May 9, 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

UK provides £5 million to help the Caribbean address the impact of COVID-19
The Government of the United Kingdom announced its new support to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in the Caribbean. This support includes £3 million to the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) for the provision of essential medical supplies and management support to help public health systems around the region combat the virus. A further £2 million will be used to scale up assistance for the most vulnerable households, and to help counter domestic violence against women and children.

Island authorities warn of possible Dengue outbreak due to rainy season
The rainy season is fast approaching and with all those refreshing showers comes a new challenge: mosquito season. These blood-sucking insects are already making their presence known in swarms in San Pedro Town. Local authorities are concerned that it could lead to another outbreak of the endemic disease Dengue. Thus, islanders are urged to keep their properties clean to eliminate any potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

May 8, 2020 Statement by Belize Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow
Belize PM Dean Barrow addresses the nation re: COVID-19 Financial: "...we are looking at a larger than 450 million-dollar, pandemic-induced recurrent revenue shortfall for this fiscal year." Health: Once Belize reaches the 28-day milestone of 0 new covid cases, a further relaxation of some of the remaining restrictions will be considered.

Various Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location

Opening of Sea Cucumber Fishery
The Fisheries Department hereby informs fisherfolk with a valid fishing license that the sea cucumber fishery will be open for fishing from May 11 to June 30, 2020 or when the catch quota is realized, whichever is first. The sustainability and long-term viability of the sea cucumber fishery is of utmost importance to all; therefore, fishers are required to adhere to the following regulations:

Belize Emergency Relief helps over 3,000 Belizeans
We are happy to announce we have come in help to over 3,000 Belizeans in need over the last month, with the help of our private donations and all your generous contributions on our GOFUNDME page!! We are humbled by your kind support toward our efforts.

The Artist of the Day, Kelvin Baizar
So many of the activities that we call “fun” are simply depleting our bank accounts. Not wanting to completely stop “having fun”, I tried to minimize the spending by seeking something enjoyable and constructive to do. I wanted to make something of my life. I remembered clearly the day I wanted more from myself and for myself. That desire sent me on a soul-searching quest. Things I looked at as bearing minimal to no significance were suddenly becoming the scenes of my greatest attraction. I was oblivious about how it would change my life, yet I felt a transformation on the horizon.

IA Official, Mr. Josue Ramos performing a routine road inspection, monitoring road work
Below is the George Price Highway Rehabilitation Project, Mr. Ramos is monitoring the road works to ensure that the developments don’t come at the cost of our heritage. The work steady continues ....

Mrs.Cherry Mae Lamb, curator of the Malate Museum in Progresso Village
Our Museum Month activities includes showcasing our cultural village museums in the Corozal District. Today we introduce you to Mrs.Cherry Mae Lamb, curator of the Malate Museum in Progresso Village. Cherry Mae has had a passion for collecting from when she was very young, she loves collecting rocks to this day! In her youth she found all sorts of items in the Progresso Lagoon, including antique bottles; a bottle collection was underway...

Transcript of the Statement by the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow. May 8, 2020
Good morning, members of the media. Good morning, members of the public, I want to give you an update on the state of play regarding our COVID-19 struggles. Before I do so, though, allow me the opportunity to express my best wishes for a speedy recovery for the Right Honourable Said Musa, the ex-Prime Minister of Belize. I understand that he was last night admitted to hospital having suffered what was described as a mild stroke. I’m sure that I join all other Belizeans in wishing him a speedy and completed recovery. Now in terms of what I propose for this morning, I will make my initial presentation after which the good Dr. Gough will give you an overview of our supplies inventory and our testing trajectory. After that, of course, both of us will take the media’s questions.

Belize Celebrates Nurses Week 2020
Every year Belize celebrates Nurses Week from May 6th to 12th. The theme this year is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead - Nursing the World to Health.” The week culminates on May 12th, International Nurses Day. International Nurses Day celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale: nurse, innovator, reformer, and leader of improved health care. This year’s theme is an exciting opportunity to promote nursing across the world. The World Health Organization declared 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife.

Today is Global Big Day
Saturday, May 9th, is being observed as Global Big Day. It is birding's biggest day! On Global Big Day you get to check in with the birds in and around where you live and share your findings with a global community of birders. Birding expert and guide Roni Martinez tells us how you can join in if you are looking for something fun, educational, and easy to do right in your own back yards!

2020 Belize Bank Scholarship Program
Attention High School and Sixth Form students ! The Belize Bank is now accepting applications for their 2020 Scholarship Program. Head to https://www.belizebank.com/ to apply !

The Humes bus schedule
Humes' Bus Service will operate another bus run starting May 11th, 2020. The other run previously posted on this page will continue as normal. We continue to strive to serve you better!

Global Big Day Prizes
We want to encourage beginning eBirders for this Global Big Day. So we teamed up with our friends at Belize Audubon Society and Mayawalk Tours. And....well we have some gifts for your effort tomorrow. We consider a beginning eBirder, someone who so far has 25 or less checklists submitted to eBird. We will be awarding specific efforts tomorrow. Please feel free to tag your fellow beginning eBirder. The amateur eBirder who photographs the most species tomorrow, you will win a Birds of Belize Book.

Resiliency in Travel Marketing Webinar
Did you know Belizean publication Caribbean Lifestyle - Belize is offering a free webinar on Resiliency in Travel Marketing? We urge all stakeholders to take advantage of this on-demand webinar that contains key information for the industry during this time.

Manatee seen tangled in a net in Corozal Bay
Yesterday afternoon, SACD was called to a report of an Antillean manatee in need of help near the Dollar Pier in Sarteneja. The manatee was a sub-adult, approximately 6 feet (2 meters) long and was clearly in distress. It was heavily entangled in a fishing net, with floats that could clearly be seen when the animal surfaced to breathe. Despite multiple attempts, the Rangers and Wildtracks were unable to contain the animal safely to remove the net.

Oceana's May 2020 E-Newsletter
Our latest newsletter is finally out!

Channel 7

Rt. Hon. Musa Recovering After Slight Stroke
Tonight, former two-term Prime Minister, Said Musa, is at the Belize Medical Associates Hospital recovering from what a family statement calls "a mild stroke." He was admitted last night with symptoms of a stroke and has since received emergency treatment. According to his family, he is alert and stable but will remain in the hospital for the next few days. During his press conference this morning, Prime Minister Dean Barrow sent best wishes for his parliamentary colleague:

GOB, Broke And Busted
And while the Prime Minister had time to send well wishes for a colleague with whom he has often sparred, he had no kind words for the Public Service Union. As we told you, his government and the PSU are locked in a dispute over annual increments. Government wants the Union to fully forego this year's increment, the union wants it deferred so that they can get it back sometime down the road when government's finances improve.

PM Calls Out PSU For "Intransigence"
So withe government's revenue going to a third of what it needs just to cover its expenses, the Prime Minister is saying that the PSU is just being difficult to make what he calls a minimal sacrfice: "It is in that context that the GOB proposal, requiring the most minimal of sacrifices from those paid from the public purse, must be seen. All we are asking is that public officers and teachers give up increments for fiscal year 2020/2021. In the case of heads of departments and other senior public officers, they have reached the top of their scales and so they get no increments. Accordingly, they are being asked to give up half of their entertainment allowances. CEO's are to sacrifice five percent of their gratuity and a portion of their allowances. And all other contract officers are similarly to give up some gratuity and some allowances. Ministers have forgone one month's salary and 800 dollars monthly in allowances. Thus, the increment freeze group is, in dollar terms, being asked for the smallest amount of all."

PSU Punches Back
That's very hard talk to the union, and what did they have to say back to the PM? This afternoon, we got a chance to speak with the designated PSU spokesperson about the PM's harsh words, calling them intransigent and characterizing them as selfish. 1st Vice President, Dean Flowers told us that from the union's perspective, the Prime Minister is downplaying the long-term effects of foregoing the increment due to public officers:

PM, Not Backing Down From Harsh Words
And we did ask the Prime Minister why not go with the deferral instead of just asking the union to forego the increment. He said everyone is sacrificing and the PSU's membership has to do the same: Jules Vasquez- Reporter: "Obviously you are sticking to the position that they must forego. Why not entertain the proposal of a deferral, since they say it will amount to more or less the same cost to government or the same savings for government?" Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow- Prime Minister: "It is not fair for the public servants who are not having their substantive salaries touched to insist that we won't give up. We will merely deferr. When you compare to the others in the very public sector, such as the CEOs such as the contract officers, what they give up, they won't get back, you know. When they give up their 5% of their gratuity..."

PM: No Retrenchment, No Matta What
But, will there be a point at which there's just no more to borrow and the government has to retrench? Here's that question: "If the PSU doesn't budge would you look at possible retrenchment? And what is the government prepared to do? Or how do you proceed with the PSU after this?" Rt. Hon. Prime Minister: "I make clear that, in the same way as we are determined not to interfere one width of the substantive salary..."

Too Broke to Bail Out Muni's
And while public officers salaries are secure - we can't say the same for employees of municipals governments. Those bodies are especially hard hit by the economic slowdown - and government has been unable to give them a bailout - including UDP councils in San Ignacio and Punta Gorda. San Ignacio has had to send workers home because the government can't help: "Government's revenue collections are collapsing, have collapsed. We have to borrow to keep the public service hold..."

Barrow Will Borrow Till "Noh-moh-noh-moh"
And while the PM kept pounding the PSU for not being ready to - in his view - make a sacrifice, the union can legitimately ask, looking at what could be a slow recovery for government finances, would it even be a one time sacrifice?: Plus TV Reporter: "What guarantee if any at all can be given to the Public Service Union and their members that this is perhaps a one time sacrifice that is being asked to be made during these difficult challenging times?"

Dr. Fausto's Fiasco
Regularly on the news, we've been reporting on the hundreds of Belizeans who have been criminally charged for violating the State of Emergency Regulations. Well tonight - in what is surely a first - a doctor who works at the San Ignacio Community Hospital is making the news because he too has been criminally charged. But Dr. Fausto Alvin Pineda - who works at the San Ignacio public Hospital wasn't charged for being out after curfew, or failing to wear a mask in public; he was charged for practicing medicine privately during the State of Emergency.

What Happens After Monday?
So, there are no new cases of COVID 19 to report tonight, and Belize is coming up on 28 days with a positive test. That would mark the end of an outbreak, or what is being called the first wave. So what's next for national life? Today, the Prime Minister said the Sate of Emergency measures will be relaxed some more, and, best news, you'll be allowed to go swimming!:

When Will We Open?
So with a push for local tourism to start, when will foreign tourism be permitted. That means opening the airport and cruise. Ports to American visitors - and if you follow international news, you know that the US has recorded 1.3 million cases and almost eighty thousand deaths. And that's why the PM said that Belize can't open until a rapid test for the coronavirus is widely available:

Manzna Not Naming Dates
And while the PM and the BTB have their eyes on that July re-opening, Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero wouldn't make a commitment to that date. Speaking on Ask the Experts this afternoon, he said the situation remains fluid: "We'll see how that works out between now and July. For example, there is a major fair down west in July. They have ask me for my opinion on the matter, that's 2 months from now..."

Bringing Back Belizeans
Now, that would definitely be a worst case scenario. But, in the best case, where we continue to go along as we have been, without any positive tests, the first persons Belize's borders will be open to is Belizeans who are stuck abroad and haven't been able to come home since the airport closed on March 23rd. The Prime Minister says an accommodation for their managed return will be made, and soon:

Cruisers Coming Home?
Those dozens of Belizeans who are stuck on the cruise ships where they worked might be the first to come home. The Prime Minister says they may be accepted later this month - if the cruise lines foot the bill for their local quarantine: "In terms of the cruise ships we have indeed received 2 requests; one from Carnival and one from Royal Caribbean cruise lines for the repatriation of Belizean crew members with respect to both companies. I think Carnival is asking is they could be allowed to bring back these Belizeans on the 19th of this month and Royal Caribbean is asking for the 23rd of this month..."

Is July Too Soon?
And some eager travellers are already paying for their plane tickets to Belize. The airlines are taking reservations for July second - so who gave them that idea? That's what we asked the PM: "I believe now that they are aiming for a July date, again, aspirationally, is to coincide with the end of the state of emergency which of course is to take place at the conclusion of the month of June, but that's where it is..."

Making Bouquets Belizean
Sunday is Mother's day, and CVOID 19 has made more meaningful, but gift giving has never been more difficult. Meaningful, because we all appreciate life a little more when we know that a quarter million people have died worldwide form COVID-19. But, difficult because where the heck are you gonna get that bouquet that's worthy of your one and only mother? It's a problem because most of Belize's flowers come across the border form Chetumal and that border has been closed for 6 weeks.

Manza, Covid Killjoy
And like a constant COVID killjoy, DHS Manzanero says heading out to buy your mother her gift is not an essential purpose. He's advising that mom's take a rain check on their special day. "This is going to be perhaps one of the first mother's day when my suggestion and my request is going to be and I know perhaps the business community is not going to like what I say..."

Even at Day 28, Not COVID Free
And while Manzanero is being extra-cautious, it may come from his ardent desire to get to that 28th day. As we've told you - if there are no new cases - Monday will mark the end of Belize's first wave of COVID-19. Still, the DHS cautions against declaring the country COVID-19 free. Here's what he had to say about expected subsequent waves: "If we go through this weekend and Monday we are back here and we don't identify any case, again, we are going to be doing testing tomorrow and Monday - we would have gone through a full 28 day cycle..."

Beware, The Covid Cycle
And what happens when the next case is confirmed? According to Manzanero, in that event, the public health playbook reads like shampoo bottles, rinse and repeat. "You have to go back to exactly what we have gone and mind you we are reviewing every single step that we took until we got here, so we would have to go back to what we did the week of March 23rd, that particular weekend..."

Testing on Schedule
And if there is a next case lurking somewhere out there, at this point, it can only be found with randomised testing. Testing of those persons has ramped up, but the rate of testing has also slowed. Only the third batch of tests for this week will be run on Saturday. Moving forward, the national testing schedule will be outlined on a calendar, and will only be altered under suspicion of a cluster or individual case.

Cases Under Investigation
And through Tuesday's batch of tests, we learned that the last two confirmed cases had come back with a second negative test, meaning that they had shed the COVID virus. It also meant that there were zero cases of COVID-19 in Belize. And since then attention has shifted from the number of confirmed cases to the number of cases under investigation. But what constitutes a case under investigation?

Focussing On the Frontline
Last week 16 BDF personnel, Police, and immigration officers ended up under investigation. It's a new testing tactic focusing on the frontline workers who have contact with a wide array of people. It's set to expand next week and today Manazanero broke down exactly who can expect to be tested.

Beware the Borders
Another subset of suspicious cases come from illegal border entries, the greatest threat to Belize's current state of being in a safe silo. And they may be more numerous than you think or can keep track of. Manzanero laid them out earlier today. "Last weekend we had people at the northern border who they were all swabbed - people who had a boat incident en-route to the US docked in Placencia, they were swabbed..."

Don't Sleep On Dengue
And while you can stop people from coming across the border you can't stop mosquitoes. They are the vectors for Dengue. The number of cases was especially bad last year and may be so again this year. And that's why Manzanero says don't worry about the recent rain giving you a flu or cold, beware of Dengue. "We actually have not seen people get the flu just because there is more rain. Dengue is a concern, ZIKA is a concern, chikungunya is a concern. We are started to see patients particularly up north who are having dengue..."

What Do Churches, Cars and Casinos Have in Common?
And whether you waiting for a sip from the sacred chalice or a drink at the bar you'll be waiting for a while that's because Churches, Bars, and Casinos are all on the list of establishments that create mass gatherings and won't be opening anytime soon. "This is a very tricky situation. I've been getting lots of calls and messages by different smaller churches asking when is it going to open and again it goes back to the same question I had last week of the river, of even in a swimming pool in a public place..."

After The Unemployment Gate Closed
And finally tonight on the national response to COVID 19 - what about those unemployed who got left behind. We mean those ones who lost their jobs after the COVID 19 relief program was closed. The press asked the Prime Minister about tit today: "At this time we have already said that if it becomes necessary we will do so. But remember I spoke about over 40,000 applicants having been approved..."

Channel 5

PM Responds to P.S.U. on Waiver of Increments
Two major issues occupied the prime minister’s press conference today. The dismal state of the economy and the deadlock with the Public Service Union are both pressing matters. The government [...]

PM to P.S.U.: “Do not Continue to be Unreasonable”
While government’s monthly operating expenses sit at roughly ninety million dollars, the steep plummet in May will leave a sixty million dollar deficit.  In the context of cuts being made [...]

No Deferral of Increments for Public Officers
To further emphasize make the point that the P.S.U. is being irrational by rejecting government’s proposal to waive increments, PM Barrow says that when the economy rebounds other public sector [...]

John Briceño Says G.O.B. Disrespected Union; Needs to Cut Fat
Following the PM’s press conference, the Leader of the Opposition John Briceño made comments on the dismal state of affairs.  While all are expected to make sacrifices, given the economic [...]

PM Can Freeze Increments Without Changing S.I.
The threat of an amendment to the existing Public Service Regulations looms over the Public Service Union as a last-ditch effort by the Minister of Finance to get public officers [...]

John Briceño says PM is Using Crisis to Acquire More Power
A letter from the Ministry of Finance to the Public Service Union, earlier this week, Financial Secretary Joseph Waight  first sounded the ultimatum that the PM can well proceed to [...]

Belize’s Economy is On the Ropes and Stiffer Punches Keep Landing
Belize’s economy, knocked down by the debilitating fiscal impact of COVID-19, is on its knees and will take a lot from the public and private sectors to get it standing [...]

Johnny B Says Reopen the Economy, but Be Very Careful
Since the beginning of the week, there has been an ease on restrictions of the state of emergency and the businesses are reopening except for places such as casinos, gyms [...]

Barrow to Borrow to the Very Last for Salaries
Back to the issue of the public service. In this morning’s press conference, Prime Minister Barrow pledged that he will borrow until the very last to ensure that their substantial [...]

John Briceño: “The U.D.P. Government is Broke…Belizeans Paying a Heavy Price.”
Government is out of cash in the treasury and debt will continue to grow as government looks to borrow and borrow to meet its wage bill and other obligations. Briceño, [...]

Former PM Said Musa Recuperating from Mild Stroke
Well wishes flowed today for the quick recovery of former Prime Minister Said Musa and sitting Area Representative for Fort George Division. The former PM is recuperating after a mild [...]

Belize Inches Closer to End of 28 Day Incubation Period
Belize is nearing the end of the twenty-eight day incubation period since the last publicly reported confirmed case of COVID-19.  While we prepare to breathe a collective sigh of relief [...]

COVID-19 Infographic Explained
The Ministry of Health has carried out one thousand one hundred and fifty-nine COVID-19 tests. That’s the figure on Thursday’s infographics which provides a quick overview of Belize’s COVID-19 situation. [...]

DHS Cautions Public About Subsequent COVID-19 Waves
If no new COVID-19 case is reported over the next thirty hours, Sunday will mark twenty-eight days straight since no case of COVID-19 confirmed in Belize. It will mean then [...]

No Daily Testing; Random Testing Outlined
And when it comes to testing, Doctor Marvin Manzanero notes that daily testing is not taking place. He outlines some of the industries and frontline workers who will be captured [...]

DHS Speaks on the Use of Masks
Everyone has to wear a mask in public, but you are allowed not to use one if you are travelling in a private vehicle.  Doctor Marvin Manzanero spoke today about [...]

Cayo Doc Criminally Charged!
Doctor Fausto Alvin Pineda of Benque Viejo del Carmen was arrested and charged for ‘Engaging in Private Practice While Prohibited from Doing So. Doctor Pineda works at the San Ignacio [...]

Tourism Industry May Reopen as Early as July
The opening up of the country for Belizeans to move freely to other local destinations can start as early as next week.  But that brings about the question of a [...]

John Briceño Says G.O.B. Should Have Listened to Warnings on Investment in Tourism Industry
Even before a first case of the novel coronavirus was detected in Belize, the pandemic shattered the tourism industry. Airline and cruise tourism came to a standstill with cancelations fast [...]

PM Weighs in on Harvest Caye
Earlier this week, we reported that Harvest Caye was being put up as part of several collaterals for the financially embattled Norwegian Cruise Line to float a bond of two [...]

Belizeans Stranded Abroad Will Finally Return Home
Thousands of Belizeans remain stranded in other countries around the world, including students who are studying abroad, that are waiting to return home, following the closure of the borders and [...]

No Fires Recorded Today!
There’s a bit of good news to report tonight as it relates to the fires that were ravaging the forests and farm lands.   According to the Forest Department, the satellite [...]

A Soup Kitchen to Help Those in Need in Mesopotamia
COVID-19 has shed light on the number of families that are in desperate need of putting food on their table.  In the Mesopotamia Division in Belize City, a soup kitchen, [...]

Taiwan Supports Regional MSME’s
Today, the Republic of China reaffirmed its support for the region’s micro, small and medium enterprises executed by the Center for the Promotion of MSMEs, known as CENPROMYPE.  Taiwan signed [...]

Global Big Day Observed in Belize!
May ninth is birding’s biggest day around the world. It is called Global Big Day which is an annual celebration of birds around you. While the current state of emergency [...]

Amandala

Barrow threatens unions
Financial Secretary Joseph Waight has written a response to a letter that the unions had addressed to Prime Minister Dean Barrow on the matter of salaries and increments. In the letter, Waight made reference to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on government finances, saying: “I remind you of the extremity of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the collapse of public finances.” The unions were basically told that they have until tomorrow, Friday, May 8, to respond favorably to government’s offer — which involves a freeze on public service wages and increments.

GOB “playing games” with LPG importers
As Belize remained under lockdown during the first State of Emergency in the last days of April, an intense legal battle was being waged in the Supreme Court, where a group of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) importers — Gas Tomza Limited, Southern Choice Butane, Zeta Gas and Belize Western Energy Limited — was seeking an interim injunction against the government to prevent it from denying importation licenses to the LPG importers. The LPG importers have filed a constitutional claim against the government for allegedly violating the constitutional rights of the companies.

Deputy Police Commissioner Robert Mariano retires
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Robert Mariano, the Commander of Administration and Management at the National Police Headquarters in Belmopan, today leaves the Police Department after 38 years of service to the department and to the country. He enlisted as a police officer in February 1982, and rose to the high rank of Deputy Commissioner, one rank away from being Commissioner of Police. During his time in the department, he served in many capacities, held many commands and instituted many programs that are still in operation today. He has thus impacted the lives of many families through his numerous initiatives.

Norwegian Cruise Lines needs new investment to prevent bankruptcy filing
The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the global economy, leaving hundreds of millions unemployed. In Belize, the tourism industry, a key economic engine driving the country’s economy, has been shattered, displacing an estimated 20-odd thousand workers. More grim news for Belize’s tourism industry emerged today when Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) filed papers at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), indicating that the cruise company may have to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection if it fails to attract new investor capital from several initiatives on the drawing board.

It’s not over: “Zero” COVID-19 cases in BZ, but second wave possible, says DHS
The Ministry of Health reported this afternoon that there are no cases of COVID-19 in Belize right now. The last remaining two cases both tested negative twice, confirming that there are no other persons in the country with the novel coronavirus. While there is no positive case of COVID-19 in the country, the Ministry of Health confirms that it has fifteen cases under investigation. Director of Health Services Dr. Marvin Manzanero cautioned that the country in not yet free of COVID-19.

Father and son shot in Dangriga
A father and son were shot while sitting on their verandah in the Benguche area of Dangriga at about 7:30 Sunday night by an unknown gunman. Luckily, the injuries they suffered are not life-threatening. Luwany Mena, 35, a laborer, was shot in the right arm, while his father, Ernest Fransico Mena, 62, also a laborer, was shot in the ankle. Ernest Mena told local Dangriga media that he and his son were sitting on his veranda when a man came from behind the house, fired at them, and ran out of the yard.

61 arrested for violating curfew and SoE regulations
Despite warnings to the public that the country is in a State of Emergency and a curfew is also in place in an effort to force people to stay at home to halt the spread of COVID-19, some persons are still violating the rules. The regulations also stipulate that persons who violate the regulations and are found guilty in court could pay a fine of $5,000, or they could be sentenced to 2 years in jail. Today, police announced that yesterday, 61 persons were arrested for violating the curfew and the State of Emergency regulations.

Accused murderer Amin Cho captured after 3 years on the run
Amin Cho, 29, a laborer of Guinea Grass who was wanted for the murder of shop owner Pedro Pol, 90, of August Pine Ridge, in June 2017, was reeled in yesterday after being on the run for almost three years. Cho was found hiding in the village. He was arrested and charged with murder, but has not yet been arraigned. ACP Joseph Myvett of the Police Department said that they have been conducting frequent operations in the village and surrounding areas to find him, but because they could not find him, they concluded that he may have fled the country. He was captured on his return to the village.

Mexican Navy boat runs aground on San Pedro reef
Yesterday afternoon, a Mexican Navy boat that was traveling in northern San Pedro seas from Mahahual to Chetumal (in Mexico), through Belize, ran aground on the reef. The boat was removed with minimal damages to the reef. Commander Greg Soberanis of the Belize Coast Guard said that a report on the grounding and the damage caused to the reef as a result will be forwarded to the authorities, and the incident is expected to be settled between Belize and Mexico, because Mexico has legal rights to sail in the northern seas of Belize via a treaty signed with Belize, called Innocent Passage.

Dr. Colin Young is new SSB chairman
A government press release today announced that Dr. Colin Young has been appointed as the new chairman of the Social Security Board. Under the Social Security Board Act, a chairman can only serve for 5 years. Dr. Young’s appointment is effective today, Wednesday, May 6, 2020. Dr. Young is no stranger to the Social Security Board, having served as its chief executive officer from 2017 until late last year, when he resigned to take up an appointment as the director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center.

Editorial: GoB holding tightly to their old tourism script
Belize’s Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow, explained to the nation recently that tourism has buoyed our economy for the last 15 years and that while it is good for us to aspire toward a more diversified economy, we have to recognize that the calamity (COVID-19) has not only hit tourism, but it has also hit manufacturing, agriculture, all sectors. PM Barrow noted that commodities are always subject to volatility, and that he doesn’t see the collapse of tourism at this time as a reason for us to sour on the industry.

Vision
Listen my Belizean people, I am 90 years old and I want to tell you that we are all in this together, that we are all going through a financial pressure dealing with the angels of darkness, Covid-19. This is a serious situation we are facing and in this sad moment everyone’s back is against the wall, both the poor and the rich are hurting financially, so we must be very careful how we do some things.

“We will get through this together,” says Mayor Wagner
On Friday, Mayor Bernard Wagner appeared on Love FM’s COVID-19 Update talk show and was asked a series of questions concerning the effects that the virus has had on his City Council and, more importantly, what they have been doing to aid the residents of Belize during this time. Based on his analysis, Mayor Wagner disclosed that as recently as February, the council was collecting revenue that averaged $400,000 weekly. Within the first week of April, however, that figure had been cut in half, and by the 18th of the month, had decreased to a mere $12,000 for that week.

The Power of Mindfulness Meditation: My Mindfulness Journey
Daily Mindfulness Meditation practice during the past few weeks of countrywide lockdown and curfew has been by far the most valuable way that I could spend my time in any given day. During this nationwide lockdown, many individuals are forced to spend a lot of time locked up indoors and spend more than usual amounts of free time with themselves. This is very difficult for many people because they soon realize that a great deal of often uncomfortable emotions (boredom, irritability, anxiousness, anger etc.) begin to emerge and cause feelings of much discomfort and misery.

How to deal with isolation
Are you feeling isolated and lonely? If so, you may feel as did the psalmist who said: “I am like a solitary bird on a roof.” (Psalm 102:7) The Bible’s wisdom can help you to deal with problems that are caused by isolation.

Our own Football Hall of Fame
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB), under Technical Director Philip Marin, with assistance from Georgia Football Technical Director Jacob Daniel, is presently promoting the concept of a “National Football Style” for Belize; and while we are not sure what the final product will look like, their project description for football development across the country is refreshing and encouraging, as it emphases the fundamental skills and knowledge of team play with an attacking (4-3-3) approach that matches with the culture and traditional “style” of football that drew fans to the stadiums in bygone days.

We Bruk… government mismanagement got us bruk!
“The tax base has utterly eroded and we are terribly short of money. We are without coin of the realm and it is not possible to collect anything but a trickle.” Dean Barrow, 16th April, 2020 This is what was stated by PM Barrow in one of his COVID-19 pre-recorded addresses to the nation. For those who missed it, when he said “We are without coin of the realm”, it was his smooth way of telling us that the government coffers are “bruk”, we no gat money! Now, had he been at a press conference, where the media could question him, he would not have made such statements, I opine. Further, had it not been for COVID-19, and our dire need to have reserve money to treat this pandemic as an emergency, we would not have had him even admit that we are a “bruk” nation.

If we changed the law, at least the defense lawyers would have to work harder for their acquittals
You would have to be some breed of sheep if you sat by while murders in your country went from 10 per year to 120 and 130 and 140. If that happened over a five-year period, we would have taken to the streets, and if our leaders did not come up with a satisfactory response, the police would have had to protect them when they went to House meetings to waste the people’s time with cheap theater and Cabinet bills supported just by the ruling party.

