January 30, 2020

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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

BEL submits Full Tariff Review Proceeding Application to the PUC for 2020 to 2024
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has submitted an application to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) under the Full Tariff Review Proceeding (FTRP) for the Full Tariff Period (FTP) starting July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2024 (FTP 2020/2024). The FTRP is a review and subsequent determination by the PUC of the Regulated Values, Mean Electricity Rate (MER), Tariffs, Rates, Charges and Fees applicable for the FTP 2020/2024.

Belize to improve the quality and gender equity in schools with IDB support
The Prime Minister of Belize, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, and Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Cassandra T. Rogers, signed an agreement on January 27, 2020, to implement a US$10 million loan to improve the quality and gender equity of education at the primary and secondary levels in the country. The agreement between the IDB and the Government of Belize (GOB) launches the second phase of the Education Quality Improvement Program (EQIP II), with special focus on innovation in Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) education, and that will expand the learning of scientific, digital and problem-solving skills.

Ambergris Today

Lova Boy Signs New Deal, Releases Post Acquittal Single FUNERAL
After nearly two years in custody facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, and additional life sentence plus 31 years, recording artist Daniel “Lova Boy” Cacho was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges in a jury trial in Compton California, USA.After being acquitted Lova Boy wasted no time in coming back to the recording studio by signing a new deal with West Lake Studios in Hollywood California. West Lake Studios is legendry in the recording industry for producing and voicing numerous multi-platinum artists most notably, Michael Jackson.

IDB Loans US$10Million To Belize To Improve Quality And Gender Equity In Schools
Belize City. January 28th, 2020. The Prime Minister of Belize, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, and Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Cassandra T. Rogers, signed an agreement on January 27, 2020, to implement a US$10 million loan to improve the quality and gender equity of education at the primary and secondary levels in the country.

Various Belizean Sources

Paul Nabor PG Day Fishing Classic
Feb. 1, leave Garbutt's Marine 6am.

Belize Guilt Trip Sweepstakes – Win A Trip To Belize
Now is your chance to take a holiday. The Belize Tourism Board is offering a ‘Belize Guilt Trip’ sweepstakes. You can win a trip to Belize! What makes the sweepstakes even better is that your co-worker can win a trip as well so there is no need to feel guilty that you are going on holiday and they aren’t. The Belize Tourism Board is here to fix that and give you the break that you need. Many studies show time away from the desk, brings many benefits, both physically and psychological and in the long run makes you more productive! This is your chance to take a break.

Practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of viruses
The Ministry of Health Belize encourages all to practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of viruses.

World Water Day "Water and Climate Change" Poster Competition 2020
The World Water Day (WWD) Committee is seeking creative and educational posters depicting the linkage between water and climate change in Belize. Requirements: Only primary school students can participate (Standard 4-6) The poster must not be less than 23 inches by 29 inches in size. • The design must be original. (The poster must be created, drawn or painted by freehand) All submissions must have a name, address and contact number. A type written explanation (no more than 200 words) must be submitted along with the poster.

BEL submits Full Tariff Review Proceeding Application to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for 2020 to 2024
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has submitted an application to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) under the Full Tariff Review Proceeding (FTRP) for the Full Tariff Period (FTP) starting July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2024 (FTP 2020/2024). The FTRP is a review and subsequent determination by the PUC of the Regulated Values. Mean Electricity Rate (MER). Tariffs. Rates. Charges and Fees applicable for the FTP 2020/2024. The submission represents BEL, best forecasts over the FTP. While the current forecasts project increasing costs and a Mean Electricity Rate (MER) of 30.4533 on average over the FTP 2020/2024, the Company's intention is to maintain the nirrent rates to customers up to December 31, 2020.

The Peace Corps Belize needs a cashier
Peace Corps Belize seeks qualified candidates to fill a Cashier Vacancy. To apply, please follow the application process indicated. Deadline to apply is February 14th, 2020.

Are You a Plastics Game Changer?
PACT has a cool little competition where you could win some of their eco-friendly prizes. Just let them know how you've left single-use plastics behind. This Campaign is only open to legal residents of Belize, who are 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry and is void where prohibited by law. Employees of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust, its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, and suppliers, (collectively the “Employees”), and immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of Employees are not eligible to participate in the Campaign. The Campaign is subject to all applicable local laws and regulations.

SHENSEA LIVE IN CONCERT @ VICTOR GALVEZ STADIUM IN CAYO FEB 29

National Agriculture and Trade Show 2020
The National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) Committee under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, The Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration hereby informs the public that the National Agriculture and Trade Show will be held on May 1, 2 and 3, 2020 under the theme: Innovations in Technology – Driving a Climate Resilient and Competitive Agriculture and Food Sector. This will be the 50th anniversary of this prestigious event at the National Agriculture and Trade Showgrounds.

Ministry of Health says Airport is screening for Coronavirus
The National Surveillance Team of the Ministry of Health continues to monitor all epidemiological information and surveillance activities in relation to the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The Ministry has met with airport authorities and relevant stakeholders to review the screening methods and processes to be implemented in the event of any suspected case. To date, this region, including Belize, has no confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV. This week, the Ministry has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Caribbean Public Health Agency as well as the regional and country offices of the Pan American Health Organization to keep everyone abreast of the regional response.

BDF Day
3 more days and it's BDF Day. We will be waiting for you. See you there.

Southern Workers Union Receives Certification as Trade Union
The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development along with the Chairman of the Tripartite Body, Mr. Gabriel Martinez, and other members of the Tripartite Body are very pleased to congratulate the Southern Workers Union on becoming the first trade union for 2020. The Southern Workers Union is now certified as a bargaining agent for employees of the Dangriga Town Council. The union is comprised of 33 members and is led by President Mr. Glen Lewis. The members spoke about the lengthy process of getting to this point and expressed their gratitude and happiness to now be able to help the workers of the Dangriga Town Council.

Little Free Library in Corozal Opens Feb. 1
Corozal will be having their first “ My Little Free Library”. Join the Rotaract Club of Corozal on Saturday for the grand opening! The idea of “bring a book, leave a book” is not only to inspire readers but to also build community. If you know me, you know books have always been a big part of my life. I’m beyond excited to share something I love with you all and hope we can all share the love for books together.

Consejo Road clean up Saturday, February 1st
We have a scheduled Consejo Road clean up starting at 6:00 a.m. Saturday, February 1st, 2020. We thank residents from Consejo Village, Consejo Landing, Mayan Seaside, Smuggler's Den, Consejo Shores who will be assisting with this cleanup. We ask that all residents of Consejo who wish to participate to help on this clean up to bring water, garbage bags, and gloves. We will have residents who are assisting with their pickup trucks and trailers to transport the garbage to the dump. After this clean up at the earliest convenience, the road will be graded by a private grader hired and paid by Land Developers and residents of Consejo who have been kind to donate towards this effort.

Vacancy Announcement for Security Officer at the British High Commission
The British High Commission is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce. Vacancy Announcement for a Security Officer at the British High Commission in Belmopan. Closing date for submitting applications is 14 February 2020. Late applications will not be considered and only short listed candidates will be contacted. Applications will only be accepted online.

Belize Raptor Center annual Music for the Birds fundraiser
The Belize Raptor Center is having their annual Music for the Birds fundraiser, and this time, it's at The Bluffs. The Sand Crabs Blues Band will be performing during the event. It''ll be held on Sunday, February 23rd, and the fun starts at 3:00pm. They'll have some silent auctions too.

Cruise Stakeholders Networking Session
You are invited! The Cruise Stakeholders Networking Session is set for February 10th at 6 p.m. For more info, check out the flyer below. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/NVDbUjABsEDHinkp9

DEXTA DAPS IN BELIZE CITY FEB. 1

Channel 7

Murder Victim's Last Word Was "Ma!"�
A 24-year-old man was murdered last night on Cumberbatch Street,  and Delbert Alvarez was likely off his turf when he was targeted.  Alvarez who is known to hang out Majestic Alley, last night Alvarez was in Lake Independence, at his girlfriend's house.  He left to make a weed run - and never came back.  And today Cherisse Halsall Alvarez's his final steps and spoke to his family to try and understand the shock and horror they are experiencing at the loss of their brother and son. Last night 24-year old Delbert Alvarez left his girlfriend's house to buy weed, he was in an unfamiliar neighbourhood and probably thought that no one would even give him a second look as he rode through the area.

Police Find Loaded Weapon in Gang Ridden Area
And police have been busy in that area as well - after two murders in two days. This morning an operation in the Police street/Ordonez street area resulted in the seizure of a loaded 38 pistol and the arrest of 20 year old, Adrian Sanchez. Tonight, Sanchez is in jail after he pleaded guilty to keeping firearm and ammunition without a gun license.

Working Man's Alleged Killer Gets Off
Frank Neal was killed almost 7 years ago; the 36 year old working man had gone to buy evening - time Johnny Cakes when he was gunned down. Today, Paul Smith who has been on remand since 2013, was sent home when the DPP's office entered a nolle pros motion.

Drug Planes Dropping Like Flies
It would appear that the entire northern triangle region comprising Belize, Guatemala and southeastern Mexico have become one big clandestine airfield for drug plane landings. And, this week, the planes have been falling like flies! There were four between Saturday and Monday: One in Belize, 2 in Mexico and one in Guatemala. And, there one more last night. While this one was rumored to be headed for Blue Creek, that didn't happen. Whether through deterrence or evasion, it went instead for Mahauhual - which is 90 miles north of Chetumal.

No Coronavirus in Belize
There's no Coronavirus in Belize. Tonight we can confirm that the region, including Belize, has no confirmed case of the novel Coronavirus.  Still, surveillance activities in relation to the virus continue.  Yesterday, the Ministry of Health held a meeting with airport authorities to review screening methods to be implemented in the event of any suspected case.

PC Mendoza Again
Sworn to protect and serve but yesterday 22 year old Police Constable was arrested for another criminal offence. He's the same cop charged last month for the theft of three firearms from the Precinct Three formation in Belize City.  Well, now, PC Mendoza is accused of an armed robbery in Cayo. It is alleged that on December 5^th he was one of the culprits who used a gun to rob 32 year old Peter Loewen.

Cops Find Stolen Pickup
Last night we told you about a carjacking that took place on the Santa Rosa Road near Xunantunich. It involved a makeshift roadblock and masked men who opened fire on 43-year-old Elias Sanchez Guitterez.  That barrage of bullets caused Guitterez to flee from his vehicle, a Black four-door 1987 Toyota Pickup, which was then stolen along with a cellphone and several other Items. 

Cable TV Goes Dark In Dangriga
In terms of Cable television, Dangriga has gone dark for the past week or more. That's right, Dangriga Cable Vision has lost its cable feed from CBC cable in Belize City - leaving thousands of subscribers without cable television. The problem as we understand it is that BTL has cut CBC's fiber optic line to Dangriga because the company has what we are told are sizable arrears going back over many years.

Colombia's VP Visits
Colombia's Vice President, Marta Lucia Ramirez, visited Belize today.  The independent media was not told of the visit, nor were we invited, and only this footage - without any information has been released tonight. So we saw that Ramirez met with Prime Minister Dean Barrow, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, and the Speaker of the House, Laura Longsworth.

Bio-Based Vs. Bio Degradable
Last week we told you that The Phase-out of Single Use-Plastics had been signed into law. And the transition process seems to be steamrolling ahead. And, this morning The Belize Bureau of standards held a technical workshop on biodegradable and compostable materials in an effort to strengthen understanding, interpretation and application of the proposed standards for these products in Belize. We caught up with C.E.O Percival Cho to discuss temporary and projected definitions of Biodegradability for Belize.

New Drought To Threaten New River
In November we told you that the New River was regaining its health as conditions along its banks had seen marked improvement.  Now, predictions from the regional climate change centre are claiming that the region is set to experience an even more severe drought than last year. We asked C.E.O Cho what measures are being employed to maintain the health of the New River. Percival Cho - CEO, Department of the Environment: "We have received from predictions from the regional climate change centre that Belize and several other countries are very likely going to experience severe drought for an extended period of time, that is predicted to be longer than last year.

Do Rote's Ramblings Reveal Anything About Alison?
Today on Facebook we saw an odd recording of the alleged boyfriend of a missing American tourist 48 year old Alison MacKenzie.  Earlier this month, she went on a tour with her boyfriend Page Rote and 13 others on Raggamuffin Tours.  She was last seen on Friday 17th., January - and intensive searches have found nothing.  And now there's this facebook recording from another American female tourist visiting Belize - Hedda Strickland.  She was at Maya Beach Hotel Bistro in Placencia having a drink.  Beside her at the bar was Page Rote.

Another Accused Killer Goes Home
Another murder that had occurred on the south-side of Belize City will see its accused walk away with a nolle pros. Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith entered the nolle pros today for the murder of 44 year old Emerson Anderson. In March of 2018, a gun man barged into a group of friends on Ebony Street and opened fire.

Mentally Ill Mother of Five Missing
Tonight a Punta Gorda Town family is seeking your to find their mother, sister and daughter. Just about 9 days ago, 40 year old Kimberly Wade disappeared from their family home in the Dump area of the southern town. Kimberly is a mother to five children. She reportedly suffers from depression and may have wondered off with the desire to visit her youngest child removed from her care due to mental illness. Her sister who lives in the Lake Independence Area of Belize City dropped by our studios today asking us to air the story in the hope that someone may see her, recognize her and have information to offer.

Loverboy Is Free and Back In Studio
Daniel Cacho, known to the world as the Punta Rock artists Love Boy has had some well documented legal troubles.  In April of 2018, he charged in Los Angeles with two counts rape of a minor and two counts of kidnapping and sent to jail to await trial.  He got off the charges in September of 2019, and today the details of his acquittal are known with a video release from Lova Boy's camp.  Here's his attorney:

Parplegic Welch Guilty of Holdup At Dit's
The paraplegic, Aspinal Welch was back in court today. And this evening he was found guilty of deadly harm with intent to commit grievous harm. That's after a jury of 6 men and 3 women came to a 7 - 2 verdict. With that, he was taken off to jail.  Welch is accused of pointing a revolver at Nelson Young. Young says that on November 21st 2012,  he had just finished having lunch with friends at Dit's restaurant when he was accosted by Welch.

Kareem's Rules For Campaign Finance
All the news recently has been about which UDP Minister accepted twenty five thousand US dollars monthly from Lev Dermen, the Armenian accused of defrauding the US government of almost half a billion dollars. 

Facebook Fatigue For UDP Leadership Aspirants?
And, in other political news, the UDP race for leader is red hot and burning up on Facebook. Tonight, both candidates for leader Patrick Faber and John Saldivar seem to be showing signs of what can only be called Facebook fatigue. This evening Saldivar responded to some full contact trolling by Rhenae Nunez with a children's nursery rhyme usually heard in kindergarten playgrounds. Meanwhile his opponent Patrick Faber attempted a full force takedown of Shyne Barrow - who he believes is behind the facebook tolling page, Associated Belize Press.

CITCO Reigning In The Village
The Belize City Council Will be relocating the Fort George Tourism Zone Gateway currently located at the foot of the downtown Swing Bridge and immediately in front of the Ocean Ferry Water Taxi Terminal on North Front Street. It will be moved down the street closer to the Ministry of Education building.

Channel 5

String of Sexual Allegations against Top B.D.F. Officers
The B.D.F. is investigating some its own tonight on the heels of explosive allegations.  Those under investigation are senior officers who stand accused of sexual assault and abuse of authority [...]

Delbert Alvarez is Executed on Cumberbatch Street
There was a murder in the city before nine o’clock on Tuesday night.  Delbert Alvarez was shot and killed on Cumberbatch Street, not far from his house. The victim’s family [...]

Was a Police Officer Targeted by Gunman?
A cop on motorcycle is fortunate to have escaped gunshots this afternoon. He was riding in the area of Mapp Street, Belize City, where neighbours say they heard gunshots from [...]

Who Killed Denroy Nicholas in Peini?
Police have still not been able to crack the murder of Denroy Nicolas in Punta Gorda.  Nicholas was shot and killed as he exited his mother’s house to go into [...]

Patrick Faber Takes on Convicted Criminal
The U.D.P.’s leadership race is getting tense and the party appears to be hopelessly fractured.  Scheduled for February ninth, John Saldivar and Patrick Faber will go head-to-head to become the [...]

P.S.U. Defends Jumoke Castro, P.S.U. Tells FinSec: “Your Actions Were Unlawful and Borders on Being Abusive”
Jumoke Castro, son of U.D.P. Minister Edmond Castro, failed to explain his December 2019 Facebook vile comments that attracted widespread condemnation and disgust.  Castro attacked Plus TV’s Sashta Wade with [...]

Lev Dermen Trial Underway in Utah
The trial of Lev Dermen in Utah is attracting attention in many countries, including Belize, because one witness has named a local government official and says he has text messages [...]

The Lives of the Young Men at Wagner’s Youth Facility
A group of at-risk young men and women headed to the Wagner’s Facility for a firsthand experience of life behind prison walls. There they heard from the teenaged inmates on [...]

Paul Smith is Freed of Murder Charge
After being in prison since 2013, Paul Smith walked today from the charge of murder.  Smith was accused of the April 2013 murder of Frank Neal, but in the court [...]

CJ Benjamin Stalls on Petrocaribe Ruling
Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin is yet to render a decision where a claim against the Government of Belize, in respect of the Petrocaribe fund, is concerned.  That judgment was to [...]

Consumer Price Index for December 2019
There was a slight increase in consumer prices in the month of December 2019 when compared to December 2018.  The All-Items Consumer Price Index rose slightly by point two percent [...]

Another Severe Drought May Affect New River in 2020
A more severe drought has been forecasted for 2020 and it is expected that the extended dry weather may once again have adverse effects on the New River.  In light [...]

Corozal Town Council to Get 2 Garbage Trucks
The Corozal Town Council’s garbage collecting woes will soon come to an end. The council will soon acquire two garbage trucks, courtesy of the Japan Embassy. The official grant contract [...]

Julio Chub Receives Disney Conservation Hero Award
Belize’s very own Julio Chub was awarded the 2019 Disney Conservation Hero award. Chub is the Liaison Officer of Ya’axché Conservation Trust and is regarded as a community-oriented conservation hero [...]

D.O.E. and Bureau of Standards Take on Biodegradability
The Department of the Environment, in partnership with the Belize Bureau of Standards, is hosting a seminar to establish a collective benchmark for use of the term biodegradable in respect [...]

Belize on Right Track to Biodegradability
With thirty years of industrial experience in plastics and packaging, Kelvin Okamoto, C.E.O. of Gen3Bio, was invited as a guest speaker to address the issue of biodegradability.  He commented favourably [...]

Southern Workers Union Receives Certification as Trade Union
The Southern Workers Union has received its trade union certification. The S.W.U. is now certified as a bargaining agent for employees of the Dangriga Town Council. The union is made [...]

Agric Show is May 1st, 2nd & 3rd, 2020
The National Agriculture and Trade Show will be held on May first, second and third of this year.  The annual event will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year with [...]

M.O.H. Reviews Screening Methods at Airport
The Ministry of Health has issued a release outlining the steps taken to monitor all epidemiological information and surveillance activities in relation to the coronavirus. Officials have since met with [...]

Amandala

Murder in Lake Independence last night
Gunshots rang out last night in the Lake Independence area sometime before 9:00 p.m. When police arrived at 28 Cumberbatch Street, they found a man who was later identified as Delbert Alvarez lying on the verandah of the concrete bungalow house suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The Reporter

The World On Alert ! Corona-virus: Belize Has Policy For Visitors
The whole world must be on alert to deal with the spread of coronavirus, the World Health Organization has said as it urged countries to prepare. There are now 7,183 confirmed cases of viral pneumonia caused by the virus and 170 deaths, all of them in China.

Minister Patrick Faber Rebuffs FACEBOOK Post-Counter Post
The race for leader of the United Democratic Party continues to heat up. Reacting to a concerted attack from a pseudo-media Facebook page entitled Associated Belize Press, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber posted on his own page today.

Cop On Motorcycle Shot At: Crash & Injured
There are reports that a Police officer was just injured on Mapp Street in Belize City. Eyewitnesses say that the officer on a motorcycle appeared to be following an SUV with Corozal license plates.

PSA: AGRI-SHOW Will Be All About Innovation & Technology
This years Agricultural Show will be all about utilizing new Innovations and Technology to enhance productivity, quality and food safety, so says the National Agricultural Trade Show Committee.

Delbert Alvarez Shot & Killed At His Home
A man was murdered last night on Cumberbatch Street in Belize City. According to reports, Police were called to a green bungalow house where they found the body of a man identified as Delbert Alvarez...

LOVE FM

Avoiding last years New River Crisis
And while the Coronavirus remains thousands of miles away tonight, there is an all too familiar problem looming over Belize. Today, the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum issued a weather forecast alerting us of an even more severe drought than what we had in 2019.

Teenager hospitalised after traffic incident
A teenager is in the hospital after he was involved in a road traffic incident. Cayo Correspondent Fem Cruz told us more.

Why a 9-year-old?
Tonight, a pervert is on the loose. A 9-year-old girl is traumatized after she was verbally harassed on a community bus on Friday evening and her father is behind bars for defending her honor. Whilst on the bus she was sitting beside one of her neighbors who kept slipping rude remarks her way, telling her she is sexy among other statements. The child went home and informed her parents. Love News spoke to the mother this evening who is upset that her child was harassed, and her husband is detained by police.

24-year-old man is fatally shot
The seventh murder for 2020 occurred last night around 8:30. 24-year-old Delbert Alvarez was fatally shot on Cumberbatch Street in Belize City. Reporter Courtney Menzies has the story.

First Nolle prosequi for the year
A Nolle prosequi for a murder charge occurred this morning in the courtroom of Justice Marilyn Williams. The accused gunman Paul Smith who was charged for the murder of Frank Neal walked free this morning. Frank Neal was gunned down near an alley at the corner of Cairo and Glenn Street in the Southside of Belize City.

A man dies after being hit by a vehicle
A man was knocked off his bicycle and killed today in Southern Belize. Toledo Correspondent Paul Mahung has the details.

Precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus.
Health officials in Belize are stepping up the country’s precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus. Ministry of Health personnel met with airport authorities and relevant agencies, placing them on alert should they suspect any incoming traveler of showing symptoms of the virus. Airport officials were directed to review their screening methods and processes.

Belize underway to phasing out single-use plastics
Belize is well on its way to phasing out Styrofoam and plastics and moving into the use of biodegradable products. Supporting the legislation for environmental protection that came into force on January 15, 2020, are members of the private sector and environmental stakeholders.

Southern Workers Union is certified as trade union
The Southern Workers Union is now a certified trade union. In a press release, the Minister of Labor, Local Government and Rural Development, along with the Tripartite Body, congratulated the union.

SIB Statistics 2019
The Statistical Institute of Belize’s latest figures on consumer prices shows that, for the month of December 2019, the national inflation rate stood at 0.2 percent . The All-Items Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose slightly in comparison to the same month last year, from 105.0 in December 2018 to 105.2 in December 2019.

Time ticks as Lev Dermen Trial continues
The trial for Lev Dermen continued today in the US District Court. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, opening arguments were to being this afternoon but there was a delay in jury selection from a...

Cop injured in Belize City
There was a brief scare this afternoon when reports came in that a police officer had been shot on Mapp Street, Belize City. Tonight there are still various versions of what really transpired this afternoon...

Teenager charged for stealing a horse
A teenager was taken to court yesterday after being caught red-handed with a stolen horse. 18-year-old Antonio Adolphus Flowers pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods. He appeared before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson and explained that...

Agriculture show is underway
The National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) Committee is making preparations for its 50th National Agriculture and Trade Show. This year’s theme is Innovations in Technology- Driving a Climate Resilient and Competitive Agriculture and Food Sector....

Breaking Belize News

Restaurant shooter guilty of use of deadly means of harm
On the eve of his 30th birthday tomorrow, Thursday, Aspinall Welch, Junior, was convicted by majority […]

“Belize closed 2019 with higher consumer prices,” says Statistical Institute
The latest data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) says that consumer prices at […]

Exports and imports up at the end of 2019, new data shows
The Statistical Institue of Belize’s (SIB)’s latest External Trade Bulletin (ETB), shows that Belize ended […]

Ministry of Health: This region, including Belize has no confirmed case of novel coronavirus
The National Surveillance Team of the Ministry of Health continues to monitor all epidemiological information […]

Drug plane found in Peten bears same registration number as drug plane in 2018 Belize landing
Picture of Jet found in Peten: Noti Impacto Peten On Monday, BBN reported that authorities […]

Julio Chub receives Disney Conservation Hero Award
The Disney Conservation Fund announced today that Julio Chub, the Community Liaison Officer of Ya’axché […]

DPM Faber fires back at fellow UDP detractors as race for leadership heats up
The national convention for the United Democratic Party is only days away and as speculated, […]

Southern Workers Union certified as trade union in Dangriga
The Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development along with the Chairman of the Tripartite […]

Preparation underway for 2020 National Trade and Agriculture Show
The National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) Committee under the auspices of the Ministry of […]

Desperate mom pleads for daughter to return home
Belize City mom Jannine Harvey is making a desperate plea to her daughter 18-year-old, Reanna Willoughby, […]

Bandits stage highway robbery on Santa Rosa road
Authorities are investigating a report of a robbery that occurred around 9 a.m. yesterday. Elias […]

Drought warning issued, region urged to take it seriously
Another regional agency has warned the Caribbean to prepare for a long drought this year. The […]

Man shot on Cumberbatch Avenue last night passes away
Shortly before 9 o’clock last night we reported a shooting in the Lake Independence area […]

Blogs

Truck Stop’s AMAZING RACE 6: Could You Win?
I’m not even sure I could finish! The Truck Stop does a ridiculously island-comprehensive tricky gross job! Take a look. This is a long one – but it’s worth it. The clues are super fun, super clever. Even those who have lived in San Pedro all their lives might get tripped up! The Amazing Race is an American reality competition show in which typically eleven teams of two race around the world. Here in San Pedro Belize, The Truck Stop (the island center for all things clever and fun) hosts their own AMAZING RACE that sends teams of 3 or 4 all over the island with some incredibly smart clues. Clues that test how well you REALLY know Ambergris Caye with a bunch of

International Sources

Discovering gratitude, joy and a beautiful culture on Belize mission trip
Karine Duarte loves it when people ask her about the brown ring she wears from her mission trip to Belize. “I want people to ask about it, to become aware,” she says, of the culture of the Mayan people, how they live with very few material resources and how they have a peace of mind and joy not readily experienced in first world countries. Duarte, a junior, and nine other Caldwell University students and two chaperones spent Jan. 5-13 in the village of San Marcos repainting a school and murals, playing with the children and learning about the community.

How green is your hotel, really? The truth about eco-resorts
Sustainability has been the buzzword of the last few years, with more scrutiny today than ever on how we travel. While flying has been at the forefront of the public consciousness thanks to high profile campaigns from the likes of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion, hotel stays can be just as damaging to our environment. The good news? A huge number of ‘eco’ hotels, resorts and lodges are available, many springing up over the past years in response to growing demand from consumers.... , new data shows By BBN Staff: The Statistical Institue of Belize's (SIB)'s latest External Trade Bulletin (ETB), shows that Belize ended off 2019 with both export revenues and ...

This is how most Americans cure the winter blues
Half of Americans plan to escape to warm weather this winter, according to new research. A poll of 2,000 Americans found 35 percent typically travel to a warm vacation destination during the winter months as an attempt to escape the winter blues. People are escaping the brutal cold in search of more tropical weather for a little mood boost. A whopping 88 percent think traveling to a warm destination during the winter boosts their mood.

Sanctuary Belize Judge Chides Developers For Playing Dumb
The Maryland federal judge overseeing the trial of three men who purportedly ran a $140 million Belize-based real estate scam chewed out the accused developers on Wednesday for “feigning ignorance” about a nondisclosure agreement that undermines key evidence for the defense.

On the seventh day of trial over what the Federal Trade Commission called the largest overseas real estate investment scam it has ever targeted, U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte railed on the purported mastermind on the scam, Andris Pukke, and another former executive on the development, Peter Baker, for not being forthright about a secretive deal they cut with a...

Caribbean advised to prepare for long drought
The Barbados-based Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum CariCOF is warning that long-term drought is evolving throughout the Caribbean during the three-month period of February to April this year. In its latest Caribbean Climate Outlooks, published here on Tuesday, January 28, CariCOF warned that during the peak of the dry season, limited water availability will be caused by evolving or possible long-term drought throughout the Caribbean, except in French Guiana and the north-west Bahamas.

Corruption in Belize out of control
BY WELLINGTON C. RAMOS. In the 1970’s when Belize was still a British colony and I was a police officer, our country had a director of Public Prosecution Office, an audit department and a police department that worked hand in hand together on all matters of stealing as a government employee, bribes, corruption, extortion, forgery, fraud, uttering, conversion, embezzlement, and other crimes that government officials and civil servants committed. In those days most of the civil servants that were arrested, charged prosecuted and sent to prison for these crimes were employees from; the post office, customs and police departments. Since our independence in 1981, some of our civil servants are still committing these crimes boldly and nothing is being done to them because of their political affiliations with UDP or PUP.

Videos

January 29, 2020

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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

Gabriela Varela representing Belize at the Reina Hispanoamericana Pagean
The BEAUTIFUL Gabriela Varela is currently in Bolivia as she prepares to represent Belize at the Reina Hispanoamericana Pageant. The beauty pageant is set to take place on February 8, 2020 at the Salon Siriono Fexpocruz in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Gabriela has been making her mark during the preparations, and has been sharing photos of her experience.

Anabel Kumul sentenced for Felix Alamilla’s murder
After being behind bars for almost six years in the murder of her common-law partner Felix Eduardo Alamilla, 42-year-old Mexican National Anabel Matilde Bacelis Kumul was sentenced to 15 years’ inprisonment on Tuesday, January 28th in Belize City. Kumul, who pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, appeared before Justice Colin Williams, who stipulated that due to her guilty plea, Kumul was entitled to a reduction of a third of her sentence. Instead of serving 15 years, her remaining time in prison will now be only four years and six months.

The Ministry of Education Notes the Wide Circulation of Misleading Information Presented to Teachers in Order for Them to Make a Decision
The Ministry requested and held meetings with stakeholders, including the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), and shared its intention to address the three pressing issues coming from the BNTU and Managing Authorities. The intentions shared in the called meeting with the BNTU on December 12, 2019, are as follows: 1. Adjusting the education rules that will empower the Chief Education Officer to change the vacation period...

Ambergris Today

Chef Jennie Staines Wins Estel's BBQ Competition
Congratulations to Chef Jennie Staines of Elvi's Kitchen as she takes first place at the 9th Annual Estel's BBQ Cookoff! Rounding up the top three of eight grill masters were Toshiya Tsujimoto and Jim Gochenour.

Tsunami Alerts Triggered After 7.7 Earthquake Off Jamaica Coast
The Government of Jamaica has issued a TSUNAMI WARNING for the coastal areas of the country. A powerful earthquake struck the Caribbean on Tuesday afternoon, shaking parts of Jamaica and Cuba shortly after 2 p.m. local time. The earthquake was originally rated a 7.3 by the USGS, but was later upgraded to a 7.7. The epicenter of the earthquake was 78 miles (125 km) northwest of Lucea, Jamaica, and was shallow with a depth of just 6.2 miles (10 km). Shaking was felt as far away as Miami, Florida, and reports began surfacing on social media that high-rise buildings were felt swaying.

Various Belizean Sources

Jerome Quan passes away
It is with great sadness and regret that we join hearts and hands with our Corozal community in extending our deepest and sincere sympathies to Mr. Richard Quan and his wife Mrs. Consuelo Rose Quan in the untimely passing of their son, Jerome Quan.

The renovated Goverment House
This is a loaded photo of the Government House Property. I say loaded because you will be able to see the following six things: 1) The renovated Goverment House of course. 2) The new NICH office is on the left. It was previously the Governor's Carriage House. That was his garage in other words. The second floor was the maid's quarter's. 3) The Baron Bliss's ferry boat known as the "Sea King". 4) A restored wooded water vat where drinking water was stored 9in the middel of the photo). 5) The new Hoouse of Culture on the right. 6) New largre parking lot.

THE ORIGINS OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
The Belize City House of Culture and Downtown Rejuvenation Project is hoping to do some much needed repair work on the roof of the Treasury building in the coming months. Here is a quick history lesson about the first Treasury. …."Prior to the year 1829, the annually elected magistrates had the unlimited control of the expenditure of public money, they being accountable to the public meeting alone, that legislative body voting all sums for the expenditures. In 1829, however, Colonel M’Donald, the then Superintendent of the settlement, asked the meeting to curtail these powers, alleging against the magistrates as his reason for so doing the charge of extravagant dealings with the public money entrusted to their care...

2nd Annual Carnaval Parade in San Pedro
Sign up now for the 2nd Annual Carnaval Parade on Saturday, February 22, 2020! We invite any group or business to join in un the fun! Sign up at the San Pedro Town Council. Joining us at the Parade will be DJ Debbie and the Titans Mas Band! We will have beads and carnaval masks to give away! The parade will start from San Pedro High School and end at the Central Park at the Carnaval Fiesta block party!

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday to paint “Fairy Bass”.

ALL CLEAR ISSUED FOR TSUNAMI WATCH
The National Meteorological Services of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) had to quickly issue verbal and WhatsApp/Facebook circulated alerts to advise the general public that an earthquake occurred off the coast of Cuba. The USGS later upgraded the earthquake off the coast of Cuba to a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. If a tsunami was generated the expected arrival times in local time were as follows: Kingston, Jamaica, 3:24 PM ET Cozumel, Mexico, 3:34 PM ET Puerto Cortes, Honduras, 3:38 PM ET Belize City, Belize, 4:48 PM ET Santa Cruz Del Sur, Cuba, 5:16 PM ET Nueva Gerona, Cuba, 6:45 PM ET.

Cayo AGM Mixer 2020
Join us for our 2020 AGM this Friday, January 31st at the Cahal Pech Village Resort, San Ignacio Belize Conference room at 5:30pm. We want you to get involved in our goal in making Cayo a Green Destination in Belize. Come and chat with us to see what we have planned and also bring your contributions to the table to achieve this goal for 2020 and beyond. All are welcome to join. See you there!

