Belize News Daily, 4/21/2019 to 4/30/2019, 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

Ambergris Today

Belize Ministry Of Education Launches Digital Education Program
The Belize Ministry Of Education is pleased to be a part of an exciting new venture for education in Belize! Digi Belize (Belize Telemedia Limited) in collaboration with Microsoft & the Ministry Of Education have deployed devices to selected secondary schools as a part of a pilot project geared towards creating a digital learning platform to schools in Belize. Deployment of devices included EP Yorke, Pallotti and Belize High School, Anglican Cathedral College, Saint Catherine's Academy, Ladyville Tech, San Pedro High School, Corozal Community College and Muffles College.

Fisheries Regulations To Remove “Permanent Residents” From Eligibility To Get Fishing License
Amendment of Fisheries Regulations Regarding Eligibility of Permanent Residents for Fishing Licenses Belmopan. April 29, 2019. The public is advised that on April 16, 2019, Cabinet approved an amendment to the Fisheries Regulations to remove the category of “permanent residents” from those persons eligible to obtain a fishing license in Belize’s territorial waters. All active licenses as of this date will be permitted to run their course and expire.

Elections And Boundaries Set New Cut-Off Date For Registration
The Elections and Boundaries Department hereby notifies the public that the cut-off date for registration as electors for persons wishing to vote in the May 8, 2019 Territorial Dispute Referendum was April 10, 2019. The cut-off date which is a Cycle for Registration is for the purpose of the Registering Officers conducting their ‘due diligence’ for all applications for registration received.

Misc Belizean Sources

Roundtable Discussion on Open Data
The Trust for the Americas and the The Belize Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) hosted a 2nd Roundtable Discussion on the potential of Open Data as a source for improvement of public services and economic revenue. This event took place as part of the project “Promoting an Open Government Ecosystem in Belize,” and is funded by the Embassy of the United States in Belize.

Pilot Project for Creating Digital Learning Platform
The MOE is pleased to be a part of an exciting new venture for education in Belize! BTL in collaboration with Microsoft & the MOE today deployed devices to selected secondary schools as a part of a pilot project geared towards creating a digital learning platform to schools in Belize. Today's deployment of devices included EPYorke, Pallotti and Belize High School. Other schools include Anglican Cathedral College, Saint Catherine's Academy, Ladyville Tech, San Pedro High, Corozal Community College and Muffles College. The Microsoft Education Project, will allow our country’s education system to thrive, keeping up with global advancement. Teachers from participating schools were all trained in using the laptops and will conduct in house training for their students.

Amendment of Fisheries Regulations Regarding Eligibility of Permanent Residents for Fishing Licenses
The public is advised that on April 16, 2019, Cabinet approved an amendment to the Fisheries Regulations to remove the category of “permanent residents” from those persons eligible to obtain a fishing license in Belize’s territorial waters. All active licenses as of this date will be permitted to run their course and expire. This amendment is aimed at further promoting local fisherfolk stewardship of our fishery resources in the framework of managed access. It is also aimed at improving the efficacy of law enforcement in our territorial waters in collaboration with the security forces.

Amending the Trade Licensing Act
The San Pedro Town Council in collaboration with the Government of Belize and the Belize Mayor’s Association through the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development hereby notifies the general public and in particular the business sector, that it is embarking on an exercise aimed at amending the Trade Licensing Act, effective licensing period beginning January 1st, 2020. In this regard, the San Pedro Town Council will be conducting an exercise to collect data on businesses to inform the methodology to determine Trade License Fees for businesses operating from established premises.

Corozal Trade License Reform
Notice to all business owners and those conducting any trade.

Love Belize Sea Challenge
The BTB Love Belize Sea Challenge is coming up: May 22-27, 2019. A grueling kayak race for those who dare. Interested participants can contact Julia at 621-1955.

Channel 7

Car Plunges off Bridge - Three Die
Three young men are dead - after the car they were in plunged off a one lane bridge on the San Antonio Road in Orange Walk. It happened on Saturday night at around 8:00. 27 year old driver Oscar Portillo, and passengers, 28 year old Kelvin Augustine and 21 year old Efrain Martinez were headed to Botes, Mexico. That meant taking the San Antonio Road all the way to Santa Cruz, which is the last village on the banks of the Rio Hondo. From there they would have crossed over to Botes, presumably for a night of partying. But they never made it - instead they wound up submerged in the river - dead either from drowning or the massive impact. Villagers pulled their bodies from the wreckage and tried to perform CPR but it was too late.

Mother Says She Never Knew Son Was Going To Botes
The mother of the youngest passenger, 21 year old Efrain Martinez says she didn't know if her son had been drinking - but she did learn that he was headed to Botes. She spoke off camera to CTV-3 in Orange Walk today when she went to get her son's body. Voice of: Paula Martinez: "They haven't told us anything, we haven't heard anything, only that they lost control and went into the river." "I will carry him in my heart. He is my son and I gave him birth. I will never forget him." Both women - girlfriend and mother - say it was the first time they knew their loved one to be headed to Botes.

Cops Won't Speculate On Where They Were Headed
And at today's press briefing, police say they don't know for sure exactly where they were headed of what caused this triple tragedy. The Commander of Operations Marco Vidal told us more at headquarters in Belmopan: ACP Marco Vidal- Commander of Operations: "On Saturday the first incident was at 8pm, where police responded to the village of San Antonio and a blue Toyota car was seen submerged in the water with its 4 wheels upwards. The 3 occupants of the car was extracted from the vehicle, they are Kelvin Augustine, 28 years of 8 Miles George Price Highway; Efrain Martinez, 21 years of Belize District and then Oscar Portillo. We suspect that they may have drown. We have yet to get the post-mortem. They were extracted from the vehicle and they were motionless. The vehicle was travelling from Santa Antonio to the direction of Yo Creek when it ran off the left hand side of the bridge."

Police Vs. The People At Agric?
Most of you have probably already seen the video of a band of Special Patrol Unit officers pepper spraying and subduing a few men at the Agriculture and Trade Show on Sunday. The crowd went wild when the officers swooped in to collect the men. And of course other Agric goers got caught in the chaos as well. In the video, it looks pretty bad but today Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says it could have been worse if the officers did not intervene to break up a fight. Williams says he supports his officers in the way they handled the situation. Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police: "From what we were told the person believe that the other guy behind him was trying to steal his wallet and he turn around and punch the individual, when in fact it was not that individual who may have been trying to do him something and that was what caused the scuffle. Police had to intervene..."

Babylon's Brutes: MIT Assaults 7News Camera-man
And there was also another incident with police at the National Agriculture Trade Show. And we know about this one because our 7News camera-man Angel Noble was targeted by the Police Mobile Interdiction Team, known as the MIT. Noble was there on his personal time - but saw the MIT roughing up a detainee - and so - like many others - he pulled out his camera phone to capture it - exercising his, and their rights as citizens - to photograph police conducting their duties in public. But, the MIT didn't like it one bit - and Angel tells us what they did about it:

Roaring Creek Barber Caught In Cross Fire
A well-known Roaring Creek barber is fortunate to be alive after he was caught in a cross fire. 37 year old Mervin Young Jr. was grazed above his eye. Last night at around 9:30, he and his friend, who was driving, went to drop off his cousin at his Hattiville area home in Roaring Creek. Then, they were going to buy some drinks to take back to their family function but they didn't even make it to the store because a gun man opened fire and hit Young. The family says Young was not the target and the assailant was out to get someone else. We spoke to Young's father this afternoon. He and the family are just grateful Young is alive. Mervin Young Sr., Father: "They had a beef going on here. From earlier they had their drinks stacked up. They had their barbeque and they ran low in drinks, so they decide to go and get another amount..."

Going Back Before The CJ after April 10th Referendum Fail
You should be preparing for next week Wednesday, when all registered Belizean voters will be able to vote Yes Or No to the ICJ. But, while you get ready to cast your vote, the attorneys for the Government and the Opposition Party are still locked in a legal battle before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin over the 2008 Special Agreement. The PUP aren't backing down on their lawsuit just because the government has passed a new law which enables them to have a referendum next week. That case went back before the Chief Justice today for a case management hearing, and it was expected that Government attorney Lisa Shoman would follow through with her application to lift the injunction granted to the PUP at the beginning of April. That's the injunction which forced the Barrow Administration to postpone the referendum which was scheduled for April 10th.

GOB Waffles On Application To Lift Injunction
The court briefly adjourned for a few hours to give the attorneys for both sides an opportunity to consult with their clients on this application. When they returned before the Chief Justice this afternoon, Lisa Shoman announced that the Government had decided to withdraw its application to lift the injunction. From the government's perspective, it cannot interfere with next week Wednesday's referendum, and so it's an academic fight to engage in. The PUP claimants see it differently, and when they exited court, we asked both sides to discuss the Government's 180 degree turnaround.

Did GOB Legislate Around Injunction?
So, did the Government outmaneuver the Opposition and legislate around their injunction? That's what we were trying to find from the Opposition this evening. As we showed you 2 weeks ago, the Barrow Government passed the 2019 Belize Territorial Referendum Dispute Act in parliament. They used their majority in both the House and the Senate to get the bill passed into law, and from there, it got a rapidito assent from the GG. Shortly after that, the Prime Minister requested a new writ of referendum using the new law, and it has been granted for May 8th. The PUP sort of conceded last week that they couldn't stop the Government, and so, they will instead go to the voters and try to convince them to vote no in the next week Wednesday's referendum.

PUP Leader Challenges Billion Dollar Budgetary Supplementaries In Court
So, while the PUP parliamentarians want to challenge the Government on the Special Agreement, Opposition Leader John BriceÃ±o and Julius Espat, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee have brought a separate lawsuit against GOB. They are challenging the supplementary appropriations bills that the Barrow Administration has been passing in parliament during its 3 terms in elected office. You'll remember those supplementary appropriation bills as the ones where the Government spends taxpayers dollars from the consolidated revenue fund on whatever government business they deem a priority. The problem is that those expenditures are not budgeted for, and so, these bills are passed to seek parliamentary approval long after those monies were spent.

AG Says GOB Is Within Legal Bounds With Supplementaries
We also got a chance to speak with Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte about the PUP's lawsuit against the Government for these appropriations bills. He told us that from his perspective as a the Government's lead attorney, the Government is constitutionally permitted to do as it has been doing with these unforeseen expenses: Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General: "The court will determine whether or not the government was correct in doing that. That is a matter for the court and I don't want to delve into what my considerations would be.."

Alleged Child Killer Gets Off
He's been on remand at the Belize Central Prison for 2 years and 5 months, but tonight 22 year-old Jayear Flores, the man who was accused of the double murders of 7 year-old Tyler Savery, and his 22 year-old cousin Porshan Pipersburgh, is free. That's after he was acquitted today in front of Justice Colin Williams. You'll remember the case from November 2016. Tyler and his cousin, Porshan, were on their way to Moon Clusters Cafe on Daly Street in Belize City. They were near the entrance of the cafe when a white car drove up, and one of the occupants opened fire on them. Tyler died from a gunshot to the chest, and eventually, Porshan Pipersburgh also succumbed to the 2 gunshot injuries he suffered to the chest. Several days later, police arrested and charged Flores with their double murder.

Belizean PG Native Executed in Mexico
27 year old Belizean Hakeem Arzu was executed in Mexico this weekend. It happened in the state of Quintana Too - not far from Playa Del Carmen where Hakeem - who is from PG - had gone to make a new life with a foreign woman some time ago. He was murdered along with another man in an apparent execution - in an area of Playa known as the Balam Tum subdivision. Arzu's body was found along with another dark skinned male - and left face down in the bushes. At the time of the murder - both bodies were unidentified - but, yesterday, his family in Hopkins got a call that he was dead. We spoke to his grand-aunt - who said her niece got a call from the US giving her the bad news:..

Police Know Nothing About Hakeem's Killing
The family is now working out the financial details of scraping up almost four thousand dollars to get his body back to Punta Gorda for burial. But, when we asked Commissioner Chester Williams about Arzu's killing in Mexico he says he hasn't gotten any official report on it and really, there isn't anything he can do in this case.

Family Furious With Police
And that dismissive approach incensed grand-aunt Therese Roches when we told her about it today. She says that he is a citizen - and they need answers about his death:.,. Anyone wanting to help the family with burial expenses can call Roches at 662-8893.

Armenia Villager Dies in Strange Circumstance, No Signs of Violence
A Guatemalan Santander worker turned up dead this morning around 6:45 in Armenia village. He was identified as 48 year old Riding Pedro. Th cause of death is unknown at this time. His body was found in an empty lot across from his apartment. The media spoke to Pedro's landlord about his whereabouts this weekend and how she found his body thrown in the lawn.

Police Have No Clues On Sudden Death
Now as we told you, the cause of death is unclear so police have to rely on the post mortem to know how to proceed with this case. The police say they didn't see any signs of violence on the body. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch: "Belmopan police were called to Armenia Village where they discovered the apparent lifeless body of a hispanic male in an open lot. He was later identified as Riding Rodas Pedro, 47 years old Guatemalan and an employee of Santander. Our investigations have shown that he is a roommate of another Santander employee who last saw him alive yesterday morning before going to work. So far, the police have not observed any visible injuries. The body was removed after the scene was processed and we are still doing our investigation into this matter."

Mennonite Driver Ran Into Canal
At the top of the news, we told you about the triple fatality on the San Antonio road. Well, there was another fatal accident in the Orange Walk District - this one near Blue Creek village. It claimed the life of a Mennonite man, Heinrich Reimer. This accident happened early Sunday morning and in this case, his vehicle also plunged into a canal in that area. Here is what police had to say. ACP Marco Vidal, Commander of Operations: "Henrich Reimer, 35 years old mechanic of Blue Creek was driving his red in colour Toyota pickup from the direction of San Felipe heading towards Blue Creek Village when he lost control and ended inside a canal with his four wheels up again..."

Weed By Air
On Saturday, police confiscated 5 pounds of weed as it arrived on a plane at the municipal airstrip. Police told us more about their investigation so far and about how they handle these situations. ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City: "San Pedro police were conducting their routine checkpoints at the municipal airstrip in San Pedro; they came across the cargo section of Tropic Air of a box containing twenty-two small parcels of suspected cannabis. As a result police opened the box and when it was weighed, it weighed a total of two thousands three hundred and fifty-six grams of cannabis. No one was found with the box so it was labelled as found property."

Vital Stats Peers Up Proudly From Under Rubble of Public Criticism
During re-registration, the Vital Statistics Unit has been more criticized in the public than any other government department., And that's because of the pressure to produce birth and other documents and the difficulties associated with that - especially when a population of hundreds of thousands is making demands from a staff of less than three dozen. Today, their Minister,. Attorney General Mike Peyrefitte held a press conference to say take it easy on Vital Stats - they're not nearly as bad as some would make them out to be:...

Tourist Drowns While Snorkeling
A snorkeling trip turned deadly for a 67 year old American national. Laura Peterson drowned in San Pedro yesterday morning. Police told us more.

How Real Is a Tsunami Threat in Belize?
Back in 2018, we had a tsunami scare in Belize - which caused a partial execution of Belize City. That led many to scoff at the idea that a tsunami would hit Belize when there hasn't been one in our recorded history. Well, now the experts are making a determination at a Tsunami Inundation Modelling and Evacuation Maps Workshop held at the Radisson today. It is led by an Oceanographer from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US. They send out the tsunami warnings - and the expert told us what Belize can realistically expect:

Lucio Walks Free
Lucio Salazar, the man who was charged with murder for 25 year-old Jeremy Baptist, is free tonight. Baptist went missing 6 years ago, and at this time, his body has not been found. So, with no body, and no proof that Baptist is dead, the crown counsel had to discontinue their case against Salazar, who was charged with murder. The case was heard today before Justice Marilyn Williams. The victim's wife told police that on Sunday, May 17th, 2013, he was at home, and he wasn't feeling well, but a friend invited him to family event. His wife said that she accompanied her along with their 1-year-old baby to the event on the island. While he was at the event, he allegedly got into an altercation with Lucio Salazar.

Channel 5

G.O.B. Withdraws Application to Lift I.C.J. Injunction
Three cases relating to the referendum have been unsuccessful for the government, but tonight, the referendum proceeds. The legalities started on April first when the Chief Justice ordered an interim [...]

Special Agreement Issue is ‘Very Much Alive’
Both parties are expected back before the Chief Justice until the end of June on the substantive matter which is on the legality of the Compromis. As you know, the [...]

Cordel Hyde Tells G.O.B. to Take a Chill Pill
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has made it quite clear that the I.C.J. referendum will be held on May eighth. Now, on April twenty-sixth, the Elections and Boundaries Department notified the [...]

Minister Elrington Speaks on Latest Sarstoon Incident
On Friday, the Ministry of National Security rejected claims made by Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial Volunteers that three Guatemalan gunboats blocked citizens of Belize from entering the Sarstoon [...]

A Trio of Friends Perish in Submerged Vehicle During an RTA in the North
A total of four persons perished in traffic fatalities over the weekend. In the first incident, three friends tragically lost their lives in the Orange Walk District when they drove [...]

A Mennonite Mechanic Perishes in Blue Creek RTA
The fourth fatality occurred in Blue Creek Village, Orange Walk. On Sunday morning, just before six o’clock, Henrich Reimer lost control of his vehicle and overturned several times on the [...]

A Belizean is One of Four Men Murdered in Mexico
Twenty-seven-year-old Hakeem Arzu, a Belizean who relocated to Mexico with his wife, was one of four men who were tortured and killed in Playa del Carmen over the weekend. Arzu, [...]

Brawl at Agric Ends with Men and Women being Pepper Sprayed
The annual agricultural show is a mass public gathering that attracts huge crowds. This year, it got off to a good start, but on Sunday, police moved in to quell [...]

Body of Guatemalan National Found in Armenia
Just before seven this morning, the body of a Santander employee was discovered in an open lot in Armenia Village on the Hummingbird Highway. It has since been identified as [...]

U.S. National Dies during Snorkelling Trip
A U.S. national also lost her life over the weekend on Ambergris Caye. Lora Brook Peterson was visiting the island and was out on a snorkelling trip at Mexican Rocks [...]

Jayear Flores is Freed of Double Murder of Tyler Savery and Porshan Pipersburgh
Two murder trials fell apart in the Supreme Court today. In the shocking double murders of Porshan Pipersburgh and seven-year-old school boy, Tyler Savery, the accused murderer, twenty-one-year-old Jayear Flores [...]

Lucio Salazar is Freed of 2013 Murder
A man went to a party on May nineteenth, 2013 at Miguel’s Shop in San Pedro where he got into an altercation and never made it back home. In court [...]

7 Female Police Officers Charged for Hairstyles
Seven police female officers have received charge sheets and are to appear before the disciplinary tribunal of the Police Department. They are Aleea Wade, Shantel Berry, Vanessa Kerr, Crystal Morales, [...]

Wasani Castro Fined and Disqualified
Cyclist Wasani Castro has been disqualified from the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic following a meeting of race commissaires on Friday. Castro was recorded holding on to his team’s [...]

A Sneak Peak at the Horrible Practices of Lion Farming in South Africa
Following a one-year investigation, a documentary has been released on what is called the horrific captive-bred lion farming carried out in South Africa. Lord Michael Ashcroft commissioned investigators to look [...]

Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington Ready for May 8th
May eighth will be a historic day for the country when voters will make a monumental determination on whether or not the territorial claim will be taken to the International [...]

Minister Elrington: “No Hesitance in Spending the Resources that I Have”
And to bring out every single voter will take some serious resources, especially money. Reports are emerging that U.D.P. standard bearers and area representatives are expected to received tens of [...]

AG Breaks Down Rejected Applications at Vital Stats Unit
While attorneys were at court on the interim injunction, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, who has oversight of the Vital Statistics Unit, was holding a press conference at the Biltmore Plaza. [...]

No More Easy Access to Records Vault at Vital Stats
According to AG Peyrefitte, several persons, including accused murderer William ‘Danny’ Mason may have been able to acquire birth certificates illegally when other employees of the Vital Statistics Unit had [...]

Another Drug Bust at Local Airline
There is yet another report of local airlines being used to transport drugs across the country. The most recent incident occurred on Saturday in San Pedro Town. Around four p.m., [...]

Roaring Creek Resident Injured in Crossfire
A Roaring Creek resident remains in a stable condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital recovering from a gunshot wound to the head. Thirty-seven-year-old Mervin Young was shot just above [...]

The Weekend Sporting Stats with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. [Highlights of the weekend in sports....]

The Belize Zoo observed National Tapir Day on Saturday
The day featured tapir games, face painting, arts and craft and prizes for the kids! Visitors to the zoo also got the opportunity to meet the tapirs and interact with them. Key Facts about the Tapir: Size Length: 6 feet Weight: 300 - 500 lbs. Breeding Reach Maturity: 3 Years Mating: Non-seasonal Gestation: 13 months No. of Young:1

The Reporter

Police Officer Found Dead By His Mother
The body of Police officer Patrick O’Brien, 36, was found in his mother’s home in Independence village around 11:30 this morning. The officer’s mother told Police she went into his room and found him motionless on the bed.

A Tangled Mess Of Legal Maneuvers and The Authority Of The Executive
This Morning, April 29th. The Government of Belize made an application to the Supreme Court to have the interim injunction granted to the PUP lifted. Attorney Lisa Shoman explained this morning that while the Government is convinced that the injunction, issued with regard to a previous writ of Referendum, does not affect the Referendum scheduled for May 8, they thought it necessary simply as a matter of formality to apply to have it lifted.

Body Of Santander Employee Found In Armenia, Near Home
The body of a man identified as Rodas Pedro Rufeno, 48, was discovered in an open lot in Armenia around 6:30 this morning (April 29th.). No visible signs of injury were observed on the body.

Breaking Belize News

Government withdraws application against referendum injunction at Supreme Court
With 10 days to go before the May 8 referendum on settling the Belize-Guatemala claim […]

Accused killer will not answer for murders of Tyler Savery and Porshan Pipersburgh
In November of 2016, Northside Belize City was rocked by the sudden deaths of 21-year-old […]

Belize breaks silence on Venezuela’s crisis
Belize has joined together with eight other Caribbean nations to say that the Organization of […]

Belmopan and Taipei now sister cities
Belmopan City and the City of Taipei in the Republic of China (Taiwan) established sister […]

Man, 48, found dead in Armenia Village
The body of a forty-eight-year-old man was found in an open lot in Armenia Village, […]

Police officer found dead at home in Independence
This morning, authorities were called to a home in Independence Village, Southern Belize where they […]

Government seeks to remove referendum injunction at Supreme Court
This morning at the Supreme Court, the Government of Belize sought to discharge the interim […]

Detainee stabbed inside cell at Belmopan Police Station
Belmopan resident, Elvis Najarro was detained by Belmopan Police on Saturday. According to reports, Najarro […]

Prosecutors drop charge in missing person case
Jeremy Baptist never came home from an event on the island of Ambergris Caye six […]

Narcotics and the Human Trafficking Problem in Belize
By Dr. Jarrod Sadulski, Faculty Member, Criminal Justice, American Military University and Kendra Hoyt, Faculty Member, Criminal Justice, and Life Coach […]

Mexican Embassy in Belize to host 3 classical concerts
The Embassy of Mexico, in Belize in collaboration with the Belize Virtuosi Orchestra and the […]

Attorney General to host press conference on Vital Statistics Unit
The Vital Statistics Unit has been at the center of the public’s eye with Belizeans […]

Warm weather to continue
Mainly fair and warm weather is expected to continue today. Skies are expected to be […]

Yes or No to the ICJ?
On May 8, 2019, Belizeans will participate in a historic national referendum and decide whether […]

Legacy Global Development Announces Phase 2 Expansion of Orchid Bay, Belize Beachfront Condos
Tower-C Construction to Feature 6 Units with Luxury Architecture and Interior Design by Zurcher Arquitectos and Zurcher Interiors […]

LOVE FM

PUP: there are flaws in Referendum Bill
When the Senate debate took place on April 15, the lead opposition Senator, Eamon Courtenay, cited several flaws in the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Bill 2019. The Bill went through all its stages and was subsequently enacted. There was curiosity by many parties as to whether the People’s United Party would attempt to block the …

PUP wants to put an end to GOB’s supplementary allocations
The People’s United Party (PUP) is seeking to put an end to the frequent presentations of supplementary allocations to the national budget, by the Barrow administration. The matter has been lodged in the courts since early March and today, it saw its second adjournment. Attorney Andrew Marshalleck spoke of the case and what spurred the …

4 die from 2 Vehicle Accidents
There were four people who died in traffic accidents over the weekend. Assistant Commissioner of Police and Commander of Operations, Marco Vidal said both incidents occurred in the Orange Walk District. While Heinrich Reimer crashed and died alone, Kelvin Augustine, Efrain Martinez and Oscar Portillo drowned when their vehicle plunged into the river. Commissioner of …

Roaring Creek Villager Shot
While there were no shooting incidents in the Belize District, there was one recorded in the west. The victim, had gone out to get party supplies when the vehicle that he was travelling in, drove into a gun battle. Love News spoke to the father of Mervin Young who said when he heard the shots …

Woman Brutally Stabbed by Common-Law Husband
Domestic violence is a crime that occurs in the home and often goes unreported. But in Belmopan, the parents of a three month old child were involved in a public altercation . Love News travelled to Maya Mopan Village and spoke to the eyewitnesses, one who had to break a chair over the head of …

Armenia Villager Found Dead Near Home
Murder or natural causes? That is what the police is hoping a postmortem examination will determine concerning the death of 48 year old Rufino Rhodas Pedro. On April 1, the body of BDF volunteer Hermelindo Ical was found at 6:30 am in Armenia Village and almost one month later, on April 29, the body of …

Jayear Flores walks free from double murder
21-year-old, Jayear Flores of a Curassow Street address in Belize City, was freed by the court today. His trial in the Supreme Court started today after he was charged with the double murder of 7-year-old, Tyler Savery and Porshan Pipersburgh. The trial was short-lived when Justice Colin Williams refused to accept the dock identification given …

Lucio Salazar walks from murder charge
Lucio Salazar is a free man tonight after having a murder charge hanging over his head for six years. The Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, entered a case of nolle prosequi (will not prosecute) today in the Belize Supreme Court. Salazar appeared with his attorney, Senior Counsel Simeon Sampson, before Justice Marilyn Williams while the …

Vehicle catches fire dangerously close to fuel pumps in Belize City
Fire engulfed a white Ford Ranger pickup truck shortly after five o’clock yesterday evening and while no one was hurt, first responders and fire personnel averted what could have been a disastrous incident; that is because the fire happened at the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Cemetery Road and Central American Boulevard. 37-year-old, …

Blogs

Cruising Corozal Town
Corozal Town is the northernmost town in Belize, located only nine miles from its neighboring Mexican border and situated alongside the beautiful Corozal Bay. The warm seaside community has a population of over 9,800 people and boasts several seaside parks, local markets, and The Corozal History Museum, along with various sugar cane farms. Corozal was a private estate before becoming a town in the 1840s, mostly settled by Maya Mestizo refugees from the Caste War of Yucatán. Much of the town was built over an ancient Maya city, sometimes known as Santa Rita; this may have been the original Pre-Columbian town called Chetumal. Corozal Town was badly damaged by Hurricane Janet in 1955 and was substantially rebuilt afterward.