Baby Arreini is “christened”! Jewel pregnant again!
Gertrude’s frank opening comment on arrival that she thought these people had money, “but look how the building looks dull and dilapidated like they are poor,” had marked our introduction to the Bertram property. I had already heard that the timber siding, originally finished with a sealer, had been allowed to age and become ash-coloured, presenting a cave-like appearance. In contrast, however, since its construction the window trimming and the veranda flooring, originally white and battleship grey, respectively, had been re-painted annually, underlining local opinion about Teacher Bertram being a law unto himself who operated according to his whims alone, in total disregard of what others thought of him.

Lord of our history?
When Jesus Christ comes back to earth, is this how he will describe our political parties? But, hear this, the closing article of the Preamble of the Belize Constitution: The People of Belize “desire that their society shall reflect and enjoy the above-mentioned principles, beliefs and need and that their Constitution should therefore enshrine and make provisions for ensuring the achievements of the same in Belize.”

“It is not business as usual”
Dear Editor, The US debt is $25 trillion. This debt grew by US$1 trillion in 37 days (April 1 to May 7). The US will likely not be able to permanently stop quantitative easing (money creation). The US Treasury announced it will borrow an additional US$3 trillion for the second quarter. This level of debt is similar to the US debt after World War II, but the US is no longer the factory of the world.

Millie Small: My Boy Lollipop singer dies aged 72
Jamaican singer Millie Small has died at the age of 72 after suffering a stroke. The star was most famous for her hit single My Boy Lollipop, which reached number two in both the US and the UK in 1964. It remains one of the biggest-selling ska songs of all time, with more than seven million sales.

Musings by the Curious Nonconformist
Sovereignty is such an intangible structure. Almost an unachievable goal in a world that has been so globalized, especially a type of globalization that was founded in the conquering of foreign lands under the farce of discovering the western hemisphere and “global south.” No doubt the COVID-19 pandemic has put our civilization on its knees, with hundreds of thousands of people not seeing the other side of this scourge. Our perspectives have been shifted, our state of normalcy rattled and all our ugliness exposed.

The Reporter

Commissioner of Police Chester Williams Sends Memo to Enforce SI
On Thursday, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams sent out a memo instructing all formation commanders to ensure that Police Officers are abiding by the rules of the latest SI. According to Williams, he has received information that some Police Officers are on duty but are not wearing masks as the new law dictates.

Former Prime Minister Said Musa is hospitalized
According to a Facebook statement by Kareem Musa, his father, former Prime Minister Said Musa, is hospitalized after symptoms of a mild stroke last night. Musa is said to be alert and in stable condition, and the post reveals that because of COVID-19 protocols, only immediate family members are allowed to be with him.

LOVE FM

Prime Minister says he is against retrenchment of public officers
History shows that in 2005 over one hundred public officers were laid off in a mass retrenchment under the UDP administration. Sir Manuel Esquivel was the Prime Minister at the time and had left office with that legacy brought on by the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Will BNTU support the PSU?
As we noted earlier in our newscast, the BNTU has expressed their understanding of the current fiscal situation. They are yet, however, to inform the Government what their final position is on the issue. The Prime Minister says chances are the BNTU may change their initial stance to show support to the PSU.

Orange Walk Town Council implements cost saving measures amid COVID-19 economic crisis
Municipalities have been implementing cost-saving measures in order to keep their councils running properly. Due to COVID-19, the economy has taken a great hit with little revenue circling back to the government.

PM explains how much will be saved from cost cutting measures
As the Prime Minister went into details as to how much monies will be saved from the cost cutting measures the Government has already implemented, he also gave a snapshot of how much the public revenues have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic came to Belize.

Rapid testing may allow Belize to reopen its borders
While Belize may see a further reopening of businesses to its citizenry, the Government will soon start looking at the reopening of its borders for reinjection of tourism for Belize. Prime Minister Dean Barrow explained that the availability of rapid testing would make it easy for Belize to reopen its borders as it would minimize the risk of imported cases of COVID-19.

Tourism may get a jump start, locally
For now, Belize is looking to embark on local tourism, encouraging Belizeans to be tourists in their own country. Inevitably, Belize will need to open its borders to foreigners for further injection into the economy. Prime Minister spoke on this as well as when it could possibly roll out.

Belize Coast Guard participates in sporting activities
The Belize Coast Guard believes in working hard, and playing hard, as they participate in various sporting activities year-round. While they have had to cancel one of their own events, they did get the chance to participate in events such as La Ruta Maya.

A crucial weekend approaches as it relates to COVID-19 in the country
It has been a few days since Belize began the reopening of its economy. Businesses are reopening and the restrictions of movements have eased. This weekend, however, will prove crucial on just how much further we will go as we are reaching the 28-day milestone on the reports of any active COVID-19 case in Belize.

Former PM hospitalized
Doctors at a private medical facility in Belize City continue to monitor Belize’s former Prime Minister, Said Musa. The 76-year-old veteran politician and present Parliamentarian was taken to the hospital last night after he began showing signs of a stroke.

GOB responds to the Public Service Union
Things have been coming to a head for the last few days between the Government of Belize and the Public Service Union. The back and forth has to do with the Government’s request to the union for increments to be frozen and foregone for the fiscal year 2020-2021. The PSU has since told the Government that they are not willing to forego the increment but that public officers could wait for the Government to regain its footing for them to be paid.

Former Prime Minister of Belize Rt.Hon. Said Musa hospitalized
Right Honorable Said Musa is currently hospitalized. Love News understands that the former Prime Minister may have suffered a mild stroke last night. We understand that he is in a stable condition.

Breaking Belize News

Nigerian-Belizean actor to premier first short film today
Nigerian-Belizean Oladipupo Ogunjobi, better known as Dipo, is taking his love for acting and production […]

Major crime down but murders slightly up for first four months of 2020
Official statistics from the Belize Crime Observatory show that major crimes for the first four months […]

Belize ‘too rich’ for debt relief?
According to Caribbean Business Report, countries like Belize, Barbados, and Suriname have raised worries with investors […]

Government of Belize will borrow as much as it can to maintain salaries for public officers
The Government of Belize (GOB) will resort to borrowing money to ensure that it continues […]

Belize National Association of Realtors back with a bang!
The Belize National Association of Realtors® (BNAR) today announced that it’s back with a Bang! […]

Red Cross Society marks founding of movement
Belize’s Red Cross Society joins its fellows in the observance of World Red Cross Day today, […]

Former Prime Minister recuperates from mild stroke
PUP Leader John Briceño and the People’s United Party (PUP) issued a statement asking the […]

Prime Minister Dean Barrow gives update on COVID-19
Good morning, members of the media. Good morning, members of the public, I want to give you an […]

Prime Minister will amend Public Service Regulations to force a foregoing of increments for public officers
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has committed to amending the Public Service Regulations to mandate that […]

“Public servants sacrificing the least, PSU position unreasonable,” says Prime Minister
Addressing the impasse between the Public Service Union (PSU) and the Ministry of Finance, Prime […]

“Churches could re-open soon,” says Prime Minister
Prime Minister Dean Barrow during his press conference this morning hinted at the possibility of […]

State of Emergency Regulations could be further relaxed says Prime Minister
Prime Minister Dean Barrow said today that if there are no new positive COVID-19 cases […]

Prime Minister to address cost-saving measures this morning
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has scheduled a virtual press conference this morning to address the […]

Sea cucumber season to open for fishing on May 11
The Fisheries Department informed fisher folks with a valid fishing license that the Sea Cucumber […]

Former Prime Minister Said Musa hospitalized
Former Prime Minister, Said Musa was hospitalized last night with symptoms of a mild stroke. […]

Blogs

Latest Caribbean Trends since COVID-19 by CHTA
In May, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) shared its first update as an insight to travel recovery and new milestones for stakeholders to look forward to. During the current COVID-19 crisis, CHTA recommends using this downtime to plan for travel recovery, especially with a balance of reality and expectation. Just this week, Belize joins two other Caribbean nations to report zero active coronavirus cases.

The People of Belize
In absolute numbers, the United States has a larger immigrant population than any other country. However, the people of Belize is as suitable of a poster child for a “mixing pot of cultures“. Here, a wide variety of cultures marry their own traditional sensibilities with our Belizean history. Belize’s open-mindedness toward cultural disparities has allowed many groups to thrive. Depending on where you go, it’s not that hard to run into groups of Chinese, Creole, East Indians, Mennonites, Garifuna, Maya, and even the Mestizo. Despite the drastically different origins of these cultures, many of their traditions and beliefs have blended into a harmonious Belizean society.

International Sources

Southwest not flying to Belize for a while it seems...though Cancun much sooner. As many of you know, we halted international service on March 23 after border closures and quarantine restrictions were enacted by many countries in response to COVID-19. Previously, we shared two of our international Stations would resume service on May 21, followed by three more reintroductions on June 7. Now, instead of being staggered, service to Cancun, Mexico; San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico; Havana, Cuba; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Nassau, Bahamas is planned to return on June 7.

Queen says 'streets are filled with love' in VE Day message during lockdown
The Queen has defiantly insisted that the United Kingdom remains "a nation those brave soldiers, sailors and airmen would recognise and admire". Alluding to the coronavirus pandemic and how many national events planned for the day had to be cancelled due to social distancing, Her Majesty said: "Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish.

IDB says Caribbean's tax revenue under threat amid deteriorating outlook
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) says while tax revenues in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) increased to 23.1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) on average in 2018, these gains are now under threat as a result of the region's deteriorating fiscal outlook, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic crisis. According to the newly released edition of the 'Revenue Statistics in Latin America in the Caribbean (LAC)', the increase of 0.4 percentage points from their level in 2017 is the highest level of tax revenues ever recorded in the region.

Belize PM does not expect international flights back before July
I want to give you an update on the state of play regarding our COVID-19 struggles. Before I do so, though, allow me the opportunity to express my best wishes for a speedy recovery for the Right Honourable Said Musa, the ex-Prime Minister of Belize. I understand that he was last night admitted to hospital having suffered what was described as a mild stroke. I’m sure that I join all other Belizeans in wishing him a speedy and completed recovery.

Distressed Caribbean Countries Face a Dilemma: They’re Too Rich
For Caribbean nations such as Suriname, Belize and Barbados, the pandemic hasn’t just shut down local economies. It’s also led some investors to worry about how they’ll repay their bonds. Unlike eight regional nations including Haiti, Honduras and Nicaragua that may qualify for a global debt relief initiative backed by the Group of 20, average incomes of the three make them ineligible. In other words, they’re too rich.

Videos

May 8, 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

Sargassum slowly washing up on Belizean shores
The sargassum seaweed is slowly making its presence known on the windward shores of Ambergris Caye. According to satellite images, large mats have been spotted far out on the Atlantic Ocean, entering the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, to then inundate the region with tons of the brown algae. Island authorities are aware of the looming threat and are considering the necessary precautions to deal with the matter if its presence escalates. Mayor Daniel Guerrero stated that a busy sargassum season can be expected this year.

Economic Oversight Team provides update on Unemployment Relief Program
The Economic Oversight Team (EOT) has approved a total of 40,453 applications for unemployment relief, all of which have been sent to the Social Security Board (SSB) for payment. SSB has processed 37,696 payments to approved applicants. Of this, 34,915 approved applicants have been successfully paid by direct deposit or top-up card. In addition, 15,438 of those persons, who received their first payment before April 18, 2020, have now received their second payment. SSB continues to process payments and all remaining approved applications are expected to be processed by the end of May 6th.

Various Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
Friday, May 8th Meal Pick up location: Barrier Reef Sports Bar& Grill. Times: Village: 11:00-11:45 am, Bahia: 11:45 am-12:30 pm. Thank you for bringing your containers! and bags!

SSB Scholarship Program 2020
The Social Security Board's 2020 Scholarship Program is open, so now's the time to apply for one of their many scholarships. "The SSB Scholarship Program 2020 is now officially open. Apply for a SSB Scholarship today via our Online Scholarship Portal at https://secure.socialsecurity.org.bz/sms/ Learn more about how to apply and the documents needed here: https://www.socialsecurity.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Scholarship-Brochure-Final_compressed.pdf Eligibility for SSB scholarships: - Born Belizean - Accepted to an Educational Institution in Belize - Exhibit academic potential - Demonstrate Financial need - First-year students only Apply today!! Deadline for applications is June 26, 2020. Only ONLINE applications accepted."

Story of Tzukan and Chaak
The ancient legend tells that of all the snakes that inhabited the Earth, Tzukán , protector of grottos and cenotes , was unique for its large size and mysticism. During the first drought of the Maya empire, thousands of years ago, Chaac , Lord of the Rain , was entrusted to collect the water from the subsoil and take it to the rest of the Maya empire. Chaac mounted a winged beast and looked for the precious liquid everywhere, but the lakes , rivers and cenotes were dry. Where was the water ?

The Artist of the Day, Elsworth Castillo
Over the years I have had the privilege of playing with and for a vast amount of Belizean and International artists including Lord Rhaburn, Mr. Peters, Andy Palacio, Paul Nabor, Bredda David, Leela Vernon, Michael Hyde, Dickie Straughan, Calypso Rose, Lady Patra, Lady Saw, Byron Lee & The Dragonaires, Judy Boucher, Eddie Lovette, Junior Reid (Black Uhuru), Mykal Rose (Black Uhuru), Oscar B, Liam Teague and many, many more. I have also been honored to play throughout the length and breadth of this country and for the Belizean communities in the US, Taiwan and Europe as well as bringing Belizean music to our neighbors in Mexico, Cuba, Panama and Guatemala.

Corozal artist Kimberly Griffith
As part of our Thursday Art & Soul Series we are delighted to showcase Corozal artist Kimberly Griffith. Kimberly's creativity has spanned decades including various genres as she developed and honed her skills into creating a fantastic line of botanical jewelry. The brand - Sub Umbra Jewelry focuses on the mahogany seed pod as well as other organic materials in which she creates one of a kind treasures. Her most recent work is a line of hand-painted coconut shells titled - Cultural Divas! You can kindly contact Kimberly via the Sub Umbra Jewelry facebook page or call 604-6604. Kimberly's home studio is located along Miami Beach in Corozal Town. Mothers Day is almost here, this a great opportunity to purchase that special handcrafted item for mom.

Is your child feeling stressed over the COVID-19 situation?
We want to help! Give us a call: 226-2936 and ask for Veronica.

Happy Teacher's Appreciation Week
Thank you to all the teachers of San Pedro and all of Belize for all their hard work!

Conch Season Remains Closed
The Belize Fisheries Department hereby reminds the public and fishers in particular that in accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 54 of 2012, the queen conch (Strombus gigas) fishery remains closed as declared by the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development on March 27, 2020, and will remain closed until midnight of September 30, 2020.

U.S. Embassy Belmopan Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges departed Belize today
U.S. Embassy Belmopan Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges departed Belize today, May 7, 2020, to receive non-life-threatening but urgent medical care, unrelated to COVID-19, pursuant to the advice of physicians in Belize and the United States . Management Officer Robert Peck has assumed the role of Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. for U.S. Embassy Belmopan until Chargé Gilges returns to Belize. Before his departure, Chargé Gilges offered sincere thanks for the many messages that he has received wishing him a speedy recovery and expressed hope that circumstances will allow him to quickly return to Belize.

Caye Caulker RC School opening 3 days a week for school matters
Dear Parents, Jesus is risen, Alleluia! Please take notice that Caye Caulker R. C. School's office will be open weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting next week, May 12, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for school matters. Parents will be expected to be wearing a face mask, sanitizing their hands at the school's gate and practicing the six feet social distance while on the school's compound in order to be attended to. If a phone call can solve your issue please do so between these hours. Please do not bring your children along with you. One person per visit.

COVID-19 update from the Office of the Director of Health Services
This is our update for today. Our expanded screening has started as we have moved away from tracing contacts. Our work continues! Continue to practice physical distancing, wash your hands and avoid touching your face.

Mother's Day Raffle from the Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen and the Belize Chocolate Company
In honor of all the wonderful island Moms, we will be raffling off this amazing gift basket. All of the Mothers that are on our meal list will be automatically entered. Not a Mom on meal list? Raffle tickets may be purchased Friday, May 8th for $1 BZ, with all proceeds to benefit our progarm. Tickets may be purchased during our working hours at the Barrier Reef Sports Bar on Friday ( 10am -12:30ish) and the Belize Chocolate Company on Friday, 1pm-4pm Raffle will be drawn this Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10th during our lunch hours

DFC COVID-19 Survey
On April 24, 2020, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) along with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) held a virtual meeting with Tourism Stakeholders to discuss financial and technical support for the tourism industry. As a follow up please find below a message from the Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

Corozal Community Hospital receives testing booth
From Minister of Health that will be used at the Accident and Emergency (A&E).

Saint Martin's Credit Union will be resuming normal hours on Monday
REGULAR WORKING HOURS RESUMES as of Monday 11 May 2020. Both branches will return to normal working hours including opening on Saturdays, sanitary and all other social distancing measures remain in place, including mandatory use of face mask. Loan interviews will continue to be by appointment only and via phone call. Please share.

Another day, another Fire
Yesterday twelve (12) of IA Park Ranger staff fought to control fires at the El Pilar Archaeological Reserves. Belize is currently grappling with a large number of wild and intentionally lit fires resulting in the IA having to constantly battle fires at our heavily forested archaeological reserves. However, times of adversity often brings people together.

Marine Ecosystem for guides by Phillip Leslie on June 15th
at 1:30 pm Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81000817635 Meeting ID: 810 0081 7635

Caye Caulker Bakery Opens Monday
Caye Caulker Bakery is happy to announce that our bakers are back on the island and we will be open for business on Monday. Our new opening hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. then 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Every customer is expected to wear a mask and practice social distancing to protect yourself and our staff.

Channel 7

Random Testing Starts, No New Positives
There are no new cases of COVID 19 tonight, the 25th day without a positive test.  And, the Ministry of Health reports that it has started expanding its screening.  The latest figurers show that 31 tests were done yesterday, and all of them came back negative.   This includes persons who were randomly tested as part of expanded screening.  The Ministry said this would focus on front-line personnel including customs and immigration.

Is 28 Days With No Positive Tests Possible
And if those tests also come back negative tomorrow, we would be at day 26 without a positive sample for COVID 19 being taken. 28 days is an important benchmark, because according to public health professionals it would mean the end of an outbreak.   But, what really does this signal, and what does it mean for all of us, living under curfew, or some type of quarantine?   Yesterday, the director of health Services told Jules Vasquez it definitely does not mean that it's time to relax because there are new cases coming over the event horizon:

Dr. Manza Not Ready For Relaxation
So, Dr. Manzanero warns that another case can still appear any day.  And that is what he has also advised thew National Task Force.  To that end, the Prime Minister will have a press conference tomorrow morning - and while some are hoping he will announce relaxed measures, the chief public health authority says that he is not comfortable with the concept of relaxing measures: "The word relaxation is a very touchy word, while everybody might want to relax it certainly means no relaxation for the health system it might actually mean the inverse effect..."

Mask Confusion
State of Emergency regulations became literally stifling over the weekend when the wearing of face or mouth coverings was made law - and infractions punishable by large fines.  It's for public health and the common good, but for many the law has been a challenge to abide by, but, abide they must or face those frightening fines.   Today Cherisse Halsall went to court to find many facing just that - and she examined the wider problem of wearing masks, but doing it the wrong way:  All these people waiting outside of court this morning weren't there for murder, robbery, theft, or any of major crimes. Most were there for the state of emergency violations. The cops picked up this man for failure to wear a mask.

Charged Twice For Breaking Curfew
And while at court our news team met two men who had been arrested for breach of curfew, one of them twice. After more than a month under a curfew, by now it should be reflexive to get indoors before 8:00.   But whether by necessity or misadventure, a small number of people continue to get caught out and about after curfew.    Shane Smith - On trial for breach of curfew "They caught me on Banak road by magazine where I went to drop bread and bun. That was about 6 o'clock.

Commissioner Cautions Cops
Yes, a police officer was charged and he is not the first lawman to be charged for violating the state of emergency regulations.  It's a problem for the commissioner of police, and today he put out a stern memorandum covering, quote, "non compliance with SI 62 by police officers."   In it, he stresses that officers are not wearing their masks and called it a breach of discipline.  

Slipping In Through The South
But, the biggest threat for COVID 19 to make an unwelcome appearance in Belize, is to come through our porous border.   We've been telling you a lot about illegal border crossings in northern Belize, which has left two people serving a three month sentence, and another in quarantine.  Then, there is concern that the western border could also become another problem area for illegal crossings. But, two incidents from yesterday are bringing focus on the south in the Toledo District, where 2 people were caught crossing into Belizean territory illegally.

Cops Smoking Out Cigarette Smugglers
And there are also threats out west - where the cigarette hustle is in full swing.  Yesterday at 12:30, police were monitoring a back road called Trek Stop Road, used by criminals to avoid the check point at the entrance to Succotz village.  They intercepted a 2008 Ford Explorer driven by a businessman from Santa Elena Town.

GOB & PSU: Tense and Tangled
Things are heating up between the Government and the Public Service Union and reports are that the Prime Minister will hold a press conference tomorrow to address what is becoming a tense and tangled dispute. As we told you last night, the dispute is basically over CIRCULAR NUMBER 5 from the Ministry of Finance sent out at the end of April.   It proposes for public officers to forego the salary increment for the 2020 to 2021 fiscal year.  The PSU wants it deferred - meaning they will get it back when government's finances improve.  

Cops Shot The Bull
21-year-old Edmund Bull was shot in the leg by police yesterday while attempting to escape a court warrant for his arrest.  Bull had attended Orange Walk's magistrate's court for what he and his family believed was a matter to do with a bicycle. He was accompanied by his sister Beverley Bull who witnessed his attempt to escape and the shot that stopped him in his tracks.  Here's her account of what she calls an unwarranted amount of force used against her brother:

Minor Charged For Taxi Murder
On Monday we took you to Orange Walk to hear from the family of Mathias Alpuche, a taxi driver from Trial Farm Village, Orange Walk who had been cruelly stabbed on the Honey Camp Road on Sunday, May 3, 2020. 

Guarding Northern Waters
Earlier in the news we told you how the police had arrested two persons for coming across the southern border into Toledo illegally. But, the focus has been principally on the norther - where it is a cultural and community practice to go across to the Mexican communities across the rio Hondo for contraband groceries and beer. Those in the communities along the Rio Hondo, cross that river like you cross the street to your neighbourhood grocery. And that's where the Coast Guard comes in.  Yesterday we asked the Deputy Commander about enforcement activities in the north:

20% Major Crime Decline
Looking now at Crime Statistics for April - figures for major crime are down - as you might expect in a month that saw a national curfew. Compared to 2019, Murders in April were down from 6 to 3, robbery down form 21 to 1, burglary down form 42 to 32, and theft down from 9 to 2.

KHMH Treating Cancer
Yesterday, the Social Security Board handed over a donation of 200 thousand dollars to the KHMH. That money will help to fund the completion of an oncology unit for the national referral hospital. Hospital administrators say that there is an increasing number of Belizeans with cancer who have turned to them. That has prompted the need for this new unit, which will offer more specialized treatment. The unit is much needed at this time because Belize's borders remain closed to entry and exit due to the COVID-19 threat.

Food For Far Flung Communities
The Belize Territorial Volunteers have established themselves as border activists who vigilantly police the borders of Toledo. But, over the past few weeks, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they've taken the humanitarian initiatives to look after far-flung communities on the coast of the Toledo District.  They've been delivering donations of food to residents of these communities, and today, they went back to fishermen living in Barranco Village, and along the Temash and Moho Rivers. This recent donation of food was a collaborative effort between the BTV and OCEANA Belize, and with the help of our colleagues from PGTV News, we have a snapshot of the handing over of those supplies. 

Nurses Week Finds Nurses Strong
Nurses week has started and the Ministry of Health has circulated an infographic which provides some interesting figures on the medical practitioners who are called the "backbone of the health system." First off, there are 897 nursing personnel, including 593 nursing professionals and 304 nursing associates.

Channel 5

P.S.U. Holds Firm on Increments Despite FinSec’s Threat
There is an impasse tonight between the Public Service Union and the Government. The matter has been brewing for some weeks, but the union remains firmly rooted in its position [...]

P.S.U. – “Five Weeks into COVID it was Almost a Nightmare.”
The government, notwithstanding the COVID-19 crisis, has been struggling to meet its monthly wage bill for public officers and has proposed measures that would accrue three to five percent of [...]

P.S.U. & B.N.T.U. Meeting Tonight Before Responding to FinSec
A legal battle, says Vice President Flowers, is imminent should the prime minister proceed to amend the Public Service Regulations, since he does not have the authority under the existing [...]

P.U.P. Issues Message of Solidarity with the Public Service Union
The People’s United Party has also issued a message of solidarity with the Public Service Union. It says that the letter of ultimatum has no place in a democratic society [...]

American Duo Quarantined in Placencia
Belize remains with zero active cases of COVID-19. A second wave of the virus is expected to hit and with neighbouring countries expected to reach their peak, it is not [...]

Health Officials Say French Nationals, Who Were Out at Sea, Are of No Interest
Doctor Marvin Manzanero also spoke of French nationals who were out at sea for the past month. Since they had not come in contact with anyone from the affected countries, [...]

Belize to Be Hit by 2nd COVID-19 Wave
Officially, by Sunday, Belize should recover from the first wave. This would mean that after twenty-eight days, there have been no new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.   Health officials, [...]

Random Testing for COVID-19 Continues
Random testing across the country for COVID-19 continues.  The Ministry of Health says that it has expanded screening as tracing contacts has ceased.  A total of one thousand, one hundred [...]

61 Persons including Officers Arrested for S.O.E. Violations
A police officer finds himself among a group of sixty other individuals who are the latest group charged in the police crackdown of violators of the state of emergency. The [...]

Orange Walk Police Shoots Man
The police department is at the front lines of enforcing the state of emergency. But ensuring compliance with the regulations has opened up opportunity for abuse. There is the well [...]

Belize City Youth Claims Police Brutality
A Belize City teenager also felt the wrath of the police at the beginning of the week. In this case, Karim Barona left his girlfriend’s house after five in the [...]

An Interagency Approach to Combating Illegal Crossings in the North
A total of three persons have now been charged for illegal entry into the country since the borders are closed; the most recent was on Wednesday.  Over the weekend, a [...]

Celebrating Mother’s Day in a Time of COVID-19
This Mother’s Day will be different for families across the country. Restaurants are not open to the public, travelling across district lines is not allowed, gatherings are limited in numbers, [...]

Fire! Fire! Western Belize is on fire!
Tonight, we share more from our trip out west to cover the fires that have been consuming large plots of farmlands and virgin forested areas.  A small group of concerned [...]

An Update on Caring for the Homeless
There are hundreds of persons who are homeless primarily in Belize City. At the start of the COVID crisis, they were transported to the MCC Grounds in Belize City to [...]

Fisherfolk in Corozal Gets Help from OCEANA Belize & Rotaract Club
Fisherfolk from the communities of Chunox, Copper Bank and Sarteneja are getting some much needed help on Friday.  Twenty-five deserving families will receive two weeks of food supply to relieve [...]

Healthy Living and Mask Etiquette
There weren’t many professions before the COVID-19 crisis that necessitated using masks, but now – or at least for now – it is an essential item for all of us. [...]

The Reporter

The Reporter announces its return to printed copy tomorrow, May 8th
We thank our customers for their patronage and continue to offer digital copy to those who are interested in receiving our weekly editions via whatsapp. To subscribe send us your name and number at 6725052.

LOVE FM

BCG operations during State of Emergency
Earlier in the news, we told you what the Belize Coast Guard has been up to during the fight against COVID-19. As we noted, when it comes to protecting the country it is the BCG’s responsibility to secure our waters.

BCG works with foreign navies
The Belize Coast Guard does work alongside counterparts from other countries. According to the Commandant, Captain Elton Bennett, they refer to this exercise as defence engagement.

Director of Health says the borders need to remain closed until
With the announcement of no active cases of COVID-19 in Belize and with the absence of clusters or an increase in persons with respiratory illness, Belize may have developed a false sense of security when it comes to the pandemic. To date, several preventative measures are in place including the wearing of masks and regular hand washing and sanitization.

Captain Elton Bennett must wait for Admiral rank
Many people have had to put their plans for travels and other major events on hold due to COVID-19. The same goes for Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, Captain Elton Bennett.

COVID-19 recovered patients to be re-tested soon
Sixteen of the eighteen patients who were confirmed with COVID-19 have all been declared as recovered in Belize. Health officials, however, are still monitoring these patients as they will be re-tested soon as explained by the Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero.

How the BCG protects itself from COVID-19
The Belize Coast Guard (BCG) is one of the arms of the Ministry of National Security, tasked with safe guarding Belize’s waters. As part of the COVID-19 relief measures, they have been keeping borders secured and maintaining a presence out at sea.

PUP’s Albert Vaughn legally served for allegations of defamation on Facebook
From a Facebook spat to a legal letter requiring an apology and compensation. PUP City Councillor Albert Vaughan was reportedly being sought by police to be given a letter from the legal firm, Barrow and Williams after he shared a post on Facebook indicating that a UDP political figure was infected with COVID-19 and behaving recklessly.

