February 19, 2018

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 Restaurant Brings Eclectic Vibe and Live Comedy to Back Street
Iguana Juan’s Restaurant and Bar has joined the San Pedro dining scene, bringing killer vegetarian, thoughtful burgers and live entertainment to Back Street. The restaurant’s first professional stand up comedy show starring headliner Rob Sherwood takes place Wednesday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m. Sherwood is the opening act for mega prop comic Carrot Top in has Las Vegas showroom at The Luxor, and he has headlined comedy club across the US and abroad. Tickets can be purchased online via Iguana Juan’s Facebook page or at the restaurant during opening hours.

Wolfe’s Woofer: Don, The Mechanic
“R-i-i-ing! R-i-i-ing!” “Will you get that phone?” I asked Sherry. “I’m busy changing the strings on my guitar.” “Who was it?” I asked, when she came back in the living room. “It was some guy calling to know if I know where Don, the mechanic is.” “What did you tell him?” “He sounded like he might be drunk so I just hung up.” That call came at around 7:30. At around 9 o’clock the phone rang again. “Hello, Dennis speaking,” I answered. “Did you say Dennis?” “Yes, this is Dennis Wolfe.”

Letter to the Editor: Charlie T. Fundraiser
Dear Editor and our San Pedro Community, I wish to express a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who supported the Charlie T. Fundraiser at Carlo & Ernie’s Runway Bar Sunday Feb. 11. Thank you to our hosts, Carlo & Ernie, to the volunteers who made the event work, and to the musicians who entertained us in between the Raffles. A very special THANK YOU to the San Pedro businesses who donated the many wonderful prizes that comprised the Raffle Baskets. Also, THANK YOU to everyone who showed up, bought an item at the Bake Sale or a ticket for the raffle, made a donation or just came to enjoy the day supporting an island friend.

Doctor Love: Left Out
Dear Doctor Love I am twenty-six years old and have been married to my husband for five years. I have always been close to his mother and she is affectionate and loving towards me. His twenty-year-old brother still lives at home and he recently became engaged to a girl. Now, I have suddenly become invisible. My mother-in-law has become her best friend, gushing over her cute little figure and her beautiful smile. She is always complimenting her on everything from her healthy, long hair to her singing voice and artistic talents. I am pretty but I realize that she is gorgeous and much thinner than me, and comments about her figure make me feel old and unattractive.

Ambergris Today

Burpees For Bella Fundraiser Brings Community Together
What started as a personal effort for Marissa and Kristian Guerrero to raise funds in helping out their friend Isabella Romero, ended up being a huge fundraiser supported by the community. They managed to raise $8,862 by promising to do one burpee for every dollar collected. Expecting to challenge themselves with about 1,000 burpees, the Guerreros found themselves being joined by a cross section of the fitness community in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and ended up having to knock out over 8,000 burpees. Great thing they had help.

San Pedro PUP Launches Their “Manifesto Of The People”
The San Pedro PUP held it’s manifesto launch on Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the north end of Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro Town. PUP Councilor Candidate Ruben Navidad explained the team's vision and plans of paving no less than nine miles of streets with proper drainage and long lasting durability. “No more children wading in muddy water on their way to school, and no more walking through muddy neighborhoods as people to work in the tourism service industry.” Navidad cried shame on a powerful Minister of Tourism, allowing his constituency to live in derelict conditions, unhealthy neighborhoods and unsafe community.

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
MONDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2018: THE NOHOCH CHEEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS CLOSED. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

Support Anthony Colman Medical Fund
Anthony was a student at the San Pedro High School who, due to financial difficulties, was only taking classes at night in order to help his parents during the day. It was a rainy day on Monday, October 17th 2016 when Anthony was taking his stepfather lunch. Anthony came in contact with a live electrical wire, and when his stepfather found him on the ground, he was trembling and foaming at the mouth. Despite the efforts of the doctors, they could not save his hands which were greatly damaged due to the high electrical voltage he received. Anthony also received injuries to the head and chest area. Anthony has been accepted at Shriner's Hospital in Mexico City for treatment and prosthetic hands. He will be going there in about a week for his treatments. We are raising funds for his travel to Mexico City including his Mother. There will be money needed for an apartment, food and transportation during his 2 - 3 week stay. There are 2 volunteers also traveling with Anthony and his Mother. And there will be follow-up care. Please make a donation for Anthony so we can make travel arrangements right away.

Cops find the “Coco”
About 2:30 p.m., on 17.2.2018, Police searched an abandoned house on Freetown Road in Belize City. Inside the building officers found 3 transparent plastic bags containing a total of 584.5grams of cocaine. No one was found in the area and the drugs were deposited as “found property”.

Fatal Hit and Run Accident
On 17.2.18 about 7:00 p.m, an accident occurred between Esperanza Village and Central Farm. A man was walking towards Esperanza Village when he was hit by a vehicle that was travelling in the same direction. He sustained severe head and bodily injuries that killed him on the spot. The vehicle involved did not stop to render aid to the victim. The deceased individual was later identified as 46 year old Arcenio Itza, a wood carver of Succotz Village.

Women in Art Exhibit 2018
A Call for Artists, Launch March 15.

Murder/Suicide
Man and woman die in murder/suicide incident in Belize City. The male has been identified as Jason Emmanuel and the other victim is his wife Linda Emmanuel. The couple had attempted to reconcile after a previous break up, according to people who knew them. It’s a tragedy for all family members. On the 17.2.2018 about 5:55 p.m. Police responded to a report at No. 5 Rose Lane and upon entering a room at the residence they discovered the motionless body of 46 year s Hermelinda Pinks with a single gunshot wound to the left side of her head that exited the right side, officers also discovered, the motionless body of 43 year old Jason Emmanuel with a single gunshot wound to the right side of the head that exited the left side and a 9mm pistol was seen next to him. Both bodies were transported to Belize City morgue for postmortem examinations .

Luis Dominguez was shot and killed in the Kings Park area of Belize City on Saturday night
The police department says on 17.2.2018 about 11:38 p.m., officers responded to a report at No.14, 8th Street in Belize City. upon arrival officers saw the lifeless body of 35 year old Luis Dominguez. Dominguez, officers say, was sitting on a table inside the yard when he was approached by a man who fired several shots to his body.

ER's ICY TREATS in COROZAL
We hear the jingles in town. They are back once again - ER's ICY TREATS - Homemade, Naturally & Refreshing Icy Treats for everyone. Lookout for their ice cream sandwich. Coming all the way from Orange Walk. Pick up your refreshing icy treat on a breezy and beautiful day in Corozal. Listen to the jingles coming your way.

The Reporter

Fatal hit and run accident on George Price highway
A man was knocked doen and killed om the George Price highway on Saturday night. Police say that around 7:00 p.m, they responded to a report of the incident between Esperanza Village and Central Farm. There they found the body of a Hispanic descent man lying motionless on the highway. Police discovered that the man was walking from the direction of Central Farm towards Esperanza when he was struck by a vehicle travelling in the same direction. The mam, still unidentified, died at the scene severe head and body injuries. Police say the vehicle did not stop to render aid to the victim.

Man shot dead in Belize City
A man was shot dead in Belize City on Saturday night. According to police, sometime around 11:38 Saturday night they responded to a report at #14 8th Street, Belize City, where they saw the body of Luis Dominguez, 35. Dominguez had been shot several times, according to police. Police say that Dominguez was sitting on a table inside the yard when a dark complexioned man approached him and opened fire on him.

Man murders wife then commits suicide
A man reportedly murdered his wife, then committed suicide on Saturday in Belize City. Police say that sometime around 5:55 p.m., they responded to a report at # 5 Rose Lane, Lake Independence area, and that upon entering a room at the residence, they discovered the body of Hermelinda Pinks, 46, with a bullet wound that penetrated her head. Also in the room was the body of Jason Emmanuel, 43, who also had a bullet that penetrated his head.

Elections and Boundaries Department notifies public servants about proxy vote for upcoming municipals
It is less than a month before the municipal elections, and the Elections and Boundaries Department is encouraging public officers who wish to apply to vote by proxy to submit their applications in time. The department informs, however, that in accordance with the regulations that govern cities and town councils elections, only certain public officers are qualified to vote by proxy. These include persons acting as Election Officers in some other Polling Station; and persons employed in transporting or working in any other manner to help an Election Officer at some other Polling Station.

Breaking Belize News

Proxy applications notice for public officers
On Friday, the Elections and Boundaries department issued a release informing that qualified public officers are encouraged to apply to vote by proxy on or before February 28, 2018.

Missing taxi driver found
According to reports reaching BBN news desk, taxi driver Emilio Perez has been found and is safe.

Police: Man shot dead in Belize City
Last night around 11:38, police responded to a report of a fatal shooting incident at No.14-8th Street, Belize City. There, police saw the lifeless body of a man.

2 dead in suspected murder-suicide
Yesterday evening around 5:55, Belize City police responded to a report of a fatal shooting on Rose Lane Street. Police entered a room and saw the motionless body of Hermelinda Pinks, 46, a Belizean Supervisor with a single gunshot wound to the left side of her head that exited the right side.

Victim of fatal hit and run not yet identified
Last night around 7, police went to an area between Esperanza Village and Central Farm where a man of Hispanic descent was seen lying motionless on the left hand side of the road.

Police find over 500 grams of cocaine in Belize City
Yesterday afternoon, police conducted a search in an abandoned house on Freetown Road, Belize City and found 3 transparent plastic bags containing a total of 584.5 grams of cocaine.

Police: Taxi man missing in Belize City
Emilio Perez,43, a taxi driver of Belize City has been reported missing. Perez drives a maroon 1996 Mitsubishi car, L/P-1480. He has not been seen or heard from since Friday morning.

Lobster season closes on a high note
The Fisheries Department has announced the official closure of the spiny lobster season, noting that the amount of lobster harvested for export has greatly increased.

Blogs

Life in Belize Moves at a Slower Pace, and That’s Just Fine With Us
“It’s just by chance we discovered Ambergris Caye, when a much-needed rest drew us to the island for a vacation. But it’s the natural beauty that kept us coming back year after year and eventually deciding to move here permanently,” says Dawn Schick. After years of 16-hour days as owners and operators of a Victorian B&B and cupcake shop in Richmond, Virginia, the easygoing lifestyle of San Pedro, on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize, is just what she and her husband, Albert, were looking for. “We’d been vacationing here several times a year for more than six years and decided this would be our eventual retirement home. But after years of hard work in the restaurant and hospitality industry, we thought, why wait until ‘someday,’? Why not take the plunge right now?” Dawn explains. So in 2010 they sold their businesses and most of their possessions, packed up their three Yorkie terriers, and headed south of the border to this tropical island off the coast of Belize. And island living hasn’t disappointed. “We love being outdoors and the year-round warm weather lets us go snorkeling or paddle-boarding anytime we want.

Cayo Frances Farm & Fly…Again: Pictures, Pictures, Pictures
I spend a bunch of my time at Cayo Frances Farm & Fly (“the camp”) on the west side of Ambergris Caye and I live, full-time, on the reef side of the island – 7 miles north of town. The camp is almost directly across the island – from reef side to the leeward side through the gorgeous and VERY SHALLOW lagoon system. At certain low tides, some spots are best measured in inches rather than feet. The back lagoons are filled with birds this time of year. There are quite a few wood storks, reddish egrets and spoonbills back there this year. A new video is in production and a new website being assembled – a new project is going to be announced. And since I am spending my morning sifting thru my 100s of totally UN-organized photos, picking out some favorites, I thought I’d share them with you.

International Sources

Pilot forced to make EMERGENCY LANDING after plane loses cabin pressure
A SOUTHWEST Airlines passenger jet was forced to make a dramatic emergency landing after the plane lost cabin pressure mid-flight. The flight from Belize, in Central America, to Denver was diverted after the cabin pressurisation stopped functioning. Pressurisation is vital at altitudes above 10,000 feet as low air pressure can cause several psychological conditions including decompression and altitude sickness. Southwest Airlines Flight 289 was diverted to Houston when it became clear the plane could not continue on its designated path.

MSC Southeast bringing in sustainable agriculture experts from Belize for February events
This week, Minnesota State College Southeast will be hosting a regional speaking tour for Christopher and Celini Nesbitt, experts in sustainable agriculture and founders of the Maya Mountain Research Farm in Belize. Their schedule will include several private and public speaking events. They will give a presentation at the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service Conference in La Crosse and are scheduled for an interview with Minnesota Public Radio. At 5 p.m. Thursday Feb. 22, the public is invited to meet the Nesbitts when Christopher Nesbitt presents “The Future of Farming — Lessons from the Tropics” at Minnesota State College Southeast, Tandeski Center.

An Archaeologist, a Mysterious Ancient Citadel, and a Vanishing World
Recent news stories have directed the spotlight on the discovery of thousands of ancient Maya sites in the jungles of the Petén in Mesoamerica, still hidden under a tropical canopy. The knowledge of the likely existence of many such undiscovered sites in Mesoamerica is not new to archaeologists who specialize in the study of the ancient Maya, and the technology application known as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, a remote sensing method using pulsed laser to "see" what cannot be seen by the naked eye on the ground) that was used to rediscover these sites is also not new. In fact, archaeologist Anabel Ford has been using the results of this technology application for years. The following video tells her story about the rediscovery and conservation of El Pilar, a large ancient Maya city that, for the most part, still lies enshrouded in its forest canopy. She describes the discovery of what she has dubbed the 'citadel', an ancient Maya structural complex that differs markedly from anything else revealed in the land of the ancient Maya. She also relates, on the ground, the unfolding tragedy of a Maya preserve and heritage that is under daily threat of destruction. More detail about her recent work on the mysterious Maya "citadel' has been presented in the article, Uncovering the Citadel of El Pilar, published originally in the Spring 2016 issue of Popular Archaeology.

Videos

February 18, 2018

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: FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY
To my son Koby, and all my free-spirited San Pedro kids that I loved…You will have a place in my heart forever.. FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY “Oh Land of the Free by the Caribe Sea” They sang after struggling for years When loss became gain at St. George’s Caye By brave British, freed slaves, and buccaneers La Isla Bonita…This was my home Barefoot and sunburned, so wild and free This perfect playground was all I had known Mangos, and sea grapes, and coconut trees

BTB Presents U.S. $59,934.00 cheque to Caribbean Tourism Organization as contribution to “A Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund”
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB), in collaboration with tourism industry stakeholders, raised U.S. $59, 934.00 (Bz $119,868.00) as part of the Dollar for the Caribbean Relief Fund campaign. The fund was created to assist victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which severely devastated many Caribbean countries in September last year. This morning Ms. Karen Pike, BTB’s Director of Marketing and Industry Relations, presented the cheque to Mr. Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) during a virtual press conference hosted by CTO in Barbados.

BEL Deploys Third Team of Linemen to British Virgin Islands to Assist with Hurricane Restoration
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) continues to support the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Electricity Corporation with completing hurricane restoration efforts, and deployed a third team of five linemen to BVI on Monday, February 12, 2018. Electricity has been restored to 90% of the territory since Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the group of islands in August and September 2017. The team, comprised of Leroy Matura, Arnold Tillett, Tyrone Reynolds, Ronald Young and James Teul is stationed in Tortola for four weeks. They join other linemen from member utilities of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC).

DOE hosts emergency oil spill consultations
The Department of the Environment (DOE) hosted two days of consultations on Monday, February 5th, and Tuesday, February 6th in an effort to finalize the Belize National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The plan also identified the different entities responsible in case of an oil spill on the mainland or along the coast of the country. Despite the fact that on January 5th of this current year, Belize unanimously passed the Petroleum Operations (Offshore Zone Moratorium) Bill 2017, banning offshore oil development in the country’s maritime territory, DOE believes that there are still risks of an oil spill either at the drilling station in the Cayo District or by an oil tanker out at sea.

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
SUNDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2018: ALL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

New Caye Caulker sign unveiled

Murder/Suicide
Man and woman die in murder/suicide incident in Belize City. The male has been identified as Jason Emmanuel and the other victim is his wife Linda.

Pictures from the Golf Tournament in Consejo

11th Annual Natural Resource Management Symposium
Mar 1 at 8:30 AM to Mar 2 at 5 PM, University of Belize Central Campus. The theme for this year's symposium is " Making scientific data available to managers". The main purpose of the symposium is to bring together researchers, managers, students, government agencies and NGOs engaged in natural resource management in Belize, to share findings and evaluate the status of resource management in the country

Addressing the students of San Pedro Junior College and San Pedro Adult Continuing Education
I had the opportunity of accompanying Mayor Daniel Guerrero, Minister Manuel Heredia Jr. and councilors of the San Pedro Town Council last night as they addressed the students of San Pedro Junior College and San Pedro Adult Continuing Education. After remarks, the students had the opportunity to ask questions. Very good questions ranging from crime, policing strategy, emergency preparedness and good suggestions were made. Generally speaking, the students were pleased to hear from their elected officials on the work accomplished and future plans. The students were happy with the message and complimented the officials for the positive message.

The Reporter

Taxi driver goes missing after leaving home on chartered job
A taxi driver from Belize City is missing after he reportedly left his base to do a chartered job in Ladyville. Reliable reports indicate that Emilio Perez, 43, of Allan Pitts Crescent, Port Loyola area left the Public’s Supermarket on the Central American Boulevard to go on a job in Ladyville sometime around 10:00 a.m., and has not been seen or heard from since then. Perez’ common-law wife, Joan Mariano reported him missing after he nor his black and maroon Mitsubishi Montero taxi car has shown up anywhere since he left from in front of the supermarket.

Elections and Boundaries Department notifies public servants about proxy vote for upcoming municipals
It is less than a month before the municipal elections, and the Elections and Boundaries Department is encouraging public officers who wish to apply to vote by proxy to submit their applications in time. The department informs, however, that in accordance with the regulations that govern cities and town councils elections, only certain public officers are qualified to vote by proxy. These include persons acting as Election Officers in some other Polling Station; and persons employed in transporting or working in any other manner to help an Election Officer at some other Polling Station. These public officers who want to vote are advised to submit their fully-completed Form 14, also called Proxy Paper, and Form 15, Application for Appointment of Proxy, to the nearest Elections and Boundaries Department office by Wednesday, February 28.

Breaking Belize News

What Rubin “Hurricane” Carter& Malcolm X can teach us about Breaking ” Learned Helplessness”
By Charles Leslie Jr.: On July 25, 2016, I wrote this article “Learned Helplessness Is Inhibiting The Second Belizean Revolution”. According to Wikipedia, Learned Helplessness can be defined as: behavior typical of an organism (human or animal) that has endured repeated painful or otherwise aversive stimuli which it was unable to escape or avoid. After such experience, the organism often fails to learn escape or avoidance in new situations where such behavior would be effective.

Belize city Mayoral candidates to participate in debate
Belize city Mayoral aspirants will be participating in a Candidates Forum hosted by the University of Belize next Wednesday on February 21 at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. The forum will include participation from all four mayoral candidates: Bernard Wagner (PUP), Dion Leslie (UDP), Paco Smith (BPP), and Ernesto Torres.

Minister Elodio Aragon sues media houses over political ad
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign and Home Affairs, Elodio Aragon, has filed a lawsuit against several media houses claiming defamation of character and libel, over a political paid ad for by the People’s United Party (PUP).

Tourist alleges rape by chaperone
A tourist visiting San Pedro reported to police that she was raped by a man who was supposed to be looking out for her. The 25-year-old visitor from the United States reported that she was staying with a family in San Pedro when her chaperone raped her in her sleep. She reported that she was socializing with a group and asked to be taken home because she’d had too much to drink. She tried to sleep off her intoxication when the assault happened.

Alleged pedophile gets bail
A 67-year-old man accused of raping a 14-year-old girl is out on bail. Yesterday, Guinea Grass resident Alfredo Pech appeared in the Supreme Court before Justice Herbert Lord, who granted him bail valued at $8,000.

Maya Mountain Adventure Challenge 2018 to be held in a week
The annual Maya Mountain Adventure Challenge in Belize is back and the epic competition will be as fierce as the Belizean jungles in which the four-day race will take place. This year’s race will begin a little over a week and last from February 25-28.

International Sources

Britain hit by EARTHQUAKE as people report ‘violent shaking’ in homes from Cornwall to Blackpool
A major 4.4-magnitude earthquake shook buildings across western parts of Britain, with people from Cornwall to Blackpool reporting a strong tremor that damaged buildings, knocked objects off walls and caused lights to flicker. Terrified Britons told of violent shaking, objects falling off shelves or walls, and furniture moving when the UK's strongest quake in a decade struck just after 2.30pm near Swansea in South Wales. Several buildings in Bristol were damaged, Swansea University was evacuated and people ran into the streets in fear, as the tremor was compared to everything from a "massive explosion" to a car crash. The earthquake was felt by as many as 10 million Brits as far away as 200 miles from the epicentre in Cwmllynfell, and it was the strongest in South Wales in more than 100 years.

Videos

February 17, 2018

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

Lobster season officially closed: Fisheries indicates a productive season
On, Thursday, February 15th The Belize Fisheries Department officially announced the closing season for Spiny Lobster. During the closed season no traps are to be set and no one should consume lobsters products for the next four months. If someone is caught in possession of lobster during this time, that person can be charged a fine or even possibly face jail time. The production of lobster has increased and this year benefiting the country in various aspects. “Lobster production has increased. We are harvesting the lobster tails. On average it is about four hundred thousand pounds of lobster tail harvested in the season with a value of twelve million dollars. We are now also harvesting whole lobster, which is another category, another version of commodity with added value. Approximately another four hundred thousand pounds was harvested which is about six million dollars harvested. You see now we are about nine hundred thousand pounds of lobster that has resulted from the good management of the Fisheries Department, the enforcement, the monitoring, and the collaboration we have had with other co-managers and N.G.O.s.

San Pedro Pirates win current champions of the PLB
For the fifth week of the Premiere League of Belize (PLB), the San Pedro Pirates defeated the current champions of the PLB. Verdes F.C was defeated during their home game in a 2-1 point match against the island team at the Norman Boaster Stadium, in the Cayo District. The current standings have Verdes F.C at the top of the chart with 12 points, followed by Belmopan Bandits with 10 points and Police United F.C with eight points. Freedom Fighters, Placencia Assassins, and San Pedro Pirates F.C have six points each, while Belize Defense force has four points and at the bottom of the chart is Dangriga Wagiya F.C with one point only. For the next match, the San Pedro Pirates will be hosting the Freedom fighters at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town on Sunday, February 18th. All islanders are invited to come out and support the island team in their home game. The game is scheduled to start at 3PM.

San Pedro’s Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chapter officially signed
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) held the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for San Pedro’s Chapter of the BCCI on Tuesday, February 13th at Mahogany Bay Beach Resort in San Pedro Town. The event saw the attendance of the BCCI’s President Nikita Usher, BCCI’s Chief Executive Kim Aikman, BCCI’s Manager of Member Relations Yorshabell Cattouse, San Pedro’s BCCI’s Chapter coordinators Mike Haworth and Elida Escobar among other invited guests. Currently, the BCCI boasts a fluctuating membership of more than three hundred (300) Belizean businesses from a wide cross-section of the agricultural, productive, service and industrial sectors. The BCCI’s mandate is legally enshrined in Chapter 308 of the Laws of Belize under the Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry Act. The specific objectives of the organization are to foster the economic growth and social well-being of the nation through the free enterprise system at all levels, by promoting and protecting, both nationally and internationally commerce, and all sectors of industry which includes agri-business, tourism and manufacturing, professions and the trades.

Jordan Rubio wins annual Coca-Cola Spelling Bee Zone 5 Eliminations
Jordan Rubio of the San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) is the winner of the annual Coca-Cola Spelling Bee Zone 5 Eliminations held on Thursday, February 15th at the Lions Den in San Pedro. The competition saw the participation of 12 students from various schools including: Alexis Lawrence and Luis Olivera from Ambergris Caye Elementary School, Flora Choc and Karina Sotz from Caye Caulker Roman Catholic School, Jhiaha Thompson and Reanna Cuthkelvin from Holy Cross Anglican School, Michael Estephan and Terence Keating from Isla Bonita School, Adriana Briceno and Aleah Moreira from New Horizon Seventh Day Adventist school, Jordan Rubio and Austin Castro from SPRCS, Mackenzie Turley and Gabrielle Alexander from The Island Academy, Erwin Reynolds and Melina Choj from La Isla Crainosa Academy. The annual spelling tournament was organized by Bowen & Bowen Limited, Ministry of Education Youth, Sports & Culture and the San Pedro Town Council.

Ambergris Today

BCCI And Belize Business Brokers Signing Of MOU And Launching Of The 1st San Pedro Chapter
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) along with the Belize Business Brokers signed the first San Pedro Chapter on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 in San Pedro Town. The Belize Business Brokers will now serve as the BCCI’s official Chapter in San Pedro Town. The formation of this Chapter is in accordance with the BCCI’s Act, Chapter 308 of the Laws of Belize. The BCCI’s goal in establishing the San Pedro Chapter is to extend its reach and better serve those areas of the country geographically removed from the BCCI’s hub of activity inBelize City.

BTB Presents Check To CTO For "Caribbean Disaster Relief Fund"
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB), in collaboration with tourism industry stakeholders, raised U.S. $59, 934.00 (Bz $119,868.00) as part of the Dollarfor the Caribbean Relief Fund campaign. The fund was created to assist victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, which severely devastated many Caribbean countries in September last year. On Thursday morning Ms. Karen Pike, BTB’s Director of Marketing and Industry Relations, presented the check to Mr. Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) during a virtual press conference hosted by CTO in Barbados.

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2018: ALL ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RAINS CONTINUE THEREFORE THE CAVES SITES ARE SUBJECT TO CLOSURE DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

A new species of shark and a new species for Belize
The Atlantic Sixgill Shark! We're thrilled to present the scientific publication confirming this novel species from a collaborative team that includes scientists from MarAlliance, Florida State University Coastal and Marine Lab, and the Daly-Engel Shark Conservation Lab at Florida Tech. Photo by Ivy Baremore/MarAlliance.

Next Gen Croc
Next Gen Croc is a program that intends to foster the next generation of Wildlife Champions, as well as build up leadership, communication, and biology skills. Yesterday, our Next Gen Croc students from Ocean Academy on Caye Caulker displayed themselves as true wildlife and environmental leaders at the school’s Ubuntu event. They created a very interactive booth teaching their community about the facts of crocs, while also displaying the knowledge to squash any false beliefs or facts. We are truly proud of our Next Gen Croc students as they went above and beyond our expectations, and we look forward to seeing them grow as Belize’s crocodile experts!

BELTRAIDE and Compete Caribbean hosts National Cluster Workshop
BELTRAIDE, through its technical unit, EXPORTBelize hosted a“National Cluster Workshop” as part of the “Building Institutional Capacity for Strengthening Business Clusters” project implemented through financial support from Compete Caribbean. The National Workshop, held on February 16th 2018 in Belize City, aimed to provide participants with insight into Compete Caribbean initiatives with the purpose of encouraging collaborative actions to improve the competitiveness of a sector or industry as well as to promote cross-sectoral linkages.

For the first time in Corozal ...JAZZ ...JAZZ ...JAZZ
VALENTINE'S NIGHT with Caribbean Jazz Quartet at Jahmundo, Finca Solana on Saturday, February 17th. Free finger food and a glass of wine. Directions: Take the street off Consejo Road between the cemetery and the vendors' market. Head towards Natural Mystics and take your first left turn and head to the end of the road. Take your last left turn and Jahmundo is on your left. Home of the funniest pony in the world, Payaso.

THE WAY OF THE MAYA MASEWAL
The Yucatec Maya traditions like the Wahil Kol and Cha Chaac which are still done by the Maya of Northern & Western Belize is more than a offering or asking for rain . The hard work of this traditions which may take even over 10 hours is a connection with nature ,a connection with our innerself ,a connection with our ancestors ,a connection with our past by hearing the stories of the old Mayeros and with our Maya spirituality . The Yucatec Maya build the altars with all natural things found in the forest and in the same way do the Balche (Maya Sacred Wine). Picture of the Wahil Kol Primicias in Patchakan ,Corozal Picture courtesy by Jeremias Tzul

South AC Neighborhood Watch Clean Up Postponed Until Saturday, Feb 24th
"Due to the standing water in our area, the EC has decided to postpone the Cleanup until next Saturday 24th Feb, 2018.

Monthly Weather Summary, January 2018
JANUARY, 2018 STARTED OFF ON THE COOL SIDE, AS OVERNIGHT TO EARLY MORNING LAND BREEZE HAD BEEN PERSISTENT FOR SOME DAYS ALREADY. THESE COOLER LAND TEMPERATURES LIMITED CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY OVER THE MAINLAND, WHILE THE PREVAILING OFFSHORE WIND FLOW WAS A GENERALLY LIGHT NORTH-TO-NORTHEASTERLY ONE. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE WARMER SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND COOL AIRFLOW OVER THE SEA, SHOWERY ACTIVITY AFFECTED CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COASTAL WATERS DURING THE NIGHT AND MORNING, AND THEN THE MAINLAND IN THE AFTERNOON. A TOTAL OF THREE COLD FRONTS WERE NOTED TO HAVE CROSSED BELIZE DURING THIS MONTH.

Congratulations Roni Martinez, the 2018 James A. Waight Award recipient!

Julio the Crocodile relocated
When crocs continue to pose a threat or exhibit worrisome behavior even after intervention with ACES, they have two options - be put to death or be put in captivity. We work under the authority of the Belize Forest Department and give crocs the option of life by building lush, beautiful pens for them to live out their days in to keep both the crocs and the people of Belize safe! The people and pets of Ambergris Caye will no longer have to worry about this problematic croc any longer. Julio has been given a new home in our sanctuary for his own safety and the safety of others. This old croc has seen some wars - measuring in at 10.5 feet, Julio is missing about a foot of tail, is blind in one eye, and is missing the majority of both his hind feet. He will be retiring in a beautiful pen located at Rainforest Adventure Zone in Sandhill, Belize thanks to support from La Fondation Brigitte Bardot. A big thank you to Quality Poultry Products for help transporting Julio in their boat to the mainland!

BURNING OF JUAN CARNAVAL
In San Pedro...

Orange Walk Redesigned Town Clock
Proposed plan for renovated town clock. Coming soon in partnership with TTM.

2018 Chinese New Year celebration
Princess Casino Freezone, Corozal invites you this Saturday, February 17th for our 2018 Chinese New Year celebration. $7,000 worth of cash will be raffled starting at 10:00 p.m. It is the year of the Dog - Loyalty

Roni Martinez Wins James Waight Award
Congratulations, Roni! He won the Belize Audubon Society's James A. Waight Award. Well deserved. Congratulations to our 31st James A. Waight Award Recipient, Roni Martinez!

