders in 2017
An estimated 140 murder investigations were launched by the Belize Police Department so far this year. There are two more days until the year ends and for the long weekend, police are not taking any chances. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Noel Leal, says that the department will deploy an increased number of officers to keep …

Family of missing man offers reward of $5 K
The search for 28-year-old Jamal Humes continues. Today his family, accompanied by volunteers and police began searching along the Faber’s Road area. His mother Sharlene Nicholas says they still have not been able to obtain any solid leads as to his whereabouts. Sharlene Nicholas – Mother “So far we have not any positive lead from …

Deon Robinson winner of a new truck
Deon Robinson is the winner of the Rotary Raffle of a brand new four by four Ford Ranger Truck. Normally, the Rotary raffles a truck at the end of the year and uses the funds to support their projects throughout the year. Robinson said that he regularly supports Rotary’s truck raffle which is a hundred …

Gas prices soar in 2017
This year Belizeans have seen gas prices soar. In February 2017, the prices at the pump were nine dollars and sixty-eight cents per gallon of regular gasoline, premium gasoline was ten dollars and thirty-five cents and diesel was nine dollars and three cents. By the middle of the year, in August, regular gasoline rose by …

Amandala

US Government sends extradition request for attorney Andrew Bennett
Belizean attorney Andrew Bennett, 46, became the subject of a United States extradition request that was sent to the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs some eight days ago, 7News reported tonight. Today, Amandala spoke with Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke, who would only confirm that the documentation for a US extradition request have been received. Hawke, however, would not confirm the identity of the person whose extradition has been requested; neither would he confirm what the alleged offences are that triggered the US request. Hawke told our newspaper: “It is a lot of papers and I have not had the time to go through them, so I cannot comment at this time.”

The Christmas ham story: locally produced versus imported hams
The Christmas season is a time when the majority of Belizeans absolutely must have ham and turkey for the family dinner. When it comes to hams, there is a choice between locally produced hams and imported hams. Taste is not the only factor. Less tasty imported hams are cheaper, and they flood the market at Christmas time. Amandala spoke to some of the local producers who explained the politics of their industry, how it works, and how they try to remain competitive in the wake of the entry of much cheaper foreign imports into the market. Amandala asked SouthSide Meats owner, Mark Lizarraga, to break down what happened this season with the selling of hams, and how the imported hams affected his sales. Lizarraga said that this is a long story, but a story that needs to be told.

Attorney Audrey Matura says PM Barrow is a violator of the rule of law
Listeners and viewers of KREM Radio’s Sunday Review with host YaYa Marin Coleman and co-host William “Bill” Lindo, were privy to an unusually candid outpouring of criticism and analysis of Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow about two weeks ago by attorney Audrey Matura, a former editor of the UDP’s Guardian newspaper and former United Democratic Party (UDP) senator. In discussing charges made against the Auditor General by her staff at the Audit Department, YaYa Marin said that the Prime Minister said that he has known about the problem for more than a year, but he did not want to speak about it because he did not want it to be perceived as political interference.

Popular barber, Fareed Ahmad, killed!
The Ahmad family in Hattieville has not yet fully recovered from the death of Nadir Ahmad, who was shot dead by authorities in the Philippines on January 7. Now the family is again faced with another tragedy, that of career barber, Fareed Ahmad, 39, who was shot inside his vehicle this morning. After he was shot, Ahmad crashed his BMW SUV into the back of an old vehicle. According to police reports, inside the vehicle with Ahmad at the time was Michelle Brown, 24, a police constable attached to the Special Assignment Team of the Eastern Division South police command.

Teacher Desmond Lewis murdered in the city
Desmond Lewis, 35, a well-known school teacher of Dangriga, Stann Creek District, was brutally killed at about 2:30 this morning in Belize City. Police said that they were called to a house on Antelope Street Extension, where on their arrival they saw a man in a kneeling position, between two beds, bleeding from a slit in his throat and a stab wound to his chest. He was already dead. Police said that the man, Lewis, was found alone, in the house of a friend. Reliable reports are that Lewis was murdered one day after he arrived in the city. Unsubstantiated reports made to us are that he was dressed in women’s clothes, including women’s underwear, when his body was found. A relative of Lewis said that he was gay, and that he had had to be protected on occasion from people who wanted to assault him.

Citrus shows poorly, but other domestic exports up
The recently released statistics from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), indicate that Belize’s domestic exports for the period January to November, 2017, have surpassed domestic exports for the same period last year by $45.9 million. The SIB reports that for January to November 2017 exports “totaled $429.9 million, up 12 percent … from almost $384 million recorded for the same period last year.” Sugar and bananas have led the way so far this year. “Sugar, which accounted for more than a third of the country’s export earnings, grew by $45.2 million over the period, from $102.6 million in 2016 to $147.8 million in 2017, while revenues from bananas rose by 16.5 percent or $10.7 million, from $64.8 million to $75.5 million,” the report says.

When Bom was king
The “Goose” or “Needlecase,” because of his “flying” ability in goal, Wayne “Bom” Jones says he is (and looks it) 5 feet 7 inches tall, much taller than the late “Frogman,” Ruperto Alvarez, an outstanding goalie of the 70s and early 80s. Born on November 18, 1963, Bom rose to football fame in the early 80s; but after a decade plus years of stardom on a number of champion teams, Bom became a victim of the times and his unpreparedness to withstand the sweeping advance of crack cocaine and HIV Aids in Belize. Already living in the depths of poverty, Bom was among the Majestic Alley fire victims earlier this year, that further reduced his condition. Tonight, Bom said he doesn’t think he has much longer to go. His knees are weak when getting up. “Sometimes, I can’t feel my feet on the ground.”

WW Turkey Road Race results – Sunday, December 17
The Weekend Warriors’ (WW) 5th Annual Turkey Road Race, which started at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 17, went from Belmopan Courts to Leslie’s Imports, for 54 miles, for the “A/B”; and from Cotton Tree Village to Leslie’s Imports, for 40 miles, for the “C” Class. Finishing order was: 1st Place – Kent Gabourel (Kulture Megabytes); 2nd Kenroy “Smokes” Gladden (Kulture Megabytes); 3rd Palas Joseph (Lampaz); 4th Barney Brown (Scotiabank); 5th Kirk Sutherland (Digicell-4G); 6th Vallan Symns (Kulture Megabytes); 7th Alvan Gillett (Kulture Megabytes); 8th Warren Coye (Santino’s); 9th Dean Belisle (Bel-Cal); 10th Sean Duncan (Smart); 11th Collet Maheia (Kulture Megabytes); 12th Ruthford Cunningham (Spinnaz)...

CYDP Peace Cup semifinals game 1 at MCC
Though it started more than twenty minutes after the advertised 1:00 p.m. kickoff time, the first semifinal in the CYDP Peace Cup 2017 1st Division tournament provided some intense and competitive football action for the scattering of fans that showed up on Saturday afternoon at the MCC Grounds. Both the semifinals and the finals are best-of-two games series, and, while there were a number of lopsided scores during regular season, the playoffs promise to be quite different. In the two semifinals played on Saturday, there was only 1 goal scored.

Chief Thursday Race results – December 28, 2017
First of all, let me apologize, as we had vehicle problems today. The Red Bull car shut down at the roundabout on the return, and so we could not video the finish. As a consequence, I will only give the top 10. The race started at first light at 6:00 a.m. with a field of 37 riders and a strong Weekend Warriors (WW) presence today. Like last week, the race started fast and furious in a hard head wind. By the time we got to Old Belize, a 5-man break had formed with 3 brand-name riders representing 3 different teams: Ernest “Peenie” Bradley of Digicell, Brandon Cattouse of Smart, and Byron Pope of Benny’s Megabytes, along with 2 Juniors, Eric Heusner and Carlton Robinson. By Hattieville, this 5-man squad had out the peloton by about a mile.

Editorial: Belizean of The Year 2017
There is no doubt in our minds at this newspaper that the Belizean of The Year 2017 is the Auditor General of Belize, Mrs. Dorothy Bradley. She has been the single most powerful weapon in the Belizean arsenal as our young, sovereign society fights against corruption in our highest places. Mrs. Bradley’s struggle has been a lonely and increasingly dangerous one. The challenge for the rest of us Belizeans in the coming New Year is to see how much support we can give the Auditor General to ensure her success in her various anti-corruption initiatives. The Auditor General has been a tower of strength, but she is only human. Belizeans, we cannot afford to lose her now. There are times Mrs. Bradley must have felt that it was she against the world. The venomous rhetoric coming out of the highest offices of government recently, indicates that the present administration views her as a threat, and the UDP has made her a target. Yet, all Mrs. Bradley is doing, is doing her job, as constitutionally mandated.

From The Publisher
I don’t know how many of his friends know that Chibby Rosado died earlier this year and was buried (cremated, possibly) without any kind of fanfare. I found out about Chibby’s passing about three months ago, when my wife mentioned it in conversation. Chibby had been dead for months at the time. One of my wife’s friends had casually brought up the subject. I was stunned. How could a man who was so cool and popular and successful just leave The Jewel, and the planet indeed, without anyone hearing about it? Sylvino “Chibby” Rosado had been living in Caye Caulker for many years, but he and his wife, the elder daughter of the late Cito Gough and his late wife, Rita, also had a home in Belize City. Chibby, a highly accomplished accountant who worked for years with the Roe insurance group after coming home to live maybe twenty or twenty five years ago, had left his wife on the island and was in Belize City for a couple days. Apparently, he collapsed and died in the shower while preparing to return to Caye Caulker.

Religious writer argues against hellfire
To whom it may concern The following topic is one of great significance that I strongly think pastors and other religious leaders should consider very seriously. Hence, I submit the following for your kind consideration and publishing. I thank you very much as well. Yours respectfully, Kenneth Kayman Will God really burn people in fire forever? I hereby kindly encourage those who believe in a hellfire to reconsider that teaching carefully. 1 John 4:8 states that “God is love.” Can we imagine a God of love roasting people in fire for countless trillions of years – forever? In English, some Bible translators translate the Greek term, Gehenna, as “hellfire” or “hell.” Eg: Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5 etc. During Jesus’ time on e

The Belizean Saviour
Dear Editor: My preference in reading has always been autobiographies and biographies for the mere fact that it gives real accounts of people, their lives and events. On the top of my list is ‘It Doesn’t Take a Hero’ which is the autobiography of General Norma H. Schwarzkopf, who was the general who delivered the Coalition victory in the first Gulf War following the invasion of Kuwait. The book inspires, because it shows that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. It does not take the richest, the smartest or the most influential people to make changes, sometimes it takes an ordinary man. Schwarzkopf’s book, first published in 1992 right after the war, remains a key factor in part of my motivational tool kit when things are not going as planned. While I will never compare myself with the likes of General Schwarzkopf in terms of achievements and world influence, two things are certain.

HOW 2017 CAME CRASHING DOWN
I read a Facebook post of a well-positioned supporter of this government blasting people for begging and expecting ham and turkey this Christmas… I just shook my head at the audacity they now have to tell people that they should not be begging, when it is this very government that got people into this unbridled hands-out culture. The so-called “Christmas-cheer” program is just a bribery dressed up as Santa Claus and a reinforcement of the “dependency” mentality disguised as Christmas giving. There is a fine distinction, and the difference is marked by the fact that it’s taxpayers who pay the price of these bribes and givings. See, if the politicians really wanted to give to their constituencies they would use their own personal money, but when they use taxpayers’ money… it is a bribe… it is an entrenchment of a culture of dependency and a legitimization of a culture of corruption…

Too much mix-up for the Jews to claim Israel
There is a rule which says that you don’t break down something if you’re not going to replace it with something better. I don’t even consider shaking the faith of another human being because I don’t have anything to replace it with. Point blank, that is way out of my territory. I only beg for tolerance. If you follow the literal line of the Old Testament, you will read that God didn’t kill Cain after He murdered Abel: He banished him. But in much of the Old Testament, God didn’t “play” to tell Jewish leaders to kill this one and tara one. In this, the present day Jews are very much like the Jews of old. Come hell or high water, even if children have to die, they are after moving the Palestinians from off their land. The Jews say that this Israel, which includes Jerusalem, it is God who decreed that it is theirs. It is interesting how, out of a mass of confusion, a maze, they cling to this line. Let’s just do a little run down here to get the sense.

http://amandala.com.bz/news/safe-holiday/
Thus as can be noted from the chart, if the deceased is a child, then the parents are entitled to some compensation and that compensation increases where the person is already a legal age to be in a marriage, which is 16 years and over. Then there is Section 5(5) which mandates that “the insurer shall also pay a supplemental death benefit of one thousand dollars for each surviving dependent other than the first where the deceased third party is survived by a spouse and one or more dependents or by more than two dependents.” It is critical to note that within sixty days after the receipt of the claim the insurer shall make your payments. If they don’t, please report them as being in violation of the law to the Inspector of Insurance, who oversees and regulates the conduct of insurance companies.

Man’s throat slashed on Christmas Day in Placencia
Carlos Jackson ran for a short distance and then collapsed, after an unidentified man slashed his throat while he was socializing at a club in Placencia at about 3:30 Christmas morning. People who saw what happened, rushed him to the Placencia Clinic, but the young man, a mere 20-years-old, was declared dead on arrival. Filberto Choco, Jackson’s coworker (Jackson worked in a restaurant in Placencia), said that they both left work and went socializing, and then they went home to a two-flat house in Placencia where they lived, Jackson living on the lower flat and Choco living upstairs. Choco said that when they got home, Jackson went to his room, and he went upstairs to his, and went to bed.

Faye Lin’s sisters find a new home
The Faye Lin Cannon saga continues to unfold. This time, however, there is some positive news to report. The Belize City Family Court on Wednesday granted David Cannon full custody of Faye’s other sisters: Zoe, Mia and Siri. David Cannon, the adoptive father of the children, had been before the courts battling for custody since July, when the children were handed over to the Belize Human Services Department after Faye Lin Cannon, only thirteen years old, was found dead inside her bedroom on July 3rd. Prior to Faye’s death, the children were living in San Pedro with their adoptive mother, Anke Doehm (Cannon’s ex-wife), and Anke’s husband, David Doehm.

Couple run over by vehicle on Christmas Eve; both killed
Linda Carolina Hernandez, 33, and Oscar Rene Alvarado, 24, both of San Martin, Belmopan, were the unfortunate victims of a hit and run accident at about 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The couple was riding on a motorcycle on the George Price Highway, traveling from St. Matthews to Cotton Tree, when a vehicle crashed into them from the rear, ran them over, and sped away, leaving them to die on the highway. Police who went to the scene of the accident, between Miles 42 and 43 on the highway, saw Hernandez lying on the road, writhing in pain. Rene Alvarado lay motionless on the highway. Police observed that he had suffered massive injuries to the head and body.

American woman murdered in Placencia
The body of an American woman, who entered the country on December 15, was found in a decomposed state inside a parked vehicle between Placencia and Seine Bight village. According to police reports, the discovery was made shortly after midday on December 23, 2017. Police say that they observed a vehicle in the area and upon taking a closer look, the body of Kimberly Stephens, 55, was found on the floor in front of the back seat. A postmortem examination conducted on her body has left more questions than answers. “On-site post mortem conducted revealed that she died from strangulation by ligature, which also requires further investigation into the findings,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Joseph Myvette.

The Reporter

Fareed Ahmad was shot by someone inside his vehicle, police say
Fareed Ahmad, the barber who was shot dead inside his SUV in Hattieville early Thursday morning was likely shot by someone who was inside the vehicle, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams says. Williams gave the details of the murder at a press briefing today […]

Police make arrest for November traffic fatality
Police have made an arrest for the November 22nd traffic fatality in Dangriga that claimed the life of Alexander Zuniga who was knocked off a bicycle on George Price Avenue. Police have arrested and charged Brandon Kerr, a Belize Defence Force soldier with ‘manslaughter by […]

Police Department introduces plan to address security and traffic issues
The Belize Police Department has introduced new measures as of today to address traffic issues and to help keep people safe over the New Year’s holiday weekend. New checkpoints have been posted in all districts, cities, towns and major villages to address the issue of […]

Maleek Pitts charged with drug trafficking!
Maleek Denmark Pitts, a 20-year-old Jones Street resident of Belize City is out on $3,000 bail granted to him by the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, after he was arraigned on a single charge of drug trafficking. Allegations are that on December 23, 2017, police saw Pitts disposing […]

Drunk driver charged for attempting to bribe police officer
Albert Morey Jr., 24, was charged for drunk driving and matters worse when he tried to bribe a police officer to let him go, for which he was additionally charged. According to police, on December 22nd, while Morey was being booked by an officer for suspectedly driving […]

Christmas day stabbing victim refuses to cooperate with police
A San Ignacio man was found with a stab wound to his chest, bleeding profusely on Christmas morning but has refused to cooperate with police. Abdale Castillo, 28, has refused to give police an official statement and tell police how he was stabbed. Around 5:35 a.m. that […]

KHMH awaits the first baby of 2018
There are an average of 2,500 babies born at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) each year, according to the hospital authority, and while every birth is cause for celebrating, the KHMH is awaiting the first baby of 2018 to give the parents a special gift. For […]

Gastroenteritis cases on the rise, says MOH
The Ministry of Health issued an advisory this week, warning Belizeans that there have been increased cases of gastroenteritis reported during the month of December. The MOH noted that a number of people have been observed with symptoms ranging from diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever; noting […]

Biological father of children adopted by Doehms win custody of them
David Canon, the biological father of the surviving sisters of Faye Lin Canon, 13, who died in the custody of Anke Doehm and her now deceased husband, David Doehm, now has full custody of the other three girls. Canon won custody of the minors during […]

Let there be light in Cayo – 4 villages being connected
More than 300 families in four communities in the Cayo district will soon have electricity after the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) connected those areas to the national grid last week. The power lines being installed in San Marcos, Los Tambos, Selena, and Santa Teresita replace […]

BELIZE’S HIGH MURDER RATE SHOULD NOT REMAIN STATUS QUO
 Jules Vasquez, 7 News Director told Police Minister Elodio Aragon, Jr.: “Is it a disappointment to end the year [with] 139 by my humble count, 138 by yours…”  Aragon replied: “I am not disappointed… this is the reality of things, but I am […]

Happy New Year
All over the world at this time people are making plans to welcome the new year. It is a practice of universal appeal. We have no trouble at all letting go of the old year, and we wait up beyond midnight, counting down the inexorable seconds to greet the new […]

Intrigue surrounds barber’s death Family questions police involvement
Well-known barber, Fareed Ahmad, 38, was shot dead on Thursday inside his BMW SUV in Hattieville in the company of a female police officer who also sustained injuries. News of Ahmad’s death was followed by an outpouring of friends and family mourning his death on […]

Teacher found with his throat slashed inside apartment
Desmond Lewis, a 35-year-old teacher from Dangriga, was found dead early Thursday morning inside an apartment on Antelope Street Extension in Belize City with his throat slashed. According to police, cops arrived at the apartment before 3:00 a.m., and found Lewis in a kneeling position […]

Is Chief Justice saying goodbye?
Amidst Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin’s push to deliver numerous overdue judgments, there are reports that he may possibly leave Belize to take up a senior post in Guyana’s judiciary. Several Guyanese media houses have reported that Benjamin is the top pick to become the next […]

Strangled to death! Murder or suicide?
Police are still trying to determine whether 55-year-old American tourist, Kimberly Lin Stephens, committed suicide or was murdered following the discovery of her body on the Placencia road over the Christmas weekend. Police found Stephens’ body inside a rented Mitsubishi SUV in a vacant property […]

Treasury clerk charged for stealing from a Magistrate Court
A secondary class clerk attached to the Treasury Department in Belize City was charged this week for theft in connection with funds that went missing from the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court late last month. After a month of investigating, police charged David Lord, 29, for […]

Breaking Belize News

Man charged for death in November road traffic accident
One month after Alexander Zuniga lost his life in a road traffic accident on George […]

Police toughen up on traffic offences
With the recent spike in road traffic accidents over the Christmas weekend, the Belize Police […]

Attorney Andrew Bennet wanted in US for money laundering
Yesterday BBN reported that the United States government sent a request to extradite a Belizean […]

Cost of living higher for 11 straight months
During the months January – November, goods and services cost an average $1.20 cents more […]

Ashcroft’s jet crashes in Malta
A plane owned by Lord Michael Ashcroft was blown off a runaway in Malta and […]

November exports down, overall exports up
Belize’s exports declined by more than 10 percent for the month of November, but overall […]

Magistrate to face trial for rape
The Amandala has reported that Magistrate Norman Rodriguez will face trial for the rape of […]

David Cannon wins custody battle for Faye Lin’s siblings
The three siblings of Faye Lin Cannon went home with their adoptive father, David Cannon […]

Cool weather to continue
A moist northeasterly airflow continues to dominate our weather. Sunny skies with cloudy spells are expected […]

Dangriga teen missing in Santa Elena town
A 16-year-old minor from Dangriga went missing on Christmas day in Santa Elena town, Cayo. […]

Fareed Ahmad: The questionable murder of an accomplished Belizean
Fareed Ahmad, popular barber and football referee was gunned down yesterday morning in Hattieville Village, […]

Family and friends mourn Fareed Ahmad
Yesterday morning, Fareed Ahmad, a popular barber and football referee was killed in Hattieville village, […]

Blogs

Checking out some New Spots on South Ambergris Caye
About a year ago I made a big move on a relatively small island. I moved from 2 miles south of San Pedro town to 7+ miles north Ambergris Caye. I do miss the south side – the convenience of all the shops and restaurants are perfect for a scattered and forgetful shopper like me. Yesterday I took a drive down south of town to see SOME of what is new in my old neighborhood. There is a building explosion. Change change change! With economies to our north thriving, visitors, dreams – big and small, and money make their way to this country. It’s inevitable, I guess. While many who live here or visit frequently long for the Ambergris Caye of our first visit (or of our childhood), change in a place this beautiful and this accessible is inevitable.

Welcome to Corozal District, Belize
The country's northernmost district, Corozal is wedged in between Orange Walk District and the border. Its proximity to Mexico lends it a certain Spanish charm, and also offers easy access to travelers coming from Cancún or Chetumal. In recent years, Corozal has been 'discovered' by outsiders, who are racing to buy up the affordable seaside property and build retirement homes on their little plots of paradise. However, this district is still relatively unknown to Belize-bound tourists, who don't often venture off the Philip Goldson Hwy. The chunk of land that spreads south and eastward across the bay from Corozal Town is at once one of the least-visited and most visit-worthy spots in Belize. It's more compact than Orange Walk District, and most of the sights are well within striking distance – by boat or road – of Corozal Town itself. Though topographically not as dramatic as the west or the south (most of Northern Belize is fairly flat), this part of the country is sparsely populated and filled with pristine jungle, as well as the cool seaside town of Sarteneja and the amazing coastal Maya ruins at Cerros.

International Sources

The Caribbean Is Stressed Out
Forty percent of the world's 2.5 billion people live in coastal cities and towns. A team including Smithsonian marine biologists just released 25 years of data about the health of Caribbean coasts from the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity Program (CARICOMP). The study provides new insights into the influence of both local and global stressors in the basin, and some hope that the observed changes can be reversed by local environmental management. The largest, longest program to monitor the health of the Caribbean coastal ecosystems, CARICOMP revealed that water quality decreased at 42 percent of the monitoring stations across the basin. However, significant increases in water temperature, expected in the case of global warming, were not detected across sites. "We're seeing important changes in local conditions, like decreases in visibility associated with declining water quality and the increasing presence of people, but we're not picking up global-scale changes, like climate warming," said Iliana Chollett, post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Marine Conservation Program in Fort Pierce, Fla..

Fifteen most beautiful waterfalls on the planet
Some of them are located in an incredibly beautiful tropical forests, others fall in a unique, deep caves, and some into the ocean – waterfalls with amazing features there are in different parts of the world. In creating some of them were directly involved, while the other over millions of years has shaped nature. Combines unique natural attractions incredibly well-balanced, admire them and enjoy the sound of water endlessly. Altitude: 457 meters. In Belize there is a legendary waterfall Hidden Alleys, it is located on the territory of the natural reserve of Mountain Pine Ridge. The waterfall is 457 meters, it is incredibly beautiful and in combination with the surrounding scenery is fantastic spectacle. The area in which the waterfall is located, is unique from a Botanical point of view. Surrounding the waterfall, the mountain slopes are covered with pine trees, nowhere else in the world pine does not grow so close to the equator.

Our 18 Most Popular Instagram Photos of 2017
Pleased a beautiful image of a puma here in Belize by Frans Lanting was one of National Geographic's top 19 posts of the year...! Gorgeous shot

Videos

December 29, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Brandon Portillo gets six years in prison for burglary
18-year-old Brandon Portillo from San Pedro Town is behind bars at the Belize Central Prison after pleading guilty to burglarizing two homes on the island. Portillo, a fisherman from the San Juan Subdivision, appeared before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer on Wednesday, December 27th at the Magistrate Court in Belize City, where after admitting to his offenses, was sentenced to six years in prison. Reports indicate that sometime on Thursday, December 21st Portillo entered the home of Joshua Carballo and stole several items valued at $1,407. On that same day, he also broke into the home of Josliano Guerrero on Barrier Reef Drive, from where he stole more than $2,000 worth of fishing gear. Portillo was also accused of a previous burglary that took place on December 7th at Terryl Godoy’s home, in which a laptop and other items were stolen. However, Portillo denied being the culprit in that burglary.

Another San Pedro Lions Christmas Children’s bazaar to remember
The annual Children’s Christmas party held by the San Pedro Lions Club brought joy and the season’s spirit to hundreds of children on Saturday, December 24th. To add more enthusiasm to the special occasion, Santa Claus was once again the guest of honor distributing presents, goodies and even taking pictures with all the children that attended the festivity held at the Lions Den. The anticipated celebration started shortly after 5PM, with the arrival of a jovial Santa, who had traveled thousands of miles from the North Pole. He strolled into the Den greeting everyone and handing out candies, and then took his place on stage in front of a mountain of presents for the children. The evening program began, with the jolly bearded man dressed in red with black boots distributing gifts to the children as one by one, their names were called.

Ambergris Today

Ministry Of Health Advises On Gastroenteritis
The Ministry of Health has noticed an increase in the number of gastroenteritis cases nationally. Individuals have been observed with symptoms ranging from diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever. The increase in cases is primarily observed in individuals who are older than five (5) years, however, a few numbers have begun to affect younger children in the age range of one to four.

Misc Belizean Sources

Fisherman's Rest: A new Development on Caye Caulker
New development on Caye Caulker...!? Fisherman's Rest is a 4 floor modern building. Fully constructed from Covintec, a building material that offers industry leading hurricane protection and insulation. The communal dock will be available for residents/guest use, for easy pickup drop off by boat, if you are heading to the nearby reef for a dive or snorkel, or going on a fishing trip in the rich Caribbean waters.

When you are caught up in line in the border

The Caye Caulker Village Council office will be closing tomorrow at 11:30 p.m.
In order to allow Donald's co workers to attend Donald Cox Jr.'s funeral service in Sand Hill. Sorry for any inconveniences.

Belizean Attorney, Andrew Bennet wanted by United States of America for money laundering
Channel 7News Belize reported on Wednesday night, December 27th, 2017 that the extradition request was received as recently as last week and that Bennett was set up and caught in a sting operation. “Seems this attorney was involved in a scheme to launder millions of dollars disguised as the sale of a local advertising business. But the person who this attorney was setting up the sale with turned out to be an agent of the US government, pretending to be a businessman with millions to launder.” Why Bennett was targeted is unknown since there have been prominent cases involving another attorney, Emil Arquelles owner of Mathalon Building which housed dubious operations which was shut down by FBI agents?

11th NRM Research Symposium
The MSBC is planning the 11th annual NRM Symposium, and they are doing a call for abstracts.  The deadline is January 30th, and the symposium will take place on March 1st and 2nd.  They have a registration form online. "CALLING ALL SCIENTISTS AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS! Yes folks, we are proud to announce the 11th Natural Resource Management and Research Symposium - 2018. This is the foremost forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge between scientists, managers and students who all play such a critical role in the protection and sustainable use of Belize's precious and world famous natural resources. We are now looking for abstracts for presentation, submit yours online at www.msbcbelize.wordpress.com You can find submission guidelines here: https://www.facebook.com/MSBCBelize/photos/rpp.106716272734256/1745318992207301/?type=3&theater

Congrats to the winners of the 8th Annual Habinahan Wanaragua Competition 2017!
And the results are in for the 8th Annual Habinahan Wanaragua Competition & Show, 2017... 1st Place goes to 3-peat CHAMPS, Ligemeri Wanaragua! 2nd Place: Irahunun Lidan Aba. 3rd Houn Gurigia (Myrick Caliz)

CWC NYE 2017
The SISE Town Council will have a New Year's Eve celebration at the Cayo Welcome Ceter, with music, presentations, and fireworks at midnight.

SISE House of Culture Inauguration
Pictures from the SISE HoC's inauguration. By far the best HoC in Belize. "The San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture (NICH) was inaugurated yesterday. The NICH crew was there with their cool interactive cultural displays. They'll have activities today and tomorrow. The World Culture Band will be playing tomorrow night, along with many others. Andre Lopez' photo book, 'Belize, An Intimate Portrait,' was on display. The new House of Culture is perfect. There's lots of space for art displays, they have a music room, and a conference room. Well done!" Pictures on fb.

COROZAL - End of Year Water, Shore and Coastal Clean up 2017
COROZAL - End of Year Water, Shore and Coastal Clean up 2017 - Approximately 12 local community organizations, including this news shack will be joining the Rotaract Club of Corozal Town for a Coastal Clean up to help relieve and raise awareness of the littering issues along our shores. We know it is the holiday season, especially for the students but please make and effort to come out. We are inviting the general public to join in this effort. We will be meeting infront of the old Social Security Building at "Parque de Los Trabajadores" tomorrow Friday, December 29th at 7:00 a.m. We urgently need a pool net(s) for skimming off the trash in the pond at the park in-front of the old Social Security Building. If you have one with an extension, kindly bring it. Bring rakes, trash bags, etc.

End of Year Laugh Out Loud weekend
Everyone is cordially invited for the live comedy show of "DARI DARI" at PRINCESS CASINO FREEZONE this Friday, December 29th and Saturday December 30th beginning at 10:00 p.m. Come out, laugh, enjoy and get a chance to win.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend:
It, Bright, The Foreigner, The Snowman. Please note that we will be closed Sunday for NYE

Channel 7

US Wants to Extradite Attorney Andrew Bennett For Money Laundering
Last night we told you that the US government was requesting the extradition of a Belizean attorney. Tonight we can confirm that the request is for 46 year old Andrew Bennett, known as a partner in the law firm of Glenn D. Godfrey and Company. We have to say, known as, because today we saw that his name had been taken down from the Godfrey website - but we know it was there up until very recently. And here's why it probably came down: there's an arrest warrant for Bennett from the District of Puerto Rico dated July 2015, and an indictment for 7 counts of money laundering from a Puerto Rico Grand Jury.

