Belize News Daily, 11/21/2018 to 11/30/2018, Ambergris Caye

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Prime Minister Barrow to Remain in Office Until 2020
Cabinet at its meeting, November 27th, discussed the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) current trajectory heading towards the 2020 general elections. Ministers expressed great satisfaction at the evidence of support for the UDP, as measured by the large voter turnout at the UDP contested standard bearer conventions taking place every weekend since November 4th. Cabinet took note of the fact that these contests have been as fierce as the turnouts have been huge. In that context, Cabinet felt that once the standard bearer conventions conclude in mid-December, there should be a break in the remaining convention schedule to allow for healing and an organizational reset to take place at the individual constituency level.

Regular Gasoline drops to the lowest price of the year
Following a number of increases in 2018, the price for regular gasoline has dropped to its lowest figure of the year. The Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) informed that effective Friday, November 23rd, regular gasoline went down from $10.63 to $9.95. While this price will be reflected only on mainland pumps, the price for fuel here in San Pedro will see a slight reduction as well. While the price for regular gasoline went down, other fuels saw an increase. Premium gasoline went up from $11.49 to $11.50, Diesel went up from $11.15 $11.16, and Kerosene went up from $8.69 to $8.70. The one-cent increase in these prices are the smallest increases recorded in the entire year. This last price change is fuel in the 25th adjustment observed for 2018.

GOB introduces an amendment to block tax refunds for tour operators
To ensure the Government of Belize (GOB) has enough funds to cover their bills, Prime Minister Dean Barrow presented a bill to the House of Representative to amend the General Sales Tax (GST) Act. The amendment would see local tour operators not being able to collect their tax refunds as dictated by the law. The tourism sector is one of the single largest contributors of GST, and the petitioned amendment could result in financial issues for many businesses. Barrow introduced the bill under the grounds that tour operators are “invalidly collecting” tax refunds. According to Barrow, the amendment is needed to prevent issues such as the recent Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling between Cruise Solutions and Discovery Expeditions and the Commissioner of GST.

3rd Belize International YOGA Festival to be held in Belize City
On Saturday, December 1st the 3rd Annual Belize International YOGA Festival will be held in Harbour View Greens, Belize City. The Belize International Yoga Festival (BIYF) is a non-alcoholic, family-friendly annual event bringing together yoga practitioners from all over Belize and beyond introducing the relaxation, reflection and healthful benefits of yoga and holistic healing practices to the wider Belizean community. The festival will include over 30 free yoga classes ranging in health workshops and lectures, kids’ classes, yoga nidras, kundalini and breath work classes, and guided meditation. Healing therapies and massages, henna tattoos, jewelry, artwork and great eats will also be on sale at the festival.

San Pedro Belize Express begins to pay for using Municipal Dock
After over a year without paying docking fees to The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), water taxi company, San Pedro Belize Express has reportedly started paying for the usage of the municipal dock. The company had relocated following Hurricane Earl in August of 2016 but was not paying anything to use the public pier. Mayor Daniel Guerrero confirmed that after much pressure, as of May of 2018, the water taxi carrier began paying a flat monthly fee of $2,000. However, Area Representative Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr. is at odds with the SPTC, as he claims that the facility is being used by a small sailing boat called ‘La Gaviota,’ whose owner is not paying any fees. This is the alleged reason why the water taxi company had not been paying for the past months, as Heredia reportedly instructed them not to do so until the SPTC began charging the owner La Gaviota for using the said docking facility.

Ambergris Today

Will Coconut Drive Become A One Way Street?
For weeks now, mysterious covered signs along Coconut Drive have San Pedro Town residents speculating what said signs will indicate. At a couple intersections residents have gone as far as creating tares in the plastic bags covering them. Exposed sign at the intersection where Island City Supermarket is located, on Coconut Drive, says “Do Not Enter” indicating that Coconut Drive would be made one way with traffic flowing south to north. Remaining covered signs would suggest the this would start at the Caribeña Fuels south gas station on Blake Street.

Queen Elizabeth Commends Belize On Progress On Tackling Blindness In Diabetics
The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust commends progress achieved in Belize to tackle blindness caused by diabetes The Chief Executive of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust (the Trust), Dr Astrid Bonfield CBE, met with the Government of Belize and leading eye health experts on Mnday, November 26, 2018, to thank and commend them for their efforts to prevent blindness caused by escalating rates of diabetes across Belize.

Misc Belizean Sources

Closing of 2018 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season
Friday 30th November marks the closing of the 2018 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season was forecasted to be normal to slightly above normal in the Atlantic Basin (North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico) this year. The season turned out to be above normal, but more specifically above normal in the North Atlantic and normal over the other areas of the basin. A total of fifteen named storms and one tropical depression formed. Of these fifteen named storms, eight (8) became hurricanes and two (2) reached major hurricane status - category three (3) or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Jenelli Fraser- Ms.Universe Belize 2018
I trust my new journey. Pray for me! Here I go...

Nassau Grouper Is Now Critically Endangered
The Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) is now a critically-endangered species. That’s according to a new report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN. This means that populations, including spawning aggregations, have declined by more 80% over three generations (1980-2018), for Nassau grouper fish, which live approximately 16 years. Nassau grouper now face an extremely high risk of extinction. The main threats, according to IUCN, are over-fishing due to heavy fishing on spawning aggregations; and loss of quality coral reef habitat.

SOFT LAUNCH - MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION & LICENSE SYSTEM
“A project whose tremendous benefits could never be overstated, and which represents yet another great example of what can be achieved through the deepening relations and cooperation between our two countries”. That is how CEO in the Ministry of Transport, Ruth Meighan, described the Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and License System executed in partnership with the Government of Taiwan. Elaborating on the benefits of the project whose first phase is nearing completion, CEO Meighan explained, “This first phase enables Department of Transport branches countrywide to share information in real time, and to apply standards that have been reviewed and updated in our laws. By the time the project is fully rolled out, other objectives that will be achieved include, interconnectivity with other supporting agencies (public and private)..."

Mrs.Kim Simplis Barrow in Chile
Mrs.Kim Simplis Barrow, Special Envoy for Women and Children, is currently in Chile alongside Sole Meighan, President of the Children’s Advisory Body in Belmopan and youngest youth ambassador attending the conference, Alicia Barcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean , Sandra Granger, First Lady of Guyana, Henrietta Ford, Executive Director at UNICEF, Dr. Carla Barnett, Senator of Belize, Maria Cristina Perceval, Regional Director for Latin America and Caribbean UNICEF and Jared Cain, also a youth delegate of Belize. The Regional Dialogue is themed “On the Road to Equality”: 30 Years of the Convention of the Rights of a Child.

IV Meeting of the Belize – Guatemala Joint Commission
Office of the OAS in the Adjacency Zone. November 29, 2018. The IV meeting of the Guatemala-Belize Joint Commission was held on Wednesday, November 28th in the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone. The meeting was headed by the Commissioners of both countries, the Ambassador of Belize in Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado and the Ambassador of Guatemala in Belize, H.E. Georges de La Roche. The Commissioners were accompanied by Mr. Manuel Washington Abdala, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the -OEA- for Guatemala-Belize matters. This meeting focused on the implementation of the Agreement between both countries for the Protection of the Environment and Sustainable Use of Resources that was signed in December 2014, and it included participants at the technical and official level of relevant ministries and departments of government from both countries.

Belize Among National Geographic’s Best Trips 2019
Belize’s growing popularity as one of the best vacation destinations in the world and the recent efforts to protect Belize’s Barrier Reef System has won the country an important accolade from National Geographic, which has placed Belize among is Best Trips 2019 list. In making the announcement National Geographic praised Belize for making big waves in marine conservation. “In June 2018 the Belize Barrier Reef System, which Charles Darwin deemed “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies,” was removed from the UNESCO World Heritage site danger list.

Twin Town Annual Tree Lighting ceremony
It's the Twin Town Annual Tree Lighting ceremony on December 7th, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. Don't Miss it!

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belize Attends 52nd Session of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Parliamentary Assembly
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Laura Tucker Longsworth, is in Cotonou, Benin, attending the 52nd Session of the ACP Parliamentary Assembly and the 36th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, which is being held from the 28th November to the 5th December 2018. The Honourable Madam Speaker attended the meeting of the ACP Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment which was held today, 29th November. At the meeting, participants reviewed and discussed proposed amendments to the Committee’s Draft Report on Combatting the Destabilizing Effects of Wildlife Trafficking in ACP countries and the Draft Report on Reducing the Global Number of Out-of-School Children, Adolescents and Youth in ACP countries.

Training for Trainers: On Child Labour for Labour Inspectors
The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development has been collaborating with the United States Department of Labour-Funded Country Level Engagement and Assistance to Reduce Child Labour II Project (CLEAR II), implemented by Winrock International, Verité and Lawyers Without Borders, to strengthen systems to address child labour. As a part of these efforts, a Curriculum for Labour Inspectors was developed, and a Training of Trainers Workshop was held from the 26th – 29th of November, 2018 at the Ramada Princess Belize. The training was designed to train labour inspectors and officers of the Immigration, Education, Police, and Human Services Departments, and the Social Security Board which are responsible for monitoring and enforcement of child labour law. It was also to introduce these individuals to the methodology and content of the curriculum and allow them to practice delivering lessons and leading exercises.

Office of the Auditor General receives training with IDB support to enhance service delivery
As part of its support to strengthen public financial management systems in Belize, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Office of the Auditor General partnered to host a three-day training course on new and innovative methods for effective communication and report writing for enhanced service delivery. The course, which was held from November 26 to 28 in Belmopan, was facilitated by communications expert, Ms. Sarah MacFayden of the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation and attended by 23 staff members of the Office of the Auditor General. The course is expected to enhance the communication skills of the staff and to improve the performance of the Office of the Auditor General in conducting its oversight of public spending.

Belize Police Department Receives Donation of Bullet Proof Vests
he Belize Police Department is the proud recipient of 500 intact pre-owned bullet proof (ballistic) vests that were generously donated by the Miami-Dade Police Department under the leadership of Chief Juan Pérez. The handing over ceremony took place today, November 29th at the Eastern Division Region One Headquarters in Belize City. This donation is a result of the collaboration between the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police of which the Belize Police Department is a member. This is the second donation of vests made to the Belize Police Department through this partnership. In 2017, 200 bullet proof vests were received and distributed to police officers countrywide.

Statement on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The Government of Belize today joins in the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. On this day, Belize reiterates its support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people who struggle daily to maintain their dignity in the face of violence, lack of access to basic services, and denial of their fundamental human rights, including the right to free movement. The Government of Belize remains concerned about the incremental and steady loss of Palestinian territory in contravention of United Nations resolutions including Resolution 181 on the partition of Palestine, which was adopted on November 29, 1947.

FREE LEGAL ADVISE AND ASSISTANCE
Do you need FREE legal advise and assistance in one of the following? * Criminal Law * Family Law * Immigration Law * Labor Law * Wills * Domestic Violence * Landlord and Tenant * Asylum The Bar Association of Belize will be providing a FREE legal clinic in Corozal Town on December 15, 2018 at the Magistrate Court.

65 Hospitality professionals from various properties receive certifications
CONGRATULATIONS! 65 Hospitality professionals from various properties received certifications from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). This past week the Hospitality Training Services of Belize had a visit from Carlo Novelo, Vice President of international sales at AHLEI. Mr. Novelo was here to participate in our first certification ceremony in which 125 Belizeans received professional certifications from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute in various fields. Their first day started on Sunday 25th November in San Pedro at Banyan Bay Suites where 26 staff members were certified as guest service professionals.

BHA Biannual Meeting
Join us on Friday, December 7, 2018 at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel for our Biannual Meeting in partnership with Travalliance Media, where you can hear what the Association has been doing for you for the past few months. Dynamic Keynote Speaker, Mrs. Stacy Cox will be discussing Best Practices and Tourism Trends in the Caribbean Region. Morning seminar to be hosted by Travalliance Media, talking about new marketing strategies that can improve the way you do business. Call us at 223-0669 or email us at [email protected] to confirm your attendance.

Turtle Rescue
"The morning started with an emergency delivery by the rangers of the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) - these guys are super-committed in ensuring the viability of the marine life of the Corozal Bay seascape...and work in partnership with the fishers to keep wildlife safe. This turtle, weighing in at about 200 lbs, was rescued by one of the Sarteneja beach trap fishers. Seeing it had injuries, he brought it to SACD, who then brought it to Wildtracks. We are now working with Hol Chan Marine Reserve to seek the best solution for this amazing reptile. It is collaborations and partnerships like these that make wildlife conservation in Belize work."

Corozal Tree Lighting Ceremony
The show must go on. Everyone is invited to join our Corozal Community for the Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Corozal Central Park on Saturday, December 8th at 7:00 P.M. Merry Christmas!

Placencia Power Outage next Tuesday
Power outage scheduled for 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midday on Tuesday, December 4 to affect entire Placencia Village and Malacate area of Independence Village. BEL to replace utility poles on Malacate Beach and repair hotspots in the area.

Cayo Christmas Tree Lighting 2018
The SISE Town Council is having the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony next Friday, December 7th, at 6:30pm, at the Cayo Welcome Center. "Twin Town residents you are all invited to our Annual Tree Lighting ceremony on December 7th, 2018 at 6:30 p.m."

ICJ Lecture Series in Benque
Want to know more about the ICJ and upcoming referendum? Come out to hear presentations by Assad Shoman, the Belize Peace Movements and others at the Mount Carmel Auditorium in Benque Viejo Del Carmen Everyone is invited!

How does the ICJ dispute affect Belize?
The longer the dispute continues, the more problems it will cause. The image shows how population growth in Guatemala, transnational crime and developmental pressures have led to deforestation in Peten and is already affecting Belize. Fully demarcated borders and better cooperation with our neighbor can help alleviate these harmful trends.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
The House with a Clock in Its Walls, Venom, The Predator, The Nun

Channel 7

Cops Charge Man for Marta Gonzalez Murder
Police have cracked the Marta Gonzalez murder case. They have arrested and charged 21 year old Christopher Bradley. Police picked him up in Pomona and according to the family, Bradley was actually at the house on Tuesday when the police arrived to search for Gonzalez’s body. But he left for work shortly after. When we spoke to Gonzalez’s son in law today, he said he can’t say for sure if Bradley owed her and was just trying to get out of the debt by killing her or if he just wanted to rob her. Based on his information Bradley is known to be violent in the village and has gotten off previous assault charges. Today at the press briefing the police told us it is a case of robbery turn murder. Here is more.

Montenegro’s Want Closure for Loved One Nerry
The family of Nerry Montenegro is desperate. They want to know if the body that was found in the New River near the Orange Walk bypass is his. But there are no concrete answers at this point because the post mortem is inconclusive. We will get to the police report on this case but first, to Montenegro’s mother. Our colleagues at CTV-3 went to speak to her at the family’s August Pine Ridge home. She says she reported him missing on Monday and since then she hasn’t heard anything from him. The family just wants closure.

Police Still Can’t Confirm Identity of Orange Walk Body
As we told you, the post mortem could not reveal the cause of death because of the advanced state of decomposition. The only detail they could get from the examination was that the man died 4 days ago. Here is more from police. ACP Joseph Myvett - Head, NCIB: "Orange Walk police responded to information of a body floating in the New River. As a result they were able to secure a boat where an area was visited 1.8 kilometers northeast of the Orange Walk bypass bridge where upon arrival the body of a Hispanic male was seen floating as a result, the body was moved to the side of the river where it was observed that it was missing both arms as well as the face was severely disfigured as well as the abdomen..."

BPO Bus Burnt up on Highway
About 45 Transparent BPO employees are fortunate to be alive after their bus burst into flames on the way to work. It happened around 6:45 this morning between miles 8 and 9 on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Courtney Weatherburne was on the scene. Here is her story. A routine trip to work turned into a ride to hell when this Transparent BPO bus caught on fire. Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino - CIB Investigator: "Ladyville police responded to a bus fire between 8 and 9 miles on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Upon arrival they discovered a bus that is owned by Transparent BPO on fire." According to the bus driver, Branson Rhaburn, he was heading to Belize City from Orange Walk. It was a smooth ride until he picked up a passenger at this Ladyville bus stop.

Donald Trump Sends Stern Message to Belize on Human Trafficking Laws
Belize continues to be ranked as a tier three human trafficking nation by the US, and US President Donald Trump sent a powerful and angry message to the Barrow Administration today: no more non-humanitarian, non-trade-related assistance to Belize until it makes what the US deems to be significant efforts to comply with US Trafficking in Persons regulations. The decision is contained in a Memorandum for the Secretary of State from President Donald Trump. It is dated today and is posted on the White House website. The decision also targets 16 other countries, and the list includes only 3 countries in the America’s: Belize, Bolivia, and Venezuela.

Prison CEO Gives his Side of the Story in Lawsuit Case
Earlier this week, we told you about the start of lawsuit that Orel Leslie has brought against the Belize Central Prison. He’s suing the prison authorities for alleged ill-treatment, which he says he was subjected to for several months while he was remand, awaiting his retrial for murder. As we told you, it’s the first case in Belize where a former inmate is suing the management of the country’s prison for inhumane treatment and a violation of his constitutional rights. Earlier in the week, he took the stand to give details of about this alleged ill-treatment. Well today, it was Virgilio Murrillo, the Prison CEO, who took the stand as one of the main witnesses for the defense. In his evidence, he provided the court with the prison’s account of several incidents that Leslie has brought up as proof of this poor treatment.

Court Clerk Walks off Theft Charge
A 30 year old first class court clerk is free from a theft charge tonight. He is Sean Lord and he was accused of stealing $2,010 dollars from his workplace, the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court. The money Lord allegedly stole was said to have been paid to the court by two immigrants convicted of illegal entry. They were ordered to pay their fines immediately. Lord was tried in Belmopan. But Senior Magistrate Merlene Moody upheld a submission from his attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley who convinced her that the prosecution failed to prove the case. Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney for Sean Lord: "There are two Government receipt books for which cashiers collect money. One day at the end of that day, that receipt book and all the monies collected are paid into the treasury department, which is done all over the country. When the treasury is using that book..."

Police Shoot Rowdy ‘Griga Resident to Subdue Him
Dangriga police had to shoot a man in leg to get him to simmer down. The incident happened on Tuesday night. Police told us more. ACP Joseph Myvett - Head, NCIB
"Dangriga police responded to a disturbance at a Chinese store where upon arrival one Nelson Jackson was observed behaving boisterously and as a result he was approached by officers in order to calm him down and remove him from the area but he kept on behaving in that fashion and at some point during his confrontation with the officers, he made a motion to go towards his pants waist with his right hand and as a result an officer took out his service firearm and fired one shot which caught him on his right upper leg. He is admitted at the Southern Regional hospital in a stable condition."

No Leads in 8 Miles Shooting Investigation
Police say they don’t know what to make of the back to back shootings at the couples 8 miles home. As we have reported, 48 year-old Vilma Robinson and 38 year-old Erick McLarly were asleep when a gunman or gunmen came to shoot up their house two nights in a row. Police say they have no leads in this case. Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino - CIB Investigator: "We did receive information that there was another shooting the following day if I'm not mistaken in regard to 8 miles. No one has come forward to make an official report, police did look into the area however like I said, there was no one who made an official report, however police have stepped up their patrols in the area and that area will be looked at closely."

Maniac Husband Charged for Knocking Down Wife and Relatives
A man has been charged for knocking down his wife and her relatives in Belmopan. He is 32 year old Darrell Usher. He has been charged with 5 counts of attempted murder, 5 counts of use deadly means of harm, 5 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of grievous harm, 2 counts of harm and 1 count of wounding. He was arraigned before the court and was remanded until February 15th, 2019. As we reported on Tuesday, Darrell Usher and his common law wife Yessica Sagastume had a dispute. Sagastume left their Kiskadee Avenue home with relatives en route to her parents’ Maya Mopan house. That is when Usher came and rammed into them with his vehicle. Police told us more.

Protected Police Protect the Streets
And before we could get to all those police stories, the police held a short briefing about a special donation they got from their counterparts, The Miami-Dade police department. Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie told us about the 500 bullet proof vests they got. Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "We have been the beneficiaries of a very large donation of exactly 500 bulletproof vests for the Belize police department which was donated to us by the Miami Dade police department through Chief Perez as well as through the initiative of the association of Caribbean commissioners of police and in particular the secretariat manager, Ms. Manning..."

Giving Cops a Break with Drugstore Deals and Discounts
And in more police news, in April, we showed you how Senior Superintendent Howell Gillett, the commander of Eastern Division Region 1 managed to convince UNO to give police officers a discount on fuel for police officers countrywide. He’s trying to incentivize them to step-up their performance in the service of the general public, well today, he signed a 1-year agreement with representatives of the Central Drug Store. This agreement includes 10% off general purchases, 10% off medications, $5 off all prescription refills costing less than $50, and $7.50 off all prescription refill purchases costing more than $50. Also, the cops get access to free delivery available to both the Queen Street and the Raccoon Street Police Stations.

No Storm Scares for this Hurricane Season
Tomorrow, November 30th, marks the close of the 2018 Atlantic Basin Hurricane season, and thankfully, Belize was spared of hurricane activity. The authorities say that the 2018 season was forecasted to have between normal, and slight above normal storm activity. For the most part, that forecast was fairly accurate with the above-normal activity taking place in North Atlantic. There were a total of 15 named storms and 1 tropical depression. Of the 15 named storms, 8 became hurricanes, and 2 reached strengths of major hurricanes. The strongest storms this seasons were Hurricanes Florence with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, and Hurricane Michael, which had maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour.

Leiden Law Professors on Belize-Guatemala Dispute
The media’s visit to The Hague continued today with a visit to two experts in international law. They are professors at Leiden University in the Netherlands - and spoke as academics and scholars who have no vested interest in the outcome. They had some interesting perspectives on the Belize Case. Jules Vasquez has the story: Leiden - where they are both professors - is one of the top universities in Europe and is over 500 years old.

ICJ Ruling Could Help with Sarstoon Confrontations
One other issue which we discussed with the Professors was their opinion on whether Guatemala had annexed the Sarstoon. It’s been three years since the Guatemalan military has been behaving aggressively on the river that forms the southern boundary between the two countries. And by aggressively we mean using the Belize sider of the river, and menacing - even detaining - Belizeans or the BDF when they traverse the Sarstoon. The professors wouldn’t call it annexation - per se - but said that it is a situation where going to the ICJ could help:…

It’s all about the Environment: Joint Commission Meet at OAS Office
So while the Belizean media is on an intense ICJ crash course in The Hague, here in Belize, discussions on other matters related to Belize and Guatemala were held. Yesterday top diplomats met at the O.A.S. office in the adjacency zone. This was for the fourth regular meeting of the Joint Commission on Belize-Guatemala. They discussed environmental issues; specifically, implementing the bilateral agreement on protection of the environment and sustainable use of resources signed almost four years ago. With help from each country’s top technical and official representatives, they hammered out plans to combat forest fires; explore the possibility of a bi-national technical mechanism for the monitoring of water quality...

Cayo Gets Fancy Multipurpose Center
San Ignacio Town is getting a $1.6 million dollar multi-purpose community center. This is through a partnership between the Governments of Italy and Belize and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center. It will be designed to incorporate renewable energy in order to stay in operation during a hurricane or other disasters. It also incorporates an independently powered hybrid grid-connected PV renewable energy system; a rainwater storage system; and an emergency communication system. Groundbreaking took place on Wednesday in the Twin Towns, where 5C’s executive director Dr. Kenrick Leslie spoke of the genesis of the project. We also hear from area representative and environment minister Dr. Omar Figueroa on the benefits to Cayo residents.

Keeping Auditors Accountable
The Office of the Auditor General, are the arbiters of government service and in recent years their reports have drawn much scrutiny and occasionally controversy. As part of its plans to strengthen effective communication between staff as well as outwardly to the public, a three-day training on effective communication and report writing was held in Belmopan, facilitated by communications expert, Ms. Sarah MacFayden of the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation. We hear from the trainer as well as senior staff of the office on what they learned.

Workshop to Tackle Child Labour
For the last 4 days, officials from several government agencies in Belize have been attending a workshop training on child labour. The Government wants to ensure that the relevant public officers are better able to detect child labour in the workplace, and so, the Ministry of Labour sought the assistance of the United States Department of Labour. American officials designed the workshop to prepare the Belizean officials to be able to train their colleagues in the curriculum from the US Department of Labour. At the closing ceremony, we asked the Labour CEO to share more details on the initiative, and how it helps the participants to be better at their jobs:

House Speaker in West Africa for High Level Meeting
Right now, House Speaker Laura Tucker Longsworth is in Cotonou, Benin, where she is attending the 52nd Session of African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States’ Parliamentary Assembly, and the 36th Session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. These events started yesterday, and continues until December 5th. As part her trip, House Speaker Tucker attended the meeting of the ACP Committee on Social Affairs and the Environment, which was held today.

Channel 5

Pomona Man Charged for the Murder of Marta Gonzalez
Pomona resident, twenty-one-year-old Christopher Albert Bradley was charged on Wednesday for the murder of sixty-eight-year-old Marta Gonzalez. Bradley is accused of fatally stabbing Gonzalez on the chest and dumping her [...]

Dangriga Police Shoots ‘Boisterous’ Man
Dangriga resident, Nelson Jackson is tonight recuperating from a gunshot wound he received on the right leg. Jackson was shot by a police officer on Tuesday. At this morning’s press [...]

Eyewitness Say Jackson was not Boisterous
While that is the official police version of events, an eyewitness told News Five that Nelson Jackson was not being boisterous. Elizabeth Williams was nearby when the incident occurred. She [...]

B.D.F. Private Fidel Williams Taken to Merida (by Bus?)
There is an update tonight on the health of B.D.F. private Fidel Williams. While on duty, Williams fell from the deteriorating pier at the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base on November [...]

PC Steven Ferguson Laid to Rest by Police Department
PC Steven Ferguson was today laid to rest by the Belize Police Department in his home village of Hattieville. Ferguson died on November twenty-first in a house he was renting [...]

No Identity for Body Found, Croc(s) Ate Face and Limbs
Investigators are still unable to identify the body of a middle-aged, Hispanic man which was found on Wednesday in the Orange Walk District. The body was fished out of the [...]

Testimonies in Orel Leslie’s Prison Lawsuit Conclude Before High Court
Arguments concluded today in the courtroom of Justice Courtney Abel who is hearing the case brought against the management of the central prison, Kolbe Foundation, by a former inmate, Orel [...]

The U.S. Cuts Aid to Belize Due to Lack of Progress on Human Trafficking
The U.S. government has determined it will be withholding aid to Belize for various programmes. Earlier today, the State Department announced that President Donald Trump had signed off a decree [...]

Law Experts on Fair Trial at The Hague
Today in The Hague, the Belize media had the opportunity to sit down with two law experts in International dispute resolution from Leiden University in the Netherlands to weigh in [...]

Law Experts on Guatemalan Military in the Sarstoon
The media took the opportunity to discuss the ongoing challenges with the Guatemalan Armed Forces in the Sarstoon with the legal experts from Leiden University. Ambassador Dylan Vernon explained on [...]

What’s with the Wording of the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala?
Another hot-button issue that the media has been pressing for answers while at The Hague is the specific wording of the Special Agreement between Belize and Guatemala. The court would [...]

Sagicor Life Responds to Choice Bank Pension Holders
On Tuesday, two former employees of Choice Bank Limited vented their frustration at Sagicor Life over their pension plan monies. Former Chief Operating Officer, Brian Stypul and former Chief Compliance [...]

Transparent B.P.O. Bus Bursts Into Flames
A Transparent B.P.O. bus burst into flames this morning. The incident happened between miles eight and nine on the Philip Goldson Highway at around six-fifty-five. Ladyville police and firefighters responded, [...]

5 Persons Ran Over by Enraged Man
Five persons are at the Western Regional Hospital receiving treatment after they were allegedly run over by an enraged common-law-husband. Thirty-two-year-old Darrell Alexander Usher was slapped with a number of [...]

B.P.D. Receives 500 Bulletproof Vests
Earlier this month, police officer Osbourne Martinez was fatally shot while responding to a robbery in progress at Belcove Hotel in downtown Belize City. Following his death, many questioned the [...]

IV Meeting of the Bze-Guat Joint Commission
The fourth meeting of the Guatemala-Belize Joint Commission was held on Wednesday at the Office of the Organization of American States in the Adjacency Zone. The meeting was to discuss the [...]

HelpAge International Concludes Sub-Regional Conference
A sub-regional conference of HelpAge International concluded today at the Ramada Princess in Belize City. Six countries in region examined a convention that was signed in 2015 under the Organization [...]

Communication Training for Auditor General’s Staff
The Auditor General’s office wants to make its reports more user-friendly. Simply put, it is so that the lay man and woman can easily understand and use the documents. So, [...]

Labour Inspectors do 4-Day Train the Trainers Child Labour Law Course
The Ministry of Labour has been partnering with the U.S. Department of Labour to strengthen systems to address child labour. As a part of the works being done, a curriculum for [...]

Resource and Resiliency Centre to be Constructed in San Ignacio
The C.C.C.C.C., headquartered in Belmopan deals with the environmental concerns of the entire Caribbean. On Wednesday, in San Ignacio, ground was broken for the construction of a resource and resiliency [...]

The Final Leg for Miss Universe Belize, Jenelli Fraser
Miss Universe Belize, Jenelli Fraser, is currently in Taiwan en route to Bangkok, Thailand for the international pageant to be held on December sixteenth. Fraser has gone through extensive training [...]

Artlchemist Exhibition Launches at the Mexican Institute
At this time at the Mexican Institute in Belize City, an exhibition is officially opening. This exhibit will showcase a wide collection of artwork from a pool of seven artists [...]

LOVE FM

Auditors participated in communications training
A three-day training was held for employees of the Auditor General Office, where they learned communication skills. The International Development Bank, IDB, believed that such a training could help strengthen the public financial management and was happy to facilitate the training. Dorothy Bradley, Auditor General told the media that the training will help to build …

Cayo North holds ground breaking for Resource Center
On Wednesday residents in Cayo saw the groundbreaking for the Cayo North Resource and Resiliency Center. The project has been in the works for some time now and is now being fully funded by the Government of Italy. Cayo North Area Representative, Omar Figueroa explained the significance of the project. Omar Figueroa: “It’s a gift …

Police Department receives 500 bullet proof vests
The Belize Police department has received five hundred bullet proof vests as a donation from the Miami Dade Police Department. The donation was made possible through the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP).Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie is a second Vice President of the ACCP. Commissioner Whylie said that the ACCP has a working …

Another shooting at Mile 8 Community
There was a second shooting at the Mile 8 community along the George Prince Highway. Earlier this week we told you of a shooting incident in which 48-year-old Vilma Robinson and 38-year-old Erick McLarly were shot while they slept in their home. Someone crept up behind the house and fired several shots that entered one …

Senators agree to settle payment to Glenn Godfrey
The Senate met on Wednesday and looked at five bills brought from the House of Representatives. Among them is the settlement with Glenn Godfrey. This pertains to a Master Lease Agreement over equipment leased by the failed enterprise International Telecommunications Limited (Intelco) to the then Musa administration. The story goes back to December 2002 when …

Martha Gonzalez killed in robbery; Police charge one man
Martha Gonzalez was killed in what appears to be a robbery. That is what police told the media today. The 68-year-old woman was found dead inside a pit latrine in Pomona Village on Monday. Gonzalez, who is from San Felipe Village in the Orange Walk District, had gone to Pomona to sell cheese and other …

Diversification is key in keeping fisheries sector sustainable
The fisheries sector is essential to the economy of Belize and the challenge is to keep the sector sustainable while continuing to put meals on the table of families and generate income for those who make their livelihood from the industry. In this regard, a pilot project entitled “Supporting developing countries in analyzing and implementing …

Police shoots one man in Dangriga
A Dangriga Police officer is being investigated after he shot a man on Tuesday night. ACP Joseph Myvett said the incident happened after police were called to handle a report of a disturbance at a store in that municipality. ACP Joseph Myvette: “One Nelson Jackson was observed behaving boisterously and as a result he was …

Identity of man pulled out of New River remains a mystery
Orange Walk police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man who is yet to be identified. His body was taken out of the New River on Wednesday afternoon. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch says the Hispanic male was missing some limbs. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head of the …

Bus catches fire on the Highway
This morning as commuters made their way towards Belize City, a large plume of smoke was visible on the Northern Highway. A bus filled almost to capacity with employees of Transparent BPO was heading down the highway when it combusted before it reached the Philip Goldson Airport Junction. The driver of the bus, Branson Rhaburn …

Ministries collaborate for the welfare of children
The Early Childhood Development National Strategic Plan was launched in 2017, to ensure that investment in a child’s life from early is established in order for that child to go on to achieve lifetime success. The government departments which are tasked to execute this are the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Human Development and key to establishing this is being interconnected.

Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
The thirteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is taking place in Port Louis, Republic of Mauritius, since Monday at the Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVICC). The meeting is being chaired by the Honourable Prithvirajsing Roopun, Minister of Arts and Culture of the Republic of Mauritius.

Jamaica’s Reggae added to UNESCO Cultural Heritage List
Today, Reggae has been added to the list of global cultural treasures by UNESCO, the United Nation’s cultural and scientific agency. The sound, which reached international acclaim thanks to artists like Bob Marley, Bonnie Wailer and Peter Tosh who gave voice to the oppressed in Jamaica.

Police Department bury PC Steven Ferguson
The Belize Police Department took care of funeral arrangements for Police Constable Steven Anthony Ferguson, who was buried today. He is the officer who is believed to have killed his common-law-wife Josephine Hamilton and turned the gun on himself.

Guatemala-Belize Joint Commission
The Fourth meeting of the Guatemala-Belize Joint Commission was held on Wednesday, November 28th in the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Adjacency Zone. The meeting was headed by the Commissioners of both countries, the Ambassador of Belize in Guatemala, Alexis Rosado and the Ambassador of Guatemala in Belize, Georges de La Roche.

Darrell Usher faces 20 charges for running over his common-law wife and four others
Police have levied up to twenty charges against Darrell Alexander Usher for running over his common-law wife and four other persons including two minors. The 32-year-old was arrested and charged today with five counts attempted murder, five counts of use deadly mean of harm, five counts of aggravated assault, two counts of grievous harm, two counts of harm and one count of wounding.

BDF Private heading to Merida for Medical Treatment following Accident
Belize Defense Force (BDF) soldier Private Fidel Williams was stationed at the Sarstoon Forward Operating Base when he was injured on the 14th of November, 2018. Private Williams was walking on the pier when his foot hit a deteriorated plank that caused him to fall.

The Reporter

MAN WHO RAMMED CAR INTO FAMILY IN BELMOPAN, CHARGED
Today Darrell Alexander Usher, 32, was formally charged for 5 counts of attempted murder, 5 counts of use of deadly means of harm, 5 counts of aggravated assault, 2 counts of grievous harm, 2 counts of harm and 1 count of wounding.

BUS ON FIRE ON THE Phillip Goldson HWY. IN LADYVILLE
The Reporter has confirmed that the bus which caught fire in Ladyville a short while ago is owned by Transparent BPO and transports workers from Orange Walk to Belize City. It is not known at this time what started the fire, but the bus was totally destroyed by the flames. We are told nobody was hurt.

Breaking Belize News

Atlantic Hurricane season closes
Tomorrow, November 30, marks the closing of the 2018 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. The 2018 Atlantic […]

House speaker attends Session of ACP Parliamentary assembly
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Laura Tucker Longsworth is in Cotonou, Benin, attending the 52nd Session […]

Miami-Dade police donate 500 bullet proof vests to Belize Police Department
Today, the Belize Police Department received a generous donation from the Miami-Dade Police Department. The Miami-Dade […]

Belize extends solidarity to Palestine
The Government of Belize today joins in the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with […]

European Union approves $7 million Euros for Belize- Guatemala projects
The European Union (EU) has approved $7 million Euros for Belize- Guatemala related projects. The money […]

Expert on international dispute settlements weighs in on Belize’s referendum
Belizean journalists today visited Leiden University, Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at The Hague, Netherlands […]

International law experts share details on dispute settlements
Belizean journalists today visited Leiden University, Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies at The Hague, Netherlands […]

International law experts speak on Belize-Guatemala dispute
Belizeans will decide on April 10, 2019, if we want to take the case of Guatemala’s […]

Concerns of question Belizeans will answer in April
Belizeans have expressed concern about the formulation of the question that Belizeans will answer to on […]

Belizean youths awarded for outstanding achievements
The Department of Youth Services (DYS), Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture ended its National Youth […]

Passenger bus bursts into flames on the Philip Goldson Highway
This morning a passenger bus exploded into flames on the Philip Goldson Highway. According to reports, the bus is owned by Transparent BPO which transports employees from Orange Walk to Belize City.

Blogs

Cold front approached in Corozal on Tuesday
Temperatures in Belize vary by only about 4°C between the coolest part of the year (December to March) and the hottest (May to September). Nobody wants to get out of bed during a cold front, especially as cold as it is right now!! Belize's temperature hardly drops into the 60's so it's COLD right now. Each place in Belize varies. And, each cold front varies when approaching Belize. Today, I will be blogging about how the cold front approached in Corozal earlier this week. This past Tuesday, a cold front came in our way in Belize. And, countrywide it was affected differently. Like down south, flooding happened in the mountains, because of too much rain. This was the weather update for this week before the cold front entered our way: "A cold front in the Gulf of Mexico will stall over North Belize Today Tuesday throw the Evening. Before weakening and drifting back North through Friday. Weather is forecast to be unsettled for the next 4 days. So temps in North will be slightly cooler than South.

AGNIS LIVING AMONG JAGUARS
Ya’axché works with livestock farmers to implement unique mitigation measures that help protect jaguars and keep cows. As night approaches, Agnis Ujan nervously watches the spectacular sunset over the Maya Mountains west of Big Falls village, southern Belize. Fireflies soon fill the starless night. A chill wind blows from the Caribbean Sea in the east, as her husband Henry prepares for a long night ahead guarding his cattle. A pregnant female might give birth to a calf tonight, and Agnis knows very well that if the calf is not guarded, jaguars could snatch the warmth from the farm like the cold winds of the night. “If you see that jaguar, fire that shot Henry!” Agnis shouts with emotion as her husband warms up his motorbike. Farmers in surrounding communities often kill jaguars in retaliation for killing their livestock. Henry has never seen a jaguar on his farm, but the tracks are evident. He wonders whether he can bear guarding his cattle in the pitch dark as he arrives at his farm. A loud thud startles Henry; he goes to inspect the noise. A cow has fallen, and Henry witnesses the birth of a young bull.

International Sources

Best Trips 2019
Belize’s growing popularity as one of the best vacation destinations in the world and the recent efforts to protect Belize’s Barrier Reef System has won the country an important accolade from National Geographic, which has placed Belize among is Best Trips 2019 list.

Reggae music to be protected by UN after being declared global cultural treasure
UNESCO has declared reggae, the Jamaican music that spread across the world with its calls for social justice, peace and love, to be a global treasure that must be safeguarded. Born in the poor neighbourhoods of Kingston in the 1960s, reggae reflected hard times and struggle but could also be joyous dance music with its distinctive off-beat. Its most famous songwriter and performer, the late Bob Marley, became a global superstar with hits like “No Woman, No Cry” and “Get Up, Stand Up”. Other notables include Jimmy Cliff and Toots and the Maytalls.

Belize starts high-level 5-day visit to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in effort to bolster expertise in World Heritage Conservation
From 26 to 30 November 2018, a high-level delegation from Belize is visiting Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to exchange best practices on leveraging their reef’s iconic World Heritage status, to protect their fragile ecosystems from climate impacts and secure sustainable livelihoods, jobs and income for local communities. The visit follows a series of landmark conservation actions that led to the removal of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System from the List of World Heritage in Danger earlier this year. As the world’s most extensive coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef is a globally outstanding and significant entity. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981 and covers an area larger than Italy. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is one of the most pristine reef ecosystems in the Western Hemisphere and was referred to as ‘the most remarkable reef in the West Indies’ by Charles Darwin. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

The Great Blue Hole: Unknown life forms to stories of Mayans, explorers aim to uncover many secrets from thousands of years ago
The Great Blue Hole — a giant marine sinkhole off the coast of Belize — may be holding secrets dating back thousands of years, from life forms unknown to mankind to undocumented stories of Mayan sea-farers, according to a renowned deep sea explorer and conservationist. One of the most famous diving zones in central America, the Great Blue Hole is thought to have been shaped by geological forces over 10,000 years ago. Located 74 kilometres off the coast of Belize, the sinkhole is known for its crystal-clear water and its abundance of sharks and sea life. The nearly perfect sphere of deep blue water, measuring 300 metres across and 125 metres deep, has only been explored once — back in 1970 by Jacques Cousteau, a pioneering marine conservationist who studied the sea and all forms of life in water. His grandson Fabien Cousteau now prepares to journey to the same spot in a fully-manned submersible, unveiling the deepest secrets of the watery underworld live for viewers across the globe.

Scotiabank to exit nine countries in Caribbean shake-up
The Bank of Nova Scotia said Tuesday that it has struck a deal to sell banking businesses in nine of the smaller countries in the Caribbean, such as Antigua and Dominica, as the lender continues to narrow down the number of international markets in which it operates. The move comes as Scotiabank, which has said larger markets in Latin America are still very much part of its plans, reported that adjusted profit from its international banking unit grew at a greater rate than that of its Canadian business over the past year.

Videos

Downwind Sailing Techniques | Sailing to Placencia Belize | Asymmetrical Spinnaker Sailing, 17min. While Sailing to Placencia Belize we explain our downwind sailing techniques and talk about asymmetrical spinnaker sailing! It was hard to say goodbye to air conditioned bathrooms and hot water showers, but once underway for Placencia we were rewarded with perfect sailing conditions, giving us time to reflect on our journey thus far as well as discuss many of our downwind sailing equipment choices and techniques.

ICJ meeting in San Pedro Thursday night, 2hr.

Cave Kayaking in the Belize Jungle – A Comedy of Errors = A Great Adventure (includes bloopers), 10min. So many little things went wrong this day: the radiator busted on one of the trucks, the same truck got stuck in mud and needed to be hauled out, it rained right in the middle of the day, and for some strange reason, I just could not get my coordination together during the first half of the kayaking day. (I've included a blooper section of my laughable frustrations for your viewing pleasure.) Enjoy! Despite all the mini fails (or perhaps BECAUSE) of them, it ended up being one of my favorite adventures during my 13 days in Belize. This cave kayaking trip with Maya Guide Adventures offers a little bit of everything: 4x4 drive, peaceful river kayaking in the jungle, eerie cave kayaking in the dark, a tiny caving side trip, and lunch - all while supporting a local mom & pop operation.

Belize Diving 2018,4 min. Spent a week in Belize at Saint George's Caye Resort.

Bus get burnt!!!, 4min. What how the fire fighters wait till the bus is completely covered in flames to try put it out!

November 29, 2018

Notice: Caye Caulker Liqour License

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro Red Cross holds final blood drive for 2018
The Belize Red Cross, San Pedro Branch (BRCSPB) held their final blood drive for the year on Saturday, November 24th. The drive took place at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, where nine pints of blood were collected. From 9AM to 3PM, volunteers and Belize Blood Bank personnel welcomed potential donors, while a dollar drive was held on the streets of downtown San Pedro, raising $400. A total of 18 island residents made their way to the Polyclinic to donate blood, but nine were declined due to their age and/or personal reasons. The general public is advised to be attentive as they will soon be releasing the dates for next year’s blood drive.

Belize’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union weighs in on the Guatemalan claim and the ICJ
The head of mission at the Embassy of Belize in Belgium, His Excellency Dylan Vernon met with Belizean journalists on Wednesday, November 28th in The Hague, Netherlands to talk about the Guatemalan claim on Belize and what can be expected at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The diplomat stated that Belizeans need not be concerned about heading to the ICJ, as Belize has a watertight case and a great wealth of documentation to counter any arguments from Guatemala. The Ambassador could not tell of the possible repercussions that Belize could face if a ‘NO’ vote is cast at the upcoming referendum in April 2019 but mentioned that the country could face challenges when seeking further assistance from the international community.

Team Experienced wins the first ever Beer Olympics on Ambergris Caye
Hoping to bring together a community through entertainment, the Rotaract Club of Ambergris Caye organized the first-of-its-kind Beer Olympics that took place on Saturday, November 24th. 10 teams of four signed up to play a variety of beer games in hopes of taking home some coveted prizes. Close to $4,000 were raised, which will be put towards Rotaract community service events including providing and preparing meals for Colleen’s Kitchen at Hope Haven, providing more education and garbage bins around the community, and more.

The Peace Palace welcomes Belizean journalists as they visit the ICJ court room
Belizean journalists currently at The Hague, Netherlands visited the Peace Palace on Tuesday, November 27th and had a close look at the court room of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) located inside the palace. The media group also held discussions with an expert on international law, who shed light on special agreements, the process of the hearings and the issue of enforcement after judgement is delivered.

San Pedro Cellular World Re-vamped and Re-opened for business
After closing for renovations, Cellular World’s San Pedro Branch hosted its grand re-opening on Friday, November 23rd. After weeks of construction, the doors to the business opened to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new installation offers the best sound system accessories, as well as tablets, security systems, smart watches and much more. To celebrate the newly designed store, customers enjoyed two days of promotional sales. Sale items included cellular phones for as low as $39, tablets as low as $149, speakers for $15 and up, LED televisions for low as $599. Many island residents took advantage of these special prices to get their electronic devices.

Ambergris Today

Prime Minister Barrow To Remain In Office Until 2020
Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, discussed the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) current trajectory heading towards the 2020 general elections. Ministers expressed great satisfaction at the evidence of support for the UDP, as measured by the large voter turnout at the UDP contested standard bearer conventions taking place every weekend since November 4th. Cabinet took note of the fact that these contests have been as fierce as the turnouts have been huge. In that context, Cabinet felt that once the standard bearer conventions conclude in mid-December, there should be a break in the remaining convention schedule to allow for healing and an organizational reset to take place at the individual constituency level.

First Caribbean Make - Up Line Launches In Belize
On December 1st, 2018 at BCCI’s Christmas Expo Extravaganza, Fine Things Ltd., located in Corozal and owned by Belizean, Melissa Vargas, will proudly launch Sacha Cosmetics in the country of Belize for users and those seeking entrepreneurial opportunities. Sacha is a Trinidad and Tobago born brand of makeup specially formulated for exotic skin types, but especially made for the Caribbean Climate.

Misc Belizean Sources

October 2018 External Trade & CPI, 3rd Quarter GDP
Results from the Statistical Institute of Belize's monthly Consumer Price Index survey show that, for the month of October 2018, the All-Items Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 1 05.3. This represented an increase, or inflation rate, of 0.8 percent compared to October 2017, when a CPI of 104.6 was recorded. Belize’s total imports for the month of October 2018 were valued at over $193 million. This was an increase of 14.4 percent or $24.3 million from imports for October 2017, which totaled $168.7 million. Total domestic exports for October 2018 amounted to $35.2 million, down 5.1 percent or $1.9 million when compared to exports for October 2017, which were valued at $37.1 million. For the three months of July to September 2018, the total level of economic activity in the country of Belize increased by 3.3 percent in comparison to the same three months of 2017.

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday to paint “A Toucan View”.

La Isla Carinosa Academy Presents Christmas Variety Show
It's that merry time of the year again. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy our program. Teachers and students are preparing very hard to entertain you for this jolly season. You can purchase your ticket/s from any LICA student or teacher. Saturday, December 8, 7pm at the Basketball Court

Friends for Conservation and Development Annual General Meeting
If you would like to learn more about our programs, you can stop by at our FCD Annual General Meeting at San Ignacio Resort Hotel at 2:00 PM this Sunday. We’ll be grateful for your participation.

Groundbreaking ceremony for a Community Multi-Purpose and Emergency Centre
The groundbreaking ceremony for a Community Multi-Purpose and Emergency Centre was held today in San Ignacio Town. The project is comprised of two focus areas, namely, the replacement of existing street lighting in San Ignacio with LED lights and the building of a multi-purpose facility for use as a disaster shelter and a community center. Construction will commence this month and is scheduled to be completed in May 2019. Funding is being provided by the Government of Italy and the Government of Belize. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center is the implementing body.

Belize's Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E. Dylan Vernon met with the Belizean media in The Hague
The Ambassador spoke on the roles of his embassy, and specifically, its role as it relates to the International Court of Justice. As announced by Prime Minister Barrow, Ambassador Vernon will join other ambassadors in Belize as the Government strengthens its Public Education Campaign in preparation for the 2019 Referendum. Ambassador Vernon is based at Belize's embassy in Brussels. He is accredited to Belgium and the European Union. Pictured here is Ambassador Vernon during interviews with the media. In the backdrop is the Binnenhof, the center of power and political heart of Dutch democracy.

Miss Chiquitita 2018!
Tickets now available for Miss Chiquitita 2018! Come and purchase them here at our office on 4th Avenue Corozal Town, Belize C.A. or any of the other outlets mentioned on the flier! VIP $15BZ GENERAL $10BZ

Mr Orvin Rancheran of Ranchito Village passes away
Main my heart just sank over a death announcement Of Mr Orvin Rancheran of Ranchito Village. I heard it on the radio. I knew Mr Rancheran as a long time educator, JP, Chairman and of course a political icon. His loved for sports and education and the love for his community was a driving force for him. I wish I knew before to go pay my respects to you... we fought many good fight together... Rest In Peace Mr Orvin, Chairman and of course JP!

Lecture Series on the Referendum and the ICJ in San Pedro
Nov 29, Presentations by Assad Shoman. A good way to stay informed on this important issue.

The Belize Youth Awards 2018
The Department of Youth Services (DYS), Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture ended its National Youth Month activities with the celebration of young leaders at the Belize Youth Awards 2018. The year’s award show was celebrated under the theme “Amplifying the Voice of Youth.” The event was held at Bliss Institute of Performing Arts on Friday the 23rd of November 2018 and was attended by over five hundred youth from across the length and breadth of Belize. The 2018 Belize Youth Awards saw the nomination of over hundred (100) youth from across Belize in nineteen different categories. There were six (6) awardees from Belize District, six (6) from the Cayo District and three (3) from Orange Walk District. Three categories did not receive nominations; these were the Strength through Diversity, Youth in Agriculture and Outstanding Student Government. The Corporate award was distributed to UNFPA.

Fuzed Bistro Opening at Midas
Fuzed Bistro, Midas Resort's new restaurant, will be having their grand opening this Saturday. Reservations can be made by calling 624-0500.

Beekeeping policy consultation session
6 beekeepers from the MGL and 2 Ya’axché staff attended a beekeeping policy consultation session. We are happy to have contributed for a strengthened policy aimed at improving the beekeeping industry in Belize. Ya’axché is working with 21 beekeepers within the Maya Golden Landscape, our focal area of work. Through our successful beekeeping program, we provide material, training and technical field support to farmers.

KAUIL
Kauil is the Maya representation of Fire . Kauil was related to the governors since its a synonym is of power,and represented also abundance of the crops.

Channel 7

Body Washed Ashore in Orange Walk
A dismembered body was found this afternoon near the Orange Walk bypass. The body floated unto the river bank. Information is that the two arms were missing and the face was unrecognizable. The body was taken to Burrell Boom where the post mortem will be conducted. The footage is courtesy our colleagues at CTV-3. We will inform you as soon as we have more information.

Marta Gonzalez Stabbed to Chest, Police looking for Main Suspect
Police are looking for a Pomona resident in connection to Marta Gonzalez's murder. He is Christopher Bradley. The family says they know who he is. Our information is that he is considered armed and dangerous. If you see this man, call the police immediately. Now, we also have an update on Gonzalez's post mortem results. She was stabbed to the chest and then her body wrapped in a gray tarp and dumped in a pit latrine. As we have reported, Gonzalez left her San Felipe, Orange Walk home early Friday morning to go sell cheese and other goods in Pomona Village. The family became very worried when she did not return home on Saturday. They went to Pomona to look for her on Saturday night but didn't find her.

Government wants PUP to own up to Intelco Deal
The Senate met in Belmopan today, likely for the last time in 2018. It had the task of passing five bills brought from the House of Representatives and four motions. One of the topics of contention at today's Senate sitting was the $5 million Government has asked to obtain from national coffers to pay off a most sour sweetheart deal. In short, Glenn D. Godfrey - in the name of a company called GDG Acquisitions - sued the government on the strength of a 2002 master lease agreement. It's a contract Intelco signed with Government to supply telecommunications equipment. Now, never mind that the equipment never really worked and the company went south; the agreement still stands, and government has to pay. But those on the Government side wanted their Senate Opposition colleagues to do what those in the House would not on Friday: Say sorry.

More Bickering Over Costly GPH Rehab Project
And of course the George Price Highway Rehabilitation Project was among the discussion topics. That's the project with the $14 million additional financing from the Inter-American Development Bank including construction of a new Roaring Creek Bridge. As admitted by Minister of Works Rene Montero in the House on Friday, monies are needed at least in part for acquisition of lands in the area to widen the road. But Business Senator Mark Lizarraga harshly criticized the complete handling of the project by the Government, including paying extra monies for a re-design of the bridge and shading the true purpose of the loan. Leader of Government Business Godwin Hulse responded that the protocols put in place for the management of the project are intact - it's just the estimates that were wrong.

Senate Talk Sales Tax
The last major item that was debated this afternoon was the amendment to the General Sales Tax Act. It promises to close the loophole that allowed the Caribbean Court of Justice to affirm that tour operators are zero-rated for tax purposes and allow them to collect millions they paid in GST for the last 12 years. The debate continued until later this afternoon but the Senator for the Business Community, Mark Lizarraga, told us that the amendment goes beyond its stated purpose. He says it will impact much of Belize's business climate and send a poor signal to future investors - that they will need to watch their backs.

Health Officials Investigate Santa Cruz Baby Death
Last night we showed you the tragic story of one year old Ofelia Na. She died on Monday afternoon after she suddenly fell ill with a bad fever and cough. Neither the family nor neighbors had a vehicle to rush the baby to the nearest hospital, which is over 30 miles away in Dangriga. The family says this is not the first baby to die in the village due to lack of personal resources and access to health facilities. Well, the Ministry of Health reached out to us to say that they have a health worker who lives in Santa Cruz. Her named is Damaris Tacen. She offers basic health services, education and does referrals.

Bert Vasquez Awaits Sentencing for Second Conviction
3 weeks ago, we told you about Bert Vasquez, and the second guilty verdict that he is now facing for a sexual offense. He was found guilty of attempted rape by a jury of 9 in a trial before Justice Colin Williams. Today was his mitigation hearing, and Crown Counsel Kileru Awich, who prosecuted the case against him, intended to simply read the impact statement from Vasquez's accuser, who was 20 years-old at the time. But, before Awich could do that, Vasquez, who is representing himself at this time, announced to the court that he wanted to make preliminary objections to portions of the statement the complainant made.

Tourism: The Shining Light in Quarterly SIB Report
Today the Statistical Institute of Belize held it's press conference on the 3rd Quarter GDP estimates. The Statisticians presented on a number of areas including consumer index, inflation rates and trade. The SIB Deputy Director Diana Castillo - Trejo gave us an overview of Belize's performance in these areas. And while tourism is a major boost for the economy, on the ground, Belizeans are feeling the pinch when it comes to cost of living. Trejo explained.

SIB Announce 2020 Census
The Institute is also preparing for next year's census. Trejo told us how detailed and extensive the 2020 census will be. Diana Castillo-Trejo, Deputy Director General - SIB: "For the coming year we have a very full schedule. Our main focus is going to be on the preparations for census 2020. So this coming year we are going to be doing our mapping exercise. We will be mapping the entire country and this is going to help our interviewers out in the field to more easily locate households also to help us to do some more meaningful analysis, at smaller geographic levels when it comes to teh census data itself. Right now the census contains a vast amount of information and one of the new additions that we are putting in there is we want to do an estimate of poverty..."

SIB all in your Business for Household Budget Survey
And Trejo also told us about a survey the SIB is currently working on. It's to collect and analyze spending patterns among Belizeans. So they want to know how much you spend and on what, down to what brands you, the consumer prefer. Trejo told us more.

It’s a New Day for Fisheries in Belize
The Fisheries Department held it's first stakeholder meeting for what's called the Ocean Economy and Trade Strategies in Belize. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the beginning stages of implementing a 3 year project which will enhance the productivity in the Fisheries sector. The department is partnering with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and one of their representatives told us more about this project. David Vivas, Rep., UN Conference for Trade and Dev.: "We are organizing together with the government of Belize the first national stakeholder meeting to asses economic ocean space sectors with potential for Belize. That includes all the fisheries sector and the tourism sector. The idea is to develop a strategy so Belize can see the potential."

CITO and Taiwan Team up to Transform Transport Sector
In a couple of years from now, Belize well have it's own centralized motor vehicle registration and licensing database, and the Ministry of Transport will be able to operate in a similar manner to the Departments of Motor Vehicle that exists in the different states in the US. It's part of the country's push toward E-Government, and in this instance, the Government officials want the transport departments of the 9 different municipalities in Belize to feed all their information into one centralized system known as the Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and License System. The Taiwanese Government is partnering with the Ministry of Transport and the Central Information Technology Office (CITO) to make this project a reality, and today, they held a soft launch of this new Motor Vehicle Registrate and License System.

From Belgium to The Hague: Ambassador Dylan Vernon Meet Belizean Journalists
And tonight we go back to The Hague in the Netherlands where Jules Vasquez and a team of Belizean journalists are learning firsthand about the International Court of Justice. Today, the press met with Belize's Ambassador to The Hague, and to the entire European Union, Dylan Vernon. He travelled from his office in Brussels, Belgium to meet the team of journalists this morning. Jules Vasquez reports:...

Guyana Going Full Steam Ahead to the ICJ with Venezuelan Claim
And while Vernon is working the European diplomatic channels to advance Belize's arguments and quietly build consensus, another CARICOM state is not being so cautious about the ICJ. Venezuela is claiming two thirds of Guyana - and, earlier this year Guyana got UN approval to take the case to the ICJ. This is significant because it is the only one before the ICJ that is comparable to Belize, insofar as one country is claiming a large part of another, in this case Guyana could lose two thirds of its territory. So, why are they so eager to go to the ICJ with so much at stake? We asked Vernon:

Vernon Says There is no Easy Way out of Guatemalan Claim
And while Vernon is working the European diplomatic channels to advance Belize's arguments and quietly build consensus, another CARICOM state is not being so cautious about the ICJ. Venezuela is claiming two thirds of Guyana - and, earlier this year Guyana got UN approval to take the case to the ICJ. This is significant because it is the only one before the ICJ that is comparable to Belize, insofar as one country is claiming a large part of another, in this case Guyana could lose two thirds of its territory. So, why are they so eager to go to the ICJ with so much at stake? We asked Vernon:

Ambassador Vernon Confident in Belize’s Case
And one of the reasons Vernon is so certain that Belize should go all the way - and not halfway with an advisory opinion - is because Guatemala never occupied Belize. This is a foundational argument for the Belize side and he went over it today: Vernon returns to Belize in a few weeks where he will join the public education efforts. He spent the day with the media group in The Hague today.

Man Wins Shiny New Vehicle from COURTS
What do you want for Christmas? How does a 2019 Toyota Rush sound? Well, that is exactly what Westrac employee Jermaine Jacobs drove away with today. He is the winner of the COURTS raffle and today he was stunned when he found out. The courts staff made up an elaborate story about him being featured in a commercial for Westrac and then he was hit with the surprise. We were there to capture the moment. First, the customer service officer tells us more about this grand giveaway.

Burn Calories at Burn Box Gym
For years, Body 2000 has been the premier gym on Belize City's Northside, providing a 1-stop location for fitness equipment, nutrition, and personal trainers for persons trying to live healthier lifestyles. Well now, they have competition with a new fitness center, which opened a few blocks away in West Landivar. It's called Burn Box, and informed persons tell us it is owned by the Arguelles family. Burn Box is now opened for business, and you can find the facility at 4752 West Landivar.

Kids Party with Santa at FSTV
200 city kids got a break from the classroom today to party with Ozzy the clown and the BTB staff. We dropped by the Fort Street Tourism Village to get a vibe from their annual Christmas bash. The crew from Royal Princess Cruise Ship brought Santa along with them to give presents to the kids.

Channel 5

Marta Gonzalez Was Stabbed Before Being Dumped in Pit Latrine
The cause of death of an elderly food vendor whose body was found inside a latrine has been released though the motive for her murder has not been confirmed. A [...]

$14 Million More for Rehabilitation of George Price Highway
There were fireworks in Senate today on two matters that required ratification to pass. First, last week in the House, the Government passed a motion to borrow fourteen million dollars [...]

Where are the Details of the Multimillion-Dollar Contract?
Even so, the loan was approved by a majority of senators this afternoon. Most of the road is still under repair and the Roaring Creek Bridge is incomplete. The new [...]

The GST Act; Amended for G.O.B.’s Convenience?
Last Friday, the House also passed an amendment to the GST Act which affects tour operators. It came on the heels of a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice [...]

Business Senator Says Investor Confidence is Shaken by Amendment
Senator Lizarraga points out that the business community is nervous about this move by government because it goes beyond tour operators since it blurs the line between the separation of [...]

Does Cabinet Have Faith in Aspiring U.D.P. Leaders?
Minister Omar Figueroa was among a group of cabinet members who made a request to Prime Minister Dean Barrow to postpone his planned retirement and remain as party leader. Now [...]

Bert Vasquez to be Sentenced in December for Attempted Rape
Convicted criminal, thirty-five-year-old Bert Vasquez was in court today for his sentencing hearing in the courtroom of Justice Colin Williams. It took hours as the court heard a very lengthy [...]

2 Witnesses to Testify on Behalf of Orel Leslie
Orel Leslie’s civil case against the Kolbe Foundation and government continued today in the courtroom of Justice Courtney Abel. Leslie spent some time behind bars after being arrested and charged [...]

Orel Leslie ‘Suffered’ While Behind Bars
Leslie claims he was mistreated and suffered by the harsh conditions at the Belize Central Prison. His attorney, Audrey Matura, says Leslie suffered a grave illness that he had to [...]

Body Fished Out of New River, Orange Walk
Reports emerging from Orange Walk are that a body was fished out of the New River this afternoon along the Orange Walk Bypass road. The official identity of the man [...]

A Look at Belize’s Third Quarter Economic Performance
Figures were released today in respect of the performance of the economy; they show that the gross domestic product grew by more than three percent and that the cost of [...]

Environmental Indicators to be Included in Future SIB Statistics
Over the past several months, the S.I.B. has also been busy working with the Department of the Environment to produce what will be known as environmental statistics, which will be [...]

An Extensive Interview with Ambassador Dylan Vernon at The Hague
Today in The Hague, Netherlands, the Belizean media got the opportunity to have an extensive conversation with Dylan Vernon, Ambassador of Belize to Belgium and Mission of Belize to the [...]

Belize Reinstated to RADO
The National Anti-doping Organization, NADO, has a new director, following the Brandon Cattouse fiasco earlier this year which resulted in Belize’s suspension from the Regional Anti-doping Organization. The incoming director [...]

Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies for Belize
Belize is one of three countries participating in a three-year pilot project which aims to contribute towards developing an enabling national policy and regulatory frameworks for the sustainable management of [...]

Minister Figueroa: Hol Chan Donated School Bags to Summer Camp
A report and receipt surfaced on social media recently claiming that Minister Omar Figueroa had received a donation from the Hol Chan Marine Reserve to be used in his constituency. [...]

E-governance Takes on the Transport Department
As it stands, the Department of Transport and the nine cities and towns across the country all work independently of each other. They also operate on separate electronic databases and [...]

Annual Kids Party Kicks off 2018 Christmas Season
As many as two hundred primary school students from across Belize City, many of them between the ages of five and ten years old, attended the first Christmas party to [...]