Corozal gets loan from Japan
Great News! "Mayor Rigo Vellos and the Corozal Town Council have made great strides as today was the official Grant Contract Signing Ceremony between the Corozal Town Council and the Embassy of Japan in Belize for one hundred and ninety nine thousand US dollars. The fund is being granted by the Embassy for the purchase of a compactor truck and a open back truck. This will truly be of great benefit to our municipality. Your Corozal Town Council is working to strengthen partnership for the benefit of our Corozalenos. Meeting and completing one more of our commitments to the people of Corozal".

The Macal River Park fence is looking good, and almost complete
They are almost finished with the new fence around Macal River park. Looks good.

San Ignacio Rotary Club has started another bathroom block
Work has started on the 15th toilet building our club has build at schools in Cayo. The funding cones from two Rotary clubs in Alaska and funds from the Rotary Foundation. The toilet block design, as it is called here, meets United Nations standards and provides for student population growth out several years. The project includes general hygiene education for the students. This school is in the Village of Billy White. Thank you, partner clubs and Rotary!

Cayo Twist has opened rheir new branch at the CAYO Welcome Center
Great non-dairy ice cream

Look at how clean the area by the San Ignacio market is!
The drain area around the market is looking clean! Thank you, SISE Town Council.

Chiquibul Challenge Marathon 2020
Mar 14 at 10 AM – Mar 15 at 1 PM, pin Las Cuevas Research Station. The Chiquibul Challenge Marathon (CCM) is an annual fundraiser event supporting the wildlife and conservation work by Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic (BWRC) and Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD). Held at Las Cuevas Research Station (LCRS) in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, one of the world's most pristine and biodiverse locations. Run or walk and half or full marathon over logging roads in undulating terrain within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Breathtaking scenery combined with a friendly atmosphere makes this event magical. Expect humid, warm conditions. The event commences with a pre-race gathering Sat. the 14th of March at Hode's Place in San Ignacio. The race itself is held at Las Cuevas Research Station on Sunday the 15th. Registration includes transportation from Hode's Place to LCRS, camping and meals at LCRS, race entrance, and event swag. We have prizes for all categories! This event requires pre-registration and all attendees must be pre-registered with the event organizers. Email [email protected] for more info.

The Mayan cross and the Mayan being
A good reading to know more of those Yucatec Maya (Máasewal) who follow the Cruzo'ob Maya faith. What is the difference between the Mayan cross and the one brought by the Spaniards? In Principle, its origins go back to the beginnings of Mayan culture, although currently many confuse it with the cross brought by the Spaniards. The Mayan cross represents the deities of a space related to the cornfield. In such a way that in each of the four cardinal points of the XU ' UK-markings of the cornfield-the grandparents tell us that there moran the Gods, and therefore they are often honored with the sakaj-the sacred drink-to be Benevolent in the activities that are performed in the place.

Perix P'aak - Belizean Máasewal food
A favorite between the Yucatec Maya (Máasewal) of Belize . This food is known in Belize as Perix P'aak . Is also known as p'irixbi je' . 3 Pictures showing the process of creating the Perix P'aak.

Channel 7

Stabbed Hubby To Death, Pleads To Manslaughter
She was accused of killing her common law husband, and 42 year old Mexican Annabell Kumul pleaded guilty to manslaughter today.  In a confession, Kumul told police that she stabbed 28 year old Felix Alamailla because he had gone on a drinking spree. Kumul, who is a Mexican had just returned from Chetumal to find him at a friend's house, sleeping on the couch.  She said she got so angry that she immediately stabbed him three times - but didn't think it would be fatal.  Ultimately, the stab to the thigh is what caused him to bleed out and die.  

Kareem Tells Dean and AG Invoke Mutual Legal Assistance
The trial of Lev Dermen continued in Salt Lake City Utah today - but, nothing of consequence happened, as jury selection continued.   It continues again tomorrow, followed in the afternoon by opening arguments.  Then on Thursday, the court will hear testimony from Federal Agents.  There's no court in Utah on Friday, so current projections are that Jacob Kingston - a key witness who turned on Dermen - will not take the stand until next week.   Kingston is the one who exchanged text messages with National Security Minister John Saldivar on behalf of Dermen.  And, everyone in Belize wants to know what was in those text messages - which we're hoping will come out in evidence.  We're also keeping a close eye out for court documents which show that Kingston wired money to a high ranking official in Belize.

Keep Calm, No Coronavirus in Belize
There was a Coronavirus scare on Caye Caulker last night which gained social media momentum early this morning.  But tonight we can tell you that the particularly dangerous strain of the Coronavirus that's all over the world news has not been detected in Belize.  What happened in Caye Caulker last night was hype and confusion surrounding a Chinese tourist who had been screened upon leaving China, and again when entering the U.S.A at LAX before being cleared for travel to Belize, where he has been treated very badly.  In an effort to allay public fears, the Director of Health Services, Dr Marvin Manzanero spoke to PLUS TV today in Belmopan where he outlined the facts of what is being done to protect Belizeans from the virus:

Ernesto's Friend Says He Was Ambushed
Last night we brought you the story of the chilling murder of club owner Ernesto Williams which occurred on Friday night at the corner of Orange Street and Taylor's Alley. And tonight we can give you an insight into the events that preceded Willam's death. Roderick Wade may have been the last person to see Willams alive. He spoke to us today and told us that while rumours abound, Ernesto Williams was indeed executed in an ambush.  Roderick Wade - Friend of the Deceased: "Most nights when we hang out he normally has his licensed gun on him, right. But that night I went to the clothing store and he was like let's go to this house we'll go..."

12 Years for Child Molesting Former Cop
A former police constable who was found guilty of the sexual assault of a minor was sentenced today.  24 year old Darren Martinez will spend 12 years in jail for inserting his finger in the private part of an 8 year old girl.   At the time in February of 2016, Martinez, was dating the child's older sister. On December 17, 2019, a jury of 9 unanimously found him guilty.   Before he decided on the sentence, Justice Colin Williams heard pleas for mitigation from 5 character witnesses, Martinez himself and his attorney, Oswald Twist. 

Chief Educ. Officer Wants Consultation Not Confrontation With BNTU
As you heard on the news last night, tensions are high between the Belize National Teachers Union and the Ministry of Education.   There are a number of technical issues causing friction between the parties, but right at the top of the list is adjusting the education rules to change the vacation period.   Right now, the issue is that because Christmas fell on a Wednesday, by rule, the school Christmas holiday should have only been two weeks long. But, the teachers rejected that, and the Minister capitulated - allowing the usual three weeks.

A LEAP Forward For Illiterate Adults
We met the Chief Education Officer today at Unity Presbyterian Primary for the launch of the Ministry's first adult literacy program.  It's called LEAP, which is short for Literacy And Empowerment Adult Program.   Babb told us who it targets: Dr. Carol Babb - Chief Education Officer: "Any parent who is interested in reading and write or to improve their literacy skills, they are welcomed to attend. They can get forms from the schools here from ITVET or from the Collet office. So, we are going to teach them functional literacy. Functional literacy means learning how to fill out forms, how to fill out a passport form, how to read their children's report card, we are going to determine what their needs are and when we determine those needs, we of course will teach phonics and the other concepts of literacy."

Kareem Says Shyne's People Settled
Last week, UDP politician Shyne Barrow denied that he was a part of any settlement with Troy Flowers, who is the popular DJ Dalla.   As we reported, Dalla - who is a cornerstone of the UDP's Wave Radio -  had retained Kareem Musa as his attorney to sue Shyne for tens of thsoaunds of dollars.  DJ Dalla said Shyne owes him that for a thirty thsoaund dollar beverage consignment and professional services he rendered during music week.   And while Shyne says there is no settlement, today Kareem Musa told us that he's very certain that there will be one:

Mom Wants Missing Girl Home
18 year old Reanna Renae Willoughby hasn't been home since last week Friday, and, tonight, her mother is begging for her to come back.   Jannine Harvey says her daughter - who is in third form at Maud Williams returned from school Friday, and hasn't been seen since.

And What Do the Youths Have To Say?
Last night, we told you about the Spouses of Caricom Leaders Action Network meeting in Belize in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children.  They hosted a forum for Adolescents and Youth - and day 2 was set aside to hear from the youths on key topics such as HIV AIDS, Adolescent Pregnancy, Gender-Based Violence, Cervical Cancer, Mental Health and Climate Change. Cherisse Halsall attended and spoke to the panelists about the issues they brought to the forum's forefront.

Gender Picking Up Steam
And from liberal attitudes to sexual education, to a progressive gender program for schools.  Yesterday the Prime Minister signed a 20 Million dollar loan agreement with the IDB for the second phase of the Education Quality Improvement Program, The project is to build a STEAM Lab School in Belize. We were curious as to what extent gender equity is meant to be understood within EQUIP II. And today when we caught up with Chief Education Officer Dr Carol Babb, Jules Vasquez put the question to her: Jules Vasquez: "Could we ask you about Equip II the agreement was signed yesterday with the Prime Minister signing with the IDB..."

Carjacking Near Xunantunich
A man was carjacked on the Santa Rosa Road near Xunantunich this morning. It happened at about 9:00 am. 43-year-old Elias Sanchez Guttierrez had gone about half-mile from a police checkpoint when he found his path blocked by rocks.  That's when three masked men emerged from the bushes. Sanchez attempted to reverse but his vehicle got stuck in nearby bushes. That allowed the men to open fire on the vehicle, forcing Sanchez to jump out of the black pickup and run for his life. A cellphone and other items left inside were stolen along with the vehicle.

BEL Promises Rate Stability Till The End of 2020
BEL has submitted what is known as a Full Tariff Review Proceeding to the PUC.  Basically, it's a forecast of how much the company will be spending to purchase power, and what kind of electricity rate it will need to charge you to sustain operations and get a fair return on investment.   Now, with the cost of power from Mexico, and the cost of fuel both projected to increase, these are both driving up the cost of power.  Still, BEL says it hopes to keep your electricity rate constant, at least up until the end of 2020 - while investing in a reliable and resilient power grid:

Channel 5

Kareem Musa to PM Barrow: Invoke Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act!
As the trial of American Armenian national Lev Dermen enters its second day in the U.S. courts, in Belize, the matter is getting plenty attention because of its implications to [...]

P.U.P. Wants Criminal Investigation into Lev Dermen’s Link to Belize
Musa says that if the messages or any other documents prove some level of criminality, public pressure will be applied on Commissioner of Police Chester Williams to launch a criminal [...]

AG Peyrefitte Lays Into Kareem Musa over MLAT
By this afternoon, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte responded to Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa, despite not being in receipt of the letter in reference to Minister of National Security [...]

Waiting for Testimony is Easier than Bureaucracy of a Formal Request – AG Peyrefitte
Attorney General Peyrefitte says that even if he were to proceed with such a request to obtain the names of the government ministers from U.S. Attorney General William Barr, the [...]

John Saldivar: “Not a corrupt bone in my body!!! Me dah God Pickney!!!”
The man in the eye of the storm here in Belize is John Birchman Saldivar. The Minister of National Security took to social media today saying that he stands proud. [...]

Lev Dermen, W.R.E. and the Belize Connection
Jury selection continued today in the District Court in Utah, where Lev Dermen is facing up to ten charges relating to money laundering in a case brought against him by [...]

B.N.T.U. and M.O.E. at Odds over Education Regulation
The B.N.T.U. and the Ministry of Education are at odds again. In the latest round, the B.N.T.U. says they have no favourable responses from the ministry to the list of [...]

Ministry of Education Willing to Consult
According to Doctor Babb, the Ministry is committed in consulting with the union to avoid any escalation of tensions.   Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer “We are willing to [...]

False Alarm: Coronavirus Scare on Caye Caulker; No Cases in Belize
As the coronavirus spreads across the globe, there was a huge scare in Caye Caulker on Monday night when reports spread like wildfire that a visiting Chinese national was experiencing [...]

Earthquake Sent Tsunami Fears across the Country
A seven point seven magnitude earthquake struck earlier today about eighty miles from Jamaica, shaking several Caribbean islands, including Cayman and as far away as Miami. There were several aftershocks, [...]

Is the Caribbean at Risk of Increased Earthquakes?
Today’s earthquake was preceded by magnitudes six point four and five point eight quakes that struck Puerto Rico. That territory experienced a number of aftershocks and experienced significant damage. Earlier [...]

JLSC Case to be Heard on February 19th
A lawsuit brought against Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin as chair of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission is set to commence on February nineteenth before Justice Michelle Arana.  The presiding [...]

Shyne and Dalla’s Dispute Settled, says Attorney Kareem Musa
Two weeks ago we told you of the legal dispute brewing between Troy “DJ Dalla” Flowers and Shyne Barrow. DJ Dalla faced court action by Belize Brewing Company after he [...]

Former Cop Darren Martinez Sentenced to 12 Years for Sexual Assault of Minor
Sentencing for former police constable Drrn rtnz took place today. Martinez was found guilty last week of the sexual assault of a minor in an incident that goes back to [...]

Anabell Kumul Gets 15 Years for Manslaughter
Justice Colin Williams also imposed a sentence of fifteen years on forty-two year-old Anbll umul, who was initially charged with murder, but instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter of her common-law-husband, [...]

B.E.L. Submits FTRP Application to P.U.C. for the Next Four Years
Light bills are not expected to increase between now and the end of the year. That’s the word from the Belize Electricity Limited which has made an application to the [...]

B.E.L. to Invest $280M over the Next Five Years
B.E.L. also announced today that it plans on investing almost three hundred million dollars in the national electricity grid over the next five years to connect to new renewable sources [...]

FCD Hosts Exchange Programme with 5 Guat Communities
F.C.D. held a two-day bi-national youth exchange programme with youths from five Guatemalan communities that fringe the Chiquibul National Park. The purpose of the exchange was to sensitize and help [...]

Literacy & Empowerment Adult Program Launched
The Ministry of Education today launched the Literacy and Empowerment Adult Programme. The programme seeks to empower adults who struggle with basic reading and comprehension skills. The lessons will be [...]

“Adolescents Engaged for Change & a Sustainable Future”
Day two of a regional adolescents and youth forum took place today at the Radisson Hotel in Belize City. Today’s discussions centred on the topic of mental health and the [...]

Amandala

Invoke MLAT, Hon. Kareem Musa tells PM Barrow and AG Peyrefitte
Hon. John Saldivar’s name surfaced last Thursday, in court documents from the United States v Lev Dermen case, but Prime Minister Dean Barrow asserted that was not sufficient evidence to take action against Belize’s Minister of National Security. Today, Caribbean Shores area representative, Hon. Karee Musa wrote to the PM and Attorney General, Michael Peyrefitte, urging them to use the Mutual Legal Assistant Treaty with the United States, that was legislated domestically as the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Belize/ USA) Act,` to get to the evidence.

BNTU and MoE heading “for war”
There is tension brewing between the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), and both sides fired off press releases today, castigating each other. BNTU national president, Hon. Senator Elena Smith, told Amandala in a telephone interview tonight that the union’s “position remains unchanged, because we have not gotten any acceptable response from them. We have met with the Ministry, but it was only for them to tell us what they are going to do. Those matters have not been fully ventilated.”

Bloody weekend – 4 executions, and victim of 38 days succumbs
The country saw a total of 4 execution-style murders, and another shooting victim, after 38 days, finally succumbed, all in the 4-day period from Friday to Monday morning. The latest victim, Ronald Anthony Michael, Jr., 28, a laborer of Giles Street, died this morning, Monday, after a gunman shot him in a yard on Ordonez Street. Yvonne Michael, his mother, told us that she had a premonition that something bad was going to happen to him, and warned him to be careful. Last night he called his sister and told her and his mother not to worry about him, because he was fine and was being careful.

Kobe Bryant, basketball great, dead at 41
At first, it sounded like fake news in social media. That was the reaction of many who got the news via Facebook, until gradually, the grim details began to emerge on Sunday that Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players the National Basketball Association has ever seen, had perished in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles. A total of nine persons died, including Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, when the helicopter, which was given special clearance to fly in foggy conditions, slammed into the mountainside and exploded.

More drug planes … more drug planes …
Less than five days after an intact suspected drug plane was found abandoned in the remote area between Crooked Tree, Belize District, and Shipyard, Orange Walk District, on Wednesday morning, another suspected drug plane was found this morning, but this time in a remote area between Monkey River and Punta Negra, Toledo District, in the south of the country. The plane was seen severely damaged and burnt. It is believed that it crash-landed and it was deliberately destroyed.

Herman Longsworth to be criminally investigated
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has confirmed today Friday that the former Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (with special emphasis on Youth and Sports), Herman Longsworth, is being criminally investigated. Longsworth was elected on a United Democratic Party ticket in the 2012 general elections as the area representative for the Albert constituency. Three years later, in 2015, when the government called early elections, Longsworth gave up his Albert seat to newcomer Tracy Taegar-Panton and was rewarded with a job as Belize Consul General to New York.

The Association of Justices of the Peace says 2 government ministries disrespected them
The Association of Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of the Supreme Court performs a vital service to the community and to the criminal justice system, but the organization issued a press release today claiming that the Attorney General and the Immigration Department has been disrespectful of their organization. On Sunday, January 26, 2020 the organization held its 19th Annual General Meeting. “At this meeting, Members of the Association expressed their concerns regarding the disrespectful behavior of the Ministry of Immigration and the Attorney General who are responsible for all Justices of the Peace in the country,” the press release said.

Mason and co-accused’s kidnapping cases adjourned to March
In February 2017, the Senior Magistrate at the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court held a preliminary inquiry into two kidnapping charges against William “Danny” Mason and his four co-accused, and found that there was a prima facie case against the accused men. The case, however, is just making it onto the court calendar. Last week, there was a case management conference before Supreme Court Justice Francis Cumberbatch. Police charged Mason and his co-accused — Ernest Castillo, Keron Fernandez, Ashton Vanegas and Ryan Rhaburn — for the May 2016 kidnapping of Mennonite businessman Lloyd Thiessen and his wife.

Cops capture Shane Bennett, wanted for the shooting of Anthony Parks
Career criminal Shane Bennett, 38, who was on the run from police for allegedly shooting Anthony Parks, 37, a laborer of Independence, which occurred at about 6:30 Wednesday morning at Parks’ house in Independence, has been captured, but the details of the capture and where he was found were not revealed. The announcement that Bennett is now in police custody was made this morning by Commissioner of Police Chester Williams.

Editorial: Corruption is the greatest threat to a nation
Critics of the media in Belize say that the profession comes up short in the area of investigative journalism. The heroics of journalists in foreign countries, the lengths they go to research and bring the news to an eager populace, are not matched in Belize. One of the most celebrated efforts of journalists led to the resignation of a US president, Richard Nixon. The names of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, two journalists for the Washington Post, are held in the highest esteem in the US for the work they did to bring to light the break-in at the Watergate Hotel office of the Democratic Party in Washington D.C. in 1972.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s Jamaica visit seen as divisive within CARICOM
The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s two-day working visit to Jamaica has been widely viewed as divisive within the 15-nation group that makes up CARICOM. Barbados’s Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, who currently sits as the chairperson of CARICOM, did not send her foreign minister to the meeting, citing the divisive nature of the Donald Trump administration for the Caribbean region.

International Customs Day 2020
The Belize Customs and Excise Department celebrated International Customs Day by hosting an information fair in the parking lot of the Belize Civic Center last Friday. Traditionally, Customs personnel are seen at the borders and airports checking the contents of luggage and enforcing the taxation laws in regards to bringing cargo in and out of the country. Recently, however, the department’s functions have expanded to trade facilitation and security, which was one of the key topics discussed at the fair.

Reanna Willoughby, 15, missing
Reanna Willoughby, 15, has been reported missing by her family, who last saw her on Friday, when she left home to go to school. Despite their best effort to find her, her whereabouts remain unknown.

Old Road Football Classic Week 6 scores from Lucky Strike
The Dickie Hernandez Old Road Football Classic continued yesterday, Sunday, with two Week 6 games at the Lucky Strike Football Field. In game 1 at 1:00 p.m., Lucky Strike had to battle for a 4-3 win over the Rookies (from the same village). Lucky Strike goals were by Frederick Garbutt (30’ & 51’), Febe Esteverne (65’) and Keenen Gillett (80’); while Rookies got goals from Travis Herrera (25’ & 56’) and Augustine Smith, Jr. (74’).

Bandits on a tear at Week 3 of PLB Closing Season
Defending champions Verdes FC are the official standings leader at Week 3 of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2019-2020 Closing Season; but with only a 5-point deficit in the aggregate race for the CONCACAF League berth at the end of this season, Bandits Sport has sent a very strong message of their intentions, having blown out their first two opponents by lopsided scores. The Bandits proved their season opening 11-0 shelling of Placencia Assassins was no accident, when they destroyed a long tradition of problems at the MCC with their 5-0 thrashing of BDF FC yesterday.

Record attendance at most arenas in NEBL Week 1 games; home teams won 3 of 4
The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) had a full slate of games this past weekend, as all 8 teams were in action. Every weekend, all teams will be playing a game, with 4 games on the schedule. On Friday night at the Civic Center in Belize City, Belize Hurricanes debuted with an 85-77 win over visiting defending champions, San Pedro Tiger Sharks. Tiger Sharks guard Francis Arana led all scorers with 27 pts, but the Hurricanes led the game from start to finish, behind double-figure scoring from Jamaal Samuel 19 pts, Alex Carcamo and Jamell Harris with 17 pts each, and Ashton Edwards (formerly of Tiger Sharks) with 12 pts.

Letter to my Area Rep and Standard Bearer
I’ve said that in the next general election I’m voting for the present area rep of Cayo South, Hon. Julius Espat, but this letter also goes to Mr. Ramon Witz, the standard bearer for the UDP, because every day counts in our lives, and his party has the funds to get our pathway done. He won’t win my vote this time around bikaaz the party has done a lot of blank and they’ve been in power too long. I think Ramon should seize the chance and get the right thing done. He might win the votes of others in our area if he shows that he cares about the lives of people in Cayo South.

Hospital tension between Jerome and Jewel
Uncle Lito and his friends had left early on Easter Monday morning, because they had arrived in a sailboat belonging to a northern fisherman which they had had to return by that evening. Jerome, who was travelling in the same direction, had decided to postpone his departure until the afternoon, at Alida’s request, so that he could take the girls (myself unknowingly included under that heading} trolling in the speedboat.

Romel Cuello stands by his comments on the plastic ban in Belize
Dear Editor, I would like to thank Brother Colin Hyde for paying attention to my letter regarding the plastic ban in Belize. He states that I am all alone, but that is not a problem for me. All I would like to know is, if what I wrote “makes sense”, as we Belizeans put it. I do not think the ban will affect him directly, because I don’t think he depends on the food vendors for his daily food. I am just thinking of the lower-end income-earners, since most of the restaurants that cater to the tourist sector already use these biodegradable products. Most of the tourists and upper-end income earners demand it.

Cuba answers the call for doctors
“Havana’s Latin American Medical School takes passionate young people from developing countries and sends them home as doctors. It’s all about driving health equity”, writes Gail Reed. Now the challenge is to get medical societies to accept them. Dr Midalys Castilla is animated as she talks about the graduates of Havana’s Latin American Medical School (ELAM) who are serving with Cuban medical teams in post-’quake Haiti.

From the Publisher
Virginia Echols, an African American lady who has been living and working in Belize for more than a quarter century, and has been active with Kremandala and our UBAD Educational Foundation (UEF) over those years, and I hadn’t talked in months, but this past Sunday morning we got to chatting after her Sunday morning religious show on KREM Radio – “Moments of Inspiration.” Some years ago, it seemed to me that Virginia and Ya Ya Marin Coleman, who has been the chairlady of UEF for a dozen years or so, got to “beefing,” as we would say in the streets.

The Reporter

Belize’s NEMO Issues All-CLEAR, No Tsunami For Belize After 7.7 Earthquake
NEMO has issued the ALL CLEAR at 3:05pm. There is no longer a Tsunami threat to the coast of Belize. The USGS upgraded the earthquake which occurred in the ocean between Cuba and Jamaica to a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Shortly after the quake the Government of Jamaica issued a tsunami warning, which means that hazardous waves of 3 feet or greater is expected within the next hour.

Guatemalan President On The Move With Business Agenda
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei on Monday offered his Salvadoran counterpart, Nayib Bukele, the opportunity to build and operate a port in Guatemalan waters in the Atlantic Ocean to promote commerce.

Kareem Musa to Prime Minister: We Want Answers
PUP Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa has written a letter to Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, regarding the allegations that Armenian American Lev Dermen, on trial for massive fraud, bribed at least one and likely...

Jumoke Castro Ignores Order To File Response -Explanation
Jumoke Castro has reportedly failed to submit an explanation to his superiors at the Belize Tax Service for a vile Facebook post he allegedly made in December...

VIDEO: School Girl Badly Beaten By Street Woman
A very disturbing video has been obtained by the REPORTER, which shows a school-girl being badly beaten by a street woman. The child is in her school uniform and is either on her way to school or coming from school.

LOVE FM

Japan embassy signs grant contract
The signing of a grant contract took place this morning at the Japanese Embassy in Belize. The grant is between the Embassy and the Corozal Town Council. Caye Correspondent Pauline Soberanis Tillett told us more.

Full Tariff Review Proceeding 2020-2024
The Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has produced an estimate of their Full Tariff Review Proceeding that could possibly result in lower rates for consumers. The company submitted the application to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The Tariff period will commence on July 1 and will end on June 30, 2024. According to a press release from the Belize Electricity Limited the submission represents BEL’s forecasts over the Full Tariff Proceedings. While the current forecasts project increasing costs and a Mean Electricity Rate (MER) of $0.4533 on average. The Company’s intention is to maintain the current rates to customers up to December 31. Dawn Sampson Nunez emphasized that the figures are merely an estimate.

Tsunami watch issued for Belize; All Clear issued as well
For a few hours this afternoon, Belize was under a Tsunami Watch following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cuba around one thirty. The effects of the earthquake spanned to the Cayman Islands, causing massive infrastructural damage.

Kareem Musa calls on PM to take action in Lev Derman case
The Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act was signed in 2001, ratified in 2003 and is being referenced in 2020 as part of the Lev Dermen saga. Caribbean Shores Representative, Kareem Musa, via a letter, is calling on the Prime Minister and the Attorney General to invoke this Act.

Literacy and Empowerment Adult Program (LEAP)
The Ministry of Education launched their first-ever Literacy and Empowerment Adult Program (LEAP). The program is open to adults who want to learn to read and write; or who want to improve on their parenting skills. Chief Education Officer, Dr Carol Babb told the media that as much as 60 adults from the Collet Division have already registered for the program.

Discussing issues affecting our youths
The Adolescents and youth engaged for change and a sustainable future forum kicked off day two in Belize City with a discussion with students of Belize about HIV/AIDS. The forum’s primary goal is to address issues amongst youths such as gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, human trafficking, among others.

‘Let’s not fight’ responds the MOE
The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) has been contemplating strike action in recent days over three points of contention that they have with the Ministry of Education. While the final decision is still pending there is a war with words going on between the union and the ministry. Just yesterday the ministry sent out a release appealing to the teachers not to be misinformed. According to the ministry, there are amendments that they want to put into place to the Education Rules, but it would require a Statutory Instrument which is still not in place.

Chaya: diner with the Maya exhibit closes
Chaya! Dinner with the Maya: an exhibit at the Mexican Cultural Institute ended yesterday. The exhibit was curated by Dr. Anabel Ford focusing on the Maya Society of El Pillar and its forest.

Mexican Woman serves 15 years in prison after killing her spouse
A 42-year-old Mexican woman has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison after admitting to killing her spouse, Felix Alamilla. Annabella Kumul was before Justice Colin Williams on a charge of manslaughter which stems back from July 2014.

FCD invites Guatemalan youths to learn conservation
Over the weekend, Friends for Conservations and Development (FCD) hosted an exchange program with youths from five Guatemalan communities. These communities are unique because they fringe the Chiquibul National Park.

Improving the quality and gender equity of Education
Yesterday, the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, and Country Representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Dr Cassandra T. Rogers, signed an agreement for a US$10 million loan. This loan goes directly towards improving the quality...

Attorney says Dalla and Shyne will settle
The last update we had reported concerning a court case involving Shyne Barrow and Troy ‘DJ Dalla’ Flowers, was that the two were looking to settle out of court. Well, that’s what Dalla’s attorney, Kareem...

Is Belize Prepared if the Coronavirus hits?
All eyes remain on the Coronavirus. Belize’s health officials met in emergency session this morning in Belmopan to do their assessments of where the virus currently stands, how far it has spread and what measures...

10 Million Dollars to Improve the quality of Education
The Government of Belize received ten million dollars today with the aim to improve the quality of education. Signing on behalf of the Government was Prime Minister Dean Barrow.

Tension grows between BNTU and Ministry of Education
The Executive District Branches of the Belize Teachers Union met in their respective areas over the weekend to decide whether they will proceed with strike action or continue their subtle forms of protest. The discussion is based on three points of contention that the union has been having with the Ministry of Education, namely, their vacation days; emergency hiring of teachers and the renewal of contracts.

Another drug Plane in Belize
For the second time this year, Belize Police are dealing with another suspected narco-plane. Security Forces were on high alert this weekend after reports began circulating of an aircraft hovering in the deep south.

Lev Dermen begins; which Minister will be named?
The Lev Dermen trial commenced today in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The case has to do with a multi-million-dollar scheme that Dermen and his former business partner, Jacob Kingston, carried out using an oil company in the US.

Breaking Belize News

Teen defends himself against allegation of handling stolen horse
A teenager who was found in possession of a $15,000 horse stolen from Bacab Eco-Park […]

Evangelicals claim “90 per cent” rejection of Equal Opportunities Bill
Who won the debate on the Equal Opportunities Bill, subject of recent public consultations? It depends […]

Another shooting in Lake I
Earlier tonight a man was shot in Belize City. He has since been identified but […]

Man charged for December robbery
One person has been charged in connection with a robbery last December, Nadir Mendoza. It […]

Utah Washakie Renewable Energy case underway
The Salt Lake Tribune has provided a primer on the now-ongoing Washakie Renewable Energy case […]

Ex-cop given minimum 12-year sentence for sexual assault of female minor
Former police constable Darren Martinez, 24, convicted in December of assault of a child under […]

Mexican woman handed 15-year sentence for partner’s manslaughter death
Mexican national Annabelle Kumul, 42, who was charged with murder but had pleaded guilty to […]

NEMO issues All clear
The National Meteorological Service of Belize and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) informs that […]

Kareem Musa writes A.G., P.M. on Dermen records
Area representative for Caribbean Shores Kareem Musa is pressing Prime Minister Dean Barrow and Attorney […]

“No case of novel coronavirus in Belize,” says Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health said today that there are no confirmed cases of the novel […]

Over 4,000 cases of novel coronavirus confirmed around the world
The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common […]

Police investigate circumstances surrounding death of infant
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an infant from San Estevan, Orange […]

Micah launches 2nd annual scholarship fund
Belize City Councilor, Micah Goodin, has launched the 2nd annual Micah Goodin Scholarship Fund. Last […]

“Teachers ready for action,” says BNTU
The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) says that its teachers are “ready for action” in […]

Two charged for broad daylight robbery in Burrell Boom
Brandon Escarpeta, 23, originally from San Ignacio Town, Cayo District but now residing in Ladyville, Belize […]

Belize tourism recovers after a slow start
After a sluggish peak tourist season, things were looking grim for tourism growth in Belize, […]

Blogs

Do’s and Don’ts for a Stay In Belize
If you’ve never been to a place before, even with today’s information technology, the experience could be different from what you may have anticipated. Here are some tips so you can make the most of your time in Belize. Belize is warm all year round, and even our chilly spells only warrant a light sweater or jacket. Yes, you will need swimwear and beach attire. Even for evening, the order of the day is casual, casual, casual. However, if you venture into the jungle you will need cotton pants and sturdy footwear for hikes, and of course, sunglasses and a hat, and plenty of insect repellent.

Spotting Jaguar and Jaguarundi in Belize
Of course, the jaguar is the main attraction, but travelers must be aware that it is quite rare to actually see a jaguar. You could, however, glimpse its tracks on trails riverbanks. During your hike, you will get to see a lot of local wildlife and tropical birds. Your naturalist guide will point out plants and herbs used for medicinal purposes. The second smallest of Belize’s wild cats, the jaguarundi, is odd looking. It has a long, slender body and a small flattened head, short legs, a long tail, and rounded ears. They may be of different colors.

Reasons to Visit Southern Belize in June
Down south you’ll find all the cultures of Belize – Garifunas, East Indians, Mayans, Mennonites, Creoles, Mestizos and Asians all living and associating with each other. Dangriga is known as the “kulcha capital” of Belize; here you can learn everything about the Garinagu people and try their delicious traditional dishes. In the Toledo district you can learn about the East Indians and Mayan people; see how they live, how they gather their foods and prepare their dishes, get a feel for their lifestyle.

International Sources

Americans living Belize please take note!
If you are a U.S. citizen living abroad, now is the time to register to vote absentee. It's faster than taking your dog for a walk!

Caribbean urged to prepare for long drought
The Barbados- based Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) is warning that long-term drought is evolving throughout the Caribbean during the three-month period of February to April this year. In its latest Caribbean Climate Outlooks, published here yesterday, CariCOF warned that during the peak of the dry season, limited water availability will be caused by evolving or possible long-term drought throughout the Caribbean, except in French Guiana and north-west Bahamas. “In addition, frequent dry spells and short-term drought in a majority of places may pose water stress to sensitive, rain-fed crops. There is marginal concern for flooding and flash floods in Belize and the islands through March, but some concern in April. Temperatures, seasonably cool and comfortable until March, will start rising by April,” CariCOF added.

Videos

January 28, 2020

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

San Pedro Police investigating Sudden Death
Police have confirmed that a deceased male was found north of San Pedro Town and the body has been transported to the mainland. The identity cannot be revealed until his family is notified. The nationality of the individual is believed to be Belizean, an employee of a beach resort in the northern part of the island. Preliminary information indicates that the deceased was last seen on Saturday, January 25th around noon. When he did not show up to work on Monday, January 27th, checks were made at his place of residence where he was found motionless. The body does not show any signs of injuries. Police continue investigating.