AG Says He Expects CJ to be Here In 2018
Last night we told you about a newspaper report from Guyana saying that Belize's Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin could be on the move. The Guyana Times reports, quote, "Benjamin has been tipped to be Guyana's Chancellor of the Judiciary according to highly-placed sources and luminaries in the legal profession." Well today Belize's Attorney General Mike Peyreffite told 7News that the Chief Justice has said nothing about that to him. He has heard that the Guyanese President is interested in Benjamin taking up the post, but stresses that he expects Benjamin to continue being the Chief Justice of Belize in 2018.

Barber Killed, Armed Woman Cop Was In His Car
Well known Belize City barber Fareed Ahmad is dead. The 38 year old was killed early this morning in circumstances which can only be considered highly unusual. That's because he was found dead in his crashed vehicle - but he didn't die from the impact - he died from a bullet to the head - and his only passenger was a woman police officer. Daniel Ortiz has bene looking for answers from this morning. Sometime after midnight last, Hattieville residents gathered on the side of the George Price Highway, where they found Fareed Ahmad's BMW X5 crashed here, about a mile from his Hattieville home. The first responders tell us that he was and he was slumped over the steering wheel and bleeding from the face. His passenger, Woman Police Constable Michelle Brown was injured form the impact of the accident since most of the damage to the vehicle was on the passenger's side.

Southern Teacher Killed in Questionable Circumstances In Belize City
And while Ahmad's death is not currently being called a homicide, police cannot say the same for a killing this morning in Maureen Leslie Street. A teacher from Independence Village named Desmond Lewis was in strange circumstances when he was killed. The circumstances are still being questioned, but we found out that Lewis was a loved man: Sahar Vasquez reporting: On January 14th, 2014 Desmond Lewis was all smiles because he was the lucky winner of a brand new Wingle at a Court's raffle. It was the first time he had ever won something and his excitement could not be hidden. Now the once happy and excited Lewis lies in the morgue at the KHMH.

Court Clerk Arraigned For Theft From Court
He's the clerk of court, but today 29-year-old Shawn Lord was taken before that court and charged for theft from the San Ignacio Magistrate's Court. Lord is a First Class Clerk at the Belize City Magistrate's Court, but when he arrived at work today - he was taken to another court, the one in San Ignacio. That's where Magistrate Hurl Hamilton read him a single charge of theft. The allegation is that earlier this year, he dishonestly appropriated the sum of $2,010 from the Cayo Magistrate's Court. He was granted bail of $1,000 dollars and is due back in Court on February 28, 2018.

Weekend Killings Unresolved
Last night we reported on two murders and one death investigation. Well, tonight, no arrests have been made in the killings of Carlos Jackson in Placencia - whose throat was slit, or Errol Smith in Roaring Creek who died from a gunshot to the head. In the case of American Kimberley Stephens - who died from manual strangulation - police had said they could not determine if she was killed or had committed suicide. But with the apparent implausibility of someone strangling themselves with a phone charger cable - we are now told police are seeking a suspect. We'll have more on these cases tomorrow.

BEL Says Don't Put Trees Close To Powerlines
One week after Hugo Polanco was electrocuted in Independence Village, BEL has issued a warning about working dangerously close to power lines. Polanco was killed while trimming a tree near to a power line, and BEL quote, "is pleading to the public to desist from constructing structures and planting trees near power lines." It also wants, quote, "When planning to construct or work within 15 feet of a power line, always contact BEL for guidance before commencing. Do not plant trees in the path of overhead power lines. Do not trim trees that are growing over or into overhead power lines; instead, contact BEL for assistance."

A Tale of Two Christmases, Commercially
Most of you have shaken off all the Christmas holiday excitement by now, finishing up or getting rid of the last of the turkey and black cake and maybe even pulling down a few of Christmas decorations. Everyone is gearing up for the New Year's celebration now. But for most business owners, Christmas isn't really over until they get to see those sale figures. We went to find out just how good or bad business was this Christmas. We start with Golden Bay on Marine Parade. They officially opened their new store in November and they say, business was pretty good this year. Cynthia Cowo, Sales Agent: "The stuff we sell up here is basically household items like bathroom stuff, mirrors, basins and shower stalls."

A New Year, A New Race
And another sign that the New Year is surely here, is the day's trademark race: the KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic. Today Kwame Scott stopped by and gave us a preview of the race: Kwame Scott, New Year's Day Cycling Classic Race Promoter: "What we are expecting this year. There are three races, almost all in one. The elite races feature three categories. It is the elite, masters, and masters 45. They ride from the border to the boulevard. The females will be racing from Orange Walk to Belize City and the juniors and youths will also race from Orange Walk to Belize City."

Jose Says Nutton Noh Got Soh
On last night's news you saw the robbery at Joe's Super Market on 16th Street in the King's Park area of Belize City. At the end of our story, we noted that residents in the area had complained that Joe Wong had continued to fire shots on the street even though the robbers were gone. Today Wong refuted that. He says that he did no such thing. He says he only fired the shots in his store at the robbers.

BBC Says Ashcroft Jet went On a Bender
The Government of Belize has 90.6 million dollars for Michael Ashcroft, and now he may need a few mil to repair his private jet. The BBC quotes media in Malta as saying that his plane crashed into the side of a building after it was blown from its parking space by strong winds in Malta. The nose of the privately owned aircraft hit an adjacent building at Malta International Airport. There was nobody on board the plane at the time of the crash. Maltese media say the plane belongs to Michael Ashcroft. A spokesperson for Lord Ashcroft declined to confirm this to the BBC.

Channel 5

Dangriga Teacher’s Throat Slashed at Home in Belize City
Overnight, there has been a pair of unrelated homicides to add to the mounting body count going into the final days of 2017.  A well-known and respected high school teacher [...]

Murder in Hattieville: Ahmad Family Says Fareed was Assassinated
Early this morning, news spread like wildfire that well-known barber Fareed Ahmad was dead; initially due to a traffic accident that occurred a block from the Hattieville Police Station. But [...]

Fareed Ahmad – Well-known Barber and Football Referee
This afternoon, the Football Federation of Belize issued a release expressing sympathy with the Ahmads on the untimely passing of Fareed.  The release says that the thirty-eight-year-old father of four [...]

The Chilling Death of Kimberley Stephens in Placencia
The chilling death of Kimberley Stephens in Placencia Village has left the peninsula in shock. The American national owned a home in Maya Beach and visited Belize regularly. She resided [...]

Rumfish Owner Refutes Family’s Alleged Motive for Carlos Jackson’s Murder
On Wednesday we reported on the killing of twenty-year-old Carlos Jackson. The prep cook who was out socializing on Christmas Eve when he was cut to the throat in front [...]

SIB Report: Imports Down in November
The Statistical Institute of Belize has released the latest figures in three categories, including the External Trade Bulletin, the Consumer Price Index, as well as the Labor Force.  This information [...]

Police Reassess Operational Strategies Following Deadly Weekend
On the heels of an exceptionally bloody Christmas weekend, considering the number of fatal traffic accidents recorded, the Belize Police Department has reassessed its various crime fighting and operational strategies [...]

Errol Gabourel Jr. was Executed and Toss in the River in Roaring Creek
The lifeless body of twenty-six-year-old Errol Gabourel Junior was found floating face-up along the river in Roaring Creek Village on Wednesday morning.  He had been executed with a single gunshot [...]

Clerk of Court Charged for Theft of Money from San Ignacio Magistrate Court
A first class clerk employed with the Belize City Magistrate’s Court is out on bail tonight after being arraigned before Magistrate Hurl Hamilton on a single charge of theft.  Twenty-nine-year-old [...]

David Cannon Wins Custody of Faye Lin’s Sisters
The three surviving sisters of thirteen-year-old Faye Lin Cannon went home to the U.S. for Christmas last week, now in the custody of their adoptive father, David Cannon. On December [...]

Strengthening Employment Opportunities for Young Women and Men in the Caribbean
The Food and Agricultural Authority undertook a project with the Government of Belize to promote entrepreneurship in agriculture among rural youth. The project called ‘Learning Route’ took a group of [...]

LOVE FM

Who killed Fareed Ahmad?
Well-known barber, Fareed Ahmad is dead tonight after he was shot last night in Hattieville, Belize District. Ahmad’s SUV was found crashed into a parked truck on the side of the road at mile 17 on the George Price Highway. Ahmad received a single shot to the face and died while receiving treatment at the …

Who killed well-known teacher?
A well-known teacher was murdered in the Old Capital. Police say about 2:40 this morning they responded to a report on Maureen Leslie Street in the Antelope Street Extension area in Belize City. Officers found Desmond Lewis in a room motionless. His throat had been slit and he had also been stabbed in his chest. …

Villagers in shock over death of teacher
As we reported earlier, Lewis is from the Stann Creek District and he worked as a teacher at Independence High School. The news of his death has shocked those who knew him. One of Lewis’ colleagues is Ifasina Efunyemi. Ifasina Efunyemi, Friend of Deceased “Such a vibrant personality and its really shaking up the Dangriga …

Solicitor General: US government request extradition of Belizean attorney
The US government has reportedly requested the extradition of a Belizean attorney for money laundering offenses. Today Solicitor General Nigel Hawke confirmed to Love News that his office has in fact received such a request. He would, however, not confirm the name of the attorney in question or the circumstances surrounding the request. Love News …

Imports down by 7.7 %, Exports down by 11.4%
As it relates to Belize’s imports, for the month of November, imports was valued at one hundred and fifty-four point five million dollars, down by seven point seven percent or twelve point eight million dollars from imports for November 2016. The ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ category saw the largest decrease for the month, falling by …

Unemployment down by 9.7 %
The latest report from the Statistical Institute of Belize recorded that in September 2017, Belize’s labour force stood at one hundred and sixty-six thousand, forty-nine persons. This was an increase of three thousand, seven hundred and ninety-five persons from September 2016. According to the SIB, one hundred and forty-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-four persons …

CWU and SSB at odds over salary increase
Members of the Christian Workers Union are upset following a letter sent by the Social Security Board. The letter is dated December 22, 2017, and it is in reference to ‘calculation of the salary increase’ as contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Social Security Board and the Christian Workers Union. In the letter, the …

Who knocked down and killed Richard Canti?
The driver of the vehicle that knocked down and killed thirty-four-year-old Richard Canti in Orange Walk Town remains at large. Today his family is seeking answers and is asking the public for their assistance in locating the vehicle and the driver. His sister, Elva Canti told Love News that the family is prepared to offer …

Kidney Association continues the fight against kidney failure
At this hour a symposium entitled “Empowering the kidneys through healthy lifestyle” is underway. The event is organized by the Kidney Association of Belize and will feature a number of presentations. Over the last two days, a number of clinics were held at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for patients with kidney failure. Today we …

Three hundred more households now have access to electricity
Belize Electricity Limited says an additional three hundred households will now have access to electricity. These households are located in the villages of Selena, Santa Teresita, Los Tambos and San Marcos in the Cayo District. Today, BEL provided energized power lines to make this possible. However, the energized power lines do not grant them automatic …

PlusTV

Detonation Expert on Rise and Shine speaks of Santa Cruz explosion
Staying on the topic of the explosion, this morning on Rise and Shine’s Talk show, Harrison Pascasio was the guest. Pascasio has been using explosives for clearing quarries since 1981, and has worked with numerous companies such as CISCO Construction and the Ministry of Works, among others. He appea...

Police verify burnt remains as Pamela Lino
The story has just about fallen off the radar but the disappearance of Ms Pamela Lino, a teacher at Belmopan Baptist High School, has remained an unsolved mystery. ON Tuesday May 2nd of this year a burnt vehicle was discovered near Gracie Rock junction at mile 21 on the George Price Highway at app...

James Pelayo Murdered in Belize City
There was a murder earlier today in Orange walk Town where 35 year old James Pelayo, also known as Jamie, was the victim. The incident happened sometime around 4:00 am this morning in front of D’Gym Sports Bar and Grill in Orange Walk Town. Reports are that Pelayo was outside the bar socializing w...

Israel Chuc case now being treated as murder
Earlier this week, we reported on the mysterious death of 34 year old Israel Chuc. Chuc’s body was found by the San Ignacio police on Branch Mouth Road with blood on his nose. His neck was also bloated. The case was being looked at as a sudden death case, but upon receiving the postmortem results, t...

Public Service Union fully supports members of Audit Department
The Public Service Union says it fully supports the members of the Audit Department that are agitating for a change of Auditor General; In a press release late yesterday the PSU came out strongly against Auditor General Dorothy Bradley for what they call “dastardly administrative practices. The pr...

Amandala

From the Publisher en Español
No sé cuántos de sus amigos sepan que Chibby Rosado murió a principios de este año y fue enterrado (posiblemente, cremado) sin ningún tipo de fanfarria. Me enteré de la muerte de Chibby hace unos tres meses, cuando mi esposa lo mencionó en una conversación. Chibby había estado muerto durante meses en ese momento. Uno de los amigos de mi esposa había sacado el tema a la ligera. Estaba aturdido. ¿Cómo podía un hombre tan genial, popular y exitoso dejar La Joya, y de hecho el planeta, sin que nadie haya escuchado de ello? Sylvino “Chibby” Rosado había vivido en Caye Caulker durante muchos años, pero él y su esposa, la hija mayor del extinto Cito Gough y su extinta esposa, Rita, también tenían un hogar en la Ciudad de Belize.

Breaking Belize News

Teenage girl missing in Dangriga
Fifteen year old Destiny Castillo from Dangiga, Stann Creek, is reported missing by her aunt. […]

First US extradition request for a Belizean Attorney
The United States is seeking to extradite a prominent Belizean Attorney for his alleged involvement […]

Police confirm details of Independence High School Teacher’s murder
This morning around 2:40, police responded to the report of a possible homicide at a […]

Teacher found dead this morning
According to reports, Desmond Lewis, a teacher was found dead this morning on Antelope street […]

Two women survive Christmas eve accident
On Sunday, December 24, around 4:40 p.m., police responded to a traffic accident between miles […]

Accident in Orange Walk
On Saturday, December 23, around 10:40 p.m., Orange Walk police responded to reports of a […]

Sacred Heart Primary cafeteria broken into
According to reports, the cafeteria of the Infant division at Sacred Heart primary school in […]

Orange Walk man dies in hit and run
Yesterday morning, Orange Walk police responded to reports of a hit and run accident on […]

Man shot dead in Hattieville
This morning, police responded to reports of an apparent road traffic accident in Hattieville village, […]

Blogs

New Years Eve Party Crawl 2017 – Best Parties and Pre Party Dinners
Rather than start with dinners and end with parties, this post is split up by North, South, and Town. Of course being in or near town at midnight is a favored choice if you want to see the fireworks display up close. San Pedro Town Council always goes all out on their fireworks displays. Last year they even had a beach component as well as the regular barge that was action packed with a stunning show. You will be able to see them from afar too depending on where you chose to be at midnight. I have also listed one Pre NYE party at the bottom as it is a good one to help you gear up for 2018 looking fabulous and fresh. If you want to be a bit adventurous and have wheels, the following list will help you plan your personal party crawl, a super fun way to say farewell 2017 and celebrate the arrival of 2018 on Ambergris Caye.

International Sources

Once a Cash Cow, Venezuela’s Oil Company Now Verges on Collapse
A general with no energy experience has been installed as the head of the state oil company. Arrests, firings and desperate emigration have gutted top talent. Oil facilities are crumbling, while production is plummeting. As the rest of the oil-producing world recovers on the back of stronger energy prices, Venezuela is getting worse, the result of dysfunctional management, rampant corruption and the country’s crippling economic crisis. The deepening troubles at the state oil company, the country’s economic mainstay, threaten to further destabilize a nation and government facing a dire recession, soaring inflation and unbridled crime, as well as food and medicine shortages.

Rough Guides: 10 Reasons to Visit Belize (Extended)
We can come up with 100 reasons easily but let’s dig into the top 10 reasons why this paradise deserves your visit. Based on Rough Guides’ video on the 10 Reasons to Visit Belize, we took the opportunity to delve deeper into each of the categories they carefully selected. Read on! 1. For a wealth of culture and some of the liveliest festivals that you’re likely to experience Lobsterfest, Costa Maya Festival, La Ruta Maya, Garifuna Settlement Day -- Belize knows culture and celebration all too well. Socialize, dance, eat and sing with the locals, you are guaranteed a festivity that will last a lifetime. But not only does Belize offer a wonderful array of yearly festivals, it is also a great destination for a cultural immersion to a variety of ethnic groups and local traditions.

Warm-weather escapes: The Caribbean is open for business
The Caribbean was hard-hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, but that doesn't mean you should skip it this vacation season. Much of the region was out of the storms' paths and spared any damage. But the islands that did get hit need are rapidly recovering and, with economies that are reliant on tourism, are eager for visitors to return.

Sponges and Algae Are Choking the Caribbean's Coral Reefs
According to at least one leading expert. Some scientists aren’t convinced the sponge apocalypse is at hand. Descending into the clear blue water of the Colombia Reef, off Cozumel in Mexico, there are two ways to look at what greets you. One is as a fantastic, calming world of peace and harmony, so different from our hectic lives on shore. The soft corals sway in the current, colorful fish swim lazily by, and turtles float happily above. But this is a mirage. The reality is more like a war zone. It’s every critter for itself: The angelfish eat the corals, some of which strike back with tiny harpoons; the barracudas eat the angelfish, which hide behind sponges. And the sponges, says Joseph Pawlik, are secretly plotting to take over the whole reef. Pawlik, an ecologist and leading sponge expert at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, has surveyed Caribbean reefs for decades. The recent evidence, he says, suggests the battle of the reefs has become somewhat lopsided. The sponges have banded together with another major player, the algae, to push out the corals and achieve reef domination—thereby adding another grave threat to one of the world’s most important ecosystems.

The Caribbean is stressed out
But there is hope, according to data from 25-year monitoring program. Forty percent of the world's 2.5 billion people live in coastal cities and towns. A team including Smithsonian marine biologists just released 25 years of data about the health of Caribbean coasts from the Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity Program (CARICOMP). The study provides new insights into the influence of both local and global stressors in the basin, and some hope that the observed changes can be reversed by local environmental management. The largest, longest program to monitor the health of the Caribbean coastal ecosystems, CARICOMP revealed that water quality decreased at 42 percent of the monitoring stations across the basin. However, significant increases in water temperature, expected in the case of global warming, were not detected across sites.

Videos

December 28, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Caribeña Enterprises hosts its Annual Christmas Raffle
Caribeña Gas Station held its annual Christmas Raffle on Friday, December 22nd, as a way of giving back to its valued customers. The raffle was facilitated by Reef Radio, Eiden Salazar, Miss San Pedro, Virginia Vasquez, Miss San Pedro Lions Erica Bodden, Central Cable Vision and Caribeña Enterprises staff members. For every $50 dollars spent at the gas station, customers received a ticket to enter the raffle. “This raffle is a way of giving back to our loyal customers that support us all through the year. I want to thank everyone who came out today to witness the drawing,” said Caribeña Enterprises Pedro Salazar Sr. First and second prize went to Amigos Del Mar; they won a 50 inch LCD flat screen television and 50 gallons of fuel. The third prize went to Abner Figueroa, who won a set of stereo set.

Ambergris Today

Nayobie's Hope For Children Project Organizes Holiday Fashion Show
"Yesterday was the best time of my life seeing the innocent reactions of the kids, the smiles and ‘thank you’s’ that I received was the best gift this Christmas," commented Nayobie Rivero as she distributed gifts to less fortunate children in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. Fourteen year old Nayobie has put together Nayobie's Hope For Children Project that has started with small fundraising projects in order to assist the island youth. This past holiday weekend she, along with friends and family, put together a fun-filled fashion show titled 'Candy Land', a fundraiser as part of her philanthropic efforts to share gifts during the holiday season. The fashion show entertained the audience with children and youth modeling latest fashion clothes from island boutiques and gift shops and dance presentations. A raffle was also held during the show to further raise funds for the cause.

Misc Belizean Sources

Nov 2017 Trade & CPI, Sept 2017 Labour Force Survey
The Statistical Institute of Belize’s latest figures on consumer prices revealed that, for the month of November 2017, Belizean households experienced an average increase of 0.9 percent in the cost of regularly purchased goods and services. The All-Items Consumer Price Index for the month stood at 105.2, an increase from 104.2 in November of 2016 (see Figure 1). For the first eleven months of the year, a year-to-date inflation rate of 1.2 percent was recorded.
Belize’s total imports for the month of November 2017 were valued at $154.5 million. This was a decrease of 7.7 percent or $12.8 million from imports for November 2016, which totaled $167.3 million.
The Statistical Institute of Belize’s preliminary results from its September 2017 Labour Force Survey indicated that the national unemployment rate for that month was 9.7 percent, a decline of 1.4 percentage points from 11.1 percent in September 2016. This fall in the unemployment rate can be attributed for the most part to an increase in the number of employed persons for the period, particularly urban females.

Paint N Splash
Ooo Melody has a special series for you! The finished piece will be 3 piece painting that will be vertical! Make sure to join us at Crazy Canucks Beach Bar Thursday from 2-4pm. Make sure to sign up to reserve your spot!

Donald Cox Jr. passes away
The Caye Caulker Village Council regret to inform the community on the passing of a staff member, Donald Cox Jr. He had a health condition that kept deteriorating and eventually was too severe. The Caye Caulker Village Council expresses sincerest condolences to his children, his family, and his co workers.

OCEANA Reef Bash
Come out and celebrate with Oceana Belize this Friday December 29th at 7:00 pm. Free entrance at the Civic Center and free "tacos al pastor" from Mr. Carnitas and lots of give-aways, while supplies last. Sarteneja as well come out and celebrate on December 30th at 7:00 pm. Free entrance at the Sarteneja Community Center. Thanks to the Corozal Sports Council and the Sarteneja Village Council for granting use of the venues.

Green Turtle Saved!
We’re turtley excited for this happy ending. One of our field representatives were notified that someone was selling a Green Turtle (as meat). Thankfully it was still alive and was able to be secured overnight. This morning our field representative is escorting the turtle to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve team Hol Chan Environmental Education Program who will facilitate its release back to the wild. Special thanks to Miguel Alamilla, Kirah Foreman and Linda Searle from Ecomar for all their assistance! #Belize #toloveandprotectBelize This case raises several serious concerns but glad this little guy is going to make it!

'Call for Artists Vol. 2' Art Exhibit
The Museum of Belize is proud to announce that our 'Call for Artists Vol. 2' Art Exhibit is now open to the viewing public, highlighting and promoting works from talented Belizean artists. Feel free to stop by the Museum of Belize to view superb art pieces from our very own phenomenal Belizean Artists!

FUTURE SHOCK: CENTRAL AMERICA'S BASKETBALL BEST!
There is a book called ,"Future Shock", by an American writer named Alvin Toffler who stated that there can be too much change in too short a period of time. And that these young Belizean basketball superstars, "Future Shock", coached by the legendary Belizean basketball superstar, Clinton PULU" Lightburn, that blew away all of Central America recently in a youth basketball tournament, tells volumes of change that is to come to Belizean sports very soon.

BELIZE'S "MR. MAGIC" AT LADYVILLE'S "MARUBA"!
One of the most refreshing pool resort in a natural habitat setting is at Belize's Ladyville's "Maruba" off the Philip Goldson's Highway formerly the Northern Highway of Belize. A most definitely recommendation to any Belizean who has become a tourist in their own country. A yours truly discovery in the heart of a soulful little town in the Belize District called, "Ladyville", that have become home for many a Belizean homegrown nationals. Just a few hours away from Belize's Philip Goldson International Airport, "Muruba" stole my heart as a surprise trip shown to me by my son-in-law who grew up around the smooth terrain of some of the most tropical lushes of this Belizean landscape.

‘Duna’ at Koko King
The new dining experience for Caye Caulker!! Open Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm - 9pm. Come and experience our delicious menu in style.

GSH Christmas Toy Drive
Gallardo Services and Hardware first had Santa over for a toy drive, and then distributed the gifts to needy children. Thanks, GSH! "A heartfelt thank you for all the time and effort to families who came out to support our “Meet Santa” Event and to those who dropped of toys, what a turn out! All in all it was a very successful event and we have raised an excess of toys that made it possible to provide for 2 villages and some kids in Belmopan, We broke our record! Your generosity helped create experiences for families facing serious illness or crisis, allowing them to reunite, escape the over whelming stress of their daily lives, and just be families and kids again.. Because of your kindness, you made a difference in the lives of families this season. Each smile was because of you and for that we thank you!"

FCD in Chiapas
Through a partnership with Natura Mexicana, FCD staff visited the field station Chajul to learn about macaw conservation efforts in Sierra Lacandona, Chiapas, Mexico.

Channel 7

US Seeking Extradition of An Attorney
Tonight, 7News has received credible information that a practicing Belizean attorney is being sought for extradition to the US to face money laundering charges. Reports to us say the extradition request was received as recently as last week. Seems this attorney was involved in a scheme to launder millions of dollars disguised as the sale of a local advertising business. But the person who this attorney was setting up the sale with turned out to be an agent of the US government, pretending to be a businessman with millions to launder. So, basically, it was a sting operation. And, because it was set up by the Americans - local law enforcement agencies funded by the US - also provided security when the movement of as much as half a million dollars in cash was involved. It's a sensational story, but also a late breaking one and we'll have more on it tomorrow.

Man Found Floating In River
The Christmas weekend was supposed to be peaceful, but with so much merrymaking - the blessed holiday also has a sinister underside of violence and traumatic deaths. There are eight of those to report tonight - two, possibly three murders, and five lives lost in traffic accidents. We start out west - where the family of 26 year old Roaring Creek resident Errol Smith is in both shock and grief tonight after he was found dead this morning. He had what appeared to be a gunshot to the head. Daniel Ortiz has the story: 26 year-old Errol Gabourel Smith's body was found floating here, near the banks of the River in Roaring Creek. We found pools and stains of blood all along the cement stairs which leads to the river. It is unclear if Smith lost all that blood from the initial attack, or if these spills are the result of his killer or killers trying to dispose of his body in the River.

US Citizen Found Dead, Strangled With A Phone Charger Cable
Turning now to Placencia, an American woman who lived between Belize and Washington State was found dead on Saturday. She had been manually strangled with a wire - but, tonight, police can't say if it's a murder or a suicide. 55 year old Kimberley Stephens arrived in Belize on the 15th - and within a week she was dead. Today, Courtney Weatherburne went to Placencia to find out more about this well liked member of the Placencia expatriate community - whose friends are bewildered by the strange circumstances of her death: When she wasn't in Washington, Kimberly Stephens was in Belize enjoying the sea and sand at her Maya Beach home in Placencia. The scenic peninsula certainly kept bringing her back, but also her friends. They adored her.

Assistant Chef's Throat Slit In Placencia
And while police are hesitant to call that one a murder - there was another clear case of Murder in Placencia village. Assistant Chef at one of the villages most celebrated restaurants Carlos Jackson was killed on Christmas Eve. As Courtney Weatherburne found out - his throat was slashed. Here's her story: It might have looked like just another business day at Rumfish Y Vino restaurant in Placencia, but it wasn't. One of their prized assistant chefs, Carlos Jackson wasn't with them. He was killed on Christmas Eve.

Cops Say No Suspect For Slit Throat
Today, police said they had one suspect. There is no known motive for the killing.

Husband and Wife Lose Life in Cotton Tree Hit And Run
It was a terrible Christmas Holiday on Belize's highways. Five people were killed and one man is on life support after a slew of serious accidents. We start in Cotton Tree where four children are left without a parent, after a couple died when they were knocked off their motorbike by a hit and run driver. It happened on Christmas Eve night at around 11:15. 24 year old Oscar Rene Alvarado and his common law wife 33 year old Linda Carolina Hernandez were found on the highway between miles 42 and 43. She was near death, and he was already dead. Police rushed her to the hospital, but she died while receiving treatment. They were traveling westbound on a small motorbike which was found 200 feet away, extensively damaged on the shoulder of the road.

Baker and Broom Maker Canti Killed In Hit And Run
The other hit and run death happened this morning in Orange Walk. It happened at around 5:00 when Richard Canti was knocked off his bicycle and died. The 34 year old Chan Pine Ridge resident was riding to work at a bakery when he was hit from behind and flung violently to the shoulder of the road - where he died instantly. His crushed bicycle shows the extent of the impact. Police don't have any clues leading to the driver at this time. Canti was recently featured in a documentary as a broom maker - work which he used to do on the weekend.

Another Hit and Run Leaves Man Critical
In the weekends other hit and run - the victim survived but he is in a critical condition on life support tonight. It happened at around 7:15 on Friday night when 32 year old Hector Nicholas Chuc was run over by an unknown driver. Chuc, who is a Guatemalan was found on the side of the road with bruises to his body and serious head injuries. He is in the hospital on a ventilator in a critical but stable condition. Again, police have no identification of the vehicle which ran him over. Reports say that Chuc may have been on a bus, and got off to relieve himself, and the bus drove off.

Bus Collision Kills SUV Driver
And a bus was at the center of an accident on Christmas night. It happened between miles 24 and 25 on the George Price Highway, and today we found one of the vehicles completely wrecked. That vehicle used to an Isuzu Rodeo; we what was left of it at the Hattieville Police Compound. Police say that at around 7:58 p.m. on Christmas day, they visited an area between miles 24 and 25 on the George Price Highway. On the scene, they found a Shaw bus with its front portion damaged. Nearby, they found the wreckage of the Rodeo in some bushes. They also found the body of Albert Garnett, who died on the scene.

Man Dies In Accident Near Border
The weekend's first traffic fatality happened near the Western border on Friday night at about 6:45pm. 59 year old ALBERTO ANTONIO MAAS was run over by a taxi driven by 67 year old Santos Chiquil. Chiquil told police that he was driving towards Benque when he was blinded by the high beams of an oncoming vehicle. He veered to the extreme right of the road and hit Maas, who is form Benque Viejo. He died on the spot.

Worries Mount For Missing Man
There a few more serious but non-fatal accidents to report tonight, but first to the reports of two missing persons. On Monday, families all over the country came together to spend Christmas with each other but for the family and friends of Jamal Humes, it was a blue Christmas because he is missing. His mom along with her support team have been tirelessly searching for him but one week has gone by and they still have not found him or any of his belongings. His mom spoke to us this morning about her missing son. The police also shared some information about their ongoing investigation.