LOVE FM

German Government assists Mesoamerican countries
To make the Mesoamerican Reef resilient to climate change, the German Government is sponsoring a project which looks at ways to mitigate the effects of climate change by introducing adaptive measures. The four year project is called “Climate-smarting Marine Protected Areas and Coastal Management in Mesoamerican Reef” which will be conducted in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, …

GDP up 3.3 Percent
The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) has released its third-quarter gross domestic product estimates; the October Consumer Price Index; inflation rate and the January to October merchandise trade estimates. The Deputy Director General of the SIB, Diana Castillo says the economy grew by 3.3 percent. Diana Castillo-Trejo Deputy Director General, SIB: “In terms of the …

Senate passes bill to borrow US$7 million from IDB
The Senate also debated the government’s additional loan of seven million US dollars from the inter-American Development Bank for the George Price Highway Rehabilitation Project. The money is an additional sum to the 27 million US dollars that the Government had received as loan for the George Price Highway Rehabilitation Project back in 2015. That …

BTB’s annual children’s party
Today was a regular school day, but for two hundred children instead of being in class, they were enjoying themselves at a Christmas party being held especially for them. Today, the Belize Tourism Board in collaboration with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association held it fifteenth annual Christmas children’s party. Love news spoke with Maria Guerra, …

Commuters will soon enjoy a more comfortable commute
Those of you who use public transportation know it can be unreliable from time to time and very uncomfortable with a limited amount of buses traversing our highways. Many commuters tend to stand from the time they get on till they arrive at their destination. The transport department is working to make persons’ commute a …

Relative speaks out on incident where family was ran over by woman’s companion
At least four persons are recovering from being hit by a vehicle, an incident that culminated a domestic dispute in Belmopan. It happened on Tuesday morning after Jessica Sagastume got into a dispute with her common-law husband Darrel Usher. According to reports, Usher allegedly ran a grey Saturn car he was driving over Sagastume, her …

NADO reinstated into RADO-CAM
Several months ago, the National Anti-Doping Organization of Belize, NADO, was suspended from the Regional Anti-Doping Organization due to several infractions. In February Brandon Cattouse participated in the three day Valentine’s Classic Tour in which he won second place. He gave the standard urine sample for doping which was administered by Dr. Michael Pitts, who …

Government of Belize successfully blocks payment of monies to tourism sector
Today the Senate passed the bill to amend the General Sales Tax that will allow the Government of Belize to essentially avoid returning monies owed to tour operators. Back in October, the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled in favor of David Gegg of Cruise Solutions Limited, who took the Government to court to have tour …

All that Cayo Rain leads to Flooding
There were floods reported all over the Cayo District last night. Areas such as Bullet Tree falls, and sections along the George Price Highway including Georgeville was flooded. Some homes and building were inundated with water as well. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Derrick Rudon told Love News the cause of the downpour Derrick Rudon Deputy Chief …

BMVRALS to decentralize transport governance
Today was the soft launch of the Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and License System (BMVRALS) as the project nears completion of the first phase. In 2014, a concept paper was developed and the Government of Taiwan was approached to provide funding for the project. In 2015, Taiwan approved funding for the project through its International …

The ICJ Legal Opinion and Support from the E.U.
LOVE News continues a series of in depth reports on the International Court of Justice from its headquarters at The Hague in the Netherlands. Love News’ Renee Trujillo reports on the education of the Belize media contingent which will help to inform the public when making their decision at next year’s referendum.

Courts hands over 2019 Toyota Rush to Belize City resident
Courts handed over a brand new 2019 Toyota Rush to lucky customer Jermaine Jacobs, this morning. It was the culmination of a Whirlpool raffle that started in September and ended in early November. Juanita Babb sales representative at the company says the winner was at the store just one day before they stopped receiving entries.

The Reporter

ANOTHER BODY FOUND – THIS TIME IN ORANGE WALK
The Reporter has been able to confirm reports that the body of a male person has been pulled from the New River near Orange Walk Town by Police. We are told that the identity has not yet been ascertained, and we have not been able to confirm whether there are signs of foul play.

Breaking Belize News

Exports Down again, imports up over 14 percent
During the month of October Belize made less revenue from export earnings but spent more […]

Cost of living remains up in October
As with the majority of 2018, Belizeans had to pay more for goods and services for […]

Ambassador Vernon: Minister Elrington is a strong advocate for Belize
Today, Belizean journalists met with Belize’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Dylan Vernon to […]

Martha Gonzalez was stabbed to death
The body of a 68-year-old woman from San Felipe, Orange Walk was found yesterday morning in […]

Venezuela claims over 61,000 square miles of Guyana; Guyana takes it to the ICJ
Guyana has taken a claim from Venezuela over its land for final settlement at the International […]

Public awareness campaign expected to intensify
The Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has embarked on a nationwide public […]

African, Caribbean and Pacific States remain strong ally to Belize
The African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states (ACP) is an international organization created in 1975. […]

Police investigating fire that destroyed home in Belize City
Police are investigating a fire that destroyed a home yesterday morning in Belize City. Around 8:15 […]

Man reported missing in Orange Walk
The family of Nerry Montenegro, 42, is concerned about his whereabouts. Nerry’s mom, Hermina reported him […]

Ambassador Vernon speaks on 1859 treaty
Ambassador Dylan Vernon is Belize’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and carries a full portfolio […]

What happens if Belizeans vote ‘No’ to the ICJ?
Today, a delegation of Belizean journalists met with Ambassador Dylan Vernon of the Embassy of Belize […]

Heavy rains bring flooding in down town San Ignacio
The heavy rains that poured yesterday afternoon in San Ignacio flooded many businesses in the […]

Blogs

Holiday Boat Parade: Decking the Caribbean Coastline
As December rolls around, a festive breeze starts blowing across Belize. Yes, it’s Christmas time again and with the merry season comes the festive family gatherings, kids’ parties and of course, the San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade! Now in its 13th inception, this is an island tradition you won’t want to miss. There is nothing more festive than artfully decorated boats cruising along the Caribbean coastline. Scheduled for Saturday, December 8th, the 2018 Holiday Boat Parade will start its merry journey from Wayo’s Beach. The illuminated boats will make their way to Crazy Canucks Beach Bar, delighting residents and visitors alike along the way. The parade then returns to the SandBar Beach Hostel and Restaurant for the announcement of the winners and the final hurrah.

Sweater Weather and Showers
People often start wondering about the weather before they come on vacation, I see it year after year in Belize forums. Well, I am here to bring you some great news. As we slide into winter, overall we have been having gorgeous weather. We did have a cold front for a minute last week but it was very mild and for me, a bit amusing as you can see from my picture below of golden-haired Darwin at Feathers Guesthouse (link to Instagram.) The boy at the Belikin Beer distributor I took while out with my friends Pam and Francine also shows telltale signs of our cold front. That day it was cool enough to wear socks with his slides and a hoodie. As for the showers, it has been off and on rainy for the last few hours, making for a wet coolish day, some locals even broke out long sleeves and gloves this morning. Not to worry though, most recent travelers have not found November in Belize that cool at 25°C or 77°F, especially if they came from snow. December promises more great tropical weather and a colorful Christmas as always. It is not even December 1st yet and the island is already starting to get decorated by residents and San Pedro Town Board.

International Sources

Scotiabank Makes Caribbean Retreat After Latam Push Pays Off
Bank of Nova Scotia’s push into Latin America helped fuel record earnings from international banking in the fourth quarter. It’s making a retreat in some countries nevertheless. The bank is selling operations in nine nations in the Caribbean -- a region where it’s done business for 129 years. “Exiting these non-core operations is consistent with a strategy that began five years ago to sharpen our focus, increase scale in core geographies and businesses, improve earnings quality and reduce risk,” Chief Executive Officer Brian Porter said Tuesday on a conference call.

Belize PM Will Stay on A Little Longer After All
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has had a change of heart. Six months after announcing that he planned to demit office before his five-year term is completed, a Cabinet statement has revealed that he’ll be staying on after all. The statement said that the current trajectory of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDP) heading towards the 2020 general elections was discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, and Ministers expressed “great satisfaction at the evidence of support for the [party], as measured by the large voter turnout at the UDP contested standard bearer conventions taking place every weekend since November 4”, although noting that those contests have been “as fierce as the turnouts have been huge”.

New Study Shows Bonefish Population Connected Across Caribbean
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, the world leader in saltwater flats conservation, has completed a multi-year Bonefish Genetics Study, the results of which provide scientific evidence that the bonefish population across the Caribbean is closely connected. “There appears to be high connectivity between Cuba and The Bahamas, and between Belize, Mexico and Florida,” said Dr. Aaron Adams, BTT Director of Science & Conservation. “And populations that are farther apart, such as those in the eastern Caribbean and the western Caribbean, are unlikely to be directly related. Instead these fish are likely connected through spawning across many generations. The larvae of a bonefish that spawns in Vieques may end up in Honduras. That larvae then grows up and spawns, and some of its larvae end up in Mexico. When that fish spawns, some of its larvae may end up in the Florida Keys.

Why jaguars are under siege
Jaguars may be the new tigers — at least when it comes to the danger they face from poaching. That's the finding of a new report from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Rising demand for teeth, claws, skin and other body parts could lead to the near-threatened Mesoamerican animal facing pressures similar to that of Asian tigers. "Jaguar population numbers are holding strong in some parts of the species range — which stretches from the southwestern United States to northern Argentina — but in other places, numbers have been declining due to a combination of habitat loss, prey depletion and human-jaguar conflict. We now face the added threat of an increasing demand for their body parts," said report author John Polisar, coordinator of WCS's Jaguar Program.

CARICOM sugar industries prepared to supply total regional demand
The Sugar Association of the Caribbean has stated that for the 2017/18 crop, its members met 80 per cent of the brown sugar needs of Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This was revealed at the SAC's 169th Board meeting held in Guyana earlier this month. The Association comprises the Barbados Agricultural Management Company, Belize Sugar Industries Limited, the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the Sugar Manufacturing Corporation of Jamaica Limited. SAC Chairman, Karl James, in looking ahead to the next crop, has stated that CARICOM sugar industries are gearing up to supply total regional market sugar demand.

Videos

Just Go Scuba Belize 2018, 12min. Turneffe island Resort

I NEVER expected Belize to be like this..., 12min. The adventures in Belize continue as we explore Mountain Pine ridge and learn all about the Maya culture within the cave systems and try our hands at some cave tubing!

November 29th is International Jaguar Day and for this special day, we compiled our favorite jaguar images for wild Belize!,1/2 min. Jaguars (Panthera onca), Belize’s iconic wildcat species, maintain wildlife populations in the forests and attract thousands of visitors to Belize who are hoping to see a jaguar in the wild. Ya'axché Conservation Trust along with other conservation partners in Belize are working to protect this majestic wildcat. In places such as El Salvador and Uruguay, jaguars are no longer found. Join us in celebrating and protecting jaguars in Belize! You can share a rare encounter here and/or our post with your friends and family. Happy International Jaguar Day! Next Wednesday, we will be sharing more on wild Belize!

Register and Vote, 1min. You have a civic responsibility to Register and Vote. Register Today! "Your right to vote depends on it."

The Embassy of Mexico in Belize - 25th Anniversary of the Mexican Cultural Institute-Belize,, 30min. The Embassy of Mexico in Belize planned a month of cultural events in November to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Mexican Cultural Institute-Belize, a venue opened to the public on November 17, 1993. Our guest talked with us about the celebration and how it has been integral to building communities relations through cultural exchange. The next event on the calendar is the Artchemist Exhibition of painting and quilts taken place on November, 29th. The events are open to the public and there will be live music by Dih Maroons. Diego Sapién - Cultural Attaché, The Mexican Embassy to Belize. Yaoling Lee - Artist.

The Bar Association of Belize - Legal Aid Clinics Initiative to provide free legal counsel, 34min. The Bar Association of Belize is hosting a series of Legal Aid Clinics Initiative to provide free legal counsel. Our guests shared that these clinics are also a good opportunity to identify the area-specific legal needs of the communities served. They are organizing these clinics as a part of their mandate and are hoping to fulfill the need where legal services are underserved and unaffordable. On our couch: Iliana Swift - Secretary, Executive Committee of The Bar Association of Belize. Leslie Mendez - Member, Executive Committee of The Bar Association of Belize.

Morning Matters at Caribbean Tire, 60min.

Morning Matters with Georgina Terry, 60min.

Morning Matters, 60min.

Caye Caulker - Belize, 2min.

Sports Talk Show, 2hr.

November 28, 2018

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Captain Conch debuts in San Pedro visiting island schools to promote proper garbage disposal
The San Pedro Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (SP BTIA), clean-up campaign super-hero mascot Captain Conch, who encourages islanders of all ages to “Keep San Pedro Clean” came to reality in San Pedro Town on Friday, November 23rd. Captain Conch and his friend Baby Shark appearance at the different island schools was part of the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) Children’s Week activities and their new Child-Friendly Secretariat as well as to promote proper garbage disposal and keep the island clean. Throughout the entire morning, Captain Conch, along with the help of guests visited most of the primary schools on the island. At the schools, the students would get an introduction by Jorge Aldana from the SPTC, followed by a short message from Mayor Daniel Guerrero of the importance of keeping the environment clean.

San Pedro Pirates win 2-1 against Wagiya F.C, advancing to the PLB Semifinals
The San Pedro Pirates F.C ended the 2018 regular season of the Premiere League of Belize (PLB) with a bang! The island team managed a 2-1 win in their last match of the regular season against Dangriga Wagiya F.C at the Ambergris Stadium in San Pedro Town on Saturday, November 24th. With this victory, the Pirates gained three additional points in the PLB standings, taking the third place position overall, and advancing to the semifinals. Head Coach of the San Pedro Pirates F.C Renan Couoh, is happy with their great accomplishment and the team is looking forward to making it all the way to the end of this season. “We are going into the semifinals with confidence. We are already practicing and preparing ourselves to give our best in the semifinals, and hopefully make it to the finals,” said Couoh. All islanders are invited to come out and support the home team in their first round of semifinals at the Ambergris Stadium on Saturday, December 1st, when they face Verdes F.C. The game is scheduled to start at 7PM. Food and drinks will be on sale during the match.

Children’s Week 2018: San Pedro celebrates our next generation
Tuesday, November 20th to Friday, November 23rd celebrated the 2018 Children’s Week. Throughout the week, schools across Belize held several activities aimed at promoting the importance of caring for a child’s wellbeing. Schools in San Pedro celebrated by hosting cultural fairs, sports days, storytelling and even crazy hair day. To end the week, the largest school on the island, San Pedro Roman Catholic School, held a fun parade through the main street sending the important message to the community that children are to be celebrated.

Belizean journalists meet with experts in international law to learn the procedures of the ICJ
A total of eight Belizean journalists along with a cameraman are in The Hague, Netherlands to learn more about the United Nations’ (UN) judiciary organ, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and report to Belizeans on its procedures regarding the solution of territorial disputes. Belize has a long-standing territorial dispute with Guatemala and is bound to hold a referendum next year in April of 2019, on whether to go to the ICJ. The Belizean media visit is part of a two-phase educational program called ‘From Fear to Facts: Demystifying the ICJ’ and sponsored by the United States Embassy in Belize. For the remaining of the week, the group will meet with diplomats, experts on the topic and will even visit the Peace Palace where the ICJ is headquartered.

Ambergris Today

Belize Receives $4Mil US Grant From The Republic Of China Taiwan
Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Continues to Contribute to the Infrastructure Development of Belize Belmopan. November 26, 2018. Today in Belize City, His Excellency Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, presented a bilateral cooperation grant to the Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Belize. The grant is in the sum of US$4 million.

Misc Belizean Sources

Castillo's Hardware Sale in San Pedro
This Friday at Castillo's Hardware Co. Ltd.!!

World AIDS Day 2018 Activities
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st every year and this year’s theme is “Know Your Status”. According to UNAIDS data, at the end of 2017 there were approximately 36.9 million people globally who were living with HIV, with 1.8 million people being newly infected with HIV in 2017. While significant progress has been made in AIDS response over the years, there are still hurdles to overcome, including reaching those persons who do not know their status, and linking people living with HIV to care and treatment. Unfortunately, there still exists, barriers to both HIV testing and treatment adherence and many persons still only seek testing services after becoming sick.

First National Stakeholder Workshop for Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies in Belize
Belize is participating as a pilot country in a three-year project entitled: “Supporting developing countries in analysing and implementing evidence-based and policy coherent Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies (OETS)”. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in cooperation with the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) during the period of January 2018 to June 2021. The project is being implemented in three phases: i) Assessment and Formulation, ii) Validation and Implementation, and iii) Dissemination. The project aims at strengthening capacities of coastal developing countries, such as Belize in elaborating, adopting and implementing evidence-based and policy coherent Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies. These strategies will promote sustainable trade of products and services in ocean-based economic sectors within the United National Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) framework.

Prime Minister Barrow to Remain in Office Until 2020
Cabinet at its meeting today, November 27th, discussed the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) current trajectory heading towards the 2020 general elections. Ministers expressed great satisfaction at the evidence of support for the UDP, as measured by the large voter turnout at the UDP contested standard bearer conventions taking place every weekend since November 4th. Cabinet took note of the fact that these contests have been as fierce as the turnouts have been huge. In that context, Cabinet felt that once the standard bearer conventions conclude in mid-December, there should be a break in the remaining convention schedule to allow for healing and an organizational reset to take place at the individual constituency level. That remaining schedule, as originally contemplated, would have seen contested delegates’ conventions begin right after the start of the New Year, finish by March, and be followed by the UDP leadership convention a month or two thereafter. However, Cabinet revisited this proposed timetable in view of its conviction that it would be too rushed in the circumstances.

San Pedro Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
It's that time of the year again! Come out this Saturday, December 1st, and help us light up the Christmas Tree at the Central Park, Starting at 6:00 p.m. We will have presentations from all the schools as well as Belizean Performer, Marlyn Vansen and the popular Pandemonium Steel Band serenading us with Christmas songs! Bring the whole family! Take pictures around the tree and enjoy some refreshments! It's gonna be a jolly good time you don't want to miss this!

Dumping area in Corozal
This area is located on the stretch of road off Consejo Road heading to Jah Mundo on Finca Solana. It was only late last year that the entire area was cleaned up through the efforts of concerned citizens. Today, it is being used again as another clandestine dump site and eye sore. The dumping is spread in three separate areas on the same stretch of road. Why can't people just drive two and a half more miles where the community dump site is located. Finca Solana is a residential area and this gives it a very bad image and quite frankly, unhealthy for residents living in the immediate area. The area may well be just outside the limits of the town boundaries, falling short of the Corozal Town Council's responsibility, so we ask the Ministry of Health, Department of Health and Department of Environment to take note of this current health hazard and eye sore.

Belizean media is here, inside the Great Hall of Justice at the ICJ!
It does not get more real than this...

2nd Annual Caribbean Coconut Cup
Come cheer on the local San Pedro Buccaneers as they go head to head against Canada's Tropical Knights in the Caribbean Cup. This year we have split into 2 local teams with 2 teams flying in from Canada to participate in the tournament. Games are at the High School Auditorium Friday evening and all day Saturday. Admission is free. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Nov 30 - Dec 1, San Pedro High School.

Cabinet Approves Belize’s First National Trade Policy
Today, November 27th, 2018, members of the Cabinet approved Belize’s first National Trade Policy. The Policy, an outcome of the July 2016 National Trade Policy Framework, has been developed following an extensive nationwide stakeholder consultative process. Coordinated by the Directorate General for Foreign Trade (DGFT) in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce, the Policy has been developed with technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat under its flagship program the Hub and Spokes Program, aimed at Enhancing Trade Capacity Development in the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (ACP). Through this programme, Belize has benefitted from the expertise of a Trade Advisor who provided integral support throughout the process of developing the Policy.

Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and License System (BMVRALS) Project Achievements Exhibition
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) would like to invite you to a half-day Achievements Exhibition to be held in the Radisson Fort George Hotel on November 28th 2018. The Achievements Exhibition is being organized under the Government of Belize and the Government of Taiwan with the achievements of Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and License System (BMVRALS). The BMVRALS Project seeks to address the decentralized transport governance in Belize. At present, the Department of Transport and 9 municipalities work independent of each other and operate on isolated electronic databases and manual systems, hence resulting in inefficient and inaccessible record management and data sharing. From 2017 to 2020, this project will establish an “integrated and centralized Transport System” for the entire country by reforming and digitalizing the transport processes and services and introducing necessary audit mechanisms.

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY AND INSTITUTE (CZMAI) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM’S NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE DEPLOYS AUTONOMOUS VESSEL TO CONDUCT OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEYS IN BELIZE
The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) is hosting a team of Scientists and Engineers (15 persons) from the United Kingdom’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) from October 27- November 30, 2018 to conduct research activities along the Belize river and within the central Belize region. On October 29, 2018, Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) began a multidisciplinary program of fieldwork in Belize that aims to help characterize the impacts of changes in land-use management on coastal environments. This is a collaborative research program through the UK Government funded Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme which has resulted in NOC scientists working alongside those in the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), the University of Belize, and the Centre for Environment,Fisheries and Aquiculture Science (Cefas) in the UK.

CHILDREN'S WEEK 2018 COMES TO A CLOSE
Under the theme: “2018:Children are taking over and turning the world Blue.” San Pedro along with all the municipalities participated in various activities during the week of November 20th to the 23rd for Children's Week. Children's week was all about celebrating the joy of being a child but also learning about the rights of being one. Activities included, crazy hair day, crazy hat day, dress up as a community worker and other activities that involved parents going over to the school and help their children with different activities. To culminate Children's Week, the SPTC along with the Belize Tourism Industry Association and other volunteers visited the different schools to promote cleanliness and others had the exciting job to read to the children some very interesting stories.

Report from Aquatica Submarines
We finally made it to Lighthouse reef and are currently sitting right outside The Great Blue Hole! Can’t wait to find out what’s down there! Tune in December 2nd, 4-6pm EST on Discovery as we live stream our dive with special guests Richard Branson and F Cousteau

BTIA Cayo Chapter 2018 AGM
The Cayo BTIA is having their AGM next Monday, December 3rd, at 6:30pm, at the Cahal Pech Village Resort. Everyone is invited to come out and learn more about the function of the BTIA. They'll have a discount on memberships. "The BTIA Cayo Chapter will hold its AGM This December 3rd at the Cahal Pech Village Resort, San Ignacio Belize from 6:30pm sharp until 8pm where we will select our new board, discuss the past year and our future 2019 plans. Please join us to learn more of what we have in store for Cayo."

Women at the Vaca plateau have identified productive alternative activities
The list included: cohune oil, processing of breadnut, soap, handcrafts and food preservation.

US Embassy Winter Bazaar
Join us for the Winter Bazaar on Friday, December 7 at the Embassy's parking lot. Make it a date! Fine art, jewelry, handmade crafts, home decor and many more christmas gifts!

Tree Tuesday: Malley Apple tree
It is #TreeTuesday; and, we are highlighting the Malley Apple tree (Syzygium malaccense)! Malley Apple, or Malay Aapple, belongs in the Myrtaceae family along with allspice and guava. Unlike those trees, Malley Apple is not native to Belize but appears to have arrived to the region in the early 1900s. Though it originated in Malaysia, Malley Apple is now cultivated in the tropics worldwide for its edible fruit and its usefulness as a windbreak or shade tree.

Channel 7

Orange Walk Mother Slain in the South
An Orange Walk family's worst fear was realized this morning. Before midday, police found Marta Gonzalez's partially decomposed body in Pomona on the Stann Creek Valley Road. According to the family, Gonzalez left her San Felipe home early Friday morning to sell cheese and other goods in Pomona. She would normally travel on the 15th and ending of every month so she could also collect from buyers who owed her. This has been her routine for years but something went terribly wrong on this trip when she went to collect from a customer. She was killed. Information is that her body was wrapped in a grey tarp and dumped in a pit latrine at the back of a yard. When we got to the scene this afternoon, the family was there waiting patiently for police to move her body. Gonzalez's son in law spoke with us off camera and explained how their search led them to this yard in Pomona.

Santa Cruz Parents Lose Second Child to Strange Sickness
And also down south, in Santa Cruz a baby girl died in her mother's arms at their home. It happened yesterday afternoon. Little Ofelia's mother says she just started with a terrible fever and cough and then she was dead. Courtney Weatherburne has the story. 1 year old baby girl Ofelia Na suddenly fell ill and died inside her parents thatch house in Santa Cruz. Baby Ofelia's mom, Hilaria Na was home alone with her baby when she died. Na says her baby had high fever from Sunday night.

8 Mile Couple Survive another Home Attack
The 8 mile couple's home was shot up again this morning around 2:30. Fortunately this time, no one was injured. When we went to investigate again today, Vilma Robinson explained that she was awakened by the gun blasts. She said this time the shooter or shooters called out for one of her family members. And that was the end to another terrifying night in their home. As we have reported, in yesterday's incident, Robinson related that she and her husband were asleep when a gunman sprayed their house with a barrage of bullets. Both Robinson and McLarly were injured to their legs. She also said one of those bullets almost caught her daughter who was sleeping on the other side of the house.

Orel Leslie: Prisoner Sues Prison
5 months ago, we told you about Orel Leslie's lawsuit against the Belize Central Prison. He was one of the 3 men who were jointly charged for the November 2012 murder of James Noralez. Leslie and his co-defendants, Tyrone Meighan and Brandon Baptist were acquitted of Noralez's murder in a Supreme Court trial in 2015, but DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal appealed the outcome at the Court of Appeal. She successfully convinced the panel of judges in 2017 of setting the acquittal aside, and ordering a retrial. That meant that Leslie, who had been out for about 2 years, had to go back on remand at the Prison while he awaited his retrial. During that time, he alleges that the prison treated him inhumanely, and that when the wardens accused him of misbehaving and breaking prison rules, they didn't afford him natural justice, and an opportunity to prove his innocence.

PM Barrow a Keeper: Cabinet Elaborates on UDP’s Strategic Move
7News broke the story from Friday - that a majority of Cabinet ministers are asking Prime Minister Barrow to stay right up until just before the 2020 election. This was confirmed today in a mighty odd Cabinet press release. The release makes it clear the politics - as much as matters of state - dominate conversations at the highest executive level. The release says, quote, "Cabinet… today…discussed the UDP's current trajectory heading towards the 2020 general elections." End quote. And from that opening, this official release blurs the line between party and government completely and starts to read more like something that the UDP would send from its party headquarters.

Rocky Road Blaze Destroys Apartment
Two Belize City families are homeless tonight after fire engulfed their two-story apartment complex. It happened just after 8:30 this morning at the corner of Plues Street and Rocky Road. The fire, which started in the downstairs portion, is believed to have been caused by an overloaded faulty surge protector to which several appliances were connected. Family members would not speak to us on camera but one said the fire spread too quickly to be contained. Tonight, Assistant Fire Chief Benisford Matura has a warning for families in similar situations. Benisford Matura, Assist. Fire Chief: "The owner of the building was Mr. Floyd Robinson. It was basically an apartment structure where they had several tenants both upstairs and downstairs. The first floor you had Miss Ingrid Williams, Jahir Rivero, Kiani Sterling and Dejah Parham. The lower flat was Denise Tun, Brian Neal, Briana Neal and Shahira Neal. So basically 8 persons got affected by this fire."

Farewell Fire Chief: Ted Smith Moves On
We also asked Matura about Fire Chief Ted Smith. It has been awhile since we have seen him out on fire scenes. Matura says Smith is on pre-retirement leave and the search is on for his replacement. Matura told us more. Reporter "We understand that Mr. Ted Smith is on pre-retirement leave." Benisford Matura, Assist. Fire Chief "Right now I am not sure of that. I'm just acting as the fire chief presently until his retirement. Like you said he is on retirement leave. When his leave is up then we will see where we move from there."

Belize Barrier Reef Gets Spotlight Too
Belize's Barrier Reef which is the second-longest in the world, needs no introduction. But its many attractions provide their own thrills and on Sunday, one of those attractions will get its turn on stage for the world to see. The Discovery Channel and local stations will be airing a special, featuring a visit to the bottom by explorers Richard Branson and Fabien Cousteau. It is an education/research and entertainment trip. Executive Director of the Belize Audubon Society Amanda Burgos-Acosta, explains how these types of expeditions benefit the Jewel. Amanda Burgos-Acosta, Executive Director - Belize Audubon Society: "So there's been maps done of the Blue Hole, similar to many of the caves in Belize where it's basically there is a rough drawing. However, as technology improves, our data sets and our knowledge can improve.

Sharing the Love for Elderly across Borders
Today marks the start of a three-day conference of Helpage International's Latin American and Caribbean regional membership. It was held at the Ramada Princess Hotel. Belize has been recognized as a key influencer in the Inter-American Convention on Rights of Older Persons, forming the first framework for its development years ago. But it still has to take the final step in actually signing and ratifying the convention, joining Costa Rica and El Salvador. Helpage Belize hosted its partners to find the best route to doing that and according to regional coordinator Marcela Bustamante, it can be seen as an investment in keeping older persons around even longer.

Belize’s First Trade Policy to Transform Business Sector
The Government of Belize is reporting tonight that the country will have its first national Trade Policy. It was approved today by the Cabinet, and a government press release says that this policy, which was born out of the July 2016 National Trade Policy Framework, was developed following extensive consultations with stakeholders countrywide. The policy is coordinated by the Director General of Foreign Trade, and it was developed with the technical assistance from the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Government says that the Trade Policy seeks to achieve 5 main objectives. First, they want to reduce the cost of doing business, enhance competitiveness and develop efficient production of systems and capacities.

Man Knocks Down Wife after Quarrel
There is another domestic dispute to report tonight, this time in Maya Mopan, Belmopan. Fortunately no one was killed. A couple, Darrel Usher and Yessica Sagastume had a dispute early this morning at their home. Sagastume decided to leave and while walking on the road with other relatives, Usher got into his vehicle and knocked them down. Sagastume and her family were taken to the hospital, all in stable condition.

A Glimpse inside the ICJ
We all know Belizeans are going to vote in April on whether or not we should take our territorial dispute with Guatemala to the ICJ. And we all know that the ICJ is the International Court of Justice. But, what and where is that? For all that most of us know, it could be on the moon! Well, it's not; and we know because Jules Vasquez and a bunch of Belizean journalists went to The Hague to find the ICJ. Today in the Netherlands, they got a surprising level of access to the ICJ courtroom and the Peace Palace where it is headquartered. Jules Vasquez reports:

Belize and Netherlands: Two Peas in a Pod…Well Sort of
And while you see The Hague from the airy room of the Peace Palace and the ICJ - that city, and the country of the Netherlands has more in common with Belize than you might have thought. Like Belize City, The Hague is a coastal city - and it is at sea level. And, unlike Belize, the Netherlands has had progressive marijuana laws for decades - allowing the use and sale of marijuana at licensed retailers. We asked a seasoned city tour guide about those features today:…

PAHO Ending Cervical Cancer One Girl at a Time
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says that every year, 34,000 women in the Americas die from cervical cancer, which is among the leading causes of cancer deaths in women from 23 countries in the region. That's why they have launched a communication campaign designed to inform health providers and empower women and girls with the proper information on how they can prevent the disease. The PAHO initiative is called "It's Time to End Cervical Cancer", and the campaign provides information in the form of posters and videos, and stories about the vaccine against the human papilloma-virus - or HPV for short, the cause of cervical cancer, and about the proper cancer screening methods.

Channel 5

San Felipe Woman Found Dead Inside Pit Latrine in Pomona
An elderly vendor from the village of San Felipe, Orange Walk, has been found murdered in the Stann Creek District. She had been missing since last Friday; today the body [...]

Belizean Man Fatally Stabbed in U.S. by Girlfriend
Twenty-one-year-old Belizean Rakeem Francis was murdered on Thanksgiving Day in Los Angeles, U.S.A. Francis was reportedly stabbed to death by his seventeen-year-old girlfriend following a heat’s argument in an alley [...]

PM Barrow Cancels Early Retirement, A Monkey Wrench in U.D.P. Leadership Succession?
There is a major shift in the power play in the United Democratic Party in regards to the retirement of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. The PM has decided to stay [...]

Choice Bank Pension Holders Demand Money From Sagicor
Twenty-five former employees of Choice Bank Limited are demanding that Sagicor Life Insurance return their money. Choice Bank went belly up after it announced liquidity issues in April of this [...]

Pension Holders Say They Willing to Sue, Protest
The disgruntled and frustrated former Choice Bank employees say that if Sagicor continues to give them the round-a-around they will resort to legal action. Adrian Arana, Former Chief Compliance [...]

Fire Guts Plues Street House; 12 Persons Left Homeless
Christmas is less than a month away, but for two families in Belize City, there is not much to celebrate this season. The Williams and Neal families were displaced today [...]

Inside the International Court of Justice
A pool of local media personalities continues with a tour of the seat of the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Marleni Cuellar is among the journalists on assignment [...]

Orel Leslie Takes Belize Central Prison and Kolbe to Court
Orel Leslie has beaten a murder rap twice and since then he has been released from the Belize Central Prison. But today, he was back at the Supreme Court for [...]

Barrow & Williams LLP Pulls Out of ‘Sanctuary Bay’ Lawsuit
U.S. citizen Coleen Strom launched a lawsuit against Sittee River Wildlife Reserve in relation to the multimillion dollars Sanctuary Bay real estate scam. The architect of the scam, Andris Pukke, [...]