Year of the Nurse and Midwives; the inspiring stories of today’s heroes
Nurses around the globe are being recognized this week as a crucial part of society. Nurses Week began yesterday and will run for up until May 12. We join Reporter Naim Borges for a look into the profession, its challenges, and successes.

BNTU in solidarity with the PSU
The proposal for an increment freeze for teachers was also sent from the government to the Belize National Teachers Union(BNTU). The Public Service Union, however, is the only one that outrightly rejected the Government’s ultimatum. This, however, does not indicate that they are in this fight alone. At least that is what the Vice President of the PSU, Dean Flowers is saying.

The PSU is standing its ground against GOB proposals
The Public Service Union (PSU) has once again rejected the Government’s proposal for an increment freeze for public officers. The proposal was made to the union as part of cost-saving exercises the Government embarked on amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for austerity measures.

The San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council Is Laying Off Ten Of Their Employees Due To A Lack Of Revenue
A total of 10 persons were laid off at the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council effective April 30. According to Mayor Earl Trapp, this had to be done for the council to reduce its expenditure.

Breaking Belize News

Saluting nurses in Belize and the world: Nurses Week 2020
International Nurses Week 2020 began on May 6 and will run until Tuesday, May 12 […]

Several organizations and families benefit from COVID-19 relief courtesy Oceana
Photo Credit: Wil Maheia As organizations all over Belize do their part in helping people […]

Belizean saxophonist, Allan McCoy to host virtual Mother’s Day concert
Mother’s Day will be celebrated this Sunday, May 10, 2020. Belizean saxophonist, Allan “Di Real” […]

Conch season remains closed
The Belize Fisheries Department reminds the public and fishers in particular that, in accordance with […]

BTB’s “Dear Belize” campaign keeping travelers interested in Belize during lockdown
While global travel is still restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belize Tourism Board […]

Hurricane season coming; above-average activity predicted amidst COVID-19 concerns
The countdown is on for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins on June 1. […]

Belize City getting a handle on the homeless
As much as Belizeans may complain about our current restrictions and issues with finding food […]

Municipal update: Revenue slowly recovering; Traffic Department returns; sanitation stands firm
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City, says the Belize City Council is “cautiously optimistic” about […]

CitCo floats restructuring of Municipal Bonds
The administration of Mayor Bernard Wagner is confronting having to restructure both its own Municipal […]

Social Security Board donates $200,000 to KHMH for Oncology/Chemotherapy Unit
On May 6, the Social Security Board donated $200,000 to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital […]

San Ignacio & Santa Elena Town Council terminates 10 employees
A leaked letter of termination surfaced on social media yesterday stating that “as a result […]

Hands of Love Caye Caulker donates food hampers to over 180 families
Hands of Love Caye Caulker continues to assist families with food hampers. This week, the […]

More than 25 people arrested for not wearing masks as police continue cracking down on state of emergency violations
A total of 61 people were arrested yesterday for violating the State of emergency Regulations, […]

Blogs

Doyle’s Delight, The Highest Peak in Belize
Although it’s mostly a technicality, Doyle’s Delight in the Toledo District is the highest point in Belize. Measuring some 3,687 feet (1,124 meters) high, Doyle’s Delight is a peak in the Maya Mountain range that span much of Belize. Because Doyle’s Delight is just a spur that is slightly higher than the surrounding mountain range rather than a true peak, it had no official name for most of Belize’s history. The current name was coined by the legendary animal rights activist and founder of the Belize Zoo Sharon Matola in 1989. Referencing a quote from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the author of the Sherlock Holmes books) book “The Lost World” that refers to Belize as a “wild and wonderful country,” Matola named the area Doyle’s Delight. Although recent scientific measurements have revealed that it is actually eight feet (two and a half meters) shorter, Victoria’s Peak was long considered the highest point in Belize.

Birding Soars Amid COVID-19
With COVID-19 restrictions continuing on, interest in bird-watching has soared as those indoors notice a fascinating world just outside their windows. In Belize, now is the perfect time to bird-watch as hundreds of species migrate back to America and Canada. This spike in migration gives new birders a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest shows – birds in transit. With an nearly 600 bird species and six internationally recognized Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), Belize is one of Central America’s premier birding destinations.

International Sources

West Michigan family asking community to 'Adopt Belize' due to lack of travel during pandemic
The COVID pandemic is, of course, global. And while we are understandably concerned about our families and our communities, other places and people need help, too. A West Michigan man in another part of the world knows that very well. At the beginning of the pandemic, Travel Belize put out this promotional video. COVID-19 has paralyzed the country's economy, which is mostly based on tourism. But other economies are being hit for other reasons.

Latin America and Caribbean: Tax revenue under threat amid deteriorating regional outlook
Tax revenues in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) increased to 23.1% of GDP on average in 2018, according to the new edition of Revenue Statistics in Latin America in the Caribbean published today. However, these gains are now under threat as a result of the region’s deteriorating fiscal outlook, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic crisis. The increase of 0.4 percentage points (p.p.) from their level in 2017 is the highest level of tax revenues ever recorded in the region.

Concerns Raised About Prolonged Drought In The Caribbean
The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology says there is “significant concern”, at least until the end of May, about the continued impact of a prolonged drought period on the region. In the May edition of its Caribbean Drought Bulletin released Thursday, the institute said that during the first three months of this year “there was a clear distinction between the wetter northern and drier southern islands of the eastern Caribbean.

Caribbean tourism has been decimated by COVID-19. But the private sector can cushion the blow
We are all in the same COVID-19 storm, but not all countries are in the same boat. Here in the Bahamas, 70% of our GDP is generated from tourism. Tourist-based economies like ours throughout the Caribbean region have limited social safety nets. This means our people, economy and future are far more likely to be wrecked by COVID-19 than nations with more diversified economies. Today, airports and hotels here are shuttered, unemployment throughout the region is soaring, and nobody knows when these tourism sector jobs may come back.

Videos

May 7, 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

New Chairman Appointed for the Social Security Board
Dr. Colin Young has been appointed as the new chairman of the board of directors for the Social Security Board. His appointment is effective as of today, May 6th. He succeeds Mr. Douglas Singh who resigned in April 2020. Dr. Young is currently the Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center. Prior to this, he served as the CEO of the Social Security Board from 2017 to 2019.

No more active cases in Belize; nation ranks high on the global scale in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic
Belize is one of the top countries in its region and around the world for having contained COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and managing to ensure no further active cases for over three weeks. This success has allowed economies to slowly begin to open, particularly in Belize and other Caribbeans nations, where the tourism industry has been crushed by the pandemic.

UNICEF scales up support to Belize Ministry of Education’s School Feeding Program during COVID-19 pandemic
In Belize, UNICEF continues to pledge its commitment to support programs initiated and subsidized by the Government of Belize. To this end, UNICEF has provided funding for access to a thousand (1000) nutrition hampers, including hygiene kits to be distributed to the families of children who have been beneficiaries of the Ministry of Education’s School Feeding Program.

Mexican Naval Vessel’s crash on the reef at Tuffy Channel believed to be caused by drifting buoy marker
A Mexican Naval vessel ran aground on the barrier reef at the Tuffy Channel in front of Ambergris Caye on Wednesday, May 6th shortly after 12:30PM. The military boat was reportedly traveling to the Mexican City of Chetumal when it crashed on the reef. After a couple of hours sitting on the reef, the boat was removed in a safe manner with the assistance of the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, who carried out an initial assessment of the situation. In the coming days, the Department of Environment (DOE), will conduct a further impact assessment and submit it to Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be dealt with at a State to State level.

Fisheries Department Office Operations and Services during COVID-19 State of Emergency
The Fisheries Department thanks the public for its cooperation at this time and continues to encourage everyone to put precautionary measures in place to protect the health and safety of all. For additional updates, follow the Facebook Page of the Fisheries Department and website.

Various Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
Thursday, May 7th Meal Pick ups: Location: Happy Lobster. Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am, Bahia: 11:45am - 12:30pm. We appreciate the containers and bags you've been bringing!

Maya Island Air resumes limited services today
Maya Island Air advises the public that scheduled flights will be available from San Pedro, Savannah, Placencia and Dangriga for essential travelers and freight to Belize City and the Philip Goldson International Airport May 6th ,2020. Customers can call our office at 223-1140 to book or send email request at [email protected] Canadian passengers repatriating to Canada must be at the Philip Goldson International Airport, 2 hours prior to flight time.

More questions about the Private LPG Monopoly
So My question is - how does Belize amend a law that has existed for 30 years to give a US pig farmer majority ownership in a Belize National Butane company? Please Don’t pay any attention to the fact that the laws are amended by the AG office and the AG law partner is sitting as Secretary on new company and have filed the paperwork for the newly established company. Now inquiring minds want to know : 1. is the AG financially benefiting via his law firm with this new Butane company ? 2. What does a pig farmer know about butane gas ? ...

IMPORTANT BELTRAIDE NOTICE: SURVEY
In an effort to better assess the impacts of COVID-19 on our clients across BELTRAIDE’s strategic mandates of investment (BelizeINVEST), trade (EXPORTBelize), entrepreneurship (SBDCBelize) and capacity development (BTEC), we humbly encourage you to participate in this short economic impact assessment survey which should take around 3 to 5 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept anonymous and confidential, and will only to be used internally by BELTRAIDE in further advising the Belize’s National Economic Oversight Committee on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Economic Stability Sub-Committee in support of national socioeconomic recovery and transformational efforts. Through the survey results you provide, we also anticipate the deployment of our continued policy advocacy efforts as guided by our mantra of “Making Business Happen.”

"From My Home" Art Contest
ART HUB BELIZE - Running out of ideas for the little ones? Let your kids show off their artistic talent by entering our "From My Home" Art Contest. Our selected winner will have the chance to receive a little treat from our sponsors. All submissions will be displayed on our Facebook page and will be judged by our Art Team. Remember everyone is a winner when it comes to Art! You can enter the contest by sending best quality photos of your child's submission via email or whatsapp . Kids can enter one artwork per child using any material or art technique.

With global limitations on social gatherings, the closure of cultural and heritage spaces including museums, sites and reserves, libraries, community centers, as well as the cancellation of concerts, festivals and other arts and cultural heritage activities, many communities are struggling to identify opportunities and spaces for the continued practice, transmission, and showcase of their cultural heritage. What we often fail to realize though, is that we can and do practice our cultural heritage every day from the safety of our own homes. Here you’ll find some ideas of how you can engage with your heritage while at home.

Business Continuity for Tour Operators and Accommodations
Kindly register for the first webinar on May 11, 2020, here.

The Artist of the Day, Bredda David Obi
David Obi, better known by his stage name bredda “DAVID” is Belize’s most revolutionary musician and is known to be the creator of “Kungo Muzik”, the Tribal Afro sound of Belize. Obi was born in Belize City but grew up in Dangriga with his grandaunt and granduncle. He migrated to the United States where he joined a Belizean band in Los Angeles, California by the name of “Astros” playing solely cover tunes from other artists. Obi later joined another band, before going on his own in 1978, to form a 3-piece rock band, “Scorpios Jurny” where he first began writing original music. The members of the band included Emmanuel Good, Lem Vaughn, and himself, David Obi.

Mrs.Lydia Ramcharan Pollard, curator of Window into the Past East Indian Museum
As part of our Museum Month activities we would like to introduce Mrs.Lydia Ramcharan Pollard, curator of Window into the Past East Indian Museum. The cultural museum is located at Mile 83 on the Phillip Goldson Highway where Ranchito Village meets Corozal Town. The museum opened in 2001 with inspiration from Lydia's husband who encouraged her, as Lydia had a substantial collection in her possession. She visited friends and family in Calcutta Village where she grew up with requests for contribution of artifacts and received overwhelming support. Over the years she has catered to schools, scout groups (overnight camping facilities) and visitors alike. Lydia's museum focuses on East Indian heritage but also houses Maya and British artifacts. Lydia has been a regular contributor of the Corozal House of Culture from it's inauguration in 2012, always ready and able to support our events and activities. In 2012 Lydia was awarded the Woman of Culture Award by the National Institute of Culture & History. If you would like to visit the Window into the Past East Indian Museum kindly call Miss Lydia at 651-9168.

Gilharry Seven Mother's Day Show
This Mothers Day we can all kick back and enjoy the great songs of the mighty Gilharry Seven with their Backyard Quarantine live performance beginning at 10am!!

New 'Dear Belize' Campaign Offers Free Trip for Two
The Belize Tourism Board wants people stuck at home to spread some love during the COVID-19 pandemic with a new virtual postcard campaign. Within the next four weeks, eager travelers are encouraged to submit a video in a bid to win a free trip to Belize once it is safe to travel again. A “Dear Belize” virtual postcard should be a short video that explains the participant’s love for the beautiful Central American/Caribbean destination. A winner will be selected at random, but favorites of the Dear Belize team will be shared on its social media platforms, so participants are encouraged to be creative.

Repatriation Flights to Canada and the USA
There are currently two United Airlines repatriation flights from Belize to the United States. The airport and all borders in Belize remain closed. We are grateful to United Airlines and the Government of Belize for providing these flights. Flight 1 - Thursday May 7, 2020: United Airlines Flight UA3023 departs Belize City on Thursday May 7, 2020 at 12:00 pm (noon) and arrives in Houston, TX at 15:30 pm. This flight is currently fully booked but you may wish to check www.United.com for additional seats due to cancellations or other issues. Flight 2 - Thursday May 14, 2020: United Airlines Flight UA3023 departs Belize City on Thursday May 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm (noon) and arrives in Houston, TX at 15:28 pm. There are currently available seats on this flight but please note they will fill up quickly. Please see information below for making a reservation or other questions.

Support La Isla Carinosa Academy Education Program
In 2015, Alberto Luis August established a small high-quality school on the island of Caye Caulker, Belize. This GoFundMe page was created to seek your assistance in keeping this small island school alive. La Isla Cariñosa Academy (LICA) is a high-quality educational institution licensed by the Belize Ministry of Education and operating on the small Caribbean island of Caye Caulker, Belize. We have been providing quality education to the children of Caye Caulker since 2015. Our program caters for both preschool and elementary levels.

New Chairman Appointed for the Social Security Board
Dr. Colin Young has been appointed as the new chairman of the board of directors for the Social Security Board. His appointment is effective as of today, May 6th. He succeeds Mr. Douglas Singh who resigned in April 2020. Dr. Young is currently the Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center. Prior to this, he served as the CEO of the Social Security Board from 2017 to 2019. Dr. Young also served as CEO in the Ministries of Agriculture and Energy for the Government of Belize and has served on the boards of various organizations both locally and internationally.

Update on Unemployment Relief Program
The Economic Monitoring Team (EOT) has approved a total of 40,453 unemployment aid applications and all of these have all been sent to the Social Security Board (SSB) for disbursement. SSB has processed 37,696 payments to approved applicants. Of these, 34,915 approved applicants have been successfully paid by direct deposit or recharge card. In addition, 15,438 of those people, who received their first payment before April 18, 2020, have now received their second payment. The SSB continues to process payments and all approved applications are expected to be processed by the end of today.

Anteater Chopped on the Head
Whilst some injured animals that come into our care are injured by Mother Nature or accidentally in conflict with people, we do unfortunately see our fair share of animals pointlessly, and often fatally injured on purpose. This morning we received a call about an anteater who had been chopped with a machete on the head by some guys taking coconuts from The Island Academy property. They threw his body on the beach and left him there to die before leaving the scene. Thankfully the world is full of more good people than bad, as 6 guys who’d found the anteater contacted us and shaded him with tarp until we could arrive. We rushed him to Saga Humane Society for emergency care hoping they could stabilize him so he could be transported to a wildlife vet on the mainland the following day.

Caribbean Fusion Friday Jam benefiting Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen
Friday, May 8, 2020 at 4 PM

Hope Haven Accepting and Giving Donations
We have been working with families on the island Since March 23, 2020. Below are the number of families/households that have received assistance from Hope Haven: Boca del Rio 208 San Marcos/San Pablo/DFC/South 610 North 51 San Juan 184 San Mateo 507 San Pedrito 432 Town Center/Back a town 365 Total families assisted 2357. Of these 2357 families, we received basic assistance from Human Development for 1200 families...

San Ignacio Community Hospital Maternal and Child health services
News from the SICH. "Maternal and Child health services is being provided. Please call 662-9692 for more information."

Nexgen has an online school package on special
New Plans to Learn From Home! With our children out of school, ensuring their education stays on track is of the utmost importance. This means you need all the right tools to help your child’s transition to the virtual classroom that much easier! $56.25 per month.

BWS Customer services now available country-wide with the exception of Caye Caulker

Howler monkey in town (Belmopan)
No doubt displaced by the many forest fires around Belmopan, a male Black Howler Monkey took a wrong turn and ended up in my friend and colleague Tanya Santos's front yard, right in the very center of Belmopan. While Tanya was trying to phone for assistance with rescuing the animal, the monkey started moving again, expertly following the power lines even further into the center of the Town. Meanwhile being followed and even being attacked by the birds from the neighborhood (being city birds, they didn't know what a monkey was). But clearly upset by the dogs in the yards below him, he turned back and ultimately ended up on the Ringroad again where at that moment was quite a bit of traffic.

Oceana ZOOM backgrounds
Want to add some color to your Zoom meetings? We've got you covered! Check out our new Oceana backgrounds here.

Channel 7

Mexican Naval Vessell Runs Unto Reef
A Mexican naval vessel ran aground on the reef just outside San Pedro town today. The vessel was travelling from Mahahual to Chetumal when it ran into the reef, reportedly after being misled by a navigational bouy that had drifted off course. Cmdr. Gregory Soberanis, Vice Commandant, Coast Guard: "What transpired this afternoon was that the lead vessel which was a safe boat class vessel while entering the channel was using the marked buoy as a reference for entering that particular channel, which is the main channel in front of San Pedro Town. Unfortunately the marker buoy had drifted and had drifted a little too much to the right of the channel and it was sitting right on top of the reef. So the Mexican vessel which used that marker buoy as a reference point eventually ended up on the reef itself. The vessel has been removed from off the reef. DOE will conduct an initial impact assessment and based on those findings that will be included in the report which will be forward to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it will be dealt with on a state to state level."

DHS: Zero Cases, But Not Off the Hook
As we told you last night - Belize currently has no active cases of COVID 19, after the last two patients were confirmed to have recovered in test results released yesterday. It's reason to quietly rejoice, for sure, but, today, the Director of Health Services said it is no time to let up on your health and safety practices, because this could be just the first wave. We spoke to him via zoom teleconference this evening: "We are Covid-19 free. I don't know that relaxation is the word. I would hope that we can appreciate that we don't have any case and that we will ensure that we have learnt our lesson..."

The Many Moods of Masks
And - in the public's view - one way to keep that second wave from coming in is by wearing a mask at all times. Now, it is just one of many public health precautions, but because it seems to impose the most on our daily routines and habits- those ubiquitous masks have now become a major part of national life. And that's due in no small part to the fact that it is also the law - punishable by a hefty fine or jail time.

Manzanero Not Too Mad About Masks
So what does Belize's leading public health expert think of the whole mask thing? Well, not much, apparently. Today, DHS Marvin Manzanero that the wearing of masks is actually the least important public health practice we can do to prevent the spread of COVID 19. And, while it does play a role, there is a public education component which may be lacking: "I have said also that I am a little bit concern and worried when you walk down the street or drive through and you see people just wearing masks inappropriately, so in point a potential benefit can give you other headaches because you can have other diseases..."

Running With Mask May Not Be Ideal
And more than just guided by evidence, Manzanero says the public health directives have to be guided by practicality - and as he alluded to just now - exercising with a mask may not be the most practical thing. We asked him about how he would cope running with a mask because we've known Dr. Manzanero to run competitively in marathons: "I can't imagine that you can run a long distance with a mask, inhaling what you are also exhaling, it's unhealthy. Apart from being oppressive, it's very unhealthy."

PSU and GOB Bickering Over Increments
With a collapsing revenue base and soaring expenses, Government is straining to pay its wage bill - but, still, the Financial Secretary and the PSU can't seem to agree on the way forward with increments which will not be paid this year. A circular from the Minister of finance at the end of last month proposes the foregoing of all increments for the next fiscal year. But, the union wants the increments deferred instead for up to 3-5 years.

What's Old Is New at SSB
The last chairman of the Social Security Board Doug Singh resigned in a cloud of controversy three weeks ago. That's after some callous remarks about recipients of unemployment relief surfaced. Well, government has found a replacement - and it is a familiar face at the social security board.

40k Receive Unemployment Cheques
And, keeping it on Social Security, tonight the Economic Oversight Team can announce that it's approved a total of 40,453 applications for unemployment relief, all of which have been sent to the Social Security Board for payment. For their part, SSB has processed 37,696 payments to approved applicants. Of this, 34,915 approved applicants have been successfully paid by direct deposit or top-up card. Additionally, 15,438 of those persons, who received their first payment before April 18, 2020, have now received their second payment.

A Shower of SI's
And while that is one of the main elements in the national response to COVID 19, the mothership is the State of Emergency. The regulations outlined in the legislation for the SOE guide and control a state of national life, which is nothing like it was a few months ago.

CITCO Juggling Bonds After COVID Setbacks
Turning now from national to local government, the city council says it may have to juggle the terms of the first municipal bond which the previous mayor Darrell Bradley floated. It was the first municipal bond, and it was ultra secured by the government subvention and the cruise ship head tax - which went directly into a sinking fund lockbox at the central bank. That gave investors a high level of security - but the world has turned upside down: there are no cruise ships coming in anytime soon, and the subvention is now going back to City Hall, which is struggling to even pay its 400 plus employees a half salary.

City's Finances Far From Flooding In
And, a major part of any debt re-configuration would depend on the city council's finances which slowed to a trickle after the emergence of the COVID-19 threat. Now that some measure of normalcy is returning to national life, the mayor said a little more money is coming in: Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City: "Last week was our first full week that we came back. We see minor little trickling coming in, little more improvement than where we were before. We remain cautiously optimistic. We know that all businesses are still suffering, people are not back on the job, even the government is feeling the pinch as we speak and so we don't see any significant turnaround."

Can City Stay Current With Sanitation Contracts?
But, the city has been unable to make full payment to its sanitation contractor recently. The mayor said they fell behind from before COVID reared its head: "We fell back prior to Covid, we continue to ensure that that is a priority payment for us. We are still not where we want to be in terms catching up back with the provider, but we believe that given our approach that they have that little understanding where we are too as well."

16 Keys of Coke In UK on Ship from Belize
A ship whose last port of call was Belize is wrapped up in a UK drug bust. That's after two Albanian nationals were charged with breaking into London's principal port to retrieve drug packages. Two men were later arrested by Border Force officers, who recovered around 16 kilos of cocaine from a refrigerated container said to have arrived from Belize on 1 May.

Radisson is Ready For Post COVID Tourism
With the relaxation of the State of Emergency regulations, many businesses have been slowly re-opening this week. But, the Government has doubled down social distancing and hand sanitization protocols, to mitigate against the possibility of a second wave of positive coronavirus cases in Belize. The government is being strict with the businesses that are being allowed to reopen, but one hotel is taking greater precautions than required.

Mayor Makes Major Mask Donation
The Police Department is a few steps closer to being fully masked. It's due to a major mask donation made by Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner in collaboration with his council and various business partners.

Can City Handle The Homeless?
Back in April, we told you that the Welcome Resource Centre had joined the National Sports Council and the Belize City Council to take care of the homeless population of Belize City during the National State of Emergency. It's an initiative that some might criticize as having limited success, because you could still see the homeless on Belize's City's main streets throughout April.

Students Bristle At Faber's Dismissive Statement
Last night we brought you a portion of the National Student Union of Belize COVID-19 forum. The participants discussed a timeline for school reopening and the web-based learning that will have to do until then. And in the last part of the forum hosted via zoom, the students said they din't like what they heard from the Minister of Education about university level learning.

Big Fines For SOE Violations
On Monday, we told you about the 62 people that police charged countrywide for breaking the State of Emergency regulations during the Labour Day Holiday weekend. Well, on Monday and Tuesday, 15 of those accused people were arraigned before the Belize City Magistrate's Court. On Monday, the cops escorted the senior citizen, Shanton Gillett, before the Chief Magistrate for breaching the curfew. He quickly pleaded guilty and was fined $2,500. He must pay his fine by July 31st, 2020, or he will have to spend 1 year in jail in default.

Tropic Air Trying to Return To Normal
As of Monday TROPIC AIR reactivated several of its domestic passenger flights since the State of Emergency Regulations have been relaxed slightly. Those flights include service for San Pedro, Caye Caulker, the Belize City Municipal Airport, Placencia, Dangriga, Corozal, and Punta Gordo. For the time being, the flights will be limited, and they will only be available on select days.

NGCL - Who Calls The Shots For Butane in Belize?
Last night, we showed you our telephone interview with Dr. Gilbert Canton, the Managing Director of the new National Gas Company. He and the Controller of Supplies for the Belize Bureau of Standards were responding to the suggestion from the dominant Central American butane importers, that butane might get scarce due to the transition that is happening within the local LPG market. Well, that gave us an opportunity to lift some of the mystery surrounding this pubic private company that has taken over all authority to import LPG into Belize. The Government has legislated a major change that unseats the companies: Gas Tomza, Southern Choice Butane, and Belize Western Energy Limited as importers.

What's In New Butane Deal For Consumers
But, while we're still reviewing those details, we asked the Managing Director of National Gas to discuss how this regime change will benefit you, the consumer. As we've reported, the change was presented as a consumer protection mechanism, and so, we asked Dr. Canton to explain how the business will work with them as the sole importers of LPG: Voice of: Dr. Gilbert Canton - Managing Director, Nat'l Gas Company: "What we've done in that regard - it's really three legs that we're on: the energy security, which we now have in place because there is a substantial supply, and the ability to have that supply in Belize itself..."

BBS Says It Will Be Strict
For the Bureau of Standards, it doesn't matter who the Government is allowing to import LPG into Belize. They say that they will be strict in their regulation of the industry, to protect Belizean consumers from any kind of abuse. Here's that Controller of Supplies making that point yesterday: "We have a duty as a regulator. How that market, or how the dynamic plays out, in terms of investment..."

Channel 5

2 Albanian Nationals Busted for Importing Cocaine from Belize into the UK
There has not been any reported drug plane landings since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, the last drug plane landed on the Coastal Road on February twenty-seventh, [...]

Ministry of Finance Threatens P.S.U./B.N.T.U. Over Increments and Allowances
The government is in a serious financial pickle due to the economic crisis that has befallen the country in its fight against COVID-19. The wage bill accounts for one of [...]

P.S.U. Open to Making Sacrifice, But Then What?
The Public Service Union responded to the proposed cuts in a letter to the FinSec on May fourth. Henry voiced its discontent with the turn of events and contends that [...]

Mexican Naval Vessel Runs Aground on Reef Near San Pedro
Just before one o’clock today, a Mexican naval vessel ran aground on the reef near San Pedro. Official information is that the vessel was one of two registered to the [...]

Vessel Grounding Will Be Dealt With at State Level
The vessel has since been removed from where it was lodged and departed our waters. The Ministry of the Environment will be conducting an assessment of the incident.  Commander Gregory [...]

Dickie Speaks Up for Body 2000 Workers
On Tuesday, proprietor Mark Neal and several of his employees were arrested for being inside Body 2000 Gym.  They were charged individually when they were unable to provide a reasonable [...]

Are the Laws on Exercise Lopsided?
According to Bradley, the laws, as they stand, are lopsided, granting citizens permission to do certain forms of exercise, but denying them from doing others.   Richard ‘Dickie’ Bradley, Attorney [...]

Minor Charged for Taxi Man Murder
A teenage boy, who is believed to have brutally killed fifty-four-year-old Matias Alpuche, is in the custody of Orange Walk Police. He was caught on Tuesday morning after investigators launched [...]

Dr. Colin Young is New Chair of the S.S.B.
The post of Chairman of S.S.B. is now duly filled and by a familiar face there. Doctor Colin Young is back at the Social Security Board.  Late last year, he [...]

Wildfires in the West – the Burning Continues!
For the past two weeks we have been reporting on a spate of forest fires across Belize. Many of those fires are concentrated in the western part of the country. [...]

FCD Executive Director Says Environmental Education Program Needed
The Chiquibul and Vaca Forests have also been destroyed by wildfires, but these have decreased significantly. The rains last week doused the huge inferno that destroyed habitats and killed animals.  [...]

San Ignacio/San Elena Town Council Fires Ten Employees
Also in the west, ten persons have been fired from the San Ignacio/San Elena Town Council. Municipal governments across the country are having trouble meeting their monthly expenses and have [...]

Mayor Bernard Wagner Cautiously Optimistic About Revenue Stream
Since last week, some restrictions have been eased on the countrywide state of emergency and many businesses, including services provided by the municipal government, have resumed operation. Town and city [...]

Will CitCo Be Able to Make Commitment to Municipal Bondholders
Now, before COVID 19, on a monthly basis, the council collected about three hundred thousand dollars from the head tax received from the tourism industry. But that too disappeared when [...]

More Applications are Approved and Accepted for Unemployment Relief
The number of persons who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 is in the thousands, though the exact number is still out there. For sure, close to eighty-three thousand applied [...]