Ambergris Today

The Island Academy Wins Belize’s FIRST Lego League Competition
Belize held its first national Elementary School Robotics Event on Saturday, January 25, 2020. San Pedro had representation in this first ever robotics competition where The Island Academy had their team – Team Island Innovators. The 2020 Challenge included three parts: the Robot Game, the Innovation Project, and the Core Values. Island academy took first place in first LEGO league competition and they will now represent the country in Houston, Texas in April.

Various Belizean Sources

The Ministry of Education Notes the Wide Circulation of Misleading Information Presented to Teachers in Order for Them to Make a Decision
The Ministry requested and held meetings with stakeholders, including the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), and shared its intention to address the three pressing issues coming from the BNTU and Managing Authorities. The intentions shared in the called meeting with the BNTU on December 12, 2019, are as follows: 1. Adjusting the education rules that will empower the Chief Education Officer to change the vacation period. This would address those years when the holiday would be two weeks.

Consejo Garbage Situation
The Consejo Village Council is seriously concerned with the current garbage situation which is way out of hand on Consejo Road. The garbage on the sides of the road of Consejo has never been this bad and we need to come together to rectify this matter! We hope that someone from the Corozal Town Council gets in touch so we can work together on this matter urgently".

Mopan Technical High Excellence Award Ceremony
Mopan Technical High hosted their first ' Excellence Award Ceremony' in which students were given certificates for outstanding academic achievement. Thanks to the parents for being part of this ceremony. Congratulations to all! Keep up the good work!

Cayo Baymen Rugby Club
The 2020 Rugby season is almost here, and the Cayo Baymen Rugby Club is starting practice tonight at 7:00pm at Galvez stadium. Everyone is welcome.

More street lights in Bahia Puesta Del Sol as a response to CCBTIA’s efforts
The Association acknowledges Mr. Herschel Armstrong, Manager of Distribution, Planning and Engineering of BEL for joining officers of CCBTIA on 8 January 2020 on a late night site inspection of the subdivision. This resulted in prompt action for increased lighting as shown in these pictures. CCBTIA reminds BEL of the work at hand to secure the energy needs of this growing community. As BEL informed among other things: - renewable energies for cleaner environment and back-up; - a new generator for the island; - a better staffed office on Caye Caulker; - re-assessment of the needs based on growth rate and density of development;

Sharon Ashe-Patterson passes away
Some of my FB friends have known Sharon Ashe-Patterson who lived in Ambergris Caye, Belize many years and I just received information today that she has passed away at her home in Connecticut on November 8. There is no service planned at this time. The last time we spoke she said she did not want anyone to be sad because she had had a wonderful life. She was also a wonderful friend.

Graffiti Fest 2020
Here's the finishing touch of the Graffiti Fest 2020 that was held at Miami Beach, in front of Wood House, Jammrock and Bay-breeze. The Graffiti Fest was held on January 26, 2020 in Corozal. Hundreds of locals and tourists came to witness the second Annual Graffiti Fest 2020. The Corozal House of Culture invited the public to attend the Graffiti Fest Graffiti artists showcased their talents using various forms of paint, brushes, artistic tools and colors at this year’s Corozal Graffiti Festival 2020. This year’s graffiti theme was “Ancient Chactemal” offering our community an array of talent honouring our ancestors.

Rest in Peace Mrs Linda
Last night when I got the news of the passing of Mrs Linda Magana of Libertad Village, Corozal District, I couldn’t help but to paused and reflect on the many years this exemplary Christian was a part of my childhood and youth. I was raised in the Seventh Day Adventist Church and I use to be a youth leader in my youthful part of my life. I would see and speak to Mrs Linda at least four times for the week. And so, when I think of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Libertad, her face is one of the few I associate the church with. She lived a life for Christ.

Notice to all applicants and holders of Liquor License in Corozal District

Cayo Goes Green Mixer and AGM
Join us for our 2020 AGM this Friday, January 31st at the Cahal Pech Village Resort, San Ignacio Belize Conference room at 5:30pm. We want you to get involved in our goal in making Cayo a Green Destination in Belize. Come and chat with us to see what we have planned and also bring your contributions to the table to achieve this goal for 2020 and beyond. All are welcome to join. See you there!

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: JANUARY 19, 2020 THROUGH JANUARY 26, 2020
El Pescador hosted few anglers last week so the fishing was light. From February onward, many more flies will be presented to fish on the flats. Unseasonal rain and cloud cover made fishing tough. Small numbers of bonefish were caught this week with one guest making good catches. Cloud cover played a major role in making sight fishing difficult.

FCD hosts exchange program
This weekend, FCD hosted an exchange program for youth from 5 Guatemalan communities (La Rejoya, Nueva Armenia, San José Las Flores, Las Flores de Chiquibul and Puertas del Cielo Chiquibul) located near the Chiquibul Forest. This activity forms part of a larger program to promote the joint protection of the Chiquibul Forest. Activity was made possible through the Canada Funds for Local Initiatives.

Channel 7

Lev, Last Man Standing
The trial of Lev Dermen started today in Salt Lake City, Utah - and it's big news in Belize, because Dermen allegedly paid $25,000 US dollars monthly to a Belizean minister back in 2013. But, today, there were no bombshells - in fact, nothing at all. That is because the day was spent on jury selection. That could go into tomorrow - to be followed by opening arguments. Then the prosecution will present its case. And, during that Jacob Kingston is expected to take the stand - possibly as early as Thursday. He is then expected to talk about bribes he paid to officials in Turkey, the United States, and, yes, Belize. Kingston has told prosecutors he exchanged text messages with Minister John Saldivar on behalf of Dermen.

Bar-owner Gunned Down In 'Griga
It was a very violent weekend and we have four murders to report tonight, two in the South, and two in Belize City. We start on Friday night in Dangriga where a bar owner was apparently executed inside his bar. It's a popular watering hole and today Cherisse Halsall went to Dangriga's Wagierale area to find out more. On Friday night, Darrell Bermudez Laurie was serving drinks inside Hide and Seek Bar in the Wagierale area of Dangriga. That's when two men rode up to the bar on bicycles, one of them stepped onto the verandah and opened fire on the barkeep. Darrell was shot three times. He didn't survive.

Skydeck Owner Slain
And while that happened at 6:30, three hours later there would be another murder, this time in Belize City. A well-known club owner was ambushed and executed as he left a gathering with friends in a gang affiliated area.

Man Killed Inside Home In PG
And the weekend's next murder happened last night in Punta Gorda. The still of a quiet Sunday night in the Cemetery area of Punta Gorda was shattered when a gunman barged into a home and killed 23-year-old Denroy Nicolas Sambula: ACP Joseph Myvett: "Last night sometime after 7pm, Punta Gorda police were called to an area near the cemetery in Punta Gorda Town where upon arrival they observed the apparent lifeless body of Denroy Nicholas, 23 years-old, inside his yard. What we know so far is that he was at his mother's home inside the said yard and had just stepped outside to go into his own room which is within the same yard when a single gunshot blast was heard and he was seen on the ground..."

Monday Morning Murder In Gang Territory
And the killing continued this morning in Belize City. It happened in the Lake Independence area around 10:00 am, where 27 year old Ronald Michael was out cutting grass for a friend. But, that area is ridden with gang hostilities between rival groups, and Michael may have been strayIng from his turf - and that put him in the line of hostile fire. Daedra Haylock was on the scene: From the indications of the residents in the area, 2 shots and the morning's routine was interrupted. Some disturbed as they rested during the morning, others as they relaxed, others as they carrying on their morning's house routine. 27 year old Ronald Joseph Michael is reported to have entered the area to cut the grass of one of their neighbors. Even with the close nature of the maze of yards and houses that is as much as everyone was able to tell us. While information was sparse incoming as we combed through the onlookers trying the determine relations and who could offer information, the grief was palpable with the screams and cries a female relative carried off as she could barely withstand her pain. Others begging and angry that the yellow caution tape and police prevented them from advancing to the police vehicle to view their family member.

Man Succumbs 6 Weeks After Being Shot
And, our final story for this segment may or may not be recorded as a murder. Brain Harris died this weekend - 6 weeks after he had been shot in mid December. At that time - the 37 year old was shot on a Picado road in Ladyville and left for dead. He survived five shots and survived through the night on the side of the road, unable to move. He was found in the morning and rushed to the hospital.

Cops Bust "Tonz A' Gunz"�
Sharp police work led to a major bust of handguns this weekend. Intelligence coming out of Benque Viejo told Cayo police that 25 year old Omar Ibanez would be heading their way with major guns and ammo stashed in secret compartments in the rear bumper of his Toyota Corrolla. They stopped him at the Red Creek checkpoint just outside Santa Elena and today, the head of national crime investigation told us what they found: ACP Joseph Myvett: "Saturday sometime after 8pm whilst police officers were on a vehicular checkpoint in Red Creek area on the George Price Highway..."

Narco Plane In Payne's
And while cops in the West made that bust, try as they might, police in the south could not get anything from a narco plane that landed in the remote reaches of Payne's Creek National Park in the Toledo District. The plane landed at about 11:00 on Saturday night - and it would be almost another twelve hours before police got there - because the area could not be accessed by land. The head of National Crimes told us what they found when they got there: "On Saturday, police were called to the Payne's Creek area in the Toledo District whereupon arrival they observed a twin engine aircraft almost completely burned in an area where apparently a makeshift airstrip was recently constructed. So far no one has been detained and no other items have been found in that area. It is a very remote area that this aircraft discovery was found in."

PG Town Blaze
A board house was completely burnt over the weekend. It happened on Cerro Road in Punta Gorda town. ACP Myvette told us more earlier today.

CARICOM Leader's Spouses Meet In Belize
This Morning the Spouses of Caricom Leaders Action Network in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children hosted a forum for Adolescents and Youth. The Purpose of the forum entitled Adolescents And Youth: Engaged For A Change And Sustainable Future.

MOE & Teachers Clash
There's increasing friction between the Ministry of Education and the Belize National Teachers Union. The teachers are taking a vote on whether they will take industrial action and the Ministry is going on a public relations offensive. This morning, the ministry sent out a release trying to set the record straight; they say the union is misleading its membership. The Ministry stressed that the Union's current matters of concern are part of an ongoing discussion with the BNTU about a change in the education rules.

Shaquile Shot, Survives
Earlier on we told you about the weekend murders - but one man escaped death after a shooting. On Friday at 10:15, 24 year old Shaquile Perrera was walking at the corner of Seagull St and North Creek when he was shot in a drive-by. Police told us more:...

Fugitive Shane Was In South
And while no one has been charged for that attempted murder - police have tracked down and charged the man accused of committing an attempted murder last weed in Independence Village.

Construction Store Robbed
And, finally, in crime news - the construction supplies store was robbed on Friday morning in Belize City. Police told us more about how they held up E&R:...

Gender Equity in Education
As you heard earlier, the Prime Minister's wife will engage with youth tomorrow morning, this morning the PM was doing his part for the future of youth in education by signing a loan agreement with the IDB.

The Book Of Budna, A Lament On Lawmen
Joseph Budna - he's a man both known and notorious. He most recently made the news when he escaped from a Guatemalan Prison in July of 2019. Since then we thought he'd happily retreat to his village home in the west.

Child Dies Day After Vaccination
And, finally, tonight a family in San Estevan, Orange Walk is deep in the throes of grief after their newborn baby boy died under mysterious circumstances. On Saturday, Andriel Augustine - who was born in November of 2019 died at a private clinic. His doctor said he had a very high fever and came there with no pulse.

Channel 5

Ronald Michael is Gunned Down on Ordonez Street
It’s a big night of news from murders in the city and the south to a courtroom in Utah, U.S.A. for a high profile case of fraud which extends to [...]

Business Ernesto Williams is Murdered in the City
The second murder victim in the city is well-known businessman, Ernesto Williams.  Williams was executed early on Friday night as he headed to his vehicle which was parked on Orange [...]

Brian Harris Succumbs 5 Weeks After Being Shot
There is another shooting under investigation by the police. The victim of that incident was Brian Harris who was shot multiple times in mid-December in the Farmers Site area of [...]

Wahn Notha Drug Plane Land Da Belize
The airspaces above parts of southern Belize, Guatemala and Mexico were busy with illegal flight activity over the weekend where suspected drug planes are said to have landed.  In the [...]

Drug Plane Landings in Mexico and Guatemala
There are other reports of drug plane landings close to the northern and western borders.  A soldier was killed and three persons injured in a shoot-out involving Mexican law enforcement [...]

Trial of Lev Dermen Gets Underway in Utah with Jury Selection
Accused fraudster Lev Dermen who owned a chain of gas stations under the name Noil Energy in Los Angeles, is headed to trial. “Noil” is “lion” spelled backward and it [...]

Denroy Nicholas Killed in PG Ahead of Supreme Court Trial in Griga
There were two murders in southern Belize. A Punta Gorda resident was to appear in court in Dangriga today, but his life was cut short on Sunday night. Twenty-three year [...]

Hide & Seek Bar’s Owner is Gunned Down – Almost 4 Years after He was Targeted
The usually popular Hide & Seek in the Bushes Bar and Chill Spot is a recreational establishment but three nights ago it became the scene of a murder. Businessman, father [...]

Shaquille Perrera is Injured in Drive-by Shooting
There was another incident of gun violence in the city on Friday night and fortunately the victim survived the attempt made on his life. Shaquille Perrera, a resident of Ramsey [...]

Cotton Tree Village Resident Busted with Firearms and Ammunition
Twenty-five-year-old Omar Ibanez was busted on Saturday night with a cache of weapons and ammunition. San Ignacio police at a checkpoint near Red Creek they stopped Ibanez who was driving [...]

E.R. Construction Targeted by Armed Robbers
Located on mile two and a half on the Philip Goldson Highway, E.R. Construction was targeted by a pair of armed thieves on Friday morning.  Investigators are reviewing surveillance which [...]

Shane Bennett Charged with Attempted Murder
Investigators believe that Shane Bennett is the man who attempted to murder thirty-seven-year-old Anthony Parks on the morning of January twenty-second. Parks, who remains in a critical but stable condition, [...]

Two-Month-Old Baby Boy Dies After Being Vaccinated
Police in Orange Walk Town are investigating the mysterious death of a two-month-old baby boy. Adriel Augustine died on Saturday afternoon, less than a day after being vaccinated at the [...]

Belize Health Official Monitoring Coronavirus Outbreak
Health officials in Mexico and Colombia are investigating their first cases of the deadly coronavirus spreading from China. Here in Belize, authorities are closely monitoring and the Ministry of Health [...]

Fire Destroys Home in Punta Gorda Town
A house was destroyed by fire on Saturday afternoon. The fire broke out at around two o’clock at a house located on the Cerro Road in Punta Gorda and owned [...]

Joseph Budna Alleges Police Harassment
The infamous Joseph Budna is back in the news. He escaped into Belize from Guatemala where he was serving a twenty-five-year sentence for kidnapping and extortion.  He managed to successfully escape [...]

Is Joseph Budna Paranoid?
Budna says that he is attempting to make a formal complaint with the Professional Standards Branch to have the matter addressed.   Joseph Budna, Claims Police Harassment “If you are [...]

G.O.B. Signs 10 Million-Dollar Education Programme with I.D.B.
The Government of Belize signed a ten-million dollar agreement with the I.D.B. this morning. At the signing, the I.D.B. Country Representative and PM Dean Barrow spoke about the educational quality [...]

Legendary Basketball Player Kobe Bryant Dies in a Helicopter Crash
Lakers and basketball superstar Kobe Bryant is dead. The NBA MVP, his thirteen-year-old daughter, six friends and the pilot were all killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday. The helicopter [...]

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

The Reporter

The Lev Aslan Dermen Case Continues In Utah
Local media houses are monitoring the trial of Armenian American Levon Dermen, which starts today. There have been allegations that Dermen, known to have close ties to Minister of National Security John Saldivar, paid bribes to two Government officials in Belize, as he tried to get Belizean diplomatic status and likely other political favours.

Denroy Nicholas Shot In Punta Gorda: Died Moments Later
Police are investigating a murder which occurred in Punta Gorda Town last night. Around 9:00pm (Sunday Jan 26th.) Police were called to Toucan Street in the cemetery area...

LOVE FM

Weekend Crimes
A 24-year-old man survived an attempt on his life on Friday night. Shaquille Perrera, a Belize City resident was shot whilst walking on the south side of the old capital. Senior Superintendent, Hilberto Romero spoke on the incident and their preliminary findings.

Missing woman down south
The family of Julia Mejia has grown concerned since they have not heard from her in a very long time. Stann Creek Correspondent, Harry Arzu spoke with one of Julia’s sister in the following report.

Business man murdered in Dangriga
Within a period of 72 hours, four men were fatally wounded. There is no indication that either incident was connected which makes the job of the investigators a bit more perplexed. We begin with the first homicide on Friday night in the south. 32-year-old Darrel Glenford Bermudez Laurie was shot at his business establishment on Friday night as he attended to a customer. Our Stann Creek Correspondent, Harry Arzu went to the scene looking for answers.

Man fatally shot from behind
A shooting in broad daylight has left a man dead and his family in mourning disbelief. Reporter Courtney Menzies went out looking for answers in this latest murder of 28-year-old Ronald Michael.

Body of a man found in San Pedro
The body of man was found earlier this afternoon north of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. The man, whose identity is being withheld, was found in his house after he did not show up to work.

Well-Known business man ambushed and killed in Belize City
The second businessman to be murdered was leaving a party when the shooter ambushed him in Belize City. Reporter Alisha Valentine has the story.

Breaking Belize News

Belize: Five dead from gunshot over the weekend
Over the weekend Belize recorded an onslaught as five persons lost their lives in four […]

Justices of the Peace raise alarm over “disrespect”
The Association of Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of the Supreme Court is upset […]

Friends for Conservation and Development engages in youth exchange
On January 25 and 26, 2020, Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) hosted an exchange […]

Suspected narco-plane lands on highway in Quintana Roo
Mexican media reported this morning that a suspected narco-aircraft landed middle highway in Quintana Roo, […]

Tropic Air’s Black Hole Drop tour is an intense experience: Are you prepared?
The Maya Mountains and all its wonders are among the most visited destinations in Belize […]

Police find 5 guns, 450 rounds of ammunition, links to Guatemala
On Saturday night police conducting a vehicular checkpoint made a huge bust. Cotton Tree resident, […]

Police rule out robbery and drug war in death of Glenford Bermudez
Shortly after 6 o’clock on Friday night there was a murder in Dangriga, Stann Creek. […]

Police: PG murder linked to previous attempted murder case
Sometime around 7 o’clock last night there was a murder in Punta Gorda, Toledo. The […]

Police to review cameras to find Ernesto Williams’ killer
On Friday night Belize City businessman, Ernesto Williams, was gunned down. He had just exited […]

Ronald “Boom Boom” Michael shot dead on Ordonez Avenue, Belize City
Ronald “Boom Boom” Michael shot dead on Ordonez Avenue, Belize City This morning gunshots rang […]

“More than one kind of coronavirus,” says Director of Health Services
The Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to monitor the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and recently issued […]

Canadian mom who fled to Belize with son sentenced
A woman from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada charged in connection with a child abduction case in which […]

Denroy Nicholas shot to death in PG
One man is dead following a shooting in Punta Gorda last night. Reports are that […]

Blogs

Fish Right, Eat Right – Securing our sea’s bounty
With the Caribbean Sea running along the eastern border of Belize, both residents and visitors can reasonably expect fresh seafood as part of her cuisine. Our home base on Ambergris Caye in particularly a prime example of this, with snapshot views of fishermen cleaning their catch onshore either early morning or at sunset. Idyllic, right? Well, a campaign to ensure these views carry on to future generations has been put into place, hoping for seafood to remain viable in the years to come. ‘Fish Right, Eat Right’ is a brand that highlights establishments who source their seafood responsibly. It is a collaborative effort amongst fishers, retailers, restaurants and most importantly, the consumer.

Historical & Picturesque Maya Ruin In Belize – Lamanai
Imagine a thrilling boat ride followed by archaeological beauty to experience and capture right before your eyes. Lamanai is the third tallest Maya structure in Belize and stands at 33 meters tall. Lamanai is also known as the “high temple” high above the jungle canopy and provides a mesmerizing view over the river. It features three large pyramids or temples, open plazas, various restored stelae, and a ball court. This Maya ruin is an isolated location in the jungle on the banks of the New River lagoon with a few crocodiles. Lamanai comes from the Yucatec Maya word “lam’an’ain” or “submerged crocodile”. It is situated in the north of Belize, in Orange Walk District.

The Caribbean Journal states Belize Has Quietly Become a Caribbean Hotspot
Long a well-kept secret for travelers in the know, Belize has quietly become a full-fledged Caribbean hotspot in recent years, buoyed by one of the region’s fastest rates of tourism growth. And now it’s borne out by the data — Belize just set a new all-time record for tourist arrivals to the destination, Caribbean Journal has learned.

Maya Traditional Uses of Forests
Forests provide communities with clean fresh-water, medicine, food, non-timber forest products, recreational opportunities, spiritual benefits and other ecological services. Wise Maya communities practice sustainable extraction of forest resources to supply their basic needs for a healthy and sustainable living. Forests are prominently known for providing and maintaining clean water. They are critical in minimizing soil erosion, reducing and absorbing polluting chemicals and natural filtration system allows the discharge of clean water in watersheds. Forest communities directly depend on lakes, rivers and streams for their household needs, consumption, irrigation and recreational purposes. Clean water is a critical and valuable natural resource for all living organisms.

Casinos in Belize
Scattered from the North as far as out West, gambling in Belize is an option (and a fun one at that!) All casinos have full-service restaurants and bars, some have nightclubs and nightly entertainment as well. The legal gambling age in Belize is 18 and you must provide identification before entering any of the casinos noted below. Corozal/Chetumal Border- Northern Belize: Princess Hotel and Casino Freezone. North San Pedro – Ambergris Caye: Captain’s Casino. Belize City, Tropicana Resort and Casino, Princess Casino Belize. San Ignacio – Cayo: San Ignacio Hotel, Princess Casino, also home to NEXT nightclub.

International Sources

Francis Ford Coppola's Cassa Zenda: First In
Travel, as they say, is about the journey. But Cassa Zenda places its bets on arrival. By the time the black speck on a vast, glassine lake sharpens into a private dock, you will have spent the better part of a day in a speeding motorboat and the last two hours purring slowly up Guatemala’s serpentine Rio Dulce. Here, steep canyons spring up on either side of the muddy riverbank, ushering you into a silent, primordial tableau of tangled green jungle dotted by thatched dwellings. River traffic slows to little more than a few families line-fishing from canoes.

Delta launches innovative solution for pet travel
Delta is ushering in a new best-in-class travel experience for pets and their owners with the exclusive launch of CarePod. The introduction of this state-of-the-art pet travel carrier, which provides many industry-leading features including real-time updates throughout the journey, heralds a new standard of first-class safety and care for pet air travel. The CarePod pet travel carrier has several innovative safety features that make it the ultimate air travel experience for pets: Stronger, industrial strength walls that are insulated to protect your pet against potential temperature fluctuations when moving between different climates and travel conditions. Multi-layered windows and doors with specially angled blinds to help create a calming environment for pets by blocking out visual stress from unfamiliar environments.

Ocean ambassadors dive into marine conservation
One thousand six hundred and twenty-five miles south of Oxford, five Miami University students spent a week of their J-term submerged in the Caribbean Sea. From Jan. 11-19, members of the Miami Scuba Diving and Snorkel Club took a trip to Tom Owens Caye, an island 25 miles from mainland Belize, to delve, dive and help preserve the ocean. “It’s what you think of when you think of an island in the middle of the ocean,” said sophomore Jake Humbert, the club’s vice president. Palm trees and conch shells cover the island, which only spans an acre and a half. There is no cell service or running water.

Narco showdown in the south of Quintana Roo
Since the early hours of the morning, various criminal acts have been reported, including a confrontation with soldiers in the town of Nuevo Israel, in southern Quintana Roo A confrontation between alleged criminals and members of the Army was reported, this in the south of the state of Quintana Roo where the arrival of a small plane has stood out, which could well be an air vehicle of an organized crime group, they have reported injured soldiers, AMLO confirmed the facts during his morning conference.

Cayo Espanto, Private Island Resort in Belize Offers Ideal Couples Getaway
With Valentine’s Day and the season of romance quickly approaching, Cayo Espanto, is a private island resort that offers you your own secluded getaway. Home to a total of seven villas and located three miles off the coast of Belize, Cayo Espanto is a barefoot luxe island resort perfect for intimate getaways. Each villa comes equipped with a personal butler, private dock area and customized meals set by the on-island world-renowned chef – allowing couples to enjoy their time on the island without a care in the world. The paradise background of the Belizean waters, spa offers and incredible sunsets make for the perfect romantic getaway.

Videos

January 27, 2020

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

Wolfe’s Woofer: Efficiency
“Ah, Dennis Wolfe. I figured you’d be out here drinking coffee.” “Hey, Archie,” I said. “How is business?” Archie is the managing partner of a builder’s supply store in Dangriga. I was having my morning coffee on the deck of the Holiday Hotel when he joined me. “Our store plods along but we spend too much time and money doing things slowly and wastefully instead of efficiently,” he said.

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Mexico City Officially Opens Registration for Two Scholarships to Belizean Students
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Mexico City takes this opportunity to inform Belizean students that they have officially opened registration for two scholarships: Darmasiswa Scholarship 2020/2021 and Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship 2020 to students from Belize.

Doctor Love: Questioning in San Pedro
Dear Doctor Love, My boyfriend has over a thousand female friends on his Facebook page. The guys he has on his friends list are mostly people he knows but he doesn’t even know most of the girls, he just accepts any friend request he gets. I am not normally jealous but sometimes I get a little upset when some girl posts photos on his page of her wearing a bra or jiggling her behind and he responds.

Various Belizean Sources

Mr. Belizario (Belly) Martinez passes away
R.I.P. to Mr. Belizario (Belly) Martinez. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Another Caye Caulker icon gone.

Placencia Sidewalk Arts Festival
Placencia Btia the official organizer of the Placencia Sidewalk Arts festival happening on February 8-9, 2020. Don’t miss out! Booths still available contact [email protected] for more details.

Congratulations, Verdes FC! They defeated the Pirates 2-1
In related news, the Bandits Sports also won their match today against the BDF, 5-0. Well done!

Mobile Market Belize
The Mobile Market Belize website is live. https://www.mobilemarketbz.com/ They have a wide selection of fresh and healthy products.

Civic Engagement Activity
The Civic Engagement Activity continues today in San Ignacio which is led by our 2019 Youth Ambassadors. Let us show them appreciation and love for taking the bold lead in reducing pollution and promoting a clean environment.

Lunar New Year Banque
Invited as one of the VIP guests, Ambassador Remus Li-Kuo Chen gave his best wishes of happiness, prosperity, and success for the Year of Golden Mouse to hundreds of members of Belize Chinese Association (BCA) at its annual Lunar New Year Banquet on Sunday, Jan. 26.

Amandala

Another suspected drug plane land
ANOTHER SUSPECTED DRUG PLANE LANDED IN BELIZE, THIS TIME IN THE SOUTH. THE PLANE WAS FOUND PARTIALLY BURNT WITH NO CARGO.

The Reporter

Another Drug Plane: This Time In Toledo District
Just a few days ago we reported the landing of a suspected drug plane (Jet) which landed on a dirt road near Guinea Grass village. (News Article) Today, Sunday January 26th., another suspected drug plane was found.

Breaking Belize News

Another weekend murder in southern Belize
Breaking Belize News (BBN) has received reports of another murder in southern Belize, this time […]

Akeem Baptist to be tried for beating up ex-partner
Appearing before Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford Friday morning, 23-year-old Akeem Baptist learned he will be […]

Trial for alleged sex assault of 5-year-old-child
Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford has committed 57-year-old Baltazar Vasquez to trial in the Supreme Court […]

Judge to decide attempted murder case of David Melendez
Justice of the Supreme Court, Colin Williams, who is hearing the trial by judge of […]

Koffee, teenage Jamaican star, is first female Grammy winner for Best Reggae Album
Mikayla Simpson, 19, alias Koffee, from Spanish Town, Jamaica, made history tonight with a Grammy […]

New regional youth executive eyes economic empowerment at summit
Photo Credit: Caribbean Regional Youth Council The Sixth Caribbean Youth Leaders’ Summit was held toward the […]

Kareem Musa bashes PM Barrow’s “lame excuse” on Saldivar/Dermen saga
Attorney and area representative for Caribbean Shores, Kareem Musa, does not buy Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s […]

Police find guns and ammo at police checkpoint
Police in the west discovered illegal guns and ammunition during a vehicle search at a […]

Belize and world mourn loss of basketball icon Kobe Bryant, and daughter killed in tragic crash
Fans of basketball and Kobe Bryant around the world are mourning the shocking and sudden […]

Yes, You Can Buy a Beach House in Placencia Belize
Your timing is perfect if buying a Belize beachfront home has made it to the […]s slowly and wastefully instead of efficiently,” he said.

Coronavirus case confirmed in Mexico
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Authorities discover another suspected drug plane
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Blogs

Charming Caye Caulker – I Have LOTS More to Do
Silly, SILLY me. I thought I’d be able to get a thorough read on Caye Caulker in just a few days. I mean…I’ve been there at least 30 times…maybe more. But rarely overnight. In reality this two night, three day stay helped me get a feel for Caye Caulker but I have SOOOO much more to see and eat and experience…so many more people to talk before I can even start to think of a book. News flash: Caye Caulker is NOT centered around the Split so much anymore. There is a TON going on!

How To Prepare For Solo Travelling In Belize
Are you an adventurous solo traveler looking for a destination that’s off the beaten path? Head to Belize, where you’ll find a friendly welcome and a wealth of exciting adventures. If you have a valid US or Canadian passport, you can stay in Belize for up to 30 days. However, your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months after your entry date. If you’re planning to do any jungle hiking or walking around the Maya ruins, you should bring sturdy, comfortable hiking boots or walking shoes.

Ambergris Caye Belize Welcomes New Alaia Resort
A new resort is giving travelers an upscale option when they book a stay on scenic, colorful Ambergris Caye. The Alaia Resort is an exciting new development that is sure to make a splash on Belize’s most popular island. Alaia is part of the Marriott Corporation’s Autograph collection. Hotels in the Autograph line are upscale, exclusive properties with their own distinctive character. The finished resort will have 35 hotel rooms, 56 two-bedroom condominiums, and eight oceanfront villas. It will have amazing onsite services including a dive club, rooftop pool, art gallery, restaurants, fitness center, spa, guest-exclusive nightclub and more.

In Loving Memory to an Icon in Conservation & Awareness: Ziggy the Iguana
It is with deepest regret that the Green Iguana Conservation Project and San Ignacio Resort Hotel team announces the untimely passing of Ziggy the Iguana, the iconic star for the Project for the past 6 years. On January 10, Ziggy fell victim to a confrontation with one of the alpha males in the enclosure during which he suffered multiple injuries. The GICP Administration team quickly responded with providing Ziggy medical attention and administering him to the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic (BWRC) - a long-term partner of the Project. After three days of treatment and medical care to alleviate the impact of the injuries, it was sorrowfully agreed that euthanizing Ziggy would be the most humane alternative.

The Many Faces of Belize
As a young hair dresser growing up in Indianapolis Indiana, Kim yearned for travel and adventure. So much so that she joined a travel club to explore her fantasies. In anticipation of her club’s trip to Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize, Kim became certified as a scuba diver. The time came and off she went with the others in the club for her first big adventure. When they arrived at the island, it was everything she had imagined. After returning home, she was immediately longing to return to her fantasy island in the Caribbean. She did return again in short order and felt that the island was calling to her. That second trip spawned a third where she would come alone and see if it truly fit her. As they say, the third time’s a charm and she decided that Ambergris Caye would be her new home. She fell in love with the people, the lifestyle and the culture. That was in January of 1985 and she has lived here ever since.

If you have missed any latest news out of Belize, here is your update!
I've been in Belize for 6 years, and I'm not sure I have ever seen Belize in the news more than in the last month. Generally around the turn of the year, many news outlets will come out with their "Best of" the prior year and the "Must-Do's" for the new year. Belize landed on SO many of these lists!! I think some of the reasons are that there has been a lot of new direct flights here, there has also been some buzz because of some of the big chain hotels that have started to crop up on Ambergris Caye. This has brought a slew of new tourists to Belize that perhaps would not have come otherwise (many came through Hilton points to the new Mahogany Bay on Ambergris Caye) and Wyndham bought Costa Blu, and is building a larger facility on the island, plus Margaritaville is supposed to open this year.

WHAT AND WHERE TO EAT IN BELIZE
So…we went to Belize! After four years of not truly vacationing together, the tulip-man and I decided that enough was enough and booked tickets to Belize. In picking the vacation spot, our stipulations were that: It was a short flight from Atlanta, near where we spent Christmas It had beaches, because after four years of no vacation the tulip-man needed some white sand therapy It had scuba diving, because I’ve always wanted to learn It didn’t cost a fortune to get to, never mind the fact that we planned the vacation in high season (between Christmas and New Years)

Go Snorkeling Off The Coast Of Placencia
The Silk Cayes are a popular destination off the coast of Placencia. We originally intended on going to Silk Caye but ended up going to two very small islands instead. Snorkeling off the coast of Placencia was my favorite adventure of the trip. It was a gorgeous day outside, the sun was shining and we got picked up in Da Ragga Dat, a rasta colored speedboat with rum punch on board. Our first stop was Rum Caye, a tiny local fisherman island. The island itself was dirty from use, but the water surrounding it was stunning and clean. Belize works hard to preserve it’s reefs. The water here was crystal clear and full of life. We went snorkeling around the perimeter of the island spotting all kinds of fish and a massive sting ray. The string ray must’ve had around a 12 foot wing span.

