October 19, 2019

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Ministry of National Security Inaugurates Joint Interagency Information Security System
The Ministry of National Security officially inaugurated its Joint Interagency Information Security System (JIISS) during a ceremony at the Ministry of National Security Compound in Belmopan. JIISS is a state-of-the-art, geospatial reporting program designed to gather data to assist security forces on their patrols. The information, which will be displayed on a live platform, will be sent back to base and the Ministry for real-time decision-making and information display. Initially, the program will be used by the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard; however, the Ministry has plans to further develop the software for use by the Belize Police Department.

Kids and Youth Jujutsu Tournament held in San Pedro Town
For the first time, a fun and educational kids and youth Jujutsu Tournament was held in San Pedro Town on Saturday, October 12th. The Angel Nuñez Auditorium was the venue where island youngsters showcased their Jujutsu techniques and skills. The organizer of the tournament, Martin Dawson from Dawson’s Pit Fighters, told The San Pedro Sun that the primary objective of the tournament was for the island youngsters to develop a passion for this sport and gain experience in how it is to compete as well as have fun. He added that they hope to have another one early next year.

Ian “Lion” Gordon adds more wins to his racing journey
With the goal of participating in the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France, island resident Ian ‘Lion’ Gordon continues to participate in several local and regional races. In his latest two races in Belize, he placed first in Placencia Village and second in Belmopan City. On Sunday, October 3rd Gordon participated in the 2nd annual Splash Half Marathon and Relay Race organized by Splash Dive Center in Placencia Village, Stann Creek District. He was part of a team of four members that participated in a four-mile relay race, where each of his team members finished within 20 minutes. Out of 30 participating teams, Gordon’s team took the coveted first place.

$750k grants from US Embassy to support good governance in Belize
The U.S. Embassy in Belize announced the recipients of the 2019 Central America Regional Security Initiative, Economic Support Fund (CARSI ESF) grants during an award ceremony on Wednesday, October 9th. The three grants, totaling $750,000 USD, support good governance and using civil society engagement to strengthen government effectiveness.

Ambergris Today

Belize Inaugurates New Information Security System
Ministry of National Security Inaugurates Joint Interagency Information Security System On Thursday, October 17, 2019, the Ministry of National Security officially inaugurated its Joint Interagency Information Security System (JIISS) during a ceremony at the Ministry of National Security Compound in Belmopan.

Various Belizean Sources

British High Commissioner visits San Pedro Town
On Thursday, October 17, 2019, the British High Commission, Belmopan, Ms. Claire Evans and her team made a courtesy visit to Mayor Daniel Guerrero in San Pedro Town where she and the Deputy High Commissioner, Ms. Claire Bruce, discussed various topics such as the sargassum influx, such as effects and solutions, as well as discuss Cefas - Commonwealth Litter Programme and the Commonwealth Marine Economies Programme and 30 by 30. It was a great visit and the San Pedro Town Council looks forward to working together with the British High Commissioner and her team.

Important Public Consulation in Sarteneja
Belize Environmental Technologies Ltd will be conducting a PUBLIC CONSULTATION in connection with the Corozal Sarteneja Road Upgrade Project. The residents of Sarteneja Village are cordially invited to attend a public consultation meeting to be held on Saturday, October 19th at 1:30 p.m. at the Sarteneja Community Centre. The public consultation meeting will be an opportunity for residents of Sarteneja to know about the project and to share their concerns.

'The Mighty Avengers' Premiere
Come experience the legendary story of 'The Mighty Avengers', Cayo's legendary football team, on November 1st, at the San Ignacio Hotel, Bedran Hall. Tickets can be purchased at Central TV & Internet Belize San Ignacio, Benque and Belmopan offices. General Admission tickets are $10.00. VIP tickets are $20.00.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
We continue celebrating Halloween all month long with the horror flicks. Haunt, The Laundromat, The Lion King, Wounds

International Archaeology Day !!!
Come on out to the Cayo Welcome Center and check out the IA booth for International Archaeology Day !!!

K'AAK'AS IIK'
For the Northern Maya of Belize which belong to the Yucatec Maya group the Air has Positive characteristics but also negative . Many of our Maya tatitos and chiichi told us about K'aak'as iik' (Mal Aire) which cause Sickness and even dead . When people get Mal Aire normally a H-men(Maya Priest) cures it . Also the Maya Masewal of Corozal and Orange Walk perform a ritual name Jetz' Lu'um which is done to secure the prosperity of the land . They ask the Nukux Tat protection to avoid Mal aire which may affect the land, animals and Humans who inhabit it .

3rd President’s Endowment Fund Fete
Get your tickets for the 3rd President’s Endowment Fund Fete at Dibary stores nationwide or reserve them by contacting the Office of the President. All proceeds will go toward student scholarships !

Belize Hosts Fifth Annual Multinational Security Cooperation Conference
The Ministry of National Security (Defence) today hosted the 5th Annual Multinational Security Cooperation Conference at the Grand Caribe Belize Suites & Residences in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The main objective of the conference was to share Belize’s national security strategic vision, accomplishments and requirements with its allies and partners. The cooperation dialogue emphasised security and military partnership in the areas of capacity building, leadership and management, as well as institutional strengthening for the Belize Defence Force, the Belize Coast Guard and the Joint Intelligence Operations Centre.

International Miss Divali Queen Pageant
Miss East Indian, Ms. Arelee Parham is on her way to Trinidad & Tobago today to represent Belize in the International Miss Divali Queen Pageant. COEICH and our Corozal community wish her all the best.

Park Ranger Billy Lerma was laid to rest yesterday
Wherever he is up above, may he continue to watch over his family, the FCD teams and over the Chiquibul-Maya Mountains.

EK' MUCH'/KAAB KOJ - JAGUARUNDI
The Jaguarundi is one of the wild cats found in Belize known in Yucatec Maya as Ek' Much' or Kaab Koj . They can be of different colors grey,red and black . It have been detected to feed on small mammals,birds,snakes,lizard,fishes and even plants . Kaab Koj - refers to the red color Jaguarundi. Ek' Much' - - refers to the dark or gray Jaguarundi.

Channel 7

Immigration Minister Hulse Backs Up Baptists Estrada
Debra Baptist Estrada is going to take over the Immigration Department next week as the new Director. She replaces Diana Locke who is going on pre-retirement leave. But, Estrada, who's been with the department for her entire career in the public service, enters against a headwind. According to reports, many of the rank and file within the department oppose her elevation. First, because she only has an associates degree - while many senior officers worked for their Bachelor's degree - and, second - because she is being brought over from the nationality section - and bypassing senior persons in Immigration.

Hulse Was Not Summoned And Don't You Even Suggest It!
And, as you picked up in Hiulse's answer, he seemed just a little bit salty about his meeting with the US charge. And he publicly bristled when it was suggested that he had been summoned by the chargé d'affaires: Reporter: "Minister, what then would the chargé d'affaires of the US wants to speak to the Minister of Immigration about, to be calling you into a meeting?" Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration: "He didn't call me into a meeting. Please, nobody, not President Trump, nobody could call me into a meeting..."

Will Joshua Perdomo Pay It Back?
Hulse showed a little more patience in explicating the Joshua Perdomo write off controversy. At this point, we're sure you know Joshua's story very well. - the son of Cabinet Secretary Carlos Perdomo. Government wrote off his student debt of forty thousand dollars - after he never returned to honor his student bond. Today, Hulse - who is also the Leader of Government Business in the Senate let on that there are plans afoot for the Perdomo's possibly pay off the debt - which Hulse clarified, is not a student loan:..

Cops Descend on Dream Like City
Dream Like City - it's a popular nightclub located at mile one on the Phillip Goldson Highway - but last Friday - a woman was beaten and stabbed there. That, along with an X-Rated dance competition prompted the police commissioner Chester Williams to write this in a text message to the media, quote: "That place needs to be closed down. It has become a problem and the lewd behavior that takes place there should not be tolerated. I just can't understand why will all that's happening there the liquor licensing board continues to grant them extensions until 3am." End quote. Now, when we asked a member of the Liquor Licensing Board he took a different position, and suggested that the Commissioner is too eager to close places down.

Flota Walks to Court
Last night we told you about 38 year old Gonzalo Flota, who was charged for the murder of his fellow San Lazaro Villager, Hazid Diaz. 33 year old Flota was taken to Orange Walk Magistrate's Court today - where he was read a charge of murder, and remanded to the Hattieville Prison until his next court appearance scheduled for December 10th 2019.

Supreme Court Tells Mayas State Not Responsible For Myles
Back in June of 2015, it made headlines when Rupert Myles, the black Creole Belizean from Ladyville, was handcuffed and hauled out of the Mayan Village of Santa Cruz in Southern Belize. He claimed racism by the Mayan Villagers, while they counter alleged that he disrespected and caused damage to the Uxbenka Maya Archaeological site. They say that he built his house on the site's grounds and then damaged it when he bulldozed a hill, just so that he could get access to the front door of his illegally placed home.

Chair of Senate Probe Says Immigration Report Coming Soon
The Senate Special Select Committee finished its Immigration Probe almost two years ago. But, after all those many, hundreds of hours of testimony - there's still no report. A few weeks ago, Immigration Minister Hulse seemed to almost scoff at it. So, what's the holdup? That's what we asked the Chairman today. He says they are in process: Hon. Aldo Salazar - Chairman, Senate Special Select Committee "We've gotten through the stage of the compilation of information, which took a lot of time. We've gotten to the point where we've gotten all the documentation. And so, I think it would have been in maybe April of this year that I started in earnest to work on drafting the report."

Celebrating Food Security
Wednesday was celebrated in countries all around the globe as World Food Day. It's an annual observance dating back to 1945 when it was first implemented by the United Nations. It's a time for the Governments of the member states to think about food security, and whether its populations have fair and reasonable access to it. We might take it for granted, but here in Belize - despite deep social problems - we have it relatively good. There are countries in the world where hunger and starvation are everyday challenges. And so today, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture and the management of the Ladyville Technical High School staged a grand event filled with activities to observe World Food Day.

When Will Famers Get Their Monetary Relief?
So, while there isn't any cause for concern about Belize's food security, its agro-productive sector is trying to recover from the massive drought which hit earlier this year. The lack of rains countrywide have caused farmers approximately 50 million dollars in losses, and so, the Government has declared a partial state of emergency to access international funding for relief efforts. The last time we spoke with Agricultural Minister Godwin Hulse, he told us that the farmers would be receiving this aid in the form of coupon distributions, which was supposed to have started several days ago. When we brought up the topic today, he told us that there have been a few logistical challenges. Here's how he explained why the relief hasn't reached the farmers yet:

Citrus Growers Assoc. In Serious Problems
And while the drought will cost Belizean farmers tens of millions of dollars in crop losses, the crisis in the citrus industry is deeper than just the drought. Sure, citrus greening has wiped out huge acreages and sliced production, but the Citrus Growers Association is facing its own crisis. This farmers group is saddled by debts which it can no longer service - and now the biggest collection of average sized growers is facing bankruptcy. Hulse discussed this difficult crossroads today:.. Hon. Godwin Hulse - Minister of Agriculture: "We have met with the citrus growers people continuously. In fact last week Friday the prime minister and myself together with the financial secretary and my CEO Mr. Alpuche met with the CGA people for the better part of 3 hours to look a list of about 8 requests and/or demands that they had..."

Hulse Eager To Take Sugar Issue to COTED Trade
And while those citrus growers are facing difficult choices, as we told you last night, the fortunes of the sugar industry - which have been sagging for years - are looking up, just a little. That's after rounds of meeting with CARICOM minister of Agriculture were held in Belize earlier this month. Coming out of that, the plan is to take three major pro sugar proposals from the COTED Agriculture meeting which was held in Belize to the COTED Trade Ministers meeting which is being held in Guyana next month for their final approval.

Tourism Industry Conference Focuses On Destination Marketing
And now going from agriculture to tourismThis Morning the BTB hosted its annual Tourism Industry Conference under the theme "Destination Marketing & Its impact on Belize." This year's conference had a particular focus on cultural immersion tours as well the current challenges facing Belize's tourism industry. We stopped by the conference earlier today and spoke to one of the Keynote speakers, Stephanie Jones, about how Belizeans can monetize sharing their culture with the curious traveler.

Belize Broadcast Television Standards Outdated
Today was observed as World Standards Day, and this year the theme was something close to home for us, "Video Standards Create a Global Stage." The Belize Bureau of Standards held an event at the Radisson to discuss video standards in Belize, or the lack thereof. Channel 5's Rick Romero and Jules Vasquez noted that Belize's broadcast television video standards are lost in the 80's:

The Charms Of Che'il Chocolate
You may have heard of the locally produced Goss and Cotton Tree Chocolate, maybe you've even sampled some from your local grocery store, but have you heard of Che'il Mayan Chocolate? Che'il chocolate is made in a factory on an organic farm in Maya Center Village Stann Creek. The chocolate is so pure that it's transportation often proves difficult as it might melt during the transportation. But it's taste is an exquisite experience easily sampled with a stop off at the factory. That's what we did last weekend, and Cherisse Halsall has the story: 20 minutes from Hopkins and 30 minutes from either Dangriga or Placencia is the Che'il mayan chocolate factory run by Julio and Eliudora Saqui.

NICH Keeps Giving
Today, 14 groups received grants from NICH's Cultural Development Fund. The projects range from cultural and entertainment events, to art exhibits and documentaries. There was an award ceremony today at the Bliss and we found out more about the importance of the fund and the projects.

Remembering Monrad Metzgen
Lawrence Vernon, the Principal Librarian of the Belize Library service today launched another Belizean biography. This time he was commissioned by the family of Monrad Metzgen, a civil servant, politician, and later librarian, to pen the biography titled Monrad Metzgen A Tribute To A Belizean patriot. Earlier today we spoke to Humphrey Metzgen, the son of Monrad, about why Lawrence Vernon was the perfect man to write his father's biography.

Regional Security Meeting On San Pedro
No notice was sent to the press, but the Ministry of National Security today hosted the 5th Annual Multinational Security Cooperation Conference in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The CEO told the press office what the meeting was about:

Trapp Walks Free Of Adolphus Murder
Tonight another accused murder suspect is free after his murder case ended in nolle pros in the Supreme Court. 22 year old Akeem Trapp walked off a charge for the 2015 murder of Ian Adolphus Jr. Adolphus was killed on Febuary 26th , 2015 when he was shot as many as three times.

Channel 5

Eamon Courtenay Responds to PM Barrow’s Letter
A lengthy two-page diatribe was released late on Thursday evening in which Prime Minister Dean Barrow took a number of swipes at Opposition Leader John Briceño in response to a [...]

Godwin Hulse Comments on Joshua Perdomo $40K Loan Write-off
The Perdomo loan write-off is not going to go away in time soon. Today, U.D.P. Senator for Government Business Godwin Hulse says that the forty thousand dollar loan does not [...]

Perdomo Family Making Arrangements to Settle Debt
Hulse reiterated the government’s position that the loan is six-year statute barred. According to him, cabinet sticks to the recommendation from the Attorney General.  But Hulse did let out that [...]

Where is the Senate Select Committee Report?
It has been almost two years since a series of public hearings were conducted by the Senate Special Select Committee into the findings of the Auditor General’s Special Audit Report [...]

No Politics in Stalling of Senate Report Says Committee Chair
In the absence of what many expected to be a timely report, there has been talk that completion and presentation of that document is deliberately being stalled for political reasons.  [...]

Why Were Brazilians Allowed to Leave without Investigation?
Thirty-nine-year-old Jose Hilberto Gallegos is behind bars for counterfeit U.S. dollars. The Mexican national was busted at the Phillip Goldson International Airport on October tenth with forty thousand, eight hundred [...]

Minister Hulse Tells U.S. Chargé d’Affaires How It Is!
Deborah Baptist Estrada is moving up to replace Diana Locke as the Director of Immigration. Estrada is being promoted from her post of Deputy Director of Nationality and Passport Department. [...]

Saving the Citrus Industry Means Defeating Citrus Greening Disease
This week we have been reporting on the crisis in the citrus industry and the ramifications to the growers and the economy. One of the factors that have contributed to [...]

No Injection of Cash in CGA says Agriculture Minister
Since we had caught up with Minister of Agriculture Godwin Hulse, we asked him about meetings have been held with representatives of the CGA. On Friday, Hulse along with his [...]

COTED to Decide on Belize’s Request to Freely Trade White Sugar in the Region
Plantation white sugar can replace refined sugar. This is according to the Caribbean Development Bank which funded a technical study on the issue. CARICOM Ministerial meetings were held a few [...]

Update on G.O.B.’s Drought Assistance to Farmers
The rains are here but the effects of the drought that devastated crops over several weeks are still being felt. The prolonged drought caused losses in the millions for farmers [...]

American Retiree Trapped in Belize without Visitor’s Permit
A retired U.S. national, who did not board a cruise ship in mid-September, is now illegal in Belize. Fifty-year-old Edward Francis Kilgour, the third, appeared before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitt [...]

Alyson Courtenay Formally Joins Legal Fraternity
A formal ceremony took place at the Supreme Court this morning. Alyson Courtenay, who is the youngest member of a family of distinguished attorneys, was called to the bar to [...]

Cultural Immersion Trends at the Annual Tourism Conference
Tourism numbers in the past three years have been showing double digit growth signalling that Belize is a top destination. Today, the Belize Tourism Board held a conference with the [...]

$27K for Cultural Development Projects
A third tranche of money from the Cultural Development Fund of the National Institute of Culture and History was disbursed today at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts. The [...]

Belize Celebrates World Food Day
Today, Belize joined the international community in celebrating World Food Day. This year, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is focusing on the importance of healthy diets in tackling global [...]

Former Lands Minister Comments on Lots Sold by Belmopan CitCo
Earlier in the month, we reported on a hasty land transaction that raised several eyebrows. The Belmopan City Council de-reserved a large portion of land that had been designated for [...]

World Standards Day 2019 – A Look at Video & Standards in Belize
Today, the Belize Bureau of Standards held a session about standards for video. The event was held in light of World Standards Day 2019 under the theme, “Video Standards Create [...]

Amandala

Citrus industry fights to survive tough times
News from the citrus industry keeps getting worse. In recent years the industry has experienced serious turmoil over the ownership of two factories and their extensive citrus orchards, and there have been serious divisions amongst growers over the direction of the industry, and all this has been occurring at a time when the industry has been hit by a devastating disease called Citrus Greening. There is hope, if new resilient varieties can deliver on their promise, but the strain of an industry that has been in decline for some years now is proving too much for some of its stakeholders, many of whom are barely staying afloat. In a story on News5 on Wednesday night, Isani Cayetano reported on troubled times in the Citrus Growers Association (CGA), the organization that has steered the industry since the 1960s

Accused US murderer took refuge in Belize
An American man was arrested by Las Vegas police when he returned there after taking refuge in Belize, the New York Post reported. It was not said how long he was in Belize, and where he stayed. Christopher Prestipino, 45, is facing first degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder and murder charges. Prestipino is being held without bail at Clark County Detention Center and is expected to be taken to court on Tuesday, October 22. Authorities are still poring over DNA evidence to confirm the identity of the woman’s body that was found encased in concrete in the desert, in Las Vegas.

PUP threatens Barrow with lawsuit
The United Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow could be in for a legal battle over the Joshua Perdomo student loan write-off, according to statements issued today in a letter addressed to PM Barrow from the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) leader, Hon. John Briceño. The optics of the Perdomo write-off from the perspective of the man in the streets is that government’s generosity is only extended to chosen UDP families. The write-off has reverberated across the country and the political blowback has been immense, especially because the write-off motion was not debated in the House of Representatives and also because of the spectacular failure it suffered when it was voted down in the Senate by a 7 to 6 vote, with only government senators voting in favor.

Tragic murder on Raccoon Street
The blood of another young man was spilled on the streets of Belize City. The incident was particularly tragic because the victim, Troy Polonio, 20, a rigger of Raccoon Street, Belize City, who used to install and repair antenna towers, had his baby in his arms at the time of the shooting. Polonio’s family told Amandala that at about 8:30 Sunday night, Polonio went to his girlfriend’s mother’s house on Raccoon Street to pick up his baby boy and girlfriend, after which the couple would have headed, with their toddler, to their apartment, also on Raccoon Street, not far from his girlfriend’s mother’s house.

Terrence Bishop dies in mass shooting at illegal gambling spot in Brooklyn
Reports out of New York indicate that there was mayhem at an illegal gambling spot in Brooklyn, New York, where gunfire erupted early on Saturday morning, October 12. When the shooting stopped, there were four bodies, and three injured persons had to be rushed to area hospitals. There were an estimated 15 persons playing dice inside Triple Aces, a hangout spot on Utica Avenue, in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, around 7:00 a.m., when gunfire erupted inside. Officials are unclear as to exactly what caused the shooting, and have not yet determined whether it was a robbery or if the shots were fired by someone who was a player in the game.

Belize athletes excel at Central American Masters Championships 2019 in Guatemala
Five (5) athletes from the Belize Association of Masters Athletics (BAMA) returned home on Monday, after performing very well at the XXII Campeonato Centroamericano de Atletismo Master (CCAM) in Guatemala City, October 11-13, at the Estadio Nacional Doroteo Guamuch Flores. Some five hundred (500) athletes attended the event from the seven (7) Central American countries – Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize – as well as from invited countries – Aruba, Curacao, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.

Corozal F.A. Week 5 Opening Season report
We start off by giving thanks to the Almighty Father for His continued blessing upon our tournament. This week marks Week 5. Our Chairman, Mr. Mario Casanova applauds the community at large for coming out to support their children while they enjoy the football games. It is because of the parents, coaches and club owners that we are able to carry out these tournaments. We thank you, each and every person that comes out every week to support our ongoing tournament.

Dangriga sports stats – PLB Week 11, Southern Derby Part 2, Carl Ramos Stadium, must-win for Wagiya vs Altitude FC
Results from Mr. Kelly’s production in collaboration with Dangriga Amateur Cycling Association’s Over-40 Pan American Race that was held on Monday, October 14, from the Placencia junction on the Southern Highway to Placencia, which was 23 miles: First place went to Carl Wallen from Placencia; second place went to Ean Yearwood, also from Placencia; third place went to Edmund Camal from Dangriga; and fourth place went to Kurt “Busta” Lambey from Dangriga. The Oldest Rider prize went to Peter “Baf” Reyes from Dangriga.

FFB Female U-17 Inter-District Week 15 playoff results
Only 1 game was played over the weekend in the Elimination Round of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Female U-17 Inter-District Tournament 2019, which had scheduled two Week 15 playoff games for Saturday, October 12. At the Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga, it was visiting Toledo, 2-1, over Stann Creek, with a goal apiece from Kayla Gonzalez (62’) and Ofeia Pop (86’); while Stann Creek’s goal was by Taryn Arnold (44’).

Weekend Ryders/M&M Engineering Holiday Classic
Yesterday, Weekend Ryders, in conjunction with M&M Engineering, held its 1st of what will be an annual event of the (October) HOLIDAY CLASSIC on the Jaguar Paw Road, just off the George Price Highway. A-riders went for 5 laps of the 10-mile circuit, 50 miles; B-riders went for 4 laps of the 10-mile circuit, 40 miles; and C-riders went for 3 laps of the 10-mile circuit, 30 miles.

Tourism doing well, but too much crime and corruption
An IMF (International Monetary Fund) team recently concluded their annual look at the economy of Belize, and while we at this newspaper don’t look to them for our blueprint for the future, we believe it is good to pay attention to what others have to say, whether they are enemies or friends. Our government leaders, we know, have to hold their breaths, pray for a passing grade from that organization, because they are an important key to the FDI (foreign direct investment) and loans without which our economy, as it is presently designed, would collapse. There is only so much that Taiwan can do to prop us up.

From The Publisher
At 72, I suppose I have resigned myself to the realization that I will never produce a major work of fiction, which was my intention when I returned to Belize from college in 1968. A lot of socio-political controversy quickly surrounded me on my return home, and complicated matters no end. The fact of the matter was that I was black-conscious, and with the boldness of youth, I made an unconditional call for the teaching of African and Indigenous (Mayan) history in Belize’s schools. Despite the fact that the masses of Belizeans were in the throes of a determined, militant struggle for self-determination and self-rule, it became evident that the shadowy, secretive people who controlled the curricula in the leading primary and secondary schools in Belize, had no intention of opening up that curricula to the liberating influences sweeping the planet in the decade of the 1960s.