Health Minister Marin Says NHI Being Rolled Out
On Friday, during the Sitting of the House of Representatives, Cayo South Area Representative Julius Espat took on Health Minister Pablo Marin. Espat challenged Marin over the lack of medical [...]

Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme
For the past five weeks, a group of environmentalists have been participating in the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme. The team from the National Oceanography Centre is in Belize taking samples [...]

HelpAge International Latin America and Caribbean Sub-Regional Conference
For the first time, the HelpAge International Latin America and Caribbean Sub-Regional conference is being hosted in Belize. The meeting brought together experts from across both regions to discuss the [...]

A Call for Stiffer Penalties for Perpetrators Who Attack Older Persons
But while Belize was lauded for its work in safeguarding older persons, Patroness Maria Elena Sylvestre says that there is a lot to be done. In the past, we have [...]

CARICOM Unified on COP24 Expectations
The twenty-fourth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate, known as COP24, will take place in Poland from December second to the fourteenth. The key [...]

IPCC Report Front and Center of CARICOM’s Approach to COP24
And so if you’re wondering what exactly the IPCC Report means for the small island developing states; the news is grim. For coral reefs and other vulnerable ecosystems it may [...]

The First International Friendly Rugby Match Between Belize and Guatemala
Rugby may not be as popular a sport in Belize as soccer or basketball, but it is picking up traction among certain pockets of sports enthusiasts. Over the weekend, the [...]

LOVE FM

Seven Artists featured in art exhibit at Mexican Cultural Institute
“Art Alchemists” is an art exhibit that will open later this week at the Mexican Cultural Institute as activities continue in observation of the institute’s 25th anniversary. The exhibit opens Thursday November 29th, at 7:30 PM at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Belize City and features the art work of seven artists, six of them …

Missing Woman was murdered
68-year-old Marta Gonzalez was reported missing by her son 37-year-old Romario Ixpec. Gonzalez lived in San Felipe Village in Orange Walk and apparently traveled to the Stann Creek District to sell cheese. Ixpec told police that she typically sells cheese in that district. However, the last time he saw his mother was on November 23rd, …

Scientist study Belize’s land use and marine environment
A group of marine ecologists and scientists are finalizing over six weeks of research in Belize. They are part of the Commonwealth Marine Economies Program, which was launched in 2016 by the United Kingdom government. It is being implemented in seventeen Commonwealth Small Island Developing States, SIDS, including Belize. The program aims to identify the …

More Media ICJ Education from the Hague
LOVE News continues a series of in-depth reports on the International Court of Justice from its headquarters at the Hague in the Netherlands. Love News’ Renee Trujillo reports on the education of the Belize media contingent which will help to inform the public when making their decision at next year’s referendum. Rene Trujillo: “Belize and …

Fire leaves over ten persons homeless
This morning a two-storey structure located at the Corner of Plues Street and Rocky Road was destroyed by fire leaving as many as twelve persons homeless. The National Fire Service was dispatched to the location where they were able to extinguish the fire, but not before it completely gutted the structure. Bennisford Matura, the Assistant …

Inebriated man knocked down and driver flees the scene
A Belmopan resident who was allegedly inebriated was knocked down in the Capital. Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvett, the Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch says the driver did not stop to render aid to Geronimo Valle. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head of National Crimes Investigation Branch: “Belmopan Police was called to an area …

Orel Leslie sues Kolbe Foundation
Orel Leslie is suing Kolbe Foundation since he claims that he was treated inhumanely while he was incarcerated at the institution. The case commenced today before Justice Courtney Abel where Leslie appeared with his attorney, Audrey Matura while Senior Counsel Philip Zuniga and Crown Counsel Agassi Finnegan appeared on behalf of the defendant, the Kolbe …

A domestic dispute ends with several injured family members
A domestic dispute has led to a traffic incident where four persons were injured. Correspondent Fem Cruz filed this report during which several persons including children were knocked down allegedly on purpose. Fem Cruz, Love FM: Sometime around 1:30am 37 year old Jessica Sagastume, the Financial Officer for the Ministry of Health Western Region along …

Teachers at ITVET Orange Walk receive salaries
Teachers at ITVET in Orange Walk Town have received their salaries and it is business as usual at the institution. The teachers had staged a sit out from November thirteenth to the fifteenth because they protested issues surrounding their salaries and other grievances with the school administration. Deputy Chief Education Officer, Cecelia Smith along with …

A rediscovery of the Blue Hole
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, investor, author and philanthropist. He founded the Virgin Group, which controls more than 400 companies. His net worth is 5.1 billion US dollars, and he and Fabian Costeau, the grandchild of renowned marine conservationist Jacques Costeau who dove in Belize in the 70’s will make …

Women’s Department targets men during 16 Days of Activism
Organizers of the Sixteen Days of Activism target men. In the West, the Women’s Department will be holding a forum for men, who are key in addressing gender based violence against women and girls. Eileen Serrano, the Women’s Development Officer for the Women’s Department told us more.

Eliminating child labour
Eliminating child labour is difficult in countries where poverty and opportunity are worlds apart. And while education is the main thrust of eradicating both issues, agencies like the Clear 2 Project engages countries and assists them to reduce child Labour. Love News spoke to Leidy Urbina, the Country Coordinator for the Clear 2 Project who says that this week’s “Training of Trainers for Labour Inspection” workshop is aimed at reducing child labour in Belize.

Prime Minister to stay in office until Term Expires
Cabinet at its meeting today discussed the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) current trajectory heading towards the 2020 general elections. Cabinet agreed to recommend to the UDP National Party Council a revised calendar that would adhere to the Party’s Constitution, which states that the next UDP leadership convention cannot occur before January of 2020.

Belize now has a National Trade Policy
Cabinet has approved of a National Trade Policy, the first for the country. It follows a nationwide consultation and has five objectives all of which surround the reduction of the cost of doing business, improving trade performance and services, trade growth, building trade relations and effective institutional and legal framework for trade development.

NADO- Belize reinstated to take athletic sport samples
After the recent suspension of NADO-Belize, the Government of Belize, through the National Sports Council in consultation with the National Olympic Committee immediately formed a task group to plan and execute the necessary steps to have the suspension lifted.

HelpAge International says Belize needs to Ratify Convention
HelpAge International is a global network of organizations promoting the right of all older people to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives. The organization has a strong, value-based position which puts the experience of older women and men at the center of its work. Several member organizations are in Belize for a Sub Regional Network conference.

World Aids Day
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st every year and this year’s theme is “Know Your Status”. According to UNAIDS data, at the end of 2017 there were approximately 36.9 million people globally who were living with HIV, with 1.8 million people being newly infected with HIV in 2017.

Harris acquitted of causing death by careless conduct
40-year-old Lyle Harris was acquitted of causing death by careless conduct of 4 year old Elisha Gilharry. A jury of nine voted seven to two to acquit Harris. The Crown, represented by Crown Counsel Janelle Shorter-Thomas, called 8 witnesses, including the father of the child, to prove its case.

Amandala

Property owners greedy, says PM
On Friday, in the House of Representatives, the deputy leader of the People’s United Party, Hon. Cordel Hyde, questioned a bill the government put forward for the borrowing of some BZ$14 million from the Inter-American Development Bank, for the purpose of supplementing a BZ$54 million loan which the government had acquired for the purpose of rehabilitating the George Price Highway, between Roaring Creek Village and Santa Elena Town. Hyde said the request for more funds did not “look right” to him. “I am wondering how we got our early calculations so wrong where this project is concerned,” Hyde said. “You are talking about thirty percent off base…Who is advising the government? What is happening here? It does not look right to me because we have seen this before too,” he remarked.

Hon. Cordel Hyde says, “Take back our Boledo”
At Friday’s House of Representatives meeting, Hon. Cordel Hyde, area representative for Lake Independence, in addressing a matter of public interest on the adjournment, urged the Barrow government to rescind the contract for the Boledo franchise that was given to Brads and Company almost 10 years ago. Hon. Hyde told the House, “I want to put the government on notice. They need to do the right thing here.” Hon. Hyde said that with all the public officers we have, the government should be able to find a couple officers to administrate the Boledo enterprise.

Belize honors Castro on anniversary of his death
On January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro and his revolutionary fighters marched triumphantly into Havana, the capital of Cuba, and the world hasn’t been the same since. At a meeting of the House of Representatives this morning, representatives of Belize’s two main political parties, the governing United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Opposition, People’s United Party (PUP), paid tribute to Fidel Castro on the second anniversary of the death of this giant revolutionary of the Caribbean, whose revolution has enriched the lives of peoples far beyond our region.

Cheese vendor missing
Martha Gonzalez, 68, a domestic of San Felipe, departed her home at about 8:00 Friday morning to go to Dangriga to sell cheese she had made, but subsequently disappeared. She has not been seen or heard from since. Her son, Romario Ixpec, reported her missing, and police have begun an investigation to find her. Anyone who sees or knows the whereabouts of Martha Gonzalez is urged to contact the nearest police station, or call 0800-922-TIPS, or 911.

Watch out for romaine and Jennie-O!
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) issued two press releases on Friday, November 23, warning Belizeans against consuming romaine lettuce as well as Jennie-O raw ground turkey products. The alert against the romaine lettuce came from the US as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) linked the vegetable with an outbreak in that country of E. coli bacteria. So far, 32 persons in 11 U.S. states have been infected with the outbreak of the strain of E.coli, and 13 of those persons had to be hospitalized. Eighteen persons in Ontario and Quebec, in Canada, have also been affected by the outbreak.

Going to the ICJ – Some Procedures
Being host to multiple international courts and over 150 international organizations, The Hague – or in Spanish, La Haya – in the Netherlands is known as the “International City of Peace and Justice.” Its fame in diplomacy dates back to the 17th Century and it remains an international conferences center to this day. In 1946, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) became the first international tribunal to be established in The Hague at the Peace Palace. Scheduled to visit the Court on Tuesday November 27 is a team of Belizean journalists currently in The Hague at the invitation of the United States Embassy in Belize. Their project is titled “From Fear to Facts: Demystifying the ICJ.” A first day of meetings included visits with experts who have interacted with the Court. They discussed, among others things, court procedure.

Dangriga 19th Weekend Pool Tournament
Over the weekend in Dangriga Town, Aba Isieni Cool Spot hosted a Two-Man Pool Tournament, with players from across the Stann Creek District, Punta Gorda, Belize City, Belmopan, Caye Caulker and Corozal Town partaking in a very intense two-day competition. This was a clash of titans, as some of the best players in the country matched up for this event. The winners were: Charles “Squaw” Rivas & Edwin Vargas – 1st place; Horace Arnold & Marvin – 2nd place; and Luis Valdez & Hector Riverol – 3rd place.

SSBA Becol/Diginet basketball weekend stats
The San Ignacio/Santa Elena Basketball Association’s (SSBA) Basketball Tournament, sponsored by Diginet and Becol, continued over the weekend with 3 games played on Friday night and 4 games on Sunday at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium, San Ignacio Town. In game 1 on Friday, November 23, (U-13) Misfits won, 34-13, over Verdes. (Misfits – Christian Baiza 10 pts, Eli Anderson 8 pts, Marlon Peters 6 pts; Verdes – Rodolfo Hyde 11 pts). Game 2 saw (U-17) Red Hawks with the 40-33 win over Misfits. (Red Hawks – Umelo “Goodness” Henderson 16 pts, Jarrel “Beggy” Smith 8 pts, Aiden Brooks 6 pts...

CYDP Peace Cup reg. season ends; playoff quarterfinals begin on Saturday
The regular season of the 2018-2019 CYDP Peace Cup football tournament concluded on Saturday, November 24, with 3 games played at the MCC Grounds. In game 1 on Saturday, Coast Guard FC defeated Lake-I FC, 3-nil, with goals from Arthur Garbutt (50’), Jamie Wade (67’) and Jason Cuevas (86’). In game 2, FC Elite defeated Starz Academy, 3-2, with goals from Stephan “World” Diego (23’), Marlon Gutierrez (31’) and Naim “Nemo” Wilson (40’); while Starz’ goals were by Dion Cacho (25’) and Travis Eiley (75’).

Weekend Warriors Sunday Race results – November 25, 2018
Here are the results from the Weekend Warriors (WW) Sunday Race held yesterday for the Open A/B category. The race started at 8:40 a.m. and went from Leslie’s Imports to Northern Highway via Boom Road and back to finish at Old Belize, for 44 miles. Some 22 riders started the race, of which 18 completed the ride.

Editorial: Migrants, Mars, and military
We thought it was interesting, and somewhat ironic, that just the day after the United States closed its border with Tijuana after tear gassing several hundred migrants from Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who were storming the U.S. border with Mexico on Sunday, November 25, seeking asylum in the U.S., the Insight Mars Lander, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin, will try to land on Mars on Monday, November 26, after a journey from earth of nearly 300 million miles, lasting more than six months. We say “try to land,” because landing on Mars is a very dangerous and tricky operation, mainly because the atmosphere on Mars, unlike earth’s atmosphere, is extremely thin, perhaps one-hundreth the density of earth’s.

A tale of two mysteries
Belize originally should have been politically independent in the mid 1960’s; at least that was what the UK hoped during the government of Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home. The Prime Minister wanted to join the European Common Market and his chances would have been improved without the encumbrance of colonial territories. However, Alec Douglas-Home was Prime Minister for less than a year, so his successor, PM Harold Wilson, had to continue the task which was first offered to Colonial Secretary, Anthony Greenwood (he came to Belize in October of 1965 to inaugurate the city of Belmopan). Greenwood refused the offer and threatened to resign if his hand was forced.

No apology for Albert
The apology to Mr. Alberto August in the Belize Times, page six of the November 18 issue, is absolutely damnable. Take a deep breath, please, so you don’t fall off your stool. Ouch, “Please accept our apology as a means of a public retraction for an article that appeared in the Belize Times (about re-registration controversy)…in which Mr. Alberto August was erroneously named as Chairman of Elections and Boundaries Commission. We are sorry for any distress and anguish…” Yes, the newspaper apologized, was made to apologize to August for naming him as the head of the Election and Boundaries Commission, which naming brought incredible distress and anguish into the life of the poor brother.

A TALE OF TWO MYSTERIES: The date chosen for Belize’s Independence and the origin of the name “Belize”
Belize originally should have been politically independent in the mid 1960’s; at least that was what the UK hoped during the government of Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home. The Prime Minister wanted to join the European Common Market and his chances would have been improved without the encumbrance of colonial territories. However, Alec Douglas-Home was Prime Minister for less than a year, so his successor, PM Harold Wilson, had to continue the task which was first offered to Colonial Secretary, Anthony Greenwood (he came to Belize in October of 1965 to inaugurate the city of Belmopan). Greenwood refused the offer and threatened to resign if his hand was forced. He was moved to Ministry of Overseas Development and Duncan Sandys accepted the post of Colonial Secretary and was able to get rid of eleven colonies. Belize would have been #12 but for the territorial dispute with the Republic of Guatemala.

CCJ award prompts government to amend GST law retroactively
Last month, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), after reviewing an appeal brought by David Gegg’s tour company, Cruise Solutions, ruled that the General Sales Tax (GST) which the Belize government had charged the company should not have been paid, since the services for which the company had been charged are actually zero-rated. The CCJ ordered the government to refund around $400,000 GST that Cruise Solutions had paid. The ruling opened the door for other companies in the tourism sector to demand refunds of the GST tax that had been wrongfully collected by the government.

Belize’s Sex Offenders Registry will not be available for public access
Four years ago, in 2014, parliament passed an amendment to the Criminal Code chapter 10 which would allow the Ministry of National Security to track persons who were convicted of sexual offences with a database that would register each sex offender. On Tuesday, November 20, a sensitization session was held for the introduction of this registry. The registry was funded by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and it was developed under a project titled “Evidence-based Information Management on Citizen Security in Central America” or “InfoSegura.”

In Los Angeles, Belizean man, 21, stabbed to death by girlfriend, 17
The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is usually a joyous time for families and friends, but for one Belizean family, this year’s holiday was marred by a tragic loss, as a result of the murder of their 21-year-old relative, who lost his life at the hands of his 17-year-old girlfriend, who, allegedly stabbed him to death. News reports out of an area known as Baldwin Hills, located in South Los Angeles, have indicated that the incident occurred sometime shortly after 7:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 22. Neighbors told a reporter from the local television station, KTLA 5 News, that they heard two people arguing in an alleyway behind an apartment complex of the 4000 block of Nicolet Avenue.

Keidi Ramirez’s sister charged for her death
On Friday, November 23, 23-year-old Isela Cano, a Honduran national of San Juan village, was charged with manslaughter for the death of her sister, 26-year-old Keidi Ramirez, who died in Independence village after her feet and hands were bound in an effort to restrain her. Ramirez’s parents had also been detained, but were later released; only Cano, her sister, was charged. After taking statements from the family, the police submitted those statements to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who advised them to charge Cano with manslaughter and not murder, as there was not enough evidence to support a murder charge.

The Reporter

BODY FOUND IN POMONA – IDENTIFIED
It has been confirmed that the body found just before midday today is that of Marta Gonzalez, 68. The body was found wrapped in a tarp and dumped in a pit latrine on the Stann Creek Valley Road in Pomona.

FIRE IN BELIZE CITY
The fire this morning completely destroyed this home at the corner of Plues Street and Rocky Road. Fire Service personnel are still at the scene to ensure that it has been completely extinguished.

ICJ SPECIAL REPORT
This is the International Court of Justice (ICJ) where disputes between countries are settled peacefully by a panel of 15 international judges. This is where Belize and Guatemala will come to settle our longstanding land conflict if Belizeans vote “Yes” in next April’s Referendum.

MAN RAMS CAR INTO SEVERAL PEOPLE
A man is in Police custody after he rammed his vehicle into four persons at around 1:30am today in Belmopan. Sources say the man and his common-law-wife had a domestic dispute and she left the home with three other members of her family, walking toward Maya Mopan.

Breaking Belize News

PUP calls Cabinet Meeting “powder session”
Today, Cabinet issued a strange press release indicating that Prime Minister Dean Barrow would remain […]

Belize to participate in national stakeholder workshop for Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies
Belize is participating as a pilot country in a three-year project entitled: “Supporting developing countries […]

Body found in Pomona, Stann Creek during search for missing woman
The body of Marta Gonzalez,68, a resident of San Felipe, Orange Walk who went missing a […]

Belizean journalists tour the ICJ
Today, a delegation of Belizean journalists were hosted at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) located […]

From Fear to Facts: Demystifying the ICJ
A group of Belizean journalists are at The Hague, Netherlands on a special assignment trip to […]

Embassy of Mexico in Belize to host Art Alchemist Exhibition
The Embassy of Mexico in Belize is honored to announce the opening of the exhibition entitled: Art/Alchemists, on Thursday November 29th, 2018 at 7:30 PM at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Belize City. According to a release from the embassy, this exhibit will combine eclectic styles, mediums, colors, textures and shapes, while simultaneously creating exalted value.

Ministry of Health announces World AIDS Day 2018 Activities
World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1st every year and this year’s theme is […]

PM Barrow to remain in Office until 2020
Cabinet at its meeting Today, November 27th discussed the United Democratic Party’s (UDP) current trajectory heading […]

John Paul II Junior College in Benque holds Chess Tournament
On Saturday, November 24th, John Paul II Junior College (JPIIJC) in Benque Viejo del Carmen […]

Glenford Patterson, 26, charged in connection with home invasion
Police have charged Glenford Patterson, 26, in connection with an early morning invasion in Ontario, […]

Duo remanded for aggravated burglary
Glenford Diego, 28, and a boy, 16, appeared in the Magistrate Court yesterday to answer […]

Accused murderers of Jamal Neal walk free
Yesterday, two Belize City men were acquitted of the murder of Jamal Neal, 21, that […]

Woman charged for death of her sister
Last week we reported that Keidi Yesenia Ramirez died in San Juan Village in Southern Belize. […]

Blogs

Souvenirs! A Walk Through the San Pedro Artisan Market
Yesterday I visited the San Pedro Artisan Market for the first time ever. Well…that’s not exactly true. The booths were located in Central Park for years…under a large palapa. But a few years back, they moved to the new location on Back Street. And while I drive past here every day…often parking in the one central parking lot just next door…I’d never taken a walk around the booths. I guess I just figured that I already knew… But I didn’t. Not at all. Sure I’d seen some of the wooden bowls and beaded necklaces before but I found some new stuff…and bought a hammock for a great price…and saw some items that I’d really like to have. Note: My very favorite part? The vendors are super friendly and not aggressive. After attempting market walks in places like Cancun…with hawkers sometimes shouting at you and following you…this was a sweet relief! I got a little lesson in weaving in Jippi Jappa…and learning about “jungle zericote” vs. local zericote.

Celebrating Nature in Belize’s Rugged Toledo District
You can live comfortably here in an environment that looks like something taken directly from a Caribbean-paradise postcard. But there’s another side to Belize. A more natural side. Expats like me, who prefer a rugged way of life to the more affluent lifestyles further north, gravitate to the southernmost part of the country: The Toledo District. This raw, undeveloped area appeals to my need to escape the concrete jungle in favor of a real one. The terrain in this district requires an entirely different mentality (and wardrobe) from the more upscale, tiki-bar-style locales up north. From my home, I can often hear the calls of wild howler monkeys who perch happily in the mountains to my south. They often sound as if they’re right next door and I could look out the window and see them. The loud squawking of flocks of wild local parrots often pervades the entire lane on which I live, and their jovial antics are truly a sight to see. Many locals have pet parrots who live upwards of 30 years in the branches of the mango trees in their yards.

International Sources

PLACENCIA, BELIZE: AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR CARIBBEAN RETIREMENT HAVEN
Placencia is a charming seaside town found at the tip of a long peninsula off the coast of mainland Belize. It’s fast becoming Belize’s most desirable location as it fronts the turquoise Caribbean Sea to the east and a resplendent freshwater lagoon, full of wildlife and with a view of the gorgeous Maya mountain chain, to the west. “A lot of people coming to Belize now are choosing Placencia,” says Laura Diffendal, International Living Belize Correspondent. “The minute expats touch down here they see for themselves how pleasant it is and how it is one of the most affordable Caribbean spots. “It’s pretty, with tons of beach, and everything is within walking distance. To top it off, there’s a growing expat crowd to welcome you.”

Eco-Luxury in the Heart of the Belizean Jungle
The night rang with various sounds from cicadas, crickets, and frogs from the jungle outside my cottage. I knew there were monkeys, jaguars, and other creatures in the blackness of the night, but the larger animals were surprisingly quiet. I was staying in the Jaguar Cabana in the middle of the Belizean jungle as a guest of the Mariposa Jungle Lodge. The luxurious cabin is also known as the “Lover’s Suite” because it’s normally reserved for honeymooners and couples on a romantic getaway. At night, following a long day of hiking, swimming and climbing Mayan ruins or shopping in San Ignacio and dinner, it was nice to return to the peace of my cabin and sit out on either the indoor or outdoor decks in the hammock or chairs and listen to the chirping, whistling, and burping of the creatures just beyond the rails of the deck.

Videos

Early Morning Fire Belize City Nov. 27-2018, 2min.

The Belize City Council - second Downtown Sales Event on December 1st, min. The Belize City Council will be hosting the second Downtown Sales Event on December 1st. The event is a part of their efforts to increase economic activity in the city. Our guests talked about the deals and discounts available for your Christmas season. On our couch: Amado Badillo - Prestige Auto Sales. Tamara Minto - Communications Manager, Belize City Council. Ian Mariano - Public Relations Representative.

A Day in Belize, 3min.

“From Fear to Facts: Demystifying the ICJ” media tour, 5min. Second day! We got a peak inside of the #ICJ—the principal judicial arm of the United Nations. Our News Director, Renee Trujillo is in The Hague to seek answers on the ICJ.

Beltraide - EntreCon 2018, 33min. Dr. Kent Wessinger is the international speaker for this year's EntreCon 2018. His message is centered on teaching how to harness the innovation of millennial to drive business competitiveness. He talked about how retaining these demographic is critical to creating the enabling environment for innovation. The key is learning to adjust to their particular attitudes and attributes. We also spoke with representatives of Beltraide about how they are working to change the business environment and encourage entrepreneurship in schools. On our couch: Dr. Leroy Almendarez - Executive Director, Beltraide. Dr. Kent J. Wessinger - Speaker, EntreCon/CEO, Create2Elevate Research Lab. Monique Usher- Acting Manager, SBDCBelize.

Lawrence Vernon's book "A Narrative of Political Parties" display was held today in Corozal, 32min. It was displayed inside the library. The public were invited to attend this event. At 2pm everyone had gathered to witness the history book about "A Narrative Of Poltical Parties In Belize". About the Author Mr. Lawerence Vernon: was born on May 19, 1937 in Belize City. Since his appointment to the national Library in 1956, one of his mission has been to strengthen and expand the public libraries network in Belize. In community service he has chaired the National Honors and Award Advisory Commitee and has involved in key positions with the Belize National Commission for UNESCO and the Belize Archives and Records Service Advisory Board, among many others. His major publications include Cultural Groups of Belize, The Andy Palacio Moment: Sojourn of a Harifuna Cultural Actvist, A walk Through Old Belize and Placencis and its Environs.

Dickie Bradley, 27min.

San Pedro Sun at the Hague, 2min. Our reporter Dion Vansen is in The Hague, Netherlands, reporting on the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This is where disputes between countries are settled peacefully, and is the venue foreseen for Belize and Guatemala to settle their longstanding territorial dispute , if Belizeans support the idea of having the ICJ settle the dispute after a 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum in April of 2019. The court can only move forward after both sides have consent to the solved the issue at this international judicial organ.

ICJ or no ICJ! Information at SPHS Nov 27, 70min. Talks about Guatemala and Belize land dispute. Should we allow International Court of Justice (ICJ) to decide? Belize goes to vote April 10th 2019

Today, Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico played at the Corozal library, 1.5min. It was an event to honor Mr. Lawerence Vernon's book. It is called "A Narrative of Political Parties In Belize"

Part 2 of Escuela Secundaria Tecnicaexico School performing at the Corozal Library as part of Lawerence Vernon's book display, 1.5min.

Xunantunich, Exploring the Mayan Ruins, 6min. Matt Cook took some comprehensive video of Xunantunich. Not a lot of people getting in the way of the beauty of the Maya site. "In this episode we are guided through Xunantunich. I had to get used to following around guides in Belize. Usually I am the guide. These ancient ruins are kept in great condition. We saw some workers excavating and repairing things. Some of the temple parts are actually fake and made as a cover for the original parts. Next time we will be cave tubing and ziplining in the Belize jungle."

1979 Pan American Games In Puerto Rico:Belize Beats USA 2-1 Woman's Softball, 1min.

LIFETIME AWARD TO BELIZEAN LEGEND COLIN THURTON!, 1.5min. In a March 17, 2013 exerts from the article in Belize's Amandala newspaper titled, "Sonny, Chuku and Mr. Success", Belizean sports historian and Belize's Minister of Housing, Michael Finnegan wrote: Not surprisingly, Colin Thurton and Chuku Young migrated to the U.S.A. in 1968. Colin joined the University of Chicago's track club. He ran indoor and outdoor track competitions from 1969 to 1974 during which time he had a personal best of 6.1 seconds in the indoor and outdoor 60-yard dash...

Police Check Point Talk Show, 60min.

November 27, 2018

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Misc Belizean Sources

San Pedro's 34th Township Anniversary
Don't miss out on the 5% discount on Trade License renewal....tomorrow only! It's back! Take advantage of this promotion! In honor of San Pedro's 34th Township Anniversary, the San Pedro Town Council is offering a 5% discount on Trade License fees for 2019. Please be reminded that you must fill out a renewal form prior to paying your 2019 fee.

Food Handler's Class on Caye Caulker
For those interested in getting a food handlers permit or want to renew yours; a class will be held on December 6 2018. For more info contact 6104707.

Children's Comparsa Workshop in Corozal
Comparsa training for children December 17 - 19th! We invite children ages 8 - 13 to get creative and have fun with our Belizean folklore theme. The workshop will prepare children in presenting at the Juan Carnaval event in early March 2019. Message, call 422-0071 or visit the House of Culture to register. The workshop is free.

Corozal Christmas Bram 2018
December 23rd, 5pm at Corozal Central Park. Put together with lots of love this event builds on the tradition of celebrating and “bramming” throughout communities in Belize but especially those of the Kriol(Creole) villages. In the past revelers would traverse the streets during Christmas going from house to house singing and dancing in the street. One of the other interesting aspects of the celebration was the pulsating rhythms of traditional Brokdong music. Instruments would include the jawbone of an ass(donkey), fork and grater, the Gombay drum, mouth organ and the accordion to name a few. Synonymous with Brokdong music is the call and response songs narrating stories of the past in oftentimes in a fun and satirical fashion.

Water outage in parts of Santa Elena Wednesday
Belize Water Services informs its customers in parts of Santa Elena and surrounding areas that there will be an interruption in the water supply, Wednesday, November 28, 2018, starting at 1:00pm. The areas to be affected are Santa Elena Town and Esperanza. This interruption is necessary for the installation of new culvert crossing. Due to the upgrades, customers may experience low pressure and/or discoloration when water is restored. Residents of these or nearby areas are advised that water supply should return to normal by 11:00pm.

Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Continues to Contribute to the Infrastructure Development of Belize
Today in Belize City, His Excellency Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, presented a bilateral cooperation grant to the Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Belize. The grant is in the sum of US$4 million. The grant is for the year 2018 under the Bilateral Cooperation Program between the two countries. The purpose of the grant is to assist the overall development of Belize, particularly in the development of transportation infrastructure.

Belizean buses will soon return to their old routes in Chetumal en route to the New Market "Lázaro Cárdenas" transporting Belizeans to Chetumal
Belize and Chetumal municipality authorities are in discussion to see how to reactivate the enroute to chetumal with the Belizean buses that was removed from them on the last administration and relocated them at the New Market. According to the information provided by the the New Market merchants, their sales would increase if Belizeans returns to the site. Since the removal of the buses coming from Belize, they had a dicreased on there sales when visitors purchased their products in restaurants, lunch shops, clothing and footwear, among other inputs. As that said, the possibility is already being analyzed in the City Council of Othon P. Blanco, who are in the best disposition to help with the economic reactivation of the commercial sector and what lies better with this decision to recover that place of the Belizean buses.

The FCD Youth Environmental Group and Todos Por Un Mundo Verde members met in Poptun, Peten
To strengthen youth environmental actions. This initiative was possible through the British High Commission Office in Belize.

The Creole Brukdong Festival
Dec 14 at 5 PM – Dec 16 at 8 PM, Battlefield Park Belize City. Hosted by Belize Music Agency. Produced by CREOLE BRUKWDOWN MOVEMENT. A Three day Festival, 1st Opening Night (The Tacari Gala) Fri. 14 Dec. 2nd The Sea Food Sare Night Sat 15. Dec. 3rd The Bol up Night Sun. 15 Dec.

Channel 7

Daddy Dean isn’t Going Anywhere, Anytime Soon
If you watched the news on Friday, you might have seen our Jules Vasquez asking Prime Minister Dean Barrow about a mysterious special meeting he'd had on Wednesday with a majority of Cabinet Ministers. The contingent notably did not include aspirants for leader Patrick Faber and John Saldivar. We knew there was something major afoot, but, in our interview, the PM didn't let on too much - he would only say it was about next Tuesday's Cabinet meeting - which we now know, will be a game-changer. We have learned that last Wednesday's gathering was pivotal, because it was all about how long Prime Minister Dean Barrow will remain at the helm before stepping aside and handing over to a successor. 7News has learned from multiple sources that 15 Cabinet ministers have asked the PM to stick around as long as possible, and that could mean right up to the date when he calls the 2020 election and dissolves parliament.

Guatemalan Executed out West, Police have no Clear Answers
A Guatemalan man was shot dead over the weekend. Yesterday afternoon, police found his body about 50 meters within Belize, near Suchitan, Melchor. The victim is 26 year old Jairo Alfaro. He had no identification cards on him but our information is that his common law wife identified him. Today at the press briefing, police said they don't have much background on Alfaro. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, NCIB: "Benque police was called to an area north of Benque Viejo Town along the Belize Guatemala border which would be somewhere in the area of the Xunantunich Mayan site which is across the Mopan river, where upon arrival the lifeless body of a Hispanic male was seen in some bushes..."

