Recent Belize News, 1/21/2013 to 1/31/2013, BelizeNews.com

Short video on nassau grouper protection in Belize

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Edward Barahona charged with Murder
San Pedro police have officially charged a man of an Escalante Area of San Pedro Town for the weekend murder of 25 year old Byron Espat-Estrada. The accused killer is 33 year old Edward Barahona, and he is no stranger to Police. Espat, a boat captain of the San Pedrito Area, San Pedro Town, was stabbed multiple times inside Daddy Rock Nightclub situated off Barrier Reef Drive near the Central Park. Edwardo-Barahona-Espat-Murder According to Police, based on information they received, searched the home of Barahona, where they found a shirt with what appeared to be blood. The shirt was taken for forensic testing, and if the blood matches that of Estrada, police will be using it as part of the evidence during the trial. Barahona was detained for questioning as part of the investigation. Police also gathered statements from several witnesses who were inside the club at the night of the incident. Barahona was then taken to Belize City for a group parade where he was placed in an area with other persons and was positively identified by the witnesses, confirmed San Pedro Police.

Bistro Mestizo hosts and wins 2013’s first Saga cook-off
The Saga Humane Society in San Pedro held its first cook-off of the new year, and hosting the ever-popular event was Bistro Mestizo. The event is organized monthly to help raise money which directly assists Saga in offsetting operational expenses for the island’s only humane society. Wednesday, January 23rd saw 13 competitors, showcasing their signature appetizers served for hungry and enthusiastic attendees. Appetizers ranged from mini pizzas to brochette to fish ceviche, all tempting and delicious. For the minimal contribution of $10, those in attendance got to sample all the food and cast a vote for the favorite entry. It did not take much for attendees to cast their votes, and by the end of the night, host restaurant Bistro Mestizo won with their fish ceviche appetizer. Danny Cann placed second with his Tuscan brochette with bacon and third place was captured by Elizabeth Bertfche for her ham and cheese poppers. The proprietors of Bistro Mestizo decided to donate their prize, an MP3 player, to a cancer victim to use while travelling and recovering from treatment.

Ambergris Today

United Airlines Magazine Features Belize
Belize has received the prestigious honor of being featured in the February 2013 issue of the United Airlines in-flight magazine, Hemispheres. Belize was chosen for the “Three Perfect Days” article, and is also featured on the cover of the magazine. To capture the full authentic Belizean experience, the twelve page spread features a myriad of adventures and gives readers a peek at just what sets Belize apart; the people, culture, food, and landscapes are just a snapshot of what makes Belize the ideal tourist destination. Joe Keohane and Al Argueta take readers on a journey into the heart of Central America, Belize.

El Secreto Offers Pillow Menu in Belize
We know that you have all heard about restaurant menus for food, drinks and desserts, but have you ever come across a pillow menu? There is one resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize that is offering a pillow menu to its guests as part of its great service and excellent accommodations. El Secreto resort might be the only resort offering this service in the country. Although it might seem a bit excessive to order specific pillows, the luxury to indulge in the perfect pillow and have an even better night’s sleep is ideal. It is definitely something that you can get used to. A pillow menu is a list of available pillows provided by a hotel to guests, usually free of charge. El Secreto is the only resort we have heard that does this in Belize. The resort allows guests to make an alternative pillow choice. Some common pillow alternatives are memory foam, feather core, and hypoallergenic.

Teachers Peaceful Demonstration in Belize’s Capital City
Schools in San Pedro closed down yesterday, Tuesday, January 29, 2013, as island teachers joined fellow members of the Belize National Teachers Union in Belmopan in a national demonstration. Thousands of teachers gathered in Belmopan in the national demonstration, this is the first mass mobilization by teachers on the issue of salary adjustments and there is a potential for strike action if they are unable to reach agreement with government. At around 9:30 a.m. the parade moved off from the Belmopan Comprehensive School, heading for Independence Hill, in the capital city of Belmopan, Cayo. It was massive, as thousands of teachers sang and marched down the road in solidarity and unity of purpose; even the U.D.P. Mayor of Belmopan and retired educator Simeon Lopez came out with his flag to add his support to the movement.

Major Donations for Isla Bonita All-Star Marching Band
Since November of last year a committee of enthusiastic parents and residents has been raising funds for the Isla Bonita All Star Marching Band. This band is getting ready to attend the Governor General’s Annual Marching Band Fest on March 23 under the fine guidance of Band Master Mr. John Thompson. The band is comprised of young boys and girls from Isla Bonita Elementary, San Pedro R.C. School, Holy Cross Anglican School, St. Peters and San Pedro High School. The Committee along with members of the marching band have so far held several raffles, a radiothon, two dollar drives with music, two parade-athons with music, sales at Island Invasion, sales at the San Pedro Holiday Boat Parade, and collection of fees from all members. Recently several generous and major donations have brought the Isla Bonita All Star marching band closer to its goal of attending the Band Fest scheduled for March 23, 2013 in the city of Belmopan.