It is truly amazing how art follows life
Dear Editor: Your historical editorial (Amandala, 10/12/19), recounted the brutality of the conquest and enslavement of peoples. It contained some parallel themes from Shakespeare’s epic poem, The Rape of Lucretia. Lucretia, a woman of unsurpassed beauty, was raped by Tarquin, a Roman soldier on home leave. Her husband was at the battlefront. The two men were military friends. She was virtuous. Her husband had bragged to Tarquin, about his wife’s unquestionable fidelity. Her innocence made her welcome Tarquin into their home because her husband said it was okay for her to do so. “He’s a fine fellow,” he assured her. The ravishment and shame led her to commit suicide.

House Speaker responds to letter from the Leader of the Opposition
Dear Honourable Leader of the Opposition, This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter Ref. OL/GEN/2019 (15) dated 8th October 2019, in which you stated that I made an “arbitrary decision” when I did not allow you and the Opposition Members to debate the Write-Off Motions, following the reports from the Finance and Economic Development Committee which were submitted for adoption by the House. You further stated that your constitutional rights were violated and that my action was contrary to the spirit and letter of the Standing Orders. However, Honourable Opposition Leader, you provided no objective references in the Standing Orders to substantiate your grievances. On the contrary, your letter is misleading, and the facts are misrepresented.

Brian Plummer on human rights
Dear Editor, Good government is more than the use of sovereign power to create prosperity, productivity and happiness. Good governing is the imaginative use of intuition, skills and knowledge to administrate with the participation and consent of the governed. Human rights is a mechanism to win consent of all persons being governed because it ensures fairness and respect for everyone. When the US constitution states that all men are created equal, although the whites had black slaves and the wealthy lived better than the poor whites, it was to create the circumstances that we are all in the same boat. We will all sink, or all float.

A young girl, reportedly mentally ill, needs help
Dear Editor, I am writing to you in this month of mental health awareness about a very important matter. It is an issue that hits very close to home for me. As someone who has dealt with family members with mental illness, I know how important it is to have that support during an episode. Family and community support can make all the difference. In San Ignacio, there seems to be such a case that requires urgent public attention. At the bus stop near the Kontiki Gas Station, there is a young woman who has been living there exposed to the elements for what seems like weeks now.

In the eye of the storm
With sustained winds of 150 miles per hour and gusts of 230 miles, the eye of Hurricane Hattie came roaring inland on Monday, October 30, 1961, two days and three hours earlier than originally forecasted. It slowed its forward speed for eight long hours as it crossed the country, unleashing fearsome winds, heavy, salty rain and a 15-foot tidal wave of muddy and murky water. Mullins River village and its habitants were washed away, and 80% of the buildings in Belize City were either destroyed or severely damaged. Experts say that the destruction would have been total had the storm stayed over our port city an hour longer.

Give the Speaker a pass
I want to remind the PUP parliamentarians, particularly their leader, Hon. John Briceño, that the present Speaker of the House, Mrs. Laura Longsworth, DID NOT save the UDP from themselves earlier this year when they were on their knees before her, praying that she would embarrass herself and protect them from declaring, on the record, for all time, that on their watch Belizeans living abroad would not get to participate in the referendum on the ICJ. The PUPeez are saying that the Speaker did not allow the HOO (Head of the Opposition) to continue the flogging of the UDP over the Perdomo write-off, and that she “was well aware of the magnitude of the bill.”

Discussion Paper – Considerations for a permanent, professional Senior Public Service and for De- politicization of the Belize Public Service
This Discussion Paper examines two critical areas affecting public sector management in Belize and is divided in two parts relating to the situation of leadership and management of the Belize Public Service, and to the current politicized condition of the Main Public Service. 1 Leadership and Management – The Redefining of Roles: This part examines the argument that there should be a constitutional amendment to restore the post of Permanent Secretary which was replaced by the post of Chief Executive Officer in 2000.

From British Honduras to Belize: one family’s drama
The fiasco of the Arithmetic test and Matron’s three-month demotion marked a turning point in the nature of her interactions with her father. They both seemed to lie low until the demotion had lifted and she returned to her regular class, but ever since then she had “gone on a rampage” to bring about change in her environment, as she had felt stifled and had either to act or submit to her father’s regime and she could no longer do that. Inspired by Earl Braddick’s dramatic confrontation she had acted hastily; but, while he could remove himself from her father’s presence, she could not, and had had to face a more strict oversight of her actions by him.

A father wants answers
On Tuesday, Kevin Arnold, a laborer of Belize City, came to Amandala and reported that on September 8, he and his common-law wife, along with their two children, 2 years and 7 months old, were at their home when persons from the Ministry of Human Development went to their house and took away the two children (Neisha, 2, and Kevin, Jr., 7 months old), telling them that they were unfit parents and that the children would be taken for safe-keeping. Arnold later found that they were taken to the Liberty Children’s Home in Ladyville.

Leslie Pipersburgh and Patrick Robateau sentenced to 35 years
Convicted murderers, Leslie Pipersburgh and Patrick Robateau, were back in court this past Friday for a resentencing. The two appeared before Supreme Court Justice Colin Williams. Since the 2016 appeal of Alwin Gabb and Gregory August, when the Belize Court of Appeal found that it was “inhumane” to sentence a convicted murderer to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the courts have been going through an exercise of re-sentencing all convicted murderers who were given a life sentence.

Father of 11 found hacked to death
Juan De La Cruz Carrias, 56, a construction worker of Santa Familia, Cayo District who was the father of 11 children, left home on Thursday to socialize with friends in the village and other areas, but did not return home on Thursday night. At about 8:30 Friday morning, his body was found in a house in San Jose Succotz, a village in which he was not well-known, and which was a considerable distance away, from his home village. The house in which he was found was not a place he was known to visit.

Recinos Imports scammed of $73,000 by scurvy salesman
Recinos Imports, a business located in San Ignacio, is short of $73,000, and police have detained one of the business’s salesmen for questioning in connection with the missing money. When the company audited the salesman’s books to tally dog food sales, the discrepancy was found, and police were called.

The Reporter

Dangriga – Parts Unknown
As a product of the south, I have always been torn between the two southern towns of Dangriga and Punta Gorda. While I was born and did most of my early schooling in PG, I became a teen in Griga.

LOVE FM

World Standards Day celebrated in Belize
World Standards Day was celebrated on October 14, and this year’s theme was “Video standards create a global stage.” The world has come a long way in terms of shooting and editing videos.

Rehabilitation programs available at the Youth Hostel
On Wednesday we featured the first part of our series on the Princess Royal Youth Hostel, where we gave you an insight of how the institution works.

BTB’s Conference: “Destination Marketing and the Impact on our Belize Market”
Cultural tourism is becoming a popular trend as tourists travel to foreign lands to immerse themselves in the local cultures

http://lovefm.com/crime-police-news/chiquibul-forest-reserve-properly-secured/Chiquibul Forest Reserve Properly Secured
The Chiquibul Forest Reserve lies within Belize's Greater Mayan Mountains in the Cayo District. The Forest Reserve lies adjacent to the Belize-Guatemala border and as such had been the focus of illegal activities.

Inspiring Others to follow their passion
The Museum of Belize will be launching an art exhibit tonight, entitled The River of Art Flows Everywhere by Yoaling Lee. Lee is a Taiwanese artist who has been living in Belize for the past 20 years.

Breaking Belize News

Belize Bureau of Standards hosts post World Standards Day event
In lieu of celebrating World Standards Day on October 14, the Belize Bureau of Standards […]

Belize Tourism Board hosts annual industry conference
Today, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) gathered with tourism industry stakeholders from all over the […]

U13 boys qualify for volleyball semifinals at CODICADER games
The boys’ mini volleyball team is headed to the semifinals of the CODICADER U13 tournament […]

Government of Belize hosts Belize -Taiwan agriculture investment mission
The Government of Belize (GOB), through the Ministry with responsibility for investment, trade and commerce, […]

New art exhibit opening at the Museum of Belize
The Museum of Belize will be hosting the opening of a brand new art exhibit […]

Blogs

Pumpkin Sweets – Dulce de Calabaza
One particular item that just screams Halloween vibes to me, or Dia de los Muertos, is dulce de calabaza. Stewed pumpkin sweet – this succulent treat is a combination of brown sugar and warm spices, stewed for a few hours, the brown sugar caramelizing into a syrup that’s full of flavors from cinnamon, star anise, allspice seeds, and of course, bits of the deliciously thick pumpkin flesh that falls apart throughout the cooking process. YUM! For this particular recipe, I picked the classic squash – it’s grown locally, and comes in a variety of shades. I only know it as the Halloween pumpkin, but it actually is a squash, Cucurbita Maxima.

A look at NATURE in BELIZE
Navigating through Belize’s wildlands leads to a closeness with nature you’ve likely never experienced in one place-from wetlands and coral atolls, to tropical rainforest hugging Maya temples. Go ahead and wander into our most popular and accessible protected sites, teeming with every kind of wildlife imaginable, Not all who wander are lost in Belize; they’re on a great big outdoor adventure! Are you looking for real beauty in nature? Here’s a guide to what you can get, just walking around in Belize.

The 2nd Annual Belize Birding Festival
The Belize Birding Festival takes place this weekend! The Belize Birding Festival welcomes local and international birders and wildlife enthusiasts to enhance their appreciation of the spectacular beauty of the natural habitat, throughout the length and breadth of the country, that the almost 590 resident and migratory birds of Belize live in. Enjoy the day strolling through vendor booths, attending workshops, join a group for a birding tour, share photos and experiences about your birding adventures! In partnership, the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), Belize Audubon Society (BAS), and the Belize Hotel Association (BHA) comprise the organizing partners of the annual Belize Birding Festival.

Videos

October 18, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Eleven Communities in Southern Belize Included in Research on Climate Change and Livelihoods for National Planning
The Community Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (CDRRF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development and the Social Development Commission (Jamaica) hosted a Community Profiles and Livelihood Baseline Assessment Workshop in Punta Gorda Town from October 7th to 11th, 2019. The workshop is an activity under the Building Adaptive Capacity and Resilience to Climate Change Project, which is being implemented in the Toledo District by Humana People to People Belize.

Belizean Represented at Fifth Meeting of the Executive Commission of Mesoamerica and the First Mesoamerica Cooperation Forum
Belize was represented at the 5th Meeting of the Executive Commission of Mesoamerica and first Mesoamerica Cooperation Forum by Ambassador Patrick Andrews, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, held in the Dominican Republic from October 14th to 15th, CEO Andrews underscored the relevance of south-south and triangular cooperation for integration and development of the Mesoamerican region.

Chelsea Muñoz joins cancer advocates to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is international Breast Cancer Awareness Month to honor those who are fighting or have survived the disease and commemorate those who have lost the battle against the disease. This year, the Belize Cancer Society, along with the Special Envoy for Women and Children, Kim Simplis Barrow, commissioned a flyer that will be used to promote awareness of breast cancer across Belize. The flyer was unveiled at the Belize Biltmore Hotel during a special gala on Tuesday, October 15th, and showcases cancer survivors and fighters. Among the featured persons include San Pedro’s very own Chelsea Muñoz, former Miss San Pedro, and current Hodgkins Lymphoma patient.

An emergency response team to be established to monitor and restore the reef in the aftermath of natural disasters
The Belizean coastline is flanked by the second largest barrier reef system in the world, which sustains tourism, one of the country’s strongest industries. The reef also serves as a natural barrier against natural disasters such as hurricanes. These storms can cause grave damages to the corals, endangering its survival and the livelihood of thousands. To prevent such a catastrophe, a workshop was held at Gran Caribe Resort’s conference room on Friday, October 11th, to form an emergency response coordinating committee in charge of rehabilitating the reef after a hurricane.

Various Belizean Sources

Monthly Weather Summary for September
September is typically a wet month for the country of Belize. It also coincides with the peak of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season and a significant amount of the historical tropical cyclones that have affected the country occurred during the month of September. Apart from tropical cyclones, other systems that typically affect Belize during the month of September include tropical waves, Tropical Upper Troposheric Troughs (TUTTs) and at times cold fronts and frontal shear lines affect the country as early as September.

Caye Caulker Bakery productsto be sold at Brodies Northern
To all the visitors of Caye Caulker and the islanders that live on the mainland. Caye Caulker Bakery products will be available at Brodies Northern starting tomorrow. You don't have to wait to come to the Island to get Ms. Elivra's exceptional products.

Fixing street lights on Caye Caulker
If there is a street light in your area that went out, please tell us the street name and take a picture of the number on the post. Please post on this thread so we can get them reported and hopefully fixed. Please remember we need the number to make the report.

Poll: Renaming of the site known as Paslow
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project is conducting a Poll to choose the new name for the site that was once named Paslow or "Ground Zero" at the corner of Queen and North Front Streets in Belize City. Choose only one of the six names in the attached Poll that you believe would be the best new name for the site previously known as Paslow or "Ground Zero". This Poll will run until midnight on November 1st., 2019

San Pedro Tour Operators Association Boaters Safety and Continued education
Boaters Safety and continued education are part of our association mission. Thank you, Marelco LTD for offering training on motor trouble shoot and motor maintenance services to our members.

Ministry of National Security Inaugurates Joint Interagency Information Security System
Today, the Ministry of National Security officially inaugurated its Joint Interagency Information Security System (JIISS) during a ceremony at the Ministry of National Security Compound in Belmopan. JIISS is a state-of-the-art, geospatial reporting program designed to gather data to assist security forces on their patrols. The information, which will be displayed on a live platform, will be sent back to base and the Ministry for real-time decision-making and information display. Initially, the program will be used by the Belize Defence Force and the Belize Coast Guard; however, the Ministry has plans to further develop the software for use by the Belize Police Department.

Prime Minister Barrow's Response Letter to the Leader of the Opposition
Dear Leader, I find your letter to me of 15th October 2019, concerning the Joshua Perdomo write-off, to be a weaponization of falsehoods, unsustainable conclusions and downright dishonesty. Indeed, it is a crass and opportunistic screed designed to score points off the public outrage that followed the discovery that Joshua Perdomo is the son of Cabinet Secretary Carlos Perdomo; something that certainly I, and seemingly you, did not know at the time of presentation of the write-off to the House. In fact, I believe the proof that you "only got religion" after the outing of Joshua's lineage, is plain from the failure of your side to say a word in the House when the motion was presented.

Ministry of Health Upcoming Mobile Visits
Mark your calendars to register and get the benefits NHI (National Health Insurance) has to offer. Look out for the date in your village and area!

Channel 7

Barrow Blasts Briceno With Long Letter
Last night we told you how the Leader of the Opposition John Briceno had written to Prime Minister Dean Barrow accusing him of malfeasance and threatening to take him before a judge if he didn't get back that 40 thousand dollar write off for Joshua Perdomo. Well, the PM has written back a fiery two page response.  He opens with a blistering attack, telling Briceno, quote,  "I find your letterto be a weaponization of falsehoods, unsustainable conclusions and downright dishonesty."  He continues, quote,  "it is a crass and opportunistic screed designed to score points off the public outrage that followed the discovery that Joshua Perdomo is the son of Cabinet Secretary Carlos Perdomo."

SIMPLEX Attorney Says PSU Ready To Fight, But Over What?
Just over a week ago, we told you how the Public Service Union decided that it will not back down on its claim to their Hilltop Headquarters in Belmopan. After throwing in the towel a few weeks earlier, the union came back with renewed determination, saying they found what they are calling a significant piece of evidence which they believe proves that they have a legitimate claim to the property. But, as we told you, Steven Perrera, the attorney for the new owners of the Hilltop property, Simplex Design Company, has already sent the union's president an eviction notice, demanding that they leave by the end of October, or else face a Supreme court battle. 

Cops Have No Suspects For Broad Daylight Robbery
Last night we showed you footage of a pair of robbers pulling up in an unlicensed vehicle and walking into the Orange Walk Zitro Western Union office to commit an armed robbery.  It happened din broad daylight in the heart of  Orange Walk Town, but the men left 5 minutes later, calm and collected with the proceeds of the robbery. Today at the press briefing, police told us that they can't discuss the details of the case but they are trying to confirm the identity of the thieves. Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero - Deputy Head, NCIB: "There was a robbery at Zitro Western Union situated on the Belize/Corozal road Orange Walk town. Police visited the business establishment where a report was received that two male persons entered the establishment with firearms, they held up the security guard and they proceeded to rob the cashier of an undisclosed amount of cash. Both persons then made good their escape in a vehicle which left from the area."

American Retirees on Placencia Held Up By Home Invaders
And from that Zitro Western Union robbery in the north to the aggravated burglary of a home of an elderly American couple in Placencia. The victims are 70 year old Torrey and Barbara Slade and they were home invaded last night around 11:30 at their home - which is at mile 19 on the Placencia road.  Police say 3 assailants stormed in through the front door with a 12 gauge shot gun, tied up the couple and ransacked their house. They stole their laptop, a hunting knife, a cellphone and a their vehicle, a 2001 Ford Escape. The burglars then drove off in the direction of Seine Bight Village.  While police found the vehicle shortly after, they have not found the thieves.

Senior Fishermen Refute Undersized Conch Charge
They're senior citizens, but they're also senior fishermen, and, today, 75 year old Oscar O'Brien Mena, 73-year-old Conrad William Daniels, and 72-year-old Edward Meighan were hauled to court, accused of possession of undersized conchs found on board a vessel called "Genie".

Weed and weapons Found in Graveyard and Northside Park
The cops have unearthed some criminal stash spots - including one in a cemetery, and the other in a Northside park.   They started this morning in Sandhill at around 10:30, when a joint police operation found a black 9 millimeter pistol, with a magazine loaded with evelevn live rounds in a bushy lot. They later found a pound of weed wrapped in a transparent plastic in the area.

JISS Has The Jazz On Security
This morning the Ministry of National Security launched its Joint Interagency Information Security System Program. The Program was developed by Belizean programmers to monitor and share information from Belize's security forces. We attended the Program launch in Belmopan this morning to find out what role this new system will play in a better oversight of defense operations. A new state of the art geo-statal reporting program has been developed for use by the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard. According to C.E.O. Felix Enriquez, his new program will allow the decision makers in national defense access to realtime information akin to being on the ground with troops in the jungles or on the seas.

Wingle Da Water!
And while JISS promises vast improvements to the monitoring country's defense forces, there wasn't much the new security system could do to stop this police mobile from going for a swim off the George Price Highway this morning. It happened after 11:30 this morning at mile 12 where the mobile seems to have missed the bridge and taken a dive in the creek.  The Wingle was fished out by a backhoe.  

Lands Road Tour Goes From Rural To Urban
Viewers are well aware of the bad reputation that the Lands Department has developed over the years. It has become one of those least liked Government offices due to the run-around that is involved with trying to get a piece of land.  The public often becomes frustrated by the length of time needed to complete processes like land sales and transfers. And, for the residents who live in remote parts of the country, it often involves an entire day, or days lost dealing with the bureaucracy.

Phillo's Port Programs
And Willoughby - that tireless politician and self-promoter - already has 3 other outreach initiatives that he is planning for the residents of Port Loyola in the weeks to come.  He shared a few details on the importance of these projects, and why he thinks Port residents will benefit from them: Phillip Willoughby - UDP Standard Bearer, Port Loyola: "There will be 2 other initiatives that I, as the standard-bearer, will be looking into. Those are, 1, I've communicated with the Ministry of Agriculture, via the CEO, and I've shared with him my interest in having personnel from BAHA come together and make a presentation at a forum we would like to host again from within the constituency..." "And also create a separate data set of all those families who have family members living with a disability. We have to open up our arms and embrace those persons, especially if you're a single patient, and you have to deal with a child with a particular disability, you can't earn any income."

ASR/BSI's Success In Courting COTED
And from political saccharine to real sugar.ASR BSI is optimistic after a series of CARICOM Ministerial Level agricultural meetings in Belize two weeks ago. The meetings are being called a breakthrough by the he Sugar Association of the Caribbean.  ASR/BSI's Mac Maclachlan told us that it's all about Direct Consumption sugars which is now on par with Plantation White sugar: Their recommendations go to the COTED trade meeting in Guyana in November. 

Flota Charged For Murder
Police have made an arrest for a weekend murder in the north.  38 year old Gonzalo Flota, from San Lazaro, has been charged for the murder of Hazid Diaz - also from the village. Diaz was killed after going to socialize in the village and then buried in a shallow grave.  Gonzalo Flota was reportedly arrested in Mexico..

Man Charged For Attempted Murder of Teenaged Stepson
A man has been charged for badly beating his stepson and leaving him critical.   On Friday, 36 year old Guatemalan, Aroldo Coc arrived at the home of his common law wife Rosaria Rash in Mango Creek. He was violating a restraining order, and he then viciously beat Rash's 16 year old son Antonio Makin Jr. with a piece of firewood, hitting him multiple times on the left side of his head causing 2 large cut wounds.

Caught By A Facebook Con
19-year-old Taydon Castillo, a resident of Coney Drive in Belize City, is accused tonight of engaging con-man tactics. Several persons say that he posted merchandise for sale on the Facebook Group, Belize Buy and Sell. He then allegedly collected money from customers who wanted to buy his items, but he never delivered them their goods.  In one allegation, Yolanda Marisol Calles paid him $750 on July 30th for a cellular phone he advertised for sale on Buy and Sell. She claims that he never delivered the phone. Then, on October 8, Claudia Chi allegedly paid him $500 as a down-payment for an apartment he claimed he had for rent.

The Story Behind Belize's First Animated Short Feature
TECUANI and DUENDE may be the longest animated short film ever to be produced in Belize.  Now, it's not The Lion King, the film is only 18 - 20 minutes long, but it's a giant leap forward for Belize.   But it wasn't easy getting the project off the ground. Cherisse Halsall spoke to the film's creators today to find out about the story and the process behind the short film that is set to be the darling of this year's Belize film festival.   Tecuani and Duende Premieres at the Bliss Center for the performing arts on October 25th.

Barber Turned Robber?
Tonight, 19-year-old Orlin Garcia, a barber from Euphrates Avenue in Belize City, is at the Belize Central Prison. He was taken to court for allegedly robbing a restaurant on Albert Street at gunpoint. It happened last week Thursday. 2 armed gunmen barged into E and C Restaurant, which is located near to Barrow and Williams. They held up 2 employees, and stole two cell phones and $400 cash.  Police arrested and charged Garcia, and put him in custody at the Queen Street station, but he escaped by breaking a window in the cell block.

Why You Should Care About CARIFORUM
The CARIFORUM- EU Economic Partnership Agreement may not mean much to you but it certainly makes a significant difference on the national level. The director general of CARIFORUM, which serves  as a base for economic dialogue with the European Union, is in Belize to discuss with Belizean stakeholders how they can optimize their benefits under the EPA to increase economic development. Here is more from the preliminary session. Percival Marie - Director General, CARIFORUM: "Today we are meeting in Belize to organize the national seminar on services under the economic partnership agreement. At this seminar, we will try to explain to officials but both public and private sector officials in Belize what our obligations are under the agreement..." There will be follow up meetings in Belize. Other CARIFORUM member states have completed sessions such as this one in their respective countries.

Woman Charged With Maim
A 20 year old woman form Hattieville, Gertude Mejia who allegedly almost chopped a woman's hand clean off, was today charged with maim when she appeared yesterday before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson.  The incident occurred about on Saturday afternoon. Virginia Logan was walking on a street in Hattieville when she heard some women shouting at her from behind. She said that when she turned around she saw Mejia swing a machete at her and she put up her left hand to protect her head.

Channel 5

PM Barrow Takes Opposition Leader to Task
Tonight, the Prime Minister Dean Barrow is blasting the letter by Opposition Leader John Briceño, a day after Briceño wrote to him. That letter by Briceño, dated October fifteenth, was [...]

The Abyss That CGA Has Fallen Into
There is a looming death knell over the citrus industry in southern Belize, signaling that the livelihoods of hundreds may be hanging in the balance. Millions of dollars and years [...]

P.S.U.’s Deadline to Vacate HQ Fast Approaching
The Public Service Union is pressing ahead with a legal challenge to regain its former Hilltop headquarters in Belmopan. The P.S.U. has been issued a notice to vacate by Estevan [...]

Simplex Designs will Request Court Order if P.S.U. Refuses to Vacate
Perera says that if the deadline passes and the P.S.U. has not vacated the property, a court order will be pursued to have the union move out. According to Perera, [...]