Multimedia studio for the youth in Belize
As a groundbreaking innovating project in the Prevjuve Innovation Lab, the Love Foundation opened the first and only media studios whose content is created by youth and its mentors. This facilities were inaugurated in Belize City with the presence of representatives of partner organizations, as Belmopan Municipality, UNDP Belize, as well as Love Foundation’s staff and students. The event was part of Love Foundation’s 25th anniversary celebrations, during Valentine’s day. The new studio will be a key factor for the After School Programs, this component targets 100 students, all of them with access to a variety of artistic and creative activities including Media Arts, Health and Wellness and STEM (Science, Tchnology, Engineering and Math). During her speech, Deborah Sewell, Love Foundation’s Managing Director, said “this studio will make future broadcasters, journalists, public speakers and radio personalities, disc jockeys, etc.. We are very greatful to our many partners”, Sewell said.

Fence at St. Jude R.C. School
Thank you to The Camalote residents, Belize Business Community and friends of Cayo South for helping us build the most needed fence at St. jude R.C. School. This fence will directly benefit the children, and will help to keep them safe. This was a direct request from the parents, teachers and principal of the school. Together we can change the world :) Julius Espat

Channel 7

Is Police Profiling Prejudicial?
In the mobile phone era - everyone has a camera on them almost around the clock. But are police abusing those cell phone cameras to engage in profiling suspects? And are they doing so indiscriminately. That's the question the media raised with police earlier this week - after reports emerged that police were taking picture of persons who they stopped and searched. Police press officer, Senior Superintendent Bart Jones - who is also an attorney - told the media that it's not profiling. He says that it's a useful tool - to assist police investigations, and to even ensure that persons are not beaten by police. But, section 19 of the police act makes it precisely clear when and where police can take photographs of civilians. First, those persons must be in lawful custody - not at a checkpoint or a stop and search. Second, if the person is not convicted, all pictures and records must be destroyed. Clearly, the law seeks to assure the constitutional guarantee of a citizen's right to privacy.

No New Contract For Contractor General
Cabinet has also had to consider the position of the Contractor General Godwin Arzu. In December, a motion to re-appoint him had to be withdrawn after the Senate pointed out that he had failed to submit his annual reports as required by law. In the two months since - he still has not submitted a report and the Prime Minister told the Amandala that he will move to a appoint a new contractor general. Today the Deputy Prime Minister had a slightly different interpretation:... Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "All I know that the contract has not been renewed, we keep working on trying to get a new contractor general. I believe the media had ask me about this earlier this week, they certainly ask me as well about the contract of the Ombudsman and I know that we have voted to have a renewal of his contract, that is the Ombudsman. But as far as I know, we don't have the same kind of situation with the contractor general and we will keep working to ensure that we can have a contractor general in place as quickly as possible."

Naming New Integrity Chair Complicated
And apart from a new Contractor General, the government will also have to find a new chair of the Integrity Commission. That's because the former chairman Marilyn Williams has taken a seat on the Supreme Court bench. Today, Faber said it's not that simple - because the chair must be an attorney - who is willing to put all his personal financial information out there as a politically exposed person:... Daniel Ortiz, reporter "Who may be possible candidates to replace Justice Williams?" Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "We have introduced the topic and we have of course been trying to think about good people who can serve. Of course it is not only our task it is the social partners as well. We agreed to take on this position who have to be deemed a pep (politically exposed person) and that means that you have be more open and transparent to the wider world, given or push now to put in some of the measures for instance from UNCAC and other anticorruption measures. There is a lot that is now expected of such a person and so some people don't want that kind of exposure, they prefer to lead their private lives."

Civic Center Soon
But the good news is that Government is probably likely to open the Civic Center before it fills that vacancy. The opening of the much anticipated sports facility has been delayed because government has been trying to find a suitable management company. Faber told us today that they are close to making a final selection:... Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "We were extending the time period for us to complete selecting the managing company, because we were not completely satisfied with the bids that were put in. I can now report that in fact that procedure is almost winding down. We have narrowed it down to one company, but we are doing our due diligence to make sure that we check everything that needs to be check before we sign off officially and make it known to the public."

PUP “Pose Pahn Civic”
But while its doors are still closed, the Civic did come into good use on Sunday when the PUP's thousands rolled through the city. No, the Civic did not have a special opening for the PUP throng, but it was a popular place for supporters to pose off in their blue shirts. Faber seized upon that when acknowledging that the PUP had a good showing:...

City Shooting Security Guard
A security guard was shot early this morning - but no one can say why. At around 1:00 AM - 26 year old Edwin Williams was on duty at the University of Belize Education and Arts Campus at the Old Teachers College when a man pulled up and pointed a gun at him. Williams pushed him, and dashed off, but the gunman still shot him in the leg as he escaped. Fortunately, it was a minor injury and Williams was treated and released. Today his mother told us he would not be speaking with the media.

Tourist Reported Rape By Chaperone
A 25 year old tourist has reported that she was raped by her Belizean chaperone in San Pedro. It happened around 1:00 yesterday at the residence where the American woman was had been staying with a family. Apparently, she had been out socializing with the chaperone in a group and she asked him to take them home because he was intoxicated. She said that she was sleeping in the house - when she was awakened by bodily force. The man who had been chaperoning her was raping her. She cried out for help and he ran off. Police have him detained pending an ID parade and charges.

Cop Faces Fine For Firearm
Tonight, there is more information on that San Ignacio corporal who lost a service revolver that ended up in criminal hands in Orange Walk. The head of the professional standards branch ACP Chester Williams says that the officer reported that he was patrolling the Kontiki Area of San Ignacio when he was assaulted by two individuals who took away his firearm. The PSB investigated and concluded that it was a case of Neglect. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined the maximum of two hundred dollars, along with a severe reprimand. He was also ordered to pay compensation of one thousand five hundred dollars to the Government, which is the cost of replacing the firearm.

No More Red Light For Refugees
Tonight, there are reports that Belize has granted refugee status to 15 refugees. This is after 21 years where hundreds of refugee applications were either denied or not considered at all. In June of 2017, the Minister of State Beverly Williams told us why: Hon. Beverly Williams, Minister of State - Immigration: "Somewhere in the 1980s I believe was very instrumental in looking at a refugee program. We have the birth of Salvapan, Las Flores and all those Salvapan communities. At this juncture I believe we are impacted by the surrounding nations and the challenges in there as it relates to gang violence and so that is what we are saying for Belize. We have to be very careful when we look at what it is we are introducing to Belize. And so for us in Belize, we have to ensure that we strike a balance in terms of how we serve our Belizeans persons and how we meet our commitments as it relates to the 1951 convention."

Successful Surgery For Four Kids
4 Belizean families are breathing a huge sigh of relief after their children got life-saving heart surgeries at the KHMH yesterday. Normally, these types of procedures are not available in Belize, but, through the Rotary Gift of Life Program, doctors from Nebraska came down and performed the procedures right at the KHMH. The doctors used the KHMH's facilities, and brought down equipment and supplies they needed, instead of racking up huge traveling expenses for their patients. Our 7News team was invited to meet the doctors, and a few of the families whose lives they have made a lot easier. Daniel Ortiz has that story:

Would-Be Robber - 10 Years In Jail
He tried to break into his neighbor's home and 28 year old Joel Mcgregor will spend 10 years in jail for it. Today, in front of Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford, he pled guilty to attempted burglary and damage to property. Because he has four previous convictions and was on probation, the Magistrate gave him 10 years for the attempted burglary, and 7 months for damage to property. The incident occurred around 8:45 last night in Hattieville. Kayesha Cole was in her bedroom when she heard a loud bang. That was the louver breaking - and when she looked through the window, she saw Mcgregor, dressed in black, staring at her. Realizing he had been caught in the act, Mcgregor scampered off - only to be caught by police a short time later.

Bail For Alleged Pedophile
Sixty-seven year old alleged pedophile Alfredo Pech got bail today. The Guinea Grass resident had been remanded into custody on a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse, and today got bail of $8,000 dollars from Justice Herbert Lord. Two weeks ago, Pech was arraigned in Orange Walk Magistrate's Court on the allegation that had unlawful carnal knowledge with a 14 year old - who is now pregnant. Pech is married and is the father of two children. Pech was represented by attorney Dickie Bradley.

Great Success At Great House
Its name may not be in the news every other day like the Biltmore or the Radisson, but for two decades, the Great House Inn has been steadily building a reputation as a first class accommodation in the city. The hotel celebrated its 20th anniversary yesterday. We spoke to the owner, veteran hotelier, Steve Maestre who shared more about the hotels' success: Sahar Vasquez, reporter: "So tell us about the occupancy rates, how has that been going?" Steve Maestre, Owner of The Great House Inn: "Actually we have been fortunate. We get our fair share." "We get most of our business from North America. We get Europeans and from other parts of the world but Belize in general most of the tourism is from North America."

Cluster-philia
Today BELTRAIDE held a workshop focused on the business term "cluster". What exactly does it mean? Well, in a nutshell, it is when companies join forces and work together on different projects. The Manager of Beltraide explained it in greater detail today. Shajira McCoy, Manager of Export Belize BELTRAIDE" "What we are trying to do is also build the capacity of local business supporters and organizations to help firms to do more clusters in various industries. We have business support organizations from Fisheries, Cocoa, The Shrimp Association, and The Poultry association. The idea is that the different support organizations in Belize partner to support the industries and to have more initiatives where businesses and the private sector are working together for mutual benefit."

Horticulture In The ‘Hood
There's a new path to wellness and self - sustainability for Port Loyola residents. Thanks to one resident and a few big supporters along the way, the community will be gardening its own fruits and vegetables. We found out more at the launch of this urban gardening initiative today. Janette Cutkelvin, Coordinator For The Jane Usher Urban Gardening Project "The project is to provide food security for Jane Usher community and the surrounding areas and so that we could also save money in our pockets. The vegetables and plants that we are growing are the save us from going to the market, save us money for the bus, and now we know that we have fresh fruits and vegetables for our children. We grow it ourselves."

Portal For Reporting Child Sexual Abuse
The Police Department today took a sharp stride towards enhanced reporting of child sex abuse and exploitation. It's a partnership with the Internet Watch Foundation out of the UK and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. They held a sensitization workshop at the George Price Center in Belmopan today. They plan to launch a Child Sexual Abuse Reporting Portal in Belize. According to a release, the portal will be hosted on the Belize Police Department website where anyone can submit information on sexually explicit child imagery found, seen or shared online.

Shady Tactics In Toledo
Last night on the news, you probably heard the Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington speaking all about the education efforts that will be launched as Belize moves toward a referendum on the ICJ. But, in the Toledo District - things have gotten off to a controversial and questionable start. The allegation is that the Referendum unit of Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been on a door to door campaign to collect names of people who are "supporting the move to the ICJ". These efforts include checking IDs, asking for Social Security information, and asking respondents whether they support taking the case to the ICJ. Yesterday, the Foreign Minister disputed and disowned these actions:...

Hoops For Hope
The police department continues to do what it can to combat crime and violence, but as viewers are aware, they've not been able to put much of a dent in the murder rate. But, crime has many elements, and there is no one fix which addresses all its root causes. That's why Police have been trying different types of community policing initiatives within the crime ridden City. While he was the Head of Eastern Division South, Assistant Police Commissioner Chester Williams oversaw one such program which has now become the Sprite Eastern Division South Youth Basketball Cup. It has morphed into a public-private sector initiative to reach at risk youths who are trapped in the different gang neighborhoods.

Gong Xi, Gong Xi!
From Belize City to Taipei, celebrations kicked off today to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Year of the Dog is officially here, and celebrations are set to continue through the weekend with the weeklong Spring Festival, known as... President of the Belize Chinese Community, Edmund Kwan told us what you can expect to see this weekend:.. Edmund Kwan, Chairman of the Chinese Association: "Every year we do a city-wide parade, we perform the lion dances. We bust the dynamite, and on Sunday we will have the New Year's Banquet where we host 750 guests." "The lion dance is a ritual. It is to cast away evil spirits. The lion comes once a year. That is why they always have the red packet and lettuce. They feed the lion the red packet and the lettuce. The lion will take all the bad stuff until next year."

Channel 5

It’s Not TV, It’s HBO: Cable Will Cost You More
The pressure is building on Belizeans in the creative industries – broadcasting, both radio and television, and music and the arts – to begin recognizing copyright and intellectual property and [...]

Opening of New Civic Center in Sight
If you’re wondering when the Civic Center will be open for business, the Minister of Sports says it may be as soon as April. The construction of the state-of-the-art facility [...]

Who Wants Marilyn Williams’ Old Job?
The Integrity Commission was named a year ago in response to overwhelming public pressure as it relates to holding politicians accountable for their personal spending and assets. Little has been [...]

Ombudsman Gets Second Chance; Contractor General May Not
As we reported Contractor General Godwin Arzu is out of his post. He has failed to produce the annual reports from his office as part of his obligations to continue [...]

The Problem with Police Profiling
The Police Department has been explaining its recent move for police officers to take photographs of persons stopped and searched as part of its activities on the ground in various [...]

Sports Council Wants to Stay Out of Cycling Bickering
The Belize Cycling Federation has been waiting for the National Sports Council to sign off on its new constitution before elections for its executive can be called. But Tariq Cano, [...]

Budget Coming – What’s In It?
There was no meeting of the House of Representatives today in Belmopan. One had been mooted for discussing the U.H.S. matter but new litigation in the Caribbean Court of Justice [...]

Yolanda Bowman Died of Natural Causes
On Thursday afternoon the body of an elderly woman was discovered under the popular Mike’s Club on Regent Street West. Police have since indicated that the death is natural. Sixty-one [...]

UB Security Fights Off Shooter
A security guard was ambushed by a gunman on Friday morning, but lived to tell the tale. Around one-ten a.m., twenty-six-year-old Edwin Williams was at work at the University of [...]

American Tourist Raped in San Pedro
An American tourist was sexually assaulted in San Pedro just before dawn today.  The twenty-five-year-old woman visited the police station on the island this morning and reported that while asleep, [...]

Bail for Murder Accused Daniel Myvett?
Daniel Myvett was tried nearly four years ago for the February 2010 murder of Nigerian security guard Kabiru Oloungududu with two others, Jamaal Jackson and Talbert Mena. They walked free, [...]

Jane Usher Boulevard Families to Benefit from Urban Greenhouse
A novel project that will provide sustenance as well as income to participating families kicked off today at the YMCA compound. It is named the Port Loyola Urban Gardens Greenhouse [...]

The Gift of Life for four Young Heart Patients
Since its last mission to Belize in 2017, a team of doctors has returned to perform various procedures on four children afflicted with heart disease.  Those operations, facilitated through the [...]

Father Gives Thanks for Daughter’s Surgery
One-year-old Leiny Montalvo is diagnosed with PDA, an abnormal blood flow occurring between two of the major arteries connected to her heart.  Along with her parents, she has traveled all [...]

Happy Chinese New Year!
Traditionally, the ringing in of a new year takes place at midnight between December thirty-first and January first, with merrymakers joining voices for the refrain of Auld Lang Syne.  The [...]

Building a Fence to Protect Camalote Students
Parents and teachers of a primary school in Camalote, Cayo, are tonight breathing a sigh of relief. That’s because a fence is now in place providing security and safety to [...]

U.D.P. Ready for Nomination
Nominations for all municipal candidates will be made next week Wednesday across the country. In Belize City, the political parties and independent candidates will be going over to the Elections [...]

Helping Businesses to Work Together
BELTRAIDE, in partnership with Compete Caribbean, held a “national cluster workshop” in Belize City today. The idea of clustering in business is to bring partners together within or even across [...]

Police Open Basketball Cup
The third annual Sprite Eastern Police Division Basketball Cup kicked off today with three games on the outdoor basketball court at the new Civic Center. The tournament started back in [...]

Bliss Rocks with Talent Show
On Sunday, the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts will come alive as the third edition of Sarina Heusner’s Talent Night takes place inside the auditorium. The event pools together [...]

LOVE FM

A group of single parents will soon enjoy the fruits of their labour
Today, the Jane Usher Boulevard Neighbourhood (JUBN) held an opening ceremony for the Port Loyola Urban Gardens Greenhouse at the YMCA compound on Faber’s Road. JUBN is made up of twenty-five single parents who want to provide food for their families. Janet Cutkelvin, Coordinator for JUBN spoke about the initiative. Janet Cutkelvin – Coordinator, JUBN …

Businesses are uniting to access international markets
Today, Beltraide hosted a National Cluster Workshop through its technical unit, Export Belize. The National Cluster Workshop was funded by the Compete Caribbean Project. The workshop provided a framework for facilitating business clusters in Belize. Love News spoke with the Manager of Export Belize, Shahera McKoy. Shahera McKoy, Manager of Export Belize “Beltraide applied to …

Commissioner of Police is competent says Minister of Home Affairs
The crime situation in Belize, specifically in Belize City, continues to concern police and the public. 2017 saw well over 140 murders and the violence spilled into January of this year in which authorities have recorded as many as fifteen murders. While the Belize Police Department continues its battle against crime, recently launching its crime …

Foreign Minister says entry of Guatemalan Soldiers at Western Border not a big deal
On Thursday the Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington said that his Ministry has sent the Guatemalan Government a protest note after Guatemalan soldiers casually walked across the western border back in January of this year. As we had reported then, three Guatemalan soldiers walked across the western border into the immigration hall. While nothing …

World Pediatric Project to hold clinic in Corozal
The World Pediatric Project is committed to seeing children who may have some sort of physical defect, get it surgically corrected. In this regard, they will be holding a Pediatric Orthopedic Clinic this Sunday at the Corozal Community Hospital. Love News spoke with Teresita Sanchez, the Office Assistant at World Pediatric Project, about the initiative. …

Extradition of Jordan Bacchus may be possible says Minister of Foreign Affairs
We have been following the case that involves the detention of Canadian Jordan Bacchus in his native country. He was detained in early February and his detention is of interest to Belizean authorities because he is wanted for questioning in reference to the murder of Melvin Almendarez who was killed in San Pedro Town in …

Ministry of Foreign Affairs will look into Sosa murder in Melchor if necessary
Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister says that he is not aware of the murder of 32-year-old Belizean Samuel Sosa who was killed on the night of February 12 in Melchor de Mencos. He says however that if his Ministry needs to intervene, it will. Wilfred Elrington – Minister of Foreign Affairs “It’s new to me. I …

Police Officer charged for losing issued weapon
Police have charged one of their own with the firearm that was recovered in Orange Walk. As we reported, over the past weekend, Orange Walk Police seized a point thirty-eight Smith and Wesson revolver and four live rounds of ammunition that was a police-issued weapon. Today police say that the weapon was reported stolen in …

City resident shot in leg
Twenty-six-year-old Edwin Williams is recovering from a gunshot wound he sustained early this morning. Police report that Williams, a Security Guard of Belize City was on duty at the University of Belize Campus in West Landivar when he was approached by a male person. The individual reportedly pointed a firearm at him but Williams pushed …

Asylum seekers granted refugee status in Belize
Fifteen persons have been granted refugee status in Belize. Minister responsible for Immigration Beverly Williams approved the applications. We are told that twenty applications were denied and dozens more have not been reviewed. This is the first time in more than twenty years that a group of persons have been granted refugee status in Belize. …

Senator questions Integrity Commission’s intent
Last month, Marilyn Williams was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court. Williams is the former Chair of the Integrity Commission. Her replacement has not been identified. On December 8, 2017 Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media that it should not take long to identify Williams’ replacement on the Integrity Commission. Speaking on the topic is Senator for Private Sector Mark Lizarraga.

“In no good conscience should public contracts be awarded”- Senator Woods
In a letter sent by Prime Minister Dean Barrow to PUP Senator Valerie Woods, the government confirms that Godwin Arzu has not submitted annual reports during his tenure as Contractor General. The Government attempted to reappoint Arzu for a further two years but the reappointment was withdrawn after Senators pointed out that Arzu was not complying with the Contractor General Act. The Act states that Arzu, as the Contractor General, must submit annual reports relating to his functions. It is believed that he has not submitted a report since 2013. His tenure came to an end at the end of 2017. Since then there has been no Contractor General and Senator Woods says that awarding of public contracts should be put on pause until another Contractor General is identified and successfully appointed.

Chester will investigate… IF complaint is made
Yesterday Attorney Lisa Shoman told Love News that the Belize Police Department is racially profiling young men. Shoman concluded this after receiving several reports that officers were stopping and searching young men based on the color of their skin and what the officers believed to be their economic status. Shoman noted one particular example which occurred last week Thursday. On that day, three school boys in uniform were stopped and searched by police. Photographs of their faces were taken. Shoman says that this violates human rights laws. According to the Head of the Professional Standards Branch, ACP Chester Williams, if a complaint is made to his office by the parents or guardians of any of the students, he will conduct an investigation.

Minister of Defence should be concerned over GAF’s trespass, says Lisa Shoman.
Also speaking on the Guatemalan soldiers entering Belize was former Foreign Affairs Minister Lisa Shoman. “If I were the Minister of Defence I would at a minimum be concerned. The military has always claimed in Belize that their relationship with the Guatemalan is of the very best. Several times BDF commandants have boasted that the relationship with their GAF counterparts is excellent and that there is a channel of communication. If there was anything that three members of the Guatemalan military wanted to know they could have used those channels of communication and there is absolutely no need for them to have come across into our territory uninvited, unexpected because I can guarantee you, the BDF knows very well that it just can’t simply just waltz over to Guatemala and do as it likes so I believe that it is incumbent on both the Minister of Defense and the Foreign Minister to make inquiries both at the highest levels at a minimum to see what happened there and if necessary...

Veteran public servant, Sharon Sanchez-Martinez, retires
Veteran public servant Sharon Sanchez-Anderson retired today from the Ministries of Health and Public Services. she completes three decades in the public services with the majority of her contributions to the health sector, particularly in pharmacy. She served as Chief Pharmacist and is credited for having improved the overall pharmacy services in the country. It was during her tenure as Chief Pharmacist that Sanchez-Anderson ruffled some feathers. She successfully sued the then Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Allen for defamation.

Gift of Life Project continues to save lives
One year old Leiny Montalvo was one of four children who received lifesaving surgery courtesy of the Gift of Life Belize. This project was created by members of the Rotary Club of Belize and is devoted to providing life-saving heart surgery for children. Leiny was born with a medical condition known as Patent duc-tus-art-e-rio-su-sor PDA. It is a heart condition in which abnormal blood flow occurs between two of the major arteries connected to the heart. Today the media caught up with Leiny’s father, Daniel at the KHMH in Belize City.

PlusTV

News
The news is next on Plustv. Stay tuned. Another man gunned down in Belize City…Woman stabbed in Belmopan…and..PUP holds national convention. The news is next. Stay tuned. Welcome to Plusnews. I am Shasta Wade [Norman Tyrone Gibson gunned down in Belize City] A man wa...

U.S. Government Donates Counter Narcotics Equipment to BDF
The Belize Defence Force and Belize Coast Guard received donations valued at $432,000 USD from the US Government today. U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, Adrienne Galanek and CEO of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel (RET) Felix Enriquez, represented the governments and people of the United S...

Street Policing infringing on rights and freedoms?
The Police Department launched its National policing strategy a couple of weeks ago. The commissioner of police announced certain measures that will be taken to tackle the issue of gang related crimes. One of those measures was termed as “Road Policing” and the establishment of more check points es...

Body found in Belize City
There is not much information at this time, but the body of a female was found under a house on Regent Street in Belize City this afternoon. We have received images of a covered body on a stretcher being removed from the wooden building and placed in the pan of a police vehicle. The upper floor of...

Robbery in Ladyville turns violent
There was a robbery in Ladyville where store owners and customers alike were beaten. On February 14th at 1:30 p.m., 36 year old Christopher Martinez, a Belizean Delivery Supervisor and truck driver of Bowen and Bowen Ltd, was at Mike’s Store on Manta Ray Boulevard, Ladyville Village. Martinez...

Former Foreign Minister speaks of Guatemalan soldiers at Western Border
In January of this year, three uniformed Guatemalan soldiers made their way over the Western border and into Belizean territory. Their sauntering into the customs area of the Belizean border was caught on camera where they went over to Belizean customs officials to inquire about an incident that had...

Fence inauguration for St Jude RC School
It was a big day today at St Jude RC Primary School in the village of Camalote as students, teachers and parents gathered on the school campus to inaugurate their brand new Campus fence. The lack of proper security at the school has led to multiple break ins and acts of vandalism over the years and ...

Taiwan contributes to strengthening Belize Police Department
Belize received US$500,000 from the Republic of China (Taiwan) today, February 15. The donation is to support ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening the Belize Police Department as part of the Security Cooperation that exists between the two countries. The contribution will be used for the purchase ...

“Green Laws” training for law enforcement officers
Forty-two law enforcement officers, representing the Police Department, Forest Department and its partners, participated in a “Green Laws” training at the Tropical Education Centre last week. The two-day training is the first in a series of training targeting key law enforcement officials to become...

Amandala

Mexican businesses abandon Corozal Free Zone
A number of Mexican newspapers are claiming that many Mexican businessmen operating in the Corozal Free Zone are closing down their businesses and abandoning the Free Zone. Names of stores were not mentioned, but those noted were clothing and novelty stores. Officials at the Mexican Embassy in Belize City did not deny that this is happening when we spoke to them this afternoon. The Consular officer at the Mexican Embassy told us that it is an individual choice of the businesses to end operations in the Northern Free Zone, and such choices have nothing to do with the Mexican Government. He said that the Mexican government has not applied any pressure on the businesses to prompt them to move.

Yolanda Bowman Nembhard, 61, found dead under Mike’s Club
Yolanda Bowman Nembhard, 61, a mother of 8 children and a grandmother, was found dead at about 3:30 this afternoon in front of the door of a room where she and her 64-year-old sister, Betty, reside on Regent Street West. Betty, who was inside sleeping, was alerted by a male passerby. When she opened her door and came outside, she saw her sister lying on the ground with no clothes on, apparently dead. In an interview with us this evening, Betty told us that her sister was mentally challenged, and that she had been ailing with an incurable disease.

Ombudsman Lionel Arzu in; Contractor General Godwin Arzu out!
It has been widely speculated that the contracts for the current Contractor General and Ombudsman would not be renewed for the new year. However, today in an exclusive interview with Amandala, Prime Minister Dean Barrow set the record straight. He said that Lionel Arzu, who was first appointed to the Office of the Ombudsman in January 2013, will sign a new contract for another year. According to PM Barrow, his re-appointment will be raised in the next House of Representatives meeting, scheduled for March 9, two days after the municipal elections.

Hilmar Alamilla, 42, to stand trial for murder of Daniel Sosa, 24
Hilmar “David” Alamilla, 42, a former campaign manager for Orange Walk North area representative Hon. Gaspar “Gapi” Vega, today appeared before Magistrate Albert Hoare in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court for a preliminary inquiry to determine if he would be committed for trial for murder in the Supreme Court. The prosecution submitted key evidence and a list of 19 witnesses to be presented during the trial. Magistrate Hoare was satisfied that there is a prima facie case against Alamilla, sufficient to commit him to stand trial in the Northern Session of the Supreme Court in April of this year.

Accused murderer, Norman Slusher, 28, walks
This morning, in a case which highlights some of the shortcomings of the criminal justice system, with its archaic dependence on witness testimony and an absence of scientific and forensic evidence, a man who was accused of an apparently senseless, fatal shooting walked out of the Supreme Court of Justice Adolph Lucas a free man. On the night of Thursday, May 10, 2012, Jason Canto was at Dales Barbershop along with the businessman Jose Shoman when, around 7:50 p.m., two men entered the barbershop from a side entrance. The men were armed with handguns and they immediately began firing. Shoman, who was in the barber chair and was armed with his licensed 9mm Glock pistol, returned fire, and the men ran out of the barbershop.

No one can eat “fancy buildings and cement streets!” — Hon. Cordel Hyde
On Sunday, February 11, at the People’s United Party (PUP) National Convention at the ITVET campus, Belizeans were privy to a careful analysis of the distorted, ironic conditions created by the Barrow/Faber-led ruling United Democratic Party. The speech of the PUP National Deputy Leader, Hon. Cordel Hyde, resonated with the PUP’s grassroots message which it had championed in its early years, and it was a message with which many Belizeans who are trying to deal with today’s Belizean reality, can identify. The master of ceremonies in his introduction of Hon. Hyde, remarked, “This man has taken his time in putting together a slate for Belize City. This man no lose wan elections yet… This man very humble in leading the charge in Belize City. Let’s welcome Cordel Hyde.”

Demille Flores to compete in the Rush Select Program Presidents’ Day Tournament in Arizona, USA
Dangriga’s Demille Flores, 14, will attend the Rush Select Program Presidents’ Day Tournament as one of the top 16 players in his age group. Demille had attended and participated last year in the Rush Select 2003/2004 Boys ID Camp, an event for 60 boys and 60 girls of the U13 – U15 age groups where the Rush Select staff trained and evaluated them. He leaves tomorrow Wednesday, February 14, via American Airlines for Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and then on to Phoenix, Arizona. He is scheduled to return on February 20. Some of the costs of his travel expenses are being defrayed through generous contributions from businesses Joseph & Taylor, BEL and Gentrac.

Looking ahead: NEBL Week 5 Preview
Week 4 of the NEBL is now in the books, and fans across Belize are left with more questions than answers! With a quarter of the season now complete, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks (3-0) sit atop the standings after dismantling the Belmopan Bandits (1-2), Verdes Basketball (0-3) and the Smart Belize Hurricanes (2-1). The Dangriga Dream Ballers (3-0) have been as impressive in its three games, winning by an average of 16 points per game. After their first break in the schedule, the Tiger Sharks will look to pick up where they left off, when they easily handled the cold shooting Hurricanes in San Pedro, 73-58. The Tiger Sharks, now playing their third road game, have been beating teams by an average of 18 points, the highest margin in the league. Coach Rico Black, always a hungry and fearless competitor, will have his team ready to face the hostile crowd expected in Dangriga…

City Boys 10 & Under Grassroots Tournament under way
The regular season of the City Boys 10 & Under Grassroots Tournament 2018 started off today, Saturday, February 10, at the Yabra Field. In the 4 games scheduled for today, FC Elite Jr. blanked St. John Vianney, 5-0; City Boys Jr. won, 3-1, over Poor & Famous; Ladyville Rising Stars got the 3-2 win over Reality Youths; and Sampson Academy won by default (3-0) over Face of Belize. (Amandala Sports Ed. Note: Leaton explained that all players on teams get equal playing time, as the emphasis in Grassroots is more on participation than competition. But, as expected, those kids on the field instinctively play to win.)

Valley United FC and Club Atletico play to a 0-0 stalemate
Over a thousand fans from Belmopan and surrounding communities flocked into the magnificent Isidoro Beaton Stadium on Saturday night to witness game one of the finals in the Belmopan Football Association Amateur 1st Division 17/18 Opening Season Tournament. The atmosphere was one of beauty and plenty of colors, accompanied by the deafening sounds of horns and cheers from the audience in attendance. Referee Josue Rivera, Sr. blew his whistle and just like that game one of the championship series was underway. The game was barely in the 5th minute when a perfectly timed run by Arlin Bautista provided him with a one on one opportunity against Club Atletico’s goalkeeper, Orlando Galdamez, but 1st Assistant Referee, Josue Rivera, Jr. questionably flagged him offside.