Misc Belizean Sources

VIDEO: Good advice (crime in Belize) PART 2
Apart from all the humor, this really happened. I know you guys enjoyed the the punch lines and what's not, but apart from that, this is a rough story of what actually occurred to me. Like, I said in the video, my goal is not to bash down police in general, but to shed light on the injustice that happens every single day; some police abuse their authority. I've heard, read, and know of situations like this; I never thought it would one day be me experiencing it. And if could happen to me, it can happen to you. I know I said in the video that I will take court action, however I've decided to forgive him and let God be my vindicator. ;)

Belize Grows in Popularity as Spring Break Destination
Belize is becoming increasingly popular as a new Spring break destination with more and more students wishing to mix exotic adventure with the annual ritual of sun, fun and partying, according to The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s Bryony Fleming. Ms Fleming, the Belizean eco-resort’s food and beverage manager, said that she has noticed a trend towards more adventure and activity-focussed Spring break vacations. “There has been a definite increase in enquiries about Spring Break options here in Belize and I’m sure word of mouth and social media are driving much of the interest we’re seeing in recent years,” Ms Fleming said. In the past, the most popular Spring break destinations were the beaches of Florida, especially Daytona Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, as well as South Padre Island in Texas. However, since the 1990s Mexico has become increasingly popular, with Cancun hosting huge and often raucous groups of revellers. More recently, Ms Fleming said, more and more people are discovering neighbouring Belize, with its pristine rainforests, uncrowded Caribbean coastline, hundreds of tiny islands and the Belize Great Barrier Reef, the world’s second largest. “I think we’re seeing a growing trend where younger people are looking to combine a bit of adventure and healthy activities with their partying. They’re realising that drinking and dancing are all well and good, but let’s face it, you can do that anywhere. With a Belizean Spring break, you get to let off steam and still go home having had a real adventure, something exotic and unique that will stay with you forever,” she said.

Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Adventure Company & Jungle Lodge Launches Facebook Contest
Belize Internet Marketing & Website Design announces the “Picture your Adventure in Belize” Facebook Contest for Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch, an adventure company and jungle lodge located at Mile 41.5 on the Hummingbird Highway in Belize, to serve as a way of interacting with past and potential guests in a fun and rewarding way. For the first time ever, Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch is holding the “Picture your Adventure in Belize” monthly Facebook contest which begins in February 2013 and ends on January 31, 2014 to give past and potential guests a chance to experience Belize in a fun and adventurous way that can also prove to be educational. To enter the contest, the contestant must click on the “Win” tab on our Facebook page and submit a picture of themselves at Caves Branch Jungle Lodge or of them doing something adventurous. They can ask their friends and families to “Vote” for their picture. The most popular picture for each month’s submissions wins the prize. Every month a winner will be selected. The winner will receive a 3 night’s stay at Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Jungle Lodge for two in one of the jungle suites. If upon arrival, a Belize tree house is available – the winner’s accommodations will be upgraded. The winner will receive 2 single day adventures, all meals and drinks and accommodations for the 3 nights. The contest will recognize a total of twelve winners during 2013. Winners will be featured in Blog posts and on the Facebook Page.

Mexico presents in Belize the art exhibition “Jazz and more”
The Embassy of Mexico invites the general public to the opening of the art exhibition “Jazz and more” by the Mexican artist Enrique Hernandez on January 31st, 2013 at the Institute of Mexico in Belize City. This exhibition, which includes 23 works of art, facilitates communication and mutual understanding between Belizean and Mexican artists, especially those who live and work in the South of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Enrique Hernandez is a Mexican artist who showed interest in drawing and painting since his early childhood. At the age of 16 he enrolled at the Mexican Art School of Advertising and Artistic Drawing. Hernandez worked as a designer and illustrator in various advertising agencies and participated in several collective painting exhibitions. In 1985 he moved to the city of Chetumal, Mexico and worked as a set designer, radio and TV host, producer, and director for the Quintana Roo Broadcasting Institute. He is also an entrepreneur in the field of music recording.

The artwork of Jerry Nisbet
Pencil Artwork of San Pedro Town back in 1993. How nostalgic. Artwork by Jerry Nisbet. My Dad preferred pencil art over all others. this is a familiar sight for most Belizeans. It is a picture of the "main" street San Pedro 1995 he reproduced in pencil.

Belize Senior Women’s Volleyball Team won Bronze at the World Champ Qualification Tournament
Group G, in Panama City.

St. Martin's CU and Heritage Bank Team Up
Saint Martin's Credit Union, Cayo's best choice for banking, has teamed up with all the other CU's and Heritage Bank so their debit card can be used at all the locations throughout Belize. They are calling it Network One. You can find all the locations here: http://smcubelize.com/atm-pos_service "Yes, it Works! Now all Major Credit Unions and Heritage Bank card holders are on One Network."

Rotaract Visits Octavia Waight
The Rotaract Club of San Ignacio visited the Octavia Waight Centre Sunday, where they distributed dental supplies to the older generation. Thanks, Rotaract! If you're interested in joining, they meet Wednesday nights at Hode's.

Cayo Highlighted in Hemispheres Magazine
Cayo gets an amazing write up in the latest edition of Hemispheres Magazine. Caracol, Rio Frio Cave, and MPR get a great write up. Blancaneaux Lodge is where the author stayed. The Flavors of Belize cookbook got a great mention in the article too. "The crown jewel of the Cayo region is Caracol, a sprawling ruin that once was one of the most powerful cities in the Mayan world. At its peak there were maybe 150,000 people living here, roughly half the present population of Belize, and the whole city was clad in plaster. It was mysteriously abandoned 1,200 years ago and rediscovered by a logger in 1937. As you explore, a hummingbird mistakes your orange backpack for a giant flower; a howler monkey erupts in a nearby copse, scaring you out of your wits. Skirting a coal-black fire ant hill with great care, you encounter what’s left of a middle-class Mayan residence. Under it is a tomb in which archeologists made an extraordinary discovery: skeletons with flatened foreheads and jade inlaid in their teeth."