U.S. Murder Suspect is Nabbed in Las Vegas
According to a news report in The New York Post, U.S. national Christopher Prestipino found refuge in Belize after he murdered a model in Las Vegas.  His stay in Belize [...]

Robbery in the North; No Suspects Yet!
Police say they haven’t yet identified the men who robbed the Zitro Western Union outlet in Orange Walk Town on the Belize-Corozal Road on Wednesday. While cops say that they [...]

Police Vehicle Plunges Into Canal on George Price Highway
A group of police officers and soldiers this morning escaped injury after the police vehicle they were travelling in plunged into a ditch filled with water this morning. It happened [...]

The Future of the Caribbean Sugar Industry
While the citrus industry is in crisis, up north the sugar industry is rebounding. ASR/B.S.I. has been attempting to get locally produced sugar into the tightly controlled CARICOM market. Now, [...]

Belama Phase Four Land Remains Unresolved
The dispute between several families and businessman Alex Chang over six acres of land in Belama Phase Four, Belize City,  remains unresolved. Chang through attorney Brandon Usher of Williams Law [...]

A Home Invasion in Placencia
There was a home invasion on Wednesday night in the south where an elderly resident came under attack.  According to police, three men, armed with a shotgun, entered a house [...]

Stakeholders Meet on State of Transportation Industry
Since enacting a statutory instrument on September fourth, government, as well as stakeholders in the public transportation sector, have been monitoring developments within the industry where Guatemalan and Mexican buses [...]

S.I. on Transportation is Revised
According to AG Peyrefitte, the statutory instrument has since been amended to reflect additional changes.  The revised S.I., he says, has been forwarded to Transport Minister Edmond Castro.   Michael [...]

Hattieville Woman is Behind Bars for Maiming Another
A young domestic from Hattieville, Gertrude Mejia, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison for the offense of maim.  Allegations are that on October twelfth, 2019, she intentionally and [...]

3 Seasoned Fishermen are Arraigned for Undersized Conch
Three seasoned Belize City fisherman, who have been in the fishing business for over fifty years, each appeared in court on fisheries offenses they are disputing.   This morning, seventy-five-year-old [...]

Philip Willoughby Host Land Consultation for Port Loyola Residents
The long lines and the slow process at the Lands Department are well known to persons who have to head to the capital to work out land issues.  So now, [...]

Consultation of Production of Industrial Hemp to be Held
Philip Willoughby also wants to host a consultation on the production of industrial hemp. Willoughby says he is in contact with respective ministries and representatives to have the consultation held [...]

The Belize District Winners of the 2019 Father Marion Ganey Primary School Quiz Competition
Schools in the Belize District took part in the revived Father Marion Ganey Primary School Quiz Competition. The two winning students are from Hattieville and Belize City.  The pair will [...]

“Local Service; Global Reach” on International Credit Union Day
Every year, the third Thursday in the month of October is celebrated worldwide as International Credit Union Day. Credit Unions around the globe organized a range of activities today to [...]

Credit Unions to Soon Connect to the National Payment System
But with a collective membership of almost half the country’s population, what is the future of the credit union movement in terms of the services it offers to its member-owners? [...]

Belize High School Launches Appeal for National Elementary Schools Robotics Competition
The Belize High School is moving robotics up to another level. A national competition is in the works and teams from across the country are encouraged to participate in the [...]

A Portrait Exhibition at the Museum of Belize
The Museum of Belize is launching a portrait exhibition called “The River of Art Flows Everywhere.” Taiwanese artist Yaoling Lee, who has been living in Belize for over two decades, [...]

Healthy Living: Benefits of Weight Lifting
Jogging, cycling, and even walking are considered forms of exercise that can improve your overall health. It is recommended that you should incorporate at least thirty minutes of physical activity [...]

The Reporter

Body Found Near San Lazaro Village In Shallow Grave
Police have formally arrested and charged San Lazaro resident Gonzalo Flota, 38, for the murder of Hazid Diaz. Diaz’s body was found in a shallow grave in a canefield in the community. He had been stabbed multiple times and his throat was slit.

LOVE FM

Discussions for National Assembly Renovations continue
After having received forty thousand dollars from the Embassy of Taiwan for the refurbishment of the media section inside the National Assembly, the various news agencies have been consulted on the way forward.

Taiwanese artist opens exhibit at the museum
This weekend, art-loving Belizeans will have a treat since the Museum of Belize will be launching an art exhibit tomorrow. The exhibition, which is entitled “The River of Art Flows Everything” features artwork from well-known Taiwanese artist, Yaoling Lee.

San Ignacio Teen Missing
A Jasmine Alert has been issued for a teenager of San Ignacio Town, Cayo District. It has been a week since 16-year-old Kimberly Galvez went missing from her home in San Ignacio.

Police discover drugs and guns in operation
Today, police made three separate discoveries of guns and drugs during a joint operation in Belize City and rural Belize. The first was around 10:30am in Sandhill Village.

Breaking Belize News

BTB and the media explore Placencia and its wonderful attractions
Day 3 of the Belize Tourism Board’s (BTB)’s Familiarization Trip took the 19 participants on […]

Francis Fonseca donates to Stella Maris School
Yesterday, Freetown Area Representative, Francis Fonseca, visited the Stella Maris school which educates students with […]

Prime Minister says Joshua Perdomo must repay but debt legally uncollectible
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has revealed further details of the effort to recover $40,474.88 from […]

Gonzalo Flota charged with murder
Yesterday, police arrested and charged Gonzalo Flota, 38, with murder. His charges come in connection […]

Belize demolishes Nicaragua 7 nil; CODICADER U13 teams display impressive performance in Costa Rica
The under-13 boys’ football squad have two wins under their belt in their group in […]

Man charged for attempted murder of former stepson
Arolodo Coc has been arrested and charged with one count of attempt murder, one count […]

Police seeking 3 men for aggravated burglary
Police in Southern Belize are investigating a case of aggravated burglary. That is after three […]

Accused murderer from the US was in Belize for 1 week before returning to Vegas
The New York Post is reporting that accused murderer, Christopher Prestipino fled to Belize after killing […]

Mayor Wagner meets Miss Garifuna Belize City, Niri Centeno
Yesterday, Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner, met with a delegation of Garifuna representatives. That delegation […]

Police: No arrests in Orange Walk robbery
Orange Walk police are seeking two men in connection with an armed robbery yesterday. According […]

Dr. Candice Pitts opens sewing factory in Mesop!
Belize City Councilor and the PUP’s Standard Bearer in Mesopotamia, Dr. Candice Pitts, launched a local sewing factory yesterday...

PUP threaten legal action over Joshua Perdomo write-off
Leader of the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP), John Briceño, continues his party’s attack on the controversial write-off of more than $40,000 in ...

Belize High School to host Lego League Robotics Tournament
Belize High School (BHS) will be hosting the first of its kind, the Lego League Robotics Tournament. The tournament is designed for students ages 9-14 years old...

Car catches fire on Bullet Tree Road
A vehicle was destroyed by fire this morning on Bullet Tree Road. Sydney Codd told […]

Belize High School to host Lego League Robotics Tournament
Belize High School (BHS) will be hosting the first of its kind, the Lego League […]

Blogs

Conch Season Opened October 1st: My First Taste at El Fogon Restaurant
Conch season opens October 1st each year. The queen conch – which is actually a marine snail and a mollusk – is a very traditional food on Ambergris Caye LOVED by those who live here. And those who visit. I think everyone in Belize has their favorite conch dish. What I was craving was CONCH FRITTERS. They are served all over the island and all over the country. And while they can be too bready or too oily…too doughy or too bland, El Fogon Restaurant makes them as perfect as I can imagine. Here are some pictures of my day AND my lunch at El Fogon.

Top 10 Beaches in Belize
Belize is a small country with 386km of coastline, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. With an abundant variety of marine life, it offers a diversity of islands to explore and relax on warm shores, or bask on white sandy beaches and enjoy perfect sunsets. Are you looking for some marine adventures? Here are the top 10 islands in Belize that you should visit in 2020.

Top Waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve Worth a Visit
The Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, located in the West of Belize is theoldest protected forested area inBelize. Roughly a two and a half to three-hour drive, it is one of the most unspoiled and beautiful areas in Belize. Hidden amongst the Maya Mountains in the West you can find vast pine forest, stunning peaks, and beautiful waterfalls. Some waterfalls are easily accessible, while others require a hike, but these natural wonders are a must to be enjoyed when in Belize

ATM Cave Tour for Non-Swimmers - A First Hand Experience
As someone who is unable to swim at all, I wanted to share my experience of doing the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave tour in the hopes of helping anyone who is feeling uncertain or unsure about whether to do it. I went on the tour with Belize Caving Expeditions, and wanted to share these practical tips or things I wished I knew before doing the ATM tour. All in all, it was a very positive experience! To get more comfortable with being in the water, I spent one day in Caye Caulker dedicated to walking around in shallow areas and gradually went in deeper. I wore a life jacket and got used to floating, then being towed around by a friend, as well as practicing some kicks while wearing my Keen sandals. This made a big difference in helping to overcome my fears (the water was warm too, so it was quite pleasant!).

The People of Belize
While the United States of America prides itself as a “melting pot” of cultures, Belize is just as suitable a poster child for this claim; people from a wide variety of cultures call Belize their home, marrying their own cultural sensibilities with that telltale relaxed Belizean nature. Belize’s open-mindedness toward interracial couples has allowed for many cultures to thrive within Belize. Depending on where you go in this country, it is not that hard to run into groups of Chinese, Creoles, East Indians, Mennonites, Garifuna, Maya, and even Mestizos. Despite the drastically different origins of these different cultures, many of their traditions and beliefs have harmoniously blended into a greater Belizean society.

Videos

October 17, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Island tour guides and boat captains attend Manatee Conservation Workshop
Aiming to protect and reduce the death toll of the endangered Antillean manatee, a conservation workshop was held in San Pedro Town on Thursday, October 10th. Representatives from the many tour companies in San Pedro gathered at the Lion’s Den at 7PM to participate in the event, which provided valuable information for tourism industry partners on manatees. This was a collaborative effort of Friends of Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize Forest Department (BFD), Clear Water Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Protect Our Manatees Belize organization, Belize Tourism Board, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and Belize Port Authority.

BTB Media Familiarization trip highlights the Southeast Coast of Belize
The annual Belize Tourism Board (BTB) Media familiarization tour took media house representatives on a trip filled with adventure and excitement from Friday, October 11th to Monday, October 14th. Focusing on the southeast coast of Belize, the tour featured adrenaline-filled activities, cultural experiences, and even a spectacular caye getaway. Sixteen members of the media spent four days and three nights immersing themselves in the Belizean experience, learning more about its tourism attractions to better share with their audience.

Ambergris Today

Special Envoy For Women And Children And The Belize Cancer Society Unveil 2019 Cancer Awareness Flyer
On Tuesday, October 15, 2019, the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children in partnership with the Belize Cancer Society unveiled its 2019 Cancer Awareness Flyer as part of Belize’s activities for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, the Office of the Special Envoy partners with the Belize Cancer Society to identify cancer survivors and current fighters who are willing to give of their time to empower others and encourage yearly screenings/self-examinations by participating in a Cancer Awareness Photoshoot.

Forgiveness Is A Word Easy To Say, But Hard To Apply
by Seleni Perez - Forgiveness is a word so easy to say, but applies much strength and courage to do. It’s forgetting the past and promising not to hold resentment. It’s letting go of the pain and seeing new horizons without a reason to look back! It’s setting your heart, mind and soul free from sorrow, and seeking a new beginning. But how to do this when we can not find peace within?

Various Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Stingrayz Basketball
Inviting residents and visiting tourists to attend what promises to be a fun filled night this Saturday at the Caye Caulker Basketball Court. Come out and witness Caye Caulker Stingrayz in action as they play against San Pedro and Orange Walk. The Voice of Caye Caulker will be there doing a live coverage for viewers at home.

Belize Bank Mobile Banking App
Download the Belize Bank Mobile Banking App today! Manage your finances from virtually anywhere and anytime using any Android or iOS mobile device with internet connection."

Letter from Hon. Laura Tucker-Longsworth, Speaker of the House of Representatives
To the Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition

Eleven Communities in Southern Belize Included in Research on Climate Change and Livelihoods for National Planning
he Community Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (CDRRF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development and the Social Development Commission (Jamaica) hosted a Community Profiles and Livelihood Baseline Assessment Workshop in Punta Gorda Town from October 7th to 11th, 2019. The workshop is an activity under the Building Adaptive Capacity and Resilience to Climate Change Project, which is being implemented in the Toledo District by Humana People to People Belize. As a part of the workshop, participants visited the communities of Bella Vista, Bladen, Corazon, Santa Ana, and San Benito Poite to collect baseline information on climate change and disaster impacts on livelihoods.

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday to paint these awesome coconut pods!

Belizean Represented at Fifth Meeting of the Executive Commission of Mesoamerica and the First Mesoamerica Cooperation Forum
Belize was represented at the 5th Meeting of the Executive Commission of Mesoamerica and first Mesoamerica Cooperation Forum by Ambassador Patrick Andrews, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, held in the Dominican Republic from October 14th to 15th, CEO Andrews underscored the relevance of south-south and triangular cooperation for integration and development of the Mesoamerican region.

BELIZE IMPOSES PANAMA IN FOOTBALL 7 MALE
Belize left the three points on Wednesday 3-1 to beat his counterpart in Panama, at the Ernesto Rohrmoser Stadium in Pavas, in the framework of men's soccer of the X Central American Sports Games of Inclusive Primary Costa Rica 2019. Belizean entries fell by Zimel Reid and Jazed Che twice. For their part, the gutters discounted through Alexis Soto. After playing the first date, in Group A Costa Rica and Belize add three points each, while Panama and Nicaragua do not score. In Group B, El Salvador counts 3 units and none Guatemala. Honduras had rest on this day.

JOSHUA'S 35TH BIRTHDAY BASH BILLIARDS TOURNAMENT
WON BY A TOP SHOOTER FROM GUATEMALA- LUIS LEMUS! Joshua Kuylen and the Corozal Billiards Association organized an open Billiards tournament in celebration of Joshua's 35th birthday on October 12th and 13th, 2019 in Corozal Town at the TMJ's Fun House. The single player tournament was the first of it's kind with three different billiards games: Playing in the winners bracket was 9 ball - race to 5; losers bracket- 8 ball - race to 3, and in the grand finals it was 10 ball - race to 4.

Corozal - Biometrics and YOU!
Come and join our Social Security Board's countrywide Information Forums starting tomorrow Thursday, October 17th at 2:00 p.m. at Corozal's St. Francis Credit Union Conference Room! As we continue to enhance customer experience, SSB is proposing the use of Biometrics for customer transactions minimizing the need to present ID’s as a form of identity verification. Biometrics is the measurement of a person’s unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints and facial features used to establish and verify that You are Who You Say You Are!

The BTB proudly donates vehicle to the BTIA
This donation will be used in BTIA’s efforts in promoting sustainable management and development of the tourism industry in Belize. Misty Michael, Director of Marketing & Industry Relations, presents the keys to Melanie Paz, President of BTIA.

Calling all Belizean teachers: registration for the Winter Term of the American English E-Teacher program is now open!
The U.S. Embassy is accepting applications for the free online course until October 24. Belizean teachers who are interested in applying can email [email protected] to receive the application form that they can fill out and email to the U.S. Embassy.

Channel 7

Western Union Robbers In a Red Ride With No Plates
Another Zitro Western Union has been targeted by armed robbers. It happened this afternoon at the Zitro Western Union in Orange Walk Town - right in the main on the Belize/Corozal road. At 2:28 pm, a red Ford Escape without license plates pulls up and lets out two men. They walk into the cash transfer business where the cashier was behind the counter. The man wearing a long black pants with yellow shirt and a cap on his head entered first, followed seconds by the other wearing a white shirt with green stripes.

John, Joshua, Judges
The government has already accepted, and legislated, that the 40 thousand dollars which Joshua Perdomo owes is unrecoverable, a complete write off. And while the public purse has to take that loss, the loss in political capital could prove to be even greater for the Barrow Administration. And that's because the opposition - which completely missed the write off when it first went to the house two months ago - now just won't let it go.

Madam Speaker Schools John B
And while the Prime Minister will gauge his own response, or non-response - that line about "stifling debate" was raised with the speaker of the house in a letter Briceno sent to her last week. He said he was denied an opportunity to debate at the house meeting on Friday, October 4th. Here's that moment: Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition: "To speak on any of these motions, because we had to wait for it to come back from house committee." Speaker of the House: "I said no, we will not be doing that today." Hon. John Briceno: "But these have already gone to house committee and now it's coming back." Speaker of the House: "But there was a time for debate in the last meeting. Nobody picked it up."

City Mayor's Half A Million Dollar Headache
12 days ago, we told you about how Justice Courtney Abel ruled against Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner and the Belize City Council. The judge has found that the Council wrongfully terminated Candice Miller, the former City Administrator. And so, the Council and the Mayor are now staring down an award of almost 400 thousand dollars which the Council must pay Miller in compensation for that wrongful dismissal. As viewers will remember, Miller was brought into City Hall as the administrator, and her six-figure contract was renewed several months before the 2018 municipal elections. Questioning that renewal became a platform of good governance for the PUP going into those elections.

What About Waste Control?
So, while the Mayor contemplates that nearly half-a-million-dollar headache for the Candice Miller judgment, he and the council still have the default judgment of approximately 1million dollars that they owe to Belize Waste Control. That's one of the cases that his council cited against Miller for the alleged dereliction of duty, which Justice Abel disagreed with. You'll remember that the Mayor claimed that when Miller was City Administrator, she failed to properly inform them about this pending judgment. Miller has always maintained that she did bring it to the Mayor's attention and that it was he who dropped the ball on that one.

Alleged Killer Kelly Freed
He's been on remand at Prison for 3 years and 3 months but tonight, 22-year-old Lionel Kelly, a resident of Mayflower Street, is at home with his family. That's after he was acquitted yesterday in a trial without a jury of the murder of 20-year-old Tevin Palmer. Viewers may remember that violent evening of July 6th, 2016. On that day, there was a surge of gun violence in Belize City which left 3 men dead. 20-year-old Tevin Palmer was among the casualties. He had ties to a city gang.

New Director of Immigration Named, Not Universally Embraced
As we've been reporting, Director of Immigration Diana Locke goes on pre-retirement leave next week, and there's been a whole lot of speculation about who will take her place. It's one of the hottest hot seats in the government service, and no department has been as publicly tainted by controversy as Immigration. Outgoing Director Diana Locke has done a lot to clean it up - but all eyes are watching to see whether the government will keep that trend going - especially with an election around the corner. As is well known - and this has been the political practice for decades - immigration is a major means of regularizing new voters.

COMPOL Says "Dream Like City" Is A Nightmare
A strip tease contest turned into an ugly street side brawl where one woman was stabbed. It happened at 3:30 on Sunday morning at Dream Like City on the Phillip Goldson Highway and it was captured on cell phone camera. 30 year old Nachell Flowers reported that she got into an altercation with her neighbor 27 year old Shantel Neal who she says attacked her and stabbed her to the chest.

PUP Councillor Seeks to Sew Up Victory in UDP Stronghold
At the top of the news, we showed you our interview with Mayor Bernard Wagner in which he discussed 2 major judgment debts that the Belize City Council owes: one to former City Admin. Candice Miller, and the other to Belize Waste Control. Well, we met the Mayor at the Hotchandani Plaza, near the Pound Yard Bridge. He was there for the launching of the Mesopotamia Community Sewing Center. It's an initiative being led by the City Councillor Dr. Candice Pitts, to provide job opportunities for residents of the Mesopotamia Division.

Pitts Provokes UDP's Political Power Base
Today's launch also gave us an opportunity to ask Dr. Candice Pitts about her political campaign in the Mesopotamia Division. As the PUP Standard Bearer for that constituency, she's preparing to contest the next general election against the UDP's Shyne Barrow. Now, as viewers are aware, Mesopotamia has been statically the safest seat for the UDP for a number of years under the tenure of the retiring area rep, Michael Finnegan. So, are Dr. Pitts and the PUP fighting an uphill battle in that division, or is this seat in play, now that Michael Finnegan is stepping down? We asked Pitts for her read, and here's what she had to say:

Seaweed Solution For Your Hair?
And while Pitts wants to be a female first for Mesop, another woman is making her name in the very competitive business of hair care. She's a bold entrepreneur from Placencia who has created her own line of products geared at styling and caring for Curly and Coily hair. And, Jolie Pollard may be riding the swells of a popular trend at just the right time. One look around any public space in Belize lately will tell you that women and girls have embraced their natural hair.

Gizmo Gets Off Attempted Murder
After a long criminal history, 34 year old Gian Bernard is now free of all criminal charges that he once faced. The 34 year old - who is now confined to a wheelchair - was today freed of a charge of attempted murder. It was for the May 2012 shooting of a neighbor, Codrington Bodden. Bodden was shot to the face but survived. He later reported his shooter to have been Gian Bernard. But Bodden was later gunned down and killed - and so, today, the DPP's office entered a "nolle pros" motion.

Sabal's Farm, Nexus Between Farming, Food And Culture
Tonight's we'll take you back to the south - but not to any fancy tourist destination, but to Sabal's Cassava Farm at mile 3 on the Hummingbird Highway just outside Dangriga. It's a family owned enterprise that does a lot more than put crops in the ground. The farm's premier product - the cassava - is an essential part of Garifuna culinary culture, and the Sabals take it from the root, to the dinner table. And, they open that process to visitors who can tour the farm and observe the processing of the root vegetable, and the actual making of cassava bread.

All About That Baseline
With all this recent rain and storm threats, preparation is key. And the Ministry of Labour along with their partners the Community Disaster Risk Reduction Fund hosted a week long workshop entitled Community Profiles and Livelihood Baseline Assessment Workshop. It was held in Punta Gorda from last week Monday to Friday.

NICH Technicians In Suriname Learning About Colonial Architecture
Two NICH staffers are in the culturally complex South American nation of Suriname learning about the preservation of Dutch colonial architecture. Surinamese Television spoke to Sylvia Batty and Phylicia Pelayo about what they are learning there: The subtitles are Dutch since that is the official language there.

Channel 5

Is CGA Heading for Bankruptcy?
We start the newscast tonight with developments in the citrus industry which continues to find itself on the brink of collapse. For some time, the once thriving industry has been [...]

Opposition Leader Reveals the Whereabouts of Joshua Perdomo
The Leader of the Opposition, John Briceño is ramping up pressure in respect of a write-off of a loan of forty-thousand plus dollars to the son of the Cabinet Secretary. [...]

Kareem Musa Takes on Michael Peyrefitte over Joshua Perdomo’s Loan Write-Off
After the House of Representatives approved the write-off without debate, it went to the Senate and seven out of the thirteen senators voted it down including Church Senator Ashley Rocke [...]

P.U.P. Contemplating Judicial Review if Joshua Perdomo’s Loan is Written-Off
Musa reiterated what Briceño has said to the PM, and that is that, if the loan is written off without the Senate’s approval, the Opposition will launch a legal challenge [...]

BYM Calls on Belizean Youth to Rise Against Lotion Motion
The Belize Youth Movement is calling on all the Belizean youths to rise and demand that their student loans also be written off. The B.Y.M., an arm of the People’s [...]

6 More Cases of Alleged Voter Registration Fraud before the Chief Magistrate
The P.U.P.’s Standard Bearer for Belize Rural North Marconi Leal is challenging six re-registration applications, believing that those persons gave inaccurate information regarding their place of residence. Originally, Leal was [...]

Opposition Leader was Right, says Kareem Musa
The Leader of the Opposition John Briceño says that on October fourth he was denied the opportunity to debate the Joshua Perdomo forty thousand dollars write-off motion. Speaker of the [...]

House Speaker says Opposition Leader’s Letter Misleading, Misrepresented
House Speaker Laura Tucker Longsworth responded to Briceño’s letter today, saying that his statements are misleading and the facts are misrepresented. Longsworth tells Briceño that on October fourth, as the [...]

Zitro in Orange Walk Robbed
Police in Orange Walk are investigating an armed robbery. Thirty-two-year-old Lizeny Marchand told police that at around two-thirty this afternoon, a man entered Zitro Western Union and he was followed [...]

Who Killed Troy Polonio Jr. and Why?
Twenty-year-old Troy Polonio was shot and killed while holding his infant son at his mother-in-law’s residence on Raccoon Street on Monday night.  He was shot twice by an assailant who [...]