Editorial: Juxtaposing the UDP’s success with Belize’s failures
If the United Democratic Party (UDP) were a business corporation being traded on the stock market, it is clear that its stock would have soared dramatically between February of 2008 and February of 2018. The reverse would probably be the case where the nation-state of Belize is concerned: while the UDP has been flying high, the socio-economics of the Belizean nation have almost collapsed. We think it is critical to point out that all the infrastructural activity which won the UDP the November 2015 general election, and which is continuing even as we write, is financed by loan moneys, the bulk of which has been negotiated at concessionary rates from the PetroCaribe fund sponsored by Venezuela. The first notable thing about the Barrow administration’s infrastructural activity is that there was a specific, conscious UDP decision to focus on the projects, with all the kickback and other possibilities for UDP Ministers, cronies, apparatchiks, and supporters, at the expense of investment in the development of Belize’s human resources. And the second notable thing about Mr. Barrow’s terms of office is that the said infrastructural activity was not fiscally justified by any concomitant energy or growth in the Belizean economy, which has been in a tailspin for years.

Win their minds, not their hearts
Dear Editor, Over the years there have been numerous American films around the theme of the Manchurian Candidate. The plots are pretty much the same: a soldier or private citizen is captured and via several methods of mind control by the enemy or some type of opposing force is programed to commit some type of assassination, usually of some government leader, high ranking official or Fortune 500 CEO. Governments all over the world have been obsessed with mind control for several obvious reasons. It presents the highest level of compliance possible, since with a compliant population, almost anything is possible. This obsession with mind control was at its height during the Cold War between the United States and the now defunct USSR. Countless experiments were conducted on both humans and animals and with a wide range of methods, including chemical, psychological and biological methods.

A wish for Belize
Dear Editor, If it can be visualized, it can be achieved. What it is that Belize should become, must first be believed. Don’t think on all the blood — dwell on all the possibilities. Don’t live in the poverty, think on all the opportunities. Don’t sit for hours to see the crime-ridden news — watch a program about how you wish Belize to be. Whatever we dwell on, will attract similar happenings. Let us focus on what Belize needs instead of the negativity of what Belize does not need.

Who is responsible for the Larry Nassars?
Only a person living in a cave, or on the moon, hasn’t heard the disappointing story about the physical trainer in the United States who was convicted and sentenced to a couple hundred years in prison for molesting, in various ways, scores of young female athletes in the United States of America. Make no mistake, the convicted person in this case, Dr. Larry Nassar, a physician and professor who was employed at Michigan State University, is not alone. He is not the only male in this world playing masseur for young female athletes. Yes, this man was employed, well, one of his jobs was, to massage the bodies of young females. I don’t know if we allow that in Belize, but I have read enough about America to know that they consider themselves more mature, more civilized, than everybody else. This is why they end up in this completely impossible story.

BDF driver pleads guilty to manslaughter by negligence
A Belize Defence Force civilian driver who was facing a manslaughter by negligence charge for the death of a 3-year-old toddler, for which he pleaded guilty last week, was spared a custodial sentence and fined a total of $10,000 when he appeared for sentencing before Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Williams today. After pleading guilty, Hubert Martinez threw himself on the mercy of the court, asking the court not to impose a custodial sentence on him because he is the sole breadwinner for his wife and three sons. Justice Williams imposed a fine of $2,500 plus $5 cost of court on Martinez, 40. This fine is to be paid to the Government of Belize for the offense.

Killer bees had better not attack you on the weekends, because the Dept. of Agriculture “doesn’t work on weekends”
Kevin Sanchez, a resident of Mex Avenue, and his family lived in their house with fear for four days, believing that kiiler bees would swarm and attack them after the bees, which were nesting in their yard, swarmed and stung his father and their three dogs. The father escaped into the house, while the three dogs, which were tied at the time, died shortly after they were attacked. The incident occurred at about 10:00 Saturday morning, but the bees remained in the family’s yard until 11:00 this morning, Wednesday, when officials from the Agriculture Department went to the home and took away the hive and the bees.

Belizean Samuel Aguirre, 32, gunned down in Melchor, Guatemala
Belizean national, Samuel de Jesus Sosa Aguirre, 32, was gunned down last night in Melchor De Mencos. According to Guatemalan media outlets, at around 10 o’clock he was in his bar when a man walked up and opened fire on him. His killer has been identified as Guatemalan national, Miguel Sagastume, popularly known as “El Gordo.” While “El Gordo” remains on the run, today Guatemalan authorities arrested a woman believed to have been his accomplice. She is Guatemalan national, Mayra Veronica Aldana.

Cops accused of attacking 4 men
A night of clubbing ended badly for four Belize City men after they left the Elements Night Club in the wee hours of Friday morning in a 1993 Mitsubishi van. The men alleged that they were followed by police in an unmarked vehicle, and the police later opened fire, injuring one of them. The men declined an interview with Amandala, but in an exclusive interview with 7News, Harold Usher alleged that he had been shot in the back of the upper arm. Usher said that when they came to a stop, they were dragged out of the van and beaten. He said he tried to talk the officers out of it by showing them his injury, but they beat him on his wound.

The Reporter

Another earthquake rocks Mexico
Another earthquake has rocked Mexico. The magnitude 7.2 temblor jolted southeastern Mexico this evening, with the epicenter in the state of Oaxaca, according to the US Geological Survey. Emergency authorities in the Oaxaca reported “only material damage and no loss of human life”. In Mexico […]

Tourist raped in her sleep
Police have detained a man pending a charge of rape upon a tourist. Police say the American tourist, a 25 year-old woman, went to the San Pedro police station om Thursday afternoon and reported that sometime around 4:30 on Wednesday morning she was asleep and […]

Policeman penalized for losing firearm
Police have penalized one of their own for losing the firearm assigned to him and then making up a story about how he lost it. Police have not named the policeman or given his rank, but state that he reported that the firearm was reported […]

Garifuna settlement south of Sibun reinforces Belize’s claim
Reading through information published by Guatemalan authorities, in which they claim that the 1859 Treaty between that country and Britain was “land cession” in exchange for a roadway, I could not help but ask if the author of that document skipped over critical parts of […]

Guatemala re-establishes diplomatic relations with Belize
The Government of Guatemala has sent a new ambassador to Belize after almost two years. Two weeks after the Guatemalan government, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sandra Jovel, sought financial and technical assistance from friendly nations at the Organization of American States(OAS), the government […]

Belizean cookbook wins third international award, reaches finals
The Belizean cookbook, “Nefry’s Kitchen”, authored by San Ignacio businesswoman and philanthropist, Nefretery Marin has won its third award and has now been shortlisted in the finals since it was entered into an international competition last year. Nefry’s Kitchen picked up the award in the […]

Families affected by flash flood handed food packs; more assessments being done
While the rest of the country slept through the night last Wednesday, families in some parts of western and southern Belize had to evacuate their homes and scramble to higher terrain as flash floods swept in, tearing down their fire hearths in the process and leaving them with little access […]

CDB opens $40 million credit line to DFC
The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) can continue to lend money on affordable terms through a US $40 million line of credit being made available by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The CDB stated, on Monday, that it made the line of credit available to the […]

Mexican newspaper reports closure of businesses in Corozal Free Zone; local authorities differ
Since the devaluation of the Mexican peso in 2016, coupled with new tax measures introduced by the government last year, business at the Corozal Commercial Free Zone has reportedly not been as robust as it was a few years ago; but it is also nowhere […]

MOH takes proactive approach to addressing measles
The Ministry of Health is preparing several campaigns to prepare Belize for a positive case of measles, and minimize the impact should such an event occur. In a special session with the media held on Wednesday, the MOH explained that it is preparing educational material […]

Does the region need imported sugar?
The Sugar Association of the Caribbean is questioning whether or not the region needs to import sugar from outside of CARICOM. The association, made up of the four countries still producing sugar in the Caribbean, has begun discussions with the CARICOM Council for Trade and […]

Police seek mystery woman connected to gang murder
Belize city police are seeking an unknown woman who is believed to have lured Tyrone Gibson, 20, to his death last Friday. Gibson, a resident of the St. Martin area, was standing at the corner of West Collet Canal and Hicate Street waiting for the […]

Visiting Mexico? Have fun but take heed
For decades Belizeans have been traveling to Mexico to shop and for medical purposes, but sometimes they become the targets of criminals looking for money and valuables by any means. This was the case last week when three people were robbed at gunpoint in the […]

Senior citizen gagged and losses $8,000 vehicle to theft
By Anita Nembhard/Flowers Freelance Writer Floyd Escarpeta, a Construction Worker of Mahogany Heights is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after he was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for burglary and theft. Escarpeta, 23, is no stranger to the system and finds himself in trouble again after […]

Father accused of incest is jailed
by Anita Nembhard/Flowers A 47-year-old father finds himself on remand at the Belize Central Prison after being accused of having sex with his daughter aged 12. The incident was recently reported and on Wednesday, February 14th, the father whose face and name cannot be disclosed due to the fact that […]

MOE makes Literacy a National Priority
Nine Belize City schools are to be the first to benefit from the pilot phase of a new initiative by the Ministry of Education to encourage primary school children to read and improve their literacy, explained Chief Education Officer Carol Babb Ph.D. in a media […]

Editorial
Belize City Council elections are to be held next month on Wednesday, March 7, but we still have not seen anything like a written Manifesto, setting out what the two opposing parties plan to do for the City if elected. There has been a lot of street activity and a […]

Police violating human rights? Legal experts say yes!
The Belize Police Department, as part of its new crime fighting strategy, has started allowing on-duty police officers to use private cell phones to take pictures of civilians that are stopped and searched. Legal experts, however, claim the practice is a violation of human rights […]

Swingers and nudists set to bask in Belizean sun and waters
In the midst of glowing reviews of several Belizean resorts recently awarded by renowned travel site, Trip Advisor, the country is also receiving international exposure for two week-long swingers’ parties set to be hosted on a private island off the coast of Dangriga. The UK’s […]

Another case of alleged police brutality
For the second consecutive week since the start of 2018, members of the Belize Police Department have been accused of abusing their authority and using excessive and unwarranted force upon civilians in the line of duty; this time they are accused of shooting a man […]

Belizean businessman killed in Melchor
A well-known Belizean businessman and football player from Benque Viejo del Carmen was shot and killed inside a bar in Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala on Monday night. Just after 10:00 p.m., on February 12, Samuel Sosa, 32, sat inside a local bar in Melchor, where […]

Blogs

Mystery Fruits of Belize: The Plum
One of the most popular winter/spring fruits is the plum. NOT the plum that is purple and sweet – the one that you dry to make a prune. We have those once in a blue moon – always imported. They are crispy crunchy green plums. And we happen to grow TONS of them at Cayo Frances Farm & Fly. There are about 10 trees and all are practically laying on the ground bursting with fruit. Each tree tastes different – some too sour for me to eat, some sweeter like a crispy green apple. The branches of the tree also has some fierce spines – like a lime tree. Last year, I filled a few buckets with them and sold them for $20bzd a bucket to the fruit vendors in town. This year I’m just dropping off bags for friends. Eaten the same day as they are picked, these green plums are pretty delicious. Sour, yes. But crispy crunchy and kinda addictive.

International Sources

Belize: Reef, Rainforests, and Ruins
Belize is the perfect place for a little R & R, reef and rainforest, and if that's not enough, you can even visit ancient Mayan ruins. good belize videos...JUST KEEP WATCHING THEM...ok some adds, but a super look at much of the country!

Maya exhibit featuring 300 artifacts opens at Milwaukee Public Museum
The Mayan civilization built huge pyramids, temples and giant stone monuments adorned with ornate carvings while ruling a wide swath of Central America. They kept detailed calendars, were adept at agriculture and astronomy, communicated through a sophisticated written language and developed city-states connected by a complex trade network in what is now southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. And then they vanished. That's what many scientists believed after the ruins of Mayan cities were discovered decades ago, camouflaged by rain forests. But visitors to a newly opened exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum, "Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed," will learn Maya actually didn't go anywhere. Among the 300 artifacts on display in the exhibit are items not usually seen in the United States, including replicas of large stone columns filled with carvings, replicas of the Madrid and Dresden codices of Maya books on parchment and a re-creation of a tomb of a Maya ruler who died 1,500 years ago in northern Belize.

Videos

February 16, 2018

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

Police Report
Theft: On February 9, 2018 at about 10:30 a.m., Victoria Meyers 33 year old, Belizean Businesswoman of Rain Restaurant and of a San Pedro address, reported that on February 6th, whilst doing her cash closing reports she noticed that January 24, 2018, Branndon Moralez, 21 year old Belizean bartender, made a total of $5,224,92BZ during the course of his duty. However, he handed over $4,754,16BZ, leaving an unaccounted balance of $470.76BZ.
Drug Trafficking: On February 14, 2018, whilst Police were conducting Foot patrol on Avenida Hicaco Street in Caye Caulker Village, they conducted a search on Roger Bradley, 44. They discovered 7.1 grams of cocaine on the Belizean mechanic of a Caye Caulker Village address. Police have since arrested and charged Bradley with the offense of DRUG TRAFFICKING.

Skydiving adventure goes wrong; government authorities weigh in
A skydiving experience for a vacationer on Saturday, February 10th almost ended in tragedy when a skydiving instructor accidentally made contact with a high voltage power line north of San Pedro Town. The instructor was performing a tandem jump and upon making his approach to the landing site, his foot briefly touched the power line before landing on the roadside. No major injuries were sustained and the incident went unreported to the local authorities. However, the Labour Department and the Immigration Department, jointly in charge of issuing permits for such services, weighed in on the incident, indicating that they will look into the issue and review the company’s safety measures. A check with persons close to the company providing the skydiving service stated that there had been no contact with the power lines and that it was simply a bad landing. However, eyewitnesses say that they indeed saw that there was contact with the high tension wires. According to the witness, who happens to be an experienced skydiver, most of the times these skydivers fly over the power lines to reach their landing site.

Emergency water response organization strives to raise community awareness
Rickilee Response & Rescue (Triple R Response) is a 501-3(c) charitable organization based in Houston, Texas U.S.A. that was formed in memory of Rickilee Mercer by Traci and Jim Curtin. Mercer was an American National, who was found dead on the leeward coast of Ambergris Caye on March 1, 2017, after she was reported missing on February 28, 2017, after she had gone jet skiing around the area of Secret Beach. In June 2017, the Curtin’s initiated the Triple R Response program in hopes of organizing a program that coordinates community resources to respond to water emergencies.

Central American Region and the Dominican Republic to benefit from malaria eradication program
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carlos Slim Foundation have embarked on a project dubbed the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative (REMEI), to help the Central American region and the Dominican Republic eradicate malaria. Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama are among the beneficiaries of the project, which is expected to raise US$83.6 million, leverage over US$100 million in domestic financing and US$39 million of existing donor resources across the region.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro RC Church Hosts Fun Family Day
On Sunday, February 11, 2018, the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church held a very special mass for the community as "Family Day" was celebrated. After the 10am Mass families were invited to participate in a fun filled day as there were games, performances and lots to eat and drink. Father Scott delivered special blessings to families in attendance and blessing were given to families that posted their pictures on a special wall created for family day. Special thanks goes out to everyone who gave a donation in order for this special day to take place.

The Republic Of China Taiwan Grants US$500,000 To Belize As Part Of The Security Cooperation
Thursday, February 15, 2018, Belize received US$500,000 from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to support ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening the Belize Police Department as part of the Security Cooperation that exists between the two countries. Receiving the cheque on behalf of the Government of Belize was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, Hon. Wilfred Elrington; and on behalf of the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, His Excellency Charles K. Y. Liu. The contribution will be used for the purchase of standard police equipment and law enforcement technologies for the Department, including alcohol measuring instruments, bulletproof vests, and motorcycles.

TripAdvisor Names The Top Hotels In Belize For 2018
This year TripAdvisor recognized Belizean accommodations in the following categories: TOP 10 SMALL HOTELS, TOP 10 HOTELS FOR ROMANCE, TOP 10 HOTELS FOR BEST SERVICE, TOP 10 B &Bs AND INNS and TOP 10 BARGAIN HOTELS. The 2018 TripAdvisor’s Awards List for Belizean Hotels are as follows along with their respective rankings:

Misc Belizean Sources

SBDC Workshop: Quick Books 101 Workshop
Presented by: Mr. Jorge Gentle, Business Adviser, SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: BTEC Training Room, ITVET Campus, Freetown Road, Belize City. Workshop Date: February 22nd, 2018. Time: 9am to 3pm, Cost $60, Includes lunch and refreshments. This course was created for anyone who wants to learn QuickBooks. Whether you signed up simply to learn QuickBooks or are a complete newbie to the software does not matter. We will teach you the software from beginning to end so that anyone, regardless of experience, learns all that they need to know to successfully use the program.

San Pedro Lions Club SaleAthon Saturday
FEBRUARY 17TH 2018 AT THE LIONS DEN. FROM 7A.M. TO 1 P.M. 2 TABLES FOR $25.00. INTERESTED PLEASE CONTACT MEL SPAIN AT 604-9595.

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2018: THE NOHOCH CHEEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS CLOSED. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

FOREST DEPARTMENT LEADS GREEN LAWS TRAININGS
Forty-two law enforcement officers, representing the Police Department, Forest Department and its partners, participated in a “Green Laws” training at the Tropical Education Centre on 8th and 9th February 2018. The two-day training, organized by the Belize Forest Department, through the Key Biodiversity Areas project, is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of law enforcement officers to combat illegal forest and wildlife crimes. According to the Forest Department facilitators, the training is the first in a series of “Green Laws” trainings targeting key law enforcement officials to become versed in the Forests Act CAP 213, the National Protected Areas System Act, No.17 of 2015, and the Wildlife Protection Act, CAP 220 of the Laws of Belize.

Establishment of the North-eastern Biological Corridor
The Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources spearheaded a collaborative initiative involving local conservation NGOs: Corozal Sustainable Future Initiative, Wildtracks, and private landowners: Balam Jungle Estate and the Neulands Community, to advance a proposal to legally declare a North-eastern Biological Corridor (NBC) under the National Protected Areas System Act to be utilized for the maintenance of ecosystem services, water security, biological connectivity, and compatible sustainable income generation activities in the north-east of Belize. The proposal to declare the NBC received Cabinet’s approval at its sitting on Tuesday. The establishment of the North-eastern Biological Corridor, comprising three parcels totalling 5,000 hectares of national land, is an important step to ensure there is a protected stretch of forest connecting existing reserves (Shipstern and Freshwater Creek) in the north, thereby ensuring the movement of wildlife and other biological resources between these important ecosystems.

Taskforce to Develop Improved Measures to Reduce Harmful Effects of Gill Nets on Marine Life
The Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development will commission a participatory taskforce comprising government agencies, non-government organizations, private sector partners, and fishermen to recommend improved measures to minimize the harmful effects of gill nets on marine creatures. The initiative was approved at Tuesday’s sitting of the Cabinet. A gill net is a wall-like mesh that hangs in the water column designed to catch fish by allowing only their head to get through the net, thereby entrapping them by the gills. The main concern over gill nets is that they are efficient at trapping and killing both target and non-target fish species, such as undersized sharks and protected species like tarpon and permit.

SICA Countries initiate the ninth regional closed season for the Caribbean Spiny Lobster
For the ninth consecutive year, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic continue to implement a harmonized closed season for the Spiny Lobster in Caribbean waters. This close season applies to the period 15th of February to the 14th of June in Belize and from 1st March to 30th June in the other countries. The harmonized closure of the Spiny Lobster fishing season is in accordance with the OSP-02-09 regulation for the Regional Management of the Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery, approved by the competent Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers of SICA. The closed season seeks to protect lobsters during their reproduction period to enable long-term sustainability of the fishery which supports important economic and social benefits to the population of the SICA region.

Government of Belize Continues to Invest & Empower Students with Educational Opportunities in Orange Walk District
n Official Ceremony to inaugurate San Luis Roman Catholic Primary School four (4) classrooms substitution building will be held on the school’s compound in San Luis, Orange Walk District at 2:00 PM on today, February 15, 2018. This is as a result of the Government of Belize recognising the critical role of education for social, economic, cultural, environmental and political development by way of empowering future leaders with knowledge, skills, and values to enhance Belize’s socio-economic development. The Government funded the completion of the new ferro-concrete single storey building courtesy of a grant of $1,177,400.00 from the Caribbean Development Bank under the Basic Needs Trust Fund 8 Program with counterpart funding from the Government of Belize and the community of San Luis.

Rumble in the West - Boxing
Belize Boxing Development Council in Collaboration with The National Channel presents - Rumble in the West - March 24th,2018. Octavia Waight Center, San Ignacio, Cayo. Event starts at 7:00PM. 4 Professional Fights! Mecanico Esquivel vs Francisco Luna, Max Pain Williams vs Fabian Martinez, Edwin Ramirez vs Wilmer Canales, Frencho Medina vs Brujo Perez. Live on Channel 10, Exclusively on Central TV & Internet.

U.S. Embassy Belmopan has a Vacancy
The U.S. Embassy Belmopan has an opening for an International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Administrative Assistant position. WHO MAY APPLY: Anyone who is eligible for appointment under Belize’s local laws. Applicant must be in possession of a Belize social security card valid for employment and/or a resident/work permit. SUBMIT APPLICATION TO: [email protected]. All applications must be signed and scanned. ONLY electronic applications will be accepted. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, February 23, 2018.

OOK'OSTAJ POOL(Baile de la Cabeza del Cochino)
Pre-School Children from Patchakan RC School Dancing the Ook'ostaj Pool . The Ook'ostaj Pool(Baile de la cabeza del Cochino) also known as U Pool K'eek'en(Cabeza del Cochino) is a dance in Belize done by people of Yucatec Maya descent and It has its roots in Prehispanic Maya times . Originally the Maya used to dance it with a deer or wild pig head and it was called kub- Pool a ceremony offered to the Cieba(Holy Tree for the Maya). During the conquest the Spanish friars prohibited the dance so the Maya had to modify it to mislead the friars with the new faith emposed .

Paradise Theater playing this weekend:
Phantom Thread, Justice League, Murder on the Orient Express, Hellraiser. *Phantom Thread is Nominated for 6 Oscars this year .. Also, Daniel Day-Lewis has stated that this will be his final film..*

Government of Belize to Officially Inaugurate Chunox Polyclinic That Will Benefit Over 10,000 Villagers in Chunox Village and Surrounding Communities, Corozal District
An Official Ceremony to inaugurate Chunox Polyclinic will be held at 10 a.m. in Chunox Village, Corozal District on Friday February 16th, 2018. This is as a result of the Government of Belize recognizing the critical role of primary health care services to enhance Belize’s socio-economic development. The Government funded the completion of the Chunox Polyclinic project at an estimated cost of $979,219.12 through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) with counter-part funding from Government. The new Polyclinic will improve primary health care access thereby reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality, water-borne, food borne, and vector borne diseases, communicable and non-communicable diseases, including early detection and prevention of certain health conditions.

THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN) GRANTS US$500,000 TO BELIZE AS PART OF THE SECURITY COOPERATION
Today, February 15, Belize received US$500,000 from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to support ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening the Belize Police Department as part of the Security Cooperation that exists between the two countries. The contribution will be used for the purchase of standard police equipment and law enforcement technologies for the Department, including alcohol measuring instruments, bulletproof vests, and motorcycles.

Stop coercion of the Maya by the government of Belize
The Belize Progressive Party (BPP) strenuously objects to the government of Belize’s continued attempts at coercion concerning the Maya. We join with the Mayan Leaders Alliance (MLA) and the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA) in condemning the attempts to intimidate Maya people to support the government’s efforts to take the Guatemala claim for territory to the ICJ. In 2017, Maya leaders communicated in writing to the prime minister asking for inclusion into any discussions involving Guatemala’s unfounded claim to sovereign Belizean territory. As they so rightly point out, they and their lands would be adversely affected by any success obtained by the Guatemalans at the ICJ. They want inclusion in the process. The PM’s response was that the education program would be “intensified”.

>FCD is seeking candidates for Chiquibul National Park Ranger duties
If you have the attributes – contact us.

Channel 7

Could Cable Operators Be Forced to Pull The Plug On Your HBO?
Cable television as you know it might be coming to an end - and that’s because - after years of avoidance - copyright compliance could be imposed upon Belize soon. Today executives from HBO Latin America were in Belize to have what we are told was a stiff meeting with the Belize Cable TV Operators Association. According to a two sentence release from the BCTVOA, their Board of Directors, quote, “held a meeting today…to outline a road map to copyright compliance.” End quote. We are told the meeting was led by Phil Welcome - who is the Director of anti-piracy for HBO Latin America.

Serve Staff Ripped Off “Rain”?
They work at one of the most upscale restaurants on San Pedro - but three service staff are accused of theft from that restaurant tonight. They were allegedly pinching cash from the day’s sales. Victoria Meyers from Rain Restaurant at Grand Caribe Resort on San Pedro found that on January 24th, 21 year old bartender Brandon Moralez made sales valued at over five thousand dollars during his shift, but only handed over $4,754 dollars, leaving $470 dollars unaccounted for. On the 28th, he did much the same, except this time, he was off by almost 800 dollars. Similarly, on the first of February, 20 year old bartender Wilson Perez was short by almost 600 dollars dollars. The next day Brandon Moralez was 580 dollars short when he handed over the sales from his shift.

The Push To Referendum Will Be Without Senior Diplomat
Shifting now to international affairs, Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington spoke at the OAS Permanent Council two weeks ago. He and his Guatemalan counterpart Sandra Jovel both made a pitch to the international community that they were serious about taking the Belize Guatemala dispute to the ICJ. The first concrete proof of this is Guatemala’s decision to hold a referendum in mid - April. Belize has committed to do the same later this year - but it will have to do so without Ambassador Stuart Leslie. He is the coordinator of the International Boundaries Unit - which is in charge of public education on the ICJ effort - leading to a referendum. But even as the referendum effort is gathering steam - Leslie is leaving the Ministry. Today Elrington discussed the parallel developments starting with the Guatemalan effort

Friends of Belize and Guatemala Coming Through With Funds For Referendum
And while Ambassador Leslie is now full time with the PUP, he will be replaced and the public education effort is expected to be stepped up with funding from the Group of Friends of Belize And Guatemala. Elrington said money is already coming through Jules Vasquez: "Will Belize be receiving funding for its effort for its education and referendum?" Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belize: "We have already been receiving funding for that. As a matter of fact the Europeans, the Americans have already made contributions and will continue to make contributions and we are going to be seeking funding further a field as well. We have been getting contributions continuously from the international community for this process."

Elrington: Guats “Shot” The Messenger
But it’s moving forward without Magdalena Talamàs. She was the coordinator of the OAS Adjacency Zone office - and as we first reported on January 16th, she’s been removed from that post at the insistence of the Guatemalans. They were firmly opposed to her holding that office because she presented the investigative report on the April 2016 incident in the Cebada area of the Chiquibul. That report found that the BDF had no blame or wrongdoing in the death of a 13 year old Guatemalan who was encroaching in Belizean territory - along with his father. The Guatemalans rejected that conclusion, the report, and the person who presented it - leading to one and a half years of icy relations with the OAS. And that’s why she was removed - Elrington explains:

Senior US Diplomat’s Retirement Could Have Effect on Belize - Guat Relations
Another notable departure from the Belize - Guatemala picture is senior US diplomat Tom Shannon. He announced his retirement on the first of February retired at the end of January - literally the day after he had met with the Belize contingent. Those with knowledge of the territorial dispute will know that in his 35 year diplomatic career Shannon has long bene Belize’s man in Washington. Today, Elrington said he will be missed. Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belize: "If you notice a number of high ranking officials in the administration of President Trump have been retiring for one reason or the other."

UNIBAM Brings Senior Advocacy Experience To Bze-Guat Education Campaign
So, familiar faces like , Shannon, Talamas and Ambassador Stuart Leslie are now out of the picture - to be replaced by new ones, including, possibly, Caleb Orozco. He has been a part of international LGBTI Advocacy for years, and Elrington says his expertise in this area is being called upon: Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belize: "LGBTI has come onboard, they will be working with us. We have been having meetings with Caleb and they have presented a wonderful proposal to help us. They have a lot of experience and knowledge in advocacy and I've been asking him maybe for the last 2, 3 years to come onboard to help us. They put forward a very lovely proposal and I know that he met with Alexis last week so we are trying to spread a very wide net, bring in everybody who has the ability to help us, to help us.”

Hon. Wilfred Welcomes New Ambassador
Another new face is recently appointed Guatemalan Ambassador, Georges De La Roche. He presented his credentials two days ago - and his appointment represents a sort of “reset” for Belize Guatemala relations. Elrington says the new Ambassador has strong ties to Belize Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Belize: "He's not stranger to Belize, as a matter of fact he has been visiting Belize from his childhood days. They have relatives in St. George's Caye; childhood days, he use to spend his holidays there also he told me that his grandfather if not his great grandfather actually started Brodies store. So they have a lot of... he personal has a lot of connections with Belize."

Hon. Wilfred and Hon. Eamon Warmed Up In Washington
There’s also been a reset with the PUP in the bi-partisan negotiations on the Belize Guatemala issue. Two PUP Representatives, Senator Eamon Courtenay and Area Rep. Oscar Requeña accompanied the Belize delegation on their recent trip to the OAS in Washington DC. Now, Minister Elrington and Senator Courtney have had very public and private disagreements in court, and, here, in the court of public opinion. So, how did they get along in DC? Elrington said it was civil Jules Vasquez: "Were you all cordial in Washington DC. I know he and Oscar Requena travelled along with the Belize contingent. I know you and Mr. Courtenay have a number of public and private issued in the court and in the court of public opinion."

Corporal Charged for Losing Gun That Ended Up In Criminal Hands
A police corporal in the Cayo formation has been brought up on disciplinary charges for “losing” a gun that ended up in Orange Walk - in the hands of a man now wanted by police. We told you about the gun on Monday. On Saturday morning at 3:30, Orange Walk police saw a man acting suspiciously and went to search him. He threw a 38 revolver away, and then escaped from police. When police checked the serial number it turns out to have been a revolver assigned to the Cayo formation. The corporal who it was assigned to has been charged internally for prejudice to good order and losing the weapon.

Taiwan Gives A Million For Police, Compol Calls It “Historic”
What would you do with a million dollars? Well, if you were the Commissioner of Police you would buy a whole bunch of handcuffs, motorbikes, and aerial drones. That’s what the commissioner will do with half a million US dollars handed over by the Taiwanese Ambassador today. Now, one million dollars is a nice chunk of change - but the American have given much more. Except when they give, it’s always equipment which matches their strategic objectives. This time, the Taiwanese gave the Commissioner funds to spend on whatever he thinks the Department most needs. At the handing over today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belize City Office, Whylie said its historic

Hon. Wilfred Says Whylie Won’t Go
As you just heard - Elrington is pleased with the funding package - and he’s also pleased with Commissioner Whylie. Even coming off one of the most murderous years on record, and a January that saw 15 murders - Elrington said it can’t be blamed on the COMPOL Jules Vasquez: "Is Mr. Whylie's job being under review or is it a matter that the cabinet or Prime Minister is looking at because of the poor results we've had in controlling the number of homicides or violent deaths as you may wish to call them?" Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Home Affairs: "In relation to Mr. Whylie I can tell you that as far as I am concerned I have no second guessing about Mr. Whylie. I reiterate the position I make that police is team work."