Channel 7

FFB Will Keep Coach, Resignation Was All A Mix-Up!
On Monday, 7News told you about the troubling news circulating about Leroy Sherrier's abrupt departure as the coach of the Belize National Team. It came as a surprise to the football community because after all, he just led the National Team to its first qualification for the Gold Cup, the best performance in Belize's history. And the team was very vocal about their support for the coach, believing that a change would cause instability. The executives from the Football Federation of Belize were also aware of that issue, and while trying to mend fences with the coach, they found that electronic mischief had caused a major miscommunication. A bogus letter was sent to the FFB, which falsely claimed that Coach Sherrier owed 50,000 US dollars to the courts in the US. And then Sherrier had also agreed to have his performance reviewed. So, when he saw that FFB President Vicente arrived back in Costa Rica, and found that this letter had been sent to them, he thought the Vicente came to fire him.

Drunk Canadian Man Dies After Head Injury While In Police Custody
A Canadian man died yesterday after receiving a head injury while in the custody of Cayo police over the weekend. But the Police say 35 year old Jeffrey Donald Furgula caused his own eventually fatal head injury when he slipped and fell due to drunken-ness. Officer in charge of San Ignacio, Superintendent Ralph Moody told us that they picked up Fergula on Saturday night in the Savannah Area and he was very drunk. He told us via phone they took him into custody so that he would not be harmed or taken advantage of - but on Sunday, police say he brought harm to himself: Supt. Ralph Moody (Via Phone) - OC, San Ignacio Police "He was picked out and escorted to the San Ignacio Police Station. This male person appeared to be under alcohol. He was processed, that is to say that his items were taken away. We questioned him as to his name and nationality, but could not respond to those due to the condition of his drunken state. He was locked up in a cell on that same date, and on Sunday, January 27, 2013, at about 7 a.m., police officers saw the body of the male person who was picked up in the Savannah area, lying down in the cellblock in a motionless manner. We received information that he fell inside of the cellblock and caused injuries to his forehead. He died this morning."

Confession From Nicoli Rhys Thrown Out
Yesterday, 7News told you about Nicoli Rhys, the man who is standing trial in the Supreme Court for the brazen execution of Andre Trapp in June of 2010 in front of the Magistrate's Court. Well, there are major developments to report on tonight, because the case against him is on very unsteady ground. First, a total of 7 witnesses from the Prosecution's case have completed their testimony, out of a possible 11. That seventh witness was one of the responding officers who claimed to have heard Rhys when he allegedly gave an oral confession to being the gunman, when police arrested him near the scene. And the admissibility of that important piece of evidence was tested today before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, where Rhys took the stand and gave his version of how the events unfolded. Nowhere in his testimony did he ever admit or accept that he gave police any oral confession. In addition to that, Chief Justice Benjamin ruled that the oral confession inadmissible because the officer did not properly place Rhys under arrest, nor was he cautioned about his rights.

Into The Chiquibul Wild
Over the years we've taken you into Chiquibul more than a few times. And that's because the vast forest - more than four times the size of Barbados - is the pristine protected area where Guatemalan poachers go to gather Xate, hunt wildlife, extract timber, and now, pan for gold. We've visited many parts of this rugged hinterland, but we've never gone to the extremely remote Ceibo Chico - which is the current flashpoint area for Guatemalan gold panners. And so, on Friday, special correspondent Janelle Chanona and Cameraman Codie Norales left out before dawn to head into the wilds of Chiquibul. Tonight, they'll take us to areas where no camera has been before in part one of a two part series on the Ceibo Chico and the grueling journey to get there. Janelle Chanona reports: In any other part of Belize, a tractor is a standard piece of farm equipment. But in the Chiquibul Forest, it's a life line. The machine has turned a gruelling two day hike into an arduous six hour journey.

Lady Cop Accused Of Extorting Money And Margarita's
36 year-old Woman Police Officer Jenny Tanner, a resident of Caye Caulker, is out on bail tonight after a Canadian National accused her of extortion. According to police, Christopher John Graham, a dive master reported that on December 11, 2012, he was driving an overcrowded golf cart on Caye Caulker when he was stopped by Tanner, and asked to produce his driver's license. He said that when he told her that he had none, Tanner told him if he paid her $100 and bought her two Margarita's, she would not charge him for any wrong doings. Graham said that he agreed and gave her $100, and he then took her to a nearby restaurant and bought her the 2 drinks. After doing so, he went and reported the matter to police, and requested court action against the officer. Police investigated the report, and they charged tanner with extortion. She was arraigned today before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith. She pleaded not guilty, and was granted bail of $2,000, which she was able to meet. She must return to court on February 28.

Pedestrians Forced To Use Long-Abandoned Overpass
In the one year since the Darrel Bradley led council was elected - Belize city has gone through lots of traffic changes. It's been a tough 11 months, but also gratifying as potholed streets have been transformed into first class concrete roadways. But more than just transforming the streets, the council has been trying to regularize the flow of traffic - and that meant eliminating the pedestrian crosswalks at one of the city's most persistent bottlenecks - the Belcan roundabout - or Flag Monument, as it is also known. It's a major change for pedestrians - and Monica Bodden found out the logic behind the move: Monica Bodden Reporting For the first time since it was built 16 years ago people are using the pedestrian overpass. But that's only because they are being forced to - after the city council removed the pedestrian crosswalks when they cement-paved the first 100 yards of the northern highway.