Where to Find the Most Spectacular Wildlife in San Ignacio Belize
Giant iguanas, exotic birds, turtles and amphibians that resemble pre-Columbian creatures line the banks and waters of the Macal River, so if you are able to paddle and observe at the same time, take the Western Highway from Cahal Pech Village Resort and drive until you spot the canoe landing. Overhead, a rainbow of birds wing their way downstream, the most colorful of which are likely Kingfishers and Toucans. Whether you paddle past rock canyons, greenery and wildlife along the Macal on your own or hire a guide, this trip makes for great memories.

Beat the heat at these Top 5 Secret swimming spots in Belize
The dry season in Belize runs from approximately the end of November through the end of May, and it is one of the most popular times of the year for travelers to visit the country. The weather is stunning and temperatures get warm and tourists are compelled to look for scenic locations to beat the heat. Below are the top five secret swimming spots in Belize where you can enjoy a refreshing dip while taking in the natural beauty of the area.

17th Annual Placencia BTIA Sidewalk Art Festival 2020!!
Register to be a vendor at the 17th Annual Placencia BTIA Sidewalk Art Festival 2020!! For more info on how to be apart of this year’s art festival please contact us at 523-4045 or send us an email to [email protected] deadline to register is January 31st, 2020.

Videos

January 26, 2020

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

World Wildlife Fund teams with Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute in smart coast project; engages stakeholders on Ambergris Caye
On Thursday, January 23rd representatives from the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) along with members from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) engaged with stakeholders in San Pedro Town to present a project entitled ‘Climate Smarting Marine Protected Areas and Coastal Management in the Mesoamerican Reef Region.’ The project aims to increase awareness in coastal communities about the dangers posed to their natural resources and what mechanisms can be adopted to tackle the environmental challenges.

Saga Humane Society reports a busy 2019
2019 was yet another busy year for San Pedro’s Saga Humane Society. With a mission to prevent animal cruelty and neglect, Saga, together with the support of local community members and generous donations, was able to provide invaluable service to the island’s pet population. “This year Saga Humane Society was busy working hard; we did three free mobile clinics and free spay/neuter campaigns. However, all this work would not have been possible without the help we receive from our volunteers, donors, donations of medication and visiting vets! It truly takes a large team to get the work done! We are so thankful for everyone that supported us for 2019 and hope you continue to support us for many more years,” expressed Saga’s organizers.

Superintendent Christopher Noble receives 2019 Crime Fighter Award
The Belize Police Department has recognized the extraordinary job Superintendent Christopher Noble has done as the head of the Coastal Executive Unit (Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker) over the past six months by awarding him with the 2019 Crime Fighter Award.

Police officers assigned to assist neighbourhood watches on Ambergris Caye
In their efforts to continue ensuring safety on the island, the San Pedro Police formation has now assign officers to work closely with the south and north neighborhood watches. Woman Corporal 1049 Yadira Jones will work along with the South Ambergris Caye Neighborhood Watch, while Corporal 250 Abner Correa will work with Middle North Neighborhood Watch, and Corporal 888 Arthur Anthony will respond to the North Neighborhood Watch. According to Officer in Charge of the Coastal Executive Unit Superintendent Christopher Noble, these officers will make checks in their assigned areas at intervals to assist with issues when needed.

Various Belizean Sources

Island Academy {laces 1st at LEGO competition in Belize City
Congratulations to The Island Academy’s Island Innovators from the Robotic’s Class on placing 1st at the first ever LEGO competition in Belize City! Best of luck in Houston, USA for the World Championship! "We are beyond excited to present to you the champions of Belize's First Lego League tournament: THE ISLAND ACADEMY'S ISLAND INNOVATORS! Congratulations to all of the students in Robotics Club, your dedication and hard work has paid off! And a special thank you to Teacher Scott, Mr. Luis, and Mr. Mike, they couldn't have done it without you! Next Stop: Houston for the World Championship!!!"

9TH ANNUAL CHILI COOK OFF IN CONSEJO TODAY!
DON’T MISS IT!! 1ST PLACE - $50.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM TORTUGA. 2ND PLACE - $35.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM THE NEW MILLENNIUM. 3RD PLACE - $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM SMUGGLER'S DEN. THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE TWO REGISTRATION TABLES. ONE FOR CHILI ENTRANTS AND ONE FOR THOSE EATING CHILI. IF YOU ARE BRINGING CHILI, PLEASE GO TO THE LEFT WHEN ENTERING. IF YOU ARE THERE TO JUST EAT CHILI AND PARTICIPATE IN THE GREAT RAFFLES, ETC. GO TO THE RIGHT WHEN ENTERING. IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT! DON'T MISS IT!! SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020 1:00 PM. THE NEW MILLENNIUM RESTAURANT – CONSEJO. Cost is $10.00 Belize which allows you to sample all the chili you want. Chili providers have free admission. Fundraising will be held by having the 50/50 draw and Silent Raffle. Senior Jorge will be on hand to sell beer and other beverages.

Biobarda river trash containment system for the Mopan
The 2nd biobarda river trash containment system is being built by the Rotary Satellite Club of San Ignacio Benque Viejo. Thanks, Rotary, for helping to clean the Mopan. A sincere thank you to everyone who helped out today, in one way or another, with the second biobarda (biobar). We will continue working in the coming weeks to finalize the biobarda in order to install in Benque Viejo.

It was the Chinese New Year Saturday
They had some celebrations in Cayo.

Amandala

2 killed and 1 injured in shootings in Dangriga and Belize City
Two persons lost their lives due to shooting incidents in Dangriga and in Belize City, and one man was admitted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in a critical condition, after he was shot in Belize City.

The Reporter

DANGRIGA BUSINESSMAN MURDERED
A shooting on Melinda Road in the Wagierale area of Dangriga Town on Friday night has resulted in the death of businessman Darrel Bermudez, 32. Bermudez was rushed to the Southern Regional Hospital after 6:20 p.m. on Friday, January 24th with what appeared to be three gunshots wounds to the head, two to his back and another to his right lower thigh. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

BWS Doubles Water Supply on Ambergris Caye
The Belize Water Services Limited (BWSL) has purchased a new reverse osmosis treatment plant on Ambergris Caye, capable of producing 600,000 gallons of water per day. The purchase, along with the construction of a new 1 million-gallon ferro-concrete water tank, has doubled the storage capacity and efficiency in delivering water to meet the rapidly growing demands of the tourist destination.

Woman Dedicates Her Life to Rescuing Dogs
It is not a common occurrence to find someone who dedicates all their time to caring for the dogs that they rescued from inhumane situations, often times at the hands of humans. But we stumbled upon a woman through a Facebook post who does not only dedicate her life to caring for the seven dogs she has rescued, but goes out to rescue more when she gets news that another one needs help. And she does it all from her own pocket!

SALDIVAR NAMED! PM Says Still Not Enough
As he continues to campaign across the country, attempting to convince UDP delegates that he is the best choice for leader of the UDP, as we go to press there is some question of whether John Saldivar will make it to that convention. In a 24-page document revealed today, Saldivar’s name was called in an exhibit list proposed by the government in its fraud case against Armenian-American Levon Dermen.

PM To Longsworth: You’re Fired!
Belize’s Consul-General to the United Nations (UN), Herman Longsworth has been instructed to wrap up his affairs at the Consulate and hand over by February 21. This follows last week’s scandal that broke when the 2016 Audit Report was revealed. It cites Longsworth’s alleged involvement in the misappropriation of Sports Council monies on several occasions while he was Minister of State for Sports.

Emotional Contagion
By: Dr. Abigail Joseph. It is intriguing to observe cultural differences. Those of you who follow me on Facebook would know that I enjoy travelling to Mexico. Full disclosure – it’s the culture and the social discipline I crave and appreciate the most. Studying in Cuba, I learnt the culture of waiting in line to go into a store and developed the habit of asking who was last in a crowd where there seemed to be no line.

Alison Mackenzie Feared Dead Official Search Called Off
The search for missing American tourist Alison Mackenzie, 43, was called off Wednesday after search efforts that spanned almost five days and miles of sea yielded nothing – not even a clue – as to what might have happened to her.

ENOUGH…Says PUP Leader
In an interview this afternoon, PUP leader John Briceño attempted to turn up the heat under Prime Minister Dean Barrow, following the naming of Minister of National Security John Saldivar in official court documents which will be introduced in the upcoming trial of alleged fraudster, Armenian-American Levon Dermen. That trial is scheduled to start on January 27th, and includes an exhibit entitled ‘Text messages between Jacob Kingston and John Saldivar.’

Breaking Belize News

Coronavirus now responsible for over 50 deaths; Canada and Australia confirms first cases
The deadly virus believed to have originated in Wuhan, China has now claimed the lives […]

Chinese celebrate New Year; Year of the Rat
China is recognized for its rich history and culture and today, Chinese around the world […]

Dangriga businessman murdered inside his business place
Authorities are investigating the murder of a Dangriga businessman that occurred last night. Just after […]

Belize City businessman murdered last night
Authorities are investigating the murder of Belize City businessman, Ernesto Williams. Police responded to the […]

Victim of shooting admitted in critical condition
Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that occurred last night and left a 24-year-old man […]

Herman Longsworth on the hot seat: Despite “impropriety of relationship,” company completed Marion Jones works
Former Minister of State for Sports, Herman Longsworth, has released a statement explaining his “affiliation” […]

Blogs

Secret Adventure Spot In Belize – Mountain Pine Ridge
Escape the ordinary and dare to find this piece of heaven hidden amid the granite mountains of the Mountain Pine Ridge and in the evergreen refreshing smell of the pine trees. Rio On Pools and the Rio Frio Cave are where adventure awaits! The Rio on pools is located fifteen miles off the Western Highway with a scenic drive on the rustic road going towards the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. You will encounter a parking lot and a picnic site. Once you have arrived, your hike begins in the Mountain Pine Ridge.

Why North Americans Flock to Belize to Start a New Life
If you’ve spent any time in Belize before, the first thing you’ll realize is that life is at an easy-going, slower pace than that of its North American Neighbors, and while life in the fast lane is fun, there comes a time when we all have that longing to sit back, relax and enjoy what you’ve worked for, and Belize is the perfect place for that. While Belize is an investment haven and has many opportunities in real estate and income-generating options, the lifestyle this tiny country can offer is one of its greatest assets.

In a Bold Move for the Environment, Belize Bans Single-Use Plastics
On January 14, 2020, Regulations aimed at phasing out single-use plastics in Belize were signed into law by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration. The decision to implement these measures to reduce plastic use and consumption was required in order to mitigate the harmful effects of pollution on the environment.

International Sources

Birding With Benefits: How Nature Improves Our Mental Mindsets
Birding. It just makes you feel good. Everything else that comes from it is simply a byproduct. Simple as that. Anyone who birds a favorite park over and over knows intuitively why they keep going back: It just feels good. Being in nature—pausing in it, sitting with it, discovering its wonders—brings a sense of calm and renewal. Now science is backing up our intuition with data and revealing the benefits run much, much deeper. Of hundreds of published studies, none alone is definitive, but together they offer a growing sense of what’s lost as people spend more time than ever indoors.

Videos

January 25, 2020

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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

Search and rescue operation for missing American tourist at sea called off; FBI offers help
The search for American National 43-year-old Alison Mackenzie, who was reported missing on Saturday, January 18th at Rendezvous Caye, has been called off by the Belize Coast Guard (BCG). As investigations continue into her disappearance, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America (USA) has offered Belizean authorities their help and will be joining their efforts to solve the case.

BTB statistics say tourism in Belize is booming; Ambergris Caye says ‘not here.’
Despite the Belize Tourism Board’s (BTB) announcement of a record half-million plus overnight visitors to Belize in 2019, Ambergris Caye’s tourism sector says it is struggling with an extended slow season. Over the last several weeks, island stakeholders have been reporting a decline in the tourism business, even resulting in the closure of some establishments. Many are speculating that this downturn is associated with the changes Ambergris Caye has been undergoing over the years. Massive developments are alleged to have overshadowed the once-charming island, coupled with the lack of proper infrastructure, and seemingly unplanned growth; some fear that Belize’s golden goose of tourism has lost her appeal.

John Saldivar named in US court documents regarding Lev Dermen’s fraud case
Belize’s Minister of National Security, Honourable John Saldivar, has been named in alleged court documents associated with a fraud court case set to start on Monday, January 27th in the state of Utah, USA. California USA businessman, Lev Aslan Dermen, alongside Isaiah and Jacob Kingston, are being charged with money laundering and fraud. Part of the court documents contains testimony from Jacob Kingston providing evidence against Dermen and alleges that a Belize government official ‘routinely’ received money from Dermen.

SPTC to implement parking restrictions on Pescador Drive
Effective February 1, 2020, drivers will be required to parallel park on Pescador Drive. This new measure, implemented by The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) and the island’s traffic department, seek to ensure the safety of all pedestrians, particularly children, who used the narrow street on their way to school. Pescador Drive, also known as Middle Street, is one of the busiest streets in downtown San Pedro. The long narrow stretch is lined with residencies and businesses, and during peak times of the day, the many vehicles and golf carts parked diagonally the width of the street, slowing the flow of traffic. This poses potential danger to pedestrians and bikers who also use the street on a daily basis. The new regulation has received positive feedback from many island residents, who said that the previous parking posed a danger for everyone as traffic conditions on the island continue to worsen.

Ambergris Today

Land Trust To Conserve Mangroves On Remaining National Lands On Turneffe Atoll
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration and the Ministry of Natural Resources embarked upon a joint initiative to protect important mangrove ecosystems covering approximately 17,000 acres of national lands remaining on the Turneffe Atoll. The lands have now been set aside for conservation under the ‘Turneffe Land Trust’ signed between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Turneffe Atoll Trust, a registered not-for-profit entity residing on Northern Bogue, Turneffe Atoll.

Belize Ministry Of Health Monitoring New Strain Of Coronavirus
The Ministry of Health is aware of a new strain of Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has been linked to cases of respiratory tract infections originating in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China - some of these cases have evolved to more severe cases. On Thursday, January 23, 2019, the National Surveillance Team, headed by the Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero, participated in a virtual meeting hosted by the Caribbean Public Health Authority (CARPHA) to discuss the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak. Twenty other Caribbean member states also participated in the meeting.

Various Belizean Sources

Equal Opportunities Bill
Things you should know about the Equal Opportunities Bill. Be informed!

The Art Shack is coming to Belmopan
Official Art Gallery and Art supplies "The Art Shack" to make grand opening in Belmopan. Soon to be the most prominent and choice location for the best Belize has to offer in different genre of Art. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting development!

Theater In Belize
The Belize National Library Service and Information System will be an open discussion on Theater in Belize Saturday in Belmopan. Discussion of past and present theater activities in order to identify persons, venues and resources available in Belize.

Small Business Entrepreneur Seminar in Orangel Walk
Feb. 1 & 2. Are you a local artisan interested in expanding your small business? Well this seminar is right for you! All local artisans are invited to attend this informative seminar, free of cost! Be a part of this two day event that will help your product reach the next level. Simply send us a message to register for the seminar.

Pediatric Plastic Surgery Mission in Dangriga
World Pediatric Project is hosting its annual Pediatric Plastic Surgery Mission in Dangriga on Sunday.

Amazing Race at The Truck Stop TODAY
1pm...the Amazing Race at The Truck Stop. If you aren't participating...be there to watch. They always have a fun opening challenge. See you there.

San Pedro Town Strong with Team John Saldivar!
The United Democratic Party of San Pedro greatly appreciates the cordial visit from Hon. John Saldivar, Hon. Hugo Patt, Hon. Beverly Williams and Hon. Gaspar Vega.

Corozal 2020 Graffiti Festival
Happening this Sunday, January 26th at Miami Beach beginning at 10:00 a.m. Theme "Ancient Chactemal"

Wildtracks Update: Life in the Nursery - Rea's Story
Rea, a young Yucatan black howler monkey, arrived at Wildtracks in April, 2019 after being rescued while crossing a river near the border with Mexico. At around 15 months old, she was too young to survive on her own in the wild, so was transferred to Wildtracks, where she was integrated with an adult female and a younger male around her age. The integration did not go well, proving that, just like people, not all monkeys like each other! Rea has since been successfully integrated with the Nursery Troop, where she acts as a "big sister" to her younger companions....particularly Leah, who follows her everywhere She has taught the other nursery howlers how to eat browse - and really regularly opens Leah's mouth to check that she is doing it right!

Register to be a vendor at the 17th Annual Placencia BTIA Sidewalk Art Festival 2020
For more info on how to be apart of this year's art festival please contact Placencia Btia at 523-4045 or send an email to [email protected] deadline to register is January 31st 2020.

FCD’s Park Manager gives GPS sets to Benque Viejo Police
The Police Department is a partner institution that forms part of the Chiquibul Joint Forces Unit aimed at safeguarding the Chiquibul and Vaca ecosystems. Earlier this week, FCD’s Park Manager provided GPS sets to the Police at Benque Viejo as part of our joint collaborations.

Belize Tourism Board at FITUR 2020 — in Madrid, Spain
FITUR is the first appointment of the year for the world’s tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Latin America. FITUR offers: a unique forum for promoting brands, presenting new products, learning about the latest trends and filling your agenda with new contacts and opportunities.

Annual Street Art Festival! Feb. 29
Come out and join in on Celebrating 10 years of Belize's most prestigious Creative event— the annual Street Art Festival! February 29th on Albert Street, Downtown, Belize City. A day filled with Art, Live Music, Fashion and a bunch more activities for the entire family. Come out and party with us, as we celebrate Belize's Art Culture and many more!

Channel 7

COMPOL Says Police Will Look At Former Minister Herman Longsworth
The Commissioner of Police says his department will investigate former UDP Area Rep for Albert Herman Longsworth. As we've been reporting, Longsworth has been named in the Auditor General's report for diversion of public funds to the Albert Committee bank account. The auditor found that the Sports Council hired Go Enterprises - a company controlled solely by Longsworth - to do some work at the Marion Jones Stadium. On 27th October, 2015 - a week before the general election, the company received $75,000 in mobilization fees. Longsworth - the report says - diverted $35,000 to the UDP/Albert Committee account and $5,000 into his personal account.

Hon. Saldivar: How Many Degrees Of Separation With Lev Dermen?
Turning now to a current UDP Minister who's in hot water, tonight we'll look more closely at what is known about the relationship between John Saldivar and Lev Dermen. Dermen is the Armenian-American accused of defrauding the US government of half a billion dollars in biofuel tax credits. He is in a jail in Utah waiting trial, while his former associate Jacob Kingston goes to court on Monday. In July of 2019, Kingston entered a plea deal with authorities in the US - and has given evidence against Dermen - and some of that has to do with John Saldivar.

Late Evening Murder In Griga
There has been a murder this evening. It happened a short while ago in Dangriga Town where a man was shot to the head and killed inside his business place on Melinda Road, in Dangriga town.

Cops and Bandits "Kech"� Da Border
At the end of 2019, we told you about a spate of carjackings that had occurred on the Arenal Road. At the time it seemed that cross border bandits were pressing into Belize and taking advantage of border communities. Well, it happened again this morning, but, this time the police were ready, guns blazing. This morning at 9:10am, 60 year old Karl Nelson Bachmann was at his home in Arenal washing dishes when he heard his sheep making noise. As he was about to walk out of his house to make checks, five masked men, two of them with rifles, and two with revolvers, forced him back into his house. They held him at gunpoint and then ransacked his house asking Bachmann where ehe kept his firearm.

A Missing Man, A Burnt Truck, And No Answers
Last night we told you that two men had died under tragic and mysterious circumstances. The cops found their bodies in an abandoned delivery truck on Farm Four Road in San Juan Village - which is just outside Independence. And today after the results of an inconclusive postmortem, the family and employer of that delivery truck driver are desperately trying to locate him. He drove down south unaccompanied and tonight is unaccounted for.

Drug Plane: Is The Stash Gone?
Two days ago, Commissioner Williams said that he suspected the contents of a drug plane found in the the remote reaches of Orange Walk District were still in country. But, almost three days later, the police haven't found anything. And today Williams told us he's not so sure anymore:

Claver Cuts Ties With Evening Extension
20 years of coexistence are on the line as the Management of St. Peter Claver Primary School in Punta Gorda has written to the Claver Adult and Continuing Education management team notifying them a move is necessary. The letter seeks to evict the extension education programme and gives them until June 30, 2020 to find a new home for the students, teachers and programmes. The letter has left the programme's management a bit dumbfounded and they now hope the public can help. Today, via telephone we reached out the Director of the Adult and Continuing Education programme in Punta Gorda. He told us that the letter dated May 20, 2019 has found them trying to dialogue with no solution as yet.:

Pompeo to CARICOM: Pass On Communist Cash
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Jamaica and met with with six selected CARICOM foreign ministers. His basic message: be wary of China and their big money deals. Pompeo met with the Foreign Ministers for Bahamas, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. Pompeo made a sales pitch for the US to remain the ally and partner of first resort for the region.

From Cops to Detectives
30 Police Officers have completed a 3-week Crimes Investigation Branch training course at the police training academy today. The purpose of the course was to make the cops into better detectives, capable of compiling airtight cases that result in convictions. We spoke to COMPOL Williams after the passing out ceremony and he told us that while the department believes that the performance of their investigators has been satisfactory, there is always room for improvement.

Fingerprint Led To Arrest
And enhanced investigative skills may have recently led to an arrest in a city home invasion. 24 year old Demas Zelaya was recently charged for a city home invasion after police found his fingerprints at the scene. Williams said they are confident this can lead to a conviction:

Chester's Obsession: The Murder Count
Keeping it on the police, as we reported earlier, a businessman was killed inside his business place on Melinda Road, Dangriga town about an hour ago.

Top Cop Didn't Hear Luwanna's Lament
And, finally in police news, Last night, you saw grieving mother Luwanna Hines in Punta Gorda railing against police. That's because they shot after her son, before they detained him. For this mother, who lost a son in December, it was too much.

B&B Gift To Liberty Home
Over the years, the Liberty Children's Home has enjoyed the support of several private sector entities and big hearted citizens. The latest to join this list of sharing and caring entities is the Bowen and Bowen Group which has pledged support for 2020 in the form of monthly donations of food items, cleaning and hygiene products and drinking water. LIBERTY provides a safe and nurturing environment for 31 children.

Channel 5

Breaking News: Murder in Dangriga
There is breaking news tonight. News Five has confirmed that a murder occurred a short while ago in Dangriga. We are told that the victim was shot in the head [...]

Former U.D.P. Minister Herman Longsworth Being Criminally Investigated
Former U.D.P. Albert area representative Herman Longsworth is the subject of a criminal investigation.  Longsworth was fired by Prime Minister Dean Barrow after his name surfaced in the Auditor General’s [...]

Pics in Longsworth’s Release Recently Taken
But here is a kick; Longworth’s release was accompanied by a set of photographs showing clean and completed facilities at the Marion Jones Sports Complex. But just before news time, [...]

Sedi Says Longsworth Should Not Have Deposited Money into Private Account
As you heard, the former minister says the establishment of the company, Go Enterprises, was undertaken to facilitate the completion of work at the Marion Jones. Longsworth states that work [...]

Factual Guilt Versus Legal Guilt
As to the firing of Longsworth for the allegations made in the Auditor General Report, the Foreign Minister offered a lawyerly explanation, saying that it is for the court to [...]

Sedi Weighs in on His Scandal-ridden Party
The United Democratic Party, in the final year of its three-term administration, is plagued with scandal after scandal. The most recent involves both leadership candidates and the prime minister has [...]

No Turkey or Nevada Appointment for Lev Dermen Says Sedi
Amid the Lev Dermen/John Saldivar fiasco is a claim that ambassadorship for Turkey was being sought on behalf of Dermen through various U.D.P. ministers.  Those appointments, as stated at his [...]

Criminal Complaint Made Against Ivan Ayuso
Another person named in the Auditor General Report is Ivan Ayuso from the National Sports Council. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says a senior investigator has been assigned to delve [...]

Guatemalan Bandits Exchange Fire with Police in Arenal Village
Turning to other crimes…a shootout between Belizean law enforcement officers and four Guatemalan bandits occurred this morning in the border village of Arenal.  The men targeted a Belizean residence, holding [...]

Charred Remains Unidentified; Cause of Death is Undetermined
Police say they don’t know how two persons were murdered inside a Belize City delivery truck found off the Farm Four Road in San Juan, Stann Creek District. The post-mortem [...]

Where are the Drugs? Police Still Searching
A drug plane landed in an area in Crooked Tree Village, Belize District, earlier in the week. When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, the HS 125 Hawker jet [...]

ComPol Williams: “We Will Never Be Able To Stop It”
Commissioner Williams has given the directive for the illegal airstrip to be destroyed by bombing. He says that all efforts are being made by the department to intercept these drug [...]

Guatemalan President Extends Invitation to Meet PM Barrow
Shortly after he was sworn as president of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei announced his intention to meet with Prime Minister Dean Barrow to forge a more cordial relationship between with the [...]

Sedi Chooses Education in Discussion with Mike Pompeo
U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo met with high level government officials and prime ministers from across the Caribbean earlier this week in Kingston, Jamaica.  Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago [...]

To Pay or Not To Pay – SMART and P.U.C. to Settle Money Matters before C.C.J.
This morning in the Court of Appeal, Speednet Telecommunications Limited, the parent company for SMART, filed a leave to appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice.  The matter is to [...]

Dangriga Businessman Accused of Rape Gets Supreme Court Bail
Dangriga businessman, Wilfred Pascacio, through his attorney, Richard “Dickie” Bradley, today acquired bail from Justice Marilyn Williams in Belize City Supreme Court.   Pascascio, who is the proprietor for an island resort in [...]

Akeem Baptist is Committed to Stand Trial
Magistrate Aretha Ford today committed Akeem Baptist to stand trial in the Supreme Court’s February session.  Baptist is charged with Using Deadly Means of Harm and Wounding upon Amira Fernandez [...]

Police Fire Warning Shots at Suspect
Shots were fired on Thursday morning in Punta Gorda Cell phone footage shows police arresting a man on Far West Street. According to Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, a suspect [...]

Chester on Murder Stats
Police in Dangriga are investigating a fatal shooting that claimed the life of Darrel Bermudez this evening. Bermudez was inside a store on Melinda Road when he was targeted by [...]

30 Police Investigators Successfully Complete Training
Thirty police officers completed basic training in criminal investigation.  The course spanned a period of three weeks during which officers were training on professional and effective investigation in skills, attitude, [...]

MOH’s National Surveillance Team Activated to Monitor Coronavirus Outbreak
There’s a virus linked to respiratory tract infections that has killed several persons and sickened hundreds more. The new strain of the coronavirus was first detected in China. Today, the [...]

International Customs Day is Celebrated in Belize
One of first agencies you meet at the border points is the Customs Department. At the Philip Goldson International Airport, you will see them checking luggage as well as collecting [...]

Tackling Contrabandistas in the North
Hostility while patrolling the borders can result in crossfire between law enforcement officers and contrabandistas in buffer communities along the Belize/Mexico border. The enforcement officers of the Customs and Excise [...]

World Pediatric Project Hosts Plastic Surgery Mission
The World Pediatric Project is hosting its annual plastic surgery mission on Sunday. A team, made up of two surgeons, is arriving  from Richmond, Virginia this weekend and will be [...]

“Send a Message; Stay Drug Free”
A week-long of activities promoting drug awareness at Canaan High School on Coney Drive in Belize City concluded today with a parade through the streets of the city. One hundred [...]

Amandala

John Saldivar on the hot seat!
Since it was revealed that a Cabinet minister in the Dean Barrow-led United Democratic Party government was receiving US $25,000 per month from a U.S. businessman, who has been indicted in the US for fraud, Belizeans have begun to pay attention to the case, which has been going on for more than a year in the state of Utah. Today, court documents surfaced on social media, which indicate the existence of text messages between Minister of National Security John Saldivar and one of the convicted men, which are part of new evidence that the prosecution intends to present when the trial resumes on Monday, January 27.

Herman Longsworth terminated
Herman Longsworth, the former Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, has become the first person to face disciplinary action from Prime Minister Dean Barrow for financial impropriety contained in the Auditor General Report on the National Sports Council. Longsworth was terminated from his job as Belize Consul General to New York. Longworth’s termination was announced today in a press release from the Belize Press Office.

Unbelievable corruption at Julian Cho Technical High School
Julian Cho Technical High School (JCTHS), located on the San Antonio Road in the Toledo District, had its finances and budget allocation for capital projects audited by Auditor General Dorothy Bradley and her staff, and the resulting audit report, which covered the period April 2014 to September 2016, documented a lengthy catalogue of financial misdeeds that were in violation of the 2005 Finance and Audit Reform Act and the government’s Financial Orders.

2 charred bodies found in burnt truck at Farm 4
The charred remains of two persons were found this morning in an area behind Farm 4 in San Juan, in a burnt truck. The two persons were burnt beyond recognition. During the weekly police press brief held at the Raccoon Street Police Station, Senior Superintendent Hilberto Romero said that at about 6:30 this morning, they were called to the area, where they found a delivery truck that was completely destroyed by fire. Romero said the truck was still smoldering when the officers arrived, and the two charred corpses were found in the front of the truck.

Mother fined $2,500 for wounding son’s teacher
Valine Rose Martinez, 27, the mother of a 9-year-old boy, pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding when she appeared today before Magistrate Khadeem Palmer. She was fined $2,500 and given until August 30 to pay. If she defaults on payment she will serve eight months in prison. The charge arose from an incident that occurred on January 21 at Salvation Army Primary School, located on Orange Street. Brittney Thompson, a teacher at the school, reported to the police that while she was in the office of the principal, she was attacked by Martinez, who punched her in the mouth.

Search for missing American tourist suspended
After 5 days of intense searches at sea, Coast Guard efforts to find missing American tourist Alison MacKenzie, 43, of Arizona, have been suspended as of this morning. MacKenzie, who went with 15 other tourists on a Raggamuffin catamaran tour from Caye Caulker to Rendezvous Caye, Belize District, which should have been a two-night, 3-day tour from Friday, January 17, to Sunday, January 19, disappeared from the small island sometime during Friday night.

Spurned lover, charged with murder, pleads guilty to manslaughter
Noewellyn Williams, 46, a construction worker of Sandhill who was charged with the murder of his ex-common-law wife, Roxanne Pop, 33, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter when he appeared today before Justice Colin Williams. His sentence was deferred until February 6 in order for the court to hear pleas for mitigation and to get an impact assessment report from the family of the victim.

Police seek Shane Bennett for allegedly shooting Anthony Parks
Shane Bennett, 38, a laborer of Independence, is on the run from Independence law enforcement, who are seeking him in connection with the shooting of his former friend, Anthony Parks, 37, that occurred at about 6:45 this morning at Parks’ house in Independence. Police said that Parks was in his house when someone came up and called his name, and when he opened the door to see who was calling him, he saw his friend, who then shot him multiple times.

Elden Flowers, 22, gets second murder charge in 2 years
A charge of attempted murder against Elden Flowers, 22, was upgraded to murder today because the victim, Richard O’Neal, has died. Flowers was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson. He was further remanded until March 31. On November 27, 2019, O’Neal, who resided on Ordonez Street in Belize City, was kidnapped and was taken to an area on the Burrell Boom/Hattieville Road. He was then shot and dumped on the roadside and left for dead.

Fisheries finds 400 pounds of illegal Nassau Groupers
Approximately 400 lbs of the out-of-season Nassau Grouper was found locked away in a container in two ice boxes in a yard in Dangriga. The Fisheries Department said that the closed season for Nassau Groupers commences on December 1 and ends on March 31. The Groupers caught within this period are out-of-season catch, which is illegal. Police and enforcement officers from the Fisheries Department said that they were conducting patrols in Dangriga to enforce the Grouper closed season, when they made the find at about 2:30 yesterday afternoon.

Editorial: Our democracy could become less stable after February 9
On February 9, 2020, the United Democratic Party (UDP) will hold a convention at the high-priced Belize City Center to fill a number of executive posts, the most important of which is for leader of the party. The post for leader of the UDP has to be filled because the party’s present leader, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, the Prime Minister of Belize, is nearing the end of his third term as prime minister, and the Constitution does not allow for an individual to serve four terms as leader of the country. The life of a Belize government is not fixed; a government can call for a general election at any time within five years after it takes office. Within three months of the dissolution of the National Assembly, the general election has to be called, and the life of a government can only be extended if Belize is engaged in a war.

“Now is not the time to ignore us,” BNTU tells MOE
Once again there is contention brewing between the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the Ministry of Education. BNTU president Senator Elena Smith shed further light on the matter this week, reiterating the teachers’ concerns regarding the recent changes in teaching policies governing the teachers’ vacation periods, contract periods, and other benefits. Since the union got wind of these proposed changes earlier this month, teachers were encouraged to wear their green T-shirts every Friday since the re-opening of primary schools after the Christmas holiday.

4th liquidator appointed by Central Bank for the defunct Choice Bank Limited
Many of the customers who had deposited money in Choice Bank Limited, an offshore bank that went belly-up when its license was revoked by the Central Bank of Belize in 2017, have still not been able to settle their accounts with the Central Bank of Belize-appointed liquidators. Last July, the Central Bank appointed its third liquidator for Choice Bank in the person of Kareem Michael, a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, whom the bank had extolled as having the necessary skills to bring the liquidation process to a close.

Jareth Herrera’s family wants her to return home
The family of 16-year-old Jareth Herrera says that the last time they saw her was at 7:00 on Friday morning when she left her home in the Marcus Canul Area of Orange Walk Town, to go to school. She was last seen wearing long blue jeans pants and a blue blouse, and she was carrying a black school bag. Her family said that they were told that she did not arrive at school, and they became worried when she did not come home that day, or in the night.

Drug plane lands; cargo disappears; police play catch-up
A suspected drug plane, a Hawker jet-HS 125, flew over Mexico, and unable to land there, landed in Belize yesterday morning. Villagers in the northern area of the Belize District heard the plane circling, until it eventually made a safe landing. It was discovered on a stretch of road in the northern area of the Belize District. After the plane landed near Lemonal Village and traffickers were able to discharge its cargo, police arrived on the scene to find the empty jet that flew in from Venezuela.