Eugenio Missing For 11 Days
The family of Jahmal Humes is not the only one pleading for the return of a missing relative. 24-year-old Eugenio Rodriguez's family has not seen him since December 16th and the long time spent not knowing the whereabouts of their loved one is taking a toll on the worried family. The police told us about the investigation, and his cousin came by our offices today to plea for Rodriguez's return. ASP Alejandro Cowo OC, CIB Belize City: "Britney Rodriguez 19 years old call agent of #49 Tigris Street Belize City. She reported that on Saturday the 16th of December was the last time that she saw and had contact with her brother Eugenio Marcos Rodriguez. He is of dark complexion, thickly built with a short haircut, and a black in colour moustache. The colour of his clothing that he was last seen in is uncertain at this moment. Also, police have been receiving certain information and have been checking into the whereabouts but up to now, they have been fruitless."

CJ On the Move?
It's been rumored for months that current Chief Justice of Belize, Kenneth Benjamin would be taking up a senior judicial post in Guyana. The Attorney General Mike Peyreffite said it was not so, but tonight the Guyana Times is reporting that the CJ is on the move. The paper reports, quote, "Benjamin has been tipped to be Guyana's Chancellor of the Judiciary according to highly-placed sources and luminaries in the legal profession." The paper says that Benjamin was interviewed earlier this year for the post and was handpicked by a committee put together by Guyana's President and its Attorney General. According to the paper, President Granger intends to appoint Benjamin in the New Year. This is pending the consent of the Guyanese Leader of the Opposition, we gather form the article.

The Wrong Joe To Jack
On Saturday night around 8:00, two men attempted to rob Joe's Supermarket on 16th Street in the King's Park area of Belize City. But, it turned to be a foiled robbery and an epic fail, because the owner Joe Wong saved his store by standing up to the gunman. Sahar Vasquez found out how his sharp eyes may have saved his life. On Saturday night Joe Wong sat in his chair behind the checkout counter waiting for customers to arrive as he usually does, until he spotted something strange. As he did, he sent a child who was with him inside. Two men were outside his store were acting suspiciously. Wong's alertness may have saved his life. One man entered first and pretended to be asking about a product, then the second man barged in with his gun pointed at Wong. It looked like a textbook robbery, but this story has a different ending. Wong was neither shot nor robbed; in fact he came out the victor with his fearless heroics.

Oleander Robbery Failed
And there was another foiled robbery of a Chinese store that very same night. It happened in the Lake Independence area, but the victims do not want to make a police report:… Our reports say police know who the suspects are - but without a complaint, there can be no arrest.

Countrywide Outbreak of Gastroenteritis
Today the Ministry of Health sent out a release to inform the public about the increase in the number of cases of gastroenteritis countrywide. Many people have been exhibiting symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever. The illness has been showing up mainly in individuals older than five, but, now, children in the age range from one to four are starting to show up with the same symptoms. The Ministry is advising the public to wash their hands as often as they possibly can to avoid getting sick and if you or anyone you know has symptoms the ministry urges that they visit the health centre immediately.

San Ignacio Mayor Escapes Collision Unharmed
The mayor of San Ignacio and his wife escaped unhurt from a serious Boxing Day accident. It happened in the afternoon between miles 36 and 37 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Mayor Trapp was driving a Red Ford Ranger Pickup from Orange Walk to Belize City and a Green Toyota Corolla taxi driven by 40 year old Ricardo Carcamowas travelling in the opposite direction from Belize City to Orange Walk Collided into the Ford Ranger. The impact caused the Corolla to flip. The driver's leg was broken and he had head injuries. He is in a stable condition at the KHMH.

American Women Survive Mameyal Accident
And the notorious Mammal curve in the Orange walk district was the scene of another accident this weekend. On Sunday at about 4:40pm, Police responded to an accident between miles 60 and 61 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. They saw this silver Toyota Tacoma in the bushes off the right side of the highway extensively damaged. 69 year old US citizen Sherry Jones was driving a 61 year old Mary Turner from Orange Walk towards Corozal when she lost control of the vehicle and it flipped several times. Both females suffered injuries and are being treated at the Northern Regional.

Otro Benque Pileup
And in the other Orange Walk accident, at about 10:40pm on Saturday night on the Otro Benque Road a black Honda Motor Cycle driven by 22 year old Pedro Romero collided with a Hyundai Tucson SUV driven by 22 year old Marquito Mogul 22. Both vehicles received damages. Romero was treated and released from the NRH. Police have since charged Moguel with the offence of Failed to provide Specimen.

Guatemala Follows Trump To Jerusalem
On our last newscast before the Christmas break, we told you how Belize joined 128 countries at an United Nations General Assembly vote to pass a resolution rebuking US President Donald Trump. Guatemala was among the 8 nations which sided with the US in the UN vote, and international news reports say that Guatemala will be the first to follow the US. Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales is quoted on his official Facebook post as saying that he has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; and he instructed Guatemala's foreign ministry to "initiate the process to make it possible" for them to move their Israeli Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He also said, quote, "We spoke about the great relationships we have had as nations since Guatemala supported the creation of the State of Israel. One of the most relevant topics was the return of the Embassy of Guatemala to Jerusalem."

One Mall, One Robber
On Friday we told you about the robbery at the new One Mall store outside of Corozal Town. Today police told us they are seeking one suspect: ACP Joseph Myvette - Head National Crimes Investigation: "I know that several leads are being followed and the police was looking for one person." Reporter: "Camera footage, it said that there are several cameras in that area and that the robbery occurred, is that the case?"

Another Corozal Robbery
And there was also another armed robbery at a business in Corozal town. This one happened on Boxing Day. ACP Joseph Myvette - Head National Crimes Investigation: "Sometime yesterday morning shortly after 9:00 AM Shanti store located at 4th Avenue Corozal Town was robbed by 2 male persons, one who was brandishing a firearm of an undisclosed amount of money. The persons then made good of their escape, some of the monies were recovered during the pursuit and police are seeking one known suspect in regards to this investigation."

A Deadly Christmas Weekend
As head of National Crime Investigations, We also asked Myvette for his view of 4 day Christmas weekend - where 8 lives met traumatic ends. He says that, major crime was relatively low, while road accidents were very very high:

Unemployment Figures Down
And finally tonight, there are new unemployment figures to report. This evening, the Statistical Institute of Belize issued its preliminary results from its September 2017 Labour Force Survey. It shows that the national unemployment rate for that month was 9.7 percent, a decline of 1.4 percentage points from 11.1 percent in September 2016. A release says "this fall in the unemployment rate can be attributed for the most part to an increase in the number of employed…urban females". Meanwhile, the rate of joblessness among males inched up from 6.9 percent to 7.1 percent, while it fell by a full 4 percentage points among females from 17.6 percent to 13.6 percent.

Channel 5

The Deadly George Price Highway Claims More Lives: Two in Cotton Tree
It has been another deadly holiday weekend countrywide. As many as seven persons lost their lives by misadventure; whether, murder or in road traffic accidents. We start with the most [...]

An Elder Labourer from Benque Border Area Killed in RTA
The Christmas season in Belize is regularly marked by traffic mishaps and this year has been no exception. Since Friday, no less than seven road traffic accidents have been reported countrywide, [...]

Belize City Driver Did Not Survive Collision With Shaw’s Bus
He was on his way home to Belize City from Gales Point where his family celebrated Christmas Day, but sometime around eight o’clock that night, Albert Garnett would perish in [...]

Health Ministry: RTA’s ‘a Public Health Concern’
Road traffic mishaps are also a concern for the Ministry of Health, which does keep a running tally as part of its mortality statistics for Belize. While the figure was [...]

Jose Najera Survives Drive-By in Belmopan
Twenty-year-old Jose Najera is lucky to be alive tonight, following a shooting incident in Belmopan on December twenty-first.  Najera was seated inside his vehicle in the vicinity of the Ring [...]

Gun-Toting Thugs Rob and Shoot O.W. Man
Gunshots rang out in Orange Walk Town on Tuesday night leaving one man injured with wounds to the right foot.  Juan Cabrera came under attack by a gun-toting duo as [...]

In Roaring Creek, Errol Gabourel Found Dead and Floating in Belize River
The Christmas weekend also had a pair of murders to report, though neither was in Belize City. The village of Roaring Creek was shocked by a discovery of a body [...]

Ranchito Store Owner Robbed of Cash and Car
The proprietor of a business establishment in Ranchito Village was relieved of a significant sum of money and other personal belongings, including a Toyota Tacoma truck, during an armed robbery [...]

Shanti’s Store in Corozal Targeted by Thieves
The second robbery in the Corozal District took place in the heart of town on Tuesday morning when two men entered Shanti’s Store and held up its owner.  That stickup [...]

Police Step Up Patrols after Another Stick-Up in Town Center
Meanwhile, in Belize City over the weekend, there were two incidents reported where Chinese businessmen in the Lake Independence and King’s Park areas were accosted by thieves.  In a brazen [...]

Prep Cook Killed in Placencia on Christmas Morning
A twenty-year-old man was slashed to the throat over the holiday weekend in Placencia as he partied with friends outside a night-club. The prep-cook was out enjoying the festivities after [...]

Who Wanted Visiting Tourist Kimberley Stephens Dead?
Fifty-five-year-old Kimberley Lin Stephens was strangled to death. The American national’s decomposing body was discovered outside of her rental SUV on December twenty-third. We understand that Stephens arrived in country [...]

Six Years for Teen Burglar from San Pedro
Eighteen-year-old Brandon Portillo of San Pedro Town is headed to jail for six years after pleading guilty to two home burglaries on Ambergris Caye that took place last week. Portillo, [...]

Jamal Humes did not come home for Christmas, family says
A Belize City family remains hopeless tonight as the search continues to locate Jamal Humes. The twenty-eight-year-old mechanic was last seen alive on Wednesday morning when he went to his [...]

Eugenio Rodriguez Gone since December 16th
Jamal Humes remains missing…so is twenty-four-year-old Eugenio Rodriguez.  Both men are residents of Belize City and haven’t been seen for the past several days.  Earlier today, the Belize Police Department [...]

Virus, Not Ham and Turkey, has Belizeans Sick to their Stomachs
Are you feeling a little funny in your stomach? It may not be the extra ham, turkey, soft drink or black cake you ate this weekend, according to the Ministry [...]

Kidney Association Says Be Kind to Your Kidneys
Starting today and for the remainder of the week, the Kidney Association of Belize has embarked on a sensitization and education campaign entitled “Empowering the Kidneys through Healthy Lifestyles.” The [...]

CTV3

Cost Of Living Continues On The Rise
The Statistical Institute of Belize released its latest figures on the consumer price index today and the report reveals that the cost of living for the month of November 2017, increased by 0.9 percent. The All-Items Consumer Price Index for the month stood at 105.2, an increase from 104.2 in November of 2016 (see Figure 1). For the first eleven months of the year, a year-to-date inflation rate of 1.2 percent was recorded. The ‘Transport’ category saw prices rise by 6.3 percent on average during the month (see Figure 2). This was attributed primarily to increases in international airfares and prices within the ‘Fuels and Lubricants’ sub-category. The price per gallon of Premium gasoline rose 19 percent from $10.11 in November 2016 to $12.02 in November 2017, while Regular gasoline rose 7.2 percent from $9.55 per gallon to $10.23 per gallon, and the price per gallon of Diesel was up 8 percent from $8.90 to $9.61 (see Table 1).

Well Known Orange Walkeno Involved In RTA
A well-known Orange Walk resident is tonight under induced coma at the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital after he was involved in a traffic accident on Tuesday. Investigations have revealed that Earl Trapp Mayor of San Ignacio was driving a red Ford Ranger pickup from Orange Walk to Belize City when upon reaching miles 36 and 37 of the Philip Goldson Highway a green Toyota Camry traveling in the opposite direction collided into him. As a result of the impact the Toyota Camry which was driven at the time by 40 year old Ricardo Carcamo overturned.

MOH Reports Increase In Cases Of Gastroenteritis
The Ministry of Health is tonight reporting that there is an increase in the number of gastroenteritis cases nationally as individuals have been observed with symptoms ranging from diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever. The increase in cases is primarily observed in individuals who are older than 5 years, however, a few numbers have begun to affect younger children in the age range of one to four. In order to reduce the cases the Ministry has increased its surveillance activity at all district levels and is assisting in promoting best practices to prevent and reduce further spread of the illness.

Chaos At The Northern Border
The Christmas holiday season is one of the periods which sees a high volume of Belizeans travelling through the northern border in the Corozal District to shop in neighboring Chetumal, Quintana Roo. Official records show that in the days surrounding Christmas day such as this past weekend, several thousands of Belizeans cross daily. While the peak to the number of travellers exiting Belize is usually early in the morning, the peak of travellers returning to Belize are the evenings. Many days and nights, the long lines of cars and bottleneck crowds are quite a sight. But last night, with hundreds over travellers crossing the border and only a couple booths being manned by Immigration officials to process travellers, the pent up frustration led to a scuffle with officials. We understand that the travellers got so frustrated with the slow lines that many attempted to just cross through the immigration area without stopping to be checked.

LOVE FM

Body discovered in creek
The body of a man was found earlier today. Correspondent Fem Cruz was on the scene and filed this report. Fem Cruz, Love FM “Based on information received just before 11 am of a body found lying face down in the creek in the Fall area of Roaring Creek Village, Love News visited the scene …

Jackson was killed on Christmas Day
A man was killed on Christmas Day in Placencia Village. Twenty-year-old Carlos Luis Jackson was stabbed to the neck at around 3 o’clock that morning after he exited a popular nightclub. ACP Joseph Myvette shared more details. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, N.C.I.B “Sometime around 3:30 am on 25th December police visited the Polyclinic in Placencia …

Why was American woman killed?
An American woman was found dead on a feeder road in Placencia Village on Saturday, December 23. The body of 55-year-old Kimberly Lin Stephens of Washington, D.C. was found by a Placencia police mobile patrol unit after they saw a grey Mitsubishi SUV parked in what appeared to be an abandoned lot. The officers made …

Collision on George Price Highway leaves one man dead
One man is dead following a fatal traffic incident at around 8 o’clock on Christmas night on the George Price Highway. The incident involved a Shaw Bus and a green Rodeo which was extensively damaged. In the rodeo were the driver Albert Garnett and 55-year-old Earl Hamilton. Garnett died on the spot while Hamilton was …

Couple killed on Christmas Eve
A young couple was knocked down and killed on Christmas Eve. The unfortunate traffic incident happened on mile 44 of the George Price Highway in the Cayo District at around 11 o’clock that night. 24-year-old Oscar Alvarado and his girlfriend 33-year-old Linda Hernandez were on their way to Belmopan from Cotton Tree village on a …

Man killed by “hit and run” driver
Orange Walk Police are looking for the driver of a vehicle who knocked down and killed Richard Canti earlier today. Canti’s body was found around six o’clock this morning on the Belize Corozal Road. His bicycle was found a few feet away from him and the back wheel was damaged. Love News understands that Canti …

Man knocked down and killed on Benque Viejo Road
59-year-old Alberto Antonio Maas was knocked down and killed by a taxi driver on the night of December 23. It happened on the Benque Viejo road just before seven o’clock. 67-year-old Santos Chiquil, told police that he was heading to Benque Viejo del Carmen Town when the driver of a vehicle coming in the opposite …

Traffic incident sends man to the hospital
A taxi driver remains hospitalized after his vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by Earl Trapp, the Mayor of San Ignacio/Santa Elena. The incident occurred around midday yesterday between miles 36 and 37 on the Philip Goldson Highway. Ricardo Carcano of Orange Walk Town was driving a green Toyota Corolla car when there was a …

Belize Coast Guard rescues 31 persons
Over the long holiday weekend, the Belize Coast Guard was called out to respond to a couple distress calls. Love News spoke with Captain Elton Bennett, Vice Commandant at the Belize Coast Guard about the incidents that occurred at sea. Captain Elton Bennett, Vice Commander, Belize Coast Guard “We had two search and rescue cases, …

Stomach Flu outbreak
The Ministry of Health issued an advisory informing the public of an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis cases commonly known as stomach flu. Gastroenteritis is caused by contaminated food whereby the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed which may result in both diarrhea and dehydration cases. Love News spoke with the Director of Health Services, Dr. …

PlusTV

Drug race at Belize Border
On Wednesday afternoon, a Navigator SUV was trying to cross the Mexican Border with what is believed to be cocaine.Reports are that sometime around 2:30 yesterday, the Navigator, being driven by someone hailing from Ranchito Village in Corozal, was approaching the Mexican border when they conducted an X-Ray scan on his vehicle. The scan revealed something rather peculiar in the cab of the vehicle and the authorities stated that they would have to perform another search. After hearing that, the driver sped out of the checkpoint area, and started to head back to Belize.

Breaking Belize News

Orange Walk police charge man for road traffic accident
On Saturday, December 23, 2017 around 10:40 pm, Orange Walk police responded to reports of a […]

Ministry of Health notes increase in cases of diarrhea
The Ministry of Health informed today that it has noted an increase in the number […]

Robbery in Corozal town
Yesterday, shortly after 9:00 there was a robbery reported at Shanti store located at 4th […]

Attempted robbery gone bad: robbers run away leaving behind their gun
On Saturday two men entered Joe’s Supermarket on 16th street in Belize city. One of […]

Belize City man missing
A Belize City man of a Fabers Road extension address is missing and police is […]

Another Belize City man missing
It has been 11 days since Ohenio Marcus Rodriguez, 24, has been seen since he […]

Orange Walk man robbed and shot
Around 7:30 last night, Orange Walk police responded to a robbery in progress. When cops […]

American woman strangled to death with charger wire
BBN had previously reported that on the morning of December 23rd, an American woman was […]

Body found in Roaring Creek
According to reports, a man’s body was found this morning floating in a river in […]

Two dead in traffic accident
Police have just released details of another fatal road traffic accident over the Christmas holiday. […]

Man charged for firearm related offences
A man charged with firearm related offences over the weekend will spend the remainder of […]

Skeletal remains of missing Belize City man found in grave
Reports to BBN is that some remains believed to be that of Mark Pollard was […]

Blogs

My Holidays: A Leaning Building, A Raffle Won, Foreign Foods & New Years Eve
The Christmas holidays, for many, is a time to relax. After the shopping, baking, decorating and organizing frenzy, it’s time to enjoy it all. But for many here on Ambergris Caye, this is the real beginning of THE BUSY SEASON. And Christmas – New Years is one of the busiest weeks of the year. Hotel, restaurant and bar staff are working overtime… The day before Christmas, there was buzz in town about a building…leaning. El Esturo, a four building development about 3 miles north of town. It’s been built over the last year…and it seems as though one of the buildings was not securely anchored in bedrock. A crew to scrambling to sort out the situation. Will they have to take the entire building down? Can they right what has tilted? I will certainly stay tuned.

New Year's in San Pedro Ambergris Caye
Come join where the first ever Belize yacht flotilla started in this amazing, untouched, Caribbean paradise! Belize ticks all the boxes; incredible sailing, sheltered waters, tropical beaches and island paradises. Not to mention the nightlife will take your idea of a New Years Eve celebration to a new level. Travelers searching for a fun tropical locale to ring in the new year should look no further than one of Belize’s popular islands, like Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye. On December 31, 2017 La Isla Bonita will definitely have a reputation for hosting fabulous events, in particular, its New Year's Eve Countdown. On Saturday, December 31st, hundreds of revelers will flock to the Central Park to bid farewell to 2017, and welcome in 2018.

Cahal Pech Maya Ruins - What You Need to Know Before You Visit
Located just across from the modern-day town of San Ignacio in western Belize, Cahal Pech is one of Belize's most unusual ancient Maya sites. The name "Cahal Pech" means "Place of the Ticks" in the local Maya dialect, but the original name for the site is unknown. Local Maya herders nicknamed the site Cahal Pech in the 1950s because much of the surrounding area was used for pasture. Cahal Pech sits high above a bluff that overlooks San Ignacio Town and the Macal River, and the panoramic view from the site is one of the finest in the country. It is believed that Cahal Pech is one of the oldest Maya sites in the region, first built more than 3,200 years ago.

Chaa Creek and A Community Choir Contribute to Christmas Cheer in Cayo
When Belize’s most community-centric Eco-resort teams up with local charitable groups to spread Christmas cheer to disadvantaged members of the community, you can bet that good things will happen. As they did with bells on this week when Chaa Creek staff joined some twenty kids and seven adults from St Andrew’s Anglican School to spread songs, food, gifts and joy around the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena in the Cayo District. For the last three years, staff and students of St Andrew’s have been making Christmas brighter for elderly and disadvantaged residents with the school’s choir and musicians bringing song and comfort into their homes, care facilities and hearts.

Adopt-A-Bear San Pedro! Shopping in the city, passing out toys, and lots of smiles!
What’s more fun than Christmas shopping for yourself? Christmas shopping for kids who are in the Adopt-A-Bear program! The Adopt-A-Bear program was started on Ambergris Caye, Belize in 2014. It is sponsored by Raise Me Up and it gives residents and visitors alike an opportunity to buy gifts for children whose parents are not able to do so. This program was founded by Brittney O’Daniel, the owner of the Sandbar Hostel and Restaurant in San Pedro. The purpose of the Adopt-A-Bear program is to bring Christmas joy to the less fortunate children on the island and in the King’s Home orphanage in Belmopan.

San Pedro House of Culture hosts Ambergris Caye’s first Jankunu Festival
The San Pedro House of Culture (SPHC) along with the Charikanari Garifuna Dance Group held the first ever Garifuna Jankunu Festival in San Pedro Town. The newest festival on the island took place at the Central Park shortly after 7PM on Saturday, December 23rd, with dozens of spectators gathered to witness the cultural event. Members of the local Garifuna community delighted with their well-crafted Jankunu performances, as well as other cultural dances. At the opening of the event on Saturday, Guillermo ‘Mito’ Paz from the House of Culture explained some of the historical patterns of the dances. The traditional dance originates from the days of slavery, when slaves would get Sundays off. On that day, they would practice some aspects of their African cultural roots. Julia Martinez of the Charikanari Group elaborated on the dancers’ costumes.

Last Chance for Savings Before Changes to Flight Discount Code
With 2017 coming to a close and 2018 nearly upon us, I wanted to take this time to let you know that effective January 1, 2018, I am no longer able to offer a 10% discount on your Tropic Air Flights. I will however still have the easy to use flight booking code so many of you love, and your ongoing code use will still give you something special – a chance to help many. It is my pleasure to announce Code For a Cause (CFC). From now on for every flight booked with CFC flight code, a portion of your ticket price goes to a very worthy organization on Ambergris Caye; the Blue Water Grill Belize Community effort. A portion of all previous month flights will go towards current month cause in support the monthly chosen organization receiving help.

International Sources

An integrated assessment of vascular plants species of the Americas
Botanists have compiled a comprehensive, searchable checklist of 124,993 species, 6,227 genera and 355 families of vascular plants of the Americas. This represents one third of all known vascular plants worldwide. Missouri Botanical Garden researcher Dr. Carmen Ulloa is the lead author of "An Integrated Assessment of Vascular Plant Species of the Americas," published today in Science. Ulloa along with 23 co-authors compiled a comprehensive, searchable checklist of 124,993 species, 6,227 genera and 355 families of vascular plants of the Americas. This represents one third of all known vascular plants worldwide.

How to Cook With Hoja Santa, the Mexican Herb We Love as Much as Cilantro
A little like root beer, a little like eucalyptus, good savory and sweet—there's a lot of reasons to appreciate this underappreciated leaf. If you’ve ever wandered through the Mexican markets of New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles, you might have come across big floppy leaves of hoja santa. And if you didn’t recognize them, you wouldn’t be alone. Hoja santa is native to Central America and the North American southwest, and while it has long been a staple of cooking from those regions, the fragrant herb gets little attention outside traditional Latin cuisines. Piper auritum is sometimes referred to as pepperleaf, sacred pepper, or root beer plant. Its holy name alludes to a Mexican legend that the Virgin Mary dried the young Messiah’s clean diapers on its branches, which seems unlikely considering the plant’s Mesoamerican origins.

NAT GEO TRAVEL: BEST WINTER TRIPS FOR 2018
For some travelers, a winter wonderland of snow is what this season is all about. For others, the escape from sub-zero temperatures is a must. Whatever your preference may be, these trips inspired by our Expeditions and Lodges, will have just what you are looking for. English-speaking Belize is a diver’s paradise. It’s home to the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere, the thousand-foot-wide Great Blue Hole, and a large concentration of scarlet macaws—easiest to spot in winter when migrating east to Red Bank. Native Belizean Amanda Acosta recommends Half Moon Caye, where there are “no phones, no computers, and no Internet, giving you a chance to reconnect, relax, and enjoy the sunsets.” Although the island’s campsites are open year-round, navigation can be challenging. Acosta suggests visiting December through April when travel groups provide transportation and setup. On the mainland, stay at Belcampo, a jungle lodge and organic farm close to Cotton Tree Chocolate Factory and the ancient Maya ruins at Lubaantun. Go with Nat Geo: Indulge in the stunning nature of Belize on an expedition or visit Belcampo Lodge.

An Arkie’s Faith: Good Gifts
Our return trip to Belize was wonderful. We got reacquainted with friends that we had made the year before, and made many new friends during the ten days that we were there. Many times friends would stop by our room with gifts such as fresh coconut water, papaya, or some small trinket. On the last day that we were in San Pedro, there was a steady stream of visitors to our room. They wanted to tell us goodbye. Many of them brought a small gift. I learned an important spiritual lesson on my trip to Belize. I learned it from the people that I met. They had such a desire to do something for us. Even though they had only meager possessions, they had such a desire to please. They wanted to see us before we left. They wanted to bring us a gift. It was very important to them. I saw a great object lesson in the way they treated me. It showed me how I should relate to God. I should come to God and say, “I don’t have much, but I want to give you something.” “God let me know what I can do to please you.” “God, I want to be with you.”

Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018 in UK
Great Opportunity! Open to Commonwealth youth aged 18 and under the opportunity to express their hopes for the future, opinions of the present, and thoughts on the past, through the written word. Plus, you can win a trip to London.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest schools’ international writing competition, managed by The Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Every year, it offers all Commonwealth youth aged 18 and under the opportunity to express their hopes for the future, opinions of the present, and thoughts on the past, through the written word. The competition is used by individuals and teachers to build confidence, develop writing skills, support creativity and encourage critical thinking, using literacy to empower young people to become global citizens.

Videos

December 27, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

Misc Belizean Sources

Jo Castleberry passes away
Jo passed away in the last few days, she was in Houston getting medical treatment. We will miss her a lot, she was one fine lady. Much Love to Wayne...

Yo Creek Sak Xikin Poktapok Team
Sak Xikin photo shoot! Ending the year with much appreciation and love to you all! Thanks to the Belize filming commission, National Institute of Culture and History (NICH)

The Reporter

Twin Towns Mayor Earl Trapp involved in Boxing Day accident
A road traffic accident outside the village of Carmelita in Orange Walk saw the Mayor of San Ignacio, Earl Trapp, flip and overturn while on his way to Belize City on Monday, December 26th. According to preliminary reports from the scene, Ricardo Carcamo, a taxi driver of Orange Walk Town was traveling home from Belize City around midday. Mayor Trapp and his wife were traveling in the opposite direction on their way to the Twin towns, when he saw a car edging toward him. He swerved to avoid a head on collision but took a hit on the side of his late model Road Ranger. The pickup spun and flipped, emptying the contents of the pan on the road. All three involved in the accident survived with minor injuries.

Breaking Belize News

Mayor Earl Trapp involved in Traffic Accident
On Tuesday, December 26th 2017, Ladyville police responded to calls of a traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway between miles 36 and 37. At the scene Police observed a green Toyota Corolla car on the left hand side of the road. On the right hand side of the road was a red Ford Ranger pickup. Scotiabank

Moist conditions to continue
The 24-hour forecast is for relatively moist conditions to prevail. Sunny skies with a few cloudy spells are expected today with cloudy skies tonight. Isolated showers are expected over most areas. Southern areas will experience more showers.

Albert Garnett dead in Christmas Day traffic accident
A road traffic accident on the George Price Highway has claimed the life of one man. According to police reports, around 7:58 p.m. yesterday, Hattieville police visited an area between miles 24 and 25 on the George Price highway where cops observed a Shaw Bus with extensive damage, off the highway facing in an eastward direction.

Blogs

How about some fun Belizean traditions for New Year’s?!
For the Mestizo of Northern Belize, wearing red underwear is a must if you desire a year filled with love. I guess if you are ending 2017 without a significant other, you might need to consider this tradition to increase your chances of romance in the New Year. If you feel especially unlucky in love, you can also (literally) sweep out the bad vibes at midnight. This New Year’s tradition involves sweeping your home just minutes before midnight on December 31st, the action ensuring that all negative vibes from the previous year do not bleed into the new one. Opening the back door of a home at the stroke of midnight to let the old year “out” is a tradition practiced by the Creole culture of Central Belize. Many believe this New Year ritual was passed down by the Baymen settlers of old British Honduras, as this tradition is also practiced in England.

International Sources

Good-Natured Fun in Ambergris Caye, Belize
The incandescence of it all—sun bouncing off sand, sea glistening, dancing boats reflecting light, scattering it—is so irresistible, so mesmerizing. Mainland Belize may have its fecund jungles, its Mayan ruins and its archaeological caves, but in Ambergris Caye, (arguably the country’s best island), the sun and the salt take precedence. The tiny archipelago that branches off of Mexico’s Quintana Roo basks in the island way of life. It’s fuzzy, good-natured, splayed with vibrant shades of the Caribbean, with plastic Adirondacks half submerged in water, palm trees dancing in the wind and golf carts running the show. Yet, for all its mellow attitude towards life, it parties like Ibiza on any given night—minus the pretension. (Well, at least, its denizens do.)

'Coral bleaching is getting worse ... but the biggest problem is pollution'
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere – an underwater wilderness stretching over 700 miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. One of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the Americas, the reef is home to a dazzling variety of coral and more than 500 species of fish, and provides a livelihood for more than a million people. But now, a combination of mass tourism and poor waste management has left the reef increasingly vulnerable to climate change, placing this natural wonder in serious trouble. “Throughout the Caribbean, we have seen a massive decrease in coral coverage,” says Michael Webster, executive director of the Coral Reef Alliance, a nonprofit organisation that works on reef conservation in Honduras. “Whereas we might have had 60-70% coral coverage in the past, now it’s down to 5-10% in places.”