Eat like a local in San Pedro - Belize Food Tour is highly recommended!
When you are in San Pedro, there are a LOT of choices of places to eat - and a lot of them are tucked away or may not even have a clear sign out front, so you won't know what you are missing! I took the Belize Food Tour last week, the Savor Tour which is in the evening from 6-9pm. This was $72usd per person and was amazingly worth it!! I was so impressed by the comprehensive number of stops, the generous amount of food (and beers/drinks!!) that were provided - it was WELL worth the time and money and everyone on our tour had a great time. You get a walking tour with lots of stops in the town, and you get to taste a wide array of unique, great local food - and you get a nice history of the town while you are at it. We were stuffed (and buzzed!) by the end and it was a highlight of a friend's visit while here.

An example of typical eating and grocery shopping habits while living in Belize!
I have had a lot of questions recently about exactly how expensive it is to shop in Belize - especially in San Pedro, because it is an island. There is no doubt that imported foods are very expensive in Belize - but as you figure out what is a good value and what you can live without, it becomes a lot more reasonable! You do have to change your cooking and eating habits somewhat in living here, and if you are only here for a short visit, and looking for some US foods, you might think it is very expensive. For a short visit, you don't have to commit to changes in your eating, for great value - just enjoy the vast array of amazing street food options and local foods that are very reasonably priced - chicken, rice and beans, and burritos and tacos of all sorts can be found for $5us or less. Most restaurants have great specials and/or a few local dishes on the menu that are much lower priced.

7 Astonishing Belize Caves You Should Explore!
Caves tell the history of Belize, having been an intricate part of the Maya religion and culture. The Maya used caves as ceremonial sites and evidence of these activities can be found inside these caves. Relics, principally in the form of shards of pottery, are very common.

My Top 5 Diving Spots In Belize
Belize, one of the smallest countries in Central America, has the second biggest barrier reef in the world, only after Australia’s. Its countless miles of reefs make this destination a haven for diving enthusiasts who are looking to dive in the turquoise Caribbean waters to find the colorful beauties that lay under the sea. During my time in Belize, I’ve done over 15 dives all over the length of the Barrier reef. They have all been unique and a great dive experience. Not only the place is important to have a great dive but also whom you dive with has an effect on your diving experience. So, here are my top 5 dive spots, including the companies I used.

International Sources

Nine Caribbean countries accuse OAS of acting ultra vires over Venezuela
Last Tuesday, eight Caribbean members of the Organization of American States (OAS): Antigua-Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, St Kitts-Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad-Tobago, joined two days later by Grenada, delivered a formal Note to the chair of the Permanent Council of the OAS in relation to actions that were said to be ultra vires the rules and procedures of the OAS Permanent Council, the OAS Charter and international law.

CARIBBEAN NEWS ROUNDUP – APRIL 30, 2019
Here are the top news making headlines from the Caribbean and its Diasporas for this Tuesday morning, April 30, 2019:

Did the Maya civilization really use chocolate as currency? New study suggests so
Talk about black gold — chocolate was used as coin by the Maya people, and that may have a lot to do with the civilization’s decline. At the height for their achievements, the Maya developed in an area that encompasses southeastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. The culture is known for art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system, as well as its hieroglyphic script — the only known fully developed writing system of the pre-Columbian Americas. But we also owe something else to the Maya, something much more important in our day to day lives: chocolate. The Maya elite prized chocolate, which they served as an unsweetened beverage. Spanish colonial accounts from the 16h century even mention that the Maya sometimes used cocoa beans — the basis for chocolate — as currency. But was this really the case?

Belize Coast Guard and SOUTHCOM Share Solid Partnership
The Belize Coast Guard is responsible for maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, hurricane response preparation, and disaster relief, among other duties. The Coast Guard was part of the Belize Defence Force, but in 2005 became part of one of the three branches of Belize’s national security structures. Rear Admiral John Borland, commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, assumed command in 2009, focusing on modernizing the institution. Diálogo spoke to the officer during a visit to the Coast Guard’s headquarters in Belize City, where he talked about their new capabilities and interagency work, among other topics.

Videos

Scuba Diving a Cenote in Little Belize, 7min. After a failed attempt to dive this cenote last year, we finally had success. And for some reason our drive was stopped by the annual bicycle race. But all turned out well in the end.

Scuba Diving with Sea Turtles (Belize), 9min. In this diving adventure we go on the search for sea turtles. Some locations include: near Hol Chan and Shark & Ray Alley off the coast of Ambergris Caye and San Pedro Belize.

Cave Tubing Belize, 3min.

How I Eat Healthy While Traveling: Belize, 12min. In this video I'm in Belize (and shortly in Guatemala too) and I'm sharing my healthy eats along the way. Everything from what food/snacks I bring with me, to what I eat in restaurants, and how I shop at markets.

Cliff Jumping at Big Rock Falls, Mountain Pine Ridge | Belize!!, 4min. Just a group of awesome people sending it at big rock falls in Mountain Pine Ridge!

Mountain Pine Ridge - Belize Adventures, 5min. My first trip to Mountain Pine Ridge. (Driving + Gopro) We cover the Thousand Foot Fall, Rio on Pools, Rio Frio Caves...

Press Conference on Vital Statistic, April 29th, 2019, 54min.

Channel 5 Obituaries - KELVIN AUGUSTINE JR., 2min.

Channel 5 Obituaries - ERNAN VALENTINE PELAYO, 2min.

Belize Indian Community Holi Festival of Colors 2019, 2.5min. Celebrating Holi Festival of Colors 2019 in Belize organized by the Belize Indian Community.

April 29, 2019

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

Bryce Peterson winds at the Pro FC Mixed Martial Arts Tournament
The San Pedro Sun congratulates islander Bryce Peterson on his victory at the Pro FC Mixed Martial Arts Tournament held in Orange Walk Town on Saturday, April 27th. The tournament saw fighters from Belize, Mexico and Guatemala.

American tourist dies while snorkeling off the coast of Ambergris Caye
An American tourist, identified as 67-year-old Lora Brook Peterson, died the morning of Sunday, April 28th, while snorkeling at Mexico Rocks Marine Reserve north of San Pedro Town. Peterson, who along with her family, was visiting from Wisconsin, USA, allegedly went into cardiac arrest, and despite being aided with prompt medical assistance, could not recover, and was declared dead around 11:25AM.

Wolfe’s Woofer: Stuck in Traffic
“Linsford is running late but he’ll be here,” Mario said. “That means Maria decided to let him go out for a change,” Vernon said. “She don’t like him hanging around us. Six ball in the side pocket.” This was last Thursday at the weekly meeting of our Nosenada club. Our club’s purpose is to find excuses for friends to drink beer together. When Linsford arrived, he said, “I’m late because I was stuck in that golf cart for an hour trying to get home tonight. It’s the same in the mornings. I’m sick of it.”

Doctor Love: Personal Achievement
Dear Doctor Love, I am a woman in my mid-fifties with absolutely no talent in anything. I cannot sing or dance. I can’t draw or paint. I can’t dazzle with a dress I sewed, bake amazing dessert creations or grow a beautiful garden. I have nothing to brag about and nothing to show for my time on earth except raising two children to adulthood, which is nothing more than most women my age have done. I would like to be proud of one creative achievement. I want to exclaim over something I’ve accomplished. I want to surprise my husband and see the pride in his eyes at my new talent.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize Ek' Balam Pok Ta Pok Team leaves for the 3rd Pok Ta Pok Worldcup
The Belize Ek' Balam Pok Ta Pok Team is on its way to represent Belize at the 3rd Pok Ta Pok Worldcup in San Salvador. This media blog wishes them the best of luck. Photo courtesy: Ek' Balam Pok Ta Pok Team.

The Yucatec Maya Culture Coloring Book
by Dr. Angela Banner Joseph who is a Belizean . You can get a copy of the book on Amazon.

Channel 5

Belizean Among the Murdered in Mexico
Belizean and Punta Gorda native Hakeem Arzu is said to have been murdered in Mexico. Mexican newspapers are reporting that four persons, one woman and three men, were executed over the weekend in Playa del Carmen. According to reports, a man and a woman were found executed on dirt roads, leading to the colony "Cristo Rey" in Playa del Carmen, on Saturday morning. It is presumed that these people were tortured and executed elsewhere. Two more bodies were found on the road to Xcalacoco near the road from Playa del Carmen to Cancun.

Three Dead in Road Traffic Accident
Oscar Portillo, 21 year old Efrain Martinez and 28 year old Kelvin Augustine have been identified as the victims who lost their lives yesterday night as a result of a road traffic accident. It happened at around eight o’clock when the men reportedly ran off the San Antonio bridge in the Orange Walk District. The men were traveling in a blue Toyota from Santa Cruz Village to Yo Creek Village. The driver reportedly lost control upon approaching the bridge, plunging into the river.

The Reporter

Mennonite Drowns In Blue Creek
The lifeless body of a Mennonite man was extracted from his vehicle which was submerged in a canal near the Blue Creek community early on Sunday morning. Just after 5:45 a.m on April 28th, responding officers from Orange Walk identified the deceased driver of the vehicle as Heinrich Reimer.

Woman Pronounced Dead, Was Taken To Placencia Police Station Unresponsive
Early this morning Kathrine Murphy, 56, was taken to the Placencia Police Station in an unresponsive state, the initial reports to the REPORTER news team is that police officers were told that she had been consuming alcohol and taking sleeping pills.

Horrific Scene Show 3 Men Drowned In Submerged Car
A horrific scene was witnessed by some Orange Walk residents, who called police, who then tried to help the 3 occupants that were in a car that ran off the road and into the New River, at the San Antonio Bridge in Orange Walk last night, Saturday April 27th.

Breaking Belize News

Hurricanes edge Verdes and Tiger Sharks stun Dream Ballers in Griga in NEBL playoffs
The Belize Hurricanes and San Pedro TigerSharks took early leads in their best-of-three semifinal series in the National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) playoffs this weekend.

Belize wins Yucatan Beach Soccer Cup
To close off a weekend of sports victories, team Belize has taken the Gold in the 6th Yucatan Beach Soccer Cup. The team, consisting of 18 players, participated in the competition from April 26-28, beating out Celta Campeche in the finals to secure the victory.

Broadcasting Authority supports code of conduct
During today’s workshop on children’s rights and reporting at the Belize Biltmore Plaza, chair of the Belize Broadcasting Authority, Francine Burns, presented on the role of regulator, the Belize Broadcasting Authority in regulating and licensing media content.

UB hosts annual research conference
The University of Belize (UB) hosted its annual research conference under the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences on Thursday in Belize City. Dean, Bernard Watler, paid tribute to the founder of the conference, Dr. Juanita “Jean” Briceño-Perriott, who came up with the idea of the conference nine years ago when she wanted to find a way to honor students who defended excellent research theses in their fields of study.

Belizean man murdered in Mexico
A Belizean man is among four people who were killed in Mexico this weekend. According to Mexican authorities, Punta Gorda native Hakeem Arzu was among a group of three men and one woman killed in Playa del Carmen.

Belmopan Bandits and San Pedro Pirates take lead in Premier League semifinals
Defending champions Belmopan Bandits and upstarts San Pedro Pirates are in the driver’s seats of their semifinal encounters with Verdes F.C. and Belize Defence Force F.C., respectively, in the opening week of the Premier League of Belize’s closing season season.

Police release tear gas to break up fight at Agric show grounds
Activities at the agric show this weekend was generally calm and peaceful if it was not for an incident near the Love FM stage where police had to release tear gas. Eyewitnesses report to BBN that a woman was dancing with a man when the man she was dancing with was stabbed by another man.

Early morning earthquake reported off the coast of Honduras; shaking felt in Belize
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck overnight in the Bay Islands of Honduras, around 1:43 this morning. Earthquake Track records a depth of 10 kilometers and the epicenter is located some 26 miles north of Savannah Bight, Honduras. This area is 170 miles southeast of Belize City.

Commissioner Chester Williams warns of selling alcohol to minors at agric show
This morning, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, issued a notice to everyone visiting the National Agriculture and Trade show, that the area where alcohol is being sold and consumed, as well as the gambling areas, will be restricted to adults only.

Blogs

Running Errands in Belize City – Necessary? Easy? Safe?
Last week, I headed from San Pedro to Belize City for a few hours of errands. To head to some bigger stores, some stores with more selection and some spots with lower prices than we have in San Pedro. To buy things I need and then to look at things I don’t need…exactly. Sometimes it’s just nice to head to a proper department store and browse. If you live on Ambergris Caye, is it necessary to go to Belize City? No. You can find almost everything that you need on the island. Almost. Is it easy to get to Belize City and then get around once you are there? It can be VERY easy. I took the water taxi to the city (1.5 hours) and then hopped different taxis to my various spots. And it was easy. But you can also fly (15 minutes) and hire one driver to take you around for a few hours.

Corozal Sailing Club held their Reggatta Race at Jammrock
Each year the Corozal Sailing Club held's their Reggatta Race in the month of April. On Saturday April 27, 2019 at 11:30am they Sailed across the Corozal Bay. The weather look not good. But, by mid-day the wind pick up. Which was a good thing. On, Sunday they Sailed across Corozal. With a better windy condition. Saw few of them struggling because of the wind condition.

International Sources

Taipei forms sister city ties with capital of Belize
Taipei forged a sister city relationship with Belmopan, the capital of Belize, on Monday to boost cooperation on culture, trade, environmental issues and tourism. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je and Khalid Belisle, the mayor of Belmopan, signed an agreement in Taipei to formalize the links. Belisle said forming sister city ties with Taipei represented an important milestone in the process of deepening the friendship between Taiwan and Belize, one of Taiwan's 17 diplomatic allies.

Videos

National Agricultural & Trade Show 2019, 1.5hr.

PLB Closing Season | Verdes FC vs Bandits SC | Semi Finals Live at the FFB Stadium, Belmopan, 2.5hr.

Belize: What To Eat (inc. History Of Rice & Beans), 36min. * We discuss the most important cultural dishes in Belize.* We ask “Beans And Rice” or “Rice And Beans”?* Rock Lobster! * We discover the unhealthiest, yet tastiest breakfast food in the world.* Plus, The Royal Rat. Is Belize’s famous rodent fit for a queen?

Belizean Ant Nest - David Attenborough Impression, 1min. Belize is a beautiful country. Watch where you step though! Blue Hole National Park - Belize

Visiting Harvest Caye, Belize, 16min. We enjoyed our short time in Belize! We arrived late due to a medical emergency that threw us off schedule, but it was worth the wait and the time it took to get off the Ship.

FRIED CHICKEN MUKBANG | FRIENDSHIP CHINESE RESTAURANT IN BELIZE, 14min.

Paco's Secret Beach Bar on Ambergris Caye, Belize, 6min. In today's video, we are heading out to Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye, Belize to a new bar call Paco's Secret Beach. Come along as I try some of their signature drinks and enjoy some good food. The Secret Beach area on the West Side of Ambergris Caye has exploded lately and become a main tourist and local destination.

Belize Slickrock 2019, 10min.

Belize Episode 3 - The Belize Zoo, 3min. Spring Break 2019 finds our extended family on an adventure to Belize! Join Kyra as she narrates a tour of the Belize Zoo. This zoo is a great way to introduce yourself to many of the native birds and animals you may see while in Belize.

Belize Sea Kayaking, 13min.

April 28, 2019

Photos of the First day of Corozal Sailing Club Reggatta Sail

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

Easter 2019 was all about the beach on Ambergris Caye
San Pedro Town saw a different vibe for Easter 2019, with a scale -back in the usual large beach events. Still, thousands of residents and visitors spread across the island to celebrate the festive occasion. The sunny weather coupled with cool nights throughout the Easter weekend provided the perfect environment for revellers to enjoy refreshing drinks, great food and partying on the beach. After Good Friday and the 24-hour alcohol prohibition as per the law, partygoers were seen at different establishments around the island. While many visited the Secret Beach Area, others stayed in downtown San Pedro. From the newly renovated beach area by the Boca del Rio Park to the beachfront area by Holiday Hotel, the holiday season was on.

Child ‘kidnapping’ case opens questions on child custody laws
Luis Manuel Llanos, who was accused of kidnapping his son Jaysen Manny Lanos, was detained on the island by San Pedro Police Department on Tuesday, April 23rd. According to unofficial reports, the child's mother, who lives in San Jose Succotz, Cayo District allowed the child to go with his father on Wednesday, April 17th, while Llanos was staying with family members in Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Cayo District. He was supposed to return the child home to his mother on Monday, April 22nd but did not comply. On, Tuesday, April 23rd the mother made a report to Benque Viejo Police Department asking for police intervention in locating the child.

Martin Dawson wins MMA title in Mexico
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) coach and fighter, Martin Dawson, returned to the island as a champion after emerging victorious in a Jiu-Jitsu super fight in Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. Dawson, who is the founder of Pit Fighters training school in San Pedro Town took part in the Furia de Titanes MMA tournament held on Saturday, April 20th. The event also included kick-boxing, boxing, grappling and martial arts. The event started shortly after 6:30PM and ended around midnight, with fights in different categories. The event was packed to capacity as many MMA fans convened around the cage to support their favorite fighters. There were fighters from different parts of Mexico, and Dawson was the only Belizean fighter.

Misc Belizean Sources

CHESTA's AGRIC. SAFETY MESSAGE
The following is a message from the Commissioner of Police, Chester C. Williams, to all road users who are traveling to the National Agriculture and Trade Show. "Good morning my friends, those of you who will be traveling to National Agricultural and Trade Show in Belmopan, I urge of you to kindly drive with due caution and consideration for other road users. The Police Department will maintain a high presence on the highways to control the traffic and ensure your safety. I ask that you be patient as our efforts may cause you a bit of delay and inconvenience in your journey.

Corozal Sailing Club Reggatta
The action continues Today. Come out and support.

THE NUKUX TAT AND SAN PABLO
Once all this land at San Pablo (Orange Walk) had many trees and animals . A Maya elder Andres Yama once told me "cuando era chamaco yo miraba los venados atras de mi terreno " . The elders made offerings before entering this bushes and ask for protection to the Nukux Tat(Tata Duende) . The Nukux Tat is a yuumbáalamo’ob a guardian of the Forest and animals . Also his role went to protect the village,yards and milpas from any harm . Growing up we were not afriad of him because we knew he was their to mantain a balance. Today most of the land surrounding San Pablo is being used to plant sugar cane and grow cattle . Except for some pieces of bushes and the savannah known as Xcalak. Most of our native rituals had been destroyed by the new religious cults .

Update on the three projects progressing in Downtown Belize City under the auspices of the Downtown Rejuvenation Project
Here is an updated on the three projects progressing in Downtown Belize City under the auspices of the Downtown Rejuvenation Project, Taiwan ICDF, Ministry of Tourism, and NICH. As you will notice, the installation of the foundation of our new House of Culture is well on its way. The Human Development Building on Albert Street is coming on nicely (second photo). Plastering of the outside has almost been completed. Lastly, our new restaurant and museum at the corner of Regents Street and Cocburn Lane is coming along nicely as well. When completed, it will be a good complement to the newly repaired Anglican Cathedral, the renovated Government House and new House of Culture.

The Reporter

Honduran fishing boats in Gladden Spit
The Reporter has confirmed that a night operation in the Gladden Spit marine reserve in Southern Belize on Friday resulted in the discovery of at least 15 Honduran fishing boats. Sources say that although the patrol team including Coast Guard personnel, Fisheries and Southern Environmental Association (SEA) rangers set chase, the vessels escaped.

Armed Robbery On Belmopan Ring-Road
A woman was robbed in Belmopan on Friday night while walking near the North Ring Road. The woman told Police that around 7:00pm she was approached by a man holding a gun. He demanded her phone and she handed it over, at which point he ran off.

Fuel Price Up Again!
In a span of three weeks, the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Finance has announced a third increase in the prices of fuel at the pumps. The increase, effective April 26th at midnight, means that the cost of regular gasoline went up by 27 cents, taking the cost from $10.60 per gallon to $10.87.

Belizean Student Drowns in Mexico
On Wednesday, April 24th. August Pine Ridge resident and student Willy Mendez, 19, drowned over the long Easter weekend during an outing with friends in the border community of La Union, Quintana Roo near the Rio Hondo River. Reports gathered from Mexican media is that Mendez was found motionless, lying face down in the water in the area of Cocodrilo Dorado Cenote just after 5:00 p.m., on Easter Sunday.

CHECK POINT HERE, THERE AND EVERY DAMN WHERE!
By: Major Lloyd Jones (Ret’d) - It appears that one of the primary strands of the Police’s crime fighting strategy is to establish check points all across Belize City. Although not a new strategy it seems to have taken on greater prominence under the leadership of the new Commissioner of Police. To be clear, check points are an important tool in the arsenal of any police department but an over reliance on this tool can be counterproductive.

Breaking Belize News

Three teens killed in tragic Orange Walk accident
Reports to our newsdesk indicate that a tragic traffic accident claimed the life of three teens from Ladyville tonight. The accident occurred around 8:00 p.m. According to reports, the vehicle they were traveling in ran off the San Antonio bridge while they were on their way to Botes. The teenagers were thrown out of the vehicle into the river.

Police: 19 shotgun cartridges found in abandonded property in San Pedro
Authorities in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye conducted searches on an abandoned property in the DFC area and found a plastic bag containing 19 twelve gauge shotgun cartridges.

Fire destroys home in Bella Vista, Toledo
Just after 12 this morning, authorities responded to the scene of a fire in Bella Vista Village, Toledo. Jose Requena,40, told police that his 13-year-old- daughter was cooking inside the house and left the cooking unattended.

Armed thief robs woman of her Samsung S-9 phone in Belmopan
Authorities are investigating a report of an armed robbery that occurred last night in Belmopan. Aleyda Caceres,40, reported that she was walking on North Ring Road when she was held up. The robber demanded her cellular phone.

Armed robbery in Ladyville; Robbers take $50 and 4 cell phones
Police are investigating a report of an armed robbery that occurred at Noa Noa Bar last night in Ladyville, Belize. Bartender Sandra Amaya reported that around 10:20 p.m., she was behind the bar counter when 3 men entered the establishment.

Bill Gates owns private island in Belize
An article published on ‘CNBC Make It’ reports that Microsoft co-founder and billionaire, Bill Gates, owns a private island in Belize The article, published yesterday, gave a breakdown of Gates’ fortune, which CNBC received from a global high net worth intelligence and data company, called Wealth-X. The company said that of the multi-million dollar properties Gates owns, he has a private island in Belize called Grand Bogue Caye, which is valued at about $25 million.

Electors who registered up to April 10 are qualified to vote in national referendum
The Elections and Boundaries Department issued a statement yesterday informing the public that the cut-off date for registration as electors for persons wishing to vote in May 8, 2019, Territorial Dispute Referendum was April 10, 2019.

The Belize Zoo celebrates World Tapir Day!
The tapirs, the largest mammals in the Central American region are celebrated annually on April 27. Today, wildlife lovers and tapir fans will gather at the Belize Zoo to salute the tapirs which are also known as “mountain cows”. The tapirs are also Belize’s national animal.

Commissioner of Police: Agric Fair to have high Police Presence
Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams issued a statement this morning to all Belizeans traveling to the National Agriculture and Trade Show (Agric Fair) today. Williams urged all motorists to drive with due caution and to have consideration for other road users.

Accused drug trafficker and burglar receives bail
Evander Bennett, a car dealer from Orange Walk Town, has received bail of 10 thousand dollars in respect of charges of drug trafficking after a week in remand. Bennett was charged for possession of 10.25 grams of regular cocaine and 5.4 grams of crack cocaine.

Blogs

Caramba's, a Unique Restaurant Experience
There are many nummy restaurants on Ambergris Caye, as well as many different types of cuisines. When looking for a unique, fun experience, Caramba’s does not disappoint. Caramba’s is located on Middle Street in downtown San Pedro, so you can’t miss it! The festive vibe and amazing array of fresh fish on ice, located right in front, will attract you as you approach. The fresh seafood is nestled in bins of ice with just a peek of each delicious fresh catch for you to choose from. During lobster season, you can pick your own big spiny Caribbean lobster, or if it is a lion fish you prefer, they are always in abundance. The sea bass look delicious, too. Or maybe you’re hankering for some fresh octopus ceviche! Either way, there is no other way to pick out your own fresh dinner, except if you go out and catch it yourself!

International Sources

Tara Balsinger studies in Belize
Tara Balsinger of Diamond was one of a dozen Youngstown State University students who spent eight days in Ambergris Caye, Belize, as part of a study abroad experience. Balsinger, a Biology Pre Veterinary major, took part in the trip through a new course called “Ecosystems Field Ecology,” led by Carl and G. Patricia Johnston. During the experience, Balsinger participated in boat trips to snorkel and explore various reef sites, including a night tour, and snorkeling with sharks and rays. Conducting “hands-on” research, including ocean kayaking, snorkeling, data collection and also a beach cleanup, was also part of the trip.

Experts predict continued rainfall deficits throughout Central America due to El Niño
The El Niño phenomenon will cause a rainfall deficit in Central America over the next three months, weather experts reported on Friday in San Salvador. According to the members of the Central American Climate Forum (FCAC), the lack of rainfall is a result of El Niño gaining strength due to the “coupling between the ocean and the atmosphere”. “Experts from all over the region agreed that, since February 2019, the El Niño phenomenon has fully developed and that there is a 75% probability that this condition will persist during May, June and July,” the FCAC said in a statement.