Belize will be guided by international alerts on coronavirus
A statement that was posted on a Facebook page of the Office of the Director of Health Services addresses concerns about the newly-discovered coronavirus by stating, “The Ministry of Health is aware and is monitoring the international alerts in relation to a new strain of coronavirus that has been linked to severe cases of respiratory tract infections.” The office of the Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, stated on the Facebook page that the coronavirus has now spread to at least 3 countries and is being transmitted through human-to-human contact.

From The Publisher
I have two younger brothers who dabbled in professional fishing back there in the 1970s, and perhaps even in the 1980s, but there was relatively little tourism in Belize back then, and the demand for fish and other marine products was not as overwhelming as it is today. We brothers came from sea people on both sides of our family, and even yours truly used to think I was a passable fisherman back there in my teenaged years in the 1960s, but after checking out the professionals of these days, such as the fishermen from Sarteneja, for sure I know I could not have competed with them.

Corozal F.A. Opening Season Week 15 final report
We start off this week’s football report by giving thanks to the Almighty Father for His continued blessing and guidance throughout the past fifteen weeks of our tournament. Secondly, thanks to Amandala for allowing us the space in their sports section to keep you all well informed about our tournament. Thanks to all the fans and clubs owners; it is because of you all that we managed to deliver a successful tournament. It was very pleasing to see the big smiles in each and every player, from the U-10 to First Division; that smile gave us the reassurance of a job well done.

C-Ray D. Banner Thursday Race
This morning, the C-Ray D. Banner Thursday Race started as usual in front of Data Pro on the Boom Hattieville Road, headed towards the roundabout in Hattieville, and returned, for a total of 23.8 miles. This morning, the race averaged 25.4 mph and was completed in a time of 55 minutes 36 seconds. Darien Anderson of Team Smart picked up the first station prize at the Hattieville Prison, and Jafari Castro of Clear the Land Cycling Team picked up the second on the return at Fresh Pond Village.

Murder in Dangriga
A murder occurred a short while ago in Dangriga. The victim was shot inside a store located on the Melinda Road.

John Saldivar and his relationship with Dean Barrow
I got the opportunity to be a card-carrying member of the United Democratic Party in 1998, after their massive defeat by the People’s United Party in a landslide victory that saw only three UDP ministers hanging on to their constituency. Those were: Dean Barrow of the Queen’s Square Division, who took over leadership from Manuel Esquivel; Michael Finnegan for the Mesopotamia area, and Erwin Contreras of Cayo West. I was courted to join the party, as they were in shambles after the voters turned against them because of massive corruption amongst the ministers. Manuel Esquivel, who I believe was our best Prime Minister yet, because of his sound approach to economic policies, sadly did not know how to keep control over his Cabinet.

Economic reality in today’s Belize
Recently I have been writing articles in Belize’s leading newspaper – Amandala, in which I have been trying to educate Belizeans that the reason why first the United States of America, and later Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and today’s China, have been able to supply a high standard of living for their citizens was because every one of them followed a version of capitalism that was known during the nineteen century as the American School/System of Political Economy. In Belize we known it as George Price’s Mixed Economy.

Reform: more Belizean, less foreign
The three greatest political geniuses of my time are George Price, Dean Barrow and Net Vasquez. I believe that through the vast spaces of historical time there have been truly great men who expressed their true excellence by stepping aside to let history continue on its course without their active input, because they dreaded the Mephistophelian experience of losing their souls.

Work on our walkway started, and stopped
You see all those infomercials running on road safety, and then you drive through the village where I live, Camalote, and you wonder if you just entered a different country, a country different from the one where you saw all the road safety infomercials on television. How do you spend millions and millions of dollars on a highway and forget to include a pathway on the side of that highway so that children going to and from school, and pedestrians, don’t have to share space with motor vehicles?

Jerome whispers in Jewel’s ear!
Most mornings while we bathed in the sea the fellows were out fishing, appearing after we came out of the water and were on our way to prepare breakfast. That morning I had noticed that both Nigel and Jerome had taken quick, questioning glances at the bathing suits Alida and Jewel were wearing. Lloyd and Victor had made appreciative comments about them to the girls, but had not dwelt on the subject. We had rinsed off with rain water and afterwards covered our suits with blouses and pedal pushers, or shorts in Alida’s case, before going to work getting breakfast.

Sailing Association responds to article by Roberto Pott
Reference news article authored by Roberto Pott, entitled, “Roberto Pott raises alarm that Belize Sailing Association is taking on water,” dated Saturday, January 18th, 2020 attached for ease. We would be grateful if you would allow us the opportunity to right some of the inaccuracies therein. The Belize Sailing Association (BzSA) is a voluntary organization doing its best to promote youth sailing in our country with limited resources. The article presents a bleak picture of our association, and gives no merit to those that volunteer and give their time freely.

The devil in me
Dear Editor, The Devil loves no man or woman. He doesn’t want you as his servant. He doesn’t want you as a soldier of his army or a guard at the gates of his palace. He does not respect your intellect or appreciate your creativity. He doesn’t care about the riches that you have acquired. And he doesn’t want to hear your singing or music or poetry, because those are gifts God poured into you. All the Devil wants is to destroy you.

Antigua’s Agriculture Minister fired over bad decisions and toxic relationships
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has kicked Agriculture Minister Dean Jonas from his Cabinet but has given him a chance to return in six months, once he can make some changes, including improving the “toxic” relationships he has had with staff and farmers. Browne, who said he had been impressing on Jonas the need to do better since about mid-2019, wrote a letter to the embattled minister yesterday, informing him that his termination would take effect that same day.

LOVE FM

Turneffe Atoll Trust raises concerns
The Turneffe Atoll Trust has been given authority over seventeen thousand acres of national land at the Turneffe despite being a reserve. The matter has created a stir among environmentalists, stakeholders, and the opposition, PUP. According to Opposition Leader, John Briceno, this move was made with the knowledge and approval of multiple government ministers.

Whats your thought?
It has been thirteen days since we broke the Lev Dermen scandal in Belize. Since then we have heard the comments by the Prime Minister Dean Barrow as well as other Ministers under his administration and those in opposition. Today our news team took to the streets of Belize City to find out what those in the public arena are thinking about the case and the possible involvement of Minister John Saldivar.

Police undergo training
Several members of the Belize Police Department concluded a training today in Belmopan, Cayo District. The training focused on investigations and was aimed at building the capacity of those in the Criminal Investigative Branch, as explained in the following report from our Cayo Correspondent, Fem Cruz.

Alliance of Ministers and Leaders reject Equal opportunity Bill
The feedback and input on the Equal Opportunities Bill has been overwhelming. Some are in favor and some are in opposition and neither will back down.

Another delay in PetroCaribe Case
The Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin has delayed his judgment on the PetroCaribe case between People’s United Party leader, John Briceno and Prime Minister, Dean Barrow. The case has to do with the government’s use of 1.3 Billion Dollars of Petrocaribe monies for what the PUP feels there was inadequate accountability to Parliament.

No need to panic over coronavirus
Belize’s health officials have activated their national surveillance team after keeping a close eye on the Coronavirus. The virus originates from Wuhan, China and has infected over 500 people and killed 17 in China.

Corozal Graffiti Festival 2020
Graffiti artists in Belize will be showcasing their talents using various forms of paint, brushes, artistic tools and colors at this year’s Corozal Graffiti Festival 2020. For those who might not know Chactemal, it was a Maya region that encompassed southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, and Corozal. According to Debra Wilkes, Coordinator of the Corozal House of Culture, the artist will be honoring our ancestors with their art pieces and will encourage cultural exchange within the participating artists.

Non-fatal RTA in the south
There was a road traffic incident last night in southern Belize. Stann Creek Correspondent, Harry Arzu reports.

Akeem Baptist back in court
24-year-old Akeem Baptist was in court today for the preliminary inquiry stage of his trial. Baptist is facing charges of use of deadly means of harm after he allegedly brought harm to his estranged common-law-wife. Baptist was initially charged with aggravated assault with a knife; that charge was later upgraded, and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison.

Jasmine Alert signs MOU with Police Department
The Jasmine Alert was founded in 2012 after 13-year-old Jasmine Lowe was abducted in the Cayo District. Lowe’s body was eventually found in a pasture in Cristo Rey. The alert, which mimics the Amber Alert in the US, serves to help children like Jasmine, who are missing and in imminent danger.

Old man charged for sexually assaulting a child
57-year-old Balthazar Vasquez will also be standing trial at the Supreme Court in April after his preliminary inquiry ended in paper committal earlier today. Vasquez is being charged with sexual assault of a child under...

Melendez charged for attempted murder
34-year-old David Melendez is having his day in court, eight years after being charged with two counts of attempted murder. Melendez’ case is before Justice Colin Williams and is being represented by Attorney Leeroy Banner. ...

PUP leader lobbies for campaign funding
One of the highlights of last week’s conference hosted by the Prime Minister was the fact that receiving campaign funding for politicians or political parties is not illegal in Belize. It is an eye-opening statement...

Youth Ambassadors to travel to the US
Back in September, 11 youth ambassadors travelled to the US for a program that would allow them to be immersed in different cultures. This month, another set of 9 high school students and one mentor...

Saint Vincent Pallotti Day 2020
Pallotine sisters in Toledo are celebrating Saint Vincent Pallotti Day. Correspondent Paul Mahung told us more.

Youth Ambassadors to travel to the US
Back in September, 11 youth ambassadors travelled to the US for a program that would allow them to be immersed in different cultures. This month, another set of 9 high school students and one mentor will be travelling to Florida for the program.

Saint Vincent Pallotti Day 2020
Pallotine sisters in Toledo are celebrating Saint Vincent Pallotti Day. Correspondent Paul Mahung told us more.

Breaking Belize News

Third shooting incident tonight leaves one injured in old capital
A third shooting incident has been reported tonight, this time on South Creek in the […]

Second murder reported tonight – Man shot and killed in Belize City
Reports to BBN are that a man was shot and killed a short time ago […]

Guatemalan bandits shot by Belizean authorities; police recover stolen vehicle and items
Quick response by Belizean authorities today led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle and […]

US confirms second case of deadly coronavirus; monitors other potential cases
The United States today confirmed the second case of the rapidly spreading and deadly coronavirus. […]

Murder reported in Dangriga
Reports from Dangriga indicate that a murder happened a few moments ago. One person was […]

Turneffe Land Trust to protect Turneffe Atoll
Turneffe Atoll Trust, a registered NGO in Belize, today announced the establishment of the Turneffe […]

Prison trustee to serve 30 months after convicted of attempted sex assault on female employee
Already serving eleven years for burglary, 32-year-old David Rosalez, a prisoner with status as trustee […]

Court hands down fines and compensation for fatal road accident
David Zetina, 59, a specialist with the Social Security Board, must pay a total of […]

Jasmine Alert signs MOU with Police
This week the Belize Police Department and the Jasmine Alert Program signed a Memorandum of […]

Wilfred Elrington: After U.S. rejected Dermen; Saldivar inquired further
In an interview with Belizean media, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred Elrington says that National […]

Coronavirus spreads to eight countries; may be linked to Wuhan bat soup
The deadly new virus that originated in Wuhan, China is believed to have stemmed from […]

Man remanded for allegedly stealing from estranged wife
Hollis Williams, 37, a construction worker of the San Mateo area, San Pedro Town, was […]

Noewellyn Williams takes plea in death of ex-partner who he couldn’t let go
When she refused to resume their relationship last August, 46-year-old Noewellyn Williams of Sandhill, Belize […]

Colin Francis receives disclosure in attempted murder case
Twenty-eight-year-old Colin Francis is a step closer to facing trial for attempting to kill senior […]

Department of the Environment drops case against Primrose Gabourel but not her son
The Department of the Environment (DOE) has been before the court since last August, charging […]

Ministry of Health activates national surveillance team to monitor new strain of coronavirus
The Ministry of Health informed today that it is aware of a new strain of […]

Police find charred human remains in burnt truck
Earlier today we reported that two bodies were found burnt inside a vehicle, however, in […]

“Prime Minister needs to fire John Saldivar,” says Briceno
As more evidence of Belizean involvement comes out in the international fraud case of Lev […]

John Saldivar on surfaced documents: “Nothing has changed”
Minister of National Security and aspiring UDP leadership candidate, John Saldivar, issued a statement today […]

Blogs

Guidebook: Fifty Big Experiences on Ambergris Caye, Belize
If you’ve ever searched online for what it’s like to live or visit San Pedro in Ambergris Caye, it’s very likely you’ve come across San Pedro Scoop. The blog is part travel guide, part daily journal of Rebecca Coutant, an expat from New York that moved to Belize about 12 years ago. For her latest project, Rebecca has written the travel guidebook: Fifty Big Experiences on Ambergris Caye, Belize. As it says on the title, the guidebook is about what she considers some of the best experiences to have when vacationing in Ambergris Caye. Today, I’ll be asking her a few questions to get to know her better and unpack some of what’s in her guidebook.

Reel fun fishing in Belize…so many ways!
Fishing is so popular that it has gone from beyond a means of getting food to a form of entertainment and for us in the tourism industry, a way of life. What can you expect when fishing in Belize? Here are some of the many ways you can enjoy this top activity while visiting our country. Arguably the most popular form of fishing in Belize, reef fishing is fun and relaxing. A day out on a boat over the calm waters inside the Barrier Reef, Reef Fishing is best done with a beer in hand. Snappers and Jacks are a common catch and best of all, whatever you catch makes for a delicious meal later that day.

But the Weather Forecast Says???
Of course, it is only natural to be checking Belize weather before your trip. I sometimes get emails from people commenting on feeling like they are going to be slammed with rain on vacation because of what their weather app shows. Often our fast heavy rain can come more so at night or earlier in the morning although sometimes they hit in the afternoon. Being able to waterproof your electronics and wallet is something you will be glad you did just in case. A friend recently got both his money and phone soaked on a boat ride and learned the hard way. Even a ziplock bag can save you during a sudden downpour or in my friends’ case high winds and choppy waters.

International Sources

Best Travel Hot Spots For An Adventure Seeker In Belize
Are you an adventure seeker? If adrenaline is your thing, Belize is the spot for you. Check out our recommendations for things to do in Belize as an Adventure Seeker! Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, Waterfall rappelling at Bocawina National Park, The Belize Barrier Reef, Hike Victoria Peak.

Easter in Belize
On Good Friday, Boil Up is a must to eat, especially if you’re in the south. This dish is a combination of healthy and non-healthy starches. Every item is boiled from ground foods (yam, cassava, sweet potatoes, plantain), to the meats (fish and pigtails) to the cake dough and eggs. This meal is topped with tomato sauce, coconut oil, and sautéed onions. Boil up can be bought at local restaurants for $10-15 Belizean dollars. Legend has it that you shouldn’t swim until after 5 pm on Good Friday or else you would turn into a mermaid.

Caribbean bristles over US drive to oust Maduro
Caribbean countries are bristling over a US campaign to marshal support for regime change in Venezuela following a visit to the region by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo this week. Pompeo's 22 January meeting with a few Caribbean foreign ministers in Kingston shed light on a rift among small nations that once benefited from Venezuela's subsidized oil supply program known as PetroCaribe. The program has mostly dried up because of Venezuela's eroded domestic production and refining, but political and commercial ties in some prominent cases have endured. "PetroCaribe is fading into the sunset as the Maduro regime will do," Pompeo said after the meeting.

Videos

January 24, 2020

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

Boca del Rio Beach rehabilitation project soon to start
The beach strip along the Boca del Rio Area is about to undergo a thorough restoration, restricting vehicular traffic and making the sandy stretch more family friendly and attractive to locals and visitors. The restoration project is spearheaded by The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) to address the congestion of traffic in the area and reclaim the beach that is slowly eroding. Businesses in the area welcome the initiative, but some are concerned about adequate parking for their customers, as the beach project will prohibit parking once it is complete.

Taiwan Scholarship Program 2020
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Taiwan Scholarship Program 2020. This scholarship will allow Belizeans to attend undergraduate or graduate program of their choice at universities in Taiwan, starting from academic year 2020 (commencing in September 2020). A Mandarin Language Enrichment Program (LEP), if necessary, may be included to improve the recipients’ language abilities.

Team Arsenal captures top prize at first-ever 303 Wahoo Challenge
The Dive Bar north of San Pedro Town held its first fishing tournament, dubbed ‘303 Wahoo Challenge 2020’ from Friday the 17th to the 19th of January. The fishing tournament saw 17 teams set out to sea in hopes of landing the winning fish and capture the top prize. From as early as 6AM, teams headed out, set about fishing, hoping to catch the most Wahoo. At the end of the competition, it would be Team Arsenal, captained by Jody Leslie, who walked away with the ultimate prize. The event was also serenaded with a music festival that included live local and international performances throughout the weekend.

Illegal Harvesting of Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
A joint operation between the Belize Fisheries Department and Dangriga Police on January 20th, 2020 in the Dangriga area resulted in the confiscation over 400 pounds of Nassau Grouper, including fillet and whole fish.

Ambergris Today

Ambergris Caye Masonic Lodge Donates Soccer Shoes To Hope Haven
On Wednesday, January 22, 2019, Ambergris Caye Masonic Lodge donated 27 pairs of soccer shoes to the children of Hope Haven in San Pedro. The donation was made possible by Mr. Nick Parker of Sequoia FC located in the US and accepted by Ms. Kristina Romero who encourages residents to volunteer in any way possible. It takes gestures of goodwill to brighten the path...We are glad to help shine the way!

The Belize Travelcast -The First Destination-Focused Podcast In Belize Launched
Belize Digital Media, a division of Lets Go Belizing LTD (Belizing.com) is proud to announce the successful launch of The Belize Travelcast, a first of its kind podcast series that provides authentic and relevant Belize travel stories and advice to a worldwide audience. The Belize Travelcast is the first of its kind destination-focused podcast for the Belize travel market, which sees over 450,000 overnight visitors and over 1 million cruise visitors each year.

Various Belizean Sources

Rrescued fishermen from Xcalak
Here are the rescued fishermen from our neighboring Mexican community of Xcalak. I saw the tears of the desperate family yesterday as I did the interview. That turned into smile just after midday today when one of the fishermen sent a text in spanish that said “mi Amor, estamos vivo y vamos a casa. Fuemos recatados!” God is good!

BTIA Destination Belize Presentation and Mixer
Join us next week Tuesday, January 28th at 6pm at the SunBreeze Hotel as we bring to you updates on our plans for 2020 and share details on our upcoming 21st edition of Destination Belize.

Corozal Football Association (CFA) Under 20 Female Elite Selection
The Corozal Football Association (CFA) presents its Under 20 Female Elite Selection. All the best of luck.

BTB Supporting the Sea to Shore Alliance
In keeping with our environmental mandate, the BTB is once again proud to be adopting a manatee from the Sea to Shore Alliance. Earlier this week the BTB handed over a sponsorship cheque to the Program Coordinator for the Belize Manatee Conservation Project.

Ministry of Health Belize Activates National Surveillance Team to Monitor New Strain of Coronavirus
The Ministry of Health is aware of a new strain of Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that has been linked to cases of respiratory tract infections originating in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China - some of these cases have evolved to more severe cases. Today, the National Surveillance Team, headed by the Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero, participated in a virtual meeting hosted by the Caribbean Public Health Authority (CARPHA) to discuss the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak. Twenty other Caribbean member states also participated in the meeting. Dr. Joy St. John, CARPHA Director, provided opening remarks to all participating countries, expressing that at this time the risk of transmission to the Caribbean is low based on what is presently known.

Statement from the Office of the Prime Minister
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has been made aware of a new item publicly extracted in Belize from the Lev Dermen trial documents in the U.S. Various media houses have asked the Prime Minister whether the new extract, which alleges the existence of text messages between Minister John Saldivar and Lev Dermen’s convicted co-conspirator Jacob Kingston, provides a sufficient basis for the Prime Minister to act now. The short answer is that it does not.

CFA Closing Season Youth Tournament
Deadline for registration for the upcoming CFA Closing Season Youth Tournament for 1. U10M, year 2010 2. U15 M/F, year 2005 3. U17 M/F, year 2003 Has been extended to January 30, 2020. Contact us to confirm participation and remember all registration will done via FIFA Connect platform.

Corozal Community Art Workshop
Here os a drum roll for our Corozal Artists - Corozal House of Culture - "We are inviting community members to participate in an art workshop by Cuban graphic artist Falco. Mr. Falco will be participating at Corozal Graffiti Festival 2020 and will be spending time in our community creating a mural and conducting workshops with high school and primary school students. Interested persons are welcome to register for this free workshop".

MeXICAN FISHERMEN FOUND AND DOING WELL
A trio of Mexican fishermen who went missing for days off the coast of Xcalak, #Mexico have been found and are doing well. The trio got lost, due to an approaching cold front, while heading to the Chinchorro Atoll in Xcalak, Mexico. Family members and Mexican authorities felt they drifted to Belizean waters, so friends, local fishermen and our Belizean authorities were alerted. Yesterday, a Belizean and some of the missing persons' family members flew in a small commuter plane to search by air and after their second air rescue attempt, one of the fishermen was able to call and get through a family member to advise her that they had been found.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
Togo, Doctor Sleep, Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Playing with Fire. We're Playing the Superbowl ON THE BIG SCREEN Feb. 2nd. Free Entry. See you there.

OCEANA Employment Opportunities
Exciting new employment opportunities now available here at Oceana. You or someone you know could be the newest member of our team!

Channel 7

John Saldivar's Name Appears In Utah Court Document
Tonight, the man who would lead the UDP, Security Minister John Saldivar is under intense scrutiny after the emergence of an extract from a court document in Utah.   The single entry in a much larger document names John Saldivar and points to string of text messages which will be produced as evidence in the trial of Jacob Kingston - an associate of the now infamous Lev Dermen. Jules Vasquez looked at  the significance of having Saldivar's name officially appear in this court document in Utah, and what it could mean for Saldivar and the UDP.  He starts with context on who Jacob Kingston is and his connection to Dermen and Saldivar.   This is Jacob Kingston, the Washakie Renewable Energy CEO who has pleaded guilty to 41 counts of fraud, money laundering and obstruction in the US.

PM Says Reference To Text Message is Absence of Evidence
Today, via text message we asked Prime Minister Dean Barrow if the appearance of this document changes anything in his threshold for firing any Cabinet minister who was on the take from Dermen.   Here's the Whatsapp exchange: Does the naming of John Saldivar as an evidence-worthy associate give you pause to reconsider (the threshold for firing a member of your cabinet)?

Saldivar Says Despite Court Document, Status Quo Remains
But, first to the statement of the man in the eye of the storm. John Saldivar issued a very terse press release this evening.  It says, simply, quote, "Nothing has changed from the position outlined in my statement of January 15, 2020. The information being circulated regarding expected testimony in US proceedings contains no allegation against me of any wrongdoing." End quote.

Saldivar Pushed For Dermen's Appointed
But, tonight, there is new insight into Saldivar's relationship with Lev Dermen - and it comes from one of his Cabinet colleagues.  Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington says that after Dermen's application to be an honorary consul was denied by the US, John Saldivar came to him directly in an attempt to appeal the decision on Dermen's behalf.
Now, this is a major revelation, because last week the Prime Minister only named Michael Finnegan as the sole minister who referred Dermen to the Foreign Ministry when he came asking about being Honorary Consul.  Here's how the PM put it last week:

PUP Tells The PM, Game Over
So, from that we learn that even after Dermen's name was rejected by the US, based on Saldivar's prodding, the request went back to the protocol section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is new insight into Saldivar's involvement with Dermen - but leader of the opposition John Briceno will not be fazed.  He's already formed his conclusion on this - and at an impromptu press conference today said the Prime Minister should stop avoiding what Briceno believes is an inevitable conclusion:

Sedi Says Saldivar Innocent
And, as we already told you, at the top of that statement from the PM - he stressed that the extract form the trial documents, quote, "absolutely does not constitute so much as an allegation - much less provable material - that Minister John Saldivar received money from Kingston or Dermen." End quote. And, today, Elrington stressed that Saldivar still has not been found responsible for any wrongdoing: Hon.Wilfred Elrington - Minister Of Foreign Affairs: "Actually what we're having at this stage are allegations and because we have such a good system, democratic system where you have what is called due process of law..."

Hon. Elrington Says Longsworth First Consul General To Get Booted
As we told you last night, the Prime Minister has fired former UDP Area Representative and Minister of State Herman Longsworth as Consul General to New York.  This is after he was named in an audit report of the Sports Council for diversion of public funds for works on the Marion Jones Stadium.   
The report found that he was the moving hand behind a shell company called Go Enterprises.  In mid 2015 the sports council retained Go Enterprises to do some work at the Marion Jones Stadium.  On 27th October - a week before the general election, the company received $75,000 in mobilization fees.  Longsworth - who held no office at the time since parliament had been dissolved and he wasn't running again - diverted $35,000 to the UDP/Albert Committee account and $5,000 into his personal account. 

No Confirmed Coronavirus Case in Caribbean or Central America
Belize remains in active monitoring following international health news about the new strain of coronavirus.  At this time the risk of transmission to the Caribbean is low based on what is presently known said Dr. Joy St. John, the director of the Caribbean Public Health Authority, as he provided opening remarks to countries participating in a virtual meeting to discuss the international outbreak.  Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero attended for Belize's National Surveillance Team.

Delivery Truck Found With Burnt Bodies
Two men are dead under tragic and mysterious circumstances. The cops found their bodies this morning in an abandoned delivery truck on Farm Four Road in San Juan Village - which is just outside Indpendence.  The truck is the property of a Belize City business owner. It left the City on Monday morning to do deliveries in Belmopan and San Juan Village but had yet to return.   Police were still on the scene this morning but Sr. Superintendent Hilberto Romero told us that they are following several leads:

PG Mother of Slain Son Says Police Keep Harassing Her Kids
And, keeping it in the south, shots rang out in Punta Gorda this morning - but it was allegedly the police firing at a young suspect.  He is the brother of Glenford Hines who was murdered in December.

Killed His Wife, Pleads Down to Murder
From a charge of murder to manslaughter 46 year old Noewellyn Williams took a guilty plea for the lesser charge when he appeared in Court today to answer to the killing his wife in the street.     You may recall the incident which occurred on August 9, 2019 at 88 Boulevard Plaza, located on Central American Boulevard.

BNTU Says Teachers Are Threatened With Violence
Yesterday, we brought you the story of the mother arrested, charged and fined for slapping a teacher at Salvation Army Primary School in Belize City.  The mom expressed that she knew she had taken the wrong action despite her efforts to get redress for what she claimed was the abuse of her child at the hands of the teacher.   Today, the BNTU is coming to the defense of the teacher and raising the concern once again for the safety and security of teachers in schools.

Water Search For Missing Tourist Called Off
The Belize Coast Guard has called off the search for American tourist Alison MacKenzie. Efforts to locate the 48-year-old who disappeared from Rendezvous Caye ended on Tuesday evening after a widening of the search area. According to Lieutenant Roque Canul, that's because Coast Guard policy dictates that after 72 hours, the chance of finding Mackenzie alive is nil.

PUP Anxiously Await Judgement
In November, we told you about the lawsuit that the opposition took out against the government of Belize for unlawful spending. The PUP alleged that Prime Minister Barrow, as the Minister of Finance, has engaged in the unlawful spending of 1.3 billion dollars in public funds. As we told you, they claim he failed to get prior parliamentary approval for the spending of all that money.  The case was argued in December and judgment was due this week. But, twice, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin has had to postpone it due to illness.

New Guat President Warms Up to Belize Quickly
Alejandro Giammattei, the new Guatemalan president, was sworn in last Tuesday - and there are some encouraging signs coming out of Guatemala City.   Giammattei has indicated that he wants to restore the bilateral relationship between the neighboring countries, mainly in commerce and tourism.  And he says, he wants to meet with Prime Minister, Dean Barrow.  The Prensa Libre quotes him as saying, "We are very interested in getting along with everyone, they are neighbors,".

Will Maheia Supports Turneffe Atoll Trust
Yesterday, we reported on the new agreement the Government of Belize signed via the two Ministries of Natural Resources and that of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Environment and Sustainable Development with Turneffe Atoll Trust.  The Trust will now manage the remaining 17,000 acres of land on that Atoll, majority mangrove and wetlands.  Some concerns were raised yesterday as to how the agreement came about, and the surprise of key stakeholders who reported not having knowledge of its genesis or process. Concerns were also raised as to the identity of the Trust and its principals.  Critics says that because of Cahirman Craig Hayes, it's basically a foreign trust.  

Can The Gang Dynamic Change in Belize?
On Monday, Police arrested Franklin Manfredo Mendoza, a man wanted in his native Salvador as an "organized terrorist". Mendoza wasted no time after arriving in Bella Vista, a village in the Toledo district, before attempting to recruit gang members.  Mendoza fled Salvador in the wake of a reported reduction in homicides that analyst Roberto Valencia, in an op-ed for the Washington Post, called an attempt by gangs to "calm territories and not invite further retaliation by the state. It's a regional example that Belize could be seeking to emulate and yesterday Jules Vasquez asked the COMPOL about a possible shift in Belize's gang dynamic.

Channel 5

An Official Exhibit List in the Case of Lev Dermen; John Saldivar is Named
There is new information tonight in the case of Lev Dermen, an Armenian national with U.S. and Belize citizenship that is causing tremors inside the U.D.P. as it heads to [...]

Prime Minister Barrow: Still No Evidence of Wrongdoing
The allegation of text messages between Jacob Kingston and John Saldivar as court exhibits prompted reaction from Belmopan. The PM did not give interview, but instead issued a four-paragraph statement [...]

John Saldivar’s Statement on Evidence List
A statement from John Saldivar was short and curt.  It states that nothing has changed from his position outlined in a statement on January fifteenth, 2019. Saldivar also echoes what [...]

Opposition Leader Calls on John Saldivar to Resign
The text message referencing Minister Saldivar was also the focus of a statement by Opposition Leader John Briceño.  He is calling on the Prime Minister to fire Saldivar from his [...]

Briceño Gives Barrow Advice in Figuring Out which Minister Took $25K
According to Briceño, if the Prime Minister wanted to act, he could have already done so.  Today, Briceño advised the PM to check with the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to obtain [...]

Revisiting PM Barrow’s Threat of Termination
As we said, the Lev Dermen scandal has been unraveling for days. Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Dean Barrow called a press conference on the recent allegations. At the time he [...]

Does the Status Quo Remain Ahead of Leadership Convention?
As the scandal rocks the U.D.P., the likelihood of the upcoming U.D.P. convention being affected by the pending trial in Utah was a question that was placed squarely to the [...]

No Request for Ministers’ Names from U.S. Embassy
The Lev Dermen saga has been coming up in many ways. At the sitting of the House of Representatives on January seventeenth, Caribbean Shores Area Representative Kareem Musa suggested that [...]

Charred Remains are Discovered in a Burnt Flatbed Truck in the South
Charred remains were found this morning inside a delivery truck belonging to the Salvador W. Habet hardware store. The vehicle was set on fire in a remote area in the [...]

Luis Marin is Wanted by Police
Police are looking for the suspect in a string of robberies in the south. He is Luis Marin, who is being linked to robberies on the Coastal Road. Marin is [...]

Shots Fired in PG; Wanted Man Detained
Around eleven o’clock this morning, a shooting occurred in Punta Gorda Town. Information to News Five is that police fired shots as they pursued a man wanted for questioning into [...]

Another Delayed Judgment; P.U.P. Extremely Frustrated
The People’s United Party’s case against the Government of Belize regarding the spending of over one point three billion dollars, including the PetroCaribe funds that were borrowed from Venezuela, has yet [...]

CariCRIS Assigns Belize Bank “Investment Grade” Rating
The Belize Bank Limited, the country’s oldest banking institution, has been assigned an investment grade rating by the Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services.  CariCRIS is the Caribbean’s leading credit [...]

What Does Investment Rating Mean for Belize Bank?
The assigned rating augurs well for other local companies wishing to improve their profiles on the regional and international markets.  It is in line with some of the more prominent [...]

Lands Minister on Turneffe Land Trust Agreement
As we reported on Wednesday, the Turneffe Atoll Trust has acquired the remaining seventeen thousand acres of land within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. This is in the form of [...]

P.U.P. Leader Says Transferring 17,000 Acres of Land without House Approval is Illegal
Weighing in on the matter was Opposition Leader, John Briceño. According to Briceño, under the National Lands Act, to transfer a large piece of land, such as the seventeen thousand [...]

Turneffe Atoll Trust on Land Trust Agreement
According to Executive Director of the Turneffe Atoll Trust, Alex Anderson, forty percent of the land mass at Turneffe was already sold to private entities and this move reserves the [...]

B.N.T.U. President on Julian Cho
Today, National President of the Belize National Teachers Union Senator Elena Smith was in southern Belize, at Julian Cho Technical School where she met with the school administration.  The B.N.T.U. [...]

Senate Report on Immigration Yet to be Completed
We also found out that Senator Elena Smith’s patience is running thin. The senator says organizations are tired of waiting for U.D.P. Senator Aldo Salazar to present his report on the [...]

Will Hugo Patt Without Support to John Saldivar?
One more story on the dilemma facing the U.D.P.  Minister of Natural Resources, Hugo Patt is running for first deputy leader under team Saldivar. They have been around the country [...]

NEBL 2020: Meet the Benny’s Hurricanes
The 2020 season of the National Elite Basketball League kicked off last Friday with matches across the country.  There have been many changes in almost all teams. There is also [...]

Healthy Living: Skincare Tips
If you’re investing a lot in your skincare or if you’re confused by all the ads and articles about how to best take care of your skin, then listen up. [...]

Amandala

Minister John Saldivar is named in US fraud case documents
The trial of the fraud case Kingston v United States in which the businessman Lev Dermen is a co-defendant is expected to continue on Monday, January 27, after it was adjourned to give prosecutors time to pour over new evidence they are planning to lead.

The Reporter

Rumors That John Saldivar Received Bribes Not Verified: Lev Dermen Case
At midday this afternoon the internet and some media houses in Belize were hurry to publish rumors that are ‘at this time’ unsubstantiated, that National Security Minister Hon. John Saldivar was the person who received bribe monies from Lev Aslan Derman.