Videos

December 26, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

The Orange-breasted Falcon, a species in peril or a bright future?
The country of Belize is blessed with some of the most amazing animals on the planet, and in some instances, we are the last place on Earth where they survive and thrive. Although they may seem abundant to us, our small country is home to a number of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, plants and even corals that are at risk of extinction; perilously registered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. From near-threatened to critically endangered, animals like the American Crocodile, Hicatee turtle, Yellow-headed Amazon parrot, Orange-breasted Falcon, West Indian manatee and countless others, Belize is their last stronghold for survival. Fortunately, our country is also blessed with a number of non-profit conservation groups that are dedicated to their preservation.

Season’s Greetings from The San Pedro Sun
2017 has been a bittersweet year. From painful stories to ones full of hope, we’ve been on an emotional roller coaster the last 365 days! One thing is for certain, regardless of the highs and lows, as a community we are always there for each other, showing lots of love and support! As the island newspaper, we also appreciate the love and support we get from those who advertise with us and applaud our efforts to report without bias or prejudice. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018.

Misc Belizean Sources

OCEANA Reef Bash
Inviting the Corozal and Sarteneja community to come out and celebrate the great year 2017 has been for collective voices!

Huay Peek
The Huay Peek' is the Brujo who transform him/herself into a huge dog . It is known that Huay Peek' is a large black dog who may appear in houses to scare people , destroy property and even profanate tombs in the cementary . Also known to attack domestic animals . When the Huay Peek' roam in the streets the dogs bark in a disperate manner . The word Huay in Yucatec Maya means "Brujo" and Peek' means Dog . The stories of the Huay Peek' are heard in Northern Belize but not as common as the Xtabai,Huay K'eek'en,Alux and Nukux Tat(Tata Duende) .

An Ascenthium Christmas
Wow! Ascenthium covered the Trans Siberian Orchestra's mix of O Come All Ye Faithful and O Holy Night, and they rocked it. Merry Christmas to all. "Merry Christmas to all our friends, fans and family! be safe and enjoy the holidays!!! ( Load in HD for best sound quality)"

20 year old Killed on Christmas on the Peninsula
Police in Placencia are investigating the murder of 20 year old Carlos Luis Jackson of Placencia village. Jackson was outside a night club when he received a cut wound to his neck. He succumbed to his injuries at 3:35 a.m. at the Placencia Health Center.

More speed bumps won't help
A road traffic incident occurred early this morning in Santa Elena Town. Residents say it happened at around 3 o'clock.

Breaking Belize News

Traffic accident on Christmas morning in Santa Elena town
A white vehicle orverturned this morning around 4:00 on the George Price highway near the Hawkesworth bridge in Santa Elena town. It is not yet certain how many people were injured.

Drunken man stabbed this morning
Placencia police are investigating the fatal stabbing of Carlos Luis Jackson, 20, last night. Jackson was outside a Placencia night club when he was stabbed to his neck.

Christmas murder in Placencia
A man who police presumed to be under the influence of alcohol was stabbed near his heart this morning. Police reported that at about 5:35 am they received information of a man in a yard on Carmen St in Santa Elena Town.

International Sources

Guyana-born Belize CJ will be unable to meet backlogged judgments deadline
Despite assurances, Guyana-born Chief Justice (CJ) of Belize Kenneth Benjamin will be unable to deliver all 32 of his delayed judgments and this could result in the Belize Bar Association making good on its threat to file proceedings to have him removed from office for misconduct. Amandala newspaper in a December 12 publication reported that Justice Benjamin will be unable to conclude the backlog by the end of the legal year. “The old maxim that `justice delayed is justice denied,’ has once more come to the forefront as it relates to the delayed judgments of Chief Justice Benjamin, some of which date as far back as 2010 and will not be completed by the end of the legal year next month, when the Supreme Court has its ceremonial opening to mark the beginning of the 2018 legal year”, the newspaper said.

Rare one dollar featured in sale
The note has been in private hands since the mid-1890s. According the auction firm, the other two known specimens are the Pick plate note (“which is in abysmal condition”) and one reputed to be part of a private British Honduras collection. No issued example of any of the five higher values of these notes has ever come to light. “First issue British Honduras notes in any form are absent from virtually all of the world’s greatest collections,” according the auctioneer. “This issued 1894 example clearly rivals in rarity, exclusivity, and desirability even such major pieces as the much-vaunted Zanzibar notes. The 1894 British Honduras issue was withdrawn and destroyed after only two months, while the Zanzibar series ran for 20 years,” plus, “…this One Dollar 1894 British Honduras note is the only issued example for 1894 British Honduras in the PMG population report; in contrast, Zanzibar pieces have a much higher population.”

Caribbean hotels reporting strong holiday seaso
Holiday travelers are escaping to the Caribbean, with hotels in most destinations not impacted by this year's hurricanes reporting occupancies in excess of 90 percent over the holiday season. "More than 70 percent of the Caribbean was not impacted by hurricanes Irma and Maria and travelers are discovering the incredible diversity of destinations and offerings throughout the region, as they explore its many vacation options," stated Frank Comito, CEO and Director General of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). CHTA canvassed a number of the region's destinations this week to see how they are faring for the holidays and into the first quarter of 2018. The results are encouraging, according to Comito, who reports that a sampling of the region's 32 holiday destinations all pointed to a surge in holiday bookings and most indicated that forward bookings into the first quarter of 2018 are equaling or surpassing 2017.

Review of the year: the female groundbreakers of 2017
The Independent picks the 20 names whose strides in their fields challenged preconceptions and stereotypes and provided inspiration.
Lisa Carne was only a young biologist and coral researcher when she witnessed the effects of 2001 Hurricane Iris on the Central American country of Belize. In particular, she was struck by how vulnerable the southern Belize marine ecosystem was to climate change like rising sea temperatures. So, in 2006, Carne founded Fragments of Hope, a community-based organisation that, with the help of a coral nursery, aims to restore an endangered species of Belize’s Barrier Reef, a Unesco World Heritage site. The project has been hailed as a huge success, significantly increased the coral population in Belize. Carne herself was southern Belize’s first female diving instructor, and trains women to restore coral reef habitats while advocating for sustainable management.

Videos

December 25, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Letter to the Editor: CORRUPTION IN BELIZE – My Experience, Perspective, and Suggested Solutions
Corruption within a country is best described as the ruthless mismanagement and pilfering of public funds and resources for personal gain to the disregard of its citizens, depriving them of their constitutional human rights. In the presence of Good Governance, there is honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, and responsiveness. Corruption brings a gradual change for the worse, a demoralizing process, destabilizing a society and rendering great harm to a nation. Corruption has strong connections between officials, politicians, and criminals, infiltrating every aspect of a vulnerable society. This alternative system of government tends to give a few absolute power, and to quote Lord Acton who said, as far back as 1887, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

Wolfe’s Woofer: The Money Drop Game
When I dropped the work crew off at the bar Juney said, “Mr. Dennis, It’s Friday. Come on in and have drink with us.” “Yeh,” Gaby said, “It won’t hurt you. You hardly never have a drink with us.” At the bar we took our seats and sat listening to a loud-mouth braggart at a nearby table talking about how much money he had. “Back in the States I got a new Chevy pickup truck and a boat. I make more money in a month than most of my family makes in a year,” he said. “I sure am glad I moved to the U.S. For me, it’s all about the money.”

What’s New – Crocs Sunset Sports Bar
On November 9th, the latest addition to the Tres Cocos Area held its ‘soft’ opening. Crocs Sunset Sports Bar, owned by Ivan Luna, actually ended up being the most happening spot that day, and has remained buzzing ever since. The official opening party, which will unveil the special-events bar located at the top floor, is being scheduled for the year’s end. With a sports bar atmosphere, complete with a variety of TVs spread throughout the space, Crocs is the place to catch the latest games. Featuring both indoor and outdoor seating, and located ideally on the lagoon side, it’s a great place to catch some of the most amazing sunsets that La Isla Bonita has to offer.

Doctor Love: Need to Veg
Dear Doctor Love, My partner and I are vegetarians. This is a lifestyle choice that we made four years ago and neither of us have had animal flesh since. We eat a huge variety of vegetarian foods and both of us are healthy and fit. Recently we were invited to a Thanksgiving party. The hostess is a good friend and she made veggie burgers for us – something we did not expect but really appreciated. One guest started a conversation about eating meat and asked us if we would serve turkey and ham at a Thanksgiving party if we hosted one at our home. I explained to him that we would never host a gathering on an occasion when it was traditional to consume turkey and ham. By this time there were many people gathered around and one of them laughed and told me I was pretty selfish considering my “special diet” had been considered by the hostess and another said he would sneak beef broth into my food.

Misc Belizean Sources

Harmouch Hardware Congratulates their Christmas Raffle Winners
And extends Season’s Greeting to all their customers. Harmouch Tala First place - Jeff Spigel 54” Samsung Smart TV Second Place - Raul Carera Frigidaire Washing Machine Third Place - Areldy Rivera Fourth Place - Ana Acosta (in first pic) 32” Proscan LED TV Additional Prizes Microwave - Mr. Moh Blender - Dimas Coffee Maker - Kenvin

Students visit Caves Branch Botanical Garden
One of the last school visits for 2017, Garden City school, beautification project. All the pictures are self-explanatory- children enjoying planting! There were too many visits to schools in 2017 to post all pictures, but we can definitely say that each year there is more and more interest from schools in learning and planting their gardens.

Road Traffic Accident
On 23.12.2017 about 6:45 p.m., Benque Viejo Police responded to a report of Road Traffic Accident on the George Price Highway near the Belize Western Border. Upon arrival Police observed a Hispanic male person lying on the highway apparently dead with a large cut wound to the left side of the head and the left side of the neck. About 120 feet from the body Police saw a Red Toyota Corolla Taxi with License Plate BV0-D-00903, with damages on the entire front portion. The driver of the taxi 67 year d SANTOS CHIQUIL reported that about 6:40 p.m. on Saturday 23rd December, 2017 while driving his taxi to the direction of Benque Viejo Town another vehicle was approaching from the opposite direction with its high beam on, which blurred his vision and as a result he swerved to the extreme right which caused him to hit someone. The body was identified to be 59 year old ALBERTO ANTONIO MAAS, a resident of the New Border Area, Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town.

American National Found Dead On Road
On 23.12. 2017, about 11:50 a.m., Placencia Police were on patrol on the Placencia Peninsula main road, between Seine Bight and Placencia Village when they observed a parked grey in color Mitsubishi SUV in a vacant property about seventy five yards off the main road. A body in an advanced state of decomposition, dressed in a long black pants and a green checkered blouse was lying face down immediately behind the SUV without footwear and resembled that of a female. Investigations revealed that the Grey in Mitsubishi SUV was rented by 55 year old Kimberly Lin Stephens, an American of Onalaska, Washington USA on Saturday 16th December 2017 and it was to be return on Saturday 23rd December 2017 which she never did. Police are investigating her death.

Cayo Art Festival 2017
The Cayo Art Festival gets better every year. There was some amazing art on display yesterday at the Cayo Welcome Center. Bella Dee's Soaps, Bath and Spa Products, Soaps of Ix-Canan / Gifts from Mayaland, Belize Botanic Gardens, Cacao & Company, and many more local artisans were there displaying their creations. The hudut was superb! Blended Deli's berry twist was perfect. The music was spot on. The Cayo Music School played while the Christmas tree was being constructed More pictures.

The Reporter

Ranchito businessman robbed
Police are investigating a robbery in the Corozal district, where a businessman lost thousands of dollars and a vehicle. Polic report that around 11 a.m. yesterday, one Jaxi Tan, a 21-year-old manager of a business in Ranchito Village, came to report that three dark-skinned men ran into his store to rob him. Two of the men held Jan at gunpoint while the third stole $7,000 in cash. The robbers also relieved Jan of his Huawei brand value $1,000.00 then made off with his red 2014 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab truck value $42,000.00, for a total loss of $50,000.

Elderly man killed in road accident
A 59-year-old man is dead following a road traffic accident on the Geroge Price Highway near the western border. Police say that they responded to a call around 6:45 pm yesterday, to find Alberto Santos Maas, a resident of the New Border area of Benque Viejo Del Carmen town, on the side of the road apparently dead, with large cuts to the left side of the head and neck. Their investigation revealed that 67-year-old Santos Chiquil, taxi driver of Las Lomas Del Rodeo had run into Maas with his red Toyota Corolla, which caused the fatal injuries. Chiquil told police that while he was driving a vehicle headed in the opposite direction failed to turn off its high beams and blinded him. Chiquil said that he swerved off the road in an effort to avoid an accident, when he ended up hitting Mas. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Ignacio Poly Clinic.

Breaking Belize News

Drunk driver attempts to bribe cop
A man is in trouble with the law after he was busted driving drunk and attempted to bribe law enforcers. Police reported that around 4:45 p.m. on Friday, cops were conducting patrol on the George Price highway near Unitedville village when they observed a grey Ford pickup truck swerving across the highway.

Maleek Pitts busted with weed
Yesterday around 12:20 p.m., while the Mobile Interdiction Team was on patrol on Jones Street in Belize City, cops observed a man throwing two black plastic bags underneath a parked white van. Police approached Maleek Pitts, 20, and in his presence, retrieved the two plastic bags which contained cannabis amounting to 210 grams.

No CARICOM consensus on US Jerusalem motion
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries were divided Thursday on whether or not to support the decision by the United States to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. CARICOM member countries were divided in their approach to voting at the United Nations on the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel.

One dead in accident near Belize/Guatemala border
Police have released information on a fatal road traffic accident, which occurred last night. According to police, around 6:45 p.m., Benque Viejo police visited the George Price highway near the Belize western border. When cops arrived, officers observed a Hispanic man lying on the highway , apparently dead with a large cut wound to the left side of the head and left side of neck.

American woman found dead inside rental car
An American woman was found dead and badly decomposing inside her rented vehicle yesterday morning. Police say that around 11:50 a.m., police were on mobile patrol on the Placencia Peninsula main road situated between Seine Bight and Placencia.

Blogs

Christmas Eve Sunday Morning Walk in Corozal
Today is Christmas Eve in Belize and many went to church to celebrate the day before Jesus Birth. I walked around town and some businesses where still opened. I heard Christmas Music from the distance, I saw the tacos places full, and lots of discounts where offered by businesses for those who came by to buy for the Christmas Holiday tomorrow the 25th of December. Everyone will be with their loved one's sharing joyful laugh's and gifts exchange. Many other varying cultural traditions and experiences are also associated with Christmas Eve around the world, including the gathering of family and friends, the singing of Christmas carols, the illumination and enjoyment of Christmas lights, trees, and other decorations, the wrapping, exchange and opening of gifts, and general preparation for Christmas Day.

Christmas weekend in Corozal
On Saturday December 23rd, 2017 I went for a morning walk in the Bay of Corozal. Their was many people coming to buy in town for the Christmas Holiday in Corozal. I walked by in town and heard Christmas Music from the distance played by a local business. Some are giving discounts and some businesses will be open until Christmas Eve. The weather in Corozal was very humid. I Wasn't feeling that Cold Crisp cold front you feel in Belize in December. Usually, its always cold at this time of the year. For those who want's to escape the snow winter hey, this place is to be right now. I saw many people swimming on the water and going out with their boats. Some where just chilling at hang out spots like Jam Rock, Scotty's, Bay Breeze. I managed to take photo's until I finished. Corozal has many activities to do when you visit here. December is a month that high season start's to pick up in Belize. Snorkeling, Maya ruins, Butterfly farm, Old Sugar Factory in Libertad Some suggestions.

International Sources

Belize Exploration- Independence, Zoo and More!
It was an Independence Day celebration in Belize! The Chicken Foot Eating Contest in Corazol, Belize was a big deal, and then things got really exciting! We drove to Orange Walk Town and camped along the shores of the river just in time for the fun of the Belize Independence Day celebration! This event includes a local carnival with rides and games, political speeches, fireworks and a huge parade. Here are some highlights from these events, with photo captions. Behind us is the largest flag in the country of Belize. The man on the stage is extremely intoxicated. He is shouting "this is all for the people" and "I am going to go home now" and waving his arms around excitedly!

The Third Shanghai Archaeology Forum opened, World's Major archaeological discoveries and researches announced
Belizean recognized at The Third Shanghai Archaeology Forum - Dr. Jaime Awe, Field Discovery Award for "The Discovery and Political Significance of the A9 Tomb and Hieroglyphic Panels 3 and 4 at Xunantunich, Belize"

Videos

December 24, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Truck used in illegal dumping south of San Pedro Town identified
An eyewitness recently reported the improper and illegal disposal of garbage at the DFC subdivision of San Pedro Town. The person claims to have observed a gentleman in a grey Ford Pick-up Truck throwing bags full of garbage in an open area of the said subdivision. The complainant was able to take a picture of the vehicle’s license plate number (A0368) as a means to properly identify the offender. But even though officers at the San Pedro Traffic Department (SPTD) were able to identify the culprit in their database, they explained that they cannot do anything due to insufficient evidence. Instead, they are encouraging residents to make reports as soon as the offense is in progress.

Police still can’t confirm Vildo Westby’s arrest in Mexico
It’s been more than two weeks since the news broke of Vildo Westby being detained by Mexican authorities. On Thursday, December 7th it was reported that Westby was in custody of police in Las Choapas, Veracruz Mexico, but Belizean Police still won’t confirm his arrest. “Despite the Belize Police Department not helping, I remain calm because at least I know he is still in jail in Las Choapas. I’m currently checking on Westby’s status with the Mexican authorities regularly to ensure this,” said Felix Ayuso’s Sister Carmen Eiley. She further mentioned that she understands that to extradite someone from one country to another takes time.

NICH concludes investigation at San Pedro construction site following the discovery of human remains
After weeks of monitoring and investigating the findings of what are believed to be human remains of the Maya prehistoric era at a construction site in downtown San Pedro, personnel from the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) concluded their work on Tuesday, December 19th. The discovery of pieces of skull and fragments of bones along with pottery-shard artefacts let to the temporary stop of work at the construction site. However, construction will now resume while the team at NICH works on a report regarding the remains and artefacts. The first report of finding the remains took place on December 5th when workers were excavating the area. Ramos and his team traveled to the island where they spent weeks scouring the site for more items. “We found a couple more human bones, and pieces of ceramic material,” said Ramos. “The other items that we found were volcanic stones, which definitely are not native to the island.” It is believed that these came to the island because of a trading system between the Maya inhabiting what is now Belize with other people from other places such as Mexico.

Caye Caulker man remanded after cocaine bust
On Tuesday, December 19th, Caye Caulker resident, 37-year-old Peter Schmidt was formally charged along with another man from Lord’s Bank Village, 33-year-old Carlos Lopez with ‘Possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply.’ The duo was busted by police on Sunday, December 17th in the Buttonwood Bay area of Belize City with five kilos of cocaine and an unlicensed 9mm pistol with 11 live rounds of ammunition inside a white Toyota 4Runner they were in. During the arraignment at the City’s Magistrate Court, they were both denied bail but informed that they could apply for a release under security through the Supreme Court. Both men were then remanded to the Belize Central Prison until their next court date scheduled for March 8, 2018.

Ambergris Today

Having A Holly Jolly Christmas With The San Pedro Lions Club
The San Pedro Lions Club is always merry when it comes to celebrating with the community. Without fail they host the joyful Senior Citizens Dance during the Christmas Season and this year was no exception, on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, our elderly were treated to a fun filled night. Helping the San Pedro Lions Club at the Senior Citizens Dance were the staff of The Belize Bank and DFC San Pedro Branch. It was a night filled with fun and great entertainment. Dinner and live music from the ever popular Rompe Raja and lots of prizes and surprises. The merriment continued on Friday, December 22, 2017, as the Lions hit the streets of San Pedro spreading Christmas Cheer with high-spirited singing and dancing to cheerful Christmas songs at their annual Christmas Caroling. The caroling began at the Boca del Rio area and headed down to town with everyone singing and dancing and giving away treats.

Misc Belizean Sources

LOST DIVE BAG - CASH REWARD!
We lost a black mesh dive bag on the road to Secret Beach today. There was a yellow prescription mask and blue fins (among other items only of value to me) in the bag. If found, please contact Sapphire Beach Resort at 671-2553.

[email protected]Belize Diabetes Association in Corozal Town
We have opened the Corozal branch of the Belize Diabetes Association in Corozal Town. Please visit us at #42 4th avenue Corozal Town. Our number is 501-624-4476. Check out our facebook page belize diabetes association czl. Share the word in our community. We are also looking for supporters,sponsorship and volunteers for our exclusive pilot project. Write us at [email protected].

SISE Town Hall Inauguration
Pictures from the inauguration of the new SISE Town Hall. It was a great ceremony. Videos and Pictures.

The Reporter

Holiday safety tips from the House of Shotokan
Despite the merriment of the holidays, the Christmas season can be a dangerous time, especially for those doing late evening shopping. To help address some common security issues, Shihan Raymond Kelly, Grand Master of the House of Shotokan Karate Academy has given some general safety tips for surviving the holiday season. Kelly, a highly decorated martial arts master who teaches self defense courses at his academy in Belize City, explained that the first thing people must do is accept the fact that there are persons out there who are watching, and waiting for an opportunity to rob and possibly harm them.

No expected change in Belize/U.S relations despite UN vote says Sedi
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington said this week that he doesn’t foresee Belize’s vote at the United Nations negatively impacting the country’s relationship with the United States. On Thursday Belize was one of the 128 UN member countries that voted to render the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city “null and void”. Elrington told the media this week that Belize’s vote was not one in the spirit of being antagonistic to the US but rather one of respecting international law.

Corozal couple arrested for drug trafficking
A husband and wife duo from Corozal are facing charges for the Christmas holiday after police searched their home and found a lot more than 10 grams of marijuana. Police say that they searched the San Roman home of Ismael and Marcelina Cano around 3:50 a.m. yesterday, and found the drugs in varying quantities hidden in three rubber boots. One boot contained 30 grams, another 70 grams, and the third boot contained 164 grams, for a total of 264 grams. Three minors were present at the time of the search.

MOH clarifies what happened to EU funds
The Ministry of Health has publicly denounced media reports that it has lost access to funding from the European Union for upgrades to the Western Regional Hospital. The Ministry, addressing reports made on December 12, noted that GOB is still getting funds from the EU for health sector development; however, the focus has been expanded beyond the initial project proposal, which saw the majority of the funds being used for a 50-bed addition to the WRH.

Will 2017 murders exceed last year?
With two weeks left to go, the number of murders in 2017 stands exactly where it was at the end of last year, leaving the nation wondering if this year will have more murders than 2016. Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie, during his Christmas message to the nation, reported that for the year to date, Belize had 138 murders. These figures represent those confirmed and do not include missing persons who may have been murdered.

Breaking Belize News

Armed robbery in Corozal
Jaxi Tan, 21, a Belizean manager of Ranchito village, Corozal visited the Corozal Police Station and reported that he was robbed on Friday. According to Tan, around 10:58 a.m., three dark complexioned men entered his store and two of them held him at gun point. The thieves stole $7,000 cash, a Huawei cell phone valued at $1,000.

House burns in Placencia
On Thursday at 6:55 p.m., Placencia police responded to a report of a house fire in Seine Bight village in the Stann Creek district. There, officers observed a wooden structure measuring 20 feet by 20 feet with zinc roofing completely engulfed in fire.

Police to introduce GSU 2.0 next year
The Belize Police Department, in 2018, will introduce anti-gang legislation, which will create specific gang related offenses so as to directly address the matter of criminal gangs. According to Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, there currently exists no anti-gang legislation.

Relationship between Belize and US rocky over UN vote on Jerusalem?
This week in a show of intestinal fortitude, Belize voted in support of a resolution in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly for the United States to desist from recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. After defeating the US in the UN, the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, expressed that the US would not forget the ‘disrespect’ it endured.

Guatemala and Belize normalizing diplomatic relations
Following a meeting in Panama last week between Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and his Guatemalan counterpart, Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel, Guatemala is moving toward normalizing diplomatic relations with Belize. The meeting, which was the first such bilateral meeting since Jovel took up her new post, yielded several commitments to restoring diplomacy including returning an ambassador to Belize.

Alleged drug runners out on bail
Peter Schmidt and Carlos Lopez, the two men caught with 11 pounds of cocaine and an unlicensed firearm earlier this week, are out on bail valued at $100,000. Their attorneys, Oscar Selgado and Ellis Arnold, made bail applications yesterday before Justice Adolf Lucas, who granted both men bail but with conditions for each.

Faber stands by Cabinet decision to hire convicted con man
Despite the history of fraud surrounding Maimi investor Jeorge Jaen, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber says that the Government of Belize is satisfied with its pick to develop the new San Pedro International Airport. In an interview with Channel 7 News, Faber said that he was not present when the Cabinet sub-committee on investment met to discuss Jaen, but he is sure that they did their due diligence before selecting him.

Blogs

A Slower-Paced Life on La Isla Bonita for $2,000 a Month
Originally from Boston, I wasn’t looking forward to shoveling snow again after spending the last decade or so in warm weather climates like San Diego and Florida, so I focused my search on Central and South America. My partner, Lisa, and I decided to start in Belize because of the lower cost of living and because English is the official language. We plan to rent for at least a year to make sure we experience all of the seasons as well as the high and low points of the tourist season before committing to something more permanent. That will also give me time to brush up on my Spanish in case we decide to try another Central or South American destination. My days now consist of sitting on my porch drinking my coffee with some fresh cut mango or pineapple from the fruit stand next door while reading the news. We’re a block off the beach in beautiful San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye.

You Don’t Have to Eat Spam for Christmas
As Christmas draws near, more people are posting on Facebook asking which restaurants are doing Christmas day dinner specials on 25th. As you will see listed below there are quite a few options and you can see previously mentioned ones (Gem Restaurant, El Divino, Blue Water Grill and Red Ginger) in the More December Events post. Since there are a few delicious choices for Christmas Eve dinner, the 24th is also listed below. A word of advice: be prepared to have a plan B or C choice for your Christmas dinner – places are booking up fast, so get your reservations in asap.

Videos

December 23, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Victim disappointed with San Pedro Police response to sexual assault report
A young American female tourist claims to have been sexually assaulted on Sunday, December 17th, while biking in northern Ambergris Caye. The victim claims that a Hispanic man on a three-wheeler motorcycle approached her on a feeder road as she and a friend were heading towards the beach and forcibly groped her genitals. After the ordeal and with the help of a local family that happened to be around the area at the time, the police were called and following a report at the police station, the alleged perpetrator was detained. However, the person has not been charged and police say the matter is pending a thorough investigation. The victim, who wishes to stay anonymous, told The Sun that she arrived in San Pedro Town on Saturday, December 16th for a week stay. The following day in the morning, she and another friend decided to go biking north of town looking to explore the northern part of the island. According to her they observed a narrow pathway to the east and decided to traverse it hoping it led to the beach.

Developer of new International Airport accused of fraud
Shortly after the Government of Belize signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the construction of a multi-million international airport in northern Ambergris Caye with International Airport Alliance Belize Limited (IAA), its developer Jorge Abraham Jaen has come under much scrutiny following accusations of being a fraudster. A dissemination of documents shows that Jaen’s past accuses him of making false representations to obtain loans and was arrested in 2006 on charges of fraud, with a previous conviction for conspiracy to commit extortion and voter fraud. However, despite such serious accusations, the IAA has come forward to defend him and allegedly nothing has changed in the plans for the execution of works at the Basil Jones Area of the island where construction for the Efrain Guerrero International Airport will take place within the next 12 months.

San Pedro Lions host annual Christmas dinner party for island senior citizens
On Wednesday, December 20th, the San Pedro Lions Club hosted their popular Senior Citizen Christmas party. The annual event, organized for the senior residents of San Pedro Town saw live music, good vibes, drinks, gifts and a delicious turkey dinner for the specially invited guests. Members of the San Pedro Lions Club along with the Leos warmly welcomed the guests, who started arriving at 6PM. Once they were seated they were served an appetizer, followed by the main course and then a sweet dessert. Each one of the senior guests were provided with tickets, some were for the presentation of gifts later in the evening, while the others were to obtain free drinks. Serenading the event was no other than the island’s number one band Rompe Raja! This year, the staff of the Belize Bank provided gifts and along with the Lions and the staff from DFC they handed them out.

David Cannon wins custody case of three daughters
David Cannon, the adoptive father of Faye Lin Cannon and her three sisters, received the best Christmas present on Wednesday, December 20th, after the family court in Belize City granted him complete custody of his three daughters Zoe, Mia and Siri. Cannon had been battling to gain custody of his three daughters since July of this year when they were put under the care of Belize Human Services Department after their sister, 13-year-old Faye Lin was found dead in her bedroom on July 3rd. Prior to the incident, the children were living with their adoptive mother Anke Doehm and her husband David Dohem on Ambergris Caye. Both were arrested after they became the prime suspects of Faye’s death following a post-mortem examination revealing that the little girl was murdered and sexually abused.

Ambergris Today

David Cannon Reunites With Three Daughters After Receiving Full Custody
A Christmas Miracle - On Wednesday, December 20, 2017, David Cannon was granted custody of his three daughters by the Belizean court after what seemed an eternity, following the death of his fourth daughter Faye Lin Cannon on July 3, 2017. The entire country of Belize breathes a sigh of relief knowing that David’s three daughters are back with their father who has gone above and beyond in obtaining full custody of them and away from harm’s way in the hands of Anke Doehm. Friends close to Cannon explain how he did everything in his power to make sure that his girls were properly taken care throughout the time they were held in custody of Children Services in Belize during the custody trial.

Misc Belizean Sources

SPTC STAFF CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2017
It's the most wonderful time of the year - Christmas! Indeed it was wonderful! The San Pedro Town Council hosted a Christmas Lunch to its employees at E Patio Restaurant where they enjoyed delicious food and cold drinks to celebrate the season. The employees had a chance to take a spin at the Wheel of Fortune, where they had the chance to win a surprise gift, cash prize or a wine bottle. It was definitely so much fun as everyone were biting their nails hoping it would fall on the cash prize! It was a great, and very much deserved event for our employees! Thank you for all that you do and may you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2018!

Abandoned Angels
These guys were abandoned today at Dr. Sheila's and need a home. One is an adult apricot colored poodle with a trimmed coat about 2 or 3 years old who is very thin but very friendly. The other 2 are female puppies about 5 or 6 weeks old. Can you help or do you know anyone who can? Please contact Sheila: Sheila K. Schmeling, DVM. Corozal Veterinary Clinic. # 16 San Andres Rd. Corozal Town, Belize 422-2519. [email protected]

Mahogany Bay Market Day
The last Mahogany Bay Market Day happens the Saturday before Christmas, from 10AM – 1PM! The market will take an extended hiatus for 2018. Drop by for live music, last-minute handcrafted presents, and stock up on homemade food & drink for your holiday parties!

Even Santa knows
It's Better at Lina Point Overwater Cabanas...