The First Building Block Of A Belizean Baseline For DNA
There's an interesting project starting tomorrow and it's led by the National Forensic Service. They are collecting DNA samples for a project called the Belize Population Genetic Study. The project is being led by the University of North Texas and it hopes to establish a baseline for DNA markers in Belize Diana Bol of Forensic Services explained that this is the first step towards setting up a system for DNA testing: Diana Bol - National Forensic Science Services "Majority of the countries here in the region, they already have this study done. What it does is that it tells your background, to tell how rare a person's profile might be so that you can connect them in the future. However, this particular study will not be recording the information such as names, address, or anything like that to link any person. It is purely to get an entire profile of the country of Belize based on anonymity."

Belize's First Business and Investment Magazine
Over the years, you've probably heard about the Destination Belize Magazine - that's the standard bearer for all things having to do with Belize tourism. Well, now BELTRAIDE has the same sort of publication to promote trade in Belize. It's Belize's First Business and Investment Magazine called "INVEST BELIZE". The inaugural edition was launched today and we found out more about it: Michael Singh - CEO, Ministry of Trade "It's a milestone. It's something that we've been working on for probably about 8 months, and the whole concept of coming out with a publication that highlights Belize's investment opportunities, success, and giving information is something that investors can look at, perhaps when Belizean business people are traveling, government officials, they can hand out to show what Belize is all about." Damian Solano - IDEALABS, Publisher: "Invest Belize" "The magazine focuses on Belize business. I think for a long time, Belize has been promoted internationally but mainly as a tourist destination. There hasn't really been any real push in getting information out there about Belize as a business or investment destination. And that is what this magazine aims to cover. So, what you find in the magazine, in this inaugural edition, are some success stories, of some successful business ventures that are currently in Belize.

Mexican Artist With A Jones For Jazz
The Institute of Mexico is opening its first Art Exhibition for the New Year tomorrow night. It is entitled "Jazz and more" by the Mexican artist Enrique Hernandez. Hernandez lives in Chetumal and today we found out why he's got a jones for jazz. Marcelino Miranda - Press Officer, Mexican Embassy "The Mexican Embassy is inviting the public to attend the first exhibition that the embassy is presenting for this year. It's going to be on Thursday at the Institute of Mexico, and the title of the exhibition is "Jazz and More". This is by the Mexican artist, Mauricio Hernandez, who not only an artist, he is always a designer. He's presenting not only is talent, but also the different techniques that masters very well. And I think that for the general public, and especially for those who love music, this will be a wonderful opportunity to look at this splendid exhibition that includes different works of musicians, music instruments, and especially jazz. They will also see, like I said, the different techniques like oil on canvass, acrylic, and also water colors. The exhibition includes 20 different pieces, and this exhibition was previously presented in Chetumal at the Museum of Mayan Culture. And now, the Belizean public will have an opportunity to have a look at this exhibition at the Institute of Mexico in Belize. It will remain open for 2 weeks here, and then, it going to be taken to the George Price Center in Belmopan for another 2 weeks. The entrance is free, and I think that this a very good opportunity for families to bring their children, young people as well, for those who've haven't had an opportunity to enjoy an exhibit. This is going to be good. This is a good opportunity to see what artists are doing on the other side of the border."

Channel 5

National Team soccer coach back with team
Costa Rican Coach Leroy Sherrier Lewis is back in the game after less than four days off the playing field and after leading the national football team to a historic win against Nicaragua in the Copa Centro American Games. That’s the latest word that the Football Federation of Belize’s President Ruperto Vicente, handed down via [...]

Team recounts highlights of Copa Centro Americana Games
Now that the coach is back, the other big hurdle the federation is facing is one of financing. The F.F.B. has confirmed that preparation for and attendance at the Copa Centro Americana Games carried a price tag of a quarter of a million dollars and getting ready for the Gold Cup in July, will cost [...]

Minister tells N.T.U.C.B., ‘at this time finds not available’
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize and the representatives of the Belize National Teachers Union, the Public Service Union and the Association of the Public Service Senior Managers will meet with the government on Friday in Belmopan. They will sit down with Prime Minister Dean Barrow and the government’s ministerial committee which includes, Patrick [...]

Numerous voices at protest on the hill
Tuesday’s demonstration staged by the B.N.T.U., the P.S.U. and the A.P.S.S.M. was a show of force. Thousands of teachers converged on the usually quiet capital city to send a message to the powers that be—they want a salary adjustment and respect. And if the government did not quite get the message from the masses that [...]

Sudden Death: Canadian mortally injured in cell
An internal investigation has been launched by the police on the death of a Canadian national after spending a night in a holding cell in the San Ignacio Police Station. Reports are that when Jeffrey Furgala was picked up by police and taken to the station on Saturday night, he was intoxicated. He was placed [...]

Minister pulls brakes on City hall
The current Belize City Council is no doubt one of the most active councils when it comes to infrastructural development. The twenty million dollar bond it floated last year has made it possible for many street upgrades across the city. The council plans to pay the bond with the funds that it should collect from [...]

Rosewood cache found
There was a scare earlier today that another container or possibly two of rosewood had been detected up north. The report is that the containers were discovered in Carmelita, Orange Walk. When we checked, we were told that a team from the Ministry of Forestry will be deployed to Carmelita on Thursday to confirm the [...]

How do Mayas feel about ICJ Referendum?
The Referendum on whether to forward the Belize/Guatemala dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has made it necessary to examine judgments by the court involving territorial dispute. In November 2012, the ICJ ruled on a dispute involving Colombia and Nicaragua that shows the ICJ ruled to compromise, which did not settle well with [...]