Audrey Matura Presses Court of Appeal for Written Decision
Attorney Audrey Matura finds herself at the end of a very stern letter from the Court of Appeal. Matura is the attorney for Gas Tomza Limited, Southern Choice Butane, Zeta [...]

The Keyword is ‘Household”
The state of emergency remains in full force throughout the months of May and June. Every week there is an update from the police on the number of persons who [...]

Madagascar’s President Claims Herbal Tonic Prevents COVID-19
As you know by now, there are no active COVID-19 cases in Belize, but fifteen are under investigation. Since the pandemic broke, a number of medications are being touted as [...]

Belize City Council Donates Over $9000 Worth of Masks for Eastern Division
Police officers are on the frontline of the COVID-19 fight, enforcing the regulations of the state of emergency. You see them stopping vehicles and making sure that the law is [...]

Belize City Council Working on Skeleton Staff, Reduced Salaries
Earlier you heard the San Ignacio Mayor saying he was cutting down expenditures by reducing staff due to the financial crunch.  At City Hall, except for sanitation workers, staff was [...]

Belize City Traffic Department Monitoring Movement
The Belize Police Department has mounted check points at various heavily trafficked points to monitor the movement of people across the country. Since the ease on restrictions last week, there [...]

Full Services Resume at the Traffic Department in Belize City
For almost six weeks, Belize District residents had to carry out online transactions for their traffic needs. From insurance, to the inspection and licensing of motor vehicles and even the [...]

The Reporter

Minor charged with murder
Orange Walk Police have charged a 17-year old minor from Sarteneja Village, Corozal District for the murder of cab driver Matias Alpuche which occurred on Sunday, May 3rd. Alpuche was found with multiple stab wounds to his body inside his taxi on the Honey Camp Road. Witnesses reported seeing Alpuche's vehicle swerving on the road before it came to a stop. A Hispanic male person was later seen exiting the vehicle and fleeing into some bushes in the area.

Home Invasion in PG
Two females were held at gunpoint in their homes on Monday night. A teacher living in Punta Gorda Town reported that her roommate was forced to enter her home at gunpoint. The gunman, a slim, dark-skinned male, entered behind her and demanded money. The teacher shouted that she didn’t have any and the gunman pistol-whipped her on the mouth, causing injury. The man then had them pack a laptop, tablet, phone, wedding ring and other items in a bag, locked the ladies in a bedroom, then made off with the loot.

LOVE FM

LPG importers concerned over nationalized gas company
Yesterday, we reported on the issues surrounding the former importers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). As of April 30, these importers have been blocked from importing LPG, making way for the National Gas Company.

Attorney Audrey Matura responds to scolding from Court of Appeal
Aside from the issues surrounding the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) importers, Attorney Audrey Matura was the talk of the town yesterday after she received a strongly worded letter from the Court of Appeal. Matura explained to Love News that last Tuesday, she filed an application for an expedited hearing at the Court of Appeal after the interim injunction was denied by Acting Chief Justice Michelle Arana.

Mexican Vessel runs aground on Belize’s Reef
A vessel from our neighbours in Mexico was sighted off the shore of San Pedro Town just after twelve o’clock this afternoon. Love News understands that the Mexican Naval vessel was travelling from Mahahual to Chetumal with three passengers. The vessel lost its direction when they entered the main channel in San Pedro Town and their marker bouy drifted off course causing them to run aground Belize’s reef. Vice Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, Gregory Soberanis spoke to the media today on what they encountered on the sea when they responded.

Breaking Belize News

/Diabetic Justice of the Peace that suffered foot burn during police stop and search seeking to file complaint
A diabetic Justice of the Peace is preparing to make a formal complaint in the […]

Teenage boy arrested for murder on Honey Camp road
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder. It is alleged that he robbed and […]

Courts Optical informs of new procedures at all branches
Covid-19 is unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetime and we continue to monitor […]

Dr. Colin Young appointed as new chairman of Social Security Board
The Government informed today that Dr. Colin Young has been appointed as the new chairman […]

Mexican Coast Guard Vessel reefed near San Pedro
There are reports of a Mexican Coast Guard Vessel seen in the reef near San […]

Over 40,000 applications approved for COVID-19 unemployment relief
The Government announced today that the Economic Oversight Team (EOT) has approved a total of […]

CitCo hands over masks for use police to use in Eastern Division
The Eastern Division of the Police Department received a complement of 1,600 masks from the Belize […]

Armed robbery being investigated in PG
Merisa Pate, 22, yesterday visited the Punta Gorda Police Station and reported that on Monday […]

GOB may change laws to alter salaries after Public Service Union rejects cost-saving measures
The Government of Belize (GOB) in its attempts to deal with the economic downturn brought […]

Blogs

Belize – The Only COVID-19 Free Country in the Americas
Besides being the last country in the Americas to report its first coronavirus case on March 23, 2020, Belize also becomes the first in the Americas to report no active COVID19 cases. Belize, since Tuesday, May 5, reported it’s last two of eighteen (18) cases testing negative and officially declared recovered. In the Caribbean, Belize now joins Suriname and Anguilla to report any active cases of infection, hospitalization, or new deaths.

Happy Mother's Day 2020
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.

Plastic Pollution During a Global Pandemic
This year was meant to mark an ultimate shift away from plastic. In January, the government officially began its roll-out to ban single-use plastic in Belize. Today, defining images of the coronavirus pandemic all seem to feature one thing: plastic. Surgical masks, gloves, protective equipment, take-out containers, and even disposable plastic bags. The current COVID-19 crisis has spurred a rapid expansion in the production of desperately-needed plastic products, with governments racing to boost their stockpiles and regular citizens clamoring for their share of supplies. Such production is necessary. But all that plastic ends up somewhere and environmentalist fear a relapse to plastic dependancy. And when PPE gets discarded in public areas, it ends up clogging sidewalk drains and washing into waterways.

International Sources

Travel The World Through These Foods & Drinks
Highly acclaimed publication Forbes has featured iconic Belize hot sauces, Marie Sharp's and Hot Mama's, in "Travel the World Through These Food & Drinks." Check it out!

Know amazing things about Great Blue Hole Cave
There are many amazing and mysterious places on earth, which no one has been able to disclose till date. One such place is also in the Central American country Belize, which is called the 'Great Blue Hole'. It is a circular cave, which is built in the sea. It has a diameter of 318 meters and a depth of 125 meters. This sea cave is considered one of the best places in the world for scuba diving.

Belize Ntionals in Europe Can Extend Their Visas Free of Charge
Belizean nationals who remain in Europe due to the Coronavirus pandemic and whose visas are about to expire will be eligible to extend them, the Embassy of Belize in Brussels announced. According to the Embassy of Belize, visa extension for Belizean citizens who remain in Europe will be free of charge, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

The Caribbean Now Has Over 14,400 Coronavirus Cases
The total number of coronavirus cases in the Caribbean past 14 thousand four hundred cases last night as the death toll reached 650. This as many countries in the region seem to be flattening the curve but at least half-a-dozen other continue to uptick. It was another day of increased cases for the Dominican Republic which added another three hundred and twenty-seven cases Wednesday to take to 8,807. Another 8 people died in the DR yesterday as its death toll reached 362.

Scuba diver surprised by appearance of shark as he comes over the coral reef
This scuba very surprised to have a close encounter with a ten foot Caribbean Reef Shark as he came over a coral reef in Belize. He has his eye on a large nurse shark, a very harmless and docile animal that will often follow scuba divers out of curiosity. But unexpectedly, coming over the sea fans revealed the shape of a large reef shark, which is a completely different animal. Although reef sharks are generally no threat to humans, they are physiologically different, with mouths that are more suited for biting and inflicting serious harm, if the chose to do so.

Large Parts of Caribbean Under Severe Drought
From Belize to Cuba, drought has encompassed a large part of the Caribbean. The upcoming summer and autumn seasons are typically the wettest months across the Caribbean, so there is certainly a chance that a soaking summer could offset the drier winter and spring. From Cuba to Belize, a lack of rainfall in 2019 and 2020 has led to significant drought across the region. Pockets of extreme drought have led to wildfires and agricultural stress.

Videos

May 6, 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

ComPol Chester Williams visits the islands to clarify COVID-19 regulation enforcement
After images surfaced showing overcrowding on boats allegedly carrying 'essential trave;' passengers to the islands, ComPol Williams visited the islands to seek ways to address and enforce a plan for the public transportation system to adhere to social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing.

Unemployment Relief Top-up Cards
Recipients of the Government of Belize COVID-19 unemployment relief, who are receiving payments by way of top-up cards, are advised to carefully protect their top-up cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN).

Tropic Air Resumes Limited Domestic Flights
Effective Monday, May 11, 2020, Tropic Air will be resuming limited domestic passenger flights to San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City Municipal, Placencia, Dangriga, Corozal and Punta Gorda.

Ministry of Natural Resources Re-Opening Protocols
The Ministry of Natural Resources informs the public that all offices countrywide are open between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12 midday and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To maintain the health and safety of customers and employees and to comply with the Government of Belize’s regulations, effective immediately, all persons conducting business at any office countrywide are required to wear a face mask that covers their mouth and nose, practice good hand hygiene, and adhere to social distancing protocols.

Caye Chapel Development Co. supports Caye Caulker Residents
The Caye Chapel group felt compelled to assist when they heard of the halt of the tourism season and the substantial loss of jobs as a result of COVID19 of their neighboring island Caye Caulker.

Update on Daycare Closures
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation advises the public that under the current regulations, daycares are permitted to operate; however, an amendment will be made to the current statutory instrument to include daycares in the list of businesses prohibited from operating under the current state of emergency. Therefore, daycares will remain closed until further notice.

Water Taxi Companies Services to the islands resume
The economy is slowly beginning to open across the country after a significant decrease in cases of COVID-19, and public transportation via water taxi began transporting people to and off Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye on Monday, May 4th. Although the country continues under a State of Emergency, movement has been allowed for essential travel and persons needing to move with a purpose, including stranded individuals needing to head back home. The fact that screening is not mandated at this moment for anyone traveling to Ambergris Caye, however, has several residents concerned. They ask authorities to implement some sort of screening that could filter those that have valid reasons to travel to the islands.

Ambergris Today

Belize Is Back To Zero Active COVID-19 Cases
This afternoon, Belize’s Ministry of Health has made the announcement that the country is once again back to zero active COVID-19 cases with the last two active cases having recovered after testing negative on their second test. This marks the 7th week since it was announced that Belize had its first COVID-19 case, a 38-year-old female, Belizean national who resides in San Pedro. Belize is going into a 4th week since the last case was diagnosed but Belizeans are urged that they CANNOT lose sight of the fact that our neighbors are having escalating numbers in terms of cases and deaths.

Various Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen day Location
Wednesday, May 6th meal .pick ups Location: Carribean Fusion ( previously Dirty Mc Nasty's) Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am Bahia: 11: 45am 12;30 pm Every container and bag you bring with you helps our mIssion to feed those in need. Thank you! "it takes a village to feed a village"

Tropic Air resumes limited domestic flights
Tropic Air announces that effective Monday, May 11, 2020, we will be resuming domestic passenger flights. Flights will serve San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City Municipal, Placencia, Dangriga, Corozal and Punta Gorda, and initially be at limited frequencies, on limited days. As demand warrants, we may add more flights to meet demand. Please also note that there will be no flights on public and bank holidays.

No more LPG licenses for Butane Importers
The public is hereby informed that April 30, 2020 was the last day we imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). As mandated by the Government of Belize effective May 01, 2020 we have been blocked from importing LPG or butane gas into Belize, which we are addressing via a Constitutional Claim in court and awaiting the Court to set a date.

Fisheries Department Office Operations and Services during COVID-19 State of Emergency
In conformity with the national state of emergency and guided by Statutory Instrument No. 65 of 2020 and Circular Memorandum No. 13 of 2020, the Fisheries Department will be implementing the following measures effective Wednesday, May 6, 2020: 1. No walk-ins will be allowed, except where these services may be considered critical. Public visitations will be allowed by appointment only. 2. Applications for renewals of fisher folk and vessel licenses will be processed as follows:

Unemployment Relief Top-up Cards
Recipients of the Government of Belize COVID-19 unemployment relief, who are receiving payments by way of top-up cards, are advised to carefully protect their top-up cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PIN). The top-up card will be used to receive additional payments during the remainder of your approved unemployment relief, which will be paid twice a month over a three-month period. Lost cards should be reported to the nearest Social Security Board (SSB) office as early as possible. Please be advised that a $10.00 fee is required for a replacement card and PIN. This process may take several days.

The YWCA is selling reusable face masks for only $5
They have a wide assortment of colors

Global Big Day 2020
FB Live this Friday 8th at 10.30am, as we prepare for Global Big Day 2020. Tune in. If you know someone who wants to learn about eBird, THIS is their chance. It will be a step by step. Tune in to the discussion live on Friday!

The Artist of the Day, Chris Bradshaw
Chris Bradshaw has been dedicated to music for over 20 years. As both performer and teacher, Chris is passionate about bringing music education to the wider population, particularly the children and youth in Belize. Among his many accomplishments, Chris has served as conductor for the National Youth Orchestra, director of the music program at Wesley College, and production manager for Belize’s National Song Competition and Pan Yaad. Chris works diligently to share his skills and knowledge with the wider population by performing in various genres at numerous gigs and occasion. Chris also Lectures in Music at the Wesley Junior College and Saint John’s College. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Valdosta State University where he studied saxophone.

Mrs. Simeona Zuniga, curator of the Darina Museum in Libertad Village
As part of our Museum Month activities we would like to introduce Mrs. Simeona Zuniga, curator of the Darina Museum in Libertad Village. Miss Simeona began collecting Garifuna artifacts in 1997. In 2012, working along side community schools and the local chapter of the National Garifuna Council, she set up a display at her home. The display received great response and in 2013 Miss Simeona opened her cultural museum. Throughout the years she has grown her collection and offers tours to residents, tourists and schools with November being her busiest month. Mrs Zuniga is very much involved with the National Garifuna Council-Libertad Branch and continues to support the Lisanigu Libertad Dance Group who has preformed locally, nationally and internationally. If you would like to visit the Darina Museum please contact Miss Simeona through her facebook page or President of the National Garifuna Council-Libertad Branch Mr. Norman Zuniga's facbook page.

DID YOU KNOW.....? BTB OFFERS FREE ONLINE WEBINARS FOR TOUR GUIDES AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS
BTB offers free online webinars for tour guides and industry partners: The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is offering a series of FREE capacity building webinars, opened to all tourism industry stakeholders during this COVID- 19 downtime. The webinars form an integral part of the BTB’s capacity building efforts for the industry, and will focus on topics relevant to preparing the industry for reopening when travel is deemed safe. The first webinar will be held on Monday, May 11 and each session will be delivered by subject matter experts, for approximately 60-minutes in duration. Stakeholders can attend and participate from the comfort of your home using a computer or mobile device. The full training schedule can be found in the table below, and accessed using the unique Zoom Meeting link.

MarAlliance Fundraiser
We need your help. There is just no other way to put it. MarAlliance is not just about shark and ocean conservation efforts. We depend on the courageous fishers we work with, and their families, who bravely speak up against unsustainable practices and push for healthier seas. These heroes are key to ensuring a future for our fish populations. During this Covid pandemic fishers are not allowed to go out to sea to fish sustainably and feed their families. They need your help. During this #GivingTuesdayNow, please donate at https://maralliance.org/donate/ and give back to support these coastal families, show them that they are not alone in their fight to keep our seas healthy.

Belize is now COVID Free
Belize now has ZERO active cases. This is great news; however we must still be cautious and continue to follow the preventative measures: washing of hands, social distancing, good hygiene, staying at home, wearing of face mask and more.

Fisheries Department Application Forms Ready Online
All Application forms are readily available on Fisheries Department website: 1. Fisherfolk License - Renewal 2. Fisherfolk License - New Entrant 3. Vessel License - Renewal 4. Vessel License - New Entrant Remember to submit a complete application form along with the required documents.

BTB Capacity Building Webinars
The Belize Tourism Board, in partnership with these presenters, are offering FREE capacity building webinars for the next couple months. If you are a tour guide, tour operator or if you work in the accommodations industry and would like to know more about the tourism industry, tune in for an hour to learn all about it. All you need is a device with internet connection. Check out the schedule below.

Daycares in the list of businesses prohibited from operating
As announced by the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, an amendment was made to Statutory Instrument No. 65 of 2020 to include daycares in the list of businesses prohibited from operating under the current state of emergency. Therefore, daycares will remain closed until further notice.

Proposed Cost Savings Measures
The Ministry of Finance has asked the PSU to accept proposals for pay adjustments in light of the 'collapse of Government's finances.' If not, the government will amend public service regulations to give the Minister power to alter salaries.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PLEADS FOR COMPASSION FROM SECONDARY SCHOOL MANAGEMENT TO PROMOTE STUDENTS
COVID-19 is a crisis that was unexpected and as a result we are now faced with many challenges. The Ministry of Education (MoE) did not anticipate the early closure of and are mindful of the issues teachers, parents and students are faced with at this unprecedented time. In an earlier press conference, we informed the general public that ER 128 speaks to the automatic promotion at the primary level. However, at the secondary level, the determination for promotion and graduation is done in accordance with the schools' academic policies and assessment practices.

Sacred Heart Junior College flowchart for registering
Accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year. There are two ways to apply.

BWS Payment plans
BWS advises customers that payment plans are now available for those who have been displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Proof of unemployment due to COVID-19 must be presented! Feel free to contact us or visit the nearest office if you have any questions or concerns.

Situation in Santa Elena taken at 6pm today and on the road from Belmopan!
Heavy, dangerous smoke that is so thick you can smell it and taste it. Imagine the sheer volume of particulate matter we are inhaling, deep into our lungs, ever day and night for weeks at a time , with only 1-2 days reprieve over the last month! The Health of 10s of thousands being impacted by a few who insist on lighting fires during this pandemic and who seem to not understand that we are in a drought and that smoke is harmful to all of us, including them! At this point , the new fire regulations are insufficient to stop this practice because it requires that arsonist and persons lighting fires are caught in the act or that the authorities can prove that the person started the fire; as a result , I haven’t read of a single person being charged under the new regs. In fact, the number of fires seem to have increased. Perhaps it is time, during this SOE at least, for the legislation to contemplate having the landowner be liable for fires on their property, regardless of who may have started it. Maybe this would result in a curbing of this ridiculous and unrelenting #smoke situation. Nothing else seems to help. Instead, we suffer day in, day out!

Channel 7

Belize is COVID Free, But Can We Stay That Way?
For the first time since March 23rd., Belize is free of COVID 19 tonight. The last two cases have come back with a second negative test, meaning that they have shed the COVID virus. So there are zero cases of COVID-19 in Belize tonight. And while that may be cause for modest celebration, the call tonight is for caution. Right outside our borders - the numbers are surging up. Guatemala's total up to yesterday was 730 cases with 46 cases in the East of the country, which includes our neighbour Peten.

Cross Border Couple Sent To Jail, Not Quarantine
But while the country rejoices in its COVID free status, there are two cross border cases being watched tonight. 49 year old Jose Alfredo Aguilar and 48 year old Dalia Aguilar, both from San Jose village, Orange Walk are at the Hattieville prison in isolation tonight. They pleaded guilty to crossing the borders illegally and were sentenced to three months in jail. They are the parents in the family of four that had been caught slipping into Belize on Saturday afternoon. They were captured on camera coming over an illegal crossing.

Security Minister Thought They Were Going Into Quarantine
Today, we caught up with the Attorney General and Minister of National Security, Mike Peyrefitte to ask about what went wrong in this case. He says Cabinet did discuss it today - and the understanding was that they would be quarantined: "In cabinet this morning we discussed the matter and we all agree that in deed these people would be quarantine under the Ministry of Health, so like I said I would need to speak to the different section before I am fully appraised..."

Water Taxi Ram - Jam
And, another possible COVID trouble area being looked at is water taxis coming off San Pedro. As we showed you yesterday, the lines into the water ferries did not show adequate social distance. And, today, a picture circulated of those sitting on a ferry, shows that all seating was full, apparently above capacity. We asked the Security Minister about it today: "A water taxi leaving from any terminal within the country, then clearly that's more than seating capacity. The busses, planes and water taxis are the exception to the 6 feet rule..."

Area Rep Recovered From The San Pedro Slapdown?
We'll have comments from Commissioner Chester Williams about that water taxi situation later on. We also asked security minister Peyrefitte about the situation with his cabinet colleague and San Pedro area rep who had to be reigned in after he went too far with a San Pedro proclamation for the state of emergency. Peyrefitte said it is all smoothed over: "Mayor Guerrero and Minister Heredia - they are going all out to make sure they represent the people in San Pedro and so if they want to take extra special measures to protect what they believe is their responsibility nobody can fault them for that..."

Stranded On a Ship, No Direction Home
Belizeans in far flung corners of the world continue to wait for a signal that Belize's borders may be opened, just a little - to let them back into their home country. Foremost among those are scores of students, whose courses of study, scholarship funds, or visas may be coming to an end, and they've got nowhere to go, no direction home. We've heard from students in Cuba, the UK, India, and the US, who are stuck in their country of study, with no active prospect for repatriation.

Will "Butane"� Be Scarce With New Supplier?
Last night, we told you about the latest in the battle over Liquified Petroleum Gas, which has been playing out in the Supreme Court, and the Appeal Court. The 3 Central American importers of cooking gas: Gas Tomza, Southern Choice Butane, and Belize Western Energy Limited, are no longer authorized to import butane into Belize. Their import license from the Government expired last week Thursday. As we've reported, they've gone to the high courts to challenge the Barrow Administration's refusal to renew those licenses.

New Butane Importer is Ready
Right now, the National Gas Company is finalizing its work to set up its operation. Like other businesses, it is trying to cope with all the challenges that have accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic, and the restrictions under the State of Emergency. But once there is a return to normalcy, should customers expect any difference in the way they purchase butane? We asked the Managing Director of the National Gas Company about how the retail end of the industry will work, with them as the sole importers of LPG.

Cabinet Not Seeing A Butane Crisis
Today the Attorney General told us that this is not a matter which has caught the attention of Cabinet. "It has not reached the point where it has become a national issue. We believe we have the situation under control. The cabinet is still dominated by the Covid19. That is our major concern and that's what 99% of cabinet is right now- trying to make sure that we can strike a balance between opening back the economy and keeping the people safe. But we are not at that stage where we believe there is a crisis for us to deal with. We believe we are secure in the production of butane and we believe that all Belizeans will have butane."

LPG Attorney's Gets Sharp Response From The Court of Appeal
Today we also asked the Attorney General about the pending appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice. Audrey Matura, attorney for the Central American LPG companies, told us via telephone on Thursday that she is already preparing to seek leave to appeal this second judgment at the Caribbean Court of Justice. She also pointed out that the substantive case that her clients have brought against the Government is still pending, and she will be pursuing that matter in the Supreme Court for a full hearing in the near future.

Keeping Safe Distance On Water Taxi's
Earlier in the news, we showed you pictures of overcrowded Water, taxis which made the social media rounds. And today during a brief visit to San Pedro Commissioner of Police Chester Willams says he advised water taxi personnel on how to better implement social distancing both during boarding and disembarkation. He spoke to the San Pedro Sun. Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police "One of the greatest concerns that people on the island as well as those on mainland have is the issue relating to the water taxi. Now there are several photographs going around on social media showing that these water taxis are over crowded..."

San Pedro, Only If You're Essential
The Commissioner also made a point to the San Pedro Sun, saying that while the country is opening up, cross-district travel, including travel to the breezy islands, is still limited to essential purposes only. "We must understand that while we have open up to some extent there is still restriction of movement in respect to cross municipality, cross districts and so just like if you are in Belize City you want to go to Belmopan or you want to go to Orange Walk..."

A Bonanza For Barbers and Beauticians
On Friday, many Belizeans got the much-awaited news that barbershops and salons were allowed to re-open. And it's not just women clamoring to get their nails and hair done. Men were likewise eager for fresh cuts and "mark -up's". Cherisse Halsall headed to some local salons and barber shops to find out about post quarantine grooming needs:

Charged For Working Out?
And while some rushed to get hair, nails and eyebrows done, in the personal care department, many also wanted to get back into the gym - which have bene closed for more than a month. But, those remain closed by State of Emergency decree - one of those ones which must remain closed, along with papa's and casinos.

MOE and UNICEF Team Up To Feed Kids
This morning, the officials from the Ministry of Education started distributing food hampers to the families of needy school children who are beneficiaries of their annual school feeding programs. According to the Ministry, its feeding program has providing for 1,400 school children countrywide. Through a generous donation from UNICEF in Belize, the families of 1,000 of these needy children will be receiving the hampers, which contain food, and hygiene supplies to help them get through this COVID-19 pandemic.

A Close Response To Distance Learning
The press also took the opportunity to ask the Chief Education Officer about how parents and students countrywide have been embracing the Ministry's attempts at distance learning. As we told you last week, the Ministry has been producing printed lessons for parents to pick up from grocery stores countrywide. Those who have access to radio can engage in daily lessons that the Ministry has produced. And, if you and your child have access to the internet, the Ministry has uploaded those lessons on their government website for easy downloading.

What Do Tertiary Students Think?
And while secondary schools are urged to show compassion with promotions, tertiary institutions have pretty much been left on their own. Last week the National Student Union of Belize held a forum to discuss the state of education generally under the state of emergency. Panelists NSUB executive director Dominique Noralez, Rhodes Scholar elect Abby Godoy Guillen and UWI student Rolando Caballero gave three unique perspectives on the difficult realities of the 2020 academic year. And in the first part of their discussion, we asked their opinion on whether schools should be allowed to re-open.

Channel 5

Belize Down to ZERO Active COVID-19 Cases
Belize is down to zero active COVID-19 cases. This is the good news that emerged from the Ministry of Health this afternoon and is widely welcomed by Belizeans.  But according [...]

DO NOT Let Your Guard Down! Second COVID-19 Wave Likely to Happen
While some of the most severe restrictions in modern days have been relaxed, the state of emergency remains in place for another two months. With an imminent second wave of [...]

23 Persons Die of COVID-19 in Quintana Roo
Neighbouring countries in the north and west, Mexico and Guatemala, are recording an increase of COVID-19 cases. With Belizeans illegally crossing the border, the possibility of a more lethal second [...]

Body 2000 Shut Down, Six Persons Charged for SOE-related Offenses
The full force of the law unexpectedly came down on Body 2000 this morning. The popular gym, located on Coney Drive, closed during the state of emergency and is not [...]

ComPol Williams Says Exercise was Taking Place at Body 2000
So a member of the police team says the building was shuttered and locked and they got no answer from inside. Neal and the other five persons charged also have [...]

Norwegian Cruise Lines Warns of Possible Bankruptcy
What is the future of Harvest Caye in southern Belize? As you know, the novel coronavirus wreaked havoc in the entire tourism industry across the globe, when no sail orders [...]

Has National Gas Company Commenced Commercial Operations?
As of May first 2020, importers of liquefied petroleum gas—Gas Tomza Limited, Southern Choice Butane, Zeta Gas and Belize Western Energy Limited—cannot import butane gas into Belize. That responsibility belongs [...]

Foreign Company Controls Majority Shares of National Has Company
Matura also raised questions about the owners of the National Gas Company. The company is a Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Belize holding twenty-five percent of shares. The list of [...]

Gang Truce Amid COVID-19, Police Street Unites
Earlier this year, a state of emergency was instituted on the south side of the city allowing for the imprisonment of gang members due to the spike in violent crimes. [...]

Social Distancing in Water Taxis Causing a Headache for the Police
Commissioner of Police Chester Williams addressed the concerns arising from the lack of social distancing at the water taxi terminals and on their vessels. While these can now operate, today [...]

Is San Pedro Residents, Businesses Complying with S.O.E. Regulations?
ComPol Chester Williams was in San Pedro today where he met with Coastal Executive Officer, Superintendent Chris Noble and his team of officers as well as with San Pedro Mayor, [...]

Ministry of Education Speaks on High School Promotions
Secondary schools are still working out what will happen for students when the new academic year starts in September. Will they all be promoted to a new class or will [...]

There’s a Growing Demand for MOE’s Educational Resources
When she spoke with reporters today, Doctor Carol Babb also gave an update on the progress of the ministry’s educational programmes for students. As you know, the ministry is offering [...]

The Mandatory Use of Face Masks
The use of face masks is now a must for persons venturing in public during the next thirty days of the state of emergency.  That has created a whole new [...]

Are You Wearing Your Mask in the Public?
The cost of not wearing a mask in public can cost you five thousand dollars – it is a hefty fine to pay when reusable masks are going for as [...]

Forest Fires Killed Animals, Destroyed Habitats
The rains last week doused the huge fires that were burning out of control in the Vaca and Chiquibul forest in the west. The damage, however, was already done. Huge [...]

UNICEF Gifts 1,000 Care Packages to Feeding Programme Recipients
This morning, UNICEF handed over a thousand boxes of food and hygiene items to the Ministry of Education.  The hampers are for underprivileged students who are enrolled in the government’s [...]

Can UB Offer Other Options to Students Instead of Withdrawal?
On April twenty-second, the University of Belize issued a three-page press release to update students about steps being taken as the university navigates these uncertain COVID-19 times. There are some [...]