15th Annual Placencia BTIA Art Festival 2018
Feb 10, 2018 at 5 PM to Feb 11, 2018 at 8 PM

St. Francis Xavier Credit Union's Annual Christmas giveaway!
Every year our St. Francis Xavier Credit Union brings Christmas cheers to our Corozal community and we are so grateful for it. Thank you St. Francis Xavier Credit Union. We wish you and your staff a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

The Nukux Tat(Tata Duende) and the Yucatec Maya in Belize
Nukux Tat or The Tata Duende is a goblin of folklore of Belize. The Tata Duende is a famous folklore common to the Yucatec Maya(Maya Mestizo) culture . In Yucatec Maya is known as 'Nukux Tat' , The name Tata is a maya word meaning "grandfather" and Duende is spanish for"Goblin" also known as "el Dueno del monte" considered as a powerful spirit that protects animals and the jungle. Many Maya Yucatec Maya ask permission to the Nukux Tat before entering the Bush or before entering to hunt. Some Yucatec Maya in Belize perform a Primicia Called Jetz lu'um its done for the prosperity of the land . Also during that offering they ask the Nukux Tat(Los Duenos del monte) protection from Mal Aire(Bad Breeze) which is believe to damage the land and those who inhabit them including Humans and animals. The Tata Duende is generally described as being of small stature that has a size of about 1.2 m high, has a beard, is wrinkled, lacks thumbs, has his feet backwards, and wears a large brimmed hat. He is characterized as a very short but very strong man with his feet pointing backwards.

Maya Folklore of the Xtabai
We all know the Maya Folklore of the Xtabai but do we know it's origin ? Una de las historia sobre el origen del Xtabai esta en espanol y en ingles gracias por el apoyo y vamos a mantener nuestra cultura Maya viva en el norte de Belize . Let's preserve our Yucatec Maya culture in Belize . A legend of Xtabay (the female demon) tells of two women who lived in a village in the Yucatán Peninsula. One was named Xkeban (which means "sinner", "bad woman" or "one who practices illicit love"); the other was Utz-Colel (a good, decent woman).

SUMMER 2018 STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTE FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATORS
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2018 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Secondary School Educators. Please read the program overview and share it with qualified partners and contacts. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations, including resumes, should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line: SUSI for Secondary School Educators. Application deadline is January 10, 2018.

Sweety Dee's now open in Ranchito village, Corozal

Capital United Vs Frank Eddy
Sat Dec 23 2017 at 08:00 pm. Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Ring Road, City of Belmopan, Belmopan, Belize As we enter our final games of the regular season in d Belmopan First Division Opening Tournament. So its on for Sat night at 8pm against Frank Eddy in a game we must win if we will give ourselves a chance at the playoff. Calling out all my players.

Rotaract Club of Corozal One Year Anniversary
Congratulations for a job well done! The Rotaract Club of Corozal is very honored to be serving our community for one year now. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, challenges, trials and successes but we made it through and will keep going strong....because that is the Rotaract Life!

Channel 7

The UN Vote Against The US, Play-By-Play
Last night, we told you how 128 countries, including Belize, passed a resolution in the United States General Assembly rebuking US President Donald Trump. The resolution calls for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Now, for those viewers who are unaware, Jerusalem remains the flashpoint of a territorial dispute between Israel and Palestine. Both nations claim that holy city as their capital. To keep the peace, the UN has been supporting what is called the "Two-State" solution, where Jerusalem is divided between them. As a mark of respect for the very fragile state of affairs, nations have placed their ISRAELI embassies in Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem.

Why Belize Did Not Stand With Trump, Despite Threats
So, as you heard in Ambassador Nikki Haley's speech to the UN General Assembly, the United States appears to interpret the actions of those countries which supported the vote as an "attack". Belize supported the vote, and so today, we sought out Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington for comment on the possible negative consequences of that decision. In his interview with us, Elrington read from the letter that Ambassador Lois Young sent to US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, in response to her letter stating that President Trump was watching how each nation votes. Here's what Belize wrote to the US:

Will Belize Support Call For New Elections In Honduras?
We also asked Foreign Minister Elrington what position Belize will take on the disputed elections in Honduras. It's been weeks since the country had its presidential election, and the right-wing Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernandez, has been declared the victor. But those results have been strenuously contested by his political opponent Salvador Nasralla Salum, who has alleged that the incumbent president stole the election. In the aftermath, Honduras has been plunged into turmoil and nationwide protests broke out.

Brazen Robberies In Corozal
Christmas may mean caring and sharing for most of us, but for criminals it means robbing and jacking. Proof of that came yesterday in Corozal town when two businesses were targeted by daring armed robbers. A pair of armed and unmasked robbers targeted MIR's Jewelry Shop in the near the town's center around 6:00 yesterday evening. Reports say the storeowner was preparing to close up, when two men strode up and smashed the glass showcase with a crowbar - to get at the jewelry inside. One of them then pulled out a gun and ordered the storeowner to hand over his money. But he didn't hand over anything and protected the jewelry in the show-window. He did it so effectively that the un-masked robbers were forced to beat a hasty retreat. Surveillance video in the area shows the pair casually walking towards the jewelry store seconds before the robbery. Police haven't made any arrests.

Man Shot While Sitting In Car
A man was shot at last night in Belmopan. 20 year old Armenia resident Jose Amilcar Najera was sitting inside his parked car along the ring road when someone in a pickup drove up and fired at him. He was hit to the lower chin and left palm. Police are investigating.

Still No Answers For Men Missing For Many Weeks and Months
As we close 2017, the media, the public and the police remain puzzled as to what could have happened to two missing men - who seemingly disappeared into thin air. 49 year old Belize City resident Mark Pollard went missing on a morning run in early July, and 83 year old Sandhill resident Hubert Richards went missing in mid-November. Their families have been following up on leads for weeks and months - but still, no sign, and no close as to where these men could be. Now, as they face Christmas without their loved ones - we asked police for an update. The lead investigator said that police continue working with the families, and are equally clueless:

COMPOL Says 2018 Will See A Better Police Department
In last night's news, we had extensive coverage of the police press press conference where Commissioner Allen Whylie gave a statistical overview of major crime in 2017. He also talked about the plan to bring down the murder total in 2018. That means new anti-gang legislation. He outlined the new gang legislation:

Police Minister Looks forward to CABEI Security Project Rollout in 2018
And a lot of the promise for police in 2018 comes from the fact that there's 30 million US dollars from CABEI to spend on the Belize Integral Security Programme. That's what the Police Commissioner says will be used on a number of new police buildings in the Corozal and Belize Districts. And it's also why the Minister of State says he's excited about 2018:...

Can Cops Cuff "The Moving Hands" Behind Crime
And like the commissioner, Aragon is eager to crack down on gangs. Speaking in generalities, he says the approach in 2018 will be intelligence driven:... Hon. Elodio Aragon, Minister of State, Police: "In 2018 we are looking for a more focus and intelligence driven police department that will be able to act smarter in terms of working smarter, not necessarily harder, but smarter and able to deal with the people who are actually the masterminds behind most of the crime situations that we have." We should note that glib talk about an "intelligence-based" approach is something we've heard form successive ministers to little effect - and we've now come to accept it as just another police platitude.

Cops Concede They Were Wrong About Circumstances Of Leon Usher Shooting
Since ACP Chester Williams took over the Professional Standards Branch, at any given time he's got dozens of open investigation files on his desk. And yesterday, he addressed almost ten of them which have garnered public attention. That included the case of Leon Usher. Police responded to a domestic disturbance in early November, where they said he made threats and tried to grab the police officer's gun. Usher says that's just a plain old lie; he says the police just got there, cursed at him and then opened fire. ACP Williams said that indeed the account put out by police was inaccurate, but the police shooter and the victim also happen to be relatives:

Family Claims Cops Planted Bullet, But Surveillance Camera Wasn't Recording
There won't be any such tidy ending to a case of alleged police wrongdoing in the Port Loyola Area. The family of Alex and Austin Underwood had claimed that police planted a live round in their yard. This is after two men were remanded for possession of a single round of ammunition. But, the Underwood's said it was a setup and that they had a security camera in their yard which would prove this. They handed over the recorder to ACP Williams to prove this - but he said, the outcome was not what the family thought it would be:

It Wasn't Cops Who Beat Ara
And, in a final bit of police internal affairs housekeeping, there's the case of Tray Ara. In October they made a public outcry, saying that San Ignacio police had badly brutalized 21-year-old Tray Ara while he was in custody. It turns out that indeed he was beaten in the cell block, but it was another prisoner who did it. Williams explained: Ara had to be hospitalized for a couple of days following the fist fight due to head and neck injuries.

BEL's Christmas Gift To Western Villages
While you may be hoping for your favorite gift under the Christmas tree, residents of the small villages of Selena, Santa Teresita, Los Tambos and San Marcos in the Cayo District got the best gift of all: Electricity. BEL is still setting up the power lines, but by the end of the year, villagers who once used candlelight and paper fans will soon be able to plug in the real thing. The villagers shared their excitement on this groundbreaking development. The first plan to connect these villages was put forward a decade ago, but it never happened because of difficulties routing power lines around Spanish Lookout.

Cops and Kids, Turning Water Into A Friend
40 children from the Belmopan area got a great gift from the Capital Cops and the Coast Guard: they learned how to swim! Belmopan police set up the program to impart an important life skill to the children - and also to make them safer in a country with so many water resources. John Carr from Banana Bank Lodge donated the use of his pool and today - after a week of training by the Coast Guard, they all graduate. A statement from Belmopan police says it's all about creating safer communities and narrowing the gap between the community and the police.

Hampers For the Elderly
And police were also doing valuable community work in Belize City, where 12 more Southside residents received Christmas Hampers. The police officers from Precinct 1 delivered the Hampers this afternoon to needy elderly persons. For some ..it's the only gift they will unwrap this Christmas. We went along to meet the grateful residents. The police delivered to residents of Tigris Street , Dean Street and Faber Road.

Cops Put In The Work
And while we do a lot of police publicity on the news - the truth is this weekend when many of us are enjoying our Christmas with family and friends, they will be on duty, in many cases, far from the comforts of home. Minister of State for Home Affairs Elodio Aragon - who was once a cop himself - noted their sacrifice:.. We also note the sacrifice of medical staff who keep hospitals staffed and running, and media workers here at Channel 7 and other media houses who keep radio and television stations on the air throughout the holidays.

How Is The Christmas Coming?
And, so, another Christmas has rolled around… and the big day is just two days away. But are Belizeans really ready for Christmas? Or has the feverish, last minute preparation just started? Well that's what we tried to find out today when Sahar Vasquez hit the city streets and the shopping centers:

The City At Night
And from all of us here at Channel 7 to all of you, our faithful viewers, we HOPE YOU HAVE A BLESSED HOLIDAY. We hope that you pass the holidays safe, and happy, sharing this special season with family or friends. Join us back here on Wednesday night - and until then, merry Christmas! We leave you with the sight of Albert street this evening into night - as shoppers make that last minute rush.

Channel 5

Murder Count is Even, but ComPol Promises Reduction in 2018
With only nine days to go in 2017, crime statistics for the past twelve months indicate that there are equal numbers of homicides recorded between this year and 2016.  That [...]

Gangs the Main Cause; City Rules the Roost Again
The introduction of Operation ACT, a direct law enforcement response to the spike in violent crimes during the months of September and October, has, to a certain extent, stemmed the [...]

The Stick for Gangsters; New Laws Will Target Them
The feud among inner city gangs, particularly during the aftermath of ACP Chester Williams’ departure from his previous post as Commander of Eastern Division South, is responsible for the upsurge [...]

Operation ACT Has Reduced Friction and Tension
The Belize Police Department, despite its many internal challenges this year, is beating its chest proudly and basking in the success of Operation ACT.  Much of that achievement was made [...]

Police’s 2018 Resolutions: Armed, Empowered, Active
And finally from ComPol Whylie, is a projection of what can be expected of the department come January 2018.  While many of its challenges are ever-present, the agency is armed [...]

Guatemala Moves to Restore Normal Diplomatic Relations
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington’s meeting with his Guatemalan counterpart Sandra Jovel Polanco produced a number of updates on critical issues between the two countries. After months of tension due to [...]

Foreign Minister Says Belize Receptive and Reciprocal
Despite niceties over the years on the diplomatic front, relationships on the ground between the two countries have shown bumps and bruises. The two foreign ministers spoke of trying to [...]

Are Countries Ready for 2018-19 Referenda?
2017 is almost over and it was a big year news-wise. But 2018 is expected to be even bigger, as the question Belizeans and Guatemalans have been waiting for decades [...]

P.U.P. Did Not Play Scrooge with Christmas Cheer
The final announcement from Prime Minister Dean Barrow at the December eighth meeting at the House of Representatives came as a true surprise. Despite a sluggish economy, the Government of [...]

Belmopan Man Avoids Shooting Death by Drive-By
Belmopan police are investigating an attempt made on the life of twenty-year Jose Amilcar Najera. The Armenia farmer was shot to the lower chin and left palm on Thursday night [...]

2 Sought in Hattieville Late Night Stabbing Attack
Meanwhile, police are looking for two persons in connection with a stabbing on Wednesday night in Western Pines Village, near mile eight on the George Price Highway. Just before eight [...]

K.H.M.H.’s NICU Wins Christmas Decorating Competition
Every year, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital carries out a Christmas decorating competition among its various units. Each staff of the different participating units develops a theme and they work [...]

From the Streets: Why is Christmas Special to You?
Downtown Albert Street was bustling with residents purchasing gifts and food items for that perfect Christmas celebration for the entire family. It’s one of the favorite times of the year [...]

Anglican Bishop Says We Must Follow Christ Child’s Example
As important at this time of the year as the things we eat and do are our reflections on the legend of the Christ Child and his entry into the [...]

LOVE FM

Montero says Tiger Aggregates Ltd had the proper license
There are still many questions concerning the blast that occurred earlier this month in the Santa Cruz area of Santa Elena Town, which killed Ronald Sutherland, who owned Tiger Aggregates Limited. There have been reports that he did not have the proper license to carry out a blast of such magnitude. As we reported last …

Victim will take legal action against Tiger Aggregates Limited
Minister Rene Montero told Love news that the families whose homes were damaged due to the blast will be compensated. However, he did not say how much monies will be given to the affected families. Today we learned that the families are not being compensated enough. Love news spoke with Marianne Foreman, whose mother-in-law’s house …

Adoptive father granted custody of Linn’s siblings
The adoptive father of the late Faye Linn Cannon, David Cannon, was granted full custody of the surviving three sisters. The decision was made on Wednesday by the family court in Belize City. Cannon intends to return to the United States with the three girls in time for the Christmas vacation. He had been fighting …

Government will address $90 million debt in the New Year
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber confirmed to the media that the government intends to introduce an appropriation bill with regards to the $90.6 million UHS debt owing to the Belize Bank Limited. A few weeks ago the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled that GOB must pay the debt to Belize Bank using the Consolidated Revenue …

Faber comments on International Airport Alliance
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber was also asked about the allegations surrounding Jorge Jean. In the past few days, Jean’s credibility has been questioned after documents accuse him of Conspiracy to Commit Extortion and voter fraud. He owns International Airport Alliance which was contracted by the Government to construct a one hundred million dollar airport …

Tour guide narrowly escaped death
Police in Belmopan is looking for one man with respect to a drive-by shooting last night. Fem Cruz reports. Fem Cruz, Love FM “A twenty-year-old tour guide operator of Armenia Village on the Hummingbird highway just barely escaped death after he was shot several times. According to the victim, 20-year-old Jose Amilcar, he was inside …

Lincoln Navigator was reported stolen minutes after crash
Police say they have spoken with the owner of the white Lincoln Navigator that was confiscated at the Santa Elena Border after police found drugs in it. As we reported before, on December 12th the still unidentified driver of a white Navigator sped back across the border into Belize to escape Mexican customs. Reports are …

Man stabbed multiple times
A stabbing in Western Pines has left one man hospitalized. Police report that shortly before eight o’clock last night, 21-year-old Kendale Danderson was walking home in the village when he was approached from behind by two men. One of them stabbed him multiple times. Danderson was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he …

Aragon discusses plans for the Professional Standards Branch
The Belize Police Department is seeking to do a lot more institutional improvements in the New Year. One area of focus says Minister of State in Home Affairs, Elodio Aragon Jr. is the Professional Standards Branch. Minister Aragon says they want to make that branch of the department more autonomous. This will allow Belizeans to …

Aragon: “We’ll see major investments within the Belize Police Department”
Minister of State for Home Affairs also spoke of various other initiatives for the continued improvement of the department. This includes legislative reforms. Elodio Aragon Jr. – Minister of State in Home Affairs “With this institutional and capacity building that we have done for the Belize Police Department along with the CABEI loan agreement that …

Amandala

Hon. Sedi forgets agreement with Oleander residents
Natalie Carlene Adolphus, who resides with her family and four other families in a barracks on Oleander Street, in Pickstock, Belize City, is angry because her area representative, Minister Wilfred Elrington, passed her and her neighbors over when he selected families who would get to live in a new apartment building built right in front of theirs. The barracks where Natalie lives is in a state of disrepair. A new apartment building was constructed in front of their home. Several fortunate families will get to live in the new building, while Natalie’s family and the other four families continue to struggle in their dilapidated barracks. In an interview with us this morning, Natalie told us that in August she was told that she and her family were to evacuate the building, because it was to be demolished. She said she was told that a new building was going to be constructed. She said they were to find a house to move into for a month, and the rent would have been paid by Honorable Elrington.

BNTU President expresses hope for successful mediation of Public Service Workers Trust
Early in the New Year, the Government of Belize and the unions will head to the negotiating table to hammer out an agreement for the over 7 million dollars that is sitting in the Public Service Workers Trust since the Supreme Court judgment that ordered it to be frozen until a new Trust Deed is drafted and agreed upon by all the parties. This situation came about after two retired public officers successfully sued the unions over the management of the funds. Today, Amandala sat down with the president of the Belize National Teachers Union, Elena Smith, for an exclusive interview on the subject.

Suspected killer escaped from police
George Bull, 29, of Orange Walk Town, who is suspected of being the gunman responsible for the shooting death of Jaime “James” Pelayo, Jr., 35, also of Orange Walk Town, escaped from police custody yesterday. Pelayo was shot while talking to two women in front of a bar in Orange Walk Town when a man approached and fired shots in their direction. The two women were grazed, but James was hit in the chest. After shooting at the trio the gunman escaped. An investigation led police to George Bull, and he was detained pending further investigation.

Belize says yes to UN resolution
Diplomats at the United Nations General Assembly in New York voted overwhelmingly to reject US President Trump’s decision to recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The vote went 128-9 against the US, and the assembly approved a non-binding resolution which called on countries to avoid moving their embassies to Jerusalem. A number of countries abstained from the vote, 35 in all. Notably, Belize voted against the US move, as did the United Kingdom. Only nine countries, including the US, Israel and Guatemala, voted in favor of naming Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

PUP says Jaen “like deja vu all over again”
Over a week ago, the Government of Belize (GoB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Airport Alliance Belize Limited to construct an international airport in San Pedro Town. We reported that Ministers Erwin Contreras and Manuel Heredia Jr., signed on behalf of GoB, while Jorge Abraham Jaen signed on behalf of the contracted company. However, research carried out by Amandala revealed that Jaen has a very questionable past in the United States. Since our newspaper broke the story he has come under heavy scrutiny. Today, the Opposition People’s United Party issued a statement which read, “The news that the Barrow Administration’s $100Million International Airport Santa Claus is actually a realtor based in Miami with no experience in building or in airport development should come as absolutely no surprise to Belizeans.

Present and former foreign ministers quarrel over Maritime Areas Act
For two nights in a row, Foreign Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington (UDP) and Senator Eamon Courtenay (PUP), were seen on the evening news hurling blame and insults at each other over who is on the right side of history and who is on the wrong side, when it comes to the Maritime Areas Act (MAA), the law that allowed Belize to de-limit its territorial sea to 3 miles instead of the 12 miles to which it is entitled under international law. The Maritime Areas Act (MAA), a piece of legislation Belize was urged to pass in its parliament in 1992 as a goodwill gesture in negotiations with Guatemala over its territorial claim, has remained on Belize’s law books through successive UDP and PUP administrations, despite calls from knowledgeable Belizeans that it has outlived its diplomatic usefulness.

Griga high schools sweep 2017 NSSSA Basketball Nat’ls
Stann Creek Ecumenical boys and Delille Academy girls both emerged as champions in the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) Basketball Championships, sponsored by SOL Belize Limited and Crystal Water, and hosted by Mopan Technical High School at the Sacred Heart College auditorium in San Ignacio over the weekend. The tournament, matching the four zone champions, male and female, in a simple knockout format, had first round losers then playing for third place, and first round winners meeting for the championship.

Stann Creek F.A. 1st Division Cup 2017 championship results
The Stann Creek Football Association (SCFA) 1st Division Cup 2017 tournament came to an exciting end yesterday, Sunday, December 17, at the Carl Ramos Stadium, where the third place and championship games were played. In the match for third place, Silk Grass Strikers and Dangriga Young Footballers Academy (DYFA) ended 2-2 in regulation. Asad Sho (33) and Collin Fox (51) shook the net for Silk Grass; while Janard Castillo (1) and Tremayne Thompson (62) hit the target for DYFA. This game thus had to go into penalty kicks, where Silk Grass Strikers won, 5-4, to take the third place prize of $1,000.00 plus a team trophy and medals.

Belmopan F. A. 1st Division 2017-18 Opening Season weekend results
The Belmopan Football Association (BFA) 1st Division 2017-2018 Opening Season tournament continued over the weekend with games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium. In the first of two Group B games on Friday, Cavetubing.Bz Strikers were 4-2 winners over Valencia YWAM Boyz. The Strikers got a goal each from Orin Lopez ((4), Luis Franco (9), Jose Rubi (22) and Auner Carrera (33); while YWAM Boyz got a goal apiece from Ernesto Lauriano (63) and Jalen Myers (66). In the nightcap, Coast Guard FC and Police FC played to a 0-0 stalemate.

Smart Mundialito 2017 Closing Season championship and awards ceremony
The Smart 13 & Under Mundialito 2017 Closing Season climaxed on Sunday, December 17, at the Marion Jones Sports Complex, where the third place and championship games were followed by the tournament awards ceremony. In the third place game scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Hattieville River Side Boys got the 1-nil win over RG City Boys. Next was the traditional exhibition match featuring coaches against officials, where the coaches prevailed, 2-1.

Editorial: Doomed
Chinese businessmen have been taking over the prime real estate on Central American Boulevard for years now, as part of a business strategy, and a very successful one at that. The Chinese have become dominant in the areas of groceries, stores, supermarkets, and restaurants. In downtown Belize City, Indian and other Asian businessmen have gobbled up the real estate there. They specialize in dry goods, textiles, and imported foodstuff, and they appear to be very successful in their own wise. Both these immigrant communities live disciplined family lives. Their children are focused on education and culture, and overall both parents and children are exemplary citizens of Belize, as far as anyone can see.

From The Publisher
When a man reaches the age I have, a man, all things being equal, has to be extra careful. Yes, a septuagenarian’s life experiences are very helpful, and they boost a man’s confidence. But, the world has speeded up and advanced so exponentially when it comes to various kinds of technology — computer, communications, and other kinds of technology, that an older man has to be double checking himself all the time. You have to run your reads by younger folk, because they are the ones who understand what the hell is going on. Now, those of you who think you know me, will be surprised to know that I benefit from a wellspring of humility. As I grew up, I could see that my father and my younger maternal uncle had done some things, each in his own way, that I could never hope to equal. No matter how you see me speak or behave, I am a humble man. I am more humble these last years than I have ever been, because hypertension prevents me from indulging in alcohol. Alcohol, you know, will turn pussycats into tigers and lambs into lions. Alcohol transforms men, and more often than not that transformation is for the worse.

Free cheese …
Election time in Belize and the Party factotums will be busy handing out their trinkets — Make Belize Great Again (?) Ball caps and T-shirts, a chicken and a few bucks, all to garner your votes. I would remind voters of an old Polish proverb: “Free cheese can be found only in a mousetrap.” Soldier on … Russell Czarnecki

A historical vignette: Goldson at the U.N. in 1967
This is the time when Philip Goldson went to the UN in 1967. Compton Fairweather followed him to the U.N.! See him sitting next to PG. At that same time, Harry Lyon Morris was the Chairman of the 4th Committee at the U.N. in 1967, when he made an impassioned plea at the 4th Committee about Belize (then British Honduras). Harry Lyon Morris was the grandson of Dr. Ernest Lyon, who was born in Belize. Dr. Lyon was the former US ambassador to Liberia and later Liberian Consul General in the US.

RIGHT TO THE POINT: Be safe this holiday
It’s that time of the year when so many get excited about Christmas and New Year’s celebrations and being with friends and family. It is the time when people spend the most, drink the most and visit with others the most. For some it’s mostly about partying and having fun, and for others it’s about the birth of Christ … a celebration of the coming of the Saviour of mankind. Whatever you belief, practice or preach, it’s for sure that in this part of the world it is the most monumental event. Road safety is an issue: However, tragedy can strike any time and sadly, it is also the time of the year when we have lots of people on the roads and thus lots of traffic accidents to the extent of fatalities. Of recent the number of fatal traffic accidents in our little Jewel called Belize is overwhelming. Honestly, I am starting to think it is the number one killer in our country. Not one weekend passes without some traffic fatality, from a hit and run to a collision and this does not involve the countless minor fender benders and the like. As we saw over the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations, the fatalities see a quantum leap during holidays, because people naturally travel more.

Night time and daytime gamblers
The story goes that some years ago a Minister played with 5 million dollars people’s money on the stock exchange. When the stock crashed, we were left with a $5m hole in the Central Bank. This gambling allegedly took place in the dead of night, where no one could see. So, people only heard of it after the cow was long out of the barn. People wondered, if the horses had come up roses, who would have taken the windfall? It’s kind of tricky. If regular folk knew naught about it, maybe the winnings could have been skimmed. There was no maybe about who took it on the chin. The UDPeez, they are the bold type. They gamble in the broad day. The UDPeez gambled that that we could go to a court made up of men and women entirely divorced from our local fray, and prove that a foreign investor had invested here with unclean hands.

Warring sanitation workers – one hospitalized, the other in custody

Fisherman and Land Consultant Charged For 5 Kilos of Cocaine, and Firearm and Ammunition
Two men, Peter Schmidt, 37, and Carlos Lopez, 33, were charged with drug trafficking and possession of a firearm and ammunition, when they appeared in court today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. They pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were remanded into custody until March 8. Schmidt gave his occupation as that of a fisherman, and he said that he resides in Caye Caulker. Lopez said he is a land consultant and he lives in Lords Bank Village. They were busted on Sunday, December 17, when police intercepted a white 4-Runner in which they were sitting on Piper Street in Buttonwood Bay.

Cigarette ring busted in Guatemala with roots in Belize
Guatemalan authorities have made a significant bust in a cigarette contraband ring with deep roots inside Belize. According to Guatevision.com, “the Public Ministry and the National Civil Police in Guatemala conducted 35 raids to dismantle a criminal structure dedicated to the smuggling of cigarettes.” According to the article, the raids were coordinated by the Economic Crimes Prosecutor’s Office in the departments of Izabal, Chiquimula, Quiché and Petén. Guatevision.com further reported that authorities began to monitor a criminal ring that bought cigarettes in our country then moved them to Guatemala. No tax or duty was ever paid on these cigarettes that, according to Guatemalan authorities, did not meet import requirements.

Robber shot by victim, charged for robbery
Dean Nembhard, 21, who was shot in his arm by Dorian Usher when a group of four men (which included Nembhard himself) attempted to rob Monica’s Pawnshop, was charged with robbing Usher when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Nembhard pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court could not offer him bail because the offence was committed with a firearm. He was remanded into custody until January 31. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 14. Usher, who is the son of Gilroy Usher, Sr., the owner of the pawnshop, located at the corner of Cemetery Road and Elston Kerr Street, reported to the police that he was inside the pawnshop with his sister and some employees when he saw four men enter the pawnshop.