Residents Fighting Crime in San Lazaro
The murder of San Lazaro, Orange Walk, resident Basis Hazid Diaz over the weekend is the most recent and most violent crime that has happened within that community in just [...]

Crime Up in Cow Pen; Village Needs More Street Lights
In the south, retired rural development officer Santiago Pop was also murdered over the weekend. The fifty-eight-year-old was chopped to death inside his house sometime between Friday and early Saturday [...]

Lionel Kelly is Freed of 2016 Murder
Alleged murder suspect Lionel Kelly, walked free on Tuesday after his attorney Simeon Sampson, made a no case submission which was upheld by Justice Colin Williams. The Justice agreed that [...]

What’s Going on with the Compensation for Candice Miller?
About a week and a half ago, former City Administrator Candice Miller won a case against the City Council for wrongful termination. The current P.U.P. administration believes that Miller was [...]

Can CitCo Meet its Financial Obligations to Pay Compensation & Claims
But as the issue of compensation to the former City Administrator looms over the council, there is still another elephant in the room. A million-dollar claim by Belize Waste Control [...]

A Community Sewing Centre for the Women in Mesop
Single and unemployed women of the Mesopotamia Division will be able to take on sewing to generate income for themselves and boost economic activity in the division. Today, a centre [...]

Has the P.U.P.’s Candice Pitts Gained Ground in Mesop?
These days City Councillor Doctor Candice Pitts has been on the ground in the Mesopotamia constituency, which is considered a stronghold for the United Democratic Party under senior minister Michael [...]

A Change of Heart for Candice Pitts
Candice Pitts came to the political scene in 2018 when she ran and won her seat as councillor in the Belize City Council under the P.U.P. banner. Now, Pitts is [...]

A New Homeowner Courtesy Heritage Bank & Hand in Hand Ministries
The Hand in Hand Ministries handed over its thirty-second house for this year. The new home was built in Ladyville and the keys were presented to the owner this afternoon [...]

Scout Association Hosts Pile Driving Ceremony for its New Headquarters
The Belize Scout Association held a pile driving ceremony today on site of where its new headquarters will be built. The “Sir Colville N. Young Building” will serve as the [...]

A FIFA Sponsored Beach Soccer Course at the F.F.B. Headquarters
A FIFA sponsored beach soccer course is underway at the Football Federation of Belize Headquarters in Belmopan. About twenty-one coaches from across the country are actively taking part. The train [...]

Belize Prepares for Children’s Parliament
Thirty-six children have been preparing to participate in a Children’s Parliament to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Children next month. The event is [...]

The Reporter

Armed Robbery Of Zitro Western Union In Orange Walk
An armed robbery occurred at the Zitro Western Union branch located on Queen Victoria Avenue in Orange Walk Town.

LOVE FM

Belize City House of Culture launch naming competition for ground zero
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project is seeking public opinion on what the new structure being built at ground zero should be named. Ground zero is the site where the Paslow Building once stood before it was set on fire in 2002.

Dr. Candice Pitts ready to fight for Mesop
Earlier this year, Councillor Dr. Candice Pitts, was endorsed as the PUP Standard Bearer for the Mesopotamia constituency. In the next general election scheduled to take place in 2020, Dr. Pitts will go up against Music Ambassador Shyne Barrow for that division.

Citco contemplating whether to file an appeal in Miller’s case
On October 4, Candice Miller, the former City Administrator for the Belize City Council was victorious in court as she was awarded in excess of four hundred thousand dollars. Justice Courtenay Abel ruled that contrary to what the Belize City Council was saying, Miller was not in dereliction of her duties.

Discussing the inner workings of the Princess Royal Youth Hostel
The tragic fire at the Youth Hostel was not the only thing discussed when Love News Reporter, Courtney Menzies, sat with the authorities in charge. We received an in depth analysis about the inner workings of the institution. This will be a part of our Youth Hostel Series, which will be aired over the next few days.

Report of fire that killed three girls at Youth Hostel will not be released
n terms of tragedies, there are several that Belizeans will never forget. One of those is the fire at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel that took the lives of three teenage girls. This incident occurred in 2015, after the girls were locked in a room reportedly as a form of punishment.

Marconi Leal challenged voters’ list in court
The People’s United Party (PUP) started their challenge of the voters’ list for Belize Rural North with fifty nine objections but quickly took it down to six when they went to court today. In court, Marconi Leal, the PUP’s Standard Bearer along with Nathaniel Alvarado testified that one of the six individuals, Johann Badman, doesn’t live in that division.

Caribbean Statistics Day: “Building Resilience of the Caribbean Community”
The Statistical Institute of Belize, SIB, held an exhibition at the Belize Institute of Management. Javier Romero, Assistant Statistician I, at the Statistical Institute of Belize, says statistics allow us to understand the world better.

Breaking Belize News

Jasmine Alert issued for missing San Ignacio teen
The family of 16-year old Kimberly Galvez of San Ignacio is seeking the public’s assistance […]

Speaker rebuffs Opposition Leader’s appeal over write-offs
Speaker of the House of Representatives Laura Longsworth has dismissed Leader of the Opposition John […]

Armed robbers target Zitro Office in Orange Walk
Orange Walk Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred sometime after 3 pm today. […]

UB awards 15 scholarships and bursaries for school year
Fifteen students of the University of Belize (UB) have won scholarships and bursaries for the […]

Caribbean celebrates Statistics Day
The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) marked Caribbean Statistics Day this week by hosting a […]

Belize delegates head to Costa Rica for the U-13 CODICADER games 2019
Fifty-nine athletes and delegates are on their way to Costa Rica for the Elementary Level […]

Prince Harry gets emotional at award ceremony speaking about Meghan and Archie
Picture: BBC News On Tuesday, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan attended the […]

U-18 selection records wins in Belize and Petén ahead of regional championship
The Junior Jaguars under-18 football team played two friendly matches over the weekend as it […]

Food is Life!
Food is Life, health, energy, culture and nutrition. Today is being commemorated around the world […]

Belize represented at 5th meeting of the executive commission of Mesoamerica and the First Mesoamerica cooperation forum
Belize was represented at the 5th meeting of the executive commission of Mesoamerica and the […]

Shantel Neal charged for aggravated assault
Nachell Flowers reported to police that on October 13 around 3:30 a.m. she was socializing with a friend at a night club on the Philip Goldson Highway when an altercation ensued between her and Shantel Neal...

St. Martin’s Credit Union commemorating International Credit Union Day
Tomorrow, October 17, will mark the celebration of International Credit Union Day and St. Martin’s Credit Union (SMCU) in Cayo is marking the occasion by either hosting or being a part of various activities...

Man and woman charged for drug trafficking
A man and a woman were charged yesterday for drug trafficking. According to reports, police were on patrol on the George Price Highway between miles 29 and 30 where they saw a black pick-up truck swerving on the highway...

Eleven communities in southern Belize included in research on climate change
The Community Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (CDDRF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development and the Social Development Commission (Jamaica) hosted a Community Profiles...

Special Envoy’s office launches new cancer awareness flye
Yesterday, the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children (SEWC) in partnership with the Belize Cancer Society, launched its 2019 Cancer Awareness Flyer as part of Belize’s activities for Breast Cancer Awareness Month...

Belize and Taiwan continue to celebrate diplomatic relations
This year marks the 30th anniversary of friendly diplomatic relations between Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan). To celebrate, both governments have been hosting a series of events commemorating the milestone...

Belize - Short term actions for clean water
The Clean Water Alliance is a work-in-progress non-political movement that aims to organize the human and material resources necessary to end further pollution of Belize’s waters and to optimally rehabilitate already polluted waters...

Blogs

Sere, A Garifuna Delicacy
Traditional Garifuna foods are based around fish, chicken, cassava, bananas, and plantains. Most of the meals are rich and hearty. The foods are very labor-intensive and used to be cooked over an open fire hearth. Though stoves save time, most of the Garifuna families still prefer to cook over the fire hearth because of the unique taste it adds to the meals. Arawak cooking, combined with African influences, come together as a mouth-watering Belizean delicacy that all must try. For example, Sere is a very common traditional meal. It is a creamy coconut fish soup infused with local spices, served with a side of coconut rice, seasoned ripe plantains, and mashed greens or yams. This meal will certainly leave your taste buds bursting with flavor!

Belize and Yoga
Belize and Yoga. These two words together are enough to invite almost anyone to escape their everyday routine. There’s nothing better than doing yoga while embracing the natural beauty of Belize. Belize is one of the most spectacular places on earth, perfect for relaxing and finding yourself surrounded by nature. Now, with wellness travel gaining popularity, yoga vacations are popping up all over the world. Now you can combine the experience of traveling through Belize with yoga that together provides physical, mental, and spiritual exploration and growth while still allowing plenty of personal time for adventures and relaxation; the makings of a profound and possibly life-changing experience.

Conservation in Belize
Belize is known as “the jewel” because of its lush green forest, blue waters and abundance of wildlife. This jewel has passed many environmental protection laws that aim to preserve the country’s natural and cultural heritage. There are many conservation groups and efforts that move towards the conservation of particular species or groups of animals, while others are aimed at entire habitats such as the marine habitat and the reef system. What many may not be aware of is that this small, yet beautiful country of Belize has some of the richest habitats in this world. There are currently 103 protected areas throughout the country of Belize.

International Sources

Another threat to coral: sewage discharges by Cozumel hotels
At least a dozen pipes dispose of wastewater in waters off Cozumel. Just after environmental authorities closed some of the reefs around Cozumel due to the presence of white band disease, another threat to coral has been detected: sewage discharges from hotels on the island. Renowned speleologist Germán Yañez has discovered at least 12 pipes that carry sewage from hotels to reefs around Cozumel, the newspaper Milenio reported. One hotel disposes wastewater via a cave that opens up to the Caribbean Sea. The hotels responsible won’t be made public until the environmental protection agency Profepa has investigated.

Wash U Med School administrator leads all-volunteer surgical missions to Central America
You never know when an experience or a conversation will change your life and the lives of others. Peggy Frisella co-founded Surgical Outreach for the Americas (SOfA) in 2008 with Dr. Brent Matthews. She had lived in Guatemala as a young nurse and brought her daughters there for their junior service project. He had done some medical mission work in Haiti and was eager to help more people in underserved countries. Since 2008, the volunteer medical teams of SOfA have performed more than 1,300 surgeries in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras. They’re branching out to Belize with a trip this December.

Videos

October 16, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

BEL Team to Assist with Hurricane Restoration in Abaco, Bahamas
A team of five Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) employees travelled to the Bahamas on Sunday, October 13 to assist Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) with hurricane restoration efforts on Abaco Island. Category five Hurricane Dorian claimed 61 lives and caused massive devastation to the Abaco and Grand Bahama islands during its passage September 1- 3, 2019. The BEL team will join other member utilities of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) who have committed to assisting BPL with rebuilding its electrical infrastructure.

Belize attends High-Level Segment on Statelessness and 70th Session of the Executive Commission of the High Commissioner’s Programme
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Patrick Andrews headed Belize’s delegation to the High-Level Segment on Statelessness (HLS) and the 70th Session of the Executive Commission (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Programme. The events are being held from the 7th to 11th October 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ambergris Today

Belize Delegates Head To Costa Rica For The U-13 CODICADER Games 2019
From Wednesday, October 16 to Sunday, October 20, Costa Rica will host the CODICADER Games (Elementary School Level). A delegation of 59 people will travel from Belize to compete in the disciplines of mini-volleyball, kids athletics, and football 7. Young athletes from all seven Central American countries will participate in chess, kids athletics, mini-basketball, football 7, artistic gymnastics, swimming, table tennis and mini-volleyball. These conventional disciplines will take place, as well as athletics and inclusive swimming, which are disciplines reserved for students with disabilities.

Various Belizean Sources

BTB at the Dia de la Hispanidad 2019

Garifuna Nuguya 12K Run
Let's enjoy Garifuna Settlement Day in Libertad Village, CZL, Nov 19, Corozal to Libertad Village.

Donation of Volleyball Equipment
Thank you to Mr Juan Chico Marin and Mr Miguel Neal and the Caye Caulker Volleyball Association for the generous donation of volleyballs and a scoreboard for the Ocean Academy High School volleyball teams.

San Pedro Trade License fees for 2020
It's back! Take advantage of this promotion! In honor of San Pedro's 35th Township Anniversary, the San Pedro Town Council is offering a 5% discount on Trade License fees for 2020. Please be reminded that you must fill out a renewal form prior to paying your 2020 fee.

BOLLYWOOD RETRO NIGHT
Belize Indian Merchant Association presents BOLLYWOOD RETRO NIGHT. Time To Party! October 20th at the Princess Casino Free Zone. Cover $100.

Corozal Football Association - Week 6 Schedule
It all happens this Sunday, October 20, 2019 at the Carolina Football Field starting at 10:00 a.m.

Coming soon... Art classes at Museum of Belize with Yaoling Lee!!
Call us at 223 4524 for more information.

Ancient Maya Guardian spirits
Despite the European influence, the Yucatec Maya(Máasewal) of Belize still honor ancient Maya Guardian spirits like the Alux and the Nukux Tat ,especially at planting and harvest time . Alux is the Guardian of the milpas . While the Nukux Tat is the Guardian of the animals,forest and humans . For the Maya this spirits work with God(Yuumstil) to help them . Sadly due to Christianity many aspects of this Guardian spirits have been distorted to look evil and misunderstood by outsiders.

Community service hours at our upcoming Hanal Pixan Event
We are inviting college students to work their community service hours at our upcoming Hanal Pixan Event, Saturday October 26th. Interested students can message, call 422-0071 or pass by for more information! Go and preserve this beautiful tradition .

Channel 7

Man Murdered In Shadow of Police Station
The holiday weekend was peaceful for most Belizeans, but, not all: 3 people were murdered, and 3 more lost their lives in traffic accidents. We begin our newscast tonight with the street slaying of 20-year-old Troy Polonio. It happened last night on Raccoon Street, right in front of his girlfriend's house, which is a very short distance from the Raccoon Street Police Headquarters. Polonio's family describes him as a hard worker, a family man, and a new father who diligently looked after his 1-year-old son.

A Shallow Grave For Samir
A San Lazaro villager was stabbed to death and his throat slashed. A team of police officers, residents and relatives found Hazid Samir Diaz's body in a shallow grave in a field on Sunday morning after 10:00. Courtney Weatherburne went up north looking for answers. This morning Hazid Samir Diaz's family house was all shut. His family was out making burial arrangements while trying to cope with his death. Diaz was killed and his body found on Sunday morning in a shallow grave in this field not too far from his home. Diaz left his home on Saturday evening.

Alleged Killer On The Run
Police are now looking to their regional counterparts in Guatemala to find a murder suspect who they believe has skipped across the border. Cesar Augusto Lopez Mendoza is a Guatemalan who lives in San Jose Succotz. And, on Thursday night at 10:30, police believe he and another man chopped 56 year old Juan de Cruz Carrias - known as Johnny - to death. Cruz Carrias - who is from Santa Familia - was in Lopez Mendoza's house - and today, police would not shine any light on what may have prompted the murder.

Chester's Chile Collision
Commissioner of police Chester Williams is in Chile representing his Department at the Interpol General Assembly. But, tonight, he is recovering from some minor injuries after an accident today. Williams says he was being driven in an official vehicle which collided with the vehicle in front, after it switched lanes without indicating.

Mexican Counterfeiter To Court
On Friday we told you about 39 year old Mexican, Gilberto Hernandez Gallego. He was caught at the Phillip Goldson International with 40,800 US dollars in counterfeit currency hidden in a false bottom of his suitcase. He was detained and his two Brazilian traveling companions were refused entry and sent back home. Today, the second in charge of national crimes investigation didn't want to say much:

Powers Of The Bus Industry Meet
6 weeks ago, we showed you how the Attorney General and Transport Minister Edmond Castro managed to navigate out of a stand-off with the Belizean bus operators. The bus owners were pressing the Government to implement restrictions, which would limit the number of foreign-owned buses that can operate in Belize. The local operators wanted the Government to implement a statutory instrument that would require these foreign operators to hand-off their passengers to a local operator at the border. The local operator would then proceed to transport these passengers to whatever part of the country they were traveling to. From the perspective of the local operators, these foreign-owned companies should not be allowed to exclude the local operator out of possible revenue-earning opportunities in their own country.

Fire At Belmopan Terminal Terrifies Commuters
In other bus news... There was a bus fire at the Belmopan terminal this morning. It happened at about 6:15 AM. A Morales bus had just pulled into the terminal and was in the process of boarding passengers. That's when a young man who had already boarded noticed fire and smoke coming from the back of the bus. We spoke to two eyewitnesses. Voice of: Terminal Employee: "The bus came in. Everybody got on it and were about to leave when a young man came in and said that the bus was on fire at the back, and then his mother was going to enter the bus and he was yelling at her to not enter because the bus was on fire. And so some people were still trying to get on the bus but he got the notice of the driver and the conducter, and he told them that the bus was on fire. So they tried to get everyone off the bus but some people were still like mesmerized I guess. And they just sat on the bus until they noticed the smoke started entering and that's when they tried to come off the bus."

Mystery Killing In Cowpen
In our first segment we told you about two weekend murders - one in the city, the other in the north. The next one happened in the south, Cowpen Village near Independence. On Sunday evening, Santiago Pop's neighbor called police because he had not seen the 58 year old for two days. When San Juan police got to the small home - they found the door unlocked, went in, and found Pop face down in a pool of blood. He appeared to have been chopped to death. Second in charge of crime investigation, Hilberto Romero told us more:...

Two Cousins Killed In Bus/Cycle Smash-Up
And, two cousins lost their lives in a terrible motorcycle accident on Saturday evening. It happened on the Southern Highway near the junction with Savannah Road which is at mile 39. 41 year old Jaylon Gomez was driving a James Bus north and the motorcycle was going in the same direction. Suddenly the bike stopped, and Gomez violently rear-ended the motorbike. Both passengers, 40 year old Fidel Cho and 25 year old Edgar Cho suffered serious head injury. One of them did not have a helmet and died on the spot while the other who did have a helmet died on his way to the Southern Regional Hospital.

Cayo Motorbike Man Killed In Truck Collision
And there was also a fatal accident in Cayo where a 26 year old lost his life. And, again, the victim was on a motorbike. On Saturday morning at 12:30, Billy Lerma crashed into a truck driven by 50 year old Paul Wagner. It happened on Carillo Puerto Avenue where they collided at the corner of that Avenue.

Budna Finally Charged
In February 2017, 23 year old Alvaro Aldana was shot and stabbed as he walked with his wife in a park in San Ignacio. The case has been cold for almost three year, but this weekend police announced that they have charged 29-year-old, Melvin Ray Charles Budna, of Santiago Juan Layout, San Ignacio Town for Murder.

BTB Fam Trip Takes Press Corps On Southern Sweep
On Friday - members of the media including our Cherisse Halsall and Angel Noble went on a media familiarization trip in the Southeast of Belize. Now, this could easily be called a "media jolly", but that wouldn't be fair - sure, there was some jolly-ing - but there was also real work as the team went from a resort hidden along the Hummingbird Highway to a charming atoll off the coast of Placencia. Tune in tomorrow for a follow up, where we'll show you several of the culinary experiences that members of the media enjoyed over the long weekend.

Burgled Buttonwood Bay Nazarene
The criminal mischief over the long weekend included the burglary of Buttonwood Bay Nazarene school. Burglars broke into the Principal's office and the kitchen making off with items valued at $7,000.00. The school's principal Amelia Bencomo says the robbers stole from the children and this crime affects the life of the school.

Kenrick to Court With Injuries
Kenrick Reneau went to court with multiple injuries today - he says police shot him five times. Police - on the other hand - allege that that the 40 year old and his accomplice are the ones who fired at them! Today in court, Reneau and 27 year old Samuel Halliday were charged with four counts of aggravated assault upon a police officer.

The Avatars Of Cancer Survival
October is observed internationally as breast awareness month, and to remind Belizean women that they should not take breast cancer lightly, the Belize Cancer Society and the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children collaborated on a cancer-awareness initiative. It's called the 2019 Cancer Awareness Photo Unveiling. It's an annual event where these two organizations highlight the success that women diagnosed with cancer have had. They want to demonstrate that with the appropriate steps, taken early, cancer patients can become survivors.

BEL Linesmen To Let There Be Light On Abaco Island
On Sunday, a team of Belize Electricity Limited employees travelled to the Bahamas to assist the island's electricity company, Bahamas Power and Light, with power restoration efforts on the storm-battered Abaco Island. Dorian, a category five hurricane, claimed 61 lives and caused massive devastation to the Abaco and Grand Bahama islands during the first three days of September.

Pro Futuro to The Future
The Ministry of Education has partnered with the OAS and the Spanish organization Pro-Futuro to launch a program that intends to bring technology into Belizean classrooms. The program will be tested in the Belize and Cayo districts before a later national launch. We spoke to Starrette Greene from the OAS after the launch today, and he told us that all parties involved in the launch have worked to ensure that quality information is being provided through these proposed classroom technologies.

Children's Takeover Parliament in Belize In a Month
A Children's Parliament event is being organized in Belize to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It will be held on November 20th in the House of the Representatives and will see children take over the role of Speaker of the House, Mace Bearer, Clerk of the National Assembly and the 31 seats of the House of the Representatives. The children will debate an issue of national development.

Channel 5

Troy Polonio is Gunned Down on Raccoon Street
Three persons were brutally murdered over the extended weekend. We start with the deadly and brazen shooting of Troy Polonio Junior on Monday night. Polonio Junior was on Raccoon Street [...]

San Lazaro Villager Slain and Found Hours Later in Shallow Grave
In San Lazaro, Orange Walk, a search party followed a blood trail and made a gruesome discovery in a shallow grave off a sugar road on Sunday morning. They found [...]

Police Seek Two in Murder of Hazid Diaz
This afternoon, Senior Superintendent Hilberto Romero spoke briefly on the discovery as well as the ongoing criminal investigation into Hazid Diaz’s murder.   Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head, National [...]

Retired Public Officer Chopped to Death in Cow Pen
A retired public officer was brutally killed inside his house sometime over the weekend. The neighbours suspect that he was murdered sometime between the hours of Friday night and early [...]

Billy Lerma Perishes in Fatal Accident in Santa Elena
Three persons lost their lives in two traffic accidents over the weekend. The first fatality occurred just after midnight on Friday as Billy Lerma rode a Senke motorcycle on the [...]

A Pair of Cousins Perishes in Bus and Motorcycle Collision in the South
Also on Saturday, a collision between a James passenger bus and a motorcycle claimed the lives of a pair of cousins. Just before six p.m., at the intersection of the [...]

Thieves Break Into Lynn Young’s Home
The Lake Gardens residence of BECOL C.E.O. Lynn Young was broken into over the weekend.  The thieves, who were captured on surveillance camera as they entered the property, made off [...]

Thieves Burgle Buttonwood Bay Nazarene Primary
Thieves broke into Buttonwood Bay Nazarene Primary School over the weekend and made off with seven thousand dollars in cash and other items from the principal’s office.  According to Vice [...]

Female Patron Catches a Beat Down at Dream Like City
Over the weekend in Belize City, a female patron was viciously assaulted outside of a nightclub near mile two on the Phillip Goldson Highway.  The incident, which was caught on [...]

A Wanted Poster is Issued for a Guatemalan National for a Murder in Succotz
The Belize Police Department has issued a wanted poster for Guatemalan national Cesar Agusto Lopez Mendoza. Mendoza is wanted for the murder of fifty-six-year-old Juan De Cruz Carrias, whose mutilated [...]

Melvin Budna Arrested for Murder 2 Years Later
Twenty-nine-year-old Melvin Ray Charles Budna has been arrested and charged for the murder of Alvaro Aldana two years after he was shot and killed behind PK Store in San Ignacio.  [...]

“Vaccines are Everybody’s Business”
This week is being dedicated to raise awareness on the importance of vaccines in preventing diseases and protecting public health. Hand hygiene is an easy and effective way to prevent [...]

ComPol Chester Williams Sustains Minor Injuries in Chile
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams sustained minor injuries in a traffic mishap in Chile, where he is attending the eighty-eighth Interpol General Assembly. Williams suffered from a sprain right knee [...]

Dr. Colin Young, Incoming Executive Director of C.C.C.C.C.
It is confirmed that Doctor Colin Young will be moving to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre in early January 2020. Young, we reported some time ago, is demitting office [...]