National Students’ Union of Belize Advices UB Students to Not Fully Withdraw
UB’s President Sankat has said that the students withdrawing from the course will not warrant any academic or financial penalty and students will be able to re-register for such courses [...]

OCEANA & BTV Partner Up to Provide COVID-19 Relief for Toledo Fisherfolk
Fifty families in Toledo are set to receive food hampers. The generous donation is being sponsored by OCEANA Belize through the Belize Territorial Volunteers. The food packages are to extend [...]

The International Office of Migration Makes Donation to Ministry of Human Services
The Ministry of Human Services also received a donation today. It came from the International Office of Migration comprising of three hundred hygiene kits to benefit vulnerable populations. The packages [...]

New Laws Restrict Cultural Practice of Fishing in Coastal Communities
And going back to the south, when we spoke with Wil Maheia today he shared that one of the restrictions has been very tough for residents to deal with in [...]

Amandala

Belize tourism industry faces hard times
The COVID-19 pandemic has put the brakes on the global tourism industry. Most countries remain on lockdown with closed borders. Cruise ships have stopped sailing and air travel has grounded to a screeching halt. In Belize, a major portion of the country’s economy is based on its tourism product. The pandemic, however, has demolished Belize’s tourism industry, creating a massive unemployment headache for the government. As the country enters a new phase of its COVID-19 State of Emergency with a gradual re-opening of internal economic activities, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has said that the tourism sector is going to be the last sector to re-open.

Cab driver murdered in Sugar City
Mathias Alpuche, 54, a cab driver, was found dead in his cab in the Honey Camp area of Orange Walk Town, at about 6:30 yesterday evening. He was found in the driver’s seat of his car with multiple stab wounds in his chest, neck and abdomen, and he was soaked in pools of his blood. At the Northern Regional Hospital, he was declared dead on arrival. Information to us is that the car was seen swerving across the road, and after it was parked by the roadside, a man of Hispanic descent, wearing a red T-shirt, jumped out of the front passenger seat and ran into the bushes.

Penalty for not wearing a mask in public: $5,000 or 2 years in jail
t midnight tonight, the one-month State of Emergency that government declared on April 1 comes to an end. Tomorrow, May 1, Belize enters a new State of Emergency regime under which some of the harsh rules that were instituted during the previous month have been eased, as other rules come into effect in the government’s continuing battle to keep the country free from the spread of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Today, following the announcement by Prime Minister Dean Barrow that government is lifting some of the strict lockdown rules, Attorney General and Minister of National Security, Michael Peyrefitte, took to the airwaves on the government’s webcast Meet the Experts to explain the new State of Emergency laws contained in government’s latest Statutory Instrument.

Athelstan Sanchez, RSM, of the Belize Volunteer Guard, laid to rest
Athelstan Isidro Sanchez, 91, a retired regimental sergeant major (RSM) Warrant Officer Class 1, of the now defunct Belize Volunteer Guards, was laid to rest this morning at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. He died after a bout of illness at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital on Thursday, April 29. A squad of soldiers from the Belize Defence Force B Company Volunteers acted as escorts and pall bearers, and he was given a mini-military funeral due to the restrictions that are in place to combat COVID-19, which prevented the full military honors due to the fallen sergeant major.

American, Kenneth Stockton, 58, found dead in his house
An American national, identified as Kenneth Winfield Stockton, 58, who was a retiree living on Almond Street, Corozal Town, in Southend, was found dead in his house by police after neighbors smelled a stench coming out of Stockton’s house. Police made an entry into the house last Wednesday, and found Stockton dead on his bed in a state of decomposition. His body was taken to an area where an onsite autopsy is to be carried out to certify the cause of his death, but police said that there were no signs of violence on his body and are ruling out foul play.

Barrow tells Minister Manuel Heredia it is illegal to amend the SOE
Authorities in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, have not been following the national State of Emergency regulations to the letter of the law. Mayor Daniel Guerrero was of the view that because San Pedro is an island and has no hospital, it does not have to fully align its laws with the state of emergency regulations that are uniformly extended throughout the country. Mayor Guerrero was supported in that view by the local Emergency Operations Center and the area representative for San Pedro, Hon. Manuel Heredia, Jr., who supported an amendment to the State of Emergency laws.

BDF soldier killed in traffic accident on Consejo road
Priestly Rancharan, 23, a soldier of the Belize Defence Force, died in a traffic accident today on the Consejo Road in Corozal Town. Reliable information to us is that this afternoon, Rancharan and four other soldiers were on mobile patrol in an SUV on the Consejo Road, and were heading from Corozal Town toward Consejo, when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which overturned. As a result, Rancharan suffered massive head and body injuries and died almost immediately, while the four other soldiers suffered varying degrees of injury.

Editorial: No compassion or just inefficient
There are people in authority who have known difficult times, and there are people in authority who have never known a day in their lives when they didn’t know wherefrom their next meal was coming. It would be an interesting study to find out how quickly the person who has experienced being hungry/deprived forgets his or her past when things are looking good (their belly is full and they have money in the bank) and what is needed for a person who has never known hunger to empathize with persons who don’t have food to eat.

SIB Report for March 2020
The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) reported that in the first quarter of 2020, January to March, Belize earned $62.5 million from exports of merchandize, down 31.7% from exports in the same period last year. The report says that changes in the shipping schedules contributed to declines in exports of sugar and petroleum, the commodities that showed the greatest losses. The value of sugar exports fell from $24.2 million to $3.2 million, down $21 million, and we earned nil dollars from petroleum, compared to $6 million in 2019. On the positive side, earnings from red kidney beans exports increased significantly, up $5.5 million over the $1.5 million the commodity earned in the first quarter of 2019, and export earnings from bananas went up by $1.5 million, from approximately $20 million in 2019 to $21.5 million in 2020. Increased sales of lobster tails pushed exports from marine exports from $10.3 million in the first quarter of 2019 to $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2020.

PM Barrow announces easing of some State of Emergency restrictions
There has been no positive test in Belize for the novel coronavirus for the past 18 days. This has prompted Prime Minister Dean Barrow to announce an easing of some of the restrictions of the National State of Emergency, which came into effect on April 1. Prime Minister Barrow’s announcement this afternoon came on the heels of parliament’s approval of a further two months of the State of Emergency, which expires at midnight tonight.

122 curfew violators arrested
Since the declaration of a national State of Emergency, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a curfew has been in place in an effort to confine members of the public to their homes from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Violators of the curfew face a fine of $5,000 if found guilty. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams announced on Friday that 60 persons had been arrested for curfew violations countrywide, and for other offenses under the State of Emergency regulations.

Belize football, towards a “National Playing Style”
For the past couple years, under its President, Sergio Chuc, the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) has embarked on a player development project country-wide, with the objective being to raise the playing standard in a sustainable manner and continuously improve over the long term, thus creating a foundation upon which to build our senior national team system, whereby the Belize national team can be successful on the international stage. Director of Georgia Football, Jacob Daniel has been working along with our own FFB Technical Director, Phillip Marin in developing the FFB Coaching Manual which will guide coaches across the country in all phases of the game.

Football Flashback 5: a few more names and corrections
We’re near to completing our lists of First Division/Senior football players over the past decades, but we keep coming across names we overlooked in our journey down memory lane. Egbert Muschamp, from the Belrovers team of the early 1970s in Belize City, called on Saturday and gave us some names we missed, as well as some corrections. He gave us the birth names for “Cuchi” and “Sam Cooke”, as well as a correction for “Tuta”, who we previously had as Flowers, but is actually Reneau. Also, Egbert told us that one-time Dunlop goalie “Pudd’n” was younger brother to legendary referee Elridge “Rubbage” Hyde; Pudd’n’s first name was Gilbert, not Elridge as we had it.

Flabbergasted by 2-month demand
Okay, I advised them when I knew I shouldn’t…. I knew I shouldn’t, not because I suspected my advice was unsound, but because our big people with their swollen heads never take advice from lesser people. It really was a catch-22. I knew what they were after bikaaz when it comes to certain matters dehn like du fool, but if I told them about it, shared a dispassionate view from one who has been observing their inclination to folly when they face Guatemala, they would have ignored me. You’ve heard about ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t’ —who bayg noh wahn get, an who noh beg noh want.

Induced labour: Arreini, a five-pound daughter …
Looking back now, December 8th, 1973 had proven to be the longest day in the lives of most of the main characters in our story, although it started out routinely enough. Ever since the graduation party at the Roberts’ residence, there had been no reference to it between Jewel and Jerome, although he had mentioned it to Mama as having left a bad taste in his mouth and had made the resolution to be on the alert against repetition of a similar mistake in the future.

State of Emergency – disobedience of the law!
The debate over whether there should be an extended state of emergency is a rather interesting one. I say interesting because as an advocate from early March for a State of Emergency with drastic measures to close down our country so the virus COVID19 is not imported, I based my decision on the then need to prevent the entry of the virus. Since then, we now know that as early as 14th March, 2020, the virus was already here and that on the 19th of March, 2020, when the airport was finally locked down, the virus was already within our borders. We were a few days late.

How COVID-19 is revitalizing Cuba’s medical diplomacy, even Trump’s “maximum pressure” aims to shut it down
Cuban doctors receive Cuban and Italian flags during a farewell ceremony before departing to Italy to assist, amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, in Havana, March 21, 2020. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini • Cuba’s longstanding efforts to promote its healthcare system has seen a boost as its medical professionals deploy abroad to aid the fight against the coronavirus.

From the Publisher
From time to time over the years, you will have heard me criticize, often excoriate, Belizean intellectuals, for refusing to address certain controversial or dangerous issues. It’s not fair to our academics, actually, because in the case of yours truly, I had a whole organization of young, militant Belizeans to protect me when I first fought the iconic George Cadle between 1969 and 1974. When I disagreed with Mr. Price between 1981 and 1984, I did not have an organization any more. But I got help. What happened when Mr. Price attacked me in the Supreme Court in 1982/83 was that the then Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) was key in coming to my financial rescue. In other words, I had “backative,” and present day Belizean academics do not.

LOVE FM

Belmopan’s fire chief speaks about forest fires
Yesterday Love News spoke with several residents in Belmopan who are among dozens who have been enduring the heavy smoke due to forest fires. Our Cayo Correspondent, Fem Cruz reached out to Belmopan’s Fire Chief, Philip Mencias, to get an insight into how the fire service is managing their response to forest fires as well as other situations they have had to deal with in recent months.

MET office advises Belize to prepare for a busy hurricane season
The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season is anticipated to have an above-average probability for major hurricanes along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean. According to a report from the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorological Project, current warm conditions appear to transition to cool conditions by this summer/fall.

COMPOL visits the Cayes to ensure compliance
The Commissioner of Police Chester Williams visited Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye today to witness the level of compliance by residents and businesses on the islands as is relates to the Countrywide State of Emergency regulations. Jorge Aldana reports from San Pedro Town.

Business owner of non-essential service charged
Under Belize’s Statutory Instrument #62, gymnasiums are deemed as a non-essential service. Early this morning, however, our newsroom got reports of a police operation at Body 2000 on Coney Drive in Belize City. The reports were that the gym was in operation and that persons were inside exercising. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams confirmed this report to Love News earlier today.

Gas companies blocked from importing LPG
While headlines have been dominated with COVID-19 related issues, there are still pressing matters that have been happening on the national front. One such matter pertains to the importation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) into Belize.

Upcoming Rainy season to bring relief from the drought
The National Meteorological Service of Belize has forecasted that the early part of the rainy season for 2020 will not be as active as usual. However, this rainy season will bring relief to farmers and other residents of Belize who have been suffering as a result of wildfires.

UNICEF Belize donates to children in feeding programs
Unicef Belize and the Ministry of Education have partnered to provide a thousand care boxes to needy families and children. The care boxes contain food items as well as hygiene products, and amount to about $100 per box.

Education CEO asks high schools to have compassion
Principals of secondary schools have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Education’s announcement for an automatic promotion of students into a higher level for the upcoming academic year. The announcement from the Ministry came on April 20 when the Education Minister, Patrick Faber addressed the public on how they intend to move forward due to inability to reopen schools.

MOE to step up production of education booklets
At the start of this week, hardcopy educational booklets courtesy of the Ministry of Education became available across the country. These booklets were produced as learning aides for pre-primary, primary and secondary students as they remain out of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COMPOL on upcoming crime statistics
Recent weeks have seen a dip in major crimes in Belize. The gun violence and murders have reduced significantly and the reports from the Public Relations Office in the Belize Police Department have been few. Compared to other Caribbean countries also combatting COVID-19, their statistics have been contrary. Police Commissioner spoke on this subject yesterday during a press brief in Belmopan.

A Family In The North One Step Closer To Justice
After three years of hoping for closure, a family in August Pine Ridge Village, Orange Walk District is one step closer to receiving justice for the death of their loved one. The man who was...

Post Mortem Conducted On Private Pristley Rancharan
The post mortem examination on the body of Private Pristley Rancharan of Logistic Company, Services & Support Battalion, of the Belize Defence Force has concluded. The report is vague and would only indicate that Private...

No More Active Cases In Belize
It had been 46 days since Belize announced its first COVID-19 case, and now, we are happy to report that there are no active cases in the country. While Belize was saved from the devastation...

Breaking Belize News

The importance of media literacy for teachers, students and the public
By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes in the way people interact, do business […]

Norwegian Cruise Line faced with giving up Harvest Caye and other assets to avoid bankruptcy
The Financial Times reports that Norwegian Cruiseline is offering up two of its ships and […]

Ministry of Health: All patients have recovered from COVID-19
The Office of the Director of Health Services has informed that the last 2 patients […]

International Organization for Migration donates over 300 hygiene kits to Belize
On May 4, 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Belize donated over 300 hygiene […]

Football Federation hold online classes in national playing style
Online classes began Monday for coaches and other collaborators of Belizean football on the ‘national […]

Carnival Cruise Line plans August return
Interested in a cruise, or if a tourism worker, when the cruise lines come back […]

Why buying local is important
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges to governments and people around the world. In […]

Fisheries Department reopens with new regulations in place
The Fisheries Department announced that it will be reopening on Wednesday, May 6, with new […]

Mexicans and Mexican-Americans mark Cinco de Mayo
Today is the anniversary of a much-remembered military conflict in northern neighbor Mexico. On May […]

Recipients of unemployment relief Top-up cards advised to protect PIN numbers
Recipients of the Government of Belize COVID-19 unemployment relief, who are receiving payments by way […]

Tropic Air resumes limited domestic flights
Tropic Air announced today that effective Monday, May 11, 2020, it will be resuming domestic passenger […]

How COVID-19 is shaping the new “normal”
Yesterday and today, Belizeans trying to conduct business at the Holy Redeemer Credit Union needed […]

Blogs

Real Estate Reopens in Belize
Though delayed with the coronavirus restrictions, Belize’s Real Estate developments are back on track with their projects. Construction projects may not have seen a full 30-day lockdown during Belize’s State of Emergency, but all projects were affected in some way or the other. With business and movement across the country slowly starting back up, real estate developers push to recover time. Ambergris Caye, where majority of resort and residential real estate is found, has reopened development and plan to make up for lost time. So whether you’re looking to invest or retire, Belize has a home for you! Below, you’ll find some of Belize’s premier real estate developments underway.

What a Weekend in Belize Holds
Belize is an excellent destination that offers lodging and activities in lush jungles and at the beach. Belize is full of history and natural beauty. It is the perfect place to spend an awesome weekend with family and friends. With a shore facing the beautiful Caribbean Sea, Belize is one of the top destinations to enjoy diving and snorkeling for all skill levels! Most spots are only accessible by boats; so, you might spend a few hours in the open sea to reach. Here are some that you should check out:

Regulations Relaxed on Ambergris Caye – Caution Prevails
I don’t know about you but I’m getting a bit tired of the phrase – the “New Normal”. Every single tweak in regulation (here or in the US or anywhere) IS not a “new normal”. It’s a learning process…sometimes just a best guess based on data and the experiences around the world…aimed at protecting the greater good. Nothing going on right now is “normal”… May 1st brought a relaxing of the quarantine regulations in Belize. Our Prime Minister called for a cautious re-opening of the INTERNAL economy. All of our countries’ borders are closed. But now open, though with continued restricted hours and social distancing rules, are most stores, restaurants for take-out and often delivery, barbershops, offices…hotels can re-open… Bars, casinos, nightclubs will remains closed. Movement on public transport – on water taxis or buses – should have a purpose and be able to prove it.

Mango Habanero Margarita
These Mango Habanero Margaritas pack a serious punch and are addictively spicy. You can’t drink them too fast, making them the perfect balance of sweet and heat. If you have enough guts to try the habanero mango syrup by itself, you’ll agree it’s basically a dare. But, it does chill out once you mix it with other ingredients and it gets watered down a bit.

International Sources

Norwegian Cruise Line sees ‘substantial doubt’ about its future, warns of possible bankruptcy as it seeks to raise $2 billion
Norwegian Cruise Line warned on Tuesday that it may have to seek bankruptcy protection, saying there’s “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue as a “going concern” as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on the industry. Shares of the company fell more than 19% in early trading on the news. In a securities filing, Norwegian said it was in compliance with all of its debt agreements as of March 31, but it couldn’t guarantee that it may need to seek waivers from its lenders. If it cannot amend its credit agreements, the company said it is at risk of default, which would trigger immediate repayment of most of its debt and derivatives contracts. That puts it at risk of bankruptcy.

Videos

May 5, 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

Re-Opening of Elections and Boundaries Registration Offices
The Elections and Boundaries Department informs the public that all Registration Offices countrywide will be open to the public effective Monday, May 4, 2020, during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In an effort to ensure we continue to provide efficient services while protecting staff and the public, the cooperation of all is required. In the wake of COVID-19, services will be provided by adhering to the strict safety guidelines as mandated by the Government of Belize. Social distancing protocols will be strictly enforced in the provision of services.

Various Belizean Sources

BLESSED & HAPPY RETIREMENT TO DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MR. ROBERT "MAR" MARIANO
The commissioner of Police, Chester C. Williams, the Senior ranks and file of the Belize Police Department salute and congratulate Mr. Robert Mariano, Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, as he says his final goodbye to the department. Mr. Mar, as he is fondly known by all, joined the ranks of the Belize Police Force on February 2nd, 1982, and completed his tenure of service on May 3rd, 2020. Mr. Mariano committed a total of (32) years of dedicated service to the people and country of Belize.

Attention Belizeans in Europe requiring extensions of stay
EMBASSY OF BELIZE - MISSION OF BELIZE TO THE EUROPEAN UNION - NOTICE CONCERNING EXTENSION OF STAY PROCEDURES FOR BELIZEAN NATIONALS IN EUROPE The Embassy of Belize in Brussels wishes to advise that Belizean Nationals currently visiting or residing in Europe on a Schengen Visa, and whose stay may need to be extended as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, are generally eligible for visa extensions free of charge due to Force Majeure. For further information on extension of stay procedures in Belgium, France and The Netherlands, kindly visit the link below. https://www.embassvofbelizebrussels.oro/latest-posts If assistance is needed regarding information on visa extension policies and procedures of other states in Europe, please contact the Embassy of Belize. The Embassy is reachable via telephone at +32 (0)2 732 6204 or email at [email protected].

Daycares Remain Closed
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation advises the public that daycares will remain closed until further notice. This decision is under the advice of the Ministry of Health and in line with the school closures announced by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As announced by the Attorney General, and according to the latest statutory instrument, SI No. 65 of 2020, governing the country’s state of emergency, the public is advised that while daycares are not permitted to operate, babysitters are allowed to work by going to a person's home or caring for a child in their home.

San Pedro Town Board Hours
We are open! We remind the public that our offices are open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Dr. D's Clinic temporary working hours on Caye Caulker
9am - 12pm & 2pm - 5pm. Consultation will be by appointment only so as to continue practicing Social Distancing! Stay Safe!

RCD Barge Service this week to Caye Caulker
See below our run for this coming week. We will be accepting cargo at the Port of Belize on Wednesday up until 2pm and again on Thursday up until 2pm. We then depart for Caye Caulker to do deliveries on Friday. Kindly have all chilled items delivered on Thursday only. Any further questions, please feel free to message us or call the office at 206-0083. Keep staying safe. Be reminded that RCD hardware is open for Deliveries ONLY. Call 206-0083 and place your orders!!!

The Super Furia Band Mother's Day Concert
The Super Furia Band will be performing a concert on Mother's Day. They'll stream it online for everyone to see. We inviting everyone to tune in this Sunday May 10th, 2020 for another live edition, this time we be celebrating Mother’s Day. Yess, beautiful and Blessed Mother’s we be Serenating you all from 3pm to 5pm. Tune in to win prizes and let’s make it a family affair.

Immigration Offices Open for expired stamps and visas
The Ministry of Immigration offices around the country are open as of today. People who have expired stamps can go to the nearest office to renew their permission to be in the country. If the stamp/visa expired in April you will be asked to pay according to the old fee schedule. If the stamp/visa expired after May 1, 2020 it will be under the new fee guidelines as announced by the Government of Belize.

The Artist of the Day, Nicole Craig
Nicole is from Belize City and is a marine biologist. Her greatest passion, however, has always been music. She’s been singing since childhood, starting off in church, then expanding to bigger stages with directors such as Frankie Reneau. She plays the violin and piano - skills that come in handy for songwriting. Though her face may be unfamiliar, her voice and songwriting are behind many familiar projects. Nicole has written songs for various Belizean artists and has lent her voice to theme songs for television programs such as Channel 5’s "From Yes to I Do" and "If You Can Sing It, Bring It,’ and ads such as Mirab’s "Be Our Guest." She has shared her knowledge of music through voice coaching and support for artists participating in Belizean singing competitions.

Learning Packages Distribution Sites
Learning Packages for students from San Pedro Town can be picked up at the following locations: 777 Supermarket, Dorado Store and 21 Store. Learning Packages for students from Caye Caulker Village can be picked up at the following location: ZZ Store, Hicaqueno Store, Enjoy Store, China Town and JC Max Supermarket.

BELTRAIDE Office Hours
The general public is hereby informed that BELTRAIDE’s offices are now physically opened for business effective Monday May 4th, 9AM-4PM on weekdays.

Covid-19 Relief Fundraising Campaign for Ocean Academy High School on Caye Caulker
Today is a special "Giving Tuesday," celebrating a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Please consider giving to help us continue our mission to "foster the academic, physical and spiritual growth of all students who demonstrate a strong desire to learn, preparing graduates to pursue a life at home or abroad with personal and professional achievement."

Ministry of Natural Resources Re-Opening Protocols
The Ministry of Natural Resources informs the public that all offices countrywide are open between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12 midday and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To maintain the health and safety of customers and employees and to comply with the Government of Belize’s regulations, effective immediately, all persons conducting business at any office countrywide are required to wear a face mask that covers their mouth and nose, practice good hand hygiene, and adhere to social distancing protocols.

Change in the Pump Price of Diesel
The Ministry of Finance announces that effective Tuesday, May 5, 2020, the pump price for diesel will decrease by $0.36 from $8.25 to $ 7.89 per gallon. The prices for premium gasoline, regular gasoline and kerosene will remain unchanged at $10.92, $7.26 and $5.43 per gallon, respectively.

Update from the Office of the Director of Health Services
This is the 7th week since we first diagnosed a first case of COVID-19 and it is therefore important to be on the lookout for data as it evolves. We are going into a 4th week since our last case was diagnosed but we CANNOT lose sight of the fact that our neighbours are having escalating numbers in terms of cases and deaths.

Celi’s Deli Opens in San Pedro
We’d like to thank our long-time and loyal customers for being so patient and inform the public that Celi’s Deli will be reopening tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5 2020 from 6AM-12 Noon! We’ll have all the Celi’s Deli basics available like Tortillas, Johnny Cakes, Burritos, Powder Bun, Cupcakes, Rice and Beans, Coffee, Tea and all our usual juices! We’ll be taking orders for pickup from as early as 5:15 on any of the following numbers (668-8884 | 624-0103 | 631-2404 | 604-2354) We recommend all our customers call in advanced to place your orders to assure we abide by all the social distancing policies put in place by the GOB. We hope you’ve all stayed safe through this time and we look forward to seeing and serving you tomorrow!

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen Tuesday Location
Tuesday, May 5th Meal Pick ups Location: Food Republic Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am Bahia: 11:45am - 12:30 pm Please continue to bring your containers and bags. Thanks!

Raffle to benefit Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen
We are excited to announce for this weeks raffle We'Yu Boutique Hotel has donated a one week stay. For every $100 donated (or more) to the Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen GoFundMe starting Monday, May 4 at 6 p.m. (CST) and ending Sunday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. (CST) donors will be entered into a raffle for a 7 night stay at the beautiful We'Yu Boutique Hotel on the popular Koko King Beach. One entry for every $100.00 donated, so your name will be entered twice when donating $200.00, etc. Value: 1,190.00 USD

BELTRAIDE has a short online survey about COVID 19's effects on Belizean businesses
In an effort to better assess the impacts of COVID-19 on our clients across BELTRAIDE’s strategic mandates of investment (BelizeINVEST), trade (EXPORTBelize), entrepreneurship (SBDCBelize) and capacity development (BTEC), we humbly encourage you to participate in this short economic impact assessment survey which should take around 3 to 5 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept anonymous and confidential, and will only to be used internally by BELTRAIDE in further advising the Belize’s National Economic Oversight Committee on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Economic Stability Sub-Committee in support of national socioeconomic recovery and transformational efforts. Through the survey results you provide, we also anticipate the deployment of our continued policy advocacy efforts as guided by our mantra of “Making Business Happen.”

Cayo Animal Welfare Society has lost some of their sponsorship
We received some very sad news over the weekend. Our two monthly donors/sponsors who have been keeping us afloat have shifted the majority of their financial support to other animal welfare groups. There are many worthy organizations doing good work. We will still be receiving $100 US per month. We are grateful for that. However, this means we will not be able to continue to rescue and rehome more than a handful of dogs. Each one we take in costs a minimum of $200 bzd just for sterilization surgery and basic vet care (shots and worming). This does not include food or flea and tick meds. We also humanely euthanize a large number of sick and injured dogs each year and each one costs $50-$100 bzd.

Travel Alert – U.S. Embassy Belmopan, Belize (04-MAY-2020)
Event: United Airlines flight UA3023, which departs Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) on Thursday May 7, 2020 at 12:00 noon and arrives in Houston at 15:30 pm, is fully booked. If you are a passenger on this flight, please read the following important information concerning your safe departure from Belize. If you are not a passenger on this flight but are still interested in repatriating to the United States, please skip to step number 5. 1. Transportation: The Government of Belize has stated that due to the availability of public transportation options, all passengers must arrange their own travel to PGIA. Please arrive at the airport at least three hours before the flight departs.

$200 Million Port Loyola cruise port consultation underway
Chamberlain Consulting, the firm handling social engagement for the Port of Belize Ltd., held another round of stakeholder consultations today regarding the substantive Port Loyola Expansion project. The consultation, which brought together members of the creative sector from across the country, forms a part of a wider process required by the Department of the Environment (DOE) for the company's Environmental And Social Impact Assessment.

42 YEARS OF SERVICE TO BATSUB, LEROY BRADLEY RETIRES
On Wed 28 Apr, BATSUB said a fond-farewell to Mr Leroy Bradley as he retires from BATSUB: Mr Bradley started work for the British Forces Belize on 18 Apr 1977 as a 17-year-old (4 years before Belize became an independent country). He retired from the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) on the 29 April 2020 aged 60 years old, after 43 years unbroken and loyal service to HM Forces.

Paint N Splash
See you this week at from 2-4pm Thursday to paint Mama Manatee and baby.

Channel 7

Consequence for A Family Caught Slipping into Belize
Belize now only has two active cases of COVID 19, and there have been no new cases detected in 22 days. And while that is reason for some comfort, we live in a country with porous borders and with our northern neighbour Quintana Roo now reporting over 900 COVID 19 cases - we're always just one illegal river crossing away from entering a danger zone. And that's why last week government announced that anyone found illegally entering Belize will face three months in jail. That became the law on Friday with the new State of Emergency regulations.

The Streets Are Alive, Cops Under Stress
And while police patrols along the Rio Hondo and the northern border are increased, they also have to deploy more officers to population centres which got their first breath of life after a month of soft lockdown. A countrywide state of emergency was put into effect on April first, and today, the streets got an infusion of life. Jules Vasquez reports: Downtown Belize City looked alive again this morning - the first day after the most restrictive measures were relaxed.

Enforcing Mandatory Masks
And doing better for police means cracking down on the catalogue of new offences - that mainly have to do with the mandatory wearing of masks. On Friday it became the law that everyone in a public place, public space, or public office or building must wear a face mask, anyone providing services in a business or office must do the same, and even if you're exercising in the morning, you also have to wear a mask. It's part of the measures to keep Belize COVID free, but many found the masks oppressive - and on Saturday, police charged 15 persons for "Failure to wear a cloth mask or other face covering whilst in public."

Businesses Charged For Illegally Opening
Police also charged two businesses for opening when - according to the regulations - they should have stayed closed. One of them was a bar, and - under the state of emergency regulations - those are definitely supposed to be closed: Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: "In terms of business establishment that were open that were not supposed to be opened, I know the Shanti Store in Corozal was charged for opening whole he should be closed. On the 2nd May we have a number of business establishments that were open on Albert Street that were not supposed to open and we quickly close them down..."