The Reporter

Cocaine smuggler leaves drugs behind, flees for freedom
Corozal police are seeking the driver of an abandoned SUV after the driver escaped Mexican authroities, leaving behind six parcels of cocaine in the vehicle. According to police, the cocaine totaled 6,328 grams. The SUV had crashed into a metal post at the entrance of the Belize […]

Armed thieves target passenger bus in Camalote
On Monday night two armed gunmen entered a Belize Bus Owners Cooperative (BBOC) bus and robbed the conducter and driver of that day’s bus fares and and fled after firing a single shot inside the bus. The thieves escaped with a purse containing over $200 in cash, […]

The curious case of Jorge Jaen
Jorge Abraham Jaen, one of the owners of International Airport Alliance Belize Limited has been the subject of much controversy since the government of Belize announced that the IAA would build the new international airport in San Pedro. Last week, GOB signed a memorandum of understanding with […]

Three stabbings; two fatal
A car dealer was mercilessly stabbed to death on Marine Parade – a night-time hang out spot along the stretch of the Caribbean Sea from the Baron Bliss Lighthouse to the Memorial Park. Police were alerted sometime before 11:00 Saturday night of a fight between […]

Nat Geo says Belize is a top winter travel destination
World-renowned National Geographic has cited Belize as a prime destination for travelers in a recently published article by its travel site entitled “Best Winter Trips in 2018”. The article, recommended nine places, eight countries specifically, and one general region that travelers should explore during the winter. Belize […]

What women need to know about ovarian cancer
Research reveals that ovarian cancer begins in a woman’s fallopian tubes and spreads to the ovaries – the two organs on either side of her womb that produce eggs each month – which are also the main source of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. […]

What triggers asthma attacks
Asthma usually develops during childhood, but it can affect us at any age. People who have allergies or a parent or close family member with asthma are also likely to have the condition. While more boys have asthma than girls, it is more common in […]

Meridian Enterprises to sue Fyffes for damages
Two years after the abrupt termination of their commercial agreement, Meridian Enterprises, the company that took over the Mayan King banana farms from John Zabaneh, is suing the Irish fresh produce company, Fyffes, for damages. Meridian, owned by Zabaneh’s mother, has retained the services of Eamon Courtenay […]

WWF helps UB manage Belize River watershed
Belize is blessed with many fresh water sources from numerous rivers which traverse our land, but there is growing concern about water quality of the our principal waterway, the Belize River, and the Macal and Mopan rivers which flow into it, particularly in the light of recent warnings from the […]

A $90 million lesson Part II
In the Part I of this article, printed in the December 17th issue of The Reporter, we went back 17 years to December 2000, when Universal Health Services (UHS) first entered arrangements with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Part I ended with verbatim excerpts from the arbitration agreement contained in […]

Fishing industry must press ahead with building climate resilience in 2018
The year 2017 taught us many lessons, and although Belize was spared any major impact from hurricanes this year, the devastation wrought by monster hurricanes Irma and Maria on sister Caribbean countries, and particularly on fishers whose livelihoods were adversely impacted, underscores the need for […]

Christmas is all about Love!
It is about love and respect for God, the magnificent, mighty Creator of the universe. But mostly it is about the love that God has for the race of humans He created, endowing its members with special gifts of intelligence and powers of discernment. The superb engineering of the universe […]

Picture speaks a thousand words
Police, on Thursday, gave an official account of an investigation regarding a photo widely circulated on social media, depicting three young ladies presumed to be minors, seemingly at a Police Cadet function, appearing to drink contraband beer. The police account, however, has left more questions […]

Man electrocuted while trimming trees in Independence
An Independence man died in a freak accident on Tuesday after he was electrocuted while trimming the trees at a local restaurant in the village. According to police, around 6:05 p.m., on Tuesday, cops responded to a report that a man had been electrocuted. When […]

Courtenay and Elrington spar over Maritime Areas Act
There were fireworks in the news this week between the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington and his predecessor, Senator Eamon Courtenay when they got into a heated war of words over the existing Maritime Areas Act. The Act needs to be amended to […]

Guatemalans say contraband cigarettes originated in Belize
The Belize Police Department says that it is looking into a report of an alleged contraband cigarette smuggling ring, originating in Belize and branching out to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. At the scheduled press briefing on Thursday, the Department said that officials are inquiring […]

Breaking Belize News

Belize’s vote on the Jerusalem Resolution- why we were right to vote as we did
By Lisa Shoman: “After the Second World War, the State of Israel was established […]

Corozal police arrest husband and wife for drug trafficking
Yesterday morning around 3:50, police conducted a search at the residence of Ismael Cano in San […]

Documents prove Ministry of Works failed to comply with safety protocols in Santa Elena explosion
On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, residents of Santa Cruz in Santa Elena Town experienced a […]

Western Pines Villager ambushed by two men and stabbed
On Wednesday, December 20, around 8:02 pm, police visited #149 Western Pines Village where they observed […]

Blogs

My Days Before Christmas in San Pedro, Belize
I won’t pretend that my holidays in Belize are all sunny skies and rainbows. Wait….they are. I can’t pretend, though, that everything is perfection – there is some Christmas-stress here too. Yesterday I traveled to Belize City in a JAM PACKED BOAT for some errands. And many here work during the holidays – work hard. The crowds are set to arrive this weekend for one of the busiest tourism weeks of the year. Here are some pictures from the last two days. The weather is absolutely glorious and that makes things better. I’m hoping your holidays are fantastic. Let me just get into the photos. My neighbor, Xtan Ha Resort, is working feverishly to finish their outside bar before the weekend. Early this morning they set up tables and chairs. Here’s a look yesterday… As I waited for my water taxi to town.

International Sources

Marine World Heritage News: December 2017
Belize is making strides towards being removed from the list of World Heritage Sites in danger. Details in the December 2017 Issue of the UNESCO Marine World Heritage News!

Oceans on the rebound? These 5 developments give us hope.
The fortunes of people everywhere are inextricably linked to our five oceans, and nowhere is this more evident than in the world’s poorest, most vulnerable communities that rely on oceans to meet their most basic everyday needs. By rebuilding fisheries in these areas, we can secure nutrition and better economic conditions for people worldwide. And today – even as overfishing remains one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges – we’re seeing incredible progress toward sustainable fishing with several tangible successes just this past year. Here are five recent developments that bring hope for the world’s oceans and the billions of people who depend on them. 1) Belize shows the way on ocean sustainability. Belize has emerged as a leader on ocean sustainability, most recently after announcing bold new commitments at the United Nations Oceans Conference in June. The government of Belize has made voluntary commitments to turn the Caribbean nation’s fisheries into an engine for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

Videos

December 22, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Adopt a Bear once again brings Christmas happiness to children of Ambergris Caye
Thanks to the Adopt a Bear project sponsored by Raise Me Up, over 200 children on Ambergris Caye who wouldn’t otherwise receive a Christmas present, received one on Wednesday, December 20th. Many children gathered in the morning at the San Pedro Lions Den to receive their gifts from Santa Claus and his elf’s. “I’m glad for the constant support that we receive from islanders and visitors of San Pedro,” said Raise Me Up’s Joe Chung, “This year was another success just like the previous ones, as we received 359 gifts. I hope that it continues to be like this for the coming years.” “Adopt a Bear” project doesn’t only benefit children of Ambergris Caye, as over 100 children on the mainland received a gift as well. The presents were distributed on Thursday, December 21st to Liberty Children’s Shelter and Kings Home in Belmopan.

Guatemalan beauty queen hosted on Ambergris Caye
On the 16th and 17th of December, island resident and pageant trainer Enrique de Leon hosted 15-year old Ofelia Marisol Ramirez Cardona, a beauty queen from the Department of Peten in Guatemala. Cardona was crowned Reina de la Feria 2017 on November 27th after representing her hometown of San Andres at the municipal level. She will be now competing at the Department’s pageant on January 6, 2018. During her visit to La Isla Bonita Cardona took a couple lessons with de Leon as well as with Miss Earth Belize 2017, Iris Salguero. She departed on Monday, December 18th. On Saturday, December 16th, Cardona engaged in training sessions with Leon as she prepares for the pageant in January. At the pageant, she will be competing against 14 contestants from other municipalities. Leon was also joined by Salguero, who shared some tips with Cardona in the world of pageantry. Salguero recently returned to Belize after representing the Jewel as the Miss Earth 2017 Pageant in Manila, Philippines. Later that day, Cardona along with her committee were treated to a dinner at Rio Restaurant and Bar.

SPTC installs new street lights on Ambergris Caye
The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) started the installation of new street lights on Ambergris Caye on Wednesday, December, 13th. Lights have been installed from north of the Sir Barry Bowen Bridge all the way to Belizean Shores. Other areas on the island that will benefit from this project include San Mateo, San Juan, San Pedrito, DFC, Eiley Sub-Division and Elliot Sub-Division. “This project of the new light posts for the island is something that we had mention several times, so it should be nothing new for the Islanders, “ said Mayor Daniel Guerrero. “We started with the north side of the island because we are in the tourism high season. We hope the new lights will help prevent any crime as well as assist late night workers.” Guerrero also mentioned that over 360 lights have already been purchased to be installed in the various areas that are needed.

Wyndham Hotel Group representative gives update on Ambergris Caye hotel project
The first phase of the completion of the Wyndham Grand Ambergris Caye, the first resort in the country to fly the Wyndham Grand Flag in northern Ambergris Caye, is reportedly on course. The resort is scheduled to open at the end of 2018. As such, a representative of the Wyndham Hotel Group visited Ambergris Caye on Thursday, December 14th and discussed with The San Pedro Sun information on the upcoming five-star oceanfront resort, its top-notch amenities and the benefits it will provide to the island. Alicea told The Sun that in his responsibility for resorts, he sees high potential on Ambergris Caye. He says that they want to start offering Ambergris Caye to their 50 million plus members and they believe that such exposure will guarantee a large influx of visitors to the island. He is happy and more than satisfied with the island. “When I first came here I was impressed with the natural resources, and the people are so nice and so welcoming,” he said.”

Ambergris Today

Nominations For San Pedro Person Of The Year 2017
Remember to nominate your choice for Person of the Year. We are accepting nominations of whoever you think is deserving.

Adopt-A-Bear Program Spreads Christmas Cheer
The Raise Me Up Foundation does it again – spreading Christmas Cheer to hundreds of children in San Pedro Town, with their third annual Adopt-A-Bear program. On Wednesday, December 20, 2017, children were presented with their special gift by Santa and his elves. The program was brought to life in 2015 by a group of volunteers who wanted to make sure that less fortunate island children received a special gift during the Christmas Season. After months of preparation, the annual Adopt-A-Bear program officially kicked off the 2017 Christmas season in San Pedro’s distribution at the Lion’s Den with 359 children receiving gifts.

Misc Belizean Sources

Congrats to the winners from this year's Caye Caulker Fuels Annual Christmas Raffle
First prize : 49 inch flat screen TV won by Valentino Marin. Second prize : $100 fuel won by Melvin Badillo Jr. Third prize : Christmas ham won by Alwin Ramirez. Congratulations to all the winners! Caye Caulker Fuels Management and Staff wishes all its valued customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued patronage throughout the years!

NEMO STANN CREEK END-OF-YEAR AWARDS
Christmas and the end of the year is a time to give thanks, and in this spirit, the NEMO Stann Creek District Emergency Committee held its Annual Appreciation and Awards Banquet at the Dangriga Town Hall. Those receiving awards were: Tristan Usher, Emergency Worker of the Year, who also received on behalf of his team at the Ministry of Works the Emergency Response Team Award; Emergency Operations Centre Director and Town Councillor Aaron “Jake” Gongora, Emergency Leader of the Year; Russell Lambert, Annual Emergency Team Spirit Award (received on his behalf by Human Resources Management Chairperson, Cynthia Villagran); Deputy Chair for Transport & Evacuation, Roman Sabal from the Dangriga Town Council, Municipal Transport Department, who received the 2017 Participatory Award; and Senior Agriculture Extension Officer, Adelita Arzu, who received on behalf of her department (Agriculture Department, Stann Creek) the Annual Emergency Team Collaborations Award.

Second Annual Child Advisory Board President’s Meeting

Canucks New Years’ Eve BASH
Sun Dec 31 2017 at 08:00 pm. Crazy Canucks Beach Bar, Beachfront at Exotic Caye Beach Resort, Coconut Drive, San Pedro, Belize. Come celebrate 2018 at Crazy Canucks! DJ from 8pm-2am. Giveaways and free shots throughout the night. Glow-stick bracelets and goodies will be provided. Party under the stars south of town and away from the big crowds!

Corozal Public Library End of Year Program
A reminder that the End of Year Program at the Corozal Public Library starts today! Come by the library and register!

Minors and alcohol?
Is the Police Cadet Corps failing? Brava beer is contraband but brought in for officer events. Should the cadet program be in civilian hands since recent incidents have call the program into question.

Annual Child Advisory Body Presidents Meeting
Children of San Pedro Town work together and made their presentation and presented the report and a display corner about the island. All municipalities are present. The San Pedro Town Council is represented by Councilor Ruben Gonzalez.

Orlinton - San Pedro CAB Member
Other CAB members from across the country and UNICEF Representative in Belize Dr Susan Kassede being interview by Channel 5.

SUMMER 2018 STUDY OF THE U.S. INSTITUTE FOR SCHOLARS
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2018 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) for Scholars. Please read the program overview and share it with qualified partners and contacts. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations, including resumes, should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line: SUSI for Scholars. Application deadline is January 10, 2018. Program Overview:

2018 GIST Net Tech-I competition
Apply now: http://bit.ly/2hTMQ7d. ONE WEEK left to apply for the 2018 GIST Net Tech-I competition! Showcase your startup to the world, receive mentorships from top entrepreneurs and win big prizes. Application deadline Thursday, December 28, 2017.

Lions Club New Year's Dance in San Pedro
Inviting all the public to our annual New Years dance. The lions den will open their doors December 31st 2017 at 10:00 pm until January 1st 2018 at 8:00 am. This is an event that no one would like to miss as it has been a tradition for many years. Come and be part of this wonderful celebration as we will have Super Furia in the house. Thanks The San Pedro Lions Club

Interesting Public Notice from BTL
I am interested in the information about IPs. Is Diginet blocking ports with NAT and thus a need to pay extra plus tax for an IP? And what about the IP features / offerings with his SMART internet service?

We are content to announce that yesterday we officially received our pharmacy license to retail medication to the community of Caye Caulker
As a born resident of Caye Caulker, and as a registered pharmacist,Rx. Value Pharmacy, makes a commitment to continue to offer the highest standard of pharmaceutical service to you.

BEL and employees gift 150 Christmas hampers to families and the elderly countrywide

CAWS Chili Cook Off
The Cayo Animal Welfare Society is having its 3rd annual Chili Cook Off on Saturday, January 6th, at Remo's Roadhouse. If you just want to eat chili until you can't eat anymore, while supporting a great cause, it's only $10 If you want to enter your chili into the competition, call them at 669-1468.

CAB Advisory Board Recognition
Mayor Trapp and Councilor Neal met with the SISE Children's Advisory Body, and gave them some Christmas presents. "Yesterday, Mayor Earl Trapp Jr. and Councilor Vanessa Neal acknowledged the work and contributions of the CAB Advisory Board issuing Christmas gifts to the children. The CAB Advisory Board is geared towards teaching children in our community Leadership skills, Civic Pride and the importance of service to the community among other things. They have been active in providing recommendations and ideas to develop our municipality to a child friendly one. The SISE Town Council joins Mayor Earl Trapp and Councilor Neal in commending the children for their service and participation!"

Christmas In Town Grand Finale
Christmas in Town is having its grand finale today, December 22nd, at the Cayo Welcome Center. They'll be giving away 500 gifts, along with a scooter. "Christmas in Town! 500 Gifts to be given away! and other Great Prizes. And the GRAND RAFFLE OF A LIFAN MOTORCYCLE. This is the Grand Finale, happening at the Cayo Welcome Center starting at 7:00PM-9:00PM. Watch it live on Channel 10 exclusively on Central TV & Internet."

Christmas Bird Count in Mountain Pine Ridge
In case you are wondering what the MPR CBC circle looks like... Scarlet Macaws, Russet Antshrike and Slate-colored Solitaire are possible. Solitary Eagle and Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle too. Sedge Wren, Cabanis's Wren, Rufous-capped Warbler, Red Crossbill, Spectacled Owl and Central American Pygmy Owl, Lovely Cotinga would be marginally possible. See you today at 7pm at Hodes Place, San Ignacio!

Paradise Theater closed this weekend
Merry Christmas! Be back December 29th

Channel 7

The 90 Million Dollar House Meeting
While most of you will be enjoying your delicious Christmas dinner next week without a care in the world - the Prime Minister and his Cabinet ministers will also be enjoying, but in the back of their heads, they'll probably be weighing that 90.6 million dollar question. Today, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber confirmed that that matter will be taken to the House of Representatives on January 5th. Faber told us more or less what to expect: Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "Ah yes, I believe that the Prime Minister indicated at the last meeting that he would be waiting for the 21 days to expire for him to bring the motion to the house and it is intended that motion will be brought at the house meeting on January 5th. However, I think that it is the intention of the Prime Minister to introduce the motion and then nothing really says that he has to push it through all the readings in one sitting and I believe it is the intention for him to just introduce it and then at a subsequent meeting the debate on the merits of it will actually be made and then the voting will take place."

DPM Faber Says Basil Jones Is Legit
Was Belize duped by a South Florida scammer? That is the question on everyone's mind after developer Jorge Jaen's credibility has come into question. Jaen appeared last week as the point-man for the hundred million US dollar airport project at Basil Jones on northern Ambergris Caye. But he has no track record in airport development - and neither does his company, International Airport Alliance. Jaen has also been accused of fraud in 2006 - including allegations of Conspiracy to Commit Extortion and voter fraud. While a statement from International Airport Alliance says that Jaen has never been prosecuted, it still raises major concerns about the legitimacy of his partnership with Belize and the future of the Airport. Today we asked Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber about it and he says all this might just be mischief making - people trying to jeopardize the project. Here is how he put it.

Ministry of Works Has Central Culpability in Cayo Explosion
Who's to blame for what went wrong with the explosion at a Santa Elena quarry last week? Well, documents on the Department of the Environment website, show that the Ministry of Works played a central role. The mining explosion is part of the roadworks for the paving of miles 48 to 80, a project spearheaded by the Ministry of Works. The Ministry had to file an environmental compliance plan - and a review of that document shows that the Ministry was in open violation of many of the requirements. Under the heading "earth movement activities," it says that they must obtain proper licenses and permits from the Mining Unit to operate quarries. As we now know, so permit was obtained for last Tuesday's explosion.

Elderly Man Identified, Sad Story Revealed
Police have identified the elderly man found with a head injury on the side of the Phillip Golden Highway. As we told you, he was found on Tuesday night at 9:00 pm, at mile three on the George Price Highway with a major injury to the back of his head. Police told us that they finally got his full particulars - and found out why he was on the road alone late at night:... ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB Belize City: "Last night we were finally able to get the family members and he was identified as Claudius Meighan, an eighty-year-old of a Belama address. He was identified by an ex-common-law wife. Apparently he is experiencing some mental disorder and he has been walking up that George Price Highway over and over. He has been here at the police station, police had even taken him to his residence, but apparently he lives by himself. Police has previously escorted him to his residence, but apparently he has nobody else to be along with him."

Corporals Charged For Knocking Teen's Teeth Out
Two Punta Gorda police corporals have been criminally charged for beating up teenager Victor Kus. Last week Wednesday Corporal's Ico and Coy pounced on the 16 year old - and beat him so badly that the doctor classified the injuries as grievous harm. The teen lost three teeth, got a bad black and blue eye, and an injury to his arm. His cell phone was also destroyed. His father was outraged by the crime and demanded court action - which is what has happened. The Head of the Professional Standards Branch, ACP Chester Williams told us more today: ACP Chester Williams, O.C., Professional Standards Branch: "In respect of that matter, I have given instructions to the officer commanding Punta Gorda Police Station to lay criminal charges against the police officers concerned for grievous harm and damage to property. So they should be charged before the week ends and they will be arraigned in court on criminal charges and they will also be charged disciplinarily in respect of their disciplinary infractions where that matter is concerned."

Owner of SUV Reported It Stolen Shortly After It Was Found With Drugs
The owner of the Lincoln Navigator which crashed into the gate at the Customs Department with 5 kilos of cocaine in a hidden compartment says his vehicle was stolen. Belize City resident Bruce Faber reported to police that his vehicle was stolen - and he did that about 10 minutes after the SUV crashed into the customs fence. Actually, he didn't make the report his "washman" did. Police explained today: ACP Joseph Myvette, NCIB: "A suspect is still being sought in regards to the drugs found in the Lincoln Navigator. He has not been found since."

Bail For Alleged Cocaine Cowboys
In other news of cocaine trafficking, 2 alleged cocaine cowboys Peter Schmidt and Carlos Lopez got bail today. This is two days after they were remanded to the Belize Central Prison after being busted with 5 kilo bricks of cocaine and a loaded firearm. Their attorneys, Ellis Arnold and Oscar Selgado, made bail applications on their behalf before Justice Adolph Lucas today. After hearing their attorneys' arguments, and the response of Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith, Justice Lucas granted them bail of 100 thousand dollars.

Finally Police Publicize Wanted Alleged Killer
Tonight police are finally admitting that a murder suspect escaped from them and is on the loose. 29 year old old George Bull escaped from Orange Walk police on Sunday afternoon - but on Monday, police were pretending that he was just wanted. Today - they conceded that the man wanted for the murder of Jaime Pelayo has been on the loose since his ID parade was finished on Sunday: ACP Joseph Myvette, NCIB: "The suspect was detained and he was formally charged for two counts of aggravated assault and in order to complete the murder investigation, an ID parade would have had to be conducted and in the process after the ID parade and whilst being escorted back to the cell block he made good his escape while being escorted back to the cell block."

The Curious Case of Mark Vasquez and Usbaldo Nieto
The man who was the main suspect in Mark Vasquez's murder has been released without a charge. He is 18 year old Usbaldo Nieto - and he was also injured in a knife fight with the 53 year old car dealer. Police said that the case will require some deeper investigation. ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB Belize City: "18 year old Osbaldo Nieto was detained and he was admitted to the hospital with several injuries. The doctor has already treated him and he was discharged two days ago. He was brought into custody and questioned. After reviewing all the statements that we had recorded, the young male person, Mr. Nieto, was released and the investigation is still continuing at this point."

No Charges For Village Murder
No one has been charged for the chopping death of 21 year old Independence Villager, Victor Pou. The young man was attacked and killed on Big Creek Road over the weekend. Today, police told us that the suspects have been released:... ACP Joseph Myvette, NCIB: "A number of persons were detained in regards to that investigation but eventually were released pending further investigation. The police are following new leads and they were on the ground yesterday where they got some new leads which they are following as we speak." In one more murder update - Belmopan police have detained the main suspect in the murder of 69 year old taxi-man Oswald Lopez.

Mid December 2017 Murder Total Equals End Of Year 2016
Those four murders between Friday and Sunday brought this year's official murder count (so far) to the same as last year's 138. It's a very high number and it's one of several topics Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie touched in his 14-minute Christmas message - where he outlined the major crime statistics up to three days ago: Allen Whylie, Commisioner of Police: "In terms of a national crime statistics in regards to major crimes, it shows that at 18th December 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016, we have had 138 cases of murders reported currently and in 2016 we also had 138 murders reported for the entire year. Rape: we've have 22 incidents recorded in 2017 versus 23 in 2016. So rape recorded a down by one incident or 4.3%. Robbery: we've had 245 reports in 2017 versus 232."

Minister Vows to Bring Down Murder Count
So while major crimes were down - we may end the year with an increase in murders. While we all hope there isn't one more killing between now and the end of the year, even with 138 murders, Belize's murder rate will remain among the global top ten. It's pretty puzzling when you think about it - considering all the energy and resources put in to containing crime. We asked the Minister if he's disappointed:... Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Is it a disappointment to end the year 139 by my humble count, 138 by yours, with the same number or more murders than we did last year?" Hon. Elodio Aragon, Minister of State, Police: "Dealing with murders, especially in Belize City, is not an easy thing. We all know the situation here. What is important to note is that the Belize Police Department has not sat idly by. We initiated the Operation ACT to deal with that situation, to reduce the incidents of gun violence and murders, which to a large extent since we've initiated this operation we have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of shooting incidents and murders in Belize City. And I am confident in all that will come to bear next year, I am confident that the Police Department achieve a reduction in murders."

COMPOL: Gang Activity Responsible For High Murder Count
And while Aragon is determined to bring down the total, Commissioner Whylie says he's not happy with the current figure. He said gang activity was the main driver for the high murder rate:... Allen Whylie, Commisioner of Police: "Any murder is a murder too much. Of course we are not happy in terms of the level of murders we've had." Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Is there any indication so far of what is driving this high number of murders this year? What's the main driver?" Allen Whylie, Commisioner of Police: "Well you know we have some upsurge in terms of gang rivalry as well as inter-gang rivalry fueled by the fight over turf for the sale of drugs and I think that contributed significantly in terms of the Belize District. We've also seen where a few incidents occurred during robberies and there are a few indeed from domestic violence. But I think the majority of the incidents were gang related, so to speak."

Operation ACT A Success
And one of the main reasons that crime numbers aren't even higher is Operation ACT. Since it was launched in late October - crime in the city has taken a sharp downtown- after recording a record number of murders in that same month. Today Commander of Operations Edward Broaster, said that ACT led to many firearms and drugs seizures along with thousands of searches: As part of ACT, 12 persons have been arrested and charged with drug related offenses.

ACT Will Continue Until When?
But how long can police afford to keep the operation going? It has had successes in the 55 days it's been running, but can the police keep paying for the manpower, the fuel, and the food and water? The Commissioner acknowledged that their resources are finite:... Allen Whylie, Commisioner of Police: "I've already indicated that ACT will continue into the New Year. It won't be indefinite, because it's a high intensive in terms of human resources as well as the financial cost. I won't say when it will done, because I don't want to tip the criminal to say we will just wait out the police. I can assure that it will continue into 2018 and we will continue to review as we go along."

Fire In City "Barracks" Leaves Four Families Homeless
The city has seen a total of four fires this month and last night another was added to the list. Four families that resided in a barracks home on #4 Flamboyant Street lost their house to a vicious blaze that destroyed everything. This morning we were able to speak to one of the victims who explained how the damage has put a damper on their Christmas. Emmet Baptist, Fire Victim: "I lived in the first apartment right here. This is my house. Well to be exact we just heard it start from over the next side of the neighbor's house and it blazed right into my house."

Helluva Time In Pomona Valley, Or, Not Really?
Last night we showed you the picture with three females posing off with cans of contraband beer in front of a police youth cadet Christmas party banner. The clear suggestion was that they had been drinking at a youth cadet function. It's a very unsavory image and no less than the Commissioner of Police reacted by tasking the commander of the professional standards branch to find out what really happened. Today, ACP Chester Williams told the media that it is not at all what it seems:..

Cops Charged For Chancing Chambers
And, yes, as you noticed, after some months of being cast into the shadows, ACP Chester Williams was back at the front and center this morning. And we had a lot to ask him. First off, was a question about those police officers from the Special Assignment Team caught on camera gratuitously brutalizing Belize City resident, Randy Chambers. Williams said the officers have been charged disciplinarily:... ACP Chester Williams: "I gave instructions to my office here in Belize City to proceed with charges against those officers concern and they were disciplinary charge yesterday and arraigned this morning and they pled not guilty to the charges against them."

Independence Rape Allegation Far From Clear Cut
ACP Williams also had the first coherent explanation of why police have been moving so cautiously before bringing charges of rape against police officers at the Independence station. Two women made a complaint that they were raped in the station months ago. But, Williams - who is personally leading the investigation - said there are inconsistencies in their statements:.. ACP Chester Williams: "In that investigation the two females concerned gave their account of what took place and after having given their account, I had the privilege of viewing the surveillance camera in the police station. And having viewed the surveillance camera in the police station..."

Did Cops Cause 20 Year Old's Death
The case of Edwin Antonio Baires Hernandez is even more complex. He's the 20 year old Teakettle Villager who choked on his food after pursuing police shot him in the leg. Williams investigated that case personally and said that the DPP will have to decide if police bear any responsibility for his death:.. Jules Vasquez, reporter: "There is still a causation element or there may be in so far as it's the police officers' who were pursuing him and indeed shot him and the shock of the shot may have caused the choking. Are you able to speak about where the investigation is in to the action of that officer?"

Opinons On Legal Opinions
You also heard Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington say on Tuesday night that Belize's lawyers advised him that to amend the Maritime Areas Act right now could have negative consequences for Belize-Guatemala relations. Well, Courtenay took on that concern, and said that if the territorial dispute is taken to the ICJ, those lawyers are not the type we want fighting our case. Here's are the perspectives of the current Foreign Minister and the Former Foreign Minister on that issue: Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs: "When we spoke to the lawyers - I was in London about 2 weeks ago - and the lawyers understood immediately, immediately the possible potential negative consequence of pursuing the path that Courtenay is adopting at this time."

What Next If There's A No To The ICJ
For the past 2 nights, we been showing you the perspectives of both Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington and PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay on what should be done about the Maritime Areas Act, and how it could affect Belize's Claim if the territorial dispute actually goes to the ICJ for an attempt at final resolution. Guatemala will hold its ICJ referendum in Mid-April of next year, and Belize is looking at either the end of 2018, or the beginning of 2019, as possible time frames. In order for the territorial dispute to go to the ICJ, both nations have to vote yes to the referendum. But, if either votes no, then there will be no ICJ case.

Belize Joins Over 100 Nations In Rebuking Trump At UN
Belize was one of more than 100 countries who rebuked US President Donald Trump today in a United Nations Vote. 128 nations voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump had threatened to cut off financial aid to countries that supported the resolution. His Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley made it even more plain. She wrote her fellow ambassadors to say, quote, "I want you to know that the President and US take this vote personally….The President will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us. We will take note of each and every vote on this issue."

Happy With Hampers
Only four more days until Christmas and the giving streak continues. Today the police gave some residents of precinct two an early Christmas present filled with Christmas day essentials. We spoke to some happy recipients. BEL also did its part today by distributing 150 Christmas hampers to 90 families and 60 senior citizens across the country. BEL also sponsored Christmas luncheons at feeding centers countrywide.

Listening To The Children
Today, the annual Child Advisory President's Meeting was held. But it wasn't a usual board meeting with adults sitting around a table listening to long-winded presentations - there were skits, performances and speeches by very outspoken kids - who just want to make a difference for Belizean youth. We stopped by the Belize Institute for Management to hear what these child leaders had to say. That was the main message from one of the Child Advisory Board's presentation. All the board members from the 9 municipalities gathered today at the Belize Institute of Management to bring awareness of the issues affecting children in their area as well as to share what their board has accomplished over the year.

Which Westby?
And in a final spot of police news tonight, we have an update on murder suspect Vildo Westby. Westby - who is wanted for killing 44 year old Islander Felix Ayuso in February, was reportedly captured in Las Choapas, Mexico near Vereacruz two weeks ago. But, initially, police said they had no confirmation of that. Today, they acknowledged that someone has been caught, but said he has not been conclusively identified as Vildo Westby:...

Minister Wants PSB Autonomous
That's a lot of police charged - a higher number than usual. And it's the product of a beefed up Professional standards Branch that's showing its teeth. Minister of State for Home Affairs Elodio Aragon says this kind of oversight is a major part of a maturing Department. Now he wants to make this branch even more autonomous - so you won't have to go into the police station to com-plain against the very same police. Here's the explanation:..

Cpl. Requena's Recklessness
But ACP Williams didn't have to consult the DPP on a smaller matter involving a disorderly corporal in Cayo. He barged into a restaurant and casually pointed his weapon at the woman behind the bar. He then held the gun to another man's head, as he puts him in a chokehold. That's Corporal Daniel Requena in early October, and ACP Williams said he was charged:

Channel 5

Nightmare before Christmas: Accidental fire on Flamboyant burns out ten
Ten persons including children have been left without a roof over their heads within days of the Christmas. A fire gutted half of a long barrack on Flamboyant Street sometime [...]

P.S.B. says police not to blame for adult teenagers’ contraband beer
A Christmas party for members of the Youth Cadet Corps in Pomona Valley on Sunday continues to raise serious questions.  A photograph showing a trio of teenage girls, each posing [...]

Osbaldo Nieto cleared in Mark Vasquez murder investigation
A teenager who had been held in police custody, following the stabbing death of well-known auto-trader Mark Vasquez last Saturday, has been released without being indicted. Eighteen-year-old Osbaldo Nieto was [...]

Wanted Jaime Pelayo murder suspect George Bull on the run after fleeing police
In respect of another murder, an all-points bulletin has been issued for the arrest of twenty-nine-year-old George Bull, a resident of Carmelita Village in the Orange Walk District. Bull is [...]

Fate of Independence rape complaint in hands of D.P.P.
There are new developments in a case of alleged rape at the Independence Police Station back in November.  A pair of women is claiming that they were both sexually assaulted [...]

2017 murder count surpasses 2016; what will police do about it?
This newscast has been dominated by coverage of crime throughout the year. Tonight, we can confirm that statistics for homicides committed so far in 2017, closely rival figures that were [...]