Busted! Illegal immigrants caught
Two Honduran nationals are spending quality time at the Kolbe Correctional Facility after they were caught last Friday in Belize City as they were passing through on their way to the USA. The men, twenty-eight year old Manuel de Jesus Zuniga Ramirez and twenty-four year old Eliseo Romero Garcia, were apprehended by Immigration officials [...]

After police released him, he robbed a soldier
A Belize City man has been returned to the Kolbe Correctional Facility for an extended stay of seven years. Twenty-nine year old Clarence Grant, a resident of Ontario Village in the Cayo District, appeared today before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, where he was found guilty of robbery and handed his sentence. Grant was [...]

Cop extorts tourist on golf cart
A Tourism Police Officer stationed in Caye Caulker is out on bail tonight after she was charged with a single count of extortion for an incident which occurred in December, 2012. Jennie Tanner has been on interdiction since December, after Canadian Dive Master Christopher John Graham alleged that he was shaken down for a [...]

Invest Belize: new magazine for foreign investment
A glossy new publication was officially launched today. It is being published by Idea Labs and commissioned by Beltraide. Invest Belize, as it is called, is geared exclusively to attract foreign investments that has dipped significantly in the past years. At the presentation today, Minister Godwin Hulse said the first issue won’t disappoint. News Five’s [...]

Canadian Author gives lesson on bullying at Belize Elementary
The students from the Belize Elementary School this morning welcomed special guests all the way from Canada. Award winning author, Victor Lethbridge, made a special presentation to the eager students portraying signs of social issues affecting youths through story-telling. Duane Moody reports. Duane Moody, Reporting It was a day filled with fun activities for [...]

Exhibit launched at Mexican Embassy
From story-telling to the art…on Thursday, the Mexican Embassy is opening an art exhibition entitled, “Jazz and More.” The pieces displayed in canvass, acrylic and water color paintings focus on music by the Mexican artist, Enrique Hernandez. Hernandez, who has been painting for twenty-five years, is also a media personality in Chetumal. Domingo Rodriguez, [...]

LOVE FM

Prime Minister Will Meet With Unions
On Tuesday the leaders of the Belize National Teachers Union, the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, and the Public Service Union, marched with their memberships atop Independence Hill in Belmopan. Their plight is an unresolved matter over salary adjustments that ...

Woman Police Constable Charged For Extortion
Thirty-six year Jenny Tanner, a police officer attached to Caye Caulker Police Station, was charged with extortion when she appeared in court today. Tanner pleaded not guilty to the charge. Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith offered her a bail of $2,000.00 She stipulated that $500.00 of...

Seven Years In Prison For Robbing Soldier
Twenty-nine year old Clarence Grant, a fisherman of Ontario Village charged with the robbery of $300.00 from BDF Lieutenant Zane Duhaney, was sentenced to seven years today after he was found guilty of the charge. Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, who imposed the sentence, stipu...

Evangelical Churches Invite Public To Public Worshipping
The Belize Association of Evangelical Churches has issued a statement on the crime situation in Belize. The statement came after the Association’s quarterly meeting on Monday and started by denouncing what the churches called, quote, “the hideous quadruple murders tha...

Belize Makes It In United Airlines Magazine, Hemispheres
The little third world country that once couldn’t find itself on the map of the world, Belize, is now the place that everyone’s talking about. The latest milestone for the jewel is being featured in the February 2013 issue of the United Airlines in-flight magazine, &l...;

BDF Prepares For Big Events At The Weekend
And while the BDF is investigating an alleged rape case involving two of its members, it is also preparing for two big upcoming events. This weekend, the Force will hold its annual BDF Day and that follows the change of command on Friday. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Ortega w...

Investigations of Rape and Sexual Harassment Ongoing Within The Belize Defense Force
In late December Love News broke the news of a number of reports of alleged sexually-related offences made by female soldiers within the Belize Defense Force against male soldiers dating back over the past couple years. One of the alleged incidents happened only two months ag...

CTV3

A Hero's Welcome For Belize's National Team
Yesterday evening Belize welcomed back the stars of the most successful National A-Selection Team ever put together. They have been dubbed the Jaguars and it has its reason as the team made Belizeans proud at the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana by winning against a world class football team and qualifying for the Copa Oro to be played later this year. The tournament was held in San Jose Costa Rica and Belizeans all around the world ensured the watched Belize’s performance. Even though Belize placed fourth, the entire country couldn’t be prouder and that was displayed in Belize City yesterday. The team members were greeted by loud applauses and cheer and we were there to capture all the excitement. Reporter Elmer Cornejo and Cameraman Jesus Melgar filed the following report. A huge sign welcoming the National Football Team could not begin to describe how proud the country is of the performance of the jaguars at the UNCAF CentroAmericana Tournament in Costa Rica. Supporters and fans where already waiting at the Brodies parking lot in Belize City for the team that gained recognition and respect for Belize in the football world to arrive. But by 4:15 the bus carrying the stars arrived and one by one the players exited the bus. They were immediately welcomed with by a roaring applause and cheers as each one took their place at the head table in front of Belize’s media.

LOVE TV

Minister Faber says government subsidy for UB will not be reinstated
The salary adjustment being requested by teachers is not the only hot button issue on the plate for Minister Faber. The students of the University of Belize are also not happy that a government subsidy which had been in place for years was cancelled this year. The student government held a demonstration on Monday to express their view that the subsidy should be reinstated. Today Minister Faber told Love News that he heard their call loud and clear … but reinstating the subsidy is not going to happen. And while Faber is confident that a negotiated settlement of the salary adjustment for teachers and public officers will be reached, the same cannot be said about subsidy for the University of Belize. Minister Faber says on that issue, there is not much to talk about. Minister Faber told Love News that he has indicated to the UB students that he is prepared to meet with them but they have not yet responded on when they will be taking up that offer to sit down and dialogue.