8 Miles Couple Survives Shooting at their Home
So, while Cayo cops try to piece together that western border murder case, Belize City police are investigating the strange shooting of a middle-aged man and woman. It happened at around 2 o'clock on Sunday morning at their 8 miles home. 48 year-old Vilma Robinson and 38 year-old Erick McLarly were asleep inside their home when a gunman sprayed their house with a barrage of bullets. Both Robinson and McLarly were injured to their legs, and they had to be rushed to the KHMH for emergency medical treatment.

Ontario Hilltop Home Invader Charged
A man has been charged for the brazen early morning Ontario home invasion. He is Glenford Patterson. As we have reported, an American woman was at home with her kids on Wednesday morning when robbers broke in, held them hostage, assaulted her and her son and then stabbed one of the caretakers. Police gave us an update today. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, NCIB: "In relation to the aggravated burglary which has occurred earlier last week in Ontario Village, police have since arrested and charged one Glenford Patterson, 26 year old for the laborer of Ontario village for the crime of aggravated burglary, Attempt Murder, Use Of Deadly Means of Harm and Dangerous Harm."

Police Charge Man for Salvapan Murder
Police have also charged a Belmopan resident for Jermain Sanker's murder. He is 27 year old Elquine Hernandez. As we have reported, Sanker was parked outside a Panama street home when a man shot him dead. Here is more from police. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, NCIB: "Police have since arrested and charged one Elquine Hernandez, 27 years Belizean laborer of a Belmopan address for the crime of murder." Reporter "Has this resulted in a motive being unraveled?" ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, NCIB: "Not at this time, we are still working on the investigation."

No More Holiday for Mount Carmel Kids, Classes Resumed Today
Classes resumed today at Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque. As we showed you on Friday, the teachers took to the streets to protest because three of them had not been paid for their services. Well, that is all being resolved. According to the principal, Ana Pech who has been teaching at the school for 29 years will be paid for the last two months and she will keep her job at the school for now. As it relates to Roberto Valencia, he will be paid or the three months he worked as a replacement teacher.

Progress for the PSU: Their Land to be Restored
And just as the Mount Carmel school teachers have started to iron out their salary issues, things are shaping up pretty well for the PSU and their hilltop property. As we told you last week, the PSU met with the Prime Minster and the PM assured them that they will get back their land. The PSU sent out a press release last week stating "The meeting with the PM was amicable and the PSU is pleased to announce that progress has been made." It continues by saying "an agreed position was tabled by the Prime Minister which proposes the acquisition and transfer of the property by the Government of Belize from Simplex Design LTD. Thereafter, the Government of Belize and the Public Service Union shall agree on a methodology for the legal transfer to the PSU."

Robbers Stab “Bullet” for Money
The last time we heard about taxi-driver Roy "Bullet" Craig was in January. He was charged with sexual assault after police caught him with a 16 year-old boy in a hotel room. Well, early this morning after 1:00, he was the one who was assaulted in his Partridge Street apartment. He reported that he was asleep when he was awakened by noise. 3 men then approached him and demanded money.

Buh-Bye Murder Charge; Men Walk Free
Today two men walked free from a murder charge. 26 year old Jed Burgess and 23 year old Micah Tillett were acquitted of the shooting death of 21 year old Jamal Neal. This is after Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Williams upheld submissions from their attorneys. Richard "Dickie" Bradley, attorney for Burgess, and Senior Counsel Ellis Arnold, representing Tillett, argued that Senior Crown Counsel prosecutor Sheneiza Smith presented insufficient evidence of her case which she closed today.

Duo Charged for Lord’s Bank Aggravated Burglary
A man and a teenager were charged with aggravated burglary today before Magistrate Emerson Banner. He is 28 year old Glenford Diego and the boy is 16 years old boy. They pleaded not guilty to the charge. They were remanded into custody until January 28, 2019. The incident happened on November 23rd at the Lord's Bank home of former Fire Chief Henry Baizar. His wife, Carolyn Baizar, reported to the police that as she was coming out of her front door, a masked man came running from behind the house with an object in his hand that resembled a firearm.

No Sisterly Love: Woman Charged for Big Sis Death
On Friday we told you about Isela Cano, the 23 year old San Juan villager charged for killing her big sister, 27 year old Keidi Yesenia Ramirez. Today, Cano went to court in Independence charged for manslaughter. The women's parents - who were initially detained - were released on Friday without charge. This after caution statements showed that Cano and her parents had tied Keidi Ramirez to her bed. Cano is the one who allegedly gagged her sister - which it is believed led to her death. Police are still investigating the post mortem results which show that Ramirez had damage to her pancreas consistent with a traumatic blow or blows.

No Sign of Orange Walk Elderly Woman
An elderly Orange Walk woman is missing and her family is very worried for her safety. 68 year-old Marta Gonzalez travelled to the Stann Creek District to conduct business and hasn't returned home. Her 37 year-old son told police that she left home in San Felipe Village last week Friday to sell cheese in Dangriga, but up until today, they haven't heard anything from her.

Blame it on the Alcohol: Man Walks into Oncoming Traffic
Tonight, Jeronimo Valle, a 59 year-old Salvadoran continues to recover from minor injuries he suffered yesterday evening. This is after he was knocked down in Belmopan. Police say that the reports they received suggests that Valle was under the influence of alcohol, and he was staggering, while walking on Costa Rica Street Extension. Somehow, Valle walked right in front of an oncoming vehicle which ran him over, and continued along the way, as if nothing happened.

“Leave me in Peace” Fisherman Fed Up with Police Harassment
Last week, 56 year-old Mark Terry, a fisherman from Belize City, visited our 7News office to complain about what he describes as police harassment. He says that several decades ago, he left Belize to live in California, but has been back home for many years now. And according to Terry, he's being harassed by police who he believes are wrongly profiling him as a criminal. He says that he's been going fishing at Rock Park for several months, and that's when the sustained police intimidation started. That's until several days ago, when he had an escalated confrontation with a police officer over a borrowed machete that he was trying to return to its owner.

Columbia River Reserve: Conservation Area for Cannabis Cultivation?
Cannabis cultivation continues in the Columbia Forest Reserve in Punta Gorda. If you remember our exclusive feature on the countrywide weed plantation destruction, this area is a prime location to plant weed because it is hidden and remote. Well, the BDF and Punta Gorda quick response team were still able to find a weed field. The team were on a 5 day operation in the area which started last week Tuesday and ended on Saturday. They found the plantation on Thursday. There were 2000 mature plants averaging 5ft in height.

Police Confiscate Cannabis Up North
While that was down south, on Friday up north, police found more weed in a plantain field in Xaibe Village, Corozal. They found 11 pounds of weed and they were labeled as found property. Also on Friday in Corozal, police found 2 pounds of weed in a plastic bag in the Dominguez Layout area. The drugs were also labeled as found property.

Jules Vasquez on Special Reporting tour in Hague, Netherlands
A contingent of 9 Belizean Journalists are in the Hague, Netherlands. It's a media tour to the seat of the International Court of Justice - and our News Director Jules Vasquez is there. He tells us what it's about:.. Tomorrow, the delegation is scheduled to visit the Peace Palace which is the headquarters for the ICJ. Today was spent speaking to senior diplomats and international lawyers who have appeared before the ICJ. None of them wished to appear on camera, or to speak on the record - not wishing to appear to be taking sides, or to offend Guatemala.

Explorers to Dive the Depths of the Blue Hole
The Blue Hole - even if you've never been there, chances are you know what it is. It remains one of the main attractions of Belize's marine protected areas - simply put, it is magnificent and it continues to draw much interest both scientifically and for tourism. But the upcoming expedition organized by some of the top explorers in the world will take you deep inside it like never before. In a week's time, the Discovery Channel will broadcast a trip to the very bottom of the hole, 407 feet down, in two submarines. The lead explorers are Sir Richard Branson and Fabien Cousteau. This afternoon, we spoke to the men in charge of the expedition.

More Road Works Thanks to Taiwan
Belize collected eight million dollars from our friends in the Republic of China (Taiwan) today as part of the countries' bilateral cooperation program. It is intended to assist the development of transportation infrastructure. A GOB press release states that the funds will be used for its ongoing work on rehabilitating the Philip Goldson Highway between Belize City and Haulover Bridge; rehabilitation of the Hummingbird Highway, and upgrading of streets and drains in Southside of Belize City. Prime Minister Dean Barrow received the grant from the Taiwanese ambassador to Belize, His Excellency Remus Li-Kuo Chen.

Channel 5

Missing Fishermen Return Home Safely
There was both joy and relief for the families of thirteen fishermen on Saturday morning. The fishermen had set sail fifteen days ago from Copper Bank and during that time, [...]

Socializing in Melchor, Guatemalan Man Ends Up Dead in Belize
While the fishermen are safe and sound, a Guatemalan national was shot and killed in the Cayo District over the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, twenty-six-year-old Jairo Alfaro was found in [...]

A Sleeping Couple Awoken By Gunshots Inside Their Bedroom
A couple is lucky to be alive tonight after narrowly escaping with their lives when a hail of bullets was fired into their home in the early hours of Sunday [...]

2 Men Acquitted of 2013 Murder
Two men are enjoying their freedom tonight after spending five years behind bars for murder. Twenty-three-year-old Micah Tillett and twenty-five-year-old Jed Burgess were acquitted of the 2013 murder of twenty-one-year-old [...]

Belize City Resident Charged with Drug Trafficking
In the lower courts, twenty-nine-year-old Aaron Lindo was arraigned for the crime of drug trafficking. Lindo, who was unrepresented, appeared before Magistrate Emmerson Banner and pleaded not guilty to trafficking [...]

Demystifying the I.C.J. Overview
A pool of Belizean journalists is in The Hague, Netherlands for one week. The group representing seven media houses and the Government Press Office includes our Marleni Cuellar. They arrived [...]

Former High Commissioner for Belize to UK Speaks Out Against UDP Christmas Cheer
Former High Commissioner for Belize to UK, Kamela Palma is speaking out against the Christmas Cheer by the U.D.P. Administration. Palma has been living in Punta Gorda since she vacated [...]

A Suspect is Arrested and Charged for the Salvapan Murder of Jermain Sanker
At their press briefing today, police also provided updates in respect of a string of violent activities in the west and south. Jermain Sanker, a resident of Corozal, lost his [...]

Isela Cano is Charged for the Death of Keidi Ramirez in San Juan
The tragedy involving Honduran national Keidi Ramirez has resulted in the arraignment of her sister who has been charged with manslaughter. The twenty-six-year-old resident of San Juan Village was found [...]

Glenford Patterson is Charged with Ontario Home Invasion
Fifty-five-year-old Simeon Alvaro Perez was brutally attacked and stabbed as many as twelve times during a home invasion last Wednesday. The caretaker had just arrived at work at the DeYoung [...]

U.D.P. Ministers Want PM to Stay a Bit Longer
There is political intrigue to report tonight and it has to do with the retirement of Prime Minister Dean Barrow. For some time it had been known that the PM [...]

Denny Grijalva Victorious in U.D.P. OW Central Convention
The battle among three candidates to represent the Orange Walk Central constituency for the United Democratic Party ended on Sunday evening with incumbent Denny Grijalva defeating Yvette Liu Torres and [...]

Tacos Lovers Rejoice at Tacos Fest 2018
Orange Walk Town is known for its tacos and tacos lovers from across the country can attest that the tacos of ‘Shuga City’ are the best. This is why Dillon [...]

An Elderly Cheese Vendor Goes Missing En Route to Dangriga
Tonight, the family of an elderly woman from San Felipe Village in the Orange Walk District continues a desperate search for their loved one whom they reported missing on Sunday. [...]

Police Station in San Pedro Columbia Inhospitable
The police station in San Pedro Columbia is inhospitable. This is according to Toledo West Area Representative, Oscar Requeña, and the pictures he showed parliamentarians on Friday during the Sitting [...]

Toledo West Roads Are Difficult to Traverse
Area Representative for Toledo West Oscar Requeña also spoke on the state of public roads in his constituency. It’s a topic that Requeña speaks on during the adjournment of every [...]

Cordel Hyde Wants GOB to Take Control of Boledo Franchise
And while Oscar Requeña demanded that the Government repair the deplorable roads in his constituency, Lake I Area Rep., Cordel Hyde, is demanding that the government re-take control of boledo. [...]

Export Processing Zone Act to be Repealed, Replaced
On Friday, the Government introduced a bill to repeal and replace the Export Processing Zone Act. The revised act seeks to facilitate investment, production of value-adding enterprises and ensure compliance [...]

Aquatica Submarine to Conduct Blue Hole Expedition
Aquatica Submarines has teamed up with businessman and philanthropist Richard Branson, documentary filmmaker and ocean conservationist Fabien Costeau and the Roatan Institute of Deep Sea Exploration to do an expedition to the [...]

UWI Hosts Panel Discussion on Gender Based Violence
The annual sixteen days of activism was launched in Belize City last Friday, under the theme, “#HearMeToo – End Violence against Women and Girls!” As part of the global campaign, [...]

Gender-based Violence – A Cultural Issue that Needs to be Changed
According to Jane Bennett, the issue of gender-based violence is cultural, a bad behaviour, that needs to be changed and will take a village to change. Jane Bennett, Head, [...]

Sporting Activities over the Weekend with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of the weekend sporting activities...]

LOVE FM

Southern Village goes Solar
Reusable and clean energy are some of the discussion topics when speaking about climate science and adaptation to climate change. Rather than use carbon-based fuels which emit greenhouse gases, solar energy provides a clean alternative with a minimal environmental footprint. Residents from the south in Santa Elena Village are making the leap to solar. A …

LOVE News Reports on ICJ at the Hague in the Netherlands
A team of journalists from Belize are embarking on a US Embassy sponsored education about the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The group of journalists are at The Hague in the Netherlands. LOVE News very own Renee Trujillo is there and has sent this report. Rene Trujillo: “After twelve hours of flight and an estimated …

Son reports his Mom is missing
There were two persons reported missing over the weekend. However, only one of them has been recovered safe and sound. A fourteen-year-old minor was reported missing from November 23rd. His father, a resident of Yo Creek Village was very concerned but the youth has returned home safely. That same day another missing report was made, …

Couple shot while asleep
A couple was shot while asleep in their home at the 8 Miles community on Sunday. 48-year-old Vilma Robinson is recovering at home but her companion 38-year-old Erick McLarly remains hospitalized in stable condition. The couple was asleep in their home when someone crept up behind the house and fired several shots. At least five …

Police Arrest Belmopan Resident for Murder
The Police Department has also made a break in the November 19th murder of a Corozal resident who was killed in Belmopan. Jermain Sanker had walked out of a home at 1 Panama Street and got into a car in the Salvapan area, when he was shot as he sat in the driver’s seat. Assistant …

Toledo roads a “crisis” situation says PUP Toledo West Representative
At last Friday’s House Meeting, PUP Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requena also rose to address a matter he described as a “crisis”. That concerns roads, which the Area Representative says are impassable. Using exhibits of several swamped roads, like that of the Blue Creek Road which connects over ten villages, Requena asked government to …

Several home invasion style burglaries plague communities
There were two other home invasion style assaults. Taxi Driver Roy “Bullet” Craig is back in the news but this time the 76-year-old finds himself a victim and not the accused. Craig was stabbed at least two times by one of three men who barged into his house on Sunday morning. There is no official police …

8th Annual Tacos Fest held in Orange Walk
Taco and meat lovers converged in Orange Walk Town on Sunday for the eight annual Tacos Festival. The Festival sees some fifty tacos vendors pool at the Banquitas House of Culture to sell a variety of tacos, including beef, pork, and the ever popular chicken tacos. Robert Usher, one of the organizer, says this year …

Two men acquitted of Murder
Two men were acquitted of murder today. 26-year-old Jed Burgess and 23-year-old Micah Tillett were accused of killing 21-year-old Jamal Neal, but they were acquitted of the charge today by Justice Marilyn Williams. Neal, a resident of Banak Street, was gunned down in the evening of September 13, 2013. Two men drove by on a …

Cruz emerged victorious as UDP Standard Bearer for O.W. Central Constituency
Denni Grijalva came to worldwide infamy in 2013 when heavy equipment from his business De-Mar’s Stone Company, demolished large portions of the central pyramid for limestone to fill roads in Douglas Village with gravel. The dust on Nohmul has settled and his political career has risen from the rubble. Grijalva is the new UDP Standard …

PUP Deputy Party Leader says government should take back Boledo
Following the adjournment of the Sitting of the House of Representatives on Friday, Cordel Hyde, PUP Area Representative for Lake Independence, addressed the matter of the monopoly on Boledo. The contract is currently held by Brads, and Hyde says that since it is soon up for renewal, the government should take it back into its hands.

Government introduces new tax bill
In the Sitting of the House of Representatives on Friday, the government introduced an amendment to the General Sales Tax. The amendment seeks to block tour operators from collecting monies the CCJ ordered the government to return to operators in October. That judgement was made when David Gegg of Cruise Solutions Limited took the Government to court to have tour services to cruise lines be declared zero rated. Cruise Solutions won the case and the Government was ordered to pay back over half a million dollars in taxes, a payment PM Barrow says he now wants to have blocked with the new bill.

Guatemalan National murdered 50 yards into Belize
Police are investigating the murder of a man whose body was discovered near Xunantunich about 50 yards from Melchor, Guatemala. Police visited the scene where they discovered the body of a man with gunshot wounds to the back of his neck and to the right, upper chest.

Arrest made for home invasion
Last week four masked and armed thieves had broken into the home of a thirty-six-year-old American woman and her two children in Ontario Village. During the home invasion, she was hit with a gun and her caretaker fifty-five-year-old Teakettle resident, Simeon Alvaro was beaten and stabbed.

Mount Carmel Primary School returns to normalcy
Last week, we brought you the story of the teachers of Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque Viejo Del Carmen Town, Cayo District, who took to the streets to protest the policies of the Ministry of Education.

Belizean stabbed and killed in Los Angeles, USA
21-year-old Belizean Rakeem Francis was stabbed and killed in Los Angeles, USA on Thanksgiving Day. L.A. police were called around 7:15 last Thursday night in an alley behind an apartment complex in Baldwin Hills, where Francis lived. Witnesses reported hearing an argument and a loud scream before Francis was found.

Fishermen reunited with families
Eleven fishermen, who were reported missing at sea, have been found alive and in good health in the vicinity of Turneffe Atoll. The Belize Coast Guard was deployed last week Thursday and it was not until Saturday they came across the vessel, Nayadia.

The Reporter

Roy ‘Bullet’ Craig stabbed
Taxi-man Roy ‘Bullet’ Craig, 77, is currently at the KHMH in stable condition after three men allegedly entered his home early Sunday morning and stabbed him. Craig went to the Mahogany Police Substation at 1:30am Sunday and told Police that three men entered his home by breaking the front door frame. He says the men demanded money, and when he told them he didn’t have any they stabbed him with a sharp object on his arm and back before leaving.

BELIZEAN JOURNALISTS AT THE HAGUE
As part of a special two-part project organized by the US Embassy, eight Belizean journalists and a cameraman are in Amsterdam, Netherlands to report back home on the role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The objective of the assignment dubbed, “From Fear to Facts; Demystifying the ICJ” is for us to get a better understanding of how the ICJ works, what types of disputes it presides over, how disputes are settled, and who are the parties that can come before the Court.

PUMA GAS STATION BURGLARY EARLY THIS MORNING
There are reports of an alleged burglary at the Puma Service Station located at the corner of the George Price Highway and Faber’s Road. It is not yet known what was taken, but Scenes of Crime personnel are on site.

Breaking Belize News

GOB borrows US $7 million more for George Price highway rehabilitation
During last Friday’s sitting of the House of representatives, the government introduced a motion to […]

Sixteen days of activism against Gender Based Violence launched
The Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis Barrow, in collaboration […]

Belize and the ICJ procedures
On April 10, 2019, Belizeans will go to the polls to vote in favor of or […]

Taiwan grants Belize $8 million for infrastructure projects
Today in Belize City, His Excellency Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) […]

United Kingdom university planning to pay £200 million toward reparations
The Jamaican Gleaner is reporting that the University of the West Indies (UWI) will be […]

Belize’s Caribbean Tire to open outlet in Chetumal, Quintana Roo!
Caribbean Tires, a Belizean automotive company, is broadening its horizon and entering new markets. Mexican […]

Police issue official report on murder near Belize/Guatemala Border
Today, Belmopan police issued an official report on the death of Guatemalan national, Jairo Alfaro, […]

Man charged for murder in Belmopan
Today Belmopan police arrested and charged, Elquine Hernandez, 27, with the murder of Jermain Sanker. […]

Roy “Bullet” Craig, stabbed at home
At the start of this year, career taxi man, Roy Craig, 76, known to many […]

Authorities discover weed field in Columbia Forest Reserve, Toledo
It never made the news, but the Belize Defence Force and Punta Gorda Police recently […]

Shrimp truck crashes, bystanders steal shrimp boxes amidst tragedy!
Yesterday, a truck carrying shrimp for export careened off the Hummingbird Highway in Southern Belize. The […]

Jairo Alfaro, 26, shot and killed near western border
In Western Belize, authorities are investigating a case of murder. Just before 4 o’clock yesterday […]

10 interesting facts about the ICJ that you might not know
The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) settles […]

Blogs

Placencia, Belize
Placencia is a charming little seaside town found at the tip of a peninsula off the coast of mainland Belize.It’s fast becoming Belize‘s most desirable location as it fronts the gorgeous Caribbean Sea to the east and a resplendent freshwater lagoon, full of wildlife and with a view of the gorgeous Maya mountain chain, to the west. The Placencia Peninsula, a 16-mile spit of land that parallels the mainland, offers scenery of vivid blue waters and pure white sandy beaches. Often referred to as the “caye you can drive to”, Placencia is equipped with the same beauty and activity of the other Belize islands at a more relaxed pace. The palm tree lined beaches are nothing less than exquisite.

Top 10 Things to do in Placencia Village, Belize!
Whether you are on a quick vacation or you live here full time, it is great to remind yourself of all the unusual and unique things that bring people back again and again to Placencia. It is a very special place - remote and exotic, yet you will feel right at home, warmly welcomed, in this artistic and funky little village.... Before you do ANYTHING else in the Village.... 1.) Walk the "loop" of the village. You can't get lost - follow the loop starting either on the main street or the sidewalk, takes about 30 minutes if you don't stop anywhere (but you will!) This loop allows you to see the whole village and get a feel for the tour booths, shops, restaurants, and bars that draw you in. As you are walking around, check out the local woodworking, have a coffee at Above Grounds (looks like a treehouse)...

Belize Bird Rescue - Avian Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
Belize Bird Rescue is a rehabilitation centre for birds in Belize. It was established in 2004 by Nikki Buxton and Jerry Larder. It started primarily as a facility for parrot rescue and rehabilitation but has expanded over the years to cater to all indigenous species of birds in Belize such as raptors, owls, water birds, and passerines. The organization is registered as an NGO and is situated on a privately owned 50 acre reserve, most of which is used to support avian rehabilitation. Nikki and Jerry are also the owner of Rock Farm Guest House. Our time at Belize Bird Rescue was like no other. We got to see another point of view of a day in a birder’s life. Nikki and Jerry both have a passion for taking care of Belize’s birds, especially those that have been injured or handicapped.

ADO BUS FROM CANCUN TO BELIZE CITY
Belize is located just south of Mexico’s famed Yucatan Peninsula, so many travelers are interested in information on how to get from Cancún to Belize City or vice versa. The cheapest option by far is to take the bus. The ADO Bus company operates the sole Cancún-Belize City route with an express service that operates each way twice per day. From the main bus terminal in Cancún, the bus leaves at either 7:30 AM or 10:15 PM. The busstops at Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and then Bacalar before crossing the border into Belize. The bus also makes brief stops in Corozal Town and Orange Walk Town before arriving at the central bus terminal in Belize City. Transit time is approximately eight hours. Going back, the bus departs Belize City at 11:00 AM and 7:30 PM with the same stops along the way, arriving at the Cancún airport approximately eight and a half hours later. To board the bus in Belize City, the fare is BZ$19, but you will need to pay the rest of the fare (roughly $40 USD) upon arrival in Cancún.

GLADDEN SPIT & SILK CAYE MARINE RESERVE
Just a few miles offshore of the Belizean mainland lies the vast archipelago of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest coral barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere. Located on the outer edge of this reef is the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes MarineReserve (GSSCMR), a protected conservation area that is ideal for enjoying snorkeling and scuba diving. The GSSCMR measures over 25,000 acres (10,500 ha) in size and is located approximately 22 miles (36 km) due east of the Placencia Peninsula in southeastern Belize. Managed by the Southern Environmental Association, a local NGO, this area is one of the healthiest and vibrant marine ecosystems on the Belize Barrier Reef. Gladden Spit is a small strip of uninhabited land that lies at the southernmost tip of a sunken atoll (a coral structure that formed around dry land but is now underwater).

CAVE DIVING IN BELIZE
People come from all over the world to scuba dive and snorkel in the crystal clear Caribbean waters of Belize. But some experienced divers who want a more challenging experience come to Belize in order to participate in cave diving or exploring submerged caves. Only recommended for the very experienced divers, cave diving has always attracted adventure travelers. According to Ben Popik, a native of Brooklyn who moved to Belize eight years ago, cave diving offers thrills that can be found in no other sport. To enter some of Belize’s most popular diving caves, divers must negotiate narrow tunnels that go down more than 75 feet before opening up into spectacular underwater caverns that have only just begun to be explored and charted. Belize’s geology is responsible for the abundant presence of caves across its territory. Much of Belize is built upon a layer of limestone, which is semi-porous to water, which eventually causes many caves to flood. The ancient Maya, which once dominated Belize, used caves and caverns both as natural cisterns to store freshwater as well as for religious ceremonies and believed that caves were gateways to the underworld of the gods.

International Sources

UM Students Explore Food Insecurity and Delinquency in Belize
A team of University of Mississippi students and faculty recently traveled to Belize to learn more about the correlation between food insecurity and delinquency. Under the leadership of Linda Keena, interim chair of legal studies, and Martha Bass, associate professor of health, exercise science, and recreation management, graduate students from the Department of Legal Studies went to the Central American nation to study the relationship between food insecurity and delinquency in youth. Previous research indicated that delinquent behaviors are used as a coping strategy to increase household resources such as food.

Caribbean Farmers Prepare for Coconut Boom
Coconuts are a longtime staple of Caribbean cuisine, and practically an emblem of the region’s climate and culture. But a new international initiative is shifting coconut’s image to an icon for business process innovation, wealth generation and sustainable livelihoods. In the last four years, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has been implementing a major regional project, working alongside the International Trade Center and stakeholders along the coconut value chain to transition the region’s small-scale operations to enterprise-level profitability in the global coconut industry.

Videos

Central America 2018, 10min. A beautiful journey through Mexico/Guatemala/Honduras/Belize..

Diving Belize, 26min.

Ambergris Caye Belize, 2min.

GEF Small Grants Programme on 25 years working with communities around the world to combat , min. Congratulations to the GEF Small Grants Programme on 25 years working with communities around the world to combat the most critical environmental problems! The GEF Small Grants Programme has and continues to support the work of Ya'axché Conservation Trust and farmers in the Maya Golden Landscape to adopt climate smart farming practices. Check out their new 25th anniversary video; Ya'axché Conservation Trust is featured at minute 5:40. FoH section at minute 13 but all stories are great Belizean stories!

Óok'ostaj pool being perform in the Maya village of Cristo Rey Corozal, 1/2min.

Open Your Eyes 10th Anniversary Celebration, 2hr52min. Live performances by Superfuria Band, Nello Player, Max Revenue, Kyo D' Assassin and Cocono Bai.

Get married in The Great Blue Hole, 2.5min. With all the excitement with the exploring of one of the largest submerged sinkholes in the world, The Great Blue Hole, by businessman/philanthropist Sir Richard Branson, explorer Fabien Cousteau, grandson of Jacques Cousteau and other team members, Confetti is delighted to have been one of the first to plan and coordinate a once in a lifetime wedding there! We still get chills reminiscing the most stunning views we will ever get a chance to see!

Small Grants Programme Belize, 25 years of building future of shared visions, 20min.

Acción Deportiva, 60min.

Belizean Stew Pumpkin, 5min. Pumpkins are considered to be a superfood. Pumpkin pies are not really consumed in Belize, but they are stewed. Stew pumpkin is very easy to make, but packed with sweetness.

November 26, 2018

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Loud Music
“Hey, Mario. How are you doing?” “Hunh?” Mario asked, cupping his hand around his ear. “How are you doing?” I asked again, very loudly. I was trying to be heard over the music at the bar where we were meeting. “I can’t hear you,” he said. “The music’s too loud.” It took some arguing but I finally got the bartender to turn the music down to a reasonable level. We were meeting for the Wednesday Night 8-Ball tournament of the Nosenada Social Club and killing some beer while we waited for the other three members. “It sure is quiet in here,” Vernon said, when he walked in.

Doctor Love: There’s No Place Like Home
Dear Doctor Love, After twenty-two years of marriage and a lot of hard work, my husband and I are both finally able to earn a good income working online from home. We have no debt, and early in our marriage we decided not to have children, so now we are in our forties and can semi-retire. After our last vacation to San Pedro, my husband suggested we sell everything and move to Belize. We even looked at a condo on the beach, but I didn’t think of the implications until he mentioned selling our house. My father passed away eighteen years ago, and my husband and I lived with my mother until her death two years ago. Our home and land have been in my family for over a century, and except for a few years, I have lived here all my life. I am in tears when I think of not having my home anymore. What do we do?

Misc Belizean Sources

Sarteneja Corozal Water Taxi Express closes
It is very sad to see this water taxi service throw in the towel in just months after their first inaugural trip. We need to support entrepreneurship like these.

Miss Chiquitita Corozal 2018-2019
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE at Zaara's Boutique, Stamp Ink by Alejandra Pech, Radio Bahia, Leo Mendez at 672-1959. Admission VIP - $15 and General $10. Saturday, December 15th at 7:00 p.m. at the Andres Campos Civic Center.

Richard Foster Legacy Fundraiser
The Belize Zoo is having a legacy fundraiser celebrating Richard Foster's life to help his wife Carol. They'll have a silent auction, food, and treats. It'll be next Sunday, December 2nd, coinciding with Richard's birthday. Daniel Velazquez recently created a video about Richard and Carol's lives in the wildlife film industry. Richard was recently posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival.

Belizean media at The Hague
Belizean media representatives have just arrived in The Hague to visit the ICJ and learn about the court. “From Fear to Facts: Demystifying the ICJ” media tour is off to a great start!

To'one Masehualo'on at exhibit at Cultural Day Progresso RC School
November 20th 2018 the Yucatec Maya group To'one Masehualo'on from Corozal doing a exhibit at Cultural Day Progresso RC School . Especial thanks to Principal Blanca Cowo Kay for letting our brothers show our beautiful Maya culture of northern Belize . We are Maya ,Somos Maya ,Toone Masehualo'on !!!

Channel 5

Denny Grijalva Victorious In UDP OW Central Convention
Denny Grijalva has emerged victorious in today’s UDP Convention in Orange Walk Central. Grijalva defeated Yvette Torres and Evan Williams.

Kenny Galdamez has been found in good health
On 24.11.2018 at 7:15 p.m., Dennis Novelo 39-year-old, Belizean Construction Worker of Yo Creek Village, Orange Walk District, reported that on 23.11.2018 at 7:15 am., his son Kenny Alexander Galdamez of 14-year-old, left his home to Belize High School Agriculture ,and since then he has not returned home. He has a tattoo with initials K.L on his right wrist. Galdamez was last seen wearing a black long jeans pants with a white T-Shirt and a pair of white tennis.

Honduran National charged with manslaughter
Police have charged 23 year old Honduran National Isela Cano for the death of Keidi Yesenia Ramirez. Cano was charged with manslaughter. On Tuesday evening around four-thirty, Ramirez, a resident of San Juan Village along the Southern Highway, was socializing and drinking with family members when she had to be restrained. Four hours later, she was pronounced dead at the Independence Polyclinic. Police have shared few details about what led to Ramirez’s death – they would only say that Ramirez’s body bore visible marks to the hands, feet and neck– reportedly from being tied up following an argument.

Shooting in Belize City
On 25.11.2018 at 2:28 a.m., Police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where they saw Vilma Robinson, 48-year-old, Belizean Domestic of 8.5 miles George Price Highway with gunshot injuries to the right foot and Erick Mclarly, 38- year-old Belizean Construction Worker of 8 miles on George Price Highway with gunshot injuries to his right and left feet and right knee. Initial investigation reveals that both persons were sleeping when they heard 6 to 7 gunshots. They later realized they had been shot. Both Mclarly and Robinson are at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in a stable condition. Police investigation continues.