Cops Detain Female Who Lured Gibson
After those 15 murders in January - Belize City had a 13 day respite from killings. That is until Tyrone Gibson was murdered last week Friday. He was shot and killed on West Collet canal – a rival gang’s turf he knew well to avoid. Police have detained the women who is said to have lured him to that area The head of CIB shed more light on this case. ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB Belize City: "Reference the murder of Tyrone Gibson which occurred last week police is following that investigation they were able to retrieve surveillance footage from within the Area. At this moment we are looking for a vehicle and also a female was detained and she is presently being questioned to see what information we can gather from her and what that can lead us into the investigation."

No Complaint By Shooting Victim
Police are also still working on closing the Tyrone Guy shooting case. Guy was shot on Monday night. He was hanging out at a residence at the corner of Waight and Fairweather Streets when two men rode up on a motorbike and fired several shots at him. Guy was shot to the calf - and taken to the hospital. Police chased down the alleged shooter on a motorbike. That suspect is Tyree Gentle and he was charged with gun offenses but nothing more for shooting Guy. Today told us what the complications are in this case. ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC - CIB Belize City: "Police just arrested and charged a male person that was found with the firearm Tyree Gentle."

No Arrow for This Cupid, Female Used Knife On Valentine’s Night
And, in other crime news, what might have been a star-crossed valentine’s outing turned bloody when a woman stabbed a man last night. It happened in Belize City outside an upscale eatery. Police gave us what they have so far. ASP Alejandro Cowo, OC-CIB Belize City: "Police responded to that stabbing on Princess Margret Drive. It was a domestic dispute however the persons involved are not really requesting any police assistance to deal with the situation. I know that police went and dealt with the gentleman that was involved, he was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for his injuries and he up to this moment he has not given a formal complaint as to exactly what happened last night."

Family Says Police Abuse Systematic
In September of 2014, the police picked up 19-year-old Armani Bailey and instead of taking the young man to the station they drove him to Belizean Beach and nearly drowned him. Bailey survived, but the family reported the officers, and all three were charged. Almost five years have gone by since the incident and the family thought they had recovered from the incident until yesterday. Police officers randomly came in and searched his house where both Bailey and his mother reside. They did not find anything but they did manage to break his mother’s brand new dryer during the search.

Remembering Antonio Soberanis
You may know the name Antonio Soberanis. He’s remembered in Belizean History as one of the first Belizean nationalists whose love of country led him to become Belize’s first and fiercest labour activist. His labor movement which started in the mid 1930’s paved the way to self-government and Independence in Belize. But, Soberanis isn’t lionized the same way that the leaders like George Price are. In fact, his legacy is often overlooked, and if you aren’t studying local history, or aren’t a historian, you may know very little about his contributions. So today, after weeks of preparation, NICH and the Institute of Social and Cultural Research invited the press and his family to his resting place in his home village of Santana, on the Old Northern Highway. It’s being given recognition as a cultural heritage site by NICH, and our news team was there when it was rededicated.

Can Jordan Bacchus Be Sent Back?
He’s wanted for murder in Belize, but can Canadian Jordan Bacchus be extradited to face charges here? Bacchus is the main suspect in the murder of 31 year old San Pedro resident Melvin Almendarez - which happened in May of 2016. Bacchus fled Belize and was recently arrested in his home country of Canada, where he was wanted for a number of firearm charges. He was recently arrested during a drug search - but the question now is whether he can be extradited to face trial in Belize. The Minister says he thinks an extradition agreement is in place Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Home Affairs: "If we don't have an expedition treaty with Canada there will be way in which we could apply for them to send him back but I would want to think that we do have one, I want to think so."

Sedi Says Soldiers Sojourn Was Harmless
Elrington also said today that his Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a diplomatic note protesting the actions of three Guatemalan soldiers. In mid-January, they casually walked over to the Belize side of the border - and waltzed into the immigration hall with no regard for protocol. Elrington said that it was a harmless mission. Hon. Wilfred Elrington: "I have seen notes that we have sent and I have seen Guatemala's response to it, it's the usual thing you know and we are required to do that, we need to do that because we need to make it clear that we will not countenance in any act which constitute in our view a violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity but it is not my understanding that what transpired was anything more than officials coming across, some people from the military came across to ask what had happened with the media.”

Monkey River Villagers Did A Sting On Guate. Fishermen
Keeping it on territorial issues, very early this morning, about 30 residents of Monkey River Village went on a sort of sting operation to Rocky Point, a well-known fishing stop in the waters just north of the village. The residents claim that it is a camp for Guatemalan fishermen, who, they say, have been engaging in illegal gill net fishing. Our colleagues from PGTV spoke with some of the outraged fishermen about what they saw: The fishermen say they found a dozen barrels of fish and more than 10 sacks of what they believe is contraband salt. These Monkey River fishermen do concede that most of the fishermen at this location had proper fishing documents. They say they found 20 gillnets, but there were only licensed for 12, and most of the gill nets had to tags.

BEL Linesmen Back to BVI
In November 2017 we told you about a team of linemen from Belize Electricity Limited that went up to Dominica and the British Virgin Islands. They assisted the countries with power restoration after the devastating hurricanes. On Monday the company deployed a third team back to the Virgin Islands to assist. The team comprises five members will be stationed on the Island of Tortola for four weeks. They will be joining other linemen from Caribbean Electric Utility Services.

Channel 5

Woman Held, two More Sought in Gangland Killing of Tyrone Gibson
A woman has been detained in connection with the latest murder in the city. Police hope she can provide them with information that will help them crack the murder of [...]

Mom Says Tyrone Was Going to Bring Mystery Woman Home
Following his murder, Dianne Martinez told News Five that she would like to know what role, if any, the woman played in her son’s murder. Martinez shared what she knows [...]

Hilmar Alamilla to Supreme Court for Murder of Daniel Sosa; Threats Made
Forty-two-year-old Hilmar Alamilla returned to the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for a preliminary inquiry to determine if he would stand trial for murder at the Supreme Court. Alamilla [...]

Guat Reporter Was Just Doing His Job
In mid-January, a Guatemalan reporter with Prensa Libre, Rigoberto Escobar, entered into Belize from the western border and claimed he was confronted by the police within the adjacency zone also [...]

Will Belize Pursue Canadian Jordan Bacchus for Murder?
Canadian fugitive Jordan Bacchus was arrested for drug possession in Sudbury, Canada; he will also be charged for armed robbery and other crimes in Toronto recently. But will he be [...]

New Ambassador Knows Belize Well; Guat Foreign Minister Planning Visit?
We reported last week that Guatemala has finally sent its Ambassador to Belize in the person of career diplomat Georges De La Roche Du Ronzet. His appointment comes almost two [...]

P.U.P. Recalls Stuart Leslie from Referendum; Alexis Rosado Still in Charge
While there is a new Guatemalan ambassador, another is departing the Belize Foreign Ministry. Today, Elrington confirmed that Ambassador Stuart Leslie is no longer a part of the Referendum Unit [...]

Carry On, ComPol Whylie!
Now it is no secret that crime is a major issue in Belize. Elsewhere in the Central American region, border countries such as Guatemalan and Honduras have seen a decrease [...]

International Community Supports I.C.J. – What Says Belize
At a recent special session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C., convened to report on the Peace Fund, as many as thirteen nations [...]

MoFA Did Not Order Toledo Maya Survey
According to Elrington, the United Nations Development Programme, U.N.D.P., is also on board, providing funding to assist in the referendum process which is to take place after the a re-registration [...]

I.C.J. the Only Way, Red or Blue
The resolution of the territorial dispute has been the number one foreign policy issue for successive governments of Belize.  The people, however, are yet to decide at a referendum on [...]

HBO Demands Copyright Compliance from Cable Operators
Ready to pay more for basic cable? It could happen as issues of copyright compliance come to Belize. Home Box Office, the giant pay-per-view movie and special programming service, sent [...]

Father Charged with Incest against Daughter
A forty-seven-year-old man has been accused of violating his nearly thirteen-year-old daughter not once, not twice, but five separate times between February and August of 2016. The man is accused [...]

Man Stabbed in Lovers’ Spat on Valentine’s
On Wednesday night, couples were dining out showing their love for each other for Valentine’s. But for one couple, it ended in a stabbing and hospitalization. A woman stabbed a [...]

Lobster Season Now Closed
February fifteenth is a big day for fishermen and lobster eaters in Belize. It is the day when the lobster season closes off and that means no traps are to [...]

U.D.P. Answers the Call in Belmopan
In the growing capital city of Belmopan, the municipal campaign is in full gear. Earlier, this week we caught up with the P.U.P.’s mayoral candidate Tanya Santos who wants to [...]

P.U.P. Presents “Sensible” Manifesto in Orange Walk
It is the only town council they control nationally, and have in whole or in part since 2012. The People’s United Party hopes to retain Orange Walk Town painting it [...]

After Convention, P.U.P. Must Make Inroads with Others
The People’s United Party held a massive national convention on Sunday in Belize City, drawing a record number of supporters from the far reaches of the country and all points [...]

Budget “Ninth a March;” Will It Be Any Different?
The budget for the 2018 fiscal year is expected to be presented before the House of Representatives in early March, weeks before the start of a new financial calendar.  The [...]

Taiwanese Make Donation for Police Equipment
The government of Taiwan has made a significant contribution to assist in the fight against one of the worst problems facing the nation. A million dollars was handed over to [...]

Antonio Soberanis Honored by Family & Gov’t at Resting Place
We’ll start this next story with a quiz: where is the resting place of labour leader and early nationalist Antonio Soberanis Gomez? If you didn’t Google it, you may have [...]

LOVE FM

Taiwan Government gifts one million dollars to the Belize Police Department
The Belize Police Department today received one million dollars from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) that will go towards financing security operations in the department, specifically as it pertains to equipment. The Police high command says that the donation complements the department’s crime strategy that was unveiled recently. That strategy targets gangs, …

The Great House: 20 years of excellent service
The Great House Inn has quite a legacy behind it. It was built in 1927 for Barney Melhado, a prominent merchant of Belize whose family was of Portuguese origin. Between the late 1940’s and early 1970’s, it underwent several changes of ownership until 1972 when it came into Steve Maestre’s possession. Maestre was once the …

Ambassador Stuart Leslie leaves Referendum Unit
But as things seem to normalize in that area with the arrival of new diplomats, others are leaving. We are talking about Ambassador Stuart Leslie who has been at the forefront of the Government’s education campaign on the Belize-Guatemala territorial differendum within the Referendum Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Leslie has played a …

Referendum education campaign receives international support
And while on the subject of the referendum, Foreign Minister Elrington says Belize has been receiving funding for the education process from the international community. We understand that a proposal for the campaign and referendum for a total of twelve million Belize dollars had been submitted but today the Foreign Minister was unable to say …

Sports is the new-game changer to combat crime
The Belize Police Department is holding its third annual Youth Basketball Cup, which begins tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. at the Belize Civic Center and will continue for the next five months at various basketball courts around Belize City. Love News spoke with Douglas Hyde, National Youth Program Coordinator for the Belize Police Department, who said …

Prime Minister confirms the Contractor General did not submit reports
On December 13, the reappointment of Godwin Arzu has Contractor General was blocked by Senators. As we reported last night, Senators expressed concerns regarding Arzu’s responsibilities. PUP Senator Valerie Woods wrote to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, questioning the status of the Contractor General. Woods received a response today from the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Dean …

Belize Foreign Minister talks about removal of Magdalena Talamas
And while we are still on the subject of the relations between Belize and Guatemala, today Foreign Minister Elrington also spoke on the reassignment of Special Representative of the O.A.S. Secretary General for Belize-Guatemala Affairs, Magdalena Talamas from her post at the Adjacency Zone. This followed protest from Guatemala. Wilfred Elrington – Belize Foreign Minister …

Woman stabs man
A man was stabbed last night in Belize City; however, police say that he does not want to pursue criminal charges against his attacker. It happened on Princess Margaret Drive. The man was exiting a restaurant after having dinner with a woman when another woman stabbed him. ASP Alejandro Cowo says it is a ‘domestic …

Tyree Gentle remanded to prison
Two days ago, Magistrate Khadeem Palmer charged nineteen-year-old Tyree Gentle with kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license. He pled not guilty and was remanded to prison until May 14. Police saw him dispose of a nine-millimeter pistol while driving a motorcycle on George Street on Monday. Police believe that the firearm was used …

Belize Guatemala relations returning to normalcy says Belize Foreign Minister
Two years after former Guatemalan Ambassador to Belize Manuel Estuardo Roldan Barillas returned to his country, Guatemala appointed a new Ambassador to Belize. As we have reported, he is His Excellency Georges de la Roche Du Ronzet Plihal who presented his credentials to the Governor General Colville Young earlier this week. Today, Foreign Minister …

Is the Belize Police Department racially profiling citizens ?
Is the Belize Police Department profiling young men based on the color of their skin and what they believe is their economic status? Attorney and former Senator Lisa Shoman believes so. Shoman who speaks out on several issues, says racial and economic profiling of citizens is alive and well in Belize. Shoman used the example of three schoolboys in uniform who were stopped by police last week.

Gang rivalry led to Norman Gibson’s murder
A woman is in police custody answering questions pertaining to the murder of twenty-year-old Norman Tyron Gibson. The Belize City resident was fatally shot on February 9 while at the corner of West Collet Canal and Hicattee Streets. Head of Belize City Crimes Investigation Branch, ASP Alejandro Cowo confirmed this morning that Gibson’s murder is gang-related.

Lionel Arzu to be reappointed as Ombudsman
Reports to Love News are that Lionel Arzu will be reappointed as Ombudsman. We are told that the decision has been made to reappoint Arzu for a further term of one year. However, the post of Ombudsman will remain vacant until March, which is when the Government will take the matter to the House of Representatives on March 9 and later lay it before the Senate.

PlusTV

NEWSCAST
In the headlines for today Thursday February 15th….Female body found in Belize City….. Robbery in Ladyville turns violent….. Man stabbed by woman in Belize City…. The news is next. Stay tuned.

PUP leader says referendum not likely this year
Yesterday we reported that a new Guatemalan ambassador, Georges de La Roche Du Ronzet, has taken up residence in Belize almost two years after his predecessor Manuel Estuardo Roldan Barillas was recalled. This latest diplomatic move by Guatemala appears to be in tandem with the fact that Guatemalans...

PUP candidates for Belize City Municipals
The campaigning is in full swing for municipal elections scheduled for March 7th. Next Wednesday, February 21st, is nomination day. This morning on Rise and Shine, PUP Mayoral candidate for Belize City, Bernard Wagner, along with two of his city councilor candidates, were guests and spoke of some of...

The Guardian

The Malignant tumors are back
So the People’s United Party decided to bring their song and dance to Belize City. It was definitely no Love Fest of yonder years and it certainly did not feature any of the Caliente Girls but it sure did bring back memories of who the True Blue of the PUP actually are. All we had to do is watch the very first few minutes of the three hour long program and we were jolted to the reality that the Malignant tumors are now out of remission. The chemotherapy applied by the electorate on February 7, 2008 had the tumors in remission from then. But almost 10 years later, it seems that the tumors are returning. The announcement by one MC shouting the names Said Musa and Francis Fonseca who gladly stood at the right and left of Johnny Briceno caused shivers across the backs of everyone watching. Johnny it seemed, as hopeless, hapless and helpless as he is, could not help but to embrace these malignant tumors.

Drones to improve the Sugar Industry
For the next 30 days, the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) will be working with a South African consulting firm to implement phase 1 of a drainage master plan for the sugar belt, which spans the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts. This master plan is envisioned to help cane farmers by mitigating the damage to their crops due to flooding, during the wet months of the cultivation and the harvesting season. Marcos Osorio, the Executive Director of SIRDI told the press, “Excess water in cane fields results in no oxygen to the root system, and having no oxygen, then there is no growth…In terms of the sugar industry… that excess water, or the issue of water-logging and so on in the northern part of the country, for the sugar industry, has resulted in more incidence of pest, lower yields and much inefficiency in the sugar industry.”

BDF soldier dies from burns
Rodolfo Martinez, a 27 year-old soldier from the Belize Defence Force, died on Monday, February 12 from burn injuries he suffered at his home in Big Falls, Toledo. Martinez had an unfortunate accident in which his body caught fire simply because he walked past his mother’s stove, which was lit. Martinez’s mother, Teresa, told the press that on Saturday evening, February 10, at around 6 o’clock her son was at their home in Big Falls Village. He had returned from active duty in the Cayo District, and he was preparing to do some yard work for his mother on the following day. So, he was tinkering with his lawnmower, cleaning it and preparing it for the job. While doing this, he unfortunately came into contact with gasoline from the mower’s engine.

Norman Slusher is acquitted of 5 year old murder
In May 2012, two gunmen stormed onto the premises of Dale’s Barber Shop located on West Canal and Bishop Street. Their target was well-known businessman, Jose Shoman Jr., whose life had been threatened before. While receiving a lineup, one of the gunmen entered the barber shop and fired a barrage of bullets while an armed accomplice waited outside. While Shoman Jr. was only injured, Jason Canto, a bystander and Shoman’s friend, was shot as many as eight times and perished on the scene.

More equipment for BDF and Coast Guard by U.S. government
On Monday, February 12, 2018, the United States Government transferred counter-narcotics equipment, valued at $432,000 USD, to the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard. There, Adrienne Galanek, U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, and Lt. Col. Felix Enriquez, CEO, Ministry of Defense, represented the US and Belizean government, respectively, and shared some insight on the use of the donations. The donation was funded by the US Southern Command (US SOUTHCOM) Counter-Narcotics Program Office and is part of the greater partnership with Belize. The equipment includes two Ford F250 pick-up trucks, one video borescope/wireless inspection camera, one radio tester, one sight compass, one fuel quantity tester, one SMARTECH smart board, four Continental boat trailers, two Hamilton waterjet engines, two pneumatic fuel tank cleaning systems, six 250HP Mercury lower units, 50 ballistic floatation vests, six 40HP Yamaha motors, and 50 ballistic high cut helmets. These will be used to enhance the readiness of BDF and BCG personnel with existing as well as new capabilities especially as it relates to the illicit trafficking of persons, drugs, and other products and other transnational criminal organizations.

A new water system for Maskall
The Government of Belize, the Social Investment Fund, and the Caribbean Development Bank have collaborated to build a new water system which will support the villages of Lucky Strike, Rock Stone Pond, Maskall, Santana, Corozalito, and Saint Ann’s. These villages along the Old Northern Highway hadn’t gotten this much needed improvement in over 30 years. It’s called the upgraded Maskall Rudimentary Water System, and it is located in Maskall Village. It is capable of providing 20,000 gallons from the elevated tank, and it can also supply an additional 20,000 gallons from a secondary tank that was built underground. The Government says that this is the first of its kind to be built in Belize. A pump house with an electrical system and monitoring equipment makes up part of the project. To ensure that Santana Village was properly connected, a pressure sustaining valve and distribution lines were installed to improve the delivery of water to that village.

UAE-Funded Rural Electrification Project to be Implemented in Belize
A delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund visited Belize to meet with the Ministry of Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities and village leaders for the implementation of the emPOWER Rural Electrification project (emPOWER project). The emPOWER project envisions to install 344 kW of solar PV and battery storage in rural villages that currently do not have access to the national electricity grid. The villages selected are Indian Creek, Golden Stream, and Medina Bank. The project is estimated to cost US$2.736 million and is part of the UAE’s $50 million grant fund for renewable energy projects in the Caribbean.

BRING BACK THE LOVE? BRING BACK THE MONEY!!
One of the many attributes here in ‘Griga is the ability to interact and continue to interact with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Grigalizeans have also learned to overcome and somewhat master adversities. Mayor Francis Humphreys is a proud product of ‘Griga who never left. He never backs down and certainly by far no recent Dangriga Mayor has shown his hands on approach to running the council as he has. On any given day, election season or not, this gentleman can be seen in his office at the Town Hall or at the other office – The Streets! In comparison to the Dangriga PUP Mayoral aspirant Derrick Velasquez, he departed the precious shores of the Culture Capital some 30 years ago. He has openly said and admitted that nothing has changed in the 30 years since he left ‘Griga. In the ever so popular vernacular on Face Book, SMDH! (Shaking My Darn Head). Indeed without coercion, one would have to shake his/her damn head.

Aragon sues PUP
The opposition People’s United Party in their pursuit of power has pulled all stops in an effort to mislead the Belizean People. They embarked in a slanderous campaign against several personalities and UDP leaders. They have nothing positive to put to the Belizean Public so they have resorted to personal character attacks. While the Belizean public is well aware that the desperate PUP are grasping at straws and view these ads as nothing more than comic relief; there are several persons who will have none of it. At least three UDP Ministers have initiated lawsuits against the PUP and PUP controlled media houses for their indiscretions in airing and publishing libelous material.

Better roads: more speeding in Santa Elena
Excess speeding by motorist along the La Loma Luz Boulevard and other tributaries that connect to the new Macal River bridge in Santa Elena Town in Cayo has sparked considerable controversy on social media and a recent public conference in San Ignacio; especially after several traffic accidents have already occurred on that openly traversed highway. Members of the public have been calling for ‘sleeping policemen’ to be placed on the boulevard and beyond, but the experts are steering clear from such a move. Chief Engineer Mr. Lennox Bradley argues that speed bumps on the La Loma Luz Boulevard and other sections is not necessarily the solution for several reasons. He says that speed bumps will create weak zones on the road and is a source of discomfort for sick persons travelling by ambulances---where speed is of the essence. Also, speed bumps are not the solution for drivers under the influence of alcohol and may instead lead to further accidents under such conditions.

Tsunami turned into a city tour
In some PUP quarters, the claim is that the PUP had 15,000 on the ground for their much advertised and hyped TSUNAMI. While in other PUP quarters the claim is as high as 20,000. Here at the Guardian and as suggested by many other non-political sources, it was more like 6,000 at its high point. However there are persons who are going out on a limb and giving them as much as 8,000. We won’t quarrel with those persons who have suggested 8,000. What we will say though is that the two feet high surge and ankle deep water that we saw on Sunday was no way near the great TSUNAMI that the PUP had been predicting for over a month. Prior to Sunday they had, everything in their favour. They were advertising the event for over a month. The event was to be held two weeks ago but was called off and impending rains was the excuse used. That postponement created its own hype and anticipation. Lastly they had a lot of money to spend. One would have expected that with all those things in their favour, Sunday would have been a huge success, but even with that in their favour they did not achieve the numbers and spinoff they had expected.

NEMO assesses flooding damage in Toledo
Following an unusual bout of heavy rains and flood in the village of San Benito Poite in Toledo, villagers are being haunted by the possibility of famine. The rains and flood destroyed their primary crops, corn and beans. Their corn, colloquially termed “mata hambre”, would normally hold them over into the approaching dry season but given the floods, about 50 and 60 acres of their corm production was wiped out. NEMO Assessments have been completed in several villages following rains in recent days. One such village includes San Benito Poite, despite limited accessibility by road. According to Kenton Parham, NEMO’s Toledo District Coordinator, after proper analysis of the findings, a report will be compiled to determine the best possible solution.

National Council of the Ageing celebrates 15 years
The National Council of the Ageing-NCA celebrated its fifteenth anniversary on Friday at the Belmopan Market Square with an interactive series of booth displays. There were four booths, with each portraying different aspects of the ageing process. All were visited by many children from surrounding schools. In the first booth, a history of ageing took on a new light with descriptions on the development of the National Council of the Ageing over the last 15 years. In the second booth, visitors had an opportunity to experience some of the changes that will normally occur as the ageing process proceeds, such as deterioration of hearing, vision and touch. The third booth generated much interest as it was a multimedia room where informative videos on ageing issues were shown.

How to have vehicles emit less carbon dioxide
Representatives from various Government and Non-Governmental Organizations along with the Private Sector met on Monday at the Agricultural Building Conference Room in Belmopan (Showgrounds) to discuss the findings of a study to establish a fuel economy baseline for light-duty vehicles (1,700 pounds or less) that entered the market in Belize over the past four years. According to the U.S based Environmental Protection agency, the majority of green house gas emissions from transportation are carbon dioxide emissions, resulting from the combustion of petroleum-based products like gasoline in internal combustion engines. A large source of these green house gas emissions come from light duty trucks and other vehicles. In terms of climate change, the Belizean transport sector uses some 46% of the energy used in Belize.

Hubert Martinez pleads guilty to manslaughter by negligence
In December 2013, Hubert Martinez, a 40-year-old BDF civilian driver, was charged with manslaughter by negligence for knocking down and killing Jahston Terry, a 3-year-old. Unlike Terry who was crushed on impact, his older brother, 5-year-old Jaheem Terry, was hit but only sustained injuries. For this injury, he was charged with negligent wounding. The accident occurred on December 4, 2013 when the brothers were walking on the sidewalk at the Pound Yard in Belize City. The boys were hit by a white pickup truck which was being driven at the time by Martinez. According to the facts of the crown, there was no aggravating factor at the time since an alcohol and drug test came back negative.

Andy Rhaburn, from hospital to prison
The murder of 54-year-old Braulia Pech was one that shook the entire village of Carmelita as well as most of the country. Pech’s murder occurred on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 and for that murder, her son, 26-year-old Andy Rhaburn, has been accused of beating his mother to death with a crowbar, reportedly the result of a disagreement over money. After eluding the police for almost a week, Rhaburn was finally captured on Monday, January 22, 2018 in the vicinity of Rhaburn’s Ridge on the Phillip Goldson Highway.

Belize City men on Remand after attacking and robbing an office assistant
Two Belize City men were before the court on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 to answer to charges of robbery and wounding after an office assistant was knocked off his motorcycle and badly beaten. The attackers have been identified as 30-year-old Nigel Castillo, a resident of Mahogany Street, and 20-year-old Joseph Babb, a resident of Jones Street. The duo appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court where they were arraigned before Magistrate Khadeen Palmer. Before the magistrate, the duo was charged jointly with one count of robbery and one count of wounding.

Drunken gunplay leads to death and fine
Edwardo Torres, a 45-year-old banker, has avoided jail time after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful harm through negligence of a firearm after he made the drunken decision to put a loaded firearm into his friend’s mouth. Although the firearm was licensed, it does not negate the fact that that decision cost his friend’s life. For this action, Torres appeared before Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Williams on Friday, February 9, 2018.

Jealous rage leads to stabbing incident
Darrel Alvarez, a 31-year-old known criminal figure, was arraigned on Monday, February 12, 2018 for the broad daylight stabbing of Rhonda Burgess. The incident occurred on Thursday, February 8, 2018 on Gill Street where according to a police report, 35-year-old Rhonda Burgess and her boyfriend, Erick Tillett, were at their Gill Street home when they were both attacked and stabbed to various parts of their body.

Senior Citizen gagged and burglarized by friend
Floyd Escarpeta, a 23-year-old construction worker of Mahogany Heights, George Price Highway is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after being arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Monday, February 12, 2018 for the offenses of burglary and theft. In court, Escarpeta appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser where he pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Double shooting in Orange Walk
Shots rang out in Orange Walk on Sunday, February 11, 2018 after 8:40 p.m. Police then visited the Northern Regional Hospital Emergency Room where they observed Amin Mendez Jr., a 24-year-old Belizean student of an Orange Walk Town address, with a single apparent gunshot wound. That wound was seen on his lower left leg with an exit wound at the back of his calf. There, they also saw Jessica Melendez, a 20-year-old Belizean businesswoman, with a single gunshot wound to the left side of her right knee.

Taxi driver shot on East Canal
Just after 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 2018, Reginald Garoy, a 35-year-old taxi driver, visited the Precinct 1 police station. There, he was seen suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, one to the finger and a graze to the right side of the cheek. He was escorted to the KHMH where he remains in a stable condition. Despite active police patrols on that and surrounding areas, investigations revealed that earlier that evening, Garoy and another person were on East Canal in his taxi near the Rocky Road Bridge when they were approached by a male person and Garoy was shot. Police investigations into this matter continue and one person is being sought.

Woman lures Ty Ty to his death
The Belize City family and friends of Tyron ‘Ty Ty’ Gibson continue to mourn his loss after he was shot and killed in what appears to be gang related violence. His loved ones believe that a female lured him to his death. Police say that at around 8:10 p.m., on Friday, February 9, they received information of a shooting incident on West Collet Canal. Officers responded, and they found Gibson, lying on the ground in front of the Michael Finnegan Market. The 20 year-old resident of Berry Street suffered several gunshot injuries: 1 to the right shoulder, 1 to the left upper arm, and 1 to the right side of the hip.

Tyree Gentle on remand for gun related offenses
Tyree Gentle, a 19-year-old AC Technician and a resident of Raccoon Street, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after he was arraigned on two gun related offenses as well as a traffic offense. In court, where he appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Khadeen Palmer, he pleaded not guilty to the firearm related offenses but guilty to the traffic violation. According to the police report, on Monday, February 12, 2018 at 8:50 p.m. while on Fairweather Street, a vehicle sped off upon seeing the police. The officers set chase behind the vehicle until it came to a stop on George Street. There, the driver was seen removing an object from his pants and throwing it away.

Tyrone Guy shot in the City
At 8:35 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2018, police responded to a shooting in the Queen Charlotte area. Upon arrival, they observed, Tyrone Guy, a 24-year-old Belizean fisherman of a Queen Charlotte address, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to left calf. Initial investigation revealed that Guy was at a residence at the Corner of Waight Street and Fairweather Street when two male persons rode up on a motorcycle and fired several shots, causing Guy’s injury. Police are investigating.

18 pounds of weed inside a ford Matrix
Last Thursday, officers posted at the Belmopan Police Station conducted a search on a vehicle where drugs were found. The search was made on a white Toyota Matrix car where seven parcels of cannabis-- amounting to 18.7 pounds were found. Subsequent to the search, John Almendarez, a 29 year old Belizean mechanic and Brittany Hutchinson, a Belizean student from Teakettle Village, who were in the vehicle were both arrested and charged for drug trafficking.

Dangriga Dream Ballers and San Pedro Tiger Sharks co-leaders in Pepsi Elite Basketball League competition
The 2018 Pepsi National Elite Basketball League competition continued last week with three games on the schedule. On Friday 9th February at the Russel “Chiste” Garcia Auditorium in Dangriga Town, the Dangriga Dream Ballers defeated Verdes by the score of 92-84 to improve its record to a perfect 3-0 and a share with the San Pedro Tiger Sharks as co-leaders of the competition. The competition will continue this coming weekend with three more games. On Friday 16th February at 9:00 pm out at the UB Gymnasium in the City of Belmopan, the Orange Walk Running Rebels will go up against the Belmopan Bandits. At the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town also at 9:00 pm, the Digicell Belize City Defenders will see action against the Verdes squad who are still looking for its first win of the season. And in the final game of the week at the Russel “Chiste” Garcia Auditorium in Dangriga Town at 9:00 pm on Saturday 17th February, the co-leaders San Pedro Tiger Sharks and the Dangriga Dream Ballers will square off.