Videos

The BTB Love Belize Sea Challenge is coming up: May 22-27, 2019., 1min.

Snorkeling in Belize, 3min. 2019 Snorkeling at Mexico Rocks, Hol Chan, Rice Key, Laughing Bird Key, and various "shark alleys".

Important Questions You Should Ask BEFORE Moving To BELIZE, 9min. I am going to review some key questions you should ask me, BEFORE you move to Belize. Asking the right questions can save you time, money, and help you be efficient and effective in this beautiful country.

Mopan River Cayo District,Belize Central America., 3min.

Dolphins at Esmerelda, Ambergris Caye, Belize, 1min.

Tucker's Travel Belize, 6min.

Sigwermeling’s Trip To Belize, 13min.

National Agricultural & Trade Show 2019 | Belmopan, 3hr.

National Agricultural & Trade Show 2019, 1hr.

April 27, 2019

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

No more fishing licenses for Guatemalans with Belizean documents
Guatemalan fisherfolk with Belizean permanent residency will no longer be able to legally fish in Belizean waters after their licenses expire at the end of this year. This was announced on Wednesday, April 24th via the Department of Fisheries, who confirmed the decision to discontinue the renewal of these licenses in the aim of restricting abuse of the marine resources in southern Belize. This decision will affect approximately 38 fishermen that currently fish the southern waters of Belize, particularly around the Sarstoon River area. Dr. Omar Figueroa, Minister in the Fisheries Department, told the media that the decision comes after numerous reports of excessive and illegal fishing in the said area.

Police Report: 2.5 kilos of Cannabis Found
Around 9AM on Thursday, April 25th, San Pedro Police was made aware of a large square parcel by the cemetery on the beach side in downtown San Pedro. When police arrived at the scene, they opened and discovered suspected cannabis.

GOB to fight current injunction regarding the ICJ referendum at the Supreme Court
The Government of Belize (GOB) continues its legal battle with the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) regarding the holding of the national referendum on whether to settle the territorial dispute with Guatemala at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The referendum was to take place on April 10, 2019 but was halted after Chief Justice Benjamin granted the PUP an interim injunction questioning its process. GOB made its first attempts to discharge it during the first hearing on April 15th, but after hearing arguments from both sides, Chief Justice Benjamin adjourned the case till Monday, April 29th, when a decision will be taken on whether the injunction will be discharged.

NEBL heads into playoffs
The 2019 National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) playoffs start on Friday, April 26th, with a best-of-three, semi-final series. Despite a slow start, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks finished with a five-game winning streak, climbing to third place in the NEBL rankings, behind second-place Dangriga Dream Ballers and top team Verdes. In fourth place is Mirage/Smart Belize Hurricanes.

Island athlete Bryce Peterson to represent Belize at PRO FC Fighting Championship on April 27th
Island residents are invited to attend PRO FC- Belize Mix Martial Arts (MMA) League fighting championship event to be held at the Multi-Purpose Complex in Orange Walk Town on Saturday, April 27th. The MMA Fight is scheduled to begin at 6PM and will feature seven fights. Among the Belizean MMA athletes representing the country is San Pedro Town’s very own Bryce Peterson, who is going against Guatemala’s Randy Rivas. Peterson told The San Pedro Sun that he has been preparing arduously for this fight over the past months, training at gyms like The Train Station and Prevail Combat Club, as well as strict dieting. “I’m going stronger, healthier and with more experience into this fight..."

Hope Haven receives donation; continues work in the community
On, Friday, April 19th, Hope Haven Children’s Home received welcomed donations from island visitors from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Each child residing at the shelter was gifted with an Easter bag, which consisted of clothing, shoes and an age-appropriate toy as well as Easter candy. According to a representative from Hope Haven, on, Monday, April 8th Khanh Le contacted Hope Haven via email, explaining that she and her family would be in San Pedro during the Easter weekend and wanted to do something special for the children in the shelter. They explained that their 14 and 16-year-old children would be doing a food drive at their school and wanted to bring food items for the food bank program that currently operates at the center.

Ambergris Today

Illegal Fishing Is Costing Belize Millions
The impact of illegal incursions into Belizean territory and marine environment have featured prominently in the conversations related to the Guatemalan claim to Belize and the highly anticipated ICJ vote. Irrespective of the outcome of the vote on May 8th, Belizeans everywhere should be concerned about the pillaging of our fisheries resources by foreign fisher folk and poachers given these illegal activities represent millions of dollars in economic loss and irrevocable damage to our world renowned marine environment.

Activist Madison Edwards Featured In 2019 Telephone Directory
Belize Telemedia Limited, now rebranded as Digi, held an unveiling ceremony for this year's version of telephone directory in Belize City on Thursday, April 25, 2019. In collaboration with Yello Belize, the company chose to highlight the issue of being more environmentally friendly. Gracing the cover of the telephone directory is San Pedro’s very own Madison Pearl Edwards.

Misc Belizean Sources

Security Tour of the Stann Creek District
The Minister of National Security and his Senior officials of the Belize Police Department, the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard today concluded their tour of the Stann Creek District. The entourage visited the Police Formations in Placencia, Seine Bight, Maya Beach, Santa Cruz, Sittee River, Hopkins and Silk Grass. Yesterday the tour started out from St. Margaret's Police station on the Hummingbird Highway to Valley Community, Pomona, Gales Point Manatee. Belize Defence Force Dangriga, Dangriga Police Formation, and the Coast Guard base on Southern Long Caye.

Corozal Sailing Club Two Days Race
Each year in Corozal, the Corozal Sailing Club have their two days race. This year's event, they will be having their two day's race at Jammrock. It will commence Tomorrow Saturday at 11:30am. And, Sunday from 10:30am. They will be racing along the Corozal Bay. Come out and support this race. Picture from Last year's event.

Rotaract XXIV Bi-District Conference 2019 May 2-5
The BTB is a proud sponsor for the Rotaract XXIV Bi-District Conference 2019. Wishing you a successful event, Rotaract Club of Belize City!

Street and bridge maintenance in San Pedro
And the work goes on...

Cut-Off Date for Registration as Electors for Persons Wishing to Vote in the May 8, 2019 Territorial Dispute Referendum
The Elections and Boundaries Department hereby notifies the public that the cut-off date for registration as electors for persons wishing to vote in the May 8, 2019 Territorial Dispute Referendum was April 10, 2019. The cut-off date which is a Cycle for Registration is for the purpose of the Registering Officers conducting their ‘due diligence’ for all applications for registration received. In the case of the applications up to April 10, 2019, a Monthly Supplementary List was published on April 15, 2019, objections on the names on the list were entertained up to April 25th, thereafter the List will be revised on or before the end of April 2019. Upon the conclusion of the revision, all the qualified applicants will then be duly registered electors.

Increase in Pump Prices for Regular Gasoline and Kerosene
The Ministry of Finance announces that at midnight on April 26, 2019, the pump price for Regular Gasoline will increase by 27 cents from $10.60 to $10.87 per gallon, while the pump price for Kerosene will also increase by 16 cents from $7.65 to $7.81 per gallon.

Hon. Edmond Castro Congratulates Belize Cricket Selection for Competing Well in Seventh Central American Cricket Championship Tournament
Minister of Transport and NEMO and Area Representative Hon Edmond Castro has conveyed words of appreciation and congratulations to the Belize National Cricket Association and members of the Belize national cricket selection (most of whom are from Belize Rural North) that are currently competing and doing well in the 2019 Central American Cricket Championship Tournament being held from Thursday April 25 to Sunday April 28 in Naucalpan, Mexico. In the very first match of the tournament Thursday morning, Belize defeated Mexico, the host country. Mexico scored 108; Belize scored 112, winning by 4 wickets (with 45 balls remaining).

BLACKLEG AND RABIES VACCINATION FOR CATTLE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED – ADVISORY #3 BELIZE
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and Belize Livestock Producers Association, once again take this opportunity to advise livestock producers to vaccinate their animals against rabies if they have not been vaccinated in the last year and against Blackleg if they have not been vaccinated in the last six months. Farmers are advised that rabies can be transmitted to humans and to report suspect cases to BAHA. Rabies is a highly fatal disease that affects all mammals and can be prevented through vaccination of animals and post-exposure treatment to humans. Affected animals will usually show nervous signs and aggressive behavior. Most animals will show excessive salivation as swallowing becomes impossible. Avoid coming in contact with animals showing these symptoms and immediately call BAHA.

Ministry of National Security Clarifies April 25, 2019 Incident at the Sarstoon
he Ministry of National Security clarifies that contrary to reports by Mr. Wil Maheia with regard to his attempted visit to the Sarstoon on April 25th, the Belize Defence Force/Belize Coast Guard Forward Operating Base (Sarstoon FOB) was in fact completely aware of the events that occurred.

Noche Mexicana with Edwin Chapashow in San Pedro
Banana Beach Resort - Belize in collaboration with Reef Radio are proud to present Noche Mexicana with Edwin Chapashow (Comedia, imitacion y mucha diversion) on Saturday, May 4th, 2019 at El Divino Restaurant! Tickets on sale for BZ$25.00. Available at: Reef Radio, El Botanero & Banana Beach Resort, Show Starts at 9:00pm.

Earth Day Cleanup in Corozal Today
Earth Day Clean Up. Meeting in-front of LANO'S, College Road at 8:00 a.m. today April 27th, 2019.

Consejo Road Cleanup Sunday
A reminder about the trash pick up starting Sunday April 28th. Are you tired of seeing trash on the Consejo Road? Let’s be part of the solution and clean it up! If you can't do it, maybe you could provide a worker. Place: Consejo Road from Consejo to Corozal Dates: Any day from Sunday April 28th thru Saturday May 4. Time: 7-9 a.m. Wear: Hat, long sleeved shirt and pants to protect against poisonwood. Bring: Rake, trash bags, gloves, water, hat, colored ribbon

CARILEC Linesman Rodeo competition
BEL congratulates Leroy Matura, Paul McCalla, Tyrone Reynolds and Eddie Johnston for proudly representing Belize and placing 3rd in the 2019 CARILEC Linesman Rodeo competition among 19 Caribbean teams.

RefugiARTe Coming to Benque HoC
The RefugiARTe Exhibit will be launched at the Benque House of Culture on Thursday, May 9th. It's a well done exhibit, with many amazing pieces. It was at the SISE HoC in October. "Save the date for RefugiARTe Travelling exhibition as it will be on showcase May 9th until the end of May 2019. Make it a date and appreciate this travelling exhibition coming near you!"

Congratulations to Belize’s Farmers of the Year
Christian Eden Salazar, Jr., Ana Eloisa Morales, and Dan Lopez! We look forward to seeing you and all the people of Belize at our booth this weekend!

Channel 7

Fire At A Gas Station, Catastrophe Averted By Minor Miracle
Last night, we told you about that scare at the Shell One-Stop gas station in Belize City. A pickup truck spontaneously burst into flames a few feet from one of the fuel pumps. Had that pump combusted, it would have been catastrophic. Fortunately, quick thinking gas station's employees deployed a water hose and got the blaze under control. The Fire Department arrived shortly afterwards, and they took over, ensuring that the fire was put out completely. But for a while there - it was very scary - an open fire in a gas station. For a first hand account, we spoke this evening with the owner of the vehicle, 37 year-old Wenseslao Veliz.

Placencia Scare: Piper Seneca Gets Double Blowout When It Lands Downwind
More is known tonight about the Guatemalan plane we told you about last night. The Piper Seneca had a rough landing at the Placencia Airstrip around 4:00 pm. This video shows how rough it was as the plane lands at high speed, and then smoke is seen coming from both its wheels. 7News has learned that the pilot of the light twin engine plane attempted to land twice - but was having difficulty. The problem was that he was landing in the wrong direction. He landed in the same direction the wind was blowing - and doing so on the shortest runway in the country.

National Security Says It Had Will's Back
Last night we showed you border activist Will Maheia - talking about the Guatemalan gunboats blocking the channel where the Territorial Volunteers usually enter the Sarstoon river. He says that with no Belizean BDF or Coast Guard in sight, his Volunteers retreated to PG town. He concluded by saying that the Guatemalan military had effectively blocked the Sarstoon. Wil Maheia - Belize Territorial Volunteers: "So I could tell you right now that the mouth of the Sarstoon River is completely blocked for Belizeans. So Belizeans just can't enter into the mouth of the Sarstoon right now."

Sewell Brothers All Free - 12 Years After US Named Them in Drug Traffic Conspiracy
They've been put through the legal ringer for over a decade but, tonight, the Sewell brothers are all free - after the last of them was returned home yesterday. 7News has been reliably informed that after serving a 12 year prison sentence in the US, Duane Sewell was deported to Belize yesterday. In December of 2007, Sewell was sentenced to 17 years in the US state of Ohio for importing drugs into the United States. He and his brothers Mark and Gary were allegedly at the center of multimillion dollar ring that ferried cocaine from Belize through Mexico to cities across the United States, using couriers who carried the cocaine in oversized shoes.

April 10th Was The Cutoff Date
As you can probably tell by the PUP sponsored "NO TO THE ICJ ADS" on this newscast, all systems are go for the ICJ referendum on May 8th,. But if you're hoping to re-register for the big vote, it's too late now. The The Elections and Boundaries has announced that the cut-off date for registration was 10th April - which happened top be the date that the referendum should have been held.

No Bail For Rhavin, Yet
A 19 year old Crooked Tree fisherman didn't get his bail application heard in court today because a man's life hangs in the balance. 27 year old Elton Baiza is still the in the Intensive Care Unit and is on life support at the KHMH - after he was attacked and severely beaten, in Crooked Tree on April 7th. Rhavin Gillett was one of the two men accused of beating him up and the teenager was remanded for attempted murder last week Friday.

Monetizing Athletes
If you're a fan of fashion or the NBA, you'll definitely know about that iconic brand, Nike Air Jordans. Its namesake, Michael Jordan has been retired for over a decade, but his Jordan brand is still the gold standard in sporting attire.
And that lucrative name branding is what the Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) and the National Sports Council want the rising local stars from the different sporting disciplines to start thinking about. They say that Belize's professional athletes are missing out on potential commercial success to turn their fame into possible endorsement deals through image rights and copyrighting.

Open Data, An Idea Whose Time Has Come?
So, while BELIPO and the National Sports Council were contemplating Intellectual Property and Sports, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry was brainstorming with the private sector on how to harness open data to provide economic opportunities for Belizeans. Open Data is defined on the internet as the idea that some data should be freely available for everyone use and republish as they wish without restrictions from copyright, patents, and any other mechanisms of control. The Chamber, the Caribbean Open Institute, and the Trust for the Americas want to see Belizeans harness the principle and create economic opportunities for young entrepreneurs in a climate where employment is not easy to come by.

How Compol Pulled the Rug From Under Arzu
Tonight we have more from our interview with Commissioner of Police Chester Williams. As we have been reporting, Compol Williams and the President of the Belize Police Association Eldon Arzu are just not seeing eye to eye â€“ it's one issue to the next, from Arzu's failure to produce an audit, to Arzu's transfer to a new office, to Arzu allegedly not showing up to work at that new office, to Williams freezing his salary because of that and to the next issue of Williams sending an internal memo to all police formations instructing them not to entertain or tolerate Arzu in any meeting or business dealings. Well yesterday, Williams told us that he sent this memo after Arzu asked for permission to go on a countrywide tour on behalf of the association. Here is how Williams put it.

When Will Checkpoint Cops Get Proper Shelter?
And while the Compol has issues with the police association president - he still has to deal with complaints from the rank and file of the department - complaints which would normally be raised by the police association. Those have to do with the eight hour shifts for the city's Southside - which many officers are still unhappy with - and the conditions that officers in the field have to work under. These include the many checkpoints across the city where officers have to pitch under a vinyl tent. These tents are not durable enough to stand up to the elements over a long period of time - and some police officers are taking a pounding from rain and sun. Yesterday, we also asked Williams what's going to be done about these less than optimal working conditions.

Rider Wasani and The High-Speed Rub-Down
He finished an outstanding 12th in the cross country and was the 5th Belizean to cross the line on Holy Saturday - but, tonight, Wasani Castro is under scrutiny. That's after this video emerged which shows him hanging unto a pickup and jetting along the highway near Cotton Tree during the race. Maybe because he's a minister's son - it's caused quite a stir on Facebook, and even some cycling veterans say he should be sharply penalized if not disqualified. While that is a decision for the Cycling Federation to make, Castro took to Facebook to defend himself. He says he was only getting a "rub down"

Cricket Selection Starring In Mexico
Belize's National Cricket selection are currently holding the top spot in the Central American Cricket Championship Tournament being played this week in Naucalpan, Mexico. So far, Belize has defeated Mexico and lost narrowly to defending champions MCC of England. But the team rebounded earlier today with an impressive victory over Panama. So Belize now leads the tournament with 4 points from two victories. Tomorrow the team plays Costa Rica in this Seventh Edition of the Central American Championship. The tournament finishes on Sunday.

Pupa Curly, Call It A Comeback
He's been making reggae with a rap flavor since the late 80's, and 20 years later, Pupa Curly is still holding it down. Tonight he's released the video for his new single and is scheduled to play in a star studded concert tomorrow at mile 41. Curly told us he'll be playing both old and new school tunes:.. The concert starts at 7:00 tomorrow night and general admission is twenty dollars.

Expect Checkpoints Going To Agric
And that concert at Harmonyville is hoping to draw from the crowd that's traveling to the National Showgrounds for this year's National Agriculture and Trade Show. Police are determined to keep the peace after an especially peaceful easter. Yesterday at the press briefing, ASP Cowo said that you should be ready to face multiple checkpoints: ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City: "There will be the increase of checkpoints especially in the major highways that will be leading to the Showgrounds. There will be several VCP's set up at different locations to try and deter those drunken drivers, and also to stop the criminals, and getting to know who all is proceeding to Belmopan on that Day."

Fuel Prices Surge Again
But, if you're heading west for Agric'. you'd better buy gas tonight. That's because at midnight the price of Regular Gas will increase by 27 cents to $10.87 per gallon. Kerosene will also increase by 16 cents, while diesel and premium will remain stable. Government warns that due to fluctuations in supply, fuel prices are expected to trend up for the next few months.

NOG's Say Watch Those Illegal Fishers
And, finally tonight, the May 8th Referendum is less than 2 weeks away, and while you contemplate whether you will vote yes or no to taking the Guatemalan territorial claim to the ICJ, the NGO community says that you should be very concerned about the "pillaging" of Belize's fisheries resources from foreign fishermen. A lengthy press release from the Belize Network of NGO's says, quote, "Belizeans everywhere should be concerned about the pillaging of our fisheries resources by foreign fisherfolk and poachers given these illegal activities represent millions of dollars in economic loss and irrevocable damage to our world renowned marine environment."

Channel 5

Did Guatemalan Gunboats Block the Entrance of the Sarstoon River?
The Ministry of National Security has issued a release essentially rejecting a claim by the BTV’s Wil Maheia in respect of his attempted visit to the Sarstoon on Thursday. According [...]

P.U.P. says Guatemala Breaking International Law
So while that plays out, the People’s United Party has reacted to the ministry’s release on the incident at the Sarstoon. Party chairman, Henry Charles Usher, told News Five that [...]

I.C.J. Referendum Legal Matters Still Pending
While the Government has set May eight as the new date for the I.C.J. referendum, there are several related cases pending before the courts. On Monday, the Chief Justice is [...]

P.U.P. is I.C.J. Referendum Ready
While we had the P.U.P. Chairman, he was asked about the party’s preparedness for the upcoming I.C.J. referendum. May eighth is twelve days away and it will be a battle [...]

Official Details on Vehicle Fire at Gas Station
A pickup truck was totally destroyed by fire on Thursday in Belize City. The incident happened at a gas station so it caused alarm because of the potential risks to [...]

Family of 12 Needs Help to Rebuild Home
Back in February, a fire in Belize City destroyed two structures that housed a family of twelve, including Virginia Garnett and her triplets. The family lost everything in the fire [...]

Regular Gas and Kerosene Prices Go Up
Going into the Easter holidays, last Wednesday, the pump price for premium gasoline increased by forty cents; it took the cost up to a whopping eleven dollars and thirty cents [...]

Race Commissaires to Discuss HSCCC Issues and Wasani Castro’s Case
A video posted on social media shows cyclist Wasani Castro being pulled by a pickup truck during this year’s Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic. The video has caused quite [...]

Cyclists Meet to Chart Way Forward
The Cycling Federation of Belize is facing mounting criticisms by several cyclists and aficionados of the sport. A meeting between cyclists and attorneys took place on Thursday night to discuss [...]

Developing the Sport of Cycling
According to cyclist, Tariq Cano, there is much work needed to be done in order to develop the sports of cycling in Belize. He says that local cyclists are not [...]

Bail Denied for Man Accused in Crooked Tree Beat Down
A Crooked Tree resident accused of administering a beating on a Belize City man was denied bail for the offense of attempted murder. Nineteen-year-old Ravin Gillett was unsuccessful in his [...]

Shemar Castillo is Granted Supreme Court Bail
In mid-March, four residents of Sunset Park were charged and arraigned for attempted burglary and aggravated assault at the home of a police officer as well as another resident of [...]

‘Reach for Gold: IP and Sports’
Last month, HBO Latin America Group signed off on five licensing agreements with cable operators to legally provide programming channels. It comes down to the issue of rights. Today, in [...]

Finding Answers on How the Private Sector Can Harness the Value of Open Data
Since 2018, the Organization of American States and the Trust for the Americas have been working with the Government of Belize and Civil Society on moving towards open government. It [...]

Baby Steps to Realizing an Open Government System in the Region
Today’s event is part of the extended schedule of activities under the Development of the Caribbean and Code Sprint Initiative, coordinated by the Caribbean Open Institute for 2019. The regional [...]

NWC Hosts Beijing 25+ Report Consultation
At the 1995 Beijing Conference, Belize and one hundred and eighty-eight UN member states adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as a global agenda to improve human rights [...]

WCS says Beijing 25+ Report Helps at the National and Global Level
Cynthia Williams says that the information gathered from the consultations will be used to generate a report for Belize. That report, she explains, will be shared with partner agencies and [...]

Blackleg and Rabies Vaccine Advisory
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority and Ministry of Agriculture is advising that if you haven’t vaccinated your livestock against blackleg in the last six months you must do so quickly. [...]

MMA Showdown in Shuga City!
A Mixed Martial Arts competition will be held on Saturday night in Orange Walk. The event will feature twelve bouts with fighters from Belize, U.S.A. and Mexico. For the first [...]

Amandala

GAF gunboat blocks entrance to Sarstoon
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has set Wednesday, May 8, as the new date for a referendum in which Belizeans will indicate at the polls, with a yes or no answer, whether they support taking the Guatemalan claim to Belizean territory to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for adjudication, but in the area of the Sarstoon River, the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) have been quietly stepping up their aggression with continued assaults on the territorial integrity of Belize. Just last week, the GAF blocked a Belize Coast Guard boat and a civilian boat with Belizeans from the diaspora who were visiting the Sarstoon. The Ministry of National Security had said that the government would send “a strong diplomatic protest” regarding the incident.

All roads lead to NATS
This weekend, April 26, 27, and 28, Belizeans, in the thousands, from every corner, will be converging on a sacred plot of land in the heart of the country to celebrate the farmers and tradespersons (agro-processors, manufacturers) at the annual National Agriculture and Trade Show. There will be other activities going on in other parts of the country, especially in sports as the football and basketball playoffs begin, but this weekend belongs to the heroes and heroines who provide us with food security and earn valuable foreign exchange so that we can purchase the goods we don’t produce at home. These are not the best of times for many of our farmers, so it is important for visitors to the show to stop by their booths to hear about what they’re doing and show appreciation for the great effort they make every year for our country.

Barrow sets May 8 as ICJ referendum day
As the Easter holiday approached and Belizeans were focused on preparations for their Easter vacation, the Government of Belize announced, via a brief press release today, that the referendum regarding whether Guatemala’s claim to Belizean territory should be taken to the ICJ (International Court of Justice), will be held on Wednesday, May 8. The government announcement comes roughly three days after the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Act was passed through the Senate on Monday and was sent to the Governor General for his signature.

UB Hosts Its 9th Annual Research Conference
An assembly of scholars and educators convened at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City this Thursday to share newly acquired findings about various sectors of Belize. The research symposium, which was spearheaded by UB’s Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, was designed to inspire academic minds to collect and analyze data concerning factors that impact our local enterprises and entrepreneurs. As the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences issued a warm welcome to all invited guests, he shared his convictions about the importance of scientific research and the benefits it can bring to our country: “Our Belizean society continues to face serious challenges in terms of governance, finance, education, health, economics, and crime – and research provides a vehicle through which we can seek out lasting home-grown solutions to these problems,” he said.

Cost of Living Increases in 2019
The Statistical Institute of Belize released their Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for the month of March, 2019, and in that report were listed notable differences in the prices of some consumer goods in comparison to March of 2018. The CPI categorizes consumer products into four groups, three of which have undergone inflation in the past year. The average price of goods in the “Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages” category has increased by 0.3%; items in the “Transport” category have undergone a price increase of 0.4%, and the average price of “All Other Goods and Services” – such as motor vehicle insurance, health insurance, secondary school fees, and entrance fees to sporting events, etc. has underwent the largest increase at 0.7%.

Henry Young and CB Hyde call for political reform
Former tourism minister, Henry Young, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Charles Bartlett Hyde, who teamed up with other concerned citizens to petition the government to ease the pressure on persons who smoke recreational marijuana — a fight “to ease up on locking down mostly poor people for possession of a couple sticks of a plant known as marijuana”, as one of the sages put it — are now offering a couple proposals which they feel will “improve the ability of governments to govern and increase the faith citizens have in their governments.”

3 Guatemalans sweep Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic; did CFB give defending champion “unfair odds”?
In Belize, Cross Country is not just a sport; it is culture, history and sports all rolled up into one; and Belizeans are still recovering from the shock of an unprecedented sweep of all top 3 prizes by Guatemalan cyclists representing the Guatemalan National Team. There has been some controversy, and it is indeed a time for reflection and analysis of how we came to this, and the role of our Belizean-Americans in all facets of the growth and development of our nation. We have to try and “pick sense from nonsense.” And then decide what we really want to do with our Holy Saturday Cross Country, the historic 144-mile journey to San Ignacio and back to Belize City.