The Reporter

NO APOLOGIES FOR CHRISTMAS CHEER
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, following a meeting with the Public Service Union (PSU), this morning addressed several topics with the media, including a leaked memorandum showing the government had allotted $650,000 for so-called “Christmas Cheer,” a controversial practice which has been both praised and criticized in various circles of the citizenry and political spectrum.

WEEKEND – BREAKING NEWS
Murder Victim in Guatemala ? – Body Put On Belize Side. Shooting at 8.5 mile on the George Price Hwy. Alert For Missing 14yr. Old – Police Seeks Your Assistance. BELTRAIDE “SBDC Unit” TRAINING TO HELP WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS. BAHA ISSUES BAN ON ALL Jennie-O products IN BELIZE. G.O.B Settles Law Suite in U.S Courts with Glenn Godfrey

WE MUST ELECT LEADERS INSTEAD OF POLITICIANS
Growing up on a farm, I understand the Agriculture industry very well. As a child, my grandfather was one of the larger landowners and cattle ranchers in the area. He had friendships and business with the likes of Mr Bedran, Mr. John Carr, Mr Bowen and several Mennonite farmers as well as small local farmers. I was a curious child and asked a lot of questions on our rides home or our rides around More Force estate. At an early age, I understood the importance of government subsidies for our agriculture industry, and how uneven the playing field seemed for local small farmers. Therefore, as leaders we must look for ways to create profitable crops/livestock and markets for Belize’s hardworking farmers so that they can thrive in this important industry.

Breaking Belize News

UDP’s Denny Grijalva wins convention for Orange Walk Central
Today the United Democratic Party (UDP) held its standard bearer convention for Orange Walk Central. In the end, former standard bearer, Denny Grijalva Cruz was re-elected. He received 984 votes. In second place was Evan Williams with 476 votes.

Belizean journalists touchdown in Hague, Netherlands
Today, a group of Belizean journalists arrived in Hague, Netherlands. The purpose of their trip is to learn more about the overall functions and procedures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The journalists will visit the ICJ, tour the court and get insights on international law from experts and discuss rulings on previous cases that the ICJ has adjudicated on.

Elderly woman reported missing in Orange Walk
A sixty eight year old woman from San Felipe, Orange Walk has been reported missing.Romario Ixpec, 37, told police that his mom, Marta Gonzalez ,68, left home on November 23, 2018 and has not been seen or heard from since then.

Woman and man shot while sleeping
Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred this morning. According to reports, Villa Robinson, 48 and Erick Mclarly,38, of 8.5 miles on the George Price Highway reported to police that this morning around 2:28 they were sleeping when they heard several gun shots.

Blogs

Digi Held their 8th Annual Tacos Festival in Orange Walk, Belize
Digicell 8th Annual Tacos Festival, one of Belize's most anticipated tasty celebrations, took place on November 25th, 2018. At the festival, there where a number of tacos showcased in different styles and tastes, attracting hundreds of Belizeans and tourists from across the country. The festivities also included cultural presentations and live performances by local artists.

Christmas in Belize: December on Ambergris Caye
“It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without cold weather” – says everyone who is NOT in the Caribbean for the holidays. I don’t know about you…but I certainly that I don’t need wet, frozen socks or a 45 minute search for a parking spot at the jam-packed mall or a runny nose to get in the holiday mood. Just trust me when I tell you that Christmas is just as important to everyone down here at a balmy 80 degrees as it is to you up in Calgary (current temperature 29 degrees F) It’s just a little less hectic frenzy.

Videos

Orange Walk Tacos Fest 2018 , 18min.

Richard Foster Wildlife Filmmaker, Tribute, 3min. Carol Foster and I Daniel put this together for a Tribute at the Belize International Film Festival 2018,it was not easy to do, we are not complete with out him, but he will always inspire us, very special thanks to Xavier Molina for his help in the final cut, and everyone who worked on this stock footage,music and productions, for educational use only.

Saving Paradise, 23min. Dam in Belize

Belize, 4min. Another great vacation! Partying in Caye Caulker, scuba diving the blue hole, 3 day sailing snorkeling spear fishing and camping on uninhabited islands.

Belize Cypers Dive 1 2017, 5min.

Belize 2018, 12min. Thanksgiving trip.

SCUBA Diving - The Great Blue Hole - Lighthouse Reef - Belize - October 2018, 13min.

Kokumba Beach in Belize, 8min.

Belize Bird Rescue, 5min. Belize Bird Rescue is a rehabilitation center for birds in Belize. It was established in 2004 by Nikki Buxton and Jerry Larder. It started primarily as a facility for parrot rescue and rehabilitation but has expanded over the years to cater to all indigenous species of birds in Belize such as raptors, owls, water birds, and passerines. The organization is registered as an NGO and is situated on a privately owned 50-acre reserve, most of which is used to support avian rehabilitation.

International Rugby, 72min.

International Rugby 2, 33min.

November 25, 2018

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

NICH hosts CECC SICA Ministers for Culinary and Cultural Experience at San Pedro House of Culture
The 40th Ordinary of Council of Ministers of Education and Culture of the Central American Education and Culture Coordination of the Central American Integration System (CECC SICA) and the 28th Sectoral of the Council of Ministers of Education and Culture CECC SICA were held in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye for Ministers, Vice Ministers and Representatives of Education and Culture visiting from member countries. The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), through the Museum of Belize and Houses of Culture, hosted a series of cultural and gastronomic presentations for SICA’s Ministers of Culture from the respective Central American Countries and the Dominican Republic.

PUP heads to court over list of electors in Belize Rural South constituency
A legal team from the Belize Rural South (BRS) People’s United Party (PUP) was at the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Wednesday, November 21st, petitioning for the removal of 15 persons registered to vote in the BRS constituency. The PUP team argues that those 15 registered electorates do not reside on Ambergris Caye and thus, they should not be eligible to vote in BRS. Defending the electorates was a team from the United Democratic Party (UDP), along with an attorney, who tried to justify the electorates as legitimate residents on the island. Both sides presented their evidence before the Magistrate, and now the anticipated results of the case will be revealed on Wednesday, December 5th, when an official decision will be made.

North Ambergris Caye’s Police Sub-Station vandalized and in need of renovations
Over a year ago, the San Pedro Police Department inaugurated a police booth north of San Pedro Town, in an attempt to render better-policing services to the northern island community. Although police claim to be getting satisfying results, the police sub-station is due for much-needed renovations, and recently, was vandalized. One of the supporting posts at the entrance of the structure is broken, and it seems to be supporting the weight of the building barely. The facility has electricity, but it still lacks a bathroom. However, it is often used as a makeshift stop for officers patrolling the area daily.

Ambergris Today

Shooting incident on Ambergris Caye
San Pedro Police were in the San Pablo Area investigating a shooting incident that occurred sometime on Friday, November 23, 2018. Unofficial reports are that a group of friends were socializing in the area when individuals passed and shot at them. More on this as information becomes available.

Misc Belizean Sources

Autonomous Vessel To Conduct Oceanographic Surveys In Belize
The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) is hosting a team of Scientists and Engineers (15 persons) from the United Kingdom’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) from October 27- November 30, 2018 to conduct research activities along the Belize river and within the central Belize region. On October 29, 2018, Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) began a multi- disciplinary program of fieldwork in Belize that aims to help characterize the impacts of changes in land-use management on coastal environments. This is a collaborative research program through the UK Government funded Commonwealth Marine Economies (CME) Programme which has resulted in NOC scientists working alongside those in the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), the University of Belize, and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquiculture Science (Cefas) in the UK.

Missing Fishermen Found
News Five has confirmed that the fishermen who were reported missing were located in the Northern Area of Turneffe Atoll. We are told that the fishermen were found alive and in good health. They were located at around ten o’clock Saturday morning. It was reported that Nayadi set out to sea fourteen days ago from the village of Copper Bank in the Corozal District and neither the fishing boat nor its crew had been seen or heard from until this morning following a massive search for them.

8th Annual Tacos Festival
Today is Taco Fest in Orange Walk

Loose Dogs to be picked up and spayed/neutered on Caye Caulker
NOTICE: WE ALL LOVE DOGS but, right now there are too many dogs on the street. From now on Caye Caulker Village Council will be working with the Caye Caulker Humane Society and picking up loose dogs and having them Spayed or Neutered — (desexed so they can NO longer reproduce). This is the only way to control a population getting out of control. Be aware and do not complain afterwards! You love your dog? Keep your dog at home, safe and secure.

Haven House Belize 5K Walk/Run
BEL and employees support Haven House Belize fundraising 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, November 24 and donated over $2,000. Haven House Belize is a non-profit organization that provides a shelter for victims of domestic abuse.

San Pedro BTB office to relocate
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) hereby informs all tourism stakeholders and the general public that its San Pedro Office will be relocating to: San Cas Plaza, Unit 5A,Coconut Drive, San Pedro Ambergris Caye. Operations will continue at our current location until November 30th, 2018. The San Pedro office will open for normal business from its new location on Monday, December 03, 2018.

Keynote Remarks by Senator the Hon Carla Barnett PhD CBE Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development at the Launch of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence November 23, 2018
Thanks to Special Envoy for inviting me to be here and to say a few words today on the launch of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. This campaign officially begins on November 25 every year which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It ends on 10 December, which is Human Rights Day. This year the launch on November 23 coincides with International Children Day, which is a poignant reminder that where there is abuse of women, there usually is abuse of children as well. UN Women continues to point out that “violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the most widespread and persistent human rights violations in our world today. Still, it remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.”

XAMAN EK
Xaman Ek in Yucatec Maya means "North Star" . It is the representation of the North star ,directions and travelers . Like the polar star,it orients travelers during the night . He is a diety for travalers .

The Reporter

BELTRAIDE “SBDC Unit” TRAINING TO HELP WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
The Small Busines Development Center (SBDC), a unit of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) is calling on women entrepreneurs to sign up for a special training program beginning in early 2019. The training, will begin in January.

Breaking Belize News

GOB settles Glenn Godfrey lawsuit for $5 million
At yesterday’s Sitting of the House of Representatives, the government introduced a motion to settle a lawsuit for $5 million brought against GOB more than a decade ago by Glen Godfrey through one of his companies, GDG, which had leased telephone equipment to the now defunct Intelco. GDG had initially sought $30 million in damages, however, GOB had won the first round of litigation.

Two arrested for fake US notes in Placencia
Placencia police have detained two men for questioning regarding circulation of counterfeit US notes. Last night, police received information from several business establishments on the peninsula that two men of Creole decent visited their business establishment and made a purchase using US $20 notes.

International Sources

CARICOM Development Fund must be replenished urgently
The CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) has stimulated higher incomes and expanded trade for the Caribbean region. However, you cannot pour from an empty cup, therefore members states are being urged to put their monies forward to ensure the Fund can continue to deliver for the islands, and can look into forging partnerships to garner more benefits for small and medium enterprises as well. Over the past year, the Fund has approved financing for the development of the village tourism programme in St. Lucia and honey production in Belize, building on similar ongoing programmes benefitting SMEs in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis, mainly through the national development banks. Many of these projects have enabled the adoption of green technologies in production.

Videos

Captain Conch and his shark friend had a lot of fun with the kids at school , .5min. Belize Tourism Industry Association San Pedro Chapter ‘s Captain Conch visited classrooms to advocated for keeping the island clean and enjoyed a little fun with the students!

Miss Universe Belize "Road to the crown" segment on KTLA, 3min. Miss Jenelli Fraser is heading to Bangkok, Thailand soon for the Miss Universe pageant. Here's an interview she did with KTLA in LA. (The most watched news station in Los Angeles) before heading to Miss Universe in Thailand

San Pedro Ambergris Caye in Belize 2017, 8min. Jeff and Melissa Hamilton went to Belize to celebrate 25 years of marriage. San Pedro. Ambergris Caye.

Diving in Belize 2018, 2min. This August, while we were in Belize, I completed my advanced open water diving course with Blue Wave Divers. Joye, Zulie and Henry were amazing. Jags, Nits, Ash, we loved Caye Caulker. Here is a short video of our diving experience. Enjoy :)

A True Belize Organic Cacao Maya Experience only in Toledo, 20min. This video is about Eladio Pop.

San Pedro Pirates FC vs Wagiya FC, 2 hrs. SanPedro wins 2-1

Youth Award Ceremony 2018, 3.5hr.

November 24, 2018

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

BERT gets a helicopter for emergency situations countrywide
The Belize Emergency Response Team’s (BERT) first helicopter landed at John Greif II Municipal Airport in San Pedro Town on Thursday, November 22nd. Arriving with the helicopter was Manager of BERT Andre Carillo, Pilot David Pearce, along with BERT medics and special guests. In an interview with The San Pedro Sun, Carillo stated that this new helicopter will be used for emergency response countrywide. “BERT always tries to find creative ways to get to their patients during emergencies, so with this helicopter we will be able to respond in a faster and more reliable way in various parts of the country, including San Pedro Town. We will also be able to visit areas that primarily very difficult to reach,” he said. “When someone’s life is in danger, every second counts, so hopefully with this helicopter, we will be able to be save someone’s life,” he said. Carillo further stated that with this helicopter, they can also provide International transfers to neighboring countries such as Mexico.

San Pedro Police increase routine check-ups at ports of entry
To deter illicit activities and to monitor persons coming to the island, the San Pedro Police Formation has increased its presence at the different ports of entry to San Pedro Town. The practice is not because of the approaching Christmas season but a routine activity that will take place at different times throughout the weeks. Officer In Charge of the Coastal Executive Unit Superintendent Reymundo Reyes stated that when police officers patrol near the water taxi terminals or the John Greif II Municipal Airport, they are required to make checks on arrivals. “This is done to monitor persons coming to San Pedro, especially people of questionable characters, we need to intercept them and know their whereabouts while on the island,” said Reyes. “It is a method to try to keep the island safe,” Reyes said this practice has yielded the interception of drugs and weapons, and they will continue these checks at unknown times.

San Pedro hosts CECC/SICA XL Ordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education and Culture
San Pedro Town was the host of the 40th Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education and the Council of Ministers of Culture of the Central American Educational and Cultural Coordination of Central American Integration System (CECC / SICA) from Tuesday, November 20th through Thursday, November 22nd. The event included cultural and educational presentations during the day, culminating with the meeting at the Mahogany Bay Village Resort south of San Pedro. The gathering served as a mechanism to find ways to strengthen the organization and develop plans for the future in the areas of education and culture within the respective member countries of the CECC/SICA.

Living Word Church to host Annual Toy Drive
As the Christmas holidays draw near, many non-governmental organizations in San Pedro Town provide gifts to the less fortunate children of the island. One of them is Living Word Church (LWC), who has been hosting their annual Toy Drive for eight years. This year their Toy Drive is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 21st at the Honorable Slyvestre Sporting Complex. LWC believes that the Christmas season can be overwhelming and stressful for some parents who may not be financially stable enough to provide a gift for their children during the holidays. LWC seeks to provide a gift for all children in need to alleviate some of that stress. Last year a total of 1,000 toys were distributed, which means 1,000 happy children! Each child also received a drink and a cupcake.

Aero Mexico launches direct Belize flights
Belizeans may now fly direct to Mexico City D.F., and by the same token Mexicans can now visit Belize, thanks to a new direct weekend flight introduced by Aero Mexico on Saturday, November 17. Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr joined Aero Mexico’s senior vice president for corporate strategy Loren Aandahl in welcoming the new flight when it touched down at the Philip Goldson International Airport at 10:30 last Saturday morning. Aero-Mexico’s Embraer E-190 aircraft seats 99 passengers and five crew, connecting to Mexico City in two hours for USD$477 round trip, on Saturdays and Sundays. The flight takes off from Mexico City at 8:30am, lands in Belize at 10:30am, and takes off at 12 noon.

Belize Sex Offender Registry Launched
Belizeans authorized by the Ministry of National Security will soon be able to access the ministry’s new National Sex Offenders Registry. The Belize Crime Observatory introduced the new online portal to social workers, educators, law enforcement officials, civil rights groups, non-governmental agencies and other interested parties at a sensitization session at the Radisson Fort George Hotel Belize City on Tuesday morning, November 17. Chief Executive Officer George Lovell of the Ministry of National Security made haste to explain that the new website would not be an Open Source, as it is in the United States and other countries. Concerned citizens would be required to complete a questionnaire/application form, and if approved, the authorized individuals would then be granted a password to access the system. The new website has been two years under construction, and Lovell said he expects it will be available to approved users within a week.

Holy Cross Anglican School celebrates Cultural Day 2018
Holy Cross Anglican School celebrated the vibrant Belizean cultures on Wednesday, November 21st at its Annual Cultural Fair. Throughout the day, students and teachers had the opportunity to showcase their knowledge on the country’s various ethnic groups: Maya, Creole, Garinagu, Chinese, East Indian, and Mennonites. Many of the students and teachers also dressed up in cultural attire and enjoyed a fun day of activities with the whole family. Parents and visitors were invited to the campus to observe the display of cultural booths featuring the many cultures of Belize. Each booth was set up with information on each culture, and guests had the opportunity to sample traditional dishes, as well as learn the history of the ethnic groups.

4th Annual Adopt a Bear returns to Ambergris Caye
Adopt a Bear is Back! For the past four years, to make Christmas a memorable experience for less fortunate island children, the “Adopt a Bear” program has been launched during the Christmas Holidays. The project, sponsored by Raise Me Up, gives individuals in the community the opportunity to gift a Christmas present to one child whose parents are not able to do so. The “Adopt a Bear” program began in 2015 and was founded by co-owner of Sandbar Hostel and Restaurant, Britney O’Daniel and Kaitlin McWhorter of Projects Abroad with the aim to bring happiness to the children of modest means in San Pedro Town.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro High School Hosts SICA Ministers Of Education And Culture
San Pedro High School had the honors of hosting a diplomatic group of Ministers of the Central American Integration System (SICA) on Wednesday, November 21, 2018. The Central American Integration System (SICA) is an integration process established under the Protocol of Tegucigalpa in 1991. It is comprised of Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panamá and so the Ministers of Education and Culture of each country were in San Pedro as part of their 48th Meeting of Ministers of Education and Culture of CECC/SICA.

Promoting Belize Through New AeroMexico Direct Flight
On Tuesday, 20th November, the Belize Embassy in Mexico City and Tropic Air sponsored a dinner event with the support of the Belize Tourism Board, the Belize Hotel Association and the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) with the sole objective to market and promote Belize to Mexican travel agents in support of the new route offered by AeroMexico.

Misc Belizean Sources

Art LCHEMISTS: An Exhibition of Paintings and Quilts
Up coming exhibition! Ilona Smiling German Figueroa Keion George Griffith Terryl Edward Godoy Masani Live Valeska Paintner many thanks to Amb Carlos Quesnel for making it possible Opening Live music with Dih Maroons. Nov. 29, 7pm Mexican Institute in Belize City.

Seminar on Belize Small Ruminant Registry and Digital Platform
The Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project under the Ministry of Agriculture, collaborated between Republic of China (R.O.C) and Government of Belize, is pleased to announce that a Seminar on “Belize Small Ruminant Registry and Digital Platform” was held on the 22nd – 23rd November, 2018. The seminar was especially designed for Partners in Development, The Ministry of Agriculture Extension Livestock Officers, other Technical Officers and Sheep Producers in Belize. The main focus of the seminar was to highlight the achievements and current status of Small Ruminant Registry and traceability in the Sheep Industry. The Breeding Sheep Certification Program with on-line application in Small Ruminants and the Digital System being now used in sheep farm management in many countries, was introduced as a very important element to take our Sheep Industry in Belize to the next highest level.

Belize’s Position on the Outbreak of E. coli Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce
Based on a health alert from the United States Centre for Disease Control regarding an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O0157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) associated with romaine lettuce, BAHA and the Ministry of Health advise consumers not to eat any romaine lettuce. Retailers and restaurants should not serve or sell any imported from the U.S.A. and Canada until more information becomes available. This advice includes all types or uses of romaine lettuce, such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and bags and boxes of pre-cut lettuce and salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad.

Ministry of National Security Hosts 4th Annual Multinational Security Cooperation Conference
Today, November 23rd, 2018, The Ministry of National Security (Defence) hosted the 4th Annual Multinational Security Cooperation Conference at the Naia Resort in Placencia, Stann Creek. The main objective of the conference was to share Belize’s vision, work and requirements with regards to military assistance with our allies and partners. It emphasized security cooperation and military capacity building for the Belize Defence Force, the Belize Coast Guard and the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre all within the Ministry of National Security (Defence). The keynote speaker of the conference was the Chief Executive Officer in the ministry, Mr. Felix Enriquez. Mr. Enriquez highlighted that the Ministry of National Security’s strategic direction centered on the men and women of the Belizean security forces.

Tribute to Fidel Castro
This morning the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow paid tribute to the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, in honour of the second anniversary of his death (November 25th). Hon. Cordel Hyde, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, also paid tribute to the former president of Cuba. Present in the gallery were Cuba's Ambassador to Belize H.E. Lissette Pérez, Belize's Ambassador to Cuba H.E. Annie Burns, former Ambassador to Cuba H.E. Assad Shoman, representatives of the Government of Belize, other members of the Cuban delegation, and resident ambassador from other embassies.

NOTICE OF EUROPEAN UNION (EU) GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS (GIS) FOR WHICH PROTECTION IS REQUESTED UNDER ARTICLE 145E OF THE CARIFORUM EU ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
Under the Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM States and the European Union the Parties committed to a process that would provide future protection to each other’s Geographical Indication (GIs) within the context of the Agreement. The European Union has provided a list of Geographical Indications that it would like CARIFORUM States to provide legal protection. The List includes some well-known European Geographical Indications for a) Cheeses (for example Roquefort, Feta, Parmigiano Reggiano and Mozzarella di Bufala Campana).

Belize National Emergency Management Minister meets Panama President & Vice President
On a recent trip to Panama, Belize’s Minister of Transport and National Emergency Management, Hon Edmond Castro, met and spoke with that country’s President, Juan Carlos Varela; and Vice President, Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado. Hon Castro was in Panama for the inauguration, on November 19, 2018, of the Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance (CLRAH), a logistics platform that will facilitate the collection, handling, storage and redistribution of supplies and equipment, and the mobilization of human resources for an efficient management of humanitarian assistance in the face of national and international emergencies.

Social Security Presentation on Caye Caulker
Nov. 29

Far West Street Block Party
Erva's is teaming up with many other local businesses to have a block party on Far West Street on Sunday evening. They'll have live music and DJ's throughout the night. The fun starts at 6:00pm.

Sisimito Sessions 2019
Great news on the electronic music front. The 4th Sisimito Music Festival has a date. Sisimito Records and Mind & Me Music are teaming up to make this the best Belize Electronic Music Weekend yet. Uwe Kruggle and Night Quest will be performing, as will many other international DJ's. It'll be happening in Hopkins, on the beach, on Saturday and Sunday, February 2nd and 3rd. "The 4th Annual Belize Electronic Music Weekend. 2 days of cutting edge House and Techno in the beautiful country of Belize, featuring International and Local D.j's and live acts on the beach. 2&3/02/2019."

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of Nov. 12th - Nov. 18th, 2018
The first cold front of the 2018/2019 winter season produced strong northwest winds, cloudy days and cooler than normal temps. Anglers and guides were able to put together some good days by moving and adapting to the weather and water conditions. El Pescador Lodge was happy to host a fly fishing and photography workshop by Yellow Dog Outfitters featuring well known outdoor photographers Jim Klug and Bryan Gregson. It was a treat to see the amazing images captured by the participants while on land and in and under the water.

SPTC Inaugurates Child Friendly Secretariat
On Wednesday, November 21, 2018, the San Pedro Town Council inaugurated its Child Friendly Secretariat in a short ceremony. This Secretariat will serve as a base for all Child Friendly related matters and events. San Pedro Town is the first municipality to inaugurate its Child Friendly Secretariat.

NICH hosts CECC SICA Ministers for Culinary and Cultural Experience at San Pedro House of Culture
The 40th Ordinary of Council of Ministers of Education and Culture of the Central American Education and Culture Coordination of the Central American Integration System (CECC SICA) and the 28th Sectoral of the Council of Ministers of Education and Culture CECC SICA were held in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye for Ministers, Vice Ministers and Representatives of Education and Culture visiting from member countries. The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), through the Museum of Belize and Houses of Culture, hosted a series of cultural and gastronomic presentations for SICA's Ministers of Culture from the respective Central American Countries and the Dominican Republic.The Ministers and Representatives of Culture were invited to the event at the San Pedro House of Culture (SPHOC) as part of the meetings. The Directors of NICH's Institutes were also present at the cultural and culinary presentations held at the San Pedro House of Culture.

NICH hosts CECC SICA Ministers for Culinary and Cultural Experience at San Pedro House of Culture
Lots of photos...

Cultura Ministers' Field trip
I feel honoured to host all the Central American Ministers of Culture at the San Pedro House of Culture at the Cultural & Culinary Arts Experience. Showcasing Belize's cultural diversity. Thanks to our local artists and musicians for pulling out such a great show. Performers included the Maya Fire Dancer, the Hijos de West Marimba, the Fantastic Steel Pan, the Garifuna Drummer, the Charikanari Dancer, the Jonkunu dancer and the Two-foot Cow dancer.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Peppermint, The Happy Time Murders, The Nun, Christmas Chronicles.

New signs on Coconut Drive and Sea Grape drive are not in use
We would like to remind drivers that the new signs on Coconut Drive and Sea Grape drive are not in use, we will inform the public before the new system becomes operational. To the moron or morons that saw fit to uncover the signs, not only did you endanger the public but you broke the law. It is an offense to alter, damage or remove any traffic sign or barrier, these signs are for the public's safety and only the traffic dept or the police have the authority to deal with traffic signs. We are reviewing CCTV footage to see if we can identify the culprits.

The Belize Kriol Brukdong Festival
Get into the Christmas spirit the old fashion way with good Kriol Brukdong music and food. Come and hear our local artists sing those old fashion Kriol Christmas songs the way they use to play it in the old days. Also happening on these days is a song competition between some of the bands to see which band can create the best new Brukdong song with all of the flavors of the past Brukdong songs. Which band will win? You have to come out to cast your vote! Dec 14 - Dec 15, Battlefield Park, Belize CIty

Channel 7

Charged For Killing Her Big Sister
Tonight, 23 year old Isela Cano has been charged for killing her big sister, 26 year old Keidi Yesenia Ramirez. She was charged this evening in Independence village. Two days ago, Cano had been detained along with her parents for causing the death. But those parents were released today and Cano was charged not for murder, but for manslaughter. This is based on advice of the DPP - who did not find that there was enough evidence to support a murder charge.

PM Would Have Voted For “Peyre” In Port
UDP Party Leader Dean Barrow is coming up on retirement from electoral politics, but - all indications are - he's not going "gentle into that good night." Reports suggest he's actively involved in picking his successor, and those reports say he wanted it to be Attorney General Michael Peyreffite - who lost in the Port Loyola Convention three weeks ago. And while the PM has consistently denied publicly that he had any favorites - today he conceded that - if he lived in Port, he would have voted for "Peyre":... Reporter: "Whatever happened in Port? I'm going to put it this way, your horse lost."

Cabinet Ministers Ask PM To Stay On Until 2020
And while there is now chatter in the party that the man PM calls a great friend, Mike Peyrefitte may somehow slide into place in Queen's Square - for the time being, that's just talk. Right now, there are other intrigues swirling in the UDP. Foremost among those is the talk of a meeting the Prime Minister held earlier this week with a number of ministers - reportedly a majority of Cabinet members who want the PM and Party Leader to stick around as long as possible - right up to the 2020 elections, if he can. That would spell bad news for Patrick Faber or John Saldivar - who are hoping for a leadership convention and a transition as early as next year. We asked the PM what Wednesday's meeting was about - and he slyly said, it was business as usual:…

Dr. Carla Will Stay In Cabinet Club
And one Minister without much political play or sway who will be in that Cabinet meeting is Carla Barnett. She lost the Freetown convention two weeks go and said she's getting out of electoral politics. But, though her political capital has dwindled to zero, the PM said he's not taking her out of Cabinet:... Jules Vasquez, reporter: "Will Dr. Carla Barnett who has now been defeated at general election level and at convention level, will she remained in the cabinet and in the senate?" Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister: "Again, let me be careful. The fact is she did not win and that will allow some people to draw certain conclusions about Carla's political career..."

Worries Mount For Fishermen Gone For 10 Days
Tonight, there are concerns for 13 fisherman from Copperbank village in the Corozal District - who are believed to be missing at sea. But, at this hour, there is more confusion and uncertainty, than there is reliable information - both in their home village and with the coast guard. The Coast Guard launched its own patrol from Calabash Caye and activated its partners like the Audubon Society and TASA, along with the BDF Airwing to comb the entire Turneffe area - but the searches have not turned up anything. Reports from the village say Funciano Copo's boat left from the village 10 days ago with 13 fishermen on board, all relatives. From there the stories go in all different directions - but it boils down to one thing: the men are feared to be unaccounted for at sea - because the most they would usually take on the sea is 8 days.

Top Military Brass Converges On Belize
Yesterday, we took you to the BDF's Camp Belizario in Cayo for a look at Tropical Dagger, a regional training initiative in Belize which brought representatives of the top security forces from Canada, Belize Jamaica, and Trinidad for the entire month of November. Well today, the Ministry of National Security invited us to Naia Resort in Placencia, where military leaders from the Belize Coast Guard, the BDF, the Canadian Armed Forces, the British Army, the US Army, the Mexican military, and the Taiwanese Military were meeting for their annual Multinational Security Cooperation Conference. Like Tropical Dagger, the Security Conference aims to foster closer cooperation between the security forces of Belize's allies, where they seek to combat shared challenges like regional security, and the fight against transnational organized crime, such as narcotics trafficking.

Teachers Protest in Benque
Today Mount Carmel Primary School teachers took to the streets to send a clear message: they want three of their colleagues to get what they are due: paid in full, no bull! Today was day 2 of their protest and we were there to find out what all the noise is all about. Courtney Weatherburne has the story. Courtney Weatherburne, reporting Mount Carmel teacher Maria Del Carmen Martinez is the life-force behind that fight with her two sided poster as her armor- jamming to Bob Marley's most popular protest anthem. This was the scene at 11:00, when the teachers were taking a break. But earlier at 9:00, they were out on the streets, demanding their pay.

GDG & GOB Settling A Sour Sweetheart Deal
And now to today's house meeting - where the biggest item coming out of the day's business was a 5 million dollar settlement payment government has to make to Glenn Godfrey for one of those sour sweetheart deals. Now, we know, Glenn Godfrey and Interco are names that haven't been in the news for a decade - like ghosts of governments past. But Godfrey - in the name of a company called GDG Acquisitions - sued the government on the strength of a 2002 master lease agreement. It's a contract Intelco signed with Government to supply telecommunications equipment. Now, never mind that the equipment never really worked and the company went south faster than a dropped call, the agreement still stands, and government has to pay.

PUP Mum On Intelco Settlement
And, if it struck you as a little odd that we only showed the Prime Minister speaking on this issue - it's because no one on the other side said a word. It's unusual because even when the Government has to pay hefty settlements for PUP deals gone bad - the other side usually comes in saying something like the UDP side cost taxpayers millions by waiting too long to settle, or litigating too long. But today? Not a word, not even a peep. We asked the Prime Minster about it:...

GOB Changing Law To Avoid Costly GST Refunds To Tourism Sector
Government also went to the house today to amend a sales tax law - after a costly CCJ judgement. That judgement found in favor of Cruise Solutions, that tour services to cruise lines should be considered zero rated supplies. Now, millions of dollars in tax have already been paid for those services - and, with this judgement, all who have paid would be entitled for a refund from the GST office. That's why government went to the house to try and retroactively cure the law:... Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- PM: "So, according to them the tax that all these operators had been paying all these years was being invalidly collected because their interpretation, by the president, their interpretation of the law was that, as it stood, these people needed to be treated as zero rated. Apart from the successful appellant, every tour operator who had ever paid GST under the then regime, which we all thought was legal, is coming calling upon the GST department for a refund.