San Pedro Shines: An Evening Of Classical Music
San Pedro was treated to something not often seen in the town in recent years: The Belize Virtuosi String Orchestra, directed by Peter Illavsky, world-renowned Cellist in Vienna, Austria.

2 Bodies Found Burnt Beyond Recognition: In Independence Village
The Reporter has confirmed reports of two bodies found burnt in a delivery truck in the village of Independence in Southern Belize.

LOVE FM

No one has been selected to replace Longsworth as Consul General
Love News has been closely following the story about the termination of Herman Longsworth as Consul General to New York. His termination comes on the heels of the Auditor General’s Report on the National Sports Council and payments given to a shell company, Go Enterprises, put together by Longsworth.

Is the police following protocol?
A man by the name of Derrick Hines was shot at today by police officers. The officers were reportedly in pursuit of him and fired warning shots. Hines’ family believes, however, that the police were not following proper protocol. Toledo Correspondent Paul Mahung has the story.

Man gets two more years added on to his 11 year sentence
A Prison trustee was sentenced to two and a half more years in prison for attempted sexual assault and common assault upon a prison employee. 32-year-old David Rosalez got more time added to his jail sentence after he tried to sexually assault an employee whilst inside the prison back in November 2018.

Persons should be vetted before receiving Belizean Nationalities
In the last Sitting of the House of Representatives, Leader of the Opposition, John Briceno, listed off names of persons who had reportedly received Belizean nationalities despite possessing criminal records and ties to Central American gangs. The names were a part of an audit of the Immigration and Nationality Department from 2011 to 2013.

Burnt bodies found in Southern Belize
Charred human remains were found in a burnt vehicle early this morning in Southern Belize. There is currently no indication if foul play was involved in this accident.

Another allegation against Longsworth
Former Minister Herman Longsworth is also in the hot seat tonight as the Opposition Leader, John Briceno spoke of additional monies that were given to him for works on the Berger Field in Belize City.

Careless Driver charged
59-year-old David Zetina was charged for the offense of death by careless conduct for a fatal road traffic accident that claimed the life of a Biscayne resident, Constance Andrewin. Justice Marilyn Williams fined him $3,000 for causing death by careless conduct and slapped with him with a compensation fee of $10,000 to be paid to the state of Andrewin by June 2020 in default distress.

New chairman to be chosen for San Roman Village
In the midst of scandals and demands that guilty officials should either resign or be fired, it raises eyebrows when a chairperson decides to resign. The San Roman Village in Orange Walk is having by-elections in February after their chairman, Ponciano Vargas, stepped down.

Is John Saldivar Involved in Lev Dermen Scandal?
John Saldivar – he is perhaps the most popular Government Minister under the Barrow administration as he has been at the center of many discussions and debates over the years. And tonight, the discussions continue as Saldivar’s name has once again surfaced, this time in recent US court documents involving Lev Dermen.

Missing mother of five
A family in the Toledo District is appealing to the public for help in locating their missing family member. Correspondent Paul Mahung has the story.

Foreign Affairs Minister welcomes trade negotiations with Guatemala
The recently elected Guatemalan President, Alejandro Giammattei has expressed interest in working with Belize on trade and commerce. In a statement made to Guatemalan media, he noted that both countries must look beyond the territorial...

Police capture Salvadoran terrorist in Belize
A Central American fugitive was discovered in Southern Belize. The man, 25-year-old Franklin Mendoza, was reportedly a terrorist from El Salvador and was caught after an operation by the Special Branch Unit.

Noewellin Williams pleads guilty to manslaughter
A man was taken to court today for fatally stabbing his common-law wife in broad daylight on August 9, 2019. 45-year-old Noewellin Williams pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. Williams on the advice of...

Breaking Belize News

Department of the Environment drops case against Primrose Gabourel but not her son
The Department of the Environment (DOE) has been before the court since last August, charging […]

Ministry of Health activates national surveillance team to monitor new strain of coronavirus
The Ministry of Health informed today that it is aware of a new strain of […]

Police find charred human remains in burnt truck
Earlier today we reported that two bodies were found burnt inside a vehicle, however, in […]

“Prime Minister needs to fire John Saldivar,” says Briceno
As more evidence of Belizean involvement comes out in the international fraud case of Lev […]

John Saldivar on surfaced documents: “Nothing has changed”
Minister of National Security and aspiring UDP leadership candidate, John Saldivar, issued a statement today […]

Government pushes forward with plastic phase-out
Following the passage of the Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) Regulations, 2020, which came into […]

Nine students and 1 teacher to participate in US Youth Ambassador program
Nine Belizean students and one teacher will participate in the United States’ prestigious Youth Ambassador’s […]

PM Barrow: FIU inquiry turned up clean
In a statement issued today, Prime Minister Dean Barrow informed that he spoke to Belize […]

PM Dean Barrow: Cannot fire Saldivar based on circulating documents
Today, Prime Minister Dean Barrow issued a statement saying that he is aware of the […]

Teacher’s Union condemns attack on Salvation Army teacher
The Belize National Teacher’s Union (BNTU) has condemned the attack of a Salvation Army teacher […]

Anti-Discrimination Steering Committee meets with Evangelical association to discuss Equal Opportunities Bill
On Wednesday, January 22, 2020, the Anti-Discrimination Steering Committee met with Pastor Scott Stirm, Pastor […]

Minister of National Security named in US Court documents filed in Dermen’s case
Court documents relating to the trial of alleged fraudster, Lev Dermen, in the United States […]

Toledo woman missing, family seeks public assistance
The family of Kimberly Ann Wade, 40, is asking the public’s assistance in locating her. […]

Coronavirus kills 17 people; sickens over 500 more
The deadly coronavirus, a virus that originated in Wuhan, China has claimed the lives of […]

Authorities find two bodies burnt in vehicle in Southern Belize
Information to Breaking Belize News is that police have discovered two bodies burnt inside a […]

Interpol issues Blue Corner notice for Indian fugitive suspected to be hiding in Belize
Interpol, the global policing organization, has issued a Blue Corner Notice for an Indian fugitive, […]

San Roman Village chairman resigns; triggers by-election
The village chairman for San Roman in the Orange Walk District resigned from his position […]

FBI to assist with investigation into disappearance of American tourist
American tourist, Alison Mackenzie went missing while on a catamaran tour in Belize last week. […]

Blogs

Caye Caulker, Belize: A Beauty on a Perfect Day
Caye Caulker is ABSOLUTELY beautiful – and my walkabout yesterday on THE MOST GORGEOUS DAY to me that I need to get here WAY more often. A few hours, twice a year when I have visitors does not suffice. It may seems so walkable but there is SO much happening, so many new hotels and restaurants…what seems like a zillion tour shops…the NORTH side of the island.

What’s New in Belize: Restaurants & Hotels
Over the past five years, there has been an abundance of development happening in the country of Belize. From luxury resorts and vacation homes to amazing, unique restaurants that are all new to Belize. Due to the increasing tourism industry and new trends, it was a necessity to offer brand new experiences to both our visitors and locals. Here is a list of new openings since 2019 and those coming up in 2020, for you and your family to ultimately enjoy!

Belize Is Perfect for a Quiet, Romantic Honeymoon
Some people want a honeymoon that’s filled with excitement and thrills. If your taste runs more toward spending quiet, romantic time together, consider spending your honeymoon in Belize. You can find gorgeous beaches all over Belize. Spend a day on the popular, tourist-friendly Ambergris Caye, or head to smaller, quieter Caye Caulker. Tour the miles of beachfront and quirky villages of the Placencia Peninsula in Southern Belize. Visit our stunning offshore islands with their spotless sand and shady palm trees. Anywhere you go, you’ll find quiet, unspoiled stretches of beach where you can stroll, sunbathe, relax or swim.

International Sources

The best affordable Caribbean and Central American beach towns to buy a home
Belize makes the best affordable Caribbean and Central American beach towns to buy a home list... In 2019, the data team at Realtor.com determined the best and most affordable beach towns in the Caribbean and Central American area. 5. Caye Caulker, Belize — With a population of under 2,000, Caye Caulker is also known as "budget island." The island is also right next to the Belize Barrier Reef, the third biggest coral reef in the world.

Mike Pompeo Urges Caribbean to Be Wary of Chinese Investments
The United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on January 22 urged Caribbean countries to be wary of accepting “easy money from countries like China” as Washington sought to improve its decades-old relationship with the region. Addressing a policy discussion on “US-Caribbean relations, Pompeo acknowledged that the North American giant had been absent from the Caribbean for a long period. But Pompeo told the Caribbean foreign ministers and other officials present “it is tempting to accept easy money from places like China, but what good is it if it feeds corruption and undermines your rule of law”?

Eat Like the Belizean Locals
Belize is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities which implies there are multiple cuisines of foods. The majority of Belize’s population is Mestizo, which is a mixture of Maya and Spanish. It is then followed by Maya, Garifuna, Chinese, Creole, and Mennonites. There are also small percentages of other ethnicities such as Jamaicans, Lebanese and Americans as well as Europeans residing here. Food is such a broad topic. Belize has so much to offer, however, there are specific Belizean signature dishes that locals enjoy eating daily. If you want to fully experience the life of a Belizean, here are a couple of foods you won’t want to miss tasting before you leave.

Videos

January 23, 2020

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

Changes in the Pump Price of Premium Gasoline Effective January 22, 2020
The Ministry of Finance announces that effective Wednesday, January 22, 2020, the pump price for Premium Gasoline will increase by 27 cents from $10.72 to $10.99 per gallon.

San Pedro Pirates F.C. draws with Altitude F.C.
The San Pedro Pirates football team hosted Altitude Football Club on Saturday, January 18th at Ambergris Stadium for their first game of the 2020 closing season. It was an evenly-paced match, and neither team could best each other, resulting in a 1-1 draw. San Pedro Pirates are now preparing to travel to San Ignacio, Cayo, where they will face defending champions Verdes at 4PM on Sunday, January 16th. Meanwhile, Altitude will host Wagiya in Independence Village, Stann Creek, and BDF F.C. will host Belmopan Bandits at the MCC Grounds in Belize City.

Ambergris Today

Illegal Harvesting Of Nassau Grouper
A joint operation between the Belize Fisheries Department and Dangriga Police on January 20th, 2020 in the Dangriga area resulted in the confiscation over 400 pounds of Nassau Grouper, including fillet and whole fish. The Department hereby reminds the PUBLIC that in accordance with the Fisheries Regulation Statutory Instrument No. 49 of 2009: a. No person shall take from the waters of Belize, buy, sell or have in possession any Nassau Grouper between the 1st December and the 31st March inclusive in any year.

Various Belizean Sources

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday. Our regular paint party at Crazy Canucks will be at our Town Studio.

Salty Anchor Marina Bar Grand Opening in San Pedro!
Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 12 PM – 5 PM, Salty Anchor Marina Bar on 3rd Street in San Pedrito, San Pedro. Live performance by Kelly McGuire. Complimentary Boat Shuttle Service! Leaving from Sunset Pier near the International Water Taxi.....

BTB at FITUR 2020 in Madrid, Spain
FITUR is the first appointment of the year for the world’s tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Latin America. FITUR offers: a unique forum for promoting brands, presenting new products, learning about the latest trends and filling your agenda with new contacts and opportunities.

Boca del Rio drive closed Thursday morning
The public is advised that Thursday the 23rd, Boca del Rio drive will be closed for vehicle traffic from Blue Tang to the High school, from 6.00AM, no vehicle's will be allowed to pass. Thanks for your co-operation.

THE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT OF THE YARBOROUGH GREEN
AND A SHORT SUMMARY REPORT ON THE DOWNTOWN REJUVENATION PROJECT'S STATUS AND ACHIEVEMENTS. Let me start off with a little reminiscing. Yesterday, I took a walk out by the Yarborough Football Field to take the photos I am using for this post. As I stood at the point where the field met with the property of Wesley College, I looked at the Sea. The sea was very calm and dark. It looked as if someone had placed a sheet of ice over it which was quite the opposite of how that part of the sea is most of the time. In the distance, I could see a lonely cruise ship. I wondered about all of the fun those passengers must have been having on board.

Mrs. Carmen Carillo
In the past months, I have been collaborating with a very admirable person from San Jose Nuevo Palmar. Mrs. Carmen Carillo is the very proud grandaughter of Maximo Perez, the last alcalde of San Jose Yalbac. For decades she has been an activist, educator, writer and poet, who has advocated for community and Maya history and identity. Her drive, commitment, and stories attract much attention, particularly, because they (the stories) celebrate "Mayanness" in the Belizean context.

Your Invitation to Corozal's Graffiti Festival 2020!
The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), through the Museum of Belize and the Corozal House of Culture, is delighted to extend a kind invitation to attend our signature Corozal event: "Corozal Graffiti Festival 2020". This year’s graffiti theme will be “Ancient Chactemal” offering our community an array of talent honouring our ancestors. We are very pleased to have an international cultural exchange with 17 graffiti artists from Belize, Mexico, El Salvador, and Cuba. Although graffiti art is the main attraction, there will be many forms of live art happening, including body painting, special effects makeup, portraiture, painting, resin work, pyrography, barber designs, henna designs and more. Our cultural museums will be showcased along with organizations promoting their cause. Free art activities for all ages, sailboat rides, music by the mighty Caribbean Roots Band.

Illegal Harvesting of Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
A joint operation between the Belize Fisheries Department and Dangriga Police on January 20th, 2020 in the Dangriga area resulted in the confiscation over 400 pounds of Nassau Grouper, including fillet and whole fish. The Department hereby reminds the PUBLIC that in accordance with the Fisheries Regulation Statutory Instrument No. 49 of 2009: a. No person shall take from the waters of Belize, buy, sell or have in possession any Nassau Grouper between the 1st December and the 31st March inclusive in any year.

Termination of Belize’s Consul General of New York
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow met with Mr. Herman Longsworth, former Minister of State in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, following the findings from the Auditor General’s report on the National Sports Council. After discussion with Mr. Longsworth, the Prime Minister decided to terminate his appointment as Consul General of New York. Mr. Longsworth’s termination will become effective February 21st, 2020, to allow him time to wrap up the affairs at the Consulate and hand over.

Kelly McGuire's Annual Birthday Bash 2020
In San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Here is the show schedule beginning January 27th and ending February 9th.

Corozal Child Advisory Board - Logo competition deadline extended to Friday, 14th February!
Be sure to submit your unique and creative designs. Winner will receive a $50.00 cash prize!

BTB Sponsoring Guardian Softball team
The Guardian Softball team which is comprised of mainly youths from the Southside of Belize City has been in existence for the past 12 years. The BTB, in support of youth and sports, handed over a sponsorship cheque to the manager of the team as the 2020 softball season gets set to commence on January 24th

The wild cats of Belize
Jaguar - Báalam - Chak Mo'ol, Puma - Koj(Koh), Jaguarandi - Ek' Much' - Kaab koj (Kaab Koh), Ocelot - Sak Xikin , Margay - Cholul - chul ya.

Schools visit U Chan Muul Yaax K'aax Maya museum
17 January 2020 Hands and minds making education more empathetic and tolerant! We express our sincere gratitude to the educational institutions: Nazarence High School N.H.S (Belize City) Belize High School of Agriculture B.H.S.A. ( San Lazaro/Trinidad, Orange Walk Districts) San Lazaro R.C. School (San Lazaro village) and U Chan Muul Yaax K'aax Maya museum who joined hands and nurtured young minds. Students and staff, parents and guardians left their classrooms and busy streets from urban Belize city enroute to visit the monumental Lamanai Archeoligical Site, where professional tour guides instructed them. Leaving Lamanai they were ready to visit BHSA, there the school's Mayan ball players Belize I'binkaan was eagerly waiting for a match! BHSA vs NHS! Ball rolling flashes suprises laughter educational experiences. The students embraced the exciting moments.

Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Mexico City Officially Opens Registration for Two Scholarships to Belizean Students
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Mexico City takes this opportunity to inform Belizean students that they have officially opened registration for two scholarships: Darmasiswa Scholarship 2020/2021 and Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship 2020 to students from Belize.

Channel 7

Drug Jet Lands in Remote OW District - Cops Look for the Drugs
Another drug plane landed in Belize early this morning - this one in the remote reaches of the Orange Walk District between Crooked Tree and Shipyard. But, this time, the Gulfstream G2 was not burnt - pictures show it looking quite smart above the jungle airstrip. And, while the jet is intact, additionally police believe the drug cargo which it was carrying is still in the country. Today, the commissioner explained that the landing site is remote and hard to reach:...

She Puncher Her Son's Teacher
Chaos erupted at Salvation Army Primary school yesterday when a parent punched a teacher in the mouth. The standard two teacher, Britney Tompson, told police that the parent kicked her when she fell to the floor and would have continued to beat her if the principal hadn't intervened. And today in court 27-Year-old Vailine Martinez pleaded guilty to the charge of wounding in the court of Magistrate Khadeem Palmer. Martinez visited our studio shortly after her hearing. She told us that her outburst was in response to the second alleged beating her son had received at the hands of his teacher.

Danny Mason & Co To Court for Kidnapping
Danny Mason and his former employees turned accomplices were back at the supreme Court in Belmopan today. Mason and three of them have been found guilty of murder, but, now, Mason, Keiron Fernandez, Ashton Vanegas, and Ernest Castillo, and Mason's farmhand, Ryan Rhaburn must stand trial for kidnapping. That is another criminal trial and it will be heard before a new judge, because Justice Antoinette Moore has been transferred to Dangriga. They are accused of kidnapping Canadian Lloyd Friessen and his wife Rosie. Friessen, who was a major grain producer operating out of Spanish Lookout, claims that Mason conned him out of 300 thousand dollars, and then lured him and his wife to Mason's Intelco Hill home.

After Audit Accusation, Honorary Consul Herman Fired
The Prime Minister's office this evening confirmed reports which started circulating yesterday: former UDP Area Rep for Albert and Minister of state Herman Longsworth has been fired as Belize's Consul General of New York. A release says the termination follows a meeting between Longsworth and the Prime Minister to discuss the findings from the Auditor General's report on the National Sports Council. As we told you the 160 page audit on the National Sports Council uncovered a number of serious infractions - one of them involving Longsworth, who was responsible for the sports portfolio from 2012 to 2015.

Police Looking Into Audit
And while the Prime Minister has acted swiftly to terminate Longsworth - who - it is widely believed - was given that cushy diplomatic posting as a political reward for stepping aside for Tracey Taegar Panton in 2015 - what about the allegation of the embezzlement of almost half a million dollars by a Sports council staffer - a senior pay clerk - during the period under review? Will the police take action? That's what we asked the COMPOL today:...

FBI Helping to Find Alison
US tourist Alison Mackenzie has now been missing for almost 5 days - and, tonight, there is only faint hope her survival. MacKenzie and her boyfriend were on a three-day cruise with Ragamuffin tours. On Friday night they had stopped to camp for an overnight at Rendezvous Caye when she mysteriously disappeared. Since then, the tour company, the Belize Coast Guard, and The Police Department have launched widespread searches to find her. And today, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told us that the FBI has offered to assist in the search.

Environmental Charges Dropped Against Dion's Mom
43 year old developer Dion Zabaneh and his 76 year old mother Primrose Gabourel have been in court for months - but, tonight, all charges against her have been dropped. It happened in Magistrate's court today where the DEO dropped the charges. We asked the DOe's Legal Counsel Jeavon Hulse about it: Jeavon Hulse, Legal Counsel, DOE: "Today the prosecution called its last witness and we close our case. After that the attorneys for Mr. Zabaneh raised a no case submission and we agreed on dates when we would submit a response."

Police Plan to Pay Pedro
Last night we spoke to the proprietor of Pedro's Inn on San Pedro, Peter Lawrence. He discussed the $117,000 dollar balance that the police department had for him for the accommodation of police officers at his hotel since June of last year. Initially, the COMPOL had said he was taken aback by the bill - and would not be paying all that. Today, though, speaking at the Training Academy in Belmopan, he took a softer stance:..

San Pedro OC Confident of Payment
We also spoke to Superintendent Chris Noble. He is the officer in charge of San Pedro - and is Lawrence's main point of contact. He and the hotel owner have a good relationship - so much so that Lawrence has agreed as of last week - to give him three rooms for free. Noble says they are working it out: Supt. Chris Noble, OC, San Pedro: "As to the bill, it was inherited, it was prior to me going on the island and some cheques were made and we will definitely work on getting Mr. Lawrence what is due him..."

Countdown To Plastic Ban Goes 6, 9, 12
Dust off the fabric shopping bags and pull out your Tupperware and trusty water bottle, Belize is going Green! But don't panic, it's going to be a gradual transition. That said, manufacturers of single-use styrofoam and plastic products have less than 6 months to cease production, distributors of these products have 9 months to clear their shelves of inventory, and in 12 months time, you won't be able to possess single-use products above certain quantities.

Salvadorean "Terrorist"� Caught in Bella Vista
On Monday we told you about an operation launched by the Special Branch Unit of the Police Department in Bella Vista Village. That operation lead to the capture of 25-year-old Franklin Manfredo Mendoza, a man wanted in Salvador for what is being termed "organized terrorism" And this afternoon Commissioner of Police Chester Williams told us that Mendoza was up to his old tricks in the northern village, organizing gangs. Jules Vasquez: "Sir I understand that you all caught a high profile Salvadorean in the village of Bella Vista earlier this week, what can you share about that?"

Man Critical After Shooting In Independence Village
And keeping it in the south - there was a shooting this morning in Independence Village - and the victim is critical tonight. It happened at about 6:30 when 37 year old Anthony Parks, was cooling out on his verandah with his common law wife.

Elden for Murder
22 year old Elden Flowers now faces a charge of murder as his alleged victim, Richard O'Neal, has died. You may recall that on 27th November, Belize City resident Richard O'Neil was kidnapped, taken to an area off the Boom - Hattieville road, shot, dumped on the roadside and left for dead. But, he somehow survived in a critical condition. Three weeks after O'Neil died. That death has now resulted in an upgrade of the charges on the alleged shooter Elden Flowers.

Turneffe Trust A Turn-Off For Some In Conservation Community
A press release from the Government Press Office yesterday announced the launch of a joint initiative to protect important mangrove ecosystems covering approximately 17,000 acres of national lands remaining on the Turneffe Atoll. It's an agreement signed between the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Turneffe Atoll Trust, where the lands will be held in trust for conservation for and on behalf of the beneficiaries which are the people and Government of Belize. Sounds good on paper, but it is some in the environmental community say it's a turn-off.

Council of Churches Considers Equal Opportunity
The Special Envoy for women and children, Kim Simplis Barrow, is doing her part to sensitize the public to the draft of the proposed Equal Opportunities Bill. We told you about the media breakfast she hosted in partnership with the National Aids commission yesterday. Today she met with the Belize Council of churches in an attempt to address their concerns. And, in a press release this afternoon the Belize Council Of Churches stated that while today's discussion resolved some concerns, their review of the draft bill is ongoing.

COMPOL Meets With 155 Senior Officers
The Commissioner of Police has been all over the news tonight. And that's because we caught him in Belmopan at the police turning academy. He was hosting his third all officers conference. That;That's when the COMPOL gathers his 155 senior officers and discusses with them the policing strategy going forward.

Top Cops Honoured
And, Williams also gave out awards to two top cops. Superintendent Chris Noble won the 2019 Crime Fighter Award for his work as the OC on San Pedro, and ACP Alden Dawson won the award as 2019's Most Outstanding Regional Commander.

Is Police Department Beset By Administrative Bloat?
And while those two cops won neat little appreciation plaques - we noticed today how full the training room was at the Police Academy. And, indeed, the number of senior officers has increase day about 30 since Williams took over. We asked if there are too many:

Chester the Taskmaster?
With all those brown uniforms in front of him, we asked Williams if he is the stern taskmaster of legend. He said the style of the meetings is cool, not confrontational:

Cuba, Belize and The Olympics
The Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association and the Cuban Olympic Committee have signed a sports collaboration agreement. The agreement signed in Havana, Cuba on January 21 will contribute to the development of bilateral cooperation and exchanges based on mutual respect and equality and to the benefit the development of sports in both Belize and Cuba.

Frak Tragedy: Caller To WUB Dies On Air
Monday morning's WUB morning Vibes show will go down in Belizean broadcasting history as the first time that a call-in participant to a show dies while on air. Sixty-seven-year-old Keith Karranza Swift was a frequent caller to Mose Hyde's show. On Monday he called in to raise the issue of the Coronavirus that was recently discovered in China, and said that Belize health authorities should begin screening Asians coming into the country. His last words seem to have been used to ask Hyde if he could cut in to make a point.

Channel 5

A Suspected Drug Plane Lands in Rural Belize; Cargo Still in Country
Around midnight, villagers in the area of Crooked Tree Village, Belize District, say they heard a plane circling above. Hours later at around six o’clock this morning, police and B.D.F. [...]

Opposition Leader on Latest Drug Plane Landing
Opposition Leader John Briceño spoke to News Five today about the drug plane. He says he is not surprised that yet another drug plane landed in Belize. Briceño says that [...]

Firing Herman Longsworth is Not Enough, Says Opposition Leader
Belize’s Consul General in New York Herman Longsworth has been fired after an audit report into the finances of the National Sports Council revealed serious cash irregularities. Longsworth, who was [...]

Longsworth’s Termination Becomes Effective February 1st
A press release from the Government says that Longsworth termination will become effective February twenty first, 2020, to allow him time to wrap up the affairs at the Consulate and [...]

Search Efforts Called Off; F.B.I. to Join Investigation for Missing Woman
The Belize Coast Guard says that the chance of finding Alison Mackenzie alive is nil. They wrapped up their search mission on Tuesday evening, after they widened the search area. [...]

No Lawyer for Danny Mason in Kidnapping Case
Convicted murderer William ‘Danny’ Mason and four other men who carried out the beheading of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas, as well as the alleged abduction of David Dodd, await sentencing for [...]

Chester Seeks Financial Aid to Cover Hotel Bill
A staggering six-figure debt owed to Pedro’s Inn by the Belize Police Department remains unpaid and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams is turning to tourism stakeholders in San Pedro to [...]

ComPol Working with F.I.U. and D.P.P. on Auditor General’s Report
Former Minister of State Herman Longsworth Jr. has been terminated from his cushy appointment in New York as Consul General, following the Auditor General’s report on the finances of the [...]

Teachers Up in Arms; Will Industrial Action Be Taken Against M.O.E.?
President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Senator Elena Smith says that teachers are up in arms and are considering industrial action. The B.N.T.U. Council of Management circulated a memo [...]

B.N.T.U. President Comments on Julian Cho Financial Audit
Senator Smith also told News Five that she will be visiting Julian Cho Technical School in the south with the hopes of having a discussion with the administration. Those talks [...]

Early Morning Shooting in Mango Creek Leaves Anthony Parks Injured
This morning in Independence Village, thirty-seven-year-old Anthony Parks was shot multiple times by someone known to him.  Parks was sitting on his verandah when he heard someone call him by [...]

17,000 Acres of Turneffe Land is Set Aside in a Trust
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration and the Ministry of Natural Resources have signed over approximately seventeen thousand acres of national lands remaining on [...]

Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association Concerned about Land Trust
The agreement states that Turneffe Atoll Trust must maintain properties as a nature conservation reserve for the protection of nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities and physical features [...]

P.U.P. Leader Says S.P.T.C. Cannot Issue Dredging License
Documents shared with News Five show illegal dredging activities being carried out within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. As we reported on Tuesday, residents in the Secret Beach area have [...]

Dredgers Say They are Working to Obtain License for Artisanal Dredging
News Five understands that several small dredgers who have been conducting small scale operations in the area have been working with relevant authorities for permission to continue working the area.  [...]

Chris Noble and Alden Dawson are Awarded for Stellar Police Work
A pair of senior police officers was recognized by the Belize Department for their leadership effort in reducing crime in Belize City and San Pedro.  This morning, Christopher Noble and [...]

3rd Annual All Officers Conference Held in Belmopan
This morning at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan, senior officers from across the country gathered for an annual conference to address communication issues between management of the police department [...]

Police Command is Not Top Heavy says Chester Williams
Coming out of the conference was a question on the effectiveness of precinct policing, a model which is being employed in Belize City primarily.  According to ComPol Williams, while senior [...]

Tourist Robbed; Warns Others to be Aware
A tourist staying in Punta Gorda says that she has been robbed multiple times and authorities down there didn’t take her report seriously. DeeAnn Steiner of Utah in the U.S.A. [...]

Salvadoran Fugitive Busted in Bella Vista
A Salvadoran national wanted in his home country for participating in criminal activity described as domestic terrorism, was nabbed in Belize earlier this week.  Police caught up with the fugitive [...]

Jamaica PM Says He is Not Engaging in a Policy to Divide CARICOM
Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington is among a group of ministers from seven other countries meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is in Kingston, Jamaica. The [...]

Amandala

Another suspected drug plane lands
This morning another suspected drug plane landed in the Belize District. Police are currently investigating.

The Reporter

A New Contractor General For Belize
Amid all the scandals in the government, and the airwaves abuzz with numerous comments about construction contracts being awarded to contractors with poor work history and ‘shoddy workmanship!.’ The Prime minister has appointed a new contractor general.

New Radar System For Civil Aviation & National Security
The Government of Belize will be investing twelve million dollars on a new radar system to improve civil aviation services in Belize as well as the country’s national security.

Man Shot Multiple Times In Independence Village
A man was shot multiple times in Independence Village, Stann Creek earlier this morning, and his attacker is believed to be a man with whom he has had a long-standing dispute.

Another Drug Plane ??? – Deep in Belize’s Territory
The Reporter has confirmed with Police sources that a suspicious plane landed somewhere between Guinea Grass Village and Crooked Tree this morning. Police sources are combing the area and we will have an update as the information becomes available.

Dean Noh Di Play ! Longsworth Out: Who Next ?
The Reporter has been able to confirm that former UDP Minister Herman Longsworth has been removed from his posting as Honorary Consul to New York. Details at this point are scarce, but indications are that he has been given until the end of the month to wrap up his affairs.

LOVE FM

Assisting at-risk youths through sports
Representatives of Trailhead International, through Sagebrush Church in San Pedro, are partnering with the San Pedro Sporting Committee to target at-risk children on Ambergris Caye through sporting activities. Our island correspondent has the details in the following report.

William Mason and associates back in court
While William Danny Mason and his associates have all been found guilty for the murder of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas, they still have the charge of kidnapping to answer to in court. All the men, except Terrence Fernandez, returned to court this morning.

BDF soldier says he did not beat his step son
A Belize Defence Force soldier who was in court on Monday for allegedly harming his stepson has stepped forward to clear his name and give his side of the story. Kenneth Arzu says he has been reading the comments on social media and the various news reports and has become concerned at the misinformation.

Police will pay their debt to Pedro’s Inn
Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams says come hell or high water, the one hundred and seventeen-thousand-dollar bill at Pedro’s Inn in San Pedro Town will be paid. ComPol spoke of his plans to speak with the tourism stakeholders on the island but does not know how much money they will donate, if any at all.

Police investigating auditor general reports
At the last Sitting of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister briefly discussed the Auditor General Reports that showed missing monies from both the National Sports Council and the Julian Cho Technical High School in the Toledo District. According to the Prime Minister, those reports have been passed on the police department to be investigated.

Officers on the alert for drug-crimes in the South
Shane Bennett, the accused man in the shooting of Anthony Parks, has a long list of criminal charges. According to the Commissioner of Police, he is a big figure in the drug world.

Herman Longsworth has been recalled from New York
Amid the allegations of corruption at the National Sports Council, the former Minister of State in the Ministry of Sports, Herman Longsworth has been recalled home. Longsworth had left the political arena when he gave up his run in the Albert Division for the United Democratic Party. It is suspected that he was coerced out of Albert with the promise of a cushy job in New York.

Man killed in drug-related shooting
A man from Independence Village, Stann Creek District was shot this morning just before seven o’clock. 37-year-old Anthony Parks received four gunshot wounds to the right shoulder, the abdomen, the left side of his thigh and in the back.

FBI to assist in search of Alison MacKenzie
The search has been called off for American national, Allison MacKenzie. It has been almost five days since the Belize Coast Guard began their search for the 43-year-old Arizonian woman.

PG residents want a venue change for PG day
As residents from Punta Gorda prepare to celebrate this year’s Punta Gorda Day there are concerns over the venue where the event will be held. Toledo Correspondent, Paul Mahung gathered the details and filed this report.

LICU clarifies reports of missing mony
Yesterday we told you of rumblings within La Inmaculada Credit Union (LICU) in Orange Walk and reports of missing monies. We were able to confirm that the General Manager, Yadeli Urbina, has resigned giving two months’...

Another day, another drug plane
Members of Belize’s security forces are presently posted in the area of Rhaburn Ridge on the Philip Goldson Highway, guarding an aircraft that landed illegally last night. Authorities suspect that the Gulfstream executive jet brought...

Teacher harmed at the workplace
Whoever thought that being at school was a safe space may just have to rethink that notion. Yesterday a teacher of the Salvation Army was assaulted by a parent, resulting in the teacher losing teeth.

Moving into the 21st century
A series of workshops are being held in the Stann Creek District to help students learn strategies to start their own businesses through the use of the internet. Correspondent Harry Arzu told us more about...

BNTU President comments on Julian Cho fiasco
The President of the BNTU will be taking a trip to Punta Gorda to look into the recent Auditor General’s reports implicating the Principal and teachers at Julian Cho Technical High School of questionable transactions....