Minister of Education comments on teachers demonstration
And while teachers demonstrated in Belmopan today, Cabinet was meeting just a stone’s throw away from where thousands had gathered on the plaza in front of the National Assembly building. One of the Ministers in that meeting was Education Minister Patrick Faber, who told Love News this afternoon that he supports the teachers’ right to demonstrate. Faber says he is confident that an amicable solution will be worked out. The negotiation process will continue on Friday when both sides are scheduled to meet.

Teachers hold massive demonstration in Belmopan
Thousands of teachers from all over the country today converged on the nation’s capital for a massive demonstration. Initial estimates are that over two thousand teachers traveled by bus and private vehicle for today’s event in Belmopan. The teachers demonstrated to send a strong message to government that they are serious about wanting a salary adjustment. Love TV’s Marion Ali and video journalist Brian Castillo had front row vantage point and file this report. Apart from the teachers, today’s demonstration has the support and active participation of public officers, the student government of the University of Belize and civil society groups. One such group is the Teens Belize Organization which this morning issued a statement saying, and we quote: “the Teens Belize Organization hereby ushers its full support to all the good Teachers & Public Servants of Belize. Our Teachers & Public Servants deserve better treatment, better wages, and better working environments,” end of quote.

Challenge Gobie Foundation receives donation
Special Envoy for Women and Children Kim Simplis Barrow has teamed up with partners to raise funds for the construction of an intensive pediatric ward to lessen the need for young Belizeans to have to travel abroad. Today the initiative got a major boost as Hoover Company made a donation of $50,000.00 to the Challenge Gobie Foundation to be used toward the effort. Anand Poornananda of the Hoover Company explained why the donation was made. Eva Gabourel of the Challenge Gobie Foundation received the donation and said it will go a long way in achieving their goal. On hand for the short handover ceremony was Kim Simplis Barrow, the special envoy for women and children. She said she is looking forward to the completion of the project. To get more information on the work of Challenge Gobie Foundation in its quest to raise the necessary funds for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit you can log on to their Facebook page.

Canadian companies recruiting workers in Belize
Actyl International is a company that is recruiting Belizean workers to enter the workforce in Canada. Dr. Linda West, President of the company spoke with Love News. West said after workers qualify, air fare and housing will be taken care of by the employer. She said they have received over a hundred applications since Monday. The company had previously held recruitment drive in Belize City. Actly International has its headquarters on Barbados Street in Belmopan. Dr. West said they will be accepting applications up until Friday.

Burglaries and robberies make it to the crime blotter
Thieves have targeted the Fiesta Chicken business establishment on Vernon Street in Belize City. According to a supervisor at the establishment, sometime between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning, the business located at the corner of Vernon and Sarstoon streets, was burglarized. Among the items stolen was, the cash register and a computer all to a total value of four thousand, two hundred and thirty five dollars. Meanwhile, a Ladyville man has reported that his business place in Belize City has been burglarized. The burglary is reported to have happened sometime between January eighteenth and Monday of last week. According to the fifty four year old owner, a quantity of electrical tools valued at three thousand, eight hundred and forty five dollars was stolen. Police investigations continue. There was a robbery on Monday night in Belmopan. It happened at the Sansung Restaurant on Nim Li Punit Street in the nation’s capital just before eleven thirty last night. According to police reports, two masked men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, went into the restaurant and robbed the owners and their employee cash, jewelry and phone cards, all to a total value of four thousand, four hundred and eight dollars. Police investigations continue. Police are investigating a reported case of carnal knowledge in the south. A fourteen year old girl, in the company of her mother, reported to Independence police that on Tuesday of last week, the owner of a shot in Bella Vista village was having a conversation with her when the teenager went to the establishment to purchase goods. The girl says that during the conversation, the shop keeper pulled her into his room and had sexual intercourse with her. A doctor has since certified that the girl has been carnally known. Police investigations continue.

Orange Walk police takes custody of wanted man
A man wanted by police has handed himself in to authorities in Orange Walk. Love TV’s Dalila Ical reports.

Man charged in San Pedro stabbing death
Thirty-three year old San Pedro resident Edwin Barahona, has been arraigned on a charge of murder. No plea was taken and Barona was remanded to the Hattieville prison until his next court appearance on March twenty first. Barahona is accused of the stabbing death of twenty two year old Byron Estrada on Saturday morning inside the bathroom of a nightclub in San Pedro town.

Looking for a new home, Belize City woman appeals for help
Next to health, food and clothing, having a roof over your head is perhaps the next basic need that any human being needs. One Belize City woman is in a desperate search for a new home. Love TV’s Natalie Novelo met the anxious home owner earlier this week and here is her story.

NTUCB hosts mid-morning press conference
Poised to demonstrate on Tuesday in Belmopan in response to what they term as quote, “disrespect on the part of the Government” over a salary increase, the Belize National Teachers’ Union, the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, under the umbrella National Trade Union Congress of Belize, met today with the media. Dylan Reneau, who heads the NTUCB, responded sharply to a recent press release by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which opposes a raise to the public officers. The Chamber release states in part, and we quote, “the Chamber cannot condone the idea of general Public Sector wage increase that may serve to simultaneously reward unproductive or counterproductive work. This would, in the opinion of the Chamber, be a waste of taxpayers’ funds”, unquote. Here’s Reneau’s response. President of the BNTU, Luke Palacio, said that the demonstration will be a message to the government for disrespecting them. The government, Palacio suggested, is investing resources in areas that are counterproductive, as opposed to the public service, which employs the vast majority of Belizeans. Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, Jose Castellanos, said that what the unions are asking for is not unjustified and compared the Government’s inflation figures to their figures. Palacio Palacio discouraged the demonstrators from wearing political colours or bearing banners with personal attacks.