Hon. Hyde Says Strip Brads of Boledo Contract
And finally from the house session, PUP Deputy Leader Cordel Hyde spoke on the adjournment about a matter of public interest, and that's Brad's Boledo franchise. His 10 year license is coming up for renews and Hyde says government should think twice - and put the bold back in public hands:... Hon. Cordel Hyde- PUP Senior Deputy: "I believe it was in 2009 that Bards and Friends were given a 10 year contract to administrate our Boledo franchise. So, I imagine that at some time, pretty soon, it will come up for consideration. I wanted to put the government on notice that they really need to do the right thing here. They really need to rescind that contract. The only problem I can recall is that government was complaining that they are only getting a million dollars in taxes from the sale of Boledo.

Counterfeit Cash On The Peninsula
The Police department is warning that a new set of counterfeit US dollar bills is in circulation on Placencia. Yesterday, at around 8 a.m., officers from Placencia were called to several business places on the peninsula, where 2 men went on a shopping spree using US 20-dollar notes that were counterfeits. Police inspected several of these fake dollar bills, which had the same serial number: MD42596339. Investigators have already detained 2 men, and they're seeking another suspect.

BAHA Rejects Romaine Lettuce
And while the police warn about fake money on Placencia, BAHA is putting a ban in imported Romaine lettuce. The US Centre for Disease Control has determined that Romaine is causing an E-coli outbreak in the States. If you don't know, E-coli causes serious health problems including severe diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia. Because of this, BAHA and the Ministry of Health are advising Belizeans not to eat any romaine lettuce. Additionally, retailers and restaurants should not serve or sell any of this lettuce imported from the US and Canada until more information becomes available. This includes all types of romaine lettuce, such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, bags and boxes of pre-cut lettuce, and salad mixes which contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar Salad.

For A Few (Million) Dollars More
Earlier we told you we had aired the last items of house business from today's house sitting. But one item we missed was a government motion to borrow 7 million dollars more for the George Price Highway Rehabilitation Project. Now, they've already borrowed 27 million dollars in 2015 for the paving of mile 47.9 to mile 67.3. Today the Prime Minister explained why they are going back to the IDB for 7 million more:.. Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- PM: "Whereas the board of directors of the bank approved an original loan to the government in the sum of $27 million, dated November 17th, 2015, whereas we've since approached for additional financing, whereas it is the intention to use the additional financing to meet the costs of the supervision of the civil works, utilities relocation and environmental and social mitigation measures."

Both Side Of House Remember Comandante Castro
But, while it was across-the-floor business as usual, the meeting did start with a touching tribute to Cuba's Comandante Fidel Castro. He died two years ago on November 25th, and - with a full contingent of cuban Doctors, and diplomats from 8 embassies in the gallery - both sides of the house paid tribute to Fidel:...

Reputational Risk For Barrow & Williams?
And while you can see the Prime Minister visibly struggling with his back and his mobility in those photo opportunities - the media still grilled him for 20 minutes, that's after getting about 15 minutes with him yesterday. The PM had to lean on a nearby doorframe, but he took all our questions including one more about his law firm's involvement with the Sitee River Wildlife Preserve. That private NGO is named in a civil complaint by the US Federal Trade Commission as being associated with the massive Sanctuary Belize real estate scam. The Prime Minister said they are entitled to a defense: Jules Vasquez, reporter: "I know you dont make decisions for Barrow and Williams, the firm that has your name on the masthead, but I saw them in court after the civil complaint has been lodge - Ms. Lizette Stain from Barrow and Williams for the Sittee River Wildlife Reserve appearing for. Is that a a concern that you have, the reputational risk of the continued association with an associated group to Sanctuary Belize?"

Is PSU Credit-Worthy For National Bank?
And the press also took one more stab at the PSU issue. As we reported last night, the Prime Minister has interceded to get the hilltop property back for the PSU. He's going to give the union a grant to assist them to buy back the property. But he's also going to recommend to the national bank to help the union with a 150 thousand dollar loan. We asked him on what strength he makes that recommendation:... Jules Vasquez, reporter: "The union, they hold an important place in the social firmament, but they have been proven to be people who unfortunately or unable to pay their lease at least, Why then would you recommend them to the National Bank?"

Mixing Music With An ICJ Message
And perhaps walking in his father's footsteps…Shyne Barrow gave us an interview at that same location a few minutes earlier. But he wasn't talking about a matter of state, he was chatting about an ICJ info-infotainment concert tonight at the Marion Jones. The concert starts at 9:00 tonight. The first 159 persons enter free, and ladies are free all night.

Finnegan’s Not So Subtle Bradley Putdown
And we've saved the best for last. We asked Michael Finnegan about his wife Dianne's candidacy as an aspirant in Lake Independence. That convention is coming up a week from Sunday - and he told us he feels good about it - but he also had a special message for one of her opponent's allies:... Jules Vasquez, reporter: "What you make of the prospects for your wife and are you involved in the campaign?" Hon. Michael Finnegan: "I think she is doing extremely well and I am putting hand and a leg here and there for her, but the responsibility is her, but she is doing quite well."

Channel 5

Copper Bank Fishermen Missing at Sea, Massive Search Effort Underway
A massive search and rescue effort to locate a seagoing vessel carrying ten fishermen onboard is underway in the waters of the Turneffe Atoll. It is reported that Nayadi set [...]

Sister of Missing Copper Bank Fisherman Pleas for His Safe Return
Late this evening, News Five spoke by phone with Melissa Garcia whose brother, twenty-six-year-old Aldo Antonio Hernandez is also missing at sea. According to Garcia, she spoke with her brother [...]

G.O.B. Honors Cuban Revolutionary, Fidel Castro
Two years ago, in November 2016, Commandante Fidel Castro, Cuba’s former president, died at the age of ninety from natural causes. In the 1950’s, Castro emerged as the Leader of [...]

G.O.B. Barrows $14 Million More for Highway Works
The Government of Belize today received approval from the House of Representatives to borrow fourteen million dollars from the Inter-American Development Bank. This is in addition to tens of millions [...]

G.O.B. Settles Lawsuit Brought by Glenn D. Godfrey Acquisitions
More than ten years ago, G.D.G. Acquisitions, a company controlled by Glenn Godfrey, sued the Government of Belize in the U.S. The lawsuit claimed that the government was liable for [...]

G.O.B. Passes Bill to Close GST Loophole
In October, the Caribbean Court of Justice ordered the Government of Belize to repay businessman David Gegg more than half a million dollars. Gegg is the owner of Cruise Solutions [...]

Teachers Demonstrate in Benque; Matter Resolved
There is good news for forty plus teachers at Roman Catholic primary schools in the west. Following a meeting around two p.m., between management, the Teaching Services Commission and the [...]

B.N.T.U. Meets With M.O.E. in Another Round of Discussions
This afternoon, executives of the Belize National Teachers Union met with the Ministry of Education to further discuss issues involving schools that are presently on the hardship list. The meetings [...]

P.S.U. Intends to Take Legal Action Against Belmopan CitCo
The battle over the Belmopan Hilltop property between the Public Service Union, the Belmopan City Council and an Asian businessman from Corozal, seems to have ended amicably following a meeting [...]

PM Barrow Disappointed that Mike Peyrefitte Lost Port Convention
Prime Minister Dean Barrow says he is disappointed that Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte lost his bid to represent Port Loyola for the U.D.P. in the upcoming general elections. Peyrefitte, AC [...]

PM Barrow Says Dr. Carla Barnett Stays
Then there is the case of Doctor Carla Barnett and her failed political venture to represent the people of Freetown for the United Democratic Party. Doctor Barnett, a sitting cabinet [...]

Pooling Our Resources Together – Philloughby’s Latest Port Loyola Brainchild
PORT, an acronym for Pooling Our Resources Together, is the latest initiative to be undertaken by U.D.P. standard bearer Phillip Willoughby who aspires to represent the people of Port Loyola [...]

Land Grab in San Juan; Propose Village Extension is Being Cleared Out by Non-Villagers
Is there a land grab going on in San Juan Village? According to Chairman Carlos Peraza – it would appear so and the village council has no idea who is [...]

Who’s Responsible for San Juan Land Grab?
Chairman Carlos Peraza has notified the Ministry of Natural Resources about the developing issue in San Juan. Peraza told us that neighboring communities are experiencing the same problem. He says [...]

3 Teams Pitch Their Way to BELTRAIDE’s Business Hackathon 2018
BELTRAIDE held the final pitch for its Business Hackathon today in Belize City. Three four-member teams of I.C.T. professionals and students are the finalists having competed against other teams to [...]

Missing fishing vessel
Belize Coast Guard and B.D.F are conducting a search for a fishing vessel reported missing at sea. The B.D.F air wing is doing a fly over of the general area and the authorities have made checks at Halfmoon Caye and are now en route to Turneffe. Reports are that ten persons were on board the boat when it went out to sea fourteen days ago. The vessel, we are told, is from Copper Bank Village. There are conflicting reports about what exactly happened - and while there are speculations that the boat may have capsized, the authorities say there is no evidence at this time to suggest that.

LOVE FM

Burglar Buggers cellmate
Forty-four year old Kenroy Cooke, an inmate of the Belize Central Prison was charged with 2 counts of an unnatural crime and 1 count of harm. He was committed to stand trial in the April, 2019 session of the Supreme Court after a preliminary inquiry was held today by Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford. Cooke, who …

Who will win the Hackathon competition?
On November 9, a total of six teams competed in a first pitch Hackathon Competition that was held by the Small Business Development Center Belize (SBDC) of BELTRAIDE. From the first competition, three teams advanced to the second pitch which is being held today, namely, SAI INFO, Belize High School Hackers, and LXJ Corozal Junior …

16 Days of Activism: ramping up awareness of gender violence
Today, the Special Envoy for Women and Children in collaboration with the National Women’s Commission held the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence under the theme “Orange the World: #HearMeToo”. This year’s launch comes against the backdrop of a woman gruesomely murdered at the hands of her common-law husband. Love news …

Government will pay off ten million dollars in settlement to Glenn Godfrey
The Government of Belize is settling with Glenn Godfrey as it pertains to a Master Lease Agreement over equipment leased by the failed enterprise International Telecommunications Limited (Intelco) to the then Musa administration. The story goes back to December 2002 when Godfrey signed the agreement with the then Minister of Budget Management, Investment and Home …

MOE and BNTU met behind closed doors
In September it came to light that the Belize National Teachers Union, (BNTU) and the Ministry of Educations were at odds over the re-categorization of hardship and rural allowances. The BNTU said it had viewed with disgust, the manner in which a finalized list of re-categorized schools was arrived at and then circulated by the …

GOB borrows US$7 million more for George Price Highway Rehabilitation
This morning, at the sitting of the House of Representatives, the Government passed a bill to borrow seven million US dollars from the inter-American Development Bank. The money is an additional sum to the 27 million US dollars that the Government had received as loan for the George Price Highway Rehabilitation Project back in 2015. …

PM: Dr. Barnett remains in Cabinet
After going at it two times to capture the hearts of the Freetown voter, Dr Carla Barnett didn’t make it. Some are saying that her political career is over with this last loss against OJ Elrington but is her career in the public service, particularly, under the Barrow administration? It is a question that popped …

Toledo Prepares to Properly Manage Waste Disposal
Across the country, the Government is addressing the proper disposal of solid waste. In Orange Walk, the station is being built with funding from the IDB and land donated by ASR/BSI. In the south, a transfer station to dispose of solid waste is being built in Forest Home to serve residents of Toledo. Toledo Correspondent …

Mount Carmel Gets Support from Surrounding Schools in Protest
4 Catholic schools in Benque have joined the Mount Carmel Primary School protest today. At the top of the list is the case of one teacher who reportedly is not allowed to teach after her license expired on September 9, even though she had applied and was given a special permit since July and became …

PM Says Sanctuary Belize will not affect Banking Sector
Atlantic International Bank (AIB), an offshore institution, was cited in a in a civil complaint from the Federal Trade Commission in the United States. The Trade Commission requested a US Federal District Court to shut down a real estate scam called Sanctuary Belize which siphoned millions of dollars from North Americans who wished to build …

Amandala

PM mum on Sanctuary
On Tuesday, Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia, Jr. told the media that Prime Minister Dean Barrow would shortly hold a press conference to address the Sanctuary Belize real estate scam that was shut down by the US Federal Trade Commission, but speaking to reporters today, Barrow clearly expressed that he did not want to talk about that subject. When reporters caught up with him late this morning, and he was asked about the Sanctuary Belize matter, PM Barrow said that he and the Central Bank thought long and hard on whether “we should make any public statement, because it was, and still is, an extremely delicate situation.” “A wise fellow once said, silence may be misunderstood, but it can never be misquoted,” the PM said. That has been the position adopted by the government and the Belize Central Bank.

PSU to get back Hilltop
Following a meeting this morning in Belize City at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Laing Building with members of a union negotiating team which comprised the leaders of the Public Services Union (PSU), Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media that the objectives of the meeting was to restore control of that property to the PSU, and that he has proposed a way to make that happen. Barrow said, however, that he did not want to get into the specific details of what it is that he has proposed “because they will put out a press release later this afternoon and I don’t want to preempt them.”

Stella Maris teacher, served with police committal warrant, died of heart attack
A Stella Maris teacher of eleven years, Ruth Ferguson, 35, who is a mother of one, died Tuesday evening after she was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital from the National Health Insurance (NHI) clinic on Regent Street. Ferguson reportedly developed breathing problems when she was arrested on her job site by a pair of police officers who had gone to serve a committal warrant from the Magistrate’s Court. The committal warrant was, for her to be imprisoned for a period of six weeks, for a debt she owed a loan shark, and which she had agreed to pay when the matter was taken to court. For some reason, Ferguson defaulted on her court payment, resulting in the committal warrant being issued.

Tragic Murder-Suicide in PG
A gruesome report of suspected murder-suicide has arisen from out of Punta Gorda as the family of Josephine Hamilton, 30, wonders what could have led Hamilton’s common-law husband, Steven Ferguson, 37, to shoot her moments before turning the gun on himself. The bodies of the two deceased persons are currently in the Punta Gorda morgue and will soon undergo a postmortem examination. When police arrived on the scene of the shooting last night, November 21, at 10:45 p.m., they saw Hamilton in a sitting position with two gunshot wounds to the top of the head and one near the left eye.

Government concerned about Belize’s image, after FTC exposes Sanctuary Belize scam
Belize, it appears, is suffering major international embarrassment after the Sanctuary Belize real estate scam was exposed by the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the story took on a life of its own when it was picked up by several US mainstream media outlets. On Tuesday, Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia, Jr., said that Prime Minister Dean Barrow will most likely call a press conference to express government’s position on the matter. The private real estate investment scheme that was advertised as “Sanctuary Belize”, which has bilked scores of United States citizens out of millions of dollars, and which the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had to close down on Thursday, November 8, after its investigation revealed that it was a scam, will be discussed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow at a press conference which has not yet been scheduled, Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia, Jr., announced on Tuesday.

“Garifuna progress a task for all Garinagu” — Belize City mayor, Bernard Wagner
Belize City mayor, His Worship, Mayor Bernard Wagner delivered the keynote address at ceremonies held in Belize City to commemorate the arrival of the Garinagu to Belize. In his inspiring speech, Mayor Wagner said that the Garinagu fled war and persecution and that “they came as strangers who today are indelibly and intrinsically a part of the very fabric of the cultural mosaic that is Belize.” He said they could have fallen away, but “the indomitable spirit of these people, our people, the Garinagu, was not to be denied.”

Victor “Cheeboz” Herrera 8-Ball Tournament in Cayo
The first ever Victor “Cheeboz” Herrera Single-Player 8-Ball Tournament was held at CK Sports Bar on November 17 and 18, 2018. Fifteen top players participated in the double-elimination tournament in a race-to-3 shoot-out. While the drums were beating in celebration of Garifuna Settlement Day around the country, Wallace Chu was beating up players on the pool table, as he emerged as the champ in undefeated style and fashion to win the $200.00 cash prize and trophy. The young Wallace Chu shot smoothly like a pro, as he was faced off with senior and sharpshooter, Luis “Lish” Usher; but Wallace showed he was “in it to win it.” Luis would have had to win Wallace twice to be victorious, since Wallace was undefeated reaching the finals...

Digi-Puppy Leslie Youth Basketball League finals at Civic – Bulldogs are U-14 and U-18 champions
The Digi-Puppy Leslie Youth Basketball League production consisted of a hectic and exciting month and a half of youth basketball at Swift Hall, where six U-14 teams and six U-18 teams played a double round-robin in their respective categories; and this past weekend saw the playoff rounds, culminating with the final game of the championship series in both categories, which took place at the Civic Center on Monday afternoon, November 19th, Garifuna Settlement Day. On Friday night, the top four U-14 and U-18 teams in regular season were involved in the knockout semifinals at Swift Hall, where the two winners from each category would move on to the championship round.

Competition rough at Week 8 of Stann Creek FA 1st Division Amateur September Season
The Stann Creek Football Association (SCFA) had Week 8 games in its 1st Division 2018 Amateur September Season on Saturday, November 17, at the Carl Ramos Stadium. Both games ended in 2-1 scores. In the opener on Saturday, Pomona Impacts got a goal each from Kevin Lino (9’) and Tyrone Peters (79’) to clip Pomona Warriors, 2-1. A late goal by Yibemeh Lewis’ (90’) avoided the shutout for the Warriors. In the nightcap, Kenyon Lewis (19’) gave Silk Grass SG Ballers an early lead, but Hopkins Ibayani came back with goals from Eworth Flowers (36’) and Errol Ogaldez (75’) to secure the 2-1 victory.

High drama in final week of PLB regular season
Only Week 14 remains in regular season, after 2 back matches were played this past week in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2018-2019 Opening Season; and the 2 remaining playoff spots will be decided this weekend among San Pedro Pirates FC, Altitude Assassins FC and Police United FC, none of whom will be facing one another in Week 14. Following the postponement of PLB Week 14 games due to the Concacaf Nations League match featuring Belize vs Puerto Rico last Friday night, Police United played the first of two back matches on Saturday night, November 17, and pulled out an important 3-2 victory against rivals Altitude Assassins at the M.A. Stadium in Independence.

Editorial: A tale of two doctors
It was not surprising that Dr. Rene Villanueva, the multimillionaire owner of several radio stations, including the LOVE FM national radio monopoly, and other business ventures, and recently the Rotary District Governor of the Guatemala/Honduras/ Belize region, emerged last week as the poster guy on the Philip Goldson Highway for the “ICJ Yes” campaign. But it is somewhat surprising that Dr. Assad Shoman, with all his socialist credentials and background, plus his residence in Havana, Cuba, the Western Hemisphere’s revolutionary capital, has assumed such a prominent role in the said “ICJ Yes” campaign. The reason why one doctor’s role was not surprising, and the other’s is, has to do with something called ideology, which has to do with how nation-states approach national development. Dr. Villanueva is a neoliberal capitalist, and was the primary beneficiary of the divestment/privatization of Radio Belize in 1999 by the then People’s United Party (PUP) government.

From The Publisher
When I entered Belizean public life in 1969 at the age of 21, it was probably the case that my core belief was that African and Mayan (Indigenous) history should be taught to the children of Belize. I was confident that I was correct in such belief, so that the question of how many Belizeans agreed with me or not did not enter my mind. I was, in the words of the Japanese proverb which Leroy Taegar often quoted to us, a majority of one. I knew that in proposing and promoting that core belief, I would be running head on into the educational wall which the major Christian churches, which controlled Belize’s school system, had built over many decades to protect their school curricula. I knew that going contrary to the educational programs of the major Christian churches would be a rough ride, because Belize was controlled by powerful politicians who basically owed their electoral success to the fact of their having been blessed, so to speak, by the Christian clergy.

To be, or not to be?
The famous Renaissance French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, René Descartes, seeking to confirm his own existence to himself, stated, “Cogito, ergo sum. (I think, therefore I am.)” Another famous quote of his is “…it is a mark of prudence never to place our complete trust in those who have deceived us even once.” I find these words to be very relevant to consider in arriving at the decision we will be called upon to make on 10th April, 2019. Now let’s proceed with the topic of this article. As the government’s referendum education campaign to influence a “yes to the ICJ” vote continues to escalate, much emphasis has been placed on teaching voters the facts.

Offshore companies exploit our resources
This past week a dear friend of mine, Mr. Bryton Codd, and I were discussing a bit about where Belize is and where we want to see it in the next decade. He is away studying to complete his Master’s degree in Canada, but with the advent of social media keeping up to date with what’s happening at home is very easy for him. Our discourse revolved around the party political conventions that are happening, the emerging of new parties and coalitions, and focused a lot about the poverty that still plagues our beloved Belize. He recalled that he had written a piece about this and shared it with me so we can then further discuss our positions and possible points of action. I share his opinion entitled, “Continuation of the Divide: Household Poverty”, in hopes that it may spark some dialogue for you be it internal or with your own circle of friends.

Lawrence Vernon launches A Narrative of Political Parties in Belize
Author, editor, researcher and librarian, Mr. Lawrence Vernon, launched his new book, A Narrative of Political Parties in Belize, on November 20 at the National Heritage Library in Belmopan. The book, which is self-published, offers a detailed look into the political history of our country, Belize. The book was first launched at the Leo Bradley Library in Belize City on November 14, 2018. A condensed version of the book was published by St. John’s College in a publication entitled, “Readings in Belizean History” (edited by Lita Hunter Krohn), and some of the articles included have appeared in the Amandala.

Absolutely nobody believes that
I heard Pastor Scott and Pastor Louis say (on PLUS TV) that the roundabout and its approaches, at the junction of the George Price and Hummingbird highways, cost a whopping $13million. The pastors said that there was no hue and cry over the cost, and because there was no such complaining the architects of that project feel they have carte blanche to bloat the costs of more major projects. If they are right, oh for Jorge Espat, the first member of a ruling party to call out waste of the people’s money by the government. He got drummed out of his party, and politics, but Belize will never forget his sacrifice. How these political leaders betray the people, when they asked for the job so they could serve!

US District Court found John McAfee liable for death of neighbor, Gregory Faull
John McAfee, the British-born antivirus software pioneer who also holds United States citizenship, fled Belize in November 2012, after his neighbor, Gregory Faull, 52, was murdered on northern Ambergris Caye and he (McAfee) was named by Belize police as “a person of interest.” McAfee, often described as eccentric, eluded police in Belize and turned up in Guatemala, where he faked a heart attack and was eventually freed by authorities there. While he has consistently denied any involvement in the death of Faull, a retired Florida contractor who was residing in Belize, McAfee was sued by the estate of Faull in the US. On Wednesday, November 14, a US federal judge from the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division, ruled that McAfee is liable in the wrongful death lawsuit that was filed against him by the estate of Gregory Faull.

Unfinished social inquiry report delays sentencing for convicted murderer
On September 12, Supreme Court Justice Adolph Lucas, in a trial by judge sitting without jury, found Ernest “Dangalang” Thurton, Jr., 25, guilty of the double murder of Robert Young, 41, and Frank James, 35. Young and James were gunned down at the dockyard on Belize City’s North Front Street on the night of October 25, 2012. Justice Lucas had scheduled today, Wednesday, as the sentencing date for Thurton. When the court convened, however, Justice Lucas announced that he had not yet received the social inquiry report for Thurton.

Belmopan businessman JahanAbadi sentenced to 6 years for abetment to murder
Belmopan businessman JahanAbadi, who was indicted in January 2016 for abetment to murder by solicitation, was convicted on the indictment and sentenced to serve 6 years in prison. Supreme Court Justice Antoinette Moore imposed the sentence after she found Abadi guilty in a trial without jury. In January 2016, Bradley Paumen and others, including JahanAbadi, were charged for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, after they allegedly planted a firearm and ammunition in Michael Modiri’s vehicle. Modiri and Paumen have had a longstanding feud over some properties the two neighbors own in Frank’s Eddy, Cayo District.

Woman’s family detained following her death
A 26-year-old Honduran woman from San Juan Village was found dead on Tuesday, November 20, and her mother, father, and sister are being detained pending the investigation into her death. Not long after Keidi Ramirez was rushed to the Independence Polyclinic in an unresponsive state, she was pronounced dead. When the police arrived at the hospital around 8:20 p.m., doctors showed them injuries that were on her neck, and both her hands and feet.

The Reporter

WEEKEND – BREAKING NEWS
BAHA has issued an immediate ban on all Jennie-O products containing turkey meat following reports in the United States of its possible link to Salmonella outbreak. BAHA will update on any progress, as investigations continue. The Government of Belize has agreed to settle its ongoing legal battle in the US Courts with Glenn Godfrey’s GDG Acquisitions LLC, for Bze. $5 million at the House meeting this morning.

MOUNT CARMEL TEACHERS PROTEST
Forty-one teachers from Mount Carmel High School in Benque Viejo del Carmen have participated in a sit-out from class since Wednesday, and have obtained a permit to demonstrate on Friday if there is not a satisfactory response from either the Teaching Services Commission (TSC) or ministry officials in regards to their concerns. Those concerns include the timeliness of salaries being paid and an attempt to dismiss one teacher, who has not been approved by the TSC.

MAN & DOG DIE IN FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
A man and his puppy were tragically knocked down and killed while attempting to bypass congested traffic which was backed up on the Hummingbird Highway on Wednesday evening. Just after 5:10 p.m. on November 21st, the motionless body of Guatemalan national Edwin Najarro Valdez, 32, and his small puppy lay a couple feet apart on the pavement while the smashed bicycle that they were travelling on lay not too far away.

I WANT TO LIVE – By: Mike Rudon Jr.
A couple things right off the top – because people look at me sometimes and see all this absolute, wonderful gorgeousness and sex appeal, intelligence which is pretty damned amazing and, the cherry on the top of the cheesecake, a sense of humour which sparkles…and they think I am as close to perfection as it gets. I’m not.

TOURISTS STRANDED OVERNIGHT IN ATM CAVE
On Tuesday night six tourists and a guide were held hostage for an overnight inside the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave in Teakettle Village by rising waters which prevented them from being evacuated by rescue teams. The alert was raised just after 5:00 p.m. on November 20th when the group of six did not return to the starting point. Reports indicate that the group left on the last tour at 2:00 p.m. and should have returned by five.

EDITORIAL – November 23rd. 2018
A lease is a formal agreement or covenant made between a property-owner and his tenant. It protects both the property-owner and the tenant. Under Belize law a written lease can only be voided by a formal declaration from either side, stating the reasons for bringing the lease to an end. Mayor Belisle of Belmopan should know this. His unilateral action in selling the land leased to the Public Service Union without prior notice of any kind is not only an unfriendly act. It is illegal!

THE UDP, THE PUP AND THE I.C.J
At his October 29th press conference Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced, quite astonishingly, that not only is the Cabinet in support of the ICJ but that the UDP’s formal position is also in support of the ICJ. With that statement Mr. Barrow sprung the trap he had set for the PUP. Mr. Briceño’s PUP cannot now adopt a NO position without coming across as being partisan; and it cannot formally support a YES vote without appearing to be soft on the Barrow administration and thus risk internal revolt by those powerhouses who are on record as supporting a NO vote.

POLICE INVESTIGATE BIZARRE ‘FAMILY’ MURDER
A directive expected to be handed down by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will determine whether murder or manslaughter charges will be brought against the father, mother and sister Keidi Ramirez, 26, a resident of San Juan in the Stann Creek district. Currently Ramirez’s mother, a 46-year-old Honduran woman, her 50-year-old husband and their 23-year-old daughter remain in custody at the Independence Police Station pending charges.

Breaking Belize News

Belizean youth killed in Los Angeles
Belizean national, Rakeem Francis, was killed in the United States today. Information to BBN is […]

Ministry of National Security hosts 4th Annual Multinational Security Cooperation conference
Today, November 23, 2018, the Ministry of National Security (Defence) hosted the 4th Annual Multinational […]

Outbreak of E. coli Infections linked to Romaine Lettuce
Based on a health alert from the United States Centre for Disease Control regarding an […]

Vessel with 10 occupants missing at sea
According to reports, a fishing vessel with ten occupants has been reported missing at sea. […]

17-year-old minor charged for robbery in Belmopan
A seventeen-year-old minor has been charged for the robbery that occurred on November 12, 2018, […]

Police find gun and ammo in San Pedro
Yesterday, San Pedro Police conducted a search in an abandoned lot in the San Juan […]

Prime Minister introduces bill to amend GST law
At today’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow introduced […]

PM says his firm did nothing wrong in Sanctuary Belize scandal
Prime Minister Dean Barrow spoke on the Sanctuary real estate fraud scandal which is being investigated […]

Government and Opposition pays homage to Fidel Castro
At today’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister of Belize, Dean Barrow began […]

PM Barrow thanks Assad Shoman at House meeting
The Government of Belize is hosting a meeting of the House of Representatives at the […]

Blogs

8 Top Things to do in Hopkins, Belize
Traditionally a quiet, unassuming beach town, Hopkins, in southern Belize has in recent years become a must-visit place for many visitors to the country. There are many reasons for this growth in popularity, from its ideal location to many southern mainland tours, highly rated resorts, and authentic culture, to its proximity to Sittee River. Hopkins is a small, authentic Central American village that is warm and welcoming to visitors. There is a large percentage of Garifuna settlers here, who have maintained their cultural traditions, such as drumming, which is a must-do in Hopkins. Directly adjacent to Hopkins is the Sittee River and “resort row”. The marina close to the resort area has started to become highly sought after for Belize investors, and there is a great deal of development here. Along Sittee River, boaters will be able to access deep river boating with direct access to the Caribbean Sea. If the idea of an authentic cultural village, newer to tourism than the more developed, discovered places like Ambergris Caye, Caye, Caulker, and Placencia, appeals to you.

Xibalba – Are our caves a passageway to the underworld?
Belize’s cultural heritage boasts of three Maya groups: Ke’kchi, Yucatec and Mopan, and their contributions to our landscape are everywhere, particularly in the jungles. Archaeologists and modern-day explorers are fascinated with their pottery, temples, traditions, and rituals. Some of the most intriguing finds have been inside caves, and it’s easy to see why those darkened hollows of earth are significant to the Maya! Pronounced She-Bal-Bah, Xibalba can be roughly translated to “place of fear”; it is also referred to as the entrance to hell (which, frankly, strikes fear in my heart!). Those are traditionally cave entrances and having traipsed around a couple; I can say that if my lights went out and the utter darkness of a cave surrounded me, I’d probably believe I was about to enter the underworld indeed!

A Randomly Timed Walk Landed Me a Night at Wayos Beach Bar
Last night was a full moon, and earlier in the day my friend Madison told me to set myself up for going outside at 11:38 to soak up the energy. So I set my cell phone alarm, kept on watching TV and texting with my friend R. Close until 8:00 pm. I felt like I was ready to take TV to bed and knew I was not going to get up to do a moon bathe if I did that. So I decided the best thing to do was throw on a dress, grab my music player and go for a walk. I started on the “boat road” so I could be by the water and was planning to walk to the bridge and back. When I hit Middle Street where the road turns into a two-way and started heading north, shortly after that a cart drove by and pulled over. It was my friends, Jon and Eddie. They were on their way from a lovely Thanksgiving dinner at Black Orchid and heading to Wayos.

I Dodged a Bullet and Admired Some Fancy Chandeliers
I was minding my own business doing my morning tacogirl thing and attending to some 40 emails that needed addressing and then was planning to write when the universe pulled me in a completely different direction. My messenger started going off and water testing the San Pedrito Highway became my new priority. Pinch-hitting for crocodile Chris and Christina who were unavailable to do the job. I was back and forth with a few friends between a Facebook group post and Fb messenger. It came down to Maureen Utsman, Robbie Zeske, Diana Evans and Susan Zell Watts as the people who could help. I needed to get the four presence-absence coliform test kit containers my friend Heather in Canada had lined up with Ismael at Consolidated Water, and get them filled with water samples. Susan ended up taking it on and thankfully so for me, as Randy was with her. They had just done lunch at Mesa Cafe.

International Sources

Caribbean real estate dream turns into $100 million nightmare for retirees
Ever fantasize about fleeing the winter cold and getting in on the ground floor of a beachfront real estate deal in which you double your money in a few years? If you’ve dreamed that dream, here’s how it could turn nightmarish. When Frank Balluff and his wife, Rebecca, purchased a lot in what seemed to be an exciting new Caribbean resort development, little could they imagine what they were getting into. In fact, it was what the Federal Trade Commission now calls the biggest real estate scam involving overseas property it has ever investigated. Promoters allegedly fleeced 1,000-plus lot buyers out of $100 million or more. Earlier this month, the FTC sought and obtained a federal court order temporarily shutting the project down and freezing promoters’ assets. Balluff, a business owner from Michigan, estimates that his personal losses exceed $310,000, but he says he’s heard of others who “invested their full retirement funds” and planned to build homes and move to the resort. Now “they just have nothing left,” he says.