Ministry of Education Adopys ProFuturo Program
A digital education programme was launched today by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the OAS and two foundations. Eleven rural schools will be equipped with tablets, laptops and [...]

A B.E.L. Team Travels to Bahamas to Assist in Restoring Efforts following Hurricane Dorian
Hurricane Dorian pounded the Bahamas for days in early September causing loss of life and devastating damage to the islands of Obaco and Grand Bahamas. The Belize Electricity Limited is [...]

“Building Resilience of the Caribbean Community”
Statistics are important in our daily lives; it keeps us accurately informed with what is taking place all over.  The Statistical Institute of Belize, which one of the major agencies [...]

2019 Cancer Awareness Flyer Unveiled
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month today the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children in partnership with the Belize Cancer Society unveiled its 2019 Cancer Awareness [...]

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

The Reporter

Troy Polonio Shot & Killed – Belize City
Police were called to a scene on Raccoon Street around 8:45 where they saw a man identified as Troy Polonio, 20, with a gunshot wound to the chest.

LOVE FM

Man is fatally shot while holding baby
The third murder occurred in Belize City last night just after eight o’clock. 20-year-old Troy Polonio was shot in cold blood yesterday as he held his infant son in his arms. Polonio was standing in the yard that his child’s mother lives when a gunman opened fire in his direction.

Japan Embassy hosts 11 annual Japan Day
The Japan Embassy hosted their 11th annual Japan Day on Saturday, October 12. The event took place at Princess Hotel in Belize City and saw Japanese dance performances as well as Japanese traditional music performances.

Man who lived alone found dead inside his home
The second weekend murder occurred in the Stann Creek District. 58-year-old Santiago Pop was found inside his home on Sunday evening just after six o’clock.

Nazarene Buttonwood Bay Primary School Burglarized
The Buttonwood Bay Nazarene Primary School on Coney Drive, Belize City, is tightening their security after the school was burglarized over the weekend. According to the Principal of the School, Amelia Bencomo, the school had locked up its gates and doors as per normal on Friday.

Body found in shallow grave in Orange Walk
The first homicide case for the weekend came out of the Orange Walk District. The body of a man was found in a shallow grave on Sunday morning near San Lorenzo Village.

Heavy Rains over the past weekend; both relief and concern
After a long drought in Belize, the long weekend saw incessant rains in various parts of the country. Videos and pictures of flooded areas in the north, south and west circulated showing streets and thoroughfares inundated with water.

Guatemalan man wanted for murder in Cayo
A wanted flyer has been issued by the police department for Cesar Agusto Lopez Mendoza in relation to the murder of Juan De Cruz Carrias that occurred on Friday. Carrias was fatally chopped in Succotz Village, Cayo District.

Dr. Colin Young to take up new position at CCCCC
Dr. Colin Young leaves the Social Security Board at the end of the year to take up the position of Executive Director for the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre in Belmopan.

Breaking Belize News

BTB Fam Trip Day 2
The Belize Tourism Board’s Familiarization Tour Day One, saw 19 members of the media visiting […]

Chester Williams escapes traffic accident in Chile with minor injuries
Commissioner of Police (COMPOL), Chester Williams is in Chile attending the 88th Interpol General Assembly. […]

The Columbus Day conundrum – time to drop the holiday?
Yesterday, Monday, was a public and bank holiday observed as Columbus Day or Day of […]

Belize represented at 1st Caribbean Congress on Youth and Adolescent health
UNICEF Representative Dr. Susan Kasedde and Ministry of Health’s Dr. Julio Sabido are in Trinidad […]

Training sessions hosted for National Children’s parliament
Over the weekend, Belize hosted its first training session for the National Children’s parliament. Members […]

Taiwan thanks allies for support at the United Nations
The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has thanked its diplomatic allies for the […]

Caribbean Statistic Day observed in The Caribbean
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) today issued a statement in the commemoration of […]

Blogs

Seasons in Belize
Since Belize is a Tropical Country, our weather is much the same all year round – used to be the wet or dry – but since Global Warming, not anymore. So our seasons have very different markers, not dependent on weather. Our year-round cultural events, wildlife, fishing seasons, sporting events, regattas, migrant, birds, music, and fruit festivals, art, dance, and music – all contribute to a definite seasonal ambiance and sense of celebration. Generally, though, from mid-December through March temperature and humidity drop and the weather becomes mild, tempered by cool breezes. At this time there is a profession of “Snow Birds” of every size and color singing gloriously even in the city.

Northern Belize: Corozal and Orange Walk
The interior of northern Belize is a treasure trove for culture lovers, naturalists and archaeology fans. Visitors can escape to a less touristic, relaxed experience. Corozal is conveniently located between Mexico and Ambergris Caye, with its own turquoise shores and diverse landscape, from beaches and historical sights to a nature reserve. In town, remnants of historical and cultural heritage are on full display. There are gun turrets at Fort Barlee used during the 19th century during the Caste War; the vibrant Corozal Town Mural depicting the district’s history and the Maya temple of Santa Rita, where the mestizo population of Belize was born.

Oceana’s Wavemaker Annual General Meeting 2019
Oceana Belize will be hosting it’s Wavemaker Annual General Meeting on Saturday October 19th, 2019. Belizeans from across the country have been invited to join Oceana Belize at 10AM at the SCA Auditorium in Belize City for this annual meeting. The event aims to share the past, present, and future conservation campaigns for the organization. Additionally, special recognition will be given to inspiring individuals, who have joined Oceana Belize in making steps towards protecting Belize’s marine environment.

Videos

October 15, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Immigration Department clarifies allegations on monthly extensions for foreign citizens
Foreigners on an extended stay on Ambergris Caye have been questioning some alleged changes at the Immigration Department. Allegations are that after being in the country for six months, a foreign citizen is required to obtain a work permit to extend their stay Belize. The San Pedro Sun reached out to the Immigration office on the island, where such reports were clarified. According to them, the rules for extending a stay in the country over six months vary by nationality, and the main request is for applicants to prove they have resources or viable means to sustain themselves while in Belize. In the case of North Americans, they indicated that after six months, they could extend their stay subjected to paying a higher monthly fee. A work permit can be beneficial for the applicant, but it was not considered imperative.

NEMO hosts EOC meeting countrywide
As the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season is at its peak month, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) held a meeting with committee members of San Pedro’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) on Wednesday, October 9th. Held at San Pedro’s NEMO branch office, the meeting reviewed the EOCs’ state of readiness and fine-tuned their plan of action in the event of a storm or extreme weather. Representatives on the EOC committee shared their preparedness status. Those in attendance also voiced concerns and made recommendations on how to better the island’s emergency plan of action.

Caye Caulker man fined for stealing two bottles of liquor
34-year-old Gerson Guerra, a labourer of Caye Caulker Village was fined $1,000 for stealing two bottles of liquor, when he appeared before Magistrate Emerson Banner on Thursday, October 10th in Belize City. Guerra has until November 1, 2019 to pay, or he will serve one-year imprisonment.

A Broad Area of Low Pressure Located Over the Southwestern Caribbean Sea
The National Meteorological Services of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) hereby advises the general public that a broad area of low pressure located over the south-western Caribbean Sea continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system is forecast to move west-north-westward toward Central America, and some development is possible if the low remains over water when it is near the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Regardless of development, this system could bring heavy rains to portions of Central America during the next few days.

Various Belizean Sources

Corozal Animal Program Cocktail Party & Mamma Mia 2 Singalong
November 10, 2-4pm.

11th Belikin Blue Water Classic Day 2... winners!

BEL Team to Assist with Hurricane Restoration in Abaco, Bahamas
A team of five Belize Electricity Limited (BEI.) employees travelled to the Bahamas on Sunday. October 13 to assist Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) with hurricane restoration efforts on Abaco Island. Category five Hurricane Dorian claimed 61 lives and caused massive devastation to the Abaco and Grand Bahama islands during its passage September 1- 3. 2019. The BEL team will join other member utilities of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) who have committed to assisting BPL with rebuilding its electrical infrastructure.

Orange Walk Halloween 2K/5K Costume Fun Run
Here are the details of our Halloween 2K/5K Costume Fun Run! For more details and to register, please visit our website at www.totaltimebz.com Registration remains open until Oct 24th.

Belizean Patriot: Ronald F. Greenwood
Below is a biography of the last owner. We did not write this biography and not sure who wrote it, but it does give us a comprehensive view of his life. Ronald Fredrick Greenwood born in1921 in Belvedere, Kent. He had six homes in England before he was 21. His secondary education was interrupted by sickness which left him autistic. Nevertheless, he was contracted to be trained as a municipal engineer with a profession to manage, maintain and renew urban restructure and was in a reserved occupation as a student. During that training as an acknowledged artist, he showed talent in architecture. Consequently, war time fatigue precluded further study so he went into the British Army.

1st annual Halloween Spooktacular Donation Box Design Competition
Attention all Businesses, Crafters and Saga Supporters. I am challenging you to enter the 1st annual Halloween Spooktacular Donation Box Design Competition. It's as easy as one, two, three. How to Enter: 1. Design an Animal Themed Donation Box for your business or one you got permission to take one for the rest of October. (I placed mine with Eileen Jamison at DandiE'S, please go make a donation.) 2. Count yourself in asap to get on the designer's list. Take a picture of your creepy creation and tag Saga Humane Society, DandE's Frozen Custard and tacogirl.com so we can track all entries and show the facebook world your spooky skills.

Boo @ the Zoo
Mark your calendars! Boo @ the Zoo is Saturday October 26th this year. As always, the Zoo will be teaming up with Wildtracks and Crocodile Research Coalition for their "Howlerween" and "Croctober" booths respectively.

The Reporter

Former Government Employee Found Dead In Cowpen Village
Retired Government worker Santiago Pop, 58, was found hacked to death inside his house in Cow Pen Village on Sunday evening. Pop was reportedly found in a decomposed state with multiple chop wounds to his body and lying face down in a pool of blood inside his living room.

Breaking Belize News

Monday night murder in Belize City
Earlier tonight BBN reported that a man was shot on Raccoon Street in Belize City just before 9 p.m. The victim was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in a critical condition.

Man shot in Belize City
Belize City police has confirmed that a man was shot a short while ago. The incident occurred on Raccoon Street in Belize City.

Low pressure system not likely to develop any further; heavy rains still forecasted tonight for Belize
The National Meteorological Service of Belize continues to monitor a broad area of low pressure located inland over northwestern Honduras. The system is not likely to develop any further before it crosses southern Belize later tonight.

Classes at Toledo Community College cancelled for tomorrow
The Ministry of Education has informed that classes for Toledo Community College for Tuesday, 15th October have been canceled. The school is being used as a NEMO centre for evacuees in preparation of potential flash floods.

Guatemalan Cesar Mendoza wanted for murder of Juan Carrias in Succotz
The Belize Police Department has issued a wanted poster for Cesar Agusto Lopez Mendoza. This Guatemalan national who resides in San Jose Succotz and stands at 5 feet 6 inches is wanted for the murder of Juan De Cruz Carrias, 56.

Robber/s take 2014 Prado from a home in Lake Gardens
A home in Lake Gardens, Belize District was broken into this morning. According to reports, the robber/s also made off with a 2014 Silver Prado.

Occupants escape vehicle fire unharmed
Moments ago, near Mile 31 on the Hummingbird Highway, the occupants of a vehicle managed to escape unharmed as it erupted into flames.

National Hurricane Center monitors 3 systems in The Atlantic
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is monitoring 3 systems in the Atlantic Ocean. There is a 90 percent formation chance for a large low pressure system located over the far eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean less than 300 miles southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands.

Digi/ Becol Basketball tournament
The DIGI / Becol Basketball Tournament hosted by the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Basketball Association (SSBA) continued its 6th weekend with 4 games held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Sacred Heart Auditorium in San Ignacio Town.

Man found dead in Cow Pen, Stann Creek identified
Last night we reported that a man was found chopped to death in Cow Pen, Stann Creek. He has since been identified as Santiago Pop, 58.

Man charged for murder after 2 year investigation
After more than two years of investigations, police have made an arrest in the murder of Alvaro Aldana, 23. On the night of Sunday, February 19, 2017, Aldana was shot to death behind PK Store in San Ignacio, Cayo.

One dead, one detained in road traffic accident
A man is dead following a road traffic accident in Santa Elena. He has since been identified as Billy Lerma, 26. According to police, sometime after 12 o’clock on Saturday morning he was driving his motorcycle on Carillo Puerto Avenue.

Man almost kills former stepson despite restraining order
man is detained by police after he almost took the life of his former stepson. That man has since been identified as Aroldo Coc, 36.

Blogs

The Cayo District
The Cayo District boasts many wonders:caves,waterfalls, picturesque hillside towns and great people. By far the biggest draw is the colorful riverside town of San Ignacio. Being a neighbor to Guatemala, its Latin and Maya flavors are difficult to resist. Burns Avenue, San Ignacio’s cobblestoned main street, buzzes with shoppers and steaming roadside grills. As well as the iconic Hawkesworth Bridge, built in 1949, which towers over rivers. This is a place to be outdoors, and it is never dull. Saturday is the highlight of the week. It is Market Day when all the diverse ethnic population converge and inhabit the area. Mestizos prepare tacos and pupusas as you wait, while Mennonites sell their freshly-made cheeses and desserts. You’ll see stalls of homemade jams, chutneys and fruit wines, even natural peanut butter, and vibrant stalls of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables. This is the nation’s “ breadbasket.”

The Belize Zoo
“Extraordinarily exciting”, “Unbelievable”, “Thrilling up-close animals encounters”, these are only a few of the comments made about our Zoo – one of Belize’s most iconic sights. The Belize Zoo offers an immersive wildlife experience, located just 29 miles west of Belize City and stretching across 29 acres of tropical savanna. One cannot talk about the Belize Zoo without mentioning its founder, Sharon Matola, and her commitment to wildlife conservation. Miss Matola heard comments about mythical beliefs from Belizeans about their animals. The primary example is Belize’s National animal, the Central American tapir which was feared and considered dangerous and was believed to be able to skin you alive with its nose.

Visiting Placencia soon? Check out this traveler's top 10 images from their recent trip here!!!
Once you know Placencia, it is also very rewarding to watch and understand the small but meaningful changes that happen to this little village year after year. Most people that come to Placencia feel a bit of nostalgia for the way it looked when they first saw it; it is one of those places that tends to stick to travelers, because of the small town, warm welcome, you'll know everyone's name at your favorite spots by the time you leave. Placencia is one of the most vintage Caribbean-looking beach towns, that also happens to have a funky, artistic but come-as-you-are (a bit of grit!) feel that visitors come to experience again and again. Doesn't hurt that you will experience great beaches where you willl often be one of the only people on the beach, even in high season!

Scenes from the new Placencia Beach Club (formerly Fusion)!!
Shane and Heather recently opened the Placencia Beach Club - and can't say it enough, they did it perfectly!! The old club that was there, Fusion, was only a few years old, and they took the bones of it (and it was just starting to really show signs of neglect, we are so grateful for many reasons that Shane and Heather saved it!) Fusion was great, but Shane and Heather took the good parts and made it absolutely comfortable, sleek, and perfect. The food and drinks were great, the chairs were super comfortable, and the overall vibe and ambiance make it a can't miss. Placencia Beach Club is just north of the village; you cut off a lot of time if you are able to walk the beach there, it is a super pleasant and short walk.

Everything You Wanted to Know about Belize’s Rainbow of Cultures
If you travel frequently, you know that many nations claim to be melting pots, citing a mix of languages, arts, foods and customs that come together in a sort of United Nations of citizenry. But Belize truly does exemplify one of the most complex mixes of cultures on the planet; for a small nation, it’s crammed with distinct peoples with roots reaching back in time and across oceans. Come with us on a short, colorful journey of discovery as we introduce you to seven major cultural presences, each happy to call Belize home. Together, Belizeans show the world that people can live together in harmony, irrespective of their unique heritages.

Authentic Belizean Stew Chicken with Rice and Beans Recipe
Some of the best-loved foods in Belize are also the simplest. One of the classic dishes enjoyed throughout Belize is a signature take on the Caribbean standard of stew(ed) chicken with rice and beans. The perfect combination of protein and complex carbohydrates, stew chicken with rice and beans is a hearty dish that can be enjoyed throughout the year.

THE BEST (SECRET) CAVE IN BELIZE
Tiger Cave from Punta Gorda. In an adventure from Punta Gorda in Belize, I go climbing in a rarely-visited cave complex that was used by the ancient Maya for human sacrifice ceremonies. It’s pitch black everywhere. Using a small torch on my helmet, I’m able to just see the way in front of me. Climbing over limestone formations, walking around pools, trying to look around me. The space above is enormous – like an auditorium or a cathedral. The air is heavy and it’s so quiet… except for the occasional drip of water or the beating of wings high above me. I didn’t know what to expect, coming here to the Tiger Cave in Belize. It’s a site that’s accessible to tourists but has so few that I had never heard of it before or seen photos. But now that I’m here – wow, what an adventure!

Owls
What beautiful birds are owls! They are secretive, silent, and non-obtrusive – it’s like these graceful birds know their importance and elegance and they manage it with a humility of a superstar entrepreneur who doesn’t have a social media page but no one can dismiss them. In small Belize we have been blessed with wonderful places and spaces where the world can come to witness over 500 species of birds. People can come today and be in awe at first – such a small country with bubbly people with a ready smile. Then, one begins to realize that everywhere they go there are birds! Everywhere!

Belize in November - What to do?
November is a great time to visit Belize! The weather is nice (it’s the end of the rainy season) and it’s just one month prior to Belize’s high tourism season (which is December to April) so you might still get a few good cheap deals on tours and accommodations. I’ve written before on how to save on a Belize vacation so make sure to check that out. As for things to do in November, here’s a list of tours and activities. And below are three main November events worth exploring: The Battle of the Drums and the Belize Garifuna Music Festival is a celebration of Garifuna music and culture that takes place every year in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo. Some of the best drumming groups from all over Belize and Central America gather to compete and showcase their incredible talent and skills.

International Sources

Taiwan and Belize celebrate ten decades of friendship
The Embassy of Belize in Taiwan is hosting a series of cultural events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Celebrations got underway when the Embassy of Belize hosted a dinner party on Oct. 9, at which Belizean chef Sean Kuylen and a Taiwan Digout Bar & Caffe bartender provided the food and drinks. The Ambassador of Belize, Diane Haylock, and Taiwan Vice President, Chen Chien-jen, attended the event. To mark three decades of friendship that will stand the test of time, according to an Embassy of Belize press release, there will also be an art exhibition, concert, and food festival. The art exhibition featuring two Belizean artists, Rachael Heusner and Fernando Cruz, opens on Tuesday (Oct. 15) at Yuan Ru Gallery and runs until Nov. 3.

NEW TECH TO DISCOVER MORE OF FABLED MAYANS
The Mayans were a civilization known for their architecture, mathematics and astronomical beliefs, who date back to as far as 2000BC, with many of their impressive constructions still standing in the jungles of southeast Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and western parts of Honduras and we still have a lot to discover about the advanced civilization. However, thanks to a new technology known as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) researchers were able to digitally remove the overgrown jungle of the now-unpopulated Guatemala landscape which still hides many secrets of the Mayans, revealing the ruins of a sprawling pre-Columbian civilization that was far more complex than what they had back in the day.

“White syndrome” even more catastrophic than sargassum in Quintana Roo
“In the short term, the white syndrome could be more catastrophic than the effects of sargassum in terms of economic losses. but especially when it comes to the death of marine animal species“, said marine biologist Nallely Hernández Palacios, deputy director of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp) in the state of Quintana Roo. “In three months the white syndrome has killed 90 percent of the coral colonies within Isla Contoy National Park, where the Mesoamerican Reef System (Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano) begins, covering more than one thousand kilometers along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras,” said marine biologist Wilberto Antele Sangabriel, one the National park’s keepers.

Consumption of benthic cyanobacterial mats on a Caribbean coral reef
The McCoy lab at Florida State University discovered that certain angelfish, parrotfish and surgeonfish species play an important role in regulating mats of cyanobacteria on Caribbean coral reefs. Herbivory is an important process in the general structuring of coral reef benthic communities. However, evidence of its ability to control coral reef benthic cyanobacterial mats, which have recently proliferated on reefs worldwide, remains ambivalent. Here, we report that the French Angelfish (Pomacanthus paru), Striped Parrotfish (Scarus iseri), Rock Beauty (Holacanthus tricolor), Ocean Surgeonfish (Acanthurus bahianus), Blue Parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus), and Atlantic Blue Tang (Acanthurus coeruleus) consume benthic cyanobacterial mats on coral reefs in Bonaire, Netherlands. This magnitude of consumption suggests that grazing by reef fishes may represent a potentially important, but previously undocumented, top-down control on benthic cyanobacterial mats on Caribbean reefs.

Videos

October 14, 2019

Happy Pan American Day!

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Nicholas Reyes aka Rojo remanded for stealing gasoline from a golf cart
A maintenance worker of San Pedro Town, 29- year-old Nicholas Reyes, aka Rojo, pled guilty to a charge of Theft when he appeared at the Magistrate Court in Belize City on Thursday, October 10th. Reyes, who pled guilty, was sentenced to one-month incarceration based on a previous conviction for theft under the same circumstances. According to a report, the incident occurred in San Pedro around 1:50PM on September 30th. The complainant, 54-year-old Alfonso Wiltshire, reported to police that he caught Reyes red-handed stealing gasoline from the tank of his golf cart.

San Pedro Chapter Justices of the Peace discusses the JP Act
An informative session to discuss the Justice of Peace Act was held on Wednesday, October 9th, at the San Pedro High School. Organized by the San Pedro Chapter of the Justices of the Peace (JP), the meeting aimed to get members of the local JP chapter more familiar with the Act and touched on specific areas regarding how a person can become a JP. The gathering explored the different processes of how a person can become part of this influential group in the community. In San Pedro Town, anyone interested in applying can contact the Chapter President Pastor Welsh to get more information and be processed through the local association. Candidates are required to be actively engaged in community service to be considered. In cases where someone may have a questionable past, the application will be examined according to the Act as worthy of appointment based on the person’s character, civic contributions to his community, and is a fit and proper person.

Belize Network of NGOs calls on the GOB to modernize fisheries legislation
The Belize Network of NGOs (BNN) calls on the Government of Belize (GOB) through the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment, and the Ministry of National Security to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities as a matter of national priority. Specifically, to enact the Fisheries Resources Bill by introducing it at the next meeting of the House of Representatives to be passed into law without further delay. The draft Fisheries Resources Bill and accompanying draft Fisheries Regulations have been years in the making with many consultation and review sessions during both government administrations.

Two minors out on bail after arrested and charged for burglarizing grocery shop
Police arrested and charged two minors for the burglary of a downtown grocery shop on Pescador Drive. The duo spent little time behind bars as they each managed to secure a $3,000 bail. They are to report back to San Pedro Magistrate Court on November 21, 2019. The conditions of the bail for one of the accused had him relocated to the mainland, where he will be residing with his father. He is required to report to the Belmopan Community Rehab Department Office every Friday, while the second accused is to report to the San Pedro Police Station every Friday.

Various Belizean Sources

#TeamDestinee
Show your love and support for Miss Belize at the Miss Universe pageant by voting on this fan page to lift her rankings up

NEMO ADVISORY #2: A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE LOCATED OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA
The National Meteorological Service of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) hereby advises the public that a broad area of low pressure located over the south-western Caribbean Sea continues to produce disorganized showers and thunderstorms. This system is forecasted to move west-north-westward toward Central America, and some development is possible if the low remains over water when it is near the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Regardless of development, this system could bring heavy rains to portions of Central America during the next few days.

Saint Francis Xavier Credit Union Quiz Contest
Will be held on Thursday October 17th, 2019 at the Corozal Andres Campos Civic Center. 20 schools from across Corozal will attend the Quiz Contest being held by the S.F.X.C.U.. Financial Literacy questions will be asked to students from the different schools. The winner of the Quiz Contest from Corozal, will go to Belize city to compete in the national’s. The event will commence at 8am and conclude at 12miday.

Black, Yellow and White Festival
We were honored to participate yesterday in the Black, Yellow and White Festival hosted by the National Garifuna Council. The event celebrates outstanding individuals from the #Garifuna community in #Belize. We would like to congratulate all of the award recipients and thank them for their many contributions to their community, to Belize, and to the world.