Traffic incident on Phillip Goldson Highway leaves one man dead
There was a horrific traffic incident over the weekend on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Correspondent Arturo Cantun reports.

Former BNTU president passes away
As teachers prepare for a big demonstration on Tuesday in Belmopan, the education sector in mourning the passing of one of its stalwarts. Former school teacher, and president extraordinaire of the Belize National Teachers Union John Pinelo passed away over the weekend, following a long illness. Pinelo, a resident of San Ignacio town, contributed over four decades to the teaching profession in Belize. He rose to prominence on the national scene during his tenure as BNTU president in the 90’s. His long time friend and colleague George Frazer who served alongside Pinelo for many years, today gave Love News his recollection of Pinelo’s life in public service since the amalgamation of the two teachers union in the early 1970’s. Frazer who is himself a veteran educator, served on the BNTU executive from the mid-80’s until Ausut of last year. He recalls that it was under Pinelo’s presidency that many of the more progressive accomplishments were achieved for BNTU members. Frazer summarized his recollection of his fallen colleague by describing him as the most courageous union leader of his time. John Pinelo will be laid to rest on Wednesday following funeral service at 3 o’clock in the afternoon at the Sacred Heart Church in San Ignacio town.

UB Student Government holds protest in Belmopan
Students of the University of Belize abandoned classes today and took to the picket lines. At issue is the matter of what the UB Student Government calls burdensome registration fees. Correspondent Felix Mai was at the protest and files this report. While the UB Student government protested the discontinuation of the government subsidy which covered registration fees, the Head of the Office of Public Information for UB, Selwyn King today told Love News that registration for this semester shows an increase over last year’s numbers. This, according to the UB official, shows that the cut in the Government Subsidy is not really affecting tertiary level students.

A hero’s welcome home for Belize’s National Football Team
The red carpet was rolled out this afternoon for Belize’s national football team. The team finished fourth in the Copa Centroamericana, falling one nil to El Salvador in the third place match on Sunday. The team touched down at the Phillip Goldson International Airport late this afternoon, and Love TV’s Marion Ali and video journalist Myles Gillett were in the welcoming party. From the airport, the team traveled to the Brodies parking lot on the Phillip Goldson Highway where a press conference was held, followed by a motorcade. Love TV’s Natalie Novelo reports. Belize’s fourth place finish in the just completed Copa Centroamericana established many history making moments for Belizean football. For the first time, Belize won a match in the tournament, defeating Nicaragua by a score of two to one. It was also the first time that Belize qualified to the semi-finals in the UNCAF tournament and for the first time, a football team from Belize is heading to the Gold Cup later this year in the United States.

Equine encephalitis confirmed in Cayo district
A case of equine Encephalitis has been discovered in the Cayo District. Director of Animal Health at the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, MigueL Depaz, told Love News that the case has indeed been confirmed. Love News asked Depaz whether there were any chances of this disease getting out of control and becoming widespread. According to Depaz, since it is an equine disease, it can also be transmitted to donkeys. For further information or to report suspected cases, the general public is asked to call any of the BAHA offices. Depaz advises farmers or horse owners to monitor their animals closely and inform BAHA as soon as possible if Encephalitis is suspected so as to allow for quick response on their part. He also advises farmers with healthy horses to do the annual vaccination against the disease.

Attack leaves Orange Walk man hospitalized in Belize City
A man from the Orange Walk district is hospitalized in Belize City following an attack over the weekend. Thirty six year old Emiliano Blanco, a resident of Yo Creek village, was reportedly socializing in Orange Walk town when he was assaulted. Sotero Blanco told Love News this morning that when his younger brother did not return home on Friday, night the family went looking for him on Saturday morning, and that was when they got the bad news from the police. According to Sotero Blanco, his brother was socializing somewhere on Progress Street in Orange Walk where the attack is believed to have taken place. Today’s police report did not make any mention of this reported incident.

Stabbing death in San Pedro; burglary in Toledo
A man was stabbed to death on Saturday morning in San Pedro Town. The victim has been identified as twenty five year old Byron Estrada. According to reports, Estrada was killed inside of the bathroom at a nightclub in the town. According to reports, Estrada was viciously stabbed a total of twenty two times, mostly to the upper side of the body. This includes three stabs to the shoulder and four stabs to the neck among many others. Police were alerted about the incident around 3:15 am on Saturday and quickly responded. Estrada was transported to the San Pedro Polyclinic where he was pronounced dead on arrival. San Pedro police have detained several persons for questioning and they believe that some of the detainees will be able to assist with their ongoing investigation. Police in Toledo are investigating a burglary in Punta Gorda town. A fifty two year old Mechanic reported to police that he left his brother’s house for which he is caretaker on Tuesday and traveled to Abalone Caye. The man says that when he returned home days later, he discovered that the house was broken into. Stolen from the residence were a number of electronic items valued at fifteen thousand, US dollars. Police investigations continue. ALBERT MOODY, JR. Twenty-two year old Albert Moody Jr., a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard, was charged with attempted murder when he appeared in Court today. Moody was also charged with grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm. No plea was taken because the offences are indictable. Neither could the court offer him bail because of the nature of the offences. He was remanded into custody until March 19. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on January 15. Kent Moss reported to the police that while he was having a conversation with a friend on the verandah of his house on Raccoon Street Extension he was shot three times by a male person who came up behind him. Moss was admitted to ward at KHMH where his condition is described as stable. Seventy-two year old Frank Jaskin, a.k.a. “Big Frank Vernon”, a vagrant who failed to do 100 days of community service, a sentence he was given after he pled guilty to theft in December last year, was sent to prison today to do a sentence of two months in default of community service. Jaskin was ordered to serve the sentence by Magistrate Hettie Mae Stuart when he appeared in her court on another charge of theft. According to the allegation, Jaskin stole a sack of scrap metal a burglar bar from Sotero Tillett on January 25. The items have a total value of $250.00. Magistrate Stuart told Jaskin that she will offer him bail for the theft after he has served his two months.