Verdes draws with Wagiya; Bandits beat San Pedro, clinches CONCACAF berth
Going into the final week of this PLB 2018-2019 Closing regular season, Verdes FC led defending champions Bandits Sport by a single point, 23-22. The Opening Season had ended with both teams tied at 33 points apiece; so the aggregate points score for the combined seasons stood at 56-55 points in favor of Verdes. The points leader between the two in the Closing Season would be the overall Opening & Closing Season points leader. The CONCACAF berth belongs to the PLB champion, from Opening and Closing Seasons, that accumulates the most combined regular season points. Bandits Sport is the Opening Season champion; the 2018-2019 Closing Season champion is yet to be determined in the upcoming playoffs.

Belmopan City Council Kids, Youth & Female Cup; and BFA 2nd Division Tournament 2019
The Belmopan Football Association (BFA) 2nd Division Tournament 2019 continued on Friday, April 5, with 3 games played at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium.

Dangriga Mayor’s Cup Week 10 results
The Stann Creek Football Association (SCFA) administered Dangriga Mayor’s Cup Tournament 2019 continued on Thursday night, April 18, with Week 10 games at the Carl Ramos Stadium. In the opener, Hopkins Ibayani shut out Iderei (DYS), 3-0, with a goal each from Akeem Meyers (9’), Eworth Flowers (53’) and Giovanny Cacho (78’). And in the nightcap, it was Young Generals (YG) with the 1-0 win over New Site Tire Depot, courtesy of a goal by Frederick Flores (21’).

Editorial: ComPol and police doing excellent work
There were a number of incidents that could have ended up as murder cases over the Easter weekend. In St. Margaret’s Village, someone waited in the dark and fired a shotgun blast at a man who was holding a child in his arms. In Bradley’s Bank, a retiree was held up by a man wielding a machete. In Belize City, a man was stabbed when he had a misunderstanding with another man. There were other violent incidents. Fortunately, none ended in loss of human life. The Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, said that he cannot recall an Easter weekend when there were no murders in Belize. It is no fluke that the first murder-less Easter weekend in a long, long time, occurred under the watchful eyes of the new hierarchy at the Police Department. They have been putting in the work, and we are making halting steps in the right direction.

Education for a better Belize – no baby is born bad
Editor Amandala, Sir, During the early nineteenth century, the endowment from the Mico Trust—originally established in 1670 to redeem Christian slaves in the Barbary States of North Africa— opened a series of schools for blacks and free non-white pupils throughout the Caribbean and three teacher training colleges, Mico in Antigua and Jamaica, and Codrington in Barbados. After 1870 there was change in public education throughout the Caribbean. This coincided with the establishment of free compulsory public elementary education in Britain and in individual states of the United States.

Lawrence Vernon discusses UBAD history
After being born as the United Black Culture Association at a lecture on Black History given by Evan Hyde at the Bliss Institute in September 1968, the United Black Association for Development (U.B.A.D.) on February 9, 1969 adopted a constitution and elected officers. Its aims were described as “cultural” and “educational”; and several public meetings were held in Belize City and the towns in an effort to gain support. Along with UBAD there sprang up a similar organization called the People’s Action Committee (PAC), whose main aim and objective was “the changing of a corrupt and oppressive system to a system which ensured freedom, justice and equality for all.” While UBAD emphasized the cultural aspect of the struggle, PAC emphasized the political.

When principles fail … people fail
I have been observing more than I have been participating in the discussions, debates, fights, attacks, monologues, discourses, media rantings and outright profanities regarding the ICJ referendum vote. I have been reluctant at times to even participate, and instead I just read or listen, but now and then I have been so taken aback by the lack of “principles” by some I thought of as principled that I chip in my two cents and when I do I come hard.

I would vote NO, but…
I would vote NO because this Guatemalan claim is preposterous, and we should have followed UBAD when they put in their 1974 manifesto that we should arm the Belizean people because when we became independent we would have to fight the bully to defend our turf, because a bully is what a bully is, someone who only respects a smack in the nose. But we voted for the PUP. I would vote NO because Philip Goldson said that we shouldn’t become independent until the British settled the Guatemalan claim, that they (the British) reneged on a business deal for the increase of business between their two countries.

Survive United or Perish Separated
eflect and know who we are, what country we live in (a “colony or an independent nation”) and the country we want to continue to live in. We are no longer a colony. We are an independent people; and “we” must shape our future to continue surviving. We will survive only when we defend and protect ourselves “together”. Guatemala knows that. United States, United Kingdom and European Union know that. They also know our weaknesses. That is why they try to get us to the ICJ. US, UK and EU know they’d get what they want. So does Guatemala. Both at Belize’s expense.

Ministry of Health slow in response to Southern Regional Hospital non-working morgue
The morgue at the Southern Regional Hospital has not been in working condition for several weeks and the Ministry of Health apparently did not treat the matter with any urgency until the reality was graphically brought to the country’s attention over the Easter holidays, when a dead body had to be returned to a relative, because the hospital was unable to provide storage. In a press release yesterday, the People’s United Party (PUP) cited the

Guatemalan presidential candidate arrested in Miami for drug-trafficking plot
Mario Estrada, a Guatemalan presidential candidate of the center right National Charge Union, was nabbed by US authorities in Miami, Florida and charged in connection with a massive plot to import cocaine into the United States through the Sinaloa, Mexican drug cartel. The US indictment is also alleging that Estrada had plans to assassinate his political rivals. Estrada was arrested last Wednesday, April 17, along with another man, Pablo Gonzalez, a mere two months before Guatemalans are scheduled to vote in presidential elections.

Over 12,000 persons denied entry into Mexico
About 12,000 persons, including Belizeans, who went to spend the Easter holiday in Chetumal and other destinations in Mexico, were denied entry into that country because they did not have a passport or the Mexican border permit issued by that country. The travelers arrived at the border in groups that were on excursions, and in buses, private vehicles, and by other means of transport, and they were refused entry. In March, before the Easter holiday, an announcement was made on Mexican social media that Belizeans wishing to visit Chetumal for the Easter could enter the country without a passport. The announcement said that visitors would be given a pass, and that the arrangement was being made only for the Easter.

Human trafficker who used Belize and other countries sentenced to 5 years in US court
A US Department of Justice (DOJ) press release on Tuesday, April 23, provided details of an Indian national who was sentenced to 5 years in prison for his role in a massive transnational human smuggling ring which was responsible for trafficking about 400 persons into the United States, one of whom died attempting to enter the US. Yadvinder Singh Sandhu, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and 15 counts of smuggling aliens to the United States for profit before U.S. Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll of the District of Puerto Rico. He was on three years of supervised release, before he was sentenced, the DOJ said.

The Reporter

Potential Explosion And Fire Disaster Averted
A major public catastrophe was averted on Thursday evening when fire personnel responded quickly to contain a vehicle fire at Shell One Stop in Belize City. Just after 5:15 p.m on April 25th, Guatemalan vendor Wenseslao Veliz, 37, went to the gas station located at the intersection of Cemetery Road and Central American Boulevard to refuel his vehicle.

Indian National Convicted Of Trafficking Through BELIZE
Indian national Yadvinder Singh Sandhu, 61, has been officially sentence to five years imprisonment after he was found guilty in a United States courtroom for using Belize, among other countries, as a human trafficking route. Media reports say that by his own admission Sandhu pleaded guilty to smuggling over 400 immigrants into the US over the period 2013-2015.

Oppps! Funny Stuff During The Recent Cross Country Race
The Reporter has confirmed with President of the Cycling Federation of Belize Orson Butler that they are aware of a video, gone viral, which shows Wasani Castro being pulled by his service vehicle during the recent Cross Country Cycling Classic.

Difficult Roads: The Orchid Bay Story
The Reporter broke the story of ongoing drama and rising tensions at Orchid Bay in the northern district of Corozal several weeks ago and has covered the issue extensively, airing both sides of the unfolding controversy and has done so in as an objective fashion as possible. Following all the publicity, some of the interested parties who have shared their stories with the Reporter have expressed concerns over reportedly increased pressure and scrutiny from the project’s developers.

Editorial – April 26th. 2019
One of the first things the ICJ will consider when it takes up the Belize-Guatemala dispute is Guatemala’s claim to uti possidetis as inheritors of land once owned by Spain. Guatemala has pinned all her hopes on this one principle of law. She has nothing else to depend on.

Breaking Belize News

Regular and kerosene gas prices hiked again
The Belize Bureau of Standards announced today that at midnight tonight, the pump price for […]

Cattle thief detained in Teakettle, Cayo
Authorities have detained a man who is suspected of stealing cows and butchering them inside […]

BAHA issues advisory for livestock Blackleg and Rabies vaccines
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of […]

Honduran National Missing in Belize
The family of Honduran national, Herald Palmer,30 is concerned about his whereabouts. Palmer’s mother, Rosalie […]

Police find 385 grams of marijuana in Belize City
This morning, police conducted an operation in a house on Freetown Road in Belize City […]

9 mm gun found in Belize City
Authorities this morning conducted searches on New Road, Belize City and found a black 9 […]

Vehicle completely destroyed by fire
Authorities were called to the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Cemetery Road and […]

Ministry of National Security confirms Guatemalan Armed Forces deployed vessel at Sarstoon
Today, the Ministry of National Security issued a statement clarifying reports by Wil Maheia regarding […]

Joel Nagel and Michael Cobb Reveal New Architectural Details About Marriott Hotel Coming Soon to Belize
By Marriott Hotel: In April 2018, ECI Development announced that it would be working together with Marriott Hotels […]

Belize Youth Challenge Program Instructors get training in the US
Instructors from Belize’s Youth Challenge Programme (YCP) have completed a two-week training course in the United States, which was sponsored by the Louisiana National Guard’s (LANG)Youth Challenge Program (YCP). […]

Corozal police find high powered rifle
Corozal police are in possession of a high powered weapon. It is a 7.62 caliber […]

Police still unsure why Corozal businessman attacked
Police say that they are still investigating the attack on businessman, Byron Chu. Last Thursday […]

Police: One drug bust led to another
Acting on intelligence, police found 18 parcels of weed which weighed 55.5 pounds. This significant […]

Arson in Maya Mopan, Toledo
Police suspect arson in yet another case of fire in Toledo. This time it occurred […]

Belize to participate in the 6th Yucatan Beach Soccer Cup
Today, 18 football players from various clubs across the country are in Mexico for the […]

Deep South Farm to be sold; will Marco Caruso grow hemp?
On Thursday evening, Breaking Belize News spoke with the President of Citizens Organized for Liberty […]

Police investigating shooting incident that injured a man and his 3-year-old son
Jose Navarette and his three-year-old son were shot days ago in St. Margaret, Cayo. They […]

Police find 2.5 kilos of marijuana in Ambergris Caye
San Pedro Police made a significant drug bust on the island around 9 o’clock yesterday […]

Police say fire in San Jose, Toledo is a case of arson
Just before 1 o’clock on Tuesday morning, there was a fire in San Jose, Toledo. […]

Belize City man busted with stolen boat engine
A boat engine thief of Belize City was charged with one count of theft on […]

LOVE FM

National Women’s Commission looks at women’s advancement
Belize is a signatory to the Beijing Platform for Action which was adopted by members of the United Nations at the Fourth World Conference on Women held in September 1995. Countries regularly review the progress of the goals set out in the declaration. In this regard, the National Women’s Commission is hosting a consultation to …

Ministry of National Security Clarifies the BTV’s latest Sarstoon visit
On Tuesday the Belize Territorial Volunteers attempted to take a boat along the Sarstoon River. The leader of the expedition Wil Maheia told the media that there were 3 military vessels from Guatemala in the area. Maheia says that the Guatemalan Armed Forces stopped him and he did not see any Belize Coast Guard or …

BDF Volunteers to get Professional Training
There is a group of twenty Belize Defense Force Volunteers who have been selected for advanced training in the United States of America. According to Brigadier General Steven Ortega, the volunteers will receive their training along with members of the Louisiana State National Guard. Brig. Gen. Steven Ortega – Commander of the B.D.F.: “We have …

Belize Network of NGOs say more must be done to monitor southern waters from illegal fishing
While the Guatemalan Armed Forces are consistent with their intimidation tactics at the Sarstoon when it relates to access for Belizeans, the Guatemalan fishers are persistent in engaging in illegal fishing in Belize’s waters in the south. Their incursions at sea and inland have costed Belize millions of dollars in resources and the Belize Network …

Minister of National Security ends tour of Stann Creek District
The Minister of National Security John Saldivar continues on a national tour of security forces. On Thursday, the Minister and Senior officials of the Belize Police Department, the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard concluded their tour of the Stann Creek District. Their tour of that district included visits to the Police Formations …

Reach for Gold: IP and Sports
The theme for Intellectual Property day is Sports and IP. That is why the “Reach for Gold: IP and Sports” workshop was organized by The Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO) and the National Sports Council of Belize for the sporting industry and athletic organizations. The conference which seeks to aid sporting clubs and athletes had …

Family seeking public’s assistance in rebuilding their home
A family is homeless after a fire destroyed their home in the Gungulung area of Belize City on February 18. The family has already started the process of rebuilding their home with the assistance of Hands of Mercy and the community. However, the family is in need of more material to complete the house and …

Will cyclists be disqualified post Cross Country?
The annual Cross Country Cycling Classic was held on Saturday, April 13. Three Guatemalan Nationals won the top prizes. Belizean American Justin Williams indicated that he would not participate in 2020 due to issues with the sport including not being granted permission to bring a team to help fight for the Garland. We asked the …

Love Entertainment will host live music for a family fun weekend at the NATS 2019
The official opening of the National Agriculture and Trade Show 2019 was done today on the showgrounds in Belmopan. The events will be aired live on Love Television. Additionally, Love Entertainment and Sports will also be hosting a series of live music and entertainment on the main stage at the NATS on Saturday and Sunday. …

Evander Bennett granted bail
32-year-old, Evander Bennett, a car dealer of Orange Walk Town, is out on a ten thousand dollars Supreme Court bail after being charged with two counts of drug trafficking. Bennett was released on Supreme Court bail today after a successful bail application hearing before Justice Colin Williams. Bennett was represented by attorney, Oswald Twist. Williams …

Shemar Castillo granted bail
20-year-old, Shemar Castillo, who appeared in court on crutches, was granted bail in the sum of seven thousand dollars plus two sureties of three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars after being charged with attempted burglary at the home of a police officer...

Rhavin Gillett denied bail
The bail application submitted on behalf of 19-year-old, Rhavin Gillett of Crooked Tree Village was denied when he appeared today before Justice Colin Williams based on the fact that the victim, Elton Baizar, is in a critical condition and if he should die...

Blogs

Don Omario – A Traveller’s Liquors Success decades in the making
Imagine having endless ideas in your mind, then attempting to bring them to fruition, failing time and again, with a few successes sprinkled in between. Don Omario Perdomo, founder of Traveller’s Liquors, is famed for his backyard successes, his hundreds of attempts and experiments that eventually led to what is now known as a top Belizean rum distillery. We all know of the One Barrel and Five Barrel, the Kuknat Rum that goes in our famed Panti Rippas, the Belizean Rums perfect for mixers, and even wines, brandies and gin. One standout spirit is the Don Omario, and its story is one for the books indeed!

Last Week of April, My Ambergris Caye Report
For island life – it seems like I’ve been doing a whole lot of running around this week. Running errands and provisioning for off-the-grid Cayo Frances Farm & Fly does take up a bunch of time. Taking the 1.5 hour water taxi trip back and forth to Belize City for a day of more errands and meetings takes up some time. But it’s really a big project that I’m working on that has me all busy. Easter is over and the weather is warm and sunny and…warm. You can almost see the steam as the sun set last night.

101 questions about travelling to and in Belize
Before we left, I had dozens of questions about Belize. What to pack, where to go and how expensive the country is. I have written down all these questions and in this blog, I will answer them all! The most important question for when you are considering to make a trip to Belize is if Belize is worth a visit? I thought Belize was more than worth visiting! I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on the beautiful islands (Cayes), the underwater life and the relaxed atmosphere. Belize itself is very small, I can, therefore, recommend that you combine it with another country. We combined Belize with Guatemala and had the ultimate vacation: the Latin feeling in Guatemala, the Caribbean feeling in Belize!

International Sources

Narcotics and the Human Trafficking Problem in Belize
Central America has long been recognized as a common transit zone for both human trafficking and narcotics trafficking. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Threat Assessment Report, Central America and Mexico form the main corridor for South American drugs heading to the U.S. market. The majority of cocaine and heroin produced and exported from Colombia is transported through Central America and Mexico. While this presents challenges for all of Central America, the small nation of Belize has also been affected by recent narcotics and human trafficking trends. Belize is the only English-speaking nation in Central America and is in a vulnerable geographical location for both narcotics trafficking and human trafficking. Belize is a beautiful country and is making strides to counter the narcotics and human trafficking programs that plague the Central American region.

Duo of organic craft rums from Belize land in the UK
Two organic single estate craft rums produced in the Belizean rainforest have launched in the UK under a new brand called Copalli. Both spirits, which are sustainably produced at the ‘zero-impact’ Copal Tree Distillery in Belize, which is situated in the heart of 20,000 acres of tropical rainforest, combine three ingredients: rainforest canopy water, yeast and non-GMO heirloom sugar cane. The first expression is a 42% ABV white rum, with notes of vanilla, coffee, grass, fresh berries and citrus. It is created using a combination of pot and column distillation. The finished liquid is then rested on stainless steel.

Fishery on the brink: The fight to save the Nassau grouper
In 1975, famed explorer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau traveled aboard his boat, the Calypso, in hopes of documenting one of nature’s most impressive underwater gatherings: the spawning of the Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), a large predatory fish rumored to aggregate in the tens of thousands. But an aerial shot from the documentary series “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” also reveals fishing boats moored by the dozens in the impossibly blue waters of Belize’s Caye Glory Atoll; they, too, were there for the fish. “Now, with the introduction of the outboard motor,” Cousteau says in the voiceover, “we wonder how many more years the grouper can support these fishermen.” Cousteau’s words have proved prophetic; according to a recent IUCN report, the Nassau grouper is now classified as critically endangered.

US Drug Probe Lands Guatemala President in Hot Water
Controversy is swirling in Guatemala after evidence emerged showing that President Jimmy Morales used a helicopter owned by a presidential candidate recently arrested in the United States on drug charges — a case that has turned up the heat significantly on the Central American nation’s head of state. President Morales, who will be replaced after elections this year, reportedly used a helicopter owned by candidate Mario Amilcar Estrada Orellana for official business in January 2018 and possibly on at least one other occasion, Prensa Libre reported. Morales claimed in an April 23 press release that the helicopter was contracted by his government with a company called Maya World Tours, which brokers helicopter flights.

Videos

Ana Morales is the Female Farmer of the Year, 4.5min. To meet the female farmer of the year, we went to Selena village, a small farming community located to the back of Spanish Lookout. There we met fifty-year-old mom and grand-mother Ana Eloisa Morales. She, with the support of her family, has cultivated fifteen acres of land. The remaining ten acres of her property remain untouched and a small portion is used to raise livestock. Reporter Andrea Polanco visited the farmer of the year on Wednesday to find out more about her farm. The winner says that she wants to inspire others, especially women, to show that they too can become farmers.

The Elections and Boundaries Department informs the public of the voting process, 1.5min.

British Army protecting our Belizean Borders, 5min. Blast from the Past ...

Belize Snorkel, 2019, 2min.

Channel 5 Obituaries - FREDERICK MICHAEL GABOUREL, 1.5min.

Rendezvous Caye Snorkeling, 4.5min. Carnival cruise excursion to a tiny island off coast of Belize. Total of 4 hours including the travel time, includes a hot lunch of chicken and rice, etc. Beautiful island, decent snorkeling, perfect weather!

Caye Caulker Belize With The Kids, 9min. While on a family vacation to Belize, we spent a couple of days on the beautiful Caye Caulker.

Eindrücke von Tabacco Caye - einer kleinen Insel vor Belize, 23min. Tabak Caye ist eine kleine Insel in Belize, etwa 10 Meilen östlich von Dangriga. Es ist ungefähr drei Hektar groß und hat die Form eines Eies mit einer Nord-Süd-Ausdehnung von etwa 240 m und einer Ost-West-Ausdehnung von 125 Metern.

"Look at this place...!" South Water Caye Belize Catamaran Sailing, 24min. With KC and Lisa, after waiting out a day of bad weather in Sapodilla Lagoon we navigate Saltair3 through the turquoise blue but shallow and complicated waters out to paradise. About 30 miles from Placencia, out near the barrier reef is a gorgeous but small Caye known as South Water Caye. White sand beach, crystal clear waters that let you see straight to the coral sea floor and an area full of amazing sea life.

Sleepy Jaguar Yawns in Belize, 20sec.

Fly Fishing in Belize, 5min.

Belize snorkeling, 2.5min. Snorkeling near Long Caye on Glover's Atoll in Belize.

NEBL 2019 Playoffs | Verdes vs Hurricanes | Live at the SHC Auditorium, San Ignacio, 2.5hr.

April 26, 2019

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

ACES organize Earth Day lagoon clean-up
To commemorate Earth Day, American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) organized a lagoon clean-up activity in San Pedro Town on Monday, April 22nd. The clean-up started around 9AM outside the San Pedrito canal on the mangroves side, opposite from Captain Iguanas. Garbage collected included a lot of glass and plastic bottles, old sofa’s, a rusted fridge, plastic bags, hangers, shoes, lots of household garbage. Chris Summers of ACES told The San Pedro Sun they decided to focus their attention on the underappreciated part of the island, the mangroves on the lagoon side. “With climate change threatening ecosystems worldwide, it is now more important than ever to preserve these trees that play so many critical roles in maintaining the health of the lagoon and ecosystem. We didn’t make it far as we were hoping, only about 50 feet, because there was so much garbage stuck inside the mangroves,” he said.

Despite a 2-4 loss to Belmopan Bandits, San Pedro Pirates F.C advance to semifinals as #1 seed
For the last match in the regular series of the Premiere League of Belize (PLB) 2019 Closing Season, the San Pedro Pirates traveled to Belmopan City, Cayo District to go up against Belmopan Bandits on Thursday, April 18th. Despite the 2-4 loss against Belmopan Bandits, the island team is headed to the PLB Semifinals as the #1 team with 26 points overall.

Island Children enjoy annual Lions Pancake Brunch with the Easter Bunny
Island children enjoyed the San Pedro Lions Club’s (SPLC) 8th Annual Pancake Brunch with the Easter Bunny, held at the Lions Den on Saturday, April 20th. The fundraiser saw parents bringing their children to enjoy a morning full of activities and delicious pancakes. At 8AM, families began arriving at the Lions Den to enjoy delicious pancakes for breakfast served with sausage links and a cup of orange juice. Attendees got to top their pancakes with some of the many offerings on the toppings table including syrup, jam, sliced bananas, oranges, shredded cheese, marshmallows and even chocolate syrup.

Marcos Huitz wins The San Pedro Sun 2019 Easter Egg Hunt
The fun annual Easter egg hunt in The San Pedro Sun sure had people searching for eggs throughout the April 18th publication. Hoping to win the coveted Rapidito Loans gift certificate, Marcos Huitz set about looking for all 13 eggs hidden throughout the stories in the paper and quickly called it in to the office. He was the lucky winner, as other callers seemed to have a hard time this year locating all the eggs! Huitz’ eagle eyes won him a $100 gift certificate from Rapidito Loans.

Roman Catholics celebrate Easter week on Ambergris Caye
The Roman Catholic community honored Easter on the island with special observances that ranged from creating sawdust tapestries to religious processions. The occasion is a remarkable event that celebrates the last week of Lent, and it is a time when Christians pay tribute to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The religious activities began on Thursday, April 18th with a 7PM Mass, followed by a Eucharistic Procession and Silent Adoration session until midnight. The following day, Good Friday, Guillermo ‘Mito’ Paz from the San Pedro House of Culture (SPHC) along with volunteers created a colorful sawdust carpet in front of the Catholic Church. This is the third year that the SPHC has organized this creative venture which attracts the attention of residents and visitors alike.

Ambergris Today

2.5 Kilos Of Cannabis Found At San Pedro Cemetery
On Thursday, April 25, 2019, San Pedro Police responded to a call about a suspicious parcel in the old San Pedro Cemetery. San Pedro Police visited the area shortly after 9 am where they found a rectangular parcel with suspected cannabis. The package was taken to the police stationed and weight 2.5 Kilos. No one was in the area at the time, hence no one was arrested.

Misc Belizean Sources

Avian Health in the Placencia Lagoon
Published paper about the avian health investigation CRC conducted with 2 avian experts in regards to the epidemic mortalities of birds around the Placencia Lagoon. CRC begins observing epidemic mortality of wadding birds, ibis, and pelicans every 3-4 months around the Placencia Lagoon during our biodiversity and crocodile population surveys, in addition to capturing birds that were lifeless and sending them off to rehabilitation at the Belize Bird Rescue (BBR).

Great pink Flamingo, Fowler’s flat, north of Ladyville
Let's stay orderly. I don't want to cause a mass exodus of Ambergris Caye but...but...A FLAMINGO has been spotted on the mainland! Sure they winter north of us...but I don't think any know of a flamingo in Belize!!!!

Cuba Medical Scholarships
It’s that time of the year! Visit www.moe.gov.bz for full application package.

The Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare condemns the ComPol’s actions taken against the Belize Police Welfare Association Chairman Eldon Arzu
The CFPWA writes, “We consider the actions of the Commissioner of Police to be a personal attack on Corporal Eldon Arzu and we are calling on the Government to respond to this situation which is an abuse of power and an attack on a Police Officer who has committed himself to serve his country. It requires the intervention of organizations such as the CFPWA who cannot allow such an atrocity to pass unnoticed. The CFPWA without reservation condemns the actions of the Police Commissioner and calls also on the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) to have this matter promptly addressed at their next Annual General Meeting with a view to ensuring Commissioners of Police practices professionalism and good governance in their leadership roles.”

The Alan Baker British Honduras / Belize Stamp Collection
In ten days we will showcase a complete British Honduras stamp collection beginning in 1865 through to 1972. We wish to thank Mr. Alan Baker for sharing this amazing collection with our community. Also on display will be Penny Black stamps, First Day covers and postcards dating back to 1892. We invite you to visit the House of Culture May 3rd and view the collection.

Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Program
Calling on mid-career professionals working at the policy level and have a record of leadership and a commitment to public service! The Hubert H Humphrey Fellowship Program is now open! Submit your online application at http://bit.ly/2W7tde8 before the deadline at midnight on August 30, 2019. Interested candidates visit our website for more information: http://bit.ly/2IV8whT or email [email protected]

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
What Men Want, Prodigy, Miss Bala, Happy Death Day 2U. 'BELIZE REVIVAL' Live performance from Bz City 7pm (see poster on page or below for details) *Game of Thrones Series Finale Ep. 3 of 6 Sunday 7 and 9

INNO’ON – LA OH Epigraphy Workshop 2019
We are privileged to host the hieroglyphic training/workshop with the assistance from (MAM) Maya for Ancient Maya. Level 1 of the Epigraphy Workshop was completed today. Certificates were issued today for the completion of Day 1 (level 1). Day 1 (Level 1) – Thursday, April 25, 2019 I. Introduction to Maya Hieroglyph Writing II. Application of Hieroglyph to English and Maya language. III. Writing Using Hieroglyphs

Hol Chan Contributes to Kids in Action
We are very grateful for the continued support from our community partner and are always pleased to hear that Hol Chan Marine Reserve Management is once again participating in this year’s summer scuba diving program for the children. The Kids in Action is a program that we feel very proud of because it enables us to inspire a new generation of divers. Today we have several tour guides, sport fishers, dive masters and biologists that were part of our first course offerings. This validates the success of our efforts and encourages us to keep it going every year. Thank you for donation Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Channel 7

Caribbean Cop Federation Calls Compol A Dictator
Last night he was fighting with the president of the police association, but, tonight, police commissioner Chester Williams has a regional battle on his hands; the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations headquartered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is calling him out. The Federation sent out a press release this morning strongly criticizing Williams for the way he is handling Corporal Eldon Arzu, the duly elected president of the police association. The Federation's release says, quote, "our concern is in the presence of a leadership style which has made matters worse by imposing a dictatorial style leadership that is transactional and unable toembrace mediation as a method of resolving disputes.We consider the actions of the Commissioner of Police to be a personal attack on Corporal Eldon Arzu and we are calling on the Government to respond to this situation which is an abuse of power and an attack on a Police Officer".

Scary Situation At Shell Gas Station
A pickup burst into flames at Shell One-Stop gas station in Belize City this evening, but, luckily, no one was hurt. It happened shorty after 5pm today and caused quite a scar because of the combustible situation at a gas station. But, a quick response and an available water hose got it under control fairly quickly. A fire engine from the Queen Square station also responded. According to reports, the fire started under the hood. A woman and child were in the passenger seat when smoke started to come out of the hood. The driver was nearby and they all escaped. But the vehicle remained there - with flames shooting from under the hood, right next to the gas pump.

Plane Experiences Blowout on Landing
There was a scare at the Placencia airstrip this afternoon when a Piper Seneca airplane from Guatemala experienced a blowout when it was landing. The single engine aircraft landed at 4:00 pm when the the left tire had a puncture. But, there was no major incident; the aircraft did not run off the airstrip and the five passengers including the pilot were unharmed.

Sattiva Stashed in San Pedro Cemetery
San Pedro police are reporting tonight that they found 5 and a half pounds of marijuana stashed in the island cemetery. This morning, the cops received information that a parcel of weed was hidden somewhere in the old cemetery. They went there and found this beige package which contained 2 and a half kilos of marijuana. At the police press briefing this morning, the cops shared a few more details about the find: ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Belize City: "Sometime this morning, just after 9 a.m., San Pedro Police were called to the old cemetery in San Pedro, where information was received of a parcel to be in the cemetery.

Rejected On The River Again
Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial Volunteers went back on the Sarstoon River today. This time he took a contingent including Belizean Americans from the diaspora. And what did he find? Really big Guatemalan boats! Here's how he put it:... Wil Maheia - Leader, Belize Territorial Volunteers: "This mooring as we approached the river, there were 3 Guatemalan gun boats; one on the outskirts, the biggest gun boat and 2 smaller ones blocking the channel where you enter the river. So we decided to call off our trip. There was no BDF or Coast Guard in sight. We didn't want to go there just by ourselves."

Compol Chester Goes After Association President
So at the top of the news you heard what Commissioner of Police Chester Williams had to say in response to the Caribbean Federation of Police's release. Well, for background on how this entire situation started, Commissioner Williams says this has been a long standing issue going back to the days of former Commissioner Allen Whylie. Williams says Arzu has failed to present an audit of the finances of the Belize Police Association. Basically Williams says Arzu has not been acting in good faith as the president and has not been working in the best interest of the association nor its members. Here is what he had to say. Chester Williams- Police Commissioner: "This matter with Mr. Arzu did not start with me. It started from the previous commissioner Mr. Whylie. It just so happened that it played out more after I took over as commissioner in January of this year. Like he rightly said in whatever comments he may have made in the past or those who made comments in his behalf..."

Indian National Did Human Smuggling Through Belize, Among Others
61 year old Indian Yadvinder Singh Sandhu has been convicted and sentenced in the US for running a transnational human smuggling operation. And he was smuggling them right through Belize, among other countries. In a guilty plea before a US court, he admitted he personally assisted around 400 aliens to unlawfully enter the United States between 2013 and 2015 as part of the conspiracy. He also oversaw and directed co-conspirators operating out of the Caribbean. He said that he and those conspirators made flight arrangements for aliens to travel from India through other countries.

Protecting Children In Media Exchanges
Very regularly on this newscast we tell you about cases where minors are either the victims or the alleged perpetrators of different types of crime. If the minor is a victim of some heinous crime, such as sexual molestation, the press does not release information that could point to the identity of the child. Also, we don't name juvenile offenders unless and until they are criminally charged with an offense after the age of 18. But, UNICEF thinks that the press can do more to protect kids. So, today, they held a training session with the different government agencies that are responsible for children, and who may have to address the media.

More Arson In Toledo
Cops from Toledo have their hands full investigating more cases of arson. The report now is of 2 suspected cases of arson in village fires. The first one happened at around 12:45 a.m. yesterday in the village of San Jose. 44 year-old Margarita Pop, a business woman who owns the bar, Margarita's Cool Spot, closed up for the end of the workday at around 11:30 p.m. She headed to her house, which is located on the same property, and 1 hour and 15 minutes later, she woke up to her bar burning. It's a bungalow building with a thatched roof, and though she and her neighbors tried, they could not stop the fire from destroying it. The cops told us today that they did manage to save an adjoining building:

Burning in Maya Mopan
So, while the investigators try to identify who would have wanted to destroy the bar in San Jose Village, they have a bit more clarity about the fire which happened less than 10 hours later in the Maya Mopan Village. Homeowner Ophelia Coc told police that she locked her house, a wooden and thatch roofed building, and she left. Half hour later, her neighbors contacted her to tell her that her home was on fire. Police say that in this case, a suspect as been identified to them as the possible culprit in this suspected arson:

A New Look At The Old Directory
Even though phone books these days aren't relied upon that much thanks to the directory in your mobile phone and the internet, the annual launch of the BTL telephone directory is still a big deal for the telecommunications company, and the 2019 edition of the phone book is no different. BTL, now rebranded as Digi, held an unveiling ceremony for this year's version of telephone directory, and the issue they chose to highlight is to be more environmentally friendly.

How Did Cops Find Weed Buried In Bush?
Earlier in the news, we told you about that 5 and a half pounds of marijuana that the cops found this morning in San Pedro. That's discovery follows TUESDAY's big find in an area near mile 52 on the Hummingbird Highway. As we told you the cops found 20 plastic bags, which contained 56.5 pounds of marijuana, buried in the bush, off the highway. The cops shared more details about the case today:

Luke P Wins BNTU VP Again
Luke Palacio has been re-elected as first vice president of the Belize National Teachers Union. In a less than overwhelming mandate, Palacio for 123 votes while his opponent Otilio Munoz for 92 votes. In the end, the few attendees bought into Palacio's pitch of seasoned leadership for dark days ahead and elected him with 123 votes.

Belizean Youth Ballers To USA
Since 2012, we've been telling you about the King James basketball tournament, which has been renamed the Dru Joyce Classic. It's a tournament where young basketballers from all over world travel to Ohio in the US to compete in a tournament under NCAA rules. It's a big opportunity for those ballers to be scouted by college basketball teams looking for talented recruits to offer them athletic scholarships. Team Belize has had great success in the tournament so far, and today, the U-19 Team from the Light & Peace Basketball Foundation left the country to compete in this year's classic.

MM Coming To Sugar City
When you talk about MMA you immediately think of UFC - it is the largest MMA promotion company in the world. Fighters like Ronda Rousey, Amanda Nunez, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier come to mind. Well PRO FC in Belize want to try their hand in professional MMA fighting on a smaller scale of course. PRO FC is hosting a 12 fight MMA event in Orange Walk this Saturday. The president Israel Vasquez along with two experienced MMA fighters came to our studios to talk about this big fight night. Israel Vasquez, President and CEO, PRO FC: "PRO FC is doing Suga City fight night in Orange Walk. It is the first big MMA event in Orange Walk. We have a line up of 12 MMA fights headlined by a championship match between Kristian Usher of Belize and Jonathon Chitan from Guatemala, it is a 145 weight division so the Guatemalan's are coming in, we have 3 Guatemalans coming in, they are headlining the event."

Police Will Investigate Alfonso’s Sicario Selfie
WAVE Radio talk show host and editor of the Guardian newspaper Alfonso Noble raised a lot of eyebrows this weekend when he posed shirtless, beer in one hand, and what looks like a dangerous assault rifle in the other hand. He referred to himself - in jest - as a "Sicario" - the Spanish word for a hitman. It was a joke but the piece of hardware in his hand looked like a prohibited weapon. Thew press asked police about ti today - and the head of National Crimes Investigation said that looks can be deceiving:... Reporter: "Does the police department protocol aims that photos of individuals posting with high powered rifles who are Belizeans on social media. Does the department investigate those? Because in this case there is a media personality posted a picture of himself and an assault rifle on social media. Is that being investigated?"

‘Fonso Says It Was a BB gun Dressed Up Like A Machine Gun
So - the cops say they will be investigating Alfonso Noble for what looks like an assault rifle that he's cradling in his hand. But is it really? That's what we asked him today:... Noble says he can easily trace down the very fancy BB gun for police if they wish.

Cops Found Real Gun
And while that rifle is a plaything - the one that police found found in Corozal Town on Tuesday night is the real thing. It's a prohibited weapon, but this one was stashed in a bushy lot in the Dominguez Layout area of the Town. Police told us more: ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB: "On Tuesday also, sometime around 7:30 p.m., Corozal Police, acting upon information, visited an area in the Dominguez Layout, where upon visiting a bushy lot, they discovered a single action, 7.62 caliber rifle in some bushes. And at the time, it had one 7.62 round of ammunition in the chamber. The weapon was processed, and then removed. No one was in the area, and so, it was deposited as found property at this time whilst we do further investigation."

UB Builds Culture of Research
Then University of Belize today held its 9th Annual Research Symposium. All over the world, Universities are hubs of research about science, business and social trends. And UB's Faculty of Management and Social Science is trying to foster that same culture at its university.

COMPOL Froze Arzu’s Salary
And we go back now to our interview with Commissioner Chester Williams and the measures he's taken against the President of the Police Association, Corporal Eldon Arzu. He's frozen Arzu's salary. Williams says that he transferred Arzu to another office in charge of planning and research but according to Williams's information, Arzu has not shown up to take up his post at that new office. So Williams cut off Arzu's pay. Here is how Williams explained it.

The Trajectory of Jarrel's Demise
Belize American Heavyweight Boxer Jarrell Miller has gone from the cusp of the biggest boxing match of his career to being one of the most denounced athletes of the year - sadly putting him on par with the likes of Lance Armstrong and, yes, Marion Jones. The 30- year old boxer has tested positive for three banned substances in just a few weeks. And, after an initial denial, on Friday he took to Instagram to accept that he'd done wrong. That earned him no points from fight promoter Eddie Hearn, who had put Miller in the heavyweight title fight against Anthony Joshua, Hearn is one of the most powerful figures in boxing presently. Here's the apology and Hearn's reaction:

Channel 5

The GAF Blocks the Mouth of the Belize Side of the Sarstoon
Earlier this month, on April fifteenth, we reported that the Guatemalan Armed Forces attempted to block the Belize Coastguard from travelling on the Sarstoon. Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial [...]

A Vehicle Goes Up in Flames at a Gas Station
A fire was reported this evening at the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Central American Boulevard and Cemetery Road at the entrance of the George Price Highway. A [...]

Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Association blasts ComPol Chester Williams
The situation involving the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams and the President of the Belize Police Association, Corporal Eldon Arzu has attracted the attention of the Caribbean Federation of Police [...]

Former Worker is a Suspect in St Margaret’s Shooting
Earlier this week a three-year-old baby boy and his father were injured in a shooting. Jose Navarette and his junior were shot in front of their home in Saint Margaret’s [...]

5 Pounds of Weed Found in a Cemetery
Police found two and half kilos or about five and a half pounds of weed in San Pedro. Around nine this morning, they were called out to the cemetery on [...]

Michael Andrews is Remanded for Theft of Boat Engine
A well-known boat owner is the latest victim of the theft of an expensive boat engine that was luckily recovered by police. One of six persons believed to be involved [...]

Pink’s Alley Resident Arraigned for Theft of Cell Phone
From an engine thief to a cell phone robber. Pink’s Alley resident, twenty-eight-year-old Michael Usher was before the court today for the theft of a seven hundred-dollar cell phone stolen [...]

Luke Palacio is Re-elected as 1st Vice President of B.N.T.U.
The Belize National Teachers Union is winding up a two-day convention in Corozal Town. The event started on Wednesday and was wrapping up around six o’clock this evening. One of [...]

The Cycling Federation Versus Justin Williams
While the B.N.T.U. is tidying up its house, the Cycling Federation of Belize is being taken to task. Following the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, former two-time Cross Country [...]

Female Cross Country Champ: “I Told You So”
Just last year, the executive of the federation was returned after there was a challenge from a slate initially including cyclists Kaya Cattouse and Tariq Cano. Both Cano and Cattouse [...]

Cyclists Fed Up with Federation, Meet to Discuss Way Forward
Earlier you heard the 2019 Female Cross Country Champion, Kaya Cattouse react to the back and forth between Justin Williams and the Cycling Federation of Belize. As the situation continues [...]

Lack of Development is Hurting the Cycling Sport
Cattouse has for years clamoured for the need for investment to develop the sport in Belize and has embarked on her own to train high school students in cycling. At [...]

Is the Cycling Federation Responsible for Performance by Belizean Athletes?
So do the dismal results of the 2019 Cross Country Cycling Classic rest of the shoulders of the federation? Three Guatemalan nationals, namely: Julio Miranda, Alex Julaju and Jose Conastuj [...]

Fire Destroys Maragarita’s Cool Spot in San Jose, Toledo
Turning to crime…A bar in San Jose, Toledo burnt down earlier this week. Police say that Margarita’s Cool Spot was completely destroyed by fire around twelve-thirty on Tuesday morning. Today [...]

Home Burns Down in Maya Mopan; was it Arson?
A second fire was reported in the south this week. Sometime around ten-thirty on Wednesday morning, a woman in Maya Mopan Village found her house on fire. Police report that [...]

High Powered Rifle Found in Corozal
Up north in Corozal, a high powered weapon was found on Tuesday of this week. Police say that they conducted a search in the Dominguez Layout area and found the [...]

Not Much Known About the Attack of a Corozal Businessman
Police say that they are still investigating the brutal attack on Corozal businessman Byron Chiu, which happened at his home in Corozal last Thursday morning. The owner of Maya World [...]

Bags of Weed Found on the Outskirts of Belmopan
On Wednesday night, we told you about the large quantity of weed found in some bushes along the Hummingbird Highway. The eighteen parcels weighed in at fifty-six and a half [...]

Ana Morales is the Female Farmer of the Year
To meet the female farmer of the year, we went to Selena village, a small farming community located to the back of Spanish Lookout. There we met fifty-year-old mom and [...]

SBDC Teaches Small Businesses How to Market their Goods and Services
Today, the Small Business Development Center held a one-day workshop with small business-owners to talk about marketing their business. The focus of the session was how to put together a [...]

UB’s Research Conference Engages Minds, Empowers Success
A series of papers were presented and discussed today at the annual research conference of the University of Belize. The topics varied encompassing many facets of development of the country [...]

Young Basketball Athletes Attend the Dru Joyce Classic Akron 2019
For another consecutive year, the Light and Peace Basketball Foundation is taking to a group of young basketball athletes to compete in the Dru Joyce Classic Akron being held in [...]

UNICEF Hosts a Media Sensitization Workshop
Today, UNICEF held a workshop to sensitize its staff and partners of different government ministries and agencies on how to effectively engage with the media. A technical expert conducted the [...]

Breaking Belize News

Trio freed of murder charges in San Pedro
Two men and a minor accused of the 2018 murder of American Cliff Kirk in […]

Ras Indio on a mission to promote Belizean music
Renowned Belizean artist, David “Ras Indio” Obi, is advocating for Belizean music to receive more […]

Sarstoon blocked by Guatemalan gun boats
This morning, Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) along with a group of […]

“Commonwealth countries need to be accountable for malaria goals,” says Global Health Coalition
A gathering of global health organizations is calling on Commonwealth Countries to be accountable with […]

Are you ready for Agric 2019?
Thousands of Belizeans across the country are preparing to attend the National Agriculture and […]

In the Fullness of Time – the Referendum Cometh
By Delroy Cuthkelvin: Is it just me, or did the Easter holidays usher in a period of calm after all the legal and parliamentary pyrotechnics surrounding the imminent—should we say, inevitable—ICJ Referendum? […]

Caribbean Federation of Police calls out COMPOL for ‘personal attack’ on Corporal Arzu
The Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Associations (CFPWA) issued a release today calling out Belize’s […]

Easter or Spring Break?
By Lisa Shoman: I thought long and hard about writing this because the intent is to reflect, not to judge anyone with pointed finger and pursed lip. But it won’t be pretty. I’m admittedly of that now middle-aged generation for whom the Easter break was all about family fun, rest and repose […]

Inland temperatures soar to 98 degrees
The National Meteorological Service of Belize is reporting that seasonably hot and dry conditions will […]

Teachers gather in Corozal for 49th BNTU convention
Teachers from across the country are currently gathered in Corozal for the 49th annual convention of the Belize […]

Cycling Federation clarifies status of Justin and Corey Williams
Earlier this week, former Cross Country Cycling Classic champion Justin Williams posted on social media, […]

Inflation ticks up slightly; higher food and fuel prices to blame
Belizeans are paying slightly more for basic goods and services compared to last year through […]

King Sugar takes a break as exports fall sharply
Belize’s number one export is grinding into high gear for the end of the season […]

LOVE FM

High powered rifle found in Corozal
Police have recovered a high powered firearm and have launched a full investigation into its history. ACP Joseph Myvett says that the department does not issue licenses for the weapon, a 7.62 caliber rifle. He says it was found by Corozal Police on Tuesday night after seven o’clock. ACP Joseph Myvett – Head of National …

MMA Fight in Orange Walk
Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that takes the best of the boxing world, karate and wrestling into one super, energetic sport. It has been growing over the years since it was initially promoted by various schools that practice Shotokan. The Prevail MMA Club emerged from the House of Shotokan and now they have transformed …

U-19 Basketball players head to Dru Joyce Classic 2019 in Akron, Ohio
Young basketball players in the Light & Peace Basketball Foundation’s U19 Selection left the country this afternoon and headed to the US. The team will be taking part in the Dru Joyce Classic 2019 in Akron, Ohio. It is a premier US travel basketball tournament series for youth that has been held annually for over …

MED LAB WEEK CELEBRATED
Med Lab Week is celebrated internationally from April 22 to 26. Belize also observes the tradition and today the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) held its first free fair as part of Med Lab Week activities. Lovefm asked them about the services they offered on the business end of an injection. Jose Sanchez – Reporter: …

BTV not allowed to enter Sarstoon
The Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) is a group that predominantly promotes visits to the national border markers with Guatemala and Mexico. However, the volunteers encounter issues on a regular basis with one particular area of difficulty, the Sarstoon. One of the leaders of the BTV, Wil Maheia explained how they were blocked from the river …

UNICEF talks media and communications with partners
UNICEF is hold training sessions with several of its partners on the media. Susan Kasedde, Country Representative for UNICEF in Belize says that the sessions are part of an ongoing series of support offered by the organization to strengthen the effectiveness of its programs in Belize as it pertains to children and children’s rights. Susan …

Food prices go up
The cost of food went up in March and so did airfare and butane gas according to the Statistical Institute of Belize. In its most recent report, it states that regularly purchased goods and services are up by 0.3 percent in March when compared to the same month last year. The high prices offset a …

Luke Palacio relected as BNTU VP while Elena Smith remains Unchallenged
The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) held a two day convention in the Corozal District. Teachers from across the country attended the 2 day celebration of the union which also included talks on retirement, years of service, transfers and broken service. In addition to fun activities to promote the interaction between the various institutions in …

Blogs

International Sources

Referendum chaos in Belize
Belize is due to hold a referendum in 12 days’ time, on May 8. Maybe. The date was previously fixed for April 10, but was held over—with only one week to go and all preparations in place. Will it go ahead this time? We’ll see. The referendum question is serious—whether to go to the International Court of Justice of a ruling on Guatemala’s long-standing claim to all or most of Belizean territory. That procedure was agreed in principle by both governments back in 2008, subject to referendums in each country.

La. Guard trains Belize Defence Force YCP cadre
The Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program welcomed cadre from Belize’s Youth Challenge Program to attend the Challenge Program Instruction Course at Gillis W. Long Center in Carville, May 31-April 13. The Belize Defence Force recently took over the Belize program for at-risk youth that is similar to the program in Louisiana. For more than 20 years, the LANG and the BDF have trained and worked together as part of the State Partnership Program, which is administered by the National Guard Bureau. Over the years, the two countries have participated in over 250 events and have led to several training opportunities in addition to YCP cross-training.

Videos

Unveiling of Yello Belize's & Digi Belize newest telephone directory, 16min. We are LIVE at the Digi Park as we officially reveal and launch the cover of the 2019 Digi Directory. Our Madison Edwards is up to something special in Belize City today. Check out the unveiling of Yello Belize's & Digi Belize newest telephone directory.

Swim With Nurse Sharks in Caulker Caye Belize, 4.5min. Hands down one of the best excursions I've ever taken! This is also the ONLY excursion, that I know of, that will get you to one of the Cayes in Belize. The nurse sharks don't really come near you - they go to the edge of the boat to get fed. They don't bite anyway. My son was in the water by himself (while I filmed) and the rays and sharks don't bother any of the swimmers. You get rum punch after the snorkeling and swimming.

Belize-Guatemala and Maritime issues, 4min. In Australia, Professor Warwick Gullett works along with the University of Wollongong’s research center in ocean law and policy. While Gullet believes that the #ICJ would rule in Belize’s favor on land, his expertise in maritime law compels him to believe that the country may lose territorial waters because of the concave area shared with Guatemala and Honduras.

Meet Dan Lopez, the Male Farmer of the Year, 4min. The male farmer of the year is Dan Isai Lopez of San Antonio village in the Cayo District. Lopez says he comes from a family of farmers and ever since he was a young boy, he wanted to have his own farm. Well, about twelve years ago that dream became a reality. Today, he has cultivated over ten acres of his farm with fruit trees and vegetable crops and has since expanded into the cattle business. Reporter Andrea Polanco went to Lopez’s farm to find out more about how he won the Farmer of the Year 2019 title.

Leadercast 2019 - Leading Healthy Teams, 38min. Leadercast 2019 is focusing on giving participants the expertise to lead healthy teams. The event takes place on May 10th at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza. This year's speakers are inspiring leaders in various fields who will share their knowledge on how to lead teams in a manner that both increases productivity and success while encouraging personal growth. Our guests talked about why you should make the investment to participate in this life-changing experience.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) - Coral Reef Restoration Work, 32min. Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a growing threat to the coral reef system locally. Our guests wanted to raise awareness and talked with us about what it is and how they are preparing to protect our natural resources from the disease. They also talked with us about how they are working to restore the reef and protect it from other threats.

US Embassy in Belize - CARSI ESF Grant NOFO 2019, 34min. The US Embassy in Belize offers funding opportunity through the CARSI ESF Grant to strengthen government through civil society engagement. A total of $750,000 USD will be made available for organizations to access funding to support programmes and projects that meet certain objectives. Our guest spoke to us about how NGOs can access the funding. The deadline for applications is on June 3rd at 11:59 Eastern Time. The Embassy will offer support for those who have questions about the application process. The deadline for questions is May 15th, 2019.

Channel 5 Daily Obituaries - RAYMOND ADOLPHUS ARNOLD SR., 2min.

V31KF CQWW CW November 1993 - TDXS group, 20min. A very old video of a TDXS multi-single group operating the 1993 CQWW CW Contest from Ambergrij Caye, Belize. Operators Billy, K5GA, Joe, W5ASP (now SK), Rich, K5WA (now SK), Bob, K5DU (now K5WA), and Don, KI3L (now N5LZ)

La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge Team Taiwan, 2.5min.

BELIZE EASTER VACATION, 13min. Belize CaveTubing ZipLining.

Snorkelling in Belize 2019, 8min. A mix of footage from Mexico Rocks, South Water Caye and Stingray Alley.

Belize in a Blur 2: Desert Islands and Rainforest 2019, 21min. We arranged a trip with Xsite sailing to go camping on the beach at Goff's Caye - a tiny desert island in the ocean. We explored the beautiful Barrier Reef and chilled out on the island. Our trip concluded with a quick trip to Hopkins and the rolling hill jungle around the Bocawina Rainforest resort.

April 25, 2019

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

Murder charges against Christian Espat, Nigel Williams and minor dismissed due to lack of evidence
Island residents Christian Espat, Nigel Williams and a minor, were acquitted of murder charges in the shooting death of retired American National Cliff Kirk on Wednesday, April 24th at the San Pedro Magistrate Court. After almost a year of court trials, the defence convinced the San Pedro Magistrate Court that there was no concrete evidence against the accused and thus, they were set free. Magistrate Deborah Rogers, however, warned the trio that even though she discharged them, the Director of Public Prosecutions can still override her decision and take the matter to the Supreme Court in Belize City. The Magistrate told them that she could not predict when and if this could happen.