The naming of the site where the building Paslow once stood
We would like to share with the public the finalists for the competition to choose the name that will represent that area where the Paslow Building once stood. We received a hundred and ten names and we must say that all of the submissions in their own right would have made a great name for the site, but it was a competition and only one will be chosen. The first-place name will receive $800.00, the second-place name will receive $600.00 and the third-place name will receive $400.00. We are only introducing the names here today, but the actual competition will start about a week from Monday. The name will be chosen through an on-line poll on the Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project's Facebook Page or the Ministry of Tourism’s Wed Page or both. The Poll will run for about two weeks and the name that receives the most votes will become the new name of "Ground Zero".

San Jose Nuevo Palmer
A unique community of Maya Yucatec (Máasewal) lived almost off the radar of British colony in a village called San Jose Yalbac, in the remote Yalbac hills of rural Orange Walk district. This area had been autonomous from the British colony mainly because of the Maya Yucatec group known as the Icaiche Maya controlling the area . In 1866 the Maya Yucatec living in the area defeated the British troops in the battle of San Pedro Yalbac . In 1867 the british burned down several Yucatec Maya villages in the Yalbac Area . Many Maya Yucatec people move more north and others west of Belize . Many Maya stayed and resisted in the area until the 1930's. However, in the early 1930s the Belize Estate and Produce Company (BEC) began a series of campaigns to forcibly remove villagers, claiming that the land was now private ‘company property’. The lacking evidence of the company’s alleged ownership of the land enabled villagers to resist the pressure to relocate, but in 1936 the force and ferocity of the campaigns strengthened, and slowly families started drifting away from the village in search of new ‘homes’, to places including Santa Familia, Benque Viejo, San Felipe, Guinea Grass, San Estevan and San Roman Rio Hondo.

The Reporter

Guatemalan President ‘Elect’ Not Allowed To Visit Venezuela
The president-elect of Guatemala said he was blocked Saturday from entering Venezuela where he planned to meet opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who is seeking to oust socialist President Nicolás Maduro. Officials defended their actions, saying Guatemala’s incoming leader, Alejandro Giammattei, was turned away because he broke with normal protocol followed by heads of state.

Body Found Near San Lazaro Village In Shallow Grave
Orange Walk police found body of an unidentified man near San Lazaro Village this morning.The body had cut wounds on his face, neck and abdomen and was buried in a shallow grave face down. Police continue their investigation into the matter.

“Wen Yo ‘Forgetta’ Work Betta!”
By: Dr. Abigail Joseph - Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgot what you went in there for? No shame in the game. It has happened to me countless times. What I normally do is – I reverse and go back to my initial point, meaning I go back to where I was and what I was doing before I got up and came to the room.

A Quest Fueled by Love
Nine years ago, Sheleen Camille Martinez, 34, who was nearing a full-term pregnancy at the time, was brutally raped and stabbed to death at a residence on George Price Drive in Dangriga Town. Martinez’s death and her particulars were never registered, and she died leaving nine children and carrying the secrets of their identities to her grave.

1 Person Died – Another Injured In PG Accident
The Reporter has confirmed the death of two persons in a road traffic accident last night on the Southern Highway. The identities of the two victims are Colvile Cho 27 and Fidel Choice 40.Fidel reportedly died on the scene of the accident while Colvile died while being transported to the Southern Regional Hospital.

Breaking Belize News

Government guarantees BEL loan for Caye Caulker electric upgrade
Residents of Caye Caulker will eventually benefit from connection to the national electricity grid powered by Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), moving away from the expensive and inefficient generator-powered system used for years.

Body of man found in Cowpen, Stann Creek
BBN has confirmed with police that the decomposing body of a man was found tonight in Cowpen village, Stann Creek. Authorities removed the body from the scene a short while ago and transported it to the Independence Polyclinic.

Body of San Lazaro man found in shallow grave
The body of a man from San Lazaro Village in Orange Walk was discovered in a shallow grave today. According to reports, Hazid Diaz had left home yesterday to go socialize but never returned.

Belize beats St. Kitts, but knocked out of Nations League promotions race
Showing greater tenacity and determination, the Jaguars paid back St. Kitts and Nevis on the road, making Elroy Alexander Smith’s third-minute penalty the winner tonight in Basseterre. Both teams had their chances in a wide-open second half, with Antonio Rocha’s miss being the closest that Belize came to scoring again.

Body found in shallow grave
Reports reaching our newsroom are that a body was found in San Lazaro Village, Orange Walk this morning. According to reports, the body is that of a man and was found inside a shallow grave. A wheel barrow was also found in the scene with blood.

2 people die in fatal road traffic accident
Two men lost their lives in a road traffic accident last night. Around 6 last night, police responded to reports of a traffic accident at the intersection of the Southern Highway and the Savannah road- between Mile 38 and 39 on the Southern Highway.

Belize Tourism Board hosts media familiarization tour
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has assembled personnel from television, radio, print and online media houses for a familiarization tour of southern Belize. The four day event gathered a total of 19 participants members from Channel 7 News, Plus TV, Krem Television, Love FM, The Guardian, The Reporter, The San Pedro Sun and Breaking Belize News.

Blogs

What is Our Greatest Economic Asset? or How the Adirondacks Got Me Thinking About Ambergris Caye
What is our greatest economic asset here on Ambergris Caye? It’s something that I was thinking lots about on my drive back from upstate NY to NJ just a few days back. Here’s exactly what got me thinking… The Adirondacks. A US national forest preserve in NE Upstate New York. Over 6 million acres of mountains, forests and villages, and towns that are FRIGID in the winter. It’s about the same size as Belize and much of it is a UNESCO biosphere (just like the Belize barrier reef).

Belizean Conch Ceviche
Whether you are a shrimp, conch or lobster lover, making ceviche is the ultimate Belizean appetizer. The best Belizean ceviche is made with fresh raw conch and there’s nothing better than enjoying it with some fresh homemade chips on a hot, sunny day.

Belize – A Kid-Friendly Destination
One of the best aspects of travelling is being able to travel with your loved ones and making new memories together. Travelling is one of the most educational andfulfillingthingsyou can do with your family. Wondering where your next family vacation destination should be? Lookno further as Belize is the perfect family vacation destination! No more than a two-hour flight from many North American destinations, this tropical paradise is easy to get to and has plenty to offer to keep your kids entertained!

International Sources

Sargassum: A regional menace
In Antigua, large invasions of seaweed forced the closure of one of the island’s most exclusive hotels. The luxury all-inclusive resort, the St. James Club, shut down for three months last year after a reddish-brown mass of sargassum took up residence in the bay. After several years of getting hit hard by sargassum, Belize is fighting back. The country’s government has set up a tax-relief programme to support properties severely affected by sargassum. The Belize Tourism Board has also offered more than $600,000 to support municipalities in beach clean-ups.

Videos

October 13, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

Various Belizean Sources

Tropical Weather Outlook, Saturday, October 12th 2019 at 6:00pm
- A broad area of low pressure is forming over the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Regardless of development, heavy rainfall is likely over Belize early next week. The National Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the area for any possible tropical cyclone development over the next few days.

11th Belikin Blue Water Classic
The 11th Belikin Blue Water Classic is being hosted on St George’s Caye. 31 registered vessels are all fishing for the first prize, which stands at $15,000.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 THROUGH OCTOBER 6, 2019
The average and upper size of Bonefish continues to increase as a result of catch and release only regulations implemented 10 years ago by the Government of Belize. The tarpon fishing has remained good and there are still migratory fish around for those interested. The permit fishing is providing quite a few opportunities for those interested in pursuing. The weather has been great and providing good conditions for anglers, especially for the early morning bite.

International Living’s Retire Overseas Bootcamp 2019 Conference
BTB at the International Living’s Retire Overseas Bootcamp 2019 Conference.

PSWT BENEFICIARIES BACK IN COURT TO BENEFITS FROM UNIONS
It appears that the unions controlling the finances of the Public Sector Workers Trust (PSWT) are continuing to employ delay tactics to prevent the beneficiaries from receiving any benefits from the trust. A hearing which was scheduled for today October 7th was adjourned to October 21 after the union representatives' lawyer told the court that his client needed more time to consult with its membership. The beneficiaries have been clamouring from the trust that they be paid benefits after a 1994 salary freeze. At the time the government gave public officers shareholding in BTL in which the dividends was to be distributed to affected public officers. To date there has been no benefits distributed to the beneficiaries which has been accumulating since that time.

The Reporter

1 Person Died – Another Injured In Punta Gorda Accident
The rains and slick roads are causing slippery skids and accidents, At approximately 6.30pm this evening an accident occurred at the Punta Gorda junction. It resulted in the death of one person. Reports are that another person has been rushed to the hospital.

Man Dies In Motorcycle Accident In Santa Elena
A motorcycle accident near CP Gas Station on the George Price Highway in Santa Elena Town on Saturday morning claimed the life Billy Lerma 26. According to Police Lerma was driving a red motorbike on the highway around 12:00 a.m on October 12th, when he crashed into a red truck that was being driven by Paul Wagner.

LOVE FM

BHS Students to take part in robotic competition in Dubai
Belize High School, BHS, has developed a reputation with its students to taking technology in the classroom to another level. Their latest accomplishment is in the field of robotics.

Charges Withdrawn against Immigration Officers
The immigration officers decided to withdraw the charges after being persuaded by the Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser to do so since it would taint their images as public officers if they were found guilty and end up spending time behind bars.

Drought Impacts the BWSL services
Over the past months Belize had experienced an extreme drought that impacted the agriculture industry in Belize. The Belize Water Services Limited, during their public meeting last night, noted that farmers were not the only ones suffering from the drought.

Breaking Belize News

Man dies in fatal traffic accident in Santa Elena
A 26 year old man lost his life this morning in a motorcycle accident in Santa Elena. Billy Lerma was driving a red motor cycle on the George Price highway near CP gas station around 12:00 a.m when he crashed into a red truck.

$40,000 in counterfeit US dollars seized from Mexican National
A report from 7 News Belize is asserting that a Mexican national was busted at the Philip Goldson International airport yesterday smuggling $40,800 in counterfeit US dollars. It is expected that authorities will bring charges against the Mexican this weekend.

Mental Illness: Invisible but devastating
October 10th was recognized as World Mental Health Day 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that every 40 seconds, a person loses their life to suicide.

National Hurricane Center is monitoring area of low pressure in the Caribbean
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Meteorological Center of Belize are closely monitoring a broad area of low pressure that is expected to form over the southwestern Caribbean Sea this weekend.

Blogs

5 San Pedro Town Traffic Hot Spots
Travel brings you some new and interesting road trip experiences, some places more than others. Belize rates high on this chart. You will see all kinds of picture-worthy driving moments both on the mainland and on the Cayes. As for San Pedro traffic, people in the back of trucks, overcrowded golf carts, and crazy things on small vehicles. Like a guy driving right-handed on the beach road carrying a rolled-up mattress with his left arm. I turned to look away from the Caribbean sea just as he was gliding by and barely managed to catch the picture before he was gone.

How to get to the Northern Islands– Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye
When you thinkofBelize, some think sunshine, islands, pristine turquoise water, diving, snorkeling, the Belize Barrier reef……and the list goes on! These are what the Cayes in Belize offer! Belize has over 200 cayes that dot its shoreline. The two most popular islands and most visited in the Northof Belize are Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. Both are favorite spots amongst divers and those looking for a relaxed beach vacation.

Exploring the City of Belize
It’s no secret that Belize is a place of discovery. Whether you’re looking for adventure or a laidback setting, Belize is the place to be. The little country has a ton to offer. Many travel to Belize for the breathtaking beaches and waters, or for the beautiful landscapes and lush greenery; but did you know that there’s also much to do in the city? We’ve compiled a list of Must Do’s in Belize City. Take a look!

International Sources

Tropical systems may brew in Atlantic, East Pacific basins this week
Over the southwestern Caribbean, an area of low pressure has formed amid a broad counter-clockwise wind pattern, known as a gyre. "This area of low pressure will track into or along the north coast of Central America early this week," Kottlowski said. If the system's circulation remains over the warm waters of the Gulf of Honduras for a time, there will be a better chance for it to become an organized tropical system. Drenching showers and thunderstorms are likely over portions of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala and the Yucatan Peninsula into Tuesday, even if an organized tropical system fails to form.

Videos

October 12, 2019

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Belize’s sugar and fisheries futures brighten at COTED
The economic future of Belizean farmers and fishers brightened after high-level ministerial discussions were made last week at the 81st meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), Sugar Association of the Caribbean and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). Belize hosted the event at the Belize Best Western Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City on Monday, September 30th through Friday October 4th.

No cure for new coral disease infecting the Belize Barrier Reef System
The health of the Belize Barrier Reef System is becoming more than a priority for the environmentalist community as Belize’s reef is under attack by a disease called ‘Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.’ The disease is new, and researchers and scientists are still trying to find out what causes it and how to properly treat it. Local biologists teamed up with international counterparts and applied a treatment composed of chorine and shea butter to the affected coral, but after several weeks, they claim the method is not working and are seeking other forms of treatment before the disease spreads to other areas along the Belizean coast. The treatment applied at Bacalar Chico was applied in the form of a paste to the affected areas of the coral to decrease or eliminate the infection. Unfortunately, the remedy was unsuccessful, and biologists in Belize plan to explore another form of method used in Florida.

Various Belizean Sources

NEMO ADVISORY #1 - FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER, 2019
NEMO STILL MONITORING POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW PRESSURE AREA NEAR TO BELIZE. The National Meteorological Services of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) hereby advises the general public that a broad area of low pressure is expected to form over the western Caribbean Sea during the weekend. This system is forecast to move westward toward Central America early next week, and some development is possible if the low remains over water while moving near the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize.

Businessman wants employee taken to the dog pound
Jorge Recinos, a businessman from San Ignacio Town told the police that an employee stole over $70k in doggie food. Another employee, turned whistleblower reported that on October 7th, 2019, while he was conducting a sale at a company, the business owner informed him that he received much better and lower rates for dog food from another employee at Recinos’ company. This prompted Recinos to conduct an audit of sales of Ruffo dog food products and at the conclusion of the audit, it revealed that a total of $72,998 was short from one of his salesman.

2019 Pan American Day
Monday, October 14th will be observed as Pan American Day, a Public and Bank Holiday (in lieu of Saturday, October 12th, 2019). Be safe and enjoy. Acrylic Painting by Chuy Carillo of Sarteneja.

Work on San Pedrito 'Highway' on Saturday
Saturday the 12th October, the San Pedrito 'Highway' will be closed for all large vehicles, small vehicles such as golf carts will be able to pass with care. This is due to a casting taking place from 5am till 12 midday. Thank you for your co-operation.

San Pedro Tourist Guide Association Manatee Presentation
Thanks to ALL for the great Presentation!! We never stop learning. Let’s save our manatees!! BE RESPONSIBLE TOUR GUIDES !!!!!!!

Indigenous Resistence Day
Octuber 12 is Indigenous Resistence Day the day when we survive one of the worst Genocides in Human history which started in 1492 with the arrival of Columbus. First they taught us to celebrate Columbus Day then they tried to beautify it calling it Día de la Hispanidad y El Mestizaje or Día de la Raza . Different ways of saying it but same idea of cultural Genocide . Instead of celebrating Columbus Day, many Spanish-speaking countries and communities celebrate “Día de la Raza”, or Day of the Race on October 12th. This holiday celebrates and honors the many countries and people that were conquered by Spain and other European explorers.

Nojoch Mak Domingo Perez showing his discontent on Octuber 12,2012 in Orange walk town for what was known as Colombus Day
Nojoch Mak Domingo Perez is a Yucatec Maya and for many years he used to take a wreath to the monument of the Battle of Orange walk to show his respect to the Maya hero Marcos Canul and the Maya who fought . We are the children of those Maya who fought . Huge respects to Nojoch Mak Domingo Perez. Indigenous Resistance Day !!! Over 500 years of resistence Weyano'one !!! Kux'ano'on !!!

Urban Birdwatch in San Pedro
Join us this weekend for the Urban Birdwatch in San Pedro! Meet on Sunday the 13th at 6AM at Central Park, we are sure to see some beauties as the migrants are really coming through right now!

COROZAL RECEIVES FIRE TRUCK
Our Corozal community and Bay Area Firefighters would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Calgary firefighter Mr. Mike Henson, Dr. Ronan Bayrock, the City of Calgary Alberta, Canada, the Denton program and all who have made this possible. After its long journey, the most talked about firetruck for Corozal is finally here at the Corozal Fire Station. This is a well appreciated donation by the Bay Area Firefighters and our Corozal community. Thank you all once more. Photo by Bay Area Firefighters.

Libertad Fishkill Event
SACD has been working with partners towards understanding the events in the New River and responding to community reports on fish kills as they occur. Libertad recently reported a fish kill and were concerned that the contamination crisis from Orange Walk was starting to impact the river in their area. The SACD Research and Monitoring Team responded to the report and conducted a rapid assessment of the area to document the physical state of the water and collected samples of the affected fish for laboratory analysis, to determine possible contamination exposure. The assessment of the water conditions demonstrated that the fish kill was caused by low oxygen levels (hypoxia) in the water. Previous monitoring before the crisis shows that the river normally has levels above 3 milligrams per liter.

Dia de la Hispanidad 2019 - Western Border
12 photos

2019 Dia de Los Finados
Saturday Nov. 2 @7pm, Kindly join us as we honor our dearly departed.

Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber on Official Visit to Taiwan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Honourable Patrick Faber, along with Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Manuel Heredia and Minister of Transport and National Emergency Management, Hon. Edmond Castro are currently on an Official Visit to Taiwan. The three-member cabinet delegation is there to conduct official government business and participate in celebrating Taiwan’s National Day on October 10.

La Isla Carinosa Academy Costume Bazaar fundraiser
The excitement is on for our annual Costume Bazaar fundraiser. We are seeking the community help in making this event a successful one. We are asking for donations that can be use as prizes towards our games. We are looking for items such as: Stuff toys, Fans, Coffee maker, Board games, Bottle items. The list isn't limited. Any small item will help us in ensuring we have a successful event. All proceeds are towards our teachers July salaries and other little fun projects for our children around the school compound.

BTIA National Tour GuideTraining Program on Caye Caulker
National Tour Guide Training Part 2- Professional Core Schedule to Start November 4, 2019. Sign up with Buddy Magana Jr. 632-9467. Or email [email protected].

Channel 7

Mexican Caught With Counterfeit - Hell's Angels Connect?
Tonight a Mexican is in police custody after he was caught at the Phillip Goldson International airport yesterday smuggling 40,800 US dollars in counterfeit US dollars into Belize. Gilberto Hernandez Gallego will be charged this weekend, while his two traveling companions, a pair of Brazilians are being given what is known as an "RLL notice" - refused leave to land - and being sent back to their home country. The counterfeit cash was found in the false bottom of a suitcase that Hernandez arrived with yesterday. The money was undeclared, and so he and his companions were taken into custody by Special Branch. When they checked the money, they found that it was all counterfeit.

A Slaying In Succotz of A Man Far From Home
There was a ghastly discovery at a Succotz home this morning. The mutilated body of 56 year old Santa Familia resident Juan De La Cruz Carrias better known as Johnny was found inside a makeshift house. Carrias had been chopped and stabbed to death. When we spoke to his family this evening, they say they have no idea why he was killed nor who would want him dead. They also say that they don't know how his body ended up at that Succotz home. One version of what may have happened is that Carrias was at his Santa Familia home early this morning and he received phone call and left. But again, the family says they can't confirm or deny that at this point. Here is what the daughter had to say off camera.

Watch The Weather, But Don't Panic
The broad area of low pressure hovering off the Atlantic Coast of Central America has a 20% chance of developing by the middle of next week. The advisory says, quote, "some development is possible if the low remains over water while moving near the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize." NEMO confirms, quote "Formation chance through 48 hours is low to near 0 percent. *Formation chance through five days is low to 20 percent.

CEMO Activated
So, over the holiday weekend, while you're mostly relaxing, NEMO and the MET office will be keeping a close eye on this system. And so will CEMO, the City Emergency Management Organization, because if this system becomes a threat to Belize, they want to be prepared. After all, Belize City is the largest, and most vulnerable coastal population center in the country. This evening, we spoke with Deputy Mayor Oscar Arnold about their state of preparedness, should this system become anything of concern for Belize. Here's what he had to say a short while ago:

Sentences Change Again For Killers Pipersurgh and Robateau
Since March of 2004, the convicted murderers, Leslie Pipersburgh and Patrick Robateau, have seen a surprising change in their fates. They were first sentenced to death by hanging after they were convicted of killing 4 people when they carried out the armed robbery of Bowen and Bowen headquarters on Slaughterhouse Road, which happened in June 2002. The victims in that gruesome mass-murder included the 2 on-duty KBH security guards Fidel Mai and Kevin Alvarez, as well as the civilians, David Flores and Cherry Tucker. But they appealed that decision and the Privy council eventually overturned that guilty verdict. They were tried a second time in 2011, and in that retrial, they were only convicted of the murders of the on-duty security guards.

Big Case Collapses When Witness Is Late
In other court news, a public and controversial case fizzled to an end today. Leon Gentle was one of the 6 employees of Yhony Rosado's company, accused of putting a severe beatdown on their competitor's son, Vitalino Reyes Jr.. That left Reyes in a coma, from which he has still not fully recovered. Well tonight, Leon Gentle is free of the charges of dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm that police brought against him for that incident. That's because the Supreme Court trial against him fell apart. Gentle stood only 3 days of trial before Justice Colin William before it came to an abrupt end. A panel of jurors, including 6 men and 3 women, was ready to hear the evidence that Crown Counsel Portia Staine intended to produce in an attempt to prove Gentle's guilt.

Mayor Defends De-Reserving Road
Mayor of Belmopan Khalid Belisle says there's nothing wrong with the parcels of land created out of the buffer zone on Queen Elizabeth II Boulevard. He says the area in question was not actually designed to be a buffer, but to form a part of the Boulevard itself. But when it was paved and cement walkway was constructed on both shoulders, there was an unused portion of road reserve between the sidewalk and the adjoining properties. He says the unused area became overgrown and when the council was assisting HelpAge which owns one of the adjacent parcels to build their parking lot, the Engineering department saw the empty land with just grass growing on it.

Lands Goes Out To The Villages
We've been speaking to the Commissioner of Lands Wilber Vallejos about these transactions, but we learned that he's been out of office along with a fair number of staff. They're doing what's called a rural outreach programs, where staffers from the lands department go into villages to hear, solve and and resolve land problems. Now, you know there is no shortage of that in Belize, and they've been dealing with hundreds of cases per day.

A Vega Caught With Contraband, An Employee Takes Rap
That prominent name in the north, "VEGA" was briefly in the news today. That's because a member of the Vega family, reportedly a nephew of the Deputy Prime Minister was caught in a vehicle with contraband. Police stopped the vehicle on the Pachakan road and reportedly found 3 cases of whisky and 10 cases of beer inside - all uncustomed goods. Vega and Armando Castillo, customs broker for Vega Distributors were inside the vehicle.

Salesman Accused of Selling Stolen Dog Food Thru Back Door
Tonight a salesman is in police custody - fasting charges of theft. Police say he stole wholesale quantities of Rufo dog food form his boss, and sold it on the cheap to his competitors.

US Embassy in Belize Refuses One In Three Visa Applications
When you hear your family, neighbors or co workers talk about going to the US Embassy in Belmopan for a visa, it is often with a sense of dread. And that's because everyone fears being turned down. And, statistics for the 2018 fiscal year show that - in fact - you have a one in three chance of being refused. Published figures show that the US Embassy refused 34.55% of Belizean visa applicants. This is better than Guatemala, Honduras and Salvador where more than half of all applicants were turned down. In Honduras, the refusal rate was actually 60%. But Belize's refusal rate was surely not as good as Costa Rica or Panama where only one in ten applicants was turned down.

Finding Finance For Biodiversity
Phase two of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative was launched today at the Kiki Witz resort outside of Belmopan. It's a part of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan - and the minister of state explained how it works in the real world - outside of the very bloated conceptual framework: Hon. Omar Figueroa, Minister of State, Environment: "Today we are here to celebrate the second phase of the biodiversity fiance initiative. As we all know Belize is a signatory to the convention on biological diversity. As part of our obligations on that convention we develop the national diversity strategy and action plan a few years ago..."