P.U.P. demands Elrington stop being ‘petty’ and ‘personal’
On Wednesday we raised the issue of the back and forth over the Maritime Areas Act with P.U.P. leader John Briceño. His shadow minister for foreign affairs, Eamon Courtenay, has [...]

U.H.S. – U.D.P. broke it, U.D.P. fix it?
The Universal Health Services debate is expected to take up the House of Representatives’ time at its next house meeting, announced for January fifth. It should be must-see viewing as [...]

Getting to the bottom of the airport developer mystery
News Five continues to follow the developing story of developer Jorge Jaen’s dubious past and what it means for his multi-million dollar development project for the Efrain Guerrero International Airport [...]

We didn’t approve Marilyn Williams, says P.U.P.
Marilyn Williams is headed to the Supreme Court in January. But despite the Judicial and Legal Services Commission having apparently cleared the former political candidate turned chair of the Integrity [...]

No early closure for Customs on Friday
The Customs Department is among the busiest in the Public Service at the end of the year. They are responsible for seeing to the goods shipped to Belize from around [...]

Two in cocaine bust out on bail quickly
Two men accused in a cocaine bust in Belize City this week were granted bail this morning in the sum of a hefty one hundred thousand dollars each by Supreme [...]

Activities at quarry violated ECP for George Price Highway re-building
An investigation continues into what caused a blasting operation at the Santa Cruz quarry outside of Santa Elena Town to go catastrophically wrong, causing one death and severe damage to [...]

Corporals to be charged, but why attack P.G. teenager, 16?
Sixteen-year-old Victor Cus was physically assaulted by two police corporals last Wednesday in Punta Gorda Town.  During the beat down three of the teenagers teeth were knocked out of his [...]

Claudius Meighan, injured and mentally disabled, convalescing in hospital
Eighty-year-old Claudius Meighan remains hospitalized at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after being found in a semiconscious state on Tuesday night near mile three and a half on the George [...]

Belize stands with Palestinians at U.N., votes against U.S.
In international news, the United States of America recently decided to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The United Nations held a vote today on a resolution opposing that [...]

Tips for Christmas travel to Mexico
The northern border may be seeing some extra traffic over this holiday, as Belizeans go over to neighboring Chetumal to shop while others go to holiday at Mexican destinations. The [...]

Operation ACT records successes; continues into 2018
Operation ACT, acronym for Addressing Crime Together, was launched on October twenty-seventh as a direct law enforcement response to the escalation of violent crimes in Belize City.  With the establishment [...]

Children’s Advisory Board meets
The Children Advisory Board is a platform used for child participation to support governance at the municipal levels. The boards are established in all nine towns and cities in Belize [...]

Salvation Army hands out food hampers
The Salvation Army gave out eight-hundred food hampers to needy families today. It is an annual event for the Salvation Army – they use monies raised and support from donors [...]

KHMH touts new surgical services
As the national referral hospital for the country, many Belizeans rely on the services of Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for life saving procedures. While many times, it’s only the cases [...]

LOVE FM

Ten Percent Decrease in Major Crime for 2017
The Belize Police department reports a reduction of ten percent in major crimes for 2017. The statistics presented were for the period of January to December 18, 2017. These were presented by Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie this morning at the weekly police briefing with the media. The statistics show a small reduction in cases …

Murder Count stands at 138
As mentioned earlier, the murder count has not gone down. It stands at 138, the exact number that was recorded for the entire 2016. That means that with two more weeks to go for 2017, that number may likely increase as will the numbers in other major crimes. This reality may not be encouraging for …

Police say Operation ACT going well
The department also presented an update on its Operation ACT, which stands for Addressing Crime Together. The operation was launched on October 27 to combat the rising gun violence in Belize City with a special focus on the Southside. Operations Commander ACP Edward Broaster gave an update on the department’s successes so far. ACP. Edward …

Police say murder suspect escaped from their hands
Today the Belize Police Department confirmed that the suspect in the murder of Jaime Pelayo Junior did, in fact, escape from Police custody in Orange Walk Town. That suspect is now officially identified as 29-year-old George Bull of Carmelita Village in the Orange Walk District. ACP Joseph Myvett, Commander of the National Crimes Investigation Branch …

Elderly man has been identified as Claudius Meighan
Police have identified the elderly man who they found along the George Price Highway on Tuesday night. ASP Alejandro Cowo, head of the CIB in Belize City told the media that a family member identified him just last night. ASP Alejandro Cowo, Head of C.I.B “Last night we were finally able to get the family …

Police say girls were not underage
Police say that the three young girls who appear in the controversial picture posing with contraband beers are of age and add that the image portrayed is not what it seems. The girls reportedly took the picture at an event organized by the Pomona Police Cadet Unit and it was circulated on Facebook. It triggered …

Osbaldo Nieto freed from Police custody
The only man who was around when 53-year-old car dealer Mark Vasquez was fatally stabbed has been released from police custody. He is eighteen-year-old Osbaldo Nieto, who was found running from the scene of Vasquez’s murder covered in blood. It was later learned that he had sustained stab wounds as well. ASP Cowo says the …

Is the person held by Mexican authorities Vildo Westby?
Earlier this month, Love News received information indicating that Vildo Westby, who is wanted by Belize Police for questioning in the murder of 44-year-old Felix Ayuso, was in custody of Mexican authorities. We understood at the time that he was expected to be handed over to law enforcement officers in Belize. Last week Monday, Belize …

Did Negligence caused Canadian Ronald Sutherland’s death?
Did negligence on the part of the Ministry of Works and the Department of Environment lead to the death of Canadian Ronald Sutherland? Sutherland was killed in an explosion last week at a quarry in Santa Elena Town. The Environmental Compliance Plan, ECP identifies the Ministry of Works as the developer and the terms and …

Fire leaves families homeless
Four families who lived at the Long Barracks on Flamboyant Street in Belize City had already started their Christmas preparations when tragedy struck last night. A fire broke out at the building and completely destroyed two of the units while damaging two others. Today, Emmeth Baptist whose apartment was completely destroyed returned to the scene …

The Guardian

11 million for New Roaring Creek Bridge
A contract was signed for the construction of the new Roaring Creek Bridge located at Mile 48 on the George Price Highway. That contract was formally signed on Monday, December 18, 2017 and it was awarded to M&M Engineering Consultants Ltd. in the amount of BZD $11,346,823.17, consistent with the engineer’s estimate and current construction rates. The scope of the works includes the construction of the new bridge, approaches, and drainage works all to a total length of 485 meters. The installation of road center and edge line markings will also take place. Also included in this project is roadway clearance, the removal of any remnant structures, obstructions, fencing and the like within the road reserve.

New school building for Julian Cho high school
On Friday December 15 the Ministry of Education cut the ribbon declaring open a six classroom building at the Julian Cho Technical High School in the Toledo District. The addition of the new classrooms is part of the Ministry of Education’s school financing reform project. The new school building is 30ft wide by 240ft in length. And with a student population of 975, the new addition to the technical and vocational school is a welcomed one as it will significantly alleviate overcrowding of existing classrooms.

KARIM ADLE, PUT A MUZZLE ON YOUR SON
Someone somewhere should have advised Karim Adle Jr. to NEVER EVER touch the subject of corruption much less accuse anyone of being corrupt in the garbage he spews in the Belize Times. Karim Adle Jr. has his head stuck so far up his aristocratic ass that it might either be affecting his brain or maybe, given him simpleton mannerisms, he might not have much of a brain at all. Let me refresh this little fella’s memory: Your father, Karim Adle Sr, a Said Musa flunky, got tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars to pave the Jaguar Paw road which began falling apart in less than six months due to poor workmanship. Ask your father, “weh the money gone?”

Air Canada just in time for the Christmas
Air Canada made its first of its twice-weekly flight to Belize on Friday, December 15, 2017, just in time for this Christmas season. This flight will travel between Toronto, Canada at the Pearson International Airport and Belize via the Phillip Goldson Airport in Ladyville. This is expected to enhance the already growing number of Canadian tourists in the country.

Hands Across the Caribbean raised funds for hurricane victims
Many countries in the Caribbean were affected by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Those especially devastated Dominica, Barbuda, and Puerto Rico and have left those and other countries and islands in states beyond repair. Especially compared to them, Belize was so graciously spared this hurricane season. Despite the months that have passed since these hurricanes, there is still much left to do in these countries to return them to a state of normalcy.

Delcie Tzib walks away with $1000 Guardian Christmas basket
Christmas is looking brighter this year for three women after their luck cashed in. The Guardian Newspaper held three raffles in light of this holiday season. In two raffles, winners walked away with $50 cash and in the third, a very hefty Christmas hamper was given away. In the first two, Delvorine Cole and Brendalee Buckley were lucky to walk away with the cash.

4-H hosts parents and trainees with Luncheon in Belmopan
The Management and Staff of the National 4-H Youth Development Center in Belmopan hosted families and their trainees to an Annual Christmas Luncheon last Thursday at the George Price Center for Peace and Development. The luncheon hosted by the educational institution, which is based at the National Agriculture and Trade Show Grounds, was organized to bring to a close the 2016 to 2017 training year where 5 students had completed the program and three received their certificates.

Aragon Christmas Cup 2017
On Sunday December 17th, the Aragon Christmas Cup ended with fireworks at the Louisiana Field in Orange Walk Town. After several weeks of fierce competition Progresso FC and Guinea Grass FC battled to the sweet end in a contest that would see the winner – Progresso FC walking away with $5000.00 Belize Dollars. Progresso who had been the Champs two times in a row returned to claim their crown after having been defeated last year by Carmelita FC. The second place winners settled for the $3000.00 dollar prize. They both received trophies and individual medals were given to the first place winners.

High School in Belmopan gets new computers
High school students in Belmopan now have one more tool in their tool box for improving their educational performance. On Friday, 15 December 2017, a Handing Over Ceremony for 15 computers with accessories took place at the Our Lady of Guadalupe High School. These 15 computers with peripherals were made possible through the hard work and fundraising efforts of Rotary Belmopan. Present from Rotary for the handing over ceremony were members Velda Wade, Vanessa Grajales, Ana Recinos and Leon Castillo.

Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities Launches Bulb Exchange Program
The Energy Unit within the Ministry of the Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities in collaboration with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) is launching Phase 3 of its Energy Efficiency Awareness Project. This project entails the exchange of energy-inefficient lights, such as incandescent and fluorescent bulbs and tubes, with energy-efficient LED bulbs and tubes. The project seeks to target the indigent families in Dangriga Town and Hope Creek and Sarawee Villages. These persons include all those social rate customers of the Belize Electricity Limited.

Orange Walk East Christmas Cheer
The Aragon Orange Walk East Christmas Cheer came to an end on Wednesday December 20 with the distribution of a hamper to the Orange Walk East town residents. The cheer started with the lighting of the Christmas tree on Liberty Avenue which saw some 1200 residents coming out along with their children. The kids were treated to toys, bouncy houses and mechanical rides and they also got a chance to win any of 100 attractive items which were raffled. 1600 goodies bags and ideals were also distributed. Next came the distribution of toys and hampers to residents of Tower Hill on Saturday 16 December.

How safe is your tap water?
As the year 2017 comes to a screeching halt, it would be reasonable to consider that many Belizeans and our International partners have been working very hard over the last 11 months to ensure that our supply of water remained potable, but at the same time giving enough warnings that there is need to protect this vital resource. In some parts of the World, fresh water supplies have been dwindling and as a result the market value has gone up. But for Belize our potable water supply remains considerable; however the experts are telling us that there is a need to protect it.

Politicizing the Christmas season
In a few days time CHRISTIANS around the world will celebrate the birthday of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Christmas should be and is about the BIRTH of Jesus Christ and what it meant to the survival of mankind. The birth of Jesus was the greatest gift that was given to us as mankind. He was sent to us with one special mission in mind. That mission was to save the world from its sin. Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

Youth Rise Project continues in San Ignacio
The Youth Rise Project in the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation has teamed up with the San Ignacio and Santa Elena branch of the Community Policing Unit to host another cycle of the Gang Resistance Education and Training GREAT Families Program. For the third time a session was held on Friday, this time at the San Ignacio Police Station.

Chopping incident between Sanitation workers leaves one hospitalized and one on remand
A chopping incident between two co-workers in broad daylight in front of spectators has landed a sanitation worker behind bars. He is 53-year-old Dennis Winston Bowden of Belize City. Bowden has been accused of chopping his co-worker, 40-year-old Michael Orlando Tesucum, during a machete wielding incident at the corner of Cairo Street and Euphrates Avenue. Acting upon information of a chopping incident, police visited the KHMH trauma room on Monday, December 18, 2017. There they saw Tesucum suffering from two cut wounds behind his head.

Accused murderer walks away from murder charge
The trial of Keyron Johnson, who has been on remand for more than five years after he was accused of the April 2012 murder of 18 year-old Christopher Jorgenson, concluded before Judge Adolph Lucas who had reserved his ruling in the matter for Monday, December 18, 2017. Jorgensen was gunned down on a basketball court on Curl Thompson Street in Belize City on April 15, 2012 and three days later, on April 18, 2017, he perished. He was shot twice, once to the lower abdomen and was grazed to the right hand.

Man denied bail in aggravated burglary case
On Monday, December 11, 2017, three persons were charged in connection to a home invasion. Two of the three, Leon Ware/Blease and Luquan Flowers, were charged for aggravated burglary while the other, an 18-year-old, was charged for handling stolen goods. The third involved was offered bail in the sum of $1,000 which he was able to meet. Ware/Blease and Flowers were accused of trespassing in the home of businesswoman Zenaida Allen. They were remanded to prison and on Friday, December 15, 2017, their case for bail was presented at the Supreme Court before Judge Adolph Lucas.

Bail for Russell Hyde’s shooters
On Friday, December 17, 2017, a relative of Russell Hyde Jr., shooting victim, along with another man were charged in connection to the shooting of Hyde. The men are 24-year-old Rasheed Hyde, butcher and Cayo resident, and the victim’s cousin, and Michael Mendoza, Rasheed Hyde’s father. At the end of their bail application, they were granted bail. At their bail application, they were represented by attorneys Herbert Panton and Leeroy Banner. In court, there was no objection to bail by the crown representative Senior Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith. The crown’s only concern was the manner in which Hyde was shot and asked that bail be set at a substantial amount and with conditions.

Car Dealer stabbed to death on the sea side
Police continue to guard a young man who they found at the murder scene of 53 year-old Mark Vasquez, a well-known car dealer from Belize City. Vasquez was stabbed multiple times near his vehicle while he was parked near the sea wall on Marine Parade. At around 11 p.m. on Saturday, December 16, they responded to reports they received that a fight was taking place near the Radisson Hotel’s marina on Marine Parade. When they arrived they saw a Hispanic male running along the sea wall. He had blood stains on his shirt, and he was suffering from injuries as well. The police did not specify beyond that, but they detained this young man before he could escape.

Hard working church going young man killed in Independence
Victor Pou, a 21 year-old Independence Village resident, was stabbed to death in his Stann Creek community, and unfortunately he is the third murder victim for the weekend before Christmas. His family tells the press that he left his house at around 10 p.m. on Saturday, December 16, and he was heading to his workplace. He works as a night watchman for a business place in the village, but he never made it because unknown assailants cornered him and stabbed him to death. Reports are that he was seen in some sort of fight struggling with 2 other men. Residents tell the press that this very same area has been the location of choice for other such attacks because there is poor lighting at night, and minimal police presence.

Cocaine bust sends 2 men to court
Belize City police made a huge drug bust of packages of cocaine amounting to over 5 kilograms as well as an illegal firearm and 9 live rounds of ammunitions. The men, 33-year-old Carlos Lopez and 37-year-old Peter Schmitt, of Lord’s Bank and Caye Caulker, respectively, were arrested and charged. They were taken to court to be arraigned on three criminal charges on Tuesday, December 19, 2017. Lopez and Schmitt were jointly charged with the offenses of kept unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunition as well as one count of possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply for the purpose of drug trafficking.

Assaulted with a gun at a bus stop
On Wednesday, December 13, 2017, 22-year-old Mark Anthony Sewell was remanded to prison after he was arraigned for a gunplay incident where a Biscayne resident reported to the police that he was assaulted by two men while at a bus stop. He appeared before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford where he was remanded to prison until March 13, 2018 but received a $5,000 bail before Supreme Court Judge Adolph Lucas on Friday, December 15, 2017.

Wild shooting claims Jaime Pelayo’s life
Jaime Pelayo Jr., a 35 year-old Orange Walk Town resident with many run-ins with the law, was shot and killed while out partying with friends at a popular night establishment. Though he had many enemies - several of which made a number of attempts to take his life - his family believes that he was the victim of random violence. The incident happened sometime after 4 o’clock on Friday, December 15, in front of the D’ Gym Sports Bar and Grill, a night club located in the town, on the Belize Corozal Road. Police say that they arrived at the scene to find Jaime Pelayo, better known as “James” or “Doggy”, with a gunshot to the chest, an injury which claimed his life.

Robber caught in the act
Belize City police have cracked a case of robbery against 36-year-old businessman Dorian Usher, who was robbed outside Monica’s Pawn Shop on Thursday, December 14, 2017. Two of the men were arraigned in court. The first to be arraigned was 21-year-old Dean Nembhard, a construction worker of Nutmeg Street. Nembhard was arraigned on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on a single charge of robbery with a firearm upon Usher.

Robbery on BBOC bus
On Monday, December 18, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., Betty Torres, a 42-year-old Belizean conductress and resident of Unitedville, Cayo District made a police report. She reported that at 6:15 p.m. on the same date while she was working on a BBOC bus, two male persons got on the bus in Camalote Village. One of the men pulled out what appeared to be a 9mm handgun. That man proceeded to point the gun at the driver and demanded the purse containing the money. As a result, Torres handed over the purse which contained just over two hundred dollars.

Stabbing incident at Moe’s Pizza
On December 18, 2017 at 7:11 p.m., police visited Moe’s Pizza Grill located 3 1/2 miles on the Phillip Goldson highway in Belize City. There, Sherman Sanker, a 43-year-old Belizean mason of the Gugulung area, was seen suffering from apparent stab wounds to the center of chest and left side of back. Initial investigations revealed that at about 6:45 p.m., while Genevevo Chiac and Sherman Sanker were socializing at Moe’s Pizza Grill restaurant, they got into a misunderstanding. That misunderstanding resulted in Chiac inflicting said injuries to Sanker. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he is in a stable condition. Police investigations continue.

Taximan stabbed and killed in Belmopan
Oswald Lopez, a well-known taxi driver from Belmopan, was found stabbed to death outside the Capital City. The 69 year-old’s body was found dead next to his gold Kia Sorento taxi, on a dirt road near to the Hector Silva Airstrip, which is located on the outskirts of Belmopan. At around 2:55 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, the cops visited the area and they found him, and upon inspection, the responding officers observed several stab wounds to his upper body. It is unclear at this time what happened; two possibilities have been entertained. The first is that he may have picked up his killer who took him out there.

Belize picks up 12 medals in the Central American Games
The XI Central American Games is now history. The games concluded on Sunday 17th December, 2017, with the Closing Ceremony at the National Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua. At the end of the 14 days of festival, Belize captured a total of 12 medals at the Games. The medal count for Belize includes to 2 Gold Medal in Body Building (not an Olympic sport) by Clayton Greenidge. Greenidge’s gold came in the Master’s Competition and in the Light-heavyweight 80 kilogrammes category. He was joined by his team-mate Oyinkro Akpobodor who picked up a bronze medal in his category.

National Elite Basketball League season to open January 18, 2018
The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) will be tipping off its fifth consecutive season on Thursday, January 18, 2018, as the defending champions, Belmopan Bandits, will host the sub-champions San Pedro Tiger Sharks. The game will be played at the UB gymnasium in Belmopan, with tip-off time being 8:30 p.m. The upcoming season will have 8 teams. Six (6) of the teams from last season will return to participate in the upcoming season. These teams are Orange Walk Running Rebels, Belize Hurricanes, San Pedro Tiger Sharks, Belmopan Bandits, Cayo Western Ballaz and Dangriga Dream Ballers.

He threatened his common law wife with a toothbrush
Cornel Gomez found himself in a lockdown cell on his 29th birthday, December 18, 2017. He was arraigned on two counts of aggravated assault with a machete and a toothbrush upon his common-law wife, Tanya Landero, who made a police report. Gomez, a resident of Ladyville, spent a week in police custody before appearing before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford to answer to two counts of aggravated assault. In court where Gomez was unrepresented, he initially pleaded guilty to the charges and gave an explanation as to why he was doing so. He was hopeful to be imposed a fine and proceed with his life since he is fresh out of prison.

Football Federation of Belize assign portfolios to executive
The Football Federation of Belize in its endeavour to improve the delivery of services in the development of football is pleased to announce the following appointment and assignments of portfolios to its Executive Members. Appointment: Mr. Earl Jones General Secretary Portfolio: Mr. Sergio Chuc Finance, Local and International Relations and Premier League. Mr. Marlon Kuylen: Marketing, Communication, National Team Programs (elite) and Referees. Mr. Cruz Gamez – Chairman and Mr. Shane Orio–Deputy Chairman

Premier League Closing Season to commence on January 13
The Premier League of Belize 2017-2018 Closing Season will commence on Saturday 13th January, 2018, with a single game on the schedule. The teams that will compete in the Closing Season includes the defending champions Verdes FC, Belmopan Bandits SC, Placencia Assassins FC, Freedom Fighters FC, Belize Defence Force (BDF) FC, Wagiya FC, Police United FC and the San Pedro Pirates FC. It is being anticipated that the regular competition of the Closing Season will come to an end on 15th April, 2018, with the championship games scheduled for May 12th and 13th respectively.

Cut off date for registration for Municipal Elections
The Elections and Boundaries Department hereby notifies the public that all registration offices countrywide will be opened on Saturday, 6th January 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is to facilitate persons who are eighteen (18) years of age and over who have not yet registered and wish to vote in the upcoming Municipal Elections.

Collision at mile 50 on the George Price Highway
Two mobile units travelling at high speeds in opposite directions resulted in one fatality over the weekend. On Saturday 16th December, 2017 at around 5:55 pm Police received information of a traffic accident on the George Price Highway. Police responded and upon arrival observed a damaged black Skygo motorcycle on the center of the highway. Police also saw about 20 feet away just off the right shoulder of the road a grey Wingle pickup truck with extensive damages to the left front end and windshield.

20 New Year’s Resolution Ideas – Make This Your Best Year Ever
The New Year stands before us like a fresh chapter in a book. Once you’re done with your year-end reflection for the year that’s ending, it’s time to look forward to the year that’s about to start. What will you write for the next chapter of your life? It’s entirely up to you. Take the first step to make sure that it’s a good great chapter by setting New Year’s resolutions. You’ll find 10 ideas for your New Year’s resolutions, below.

LAW AND JUSTICE ARE SOMETIMES CONFUSED
The New Standard Encyclopedia (NSE) explains that the one idea central to the meaning of law is this: order and regularity in the happening of events. No mention of correctness. It also explains that law and justice are sometimes confused. It declares that justice is a philosophical term, one that has no exact meaning. The laws of God are different from man’s. The laws of nature and the laws of science do not directly depend on man’s whims! On page 180 of Queen’s Counsel, L. M. Bloomfield’s book you will find the very interesting read: “Surely the Mosquito Indians ought not to prove an obstacle to so happy a consummation.

Words of Life with Pastor Barry Fraser
Last week we considered that one of the most important things we must do when we suffer is to give thanks. For many believers who have endured unimaginable pain and tragedy, giving thanks in the midst of agony and affliction is certainly not easy to do. Giving thanks helps us focus on God in our affliction, steers us away from complaining, strengthens our faith, and brings glory to Jesus. Last week we considered that there are many things we can give thanks for when we suffer, but here are some more to remember:

Christmas is here and so is the economic activity it brings
Throughout this entire year and dating as far back as 2008 the PUP and their operatives have been saying that things are bad economically for the ordinary Belizean man and woman. They have gone on record to say,this Christmas will be a “ BRUKPOCKET CHRISTMAS” for most Belizeans. However based on what we at this newspaper have seen so far, we can now certainly borrow the slogan of PUP’s very own Darrel Carter and say “NOT SO.” For the last month or so ever since after the Garifuna Settlement Day went by, we’ve been monitoring the activity at and around the major shopping outlets across the length and breadth of this country and all we’ve seen so far is a bevy of activity.

Amandala declares face to face war on UDP’S Wave, Guardian
The first time I tried my hand at expressing my opinions on paper was when Mr. Elodio “Lot” Aragon began publishing his weekly newspaper here in OW during the early eighties. The paper was called “The Pacesetter” and I still recall my first article where I railed against the leaders of the OW branch of the BNTU since the officials of that union, some really big time PUP’s ( Cervantes, Kay, Castillo, et al), were attempting to victimize UDP teachers at the La Inmaculada Primary School. The leaders of the UDP group, Chin, Luna, Novelo, then broke away to form their own “Progressive Teachers’ Union”. I sort of insinuated in my article that the Catholic management was a bit complicit in the bullying with its silence.

Best Christmas ever!
Have you ever heard someone say, “I just noh di feel Christmas this year”. Or maybe you have been missing the Christmas spirit. Celebrating Christmas as a teen is tricky. The magic has started to wear off, and you’re expected to visit with family even if you’d rather be with friends. Still, you can make celebrating Christmas this year tons of fun. Here is a list of 10 things that you can try and before you know it that special Christmas feeling will be bubbling inside you!

Breaking Belize News

UN votes 128-9 to reject US decision on Jerusalem; Belize votes against it
The countries.of the United.Nations, by an overwhelming majority, have voted not to acknowledge Jerusalem as […]

Murder suspect released by police
Mark Anthony Vasquez was stabbed to death over the weekend on Marine Parade Boulevard in […]

Teens were posing with empty contraband beers says Chester
This week, a photo went viral on social media that revealed three teenage girls posing […]

Operation ACT took drugs, guns, and ammo off the streets, says Broaster
Since the onset of Operation Addressing Crime Together (ACT), there have been several successes in […]

Murder suspect escapes from police custody
Last Friday, Jaime “James” Pelayo, Jr., 35, of Orange Walk Town, was shot and killed […]

Elderly man found unconscious identified by police
On Tuesday night an elderly man was found almost unconscious at three miles on the George […]

Fire in Belize City last night
Sometime after 8 last night, there was a fire in Belize City. Police visited Flamboyant Street where […]

Former and current Foreign Ministers square off
Former and current Foreign Ministers of Belize, Eamon Courtenay and Wilfred Elrington, have engaged in […]

Senator Courtney questions San Pedro airport deal
People’s United Party Senator, Eamon Courtenay said this week that the press release issued by International […]

Major crimes down by 10%; murder count stands at 138 same as 2016
Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, today released the national crime statistics as of December 18, […]

Briceno calls out Senator Rocke
Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño, condemned Church Senator Ashely Rocke this week, accusing him […]

BDF has new commander
Yesterday, it was officially announced that Colonel Steven Ortega will be the new commander of […]

Cigarette smuggling ring linked to Belize busted in Guatemala
A major contraband cigarette smuggling ring involving Belize has been busted in Guatemala, according to […]

International Sources

Researchers Warn of a Spreading Fungus Deadly to Snakes
One of the first hints that yet another fungal disease that could devastate wildlife was emerging in the United States came in 2006 with a report that an isolated winter den of timber rattlesnakes in New Hampshire had suffered a population crash. Those snakes were on the far northern edge of their species’ habitat, and showed signs they had suffered from inbreeding. But they also had skin lesions, often called hibernation blisters or hibernation sores, that caught the attention of scientists. Similar cases popped up in Massachusetts, said Jeffrey Lorch, a microbiologist at the United States Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis. Then rattlesnakes in Illinois, called massasaugas, began to suffer. “People started being on the lookout,” he said. The health center started getting a lot of calls. By 2009, Ophidiomyces ophidiodiicola, the fungus that causes the lesions, had been named. And it has been found to infect more than two dozen species of snakes in this country.

Birth of the Sun: Notes on the Ancient Maya Winter Solstice
With the recent passing of the winter solstice it seems a good time to revisit some ideas I penned in 2009, regarding a possible ancient Maya record of the shortest day of the year. This appears on Zacpeten, Altar 1, an inscribed disc-shaped stone discovered broken and re-used as blocks in Postclassic masonry (Pugh, et. al. 1998) (Figure 1). It was originally dedicated on or near the important period ending 10.0.0.0.0, in the year 830 C.E.. The design of the altar is a carefully conceived cosmogram emphasizing four lateral points around a circle and center-point, a layout that echoes the familiar Mesoamerican model of space-time. The 36 hieroglyphs are arranged as a play on the important cosmological numbers 20 and 4 (20 + 4 x 4). And, as I argued some years ago, its self-contained text just might present the only Classic Maya description of the solar “birth” at winter solstice.

The Water Will Come: A Must-Read Book on Sea Level Rise
The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World—the title of Jeff Goodell’s new must-read book on sea level rise—says volumes. Goodell, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone and the author of the excellent 2011 book How to Cool the Planet: Geoengineering and the Audacious Quest to Fix Earth’s Climate, argues that there is little we can do to stop the inexorable rise of the world’s oceans due to human-caused global warming--though we may be able to slow the rate of sea level rise later in the century. As one of the experts he interviews puts it, “Sea-level rise is like aging. You can’t stop it. You can only do it better or worse.” Goodell argues that if we want to minimize the impact of sea level rise in the next century, we need to stop burning fossil fuels and move to higher ground. Strong immediate action to implement the Paris Climate Accord of 2015--and to go well beyond those targets, so that we eliminate all burning of coal, oil and natural gas by 2050--might limit sea level rise by 2100 to 2 – 3 feet, instead of 6 – 8 feet. “We would will need to retreat from the low-lying coastlines, but instead of a stampede, it could be a leisurely stroll,” he writes. Goodell is an excellent journalist, and his treatment of a highly technical subject like sea level rise is both highly readable and informative.

Eleven Caribbean countries defy US on UN resolution on Jerusalem
On a roster that could be described as the courageous, the circumspect and the craven, eleven Caribbean countries supported a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem, despite US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley’s threatening letter to General Assembly members not to support the resolution and that Trump “will be watching [Thursday’s] vote carefully” and “requested I report back on those who voted against us…”

Videos

December 21, 2017

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, LOVETV, PGTV, West Vision (Cayo) and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro Police awards winners of GREAT essay competition
The San Pedro Police Department awarded three island primary school students after excelling in the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) essay competition on Wednesday, December 13th. GREAT is a life skill program held by community Policing Officers at various schools on the island. Children are educated on the consequences of gang violence and the benefits of developing positive relationships with law enforcement. Participants also learn how to refuse peer pressure, get help in communicating their issues and find concrete solutions. This year students were challenged through an essay competition to test how much they learned about the program and then the three top entries were awarded. The winners for this year’s competition were Terence Keating from Isla Bonita Elementary in third place, followed by Nia Lysbey from Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) in second place, and taking first place was Annelyse Perdue from Isla Bonita.