Football Federation of Belize Vice President and Technical Director to visit local associations
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB) is pleased to inform its football family that Mr. Cruz Gamez, FFB Vice – President and Chairman for Youth Development, National Team Programs (Youth), Youth Leagues, Associations, Coaches and Women, along with the Technical Development Director Mr. Philip Marin will be conducting a series of two (2) days meeting through the country, beginning February 16 to March 11, 2018. The purpose of the meetings is to present the FFB 2018 Competitions Calendar to the football family and to hear from the District Association Executives their plans for competition through the year 2018.

Oscar Quiroz is the winner of the 23rd Digicell Valentine’s Day Tour
The Cycling Federation of Belize in partnership with Digicell held the 23rd edition of the Digicell Valentine’s Cycling Tour over the last week. The four stage tour commenced on Thursday 8th February and concluded on Sunday 10th February, 2018. In the Elite Category, the overall winner was Oscar Quiroz Jr of Smart Cycling Team. He was followed by his team Brandon Cattouse and then by Edgar Nissan Arana of Westrac Cycling Team, and he was followed by Joel Boland of Digicell Elite Cycling Team, and he was followed by Robert Liam Stewart who was the first Master Rider to cross the finish line.

San Pedro Pirates FC clip the high soaring Verdes FC in Premier League Closing Season play
The Premier League of Belize Closing Season competition continued over the last weekend with four games on the schedule. On Sunday 11th February, at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio Town, the defending champions and current leaders in this year’s Closing Season competition Verdes FC, was stop in it tracks by the least unlikely candidate the San Pedro Pirates FC by the score of 2-1 to hand Verdes FC its first loss of the competition. The San Pedro Pirates FC was the first onto the scoreboard when Inri Gonzaga scored the 1st goal of the game in the 6th minute of play via a penalty kick to give his team a 1-0 lead. The lead was further extended when Gonzaga scored his 2nd goal of the game in the 37th minute of play to give his team a 2-0 lead. The competition will continue this coming weekend.

Hummingbird Elementary girls and Belize Elementary boys won the Belize City Primary Schools Volleyball competition
The Belize City Primary Schools Volleyball Competition came to an end on Tuesday 12th February, 2018, with the championship games in both the girls and boys competition played at the Stars Gymnasium in Belize City. In the girls’ championship game, Hummingbird Elementary School won over Belize Elementary School in two sets by the score of 25-20 and 25-18. And in the boys’ championship game, Belize Elementary School won over Holy Redeemer School in two sets by the score of 25-11 and 25-15. The Belize District Primary Schools Volleyball finals will be played on Thursday 15th February, 2018, commencing at 9:00 am at Stars Gym on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City. Representing Belize Rural in the girls’ competition will be Burrell Boom Methodist School and San Pedro Roman Catholic School, while the representatives for Belize City will be Hummingbird Elementary School and Belize Elementary School. Meanwhile, in the boys’ competition, the Belize Rural representatives will be Burrell Boom Methodist School and San Pedro Roman Catholic School while the Belize City representatives will be Belize Elementary School and Holy Redeemer School.

The Physiotherapy Clinic’s Charity Efforts
Children disability in Belize seems to be an almost-taboo topic even though much of the population of children has to live with that reality every day. The 2012 MICS report shows that “more than a third (36.4%) of children 2 to 9 years was at risk for one or more disabilities.” This is an increased ten percent since 2006, and is incomprehensive data as it excludes other children between 0 and 18 years old. As defined by The Situational Analysis of Children with Disabilities, disabilities are the “results from the interaction between persons with impairments … and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. In other words, disabled persons have to suffer through unfair prejudices, biases, and other discriminatory behaviors. As recently as June 2013, the concept of disability has evolved to accommodate the complex and dynamic nature of the issue, highlighting the impacts on the disabled as well as the family.

THE ASCHROFT TSUNAMI MEANS TO WIPE US OUT
There are precious few things that Johnny B. understands and tsunami is not on that very short list! The most important thing to know about a tsunami is that it is caused by a disturbance and it has the potential to be extremely destructive. Bing says: “A tsunami or tidal wave, also known as a seismic sea wave, is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, glacier calving, meteorite impacts and other disturbances above or below water all have the potential to generate a tsunami. Unlike normal ocean waves, which are generated by wind, or tides, caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, a tsunami is generated by the displacement of water.” A LARGE TSUNAMI WOULD WIPE US OUT COMPLETELY; THE PUP FLIRTS WITH DISASTER!

Barren soil
I can still recall the PUP’s “People’s Assemblies” and their “Freedom Train” of 1998, when the Blue Party could amass tens of thousands of supporters at the drop of a hat in every district just by announcing the pending visit of the “Train” with the “Caliente Girls”. These were rallies to truly behold in size and enthusiasm. I have never seen such mass political gatherings since, except maybe the UDP’S protest rally against the UHS loan at a House sitting. That said, the so-called “Blue Tsunami” of Sunday past at the ITVET compound in Belize City was trifling in comparison to their former assemblies and this fact should lend for consternation within the PUP hierarchy.

There is ONE PUP
......... And there is no old P.U.P. or new P.U.P. There is one P.U.P. ....... Those were the words of the Late Dr Cecil “Chubby “ Reneau , who was the Belize City Mayoral Candidate for the PUP in 2009 . Those words were spoken by him in an interview he gave to Channel 5 News. When we listened to the names of members of the New PUP Executive being called out on Sunday, we were instantly reminded of Dr Reneau’s statement. He was so prophetic with his statement. In his own way, Dr. Reneau or Chubby as he was fondly known, as a teacher, must have been trying to teach us something; that he perhaps, thought we did not know about the PUP. We must now agree with Chubby that there is and has always been and will always only be one PUP. There is NO OLD or NEW PUP. They are the same CORRUPT PUP who raped and pillaged this country between 1998 and 2008.

Prepare Belize’s Drought Plan – Let’s not wait for Day Zero
In Belize, water resources management is currently the responsibility of the Prime Minister and his Minister of State, and rightly so, Water is Life and is too important to have any lower status. However we cannot boast of a fully staffed National Hydrological Service, extensive real time water monitoring networks, nor any National Water Plan, much less a Drought Plan. The National Meteorological Service produces drought indices that forecast the likelihood and severity of drought episodes. Belize is not immune, 2011 and 2015 are only previews of things to come. Let’s be prepared, our responses to the Meteorological Service’s drought alerts, watches and warnings is the content of a Drought Plan. God forbid we ever have to deal with our own Day Zero, our response may be similar to that of the recent tsunami warning. Note that Day Zero may be at the national or community level.

Words of Life With Pastor Barry Fraser
In Psalm 27:1 King David wrote, “The LORD delivers and vindicates me! I fear no one! The LORD protects my life! I am afraid of no one!” God has never lost any case that has ever been brought to Him to handle. Any case that is proving difficult for us to handle we can pray and hand over to Him. It can range from money worries, family issues to something we have struggled with for ages.

Blogs

TripAdvisor lists top Belize hotels for 2018
TripAdvisor, the world renowned travel planning booking site, has named the top hotels in Belize for 2018 and the BTB joins industry stakeholders in congratulating these Belizean accommodations for a well-deserved recognition. TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. In the 16th year of the awards, TripAdvisor has recognized 8,095 properties in 94 countries and eight regions worldwide. The hallmarks of Travelers’ Choice hotels winners are remarkable service, value and quality.

How Big is Ambergris Caye? Bigger Than You Think
It is not uncommon for first-time travelers to ask, “how big is Ambergris Caye? ” Lying between 18.87 and 18.19° north latitude and 87 to 88° west longitude, Ambergris Caye is approximately 25 miles or 40 kilometers long from north to south, and 1 mile or 1.6 kilometers wide in some places. Areas where limestone caye has not been altered by development, are mostly outlined with mangroves and white sandy beaches. Ambergris has an estimated 17,400 people (some say more) living in 17,600 acres of space in it’s only town of San Pedro. It takes up approximately 27.5 sq miles or 71.2 sq kilometer with an elevation above sea level at 2 meters or 7 feet. Aside from its physical size, Ambergris Caye is big in another way. It’s residents have huge hearts and so do many travelers that vacation here. There are always individuals and organizations needing help. I have seen so many longtime and new travelers that are willing to contribute to one cause or another. Some use “Pack for a Purpose” and some “mule” on suitcases full of items from school wish lists or things needed in disadvantaged communities.

Lobster season closes for 2018 in Belize
The various Lobsterfest events are Belize's savvy way of celebrating the opening of the lobster season. It's held every year starting mid-June, in four parts of the country, Belize City, the northern cayes to the southern coast: Caye Caulker, San Pedro and Placencia. Did you know that the lobster fishing season closes on February 14th each year? Valentine’s Day was you're last chance to enjoy a succulent lobster dish until June 15th when our lobster festival commences. During the closed lobster season you may not keep lobster in your freezer, you are not permitted to fish for lobster in our waters and hefty fines are levied for infractions.

Getting Around Belize
The best ways to get around Belize are by car, water taxi and plane. Taxis and rental cars are the most hassle-free mode of transportation around Belize City. Cabs and cars are also the easiest way to get to and from Belize City's Municipal Airport (TZA) just outside the city center or Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (PGIA), which is about 10 miles northwest of Belize City in Ladyville. Hopper planes also transport passengers to popular islands like Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Water taxis are the best mode of transportation to access Belize's numerous cays. Attractions on the mainland are relatively spread out, but Belize itself is a compact country, equipped with commuter buses that transport passengers to popular things to do. However, these buses are typically run-down and routes can be difficult to navigate.

International Sources

Dream Hotel Group Executes Plan to Expand into Mexico and Belize
Dream Hotel Group Click for more info has revealed new plans to expand into Mexico and Belize. In late 2018, the hotel brand will open Unscripted Belize. In 2020, it is also scheduled to open Unscripted Tulum, which is located in Mexico’s hippest beach destination, one that has become popular with American tourists and celebrities. Dream Hotel Group, which is a renowned hotel and brand management company by any metric, will also open a third hotel in the region, this one dubbed Dream Belize. Unscripted Belize will be the first of the company’s two Belize openings. It will debut in late 2018, and when it does, it will have 24 beachfront cabanas located within mere steps of the Caribbean Sea. Both of the new hotels will be located in the picturesque Kanantik Belize master plan community, which is just north of Placencia. They will be owned and developed by Luke Chadwick with architectural design by Gensler.

Caribbean Hosted Record 30 Million Visitors in 2017
This past fall’s devastating fall hurricanes largely failed to halt Caribbean destinations’ surging visitor growth. Countries tracked by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) surpassed a collective 30 million overnight visitor arrivals for the first time in the organization’s history in 2017, CTO officials announced Thursday. “Sustained economic growth in all of our major source markets” drove the increase, said Hugh Riley, CTO’s secretary general, as arrivals in Caribbean destinations exhibited strong growth prior to the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. CTO officials predict 2018 visitor arrivals in the region will increase of between two to three percent over 2017. Specifically, Caribbean overnight arrivals grew by 4.8 percent during the first-half of 2017, slowing by 1.7 percent in the second half due to the impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria. Overall 2017 Caribbean visitor arrivals increased by 1.7 percent compared with 2016, totaling 30.1 million visits and marking the region’s eighth consecutive year of visitor growth.

Videos

February 15, 2018

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 House of Culture exhibits “El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro” Photography
The San Pedro House of Culture (SPHC) opened their Carnaval Photography Exhibition on Thursday, February 8th. The exhibition is an annual display that showcases the traditional “El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro (The Great Carnival of San Pedro)” which took place from Saturday, February 10th to Wednesday, February 14th. The exhibition presents the history of Carnaval, from the Mascaradas to the comparsas, masquerade parties and Juan Carnaval. “I’m so happy that despite the years and modern days this tradition continues to be one San Pedro’s biggest events. This is a portrayal of this historic tradition that was brought to Belize by our ancestors over a hundred years ago. Everyone is invited to come and view the exhibit, which indeed will bring back old memories of carnaval, and have us appreciate the tradition even more,” said SPHC Director Guillermo “Mito” Paz.

Placencia 15th Annual Arts Festival Sidewalk delights hundreds of spectators
Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) Placencia Chapter’s 15th annual Placencia Sidewalk Arts Festival attracted hundreds of spectators. Held on Saturday, February 10th through to the 11th, the event serves as a way for Belizean artists to showcase their finest work. Attendees enjoyed paintings, arts and crafts, handmade jewelry and even how to make chocolate. At 10 AM, the 4,000 foot-long sidewalk came alive with the display of amazing handmade arts, jewelry, books, paintings, and cultural clothing among other authentic Belizean products. Spectators had the option to purchase items they fell in love with, as most products on display were for sale. Attendees also got to see a demonstration of how to make chocolate by IXCACAO Maya Belizean Chocolate and live performances by Talla Walla Vibration Band, Panerifix Steel Band and DJ Boneyfide under the main tent.

San Pedro Co-Ed Softball Tournament moves to semifinals
After six weeks, the regular season of the San Pedro Co-Ed Softball Tournament came to an end with Quality Reef emerging first place with five wins and one loss. ECGO took second place with four wins and two losses, Extreme placed third with two wins and four losses, and taking fourth place was San Pedro High School (SPHS) with one win and five losses. All islanders are invited to come and support their favorite team this weekend in the semifinals on Sunday, February 18th. The first match starts at 9AM, with Quality Reef going against SPHS, followed by RCGO versus Extreme.

Belikin launches limited edition of artisan beer bottles
Belikin, the beer of Belize, officially launched its Limited Edition beer bottles on Friday, February 9th at Naia Resort and Spa in Placencia, Stann Creek District. The Limited Edition features 12 original designs by Belizean artists showcasing the culture, heritage and the most authentic places in Belize. Contributing artists included Anton Leslie, Debbie Cooper, Eduardo “Papo” Alamilla, Ernest Garcia, Gayla Fuller, Gilvano Swasey, Greta Leslie, Jorge Landero, Kelvin Baizar, Nelson Young, Terryl Godoy and Walter Castillo. The event saw the attendance of nine out of the 12 featured artists with attendees getting to meet them and even take pictures while enjoying live music.

Ambergris Today

Love Is In The Air - Ayuso/Montano Wedding
On Saturday, February 10, 2018, the Ayuso and Montano families along with friends celebrated the marriage of Luis and Sandra Ayuso at the San Pedro RC Church followed by a lovely reception at the Lions Den. Godparents of the bride and groom were Mr. and Mrs. Alex Eiley. It was a night full of love and happiness. Congratulations to the lovely couple on this Valentine's Day!

Carnaval 2018 Day Three - Barbies Shake To Scooby Doo Pa Pa
Carnaval 2018 ended with a bang as the two comparsas group gave it their all and danced their hearts out! Dona Flora's Group theme was "Carnival Soca Queen" and they wore brightly colored costumes and head pieces and were in full carnival spirit! The Barbies theme was "El Mango Relajado/Scooby Do Pa Pa" and boy oh boy did these men shake what their momma gave them. The were in high spirits singing and dancing and having so much fun entertaining their audience. It was a great way to end this year's Carnaval... Here are pics of the last day of Carnaval ...enjoy!

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
THURSDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2018: THE XUNANTUNICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS OPEN WITH VEHICLE CROSSING. PLEASE NOTE 2 VEHICLES AT A TIME ONLY. THIS SITUATION IS SUBJECT CHANGE AS IT IS RAINING AT THAT LOCATION. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

Rediscovering Antonio Soberanis
The Antonio Soberanis Memorial Site taking shape ahead of the Dedication Ceremony on Thursday February 15, 2017 in Santana Village, Belize District .

BELIZE NOW HAS A PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION
Her Excellency Ms. Perla Perdomo presented her credentials as Belize’s first Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday, February 12th. This was done in a ceremony at the FAO headquarters in Rome where Permanent Representative Perdomo presented her letter of accreditation to Jose Graziano da Silva, the Director-General. Her Excellency Perdomo and the Director-General discussed the possible areas of future cooperation with the FAO which includes water management for agriculture, agricultural mechanization for medium and small farmers, agro-processing as well as the use of technology to aid farmers.

Missing Canadian Volunteer
Police are seeking the public's assistance in locating 23-year-old Chad Alexander Sojer, a volunteer from Alberta, Canada. Sojer arrived in the country on Friday, February 9 and was last seen on Monday, February 12 in San Ignacio. Sojer is described as Caucasian, slim built, blue eyes, and low brown hair. He is 5'9" and approximately 140lbs. Anyone with information regarding Sojer's whereabouts is asked to contact the police or the Canadian Embassy at 501-223-160.

Images from Day 4 of our 16th Anniversary Celebrations
With a special presentation from our very own Curator and Abstract Artist Ms. Ilona Smiling for the students of Mr.Kirkland's (SJC Art Teacher) After School Art Program.

Training in proper fire management
This week, Ya'axché Conservation Trust along with its partners The Belize Audubon Society and The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) are bringing together community members to receive training in proper fire management. Participants will take part in both theory and practical sessions. Escaped fires have been a major contributor to forest loss and are a threat to the protected areas which provide many benefits to Belizeans. This training is part of an ongoing project funded by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust.

CARNAVAL: COMPARSAS DAY 3 AND PAINTING

CARNAVAL COMPARSAS DAY 2

2nd Annual Love Fair
Oceana Belize and Department of Youth Services' second annual Love Fair underway at our Corozal Central Park until 4:00 P.M. Governmental, non-governmental organizations and NGOs, inlcuding our Corozal Police Department, Belize Diabetes Association, Corozal Animal Program, FOCUS, NDACC, Corozal House of Culture (NICH) and others promote Love for Self, Community and the Environment.

NICH Valentine's Day Concert
The National Institute of Culture and History is having a Valentine's Concert at the Cayo Welcome Center on Saturday, February 17th. Galicha the Lion and Silas Sabal will be performing.

A girl from Yucatec Maya descent acting as the Xtabai in the Patchakan RC school Cultural day (Corozal District
It is said that the Xtabai has long black hair , Maya looks and is the most beautiful women who will ever see in your life . One of our beautiful stories still hear among the Northern Maya of Belize .

Maya children from Patchakan dancing for Cultural Day at Patchakan RC School Corozal
Patchakan is a Maya village located in Corozal district which means "Behind the Savanna" in the Yucatec Maya language. It's believe that the village of Patchakan was already populated with Maya people since 1780 before the massive migration of Maya from across the rio Hondo in 1847 because of the Caste War "Maya Social War" . Many Maya Elders before dying spoke about a village with the name of Tanchekaax before the existence of Patchakan . By the end of the Maya Social War(Caste War) many Yucatec Maya rebels from the group known as Cruzoob Maya left Chan Santa Cruz and settle in Patchakan .

Channel 7

Alleged Canto Killer Gets Off
Another alleged killer has gotten off. Twenty-eight year old Norman Slusher, charged with the barbershop murder of Jason Canto, was acquitted today by Justice Adolph Lucas in a trial without jury. In his ruling Justice Lucas said the Crown has failed to prove the element of unlawful harm. Slusher had given an oral statement that was admitted as evidence in which he said that it was he and a person named "Angel" who went to the barber shop on West Canal Street and fired shots. But since there were two gunmen it could not be determined which one of them shot and killed Canto. The alleged target was businessman Jose Shoman - who the gunmen wanted to rob. He gave the police a statement - but the prosecutor had to withdraw its application to have the statement admitted as evidence because the statement was not signed by a Justice of the Peace or a Magistrate.

Measles Not In Belize, Not Yet, At Least
"It's just a matter of when" - that's what public health officials said today about the likelihood of measles reaching Belize. Now, there hasn't been a case of measles in Belize since 1991 - but one case appeared in Guatemala this month, and there's also one in Antigua and Barbuda. But, both these cases were imported - meaning they came over from Europe. And that's why health experts are saying it's only a matter of time that measles reappears in Belize. And that's because Belize gets so many tourists. This morning, at a briefing session for the media, Dr. Natalia Largaespada and Dr. Cecilio Eck stressed it is not a panicking situation - but awareness is very necessary:...

Darrell’s Last Dance
If you've been getting the impression that Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley won't be retreating quietly from the spotlight - you're probably right. He's in his last few weeks in office, and he's been very busy recently, making the rounds on the news and talk show circuit. And today - at the end of his 6 years in office - he held a press conference, calling it an exit interview. Now we've already done what we thought was an exit interview where he gave himself a grade, but that was just a soundbyte. At today's event., Bradley reviewed the broad sweep of his six years in office, and candidly discussed accomplishments and shortcoming. The first thing he pointed to was a lack of maintenance of the city's infrastructure:...

Men Claim Police Pursued Them, Then Shot Up Their Ride
Tonight, a group of Belize City men are demanding answers from police after an incident which occurred early last week Friday morning. They were leaving a nightclub when a vehicle started to trail their 1993 Mitsubishi van. They claim they didn't know it was a police vehicle since they didn't see any sirens. The pursuit wound all around the city - although we're not sure how a beat up 1993 diesel van could outrun any police mobile. The pursuit turned dangerous when the men say police fired into their van hitting a passenger. The 21 year old spoke to us today - asking to appear off camera:...

BDF Driver Who Ran Over Child Is Fined, Not Confined
Last week we told you about the BDF civilian driver who pleaded guilty to knocking down and killing three year old, Jahston Terry in Belize City - while also injuring his 5 year old brother on December 4, 2013. Hubert Martinez asked the court for mercy last week, and, today, Justice Marilyn Williams showed that when she spared him from a jail sentence.

The Cane Drones Cometh
Recently, we've been showing you how the Sugar Industry in the north has been slowly incorporating technology, and modern farming practices to try to improve their productivity and competitiveness. Well, recently, the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute has been working on trying to reduce the headaches that the farmers experience when they have to face heavy rains which disrupt the crop season. They introduced a new system today, and they invited the media out to the Orange Walk District. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Father Remanded On Allegation of Incest with 12 Year Old Daughter
A 47 year old Ladyville father is in jail tonight after he was charged with 5 counts of incest. For obvious reasons we can't use his name of photo, but he appeared today before Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. No plea was taken because the offence is indictable, and no bail was offered. He was remanded into custody until May 15. According to the allegation, the man had sexual intercourse with his 12 year old daughter on 5 occasions between August 4, 2016 and October, 2016.

Finally, A Major Upgrade For Maskall
Villagers of Lucky Strike, Rock Stone Pond, Maskall, Santana, Corozalito, and Saint Ann's got a much needed upgrade to their water system today. The communities on the Old Northern Highway hadn't seen any kind of improvements for over 3 decades. So, the Social Investment Fund, the Government of Belize and the Caribbean Development Bank got together to ensure that all these villages got that most precious resource which most of us take for granted. The new system was inaugurated today, and the Area Representative shared the details with the press:

Carter, The Car Thief
He told the judge he broke into a car and stole because he was hungry - and, today, the Chief Magistrate told Steven Carter, that where she is sending him, he will be fed every day. The 28 year old Carter pleaded guilty to theft from Gilmar Carillo's car at 1:30 AM on February 13th in the Buttonwood Bay area. Police went to Life Avenue in Buttonwood Bay and intercepted him riding a bicycle with a black bag in one hand and a glove in the other. Chief Magistrate Fraser sentenced him to one year in prison.

A Perfect Playset For Pikni
Today the kids of Saint John Anglican School received a special Valentine's gift. They were given a brand new playground set by the Rotary Club of Albertha Canada. This is not the first playground the club has donated but it is the biggest. Here's more: Rod Karius, Chairman of the Playground Committee: "This playground was salvaged by another community in Alberta. A community of busy grove. It has been repurposed, put into a shipping container in Edmonton in September along with school supplies and medical supplies." "For the past four days we have been working very hard along with our local rotary partners and interact partner ad Rotaract clubs to build this playground."

The Wrath Of The Math AT ACC
Today instead of hugging up and walking hand in hand with their Valentine's, Anglican Cathedral College students were at an all afternoon mathematics competition - loving up on some math problems - sounds fun right ? It was held at the Holy Redeemer Cathedral. There were two categories: Junior and senior. 16 students participated overall. We found out more at the event. Ann Olivera Reyes, Head of the Math Department, Anglican Cathedral College: "This event started a three years ago. We used to do it in the classroom and it used to be an after school program where students decided whether they wanted to participate of not."

Channel 5

Norman Slusher Acquitted of Barbershop Murder Despite Oral Confession
In the Supreme Court today, there was a murder acquittal. Twenty-eight-year-old Norman Slusher was freed of the murder of Jason Canto. Canto, who was getting a trim at Dale’s Barber [...]

Belize City’s Mayor Bradley Heads for Exit, Handing over to City Admin
The Belize City Council dissolves at the end of the month, exactly one week after nominations from political parties take place in a bid to succeed the present administration.  February [...]

Why Administrators of Municipalities Should Be Secure
In respect of controversial renewal of Miller’s four-year contract, Mayor Bradley says that despite not agreeing on whether city administrators and directors fall under the category of C.E.O.s or permanent [...]

The Belize City Council’s Record from 2015 to 2018, Annotated
Most of the current councilors have been serving since Zenaida Moya’s administration at City Hall. So with the transition process underway, in what state will Mayor Bradley’s successor inherit 109 [...]

Both Ombudsman and Contractor General Out of Contract
Two important oversight posts in the Government of Belize are presently vacant. Ombudsman Lionel Arzu was not confirmed for a further term, ending a four-year run starting in 2014. Meanwhile, [...]

NEMO to Return South with Assistance for Flooded Out Farmers
The corn and beans crop planted late last year by villagers in the Toledo District, particularly San Benito Poite, was wiped out this past weekend by flooding. Villagers are staring [...]

Ministry of Health Gives Update on Measles Threat
The Ministry of Health has been monitoring measles in the region. While to date there are only two confirmed reported cases of the viral infection in Guatemala and Antigua, health [...]

B.D.F. Driver Fined in 2013 Traffic Accident
There was another case before the Supreme Court today. Hubert Martinez, Belize Defence Force civilian driver, avoided jail time after pleading guilty, but was assessed a total of ten thousand [...]

On Valentine’s, Olympiad Teaches A.C.C. Students to Love Math
The third annual Math Olympiad was held today in Belize City to test the ability of participating students in formulating answers to rigorous mathematical questions.  Taking off from the defunct [...]

Sugar Researchers Take to Skies for Survey
The use of drones and lidar technology for mapping were not previously available for farming practices, but it is now here and replacing old methods of surveying in the sugar [...]

Julio the Croc Deported from Ambergris to Ladyville
Julio, an American crocodile, was relocated today from San Pedro to ACES Sanctuary in Ladyville. He’s a huge croc that was creating a lot of disturbance in a community in [...]

A Playground at St. John’s Anglican
The Rotary Clubs of Edmonton, Canada and Belize gifted the Saint John’s Anglican School with a playground.  The outdoor recreational space is fitted with swings, slides and ladders for the [...]

Dangriga Youth Footballer Headed to U.S.
A young Belizean left for the U.S. today on a short program to play soccer in Phoenix, Arizona. Demille Flores is a fourteen-year-old second form student from Dangriga. He is [...]

“Remember You Are Dust:” the Meaning of Ash Wednesday
Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day, but also, though only coincidentally, today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the official start of the season of Lent, which runs to Easter time which this [...]

Old Northern Highway Villages Get Fresh Water
Just shy of two years ago, residents of Maskall in the Belize District welcomed the start of an upgrade to their water system that was more than thirty years in [...]

Crooked Tree Causeway Set for End of Year Re-Do
On the other side of the Philip Goldson Highway, the Crooked Tree Road and Causeway is expected to receive significant upgrades, improving the lives of residents who have faced challenges [...]

LOVE FM

Ministry of Health takes precautions against measles
Late last month the Ministry of Health issued an advisory informing the public that a case of measles was confirmed in Guatemala. This created concern as people feared that it would spread to Belize. Dr. Natalia Beer, from the Maternal and Child Health Unit and Dr. Cecilio Eck, Chief of Pediatrics at the Karl Heusner …

Love FM celebrates 25 years of service to Belize
Today Love FM celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over the past days we have been highlighting some of the work that the Love team embarks on annually, we’ve brought you testimonies of employees who have been with the company for many years, and we’ve also looked at Love FM’s journey over the last 25 years. The …

Love Foundation opens studio to mentor youth
The Love Foundation has opened a new studio where it intends to provide free access and lessons to young people who are interested in broadcasting and even a music career. That studio was opened today in Belmopan on the 25th anniversary of Love FM. The nonprofit organization was born out of the radio station’s proprietors’ …

Good luck Demille Flores
Fourteen-year-old Demille Flores left the country today to participate in this year’s the Rush Select Program Presidents’ Day Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona. He will attend as one of the top 16 players in his age group. According to Country Director for Rush Belize, Daniel Fabro, the Rush Select Technical Staff selected Flores based on nominations …

Darrell Bradley’s last press briefing as Belize City Mayor
After two terms in office, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley will no longer seek political office at the municipal level. Bradley made this decision last year. This morning Mayor Bradley hosted his last press briefing as the Mayor of Belize City, 22 days ahead of the March 7 Municipal Elections. Bradley presented his final report …

Mayor Bradley responds to complaints of garbage collection
Since last week, some residents of Belize City have been complaining that their garbage was not being picked up. So, during his last press briefing as Belize City’s Mayor, Darrell Bradley said he has no issue with Belize Waste Control, the company contracted to collect residential garbage. However, he did say that residents should pay …

Contractor General’s appointment unsuccessful
Love News has confirmed that the reappointment of Godwin Arzu as Contractor General of Belize was unsuccessful. Our newsroom has received reports that Arzu stopped receiving his salary since the end of December 2017. With Arzu’s failed reappointment and no successor, one can deduce that the country has no Contractor General at the moment. So …

Civil suit against Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary continues
Yesterday marked two years since 14-year-old Tomari Jackson drowned at Tiger Sandy Bay near mile 31 on the George Price Highway. Jackson was one of t 32 North Cobb High School students of Kennesaw, Georgia who was on a field trip in Belize. His mother, Adell Forbes filed a lawsuit against the school’s chaperones and …

PlusTV

Belizean killed in Melchor
32 year old Samuel Sosa of Benque Viejo Town was shot and killed in Melchor de Mencos on Monday night. Sosa was socialising at a bar in the neighboring municipality sometime after 10 o’clock last night. Images released on social media show Sosa laying in a pool of blood. It appears he was shot in t...

Stove blows up; BDF soldier dies
A BDF soldier is dead after his stove blew up on him. On Saturday 10th February, 27 year old Rodolfo Martinez , BDF soldier of Bigfalls Village Toledo District, was fixing his stove when it blew up. Apparently there was a leak in the hose leading to the gas tank. Martinez was taken to the Punta Gord...