Self Defense For Women
The Ahmadiyya Muslim group is offering self defense classes for women. It begins October 15th and it's only $20 bucks to sign up. We found out more about the importance of this training for women. Shamira Humes, President, Ahmadiyya Women Association: "Our community has come together and decided that we should do something to empower women of our country. It is very obvious the amount of violence against women it is not just in a particular month, it is all year round..."

Ministers Making Moves In Taiwan
On Tuesday's newscast, we told you how Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, and his colleague ministers: Manuel Heredia Jr., and Edmond Castro, were on an official visit to Taiwan. Well, the National Institute of Culture and History has provided a little more insight into how the trip went. According to a press release from NICH, they 3-member Cabinet delegation was there to conduct official Government business, and to participate in Taiwan's National Day, which was held yesterday. They also held discussions with Belizean students who are completing their tertiary education in Taiwan.

Accused of Cleaning Out Dad's Account
25-year-old Nadia Aguilar, a resident of Kelly Street in Belize City, is out on bail for theft. That's after her father accused her of stealing his ATM card, which she allegedly then used to withdraw over $2,000 dollars from his personal account. Her father reported to police that, she took his Atlantic Bank ATM card without his permission, and then on September 2nd, she went to the ATM and made a withdrawal of $400, and then another of $800.

Titans Band Cares, Not Only About Carnival
Carnival is long gone but Titans Mas Band hit the road today - while it wasn't a soca spectacle with costumes and all, it certainly was for a worthy cause. The leader of the band organized a luncheon and dance for the Welcome Resource Center participants to commemorate World Mental Health Day. We stopped by the center this morning to see what fun Friday is all about.

Channel 5

Juan de la Cruz Carrias is Murdered in Succotz
A shocking discovery was made this morning just after eight o’clock in the village of Succotz located near Benque Viejo de Carmen. The lifeless body of a fifty-six-year-old man was [...]

Businessman is Conned out of $72K by his Salesman
A salesman from Cayo is in big trouble with the law tonight. That is because his boss, also from Cayo, is reporting that he stole more than seventy thousand dollars [...]

Uproar as Belmopan CitCo De-reserves Land Designate for Phillip Goldson Boulevard
A hasty land transaction that appears questionable to many in Belmopan is raising eyebrows and causing outrage. A few weeks ago the Belmopan City Council gave the order to de-reserve [...]

NEMO Issues Advisory; Met Service Says No Need to Worry
There is no need to panic at this point says the National Emergency Management Organization. Out of precaution, NEMO issued an advisory earlier today informing that it is monitoring the [...]

Closely Monitoring the Weather… but No System Formed As Yet
According to the NEMO advisory, should the prediction change for the worse, all factors considered, Belize can be facing a significant threat by Tuesday.  Nonetheless, Chief Met Officer Cumberbatch reiterated [...]

Leslie Pipersburgh and Patrick Robateau are Given a Fixed Sentence for Double Murder
Leslie Pipersburgh and Patrick Robateau are two convicts who have now been given a fixed sentence for a double murder. Both received a sentence of thirty-five years, less ten years [...]

Leon Gentle is Not Guilty of Dangerous Harm
In 2014, Vitalino Reyes Junior was badly beaten when his father and another well-known operator were having differences in the cave tubing business.  The violent incident made the news for [...]

Charges Drop in Favor of Two Immigration Officers
Immigration Clerk Sheree Flores escaped a charge today. Another clerk, Ann Smith pressed charges of harm against Flores who then entered a counter charge of common assault against Smith. The [...]

Insp. David Mckoy Called to the Bar
Inspector of Police David McKoy was today called to the bar. It is a significant accomplishment for the young officer who says that he is better equipped to serve the [...]

BHS Enters First Global Technology Challenge
Techy students from the Belize High School are stepping up their game; they are taking part in a global competition in robotics. The students have built a robot, aptly called [...]

Several Ministers on a Visit in Taiwan
A top heavy delegation is on a visit to Taiwan signalling the strength of relations with that country that has been shaken by the loss of two allies in recent [...]

HEMP – a Viable Industry for Belize?
Belize will soon see the establishment of industrial hemp production. The Attorney General’s Ministry has been working on the legal framework that will help to regulate the industry. But, hemp, [...]

Phase 2 of BIOFIN Launched
Phase two of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative known as BIOFIN was launched today. In 2016, the Government launched the first phase which consisted of four assessments such as a policy [...]

Guatemalan President says Relations with Belize “Best They Have Ever Been”
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales addressed the General Debate at the seventy-fourth, General Assembly of the United Nation earlier this month for the last time before demitting office. The outgoing Guatemala [...]

Guatemalan President Bashes CICIG at UN General Assembly
Morales devoted much of his speech and time bashing the United Nations-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). Last year, President Jimmy Morales did not approve the renewal of [...]

Amandala

Hon. Sedi hit with $300,000-plus judgment
Today was judgment day in the long-running court battle between the development company Progresso Heights Limited and Hon. Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, Belize’s Foreign Minister and area representative for the Pickstock constituency. Elrington was a no-show in the Supreme Court of Justice Courtenay Abel, who delivered his judgment this afternoon. The court found that Elrington had placed a caution on the properties of the company without any legal authority, and consequently, Elrington was ordered to pay in excess of $300,000, besides cost of court, a figure which has not been mentioned, but could be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Senate kicks out Joshua Perdomo’s $40,000 loan write-off
The write-off of Joshua Perdomo’s student loan in excess of $40,000 ignited fierce debate during yesterday’s Senate meeting. Perdomo, the son of Cabinet Secretary Carlos Perdomo, took paid study leave from his public service job in the Ministry of National Security to pursue a Master’s Degree in Forensic Genetics, but never returned to Belize after completing his studies in Texas and never paid back his student loan. In late August, Prime Minister Dean Barrow introduced the motion in the House of Representatives to write-off Perdomo’s debt to the government as uncollectable, because he could not be located and the debt had become statute-barred, making it impossible for government to recover the money.

IMF mission notes Belize’s slowed growth and massive public debt
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just completed its annual country visit to Belize in accordance with its Article IV consultation and published its preliminary findings on October 7 on its website. Daniel Leigh was the leader of the IMF team, which visited Belize from September 23 to October 4. The IMF team met with Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Central Bank Governor Joy Grant, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and other senior government officials. The team also met with representatives of the Opposition, the private sector and public sector unions.

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease hits Belize
Since first being detected in 2014 in Florida, the Caribbean has observed the gradual and unstoppable spread of the, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease, reaching as far east as the island of Saint Martin. Last year the disease reached the southern reefs off the coast of Yucatan. This year, the Belize Fisheries Department and Blue Ventures personnel reported high rates of infection and mortality of coral colonies in the northern part of the Belize Barrier Reef within the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.

International Mental Health Day celebrated
Belize joins the international community in celebrating World Mental Health Day under the theme, “Working together to Prevent Suicide.” The day is aimed at raising awareness of mental health, giving support to those with mental disorders, and preventing the stigmatization of people living with mental health problems. The Mental Health Association said that a number of activities were carried out leading up to Mental Health Day, in conjunction with suicide prevention efforts, including talks at schools, essay competitions and presentations on suicide prevention, what triggers suicide, and other topics.

Kyron Green, 11, makes walking steps
Kyron Green, 11, of Belize City, a student of Standard 4 at the St Luke Methodist School on Mahogany Street, suffered a gunshot injury during a shooting where the shooter stood in the doorway of the One Plus One Shopping Center on the Central American Boulevard and fired into the store at a man whom he wanted to kill. The target was hit into his abdomen, but young Kyron Green, who was in the store at the time, was struck by one of the shots, and the bullet was lodged in his spine, rendering him paralyzed.

Five-a-Side Mayor’s Cup Football Tournament 2019 on Sundays at Yabra Green
The Bernard Wagner Five-a-Side Mayor’s Cup Football Tournament 2019 kicked off a couple Sundays ago with 2 games played at Yabra Green. There are 6 teams in the competition – Silent Assassin FC, Yabra FC, Intrepid FC, Honduras FC, Mesopotamia FC, and Survivors-Flowers FC – and they are participating in a double round-robin regular season, with games beginning at 1:00 p.m. every Sunday. At the end of regular season, the top-4 playoff semifinals will feature #1 vs #4, and #2 vs #3 seeds; the two losers then play for third place, and the winners clash for the championship. First prize is $1,100.00; 2nd prize – $600.00; and 3rd prize – $300.00.

Corozal F.A. Opening Season Week 4 report
We start off by giving thanks to the Almighty Father for His continued blessing upon our Corozal Football Association (CFA) tournament. This week marks Week 4. It is welcoming to see that every week the number of fans/spectators is growing. Certainly, your presence means a lot to us, and especially to our players. As a parent or fan, being out there gives these kids the reassurance that they are playing great, and that you believe in them. We thank you, each and every person that comes out every week to support our ongoing tournament.

Future FC U10 & U13 Little League Football Tournament Week 1 results
The Future Football Club U10 & U13 Little League Football Tournament 2019 kicked off on Saturday, October 5, with 5 games at the ITVET (Technical) Football Field in Belize City. There are six (6) teams participating in the U-10 tournament, and seven (7) in the U-13. Those teams are: U10 – Future FC, Caesar Ridge, Reality Youths, Poor & Famous, Yabra, and Belize United; and U13 – Future FC, Sports In Education, Caesar Ridge, Belize United, Berger United, Jah Love, and Survivors FC.

Week 10 stats, and REVISED Week 11 schedule for PLB Opening Season
At the end of Week 10 in the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2019-2020 Opening Season, Verdes FC is the sole standings leader; both Verdes and Bandits SC are still undefeated and sure of a playoff spot; while the 2 remaining playoff spots are up for grabs among the others. (See standings below) On Saturday night in Independence, visiting Bandits SC jumped to a 2-nil lead over Altitude FC with goals from Roberto Silva de Lima (4’) and Georgie Welcome (16’); but the home team responded with 2 goals from Andres Orozco (23’ & 45’) to salvage the 2-2 draw.

Editorial: Columbus and 500-plus years of wealth transfer
In early August, 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailor living in Portugal, received sponsorship from Spain and set out with three sailing ships across the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus was searching for a new sea route to Asia because going overland from Europe to Asia was dangerous, and going to Asia by sea, around the Cape of Good Hope off the southern end of the continent of Africa, was a difficult and lengthy voyage. If the continent that came to be called the Americas – North, Central, and South America – did not exist, Columbus would have spent at least three more months at sea before he landed in Japan or China, his destination. Blessings, there is an American continent, and history records that on October 12, 1492, the great sailor and his ships touched land in the West Indies.

Artificial intelligence doesn’t value money or human life
Dear Editor, We had the 2008 financial crisis called “the Great Recession.” It was mainly caused by people not being able to pay their mortgage (home debt). Low interest rates were offered to people who would not normally qualify (subprime borrowers). The low interest increased and people could not meet their mortgages. Home prices fell. The entire US financial system went into recession, and the rest of the world followed suit. Today, the US consumer and most of the world are drowning in debt.

Leader of the Opposition writes House Speaker
Madam Speaker, I write to express my displeasure over your decision not to allow debate on the write off motions that were presented to the House of Representative during the last sitting of the House of Representatives on Friday, 4th October 2019. Your arbitrary decision not to allow me and other opposition members to comment on the forty-thousand dollar Write-Off Motion relating to Joshua Perdomo, the son of the current cabinet secretary, was clearly a denial of my constitutional right and duty as a member of the House of Representatives and, in particular, as the leader of the Opposition.

From British Honduras to Belize: one family’s drama
When Teacher Bertram no longer had to support his first wife, the surplus from household expenses of his new family was invested in land, which was comparatively cheap and plentiful at the time; and on this land he had had free rein to experiment with rice and other crops. It was then that his knowledge and experience in farming came to the fore; and he went about his avocation with such confidence and authority, not to mention success, that most of the townspeople‘s admiration for him increased even more. I am sorry to say, however, that there were many who looked on with envy at his progress and, from among these, fresh rumours about him had surfaced to the effect that he was a “farm boy” in his home country, a description intended to belittle his status.

Very disrespectful AG Pere burst out laughing
I almost missed out on the Senate meeting on Wednesday this week, but I came from bak-a-bush just in time to see the UDP senators take a terrible flogging and disgrace themselves. What the heck is wrong with Godwin? He forgets that the UDP at Wave didn’t want any part of him? Godwin, — my how that man has lost his luster— said it was a labor of love for someone to work on Pay Scale 14 and 15 in the Public Service. He praised the PM for bringing the Perdomo write-off to the House because, he said, the PM could have snuck it under the table. And it’s an election year, Godwin blurted out in defense of his boss. Ouch, “Nobody mi wahn ask bowt it bikaaz noabodi mi wahn noa”, Godwin said.

Mental health issues more prevalent in Belize
There is a terrible stigma associated with mental illness or mental disorders in Belize and clearly around the world. We grew up referring to people as “crazy” and being absolutely non-empathetic to these people. We have never really learnt at home or on the streets to view persons with mental health issues as one of us. On the contrary, we mistreat them, and abandon them and reject them from our social circle. But the truth is, more of us are suffering from mental issues, be it a disorder or an illness, than we want to admit.

Belize, it is time
The introduction of what is called modernization and civilization brings along with it all kinds of negative effects. With the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 1760s, a lot of changes were seen in London due to the migration of people, and as a result the chemical waste of the industries, the human waste, and other things that went into the River Thames caused that river to be officially considered “biologically dead” by the 1830s, and it took 100 years to recover. I believe that the past history of the Industrial Revolution and the damages that were caused because of negligence is something that needs to be studied and looked at when we want to analyze what is taking place today in the rivers, lagoons, bays, etc. in Belize.

Mother of 9 gets $5,000 bail for ammunition possession
Carolyn Patricia Young, 45, a cook of Hunters Lane, has been released on Supreme Court bail of $5,000, while her son, Ledwin Dixon, 25, also of Hunters Lane, is on remand on a charge of keeping unlicensed ammunition. Carolyn Young’s attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, secured her release when she appeared before Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Williams on Monday.

Four convicted murderers serving life sentence re-sentenced
Recently, four convicted murderers appeared in the Supreme Court before Justice Cumberbatch to be re-sentenced according to the new sentencing regime for capital offences. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) decision in the Alwin Gabb and Gregory August appeals has ushered in a new regime of sentencing for persons convicted of murder in Belize. The CCJ ruling came shortly after the Belize Court of Appeal had ruled in 2016 that life in prison without the possibility of parole was “inhumane.”

BYM calls on youth to demand government write-off of all student loans
In late August at the sitting of the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Dean Barrow, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, introduced a motion to write off the $40,000-plus student loan of Joshua Perdomo, the son of Cabinet Secretary, Carlos Perdomo. At the House meeting last Friday, the motion got its third reading and was passed when a division of the House voted on it. The Joshua Perdomo student loan write-off sparked severe criticism from the public, because, while the Prime Minister prefaced the loan motion by saying that for years, Joshua Perdomo could not be located for him to pay his loan, KREM News easily located Perdomo, through an internet search.

Reynaldo Verde, 46, denied bail; remains on pretrial detention
Reynaldo Verde, 46, the Deputy Director of the Belize Tax Service, appeared in the Southern District Court of Florida, where he was denied bail earlier this week. This means that Verde will remain on pretrial detention in the United States until his case for extortion, interference with commerce by means of extortion, and attempted extortion comes up. Verde, a senior employee of Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s Ministry of Finance, became the subject of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sting operation after American businessman Chris Williams made multiple complaints to them about Verde’s alleged shakedown efforts.

The Reporter

From Simone With Love
As four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles, 22, continues to celebrate her accomplishment of becoming the most-decorated female gymnast in history after recently winning her 21st medal at the World Championship, local Belizean athletes and students from Forest Home Methodist School in the Toledo district now have a special reason to also be thankful for Biles’ success.

Editorial – Friday October 11th. 2019
Newspapers have played a critical role in the life of every nation and in the development of human society ever since the German inventor, Gutenberg, developed a printing press with movable type some 450 years ago.

Legally Right But Morally Wrong !
By: Major Lloyd Jones (Ret’d) - Mr. Justice Abel’s ruling on the Candice Miller suit against the Belize City Council gave Miller and former Mayor Bradley legal vindication, but his ruling did not and can never grant them moral vindication.

Army Corporal With Ties to Belize Court Martialed
Corporal Audrey Urbina, 32, of the British Army who has ties to Belize is currently facing a court-martial for allegedly embezzling 17,000 euros of army funds to book over a dozen flights for herself, family members and friends to fly to destinations across the world.

LOVE FM

Drought Impacts the BWSL services
Over the past months Belize had experienced an extreme drought that impacted the agriculture industry in Belize. The Belize Water Services Limited, during their public meeting last night, noted that farmers were not the only ones suffering from the drought.

BWSL submits Full Tariff Review
The Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) has submitted their Full Tariff Review, for their upcoming five-year business plan, to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval. Last night a public meeting was held to present what the business plan looks like for BWSL in their new Full Tariff Period (FTP) which runs from April 1, 2020 through to March 31, 2025.

Senate debates the amendment to the Contractor General Bill
The amendment to the Contractor General Bill was another issue that caused much debate in the Sitting of the Senate yesterday. The root of the bill is to amend the law that states that after the contractor general’s tenure, he cannot return to serve as a public officer.

IDB & BELTRAIDE working to reduce the crime rate
The event was attended by persons who hope to be a part of the change by coming up with a business model which will be able to change the future of at-risk youths in Belize.

Woman claims KHMH is delaying her compensation
A woman is in distress after claiming that the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital has delayed her compensation after causing her unborn baby’s death. 29-year-old Tracy Mackinnon stated that after the hospital took responsibility in January 2018 – almost a year after the incident – they offered to settle outside of court.

Belize’s Ambassador to the US appears on RT Television
Belize's Ambassador to the United States, Daniel Guttierez was interviewed on RT Television, formerly known as Russia Today. The interview was done on Tuesday, October 8.

Business Senator says IMF Report not adding up
The latest report from the International Monetary Fund highlighted Belize’s recovering economy. It also noted a decreased in the country’s unemployment rate, while mentioning also that the rest of the year may see things moving at a slower pace.

NEMO warns of possible development of tropical storm
The National Meteorological Service of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) sent out a release today in which they are discussing ongoing computer models which are predicting a tropical storm developing in our region.

Belize commemorates World Mental Health Day
Belize joined the rest of the world today in celebrating Mental Health Day. While there were different events happening around the country to commemorate the event, Love News decided to start off with vital information regarding mental health in Belize.

Breaking Belize News

Salesman reportedly makes off with over $72,000 in personal ‘Ruffo’ sales in San Ignacio
San Ignacio businessman, Jorge Recinos reported to police that on October 7, 2019, a salesman […]

Man stabbed to death in Succotz, Cayo
Earlier we posted that authorities were on the scene of a crime in Succotz, Cayo. […]

Belize attends High-Level Segment on Statelessness and 70th Session of the Executive Commission of the High Commissioner’s Programme
Belize is being represented at the High-Level Segment on Statelessness (HLS) and the 70th Session […]

Mexican Embassy hosts successful business meeting to strengthen commercial bonds
A successful meeting was held on October 9, 2019 at the Mexican Institute in Belize […]

Man found dead inside his home in Succotz, Cayo
A man was found dead inside his home this morning in Succotz, Cayo. The circumstances […]

#GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable
Today is commemorated worldwide as International Day of the Girl. The day is being commemorated […]

How social media continues to replace our families
By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: All around the world and in Belize, the public discourse has been surrounding how […]

Belize shell shocked by early St. Kitts second half burst
Living up to their nickname, the Sugar Boyz turned on the style in the second […]

Blogs

Halloween 2019: Parties to look out for on Ambergris Caye
When the clock strikes midnight on Wednesday, October 30th, the witching hour is upon us for the freakiest day of the year, Halloween! However, when Halloween falls on a Thursday it doesn’t sound like much fun. After all it is a weekday, and the hustle and bustle of the everyday routine might dampen the celebration. So why not celebrate the spooky holiday on any other day of the month? That’s exactly what we like to do here in San Pedro Town – party when the time is just right!

Moving to Belize With Your Pets
One of the non-negotiable items between us was our pets. If the pets were not joining us on this new adventure, neither was Annette. Choice made! The good news is that Belize does NOT require incoming domestic pets to be quarantined. They do require however that you have all of the necessary vaccinations and documentation. Google is a wonderful thing in trying to gather information but to be certain you have dotted and crossed everything required, you’ll need country specific information.

Make Time to Visit Lighthouse Reef
Lighthouse Reef is a stunning atoll with white sand, clear blue water, and a quiet, unspoiled beauty. It is home to Half Moon Caye Natural Monument. This is a protected area for nesting, breeding red-footed boobies. Half Moon Caye is the oldest protected area in Belize. It was established in 1928 when the government of Belize designated it as a breeding sanctuary for the red-footed booby. Lighthouse Reef is also close to the Blue Hole of Belize. The Blue Hole is a natural ocean sinkhole that is renowned for its pristine waters, enormous depth and huge variety of colorful fish.

Living in Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a small beautiful Caribbean island off the coast of Belize. It’s divided by a narrow channel called The Split, where you can find a fantastic bar and a sandy beach. You can walk every single corner of this island in one day! If you walk to the south, you will find the island’s only settlement, known as Caye Caulker Village. The north of the island is home to dense mangrove forest and diverse birdlife, protected by a forest reserve. Well known as a haven for divers and snorkelers due to its proximity to the Barrier Reef, you can actually see the waves breaking on the reef on the horizon. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax, this small island is perfect. A feast for the eyes, offering amazing views, exquisite tropical sea life, and unique packed excursions. Caye Caulker can be reached by direct flights from Belize City, which facilitates visiting this paradise.

Chocolate of Belize
The best chocolate in the world originates in Belize. The ancient Maya were the first to discover chocolate. Some evidences suggest the Mayans had chocolate at every meal, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In 1980, Hershey, one of the largest chocolate producers in the world, had their main cacao farm in Belize. Located along the Hummingbird Highway south of the city of Belmopan, they produced chocolate from local growers and guaranteed a good price for farmers. During the 1980s, the program Belize Accelerated Cacao Production Project was very popular. The idea was to teach the local farmers the best methods and to introduce the most productive varieties of cacao. Unfortunately, the world price for cacao dropped from $1.00US per pound to less than $0.30US so the Belize project was dropped.

International Sources

15 facts about Kotoko’s CAF Confederation Cup opponent San Pedro FC
The Porcupine Warriors will face San Pedro from Ivory Coast in the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs on 27th October at home, before jetting off to Ghana's Western-border neighbour in the reverse fixture in November 3. Below are the 15 facts you need to know about Kotoko’s opponent The club was founded in 2004. The club is based in the Ivorian town of San-Pedro. It is in the south part of Ambergris Caye, in northern Belize. The city has a population of 11, 676 as of 2010. San Pedro FC was in the second tier of Ivorian football as of 2015, so their promotion and development make them the fastest growing club in Ivory Coast. The bankroller of the club is a Tunisian businessman Mohammed Ali Hachicha. He purchased the club in 2015 when they were in the second division of Ivorian league.

Laser scanning tech uncovers huge network of ancient Maya farms
Deep within a rainforest in Belize, scientists using lasers beamed from an airplane to peer beneath the dense foliage have discovered evidence of a vast network of ancient Maya farms that date back thousands of years. The findings, part of more than 20 years of research in this part of Central America, show how the ancient Maya civilization, which reached its peak at around 250 A.D. to 900 A.D., adapted their farming practices in the face of environmental challenges. The farms were used to grow maize, beans, squash and avocados, most likely after a series of droughts starting 1,800 years ago forced Maya farmers to expand agriculture from the region’s dry slopes into the forest’s low-lying wetlands, said Tim Beach, a University of Texas geoarchaeologist and the lead author of a paper about the finding published Oct. 7 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Liburd hat-trick hand St Kitts first win
England-based striker Rowan Liburd netted a superb hat-trick to fire St Kitts and Nevis to their first win of the CONCACAF Nations League with a 4-0 blanking of Belize here Thursday night. In a Group A contest in League B at Isidoro Beaton Stadium, the 27-year-old scored all three goals in the second half in the space of 15 minutes, to add to Omari Sterling-James’ first-half strike.

Eyes on Caribbean disturbance
The National Hurricane Center is watching a broad AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER extending from the southwest Caribbean across Central America into the Pacific. Some computer forecast models indicate that an organized circulation might spin off from that area and move toward the Yucatan Peninsula and the southern Gulf of Mexico. The odds of anything significant developing are low over the next several days, and even if it does, the system is likely to move over or near Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize in Central America. It is also possible the disturbance will organize on the Pacific side. There is no threat to Florida.