Water Taxi Lax With Social Distance Requirement
But, the regulations for businesses that were permitted to open had changed by this morning, and we'll tell you about that later in the news. But, out in San Pedro with water taxi operations returning to normal - there were some major issues with inadequate social distance in the queue to get into the boat. The Commissioner says if they don't do better, those water taxi's will be forced to shut down:

Cop Caught Tossing Man Around Like A Ragdoll
And while the police have to be watching every sector of society from storeowners and to barbershops, to buses and water taxis, they are also being watched. And a case of abuse came to the fore over the weekend when a cop was caught on camera tossing a man about like a rag doll. Today, the weary commissioner would only say that he had heard about it:

Cabbie Killed In OW
There was a Sunday evening killing near Orange Walk Town. It happened just before 6:00. 54-year-old Mathias Alpuche, a taxi driver from Trial Farm village, had picked up a fare and was headed down Honey Camp Road when he was viciously attacked, likely by that very passenger. Cherisse Halsall went to Trial Farm Village to find out more: It was early Sunday evening when the usual peace and tranquility of Honey Camp Road was shattered by the skidding of a swerving car. An eyewitness told CTV3 what she saw as the car lurched down the road:

Solider Dies, 7 Others Injured
26-year-old BDF soldier Pristley Rancharan was killed on Friday in a road traffic accident that left 8 of his passengers and fellow soldiers injured. It happened just before 5:00 pm between miles 4 and 5 on the Consejo Road. All 9 soldiers were travelling in a government-owned D-Max Pickup which had been loaned to the BDF. Rancharan was driving en route to Corozal Town from Consejo village when he lost control of the vehicle. ACP Joseph Myvette provided further details earlier today.

Accused of Killing A 90 Year Old
It's remembered as one of the most brutal murders of 2017. A defenseless 90-year-old killed by two men while working in his store for what, at the time, his family said was 50 dollars in a drawer. In truth one of Pablo Pol's murders was a minor. He was caught by Guinea Grass Villagers just 12 days later, but his accomplice long known to be 29-year-old Amin Cho had long evaded capture. That is until today. And this morning ACP Myvette told us how Cho is being brought to justice.

Griga Gangs, Cops Concede Failure
There was another shooting in Dangriga town last night. At around 8:00, 35 year old Luwany Mena and 62 year old Ernest Mena were at home on their verandah when a gunman hid behind a post and shot them. Luwany was shot to the right hand and Ernest to the left side of the ankle while the gunman ran off. The shooting comes 5 days after a couple was shot in the same area of the town. It's a gang dispute between feuding rival groups that are both trying to take dominance in the town.

Central American LPG Importers, Stopped At COA
Turning now to some important news from last week... One week ago, we told you how the Central American LPG companies: Gas Tomza, Southern Choice Butane, and Belize Western Energy Limited, lost their first court battle against the Barrow Administration. They are attempting to resist the Government-enforced change in the local market for cooking gas, which we call butane, but is known scientifically as Liquified Petroleum Gas, or LPG. The LPG companies and their attorneys quickly filed an appeal, and during the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, the judges of the Court of Appeal heard from attorneys for both sides. We understand that the LPG companies offered several grounds of appeal.

Diesel Drops, Finally
Regular gasoline went down significantly over a week ago, and tonight, the Ministry of Finance is announcing that the pump price for diesel is also decreasing by 36 cents. As of midnight tonight, diesel will go down from $8.25 per gallon to $7.89 per gallon. The price of premium gasoline, regular gasoline, and kerosene will remain unchanged at $10.92, $7.26, and $5.43 per gallon respectively.

Sowing The Solution For COVID 19
At the top of the newscast, we gave you a look at the resumption of commercial activity that we saw in 3 major municipalities countrywide today. The noticeable change is due to a relaxation of the State of Emergency Regulations, which were passed in an amendment today. We'll share that with you later on in the news. But, we pick things up in Belize City on Saturday, before that amendment, when the police shut down a number of businesses in the downtown area.

SOE Regs, Going Through Changes
That was Saturday, but today, things had changed. Last week, the Attorney General said that there would be a daily assessment of the COVID-19 threat. He stressed that there was the possibility that the Government would be willing to lift more restrictions if the medical authorities were in agreement that the public health threat was decreasing. Well after taking a close look at the big picture over the holiday weekend, the Government has decided to allow the domestic economy to restart to a certain degree. During today's edition of the Ask The Experts Webcast, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte returned to announce that the Governor-General has signed a new Statutory Instrument into law, which allows for the vast majority of businesses to re-open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

Some Remain Shuttered
But, there is still a group of businesses that the Government is not allowing to re-open because the working environment is conducive to the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 disease. Here's what the Attorney General had to say about enterprises that will remain closed: "These are the businesses that remain closed. These are the businesses and activities that remain closed: casinos and gaming establishments, spas - which means, especially the ladies are limited to a manicure, pedicure, and hair..."

Keeping Albert Street On A Tight Leash
For those businesses that will be allowed to re-open, the Government and the police department will be strict with them about the enforcement of social distancing best-practices. That's what the Attorney General said while he was answering a question about the classification of daycares. He said that if business owners cannot maintain social distancing protocols, it is best that they keep their businesses closed because they will face harsh consequences. Here is the AG making the point that Downtown Belize City will be under the police microscope:

San Pedro Sync'd Up With National Laws
And, police are also keeping a very close eye on San Pedro. That's the municipality that tried to create its own rules outside of the national State of Emergency declaration. Today, the Commissioner told us that they have laid down the law:

Major Crime Stats Down, A Curfew Dip?
And for those that break the S-O-E regulations, there are criminal charges. On Saturday, police charged 62 people countrywide for various offenses under the State of Emergency Regulations. 1 person was also summoned for being unable to provide a reasonable explanation for movement outside of the curfew. 27 persons were charged with breaching the curfew. 15 people were charged with failure to wear a cloth mask or other face and mouth covering while in public. 9 people were charged with being unable to provide a reasonable explanation for movement outside of the curfew.

Police Dept. Will Have A Female Deputy
And, the COMPOL also announced today that one of his deputies is retiring:

E & B Open For Business
The Elections and Boundaries Department is one of the Government Departments that reopened its offices countrywide for a resumption of somewhat-normal operations. A press release from Elections and Boundaries says that all registration offices have reopened for regular business. The new working hours are from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Channel 5

Orange Walk Taxi Man Murdered
The weekend ended in tragedy for the family of a taxi man in the north. Fifty-four year old Matias Alpuche was stabbed to death by his fare in the Petsville [...]

Four Persons, Including Two Minors, Busted for Illegal Entry Into Belize
A family of four, including two minors, was busted over the weekend for defying the most severe piece of law to come into effect during the state of emergency.  Despite [...]

The Reopening of the Economy; Business Not as Usual
This morning, there was far more movement in the city and around the country as almost all businesses are now open and so did government offices and statutory boards. But [...]

ComPol Explains Confusion with Stores Being Shut Down on Saturday
The reopening of some businesses started on Saturday morning following the announcement of the new statutory instrument. Many stores in downtown Belize City opened their doors after weeks of closure [...]

Another Patient Recovers from COVID-19; Only 2 Active Cases Remain
The good news tonight is that there are no new cases of COVID-19 for twenty-one consecutive days.  On Sunday, another patient recovered from the virus after having twice tested negative [...]

Random Testing for COVID-19 Underway
Director of Health Services, Doctor Marvin Manzanero also told News Five that random testing began over the weekend for frontline workers and other persons. He confirms that the ministry is [...]

Luwani and Ernest Mena Injured in Shooting Incident in Kulcha Capital
Just before the eight o’clock curfew on Sunday night, gunshots rang out in the Benguche area of Dangriga.  When the shooting subsided, a man and a woman had both been [...]

Dangriga Shooting is Gang-Related, Police Presence Increases
The shooting on Sunday night in Dangriga is the result of an ongoing feud between rival gangs, a beef that has been simmering for several weeks and has landed two [...]

B.D.F. Soldier Loses Life in Fatal RTA
A Belize Defense Force soldier lost his life in a traffic accident on Friday evening in the Corozal District.  Eight other persons, who were traveling in the Isuzu pickup truck [...]

Wanted for a 2017 Murder, Amin Cho is Finally Detained and Charged
Wanted murder suspect Amin Cho has been detained and charged. The Guinea Grass resident was wanted for the 2017 murder of Pedro Pol, an elderly shopkeeper of August Pine Ridge. [...]

New SOE Means More Work for Police Officers
Statutory Instrument Sixty-Two has brought into effect a new two-month state of emergency on May first and with it a revised set of regulations to govern the movement of the [...]

Masks Must Cover Mouth and Nose, Or Else…
Over the extended weekend as many as sixty-two persons were arrested and charged for various offences related to the state of emergency.  That total is a considerable reduction from previous [...]

New Amendments to S.I. 62 of 2020
New state of emergency amendments have been made to Statutory Instrument number sixty-two of 2020, which allows for the reopening of a large number businesses in various categories. The Attorney [...]

AG Explains Different Opening and Closing Hours for More Businesses
…outside of those businesses, the amendments also make provision for many other businesses to operate during this extended state of emergency.  Those businesses are to operate from eight in the [...]

No Parties, No Social or Religious Gatherings, etc…
When it comes to other public events and different forms of social gatherings, the Attorney General says that those are still not allowed.  Michael Peyrefitte spoke on the topic of [...]

Mask, Social Distancing, and other Regulations Likely to be in Place for the Next Couple Weeks!
In his presentation, the AG shared some important reminders that the public must adhere to at all times. Peyrefitte notes that the borders remain closed; the curfew is still in [...]

Are You Allowed to Swim During the SOE? The A.G. Responds
To wrap up the AG’s presentation…when it comes to swimming at public pools, rivers, creeks, the sea and other waterways; that is off limits. But if you are on a [...]

Diesel Price Goes Down at the Pumps
The pump price for diesel will finally go down tonight, but the decrease is not such a big one. At midnight, diesel drops by thirty-six cents to sell at seven [...]

Was Deon Ferguson’s House Burglarized and then Set on Fire?
There was a fire over the weekend that wiped out a man’s house in Belize City. Deon Ferguson, a tourism worker from San Pedro, received a call just before eleven [...]

Fire at Chetumal Dumpsite Affecting Corozaleños
A fire across the northern border, at a dumpsite, has been brought under control, but the smoke continues to billow, affecting residents of the area as well as of the [...]

No Social Distancing at San Pedro Water Taxi Terminal
Enforcing that citizens maintain six feet of social distance is part of the police department’s mandate during this state of emergency.  In San Pedro this morning, dozens of passengers were [...]

Reports of Police Abuse During SOE are Down Says ComPol Williams
Reports of officers abusing their authority during the state of emergency have gone down significantly since the Professional Standards Branch of the Belize Police Department has been actively investigating a [...]

Making Masks Work in Orange Walk
After weeks of being under lockdown, Belizeans across the country get to move a bit more and return to work.  There is a new normal though; everyone must wear a [...]

The Struggles of Town Councils Amid COVID-19
As there is a softening of the regulations and the economy is beginning to crank up, town and city councils countrywide are trying to figure out how to keep financially [...]

LOVE FM

78% of the COVID-19 patients in Belize has recovered
Forty-five days ago Belize had its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Fast forward to today and there have been eighteen cases total with fourteen considered as recovered patients; two as active patients and two who lost their fight to the virus.

Robert Mariano retires after 38 years in police force
After thirty-eight years of service, Robert Mariano has retired as Deputy Commissioner of Police. He joined the Belize Police Force on February 2, 1982, and completed his tenure of service on May 3, 2020. Mariano committed several years of dedicated service to the people and country of Belize.

BDF soldier dies after vehicle overturns
He was twelve miles away from home where his family members were awaiting him. 27-year-old Pristley Rancharan didn’t make it home, however, as the vehicle he was driving flipped multiple times, killing him almost instantly.

Local journalists observe World Press Freedom Day
World Press Freedom Day was observed on May 3, and is dedicated to the autonomy that the press warrants to be able to report on issues without interference from government or political officials. It is a day set aside to remind governments of their duty to uphold the right to freedom of expression.

State of Emergency regulations eased under SI 62
The first announcement of COVID-19 in Belize brought about an awareness and submission by Belizeans as they relate to proper hygiene, social distancing, and the likes. The Government had begun shutting down the country by phases and restrictions on movements were made throughout the course of the last six weeks.

Three persons arrested for illegally crossing into Belize
Three of the five dozen persons arrested and charged over the weekend were for Entering Belize Illegally. Since the beginning of the State of Emergency, entry into Belize was prohibited from Non-Belizeans and Belizeans. In the New Statutory Instrument #62, the Government recognized that persons have been illegally crossing into Belize, Now these persons will be arrested and charged for the offense. Over the weekend two persons in the North and one person in the south were caught illegally crossing.

Upcoming hurricane season predicted to be very active
The Atlantic Hurricane Season is set to open in 27 days. For this year, the US-based Colorado State University has issued a warning that the 6-month season is anticipated to be more active than previous years. According to the tropical weather project team at the university, there will be sixteen named storms that will carry gusts of at least sixty-two miles per hour.

Taxi man killed in Northern Belize
The lifeless body of a 54-year-old taxi man was found inside his vehicle yesterday evening just after six o’clock. Mathias Alpuche, a Trial Farm Village resident reportedly had a passenger in the vehicle while traveling on the Honey Camp Road in the Petville Area of the Orange Walk District.

Breaking Belize News

Consultation for US $200 million Port expansion project continues
Chamberlain Consulting, the firm handling social engagement for the Port of Belize Ltd., held another […]

Ex-butane importers claim limited supply of LPG as National Gas Company takes charge
According to a press statement from the former major importers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG/butane), there […]

Belizean athlete signs football contract with Sheffield United
Belizean athlete, Angelo Capello, informed via his social media followers that he has agreed to […]

Diesel gets price decrease
The cost of diesel will decrease at midnight tonight. And so instead of paying $8.25 […]

Churches still not allowed to open
The Attorney General today explained the amendment made to statutory instrument 65 of 2020, which […]

AG explains amendment to SI, most businesses allowed to open
The Attorney General, Micheal Peyrefitte explained today that the Governor General Colville Young has signed […]

Saint Ignatius High plans virtual graduation; honor roll students will be highlighted in media
Saint Ignatius High School in Santa Elena, Cayo is planning for fourth form students to […]

Reward offered for assistance in Matias Alpuche murder investigation
Authorities are offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest […]

NICH – Artist of the Day is Nicole Craig
Nicole Craig is from Belize City and is a marine biologist. Her greatest passion, however, has […]

Chester Williams sends warning to persons using water taxi
Today Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, commented on persons leaving San Pedro. He explained, “The […]

Belizean nationals in Europe on Schengen visa encouraged to contact Belize Embassy for assistance with extension
The Embassy of Belize in Brussels wishes to inform Belizean nationals currently visiting or residing […]

Daycares remain closed until further notice; babysitters allowed to work
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation reminded the public today that […]

Police investigate murder of taxi driver
Police reports indicate that around 5:52 p.m. yesterday, cops responded to a scene on Honey […]

Two shot in Dangriga
Two men were shot in the Benguche Area, Dangriga Town last night. Luwany Lurian Mena, […]

Taxi driver robbed and killed in Orange Walk
Shortly after 6 o’clock last night a taxi man was killed in Orange Walk. He […]

Blogs

Belize’s Best Snorkeling Spots
With a prime location in the Caribbean that features crystalline aqua waters, Belize is one of the best spots in the world for snorkeling. Besides, Belize’s tropical weather and ocean temperatures typically remain the same year-round. So, no matter what time of year you visit Belize, snorkeling opportunities are endless! Belize is home to 80% of the Mesoamerican Reef System with three offshore atolls and hundreds of cayes to snorkel. Let’s take a look at some of the best spots to explore Belize’s fascinating underwater landscapes. Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Turneffe Reef Atoll, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Glover’s Reef Atoll, Tobacco Caye.

How Many Times Did I Go Out? And Farm Fresh List
I live close to the heart of downtown San Pedro and it is all too easy to walk out the door during allowed times, especially now with the relaxed ruling. Longer business hours in some cases mean less waiting in lin-ups, making it more appealing to be out. However, I know the government really doesn’t want us going out and since we now have to wear masks or be fined $5000 or two years in jail, that makes it easier to stay home.

Nautical Bohemia: artist Margaret Hulse gives catamaran sails new life!
Dallas artist and owner of Mpulse Studio, Margaret Hulse, has been working from her Boca del Rio studio in Ambergris Caye for the past year, using her art to support the community through women’s advocacy projects, serving women who are healing from domestic violence through her Love Necklace Campaign and the Empower through Love Project. She has recently launched a collection of art titled, Nautical Bohemia. Hulse is furthering her mission to support our community by painting on used catamaran sails from No Rush Tours, and using a combination of nautical themed imagery and bright, tropical flowers, to illustrate ideas of self-love and adventure, and the importance of loving ourselves during every aspect of our life’s journeys, even during the most trying times.

International Sources

Will international travel resume this year? Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says it's 'too hard to tell'
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin encouraged Americans to focus on domestic travel this year as the international travel outlook for the rest of 2020 remains uncertain amid the coronavirus pandemic. In response to a question from Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business Network Monday about whether international travel will be opened up this year, he responded, “Too hard to tell at this point." The Treasury secretary clarified that there may be room for limited international travel: “Obviously, for businesspeople that do need to travel, there will be travel on a limited basis."

Videos

May 4, 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

Stranded islanders allowed to travel back home with proof of residence
On Monday, May 4th, water taxi services from the mainland to Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye are expected to resume for essential travel only. These runs cover only essential worker travel, the purchase of essential needs, attending medical appointments, emergencies and the return of care providers. The latest Statutory Instrument NO. 65 governing the State of Emergency, however, does not offer any provisions for people to return to their respective communities of origin. Regardless, personnel from The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Sunday, April 3rd that islanders stuck on the mainland can now travel back home, if they can provide evidence that they reside on the island.

Hope Haven continues to assist island families with essential goods during the pandemic
While Hope Haven Children’s Home and Empowerment Center’s mandate is to look after children placed in their care by the Department of Human Services, they have always risen to the occasion of assisting the community in times of need. As uncertainty continues to hover over the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic, here on Ambergris Caye Non-Governmental Organizations like Hope Haven continue to work tirelessly to take care of those most affected by this threat that has paralyzed the economic sector on the island.

Various Belizean Sources

National Bus Schedule COROZAL - BELIZE CITY - COROZAL Effective May 4, 2020

#14 RECOVERED COVID-19 PATIENT
COVID UPDATE: This is our data for Sunday, May 3rd, 2020. We have one more recovered patient and we anticipate that the other two patients will recover later on this week.

R Tillett Family Bus Schedule
The following is an Update for our runs starting Monday May 4th, 2020: 1. Village bus 5:15 AM August Pine Ridge, 5:25 AM Trinidad, 5:30 AM San Lazaro, 5:35 AM Yo Creek and 5:45 AM Orange Walk.

Online meeting to present CFA Coaches Database
Good day Club Owners/Managers and Coaches, Our office trusts that you and your family have been taking preventative measures during this pandemic and hopes all is going well. Our office takes this opportunity to invite you to an online webinar on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 7:00pm, this is to update you, the stakeholders; regarding the CFA Database of coaches. Your participation is important. Present at the webinar will be CFA Executive & Staff, Referees, and FFB Technical Director Mr. Marin. Please confirm your participation by Monday, May 4, 2020 at 4:00pm. We will be sending you the link to the meeting and the password.

Reopening of Electoral Registration Offices and Limits
The Department of Elections and Limits informs the public that all Registration Offices across the country will be open to the public from Monday, May 4, 2020, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To ensure that we continue to provide efficient services while protecting staff and the public, everyone's cooperation is required. Due to COVID-19, services will be provided in accordance with strict security measures established by the Government of Belize. Social distancing protocols will be strictly applied when services are provided.

Monday's 'Ask the Experts'
Tune in to 'Ask the Experts' today, May 4th, at 1:00 p.m. Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General & Minister of National Security, will join us. Remember to ask your questions during the live stream.

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen Monday Location
Monday, May 4th Meal Pick ups: Location: Bondi Bar & Bistro Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am Bahia: 11:45am - 12: 30pm thanks for bringing your containers and bags!

Caye Caulker Chinese Community donates 250 bags of groceries
The Caye Caulker Village Council sincerely express gratitude to the Caye Caulker Chinese Community for donating 250 bags of groceries to the Caye Caulker Community. We are going off lists to ensure the kind and genuine assistance of the business community is not abused by some. All persons names are being cross checked on lists to ensure that some help can be spread to all, and for as long as possible. No one knows how long we will feel the economical impacts of Covid-19 since our main source of income is tourism. We ask for your kind understanding and appreciation with the assistance given by the entire Caye Caulker Business Community.

KW Belize Food Drive 2020
Every year, the 2nd Thursday of the Month of May; all the Keller Williams Agents World-wide go out into their communities to give back. This year is so important as we all get through this COVID-19 environment together. Since Belize borders are closed and the country has been quarantined and under curfew, people are not working and need food. Please donate anything you can to help us fight hunger in Belize. Any size donation will help.

El Fogon will reopen for takeout starting today
We appreciate all our loyal customers that reached out to us to express how much they missed our food during our time away due to this unfortunate circumstance we are facing. It is with this medium that we are happy to inform you that we will be open May 4th 2020 from 7:30am-4:00pm for take outs. You can call or send a text to 6326701 to place your orders. We ask that you please wear your mask when picking up your order. Thanks in advance and we look forward to serving you.

Channel 7

There were 62 SOE violation arrests on Saturday
"On Saturday 2nd May, 2020 62 persons were arrested and charged countrywide for various offenses under the Emergency Powers Regulations. In addition, 1 person was summoned for unable to provide a reasonable explanation for movement outside of curfew. Breach of curfew- 27 persons Failure to wear a cloth mask or other face (mouth) covering whilst in public- 15 persons...

The Reporter

Belizeans Detained at Corozal Border
A group of Belizeans were captured and detained at the Corozal border yesterday after they were found re-entering the country illegally. It is reported that the group went to Chetumal to buy groceries and were nabbed by authorities upon re-entering the country. Due to the State of Emergency, all points of entry are currently closed and illegal crossings are punishable by law. Authorities say the group will be quarantined and fined.

House burns down
A house with all its contents, valued at $200,000 was destroyed by fire late Saturday night. According to owner Deon Ferguson, he had been in San Pedro since April 15, leaving his 40' x 40' plycem home at #11 Cet Site unattended. He got a call late Friday night telling him that the structure was on fire. Fire Department personnel are investigating the cause of the fire. Neither the home nor the contents was insured.

Breaking Belize News

Clothing and cosmetic stores are allowed to reopen tomorrow says Compol Williams
Earlier tonight Commissioner of Police (Compol), Chester Williams, confirmed via Facebook that garment (clothing) and […]

Francis and Lowani Mena shot in Dangriga
Earlier tonight we reported that two persons had been shot in the Benguche area of […]

Two reportedly shot in Dangriga
Information to our newsroom is that two people were just shot in Dangriga, Stann Creek. […]

Another patient recovers from COVID-19
Today the Office of the Director of Health Service issued an infographic which revealed that […]

Updated State of Emergency Regulations – What you need to know
Statutory Instrument no.65 came into effect on May 1, effectively relaxing some of the restrictions […]

Elections and Boundaries Registration offices will re-open
The Elections and Boundaries Department informed today that all Registration offices countrywide will be open […]

Over 60 people arrested for State of Emergency violations- more than 10 arrested for not wearing masks
The Belize Police Department arrested 62 people yesterday for violating the State of Emergency (SOE) […]

Shipping container lost to fire
Just before midnight a fire was reported at the corner of South Creek and Central American […]

Still no Boledo
Before COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill in many respects, many Belizeans looked forward […]

Home burns down in Gungulung
Last night a fire consumed a home in the Cet Site area of Belize City […]

Blogs

Eating Vegan While in Belize
Is it possible to find delicious vegan food in Belize? Will you be able to sample the local cuisine while staying plant-based? Fortunately, the answer to both these questions is yes! Here are some classic Belizean dishes that can fit a vegan diet:

Things To Do In Belize (Belize Travel Guide)
As the Belize tourism board boasts – Belize is unBelizeable! While relatively unknown to the general public, divers from all over the world discovered Belize as a destination decades ago. Located on Central America’s Caribbean coast, Belize offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. A short flight from major airports in the US and Canada is all that separates visitors from this tropical paradise.

5 Can’t Miss Things To Do In Belize
BELIZE IS A STUNNING AND DIVERSE LITTLE COUNTRY ON THE CARIBBEAN COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA. ORIGINALLY A BRITISH COLONY; ENGLISH IS COMMONLY SPOKEN AND THE COUNTRY STILL FALLS UNDER BRITISH LAW. WEATHER YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR BEACHES, WATERFALLS, CAVING OR MAYAN RUINS; BELIZE IS THE PLACE FOR YOU! KEEP READING FOR OUR FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN BELIZE.

International Sources

'A second sense of grief': coronavirus hits cultural travel boom for black Americans
Losses threaten Caribbean and African nations where travel had become a growing industry, spurred by cultural and heritage links. Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon sat on a private island off the coast of Belize for her next travel story, she found it odd that more and more passengers wore masks at the airport. When trips were suddenly cancelled, the Jet Set Sarah blog owner accepted a new reality for travel had been created by coronavirus. “It was a shock, the old normal is completely gone and will never return,” she said, doubtful about being “back on a plane before October”.

Some Caribbean Nations See A Silver Lining In The Coronavirus Fight
Several Caribbean nations are showing positive signs that they are flattening the curve of the dreaded new coronavirus, a silver lining for a region that has seen its tourism dependent economy crushed by the pandemic. The number of new coronavirus cases has now been zero in over 20 islands for several days now as two have reported all cases have fully recovered from the virus. Additionally, three Caribbean countries now rank in the top 10 list of nations prepared to lift physical distancing measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic globally according to the first ever response tracker tool created by the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government on the preparedness. The three countries ranking high globally from the Caribbean region are Trinidad and Tobago, Belize and Barbados.

Royal Caribbean CEO agrees to the CDC’s terms for disembarking crew stuck on ships
Royal Caribbean International cruise line employees who’ve felt imprisoned on cruise ships during a standoff between the cruise line and the CDC might soon be emancipated, according to a Sunday letter from Royal Caribbean International’s CEO. Michael Bayley’s emailed letter to those employees said RCI executives would sign the Centers for Disease Control’s terms for disembarking crew. The letter also detailed plans for getting crew members to their home nations.

Why Modern Fishing Is a Catch-and-Release Game
I am a statue gliding over a bleached flat, stiffened by salt and wind and sun. In the water ahead of me, a silver knife cuts the surface and in a moment I am casting from the skiff, the fly streaking through the sharp Belize sky, the blisters on my hands forgotten. Sixty feet of line and months of preparation hang in the air. I square my shoulders and flex my knees. And I wait. Good fishing stories ideally end with a fish. But the stories have changed in recent years, the romance of fishing evolving from brutish grappling matches on the open ocean (picture the conquered marlin, mounted in mid-leap on the wall, a reminder of the strength of the contest) to something faster, more precise, yet altogether more considered.

With No Tourists, Australian Scuba Tours Are Planting Coral Instead
In Australia, snorkeling and scuba diving tours of the Great Barrier Reef have been suspended until further notice. While many touring companies have simply closed their doors and sent everyone home, there are a few that are using its resources and man-power to help repair the reefs in their area. The family-owned tour company, Passions of Paradise, has volunteered to assist scientists by planting coral on the Great Barrier Reef. They have donated their state-of-the-art catamaran, Passions III, to take four crew members and one scientist to Hastings Reef for the Coral Nurture Program.

Videos

May 3, 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

168 mainland residents evacuated from San Pedro Town
With tourism jobs non-existent in San Pedro Town due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more mainland residents are seeking to leave the island to return to their communities of origin. The Ministry of Health (MOH) along with the Ministry of Human Development, and the National Emergency Management Organization have been organizing the exodus of hundreds of people off the island over the past weeks. The recent group of people, totalling 168, was evacuated off the island on Saturday, May 2nd via San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi.

Various Belizean Sources

Confirmed repatriation flight to the United States on Thursday May 7
We have a confirmed repatriation flight to the United States on Thursday May 7, 2020. United Airlines Flight UA3023 departs Belize City on Thursday May 7, 2020 at 12:00 pm (noon) and arrives in Houston, TX at 15:30 pm. United Airlines is providing a repatriation flight for U.S. citizens and family members departing Belize City. If you would like to depart on this flight, please make a reservation directly with United Airlines at www.United.com. For more information or to change a prior United reservation send an email to [email protected] or WhatsApp message to +501 614-2613. Please note that flights are subject to change.

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen Sunday Location
Sunday, May 3rd Meal Pick Ups Location: Amigo's Kitchen Times: Village: 11:00am - 11:45am Bahia : 11:45am -12:30pm Please continue to bring your containers.. This is a BIG help!