Belize City Man shot in the thigh
There was another shooting in Belize City last night. Sometime before 8:30, shots rang in the area of Queen Charlotte. 24 year old Tyrone Guy, a Belizean Fisherman, had been shot to the left calf. According to police reports, Guy was at a residence at the Corner of Waight and Fairweather Streets w...

Tyree Gentle busted wit gun and ammo
On February 12th at about 8:54 p.m., Police were in the process of responding to a report in the area of Queen Charlotte when they observed a male person throwing an object in the area of Racecourse Street. Police say they checked and found a 9 mm pistol with 10 live rounds of ammunition. Police set...

Two arraigned for beating and robbing motorcycle driver
Two persons were arraigned this morning on charges of robbery and wounding after an Office Assistant was hit off his bicycle and badly beaten by the duo. The 21 year old victim, Kadeem Vaughn, identified his attackers as 30-year-old Nigel Castillo and 20-year-old Joseph Babb. According to reports...

Orange Walk Town council rehabilitates Police substation
The police substation in Orange Walk had not been in operation for a while. The Orange Walk Town Council and Mayor Kevin Bernard, approached several businesses to join together to see the substation rehabilitated due to an increase of crime in the area. Today, a small ceremony was held to handover...

PUP Chairman bashes four year contracts left by Darrel Bradley
Belize City Mayor Darrel Bradley is on his last in his capacity of Mayor with Municipal elections a few weeks away. Bradley has recently come under fire for having signed a four year contract renewal for Candice Burke to remain city administrator. This will ensure that Miller has a job as city admi...

DPM Faber’s comments criticized by PUP Chairman
And speaking of Municipal elections, there are 67 seats being vied for across the nation. The campaigning is in full swing and nomination day is only a couple weeks away, to be held on February 21st. Last Thursday, the United Democratic Party launched its UDP Manifesto where Deputy Prime Minister of...

Blogs

“Our Mansion Would Cost Three Times More In The U.S.”
At the end of a busy, yet frustrating, day looking at real estate in the Belize beach town of Placencia, Kirsten and Per Kristensen took time out to relax on the beach. Strolling along the water’s edge, Per glimpsed a beautiful white mansion right on the beach and noticed it had a ‘for sale by owner’ sign. “The house was elegant and was clearly of high quality and well maintained,” says Kirsten. “Naturally, we called and had a tour the next day.” They later made an offer and the house was theirs. The styles of homes vary greatly—you can find anything from a wood shack on the beach, to homes as grand as any beach town in North America. In Kirsten’s case, she was looking for something they could move into immediately. “The house was 100% move-in ready when we bought it,” she says. “The interior is very comfortable and modern, perfectly fitting with our style.

After a rainy January - the colors are amazing in Belize!
For those guests who booked their vacations in January in Belize - yikes!! It was the worst weather in January that most people said they had ever seen. It rained pretty much everyday for around 4-5 weeks, and although there were some sunny days, and breaks from the rain, it was WET and annoying!! At CBC, we had the most amazing guests who were great sports and found ways to make the best of it. It seems that it is over now - fingers crossed! For guests coming now (sorry past guests!!!:( ) they are treated to super lush growth everywhere, this is supposed to be a dry time of year and the foliage is loving it!! So here was the scene for most of January :( Still pretty - and the weird thing was, the way the currents were, we had the MOST gorgeous water for January - so that was a positive!

Can’t Miss February Events in Belize
February is typically known as being the “Month of Love” for those who celebrate Valentine’s Day but in Belize, it is known for both the Placencia Sidewalk Art Festival and the Carnaval de San Pedro. The serene village of Placencia located in southeastern Belize, will convert its tiny main street into a celebration by hosting the 15th Annual Sidewalk Art Festival on February 10th and 11th. When you think about carnival, images of intricate costumes and festive floats typically come to mind. On the island of San Pedro – Ambergris Caye however, carnival - also known as ‘Carnaval’ and the traditional celebration ‘Comparsas’, is observed to usher in the 40-day Lenten Season.

The Adventure of Tenuk, a ‘Belizean-ized’ book for Belizean children
The story book The Adventure of Tenuk duplicates as a colouring book. It has an attractive bright-coloured cover with brilliant, accurate, and compelling illustrations, while the inside pages are black and white. This combination is sure to grab and keep the attention of any child between the ages of 6 and 9 years, whether they are avid readers, or whether they prefer the story being read to them by their teacher, parent, aunt or older sibling. Even adults will relish, as I did, in the narrative. And, especially for those children who live in rural areas, the characters in the book are relatable. Tenuk is a Malaysian word that means Tapir. The book’s author is Lee McLoughlin, who has been working in wildlife conservation in Belize for the last eight years. He explained that the idea to write about Belize’s national animal came to him about three years ago, while he worked at the Ya’axche Conservation Trust, YCT. During this time, he says tapirs were being hunted and killed, which was threatening their population. Surveys, conducted in southern rural villages revealed that tapirs were being shot because they were raiding farmers’ crops. “And I thought to myself, how can we deal with this; how can we stop this from happening?"

Things That Are Normal on Ambergris Caye only During Carnava
Carnaval in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize is one of the MOST UNIQUE celebrations in the country. There are two main things that make it FUN – Walking around town covered in paint and watching members of our community dance through the streets and entertaining residents on their porches. It’s a cultural celebration that is almost 90 years old. According to folklore, don Juan Carnaval commenced the celebration prior to lent. There was a big festival in San Pedro featuring music, dancing, food and bacchanalia. The festive spirit continued for three days of Carnival from Sunday to Tuesday and on Wednesday the period of lent with fasting and sacrifice commenced. The celebrations are based from these folkloric and cultural beginnings.

Carnival, Filling my Burrito Bunker & The Family Visit! My Life On Ambergris Caye
Comparing my life today to 11 years ago, it’s a drastic difference. Single, living in Manhattan, working on the emerging market bond trading desk at Lehman Brothers vs. living with my boyfriend on Ambergris Caye working as a blogger and part-time gardener, baker, dog wrangler at Cayo Frances Farm & Fly. But that is not to say that my life is stress-free. To think that you could get up and mov/e to a totally different country and leave stress behind is a bit…well…PollyAnna. So give me one of the busiest times of the year in San Pedro (golf cart traffic! closed streets for Carnaval!), a few months of full bookings at the camp, a planned power outage for 7 hours yesterday, an influx of sargasso along our shore and my family visiting? Well…I’m in a bit of a lather.

Second Annual Oceana Love Fair was Held in Corozal Central Park
On February 14, 2018, Oceana held its second annual Love Fair at Corozal Central Park. It commenced at 9am and concluded at 4pm. Booths that came out this year are: Governmental, non-governmental organizations, and NGOs, including our Corozal Police Department, Belize Diabetes Association, Corozal Animal Program, FOCUS, NDACC, Corozal House of Culture (NICH) and others promote Love for Self, Community, and the Environment. This year the name was given as Love for Self Community and the Environmental. At the Central Park, there were giving free raffles with the grand prize of a romantic dinner for two at RD's Diner. What better way to spend Valentines Day than with the Corozal Animal Program! CAP has been invited to participate in the second annual Love Fair by Oceana and the Department of Youth Services.Corozal Animal Program had puppies to adopt and you could have made your donations at the booth.

International Sources

Scientists discover an ancient Maya water temple in Belize
To the average viewer, it is a quiet, calm pool under the shade of a beautiful forest in Belize. But to a team of scientists and explorers that have been combing its depths for the past four years, it is a temple. A Mayan water temple. Archaeologist Lisa Lucero, who leads the team, believes that Mayans came from all over their vast territory to make offerings to their gods. Lucero, an archeologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, tells As It Happens host Carol Off that her team found the ruins of a water temple so close to the edge, Cara Blanca, that parts of the ruins are practically in the pool.

Swimsuit 2018: Haley Kalil Uncovered
Haley Kalil, photographed in Belize.

Ubuntu Event on Caye Caulker
Thursday Feb. 15th at Caye Caulker's Palapa Gardens/Beachfront. What is the Ubuntu Event? Ubuntu is a South African word that means “I am because we are.” Ocean Academy students embraced this concept as part of an Innovation Challenge in 2016 to represent the important role that mentors play in educating Ocean Academy students. Ocean Academy students earned first place in that Innovation Challenge and we created an event to honor those mentors. In addition to honoring mentors, the event has grown to represent an important showcase for many of the “real-world immersion” activities that O.A. students enjoy. Primary School students and parents in Standards IV, V, and VI attend the event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to experience interactive booths led by O.A. students. Some of this year’s showcase booths include: Art with Purpose, Bike with Purpose, Music, ITVET Culinary Arts, ITVET Electrical, ITVET Cosmetology, Robotics, Coding, Karate, Crocodile Research Coalition, Yoga, Piñatas with Purpose, and Oceana. This year’s theme will also highlight the “OA Way” path to success.

Belize: Refreshing Relaxation
Come to Belize, and your biggest stress just might be deciding when and where to chill out.

How to Rent Your Own Private Island in Belize
Ever dream of having a Caribbean island all to yourself? Of escaping to your own tropical paradise with nothing but white sand and aqua-blue water all around you? In Belize, you can live that dream without taking out a second mortgage. The Belizean coast is lined with hundreds of islands and cayes that form the Belize Barrier Reef, the longest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. Renting some of these islands is surprisingly within reach, especially if you can gather a group of friends or family members to share costs, and if you consider that prices include food and drinks (you won't find restaurants or grocery stores within walking distance).

Swimsuit 2018: Camille Kostek Intimates
Watch all the videos of Camille Kostek from the 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. See Camille Kostek in Belize.

Get an Exclusive Look at 'The Making of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2018
Have you ever wondered what goes into creating an issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit? Well, then get ready to have all of your questions answered in The Making Of SI Swimsuit 2018. Go behind-the-scenes with the creators of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit as they return to the Caribbean and introduce a new wave of strong and beautiful women to this iconic franchise. From picking out bikinis, to producing photo shoots, to laying out the final product, you see it all in this exclusive show on SI TV.

Olivia Jordan Doesn't Let Age Stop Her From Chasing Her Goals
You know what it's time for! We need your help picking a member of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2019 rookie class, so get ready to vote your hearts out (starting tomorrow)! But first, take a minute to get to know the one of our six lovely finalists, Olivia Jordan. Olivia first stole hearts when she was crowned Miss USA in 2015 and she's been killing it ever since. From modeling to acting she's ready to achieve all of her goals. Check out the full interview with this blue-eyed beauty below!

Videos

February 14, 2018

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

SPHS Female Football Team are 2018 Northern Regional Champs!
The San Pedro High School (SPHS) female football team once becomes the Northern Regional Football Champions on Saturday, February 10th at the National Secondary Schools Sports Association (NSSSA) competition. Held at the Luciana Field in Orange Walk Town, both male and female football teams from SPHS competed against other schools for a spot in the National tournament to be held on March 2nd, and 3rd in Punta Gorda Toledo District. In the male division, the SPHS played against Corozal Community College (CCC). The island boys met a very challenging opponent, who dominated the game for most of the 90-minute match. Despite a leading score from CCC, the SPHS still managed to walk away with the victory in a 2-1 final score. The island team then advanced to the championship match against Orange Walk Technical High School (OWTHS).

U.S. Government Donates Counter Narcotics Equipment to Belize Ministry of Defence
The United States Government transferred counter-narcotics equipment, valued at $432,000 USD, to the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Belize Coast Guard. U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Adrienne Galanek and CEO of the Ministry of Defence Lieutenant Colonel (RET) Felix Enriquez represented the governments and people of the United States and Belize during the handover event. Chargé Galanek underscored the U.S. Government’s continued commitment to the stability and security of Belize and highlighted the essential role Belize plays in the prosperity of the region.

Reina del Carnaval pageant crowns a new queen; Ana Najarro
There was much fun and laughter at the annual Miss Carnival Pageant on Friday, February 9th at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium. Organized by Flora Ancona’s Comparsa Group, the fifth annual pageant raised funds for the group’s carnival activities, and opened the festivities for ‘El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro.’ The pageant saw the participation of five lovely ladies vying for the coveted title. The contestants, Angela Guerrero, Dulce Portillo, Ana Najarro, Delcia Garcia, and Elsa Wiltshire took to the stage for an intense competition, but at the end of the night, it was Ana Najarro who charmed the judges and took home the title of ‘Reina del Carnaval’ 2018-2019. The show tipped off after 7PM with an opening dance by the five contestants. They introduced themselves as they danced in colorful costumes. Following the opening, the lovely ladies retreated backstage to prepare for the first segment of the pageant.

Ambergris Today

U.S. Government Donates Counter Narcotics Equipment To Belize Ministry Of Defence
On Monday, February 12, 2018, the United States Government transferred counter-narcotics equipment, valued at $432,000 USD, to the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Belize Coast Guard. U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, a.i. Adrienne Galanek and CEO of the Ministry of Defence Lieutenant Colonel (RET) Felix Enriquez represented the governments and people of the United States and Belize during the handover event.

Carnaval 2018 Day Two - Cupid And Queen Of The Bay Parody
Day two of Carnaval 2018 was alot of fun as there was lots more painting and dancing at Central Park. The comparsas had everyone laughing and dancing. Did you know President Trump was on the island? That's right even President Donald Trump made it at Carnaval 2018 as the students of Ambergris Caye Elementary School did a parody on the "wall of Donald Trump". Dona Flora's group had everyone feeling the love as they danced along with Cupid. The Barbies (men's group) took us back to September 2017 as they had the "Queen of the Bay Parody" making everyone laugh and have a great time as "Barbie Moya" took away the crown of the Queen of the Bay and gave it to whom she thought was the righful queen. Loads and loads of fun! Today is the last day of Carnaval do not miss out on this fun tradition of our isla bonita!

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2018: THE XUNANTUNICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS OPEN WITH PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ONLY AT THE FERRY. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

Paint N Splash
Hi Guys. Sorry that we have not posted the painting for Thursday. We are going to be painting using this picture as Inspiration. See you all there.

Government of Belize Creating a Healthier Environment in Maskall Village by Providing Safe Water to over 1,500 residents
An Official Ceremony to inaugurate the upgraded Maskall Rudimentary Water System will be held on the compound of the new water tank in Maskall Village, Belize District at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. This is as a result of the Government of Belize enabling men, women, and children of Maskall Village have easier access to the supply of Safe Water to meet their daily water needs for drinking, cooking, bathing and washing. This upgrade has resulted in providing service connections for over 330 homes with the availability of reliable supply of Safe Water, thus contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of residents and visitors of Maskall and in the reduction of incidences of water-borne, food-borne, vector-borne and communicable diseases. The Scope of Works for Maskall Water System Upgrade entailed the construction of an elevated 20,000 gallons ferro-concrete tank with an additional 20,000 gallons ferro-concrete under-ground tank, the first of its kind to be constructed in the country. A ferro-concrete pump house with an electrical system and monitoring equipment.

BELTRAIDE and the Office of the Music Ambassador holds Artists’ Sensitization Session in Punta Gorda
EXPORTBelize, a unit of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) , in collaboration with the Office of the Music Ambassador held another Artists’ Sensitization Session at the 2018 DJ Competition in Punta Gorda on February 9, 2018. This event allowed musicians and DJs to become aware of the Artist Platform as well as the benefits of registering. EXPORTBelize along with the Office of the Music Ambassador will be executing other sensitization sessions throughout the country to build awareness of the platform and to assist Belizean musicians in registering. Other sessions are scheduled to be held in Belize City, Benque Viejo del Carmen, Dangriga and the cayes.

You know it’s CARNAVAL when Traffic Officer Freddie is handing out beads.
Today is FAT TUESDAY! Late afternoon and early evening, the place to be is the town center!

VALENTINE'S JAZZ NIGHT in Corozal
With Caribbean Jazz Quartet at Jahmundo, Finca Solana on Saturday, February 17th. Free finger food and and glass of wine.

NEMO Minister and Officials discuss Disaster Relief with Religious Group
In Belmopan this afternoon, Minister of National Emergency Management, Hon. Edmond Castro, accompanied by his Ministry’s Chief Executive Officer, Ruth Meighan, and National Emergency Coordinator, Colonel Shelton DeFour, met with members of a Disaster Relief Committee formed by the Jehovah Witness Religious Denomination in Belize. The group, which represents over 50 Jehovah Witness congregations throughout the country, discussed with the Minister and his team how they can assist in times of disaster through coordination with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO).

U.S. Government Donates Counter Narcotics Equipment To Belize Ministry of Defence
Today, the United States Government transferred counter-narcotics equipment, valued at $432,000 USD, to the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Belize Coast Guard. U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Adrienne Galanek and CEO of the Ministry of Defence Lieutenant Colonel (RET) Felix Enriquez represented the governments and people of the United States and Belize during the handover event. Chargé Galanek underscored the U.S. Government’s continued commitment to the stability and security of Belize and highlighted the essential role Belize plays in the prosperity of the region. Funded by the U.S. Southern Command’s (USSOUTHCOM) Counter-Narcotics Program Office, this equipment is part of a sustained effort by USSOUTHCOM, the U.S. military, and the United States’ partnership with Belize.

CARNAVAL COMPARSAS DAY 1

CARNAVAL 2018: OPENING NIGHT
Saturday, February 10, 2018 On a very short ceremony, the San Pedro Town Council held the opening ceremonies for Carnaval 2018. Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Eiden Salazar invited everyone to stand for the national anthem which was then followed by a prayer. As part of the ceremony, MC Eiden Salazar invited everyone for a moment of silence in remembrance of the late Mr. Felix Ayuso Jr. is a great icon during Carnaval, popularly known for his passion and drive to celebrate and carry on the old tradition. The family of Mr. Felix Ayuso Jr. was present at the event where they were acknowledged and presented a unique tshirt designed to honor his memory. The shirts were put on sale and all proceeds of the shirt will go towards the San Pedro AIDS Commission in honor of Mr. Felix Ayuso Jr.

World Water Day Poetry Contest Open Mic Night
The World Water Day Committee through the Hydrology Unit, Ministry of Natural Resources, Belmopan Capital are inviting high school students and members of the general public to create a poem based on the theme "Nature For Water" for the annual celebration of World Water Day, which is celebrated each year on March 22nd. OPEN MIC NIGHT will be on March 22nd, 2018 at the Battlefield Park, Belize City at 7:00 p.m. Deadline for submission of poems is March 9th, 2018.

Carnaval 2018 in Corozal Town!
The cultural revival of this lost tradition was in full swing this past weekend! So much fun!! Thank you to all whom attended in support of Carnaval activities. A great thank you to our mascarados (CJC Students), comparsa groups( Romi Martinez, with Brad, Christina and friends.... Grupo Maya and Familia Majil con Chendy) and performers of the reading of the last will and testament (CJC Students). We look forward to next year, where we will return to the true tradition with Los Mascarados ushering in Carnaval season and comparsas on the streets and La Pintadera....

Lobster season officially closes Feb 15th
We are going to miss you!! February 14th is the last day you can get your scrumptious lobster. Lobster season officially closes February 15th, 2018.

Verdes vs. Tiger Sharks
The Verdes hosted the Tiger Sharks on the 26th. They haven't won yet, although each game they seem to be getting a little better. They are hosting the Belize City Defenders this Friday. It's going to be a 'Green Night,' and anyone who wears green will be entered into a raffle. Darren Lamb got some great pictures of the game.

Patchakan R.C. school Corozal - February,13, 2018
To'one Masewaloon a Maya registered NGO promoting and preserving our Maya Culture participated with the School's Culture Day which showcased all aspects of our Maya Culture. Patchakan is a maya word composed of two words Patch and chakan. Patch means Behind and Chakan means savanah or marshy waters. Pictured below is a group of school children who performed the 'Maaskab Okot' which when translated in English means Dance of the Machete and in Spanish it means Baile de los Machetes . An exciting learning experience for the children, parents, participating schools, Organization and the community of Patchakan. I have to big up the Patchakan R.C. School's Staff for a job well done. Quote 'They can cut out branches, they can cut our stems but they cannot take out our Maya roots'.

Channel 7

Soldier Died In Kitchen Stove Accident After Helping Mom With Chores
Last night we told you about 27 year old BDF Soldier Rodolfo Martinez - the soldier who died from burn injuries two days after an incident with the stove in his Toledo District home. But just what happened with the stove, and why? One police report said it exploded when he was trying to fix it - while another said that he had fuel on his body, and when he walked past the stove, the fire jumped to his body and burned him severely. Tonight, with the help of our friends from PGTV, we have the answer from his mother in Big Falls Village. She said he had come home to help her out with Saturday chores:

Cops Move Quickly to Recover Gun And Possible Gunman After Shooting
There was another shooting last night in Belize City. It happened at around 8:30 on Fairweather Street. Tyrone Guy was hanging out at a residence at the corner of Waight and Fairweather Streets when two men rode up on a motorbike and fired several shots at them. Guy was shot to the calf - and taken to the hospital. 20 minutes later police in the same area were pursuing a man on a motorbike. They saw him throw an object between Racecourse and George Streets. Police went to the area and found a 9 millimeter pistol with ten live rounds. Police detained and charged ,Tyree Gentle 19 year old, Belizean laborer of a Belize City address for Kept firearm without a gun license and Kept ammunition without a gun license. He was taken to court today where he pled not guilty to the charges. He was remanded into custody until May 14.

Guat Gangster Named Gordo Killed Belizean Samuel Sosa?
The family of a slain Belizean man spent the day in Melchor trying to recover the body of their loved one, 32 year old Samuel Sosa. According to reports, he was killed in a bar in that border town around 10:00 last night. Today, Guatemalan media reports say that this woman, Mayra Verónica Aldana was an accessory to the crime. Witnesses identified her as the person who accompanied the man who shot Sosa. That main suspect is only known as "El Gordo." She was found with a cell phone concealed in her private parts and had two damaged SIM cards in her mouth. The homicide investigation is a matter for Guatemalan authorities and Belizean police are not directly involved.

Alleged Motorbike Maulers Taken To Court
On Sunday Kadeem Vaughan was driving his motorcycle home in the St. Martin's area, but when he reached the corner of Alicia Street and Brown Street someone punched him off his motorcycle and he fell to the ground. While on the ground he was beaten by two men who robbed him of his wallet and personal documents. To add insult to injury, the men then rode off on his motorcycle. Police were later able to recover the bike from 30-year-old Nigel Castillo's residence on Mahogany Street. Today Castillo and 20 year old Joseph Babb appeared in court and were both charged with robbery and wounding. They both pled not guilty to the charge and were offered bail of $1,000. Their case was adjourned until April 24th.

From Belize Chief Magistrate To The High Court in BVI
Last year in July, we told you how former Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith left the Magistracy in Belize to take up a post as a Judge on the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. She reached the official age of retirement last year, and after she vacated the Chief Magistrate's post here, she was succeeded by Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, who was officially appointed as the new chief in September. Well, news out of the British Virgin Islands is that she will take up judicial office in that territory. As a judge on the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, she was assigned to the British Virgin Islands as a High Court Judge. Her tenure will take effect official on Thursday, February 15.

Subsistence Farmers Crops Washed Out in Toledo West
Last week we told you about January 2018's record rainfall in the Belize District. Well, February has brought unseasonable rain and floods to the Toledo district. Via phone, PUP Area representative Oscar Requena says that the floods have wiped out the riverside crops of subsistence farmers:... Hon. Oscar Requena - Toledo West Requena: "In my area in Toledo West, I can tell you that you have in Aguacate over 16 farmers were severely affected by the flood. Meaning that their corn crops, their beans crop, were totally destroyed by the flood. You have to understand that during this time of the year farmers plant near the river banks because they do not expect floods around this time. I can also tell you that in San Benito Poite we have some farmers, I don't have an exact figure but farmers have also been affected by the flood.

The Frenzy For Florists At Valentine’s
Unless, you've been under a rock somewhere, you probably know that tomorrow is Valentine's day. It's the feast day of the loved, and the beloved, the desired and the desirous. But for florists, it's like Christmas in February. Today we caught up with Xams Flower Shop in Belize City. They told us how this Valentines Day is going for them. Sahar Vasquez reporting: Tomorrow offices, homes, and hearts all over the world will be filled with chocolates, flowers, and fine wines as companions exchange large tokens to show their great affection on the day of love. But when you think about it the special day of love would not be possible without the florists who spend countless hours working their fingers to the bone to ensure each bouquet and basket no matter how small or big is sublime.

Mortician Makes A Valentine Oasis
And while florists are feasting on all the business, for one man who makes a public shrine for everything from Halloween to carnival, it's about the spirit of the day, not the spending spree. Stanley Lizama is a mortician by profession, but his calling is to be a celebrant of all special occasions. Today Courtney Weatherburne found him distilling the sweetness of Valentine's into gestures of goodwill. Here's her report:.. Courtney Weatherburne reporting: There is nothing a glass of wine can't fix - and for these residents - it is exactly what they need for their pre-valentine celebration on 2nd Street.

New HS Curriculum Under Consultation
If you asked high school students what they wanted to learn in school - you might have to throw out the entire school curriculum and implement one reflecting more time with the cell phone and parties. But, that isn't going to happen and so when representatives from the Sustainable and Child Friendly Municipality met with a group of students in Belmopan met last week, they all sat down to come up with a reasonable way to implement a new subject called Belizean Studies. We spoke to one of the coordinators vie phone today. Here is more. Kay-De Vaughn, Project Manager, Sustainable and Child Friendly Municipality Initiative: "The Ministry of Education is developing a new curriculum called Belizean studies and they have a working group and so what they wanted to do is get a few ideas form children because this new subject will be taught to students in secondary school and so they wanted to meet with the CAB to get their ideas on what should be taught when it comes to their study so they had things like geography."

Former Guat President and Half His Cabinet Accused of Corruption
Tonight, there is a major breaking story in Guatemala where another former president is detained after being investigated for allegations of corruption. He's Alvaro Cocom, who served as president from 2008 to 2012. He and almost his entire former cabinet are under scrutiny for a graft scandal over a concession within the country's public transportation. The authorities in Guatemala say that they were looking into the purchase by Alvaro Cocom's government of more than 3000 buses in 2009. The authorities believed that only 455 of those buses ever actually arrived in the country.

In OW, Political Peace For Police
It's election season right now, and politicians are jostling for votes. But yesterday afternoon, UDP's Elodio Aragon Jr. was playing nice with the PUP's John Briceno and the incumbent mayor, Kevin Bernard. That's because of the re-opening ceremony of a police substation in Orange Walk Town's Cemetery Street. It's been abandoned for MANY years, but a few months ago, the Orange Walk Town Council partnered with the business community there to fund a refurbishment and renovation of the building. Our colleagues from CTV3 News were there when the ribbon cutting was done to officially re-open it for business. Here's what the speakers of the event had to say:

Kidney Walk In March
You have enough time to prepare and mark your calendars for the annual Kidney Walk in March. It starts off at the ITVET on March 3rd at 5:30 in the morning. The president of the Belize Kidney Association says the proceeds from this march make a big difference in the lives of those suffering from renal failure. Oscar Itch, President, Kidney Association of Belize: "We have been on an educational awareness campaign and what the association is doing since 2014 we have been doing a Kidney walk to bring awareness. This year it is on March 3rd at 5:30 am. We start off at the ITVET compound." Courtney Weatherburne, reporter: "And anybody can participate?" Oscar Itch: "Definitely we are inviting the entire public, kids, adults whosoever it is. We invited the schools. We are hopeful we are going to have a large number of participants for this year. As a method of fundraising we have T-shirts on sale, for this year they are $20 we just have white 43:58 in color."

Maya On The Move Once Again
Belize's most prized Maya artifacts were on the move once again last week. They make up part of the traveling show called Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed - which we've visited in Minnesota, Boston and Dallas. The show has also been to San Diego, Denver, San Antonio, and now, it has arrived at the Milwaukee Public Museum. It was set up last week after a 1,500 mile journey where, once again, all the prized pieces of antiquity arrived intact. The show in Milwaukee opened up in the bitter cold on Saturday, February 10 and runs through May 28. After the Milwaukee show closes in May, the exhibit travels to Salt Lake City, Utah. The show - comprising the largest array of Belizean artifacts ever assembled - has been on tour for five and a half years.

Channel 5

Belizean Killed in Melchor Bar
A Belizean businessman was murdered inside his establishment in Melchor de Mencos around ten on Monday night. Thirty-two-year-old Samuel Sosa, who once lived in Benque Viejo del Carmen, was shot [...]

B.D.F. Dies after Burns from Fire in the South
A soldier of the Belize Defence Force lost his life in unexpected circumstances while attending to household chores on Saturday evening. Twenty-seven-year-old Rodolfo Martinez was operating a lawnmower and had [...]

Corozal Couple Accuses Housing Employee of Running Scam
A couple from Corozal is claiming that they were victims of a housing scam, but this incident is revealing a bigger issue of alleged corruption at the Housing Department. News [...]

Family Waits Impatiently for Removal of Killer Bees
A Belize City family is enduring another sleepless night after a horrific episode this past weekend. Their three female watchdogs were mauled and stung to death when set upon by [...]

The Electoral Tilt in Belmopan
Tanya Santos is an independent consultant in Natural Resources Management.  She’s been a resident of Belmopan all her life; but these days, she is on the campaign trail for the [...]

B.P.P. Says Lay Off the Maya
Last week, there were complaints by the Maya Leaders Alliance and Toledo Alcaldes Association that government or its agents tried to coerce and intimidate Maya leaders and residents of Toledo [...]

Teen Jailed for Unlicensed Firearm
A teenager has been sent to central prison after failing to evade police while carrying an unlicensed weapon. Nineteen-year-old Tyree Gentle of Racoon Street Extension was charged with possession of [...]

2 Charged in Robbery
An early morning robbery in Belize City has led to two arrests. Thirty-year-old Nigel Castillo and twenty-year-old Joseph Babb appeared in court on robbery and wounding charges. They are accused [...]

Guyana to Emulate Belize’s Health Information System
There is some good news coming out of the Ministry of Health that is having an impact in the region. A team from Guyana is currently in the country studying [...]

Walk to Raise Funds for Kidney Association
It’s that time of the year again. The Kidney Association of Belize is officially announcing its upcoming annual kidney walk and health fair, set for the third and ninth of [...]

Annual Health Fair Offers Important Tests
According to Itch, over the years, Belizeans have failed to recognize that there is an increased number of persons being diagnosed with renal failure; majority, when the disease is already [...]

Cayo Residents Complain about Road Block
Residents in the Bradley’s Bank area of Santa Elena say that one of their public streets is being converted into a double lot and it will cut them off from [...]

Warning over Food Shortage in Toledo Village Following Floods
Villagers of San Benito Poite in the Toledo District are staring disaster in the face after floods hit the community over the weekend. It has been an unusually rainy few [...]

Farmers Need New Strategy to Fight Off Climate Change Effects
Speaking of the long-term effects, Salas posited that the change in weather patterns is attributable to climate change. He called for a strategy by authorities to help farmers plant more [...]

Ex-Guat President, Ministers Held in Corruption Scandal
Former president of Guatemala, sixty-six-year-old Alvaro Colom, was detained in Guatemala City along with several of his former cabinet ministers earlier today on charges of fraud and embezzlement dating back [...]