Police looking for driver of hit and run traffic accident
San Pedro Police are looking for the driver responsible for crashing into a six-seat golf cart parked in front of Trust Hardware on Coconut Drive. The incident is believed to have taken place on Sunday, April 21st, and left the cart severely damaged. The driver allegedly fled the scene after hitting the cart, but not without leaving behind his vehicle’s bumper and license plate. Police told The San Pedro Sun that they have an idea who the driver is, but that they found that the person had left the island after the accident.

Misc Belizean Sources

March 2019 External Trade & Consumer Price Index
For the month of March 2019, results from the Statistical Institute of Belize's monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) survey show that the All-items CPI stood at 104.8, an increase of 0.3 percent from 104.5 in March 2018 (see Figure 1). This indicates that, on average, Belizean households experienced an increase of 0.3 percent in the prices of regularly purchased goods and services in the month of March 2019 when compared to the same month in 2018. During the month of March 2019, Belize’s imported goods were valued at $147.2 million, down 1.2 percent or $1.7 million from the $148.9 million imported in March of 2018. The total value of Belize’s domestic exports for the month of March 2019 was $25.8 million, down significantly by 54.4 percent or $30.8 million from the $56.6 million recorded for March of 2018.

Greening Across Belize
It's that time again to join us in promoting a Green Belize With your help, "Greening Across Belize" can be bigger and better. Pick-up a tree, plant a tree and teach others to go green! For more information, please contact [email protected].

Boxing in Orange Walk on Saturday
Looking for an action-packed Saturday night? Why not head to OW and cheer for our island contender Bryce Peterson?! 16 Round Trip VIP Tickets Left to PRO FC presents: Shuga City Fight Night THIS SATURDAY IN ORANGE WALK! $175 BZD. Includes Transportation to and from event from San Pedro and Cage Side Seats! MMA Event 6pm - 10pm The Limo will head back to the city following the event, which will then be followed by a boat ride back to San Pedro by Pan D Joyride.

PROCUREMENT NOTICE
The Government of Belize (GOB) has received a Grant from the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) to assist the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) and the Ministry with responsibility for Investment, Trade and Commerce, to develop Belize’s National Investment Policy and Strategy (NIPS).

Verdes Start Playoffs with Hurricanes
The Verdes are the number 1 seed in the NEBL, so they get the home court advantage as they host the Hurricanes this Friday. It's going to be a big game, with plenty of entertainment. This year, it's the best of 3 games. Go Verdes! "Are you READYYYYY? It's Game 1 of the NEBL Playoffs. See you on Friday night inside the SHC auditorium at 9 pm."

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: APRIL 14, 2019 THROUGH APRIL 21, 2019
A week that started with challenging conditions finished with nice weather and light winds. Bonefish were biting well and some larger ones were landed. Nice permit were landed on both fly and spin.

BWS Opening for temporary Heavy Duty Equipment Operator
Belize Water Services (BWS) has a vacancy for a temporary Heavy Duty Equipment Operator at the Punta Gorda Branch. Position: The HDEO is responsible for operating heavy equipment in a safe and appropriate manner. Heavy equipment may include six-wheel trucks, front-end loaders, dozers, graders, compactors, backhoes, excavator, tow head with trailer and other pieces of equipment .

Calling All Female Artists: The Future is Female Vol. 2
Once again, the Museum of Belize is calling for all our talented female artists to submit their artwork as a part of our second installment of 'The Future is Female' Art Exhibit. Deadline for submissions is Wed.May 15th, 2019,for more information contact 223-4524 or send an email to [email protected].

Dr. Elijio Panti Conquer the Hills Cycling Challenge
The much anticipated 2019 "Dr. Elijio Panti Conquer the Hills Cycling Challenge" is finally here! Be part of "Another Beautiful Day in San Antonio", an exciting family oriented fun day filled event held annually at San Antonio Village Cayo promoting Nature, Sports & Agriculture. Who will be this year's "King of the Mountains" Champion? On June 16 if you're not here, you are nowhere my friend!

Cinco De Wayo, Anniversary Celebration
Join us for the anniversary of our over the water Grand Opening Party! This year is going to be a blast! We've got over 20 Sponsors helping us make this a party to remember!

SBDC Workshop: Internal Control & Inventory Management
Presented by: Mr. Jorge Gentle, Business Adviser, SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: Beltraide Conference Room, 14 Orchid Garden Street, Belmopan. Workshop Date: May 2nd, 2019. Time: 9am to 12 noon. Growing your business will require establishing a solid foundation of internal controls including accounting, auditing, purchasing and damage control planning. This session will give you an overview of what you need to prepare for. This workshop equips participants with the essential internal and inventory management knowledge, tools, concept for developing a practical, and result

Launch of the Pesticides Control Board’s GROW SAFE-Belize Campaign
The Pesticides Control Board is pleased to announce the launching of its GROW SAFE-Belize Campaign at this year’s National Agriculture and Trade Show in Belmopan on 27 and 28 April 2019. The GROW SAFE-Belize campaign will be promoting best practices in pest and pesticide management, in an effort to address the unintended use of pesticides, commonly referred to as pesticide misuse and abuse, thereby contributing to increased food safety. More specifically, the campaign aims to stimulate a wider adoption of INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM), a broad-based approach that applies the practices of prevention, monitoring and control to suppress pests below the economic injury level.

Mr. Ezekel Tun Passes Away
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its deepest condolences to the Tun family and friends on the passing of Mr. Ezekel Tun. May his soul rest in peace.

Benque Viejo Police Conduct Meet and Greet
On Wednesday April 24th, 2019, Police Officers from the Benque Viejo Police Formation, Conducted, their weekly Meet and Greet in the area of New Border Road and the surrounding areas. Persons where issued with invitation to attend a Neighborhood Watch Meeting to be held on Friday April 26th, 2019.

Power outage scheduled from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 28 to affect the entire Orange Walk District
This scheduled power outage is necessary for BEL to conduct maintenance of the power supply system including replacement of poles, transformers and equipment.

Sawdust Tapestries of Benque 2019
Great pictures of the Sawdust Tapestries created in Benque this Easter, from Aurelio Guerra. "Saluting the devoted Community members and their high spirits that have grown into the development and elaboration of the Sawdust Tapestries in Benque Viejo these adorn the route for the Santo Entierro/Funeral Procession! Awesome Job Youths,Children and Families! Thanks to Photographer Aurelio Guerra for sharing his collection 2019!"

Ya'axché Conservation Trust needs Administrative Assistant
We are securing the services of an Administrative Assistant – join our team! The Administrative Assistant’s main role is to sustain the office administrative responsibilities, which includes office management, pay roll, electronic and hard copy filing, answering calls and emails; and, assist the Finance Manager on a daily basis at Ya'axché. Deadline to submit application is Friday, 24th of May 2019. Visit our website for more information.

Belize Ko'one'ex Kanik Maaya T'áan
In celebration of International Museum Day, the House of Culture in collaboration with To'one Masehualoon, will offer free Yucatec Maya language lessons on May 17. We invite the community to participate in our introductory language sessions running 9am - 3pm! Yucatec Maya is one of the indigenous languages spoken in the Corozal,Orange walk and Cayo district.

Reef Week in San Pedro Dates Changed
Due to the upcoming referendum we have moved our Reef Fest dates slightly, therefore Reef Fest 2019 kicks off on Friday May 10th to Tuesday May 14th!!!!

Channel 7

No More Opposition Obstruction? PUP Leader Tells Troops To Get Ready For Referendum
Government has set the ICJ referendum date for May 08th, and, now, it seems the PUP will no longer stand in the way; the opposition is getting ready for a referendum. There was speculation that the PUP would go back to the courts to block the referendum again, but, it appears that the Blue's will instead go to the court of public opinion and urge voters to say no to the ICJ. We've seen a letter dated yesterday that leader John Briceno wrote to all his standard bearers.

Finnegan Calls Out PUP, Or Is It "Pot Calling Kettle"?
So now, the ICJ referendum has become just another polarized and politicized election. And while UDP is pushing a "yes" hardline and the PUP is pushing "no" - UDP Minister Michael Finnegan today told us the PUP was being duplicitous about it. We challenged him on that. Hon. Michael Finnegan, UDP - Mesopotamia: "They are tired now of using the court to advance their political agenda. Now they will come raw and naked to the Belizean people and show their colors by turning the ICJ situation into a total political fiasco."

The Alleged Cliff Kirk Killers Get Free
They were accused of the cold blooded killing of a US citizen on the north end of Ambergris Caye - but, tonight, two San Pedro men and a minor are free after their attorney convinced the magistrate that they had no case to answer. According to the San Pedro Sun, Christian Espat, Nigel Williams and the minor, were set free in San Pedro Magistrate's Court today - and went into the arms of their loved ones who were waiting in the courtroom. The trio was accused of killing retired American National Cliff Kirk in July of 2018. The US Army Veteran was shot in the head at his home on Northern Ambergris Caye on Thursday morning by four men who stole firearms, a briefcase and a jet ski.

BNTU Ready To Re-Elect Elena
The Belize National Teachers Union held its annual general meeting today at the Corozal Community College. It's a 2-day event where the most important housekeeping business of the teachers union are taken care of, and one of the more important items on the itinerary is the election of national officers. That meant that the presidency is up for grabs, and whenever the mighty teacher union's leadership is in transition, everyone takes notices to see who the teachers choose. After all, they often take on the role of an activist union not only concerned with the the welfare of their members, but also with urgent national issues affecting the country.

Why NUTCB Said No To Referendum Bill
Today's conversation with the president also gave the press an opportunity to ask her about her no-vote last week Tuesday in the Senate for the Government's new Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Law. That bill went to the Senate last week where it passed with the support of 6 UDP Senators, plus the Church and the NGO Senators. Labour Senator, Smith, as well as the Business Senator and 2 out of the 3 PUP Senators opposed. Our colleagues asked Senator Smith why she voted no, and she said that was her instruction, taken from the majority position of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. Here's how she explained that process:

Fingers Point After Farm Fire Down South
Tonight, a group of Spanish-speaking Belizeans from the village of San Pablo in the Stann Creek District, are crying foul after they claim someone set their farm on fire. Now to be clear, these 7 families are squatters, who were occupying land that was recently acquired by a company. That immediately caused a dispute between the two sides because the company owners have a legitimate expectation that they would be able to use the land they purchased for their own purposes. On the other hand, these poor farmers say that they've been living on this land and using it for almost 20 years now.

Dog Owner Cleared of Charges For Dog That Mauled Child
His dog mauled a small child, but, today in court, a senior citizen was acquitted of the charge of kept unmuzzled, ferocious dog at large. 72 year old Mario Sandoval was freed of the charge when he appeared before Magistrate Emmerson Banner. Based on the evidence, Sandoval showed no intent to harm and it is unclear who opened the gate at his house to let the dog out in the first place. So he walked free of the charge. The incident happened in April 2018. Sandoval's dog attacked an 11 year old girl and her pet poodle as they were walking along Albert Hoy Street in the Belama area. The dog attacked the poodle first and as the girl was trying to rescue her pet, the dog bit her hand and dragged her on the street. A passerby stopped by to save the child. The dog was put down after the attack.

Weed in Bush
Yesterday evening, police found a big stash of weed outside Belmopan. The cops must have had excellent intelligence because they knew just where to look - even in the bush! They found 20 plastic bags containing 56.5 pounds of weed buried about 50 feet off the highway at Mile 52 on the Hummingbird Highway. The drugs were labeled and deposited as found property.

Military Style Rifle In Corozal
Police also found a military style rifle, this time in the Dominquez Layout area in Corozal. It had some markings on it, and one 7.62 live round inside the chamber. It was deposited as found property.

Compol Comes Down On Corporal
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams isn't playing with Police Corporal Eldon Arzu - who is the President of the Police Association. In January, Williams signed a statutory instrument saying that no officer can serve more than two terms as the association president. Arzu had just been elected to his sixth. Arzu took the Commissioner's S.I. to the Supreme Court for judicial review. While that matter is before the court, the Commissioner has escalated. We have received a Police message to all formations from the Commissioner dated yesterday which says, quote, "Corporal Eldon Arzu is not authorized and should not be allowed to conduct any business on behalf of the Police Association, including holding meeting with personnel's from the Belize Police Department.

Honduran Fishers in Belizean Waters
The Southern Environmental Association caught 3 Hondurans illegally fishing inside the Gladden Spit and Silk Caye Marine Reserve, one of the 3 reserves they co-manage for the Government. SEA reports that on Sunday, April 20th, a joint patrol SEA rangers and the Belize Coast Guard visited an area within the Spawning Aggregation Zone of the reserve. That's a no-take area, but they found the vessel, "Angelica", anchored there. The Belizean law enforcement team found 3 Hondurans, Ewin Geovanny Carcamo Banegas, Hector Arnaldo Rodriguez Martinez, and Wilford Machado. Onboard their vessel, the Belizeans found a large storage containers which contained several mutton snappers.

Cycling Federation Says Justin Williams Is An American
Justin Williams - he's a two time Cross Country Champion - and we've proudly claimed him and his brother, fellow cyclist Corey as Belizeans - even though they're Belizean Americans, US citizens born to Belizean parents in California. And this weekend, after a disappointing Cross Country finish, Justin Williams took to social media to blast the Belize Cycling Federation for failing to deliver on prizes as promised, and for not letting he and his brother bring a team of riders from the states - because they are Belizean cyclists, while at the same time not letting them get the station prizes reserved for Belizean cyclists - because they are American registered riders.

Ascenthium Needs Your Support
Last night, we took you to the airport for the departure of the Belizean rock band Ascenthium to Panama. Right now, they are in that country making final preparations to compete in the international primaries for the Wacken Open Air Festival. Ascenthium will hit stage on Saturday, April 27th, where they will perform and be judged by the officials of the festival. But, they also need your help, because there's also a sort of popularity contest element to the competition. Currently, there is a poll on the official Wacken Facebook page, and the bands competing in this first round for Central America are under the scrutiny of their fans and the general public. Ascenthium is currently in the lead for this poll, but in order to stay there, they need the help of Belizean fans to show support and vote for them.

No Pasa Sin Pasaporte
If you were in Chetumal, or Playa, or Cancun for the Easter weekend, you would have noticed that the lines at the border were not as long and snaking as it normally is during this time of year. And even on the Mexican sidewalks, roads and highways, there weren't as many Belizeans around. That is because thousands of Belizeans were turned back because they only had a temporary pass - not a passport. Now there was a report circulating on facebook that stated that during the Easter, Belizeans would be allowed to cross the border without a passport. Well that report was bogus - and in fact the opposite was true - the Mexican side no longer accepts temporary passes. But apparently, very many Belizeans did not get the memo. Here is what the Honorary Consul of Belize in Mexico had to say about the situation at the border this weekend.

Sugar Exports Down, Bananas Up
The Statistical Institute of Belize is reporting that in March Belize's imports were down 1.2 percent, while domestic exports were down significantly by 54.4 percent from March of 2018. The SIB reports that this substantial decline in export earnings "was due for the most part to significant reductions in exported quantities of sugar, owing to varying schedules for the shipment of bulk sugar from one year to the next." The month saw improved earnings from both bananas and marine products. In fact, for the first three months of the year, Earnings from bananas went up by 26 percent while better sales across all marine products, but conch in particular, led to a $2.7 million increase in revenues from marine exports, rising from $7.6 million to $10.3 million.

Channel 5

Much Ado About Nothing Says the P.U.P. About a Letter to Standard Bearers
A letter to standard bearers by P.U.P. leader John Briceño has been getting maximum publicity on social media and other sectors. In the letter, following the Easter holidays, Briceño states [...]

Indian National is Sentenced to 5 Years for Using Belize as Human Trafficking Route
A final report is still not ready in the inquiry by the Senate Special Select Committee which held hearings between 2016 and 2017 on the findings of the Auditor General’s [...]

72-Year-Old Freed of Charge Involving Unmuzzled Dog Attack on Minor
A seventy-two-year-old retired Belizean was freed today of a charge involving an unmuzzled ferocious dog that attacked a young school girl. Mario Sandoval was charged in April 2018 after his [...]

Fire in San Pablo, Amid Land Dispute, Destroys Acres of Cornfield
There is a land dispute brewing in San Pablo Village, Toledo District where residents of that southern community are at odds with the principals of A&E Trading Company. Earlier today, [...]

Police Association President’s Salary is Frozen
Where is Corporal Eldon Arzu and why hasn’t he shown up to assume his new post at the police headquarters in Belmopan? It’s the latest twist in the saga of [...]

ComPol Williams Explains Association President’s Transfer
According to ComPol Williams, the reason for Corporal Arzu’s transfer to that area of the department is because he displays an interest in the wellbeing of officers on the job. [...]

49th Annual Convention for B.N.T.U. Held in Corozal
The militant Belize National Teachers Union has taken pause from its advocacy to clean house. The last time they met was in Belmopan where they held a rally on the [...]

Union Senator Explains her No Vote
Last Monday, Union Senator Elena Smith voted against the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Bill. She did so at the request of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize who took [...]

The Call for Nominations for Outstanding Public Officers is Coming to a Close
Public officers from across the country who have been exemplary workers and have gone beyond the call of duty will be acknowledged by the government at a gala event to [...]

Long Service Awardees Also Recognized on Public Service Day
The selection committee is made up of senior public officers, the private sector, B.T.B. and the chair of the Public Service Commission. While there are eight categories, there are many [...]

Trio Freed of the San Pedro Murder of Retired American Cliff Kirk
There was a decision handed down today in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court of Deborah Rogers where Christian Espat, Nigel Williams and a minor, were acquitted of murder charges in [...]

55 Pounds of Weed Found on Hummingbird Hwy
Police found over fifty pounds of weed along the Hummingbird Highway. On Tuesday evening sometime around five in the evening, police conducted a search of some bushes about fifty feet [...]

Man Charged for .1 Gram of Cocaine
Today, thirty-one-year-old Justin Stuart appeared in court before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson where he pleaded guilty to possession of point one gram of cocaine. Last Thursday, Stuart walked in front [...]

Meet Dan Lopez, the Male Farmer of the Year
The male farmer of the year is Dan Isai Lopez of San Antonio village in the Cayo District. Lopez says he comes from a family of farmers and ever since [...]

The Latest Figures of the Economy
A hundred and forty-seven million dollars worth of goods were imported into the country, while exports were down to twenty-five point four million dollars, a fifty-four percent less than the [...]

More Winners of Scratch & Win Game
Scratch and Win is a relatively new game but it is already producing winners. There are two more grand prize winners who collectively have cashed in at least twenty thousand [...]

Who Will Be Miss African Queen 2019?
A pageant with a different mission returns this coming weekend after a three-year hiatus. Miss African Queen will be back at the Bliss where six young ladies will be competing [...]

A Look Back at the Santa Rosa Community Once Settled by Guatemalan Nationals
With a new date for the I.C.J. referendum set for May eighth, we revisit an old story in which former News Five reporter Janelle Chanona journeyed south to the illegal [...]

The Reporter

Police Officer Walks Away From Mangled Vehicle
Call him Mr. Lucky, because, after being involved in several car/motorcycle crashes in the past few years this PC is OK, and we are happy to report that he was not seriously injured in this recent incident. The Reporter has confirmed that Police Constable Edgar Coh received only minor injuries after an accident this evening (April 24th.) between San Ignacio and Benque which could easily have ended his life.

Off Duty WPC- Stabbed In Placencia
A WPC attached to Precinct 4 in Belize City was stabbed on Sunday in Placencia. Shameika McFadzean, 23, was off duty when she and her friends were allegedly approached by a woman from Belize City who started fighting with her friends.

Breaking Belize News

Ministry of Health enforcing morgue use policy to avoid any more problems at Southern Regional Hospital
The Ministry of Health is ensuring that the staff of the Southern Regional Hospital (SRH) comply […]

Police officer involved in traffic accident
Reports to our newsroom indicate that a police officer was involved in a traffic accident […]

Court says dog’s owner has no case to answer in attack on 11 year old in Belama
A 72-year-old retired Belizean citizen, who back in April of 2018 was charged with keeping an […]

Justin Stuart fined for cocaine possession
With clarity not present when he was first arraigned in court, 31-year-old Justin Stuart today […]

Woman police officer stabbed in Placencia
On Saturday, April 20, 2019, a woman police officer was stabbed while trying to stop […]

Veronica Elizabeth Montejo, dead at 64
Breaking Belize News notes the passing of the widow of late Government Minister and former […]

Bureau of Standards working doing their part in the fight against single-use plastics
As Belize prepares to phase out the use of single-use plastics and Styrofoam utensils, the […]

Bar destroyed by fire in Toledo
A bar in San Jose village, Toledo was completely destroyed by fire last night. Margarita […]

Corozal police find rifle and live round
Yesterday, police in Corozal conducted searched in the area of Dominquez Layout where they found […]

Fire department confirms vehicle was intentionally set on fire
Authorities are investigating a vehicle fire that occurred around 5:30 p.m. yesterday in Belize city. […]

PUP Party Leader urges supporters to engage in ‘NO to ICJ’ campaign
A letter sent by PUP party Leader, John Briceno to his standard bearers was leaked […]

“Belize and Taiwan relations moving from strength to strength,” says Taiwanese President
President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen, said that Belize and Taiwan […]

Guydis Canoes takes Easter Monday canoe race in Sittee River
Team Guydis Canoes took first place in the annual Easter Monday Canoe Race, hosted by […]

Man, 46, missing in Sandhill Village
Nelson Lockwood,46, of Sandhill Village has been reported missing by his family. Lockwood is also […]

Corozal businessman brutally attacked at his home; In a critical condition at the hospital
On Thursday, April 18, 2019, Corozal Police were called to Maya World Guest house where […]

Ascenthium represents Belize in Wacken’s Central American Metal Battle
Yesterday, Ascenthium, the Belizean Rock Band traveled to Panama City to compete in the preliminaries of […]

Why I say: Yes to a Referendum Now
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize […]

Police find over 50lbs of weed on Hummingbird Highway
Cops in Belmopan conducted a search yesterday afternoon in an area off mile 52 on […]

Man who smuggled people through Belize jailed in the US
A 61-year-old Indian man has been jailed in the United States today, after pleading guilty […]

Driver escapes unharmed in a traffic accident in San Joaquin, Corozal
Photo: Courtesy of BBN reader A driver escaped a traffic accident unharmed last night on the […]

Police investigating aggravated burglary in Bradley’s Bank
Police are actively investigating an aggravated burglary that occurred on Friday, April 19 in […]

Vehicle crashes into Lord Ridge cemetery leaving casket exposed
On Monday, April 22, there was a road traffic accident at the lord Ridge […]

Armenia villager killed by lightning
Armenia villager Carlos Alvarado lost his life on Friday, April 19, when he was struck […]

LOVE FM

Asenthium Rock Band in Panama for Wacken Open Air Metal battle
Asenthium has flown out to Panama for their very first international appearance. They are taking part in the Wacken Open Air metal battle in Panama this coming Saturday. It’s an opportunity that the band defines as “career-defining”. The rock group left the country yesterday but not before talking with the media. Ascentium Member: “We are …

Family claims they are being forcefully evicted from land; Proprietor says they have tried to be reasonable
Land disputes have been reported numerous times on the news and tonight there is one more to add to the list. The allegation is that at least seven families in San Pablo Village, Toledo District are reportedly being evicted from land that they have been on for over ten years. The media received footage of …

Blogs

Nocturnal Bioluminescence River Tour
Just when I thought magic didn’t exist! Well, not “magic” per se, but just the beauty of nature. Who would have thought that little Belize would be home to so much natural beauty and wonders – truly a gem! From the jaw dropping landscapes to the marvelous marine reserves, Belize just stepped up its game with a bioluminescent lagoon. Yes, a BIOLUMINESCENT lagoon! Just like the glowing sea in Australia, there’s a mini, tamer version in Belize called Anderson Lagoon. This was the first time seeing this natural marvel in Belize – and the only comparison I could make was with an aurora. As soon as I dipped my hand into the lagoon, a neon blue shadow appeared where my hand disturbed the water…it was simply beautiful!

Ascenthium Travels to Panama to Represent Belize in Wacken’s Central American Metal Battle
Ascenthium travelled to Panama City, Panama on April 23rd to compete in the preliminaries of Wacken’s International Metal Battle to be held at the Hangar 18 Bar on Saturday, April 27th, 2019. The winner of this regional qualifier of the competition will progress to compete against the best Metal bands from various countries of the world at Wacken Open Air in Germany this summer. Before they left for Panama, Ascenthium held a rocking concert for fans at the Belize City Civic Center on April 12th, performing alongside Jet Jaguar from Cancun, Mexico – winners of the 2017 Metal Battle. Complete with freak show/suspension by Carlos Lopez, fire and bike show, the event was a fantastic send-off for the band!

Easter Weekend on Ambergris Caye and the Secret Beach Traffic Jam
Easter weekend has always been a popular time for travelers to visit and not only from abroad but in the country too. Many Belizeans countrywide come to Ambergris Caye for some fun in the sun. This year was no exception. Friday was a bit of a ghost town, many places closed and few carts on the road. As for the rest of the weekend, lots of people were out and about enjoying it. According to from my friend Juanece, Messervy’s Sunday traffic report the road was backed up for 15 – 20 minutes by a Secret Beach Traffic Jam. Very rare but not surprising for Easter Weekend on Ambergris Caye. I pulled a couple of still shots from her videos to show you just how long the line was. As for the reason, they were doing a checkpoint and ticketing people for expired vehicle registrations and too many people on carts. The most she counted on a 4 seater golf cart was 12 – ouch.

A Wednesday Morning View In Corozal
This morning, was very windy when I went to take pictures of Corozal. And, was very interesting to see new things poping up around town. Today, it was a little different. Corozal has quite a scenery in. If you find the right places you will enjoy the magnificient view. Here is a scoop about what I took this morning in Corozal.

International Sources

Letter: The Sarstoon River and Island
by Nefretery Nancy Marin - The Sarstoon River and Island are very important and strategic military points for our Country. Given the present global, regional and local political environments it is imperative that citizens hold their governments to complete transparency and dialogue. Belizeans have a right to know what could be the reasoning behind the GAF position to keep intercepting and blocking the access to Sarstoon Island at points well inside our borders. Anyone who has visited the area on any occasion knows that it is never smooth sailing. The last time I went, one of the commanding GAF officers told us we need to follow ” established protocol” in Spanish “hay que sequir el protocolo.” When questioned, our politicians in Belize deny having established any protocol… but yet for our safety, we must now report to the coast guard and have them escort us.