DFC Eco Rangers’ Adopt a Minion trash can aims to keep La Isla Bonita clean
In an effort to continue creating awareness on the island’s garbage problem, the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Eco Rangers have embarked on a new project dubbed ‘Adopt a Minion.’ The project consists of buckets beautifully painted to resemble the animated characters called Minions, which are then adopted for the collection of garbage by residents and business establishments. Several establishments are supporting the idea by adopting a colorful bucket which comes at no cost. The Rangers hope that this initiative will encourage islanders to keep their neighborhoods clean. The group is being supported by Adan Kay, Human Development Officer of San Pedro and island resident, Diane Klumb.

SPTC orders removal of wall blocking easement and fence along the beach in Mar de Tumbo area
The reports that the alternate easement adjacent to the property of Banyan Bay Suites was reportedly blocked from its beach entrance on Wednesday, December 13th led to the intervention of The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC). The new pathway was to provide access to the beach after the closure of the Mar de Tumbo access road. The SPTC had approved the closure of the access road after the developer of said property agreed to enhance the easement north of Banyan Bay in order to allow access to the beach. After Mayor Daniel Guerrero was notified that a concrete wall was being erected blocking any access to the beach and that a fence had also been built along the beach violating the 66 feet of mandated beach access, he immediately ordered its removal. In the meantime, Guerrero indicated that the situation has been permanently solved and no similar reoccurrences should arise in the future. “We always have our people first,” he said reminding people that when it comes to the laws of the country, there are no exceptions.

Misc Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Boat stolen
Jaime Enrique Rosado, a businessman from Caye Caulker Village reported that between 8:00 p.m., on 18.12.17 and 7:00 a.m., on 19.12.17, his black and white 16’ fiber glass skiff with the name ‘ZAYNAH’ and registration number BZ-0179 valued at $7,000 and 1 50hp Yamaha outboard engine valued at $11,000 were stolen from Traveler’s Palm Dock located on the back beach on Caye caulker Village.

Christmas Stop and Chop Rave
The Wildfire Artzmosphere is having a Christmas Rave. DJ Nonstop will be representing Cayo, and DJ Vealchop will be representing Los Angeles. Real DJ's means no microphones getting in the way of the dancing. "if you need to shake it or want get a change of scenes.... after your meals, and family time or you can just feel it in the air ... come on down to Wildfire Artzmosphere ... wain da booty"

Love Foundation Visits Benque
Santa sighting of the day. Santa paid a visit to the kids in Benque. He and Mrs. Claus passed out sweets and gifts. The DYS was there to get some great pictures. Thanks, Love Foundation! "We want to thank Love Foundation for visiting Benque Viejo Town kids and for bringing along with them love, happiness, and placing a smile on kids’ faces as they got their gifts from Mrs. Claus and sweets from Santa."

'Run Man Service" on Caye Caulker
I am starting a 'Run Man Service'. $5Bz for pick up and drop off. If this service would be of good use to you, kindly share your thoughts. Would like to commence ASAP. (Keep in mind this is NOT a TAXI service for transporting people; this is for people who want things picked up and transported to their front door, whether it be grocery shopping, to pick up cargo at the boat or barge or what ever else service you don't want to leave your house for.)

Belize Signs Memorandum of Understanding with India for the Establishment of the India-Belize Centre of Engineering
Today, December 20th, the Government of Belize and the Government of the Republic of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the establishment of the India-Belize Centre of Engineering (IBCE). The signing was done in an effort to enhance the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the field of technical education and skill development. The MOU seeks to upgrade and modernize the existing workshops at the Department of Engineering in the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Belize, to provide vocational training in the fields approved by the countries to the youth of Belize.

Christmas Stop and Chop Rave
The Wildfire Artzmosphere is having a Christmas Rave. DJ Nonstop will be representing Cayo, and DJ Vealchop will be representing Los Angeles. Real DJ's means no microphones getting in the way of the dancing. "if you need to shake it or want get a change of scenes.... after your meals, and family time or you can just feel it in the air ... come on down to Wildfire Artzmosphere ... wain da booty"

Clearing in the Chiquibul Forest
The first aerial flight for the 2017-2018 season has been undertaken. Forest clearings are already visible in the Chiquibul Forest along the western border. Controlling this has been complicated.

Christmas Bird Count in the Mountain Pine Ridge
And the next big CBC happens in the Mountain Pine Ridge this Saturday! We will be meeting at Hode's Place in San Ignacio this Friday at 7.00pm for the pre count meeting to discuss the CBC logistics for the following day. Stripe-tailed Hummingbird? Solitary Eagle? Orange-breasted Falcon, Stygian Owl? This is the CBC for you to join...

Jankunu Festival
Bring in the Xmas spirit with the Jankunu dancers at the 1st annual Jankunu Festival at the Central Park. Starting 7 pm. Food and Drinks will be on sale! In collaboration with the Charikanari Dancers and the San Pedro House of Culture. Saturday, December 23 at 7 PM - 11 PM. Central Park, San Pedro Town

Fence Project in Camalote Village
Update on fence project this is a XMAS gife form Our Area Rep.Hon Julius Espat to camalote village thank you for you hardwork and dedication for our community

Channel 7

Millions Of Contraband Cigarettes From Belize Form Smuggling Ring In Guatemala
Tonight there is major news coming out of Guatemala saying that authorities there have cracked open a major cigarette smuggling ring - and Belize is right in the middle of it. "Guatevision" reports that The Public Ministry and the National Civil Police "conducted 35 raids to dismantle a criminal structure dedicated to the smuggling of cigarettes." And those cigarettes - come right out of Belize - smuggled by sea to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala and then from there, on to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras - taken through the back door all the way, not paying any taxes or duties. And it didn't just happen once. The investigation found that from 2015 to 2016 the ring made at least 39 trips from Belize to Barios, and on each trip they transported close to 500 boxes of cigarettes, which contain 5 million cigarettes.

Elderly Man Critical After Being Found Injured On The Side Of The Road
Tonight Belize City police need your help to identify an elderly man who was found injured on the side of the George Price Highway last night. Around 9:00 pm, 7News was there at mile three near the dumpsite along with police and ambulance teams. They had received information that the man was lying on the shoulder of the road with a cut wound to the back of his head. He was in a semi-conscious state. We saw the ambulance team put him on a stretcher - and apply a bandage to the back of his head. We also heard them asking him his name, but he was unresponsive. He was taken to the KHMH where he is in a critical condition.

PG Cops Knocked Out Teen's Teeth, For No Reason
Tonight the father of a Punta Gorda teenager is claiming police brutality after his 16 year old son was allegedly beaten up by two police constables last week. It happened a week ago when 16 year old Victor Kus was returning from his friends' home. Via telephone, his father says police pounced on him and beat him for no reason: Roberto Cus - Father of Victor Cus: "On his way back home there is where the police approached him and they are asking him what he has in his pocket but then he had his cellular phone in his pocket, they said oh no you threw something in the grass but my son is not a smoker, he is a student he is going to school but they don't want to believe that. They hit him with a hard piece of I don't know and my son was still unconscious until 9 o'clock the morning that then he start to realize and said what happened to me. They broke his phone, they broke 3 of his teeth and they bruised his eye."

Cadets Consuming Contraband Beer In Pomona?
The Professional Standards Branch has also been tasked to find out what went wrong at a Pomona Police Youth Cadets function which resulted in three young ladies posing for a picture with beers in hand. The picture appeared on social media today and it shows three females, ages unknown, rising their cans in front of a Pomona Police Cadets Christmas Banner showing off three cans of contraband Brava beer. The police press office put out a statement saying, quote, "The Commissioner of Police is very disturbed by a photograph circling on social media purporting to show female minors consuming alcoholic beverages at a Police Cadet function. As a result the Commissioner has directed the Professional Standards Branch to conduct an internal investigation."

Charges For Bus Chopping
On Monday we told you about that crazy chopping on the crowded City Council work bus in which a sanitation worker viciously chopped his co-worker. Well, today the machete wielder, 53 year-old Dennis Winston Bodden, a resident of Zericote Street, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. He has been charged with attempted murder, dangerous harm, and use of deadly means of harm. A bus full of eyewitnesses who are all his co-workers, saw when he attacked fellow Sanitation Worker Michael Orlando Tesecum. Well, when Senior Magistrate Ford tried to read the charges to him, he and one of his family members became very emotional, and the Magistrate had to calm him down before the arraignment could proceed.

Eamon's War Of Words With Wilfred
Last night, we had extensive coverage of our 45 minute interview with Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington. He discussed last Wednesday's first bilateral meeting with new Guatemalan Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel. But he also played some hardball politics. We asked him for his opinions of the defeated motion that PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay brought last week Wednesday to the Senate. He was attempting to push the first stages of an amendment to the Maritime Areas Act. Foreign Minister Elrington mauled Courtenay, accusing him of attempting to jeopardize relations with Guatemala, and trying to become the next Minister of Foreign Affairs, even if that ambition hurts Belize's diplomacy. Courtenay responded this morning. In a 41 minute interview, which was laced with a few choice comments of his own, he blasted right back at Elrington. We start tonight with Courtenay explaining that he has retained 2 high-powered international attorneys to give a legal advice on how the Maritime Areas Act, as it now stands, may negatively affect Belize's claim at the International Court of Justice.

Martime Areas, Who Failed First?
Now depending on which of these two diplomats you talk to, there is a lot of finger pointing about why the Maritime Areas Act hasn't been amended to strengthen Belize's case. Elrington insists that the past PUP Foreign Ministers failed to do their duty from as far back as the 1990's, and he is of the opinion that the intended purpose of Belize's relaxation of its claim to 9 miles territorial waters never had the intended effect. He asserts that the amendment should have happened when the PUP were in office, and he questions Courtenay's motives for agitating for it now. Well, Courtenay is pointing fingers right back at him, saying that the formal acknowledgement that negotiations had failed came in December 2008. He insists that Elrington failed to do what he was supposed to at that time to protect Belize's claim to those 9 miles of territorial seas it still hasn't claimed. We've put together each of their points and counter-points for you to decide who is right, and who is wrong:

Courtenay On Foreign Affairs: Been There, Done That
And the war of words didn't end there. Courtenay didn't let Elrington get away with accusing him of gunning for the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Here's both sides of that story: Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs: "He would want to see the matter postponed. He wants to see it derailed, because I can't see any good reason why he would want to touch it now." Hon. Eamon Courtenay - PUP Senator: "It is the type of nonsense that comes from addled time." Hon. Wilfred Elrington: "That is my view, though. You might have a different view. Mr. Courtenay can't point to any good reason why he wants to take this position at this time, when he knows the Government of Belize is dealing with."

One More For Monica's Robbery
Yesterday we told you about Dean Nembhard who was charged for the Monica's robbery. The proprietor shot him in the hand as one of the four men who allegedly went to rob the pawnshop. Today, a second suspect went to court. He is 23 year old Kendale Carcamo. He appeared before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford unrepresented and was read two criminal offenses, robbery with a firearm and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm upon Dorian Usher. Carcamo pleaded not guilty to both charges but bail was denied bail because they are firearm offences. He was remanded to Prison until January 31, 2018.

Electrocution Victim Named
Last night we told you about a man who got electrocuted in Independence village. He is Hugo Polanco - who was trimming a tree in front of Kafun Restaurant on Fadden Avenue. He was on the tree trimming the edge, when his machete struck a high tension wire. He died on the spot and fell off the tree to the ground. It happened on the town's main street at 5:50 in the evening. Villagers tell us that he was trimming the tree to get more illumination from the streetlight. They complain that due to broken lamps, illumination in the area is poor. Notably, a murder occurred not too far away on Big Creek Road over the weekend. Police haven't been able to come up with witnesses because the area where it happened was too dark.

Weed From the West
One of the major routes form Marijuana is from Arenal Guatemala to the interior of Belize. And that's probably the route that two bundles of weed were traveling yesterday. Yesterday morning - acting on intelligence - police searched a Shaw bus in Succotz Village that was en route from Benque Viejo Town to Belize City. The cops found a kitbag stuffed with two neat bundles of cannabis which weighed 10 pounds. No one claimed the weed so it was deposited and labelled as found property.

Ortega Is New BDF Commander
Col. Steven Ortega is the new BDF Commander. Now, that's not new or riveting news as everyone pretty much already knew he would take up command. But today at another event, Defense Minister John Saldivar made it official. Saldivar congratulated Ortega on his promotion but also underscored the weight and importance of that post. Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of Defense: "I had intended to come here also to say that indeed perhaps in another few hours with the decision of the security services commission Colonel Ortega will be the commander of the Belize Defense Force, we'll remove that acting from him and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate him but also to say to him that to whom much is given much is expected and his new portfolio is one of the most important in this country especially at a time when we are going through some of the challenges that we are facing with the Belize Guatemala dispute."

Roches Case Still Inconclusive
And while Ortega has moved up in ranks, the future of one of his senior officers Lt. Col. Charlton Roches - is uncertain. The BDF team hasn't concluded its investigation into Roches as yet. As we told you, the Ministry of Defence called in the Auditor General to investigate whether there had been any shady money dealings between the BDF and Roches's private company, Belize Jungle Experience. And now, and internal BDF review is happening. Well, today Defense Minister John Saldivar didn't provide much details but said that so far there isn't any incriminating evidence of shady or irregular transactions. Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of Defense: "The investigation continues and I believe that only this week we received a correspondence from the FIU who had been asked to investigate the bank accounts and the company and I can say that have no found anything out of the ordinary with the company so the investigation continues and pretty soon a decision will be made with respect to that."

Indian Engineering Center For UB
Earlier this month we told you about the launch of UB's first Master's program. Well, the faculty of Science and Technology will also get a major boost in their department not another master program but a Center of Engineering. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between India and Belize to establish this center called the "IBCE." Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington signed for Belize, while the High Commission of the Republic of India to Belize Muktesh K. Pardeshi signed for the and Government of the Republic of India. In a release it states " The signing was done in an effort to enhance the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the field of technical education and skill development."

The Case of Meridian and Fyffes
As we reported last week, there's a major disturbance in the banana industry because Meridian Enterprises is suing Fyffes. Meridian is the company which took over Maya King's banana farms after owner John Zabaneh was commercially blacklisted by a Kingpin designation. Meridian was a management company run by Zabaneh's mother - so that the Kingpin designation would not affect Maya King farms, Belize's largest banana producer at the time. Fyffes kept buying form Meridian until an October 2015 7News article quoted Zabaneh speaking on behalf of Meridian. After that, Fyffes - which is an Irish company - immediately cut all ties with Meridian - because of the Kingpin taint. As a result of that - Meridian had no one to sell its bananas to, and its farms were forced into closure - causing hundreds of farm workers to lose their jobs. Eamon Courtenay is representing Meridian, and he explained the case:

What's This Year's Hottest Gift?
Christmas trees have been put up, houses have been decorated, and the food preparation has begun. But as the big day nears many Belizeans are just getting around to that famous last minute shopping for the perfect gift. Special deals and popular products fill stores all around the country and today we found out what the golden gifts are this Christmas. The highly anticipated arrival of the beloved Christmas day is right around the corner, but for many, the hunt for the perfect gift has just begun. Stores all over the country have deals that make every day seem like black Friday. But what are all these customers actually buying? Nicky Wesby - Golden Bay Employee: "Well right now they are buying a lot of MP3 players, a lot of Bluetooth speakers, Christmas trees. The fiber optic as you can see. They are buying a lot of stuff."

Christmas Lunch For the Troops
Yesterday 'Secret Santa' handed out ham to needy residents well today it was the BDF's turn to be treated to a warm plate of turkey dinner, cake and a tall chilled glass of Belikin beer. Today the annual Christmas luncheon was held for the soldiers at the Price Barracks. In his speech, BDF commander Col. Ortega took a retrospective approach and reminded the gathering of their duty as soldiers. But after all that serious talk, it was time to celebrate. Defense Minister John Saldivar spoke on the importance of today's luncheon. A total of 16 soldiers were recognized.

Cops Confused On Missing Murder Suspect
Police refuse to admit that the prime suspect in the murder of Jaime Pelayo has escaped. They say he is still at large - but refuse to put out a wanted poster - even he has been positively identified. As we have reported, he was in custody up until Sunday evening - and was expected to be charged on Monday morning. Investigators believe he is the one who fired a shotgun at three men last week Friday morning at an Orange Walk night spot. the blast killed Jaime Pelayo - who'd had a number of run in's with police.

No Progress On Sarstoon Protocol
At the top of the news, we showed you the back and forth between Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington and PUP Senator Eamon Courtenay who strongly disagree on the course of action to be taken with the Maritime Areas Act. Well before the political hard talk started on that topic, Foreign Minister Elrington was discussing his first bilateral meeting with the new Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel. One other topic which came up in those talks was the possibility of a negotiated protocol for the Sarstoon River. Elrington told us yesterday that the new Foreign Minister is holding the Guatemalan line, and she is not prepared commit to such a protocol at this time. Here's how he explained it:

Guatemalans Hold Hardline On Talamas
And in our last story on the Bilateral Meetings in Panama, Foreign Minister Elrington says that the Guatemalans still want Magdalena Talamas removed as the OAS Representative. You'll remember that they cried foul last year August when the OAS independent investigation team completed its report and found that the Belizean joint law enforcement team was vindicated in the fatal April 2016 shooting of the Guatemalan young man, Julio Alvarado Ruano. The Guatemalans flatly rejected that investigation's findings, and the Guatemalan officials were openly accusing the BDF of hunting the young man down and callously killing him.

Channel 5

It’s Eamon vs Sedi over Maritime Areas Act; gloves are off!
On Tuesday night we brought you Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington’s broadside against Senator and former Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay. Not only does he disagree with the proposition to [...]

What happens if it’s a ‘no’?
Following debate in the Senate a week ago, Senator Courtenay was slightly dismissive of Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte’s stated concern that Belize was jumping the gun in terms of allowing [...]

Sedi ‘noh ready’ for C.C.J., says Eamon
Another issue Courtenay addressed today relate to comments made by Elrington in a News Five interview on November twenty-eighth in Belmopan, following a Cabinet meeting. The Caribbean Court of Justice [...]

Progresso Heights case was different story from Belize courts
As Courtenay says, Elrington was seen to be taking advantage of Progresso Heights Limited’s principals, abusing his position of power. Even so and despite denying their relationship, he won the [...]

Who’s really behind San Pedro airport project?
The sudden unraveling of Jorge Jaen’s dubious past has set tongues wagging. The Miami-based developer has managed to wangle a memorandum of understanding for a multi-million dollar development project for [...]

Leader Briceno gives backing; slams Ashley Rocke for swing vote
This evening, we caught up with People’s United Party leader John Briceño at a political event. We will have more from that on Thursday, but we asked him to clarify [...]

Super Bond fire sale; fifty percent drop sends Belize to ‘junk’ status
And in financial news, there is information to News Five that as much as sixty million dollars of Belize Bonds traded on Tuesday at a fire sale price of thirty-four [...]

Death by electrocution after high-tension wire interrupts tree cutting
There was a freak accident in Independence on Tuesday evening, when a man who was cutting down a few limbs from an almond tree was suddenly electrocuted.  Hugo Polanco was [...]

ComPol orders investigation of underage police cadets shown drinking in Pomona
In mid-November, a pair of officers attached to the Placencia Police Substation found themselves in hot water after taking nude photos of male cadets who were on a camping trip [...]

Dennis Bodden to court for co-worker chopping
Remanded for the holidays, that’s what Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford ordered when fifty-three-year-old Dennis Bodden appeared before her in Courtroom Number Two.  The sanitation worker, employed with the Belize City [...]

Second of three charged for pawn shop robbery
A second man was charged with the robbery and aggravated assault of thirty-six-year-old Dorian Usher of Monica’s Pawn Shop. Twenty-three-year-old Kendale Carcamo of Ebony Street, Belize City, was arraigned in [...]

Zabaneh’s Meridian Enterprises sues Fyffes
In August, we brought you the story of banana businessman John Zabaneh’s five-year fight to remove himself from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control list of alleged trafficking [...]

Still waiting for U.H.S. notice; House meets January 5
Hold your horses on a U.H.S. showdown. The twenty-one day waiting limit for the Belize Bank to acquire notice of the Caribbean Court of Justice’s decision has expired. That decision [...]

83 thousand plus for hurricane relief and more to come
About two months ago, we told you about the telethon initiative to raise funds for hurricane victims in the Caribbean that was being led by the Belize City Council and [...]

Christmas party time at Lawrence Avenue and Princess…
As the clock ticks to the celebration of Christmas, across the country many are sharing the Spirit of Christmas with underprivileged children and their families with the gift of giving. [...]

…police giving away hampers in Northside…
Not to be outdone by its social partners, the Belize Police Department is also busy handling its share of gift giving.  From Secret Santa to hampers for the needy, the [...]

And P.U.P. parties with elderly in St. Martin’s
It seems even the People’s United Party has finally caught the Christmas spirit. This afternoon, we were invited to a celebration for some forgotten City residents – the elderly population. [...]

LOVE FM

$303.4 million in circulation before Christmas
According to the Central Bank of Belize, as at December 6, there was a total of three hundred and three point four million dollars in circulation. The country has seen an increase in the amount of money in circulation when compared to November by nine point one million dollars since, at November 30, the amount …

Exports: Belize is one of two top-performing Caribbean countries
Belize is one of two top-performing Caribbean countries with regards to exports for the first months of 2017. For the first quarter of 2017, exports from Belize increased by twenty-five percent after a twenty-four point nine percent decrease in 2016. According to data released by the Integration and Trade Sector (INT) of the Inter-American Development …

Belize and Guatemala’s Foreign Affairs Ministers discuss referendum
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington met last week with the new Guatemalan Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel who replaces former minister Carlos Raul Morales. Both officials met to discuss the diplomatic relationship between Guatemala and Belize. Among the discussions, Minister Jovel was interested in finding out when Belize was planning on holding its national ICJ referendum. Minister …

Meridian Enterprises pursues legal battle against Fyffes
Today Attorney Eamon Courtenay has confirmed that he has been retained by Meridian Enterprises to file suit against Fyffes. Meridian Enterprises had taken over Mayan King after the proprietor John Zabaneh was blacklisted for drug-related offenses. Up until October of 2015, the company was doing well under the Zabaneh’s banner and then Fyffes cut ties …

Is International Airport Alliance Belize Limited right for the job?
Last week the Government of Belize and International Airport Alliance Belize Limited signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and manage a full-service International Airport on Northern San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Soon after, the integrity of Jorge Abraham Jaen who signed on behalf of International Airport Alliance Belize Limited was questioned. He has been allegedly …

Belize Red Cross receives $83 K
Near the end of October, the Council of Churches spearheaded a telethon called Hands across the Caribbean. It was an effort to raise funds to assist in the emergency relief for Caribbean nations that were affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Today the President of the Council of Churches, Bishop Roosevelt Papaloute handed over a …

Hopkins water shortage
Some villagers of Hopkins will be spending Christmas without running water. Some have been accustomed to it because, as we have reported, for the past several months, some areas of Hopkins Village have been without water or the water pressure so low that it takes a full day for villagers to fill one bucket of …

Did police officers offer minors beers?
A picture on Facebook has gotten the attention of the Commissioner of Police, prompting Allen Whylie to order a full investigation into the matter. The picture shows three females, presumably minors, posing with what appears to be beers. To make the matter worse, the picture was taken at a police event, specifically at an event …

Funds allocated for 50-bed will be put to other use
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economic Development clarified the use of the European Union funds allocated to the Government of Belize for the Health Sector. In a release, the ministries stated that the funds which were initially to have been used to fund a 50-bed energy efficient wing at the Western Regional …

Elrington gives his account of the situation
Yesterday, we told you that residents at a long barracks on Oleander Street in Belize City were infuriated by the injustice they claimed that was done to them. According to one of the disgruntled residents, they were promised new homes by Minister Wilfred Elrington; however, when the new houses were finally built, to their astonishment …

PlusTV

Godwin Arzu’s reappointment shot down in Senate
Godwin Arzu has been the Contractor General since 2009, and his current two year term expires at the end of 2017. Prime Minister Barrow presented the bill for Arzu’s reappointment at the last House of Representatives meeting, but Senators at their session earlier this week, raised some concerns. Opp...

Man shot after robbing pawn Shop customer
Yesterday, a robbery did not go as planned for members of the South Side Gang. On Thursday, December 14th, there was an attempted robbery at Monica’s pawn shop in Belize City. Reports are that three men entered the establishment and attempted to relieve a business man of his jewelry. After successfu...

Security Guard shot to the head
Police are still investigating the murder of 61 year old Baltazar Sarmeinto. The incident happened earlier this week on the 9th of December when Sarmeinto’s body was found lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to his head, at the Buca Shell Gas station on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Report...

Update on Bladden Accident which kills 3 year Old
On Tuesday, we reported on the death of 3 year old Darren Sanchez. He died as the result of a traffic accident in which his father, 34 year old Jose Sanchez, was the driver. The incident happened on the 12th of December in Bladden Village in the Toledo District. Sanchez was driving a red Isuzu Rodeo...

Prisoner who sodomized other prisoner goes to court
Over the past few weeks we have been updating viewers about the sodomy incident that occurred at The Kolbe Foundation Prison in Hattiville. Well Yesterday, the 43 year old accused inmate appeared in court before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. He he was charged with 2 counts of an Unnatural Crime. No...

Breaking Belize News

Belize signs agreement with India for India-Belize Centre of Engineering
Today, the Government of Belize (GOB) and the Government of the Republic of India signed […]

Commissioner of Police responds to photos of minors drinking at Police Cadet function
Several pictures have circulated on the Internet portraying minors drinking contraband beers at a police cadet […]

A Christmas Reflection in 2017
Dear Belizean Friends and Friends of Belize, Christmas is a time of promises, dreams, and expectations—lots of them from your past and mine. Contrast that with our adult nation and world around us: promises broken, dreams dashed, and expectations too big to fulfill.

Police find 10 pounds of weed on bus
On Monday, around 11:30 a.m., police intercepted a Shaw’s bus, in Succotz village, Cayo which […]

Skiff stolen in Caye Caulker
Jaime Enrique Rosado, a businessman of Caye Caulker reported to police that between 8:00 p.m. […]

Thief shot during robbery remanded to prison
Last week, four men entered Monica’s pawn shop in Belize City attempting to rob the […]

Independence man electrocuted
According to reports, a man was electrocuted yesterday evening in Independence village. The man was […]

Elrington says Belize serious about referendum in 2019
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington, the Government of Belize is seriously […]

IAA says to give Jaen a chance
International Airport Alliance Belize Limited has spoken in defense of its principal, Jorge Abraham Jaen, […]

Two men charged for cocaine bust
Yesterday, police formally arrested and charged Peter Schmidt, 37, a fisherman of Caye Caulker and […]

Blogs

24 Hours at Las Terrazas Residences and Resort – I Could Get Used to This….
Last week I embarked on one of my favorite tasks. Visit a beautiful resort just a few miles from my home – to glean an inside look at a property that I pass almost every day. A luxurious stay-cation on my favorite island in the world. My charge: Spend the night…walking on the beach, testing out the beds, coffee and breakfast by the pool, using one-too-many uber-plush white towels after a long bath……take photos and write about it. Here it goes. The gorgeous Las Terrazas Resort, best known for THE most chic pool, invited me for a visit. And I happily obliged. Located about 3.5 miles north of town…just where the paved road ends, Las Terrazas offers a wide swath of beach, a fabulous curving dock, a beautiful restaurant with indoor, outdoor and rooftop dining and spacious modern accommodations. I love the palm trees, the tents and the circular loungers…it’s almost like an posh desert oasis. Until you see the gorgeous beach and sea just feet away…

Welcome to Belize
With one foot in the Central American jungles and the other in the Caribbean Sea, Belize may be small but it's packed with adventure and culture. Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest in the world, after Australia's, and with more than 100 types of coral and some 500 species of tropical fish, it's pure paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers. Swimming through translucent seas, snorkelers are treated to a kaleidoscope of coral, fish and turtles, while divers go deeper, investigating underwater caves and walls and the world-renowned Blue Hole.Add to this island living on the sandy cayes, where you can spend your days kayaking, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming, fishing or lazing in a hammock, and you've got the recipe for a perfect tropical vacation.

International Sources

Simulations indicate that scores of lionfish (Pterois volitans) colonized the Atlantic Ocean
An interesting article concluding the aquarium trade is the most likely source for lionfish invasions in the Caribbean. Having seen firsthand the spread of these spikey invaders, it is amazing to think it all could have started with some sloppy exotic pet traders/owners.
The invasion of the western Atlantic Ocean by the Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) has had devastating consequences for marine ecosystems. Estimating the number of colonizing lionfish can be useful in identifying the introduction pathway and can inform policy decisions aimed at preventing similar invasions. It is well-established that at least ten lionfish were initially introduced. However, that estimate has not faced probabilistic scrutiny and is based solely on the number of haplotypes in the maternally-inherited mitochondrial control region.

10 Reasons Why Belize Is the Perfect Honeymoon Destination
Sure, Mexico's Riviera Maya boasts both jungle and sea, but head further south to Belize and you'll find a honeymoon locale that's just as charming and slightly more off the beaten path, with everything from prime diving at the Belize Barrier Reef to wild jungles dotted with over 600 ancient sites. Throw in a few luxe hotels and haute hideaways (hint: Coppolas are involved) and you have the perfect recipe for a romantic Central American getaway. Here’s 10 reasons that’ll have you saying “I do” to a honeymoon in the heartland of the Maya. Quick & affordable flights: There’s a reason Belize has been buzzing lately. This Central American gem is an easy one to reach from most major cities, clocking in at a little over four hours from Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles and just two and a half hours from Houston. Plus, with airlines like Southwest flying directly into Belize City, honeymooners can snag deals on airfare starting at just $300 roundtrip.

The winter solstice was also a big deal for the ancient Maya
This year's winter solstice will take place Thursday December 21, in the Northern Hemisphere, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences its summer solstice. Because the Earth's axis is tilted farthest from the sun, winter solstice is the darkest, shortest day of the year. But human interest in the movements of the sun is far from new. Perhaps in no civilization was it more important than with the Maya, explains Takeshi Inomata, a professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona. Inomata’s archaeological research focuses on Maya civilization. Prior to Spanish conquest in the 16th century, Maya civilization prospered in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and western Honduras. The Maya are known primarily for their elaborate constructions, including pyramids and palaces, and their writing system, which was the most sophisticated in the New World.

Videos