COVID-19 Update from the Office of the Director of Health Services
As noted, last week, towards the end of the week we would be providing the data behind the infographic for Belize. In the infographics attached, we have Belize's data up until today compared to some Caribbean countries and the first graph indicates how Belize compares to New Zealand, Iceland, Hong Kong and Singapore in terms of their 'curves'.

PAHO Donations
PAHO-WHO Belize continues to donate equipment and much needed medical supplies to the Ministry of Health Belize and the Central Medical Laboratory in support of the #COVID19 response. This week, additional personal protective equipment, testing kits, and swabs were donated!

Virtual Music Festival Video and Encore
The first Belize Virtual Music Festival video is online. They are planning an encore tomorrow night at 8:00pm. "We immensely appreciate the outpouring of support for our first event and would like to show our gratitude by putting on an ENCORE performance. This show will feature 2 short performances and behind the scenes interviews/comments from the producers and others who worked on the team that made the event possible. Please join us live as we show our THANKS!"

The bathroom building in Billy White is coming along nicely
Work is progressing nicely on the toilet building for the primary school in the village of Billy White.

Maya Cross
You may be perplexed and say, “Maya Cross?” “But they weren’t Christians!” Nope. “They Worshipped many gods!” That’s correct! So how can there be a Maya Cross? How did the Maya come up with a symbol that is the center of Christian belief? The iconic image of the cross has been shared by cultures all over the world throughout the ages, creating a thought bubble that we all may really belong to the “indigenous subplot”.

Milpa was not just ‘slash and burn’
I recall when my grandfather led the preparation of a milpa. He knew when to cut and when to burn. It was a ceremony, tradition, a ritual, if you may. It meant food for the family. It meant respect, care and protection for and of our forest, animals and everything that would provide and sustain our families throughout the year. Preparing the area for the milpa followed a process. It was a pattern, it was systematic. Before a tree was cut, it was preceded with an offering and a prayer asking the Gods for a good harvest.

An Artist a Day
A new project by the Institute of Creative Arts, NICH, kicks off this Monday, May 4th on the following: KREM FM 96.5, 91.1, 101.1 and TV - daily after 6pm newscast Love FM Belize, Channel Seven Belize, Channel Five..... As well as our fb and Instagram pages - Institute of Creative Arts! An Artist a Day will feature a wide cross section of our talented Belizean artists from all disciplines. Look out for, learn about and enjoy our talented Belizean Artists!

Channel 5

Belizeans caught crossing the border
Belizeans were caught violating the new laws attached to the extended State of Emergency regulations. A video shows a group of Belize illegally entering the country through the northern border from Mexico. According to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams “they are being charged by police and will be taken into mandatory quarantine.”

The Reporter

Athelstan Isidro Sanchez passes away
It is with great sadness that we announce to friends and relatives the passing of Athelstan Isidro Sanchez (Retired Command Sergeant Major, BVG), who died at the age of 91 on April 29, 2020. Funeral services will be held at the burial site in Belize City on Saturday, May 02nd, 2020 at 10:00 am. As per Covid-19 guidance set by the government, attendance unfortunately, is limited to 10 but the family wishes to say thanks to all who have shown and/or rendered support during this time of sorrow.

Smoke continues in Belmopan
Residents of Belmopan continue to complain about smoke which blankets their areas and are now causing health effects such as headaches, difficulty breathing and nausea. While an SI has been enacted to stop burning, and cropdusters have been called in to extinguish bush fires, the relief has been very temporary.

The Department of Transport has released the following bus schedules

Breaking Belize News

Forest fire reported again in El Pilar Archaeological Reserve
Breaking Belize News has been informed that a forest fire is currently affecting the 5,000 […]

Milpa was not just ‘slash and burn’ 50 years ago – It was a ritual
By Wiersman Pat I recall when my grandfather led the preparation of a milpa. He knew when to cut and when to burn. It was a ceremony, tradition, a ritual, if you may. It meant food for the family. It meant respect, care and protection for and of our forest, animals and everything that would provide and sustain our families throughout the year. […]

Belizeans returning from Mexico through northern border arrested for breaking State of Emergency regulations
Earlier today social media went abuzz with footage of Belizeans detained at the northern border. […]

Deputy ComPol Robert Mariano retires after 38 years of service to department
His retirement takes effect on Sunday May 3, 2020. Before joining the Belize Police Department […]

United States committed to strong partnership with Belize
The United States Embassy in Belize issued a statement on May 1, 2020 reiterating their […]

Family loses belongings to fire in Santa Elena
Last night, a family of Bradley’s Bank in Santa Elena lost all their household items […]

Blogs

Extended COVID-19 Power Out, Did I Break any Rules?
Thursday, April 30th, we had an extended Belize Electricity COVID-19 Power Out – 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Before it happened I had made up my mind I was going to put on a cute and inconspicuous swim dress and take a chance to at least walk in the water if not fully submerge at Ramon’s Dock. I planned to decide at the time, depending on what I saw when I got to the beach. Then I listened to a summary of what was to come, rule wise and I remembered that swimming was off the table right now. (The picture above was taken April 21st) I know they say it is off the table because it is an activity that promotes social gathering.

Belize & Covid19 Update: Where are We Now?
Here’s MY update on this situation in Belize: Belize Has Taken The Corona Virus Very Seriously and The Prime Minister Stated Yesterday That He Doesn’t See Opening the International Airport “Anytime Soon” A new 60 Day State of Emergency was announced April 30th and went into effect May 1st. Our PM in an address to the country, this a re-start of “INTERNAL business and economic activity” and a “substantial easing”. He noted that we can not declare “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” but that this is an uneasy truce with the virus – and that there may be a second wave and then tighter measures would be re-introduced.

Summiting Victoria Peak in Belize
Rising abruptly from the lowlands, the jagged Cockscomb Mountains are an impressive mass of rock visible from the coast. Within the range, Victoria Peak Natural Monument boasts the title of the highest mountain. With a height of 1,120 meters, Victoria Peak is also the second-highest elevation in Belize. During Belize’s dry season, hikers have a unique chance to conquer the 27-kilometer Victoria Peak Trail. Under different circumstances, Belize Audubon Society would see back-to-back bookings of eager hikers. Fortunately, Victoria Peak Natural Monument isn’t going anywhere. So while the global community moves mountains to recover from COVID-19, Belize will be waiting for you.

International Sources

Commonwealth Shorts, Caribbean Voices
Congratulations to Belizean Writers Guild founding member, Felene M. Cayetano! She has been selected to participate in a one-week Caribbean Shorts, Caribbean Voices film workshop as a writer-director. The name of her screenplay is Ziricote.

Bird-watching soars amid COVID-19 as Americans head outdoors
Conner Brown, a 25-year-old law student at Stanford University, spent the early days of the pandemic following his brother as he spotted and collected characters in the Pokemon Go mobile game. Then, Brown noticed the birds. “I thought, ‘Why don’t I take up birding?’ It’s like real-life Pokemon Go. It’s super addicting because you can start logging them and you get a little collection. It’s really cool,” Brown said. He paused, then added, “They should really game-ify it.”

ZOMBIE CRUISE SHIPS: 100,000 crew never made it off cruise ships amid coronavirus crisis
When the COVID-19 Pandemic swept across the world overnight, it caught many industries with their pants down so to speak. One industry was the Cruise Ship Industry. We might think that all ships are passengerless and parked safely at their home port waiting for the industry to start again, but for some ships that is not the case. It seems there are lots of cruise ships still sailing around with no guests, but with their full contingent of staff. It is estimated that about 100,000 crew members are still onboard their ships. It seems as though no port will allow them to off-load their crew. Some crew members have been living in their rooms for over a month. All are given free food and room, but the cruise lines have stop paying them and frankly they are tired, scared and want off their ship.

Videos

May 2, 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

BEL Introduces its COVID-19 Relief Program
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) continues to provide relief for persons countrywide who are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company will provide food and care packages totaling $75,000 in value for distribution to approximately 600 marginalized families across the country, commencing May 4, 2020.

Update on the Food Assistance Programme
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation hereby updates the public on the COVID-19 Food Assistance Programme. Approved households who have already received their first food basket will receive notifications by text or WhatsApp informing them of their continued eligibility and the information needed to collect their baskets. There is no need to reapply; however, bear in mind that approval for continuous assistance is not automatic. Only households that receive the notification should go back for their second baskets.

Update on the Situation with Wildfires: Air tankers funded by PACT deployed
The air tankers funded by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) continued flights over the western communities in the Cayo District on April 30th, from 5:00 a.m. up to around 5:00 p.m. Several fires were suppressed in the areas of El Pilar and Chapel Hill in Benque Viejo del Carmen, and in the villages of Georgeville, Barton Creek and Unitedville. A house was saved from flames south of Unitedville and a large fire was extinguished in the Riverwalk area, among many other fires suppressed today.

Various Belizean Sources

LABOUR DAY MESSAGE from Dr. Senator the Honourable Carla Barnett, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and Rural Development
Today, May 1st, 2020, we in Belize join the rest of the world in commemorating International Workers’ Day and applauding the tireless work of our people. Indeed, in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, saying thank you to all workers has very special meaning, especially for our frontline workers who are providing health care and public health surveillance, as well as other essential service workers at the supermarkets, banks, gas stations, government ministries and agencies, utility companies, and all others who provide you and your loved ones with a needed service.

ComPol Chester Williams shares clarity on motorcycles
Some people were asking for clarity on Motorcycles. Here is your clarification, two persons from the same household can ride on a motorcycle. Remember the key word there is same household and not work place. Both persons however must wear a mask and a helmet.

Global Big Day
Global Big Day is next weekend. Are you ready? Last month every citizen of this BirdingNation did a really good effort from their homes, farms, and work sites. It was a good test run. On May 9th, we show the rest of the world what we are capable of, as a team. Are you a new birder and intimidated by eBird? Stay tuned as we will do an introduction to eBird on Friday May 8th.

Caye Chapel Development Company donates food to Caye Caulker
Happy Labor Day to all, the Caye Caulker Village Council would like to express sincere gratitude to the Caye Chapel Development Company who donated over $ 10,000.00 worth of food supply to distribute to islanders. The boxes arrived this morning on the island and some councilors were out and working early. We also express gratitude to R.C.D. for giving us cargo to be distributed at a special price.

COVID-19 UPDATE from the Director of Health Services
This is today’s data. We have 3 patients pending recovery and we have started the process for random and expanded testing with samples having already been processed. The Central Medical Laboratory worked today as a normal day so kudos for ALL health care workers who worked throughout the day and across the country.

Belize Bank Scholarship Program
Attention High School and Sixth Form students ! The Belize Bank is now accepting applications for their 2020 Scholarship Program. Head to https://www.belizebank.com/ to apply!

Learning Activity Package for High Schools and ITVETs
For full package visit us at: https://resource.moe.gov.bz/2020/04/secondary-first-edition/.

200 food bags given out at 5PM Today onCaye Caulker
The Chinese Community will be giving out 200 food bags at 5PM Today at the Basket Ball Court. We are pledging to the community that if you have recieved help from any of the soup kitchens or the CCVC, to give others a chance to aquire the assistance available. This meaning that if you are NOT receiving assistance from ANY other source of help, and you are on the village council's list, then you are eligible to come get a food bag.

Today marks the 10th day that Mr. Emilio has been donating fish to the Caye Caulker community
A total of 500 bags have been distributed, and todays route was from Aventurera street up to the Split. We express gratitude to Mr. Andre Perez for assisting with gas for the boat. We hope everyone has benefited from this kind deed.

Eliminating Duplicate assistance on Caye Caulker
The Hands of Love, Il Pelicano, the Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen and the C.C.V.C. representatives held a 4 hour meeting to cross check list from all parties. If you are on the Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen list, you will not be allowed to get groceries from the Arms of Love nor the C.C.V.C. list. If you are getting groceries from the pantry program from the Government of Belize, you will be automatically disqualified for any assistance from any of the local assistance program. This was a collective decision in an attempt to try and provide assistance for the most vulnerable for as long as possible. Sadly some people have been abusing the local systems and some controls are needed to ensure all these entities can sustain the programmes for as long as necessary. We ask for your kind understanding in this matter. With this said, tomorrow the Chinese Community in collaboration with the C.C.V.C will hand out groceries tomorrow at the basketball court at 5:00p.m. from a list to avoid dublications.

Thunderbolt Water Taxi - Essential Workers/Essential Travel Only
We will be resuming on the 4th of May on a temporary schedule for essential travel only. All passengers are strongly advised to follow these safety protocols: *Travel with and wear your own facemask. *Keep your personal hand sanitizers readily available *Maintain social distance (6ft) from other passengers and employees (whilst waiting for embarkation) *Non-passengers (family or friends) may not linger on or near the docks. Any passenger who refuses to comply will not be allowed to buy tickets or board the vessel. Our staff will also be carrying out safety measures relative to maintaining a sterilized area for passengers as mandated by the Government. For reservations or any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at 6288590 or 6104475. TEMPORARY SCHEDULE: MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY: Corozal to San Pedro 7am, San Pedro to Corozal 3pm.

AGRIC Quarantine Bash
The AGRIC Quarantine Bash is Saturday at 7:00pm. Super Furia Band will be performing, and Cloud 9 Sound will be there along with many others.

Sacred Heart Junior College Summer Classes
Online Summer classes are the new thing. Sacred Heart Junior College is having their Summer semester online.

The Chinese Community helped out those most in need around Santa Elena
Today, The Chinese Community Come Together again , did a third time food drive to the twin town and the surrounding villages. A total of 600 hundred bags were prepared , we have delivered to most elderly, front line worker and in needed personnel. It is time to come together as one . We can fight through this pandemic .

"Dive Into Tourism"
Check out Vol.3 of "Dive Into Tourism" to learn all about the Win-Win Relationship between Tourism & Agriculture!

San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Schedule
Effective May- 4th-2020, we will resume operations on a temporary schedule from Belize City, Caye Caulker, and San Pedro for ESSENTIAL TRAVEL. Safety is our top priority as our country continues to practice social distancing during this Covid-19 pandemic. San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Limited will actively follow all safety protocols mandated by the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Prime Minister, and the World Health Organization.

Chaak
Chaak or Yuum Chaak is one of the view deities which survive the conquest and is still remembered among the Yucatec Maya people of Belize . Yesterday Chaak blessed our beautiful Belize . Today many still give prayers and do rituals like the Ch'a Cháak for Chaak. Some Believe Chaak will bless us again May 3 and manifestate to us once more.

Channel 5

BDF Soldier Dies in RTA
A BDF soldier died as a result of a road traffic accident today. It happened on the Consejo Road in the Corozal District and the soldier has been identified as Pristley Rancharan. We are told that the DMAX he was in flipped. Other persons were injured. News Five understands that the group was on COVID-19 patrol. The vehicle is the property of the Ministry of Works and was assigned to the soldiers to conduct the patrol.

Lorenzo Garbutt stabbed in Belize City
Thirty year old Lorenzo Garbutt was stabbed last night in Belize City. According to police, Garbutt was walking through Cards Alley when he was approached and stabbed by a male person who was armed with a knife. It happened at around 6:15 pm. He was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.

Amandala

KHMH doctor discharges senior citizen during curfew
Some strange things have been known to happen at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), but what recently happened to a senior citizen who went to the hospital for treatment is particularly disturbing. Jean Hyde was rushed to the KHMH Emergency Room by ambulance on Friday morning, April 24. Later Friday, We found the 67-year-old Hyde in the EKG area of the Emergency Room. She was stretched out on a bed; her face, like the faces of everyone else in the hospital, was covered with a mask, according to protocol established by the hospital in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belize in 2 more months of State of Emergency
Like the House of Representatives which met yesterday with only 7 members, there was a Special Meeting of the Senate today with only four senators. The purpose of the Senate meeting was to consider a government motion to extend the COVID-19 State of Emergency. The meeting got underway with four senators. There were two senators from the government side —Leader of Government Business, Hon. Senator Godwin Hulse, and Senator Hon. Michael Peyrefitte; while one senator, Hon. Michel Chebat, represented the Opposition People’s United Party, and Hon. Elena Smith, who is a trade union senator, represented the social partners, businesses, churches and non-government organizations.

Julian Ebanks, 31, murdered in Bainsville
At about 6:00 this morning, Julian Ebanks, 31, a laborer of Bainsville, Hattieville, located at Mile 17 on the George Price Highway, was walking home after having gone along the highway to buy cigarettes. While he was walking, however, three men came up to him and one of them, who was armed, fired several times at him. Ebanks, who was hit a number of times, tried to run, but fell into a nearby drain.

Kory Leslie wins 2020 Copal Distillery Writer-in-Residence Fellowship
Belize City’s Kory Leslie has become the third Belizean writer to capture the Copal Distillery Writer-in-Residence Fellowship, valued at almost $5,000. The two other winners are Belmopan-based writers Ix-Chel Poot, who received the fellowship last year, and Ivor Kelly, who received the fellowship in 2018. “The Copal Distillery Fellowship is funded by a generous donation from the Copal Distillery Foundation. Working together, Copal Distillery and Joey Garcia, the Belize Writers’ Conference founder, have established the first and only literary fellowship for a Belizean writer in Belize’s history.

Forest fires raging in western and southern Belize
Forest fires have been raging and burning up large tracts of lands in western and southern Belize for many days now. These forest fires, thousands of them, are burning in several Central American countries and in Southern Mexico. According to the Government of Belize, there are 237 forest fires burning in Belize. In Belize, the central government, town councils and firefighting experts from different NGOs are all teaming up together to combat the estimated 230-odd forest fires. One large fire that is raging in the Vaca Reserve in western Belize is posing an immediate threat to the residents of the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena.

Guatemala gets 6-month extension to file “Memorial” for ICJ case
The Agent for the Republic of Guatemala at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requested a 1-year extension to file its pleadings in its territorial, insular and maritime claim against Belize. The Agent for the Government of Belize objected to Guatemala’s 1-year request, in a letter dated April 15, 2020. The Belize Agent told the ICJ that two (2) more months would be sufficient time. The ICJ, however, was able to broker a middle ground and offered Guatemala a 6-month extension.

Government relaxes some state of emergency measures ahead of 2-month extension
There has not been any new confirmed case of the novel coronavirus since April 13, and 5 out of the 18 persons who had tested positive for COVID-19 have recovered, and the remaining patients are at home recovering. Deaths in Belize from the coronavirus remain at 2 out of the 18 confirmed cases. With the two areas where community spread of the virus was suspected, in the Belize and Cayo Districts, producing no new positive tests, government has decided to relax some of the measures it implemented in the National State of Emergency.

Second man reeled in for the death of Walter Usher and injury to Joyce Edwards, 61
At about 9:00 Saturday night, February 22, Walter Ezekiel Usher, 33, of Rio Bravo Crescent, Belize City, was talking to a friend of his, in front of his house in Port Loyola, when two men rode up on a motorcycle and one of them fired at him. Usher was hit in the head and body. One of the bullets that were fired, however, strayed and struck a woman, Joyce Edwards Ramclam, 61, of Punta Gorda, who was a passenger in a vehicle that was traveling on the same street, heading to her daughter’s house in the area. The gunmen then rode away on the motorcycle.

Westline lays off 45 workers due to COVID-19
The effects of COVID-19 continue to impact the lives of people in the country. Tens of thousands of persons had already lost their jobs due to the collapse in the tourism industry and other enterprises as a result of the pandemic. Now, 45 workers of Westline Bus Company who were laid off this week have been added to the ranks of the unemployed. The announcement was made on Friday. The management of Westline said that due to drastically reduced revenue the company is no longer able to keep on all their workers and has had to lay off 90% of its workforce. The company is now operating with a skeleton staff, and those workers who remain, will get a pay cut.

Nigel Welch, 22, dies in sand pit pool
Nigel Welch, 22, a laborer of Hattieville, was found dead in a sand pit pool in Hattieville, off the Boom-Hattieville Road, at 11:45 this morning. A diver who went into the pit to recover the body said that Welch’s head was in the soil at the bottom of the pool, and he was pulled up by his feet, not far from the water’s edge. It is estimated that he had been in the water for about 45 to 60 minutes.

Editorial: Only WE can keep our country from going into LOCKDOWN again
On April 1, 2020, because of a disease called COVID-19 that is sickening people and causing deaths across the globe, the Government of Belize declared a state of emergency for the entire country for one month. During this month the borders of Belize were closed, the movements of our people were severely restricted, and the businesses in the country that were not considered essential were closed down. This disease is causing our people much suffering. We would have been suffering even without the lockdown in our country because COVID-19 has stopped people from traveling, and thousands of our people who were employed in the tourism industry lost their jobs. This is a bad, bad time in Belize.

Belize City Council helping to fight COVID-19
Mayor Bernard Wagner and the Belize City Council have been exploring multiple ways to contribute to the fight against COVID-19. On Friday he met with the media to discuss one of the council’s most recent projects to provide new coronavirus testing booths for some of the major hospitals and clinics in the country. Through a partnership between the Council and multiple donors Mayor Wagner, via the efforts of Ivan Copo and Eric’s Welding Services from Belmopan, was able to produce four 50 x 48 testing booths. Two of the structures were issued to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, while one was given to the Matron Roberts Clinic and another to the Cleopatra White Clinic.

Greg Choc tells KREM Plus that Belize’s leadership lacks vision and COVID-19 gives us a chance to reset
Celebrated conservationist, attorney Mr. Greg Choc, told the host of KREM Plus, which is a show on Youtube that is hosted by Evan “Mose” Hyde, Jr., that Belize has been misdirected for 300 years by Western cultures, and that we have been trying to be what we are not. He said the pandemic gives us a chance to reset, to look at where we came from, and where we’re going. He said that we shouldn’t discount modern technology, but where we’re going must include our traditional way of life, living in harmony with the land, for this way of life has sustained us for a thousand years.

Belize at 5th place in countries most ready to exit COVID-19 lockdown
Using 13 publicly available information indexes by governments regarding their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the measures they implemented, Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford has been conducting a series of studies. In one of the studies having to do with which countries are most ready to exit their COVID-19 lockdown, Belize was rated at number 5. Interestingly, the Belize Government just passed a new law extending the country’s lockdown to two months. It is expected that tomorrow, Thursday, the Barrow government will introduce new Statutory Instruments which may provide some easing of restrictions under the national State of Emergency which came into effect on April 1.

House motion extends state of emergency by 2 months
A motion to extend the National State of Emergency for another 60 days was introduced in a Special Sitting of the House of Representatives this morning by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who, after the House meeting, expressed surprise at the blistering criticism that was directed at his government from the Opposition side, because PUP leader, Hon. John Briceño, sits as co-chair of the National Oversight Committee, which had recommended the 60-day extension. Today’s House meeting was unusual in two respects: firstly, only a quorum of seven members of the House was present in order to observe the social distancing rules under the State of Emergency, and secondly, someone made the controversial decision to lock the media out of the proceedings.

Semi-pro rumblings; some ideas at the time
Below is a verbatim copy of a script of ideas formulated inside the Milpros camp, that were instrumental in our agitation and lobbying efforts with other teams towards formation of the first semi-pro football league in Belize. The Milpros vs San Pedro match-up referred to below was their first game played in the 1990-91 Belize City 1st Division competition on Sunday, November 11, 1990, marking Milpros’ return to football after a one-year hiatus. At the time of its writing, “semipro” was still just a dream.

Football Flashback 4: down memory lane with a few more names
We’re still having fun pulling out some names of players we haven’t seen or heard from in a long, long time; as well as retrieving the full names of a few we had only nicknames for. Below are a few more names of players we remembered, corrected (*), or were reminded of by those who found the time to contact us at [email protected] or by cell phone text at 607-8616. Indeed, as you no doubt realized by now, this has become a trip down football memory lane, calling out the names of players we record as having played football in the 1st Division, then the highest level of football in Belize, and then in the semipro or professional league after 1991, which is presently the Premier League of Belize (PLB).

State of Emergency – disobedience of the law!
The debate over whether there should be an extended state of emergency is a rather interesting one. I say interesting because as an advocate from early March for a State of Emergency with drastic measures to close down our country so the virus COVID19 is not imported, I based my decision on the then need to prevent the entry of the virus. Since then, we now know that as early as 14th March, 2020, the virus was already here and that on the 19th of March, 2020, when the airport was finally locked down, the virus was already within our borders.

Maybe I was wrong
Ouch, my best efforts to keep my word count down didn’t get the job done, so I cut off the rather lengthy preamble which dealt with how I anguish over past failures, be they big or be they small. This story is long, despite my breaking off many threads as they began to unravel so that I could keep the focus on a single thread, a decision I made, why I made it, and why, yes, I do have some regret that, someone has held animosity toward me for it.

Swift, smart and bold COVID-19 strategies do pay-off: the case of selected countries with male-and-female-headed governments
While reviewing over the weekend the most recent reports and data on the COVID-19 epidemic around the world, my wife Mili injected an interesting question: who is doing better in managing this emergency of a pandemic —men or women as heads of government? I did not know, so I went to find out. And here are some data and observations on this gender leadership issue. The table below has the most recent data as of 25th April 2020 for 10 comparable countries, 5 of them led by males and another 5 led by females. All 10 countries are well-developed and flourishing democracies, with the USA being the biggest by far.

Desmond Roberts’ devious games
Before the time was up she had been relieved to see Jerome standing in the doorway. “Ready?” he had asked her, holding out his hand, and she had sprung up and put her hand in his and turned to say good-night to the gentleman who had not yet given her his name, although he had identified himself as Celia’s friend. He had struggled to stand up to bid them good-night, introducing himself as Roger Austin; and Jerome, acknowledging him with a nod, had returned his greeting while moving away with Jewel.

The world’s economic system is changing
Dear Editor, 40% of US oil rigs are offline. Vietnam, Chad, Brazil and members of OPEC are cutting their output of oil. About 50 million barrels of oil are going to storage in a week. Land-based storage is expected to finish by the end of May. This means there will be an oversupply of oil for at least a year, because if the world’s economy opens up, it will be slow and uncertain. Oil was the most traded commodity (about 4% of world GDP). The US is the worst hit both by the oil collapse and COVID-19.

Drug plane found in Bacalar, Mexico
Mexican marines of the 25th Infantry of the 11th Naval Zone, located in Chetumal, found a suspected drug plane in a remote area of the village of Ejido Salamanca, while conducting an anti-drug operation in the area. Today’s issue of DIARIO De Chetumal, an online Mexican newspaper, said that the search was based on intelligence that a suspected drug plane was in the area. The infantry went to the area in Bacalar, where they found the King Air-type airplane. During searches of the area, they found two motorcycles and a rifle, and further investigation led to four persons who have been arrested in connection with the landing of the plane.

The Reporter

Fatal traffic accident in the Corozal District
The Reporter has been able to confirm that the accident in the Corozal District happened on the Consejo Road, where a pickup carrying BDF soldiers flipped. One soldier is said to be dead while four others are injured.

A stabbing incident has landed Lorenzo Garbutt at the KHMH
Garbutt was walking through Cards Alley yesterday evening when he was approached by a man armed with a knife and was stabbed. Police continue to investigate the matter.

Breaking Belize News

Separate traffic mishaps involving BDF soldiers occur hours apart, one dead several injured
Separate reports from our sources confirm there were two traffic incidents involving Belize Defence Force […]

American Airlines requires passengers to wear masks as part of COVID-19 prevention strategy
American Airlines (AA) announced today a series of measures being implemented in their flights to […]

Taiwan’s global COVID-19 support efforts in Belize bolster case for inclusion in World Health Organization
This week, Ambassador of Taiwan in Belize, Remus Li-Kuo Chen handed over 6 Infrared Thermal […]

Yellow-headed parrot poached near Payne’s Creek national park
The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) informed today that the terrestrial manager stationed […]

Debunking misinformation amidst COVID-19 pandemic
By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: In March, Belize’s Attorney General informed that legislation was set in place to hold […]

“Virtual music festivals are a gamechanger,” says Belize Music Agency
Today, Belize will see its first-ever Virtual Music Festival and the Belize Music Agency (BMA) […]

Labour Day message: NTUCB says ‘no happiness’ for workers
“A very happy Labour Day 2020”? It is admittedly half-hearted from the National Trade Union […]

Labour Day message: Dr. Carla Barnett reflects on labour issues in time of COVID-19
Senator Dr Carla Barnett, Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour, Local Government and […]

U.S. promises to settle COVID-19 swabs dispute
Belize continues to await a package of swabs for COVID-19 tests due from last week. […]

Cyclists allowed to train again, social distancing must be observed
Cyclists can hit the road again under the new relaxed State of Emergency (SOE) regulations […]

Laundromats and insurance companies now allowed to operate
Subsequent to the appearance of the Attorney General, Michael Peyrefitte on the Government Press Office’s […]

Belize City man stabbed in back in stable condition
Shortly after 6 o’clock last night a man was stabbed in Belize City. He has […]

“Rules apply to everyone, even San Pedro,” says Attorney General
Statutory Instrument No. 65, which brings new modifications to the State of Emergency (SOE) regulations, […]

Caye Chapel Development Company helps Caye Caulker residents cope with COVID-19
The Caye Chapel Development Co. made up of Mexican Investors, Thor Urbana, GFA, Immobilia, and […]

Blogs

American Airlines to Issue PPE to Flight Passengers
American Airlines will now distribute hand sanitizing wipes or gel, as well as face masks, to flyers by May 4th, 2020. The airline announced these new measures in a press release on Monday. American also noted that cleaning practices have always met or exceeded all guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All of American Airlines’ mainline aircraft are already equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. Cabin air is changed approximately every 2-4 minutes, which is the standard for hospitals.