Belize, Guatemala-Based BPOs Dispute Latest US State Department Warnings
BPO companies on the ground in the two Central American countries pay little heed to travel advisories, instead focusing on the other obstacles they face when setting up shop there. The US recently raised its travel advisory alerts for Belize and Guatemala to Level 2: ‘Exercise Extreme Caution’, but BPO companies active in the Central American countries say the reality is very different on the ground. Such warnings, issued sporadically by the US State Department, are not based on clear criteria, but rather a reaction to a spike in violent crime, but with no clear methodology on how one is issued.

Videos

Barton Creek Cave, 2min. Canoeing and playing in Barton Creek Cave in Belize, very fun!

Rio On Pools, 1min. Playing at and in the Rio On Pools in Belize.

BELIZE VACATION (PLACENCIA), 14min. Easter in Placencia Belize is defintely beautiful! There are several activites to do along the famous placenica side walk from beach parties to delicious restaurants. You can also take a day and visit some cayes off the coast of the peninsula for a taste of additional pearl white sandy beaches and refreshing salt water.

Paddleboarding in Belize, 1min.

BPM's position and concern for the rush to hold a referendum, 35min. May 8th has been set as the new date for the Referendum on whether to take the Belize Guatemala dispute to the ICJ. George Myvette, of the Belize Peace Movement, reiterated their arguments for a no vote in the referendum. He explained the BPM's position and concern for the rush to hold a referendum amidst public confusion and apathy.

University of Oxford, Justin Holder, 18min. What is the purpose of suffering? What does it add to the human experience and can it be avoided? Visiting philosopher and doctoral student at the University of Oxford, Justin Holder, wants to help you find the answer to those questions. He will be hosting a seminar on Wednesday April 24th to share what he calls integrated wisdom in hopes of calming the suffering in our everyday lives. We spoke with him about his perspective and how it can help change your life.

Winner of the 30th Cross Country Women's Classic, 24min. Kaya Cattouse is the winner of the 30th Cross Country Women's Classic. She spoke to us about her victory and shared her insights on some of the challenges and how to improve the sport of cycling in Belize.

Smart Belize - booth at the National Agriculture and Trade Show Deals 2019, 20min. Smart Belize will be at the Agriculture Trade Show this weekend. We got a preview of the great deals that will available for customers. On set: Justin Kuylen - Marketing Officer, SMART Belize. Josue Carballo- Product Development Manager, SMART Belize.

Public Service Union - Outstanding Awards, 38min. There are approximately 12,000 public servants in Belize. The Ministry of Public Service hopes to encourage and boost morale by recognizing persons who are exemplary workers in their field. This year's Public Service Outstanding Awards will recognize persons in 8 categories covering leadership, innovation and heroism. If you would like to submit a nomination visit their website for more information. The deadline for submissions is this Friday.

Lab Technician Week, 42min. Lab Technicians are crucial to providing you with quality health care as they work in complement to nurses and doctors. This week is being celebrated as Med Lab Week to acknowledge the significance of their work. Our guests talked with us about the advancements in the profession. These include upgrades to both the equipment and infrastructure as well as the expertise to train new technicians. There will be an Health Fair held in the parking lot of the KHMH to educate the public and provide free testing services.

Domestic Violence in Belize, 3min. by Tyanna Smsith

Xunantunich Belize December 2016, 5min. Visiting Xunantunich on day 2 of a 30 day exploration of Belize. We are with Carla Juan of St. Leonard's Tours.

Sports Talk Show, 60min.

April 24, 2019

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 Police looking for father who allegedly kidnapped son
UPDATE: Reports are that Manuel Llanos is in police custody. According to unofficial reports, the child's mother, who lives in San Jose Succotz, Cayo District allowed the child to go with his father on Wednesday, April 17th, while Llanos was staying with family members in Benque Viejo Del Carmen, Cayo District. He was supposed to return the child home to his mother on Monday, April 22nd but did not comply.

Ambergris Today

Government Of Belize Sets New Referendum Date
On the request of the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, acting pursuant to Section 4 of the Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Act, (Act No. 6 of 2019), the Governor-General of Belize issued a Writ of Referendum for the holding of a referendum on May 8, 2019, to submit to electors the question, “Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement and that it determine finally the boundaries of the respective territories and areas of the Parties?

Misc Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker, Memories of a summer in 1975
I was 27 when I left my native London and started a trek that took me from New York to Buenos Aires. I spent three months in the summer of 1975 living on Caye Caulker. I loved it, it was probably the highlight of my 16 month trip and I wrote these reflections. But that wasn’t until thirty years later so if I’ve got some details wrong - for example my memory of the name or background of the captain of the Mermaid could be faulty, and I’m not sure that Mavis was actually called Mavis but looking back she seems like a Mavis - I apologise. Between now and then, more than four decades, I’m amazed I can remember as much as I do, especially as a lot of it was a befuddled pleasurable haze anyway. I hope you enjoy it and that some of you remember it. If you have any praise, send it to me. 70 foot long with a sleek and powerful hull, “The Mermaid” had been a rumrunner during the days of prohibition, creaming through the Caribbean night, threading through the Keys up to the Florida coast. She could outpace any coastguard cutter even though loaded to the gunwales with illicit barrels of Cuba’s finest liquor. When I first saw her many years later she was being used as a ferry between Belize City and Caye Caulker out on the reef on the Caribbean side of Central America.

IUCN/SSC-Crocodile Specialist Group Regional Meeting, June 26-29 2019
The IUCN/SSC - Crocodile Specialist Group Regional Meeting is 2 months away. Delegates from each country in Central America will be represented along with delegates from the Caribbean, in addition to international experts from the US and Australia. The theme for the CSG’s sub-regional meeting is “Fostering Regional Conservation through Collaboration”. The meeting aims to bring together and provide networking, collaboration and support opportunities for key stakeholders and experts. The meeting will showcase current knowledge on topics such as crocodilian management (i.e. human-crocodile conflict, scientific research, population survey techniques, habitat monitoring), sustainable use, and policy within the sub-region that will not only be beneficial for regional crocodilian conservation, but also for long-term management of biodiversity within crocodilian habitat.

BASIC FIRST AID/CPR COURSE IN COROZAL
FRIDAY 10 MAY 2019. LOCATION - CATHERINE KELLY CENTER, SANTA RITA. CENTER OPENS AT 7:30 AM FOR PAPERWORK. CLASS BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 8:00 AM. TO REGISTER TEXT OR WHATS APP 605-7708. COST OF CLASS S50 PER PERSON. LUNCH IS S10 AND MUST BE ORDERED AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION. SPACE IS LIMITED PLEASE REGISTER EARLY.

K'uk'ulkan(Quetzalcoatl) - Mesoamerican Messiah
Kukulkan impacted alot in Mesoamerica we can easy consider him "The Indigenous Messiah" and Mesoamerica the "Holy land " . Some said he even did miracles but today we will honor some of the things he did while he walked through Mesoamerica . K'uk'ulkan was born in May 18,895 Under the name of Ce Acatl Topiltzin . He assumed lordship over the Toltecs and migrated his people to Tollan. Reigning in peace and prosperity he contributed much to the lifestyle of the Toltecs with basic ideas such as civilization. He was generally considered a god upon earth by his followers with similar powers to those of his namesake. Kukulkan dispelled the traditions of the past and ended all human sacrifice during his reign.

San Pedro Property Taxes 2019-2020 due as of April 1st
The San Pedro Town Council hereby advises the general public that Property Taxes 2019-2020 are already due as of April 1st. We kindly ask all property owners to make payments. If you have not received your bill, you may visit the offices of the San Pedro Town Council to find out your current balance or you can give us a call at 226-2788. Your Tax Dollars build a Strong San Pedro!

Ministry of Health Issues Statement on the Morgue Situation at the Southern Regional Hospital
The Ministry of Health has no problem acknowledging that there is a need to purchase equipment for the morgue to improve services not only at Southern Regional Hospital but throughout the country. Although the Ministry is faced with competing priorities, management has made the decision to enforce the existing morgue policy which includes the hospital’s responsibility to transport bodies to either the Western Regional Hospital or the Punta Gorda Community Hospital morgue or otherwise if requested by the family for storage. A vehicle is assigned to provide the necessary transportation should the family require. In this latest incident, this was not communicated to the family by the attending medical officer who was called upon to fill in the death certificate of the deceased, who passed away at home and was brought to the hospital by the Police Department. Immediately upon being informed of the situation, management made contact with the family only to find out that the body had already been sent to Belize City.

Easter Sports Fest
April 24-26, It starts tomorrow at the Toledo Sports Complex! You’re invited!

CEO Caucus Cancer Ride 2019 - “Stronger Together”
Sign up and support!

CARICOM ART COMPETITION 2019!
Sign up today!

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

PUP issues release in light of complaints about the morgue at the Southern Regional Hospital
The entire nation should be appalled and outraged by the revelation that the morgue at the Southern Regional Hospital, which services both the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts, has been out of operation for more than a month. This is unacceptable and yet, the Ministry of Health has nothing to say on this matter. What is worse is that this would have gone under the radar were it not for the death of a woman last week in Dangriga, where her husband was told that her body could not be kept at the morgue because it was not working. How many times have we as a nation, listened to the Prime Minister boast about some road or roundabout yet, our health system continues to spiral downward as a result of neglect? and live lives of extrava

What is BIP? Taking a look at the opportunities under the Belize Investment Portfolio
The Belize Investment Portfolio (BIP) Campaign is an initiative launched with the aim to foster the development of a national portfolio to fast-track investment generation efforts, both local and foreign, through targeted matchmaking of pre-packaged investment concepts and projects. Through the advancement of the campaign, BELTRAIDE–through its technical unit BelizeINVEST, mandated to serve as Belize’s National Investment Promotion Agency–expects to further substantiate investment concepts submitted by Government Ministries and stakeholders into actionable business cases aligned with national development priorities.

Scarlet macaw monitoring is underway
This subspecies is endangered throughout its range and in February 2019, was listed under the Endangered Species Act by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, due to habitat loss, habitat degradation and the pet trade.

San Pedro Coastal Cleanup Saturday May 11th 2019
Captain Conch says Get Ready San Pedro and help with this important initiative.....you are all invited to help clean up our Island!!!! On Saturday May 11th 2019!!!

Channel 7

Three Year Old Inexplicably Shot in St. Margaret's
Welcome back from the longest holiday weekend of the year. The good news tonight is that there isn't too much bad news. There was only one report of gun violence - and no reports of gang violence in the city. So it was in some sense, ALMOST that safe and blessed Easter we all wished for. But, still, the four day weekend wasn't without its share of trauma: there were three fatal accidents and a toddler shot in a bizarre attack in tiny St. Margaret's village. We start off with that St. Margaret's shooting. It happened on Sunday night after 8:00 at the family house on Rancho Lomas Farm just outside the village.

Watchman Killed In Hit and Run
And while baby Jose Jr. is expected to fully recover - three families are still grieving after the long weekend because their loved ones were killed in traffic fatalities. The first case happened on Saturday night near La Democracia on the George Price Highway. Around 7:30, watchman Andruse Choc was fatally knocked down by a hit and run driver. His sister told us more. Adeliya Choc, Sister: "Well my other brother explained to us that he was in the working area. He was patrolling the yard where he was securing it by Democracia. And he never noticed when he came outside and right there it happened..."

Cops Look For Hit and Run Driver
Police have a different version of the story. According to their reports, Choc and his brother were walking on the side of the road. Here is what they had to say at the press briefing. ACP Marco Vidal- Commander of Operations: "A person was knocked down and eventually died. We have so far sent out all formation in relation to a possible description given the debrief. So, police are looking for a particular vehicle in that regard- a Honda vehicle that we suspect is involved in that fatal accident. He was walking along with his brother Mr. Andrews Chuc, along with his brother when a vehicle hit him and then fled the seen."

Man Run Over Near us Terminal, Succumbs to Injury
We move now to the city where there was an accident on Easter Sunday near the Michael Finnegan Market that claimed the life a Belize City man. He's been identified our news room as George Baptist, aka "Indian". On Sunday, he was on the side of the street on East Canal, in the view of the market when he was hit by a grey car. The car ran him over, and dragged his body a short distance. Concerned bystanders had to rush over and collectively lift up the vehicle to pull him out from under it. He was rushed to the KHMH, and we've confirmed with the authorities there that he passed away while undergoing treatment for his injuries.

Another Man On Motorbike Crashed and Died
A Benque man rammed into a barrier at the Benque border and died. Macro Tulio De la Rosa was crossing the border back to Benque from Melchor. Here is more from police. ACP Marco Vidal- Commander of Operations: "We had a person who was coming from across the border into Benque and then hit the barrier. He wasn't wearing a helmet and he later succumbed to his injuries in Melchor."

Police Kept The Peace Over Easter
So, those were the three traumatic deaths this weekend. Again, there were no gun murders during the Easter break. That's an important milestone for citizen security since, these long holiday weekends are usually marred by spike in violence and death. Today at police headquarters in Belmopan, Police Commissioner Chester Williams applauded his officers who worked harder to keep you safe during the 4-day weekend:

Bradley Bank Burglars
Thieves broke into an elderly man's home in Bradley's Bank San Ignacio. It happened on Friday night. Police say they have no leads at this time. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch: "San Ignacio police responded to the call of an aggravated burglary in Bradley's Bank area of San Ignacio where upon arrival, Dan Williams, 62 years retired Belizean reported to them that whilst at his home..."

Good Friday Freak Storm Electrocuted Farmer
A man was struck by lightning in Armenia village on Friday evening. He was trying to avoid the rain by sheltering under a tree. Here is more from police. ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch: "Police responded to the Western Regional Hospital where they observed a male Hispanic person later identified as Carlos Alvarado, whom was reported to the police that Alvarado along with his brother Cristino Alvarado was at a farm just outside Armenia Village and at that point in time it was about to rain, so they ran to a nearby tree to shelter from the rain and as a result his brother was struck by lightning and was rushed to the Western Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival."

The Morgue Malfunction At Southern Regional
The PUP is sounding the alarm of a major health concern for the districts of Stann Creek and Toledo. They report that the Southern Regional Hospital's morgue has been down for about a month. A press release from the party today says quote, "The entire nation should be appalled and outraged by the revelation This is unacceptable, and yet, the Ministry of Health has nothing to say on this matter. What is worse is that this would have gone under the radar were it not for the death of a woman last week in Dangriga, where her husband was told that her body could not be kept at the morgue because it was not working."

Vehicle Flips In Cemetery, Upending Grave
We've told you already about the tragic fatal accidents, but there was also a non fatal accident in the city - which has left a family troubled. It happened at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. Yesterday afternoon, the driver of this SUV ran off the road into this grave, which belongs to the deceased wife of Tom Morrison, the former UDP politician. The impact of the collision broke the grave open, leaving the casket exposed - an understandably disturbing event for the Morrison family - who buried her three years ago.

Ascenthium Rocks Out in Panama
2 weeks ago, we told you about the fundraising concert that the Belizean rock band, Ascenthium held at the Civic with other rock bands, Verge of Umbra and Jet Jaguar. They were trying to raise the money to cover cost for a trip to Panama. That's where all the bands from Central America are competing in the International Primaries for the Wacken Open Air Festival. As we told you, Wacken Open Air is considered the biggest heavy metal festival in the world. Rock and heavy metal bands from all different countries converge annually on the German village of Wacken to compete for bragging rights as the best of the best.

PUP Not Ready For May 8th Referendum
May 8th, that's the new date 2 for the ICJ referendum. That's after Government was forced to postpone it on April 10th due to the Supreme Court injunction that the PUP convinced Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin to grant them. And while the government has followed the procedures prescribed by the 2019 Belize Territorial Dispute Referendum Act, which was passed by parliament last week, will the PUP challenge it again? Our colleagues from Love News spoke with Opposition Leader John BriceÃ±o last week about the new date, and here's what he told them:

Suspended Sentence For Sexual Assault
He tried to cop a feel on an 36 year-old woman, and so tonight, 45 year-old Andy Garcia, a maintenance worker from Belize City, is at risk of spending 6 months at the Belize Central Prison for a sexual assault conviction. The victim told police that it happened on Easter Sunday. She reported that Garcia fondled her, even after she told him not to, and to leave her alone. She added that Garcia insulted her and called her the dreaded "B" word after she confronted him for sexually assaulting her.

Holy Humiliation!
Many times on this newscast we've told you about Holy Saturday heartbreak - when a foreigner, like an American, a Mexican or a Guatemalan claims the garland. Well, this Saturday, it was more like a Holy Saturday Humiliation - when Guatemalan riders took first, second and third place - cruising in a cool 6 minutes ahead of the first Belizean cyclist. Indeed, hearts were heavy and heads hung very low after that finish - and to find out what went wrong, race veteran Kwame Scott takes us to the starting line:

Cross Country Winners Rewards And Tough Lessons For Losers
Padilla and his team-mates finished in 5 hours 44 minutes and 34 seconds, about 4 minutes off the record. He is the second Padilla to win; his brother Alejandro has won twice in 2016 and 2017. Julio came in second in that 2016 race. So, he's come close before - and on Saturday - he said it was about time that he won: By our count, this is the sixth cross country since the year 2000 won by Guatemalan riders. And in 2016, they won first and second, but this is the first time that one nation has taken all three top places.

Agric Will Be Safe, Police Say
At the top of the news, we showed you the Police Commissioner's assessment of how his officer performed this weekend to keep the country mostly crime free for the Easter holiday. Well, the annual Agriculture and Trade Show is coming up this weekend, and police want to ensure that everyone who attend the event will be safe. Assistant Commissioner of Police Marco Vidal discussed how his officers will attempt to replicate this weekend's crime fighting success by setting up vehicular checkpoints and maintaining heavy presence at the showgrounds.

Channel 5

Father & Son Injured in Shooting on the Hummingbird
There were a number of traffic fatalities over the Easter holidays, but we start with the report of a shooting of a father and his infant son, which has shocked [...]

A Man is Ran Over and Killed on Easter Sunday in Belize City
There were three fatal accidents over the extend weekend. In Belize City, George Baptist was well-known to commuters who use the Novelo Bus terminal. But on Sunday afternoon, the handyman [...]

Andruse Choc is Killed in Hit & Run near La Democracia
There was further loss of life. A resident of Valley of Peace perished in a hit and run accident on Saturday night. Andruse Choc lost his life in the area [...]

2 Accidents in Benque; 1 Fatality
There were also two accidents over the weekend in Benque Viejo in which one person perished and the other remains in a critical condition at the Western Regional Hospital. The [...]

Speeding Vehicle Piles Up in Grave at Lord’s Ridge Cemetery
Construction got underway earlier today to repair a tomb that was destroyed over the Easter weekend at the Lord’s Ridge Cemetery. While no one was seriously injured when a vehicle [...]

Farmer Struck Dead by Lightning Bolt in Armenia
A farmer in Armenia lost his life when he was struck by lightning last Friday. Thirty-nine-year-old Carlos Alvarado was tending to some crops along with his brother when a storm [...]

Southern Regional Morgue Closed Down
The morgue at the Southern Regional Hospital has been closed down and it will remain that way for possibly another week or two. It comes on the heels of another [...]

Home Invasion in Bradley’s Bank, San Ignacio
There was a home invasion out west in the Bradley’s Bank area of San Ignacio Town. Sixty-two-year-old retiree Dan Williams reported to police that sometime after nine p.m. on Good [...]

Charges Dropped Against Man Accused of Robbing His Friend
Turning to the courts…A former security guard is happily home tonight after he had already been remanded to prison for an incident that purportedly occurred before the Easter holidays. The [...]

Man Convicted for Assaulting Ex-Wife
A father of ten children was convicted today of sexually assaulting the mother of seven of his children. The court ordered forty-year-old Andy Garcia of Belize City to be on [...]

3 Hondurans Caught Illegally Fishing in the Spawning Aggregation Zone Down South
Three Honduran fishermen were busted over the weekend for illegally fishing within the Spawning Aggregation Zone at the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve in southern Belize. The trio: [...]

Safe Highway Operations Applied over Easter Weekend
Although there were three fatal road traffic accidents recorded, police are reporting that its Safe Highway Operations over the extended weekend were successful. Commander of Operations, ACP Marco Vidal spoke [...]

No Murders over the Easter Weekend; a Success for the Police Department
The weekly police press brief had a change of venue today; it was hosted at the office of the Commissioner of Police in Belmopan. ComPol Chester Williams took the opportunity [...]

The Police Department is Ready for Agric 2019
The Safe Highway Initiative continues into the National Agricultural and Trade Show set to begin this Friday at the national show grounds in Belmopan. According to ACP Marco Vidal, the [...]

Road to Wacken Takes Ascenthium to Panama First
Belizean rock band Ascenthium is hoping to follow in the footsteps of musical forerunner Verge of Umbra by participating in and winning a regional competition that will secure them a [...]

Sports Monday: the Results of the Holy Saturday’s Cross Country Cycling Classic
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday [Highlights of the weekend in sports....]

The Reporter

Mother Accuse Father Of Kidnapping Son
San Pedro Police are on the lookout for Luis Manuel Llanos, who has been accused of kidnapping his son, Jaysen Manny Llanos. According to the child’s mother, who lives in San Jose Succotz, she allowed the child to go with his father on Wednesday, while Llanos was staying with family in Benque Viejo del Carmen.

Breaking Belize News

Man spared jail for assault of partner
Andy Garcia, 40, has been warned to stay on his best behavior for the next twelve […]

Ministry of Health fires back at PUP
Only hours after the People’s United Party (PUP) issued a statement condemning the condition of […]

A tale of two friends and a robbery
A baffling tale of two friends who say the police tried to turn them against […]

Honduran fishers caught in Marine Protected Area
On Sunday, April 20, 2019, a joint patrol busted 3 Honduran fishermen within the Spawning […]

PUP calls out Government on lack of proper health facilities in Belize
It made headline news last week when the story broke of a man in Southern […]

Police seeking father who did not return child to mother as agreed
Authorities are seeking Luis Llanos for reportedly kidnapping his son, Jaysen Llanos. Gillianie Jimenez of […]

Belizeans commemorate International Day of Mother Earth
International day of Mother Earth was commemorated worldwide yesterday April 22, 2019. The theme for […]

Cool weather to continue
A light easterly airflow prevails over Belize today. Skies will be mostly sunny with some […]

Police seeking father who took son without mother’s permission
Authorities are seeking Luis Llanos for reportedly kidnapping his son, Jaysen Llanos. Gillianie Jimenez of […]

Belizeans commemorate International Day of Mother Earth
International day of Mother Earth was commemorated worldwide yesterday April 22, 2019. The theme for […]

Cool weather to continue
A light easterly airflow prevails over Belize today. Skies will be mostly sunny with some […]

LOVE FM

THOUSANDS WILL BE SAFE AT AGRIC SHOW THIS YEAR
The National Agricultural Trade Show is taking place this weekend at the showgrounds in the capital. Thousands of Belizeans from across the country are expected to converge in Belmopan where they are sure to find top up, phone deals as well as a variety of food and drink. Maneuvering the traffic on the highway and …

Sister of RTA Victim asks Public to identify Driver who killed her brother
The postmortem examination for Choc was done late this evening at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Love News spoke to Choc’s sister, Adelia outside the morgue and she hopes the public can assist in identifying the driver of the vehicle that left the father of five without their father. Adelia Choc Sister of Andrew Choc: …

Police report on Home Invasion in Cayo and Police Operations
There was a home invasion in the Cayo District on Friday. It occurred after 9 p.m. in Bradley’s Bank area of San Ignacio. The police say after accosting the residents inside their home, they stole cash from the vehicle. ACP Joseph Myvett: “San Ignacio police responded to the call of an aggravated burglary in the …

Cyclist Justin Williams will not pedal to Belize in 2020
he disappointment that the top three spots were taken by foreigners was felt by the riders and fans from every age. The postmortem examination at the end of each national race usually ends by blaming the organization responsible for the sport. But one particular rider has made it clear he will bow out and not …

Blogs

Nuuk Che'il Cottages
For our Southern Belize adventures, we got the chance to explore the Mopan and Yucatec Maya culture with Mr. Ernesto and Mrs. Aurora from Nuuk Che’il Cottages. Through food, medicine and spiritual healing, we got a glimpse of traditional Maya practices and their role in the Maya life. Nuuk Che’il Cottages is an affordable and convenient lodging option for travelers visiting Southern Belize to immerse themselves into the Maya culture of Belize or as a pit stop enroute to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

What to do at Nuuk Che’il Cottages?
Nuuk Che’il Cottages offers several on-site activities such as traditional Maya cooking lessons, Maya spiritual healing sessions, and herbal medicine making lessons. Corn is a dietary staple in Maya cuisine as so many dishes are made from this versatile crop. From tortillas to sweet porridge, corn is in almost every Maya dish! For the day’s cooking lesson, Mrs. Aurora showed us how to make the best corn tortillas and a traditional Maya chocolate drink.

Cheese, Birds and Botanicals – three of the many things you can experience at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge
Cheese, glorious cheese! Just one of the many things that are unique to Caves Branch, you are in for a treat when you learn about and sample the only handmade artisan cheeses found in Belize! Belize is blessed with more than 500 species of birds, and in 2016 Caves Branch Jungle Lodge earned the distinction as the Best Birding Destination in Belize…need we say more? Founded in 2008 by the one and only Ella Baron, who recently had a plant named after her – Alsobia baroniae in recognition of her efforts in conservation of Belizean flora, this garden boasts the largest collection of native epiphytes, such as orchids and bromeliads (air plants) in the country.

Feeling small at Maya Mountain Jungle Lodge
We had friendly, personalized service from our check in with Daisy, (hope I remembered right) right throughout our stay. Happy to report we did not need bug spray our whole time there which made exploring the jungle delightful at all hours. Nature’s Kitchen Wholefood Restaurant staff were always there to offer suggestions and let us know what was coming up next. We enjoyed the open air atmosphere and watching nature while we sipped our virgin pina colada and mocha happy hour smoothies and played dice before dinner.