Alvaro Colom Has Few Answers for Press
Alvaro Colom visited Belize in 2010 during the SICA summit in North Ambergris Caye, where he took over the six-month rotating presidency from Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Colom is not [...]

CTV3

Belize Defence Force And Belize Coast Guard Receive Counter Narcotics Equipment
The Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard both received counter narcotics equipment courtesy of the United States Government yesterday under the U.S. Southern Command’s (USSOUTHCOM) Counter-Narcotics Program Office. The equipment is valued at a total of $432,000 USD and is expected to enhance the position of both local defence forces by keeping equipment that were previously donated by the embassy updated, modernized and effectively functional. The equipment will also strengthen existing capabilities and create new ones to combat activities of international criminal organizations, and includes: two Ford F250 pick-up trucks; one video borescope/wireless inspection camera; a radio tester; one sight compass; a SMARTECH smart board; four Continental boat trailers; and two Hamilton waterjet engines to name a few.

Former Guatemalan President, Alvaro Colom Arrested In Criminal Probe
Former Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom who served from 2008 to 2012, and former finance Minister Juan Alberto Fuentes were arrested by Guatemalan authorities today in Guatemala as part of another corruption investigation by the anti-corruption organisation known as CICIG or the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala. Colom and Fuentes were among 10 people detained in relation to a probe into the purchase of buses for a large public transport program known as “Transurbano” which was rolled out under Colom’s administration.

Belizean National Murdered In Guatemala
The motionless body of a Belizean national was discovered across the neighbouring border at Melchor de Mencos which connects Belize to Guatemala. Reports indicate that thirty two year old Samuel de Jesus Sosa Aguirre was socializing at a bar in Melchor when he was gunned down sometime after 10:00 last night. While details surrounding Sosa’s death remain sketchy at this point in time, eyewitnesses reported to Guatemalan authorities that the person responsible for firing the shots that led to Sosa’s demise, is an individual known to them as ‘El Gordo’.

Murder Case Against Dave Alamilla Heads To The Supreme Court
Accused murderer forty-two-year-old Hilmar David Alamilla, today once more made his way into the Orange Walk Magistrates Court where the preliminary inquiry to determine if the murder case brought against him following the shooting death of twenty-four-year-old Orange Walkeno Daniel “Danny Boy” Sosa back in July of last year, would proceed to the supreme court. Inside the court room, the prosecution proceeded to submit the evidence gathered against Alamilla along with the witness list to be used during trial, before magistrate Albert Hoare.

LOVE FM

Older model cars have an adverse effect on the environment
Transportation is a necessity to get us from home to work or any other destination. Whether it is public transportation that is being used or private transportation; the reality is that all vehicles emit gasses that affect our environment. Yesterday, officials from various government and non-government organizations met to discuss the findings of a study …

TIP Report advises GOB to take specific actions in its anti-trafficking efforts
The United States of America through its TIP report monitors how other countries are combating human trafficking. The report looks at what countries are doing in terms of prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims and preventing the crime. Belize is seemingly on a downward spiral as it relates to the Trafficking in Person report. In 2014, Belize …

Belizean killed in Melchor de Mencos; suspected murder accomplice captured
A Belizean was killed last night in Guatemala. He has been identified as 32-year-old Samuel Sosa, a resident of Benque Viejo del Carmen, a town which is near the border with Guatemala. We understand that Sosa was killed sometime around ten o’clock last night. Pictures show Sosa lying motionless on the ground of what appears …

Mexicans close businesses in Corozal Free Zone
A week ago, Mexico’s Ambassador to Belize, Carlos Quesnel, told the media that visits from Mexicans to the Corozal Free Zone increased between the period 2016 to 2017. That figure increased by three thousand, from six thousand to nine thousand. That’s a small number compared to the hundreds of thousands of visits from Belizeans to …

Love at 25: Karen

Monique Vernon shares her Sustainable Development Goals
Last month we told you about Monique Vernon, a native of Placencia Village who has been accepted to participate in the World Merit 360. Vernon has been fundraising to travel to the Philippines for the biggest and loudest call to action focusing on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. So far, Vernon has raised …

Dr. Manzanero raises funds for good causes
Dr. Marvin Manzanero also spoke to us about his two charity fundraisers. Manzanero is taking part in this year’s Chiquibul marathon. For that marathon, Manzanero decided to do a personal fundraiser for the Cancer Society San Ignacio Branch and for a school feeding program at Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque Viejo del Carmen. He …

Love at 25: Donovan Reneau

Nineteen year old jailed for nine-millimeter pistol
Tyree Gentle, a nineteen-year-old resident of Belize City was charged with kept firearm without a gun license and kept ammunition without a gun license. Gentle was arrested and charged by police on Monday night. Officers reportedly saw Gentle on a motorcycle on Fairweather Street and when they tried to intercept him, he sped away. Police …

TB case detected in Corozal
Two weeks ago, the CEO in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ramon Figueroa, told the media that health officials have been detecting more cases of tuberculosis. He attributed the increase of detections to the new gene expert machine which the Ministry has distributed to the regional hospitals. But a recent case of the infectious disease …

Love at 25: Rene Villanueva Sr. “The Chief”
Over the past 25 years we’ve built a brand that Belizeans can trust. We’ve cultivated some of the best talent in broadcasting in Belize and we’ve become a household name for news, sports and social commentary. What was once a small radio station in the upstairs flat of a home on Freetown Road has grown into a radio and television station with nation wide reach. Behind our renowned radio station and TV Station, is the man with the vision, Rene Villanueva Sr. Although his course was already charted out for him to be a preacher he dreamed of owning his own radio station.

Police Substation reopened with help of Orange Walk Town Council
Police presence has been restored at the Cemetery Street neighborhood in Orange Walk Town. That followed the renovation of the Cemetery Street Police Substation that was undertaken and completed by the Orange Walk Town Council. Mayor of Orange Walk Kevin Bernard told Love News that they embarked on the project following several concerns filed by residents in the area. These concerns centered on rising criminal activity in that neighborhood, a situation that became of greater concern following the holdup and murder of the business owner of P&P Supermarket last year.

BPP support Maya communities
The Belize Progressive Party, BPP, joins the Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association in the condemnation of what they say are quote, “attempts to intimidate Maya people to support the government’s efforts to take the Guatemala claim for territory, to the ICJ,” end of quote. The BPP goes on to say that surveyors collecting personal information from residents in southern Belize are not only calculated but intimidating and deceptive. It adds that government’s denial of such actions by their workers is further proof of deception.

Another former Guatemalan President arrested for corruption
Former Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom was arrested on Monday for corruption in a case involving a bus concession. Reports indicate that Colom, who governed from 2008 to 2012, was detained along with ex-interior minister and the former ministers of finance, defense, economy, education, labor, environment, health and sports, and culture. The detentions followed investigations into a case that centers on a public bus company called Transurbano.

BSI advancing on Direct Consumption Sugar Project
Before the start of the 2017/2018 crop season, the Belize Sugar Industry sought the full cooperation of sugar cane farmers to move forward with the direct consumption sugar project, a project BSI would be investing twenty-two million dollars in. Through the project, BSI hopes to improve competitiveness and find new markets such as the Caribbean. …

Belize City resident escapes death at gunpoint
Another shooting incident in Belize City has left one man hospitalized. According to police, 24-year-old Tyrone Guy, a fisherman of Belize City was at a residence at the Corner of Waight and Fairweather Streets. Shortly before nine o’clock last night, two male persons rode up on a motorcycle and fired several shots in his direction. …

Flooding causes food shortage in San Benito Poite
Last week several Mayan villages in the Toledo District were greatly affected by unexpected localized flooding. The National Emergency Management Organization in Toledo is carrying out an assessment to effectively address the needs of the affected families. Over the weekend, Senator for the NGO’s Osmany Salas along with Valentino Shal visited the Maya Village of …

Lionel Arzu no longer Ombudsman
Lionel Arzu is no longer the Ombudsman for Belize. Love News has confirmed that Arzu’s one year contract was not renewed. In fact, we have learnt that the post has been vacant since the start of the year. Arzu was the country’s Ombudsman for five years, since being appointed in 2013. Back in January 2016, …

Amandala

“Blue Tsunami” hits Belize City
As the midday hour approached in Belize City, hundreds of people wearing blue and white People’s United Party T-shirts began to appear all over the city; vehicles flying the PUP flag were seen on the move and dozens of buses began to jam the northern and western entrance into the city on the Philip Goldson Highway and George Price Highway. At the corner of Central American Boulevard and Fabers Road, a sea of blue dominated the scene. By 2:00 p.m., the mammoth crowd, estimated to be around fifteen thousand (15,000), began to move along Central American Boulevard and across the Belcan Bridge into Freetown Road, toward the ITVET campus for the PUP National Convention.

Tyrone Norman Gibson, 20, executed near Michael Finnegan Market
Another young man has lost his life in the cruel streets of Belize City. Reports are that Norman Tyrone Gibson, 20, of Berry Street, was standing in front of the Michael Finnegan Market at the corner of West Collet Canal and Hicattee Street at about 8:00 last night when a gunman approached him from Hicattee Street and opened fire. Gibson was hit by five bullets – three in the head, one in the right shoulder, and one in the hip. After firing the deadly shots, the killer escaped into Hicattee Street.

Tyrone Guy, 21, survives attempt on life
Just before 9 o’clock tonight, Tyrone Guy, 21, survived an attempt on his life on Belize City’s southside. Information to Amandala is that Guy was socializing with friends on Fairweather Street when a man on a motorcycle coming from the direction of Waight Street rode up to them and opened fire. Three shots rang out, and Guy was hit in the leg. He was transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) by police, and is currently receiving medical treatment.

Cycling champ, Darnell Barrow, kidnapped in Mexico, but now safe
Over the weekend, word had quickly circulated that the winner of the 2013 Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, Darnell Barrow, had been kidnapped in Mexico. The news caused widespread panic and controversy, and so Amandala began to investigate the matter, only to find out that Barrow was alive and well after his life flashed in front of his eyes. His mother, Sharon Barrow, today told Amandala that her only son, Darnell, his friend, Albert Leslie, and another man identified as “Mark,” had gone to the United States to buy four vehicles.

Mark King threatens lawsuit against Moses Sulph
After falling beneath the radar following his November 2015 resounding defeat at the polls at the hands of the PUP’s Hon. Cordel Hyde, former UDP Lake Independence area representative, Mark King, has emerged again in the public spotlight. The bombastic King is threatening to sue Lake Independence constituent and activist Moses Sulph over comments made on social media, Facebook. On January 18, Sulph had taken to social media to accuse King’s company, Brints Security, of exploiting one of its employees by not paying her Social Security contributions.

Florencio Marin, Sr., receives Party Leader’s Award for outstanding service
Hon. Florencio Marin, Sr., the retired People’s United Party (PUP) senior parliamentarian and representative of the Corozal South East constituency, who is also a former deputy PUP leader, became the first person to be given the Party Leader’s Award for outstanding service to his country and party. The award was given to Marin today during the PUP National Convention at the ITVET campus by PUP leader, Hon. John Briceño, in recognition of his 43 years of service to Belize and the PUP. Marin, who is from San Narcisco, Corozal District, was an elementary school teacher and began his political life at the age of 23, in 1960.

Report on the DigiCell’s Valentine’s Tour
Digicell Valentine’s Tour, from February 9th to 11th, was a total of 4 stages and had a starting list of 54 riders, including one Mexican from Chetumal, and 12 Weekend Warriors brave enough to accept the challenge, including myself. I dub this Tour, Le Tour de Brandon, as he WON 3 stages: Stage 1, Stage 3, and the final stage, Stage 4. The only stage he did not win was Stage 2, the Individual Time Trial, which was won by Joel Borland of Team Digicell who clocked a time of 13:05 for the 6 miles, and was the leader of the Tour from that stage to the final stage.

Verdes stunned in week five PLB action
PLB league leaders, Verdes FC, fell behind San Pedro Pirates FC after only six minutes of play when Inri Gonzaga converted for the Pirates from the penalty spot. The league leaders went into their locker room at halftime down 2-0, because of another Gonzaga strike, in the 37th minute. Elroy Kuylen scored for Verdes in the 65th minute, but that was not enough. When the sun set on Broaster Stadium, it was San Pedro Pirates FC 2, Verdes FC 1.

NEBL results from the weekend
Belmopan Bandits, the defending champions, held off the DigiCell Belize City Defenders, 85 to 80, at the Mercy Multi Purpose Auditorium in Belize City. DigiCell Belize City Defenders surged to a first quarter lead, 22 to 14, but by the end of the half Belmopan Bandits had taken control of the game, with a 16-point lead, 41 to 25. Darwin Leslie had a huge 33 points for DigiCell Belize City Defenders, but it was not enough as the Bandits held on to win by 5. Luther da Shane Page pumped in 29 points for the Bandits and pulled down 13 boards.

Editorial: Branding, or spoiling?
In any political contest between an incumbent and a challenger, the entry of a second challenger into the fray will always tend to hurt the primary challenger. That is because the two challengers will end up splitting the anti-incumbent vote. In the November 2015 general election, candidates of the Belize Progressive Party (BPP) significantly hurt candidates for the primary challenger, the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP), in at least three constituencies – Port Loyola, Pickstock, and Belize Rural Central. With respect to the upcoming national municipal elections, the Leader of the BPP, which pulled less than 3 percent nationwide in the 2015 general election, has said that he personally had not been inclined to have his party compete in the March 7 national municipals, but there were officials of the party who felt it was important to participate in March for the purpose of “branding.”

Did we heed The Clarion’s advice?
The author of an article that appeared in The Clarion in 1904 advised Belizeans that the stock of valuable trees in our forest was being depleted, and the way forward was modern agriculture. Belizeans were told to follow Pope Leo XIII’s advice, which was that we pool our resources so we could acquire the technology and machinery needed to make us competitive. Belizean farmers were advised that only through cooperation they would get the “due return for their labour.” So, did Belizean farmers (include fisherfolk, too) heed this advice? The fact is that they did. Primary producers of like mind have formed syndicates, associations, and cooperatives. This piece is but a brief sketch of how these organizations served Belize. A difference which made one group rise above all others will be discussed also, briefly.

Cabinet blocks Bowen and Bowen’s attempt to import Guatemalan white sugar
Amandala has confirmed that last month Bowen and Bowen Ltd. had made an effort to import 2,500 metric tons of refined white sugar from Guatemala. This would have dealt a heavy blow to our sugar industry, affecting thousands of farmers countrywide. However, Cabinet disapproved their permit for importation days after they submitted their request. Jose Trejo, the Director of the Belize Bureau of Standards, today explained to Amandala that refined white sugar has 99.7 percent polarization, which refers to its improved color and texture and lack of insoluble matter, while local or plantation white sugar has a polarization rate of 99.5 percent. The two are both used to make baked goods and carbonated drinks.

Plus TV’s Louis Wade escapes attack by murder suspect outside court
Cruz Castillo, a suspect in the murder of Israel Perez, leapt forward at and tried to kick Pastor Louis Wade, who was performing the role of a media representative of Plus TV, as Castillo and another suspect, Stanley Herrera, were being taken to the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon to be arraigned. Police who were escorting the duo quickly intervened. The attempted attack occurred even though Cruz and Herrera’s hands were handcuffed together, and the police escort was in close proximity. Fortunately, Wade was not injured.

8 illegal Guatemalans found in Santa Ana
Police and Immigration officials on routine patrol in the rural villages in the Toledo District, on Wednesday found eight Guatemalans in Santa Ana, who were in Belize illegally. None of the five adults and three minors in the group had permits to be in the country. The eight persons were taken to the Immigration Department and then they were transferred to the Punta Gorda Police Station, where they were charged with illegal entry and detained. This morning, Thursday, February 8, the eight Guatemalans were arraigned at the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court for the offense of illegal entry.

Amidst objection, Chief Justice Benjamin to be appointed as Guyana’s Chancellor of the Judiciary
A report out of the South American country of Guyana has indicated that Kenneth Benjamin, the Chief Justice of Belize, will be appointed as Chancellor of the Judiciary in Guyana, despite the objection of the Opposition leader in that country, who is of the view that a more suitable candidate should fill that important post. Benjamin, who is a citizen of Guyana, is also a naturalized citizen of the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, where he once served as chief magistrate. Guyana’s president, David Granger, reportedly will go ahead with two judicial appointments — that of Chancellor of the Judiciary, and Chief Justice, Demerawaves.com reported, yesterday, February 8, although the Opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has constitutionally rejected both candidates, the report said.

Blogs

Belize resorts make the TripAdvisor 2018 Traveler’s Choice Awards
The results are in, and Belize is once again on TripAdvisor’s 2018 Awards List! Making both the World and Central American categories are resorts like Coco Plum Island Resort, the Phoenix Resort and Vanilla Hills Lodge. The list is determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected throughout the year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. A travel planning and booking site, TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards have been handed out for 16 years, having recognized 8,095 properties in 94 countries and eight regions around the world.

International Sources

Guatemalan ex-president, Oxfam chief held in corruption case
Prosecutors in Guatemala said Tuesday they have detained former President Alvaro Colom and almost his entire former cabinet, including the current chairman of Oxfam International, in a corruption case involving a bus concession. Colom, who governed from 2008 to 2012, is the latest in a series of former presidents to face legal problems. Colom was recently named by the Organization of American States as an envoy to Honduras, in a bid to help sort out disputed elections there.

Civil suit continues 2 years after Cobb student drowns in Belize river
As the mother of Tomari Jackson mourns a second Valentine’s Day without her son, her lawsuit against those she blames for his death continues. The 14-year-old boy was one of the 32 North Cobb High School students on the international studies magnet trip when he drowned in a Central American river on Feb. 13, 2016. His mother, Adell Forbes, is suing the nine Cobb schools chaperones who were there and the man who runs the Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize who planned the trip.

Videos

February 13, 2018

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’s Carnaval is back!
San Pedro Town is once again in a festive mood with the anticipated ‘El Gran Carnaval de San Pedro,’ which started over the weekend. Official ceremonies were held on Saturday, February 10th at the Central Park under the theme ‘Canta, Baila, Y Goza!’ The festivities so far have attracted hundreds of residents and visitors alike, who are enjoying the block parties, and the colorful comparsa dance groups’ performances on the main streets of downtown San Pedro. The three-day festivity kicked off with a short formal ceremony on Saturday with members of The San Pedro Town Council addressing the community. The event started with a minute of silence in memory of the late carnavalero Felix Ayuso. Ayuso’s family was presented with t-shirts commemorating the life of their deceased loved one.

San Pedro UDP Town Council slate unveils manifesto 2018-2021
The United Democratic Party (UDP) San Pedro Town Council slate launched their manifesto on Thursday, February 8th at El Patio Restaurant in downtown San Pedro. With municipal elections less than a month away, the event served as an opportunity to briefly summarize the accomplishments of the current administration and what the island can expect if re-elected for an additional term. Mayor Daniel Guerrero, his councilors, along with UDP Area Representative and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr., addressed a large audience of supporters, pledging to the well-being of the island community based on their campaign motto ‘Improving Lives.’

Belizean Accommodations among TripAdvisor’s Top 2018 Awards in the World and Central American Categories
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce once more that several Belizean accommodations have been recognized in this year’s TripAdvisor’s 2018 awards list, both at the World and Central American categories. TripAdvisor is a travel planning and booking site, and its Travelers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. In the 16th year of the awards, TripAdvisor has recognized 8,095 properties in 94 countries and eight regions worldwide.

Ambergris Today

Ana Najarro Is La Reina Del Carnaval 2018
Canta, Baila y Goza – is this year’s Carnaval theme and on Friday, February 9, 2018, five beautiful contestants took on the stage as they competed for the title of Reina del Carnaval. Singing, dancing and having loads of fun Ana Najarro, Angela Guerrero Pitts, Delcia Garcia, Dulce Portillo and ElsaWiltshire proved to those in attendance that beauty comes in all ages. The Angel Nuñez Auditorium roared in laughter and applause as spectators gathered to enjoy an evening with the five beautiful contestants who had promised an evening of much entertainment. The crowd went wild as the lovely contestants came out in their opening presentation in colorful costumes and proudly introduced themselves to everyone in attendance. Taking first runner up was the lovely Dulce Portillo and winning the grand title of La Reina del Carnaval was Ana Najarro. Congratulations to Ana and all the lovely contestants for putting up a great show…Que Viva el Carnaval.

Carnaval 2018 Day One – Bad Bunnies And Pocahontas
Carnaval 2018 has officially begun and on Sunday, February 11, 2018, the children enjoyed the painting and foam party at Central Park. This year two groups of adult comparsas took the streets of San Pedro to entertain everybody. Dona Flora’s Group were “Pocahontas” and danced the night away to melodious beats, followed behind by the ever popular “Barbies”. Without fail the men’s group always draws a crowd and this year they danced to the popular “Moviento Naranja” beat dressed as beautiful bunnies. Below are pictures of this year’s first day of Carnaval for your enjoyment. Don’t forget to head on out today and enjoy Day Two of Carnaval!

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2018: THE XUNANTUNICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS OPEN WITH PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ONLY AT THE FERRY. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

U.S. Embassy Town Hall Meeting
Friday, February 16 at 11 AM - 1 PM, Blue Water Grill - San Pedro. At the meeting, we will introduce staff from the Embassy who provide assistance to U.S. citizens in Belize, discuss the services the U.S. Embassy provides, and answer questions you may have about our services. Topics include: security in Belize, hurricane preparedness, and information on renewing your passport via DHL. Limited consular public services will be offered (cash; exact change required):

Mrs. Aleida Marisa Ortega is an Exceptional Belizean!
For the month of February, we are excited to feature Mrs. Aleida Marisa Ortega as our Exceptional Belizean! From a very young age, Aleida dreamed of attending school. But because she was confined to a wheelchair, this ambition was a challenge. At the age of 18, she found the courage to pursue her dream and discussed with a teacher from her village school the possibility of her attending school for the first time. Mr. Marcelino Matus, who would become her teacher and mentor, supported Aleida's goal and she was allowed to attend class in the mornings. She was subsequently allowed to sit the Primary School Examination and graduated upon completing Standard four. The few years of schooling prepared Aleida for the future. Upon graduating, she met Mr. Armando Valdez from the Red Cross Branch of Orange Walk, who encouraged her to join painting classes at the Red Cross Center. Although Aleida enjoyed and learned much from two years of art classes, another of her interests was being a radio announcer. This dream became a reality after she approached the management of Estereo Amor and was allowed to cohost a two-hour music radio show.

South Neighborhood Clean Up
The EC Board would like to invite you to our first South Neighborhood Clean Up for 2018. SATURDAY 17 Feb, 2018. Please come out and join the South AC Neighborhood Watch and on Saturday, Feb 17th to help clean our community in the south.

Sagebrush Church Groundbreaking Event and Taco Party!
Sunday Feb. 18th, Paradise Theater. Everyone is invited.

Wine de Vine Valentine's Masquerade Party
Wine de Vine is always a great option for Valentine's Day. ... Join them for a fun masquerade party!

Presentation of Credentials
The Ambassador of Guatemala to Belize H.E. Mr. Georges de la Roche Du Ronzet Plihal presented his Letter of Credence today, February 12th, to the Governor General of Belize H.E. Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan. The Ambassador said it is an honour to be in Belize and that on behalf of the government and people of Guatemala, he hopes to bridge a closer relationship between Belize and Guatemala. The Governor General graciously received the Ambassador’s Letter of Credence and welcomed him and his delegation to Belize.

Get your Que Viva Felix Ayuso Carnaval tshirt!
All proceeds from the sale of tshirts will be donated to the San Pedro AIDS Commission in honor of Felix Ayuso. LIMITED STOCK AVAILABLE. SIZES: Medium, Large, X-Large, Small: Sold out! EXCLUSIVELY SOLD AT THE SAN PEDRO TOWN COUNCIL OFFICE.

Benque Lenten Season Exhibit
The Benque HoC is having a Lenten Season photography exhibition launch on Thursday, along with an interactive lecture. "Benque Viejo Del Carmen prepares for one of the major seasons of community solemnity the LENTEN SEASON, a time to reflect and showcase our community spirit! Join us Thursday February 15,2018 for a lenten season interactive lecture on traditions and believes followed by a showcase of the Collective Photography Exhibition of the Lenten Season in Benque by amateur and professional photographers of Belize."

Bike Belize Experience
FCD thanks The European Nature Trust, Mark Wilkins, Jim Bevis and all who made the first Bike Belize Experience a success. To the bikers, our gratitude for choosing to be a part of this fundraising activity in Belize.

Belize Embassy Science Fellow Diana Cutt!
The U.S. Embassy is proud to welcome to Belize Embassy Science Fellow Diana Cutt! The Department of State’s Embassy Science Fellow program is designed to bring the breadth and depth of the U.S. federal government’s expertise in a variety of science and technology related fields to our Embassies and partners around the world. During her six weeks stay, Diana, a hydrogeologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will support capacity building within the National Hydrology Service and the Rural Development department to assist local agencies in managing the country’s groundwater resources.

1st Belize National Research Conference
21- 22 March, University of Belize

Corozal House of Culture 6th Anniversary Open House February 23rd

Rediscovering Antonio Soberanis
Coming up on February 15th. The National Institute of Culture and History through the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR) invites you to join us for a memorial ceremony honouring Antonio Soberanis Gomez at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, 15 February 2018, in Santana Village (along the old Northern Highway). The ceremony will commemorate the life and contributions of the Belizean Patriot followed by a rededication of his burial site.

Channel 7

A Thaw in Relations?: New Guat Ambassador Named
For the first time in almost two years, Belize has a Guatemalan Ambassador in country. He is Georges de la Roche Du Ronzet - and he presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Colville Young in Belmopan today. The former Ambassador, Manuel Roldan Barillas was recalled in April of 2016, when the BDF killed a 13 year old Guatemalan boy in the Cebada area of the Chiquibul Forest. There were reports that he would return in early March 2017, but he didn't, and the absence of an Ambassador has cast a shadow over neighborly relations. But, now there's a new Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Sandra Jovel and a new, internationally scrutinized push to complete the referendums in both countries. The appointment of an ambassador now, can be seen as an effort to normalize relations after the tensions of April, 2016.

20 Year Old Was Lured To Death In Unfriendly Turn By A Female
And turning now to crime news, Belize City saw its first murder in two weeks on Friday night. 20-year-old Tyrone Gibson - a young man who made no secret of his gang affiliations - was murdered while standing on West Collet Canal. It seems Gibson who is a known to affiliate with gangs in the St. Martin's area - was lured by a female over to another gang's turf - a costly error which he paid for with his life. Sahar Vasquez found out more today from his mother and police. On February 4th Tyrone Gibson turned 20 years old but he will never get to experience life at 20 because he was murdered five days later. Seven shots pierced his body while standing outside the terminal waiting for a female friend to arrive.

Shooting Victim Plunged Into Canal For Safety
A man had to jump into a Belize City canal to escape a shooter on Sunday night. Between 7:00 and 8:00, 35 year old taxi man Reginald Garoy was speaking to someone on east canal - when a gunman fired a shot at his head - which just grazed him. Garoy ran for his life - and according to eyewitnesses - jumped into the ink-black canal to escape the gunman. He got out of the canal and ran to the nearest police station - which is precinct 1. Today, police had slightly different details from those we got on the ground:... ASP Alejandro Cowo, CIB - Eastern Div.: "Police from precinct one were at the police station when a male person arrived there. He came running. His name is Reginald Garoy, and he had reported that he was at the corner of west canal when he was approached by a male person who fired several shots at his direction."

Two Shot At Hot House In OW Town
Two persons were shot in Orange Walk Town on Sunday night. 24 year old Amin Mendez Jr., and 20 year old Jessica Melendez were closing up their family business, Amini's when a gunman appeared and opened fire. Both were shot to their lower legs. Police told us more:.. ASP Alejandro Cowo, CIB - Eastern Div.: "On the 11th of February sometime after 8:40p.m., Orange Walk Police responded to a shooting incident. As a result they visited the Northern Regional Hospital where they observed a male and female injured. The male person is 24 year-old Amin Mendez Junior and 20 year old Jessica Melendez of the same address. Amin Mendez had a single gunshot to the lower left leg and Jessica Melendez suffered a gunshot wound to the right knee."

PG Witness To Cop Killing Claims Police Threats
Two weeks ago on January 29th., we showed you Keevan Wade, he's the main witness in the killing of Mario Vernon the third. Vernon is the 24 year old PG resident who was killed by police constable Tevin Aranda under questionable circumstances. We first encountered Wade at the PG protest for Mario's death, when he stepped forward and spoke publicly, saying that he feared for his safety because he was being visited and intimidated by police. Well, this weekend he pulled out his cell phone and started to record when police were circling his home - and in an emotional video, he claimed one of the officers threatened his life:

PUP Flex Mass Muscle - Enough to Improve Party’s Prospects At Polls?
Municipal elections are only weeks away and, on Sunday in Belize City, the PUP hoped to bolster their prospects of electoral success with a "buff" convention. The truth is the party hasn't won anything close to a majority of the 67 municipal seats countrywide since 2003 - so the party is desperately in need of a slump-breaker. Could a Sunday Tsunami provide the momentum to break that slump? Daniel Ortiz rode the blue wave all the way to ITVET. Here's his story:.. Coming from all over the country, party supporters gathered in the hundreds at the corner of Faber's Road and Central American Boulevard. They rolled out in a massive march, the first show of strength for the day. Coming from all 31 electoral divisions, these loyalists started traveling early in the morning, spending hours and hours on the road. There were about 150 buses, plus those who came on their own, plus the city supporters, easily accounting for over 7,500 + supporters.

Sixth Street Saved By Fast Acting Fire Department
There was a blaze in Belize City last night - and the quick response of the fire department - might have saved a neighborhood. It happened on 6th Street in the King's Park area - where the freezer in a Blades ice cream truck caught fire. What made it worse was that the ice cream truck had a butane tank which was ready to burst. The Fire Department explains how they brought it under control:... Benesford Matura, Assistant Fire Chief: "Upon arrival we found a van totally engulfed in flames already. A quick attack got the fire under control. After extinguishing the fire, we were conscience of a van next to it which received minor burns. This van was parked next to a two story structure where the downstairs was cement and the upstairs wooden. That got a little scratch on the wall of the structure. These van was used by Mr. Williams Zou from the same Williams Supermarket that was just across the street.

Killer Bees Killed Dogs
A Belize City family lost their three watchdogs to killer bees this weekend. It happened around 4:00 on Saturday afternoon when the man of the house was cutting the yard. The noise seemed to have disturbed a bee nest which was burrowed into the ground. When the bees let loose - the three dogs - who were chained up - were at their mercy as their master had to run for cover:... Voice of: Mary Sanchez - Bees Killed Her Dogs: "As he was cleaning the yard, about 20 minutes the bees swarm in and we couldn't do anything. A lot of bees just attack the dog and the bees attacked him as well. He managed to run away and there was nothing he could do. He sat down to think about what he could do, how he could help the animals since all of them were chained. Three dogs." Reporter: "They were under attack at the time from the bees?" Mary Sanchez - Bees Killed Her Dogs: "Yes, three of them. When the bees start the dogs started to run and bark and so they make noise. The animal came and attack them."