Mayan mystery: How 1,000-year-old 'untouched' cave discovery left archaeologist speechless
A MAYAN cave that has been untouched for more than 1,000 years left an archaeologist speechless when he entered for the first time in 2018. Archaeologists hunting for a sacred well beneath the city of Chichen Itza in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula accidentally discovered a trove of more than 150 ritual objects untouched for more than 1,000 years. The discovery of the cave system, known as Balamku or “Jaguar God,” was announced by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in a press conference held in March this year. Balamka was first discovered in 1966, but the cave was sealed by archaeologist Victor Pinto, who claimed there was no extensive archaeological material.

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October 11, 2019

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5, LOVETV, PGTV, Reef TV, KREM, and CTV 3. Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, Belize Now, Talk Ah Di Town, and other specials.

The San Pedro Sun

Belize invited to Mexico’s Pro Agro-Innovation Expo
Belizean agricultural entrepreneurs, businesspeople, farmers, and agro-processors have been invited to participate in the upcoming Pro Agro-Innovation Expo, which Mexico's National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism (CANACO-SERVYTUR) will host at the Chetumal City Convention Center on October 23rd through the 25th. CANACO-SERVYTUR Vice President of Border Trade Thelmo Manuel Rejon Montalvo encouraged the food producers and manufacturers to bring their products to the expo, as chefs from a number of hotels would be attending the Expo, and it will be the ideal opportunity to introduce them to the quality of Belizean sauces, chocolate, and other processed food products.

Monitoring the Possibility for Development of a Tropical System Close to Belize
The National Meteorological Services of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) are in discussion regarding ongoing computer models which are predicting that a tropical system could develop within our region, close to Belize somewhere near to Honduras/Nicaragua by the weekend or very early next week. The models will be better able to predict the possibility for the development of a tropical system and a projected path between today and the upcoming days. The Met Office will be consulting with the National Hurricane Centre and will back brief NEMO today.

Caye Caulker Electrification Project to receive a $6.8 US million Loan
On Friday, October 4th, during the Sitting of the House of Representatives a $6.8 US million loan motion was presented for Caye Caulker Electrification Project. The loan, offered by the Caribbean Development Bank, is earmarked to assist Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) in reducing emissions and improve the reliability of the supply of electricity to Caye Caulker, with increased capacity to meet the projected demand. The project consists of connecting Caye Caulker to the BEL national electricity grid, which includes a submarine cable feasibility study, land acquisition, infrastructure works, among others. The Government of Belize will guarantee the loan.

Coral tissue loss disease threatens Belize’s Barrier Reef
To find a solution and work out a strategic plan, Belize's foremost marine biologists and researchers gathered with their counterparts of the three other countries which host parts of the 1,000 kilometer long Meso-American Reef (MAR), for the second biennial meeting of the Reef Restoration Network for the MAR region, at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City from Tuesday October 8th to Thursday October 10th.Foremost on the agenda was the development of a MAR regional plan for reef restoration, encouraging complementary efforts to target resources needed to put the plan into effect. The stony coral tissue loss disease first appeared in Florida USA in 2014 and is lethal to over 20 different species of coral, particularly the pillar, star and starlet, and brain corals.

Various Belizean Sources

Red Mangroves propagules for free on Caye Caulker
I have literally hundreds of Red Mangroves propagules, if you have beach front property please consider planting a small patch of baby mangroves. Free to good homes.

Kids Halloween Spooktacular Bazaar
Halloween is coming soon, so grab your mask or your broom. The Rotaract Club of Ambergris Caye will be your host, come dressed in your favorite halloween costume, it could be a witch or a ghost! There will be food, drinks, games, costume competition and witch’s brew, Now all we need is you! We’re calling all goblins, ghosts and creatures of the night!!! So creep, float, or crawl on over and join us for our 1st Annual Halloween Spooktacular Bazaar! Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 5 PM – 10 PM, The Lion's Den, San Pedro. Hosted by Rotaract Club of Ambergris Caye

Precautionary Notice from NEMO: Tropical System Possible in Region
MONITORING THE POSSIBILITY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A TROPICAL SYSTEM CLOSE TO BELIZE. The National Meteorological Services of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) are in discussion regarding ongoing computer models which are predicting that a tropical system could develop within our region, close to Belize somewhere near to Honduras/Nicaragua by the weekend or very early next week. The models will be better able to predict the possibility for the development of a tropical system and a projected path between today and the upcoming days. The Met Office will be consulting with the National Hurricane Centre and will back brief NEMO today.

The Trial and Execution of Colonel Despard For High Treason
It is a curious coincidence that the trial of "Colonel" Lynch for high treason should have taken place on the centenary, almost to the day, of the trial of another colonel, without the inverted commas, however, on the same charge. The case of Colonel Despard, whose trial in February, 1803, created a great sensation, formed the last instance of a man of good birth being charged with this offence against the State. Despard was a man of respectable Irish ancestry. Born in 1750, he had a distinguished military career, first in the 50th and 79th Regiments, and subsequently as Chief Engineer in several over-sea expeditions, notably that to San Juan in 1779. At the close of the latter he was appointed Governor of British Honduras, and this proved the beginning of his troubles.

MAYA OF BELIZE
In Belize we have 3 Maya groups the Yucatec Maya ,Mopan Maya and Q'eqchi' Maya . MAYA YUCATEC: The Yucatec Maya group are mostly found in Corozal,Orange Walk and Cayo . The Yucatec Maya may also be known as Masewal,Maya Masewal,Mayero or Maya Mestizo which are different terms for the same Maya Yucatec. MAYA MOPAN: The Mopan Maya are mostly found in the Toledo District . Many Mopan Maya still live traditionally. MAYA Q'EQCHI': The Q'eqchi' Maya also spelled as K'ekchi' live more traditionally and are mostly found in the Toledo District . The K'ekchi' are one of the most numerous of the Maya groups in Belize.

PIBIL SALE - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 On Caye Caulker
STARTING AT 11am in front of the Assemblies of God church. $15 per pound and comes with tortilla, pico de gallo and sauce. Delivery available. For orders call Ms. Amalia at 620-1688 or 602-9665.

Belize attends High-Level Segment on Statelessness and 70th Session of the Executive Commission of the High Commissioner’s Programme
Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Patrick Andrews headed Belize’s delegation to the High-Level Segment on Statelessness (HLS) and the 70th Session of the Executive Commission (ExCom) of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Programme. The events are being held from the 7th to 11th October 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland. The HLS marks the midpoint of the UNHCR’s #IBelong campaign to end statelessness by 2024. Belize is party to both international conventions on statelessness and was recognised during a HLS side event for acceding to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness in 2015. Furthermore, Belize submitted concrete pledges on actions to be taken within its jurisdiction to address statelessness.

Changes in the Pump Price of Fuel Effective October 11, 2019
The Ministry of Finance announces that at midnight on October 11, 2019, the pump price for kerosene will increase by five cents from $7.37 to $7.42 per gallon. The prices for premium gasoline, regular gasoline and diesel will remain unchanged at $10.59, $10.27 and $10.01 per gallon, respectively.

2019 Central America Regional Security Initiative, Economic Support Fund (CARSI ESF) grants
Congratulations to RET USA, Inc., Youth Enhancement Services, and Trust for the Americas for being selected as the recipients of the 2019 Central America Regional Security Initiative, Economic Support Fund (CARSI ESF) grants. The three grants, totaling $750,000 USD, were awarded by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges in a ceremony yesterday. The grants support good governance, using civil society engagement to strengthen government effectiveness. During the ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges emphasized, “We hope the grants contribute to increased citizen participation and oversight so that government at all levels is more responsive to the Belizean people.”

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Lion King, Little Monsters, The Art of Self-Defense, 3 From Hell.

Channel 7

Foreign Minister Suffers 300,000 Dollar Setback In the Supreme Court
Over 300 thousand dollars, that's the award in damages that the Supreme Court has ordered Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington to pay his former business partners from the real estate company, Progresso Heights Limited. Justice  Courtney Abel has found that he had no valid reason for stopping the company's directors from conducting business in Belize. And as a result, he must compensate them for the loss in revenue his actions caused. By now viewers will be very familiar with this dispute. Elrington is a shareholder in the Progresso Heights Limited, which is run by the American father and son, Lawrence and Adam Schneider. Many years ago, Elrington was their business partner and the company's attorney, but, they had a major falling out sometime in 2009.

US Scientists Assess New River
A group of American scientists are in Belize to conduct a detailed assessment on the pollution in the New River.  As has been widely reported, the river, which runs from the eastern edge of the Orange Walk District all the way to the Corozal Bay, is in the worst condition in memory.  It caught national attention as early as August after its drought aggravated the pollution. So, the department of the environment and the worried residents who live near it are doing all they can to start reversing the pollution. That is expected to take years, but there is a need for a clear scientific picture to be captured of the New River so that informed decisions can be taken about remedial measures.

NEMO Watching Low Pressure Area Off CA Coast
NEMO has sent out what it calls a precautionary notice for a weather system that bears watching.   A broad area of low pressure is hovering right now off the coast  of Nicaragua and Honduras and models predict that it could develop within our region, by the weekend or very early next week. The national hurricane center in Miami says "some development is possible if the low remains over water while moving near the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize." And even though the national hurricane center only gives it a 20% chance of developing into a system, NEMO says, quote, "at this juncture based on what the models are forecasting (we) prefer to err on the side of caution.

Belmopan Roadside Lots Under Scrutiny
Commissioner of Lands Wilbur Vallejos says there's nothing unusual about a land transaction in Belmopan that's raised some eyebrows.   34 lots along Phillip Goldson Boulevard - a few of them right in front of the Lands Department - have been issued on the road reserve. Vallejos says the area was de-reserved based on the recommendation from the city council on the advice of its technocrats and engineers. He says the council decided that the area will not be used for any further expansion and they decided to convert it into lots.

Baby Steps Are Huge For Kyron
For 6 weeks now, 11-year-old Kyron Green has been at Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia. The doctors there have been working with him and his mother, Marsha Belisle, in a major effort at recovery. They're trying to help him improve his quality of life, and maybe even walk again after his near-fatal shooting back in May.  You'll remember that Kyron was innocently shot while he was on an errand for his mother. The gunman was aiming at his adult target, but Kyron was injured by a stray bullet, which ended up lodged in his cervical vertebrae. 

Green Card Lottery Open For Belize
The US Diversity Immigrant Visa Program opened last week, and if you're interested, you have less than a month to apply. The program will give 55,000 foreign nationals and their families from around the world a chance to legally immigrate to the United States, green card in hand.  Of course, as many as 20 million people applied last time, so don't get your hopes too high.   But, the application is free and - as the name implies - it's a lottery, and number can play;  once you have a passport and a high school diploma, you're eligible.  We found out more today from the Embassy's Consular Officer when we spoke to him at the Biltmore:..

World Mental Health Day Focusses On Rising Caribbean Suicide Rate
Today was observed as World Mental Health Day under the theme Mental Health Promotion & suicide prevention. The Ministry of Health, PAHO, and the Belize Mental Health Association hosted an event at the Bliss Center for several Belize city high schools. The event's overall objective: raising awareness of mental health issues in Belize and mobilizing efforts in support of suicide prevention. We stopped by to hear from the professionals about this very real problem that's rarely, if ever, openly discussed. Cherisse Halsall reports:

Driving Home The Pain of Homelessness
Today is also recognized as World Homeless Day. The Welcome Resource Center caters to homeless persons, those with mental illness and the elderly. The center has several events planned for their participants, but one main activity is the "Sleep It Out" initiative that raises funds for the center. The event will be held on Saturday night into Sunday morning. The center's administrator told us more about it today: Joyce Ellis - Administrator, Welcome Resource Center: "Based on my experience here at the center for the past 6 years, I must say that homelessness; to me it's on the rise. We are seeing more and more people becoming homeless..."

IDB Wants Youth To 'Change Dah Story'
Today 120 youths gathered at the Biltmore for the launch of the first social innovation challenge. The Inter-American Development Bank along with Compete Caribbean, and the Government of Canada partnered to pilot this new initiative in Belize. The main idea is to engage youth to come up with solution-oriented proposals for problems they face. 3 of the winning proposals will get funding, training and mentorship. We stopped by for the launch and found out more about the competition. Sylvia Dohnert - Private Sector Lead Specialist, IDB: "So this event called "Change dah story is a social innovation methodology which seeks to use an innovative process to come up with business solutions that affect youth in this case..."

Man Shot, Did Cops Pull Trigger?
Police have 40-year-old Kenrick Reneau under police guard at the KHMH. They say that they had to pursue him and others in a high-speed chase which ended when they crashed into a lamp post on Linda Vista Street. The cops think that the group was preparing to commit a crime, and that's why they fled when police came up on them.  It happened before dawn this morning on Linda Vista Street in the Lake Independence area - and it ended when Reneau got shot. Deputy Head of the National Crimes Investigations Branch told us more:

Russel Reyes Targeted
Senior Superintendent Romero also shared a few details about another shooting which happened on Tuesday night on Dolphin Street. According to the cops, the victim, 23-year-old Russell Reyes, was riding his bicycle, minding his own business, when he heard a gunshot: Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero - Deputy Head, NCIB: "On Tuesday the 8th day of October 2019, at around 10:30 p.m, police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital..."

Steals Liquor, Gets Drunk, Turns Himself Into Police
"Teef and ker' back" - it's one of the most maligned acts in our culture, but that's just what a Caye Caulker drinker did - and tonight he has a thousand dollar tab to pay because of it. Gerson Guerra, a thirty-four year old Caye Caulker resident who stole two bottles of liquor then handed himself into the police after he got drunk, and pleaded guilty to theft when he appeared today before Magistrate Emerson Banner. 

Making Coral Nurseries Work
For the past few weeks, we've been reporting on SCTLD, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and the untold damage it can do to Belize's reef. And, the truth is, the reef has been under attack for decades, from coral bleaching in the early aughts, to the Lionfish invasion which has been going on for about 10 years.   And that's why the concept of Coral Nurseries is so important. It's spearheaded in Belize by marine biologist Lisa Carne out of Placencia and a few months ago in San Pedro we met some kids who have taken up her mantle on their island.  They are part of the Kids In Action summer program and they told us about their Coral reef restoration program and coral nursery:

Alex's Indian Sojourn
Last night we introduced you to Alexander Aguet.  He works in Australia as a highly sought after rehabilitation and occupational therapy specialist. And while that's his day job - he incorporates his training as a monk into that work.  This, after all, is a man who has literally been to the mountaintop.

Channel 5

Sedi Loses Progresso Heights Case in High Court
The court ruled today against Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington in a long standing case involving more than a hundred parcels of land held by Progresso Heights Limited.  Elrington owns shares [...]

The Case of Danny Mason et al is Adjourned
There is another case that has been before the court for some time.  It involves the murder charge against William “Danny” Mason and four other accused men. This morning, it [...]

Kenrick Reneau is Shot; Police Say Burglary Tools Found Inside Suspicious Vehicle
Just after five this morning a police patrol pursued a vehicle carrying a known criminal figure. That patrol chased the vehicle until it came to a stop when it crashed [...]

Russel Reyes Recovering from Gunshot
Police say that a man who was shot on Tuesday night around ten-thirty in Belize City is recovering in the hospital. According to Senior Superintendent Hilberto Romero, no one has [...]

Belize City Woman Recounts Her Terrible Ordeal at the K.H.M.H.
Twenty-nine-year-old Tracy Mackinnon says that the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is giving her a hard time to settle a claim against the national referral hospital.  In May 2017, Mackinnon was [...]

Tracy Mackinnon Says K.H.M.H.A. Playing Hardball
The original offer was increased to seventeen thousand dollars but the settlement has not been completed as yet. According to Mackinnon, she was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and [...]

Kerosene Goes Up By Five Cents at Midnight
The cost per gallon of kerosene goes up by five cents at midnight, to seven dollars and forty-two cents.  The nominal increase reflects the current demand and supply conditions of [...]

Researchers from the University of Florida Conduct a Water Quality Assessment of the Entire New River
The state of the New River has been showing some signs of recovery with some help from the rains, but tests are still being conducted to determine the quality of [...]

Police Continue to be Trained as Part of M.O.H.’s Mental Health Operational Plan
The death of Nestor Vasquez Junior in July following a violent attack inside a holding cell at the Queen Street Police Station, has brought into sharp focus the need for [...]

Acute Units for Mental Patients at Public Hospitals in the Pipeline
Vasquez’s family issued a release earlier this week. In the aftermath of death of the sixty-year old and the celebration of World Mental Health Day, the family is asking that [...]

Gasoline Thief to Spend One Month in Jail
A fuel thief is serving a month-long sentence at the Belize Central Prison after he was busted stealing ten gallons of gasoline in San Pedro.  On Monday, twenty-four-year-old Nicholas Reyes [...]

NEMO Issues Precautionary Notice on Predicted Tropical System
The National Emergency Management Organization has issued an early precautionary notice after ongoing computer models are predicting that a tropical system could develop within the region. According to the release, [...]

Senator Lizarraga Says G.O.B. Spending is Out of Control
The IMF’s preliminary report on Belize’s economic says that the recovery is moving at a glacial space. During the first three months of the year, the G.D.P. grew by an [...]

Attorney Offers Services to Collect Joshua Perdomo’s Debt
The debate got testy among Senators on Wednesday when Write-off Number Two Motion was introduced. The write-off is for forty thousand dollars owed to the Government of Belize by Joshua [...]

Legislation to Address E.U. Blacklisting Passed by Senate
An important piece of legislation that went before the Senate on Wednesday as passed to get rid of the blacklisting by the European Union that hangs over Belize. The European [...]

MAR Countries Meet to Find Common Ways to Restore the Reef
On Wednesday night, we told you about the two-day Reef Restoration Network’s second biennial meeting being held in Belize. It closed off today. The purpose of the meeting is for [...]

“Change Dah Story” Challenge
Several agencies, including the Inter-American Bank and Complete Caribbean, have partnered to conduct a new social innovation challenge in Belize known as ‘Chang Dah Story.’ The challenge was launched today [...]

World Mental Health Day Focuses on Suicide Prevention among the Youth
Mental Health manifests itself in various forms and can affect just about everyone, but only ten percent of the population receive mental health care in the country. That is because [...]

Suicides Stats: Men at Extreme Risk for Various Reasons
Statistics show that thirty-one persons in 2018 committed suicide in Belize; the majority were among the youth population and primarily men. To every female suicide death, seven men die. And [...]

Healthy Living Goes Inside the Welcome Resource Center
Today we celebrate World Mental Health Day. Several activities were planned in commemoration, including a speech contest we heard about earlier in the newscast. On October, twenty-sixth, the Mental Health [...]

LOVE FM

Senate members vote against the Joshua Perdomo loan write-off
Seven senators voted against the Joshua Perdomo write-off while six voted in favour of it. It is a very rare occurrence as the Senate is mostly referred to as a rubber stamp for matters coming out of the House of Representatives.

Breaking Belize News

Netherlands to remove Belize from low-tax list
The Government of the Netherlands (Dutch Government) is removing Belize from its list of low-tax jurisdictions, […]

Belize among countries not seeing declines in hotel industry
The travel research firm STR has published data showing that hotel occupancy is down in many […]

Belize fail to convert opportunities in frantic first half
The Belize Jaguars have played the first half of this matchup with varying levels […]

Lionel Messi says he almost left Barcelona due to tax fraud case linked to Belize
World renowned football player, Lionel Messi, says he nearly left Football Club (FC) Barcelona following a […]

“Caribbean running out of time to adapt for climate change,” says new research
A new research paper, done by Caribbean experts, says that the region is running out […]

Belize, St. Kitts vow to win Nations League clash
It’s the Jaguars vs the Sugar Boyz tonight at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in League B, […]

Police and robbery suspect exchange gun fire in Belize City
Shortly after 5 o’clock this morning, a police patrol was drawn to a black Nissan […]

Man, 23, shot in Belize City; Shooter remains at large
Just before 11 o’clock on Tuesday night there was a shooting in Belize City. It […]

San Ignacio and Santa Elena Mayor attends Florida’s International Trade and Cultural Expo
Mayor of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, Earl Trapp is attending this year’s Florida International […]

Minister of National Security begins northern tour
The Minister of National Security, John Saldivar has commenced his tour of police stations in […]

Mental Health Association gets laptop from Shyne Barrow
As we celebrate world mental health day, Shyne Barrow is supporting the Mental Health Association […]

PSU says mystery document gives them first preference to acquire property at Hilltop
Public Service Union President Gerald Henry, said he cannot share the details of the documents […]

Three organizations awarded CARSI grants
The 2019 Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), Economic Support Funds (ESF) grant awards are […]

Mexico invites Belize to participate in upcoming Agriculture expo
Mexico’s National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism (CANACO-SERVYTUR) is inviting Belizeans in the agricultural sector […]

Belize- The Environmental Tax Act
By Richard Harrison: I had recommended the Environmental Tax since 1997, but the financial gurus of the Government of Belize paid no mind until 2003, when they found themselves under duress…and finally introduced The Environmental Tax Act.

Blogs

Turneffe Atoll in Belize
Turneffe Atoll is the newest marine region to receive national protection under the Belizean government. The atoll is notable for being the biologically diverse and populous atoll in all of the Americas. This area spans 30 miles in length and 10 miles in width. It is rich with species of coral, fish and massive rays, making it an excellent spot for anyone interesting in diving, sport fishing or snorkeling. If you want to find this spot, look 20 miles away from the coast of Belize City, to the southeast of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Turneffe is one-third of the trio of atolls within the Belize Barrier Reef, the other two being Glover’s Reef and Lighthouse Reef.

The Yucatec Mayas of Belize
The heart of the ancient Maya civilization that persisted for thousands of years in Mesoamerica was in Belize. The Maya survived many centuries of wars, imperialism, colonialism and natural disasters and continued to thrive as the only native people in Belize. There are three main factions of Maya that currently reside in Belize, which are the Yucatec, Kekchi, and Mopan. The Yucatec Mayas mainly live in northern Belize where they migrated in the middle of the 19th century from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Most Mayas here are more Hispanicized versus Anglicized. They generally identify as Catholics and speak Yucatec Mayan and Spanish as their main languages but some of them do not speak the Mayan dialect.

Museums of Belize and Houses of Culture
Looking at the Museum of Belize as it stands today, tucked away on a narrow street known as Gaol Lane (the Old-English spelling for Jail) it is curious to realize that it was built more than a century and a half ago and that back then it served as a prison. Yes, construction on “Her Majesty’s Prison” was started in 1855, and completed in 1857. A previous prison, made of wood, was destroyed by fire. This new structure was built with bricks, known as “London Stocks” brought from England, and used as ballast on ships. This new institution was named “Her Majesty’s Prison”, and faced the Caribbean Sea. Each window in the building designated one cell for one man. In 1910, with an increase in inmates, it had to be extended an additional 30 feet.

International Sources

Hotel Occupancy Up and Down Across the Caribbean
Several Caribbean destinations are reporting strong 2019 visitor arrivals, even as recent data from travel research firm STR shows Caribbean hotel occupancy declined significantly this spring and summer. Tourism officials in Belize, Grenada and Saint Lucia reported higher first-half 2019 arrivals. Louisiana-based Caribbean specialist Geraldine Simpson said Saint Maarten, Barbados and St. Lucia are all “hot” with travelers.

How does Simone Biles do gymnastics skills that seem impossible?
On Thursday in Stuttgart, Germany, Simone Biles made history in claiming a fifth world all-around title. Made history again, that is. No other woman has won more than three world all-around titles. But Biles, 22, continues to astound. On Tuesday, she led the U.S. squad to team gold -- meaning she now has 22 (yes, you read that right) world medals in her personal collection. She has already won more world medals than any female gymnast in history. And she's far from done. Biles could legitimately medal in each of the four upcoming individual events in Stuttgart. If she wins "just" two more during the competition, she will beat the record of 23, held by legend Vitaly Scherbo, for most world medals ever won by a gymnast.

Hurricane Center tracks 3 disturbances in 3 different parts of Atlantic
Multiple tropical disturbances are churning the Atlantic from vastly different corners of the map, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 2 a.m. Friday update. First, a non-tropical low pressure system located off the northeastern coast of the United States is producing thunderstorms and storm-force winds. Second, a broad area of low pressure is expected to form in the west Caribbean over the weekend. It is forecast to drift westward toward the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize.

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