Belize Evokes Fidel Castro's Independence and Solidarity Legacy
The National Assembly of Belize paid tribute on Friday to the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, on the occasion of the second anniversary of his death. In statements to Prensa Latina, Cuban Ambassador Lissette Perez noted that it was an unprecedented ceremony in this country and it was full of emotion. During the ceremony, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, leader of the United Democratic Party, recalled Fidel's contributions to the fight for a better world and in defense of the peoples of the Third World. 'Fidel's legacy will be eternal because he dedicated his life to fighting for the most vulnerable on Earth,' he noted.

Identification book for birds of Central America
“Birds of Central America — Belize, Guatemala Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.” Newest in the Princeton University Press field guide series. Authors are Andrew C. Vallely and Dale Dyer, The book covers 1,261 species. The illustrations are well done, the text far more complete than found in the usual North American ID book. The range maps are distinctly presented and excellent. (Range maps usually are my first complaint about such books.) As an example of the extensive information included here for each species, compare the text for Limpkin from David Sibley’s fine North American guide and this Vallely/Dyer book. Sibley uses 78 words. Vallely and Dyer use more than 180. That kind of detail is found page after page.

Videos

US Embassy Introductory Interview, 45min. Kieth Gilges - U.S Charge d Affairs, a.i

National Aids Commission - Parliamentarians Forum, 41min.

Belize Credit Union League - 4th Annual Father Ganey Quiz Competition, 9min.

16 Days of Activism Launch - #HearMeToo End Violence Against Women & Girls, 37min. Eleanor Murillo - Program Officer, National Women's Commission. Taheerah Usher - Human Dev. Coordinator, Women's Department.

Snake vs Snake!, 8min. I never thought id see this again!... A Coral killing and swallowing a Red Coffee Snake!!!

Part 2... The Coral finished swallowing it's meal!, 7.5min.

When Howlers Cross Paths..., 1min.

Croc Cam, 1min. A little Croc Cam action to start the morning off! Check out this adult Morelet's crocodile cruising the New River in Belize. The CRC continues to use our drone as a scienctific conservation tool.

Beautiful Eagle Ray off of Ambergris Caye, .5min.

Children’s Day Parade by San Pedro Roman Catholic School!, 13min.

Discussing CRC AT Ambergris Caye Elementary School, 1.5min.

Belize Instagram Video, 1min. My Girlfriend Rachael and I took a trip to beautiful Belize. We were able to explore the Mayan ruins close to the border of Guatemala. We had such a fun time. The people of Belize are so nice and accommodating. We also met a monkey named Fred. These Instagram videos are something I love making.

MISS UNIVERSE BELIZE, 2.5min.

The Belize Zoo, 2.5min.

Road to the Crown with Miss Universe Belize, 3min. Miss Universe Belize 2018 Jenelli Fraser is getting ready to compete at this years Miss Universe pageant in Thailand.

Ambergris Caye Dive #3 - San Pedro, Belize, 4.5min. Second dive of the day with Steve, back off the reef near San Pedro.

Amazing Belize Adventure at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, 15min. Learn more of this Community Baboon Sanctuary that will get you up close and personal to the nature beauty Belize has to offer.

DAS MÜSST IHR SEHEN / freilebende Haie, Silk Caye Belize, Unterwasserwelt, 13min. Das müsst ihr sehen: Wir schwimmen in Belize mit freilebenden Haien und gehen schnorcheln auf der Insel Silk Caye.

A Prova De Tudo (Belize) Completo HD, 44min.

Fr.Marion Ganey National Quiz Competition 2018, 2.5hr. Financial Literacy Regional Quiz Contest | Live From Octavia Waight Center, San Ignacio Town, Cayo District | Belize Credit Union League

SIMPLY BELIZE: THE YUCATEC MAYA, min.

To'one Masehualo'on a Yucatec Maya group of Corozal teaching Maya to the children of San Pablo Community School, 1.5min. We serenade these lovely children for their Birthday in Yucatec maya language at San Pablo village. Orange walk town. BELIZE. The village of San pablo in Orange walk was founded by Maya people over a 100 years ago and even today the village consist mostly of people from Yucatec Maya descent . The elders are fluent Maya speakers but with no programs trying to preserve the language in the village it could be lost in the future . The youths mostly speak spanish and English now .

November 22, 2018

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and other specials

The San Pedro Sun

Suspected shooter Leon Walford arraigned for Lamont Lipka murder
Police apprehended Leon Walford for the murder of Lamont ‘Monty’ Edward Lipka on Sunday, November 18th in Belize City, after being at large for weeks. Walford was jointly charged for Lipka’s murder on November 5th, along with Tracy Betancourt, while he was still a fugitive of the law. Following Betancourt’s arraignment, police intensified their search for Walford, and after being detained was arraigned at the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Wednesday, November 21st for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. No plea was taken, bail was denied, and he was remanded to Belize Central Prison until his next court date on January 30, 2019. Betancourt is expected to stand trial the same day.

Councillor Severo Guerrero and Minister Manuel Heredia Jr. among those who have not filed assets to Integrity Commission
At the end of August 2018, the Integrity Commission published a notice in the Government Gazette naming persons in public offices who have yet to declare their financials for 2018 as requested by law. That list included 42 public officials from the National Assembly and City and Town Councils that have violated the law. Among those named are Councillor Severo Guerrero from The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and Area Representative for Belize Rural South and Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Honourable Manuel Heredia Jr. Based on the set regulations, the mentioned officials have until the end of the year after being elected to submit their declarations, with a possible extension up to March of the following year. In a phone interview with The San Pedro Sun, on Tuesday, November 13th, the Integrity Commission briefly mentioned that once a public servant fails to submit their assets on time, they are penalized with a $100 per day fine.

Her Majesty The Queen recognises Belize volunteer with Commonwealth Points of Light award
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has today recognised Grace Flowers, representing Belize, as the 79th Commonwealth Point of Light in honour of her exceptional voluntary service tackling gun violence and crime in Belize City. Grace Flowers, coordinates and leads the ‘One Struggle Group’, a support network for those affected by gun violence in Belize City. Having grown up in one of the most violent gang areas in Belize, losing two brothers and a nephew to gun violence, Grace is a prominent figure in the community leading change for a more secure and safe environment. Grace acts a coordinator for the police in her neighbourhood, leads regular meetings and ensures that strong police and public relations are built. Grace’s positive influence has helped hundreds of young people to stay away from gang involvement, resulting in a dramatic decrease of crime in the area..

San Pedro celebrates Garifuna Settlement Day 2018
The annual Garifuna Settlement Day Celebrations were observed on the island during the long holiday weekend from Sunday, November 18th through Monday, November 19th at Central Park. The traditional event, which honors the arrival of the Garifuna people to Belize in the 1800’s was held under the theme ‘Lawanserun Garifunaduau: Hadasi Sun Garinagu- Garifuna Progress: A Task for All Garinagu!’ The San Pedro Branch of the National Garifuna Council (NGC) organized several activities involving drumming, cultural dances and the anticipated re-enactment of the arrival of the Garinagu, known as Yurumein.

Misc Belizean Sources

T'oone Masehualoon's presentation of the ICJ Forum
Congratulations to T'oone Masehualoon's presentation of the ICJ Forum last week Friday at the House of Culture. Thank you to our community members who attended and contributed to the conversation of making an informed decision to vote yes or no in April's referendum.

Ascenthium and SonicBrew Rocking Soul
Ascenthium and Sonicbrew will be jamming at the Soul Project on Friday. They'll make up for the short set times at Metal Haven, and rock the night away. "This Friday @ The Soul Project we bring to you an exclusive set performance alongside our Friends Sonicbrew Ten bucks, fine wine, great rock n roll and for every entrance YOU get a chance to win 1 whole freaking Turkey! come support us and see you there."

Mexico Sales Presentation in Mexico City
Belize Tourism Board

Peccary Closed hunting season
From June to November, it is ILLEGAL to hunt peccaries – both the Collared Peccary (photographed here) and the White-lipped Peccary. Closed hunting seasons are set up to allow game species time to reproduce so that they can continue being around us. Hunting in-season is allowed with proper permits from the Belize Forest Department. The wild places managed by Ya’axché – Golden Stream Corridor Preserve, Bladen Nature Reserve and Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve – are important forested homes for peccaries. Ya’axché rangers are continuously patrolling these protected areas.

EK CHUAH
Ek Chuaj, also known as Ek Chuah, Ekchuah, representation of the Cacao. As well as a patron of merchants.

48th Meeting of Ministers of Education and Culture of CECC/SICA
This morning, the Culture Ministers from SICA member states visited the San Pedro House of Culture as a part of the 48th Meeting of Ministers of Education and Culture of CECC/SICA. The group enjoyed an art exhibition, cultural performances, local dishes and local sweets, and a trip to the craft market. The meeting officially kicked off with an opening reception at the Mahogany Bay Resort in San Pedro Town

BTEC successfully completes another round of Job Preparedness Trainings
The Belize Training and Employment Centre (BTEC), a unit of the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), has successfully completed its Waitstaff, Housekeeping and Bartending Trainings which provided participants with the necessary skills to equip them for employment in the hospitality industry. These three-week trainings, which ran from October 29th– November 16th, were held simultaneously and covered soft skills, customer service as well as industry specific technical skills where trainees were taught the essentials of perfecting their trade.

Tourism Arrivals to Belize Continue to Register Impressive Growth
The latest statistics show that tourism arrivals to Belize continue to record impressive growth. There was a 16.6% and 19.9% growth in overnight and cruise ship arrivals respectively after completion of the third quarter of the year. This means that Belize continues to be a popular vacation destination in Central America among those seeking exceptional adventure and relaxation. In September 2018, over 21,000 overnight visitors arrived in Belize. This represented a 10.1% increase in visitors over September 2017. At the end of the third quarter of 2018, overnight visitors grew by 16.6% over the previous year.

Sir. Shaun Stewart gets thank you from FCD
FCD presented to BATSUB’s Sir. Shaun Stewart a thank you Award for the two week training support given to FCD Park Rangers by the 1SCOTS. The new skills will enable for an improved Chiquibul conservation program.

Estel's now open for dinner!
We would like to inform our customers that we are now open ffor dinner from Wednesday to Saturday up to 9pm. Join us for happy hour from 5-7 for $4 beer and $3 local rum drink, panty ripper included!!!

Channel 7

Woman Killed, Parents and Sister Held As Suspects
A 26 year old mother is dead tonight - and Police in Independence village have detained her sister, and her parents as suspects. Last night, Keidi Yesenia Ramirez was taken in an unresponsive state to the Independence Polyclinic. She was pronounced dead and the Doctor showed police injuries to her neck, both hands and feet. Police went to her home and spoke to her family and learned about the strange circumstances of her death. Reports form family members say there was an angry dispute, and Ramirez had allegedly been drinking. It seems that to restrain her, her own family tied her down, gagged, and possibly suffocated her.

Months Later, US Restauranteur’s Killer Charged
Police have been actively searching for murder suspect Leon Walford for months now - and he was finally arrested on Sunday in Belize City. He was taken to san Pedro where he was arraigned for the murder of Lamont Lipka this afternoon. Walford is believed to be the gunman who walked into Lipka's restaurant and bar, Tropicana in May and shot him dead. As Lipka fell, the gunman walked up to his body, stood over him and fired five more shots to his head.

Woman Dies From Anxiety Attack While In Police Custody
A 35 year old mother of one is dead tonight - and her family says it's because police mishandled her anxiety attack. Yesterday afternoon at 1:00, Ruth Ferguson was at work at Stella Maris school - where she has been teaching for 11 years. That's when two police officers - acting as process servers - went to the school to pick her up - reportedly for a debt she owed to a loan shark. Apparently the cops had a bench warrant to imprison her for 6 weeks if she did not pay. Now, to get a sense of the full story you have to understand how police work as process servers. It's basically a side gig - private work for law firms, banks, and loan sharks where the cops use their uniformed authority to effect lawful court orders - mostly on those who have outstanding debts.

Man Knocked Down Cutting Across Highway
A man on bicycle carrying a puppy was knocked down this evening in Belmopan - and both he and the dog went flying to the Hummingbird Highway pavement. It happened at 5:10 pm in front of the Yim Saam building just before the Forest Drive roundabout. Reports from eyewitnesses say that the man was cutting across traffic from one eastbound lane - which was backed up, into the other, westbound lane - which was flowing. As soon as he rode out into the westbound lane, an oncoming Dodge Ram hit him.

A New Way Of Holding Police Accountable
The Ministry of National Security has a new initiative to keep law enforcement honest on the job. It's called the Civilian Complaint Review Committee. The idea is that this group of professionals will be overseeing the resolution of complaints of misbehavior and misconduct against the police, the BDF, and the Coast Guard. It's the brain child of National Security Minister John Saldivar, who wants to restore the confidence that the public has lost in state's formal grievance resolution process. The Ministry wants the public to be confident that if a civilian complains against an officer, that the complaint will be properly pursued.

Saldivar Says Murder Numbers Down Since He Took Over As Min.
During Saldivar's formal address to the public, he referenced his two objectives that he had when the Prime Minister re-appointed him as Minister of National Security earlier this year. One was this committee, and the other was to lower the murder rate, which was on course to becoming one of the deadliest years in Belize. Today, he announced that targeted police initiatives over the last few months have led to a significant reduction of the number of murders. Here's what he had to say on that topic: Hon. John Saldivar - Minister of National Security: "It pleases me to report that since June of this year, we have managed to turn around the rate of murders in the country from 22 about the 2017 figure, where we were in May of this year, to only 1 above the 2017 figure as we stand here today..."

Accident Victim Succumbs
And now we have an update on that accident we reported on at the top of the news. PLUSTV is reporting that the vicim - who was knocked off his bicycle is dead. He was taken via ambulance to the emergency room still breathing, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after getting there. As we told you - he was knocked off his bicycle by a Dodge Ram pickup as he was cutting through traffic - crossing form one side of the highway to the other - with a puppy in his hand.

Women Workshop Strategies For 16 Days
Gender based violence continues to be a serious problem and the National Women's Commission resumed the annual public awareness campaign to eliminate it with the 16 days of activism which runs from November 25 to December 10th. Today, in preparation, they held a stakeholder consultation to discuss what they can do better to address gender based violence. The Executive Director told us more. Cynthia Williams, Executive Director, National Women's Commission: "Well this morning what the National Women's Commission is doing is holding a national consultation workshop we are bringing in various stakeholders who play a role with the implementation of the National Gender Based Violence Action plan, the plan continues from older plans and what it does is charters the way forward, it is a framework that guides not only the national women's commission, the Ministry of Human Development and other ministries who work in the area of gender based violence so the main goal is the elimination of gender based violence in Belize."

CARICOM Comes To Belize To Learn About Sustainable Energy
The 6th CARICOM Sustainable Energy Forum ended today in Placencia. It started on Sunday and was held under the theme 'Clean Energy, Good Governance & Regulations'. The event is the centerpiece of CARICOM Energy Month - and is held every two years. This year, more than 100 persons from throughout the region participated including Energy Ministers. The Government press office found out more: Devon Gardner, Head of Energy Unit - Caricom Secretariat: "So typically we gather every 2 years to really look at the region in terms of its advantage in respect to renewable energy and energy efficiency, understand what are the things we are doing right, what are the things we are not doing well, look at what the global trends are in terms of emerging technology and practices and then try to figure out how we can re-orientate and realigned our efforts to seek to optimize what it is we are trying to attain in terms of clean energy development."

Finding Central America’s Afro-Descendants
And while that meeting finished today, yesterday Belize along with its SICA partners held a meeting centered on people of afro-descent. It is an interesting topic and from what we gather, it was mainly geared at celebrating the accomplishments of people of African descent around the world. Apart from that, the SICA team will organize initiatives that will promote equality and inclusion among people of African descent. Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Sometimes we tend to think that the people of African descendants are a minority in the world. The truth is that Africans are the second largest population in the world. It's over 1.3 billion Africans lives in Africa. We are not talking about the people of African descendants in Brazil, which has more than Nairobi, Kenya and the rest of us who exist in the Americas in general..."

Man Charged For Shooting Pen Road Resident
Last night, we told you about the failed execution attempt on the life of 18 year-old Stephan Tablada during Garifuna Settlement Day weekend. Police say that the gunman was 25 year-old Joshua Gallego, a resident of Raccoon Street Extension, and tonight he's at the Belize Central Prison. Gallego was arraigned today before Magistrate Emmerson Banner on one count of wounding, and one count of use of deadly means of harm. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and he was remanded into custody until January 30, 2019.

A Special Gift For Miss Universe Belize
Right now, Jenelli Frazer, the reigning Miss Universe Belize, is making her final preparations to travel to Bangkok, Thailand, where she will compete in the 67th Annual Miss Universe Pageant. She's going up against contestants from countries all over the world, and as part of the pageant, she is required to carry a National Gift, which is representative of her country. NICH has her covered in that area, with a one-of-a-kind neckless and a pair of earrings. It was created by jeweller Khadija Assales, and the materials she used to craft it are unique and valuable. It was made from the shell of the queen conch, and the spiny lionfish.

When It All Falls Down…
A Belize City resident is trying to pick up the pieces tonight after his house fell this morning. Jermaine Martinez who lives on Antelope Street Extension in the Collett Area says he went to the store to buy some medicine - and when he came back, it was "brigi-dim-buf"!: Martinez, who works at the City Council is welcoming donations of clothes or food. You can call him at 637-1322.

Training For Hospitality Careers
44 persons can now start their careers in hospitality. They graduated today from a 3 week BTEC training. We dropped by to find out about the valuable skills the participants got: Vanessa Johnston, Training and Recruitment officers, BTEC: "Well BTEC, the Belize training and employment center conducts these capacity building job preparedness trainings, it usually takes three weeks. This cohort that we are graduating a total of 44, it was in three distinctive technical areas, one which was bartending in association with the bartending association.."

Burned Out on Banak!
And while the man we showed you a few minutes ago came back to find his house tumbling down - a Belize City woman returned from the store to find her house on fire. Shamika Trapp who lives at #4 Banak Street went to the corner store and had to run back home when neighbors told her that her small plywood house was on fire. IT is believes to be electrical.

Channel 5

Teachers Protest at Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque
Day-one of a teachers’ protest at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Primary School in Benque Viejo Del Carmen occurred today in that western municipality. The sit-out by the forty-one teachers at [...]

Caretaker Hospitalized Following Aggravated Burglary in Ontario
A fifty-five-year-old caretaker is tonight in a critical, but stable condition at the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan, following an early morning attack at a farm in Ontario Village. Simeon [...]

Said Musa Supports Legalization of Marijuana
Former Prime Minister and Fort George Area Representative, Said Musa, supports the legalization of marijuana. The idea was thrown unto the national spotlight by Opposition Leader, John Briceno, in October [...]

Musa to Trump: Don’t Blame Us for Your Drug Problem
In addressing the idea of legalizing marijuana, Prime Minister Dean Barrow touched on the U.S. factor. According to PM Barrow, if marijuana was grown legally in the country, the cartels [...]

Former Prime Minister Supports Postponement of I.C.J. Referendum Date
We also asked Musa about the upcoming April tenth I.C.J. Referendum. Opposition Leader John Briceño has called on the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, to postpone the referendum for several reasons, [...]

A Civilian Complaint Review Committee to Investigate Cases of Police Misconduct
The Ministry of National Security has formally introduced a new working group headed by retired Commissioner of Police Gerald Westby whose mandate is to assist in the investigation of matters [...]

A Biennial Regional Energy Forum in Placencia
A biennial meeting of the regional energy sector was held in Placencia today, where the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum is being hosted. The focus of the gathering is to look [...]

Marked Progress in Renewable Energy
There has been significant progress in the area of renewable energy, where several CARICOM countries have developed strategies to support the development of clean energy. Devon Gardener, Head of [...]

SICA Meets to Discuss People of Afro-Descendants
The Central American Integration System, SICA, of which Belize is presently pro temp chair, met today to discuss the issue of people Afro-descendants. The meeting saw the representation of a [...]

No More Space for Airlines at P.G.I.A.
The Phillip Goldson International Airport is running out of space. This is according to Minister responsible for Civil Aviation, Manuel Heredia Junior. Belize’s only international airport has no more space [...]

DNA Forensic Lab Coming Soon
It shouldn’t take long before the country has a fully functional DNA laboratory. Well, that’s the impression that C.E.O. in the Ministry of National Security George Lovell gave the media [...]

National Security C.E.O. Speaks on Police Officers’ Transfers
Earlier this month, Supreme Court Justice Courtenay Abel dismissed an application for judicial review filed by three police officers who were challenging their transfers from the Orange Walk Police formation. [...]

Glover’s Reef Research Station – a Hot Spot for Marine Research
The Caribbean is one of three major hotspots of marine biodiversity in the world, but its ecosystems are under pressure from over-fishing, climate change, pollution and other impacts. Conservationists and [...]

The Effectiveness of a Short-term Sargassum Solution
In October, the Belize Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism revealed their plan to address the massive influx of sargassum in four tourism destinations in Belize. Beaches in San [...]

BTEC Successfully Trains 45 Job Seekers
The Belize Training and Employment Centre, BTEC, was created to prepare individuals with skills in different disciplines so as to provide them a higher chance of being employed. Today, forty [...]

Miss Universe Belize Presented with National Gift
Today, the National Institute of Culture and History presented beauty queen Jenelli Fraser with the national gift to take to the Miss Universe pageant in Bangkok, Thailand. The “national gift” [...]

Miss Universe Belize is Ready for the Competition
Miss Universe Belize Jenelli Fraser will depart Belize on Thursday. She leaves for Los Angeles where she will finalize her wardrobe and do her final preparations, including picking up her [...]

LOVE FM

A Home Invasion in Ontario Village
Armed men enter a farm in Ontario Village and held up a group of people, injuring an elderly man. Correspondent Fem Cruz reports. Fem Cruz: “Roaring Creek Police are investigating an aggravated burglary which left 55 year old Simeon Alvarez Sr. a resident of Tea Kettle Village with multiple stab wounds to his head and …

MOUNT CARMEL UNITED IN PROTEST AGAINST TEACHER SERVICES COMMISSION
On the heels of the Belize National Teachers Union Protest in the Capital, the marching fever has taken a stronghold at the Mount Carmel Primary School further west, in Benque. 937 students are out of classes today as their 41 teachers and principal are aiming their anger at the Teachers Service Commission for decisions that …

Unicef holds result-based management workshop
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is looking to see how it can leverage partnerships with its stakeholders in an effort to improve the lives of children in Belize. In this regard, it is holding a three-day result-based management workshop with its partners. Paulette Wade, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for UNICEF says …

Civilian Complaint Review Committee appointed to oversee complaints against security forces’ personnel carried through
The Ministry of National Security has appointed a team that should help improve the public’s confidence in the department. Why? The Ministry has appointed and launched the Civilian Complaint Review Committee that will see complaints against police officers, BDF and Coast Guard followed through. The committee is to primarily review complaints lodged at the Professional …

National Women’s Commission reviews the impact of its interventions
The National Women’s Commission is championing the achievement of gender equality, which is goal five of the Sustainable Development Goals. In this regard, there is a National Gender Policy which contains a roadmap to attaining “gender-equality and gender equity”. Today, the National Women’s Commission held a National Consultation Workshop, where it reviewed the National Gender-Based …

PSU to Meet with Prime Minister over Mayor’s sale of Land
In 2017, there was an initial meeting of the Belmopan City Mayor and the Public Service Union (PSU) representatives. They had hoped to discuss a way to purchase the land following an evaluation. The last discussion they had with the City administrator was on the 9th. Since then, a company called Simplex Limited had incorrectly …

Benque Town Councillor in UDP Hot Seat!
About a week ago we heard that a Benque Town Councilor had resigned after some heated exchanges about his party, the United Democratic Party (UDP). We can confirm that indeed Jose Tony Guerra tendered his resignation in a letter that was forwarded to LOVEFM. However, sources say the Mayor of Benque had not received the …

CXC top scorers revealed
The twenty fourth annual CXC National Award Ceremony to recognize the outstanding students is scheduled to be held on November, 30. 588 students will receive CSEC certificates of excellence, two will receive subject group awards and 31 will will receive individual subject awards. The Ministry of Education has released the names of the top scorers …

Fire on Banak Street
Just after midday today, officials were called out to an alley just off Banak Street in Belize City where a wooden structure, measuring ten by ten and elevated about two feet off the ground, was on fire. The structure was the home of Shamika Trapp who had gone to a nearby store a few minutes …

25K set aside for Christmas Cheer in constituencies
We are thirty-three days away from the Christmas holiday and as per the annual tradition, the allocation of Christmas Cheer has been signed, sealed and if not delivered, it’s certainly on the way. On Tuesday, November 6, a memorandum from the Ministry of Finance went out to the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of …

The Reporter

POLICE INVESTIGATING APPARENT HOMICIDE IN INDEPENDENCE VILLAGE
Police in Independence are investigating what appears to be the murder of a woman identified as Keidi Ramirez, 26, a resident of San Juan Village. According to reports, last night Ramirez was found unresponsive, lying in her bed at home by her sister and was rushed to the Independence Polyclinic.

REPORTS OF A RESCUE AT ‘Actun Tunichil Muknal’ CAVE NEAR TEAKETTLE
The Reporter is investigating reliable reports that tourists had to be rescued from the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves in Teakettle following a flash flood on Tuesday evening. Indications are that rescue teams were at the caves until dawn this morning getting the tourists out safe. We have been able to confirm that the Cave network is closed to tours today.

Breaking Belize News

Horacio Franco in concert in Belize this Friday
The Embassy of Mexico in Belize continues with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Mexican […]

Man in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle in Belmopan
A man was knocked down this evening in Belmopan. The accident occurred near the roundabout by […]

Mount Carmel teachers demand payment of salaries
Breaking Belize News yesterday broke the story that teachers from Mount Carmel Primary School had planned […]

Police: Three men detained for stealing gun from Chinese Businessman in San Ignacio
Yesterday, San Ignacio Police detained three men pending charges of theft and keeping a firearm […]

25-year-old man arrested for shooting Stephan Tablada in Belize City
Belize City Police have arrested and charged Joshua Gallego, 25, for shooting Stephan Tabalada on […]

Cool weather to continue
Cool and moist northeasterly airflow to continue across Belize. Cloudy spells and a period of rain […]

Blogs

The Truck Stop turns three!
North Ambergris Caye’s Truck Stop celebrated its third birthday in grand style, complete with cake, birthday shots, games and tons of fun. Ben and Joanna Popik and Adam and Jackie Feldman, alongside their staff at Arepa, A Slice of Haven, Rasa, Cool Cone and the bar were busy tending to happy patrons all afternoon long on November 18th. The cooler weather put the kibosh on the planned pool party, but didn’t stop the fun as a Bumperball Tournament took place in its stead. The Truck Stop giveaways included hats, shirts, shots, shot glasses, and birthday cake. There were delicious food and drink specials and half-off wings ‘flew’ out the kitchen! DJ Vibecamp kept the tunes rolling through 5PM and then it was live music by Dennis Wolfe long into the night.

International Sources

Alpari Closes Down Belize Subsidairy
The online retail brokerage company Alpari is closing down its subsidiary in Belize, Finance Magnates Russia reported exclusively. The move comes amid a strategic optimization effort on part of the brokerage. The firm has been operating the Belize subsidiary for a number of years but is preparing to move its clients to its Saint Vincent and Grenadines subsidiary. Alpari shared with its clients the news in an email. The brokerage is providing a set of options to its customers to get their account transferred. As seen by Finance Magnates, the letter states that customers can agree to a transfer of their personal data to Alpari Limited VC.

Exploring Archaeological Sites in Belize with Dr. Jaime Awe
WestJet has once again featured Belize in its in-flight magazine. They interview Dr. Jaime Awe, and the article focuses on 2 of Cayo's most famous Maya sites: Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. "Hundreds of archaeological sites have been discovered in Belize, but with half this small country covered by dense, tropical rainforests, there are secrets still to be unearthed. We caught up with a leading authority on Maya culture in the region, archaeologist Jaime Awe for a tour of Cahal Pech and Xanantunich... The ancient ball court in the western end of the ruins of Cahal Pech is a hive of activity as people shovel earth into buckets. The contents are tipped onto large, flat sieves—hung between trees—which are shaken back and forth to separate the fine earth from any archaeological remains. Some buckets come up empty, while others reveal potsherds (pieces of pottery), obsidian fragments or jute—the skinny, coiled shells of freshwater snails the Maya considered a delicacy... Two hieroglyphic monuments, gifted to Xunantunich’s Maya elite rulers as war booty, were discovered on each side of the staircase of the tomb. Fibreglass replicas of these monuments, also known as Panels Three and Four, sit in their place, as the originals are now housed in the site’s museum and visitors’ centre. Awe has already moved on to his next project at the site; a structure that, when compared to the rest in this ruined city, is an anomaly... Unlike Cahal Pech, evidence points to Xunantunich being a more recent Maya city, as many of the buildings only have one or two phases. However, Awe’s golden trowel has again led him to uncover a building that is actually stacked on three earlier structures, all of which predate Xunantunich’s other structures."

The Hidden Coastal Culture of the Ancient Maya
Archaeologists working at the Maya site of Vista Alegre on the Yucatan coast are developing a new perspective on the Maya market system. Vista Alegre is about 100 miles from Chichen Itza, and hundreds of years older. The site was part of a complex network that is revealing a robust system of sea traders, dotting the coastline at 30 mile intervals. Study of the bones of these coastal Maya show that they were healthier than the inland Maya due to their diet of protein rich seafood. Their funeral remains also show their society was more egalatarian, with less elongated head shaping and dental modifications free of jade and obsidian. The coastal Maya were more of a melting pot of people traveling up and down the coast. Ancient war wounds on the bones of the coastal people show more women killed in violent acts, and many survived battle. The probable explanation for this is that the conflicts on the coast were from pirate raids. And the layout of the sites on the coast points to defenses against marauders. Recently, researchers uncovered salt works along the Belize coast, and the artifacts uncovered there point to a salt making industry all along the Maya coast. And trading canoes would be laden with salt all along the coastal area. These canoes would also carry Quetzal feathers, jade, shells, and obsidian to transport across Mesoamerica.

Videos

Belize northern Highway view Monday during the rain., 1min.

Belize Family Vacation - Bring Your Kids to Our Island, Long Caye at Glover's Reef, 27min. A great video made by guests Brent Strickler and Chuck Cray from April of 2018. This video shows in great detail what it's like to bring kids to our island.

A narrative of Political Parties in Belize”; book launch, 2min.

BELTRAIDE - EntreCon, 39min. Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton - Minster of State, Investment, Trade & Commerce. Monique Usher - acting Manager, SBDC Belize. Laura Raymon - Owner, Amarabi Seasonings & Marinades / National Female Business Ambassador.

The ICJ Role Relevant Cases & the record of Compliance, 35min. Herman Byrd - Historian Aree Sabido - Referendum Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

UDP convention, 10min.

BTV november 2018, 12min. Watch the PGTV news story on the visit to the Sarstoon River and Gracias a Dios by Senator Osmany Salas, Senator Mark Lizarraga and representatives of Oceana Belize and other NGOs (November 10, 2018).

Intro To Fuckry Talkshow, 30min.

Mount Carmel Primary School in Benque protest, 1min. At least three teachers had not been paid for a three month period and a fourth teacher is fighting to stay in the classroom until she reaches retirement age in 2020. The entire staff and principal are together. The principal Melvin Manzanero says the other sister Catholic institutions in the area will join them once they receive a permit to march. But in the mean time, classes have come to a standstill.

Sports Talk Show, 2hr.

WACPtv: GARIFUNA REENACTMENT IN LIBERTAD VILLAGE BELIZE, 58min.

I Love Belize... San Pedro is an amazing Place..., 13min. Pedro Town is the major settlement on the island. San Pedro's populace has grown to 10,000 plus year-round inhabitants, with many newcomers from the mainland and from abroad as well. The original "San Pedranos" (from the 1800's til the 1970's or so) are Mestizo, and and speak both Spanish and English. The island has the largest concentration of visitor accommodations in Belize and its hotels, fishing and diving facilities are some of the best in the country. The town is a picture postcard setting beside the clear turquoise sea. Coconut palms sway and rustle in the gentle cooling trade winds. Low rise hotels, guest houses and boutique style resorts & condos, from modest to magnificent, are nestled along the coast and throughout the town.

November 21, 2018