Breaking Belize News

Government terminates Herman Longsworth’s appointment as Consul General of New York
The Government informed that Prime Minister Dean Barrow met with Herman Longsworth, former Minister of […]

Indonesian Embassy in Mexico opens registration for two scholarships
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Mexico City has informed Belizean students that […]

Mexican Cultural Institute to host Chaya! Dinner with the Maya
The Mexican Cultural Institute – Belize, Museum of Belize, Institute of Archaeology, and the National […]

Dennis Lamb wanted by police
Police are seeking public assistance in locating Dennis Lamb, 19, of Holy Emmanuel Street in […]

Police seek help identifying elderly woman
The Belize Police Department is seeking the assistance of the public in identifying an elderly […]

Media attends press meeting with Equal Opportunities Bill Steering Committee
On Tuesday, the Anti-Discrimination Steering Committee hosted a press conference with various media houses, including […]

Turneffe Land Trust established to protect national mangrove ecosystems
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration and the Ministry […]

Belize agrees with Cuba on sporting collaboration
With 226 Summer Olympic medals in 20 appearances and 78 gold, the third most in […]

Police seek one man in Stann Creek shooting
Police are looking for one man in connection with a shooting incident that happened in […]

Another suspected narco-plane lands in Belize
BBN has received reports that another suspected narco-plane landed in the area between Crooked Tree […]

Researchers in England may have found next big weapon to fight most cancers
A new scientific discovery about the human immune system is being looked at internationally as […]

Man shot in Stann Creek
A man was reportedly shot in Mango Creek Village in the Stann Creek District this […]

Fisheries authorities confiscate over 400 pounds of Nassau Grouper
Fisheries authorities in Belize have confiscated over 400 pounds of nassau grouper including fillet and […]

Blogs

Rooftop Restaurant Muna Is An Elevated Dining Experience In Placencia Belize
Placencia is known for its casual, friendly beach bars. When you’re in the mood for a more elevated dining experience, head to the Muna rooftop restaurant for a meal that will send your spirits soaring. Make the most of your beach vacation by dining at one of Placencia‘s most exciting new restaurants. Located at the Ellysian resort, Muna is a dining experience that will be a highlight of your Belize vacation.

Single-use Plastic Ban in Belize
It’s official! The government of Belize announced that effective January 15th, 2020 the phase-out plan to ban single-use plastics in Belize is officially under legislation. The purpose of these regulations is to carry out Cabinet’s decision to reduce plastic and styrofoam pollution through the phasing out of single-use plastics, including shopping bags, styrofoam and plastic food utensils. This decision was made as a necessary pollution control measure to protect the terrestrial and marine environment from harmful plastic contamination.

6 Day Tours to Take from Belize City
Although Belize City is normally for those who are traveling for business, rest assured you will not be lacking your share of activities and sights to see if you are in the city. Since Belize is geographically small, day trips normally mean being on the road for just 2 hours or less. If you’re staying in Belize City Hotel, they can all easily arrange for a tour and pick you up and drop you back off right where you’re staying. Here’s our top 5 recommended list of places to visit when in Belize City:

Spring Break in Belize
Belize is the ideal destination for Spring Break for a few reasons. First, they predominately speak English and considering one of the classes that you might have been slacking off in is Spanish; this might be enough for you to purchase a flight right away. Second, the water. Belizean waters are said to be the perfect spot for anglers and are among the most beautiful places in the world. At the top of the list of reasons for this is the Belize Barrier Reef. This 200-mile part of the Meso-American Reef has one of the most significant coral structures anywhere. This is perfect for fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, you name it!

International Sources

No Divide And Rule Strategy In The Caribbean Says Pompeo
Mike Pompeo, on his first Caribbean visit as U.S. Secretary of State, yesterday insisted in Jamaica that “there’s no intent from the United States to divide CARICOM.” “… not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow,” he added when asked during a press conference alongside Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Kingston. The secretary of state’s response came on the heels of comments from Barbados Prime Minister and chair of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, that the US it seems, is seeking to divide the region and the grouping. She was later supported by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister and leaders from Grenada and Antigua.

Videos

January 22, 2020

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

Legal Declaration of the North-eastern Biological Corridor through Statutory Instrument
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration signed into law an order to declare the North-eastern Biological Corridor which comes into effect on January 22, 2020. The enactment of this order carries out Cabinet’s decision to protect important forests situated in the sugar cane belt in order to protect the biological connectivity of protected areas and safeguard the ecosystem services provided by these forests, including watershed preservation and rain formation.

San Pedro Co-Ed Softball Tournament rolls into playoffs
On Sunday, January 19th, another round of games took place at the Honourable Louis Sylvestre Sporting Complex as the San Pedro Co-Ed Softball Tournament is hosting its playoffs. Team Extreme nabbed another win, securing a leading command in the competition, while Beer League, became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. The tournament continues on Sunday, January 26th with the following games: Extreme vs Rusties, SPHS vs RCGO. Organizers invite everyone to come out and support the tournament, which is nearing its finals.

Two arrested and charged for stealing golf cart; police following on other theft reports
San Pedro Police are investigating a series of reports of the theft of golf carts on the island. Their efforts led to the arrest and charging of Hubert Palacio and Evaristo Sanker, who was arraigned at the San Pedro Magistrate Court on Wednesday, January 15th. They were offered bail, but could not meet it and therefore were remanded to the Belize Central Prison until February 2, 2020.

New Fisheries Law in Belize Protects Both Marine Species and Livelihoods
The Senate of Belize passed a new Fisheries Resources Bill today that will help make the country’s small-scale fisheries more sustainable for both marine life and people Approved by majority of the Senate, the new and comprehensive Bill replaces previous legislation in place for almost seven decades and aims to modernize and transform Belize’s small-scale fishing industry.

Ambergris Today

Man Claiming Tupac Shakur Is 'Alive And Well In Belize'
Various online articles have surfaced of a man claiming that Tupac is alive and living in Belize. A private investigator named Jimmy Poole has claimed that there is proof that rapper Tupac Shakur is living in Belize'. Jimmy Poole has been looking into Tupac's death to see if there is any truth that he is still alive, especially seeing that Las Vegas police still have his file open, despite being shot before dying on September 13, 1996.

2020 BVA Male National Volleyball Championship To Be Held At Belize City
The Belize Volleyball Association will be hosting the Male National Volleyball Championship at the Belize City Civic Center on January 25 and 26, 2020. The general public is invited to come out and experience the excitement as the top male volleyball teams from all over the country compete to become Belize's National Volleyball Champion 2020.

Various Belizean Sources

Belize Hotel Association Networking Event on Caye Caulker
An opportunity for hotel owners to build working relationships within the association.

San Ignacio Rotary Looking for Mopan River Cleaning Help
Keeping the Mopan River clean has been a great task. With our second Bio-barrier to be installed soon, the task of cleaning will be even greater. For this reason we ask individuals or organizations that can help to come forward. We need two canoes to facilitate the removal of plastic from the river, we have been depending on the good will of individuals. To assist you can get in touch with any Benque Rotarian or inbox us. We will greatly appreciate your contribution.

Green Climate Fund Project Inception Workshop - National Designated Authority and Belize National Climate Change Committee (Sub-Committees) Capacity Building
Since 2015, Belize has engaged with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to improve access to international funds and to encourage investment in projects and programmes that will help the country prevent and cope with climate change and its impacts.

LEAP - Literacy & Empowerment Adult
The MOE is proud to announce LEAP - Literacy & Empowerment Adult Programme! Spread the word! Get involved! Volunteers are welcomed! Each one, teach one!

Fraudulent Social Media Profile for the Attorney General
It has come to the attention of Senator Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General, that there is a fraudulent Facebook account with his name. The public is informed that Hon. Peyrefitte does not have any social media accounts.

Official note from the Office of Director of Health Services on the new strain of Coronavirus
The Ministry of Health is aware and is monitoring the international alerts in relation to a new strain of coronavirus that has been linked to severe cases of respiratory tract infections. The virus which has seemingly originated in central China and which has now spread to at least 3 other countries, is now being transmitted through human to human contact. As with all new viruses and infections, we will be guided by the international alerts and in line with International Health Regulations. For now, we remain in close communication with our regional partners and we will be updating any information as may be required.

Corozal Town Council Municipal Bazaar
Friday January 31. 8am-5pm. Once more, the Corozal Town Council invites all business houses, entrepreneurs and vendors to join us at this years first Municipal Bazaar to be held on January 31st, 2020 in front of the Corozal Town Hall. Everyone is invited to come and take advantage of the great deals and discounts. Come out and support our local vendors and contribute to the continuous economic development of our community.

River of Art Flows Everywhere Launch
The Benque House of Culture will be launching their newest exhibit on Friday, February 7th, at 7:00pm. It will feature the art of Yaoling Lee, and is entitled, 'The River of Art Flows Everywhere.' "Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness! It gives us great joy and glee to welcome the fine work of Solo Artist, Yaoling Lee, " The River of Art Flows Everywhere"

Auditions for "Porgy and Bess"
Singers, here is a chance to use your voices. The Metropolitan Opera of New York's, Mrs. KS Tichina Vaughan, is in Belize and looking for talented and aspiring Singers to be in the cast of "Porgy and Bess". Come show your talent at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts on WEDNESDAY, January 22nd starting at 3:00 PM. Come share and show your talent!

CHAYA! DINNER WITH THE MAYA
Exploring Solutions past in partnership with The Mexican Cultural Institute – Belize, Museum of Belize, Institute of Archaeology, and the National Institute of Culture and History, cordially invite the general public of Belize to closing event: CHAYA! DINNER WITH THE MAYA, curated by Dr. Anabel Ford, to be held on January 27, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute – Belize located at the corner Newtown Barracks and Wilson Streets, Belize City. Dr. Anabel Ford is the Director of the Mesoamerican Research Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, as well as President of the non-profit organization Exploring Solutions Past (ESP~Maya). She is a distinguished Maya archaeologist who has decoded the ancient Maya landscape. When she encountered El Pilar, a major Maya city linking Belize and Guatemala, she envisioned a place where discovery of the monuments would be appreciated in the context of the traditional knowledge of the people living in the region today.

Turneffe Atoll Trust Established
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration and the Ministry of Natural Resources embarked upon a joint initiative to protect important mangrove ecosystems covering approximately 17,000 acres of national lands remaining on the Turneffe Atoll. The lands have now been set aside for conservation under the ‘Turneffe Land Trust’ signed between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Turneffe Atoll Trust, a registered not-for-profit entity residing on Northern Bogue, Turneffe Atoll. The lands will be held in trust for conservation for and on behalf of the beneficiaries which are the people and Government of Belize.

Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia officially opens the registration for the Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship, known as Beasiswa Seni dan Budaya Indonesia. This program offers the chance to foreign youths age 21-27 to study Indonesian cultural heritage as well as immerse oneself with the local art communities in Bali, West Sumatra, East Kalimantan, East Java, Sulawesi or Jogjakarta.

GOB Controlled Pump Prices (Belize City)
Effective Wednesday, 22nd January 2020, Premium goes up.

The Belize Tourism Board's 2020 National Hot Sauce Day Sweepstakes Is Fire
It's time to heat up the year with a free getaway to a tropical destination. The Belize Tourism Board's National Hot Sauce Day Sweepstakes could win you an epic vacation. Here's how you can enter the exciting giveaway. The Belize Tourism Board is partnering with two Belize-based hot sauce brands — Marie Sharp's and Hot Mama's — to celebrate National Hot Sauce Day, which is on Wed, Jan. 22. You could win an incredible vacay for you and guest. The winner will spend five days and four nights in Belize City, Belize, one of the world's largest producers of habanero peppers.

Changes in the Pump Price of Premium Gasoline
The Ministry of Finance announces that effective Wednesday, January 22, 2020, the pump price for Premium Gasoline will increase by 27 cents from $10.72 to $10.99 per gallon. The prices for Regular Gasoline, Kerosene and Diesel will remain unchanged at $10.28, $7.77 and $10.29 per gallon, respectively.

Estel's 9th Annual BBQ Cookoff
We are one week away from the big day!!!! It’s gonna be an amazing event with proceeds going to 2 great charities.

Illegal Harvesting of Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus)
A joint operation between the Belize Fisheries Department and Dangriga Police on January 20th, 2020 in the Dangriga area resulted in the confiscation over 400 pounds of Nassau Grouper, including fillet and whole fish. The Department hereby reminds the PUBLIC that in accordance with the Fisheries Regulation Statutory Instrument No. 49 of 2009: a. No person shall take from the waters of Belize, buy, sell or have in possession any Nassau Grouper between the 1st December and the 31st March inclusive in any year.

Q’eqchi’ Maya women: part of the sustainable development of communities in the Maya Golden Landscape
Proud Q’eqchi’ Maya women are part of the sustainable development of communities in the Maya Golden Landscape. For instance, these women have built a microenterprise to support their families, promote culture and help advocate for forest conservation. The microenterprise offers authentic cultural experiences that are directly dependent on sustainable forest management.

KUKULKAN: THE MESOAMERICAN MESSIAH
K'uk'ulkan was born in May 18,895 Under the name of Ce Acatl Topiltzin in MesoAmerica . His birth was full of tradegy because his parents where murder but also full miracle as he survive various attempts of murder while he was a baby . He assumed lordship over the Toltecs and migrated his people to Tollan. Reigning in peace and prosperity he contributed much to the lifestyle of the Toltecs with basic ideas such as civilization. He was generally considered a god upon earth by his followers with similar powers to those of his namesake. Kukulkan dispelled the traditions of the past and ended all human sacrifice during his reign.

Channel 7

Tourist Still Missing: Recovery, Not Rescue Says Coast Guard
US tourist Alison Mackenzie has now been missing for over 72 hours - and there are grave concerns for her wellbeing tonight. You'll remember that MacKenzie along with her boyfriend were on a three-day cruise with Ragamuffin tours. They had stopped to camp for an overnight at Rendezvous Caye when she mysteriously disappeared sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning. Since then, the tour company, police, and the Belize Coast Guard have launched widespread searches to find her.

Pedro's Inn Owner Says Cops Owe 100k Plus!
Last week, we reported twice on the situation with Pedro's Inn on San Pedro. That's the hotel where police reinforcements have been staying since June of last year after a tourist was murdered on the island. But, Commissioner Chester Williams balked at paying the 6 figure hotel bill when he saw it earlier this month. He stated categorically that he won't pay one hundred thousand dollars - and suggested that the BTB and the BTIA will have to help cover the costs. And while he has said this to the press, he still has not spoken to the owner of Pedro's Inn, Peter Lawrence. In June of last year, Lawrence agreed to open up 11 rooms for 22 police officers - and, tonight, 6 of them are still there.

San Pedro Man Charged For City Home Invasion
Police have charged one of the men who they say is responsible for a home invasion at a King's Park home in December. 24 year old Demas Zelaya, a woodcarver from San Pedro, was charged with aggravated burglary for entering the home of businessman Kishore Lulwani. When he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts Anderson. Zelaya pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was denied bail and he was remanded because the offence was committed with a firearm. His next court date is March 25.

Out Of Season Grouper In Griga
Just a few weeks ago, we showed you a special feature on the spawning aggregations of the Nassau Grouper, which is a critically endangered species. As the marine biologists we spoke to noted, the prized fish is dwindling in numbers even at well known aggregation sites like Gladden Spit and the Silk Cayes. And, a part of that is because of illegal fishing practices. The closed season for the Nassau Grouper is between 1st December and 31st March - but the meaty fish is always in demand. And they're easiest to catch during at this time of year, when Nassau groupers congregate en masse at the spawn banks throughout the country.

Grouper Populations Declining
There were 21 whole fish in the catch. When the season opens in April, the size of the catch is limited to between 20 and 30 inches. Additionally, there are only 85 fishers licensed to catch the fish. But, with all this, the numbers are dwindling as Courtney Weatherburne found out in her story which aired on January 8th One of the species of fish that has shown a tremendous downturn is the Nassau Grouper which is now critically endangered.

Medical Waste: Red-Bagged and Burned
Last night you saw the first part of the Ministry of Health's response to the situation San Antonio village where residents complain the red bagged medical waste is being burned din the open too close to their homes. They say it's a biohazard - while the Ministry Of Health says it's not ideal, but incineration does meet World Health standards. Today, here's the second part of our conversation with the Principal Public Health Officer over what constitutes a real community health risk and what the ministry plans to do about it:..

BNTU in A Feisty Mood with GOB
"We've been patient long enough. If taking action is what will be needed, then nobody has to teach us to take action", those were the words of Senator Elena Smith today. She was explaining why the teachers are keeping up with their Green Friday's. On January 20, a memo from the BNTU Council of Management went out to teachers reminding them of the decision taken to continue countrywide the Green Day activism. The most powerful workers union in the country has remained on high alert pending decisions from the Ministry of Education on critical matters. Today we spoke to the Union president at the BNTU headquarters in Belize City she reminded us why the Union is still not satisfied.

Chinese Grocer Accused of Beating Boy With Pipe
Tonight a Chinese Grocer has been found guilty of using unjustified force in harming a boy who he claims trespassed in his yard. In December of 2019, a boy claimed that he was whipped with a plastic pipe by his neighbour to the point of urinating on himself. The boy and his cousin had been playing with a ball when it went over a fence into the yard of Zho Luo also known as "Andy". The Children asked Andy to retrieve the ball but he refused.

Stepfather Charged For Beating Stepson
And while that businessman was way, way out of line in beating someone else's child, a stepfather might argue that he did have that right. But, police say he went too far. Still, the court has accused a a Belize Defence Force soldier of hammering his stepson.

Equal Opportunities Bill: Putting Discrimination On Notice
The Equal Opportunities Bill has been in the headlines all month and this morning the National Aids committee in partnership with the Office of the Special Envoy held a breakfast meeting to sensitize the media to the draft of the bill. They claim will improve the lives of all Belizeans, but public opinion is polarized. As we've told you the bill was created to address the social ills that result from 19 different forms of discrimination. But the National Aids Commission says that it was very much inspired by the stigma long experienced by Belizeans with positive HIV statuses.

Fisheries Resource Bill Is Law, Finally
And while that is in the draft stage, another important bill that spent almost a decade languishing at the draft stage has passed the house and senate. It's the Fisheries Resources Bill and its passage is being hailed as a victory for the environmental and fishing communities after years of consultations, lobbying and law drafting. One that is hoped to translate into the real dividends for fisher folks, the environment and in the long term for Belize's sustainable management of fisheries resources. With unanimous support in the House and Senate,, the new and comprehensive Bill replaces a seven decade old law with one that comes with trumpets blaring of sweepingly modernizing Belize's small-scale fishing industry.

Ambush and Holdup In South
A duo of butane gas delivery men was ambushed, robbed and assaulted in San Isidro Village in Southern Belize. It happened shortly after noon on Monday when 20-year-old Juan Alberto Sanchez received a call requesting a gas delivery. Sanchez told police that he and his sideman, 21-year-old Kevin Panagua, headed to Banana Farm 4 but before they could get there, they found their path to a wooden bridge blocked by large stones spread across the road.

Coastal Caretaker Roughed Up
Last night another set of masked men robbed, restrained, and roughed up a caretaker on the Coastal Road. 53-year-old Jorgitio Romero says that at noon 2 dark skin men approached the gate of the farm he manages and asked if they could go to the river. Romero opened the gate for them and then turned to re-enter the house. That's when the men, whose faces were covered with red and white rags used a firearm to hit him to the side of the head.

Channel 5

Herman Longsworth is Fired
There is a report tonight that the Consul General in New York, Herman Longsworth is heading back home abruptly and has been fired. Longsworth, as you know was named in [...]

3 Days Later – Alison MacKenzie is Still Missing!
Where is Alison MacKenzie? The forty-three-year-old tourist from the United States remains missing tonight after she vanished during an overnight tour on Rendezvous Caye.  What should have been a short, [...]

Dredging in Hol Chan near Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye
Illegal dredging activities are threatening the coral reefs of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve which lies between San Pedro and Caye Caulker.  News Five has received a number of documents [...]

Fisheries Make 400-Pound Nassau Grouper Bust
In another illegal activity, the Belize Fisheries Department and Police carried out a joint operation in Dangriga that led to a bust of over four hundred pounds of out-of-season Nassau [...]

Nassau Grouper Critically Endangered; Fish Has Protection in Belize
In the past, as recent as last year, we’ve reported on the Nassau Grouper and why Belize has taken steps to protect this species.  The fish is facing an extremely [...]

Caller Suffers Massive Heart Attack On-Air
It was not unusual for sixty-seven-year-old Keith Swift to call in and participate in the Wake Up Belize Morning Vibes on Krem Radio.  On Monday morning, the Mosul Street resident [...]

Darell Duran is Shot on Arlington Drive
Twenty-five-year-old Darell Duran was targeted by a lone gunman on Monday night as he walked along Arlington Drive in Belize City.  Sometime before eight o’clock, police were called to the [...]

Premium Gas Price Goes Up
There is another jump in the prices of fuel. At midnight, the price per gallon of premium fuel will sell at ten dollars and ninety-nine cents, just under the eleven [...]

Criminal Charges Forthcoming Following Revelations in Auditor General’s Reports?
As much as half a million dollars was found to be embezzled at the National Sports Council between April first, 2015 to March thirty-first, 2016.  A report by the Auditor [...]

The Pickle that is Julian Cho Tech
The Julian Cho Technical High School also finds itself in is a quagmire as the secondary institution continues to operate without a principal.  To make matters worse, former principal Dr. [...]

$1.3M to Build Substandard Classrooms at Julian Cho Tech
According to Requeña, a teacher was awarded a contract for one point three million dollars to build classrooms at Julian Cho.  The quality of work, he says, was well below [...]

Kareem Michael Returns to Central Bank; New Liquidator for CBL Appointed, Again!
Julian Murillo is the new liquidator for Choice Bank Limited beginning today and remains as the liquidator of Atlantic International Bank Limited. The announcement was made by the Central Bank [...]

What the Equal Opportunities Bill is NOT About
Public consultations have taken place countrywide on the controversial Equal Opportunities Bill.  This morning, the media gathered at the Radisson Fort George in Belize City, at the invitation of the [...]

Bill Removes System Barriers to Prevent Discrimination
While the Bill makes reference to the LGBT community, it is only one of nineteen vulnerable groups identified in the proposed anti-discrimination law. The Bill speaks to four categories: conduct, [...]

But What About Political Discrimination?
But what does the bill contemplate about cases of political victimization or discrimination? According to section thirty-eight of the proposed legislation, (Quote) “discrimination on the basis of political opinion shall [...]

Equal Opportunities Bill Proposes to Allow HIV Testing from Age 16
The proposed legislation also deals with HIV prevention and care. The 2018 statistics from the Ministry of Health show that there were two hundred and fifty-four new infected persons with [...]

Belize Monitoring Coronavirus Outbreak
The Ministry of Health here in Belize is monitoring the outbreak of new Chinese corona virus. The virus has infected hundreds since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December. [...]

M.O.H. Minister Meets with Nursing Task Force
The Nursing Task Force says that no agreement was reached on critical issues during a meeting with Ministry of Health officials on Monday. Health Minister Pablo Marin, along with C.E.O. [...]

Caribbean Leaders Meet in Kingston, Jamaica
In a matter that has regional importance, the prime ministers of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago are not participating in a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. [...]

Belize Ascends to Caribbean Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agency
Turning to Monday’s senate sitting; aside from debate on the new Contractor General and the Caracol road expansion, two resolutions were passed.  The first authorizes the accession by Belize to [...]

Belize Has No National Accreditation Agency
The second resolution that was passed dealt with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The Senate ratified the agreement establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training. [...]

The National Screening Tour of Belize’s First Animated Movie
The national screening tour for Tecuani and Duende, Belize’s first animated movie comes to the Mexican Cultural Institute in Belize City tonight. It is one of the last stops for [...]

Amandala

Belize Counsel General to New York, Herman Longsworth terminated!
Herman Longsworth, the former United Democratic Party area representative for the Albert constituency, who served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Dean Barrow as Minister of State in the Ministry of Sports, was reportedly fired from his post as Counsel General at the Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations.

US tourist disappears off Rendezvous Caye
Alison MacKenzie, 43, an American national who went on a Raggamuffin catamaran tour from Caye Caulker to Rendezvous Caye, Belize District, which should have been a two-night, 3-day tour, from Friday to Sunday, disappeared on Saturday morning. An intense search has been launched by the Belize Coast Guard and the police to find her, and tonight, police confirmed to Amandala that she has not yet been found.

Sports Council Audit Report needs to go to the police, Barrow tells House
Audit reports on the National Sports Council and Julian Cho Technical High School were tabled in the House of Representatives this morning by Prime Minister Dean Barrow. Both audit reports paint a disturbing picture of apparent mishandling of public funds at the two government-controlled institutions. The audit report on the National Sports Council, which covers the period April 2015 to March 2016, catalogues a litany of irregularities in how public funds were handled at the National Sports Council, and it has uncovered hundreds of thousands of dollars that cannot be accounted for – to be exact, $416,228.25.

New Guat president wants renewed ties with Belize
Alejandro Giammattei, the new Guatemalan president, was sworn in last Tuesday, January 14. Belize’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Faber, attended the swearing-in ceremony in Guatemala City. Giammattei asked for a meeting with Belize Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow. Guatemala’s new president has expressed his wish to re-establish ties with Belize in the areas of tourism and trade. A meeting between Prime Minister Barrow and Giammattei is reportedly being planned.

On air, WUB caller died of an apparent cardiac arrest
A caller died with a phone in his hand while talking to a talk show host, something that to our knowledge, has never happened before in Belize. Around 33 minutes into the Wake Up Belize Morning Vibes (WUB) show, the caller gained access to the WUB airwaves and he raised the issue of the Coronavirus that was recently discovered in China, and said that Belize health authorities should begin screening Asians coming into the country.

Hon. Edmond Castro involved in non-fatal traffic accident
The Hon. Edmond “Clear the Land” Castro, Minister of Transport and NEMO, was involved in a non-fatal traffic accident this afternoon at Mile 4 on the George Price Highway. The minister was driving from Belize City to Belmopan when on his arrival at Mile 4, he was overtaking a vehicle when another vehicle that was coming from the opposite direction collided head-on with his vehicle.

Vehicle runs off bridge in St. Margaret and falls into creek
At about 7:30 Friday evening, a vehicle in which a couple and their two daughters were traveling from Belize City to Placencia, missed the bridge at St. Margaret on the Hummingbird Highway, overturned and fell into the creek below. Luckily, the driver of a vehicle that was traveling behind them saw what happened, and rushed to their rescue, and took them out of their vehicle.

Bus collides with pickup on George Price Goldson Highway
A Westline bus traveling to Belize City from Belmopan collided with a pickup that was traveling from the opposite direction, from Belize City to Belmopan.

Chief Justice files defense in Bar Association lawsuit
In the fixed date claim brought against the Hon. Kenneth Benjamin, the Chief Justice of Belize, by the Bar Association of Belize, the Chief Justice has filed a first affidavit, which he swore to, on January 7, 2020. The Bar Association of Belize has filed a civil lawsuit in which the Chief Justice of Belize has been named as the 1st defendant, the Solicitor General as a member of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission is named as the 2nd defendant...

$100.00 counterfeit USD found in Corozal Town
Operations conducted in Corozal Town this morning resulted in the discovery of a parcel containing $100.00 counterfeit USD, buried in an abandoned lot in Skeleton Town.

Belize City discusses the Equal Opportunities Bill
The conversation concerning the Equal Opportunities Bill made its way to Belize City on Thursday, January 16, at the St. John’s College Gymnasium. As previously stated by the Anti-Discrimination Steering Committee, the bill has been drafted utilizing over twenty years of data collected from all sectors of Belize with the intent to reduce discrimination for all people living in the country.

Government appoints Omar Mitchell as Contractor General
An agreement was signed this morning between the Belize Civil Aviation Authority (COCESNA), and another company, INDRA, for the procurement of a new primary radar at a cost of BZ$12 million, which will be a great step up from the secondary radar, which is being used as a primary radar. Among its many benefits, the primary radar will enable Belize law enforcement officials to more effectively track drug planes.

Belize signs agreement for much-needed primary radar
An agreement was signed this morning between the Belize Civil Aviation Authority (COCESNA), and another company, INDRA, for the procurement of a new primary radar at a cost of BZ$12 million, which will be a great step up from the secondary radar, which is being used as a primary radar. Among its many benefits, the primary radar will enable Belize law enforcement officials to more effectively track drug planes.

Editorial: UDP insists PUP more corrupt. Really?
At every press conference and sitting of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, vociferously declares that his United Democratic Party (UDP) government is not as dishonest as the People’s United Party (PUP) under Musa (former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Said Musa). It’s a bad joke to many. Fantastically enough, Mr. Barrow is dead serious in his opinion.

Defending champs, Tiger Sharks defeat Defenders in NEBL 2020 season opener
The National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) tipped off its 2020 opening season on Saturday night in San Pedro Town, as the defending champions, San Pedro Tiger Sharks hosted Belize City Defenders. Both teams got off to a good start, as the score was knotted at 26 apiece at the end of the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, the home team was able to open a 14-point lead, and held a 10-point lead, 50 – 40, going into the half.

San Pedro Town Council Co-ed Softball Tournament reg. season ends; playoffs start Sunday
The regular season was completed with 2 games played yesterday, Sunday, January 19 at the Louis “Cuz” Sylvester Sports Complex in the San Pedro Town Council Co-ed Softball Tournament 2019-2020, which commenced back on November 10, 2019.

Tight contests in Week 2 of PLB 2019-2020 Closing Season
Except for an 11-0 aberration in the Bandits FC blow-out of Placencia Assassins FC in Week 1 of the Premier League of Belize (PLB) 2019-2020 Closing Season, it has been tight races in games so far in the two completed weeks of competition. There were two draw games in Week 1, 0-0 between Altitude FC and defending champs, Verdes FC; and 1-1 between Wagiya SC and San Pedro Pirates FC.

Let’s call it by its name!
As a scientist, who is tired of this parrotization, and with the advent of a controversial bill proposal challenging Belize’s sociocultural and constitutional values and in exercise of my constitutional rights, I am hereby obliged to share my knowledge and opinions of this issue, which stems from erroneous conceptualization nationally and internationally of the term sex and the coining of the word “homosexuality” or “homosexualism”.

A thousand is good, but the franchise is better
I hate to interfere with anyone’s windfall, because I don’t like to cut in on people’s winnings and I don’t like for people to hate me —no, Sir, I don’t —but sometimes things have to be said. Mr. Lee Mark Chang deserves praise for stepping up and contributing so handsomely to the feeding program of Brother Dara and his wife, Sister Melonie. I understand that Brother Chang is not in need of anything material, so he can afford to not get mad with me if my say helps to put a little dent in his cash flow.

An old-fashioned Easter holiday at caye! Jerome and Jewel are special guests!
One day in early April not long after Little One’s passing, I hailed Jewel as she went by my work station on her way to the Maternity Ward, being curious about the sober expression she was wearing; and asked what could be on her mind on this beautiful day to cause her to look like that? She had immediately changed to her close-mouthed smile and replied that nothing was out of the ordinary. However, being by now familiar with her ways, I had left her alone and waited for her to speak if and when she was ready, as I felt sure there was something about which she was not happy.

We want a referendum on the anti-freedom “Equal Opportunities Bill”
Dear Editor, The government wants to pass a piece of legislation called the “Equal Opportunities Bill”, which is supposed to eliminate discrimination in Belize. Based on what it contains, I think a better name would be the “Anti-Freedom Bill,” because I foresee people of conscience being brought to penury and some even being sent to jail. At the Thursday night consultations held in Belize City last week, the CEO of the Ministry of Human Development said, “Nobody should be discriminated against, and the government has a duty to ensure that this is so”.

Romel Cuello on the new plastics law
Dear Editor, The Environmental Protection (Pollution from Plastics) 2020 legislation has been signed into effect on January 15, and many people are happy. But some are sad, especially the food vendors who supply the lower-income consumers. Biodegradable articles will raise their expenses by at least 20% minimum, much higher on some items. Consumers on fixed income will really feel the pinch, especially those who commute and have to eat from the food vendors.

Kwabena Boadu, from Ghana, writes
Dear Editor, I’m Kwabena Boadu from Ghana. I got your email address from sister Barbara Norales, who is my connection on LinkedIn. My attention was drawn when l realised she was from Belize, a nation of my heart, due to my political mentor, Brother Whelhem Buller, also known as Odinga Lumumba. I introduced him to our former president, H. E. Jerry John Rawlings, before he became president, and he became friends with him during his presidency, and after.

New China virus: Fourth person dies as human-to-human transfer confirmed
A fourth person in China has died from a new virus that has spread rapidly across the country, as authorities confirmed that it can be passed from person-to-person. A 89-year-old man was the latest victim of the new strain of coronavirus, which causes a type of pneumonia. He was living in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak.

The Reporter

Teacher Punched In The Face By Parent: Teeth Knocked-Out
The Reporter has confirmed that a woman is in Police custody after she attacked and punched a teacher in the face this morning.

Darrell Duran Shot On Arlington Dr. In Belize City
A man is listed in stable condition at the KHMH after he was shot last night. At 7:40pm Police were called to the KHMH where they saw Darrell Duran, 25, with a gunshot wound to the hand.

‘Who or What’ Is Harming The Pelicans
Twice yesterday we received calls about pelicans with horribly broken wings. Both birds had their right wings broken with the bones completely exposed, and although they had close to identical injuries.

Violators Of Nassau Grouper Regulation Will Face Hefty Fines
A joint operation between Dangriga Police and the Fisheries Department has led to the discovery of over 400 pounds of Nassau grouper. The bust was made on a property in Dangriga.

LOVE FM

Beyond the Horizon initative comes back to Belize
The US humanitarian initiative, Beyond the Horizon, is coming back to Belize this year. The last time, this initiative took place was in 2017 in southern Belize.

Missing Person responds
It has been four days since 16-year-old Jareth Herrera, of Orange Town, was reported missing. Herrera was last seen about 7:30 am on Friday when she left home to go to school at ITVET in Orange Walk Town.

Search expanded for missing American woman
The Belize Coast Guard has expanded the area of their search for American national, Alison MacKenzie who remains missing tonight. Love News understands that the search efforts are now in the vicinity of Alligator Caye; an estimated seven miles northwest of Rendezvous Caye.

US Embassy not briefed on Lev Dermen trial
Last week Love News broke the story of the Lev Dermen scandal. Since then Belizeans have been closely following its development and the papers coming out of the US District Court. The trial is set to begin in six days, and it is the hope of many that the two Government personnel who took bribes will be officially named.

Search continues for a Chief of Nurse
The hiring for a Deputy Director of Health Services who also serves as the Chief Nurse, continues. Yesterday we told you that the Nursing taskforce met with the Minister of Health as well as Director of Health Services.