Andy Rhaburn Charged, But Not For Mom’s Death
Alleged mother-killer Andy Rhaburn has finally been charged - but not for her murder. On January 16th, the 26-year-old allegedly beat his mother 53-year-old Braulia Pech to death with a crowbar in the Carmelita Village in Orange Walk. Rhaburn fled the scene and was on the run for a week until the cops found him hiding in the bushes on the outskirts of the village. Rhaburn was shot once after he allegedly tried to attack the police with a machete. He was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital where he recovered under police guard.

Gun Found in OW May Be Stolen From Police
This weekend police found a 38 revolver in Orange Walk town - and it may be one of theirs. ASP Cowo told us how they found the firearm when they searched a man who was acting supiciously on Saturday morning at 3:30. ASP Alejandro Cowo, CIB - Eastern Div.: "Police were patrolling on Santa Lucia Street when they observed a male person acting very suspiciously as a result they went and approached the person and upon exiting the vehicle and police observed this person placing something between some tyres of a vehicle parked on the street. As a result, police stopped the person and conducted a search on the person but nothing was found on him. As he was informed that he was being taken to where he had been seen where he was hiding something, he managed to escape from police custody. As a result of that, police went to where the vehicle was and police discovered a .38 revolver which was taken to the station and labeled it and at this present are seeing one make person being sought in regards to this investigation here."

Man Sent To Jail For Own Safety
Twenty-three year old Mahogany Heights resident Floyd Escarpeta, was charged with burglary and theft when he appeared today before the Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser. On February 6, Escarpeta allegedly broke into 72 year old Modesto Bardarlez's home at mile 16 and three quarter on the Coastal rode. He stole several household items and personal documents - as well as Bardarlez's pickup truck. Police recovered the pick-up with Escarpeta's help. Today in court, he pled not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that jail is the safest place for Escarpeta right now, because Bardalez's relatives children have allegedly threatened to harm him.

BDF Soldier Dies From Burn Injuries in Accident At Home
A BDF soldier has died from severe burns he got at home in the Toledo District. According to initial reports, 27 year old Rodolfo Martinez from Big Falls Village was at home in the Toledo District cutting the yard and had been sprayed with gasoline. But he wasn't aware of this, and went inside the house where he came in contact with a stove and caught on fire. Other reports say he was trying to fix the stove and it exploded. Whetever the case, he received massive burn injuries to the front of his body - and police found him at 5:45 pm at the Punta Gorda Hospital. He had to be transferred to the KHMH in Belize City - where he died today.

The War On Lampposts?
On Friday we told you about an accident on the newly repaved stretch of the Phillip Goldson highway between miles 7 and 8. As you can see, the impact claimed a lamp-post. Well, there were two more accidents this weekend on that same stretch of road - which uprooted two more of the towering new aluminum lamp-posts. The first involved a Mazda Tribute, and the second involved a Toyota Hilux. According to reports, there have been at least 5 collisions ion this stretch which have destroyed lamp-posts.

US Embassy With Half A Mil For BDF and Coast Guard
Today the US Embassy donated over $400,000 US dollars of equipment to the Ministry of Defence. Both the BDF and the Coast Guard received a number of items that will help them in their fight against the drug trade and transnational crime. We were there today for the handing over at the Ladyville BBF camp. Adrianne Galanek, Charge d Affaires, US Embassy: "All of this donated equipment comes with training packages both here in Belize and in our training schools back in the United States. Today the police coast guard is receiving pick-up trucks, boat trailers, body armor, ballistic high cut helmets, boat motors, flotation vests and two fuel tank cleaning system to name some of the equipment." "The BDF air wing is also receiving equipment. They are receiving tool bags, a fuel quantity tester, site compass, radio tester, video borescope and cabinets to protect flammable liquids."

Channel 5

Lured to His Death on Canal Side: the Murder of Tyrone Gibson
There had not been a murder in the city since January twenty-seventh.  During that time, police put more boots on the ground to curb gun violence and restore some peace [...]

Blue Wave Sweeps through Belize City
Just twenty-three days from a municipal election, supporters of the People’s United Party descended in the city seven years after its last national convention. The Opposition, on Sunday, took full [...]

The P.U.P.’s Updated Policies and Plans
The National Convention’s primary business aside, the P.U.P. also has a lot to say about the major issues of the day. From crime to Guatemala, the party produced a number [...]

Johnny B.: “We Will Fight Everywhere” for Municipals
The P.U.P. is counting on the surge of energy presented on Sunday to prevail less than a month from now. But with the U.D.P. already boasting of sweeping all sixty-seven [...]

Cordel Hyde Talks Belize City Strategy
Lake Independence area rep Cordel Hyde is the acknowledged field general of the P.U.P. in Belize City. It will be his task to shepherd voters to the polls for Bernard [...]

New Guat Ambassador Comes to Belize
A new Guatemalan ambassador has taken up residence in Belize, almost two years after his predecessor Manuel Estuardo Roldan Barillas was abruptly recalled.  Roldan returned to a new post as [...]

P.U.P. Says Keep Calm: No Belize Referendum this Year
As you heard earlier the P.U.P. is demanding a greater say in the education campaign on the Belize-Guatemala issue. But as to taking a formal position on the coming referendum [...]

No Compromise for Opposition to Win
And while the P.U.P. effectively countered the suggestion of disunity on Sunday, another elephant in the room is financing. The party has consistently maintained that it will not accept campaign [...]

Witness to Mario Vernon Shooting Claims Death Threats by Police
Are Punta Gorda police interfering with a purported witness in the officer-involved killing of Mario Vernon?  Amateur footage has surfaced showing an altercation between a PG resident who emotionally charges [...]

Reginald Garoy Shot in Belize City
Thirty-five-year-old taxi driver Reginald Garoy was shot to the right side of the cheek and right ring finger on Sunday night in Belize City. Garoy told police that he and [...]

Couple Shot Inside Store in Orange Walk
A man and his girlfriend were shot in Orange Walk on Sunday night. Police say that twenty-four-year-old Amin Mendez Junior and twenty-year-old Jessica Melendez were inside Mendez’s grocery shop on [...]

Andy Rhaburn Faces More Charges for Carmelita Terror
Additional charges of attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm have been brought against twenty-six-year-old Andy Rhaburn.  The Carmelita resident is accused of killing his mother, Braulia Pech, [...]

Friend Turned Burglar Remanded for Attack on Senior Citizen
Mahogany Heights resident Floyd Escarpeta has been charged with burglary and theft in connection with breaking and entering into the home of a senior citizen farmer and stealing his valuables [...]

Cops Get Gun in O.W. but Not Owner
Around three-thirty on Saturday morning, police on mobile patrol in Orange Walk found a point thirty-eight revolver and four live rounds of ammunition on Santa Lucia Street. Police say they [...]

Disaster Averted: Flames Gut Ice Cream Truck, Scorch House in King’s Park
The Fire Department’s quick action on Sunday night averted a major disaster on Sixth Street in Belize City. An electrical fire broke on an ice cream truck just as its [...]

Family Burned Out in Hattieville
Meanwhile a family of four from the Bainesville community, just outside of Hattieville, is tonight without a roof over their heads following an early morning fire last Thursday that swept [...]

Family Feud Leads to Threatening Words Charge
But as it turns out, Belisle says that the alleged culprit is well-known to the family. While she is not sure what could have triggered the torching of her home, [...]

U.S. Makes Latest Donation of Equipment to B.D.F., Coast Guard
The Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard received more than eight hundred and fifty-thousand dollars in drug fighting equipment and training packages. The US Embassy handed over the [...]

Belize Island to Host Private September Cruise
There’s an article online that’s been attracting attention in the area of tourism. Naughty Island. It’s off the coast of Belize, and according to a U.K. newspaper, later this year; [...]

Guatemala Electoral Body Produces Booklet on Referendum Process
Guatemalans head to the polls on April fifteenth to decide on the following question: Do you agree that any legal claim by Guatemala against Belize on continental inland territories and [...]

Bike Ride Raises Thousands for F.C.D.
Twelve bikers set off on a six-day adventure across Belize and into the Chiquibul Forest Reserve last week in support of Friends for Conservation and Development.  It was organized by [...]

The Weekend in Sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities…]

LOVE FM

Man flees assailant and finds refuge at Police Station
Last night, Reginald Garoy, a taxi driver, was on West Canal when he was approached by a gunman who fired several shots at him. Garoy managed to escape from his assailant. At this morning’s press brief, ASP Alejandro Cowo, Head of CIB, spoke about the shooting incident. ASP Alejandro Cowo – Head of CIB “Okay …

2 years after former Guatemalan Ambassador was recalled, New Ambassador assigned to Belize
The Ambassador of Guatemala to Belize His Excellency Georges de la Roche Du Ronzet Plihal presented his letter of Credence today to Governor General His Excellency Sir Colville Young at the Belize House in Belmopan. The Ambassador said it is an honour to be in Belize and that on behalf of the government and people of Guatemala, …

Briceno said that Belize is poorly served by the UDP administration
The Opposition leader in his keynote address to supporters said change must come since the country is not being served well by the Dean Barrow administration. John Briceno – PUP Leader “Today Belize is poorly served by this incompetent UDP administration, as a result of their mismanagement we have suffered, all of us have suffered. …

Briceno feels that the PUP is the change the nation needs
In his presentation, the PUP leader said that if given the opportunity to lead, it will not be business as usual. John Briceno – PUP Leader “The time has come for changing of the guard and as well the time has come for the changing of the red colors, we have to get rid of …

A massive crowd showed up for PUP’s National Convention
The ITVET compound was the venue for the People’s United Party’s national convention. On Sunday Party supporters from across the country were bussed into Belize City. The day began with a parade of supporters who met at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Neal’s Pen Road and made their way to the ITVET compound …

Brigadier General speaks about being at the helm of the BDF
Brigadier General Steven Ortega was recently appointed as the Commander of the Belize Defence Force (BDF). Love News asked him about his new position and how he is adjusting to it. Brigadier General Steven Ortega – Commander of the BDF “As you can guess very busy basically getting to learn a new job spec and …

US Embassy donates US $432,000 worth of equipment to help fight crime
Belize’s central location makes it vulnerable to transnational organized crime. Today, the US Embassy donated equipment to the Belize Coast Guard and the Belize Defence Force that will be used in the fight against such organized crime. At today’ handing over ceremony Charge d’Affaires Adrienne Galanek spoke of the donation. Adrienne Galanek – Charge d’Affaires …

PlusTV

15th anniversary of National Council on Ageing
The National Council on Ageing is celebrating its 15th Anniversary. As part of its celebration, an interactive exhibit of the council’s work was held at the Belmopan Civic Center today. Ixchel Poot, Executive Director of National Council on Ageing told us more. Belmopan Senior S...

Fined $15,000 for shooting his friend in the mouth
45 year old Edwardo Torres is a at home tonight, having received a fine instead of jail sentence for the shooting death of his friend. Torres was not tried for murder or manslaughter but unlawful harm through negligence of a firearm. It might seem like a strange charge considering a life was lost, ...

Civil service Credit Union short on funds
Civil Service Credit Union is going bankrupt. Media reports confirm that 1.2 Million dollars of shareholders funds are inaccessible to some 1200 members even after the Central bank of Belize intervened to try to stabilize the waning Credit Union. In an interview with the Reporter, Cedric Flowers, Ch...

Man awaits sentence for running over 3 year old boy
40-year-old Hubert Martinez was charged back in December 2013 for knocking down and killing 3-year-old Jahston Terry. The little boy was on the side walk at Pound Yard walking with his then 5-year-old brother, when suddenly, a white pick-up van driven at the time by Martinez drove on to the sidewalk...

20 pounds of weed found in his car; Belmopan man pleads guilty
Belmopan police found about 20 pounds of weed in a car on Thursday night. Sometime before 7 p.m. police were conducting an operation in Teakettle Village when they observed a white Toyota Matrix four door car parked on the side of the road. A male person was standing beside the vehicle and a female...

Weed on bus leads to arrest
On February 8th at about 8:00 p.m., officers were conducting a Vehicle Check Point on the Phillip Goldson Highway between miles 4 and 5. They searched a bus that was traveling from north to Belize City. Police spotted 41 year old Larance Lahoudi, who they say was acting suspiciously. Police then sea...

Four charged for drug trafficking
Orange Walk police also made some arrests for drug trafficking. On the morning of February 8, Police conducted a search at the residence of Georgina Ramirez Flores located in San Lazaro Village. Present at the time of the search were 69 year old Guatemalan national Georgina Ramirez Flores...

Colt gun found in bushy lot
On February 8th, Police conducted a search on an open lot on Racoon Street. They found a 9mm Colt Combat Commander brand pistol which contained a magazine with eight 9mm rounds of ammunition. No one was in the area at the time, so items were labeled and deposited as found Property.

UAE delegation in Belize for rural electrification project
A delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund are in Belize to meet with the Ministry of Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities and village leaders for the implementation of the emPOWER Rural Electrification project (emPOWER project). The emPOWER project envisions to install 344 kW of solar PV ...

Blogs

Connecting Landscapes across the Belize Wildlife Corridor
Today, we live in a very interconnected world. This is something that conservationists have learned when studying the species that they are trying to protect. It’s not good enough to create protected habitats that are isolated, like islands surrounded by roads, fences, farmlands, cities, etc. That’s not how most species have evolved. Their habitats need to be connected to others via wildlife corridors if life is to really thrive and be robust enough to survive in the long-term. Roughly 26% of Belizean land and sea is preserved within a total of 95 reserves, which vary in purpose and level of protection. Most of the protected land is comprised of two conservation blocks, the Selva Maya area in northern Belize and the Maya Mountains in southern Belize. Separated by human activities such as roads, villages and agricultural activity, the Belize Wildlife Corridor provides a unique bridge of natural habitats that connects the two blocks through unprotected and privately-owned land.

9 Great Valentine’s Options on Ambergris Caye
Valentine’s day is right around the corner and the following list will help you choose a romantic dinner option if you are in the market for one. Please note it is a good idea to make reservations sooner than later as seats are filling up. Remember it is the end of lobster season too so make the most of it. One last thing. You do not have to wait for Valentines to plan a romantic time at any of the places listed below or even a significant other for that matter. I take myself on fun dates all the time..

2018 The Burning of Juan Carnaval held in Corozal
Carnaval is a Western Christian and Greek Orthodox festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. With the Ash, Wednesday, Carnival ends and Lent begins, preparation time for 40 days for the Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord, all within the Catholic Church.The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, masks, and a public street party. People wear masks and costumes during many such celebrations, allowing them to lose their everyday individuality and experience a heightened sense of social unity.

Belize Zipline Tours – Fly Through the Belize Jungle
CALICO JACK’S ZIPLINING: Glide through the Belizean rainforest in this thrilling and exhilarating tour. Offering a variety of 3 different runs, you can choose a beginner run for 45 minutes or, step out to the next level and zipline through the rainforest for a full hour. If you crave more excitement, then combine both runs - 9 runs, 15 platforms, a jungle lift, and 2,700 feet of adrenaline-pumping ziplining! JAGUAR PAW ZIPLINING: Zig zag along cables across the Belizean rainforests! This tour presents you with surprises, adventure, wonders, and amazing views of Belizean nature. This experience is a great choice for couples on a romantic honeymoon, family adventures, or group getaways looking for a thrilling journey.

International Sources

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2018: Belize, Model Search
Ambergris Caye is indisputably one of the most gorgeous islands in the Caribbean. That wasn’t always the case—because it was part of the mainland until 600 A.D., when some enterprising Mayans dug a channel to improve their trade routes. The 25-mile long strip of land off the coast of Belize now offers the epitome of island living. Swim with friendly nurse sharks by the resort, or venture farther out into the sea to check out one of the most impressive natural features in the area: the Great Blue Hole, a 407-foot deep sinkhole deemed one of the top scuba diving sites in the world by none other than Jacques Cousteau.

Another fishing addiction
We are heading back south to Belize where we have gone on winter breaks nearly every year since 1990. We look forward to temperatures in the 80s, sun, trade wind rattling the coconut trees and seeing our Belizean friends again. Of course I'm writing this with great anticipation after another below zero morning outside walking the dog and getting in firewood. We will be part of the annual Cheesehead invasion of Placencia, a village at the end of a peninsula in southern Belize. Bill and Sue Smith and Jeff Cudd of River Falls have been there since January. Jesse Smith will be visiting, along with Carol's brother Ken Schreiber of Osseo, Wis. Some people get addicted to catching trout on a dry fly, others get pumped casting for muskellunge. I have become addicted to wading coral flats fly fishing for permit and bonefish.

MPM's Maya exhibition draws on new scholarship to reveal hidden worlds
Milwaukee Public Museum just opened its latest traveling exhibition this week and it covers some familiar ground. "Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed" is the largest exhibition about the ancient Maya ever to be displayed in the United States. The museum also hosted a big Mayan exhibit in 1987, but in terms of Mayan scholarship, 1987 is ancient history, according to Carter Lupton, the museum's curator emeritus of, well, ancient history. "When I was a student in the 1970s, you couldn't read most of the Maya glyphs," Lupton said as he walked me through the exhibition while the final touches were being made. "They used to say all these people depicted on these stelae are priest kings. They didn't know the names. They didn't know when they lived. They thought everything was calendrical, that the only thing they could really know were dates."

Videos

February 12, 2018

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

Wolfe’s Woofer: Lottery Winner
“What a beautiful day!” said the man at the next table. “Is the weather this nice the whole year around?” “Usually,” I told him. I was sipping my morning coffee and reading my book at a table on the deck of the Holiday Hotel when I met Harvey, a tourist from the U.S. “For me, there’s more than the weather to make this a beautiful day,” he said. “My son is arriving this morning. He just won three million dollars in the New York state lottery.” “Wow! That’s a lot of money. Is he going to share with you?” “I should think so. His mother and I have devoted our lives to giving him the best we could on our limited income. It’s been a struggle but it’s finally paid off.” “Dad!”

Doctor Love: Depressed
Dear Doctor Love, All the time my daughter was growing up I encouraged her to get an education, to choose a good career and be financially stable before marrying and starting a family. She did that and now she is financially set and is living with her longtime partner. Now, she has decided that she does not want children at all. I am devastated. There are no grandchildren in my future and I have such a huge feeling of loss and sadness. When my friends talk about their grandkids or I see a photo on social media of my best friends’ pregnant daughter I almost cry. Instead of having children, my daughter travels all over the world, drives a luxury car and owns her condo and she says she doesn’t want to change all of that to have a baby. I expected to have little children laughing around my house in my old age and now that dream is gone. I won’t bake cookies with a little granddaughter. I won’t read to a grandson. This hurts so badly. What am I going to do? /s/Depressed

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
MONDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2018: THE XUNANTUNICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS OPEN WITH PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ONLY AT THE FERRY. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

This is the most selfless, loving thing I've encountered all day
Yesterday, my faith in the good of mankind was renewed. This pelican showed up several days ago at the Iguana Reef Inn with its upper mandible (upper beak) broken almost clear through. It appeared as though someone had taken a machete to it. The pelican was unable to eat by itself as the beak would bend backward. So Eric Wilder, his staff, and hotel guests hand fed it sardines. It was clear to everyone that the pelican’s days in the wild would be limited. Yesterday, with long distance veterinary advice from Dale Wilson, Iguana Reef Inn hotel guests, staff, and visitors performed “surgery” on the beak on the beach in an effort to give this pelican another lease on life. They placed antibiotic ointment on the beak, fitted a PVC pipe to the beak, glued the beak together with a resin (using the PVC pipe to strengthen it), and used zip ties to keep the everything in place. The zip ties will be removed in a day or two. They then gave the pelican about 8 sardines (the first few were put down its throat to ensure that it had food in its belly) but the pelican was actually able to use his “new” beak and pick up fish on its own!! The pelican later went into the water and swam away, which we took as a good sign. Updates to come.

1st Belize National Research Conference
The 1st annual Belize National Research Conference will be held on the 21st and 22nd of March. The subjects range from education to history to technology to culture and anthropology. It'll be held at UB's Jaguar auditorium. "This conference is a forum for the public presentation of research which has been carried out or is ongoing in Belize. It is a joint initiative of NICH, Galen University, UB, and UWI Open Campus, and is being hosted under the theme: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN BELIZE."

Are you applying for the YLAI Professional Fellowship?
These are the YLAI Fast Facts you should know!

Reef Week Instagram Contest
The Reef Week Belize Instagram contest is underway! It’s the time to submit your photo(s) or video(s) to showcase the 2018 theme: Our Reef Rocks! Protect it! Don’t Neglect it! To submit your entry for the Reef Week Instagram Contest, you must simply: Tag Oceana Belize’s Instagram page (@oceana_bze) to original photos and videos that showcase the theme of Reef Week Belize 2018: “Our Reef Rocks! Protect it! Don’t Neglect it!” Show us an example of a before and after “change” you’re making in your community to positively impact Belize's economically important marine resources (see video for examples).

Pedro Carrillo telling stories
The Maya elder Pedro Carrillo from San Lazaro(Orange Walk) sharing stories to school children at Banquitas House of culture .

The Reporter

PUP convention sees massive turnout
The People’s United Party (PUP) held its much anticipated national convention in Belize city today, starting with a march through city streets, which drew a massive turnout and ended at the ITVET compound for speeches by party leaders. The parade started on Fabers Road and the crowd of party supporters stretched for several blocks. Party supporters marched with flags and banners down Central American Boulevard to the ITVET compound. PUP Leader, Johnny Briceno told the Reporter he was happy for the “monumental turnout” and said the turnout has set the stage for the PUP to win the upcoming municipal and general elections. Briceno estimated 15,000 supporters at the convention at its peak. The ITVET compound was filled to capacity during the rally.

Police department introduces new policy on ‘special duties’
The Belize Police Department, this week, announced changes to its policy on officers working ‘special duties’. The policy-change was influenced, in part, by the U.S. State Department’s 2017 report on Human Trafficking, which cited the department for dispatching officers to brothels that often employ human trafficking victims. The new policy requires proprietors to apply to formation commanders at least 72 hours prior to the event and include a description of specific duties and requested time frame. If approved, business owners will be given an invoice and payment must be made to the Treasury Department. The policy change follows the Human Trafficking report, which listed Belize as a Tier 3 country, the worst possible ranking, and worst among Central American nations. Belize was also recently put on a list of countries banned from applying for specific US work visas.

Breaking Belize News

Maya communities on the brink of food shortage due to climate change
By Valentino Shal: The village of San Benito Poite has found itself in desperation as acres of corn and beans have been washed away by unexpected flood waters last Thursday. The nearby Poite river usually floods but in the rainy season and so farmers who have their “matahambre” corn crop on the banks of the river were not expecting any flooding in February.

PUP holds massive national convention
Today, the People’s United Party (PUP) held its National Unity Convention in Belize city. The Opposition, PUP mobilized supporters from across the country. PUP leaders described it as ‘ the biggest convention in the history of Belize’.

Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin on the move?
According to reports from Guyanese newspaper, Demerara Waves, Chief Justice of Belize, Kenneth Benjamin, is being appointed as Chancellor by Guyana President, David Granger, despite rejection from the opposition leader in that country.

Can the Broken Belize Police Department Be Repaired?
Crime remains one of Belize’s most concerning issues. There were 142 murders in 2017, the second most in a year on record. The new year has already seen 18 murders, as of publishing of this article. It could be worse, sure, but certainly it can also be better as well.

Blogs

My Weekend on Ambergris Caye: Color, Color, Colors!
The island is absolutely hopping – new businesses are opening daily. Literally. The streets are full of tourists and golf carts and starting today with…dancing and paint. AND… CARNAVAL IN SAN PEDRO – a one of a kind holiday to party into Lent. Mardi Gras. The weather is absolutely gorgeous – the sky and water are sparkling…bluer than blue. Poco Loco Food Court opened on Thursday to lots of excitement. Shielded behind a fence for AGES, this business is smack dab in the middle of Front Street and every color of the rainbow. There are four…make that five stalls within the “food court” and lots of super cute seating. There is a creperie (which is not open yet but very soon), a burger spot, a “Mission style” burrito place, a bar and a salad spot. Here are my pictures.

International Sources

Wild X-rated Naughty Island holiday offers tourists a week on deserted island in Belize… and clothing is OPTIONAL
The luxurious 16-acre island off the coast of Belize will host 50 amorous couples for a week of debauchery. A "NAUGHTY Island" is offering an all-inclusive, "clothing optional" holiday to couples off the coast of Belize. But the chance for amorous couples to live out their fantasies does not come cheap, with villas costing up to £12,000 for the week-long stay. Organisers Naughty Nawlins have partnered with Dream Pleasure Tours for the adult couples only island takeover off the coastal town of Dangriga. "The island will be clothing optional just for our week, making this a once in a lifetime experience," it says on their website. It offers guests the chance to explore the island or spend the days on its "clothing optional beaches where turquoise water shimmers in the warm Belizean sun". The 16-acre island is said to be a 10-minute boat ride from the second largest barrier reef in the world.

Videos

February 11, 2018

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

ID SEVEN providing for the Youth of Belize
ID SEVEN Company, located in Belmopan City, has become a popular Belizean clothing company. The t-shirt company was founded by a group of five friends back in 2011 and is today operated by Deidra Gentry. ID SEVEN is not just a business but a company that supports the young people of Belize, with 100% of their profits invested in Belizean youths. ID SEVEN offers fully funded high school scholarships, known as the Gideon Scholarship which supports high school students financially. They also support a youth leadership camp called District. Their goal is to inspire youth through activities and simply investing time in them to empower them through mentorship and funding. Their main goal is to support those who really cannot afford an education but who have the desire and commitment to work towards a successful future. So far, ID SEVEN has supported three students in receiving an education.

San Pedro Justice of the Peace chapter holds first monthly meeting
The importance of being an active Justice of the Peace and a presentation on the different types of police identification parades were the highlights at the first monthly meeting of the San Pedro Chapter Association of Justice of the Peace and Commissioner of the Supreme Court. Held at the meeting hall of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) on Wednesday, February 7th, the event saw the attendance of many Justices of the Peace (JP) and guest speaker, Sergeant Thomas from the San Pedro Police Formation. The committee plans to hold their next meeting on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at the same location at the NEMO conference room.

Meet your San Pedro Town Council Candidates: Part Three
Name: Ruben Navidad, Party: The People’s United Party – PUP. Why are you running and what makes you a good candidate? I am offering myself as councilor because I see the need for good leadership in San Pedro. My track record of hard work, responsibility and strong character makes me a great candidate for councilor.
Name: Ian Pou, Party: People’s United Party. Why are you running and what makes you a good candidate: I, Ian Pou, have offered myself as a councilor candidate because I love San Pedro and I believe that there is so much potential for our island to thrive.

Misc Belizean Sources

Kindy take note of Archeological site update
SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2018: THE XUNANTUNICH ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE REMAINS CLOSED. THE ATM AND BARTON CREEK ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN. THE NOHOCH CHEEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVE IS OPEN TO GUIDED TOURS ONLY, THE RESERVE IS CLOSED TO UNSUPERVISED SWIMMING, PLEASE USE LIFE VEST AT ALL TIMES ON THE RIVER. ALL OTHER ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESERVES ARE OPEN FOR VISITATION. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION AT ALL TIMES. LIFE VEST IS MANDATORY AT CAVE SITES.

Fresh fish fillet for sale tomorrow morning! 14BZD per pound on Caye Caulker
Call 6081541 to buy first come first served.fillette with patch on,also have some barracudas!! And Lobster head meat!!

Street Repair on Caye Caulker
The Caye Caulker Village Council has addressed the issue of damaged streets after the heavy rains and hired a private company from the mainland to bring out the required equipment to revamp our streets. The Caye Caulker Village Council would also like to use this medium to kindly remind drivers to drive with care and to remember the speed limit on Caye Caulker is 10mph.

The Reporter

PIV man shot dead on West Collet Canal
A man was shot dead last night in Belize city while standing at the corner of West Collet Canal and Hicatee Street. Just after 8:39 p.m. Norman Tyrone Gibson, 20, died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) while undergoing treatment. He was shot as many as six times; twice above the left side of his ear, once to the top of his head, once to his shoulder, one to his upper arm and one to the right side of his hip. According to police, Gibson was standing on the street waiting for someone when a lone gunman approached from the direction of Bocotora Street and unleashed a barrage of bullets in his direction.

Bandits escape with $10,000 in cash and goods
Corozal police are investigating a brazen armed robbery at a local Chinese store, in which the bandits took over $10,000 in cash and valuables. Businesswoman Hong Su Rong, 47, owner of Rong’s Supermarket located on 4th Avenue reported to police that around 3:25 p.m. on February 8th, while she was inside her store, three men walked in a robbed the place. Two of the culprits had firearms and held her up at gunpoint. According to Rong, the three bandits rummaged through her cash drawer and stole $7,000 cash, and two cell phones.

Breaking Belize News

Fair weather to continue; record rainfall documented
The 24-hour forecast is for mostly moist conditions to prevail. Cloudy skies with a few showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected over central and southern areas. The extended forecast for tomorrow is for fair weather to prevail.

Israel Perez killed by his own friend?
Police have arrested and charged two men for the brutal murder of government employee Israel Perez; one of them who has been a friend to Perez since childhood. On Thursday, police arraigned 33-year-old Cruz Castillo, and 22-year-old Stanley Herrera Jr for Perez’s murder, after finding Castillo with Perez’s vehicle, jewelry and even his shoes.

International Economic Development Council appoints a Belizean Director
The Nominating Committee of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), a not-for-profit organization which focuses on growth through job creation and expansion, has elected Belizean born Clarence Hulse to its Board of Directors for a two-year term.

International Sources

Unlock the ancient secrets of Mayans at the Milwaukee Public Museum
The largest exhibition about the ancient Maya to ever to be displayed in the United States has come to Milwaukee. FOX6's Evan Peterson went down to the Milwaukee Public Museum to check out the Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed exhibit. The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) will host the Wisconsin engagement of Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed, the largest exhibition about the ancient Maya ever to be displayed in the United States, on Saturday, February 10. This special exhibit uses authentic artifacts, immersive environments and hands-on activities to explore the rise and fall of the Maya civilization.

Deadly Shooting Prank - Belizean Banker Fined After Killing Friend
A High Court judge has ordered a banker to pay a BDS$15,000 (One Belize dollar=US$0, 49 cents) fine after he was convicted of unlawful harm through negligence of a firearm in the accidental death of his friend, who was shot in the mouth in 2013. The court heard that Edwardo Torres, 45 and his friend Paul Fernandez, 32, were socialising at an establishment on the Philip Goldson Highway in May 2013 when the incident occurred. According to the evidence as the establishment was closing the men went out to the parking lot and according to two other patrons who were witnesses in the case, they heard the men conversing with Fernandez telling Torres to put his licensed firearm in his mouth, Fernandez’s mouth.

Videos