International Sources

Newly found hieroglyphics contain clues to breakdown of Maya civilization
A vase found at an ancient royal palace in Belize has hieroglyphics that reveal clues to the Maya empire’s collapse. Its texts were written during a period of instability, proving an eyewitness account of Maya society at war. The shattered vessel — found amid artifacts associated with the abandonment of the royal palace complex at the Maya site of Baking Pot — was discovered in excavations directed by Julie Hoggarth, assistant professor of anthropology in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences. When Hoggarth stumbled upon the first fragment, she spotted the emblem hieroglyph for “Yaxha,” an ancient Maya city and ceremonial center in Guatemala.

Explore Belize blue hole
Comprising 22 dives in just over two weeks, the Blue Hole Belize expedition was an attempt to journey to the bottom of the world’s largest sinkhole – Lighthouse Reef – in order to produce a complete 3D sonar map of the waters, and to catalogue the geological makeup of the region In November of 2018, Aquatica Submarines shipped a three-person submarine, Stingray 500, across frosty North America on the back of a truck then over the rolling winter seas of the Gulf of Mexico to Belize aboard the R/V Brooks McCall. Our destination was a site located seven miles into Lighthouse Reef – a perfect sinkhole in the ocean known as the Great Blue Hole.

No bad days': Texas native opens Belize bar after becoming a construction millionaire
At the sandy fringe of the pristine blue-green waters, and under the balmy spring air of sleepy Caye Caulker off the coast of Belize, there is a place that offers the familiar smells of bacon on the grill and the sounds of red dirt country. The low-slung Barrier Reef Sports Bar & Grill rests alongside a long stretch of charmingly disheveled hostels and storefronts. Owner Lee Williams likes to think of it as home — and a home away from home, for some of his clientele. “'No bad days' is our motto. I want to make sure it is a safe place and people can have fun,” Williams, 47, told Fox News. “Come in as a customer and leave as family.”

Videos

Solar Off-Grid in Belize in La Gracia, Belize, 5min. La Gracia Village receives first of its kind smart solar power system in Belize In its effort to provide access to electricity for all Belizeans, the Government of Belize inaugurated a state-of-the-art Smart Solar off-grid rural electrification project in La Gracia Village in the Cayo District.

Belize Now - La Gracia Smart Solar Off-Grid Project, 4.5min.

Bonefish over Belize, 3.5min. Fly Fishing Ambergris Caye

Bonefishing in Belize, 2min. Quick Snip of many great days on the flats of Ambergris Caye

MY BELIZE LIVE WITH GILHARRY 7 BAND, 4min.

MR PEETO FROM ROARING CREEK LIVE WITH HIS GUITAR!, 6.5min. MR PEETO SINGING LIVE WHILE HE WAS ALIVE! GREW UP ALL MY LIFE HEARING HIM SINGING THESE SONGS!!!! VIDEO BY PANDY SHOW!!!

Adventure Island Secret Beach, 1min. Adventure Island Secret Beach located on Ambergris Caye. Belize Opening July 2019

Easter in Beliz, Placencia, 39min. Swimsuit competition.

Snorkeling In Belize!, 3.5min. Our trip to Caye Caulker, Belize in April of 2019. Snorkel trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley.

Unbelizable vegan food (Belize), 11min. Johnny Tsunami's journey to Belize trying out the local vegan food!

TRAVEL VLOG: SAN PEDRO, BELIZE - PT. 1, 12min. Hi friends! My first travel vlog! I went to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize with some friends. This is the first part of our trip before we explored other parts of Belize.

Driving around Hopkins Belize, 1.5min.

Belize Part 2 | Swimming With Sharks, 5min. DAY 2 in Caye Caulker, one of the islands in Belize! Had tons of fun with my cousin snorkeling and adventuring on our first full day on the island.

Luxury Hopkins Experience, 10min. Learn what's to eat, explore and enjoy in the quaint village of Hopkins. Check out our luxury stay at https://www.villaveranobelize.com/ Not only it had an amazing view but it offers luxury accommodations!

Where the land and sea intertwine: sea turtles of Belize, 2003-05-15, 1.5hr. Join Smithsonian scientists and explore coastal ecosystems in Central America, along the coast of Belize. Here thousands of small islands, called cays (pronounced keys) lie in the lagoon between the mainland and barrier reef. Mangrove forests dominate this coastal zone, along with sea grass beds and coral reefs. Discover how these three ecosystems are inextricably linked, and how the distribution of mangroves parallels the distribution of coral reefs worldwide.

April 23, 2019

This evening at 6:00pm Police were called to the Rio Hondo river at the Belize-Mexico border near August Pine Ridge-Blue Creek, Orange Walk where they saw the body of August Pine Ridge resident Willie Mendez, 19.

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

Ambergris Today

Is Reading A Punishment?
Is reading like a punishment for you? Have you ever put some thought to the value of reading? April 23 is World Book and Author's Day. In these turbulent times in our world, it is very important to read, whether story books, technological advancement or genetic science. It is not enough to listen to people; it is imperative that we find out ourselves. Books embody the diversity of human ingenuity with a wealth of knowledge and experience of others/authors in the areas of agriculture, science, health, nutrition, business, skills, saving our planet and protecting our environment.

Taxi Driver Leaves Evidence Of Hit And Run Accident
Easter Monday reveals just how much excess there was on Ambergris Caye during the long weekend holiday - Excess traffic, excess parties, excess drinking... We came across this golf cart damaged and pushed up a couple steps in front of the Trust Hardware building on Coconut Drive. The facts as to what occurred are not totally clear yet, as owners of the vehicles also woke up to discover their golf cart that was parked overnight almost totally damaged. Evidence at the scene suggests that a taxi driver was the culprit of the hit and run.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belizean Justin Williams on this years Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic
Hard day on the bike at this year’s Cross Country Classic. My form wasn’t where it was last year but I gave my all. I’m happy with Cory’s 6th place finish; he made a beautiful bridge to the winning break in the final 20 miles. Unfortunately he was in the hardest position a rider can be in, facing all three of the Guatemalan riders alone. We come to Belize every year to represent our family and friends. This event has been in our hearts since we were kids and we try to make everyone proud every year. We understand you can’t win them all but can’t help but feel slighted by the Cycling Federation of Belize. So, we will not be returning to the Cross Country Classic in 2020 if the Cycling Federation of Belize doesn’t allow us to bring a team to help us fight for the Garland. We will no longer take on the burden of trying to win with unfair odds.

Accident in Benque
There was an accident after ten on Sunday night in Benque Viejo Del Carmen. The man involved in the accident Benigno Kotch is in a serious condition at the hospital.

Justice of the Peace and Court Commissioner Meeting in San Pedro
The San Pedro Association of Justice of the Peace & Commissioners of the Supreme Court; reminder of our Monthly Meeting next Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 7:00 PM at SPHS in Room 1G

GBD 2019 is taking shape
5 Teams so far and its looking good. Main areas being covered include: Chiquibul, Sibun Valley, La Milpa, Crooked Tree, Captain Hook's, Actun Chapat, Spanish Lookout, Caye Caulker, San Pedro

Easter Egg Hunt 2019 in San Pedro
A fun (and sometimes serious time) was had by all. Thanks to the Ambergris Caye Masonic Lodge for this fun and very energetic event and sweets for the kids! Feel free to tag and share if you feel so inclined.

The Reporter

Cycling Federation Under Fire
The Reporter has been unable to get comment from any representative of the Cycling Feration of Belize after that organization came under fire in the wake of the 91st. running of the Cross Country Cycling Classic.

Weekend News Report – From All Corners Of Belize
A man is dead after he was knocked down in Belize City near the bus terminal on Sunday around 5:30pm. George Baptist, 58, survived the impact but succumbed to his injuries a few hours later while receiving treatment at the KHMH.

Bring Me To Life
By: Mike Rudon Jr. – I got to the point in my life, not so very long ago, when I didn’t know who I was. I can’t quite exactly describe how that feels. It’s surreal. For most of my life I considered myself a damned good person. I would never deliberately hurt somebody.

EVERYTHING IS GOOD, but is it beneficial?
By: Dr. Abigail Joseph – They say “money is the root of all evil,” a phase use regularly, but is it really the money or is it what we are able to access with the money? After all, money is just paper. What about food? Can it be said that certain types of foods are root causes of many diseases?

Breaking Belize News

Former Cross Country Champ Justin Williams, upset with Cycling Federation, threatens not to return
In the bitter aftermath of Saturday’s disappointing results, much blame has been thrown around at Belizean cyclists’ inability to defend home soil in the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic.

Mexican authorities save Belizean child from drowning
Mexican authorities saved a four-year-old girl from Belize from drowning at Mahahual Beach. The Mexican news outlet Riviera Maya News reported that the child was with her family during the Easter weekend when she was swept up by sea swells and carried away by the ocean current.

St Kitts-Nevis shows support for blacklist tax havens including Belize
While his own country is off the hook for now, foreign minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, Mark Brantley, has said the European Union’s revised blacklist for tax havens outside the EU released in March, which includes several Caribbean countries, is “unfair targeting” and does “irreparable harm” to those targeted.

Caribbean Democrat Union sent observer mission for blocked referendum
Before its injunction by court order, the Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU) was set to observe the April 10 referendum called by the Government of Belize on the ICJ question.

Senate President visits Taiwan
Lee Mark Chang, President of Belize’s Senate, is in the Republic of China (Taiwan) today in celebration of the 30th anniversary of established bilateral relations between the two countries.

Road traffic accident in the south
Our newsroom has received word that there was a road traffic accident on the Southern Highway.

Man charged with possession of cocaine
Thirty-one-year-old Justin Stewart believes he had a tenth of a gram of suspected cocaine in his possession on Thursday morning, April 18 when he was busted by police.

Elderly man out on bail for ‘murder’ of his brother-in-law
An elderly man charged with the murder of his brother-in-law six years ago made it out on bail of $25,000 granted to him by Supreme Court judge, Justice Colin Williams for the Easter holidays.

Young man drowns in Rio Hondo
A young man lost his life yesterday in the Rio Hondo river. Authorities were called out to Rio Hondo in Blue Creek, Orange Walk where cops found the body of nineteen-year-old, Willie Mendez.

Blogs

Placencia or Ambergris Caye: Which to Choose in Belize?
Placencia and Ambergris Caye are two places in Belize very popular with tourists and expats. You will find countless online debates about which one is better, more-loved, or more livable. As an expat who has lived in both places for five years, I can attest that they offer distinctly different lifestyles. Placencia is said to feel like Key West 40 years ago. It looks like a 1950s Caribbean postcard. It is a tranquil, funky, artistic little village that has a small-town feel. It is quite rustic, and the heart of the village sits at the southern tip of a gorgeous 16-mile peninsula, surrounded by palm trees, guesthouses, wood shacks, and small hotels, with sparkling Caribbean waters on either side.

Belize Kenep Season
Belize Guaya, also known as ("Kenep"). These are one of the best to-go fruits! Guayas are seasonal fruits that are small, almost bite-sized, that can be sweet or sour depending on the ripeness. The flesh that surrounds the seed is often orange in color and has a delectable sweetness to it; but, watch out for the sour ones though! They can be found at almost every little fruit stand across town that has fresh produce for sale. The local vendors sell them by the bag for a low cost of $2 or up. They are in Season in the month of Mid April, May, June or July. IIn Belize, English speaking people call them quinep and Spanish speaking people call them waya.

Visiting Fattie's Burger in Corozal
MMM! Feel Hunger? Don't worry, Fattie's Burger has an excellent menu for you order your burgers in town. Build your Burger- To all Beef Burger free lettuce, Tomato, Grilled Onion, Onions, Jalapeno, Bacon, Guacamole, Pineapple, Eggs. We also have, Fries, Onion Rings, Chilli Cheese Fries, Sweet Potatoes Fries. (Zucchini Fries, Fried ColiFlowers, Fried Broccoli with Dipping Sauce for $5.00). Also, We have available: Fatty's Double Patty 1/2 Pound Burger.

Five Places To Live In Belize; Two To Avoid
From the many cayes to the Cayo district, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding somewhere to live in Belize. In Belize you’ll find the best, and cheapest Caribbean, beach living around. If lazy rivers and rolling hills are more your scene, don’t fret…you’ll find these as well. The cost of living can vary, depending on which area you decide on. Choosing where to start over in a foreign land can be difficult, but these few areas are a good place to start if you’re looking for a new life in Belize.

Tips for Solo Travellers Visiting Belize
Whether you’re a seasoned pro at solo traveling or are heading out into the world for the first time by yourself, one of the best places to visit is Belize. Many solo visitors like to visit Belize outside of the major holidays like Christmas and Easter. If you come during the “off season,” you can save on lodgings, and airfare is often cheaper as well. Some of the best months to visit when it’s less crowded are January, February, and after Easter. And don’t worry about meeting people or making friends! Belize is world-famous for its friendly locals. Belize is still far enough off the beaten path that it feels like a small town. And with everyone speaking English, you’ll never have any problems striking up a conversation.

Belmopan City – The Smallest Little Capital in the World
Tucked in a cute little corner of Central America and many times missed by most viewers of any map of the isthmus, Belize is famous for a few things….. its natural and lush rain forests, the largest cave system in Central America and of course the world renowned Great Blue Hole but what is amazing and something that most people do not know is that Belize owns one of the smallest capitals of the world! Smack in the center of the country, Belmopan has a population of just around 20 thousand residents. When the country was under British rule, it was known as British Honduras and its capital was Belize City, a bustling port center on the coast. Colonial infrastructure can still be seen today and include well-known landmarks.

The Hummingbird Highway in Belize
Belize is a spectacularly beautiful country, and there are few better ways to explore it than by enjoying a scenic drive along the Hummingbird Highway. The Hummingbird Highway is a modern, paved, two-lane roadway that was inaugurated in 1994. The Hummingbird Highway measures approximately 53 miles (86 km) long and connects Belmopan, the national capital, to Dangriga on the southeastern coast. The Hummingbird Highway offers a panoramic view of all of the different landscapes in Belize. Starting in the west, the Hummingbird Highway passes through the northern part of the Maya Mountain range, crosses several scenic rivers, and passes through fragrant citrus orchards before ending just a short distance from the beach outside of Dangriga.

International Sources

Belize Fights Transnational Organized Crime
Diverse ecological jungles, high mountains, pine forests, exotic rivers, and sandy beaches attract tourists to Belize year round. While visitors enjoy the beautiful landscape, drug smugglers look for ways to carry out illegal activities in the thick rainforest or along the coastline. The Belize Defence Force (BDF) works around the clock to stop drug traffickers from using its territory as a transshipment point. They’re aware that criminal networks could undermine the tourist industry and fuel violence inside the country.

Belize Senate leader visits Taiwan to mark 30 years of diplomatic ties
The president of the Belizean Senate Lee Mark Chang arrived in Taiwan Monday to mark the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and to help establish a Taiwan-Belize Parliamentary Friendship Group, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Leading a four-member delegation, Chang is scheduled to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, attend a banquet hosted by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and meet with Belizeans in Taiwan, MOFA said in press release. The delegation will also visit sites of interest such as the Agricultural Biotechnology Park in Pingtung, Tungkang Biotechnology Research Center, and Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area, according to MOFA.

An unlikely feud between beekeepers and Mennonites simmers in Mexico
Survival is at stake as Mennonite colonies’ illegal soy farms threaten the livelihood of Maya beekeepers. CAMPECHE, MEXICO“How did it start?” asks Everardo Chablé. He’s propped on a stool in his living room as the daylight fades outside. The only noise in this tiny Mexican town in the Yucatán Peninsula—where there’s no cell signal and little electricity—comes from the music his father is blasting in the yard. He speaks up. “For thousands of years the Maya people had bee culture. Then the Mennonites came with large machines and started to deforest large parts of land where the bees feed. We had virgin forest with very delicate ecosystems—deer, toucans—but most importantly bees that keep up life. When deforestation started they destroyed everything from millennia back.”

How the British Army Cooperated with the Murderous Guatemalan Regime
Guatemalans are still struggling to come to terms with what happened in their civil war between US-backed rulers, left-wing rebels, and indigenous communities. One former president, Rios Montt, is awaiting trial for genocide, charged with murdering 1,771 indigenous Maya people from 1982 to 1983. Now Britain's covert collusion with Montt's regime at the height of the 36-year civil war is being called into question by files VICE has discovered at the UK National Archives. In 1983, Britain had a garrison of 1,500 soldiers stationed along the Guatemalan border in neighboring Belize, which was a former UK colony. Politicians in Westminster and the public thought that the British army was out there to stop Guatemala invading Belize, a move it had long threatened.

Four Ways to Reduce the Climate Hit from Plastics
A new paper in Nature Climate Change—just in time for Earth Day—provides the first global, end-to-end analysis of the carbon footprint of plastics, and goes on to take a close look at four ways we can reduce that footprint. While they did find multiple rays of hope, Jiajia Zheng and Sangwon Suh (University of California, Santa Barbara, or UCSB) also found that no single approach will do the trick: “Our study shows that an aggressive implementation of multi-layered strategies would be needed in order to curb the GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions from plastics.” Global plastics production has increased at a breakneck pace, from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 70 million by 1980 and 381 million by 2015, according to a 2017 analysis in Science Advances led by UCSB’s Roland Geyer.

Four-year-old Belizean Child rescued from drowning at Mahahual
A child who had to be rescued from drowning at a Mahahual beach over the long holiday weekend has been reported stable. The four-year-old girl was visiting Mahauhal with her family when she became overwhelmed by large sea swells. Her family noticed her in trouble when she was dragged offshore and swept out by the current. That was when her family began shouting for help. Patrolling marine officers were quick to their rescue and able to retrieve the small girl from the water and return her to shore. The child was noted as swallowing a fair amount of water and was transferred to hospital by ambulance for observation. She has been reported to be in stable condition.

EU blacklisting causing irreparable harm to Caribbean says St Kitts-Nevis foreign minister
St Kitts and Nevis wasn’t blacklisted by the European Union in a revised blacklist for tax havens outside the EU last month; however, that hasn’t stopped foreign affairs minister Mark Brantley denouncing what he considers unfair targeting of Caribbean countries. Brantley has strong words for the EU, labelling the blacklisting as a process intended to do irreparable harm to those targeted. “Even though we weren’t blacklisted, I have said publicly, and I continue to say that there is no joy in my mind because Barbados, Dominica, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago all of these countries which are our CARICOM brothers and sisters have been blacklisted. It is a process which we think is opaque, a process which is unfair, a process that is calculated to do irreparable harm to these small countries and small jurisdictions and it is a process that we feel is on the wrong trajectory that it would be better for the EU to engage in dialogue, to seek to assist if there are legitimate areas of concern,” he said.

Earth Day 2019: These Amazing NASA Images Show Earth from Above
NASA is celebrating Earth Day today (April 22) by sharing some really incredible photos of Earth from satellites, aircraft and deep-space missions. Space.com has picked 10 of our favorite views from NASA's Earth Day gallery and featured them here. For even more amazing NASA photos of Earth, you can find NASA's entire collection of Earth Day photos here.

Girls’ eco-garden exhibit gets second chance
Girls’ eco-garden exhibit got a second chance. The eco-friendly school garden project created by two 11-year-old schoolgirls will be auctioned off to raise funds for underprivileged families in Belize.

Videos

Watermelon eating competition in Hopkins Village, 9min.

Visiting Fattie's Burger in Corozal, 4min.

Belize 2019 Spring Break, 3min.

Belize blue hole, 36min. Scuba diving in the blue hole at Belize. At 140 feet you will find stalactites and stalagmites formation.

BUMP Belize 2018, 4min. BU Marine Program's Coral Reef R&R Class visits Belize!

CAYE CAULKER BELIZE, min. Chegada em Belize e em seguida um barco para Caye Caulker em busca de um mergulho com os tubarões.

Altun Ha Belize Mayan Ruins and Waterfall Cave Tubing!, 5min. We spent the day exploring the Altun Ha Mayan ruins in Belize and then went cave tubing at Jaguar Paw to explore some underground waterfalls! Belize is so beautiful, you definitely need to go visit and see it!

Exploring Belize 2019, 9min. Enjoy a small clip as I explore through Belize City and San Pedro, Belize.

Scuba Diving Lighthouse Reef Belize, 9min. Scuba diving on six different sites of the Lighthouse Reef off of the coast of Belize, including Half Moon Wall and the Blue Hole. Our base was the Huracan Diving Lodge, highly recommended!

Maya Center Belize- Making Caldo soup, 3min. Maya Center is a small village located on the Southern Highway of Belize. It is mostly populated with Mayan residents; some whom may still adheres to traditional Mayan practices. No monetary value was made for this video, it is entirely for educational and recreational purposes.

Scuba diving Belize '19, 18min.

PLB | Police FC vs BDF FC | Isidoro Beaton Stadium, Belmopan, 2.5hr.

April 22, 2019

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: Memory and Mathematics
“My field of study is gerontology, the science of aging,” Mark said. “We’ve been researching how memory deteriorates with age.” Mark, my Canadian friend, vacations in Belize at least once a year. We were having coffee on the deck of the Holiday Hotel while we caught up on old times. “I’m not sure I understand.” “Here’s an example,” Mark said. “We all learn the multiplication tables for mathematics. Old people forget them. Young people with fresher memories can answer math questions much better.”

The Dirty Martini – a cool place to chill with your favorite cocktail
Sometimes when you’re going out for a cocktail with friends, it’s fun to try someplace new and different. In San Pedro, there are dozens of great bars to choose from, and while there are the usual suspects, it’s the ones that may not be flying on your radar that can yield fantastic surprises. Located south of town at the Mahogany Bay Village, Dirty Martini is a cozy and inviting bar perfect for relaxing, socializing and maybe even watching some sports.

Doctor Love: Goody-Bye Dear Diary
Dear Doctor Love, When I was a young girl I was given my first diary. It had a lock and a little key and I hid it in my room so nobody could find it. I wrote my thoughts and dreams and deepest secrets in that book. I kept a diary until I left home for college and I still have those diaries hidden away in a box. That was long ago and now I have a teenage daughter of my own. Times have changed and diaries have evolved into social media. When I let her get her own social media page I warned her against posting very private matters because people besides her intended audience might be able to read them.

Misc Belizean Sources

CHILAM BALAM: PROPHECIES OF HOPE FOR THE MAYA
"The day will come when we will recover our land, then the Maya will have to get together and fight. They will know that the date has arrived when they receive three signals ... The first will be of the pheasant, who will fly over the tallest trees and its shadow can be seen in all of Mayab ... The second signal will be brought by the deer, because it will cross this land in a single jump ... The third messenger will be the rattlesnake, which will produce music again and it will be heard everywhere. With these three signs, the animals will warn the Maya that it is time to recover the land that was taken from them. " Books of Chilam Balam (The sacred Books of the Yucatec Maya)

The Reporter

Police Seeking Hit-And-Run Driver
The first traffic-related fatality for the Easter weekend has been recorded near La Democracia at Mile 30 on the George Price Highway. Just before 8:00pm Hattieville Police were called out to Mile 30 where they found the body of a man identified as Andruse Choc, 39, resident of Valley of Peace. Choc was killed instantly, with massive head and body injuries when a vehicle hit him around 7:30pm.

Breaking Belize News

Man stabbed in Blackman Eddy, Cayo
Authorities are investigating a stabbing incident that occurred last night in Blackman Eddy, Cayo. Anthony Harris, 37, of Blackman Eddy reported to police that he was chasing Randy Robateau and when he caught up with him, a struggle ensued and Robateau stabbed him twice.

Man killed in fatal hit and run
Andruse Choc, 39, of Valley of Peace lost his life last night in a fatal hit and run accident. Choc was walking on the George Price highway when he was hit and killed by a vehicle.

Motorcycle accident claims another life
A man from Benque Viejo del Carmen lost his life last night in a tragic motorcycle accident. Around 9:30 p.m., he was driving his motorcycle coming from the Western border when he lost control and collided into a post.

Blogs

My Easter Week in San Pedro, Belize
Easter – which is definitely a long weekend in the US – is a proper week in much of the world and most certainly Latin America. Semana Santa or Holy Week. Palm Sunday right thru to Holy Saturday. And here in Belize, though not a religious day, it continues right through to national holiday – a day of recovery – Easter Monday. Easter is Belize is a mix of religion, relaxation and hard core partying. Here are some of my snapshots of this week on Ambergris Caye. On the started with STRONG winds and a serious heat wave – and ended with a serious “cold front” moving through and a GLORIOUS Easter Saturday.

International Sources

Trip to help in Belize was life-changer for PSU students
Josh Berkey got an education by living a week in a tiny home with a thatched roof. “It was the most memorable moment of my life,’’ said Berkey, a student at Penn State Shenango who’s studying physical therapy. He, along with another 11 students and two campus administrators, spent a week in Belize last month during Penn State’s spring break. Located on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Central America, Belize has bid welcome in recent years to campus students and administrators who have helped the nation’s citizens.

What overwater bungalows are really doing to our waters
At first glance, it appears to be the dream holiday snap, but there’s something going on here that many travelers don’t know about. Overwater structures shade aquatic habitat and limit ambient light penetration, affecting macrophyte and phytoplankton primary production. This shading could result in a decreased survival rate, or at least promote behavioral changes in various components of the biological community. “Lighting associated with these structures may possibly alter fish species behavior, posing an increased risk of predation and causing disruption of fish migration patterns.

Videos

This slug which is known as suck-suck in Belize is taking a Easter walk in Hattieville today., 1min.

Belize Cave Tubing!, 26min.

Climing Xunantunich + Secret Beach, 21min. Come explore parts of the beautiful country of Belize!

Placencia, Zip lining, & Fishing, 28min.

Snorkling Belize, 3min. Silk Cayes

Belize Episode 2 - Mountain Pine Ridge, 4min. oday we visit Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. While there we visited 1,000 foot falls, enjoyed a picnic lunch and swam in the amazing Big Rock Falls.

Diving Belize, 10min. Video from one of my PADI open water certification dives off San Pedro, Belize, in 2019.

glesia Buenas Nuevas Los Tambos Belize, 6.5min.

Caye Caulker, The Great Blue Hole 2019, 8min. Belize has a LOT of absolutely gorgeous natural wonders, some of which that you'll get to see in our video. We spent our time in wonderful Caye Caulker (pronounced Key Cocker) and this place magical. The island slogan is "GO SLOW!" and not only do they live it, but they'll make sure you adjust to the local "speed" even when walking on their streets.

Caye Caulker Belize 2019, 7min. The Alexander Family takes a trip to Belize

April 21, 2019

Happy Easter!!!!