Ministry of Health monitoring Coronavirus
Nearly 300 persons on Mainland China have been infected with a virus dubbed the Wuhan Coronavirus; six of whom have passed away. The outbreak reportedly started in a seafood and poultry market back in December.

Norm or Harm?
A woman has taken her boyfriend to court for disciplining her six-year-old son. The child’s mother reported to police that her partner, Kenneth Arzu used a belt to lash the little boy because he wasn’t getting his spelling assignments correct.

Questionable actions and transactions reported at LICU
Tonight, there may be somewhat of a déjà vu occurring at La Inmaculada Credit Union in Orange Walk. Our newsroom has been working at getting the details but no one is spilling the beans just yet.

Gas price increase
As of midnight tonight, fuel prices at the pumps will be adjusted. Premium will increase by 27 cents and will go from 10.72 to 10.99 per gallon. All other fuel prices will remain the same. Regular Gasoline, Kerosene, and Diesel will remain unchanged at $10.28, $7.77 and $10.29 per gallon, respectively.

Breaking Belize News

Premium to increase by 27 cents
The Ministry of Finance announced that effective midnight, the pump price for Premium Gasoline will […]

National AIDS Commission moving forward with consultations on Equal Opportunities Bill
Following the conclusion of its countrywide tour of public consultations on the proposed Equal Opportunities […]

Trinidad, Barbados plan to boycott meeting with US Secretary of State
Two Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados have announced their decision to boycott a […]

Green Climate Fund Project hosts Inception Workshop
Since 2015, Belize has engaged with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to improve access […]

Team CORE takes annual Boom to Manatee Canoe race
The three-man canoe team “CORE” are the first place winners of the 12th Annual Boom […]

Belize City man shot on Arlington Drive
Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that occurred last night. Darell Duran, 25, was walking […]

First case of China coronavirus identified in Washington
International media reports indicate that a man in Washington, USA has been diagnosed with […]

New Fisheries Bill approved by Senate, on its way to Governor-General
This week, the Senate approved Belize’s new Fisheries Resources Bill, which will see much-needed changes […]

Fake social media page of Attorney General reported
The Government of Belize informs that there is a fraudulent Facebook account with the name […]

Medical schools downplay Medical Council de-listing
The tandem of Columbus Central University and Washington University of Health Sciences insist their recent […]

Ministry of Health monitors international alerts regarding coronavirus
The Ministry of Health has issued a statement informing all Belizeans that it is aware […]

Ministry of Health meets with Nursing Task Force
On Monday, January 20 the Minister of Health, Pablo Marin met with the nursing task […]

Blogs

Activities for Cruise Ship Visitors in Belize
As you arrive in the port, you need not worry; tendering is speedy; twenty minutes, and you will arrive at your first stop, The Tourist Village. Expect a typical tourist atmosphere of eateries, International shopping sites, coffee shops, duty-free and bars, and music. This is your starting point for all excursions. There are several landmarks of Historic interest within walking distance from the port. There is the Baron Bliss Lighthouse overlooking the Harbor in the most typically colonial neighborhood left, near the decades-old Fort George area. You can walk along the streets along the riverside and browse the shops.

Top 5 Things for Kids to do in Belize
When planning a family vacation, it tends to become stressful when trying to decide on activities that everyone will enjoy. Especially if there are small children involved; you need to find activities that will also be suitable and age-appropriate for them. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with a list of exciting but safe, child-friendly activities here in Belize.

International Sources

Latin America News Business Awards 2019
Congratulations to Hidden Valley Inn, Table Rock Lodge, and Thatch Caye Resort on winning awards from Latin America News Business Awards 2019! Hidden Valley took home Best Nature Reserve & Jungle Resort Lodge, with Table Rock and Thatch Caye being awarded Best Boutique & Rainforest Lodge and Best Tropical Island Award respectively.

Videos

January 21, 2020

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

2019 NEBL champions San Pedro Tiger Sharks win season opener against Belize City Defenders
The opening of the 2020 National Elite Basketball League (NEBL) season saw its defending champions, the San Pedro Tiger Sharks, netting their first win against Belize City Defenders on Saturday, January 18th. The first game of the season was held at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium, where the island team overcame the Belize City team 99-90. The player of the match was Tiger Sharks’ Martevious Adams, who scored 24 points. Francis Arana landed 15 points and Jihad Wright had 13.

Ambergris Today

Legal Declaration Of The North-Eastern Biological Corridor Through Statutory Instrument
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration signed into law an order to declare the North-eastern Biological Corridor which comes into effect on January 22, 2020. The enactment of this order carries out Cabinet’s decision to protect important forests situated in the sugar cane belt in order to protect the biological connectivity of protected areas and safeguard the ecosystem services provided by these forests, including watershed preservation and rain formation.

American Tourist Missing In Belize
Belize Police are on the search for an American National, Alison McKenzie of Arizona, who has been reported missing after going on a camping trip at Rendezvous Caye. A missing persons report was filled by 58-year-old Paige Rote, an American Musician of Colorado, who told police that on January 17, 2019, he was on a tour along with the 43-year-old American and 16 other persons. They camped for the night at Rendezvous Caye in Belize and about 6am when Rote woke up, McKenzie was nowhere to be found.

Various Belizean Sources

Belize Hotel Association 2020 Marketing Trends Webinar
Join our FREE webinar on Wednesday, January 29th, 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. to hear from Christian Villalva Business Development Manager, Expedia Group, as he shares the top 2020 marketing trends, best practices and technology for your business. Christian is a Business Development Manager for Expedia Group, leading Marketing Online initiatives for Central America & Mexico.

2020 EL GRAN CARNAVAL DE SAN PEDRO!
Let us welcome the new year with San Pedro's very own and unique tradition - EL GRAN CARNAVAL DE SAN PEDRO! Check out the dates! Are you ready? More details coming soon!

Missing Person Report
Paige Rote, 58-year-old, an American Musician of Colorado, USA, reported that on Friday, January 17th, 2020, he was on a tour along with Alison Mac Kenzie, 43-year-old, American National of Arizona, USA, and others; they camped for the night at Rendezvous Caye, Belize District, and about 6:00 a.m., on Saturday, January 18th, 2020, he woke up and discovered that Alison Mac Kenzie was nowhere to be found. Police are investigating.

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: JANUARY 12, 2020 THROUGH JANUARY 19, 2020
Last week, El Pescador hosted two large "family and friends" groups. Our big group was a wonderful family of 18 from Wisconsin ( Great Green Bay Fans !) In this party, Luke took an excellent 30 Lb Permit! In our "Boston" group, Chris & Tyler took good Permit and Bonefish, respectively.

COLUMBUS CENTRAL UNIVERSITY & WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES SUSPECTED OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING & MONEY LAUNDERING
The Medical Council of India has de-recognized or de-listed two medical universities in Belize namely Columbus Central University based on the Airport Road, Ladyville, Belize District and Washington University of Health Sciences, based out of San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye. Indian students attending these schools are now not able to be professionally licensed in India. Both the Council and Embassy of India to Mexico and Belize received and noted several irregularities and deficiencies in the two universities including lack of staff and facilities including a proper laboratory.

Fisheries Resources Bill Passes
A historic day in the Senate today, 20/01/20, when we passed the Fisheries Resources Bill, after 10 years of hard work by many people. The Bill had unanimous support in the Senate, as well as bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives last Friday. When enacted, the Fisheries Resources Act will provide the legal framework to effectively implement and support all the advances Belize has made in managing small scale fisheries. The Fisheries Resources Act is embedded in the principles of the ecosystems approach to fisheries which is critical to secure long term stewardship of small scale vulnerable fishers, the requirement for management plans for fisheries, and the legalization of the Fisheries Advisory Council to ensure broad stakeholder input in policy, development and management, among many other important features.

Steering Committee Meets Belize Council of Churches to discuss the Equal Opportunities Bill
Today, the Anti•Discrimination Steering Committee met with the Belize Council of Churches represented by Bishop Phillip Wright, Canon Rev'd. LeRoy Flowers, Rev'd. Lizbeth Tulloch and Rev'd. Lynda Moguel of the Anglican Diocese of Belize, Bishop Lawrence Nicasio of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize, Major Jonathan Kellman of the Salvation Army and Pastor Ernest Betson of the Unity Presbyterian Church. The Council of Churches were given a detailed overview of the Equal Opportunities Bill, in particular on how it ensures religion is a protected characteristic under the proposed legislation.

Belize Digital Media announces successful launch of The Belize Travelcast, the first destination-focused travel podcast for the country of Belize
Belize Digital Media, a division of Lets Go Belizing LTD (Belizing.com) is proud to announce the successful launch of The Belize Travelcast, a first of its kind podcast series that provides authentic and relevant Belize travel stories and advice to a worldwide audience. The Belize Travelcast is the first of its kind destination-focused podcast for the Belize travel market, which sees over 450,000 overnight visitors and over 1 million cruise visitors each year. Each episode of The Belize Travelcast is an engaging conversation that delivers useful travel tips and advice, discusses authentic visitor experiences, and provides relevant updates on the Belize tourism industry and important issues affecting the environment, culture, and economy of Belize.

Hon. Pablo Marin meets with Nursing Task Force
This morning the Minister of Health, Hon. Pablo Marin met with the Nursing Task Force at the Ministry's conference room in Belmopan. The meeting was to discuss the critical issues of concern as outlined in a January 9th, 2020 press release issued by the Force. The Minister along with other management staff were able to share with the force members that the interview and selection of a suitable candidate for the post of Deputy Director of Health Services for Nursing had concluded and forwarded to the Ministry of the Public Service for further action.

The Belize Travelcast
Belize has a new podcast. Belizing.com has a whole series of podcast interviews, with Javier Gutierrez as the host. The first episode is an interview with Jim Scott, and the 2nd and 3rd are with the creator and head of the Belize Raptor Center. It's Cayo based, so they've had mostly Cayo people on the podcast.

3rd Belize National Research Conference
Getting ready for the 3rd Belize National Research Conference by reminding you of how interesting it is. Be sure to join us for this year's Belize National Research Conference at the San Ignacio Hotel Conference Room on March 25th and 26th, 2020.

Channel 7

American Woman Disappears on Rendezvous Caye
A 48-year-old American woman has been missing for over 60 hours. Alison MacKenzie came to Belize along with her boyfriend Paige Rote last month. The couple intended to stay in the country until May, but on Friday they joined an overnight sailing tour from Caye Caulker that took them and 13 others to beautiful Rendezvous Caye. That's where Alison disappeared. On Saturday morning at departure time, Rote informed the Boat Captain fro Raggamuffin Tours that Mackenzie was nowhere to be found Today Sr. Superintendent Hilberto Romero told us that ahead of her disappearance Alison MacKenzie had been drinking.

Clear Di Road! Castro's Range Rover Rams Into Ranger
He's the Minister of Transport, but that didn't save Edmond Castro on the George Price highway today when he violently rear ended a pickup - causing major damage to the front end of his Range Rover. Best information says that around 3:00 pm, the westbound Ford Ranger pickup was turning left 100 feet before the Coast Guard junction. But - reports suggest - he didn't pull over to the shoulder of the road to turn - but stayed right in his lane on the highway.

Daredevil Defies Death
A Mennonite daredevil is recovering tonight after a scary accident yesterday. It was an annual motocross event at Spanish Lookout where riders perform stunts and jumps on a specially designed track. But, as this cell phone video shows, the young rider seems to have misjudged his speed, and went way too high on a jump - about 20 feet in the air, and, then on the descent, he did a sharp nosedive, and was flung to the ground, as the unmanned motorbike hopped along.

Lady Adventure Guide Saves Family After Vehicle Plunges Into Stream
A family of four was saved by a fearless adventure guide after their SUV plunged off a bridge and into a stream. It happened on Saturday night in Saint Margaret's village - at mile 31 on the Hummingbird Highway. The lady tour guide jumped into the water along with a man form the village to pull the family out. But while they were doing that, others were busy robbing the vehicle of its tires. Police did not comment on the incident today calling it minor.

Man Survives Murder Attempt in Bella Vista
24-year-old Edinelson Clavel barely escaped an attempt on his life in Bella Vista on Friday night. And this morning assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Myvette told us That while Clavel knows his assailant they have only been acquainted for a couple of months. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head of NCIB: "On Saturday last sometime around 8:00 pm police were called to Bella Vista village at an apartment building where one Edilson Clavel reported to police that whilst inside his room in the company of two of his friends they were approached by a male person..."

Salvadorean Wanted for "Organized Terrorism"� Caught Belle Vista
And one clue as to what led to that violent attack comes from information received form police sources. We are told that this morning, Special Branch launched an operation in the village to catch a 25 year old man from Salvador who is wanted for what is being termed "organized terrorism".

AG Wants To See The Evidence
The trial of Jacob Kingston is expected to start in Salt Lake City, Utah in a week's time - and while many in the UDP are walking on eggshells leading up to that date, the Attorney General says he cannot wait to hear what comes out of it. We spoke to Mike Peyrefitte after today's senate meeting where, first off, we asked him if he knew Lev Dermen: Jules Vasquez- Reporter: "You have known many famous and infamous people. Did you know Lev Dermen or Levon as he was known in Belize? What were your dealings with him?"

Should UDP Postpone Nat'l Convention?
But, with all this uncertainty swirling, should the UDP postpone its National Convention on February 9th? After all, the evidence in the case could implicate one of the two men aspiring for leadership. Today, Peyrefitte - who will be endorsed as Chairman said no delay is necessary: Reporter: "Are you able to say if delaying the convention is something the UDP is looking at in light of the fact that there are variabilities with the 2 potential candidates for leader since there is this pending issue out there about who was receiving money from Mr. Lev Dermen?"

AG Will Wait And See On Audit Reports
And while the Lev Dermen case is one matter, the other facing the UDP are two two reports from the Auditor General covering significant acts of corruption and crookedness at the National Sports Council and Julian Cho Technical High School. The Commissioner of Police says he is already seized of the reports and is setting up a team of investigators.

New Contractor General Wins Unanimous Senate Support
We caught Peyrefitte after today's Senate Meeting where they debated a number of important bills. But not everything was a debate - at least two items got near unanimous support. One of them was the appointment of Omar Mitchell for the long vacant post of Contractor General. His professional reputation was widely praised, but there were questions about the support he needs:.. Osmany Salas, NGO Senator: "As we already had the opportunity to review this very impressive CV, Mr. Mitchell is obviously highly trained in the area of construction design and is very experienced. I feel confident enough to say that Mr. Mitchell has the expertise and experience and we should give him the opportunity to serve as Contractor General."

Senate Confusion About Caracol Contract
And while there could be no question about Omar Mitchell's integrity, there was a whole lot to say about the soundness of a contract that the Senate Wants him to review. That is for Phase Two of the Caracol Road paving from Blancaneux Lodge to Caracol. There was some dispute about the phasing of the project:.. Mark Lizarraga- Senator: "But when we look at all these documents I have been having the greatest of difficulty reconciling one with the next because there is no consistency in the plan, there is no consistency in the numbers, there is no consistency in the descriptions. In this document that Dr. Barnett sent to us it said section 1 was for 18 kilometers, section 2 was for 24, and it gave descriptions of where it was..."

San Antonio and the Burning Red Bags
For weeks now we have been reporting on the situation in San Antonio Village in the Toledo District. Resident and the are representatives have been complaining bitterly on the media, on facebook, and in the House of Representatives about the medical waste being burned in the open at the village polyclinic. They say the red bag waste is a biohazard, and it befouls the air, and could even seep into their groundwater. After weeks of silence, the Ministry of Health finally responded today.

Julian Cho, the Many Irregularities
And, keeping it in the south, we';ve told you about the damning report on National Sports Council, but there's also another Auditor General's Report On Julian Cho Technical High School for the period 2014 to 2016. On Friday we told you about management of the contracting process for infrastructural works and key information technology, vehicle and school equipment. The glaring concerns in those areas were for the complete lack of adherence to the finance and audit procedures and the conflict of interest raised by lax procurement processes for equipment and vehicles. The remaining sections of the report give rise to major concerns as to the financial management overall for the education institution.

Basketball Fight Leads To Shooting
An argument on a basketball court over the weekend in San Andres, Corozal left 37-year-old Marlon Allen Palacio taking cover for his life. It happened on Sunday night when at about 8:30 pm Palacio was involved in an altercation with another man on the basketball court. Here's what police had to say about how the incident played out. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head of NCIB: "Last night around 8:30 pm police responded to a shooting incident in San Andres Village Corozal district where Marlon Palacio 37 years of San Andres village reported to police..."

Security Guard Tied Up At Happy Inn
A hotel security guard was allegedly attacked by three men while in his guard hut. It happened on Saturday night at about 7:30 at "Happy HAPPY Inn" near Belmopan. 33-year-old Ermis Paz was alone on the property. His employer had left for a short trip to Belize City when he was choked until he blacked out. And today police told us what Paz'a assailant's stole. ACP Joseph Myvette, Head of NCIB: "Yesterday sometime around 2:30 pm the proprietor of Happy Inn along with her security visited the Belmopan police station and reported that on Saturday sometime around 7:30 pm..."

Tourist Fined Bot Confined After Caught With Cocaine
The Magistrate Courts today handed down a one thousand dollar fine to a tourist after he was was caught on Caye Caulker with 1.3 grams of cocaine - less than one tenth of an ounce. 23 year old American archaeologist Alex Shumaker 23 was stopped in the on Crocodile Street during a routine police patrol. A police search turned up the drugs.

PETAL Wants Anti-Discrimination Conversation Widened
The anti-discrimination bill proposed for passage in the early months of this year has fuelled spirited national debate. The consultations traveling nationwide have drawn crowds. But, so far, the attention has centered predominantly on the religious community - particularly the evangelical churches. Particularly large crowds were observed in belmopan and punta gorda for the events held in those municipalities. Simone Hill, activist of PETAL - promoting empowerment through awareness for les/bi women today shared the concerns of her organization.

Dollars For Dara
The response to his plea for help has been nothing short of encouraging. Just two weeks ago, Joel Dara Robinson bemoaned that he soon may not be able to feed the 50 plus children who had grown accustomed to his warm lunch daily. His call went out but did not fall on deaf ears The most recent to join the list of entities offering help is the Belize Tourism Board with a one thousand dollar donation. The funds were presented this morning at the organization's office on Regent Street.

Channel 5

American Tourist Goes Missing at Rendezvous Caye
An American woman is missing in Belize and her family is desperately trying to find her. Tourist Alison MacKenzie has been in Belize since December and on Friday she and [...]

Michael Peyrefitte Met Lev Dermen; Denies Taking Bribes
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte says he met the infamous fraudster, Lev Dermen, through former P.U.P. Minister Ralph Fonseca.  Dermen’s name has appeared in all major headlines last week, causing the [...]

AG Eager to Know Which Cabinet Minister Took Bribes from Lev Dermen
So who was the cabinet minister who received twenty-five thousand dollars monthly? Fingers are being pointed to one specific senior U.D.P. minister and according to the Prime Minister his ministers [...]

Senate Debate on Caracol Loan Motion Gets Heated
Sparks flew inside the National Assembly today, forcing President Darrell Bradley to bring order in the Senate. The debate got heated as senators spoke on the ten million U.S. dollar [...]

Migrant Caravan from Honduras Makes Way into Mexico
A group of about one thousand migrants from Honduras and elsewhere from Central America have made their way into Mexico after travelling for several days through neighbouring Guatemala. The migrants [...]

No Migrants Entered Belize
On Friday, the caravan was spotted by the Cadena’s operating base near Belize’s border with Guatemala. The splinter group comprised of about fifteen to twenty persons who authorities feared would [...]

Belize’s Concerns About Migrant Caravan
The National Security Council comprised officials from the ministries of National Security, Human Development and Immigration. While some of the migrants are in search of a better life, others are [...]

Senators Raise Concerns Over Contractor General Appointment
The motion to appoint Omar Mitchell to the post of Contractor General was today ratified by the Senate but not before several senators voiced concerns. Mitchell succeeds Godwin Arzu who [...]

AG Defends G.O.B.’s Contractor General Appointment
Responding to the senators’ concerns was Attorney General and U.D.P. Senator, Michael Peyrefitte. Peyrefitte chastised the senators for pre-empting the works of Mitchell by alluding he would fail at his [...]

AG Finalizing Legal Advice on B.T.L.’s Tax Woes
Belize Telemedia Limited owes millions of dollars in taxes to the Government of Belize – that’s the position of the Belize Tax Service. Financial Secretary Joseph Waight confirmed last week [...]

S.C.A. Leads the Charge for Youth and Climate in 2020
The Saint Catherine Academy says that as they head into their one hundred and thirtieth anniversary, they will be putting the conversation of climate and youth into action on their [...]

M.O.H. and the Nurses Task Force Meet
There was a meeting this morning at the Ministry of Health in Belmopan. The Nurses Task Force has been at odds with the Ministry on a number of issues. According [...]

Will Lev Dermen Scandal Force U.D.P. to Postpone Leadership Convention?
February ninth has been set aside by the United Democratic Department for its leadership convention.  As you know, Patrick Faber and John Saldivar are going head to head to become [...]

Clear the Land Crashes on George Price Highway
Earlier this afternoon, Belize Rural North Area Representative Edmond ‘Clear the Land’ Castro got into a road traffic accident along the George Price Highway.  News Five understands that the Minister [...]

Students Clash at Gwen Liz, Police Called in to Break Up Fight
Gwen Liz High School is back in the news tonight. There was a huge brawl among various groups of students at Gwen Lizarraga High School on Friday which forced classes [...]

Aggravated Burglary at Happy Happy Inn on George Price Highway
A hotel just outside of Belmopan City limits was targeted by armed burglars on Saturday night. While there were no guests at the hotel, a security guard says that he [...]

Shooting in Bella Vista Village, Cayo
There were two acts of gun violence recorded over the weekend in the west in Bella Vista Village and up north in San Andres Village, Corozal. Police are looking for [...]

Gunman Detained in Corozal Shooting
Also in Corozal, a San Andres resident was targeted by a gunman while hanging out on a basketball court in the village. Marlon Palacio escaped serious injury and says the [...]

No to Medical Waste in San Antonio
Over the weekend, residents of San Antonio Village in Toledo District held a protest during which they strongly objected to the disposal of medical waste in a pit dug behind [...]

Auditor General’s Reports Spark Debate on Adjournment
Precipitating the harsh criticisms levied against the Barrow administration on adjournment at Friday’s house meeting was a pair of audit reports presented to PM Barrow back in October.  The results [...]

Why Wasn’t Simeon Coc Called Out by PM Following JCTHS Audit?
Both documents will also be handed over to the Public Accounts Committee chaired by Deputy Leader Julius Espat of the People’s United Party.  While Opposition Leader John Briceño cited a [...]

Fisheries Resources Bill Successfully Tabled and Passed
A new Fisheries Resources Bill was tabled in the House of Representatives on Friday which will aid in making small-scale fisheries more sustainable for marine life, as well as fisher [...]

New Fisheries Bill Also Effective for Inland Resources
Orange Walk South Area Representative, Jose Abelardo Mai spoke of the legislation in the context of the New River crisis of 2019.  According to Mai, the Fisheries Resources Bill also [...]

James Adderly with the Weekend Sporting Stats
Good evening, I’m James Adderly and this is Sports Monday.   [Highlight of weekend sporting activities…]

Amandala

Minister Castro involved in traffic accident
There was a traffic accident Monday near mile 4 on the George Price Highway that involved the Minister of Transport Hon. Edmond Castro. His vehicle collided with a pick truck. No one was seriously injured.

Mother of missing Alison Mackenzie pleads for her return
I WANT MY DAUGHTER BACK – Cherie Mackenzie, mother of Alison Mackenzie, a tourist visting Belize who went missing, pleads for the return of her daughter. “Everyone everywhere I am asking for your help. My daughter Alison disappeared in Belize 2 days ago. We are working with the Belize Police, the American Embassy, and the tour company owner. We have received 3 different stories about what happened that morning. None of them consistent with the others. We are getting no where finding out where she is. It has been 48 hours now, and not only missing, but feared no longer alive.

The Reporter

A New Meeting Agenda: Prime Minister To Meet New Guatemala President
A meeting is being planned between Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the President of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, who took office last week and almost immediately, the new Guatemalan President asked for a meeting with Mr. Barrow to re-establish the ties that Belize and Guatemala once enjoyed in tourism and trade.

Minister Edmond Castro: In Road Traffic Accident
The Reporter has been able to confirm that Minister Edmond Castro was involved in a road traffic accident moments ago near the Police booth at Mile 3.5 on the George Price Highway.

LOVE FM

OPEC loan met with opposition in Senate Meeting
The motions for the loan from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for another 10 million US dollars was met with opposition in today’s Sitting of the Senate. The loan is a part of a project to upgrade the Caracol Road.

Senators approve of new Contractor General
On Friday’s Sitting of the House of Representatives, a new Contractor General was named. Omar Mitchell will be filling the position, which has been vacant for almost two years.

Full support on Fisheries Resources Bill
The long awaited and anticipated Fisheries Resources Bill was reviewed at the Sitting of the Senate meeting held today. As expected, there was not much debate, as all senators were in favor of the bill.

Belizean charged for killing a Guatemalan
Nearly 3 years after being charged with murder, 28-year-old Elmer Carrillo walked away from a free man. Carrillo was accused of killing Guatemalan national Carlos Pop Xol back in 2017.

Family escapes death in car traffic incident
Last Friday night, a family escaped fatal injuries after their vehicle plunged into a creek in St Margaret’s Village. Cayo Correspondent Fem Cruz has the details.

Villagers protest the unhealthy disposal of hospital’s waste
Residents of San Antonio Village, Toledo District gathered in protest on Sunday afternoon, in front of the Isabel Palma Polyclinic. The residents were up in arms over the way the clinic was disposing of its harmful waste.

PUP Leader says the public officers are to blame for the immigration backlog
Leader of the Opposition, John Briceno appeared on today’s Morning Show, venting on several national issues, the current state of the economy and the PUP’s plan on making things right should they be elected in the next general elections. One of the points he brought up was immigration.

Attorney General denies getting money from Lev Derman
The leadership convention for the United Democratic Party is quickly approaching. In this convention slated for February 9, five positions will be filled including that of Party Leader.

Man arraigned for aggravated assault
18-year-old Justin Burns is on remand after he was arraigned on a single charge of aggravated assault. Burns appeared this morning in court #5 before Magistrate Emmerson Banner.

Justin Burns is on remand
18-year-old Justin Burns is on remand after he was arraigned on a single charge of aggravated assault. Burns appeared this morning in court #5 before Magistrate Emmerson Banner.

Chief Nurse soon to be appointed
The appointment of a Deputy Director of Health Services now lies in the hands of the Ministry of Public Service. According to a release from the Ministry of Health, the Minister along with the Director,...

Foreign Service, Ambassador Patrick Andrews soon to retire
After serving almost four years in the Foreign Service, Ambassador Patrick Andrews will be retiring. Prime Minister Dean Barrow confirmed this at last week’s conference.

Where are you? What happened?
Tonight, there is the mysterious disappearance of an American national who was camping at Rendezvous Caye over the weekend. The Arizonian woman has been in Belize for about a month and was scheduled to leave...

Minister of Transport in an Accident
Minister of Transport, Edmond Castro was in a road traffic incident today just after two o’clock. The incident occurred on the George Price Highway at mile four.

Marage charged for unlawful sexual intercourse
An unemployed man was sent to prison today after he was charged with six counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and one count of grievous harm upon a minor.

Breaking Belize News

San Andres shooter detained
Just before 9 o’clock last night, there was a shooting in San Andres, Corozal. Marlon […]

Police and Coast Guard still searching for missing American woman
An American woman is missing after a night on a Belizean island. She is Allison […]

One man detained for Bella Vista shooting
Police have detained one suspect and recovered a firearm he allegedly used in a shooting. […]

PUP congratulates new NAVCO President and Executive
The National Association of Village Councils (NAVCO) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, January […]

Alison MacKenzie’s mom: “I want my daughter back!”
The search for missing American tourist, Alison MacKenzie is still on going. MacKenzie’s family is […]

Raggamuffin Tours issues statement following disappearance of American tourist
Raggamuffin Tours Limited issued a statement this afternoon, following the disappearance of an American tourist […]

San Pablo’s chairman elected President of NAVCO
Chairman of San Pablo village, Orange Walk, Javier Sabido was elected President of the National […]

Accident reported at mile 4 on George Price highway
There was an accident moments ago near mile four on the George Price highway. BBN […]

Student reported missing in Burrell Boom
The family of 14-year-old Ashanti Kerr of Burrell Boom is seeking the public’s assistance in […]

Equal Opportunities Bill consultations continue
On Friday, January 17, the Anti-Discrimination Steering Committee concluded a round of consultations that were […]

Troubled medical schools delisted by Indian Medical Council
The Medical Council of India has de-recognized or de-listed two medical universities in Belize namely […]

Forbes article cites Belize among top 20 places to retire abroad
Forbes Magazine, the popular Unites States-based business magazine, published an article this week listing Belize […]

Elite Basketball returns as champions TigerSharks start defense of title
San Pedro TigerSharks got off to winning ways in their first match of the 2020 […]

Wins for Verdes and BDF in week 2 of Premier League
The Premier League of Belize (PLB) is down to seven teams as the-now Corozal Valley […]

Blogs

A Belizean Care Package: What do your taste buds miss the most from Belize?
We grow up surrounded by all these flavors unique to the different cultures across the country. Belizean dishes can usually be recreated anywhere, with the right ingredients. To this day, I still remember my grandmother buying only one certain brand of red recado, insisting that any other would change the flavor of her meals. It is these little, perhaps peculiar, traditions we grow up with that make it challenging to cook our classic Belizean meals in any other country. My friends living abroad say, “When we miss the tastes from home, that’s when we need our Belizean Care Package!” But what is a Belizean Care Package? It’s mostly food and ingredients we easily find at our corner store here in Belize, but to my friends living abroad, these simple items sent by family can be lifesavers!

A January Sunday on Ambergris Caye
After a few grey WINDY days, the clouds parted…the winds slowed and TAH DAH! The perfect Sunday. Temperature about 78 degrees. (And it’s looking like a beautiful week. Perfect since I’m heading to Caye Caulker for two nights.) No more hanging around the house – it’s time to GET OUT! First thing Sunday morning is Sunday morning Yin Yoga at Ak’Bol Resort at 10am. It is the most low-key slow stretching, low-to-no exertion yoga…I always feel so much better afterward. The gorgeous surroundings absolutely help.

Valentine’s day in Belize
Valentine’s day is quickly approaching and Cupid has its sight on a day at one of Belize’s luxury spas.With its long list of holistic spas and wellness resorts, Belize is also a romantic paradise. Spice up your love life with essential oils orrekindle flames with reiki sessions. Pamper yourself with passion in Belize! Discover our list of Spa’s worth visiting with your significant other when in Belize:

5 Things To Do In Belize This Summer
Any time of the year to visit Belize is the perfect time! But coming here for summer vacation is an exceptional idea. There is so much for you to do in this magnificent country; whether it’s participating in activities on the mainland, visiting the islands, or attending summer events. The list goes on and on, so to ease your mind, these are a few things you can do in Belize this summer.

5 Things to do in Belize this summer
Any time of the year to visit Belize is the perfect time! But coming here for summer vacation is an exceptional idea. There is so much for you to do in this magnificent country; whether it’s participating in activities on the mainland, visiting the islands, or attending summer events. The list goes on and on, so to ease your mind, these are a few things you can do in Belize this summer.

Bus Transportation in Belize
For travelers on a budget, using buses is the most economical way to move around. Prices are extremely low and vary according to distance traveled. The range is from $3.00 to $20. US within the country. Being on a bus will afford you the opportunity to glimpse the diversity of both terrain and culture so intrinsic to Belize. It’s amazing to see the changes along the way. Americans will recognize the buses used in Belize as hand-me-down school buses and re-purposed Greyhound buses.

YOU BETTA BELIZE IT! CHECK OUT CHEERY & CHARMING'S MUST SEE SPOTS (+ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW) IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING A VISIT TO AMBERGRIS CAYE'S GREAT BARRIER REEF!
This past New Year’s Eve, we decided to celebrate a little ‘less’ traditionally: we planned a trip to Ambergris Caye, Belize!! Some of you may know this trip was our second time visiting Belize; our first adventure being on our honeymoon! Throughout our first visit, we realized quickly we loved the country, the scenery, the water, and especially the people and culture so much so that we simply couldn’t get enough. We knew we wanted (and needed) to go back and, after this most recent trip, we still haven’t gotten our fill! If you’re looking for a new spot to add to your travel bucket list, please do yourself the favor in adding this gorgeous destination to your vision board.

International Sources

The Best Places To Retire Abroad In 2020
Forbes has named Belize in their Best Places to Retire in 2020 list! The sole Central American country with English as the official language, Belize offers retirees a warm, outdoor-oriented environment, including fishing and barrier reef diving. Cost of living is quite reasonable. Crime is not a problem outside Belize City. Quality healthcare can be an issue; retirees often return to the U.S.—a two-hour plane ride to Houston—for major medical needs.

Belize Telecommunications Market 2020, Strategic Analysis and Outlook to 2025-Analysis of Belize Mobile, Fixed Telephone and Broadband Markets
Belize Telecom outlook report is a comprehensive analytical research on the Belize’s cellular, fixed telephone and fixed broadband segments. Through detailed analysis of the current market conditions and industry trends, the report analyzes the Belize telecommunications sector.

Tupac Shakur 'spotted alive' in Belize as new photos of a sighting emerge
A private investigator has claimed that the legendary rapper Tupac Shakur is alive, living in Belize and claims to have unseen footage of the star. Jimmy Poole, has been investigating the murder of Tupac, exploring the possibility that the rapper is still alive - after Las Vegas Police Department still have the file open, despite the fact he was shot and later died following an altercation on September 13th, 1996.

Most common surnames in the Caribbean
There is a saying that the one thing you have in this world which no one can take from you is your good name. Many of us share the same surname or last name with other people in this world and you would be surprised to learn what is the most common last name in specific Caribbean countries. The most commonly held surname in Belize is Martinez where 0.05 percent are found with the name. Forebears note the surname Martinez is carried by more people in Mexico than any other country.

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