International Sources

Phased reopening of business begins in some Caribbean countries
Even though the number of reported COVID-19 cases in the Caribbean is rising, some islands which have not registered a new case in days have begun to relax restrictions. Barbados, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda and the US Virgin Islands have all begun a phased reopening of businesses. With only three confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date and no current active cases in Anguilla, restrictions were lifted on April 29.

PAHO/WHO Belize Makes additional Donation to the Ministry of Health
To support the fight against COVID-19, PAHO/WHO Belize continues to donate equipment and much needed medical supplies to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Central Medical Laboratory (CML). On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, PAHO/WHO Representative to Belize, Dr. Noreen Jack, presented the Ministry of Health with additional personal protective equipment (PPE) including:

Wild dolphin swims up to scuba diver and invites him to play in the soft coral
What happened to this diver was even more incredible. As he swam over the reef and approached a collection of soft coral swaying in the current, a large dolphin swam right in front of him and began swimming around in circles, performing acrobatics and looking him right in the eye with what can only be interpreted as an invitation to play. The scuba diver holding the camera is a dive master named Nito, but he is known around the world as "Big Sexy". One of the most popular scuba masters in Belize, he has a serious fan club. Guests who come to Chuck & Robbie's Scuba Diving from all over the globe seek out this operation for their professionalism and dedication to safety.

Guatemala presenta “enérgica” protesta a Belice por detención de ciudadanos
El Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Guatemala detalló en un comunicado de prensa que la protesta se realizó por la detención de los tres “ciudadanos guatemaltecos” a manos de “la Fuerza de Defensa de Belice”. De acuerdo a la Cancillería, los guatemaltecos fueron detenidos “cerca de la Zona de Adyacencia (frontera no delimitada) administrada por Belice”, colindante con el departamento guatemalteco de Petén, unos 500 kilómetros al norte de la Ciudad de Guatemala.

Videos

Happy Labour Day!!!

May 1, 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

PM Barrow updates the nation on COVID-19; calls out San Pedro Town Authorities
After registering 17 consecutive days without a case of COVID-19, Belize Prime Minister Right Honourable Dean Barrow updated the nation on Thursday, April 30th, announcing a further relaxation on the level of restrictions to hopefully kick-start the local economy. These new measures will be part of the new proclamation of the State of Emergency starting on Friday, May 1st for two months. Barrow opened his address stating that Belize is turning a corner after achieving a milestone in the campaign against COVID-19, however he made it clear that the country is still under the threat of the virus and Belizeans should continue exercising the necessary precautions to avoid any potential infections.

San Pedro Tour Operators Association hand out groceries to tour guides
After the tourism industry came to a grinding halt on the island, the labour force of tour operators such as tour guides, boat captains, deck and office personnel found themselves without a job. Over the past weeks, they have been doing their best to make ends meet with the support of the community and loved ones. But on Wednesday, April 29th, the San Pedro Tour Operators Association (SPTOA) contributed 150 packages of groceries to them in an effort to assist them.

San Pedro Fire Department responds to bushfire in northern Ambergris Caye
On Tuesday, April 28th, the San Pedro Fire Department (SPFD) responded to a bushfire, which was threatening to get out of control and edging to nearby structures in northern Ambergris Caye. The fire posed a challenge to residents in the area, who joined in the efforts with the firefighters to control the blaze.

Various Belizean Sources

SI No 65 of 2020 Belize Constitution Emergency Powers Regulations 2020
Effective tomorrow, May 1st, Statutory Instrument No. 65 of 2020, the Belize Constitution (Emergency Powers) Regulations, 2020, will come into force. TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE NEW SI, CLICK THIS LINK

GAS TOMZA OPENS PLANT IN ORANGE WALK
Today is a great day for employees of Gas Tomza and customers in the north of Belize. Tomza opened its Orange Walk Plant on the San Antonio Road. Many customers are aware of our great service and have begun to take advantage of our current, low rates while thanking us for adding our service to the community. We will continue offering our 24/7 customer service. We appreciate and invite you to visit our northern facility in the Orange Walk District. We must also clarify that there is a misleading advertisement on social media by a political party in an attempt to confuse our customers. Gas Tomza is a private company and does not participate in the agenda of any political organization.

Streaming Live / Local & Abroad Musicians/ Friday’s 4pm-7pm
Hosted by Caribbean Fusion Brewing Company. Streaming LIVE from Caribbean Fusion Brewing Company every Friday until the New Normal. We present Friday Music Session with Local & Abroad Musicians. Hosted by Greg Micheals. Friday Night Music Session Fund Raiser for Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen. ALL proceeds donated directly to [url=https://www.gofundme.com/f/caye-caulker-soup-kitchen-for-covid19-relief]Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen’s GoFundMe account[/url].

Cristo Rey Village calls for Food Assistance
If anyone can help the villagers of Cristo Rey who have not received any food baskets or hampers, please contact Ana Peña and Jovanna Peña to organize proper and fair food distribution at cellular number 608-8620.

Great adventures for Institute of Archaeology in Educational Outreach
Taking a stroll down memory lane, we reminisce on the great adventures the IA has had actively pursuing Educational Outreach. Interacting with our students of Belize, we express how important cultural heritage is to our national identity as Belizeans. It is our civic right and duty to be guardians of our heritage. This is why we do it. This is why we Preserve the Past for the Future.

FOREIGN LPG MAFIA LOSES IN COURT OF APPEALS
Our newsroom has been informed that the appeal made by Gas Tomza on the temporary injunction application against the GoB that was recently denied in the Supreme Court was dismissed by the Court of Appeal today. This is the second loss for the LPG Mafia who was represented by Audrey Matura, the Attorney General was represented by crown counsel Agassi Finnegan.

Ya'axche Nursery
Our nursery has the capacity to hold 50,000 fruit, timber and spices quality organic seedling. We work with communities, farmers and reforestation projects across southern Belize. Our prices are great and discounts are available upon purchases of 200 or more seedlings, to support small and large projects. Contact us at 722-0108 or email marcelia.assi[at]yaaxche.org or visit us at our nursery, which is located at Mile 68 on the Southern Highway, Golden Stream Corridor Preserve. For more information visit our website: https://ecotourismbelize.com/nursery/.

Corozal artist Carlos Carrillo
As part of our Thursday Art & Soul Series we are delighted to showcase Corozal artist Carlos Carrillo. Many of us have had the pleasure of watching this young man develop his skills over the past ten years. A devoted artist, husband and father Carlos continues to live his passion. Interested persons can contact Carlos via facebook at Carrillo's Art Paintings.

Update on the Food Assistance Programme
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation hereby updates the public on the COVID-19 Food Assistance Programme. Approved households who have already received their first food basket will receive notifications by text or WhatsApp informing them of their continued eligibility and the information needed to collect their baskets. There is no need to reapply; however, bear in mind that approval for continuous assistance is not automatic. Only households that receive the notification should go back for their second baskets.

Update on the Situation with Wildfires
The air tankers funded by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) continued flights over the western communities in the Cayo District today, April 30th, from 5:00 a.m. up to around 5:00 p.m. Several fires were suppressed in the areas of El Pilar and Chapel Hill in Benque Viejo del Carmen, and in the villages of Georgeville, Barton Creek and Unitedville. A house was saved from flames south of Unitedville and a large fire was extinguished in the Riverwalk area, among many other fires suppressed today. Around 5:00 p.m., a large thunderstorm rolled over the western part of the Cayo District, drenching all the fires in the Vaca Forest Reserve, Arenal, and Blackman Eddy. With the rains this evening, the far west is considered to be significantly out of harm’s way.

Update to Statutory Instrument No. 65 – Additional Businesses Allowed to Operate
Subsequent to the appearance of the Attorney General Hon. Michael Peyrefitte on the Government Press Office’s “Ask the Experts” webcast today, April 30th, consideration was given to certain businesses to operate under Statutory Instrument No. 65 of 2020. Laundromats will be allowed to operate as of May 1, 2020, for drop-off/pick-up services only during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Insurance companies are also now included and can operate as of May 1, 2020, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Magistrate Deborah Rogers travels to Caye Caulker for court proceedings
Due to the restriction of movement as a result of the current state of emergency, on Tuesday, Magistrate Deborah Rogers traveled to Caye Caulker for court proceedings. A total of fifty-two persons were arrested and charged in Caye Caulker, under the State of Emergency Power Regulations as well as other offences and appeared before the magistrate. Twenty-four cases were concluded for breaching the curfew, eight for breaching of curfew and ten other charges were withdrawn. In the case of criminal offenses, one person was charged for wounding, while two persons were arraigned for common assault and two others for harm...

BEL Introduces its COVID-19 Relief Program
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) continues to provide relief for persons countrywide who are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company will provide food and care packages totaling $75,000 in value for distribution to approximately 600 marginalized families across the country, commencing May 4, 2020. The distribution will be managed by the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, through its Food Assistance Program. Recipients will be selected based on the Ministry's standardized screening criteria of over 80,000 persons, who have no source of income or recently lost their main source of income.

A statement from Panthera Belize about fires
This dry season, Belize is experiencing an unusually high number of uncontrolled fires which have spread into natural wilderness areas with devastating consequences for the wildlife. Our work in Central Belize during the fires of 2011 showed that some animals, such as tree-living species or those with small ranges, cannot escape the fires and burn to death. Those that escape the fires are unable to travel far enough to find food and starve to death. Wide-ranging species, such as jaguars and pumas, are displaced by the fires, forced out of their natural territories and, potentially, closer to human habitation, where they may attack livestock in search of food.

Galen University Summer Semester

Caye Caulker Soup Kitchen Friday Location
Friday, May 1st....Happy Labour Day Belize! Meal Pick up location: Barrier Reef Sports Bar& Grill Times: Village: 11:00-11:45 am Bahia: 11:45 am-12:30 pm Thank you for bringing your containers!

ATTENTION U.S. CITIZENS IN BELIZE: Travel Alert – U.S. Embassy Belmopan, Belize
This message is to make you aware of two possible upcoming repatriation flights departing from Belize. First, there are seats available on a confirmed WestJet Airlines flight departing from Belize City to Toronto, Canada on Wednesday May 6. See the information below from the Honorary Consulate of Canada for additional requirements for non-Canadian citizens who are considering purchasing tickets on this flight. Secondly, the U.S. Embassy is working closely with United Airlines and the Government of Belize to provide another repatriation flight to the United States and will disseminate the details as soon as the flight is confirmed. The safety and security of American citizens is our highest responsibility. If you have any questions, please contact the U.S. Embassy Belmopan American Citizen Services Unit at [email protected].

A&R Reopening
Parents, Teachers, Students, Home-vacationers, we heard you missed us and are in need of our services. Sadly Labor Day is a holiday, but rest assured, that at 9am on Saturday May 02, our doors will be open countrywide for you. We're happy to have you all back, but please remember: For the safety of yourselves, your families, and our employees, we all need to maintain COVID-19 precautions. Wear your masks (you need one to enter), wash your hands, and keep your social distance so that we can all have a great time shopping. Thank you, and see you soon! .

Football Federation of Belize Capacity Building online classes
It may all be a little uncertain right now but it doesn’t mean we’ve stopped working. The Football Federation of Belize invites you to join in the Capacity Building online classes facilitated by our Technical Director Mr. Philip Marin. For further information and to sign up please do not hesitate to contact our office at 672-7755.

THANK YOU TO THE COROZAL CHINESE ASSOCIATION
This morning Mayor Rigo Vellos assisted the All China Federation of Overseas Taishanese (Chinese Association) in Corozal with the distribution of food hampers to needy families. This is the second food hamper distribution courtesy the members of the Association. Their leaders expressed a commitment to continue to assist as many Corozalenos in these challenging times. On behalf of the Corozal community, the Mayor expressed gratitude to the Corozal Chinese association for their humanitarian service and generosity.

BWS is now processing the COVID-19 Relief for the April Bills
This Relief will be shown on your next bill as a CREDIT (PAYMENT).

2020 CARSI Small Grants Q&A Session
Join us for an informative session on the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) small grant opportunity to strengthen government through civil society engagement. Time: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m Date: May 7, 2020 Live on our Facebook page! Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Masks for sale in San Pedro
@'the moment a few of this ready to pick up, other prints upon request only...$6. each phone #664 2514

Channel 7

"Substantial Easing" Of COVID Measures
Again, tonight, there are no new confirmed cases of COVID 19 in Belize, making it 18 days since a positive sample was taken. And that's why tomorrow, the national state of emergency responding to COVID enters a new phase.  In a two hour press conference this morning, the Prime Minister characterised it as "substantial easing" of the measures which we have all been living with for much of the past month:..

Re-Starting The Economy, With Caution
But, no lockdown right now.  While the curfew does remain in effect, the economy is being re-started, and businesses allowed to re-open.  Yes, it won't be the same. Strict social distancing has to observed - and everyone has to wear a mask inside those businesses - and this time it's a requirement by law, not an option. The Prime Minister listed the businesses that will be able to open on Saturday, after the labour day holiday:

Relaxation of Measures is Not For Recreation
And so while you can finally go get that trim - by appointment only - you can't go down by the river.  The bottom line is that social interaction is being very strongly discouraged - and the PM said this relaxing of regulations is no open invitation to recreation:

Business Tourism Only
But, can you still be with the program, while being a tourist in your own country?   It's a kind of grey area since the government is trying to direct some business to hotels who have no tourists coming in. The Prime Minister explained this balancing act: "And since we are saying that anybody can move across district lines in order to attend or in order to seek the services that are available..."

Regular Tourism Not Coming Back Now
But, many resorts and hotels will be happy for any kind of business, because right now occupancy is at zero - and it looks to remain that way for the foreseeable future.  The Prime Minister said that the airport will be the last thing to open:

Basically, School's Out For Summer
And while the airport will not be opening until standardised quick tests are available, schools also look like they will not be opening very soon. The Prime Minister said right now it is not a primary consideration:

Border Busters Going To Jail
So, the biggest lesson to students is to stay home - and if you live on the north along the Rio Hondo it's not a suggestion, it's the law. Those who choose to skip across to Mexico for some cheap groceries or beer - will got to jail.  Yup, that's what's contained in the new State of Emergency regulations.  The Prime Minister outlined it:

Strict Regs For Public Buses
So, if you can't go to Mexico - can you travel within Belize? Well it's limited primarily to persons who are going to do business in other districts, and of course, persons who qualify as essential services.   And for those travelling on busses there are strict rules:

Rain cools Down Cayo
They say rain throws a damper on long weekends - but, tonight, residents of San Ignacio and Santa Elena are rejoicing after an evening downpour.  It's a relief for the twin towns which have been battling with suffocating smoke from out of control forest fires for the past month.  

Guatemalan Press Reports Falsely Claim BDF Kidnapped Citizens
This morning, Guatemalan news outlets had a sensational headline; they reported that Belizean soldiers kidnapped the president of a community group in Guatemala - along with two other men.  According to the report it happened in San Luis Peten. But, according to Belizean authorities that's not what happened at all. 

Mayor Bernard Dismisses Keith's Claims
On Tuesday we brought you an interview with PUP Stalwart Keith Yearwood, who claimed he was fired by Mayor Bernard Wagner for failing to wear a face mask at the traffic department. The former Assistant Parks manager told us that he was a faithful PUP soldiers, and expressed disbelief that Wagner could fire him without consulting the PUP hierarchy. But According to Mayor Wagner the only hierarchy he adheres to his that of the City Council.

No Sacred Cows At City Hall?
And the Mayor went on to say that unlike what pertains in the UDP his party and municipality have no sacred cows.  Reporter "Sir he spoke to the hierarchy of the PUP that you did not have the power to make such a decision, what do you have to say to that?"

CITCO Workers Staying On
But while Wagner renounced sacred cows, he says he is keeping his staff.   Today he made it clear that while city council staff has been living with a 50% pay cut since the start of April, he has no intention of laying them off. On the contrary, he says he's aware of their suffering and hopes that the council's slowly returning revenue can help alleviate it.

The Continuing Curfew
At the top of the newscast, we showed you the Prime Minister's virtual press conference. He headlined it with announcement that Government is slightly relaxing some of the stricter rules of the State of Emergency, even though it has been extended for 2 more months.  This afternoon, Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte made an appearance on the Ask the Experts webcast, to fill in the details, and give a bit more clarity on what is being allowed, and what isn't. 

Mask Regulations Super Strict
Another group of rules that the Government is doubling down on is the strict adherence to social distancing. In particular, no person should be out of their houses without a mask, and if you are caught without one, you're risking a hefty fine or even jail time.  That's right, masks are not optional!  Here are the Attorney General's comments on that topic:

Here's Which Businesses Will Open
From there, the Attorney General gave an overview of the different types of businesses that the Government is allowing to re-open under the State of the Emergency. That list is extensive, but here's an excerpt: So, to go over it again, business owners and their employees are expected to observe social distancing practices.

The Details On Hotel Stays
And at the top of the news, we showed you what Prime Minister Dean Barrow had to say about the special cases of hotels being allowed to re-open during the State of Emergency. Well, the Attorney General discussed hotels in a bit more detail, and he stressed that recreational or vacation use of the hotels isn't being encouraged.

No Leisure Travel
So, it should strictly business at hotels, because, according to the AG, the government will continue to restrict inter-district travel. Very much like being outside of your homes during non-curfew hours, traveling between districts is being discouraged at this time, and if you must do so, it must be for a valid reason. Here's how the AG explained why that is the case:

Casinos? Closed!
And, you definitely can't travel even within your district to go to the casino!  The Attorney General briefly spoke about closed businesses: Hon. Michael Peyfitte - Attorney General "Closed, Casinos and gaming establishments are closed. Gymnasiums, sporting complex remain closed. Discotheques, bars, rum shops and night clubs remain close. You have to continue to at least for now, party virtually and online. I don't know what kind of party that but for now, that's the kind of party we have to have."

FCD on Fires
Yesterday we showed you the heroic efforts of a Spanish Lookout crop duster and it's pilot water bombing fires that had been threatening communities out west.  One organization glad of the fly-by efforts and the rain that followed is the Friends for Conservation of development. Over the past few weeks, they've been on the front line of the fires working hard to keep them away from the boundary line of the invaluable natural resource that is the Chiquibul national park.

Chinese Donate To City Hall
And while the Chiquibul may be safe, thousands of Belizeans are still in peril: The peril of economic instability and even hunger.  It's a problem which the government, private entities, and even altruistic individuals are attempting to remedy.  Yesterday we told you about the Bangladeshi community's donation to Belizeans, and tonight we're highlighting three more organized efforts to feed Belize City families.  We start with the China Federation of Overseas Taishanese, who today made an enormous grocery donation to the Belize City Council. 7News was there for the handing over ceremony.

The Indians and The Politicians
And the Indian business community is also showing its generosity.  Their members chosen to specifically target those who have yet to receive government assistance in the form of food pantry or food package.  And they're doing this by handing out coupons to those on the frontline:  UDP and PUP standard-bearers as a way to pad Citywide social assistance programs and keep city-dwellers fed. 

BEL's Funding For Food Assistance Program
And a corporate citizen is also getting in on the giving. In a press release today BEL introduced its COVID-19 relief program saying that starting May 4th the Company will provide food and care packages totalling $75,000 to approximately 600 marginalized families across the country.  This afternoon Cherisse Halsall spoke to Corporate Communications Manager Vonetta Burrell about BEL's efforts to take care of customers in these extremely trying times:

The Bottom Line On The Number of Tests
And turning back now to COVID 19….for weeks we've been asking what is the specific situation with the number of tests available for the deadly virus?  And, many times, those numbers seem to lead an indeterminate dance. Today, in a rare media appearance, the CEO in the Ministry of Health gave a breakdown:

The Swabs Situation and US Customs
And while the tests are in abundance, swabs to collect those tests are running low.  And that's because the shipment which was supposed to come in last week was confiscated by US customs. Here's more on that:

Ashcroft Relief Fund Still Hasn't Found What They're Looking For
And, while the difficulty with getting supplies through the US is one thing, sourcing them any at all can prove difficult if not impossible. That's what the Lord Ashcroft Covid-19 Relief Fund learned very quickly when they tried to source supplies. - according to the PM:

San Pedro Local Leaders On A Lark Of Their Own
And, finally from today's press conference, the Prime Minister had strong words of censure for his senior Minister Manuel Heredia and San Pedro Mayor Danny Guerrero. Two days ago, they put out a press release saying that they have made local modifications to the latest State of Emergency Statutory Instrument - which, we should add, is the law of the land.  

Not Micah In Mix Up
And, finally tonight, in our last segment we told you about the police action involving former city council employee Keith Yearwood and councillor Oscar Arnold. That ended up at the police station where both sides decided to not make complaints.

Channel 5

A New Relaxed S.O.E. Comes Into Effect on Labor Day
There have not been any new cases of COVID-19 for seventeen days, so beginning May first, which is the extended Labour Day weekend, there will be a further relaxation of [...]

Wearing Face Mask in Public is Now Mandatory
The state of emergency is entering a two-month extension, but with relaxed regulations and the public will be able to move a bit more freely. While that is the case, [...]

G.O.B. Announces Stiff Penalties for Anyone Crossing Borders Illegally
While the stringent measures over the past two and a half weeks will be relaxed as of May first, government is tightening up considerably on other infractions.  Travel to Guatemala [...]

Work Resumes After Labor Day
A new statutory instrument to introduce another sixty-day state of emergency comes into effect on Friday.  Since May first is a public and bank holiday in observance of Labor Day, [...]

Salons, Barbershop to Reopen but Under Strict Conditions
One of the relaxed measures, which is bringing relief, is that salons and barbershops are now allowed to open and operate. This is one area that, in the past weeks, [...]

Street Side Vendors Still Not Allowed to Operate
If you are smiling all the way to the salon, one of the businesses still not allowed to operate are street-side vendors.  So the tacos stands up the road and [...]

Court of Appeal Dismisses LPG Importers’ Appeal
An inaugural shipment of liquid petroleum gas arrived at the Port of Big Creek this morning, following a direct route from the U.S. Gulf Coast.  At news time this evening, [...]

LPG Importers to Appeal Decision at the C.C.J.
The matter is going before the Caribbean Court of Justice in an expedited hearing, though a written judgment from the Court of Appeal has not been perfected.  According to attorney [...]

San Pedro is Also Subject to National S.O.E.
The San Pedro Town Council, Area Representative Manuel Heredia Jr. and the local Emergency Operations Centre have come under harsh criticism for taking matters into their own hands by amending [...]

Tourism Will Be Last Sector to Reopen
San Pedro is prime destination and tourism is the number one revenue generator for the Belizean economy but it will be the last sector to be reopened as the country [...]

Hotels Can Now Open but for Only Local Guests
With Belize’s tourism industry on life support and hoteliers going out of business, one of the changes to the regulations is that hotels can resume business. But there is a [...]

Unemployment is Slow to Come By
Help is slow to come for thousands of Belizeans who continue to wait for unemployment assistance through the Government of Belize. More eight thousand persons applied but the process has [...]

Cyclists Can Now Ride
There is good news for cyclists tonight. That is because they were not allowed on the highways during the first thirty days of the state of emergency. Under the new [...]

Animals Dying Due to Forest Fires
The forest fires in the west and south are having devastating consequences for wildlife. Panthera Belize, an organization that focuses on the future of wildcats, has been monitoring the situation.  [...]

CitCo Anticipates that Revenue Stream Will Pick Up
Now that there will be a relaxation of certain measures of the state of emergency, municipal governments are looking towards an improvement in revenue streams. Since April first, most departments [...]

Mayor Bernard Wagner Says There is No Room at City Hall for the Likes of “Yellow Man”
Even as the revenue stream at the municipal level is only trickling, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner says that he is not contemplating axing any of his staff. On Tuesday, [...]

Gang Truce Holding Up, but Police Keeping Close Watch on Other Factions
In March, a state of emergency was declared to deal with the spike in gang-related gun violence in the city. Persons affiliated with eight south side gang groups were rounded [...]

Indian Community Gives Back to Needy Families
The Indian community has been extending generosity to those families who have less and are hurting during this COVID-19 crisis. Today, the community reached out to the Port Loyola residents [...]

All China Federation of Overseas Tiashanese Makes a $100,000 Donation to Belize CitCo
Belize City residents are also benefitting from food items courtesy of the All China Federation of Overseas Tiashanese. Mayor Bernard Wagner and councillors received the supplies and distribution will begin [...]

Healthy Living: Vaccination During COVID-19
For the past few months, the only vaccine all of us have been talking or thinking about is one that could rid us of the current COVID-19 Pandemic. While that [...]

LOVE FM

Indian Community in Belize making its mark during COVID-19
The Indian Community in Belize is contributing to the vulnerable population in Belize during the COVID-19 Pandemic. They have distributed vouchers to all the Standard Bearers in Belize City to pass on to their constituents. The vouchers are a pass to receive a food package from the Water Walker Outreach Ministry in Down Town Belize City. The packages contain the necessary staples including rice, beans, flour, sugar, liquid soap, and many more items to assist families throughout the city.

Breaking Belize News

Four (4) more patients recover from COVID-19
The daily infographic prepared by the Ministry of Health and posted a short while ago […]

Two motorcycle riders injured in accident in Duck Run 3, Cayo District
Reports to BBN is that around 6:30 p.m., a motorcycle and a pickup crashed in […]

Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s update on COVID-19 Response
Today marks something of a milestone in our national campaign against COVID-19. The first state of emergency (SOE) […]

Chinese community makes food assistance donation to Belize City Council
Today, the All China Federation of Overseas Taishanese made a donation of food items and […]

Curfew violators will be arrested
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte stressed at length today that despite the relaxing of some of […]

Attorney General: “Border crossing now carries automatic jail time”
Attorney General, Michael Peyrefitte, is warning all Belizeans that crossing the border is expressly prohibited […]

“Masks now a requirement,” says Attorney General
Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, speaking on today’s session of Ask the Experts, said that under […]

Butane importers seek appeal after losing injunction case to GOB
By majority, the Belize Court of Appeal has confirmed the order of Acting Chief Justice […]

PACT provides fuel support for water bombing over Vaca Forest Reserve
This morning, the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) informed that airplanes have completed work over […]

Ministry of Human Development: No need to re-apply for food assistance but continuous assistance is not automatic
The Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation, and Poverty Alleviation informed today that approved households […]

Police detain 60 people countrywide for violation of State of Emergency
The Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) informed that 60 people were charged countrywide for offenses under […]

BEL to contribute $75,000 in food supplies to Ministry of Human Development’s food assistance program
The Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) announced today that it will provide food and care packages totaling […]

PM Barrow: Move by San Pedro Town Council is ‘absolutely improper’
Prime Minister Dean Barrow said today in a virtual interview with the press that the […]

PM Barrow: Measures relaxed following international benchmark for COVID-19 testing
Prime Minister Dean Barrow explained today that the new relaxed measures come after examining the […]

Why Belize’s testing protocol is adequate
Belize, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark, is well below 10 percent in […]

Relaxation of restrictions to reopen some private businesses
Government departments will reopen in full on Monday after the Labour Day holiday. Returning as […]

Prime Minister introduces new emergency regulations
Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that from Friday, Belize turns the corner with a new […]

Blogs

Why You Should Hungry Grouper
Looking for a great local meal? Hungry Grouper is a popular restaurant in downtown San Pedro. Well known and loved Chef Argyle is back in business and serving up his tasty cooking with a side of humor. (Pick up only till further notice.) If you are wondering, here is what getting a meal from Argyle’s looks like during covid-19. Walkup up with a bell and a limited menu of stewed or fried chicken, sweet and sour pork chop, wings popcorn shrimp, and ceviche.

April 2020’s Best Instagram Moments
Let’s take a trip down memory lane (in your camera roll) for a little wanderlust! In this time of quarantine, we reflect back at adventures we’ve been on, while looking for travel inspiration for when travel opens up again. Below, find our CC+L Top Picks of 6 Belize Instagram Moments for April 2020. We can’t wait to see more of your best IG moments!

International Sources

Why WeStay Home: Suzie Learns about Coronavirus
Beautifully explained for younger children. If you want to download PDF file just click the link.

Most US airlines will require passengers to wear face masks as they guard against coronavirus
Major U.S. airlines on Thursday said they will require travelers to wear face masks on board their planes as carriers take steps to try to protect the health of passengers and crew. Delta’s policy requires travelers to wear a mask or other face covering in the check-in area, premium lounges, boarding gate areas and on board for the whole flight, except during meals. The airline is also urging travelers to wear them in security lines and in restrooms. The policy takes effect Monday.

Air Canada anticipates return of worldwide air travel by Christmas
An Air Canada vice president suggests that by the time winter holidays roll around again, Canadians will be able to board his company's planes and fly almost anywhere in the world. But Tim Strauss said he knows that one of the biggest tasks involved in bringing air travel back to life after pandemic restrictions lift will be convincing the public it's safe to fly. "I think by Christmas you will see a significant amount of flying again," said Strauss, vice president of cargo at Air Canada. "We'll be flying to most places around the world and certainly domestically."

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