VIP suggests how teachers can get their salary adjustment
The Vision Inspired by the People political party today issued a statement saying it stands in Solidarity with the Unions. Public Relations Officer Robert Lopez today told Love News that the VIP has a suggestion on how to resolve the issue. The VIP statement suggests that the threshold on the Windfall tax be reduced to sixty US dollars per barrel, and further suggested that any surplus should go to reducing the cost of Secondary and Tertiary tuitions.

PlusTV

Investigation into sudden death of Canadian national who was in police custody
A Canadian National who was detained by San Ignacio Police over the weekend died last night in Belize City at the K...

PUP congratulate teachers of Belize on their demonstration
The People’s United Party sent out a release today to congratulate the teachers of Belize on their successful demon...

Woman police officer arraigned on charge of extortion
In early December of late last year, a Canadian Dive Master reported to police that he was the victim of extortion ...

Education Minister and Student Leader disagree over letter
On Monday; Hope Amadi, the National Student Government President for the University of Belize held a protest in the...

Belize City man, convicted last year, slapped with another conviction
A Belize City man who was convicted last year was slapped with another conviction. This time he got an additional 1...

Firearm charge dismissed when Police witness fails to show up
27-year-old Henry Thomas, a resident of the Lord’s Bank was happy to learn that his case for kept firearm and ammun...

Honduran national in court on Immigration charge
A Honduran national remains behind bars over a week now after she was brought before the court on a single charge o...

Drugs recovered within Seine Bight and Placencia Village
On Tuesday January 29th a joint operation involving the Mobile Interdiction Unit and K-9 Unit; conducted an anti dr...

Teachers' Union leader wonders about the motive of the chamber of Commerce
On Friday the Chamber of Commerce and Industry sent out a release concerning the trade unions request for an increm...

Company in Belmopan offers job opportunities abroad
Finding a job in Belize is not necessarily an easy task for Belizeans. Perhaps that is why many have been lining up...

Blogs

A Cool Red-Footed Amphibian!
The Lodge at Chaa Creek located in the western dense forests of Belize is home to the fascinating Red-Footed Tree Frog scientifically known as Tlalocohyla Loquax. Our guests can observe this red-footed frog in our “Creatures of the Night” tour in which our experienced and knowledgeable naturalist guides will take them through trails populated by Ocelots, Howler Monkeys, Tarantulas, Patoos, Jaguarundis and many more intriguing rainforest residents. These are medium-sized tree frogs, with adult males 33 to 45 mm in total length and adult females 38 to 47 mm, characterized by having a yellow venter and bright red or orange coloration on the backside of the thighs and on the webbing between the fingers and toes. The upper surface is smooth, while the venter is granular. At night, the dorsal surfaces are typically yellow to reddish brown. During the day, the upper surface is yellow to pale grey, almost white. It is a relatively uncommon nocturnal species that primarily breeds in deep bodies of standing water (both permanent and temporary). Males call through with a loud “kaaack” or “wonk” note that resembles the honking of geese from floating leaves in the deepest parts of the breeding ponds. Although this species is not an explosive breeder, its reproduction peaks in July and early August and in mid-rainy season. Each clutch contains about 250 eggs and forms a large gelatinous mass that is attached to vegetation near the water surface. This species is found in humid lowlands and premontane slopes of the Atlantic versant in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Their habitat is typically around temporary ponds in Lowland Moist and Wet Forest zones and marginally in premontane Wet Forest and Rainforest.

Death Of Canadian In Belize Police Custody
On Sunday 27th January 2013 at approximately 6:30 am, San Ignacio Police checked Cell No.3 where detained person 35 year old Canadian Jeffrey Donald FURGALA was seen in the Cell lying face up and when called he was unresponsive. A physical check was made on his person when Police noticed that he had some blood in his nose and was apparently unconscious. As a result, he was transported to the San Ignacio Community Hospital for medical treatment. He was later transported to the KHMH on 27th January 2013 where at 11:00 am he was in a critical condition and was to undergo surgery. FURGALA was pronounced dead at 11:15 pm on January 29. Initial investigation indicates that FURGALA was detained on Saturday 26th January 2013 at 10:12pm in the Savannah Area San Ignacio Town, apparently under the heavy influence of alcohol and since he was unable to give an address where he resides he was kept in custody for his own safety. However, witnesses in the other cell blocks indicate that on Sunday 27th January 2013, sometime around 01:00 am they heard a loud sound which sounded like someone falling and thereafter a loud snoring coming from Cell No.3 which was where Jeffery Donald FURGALA was detained.

What Hurts the Most?
Early morning errands in town this morning gave me the excuse (not that I really need an excuse) to have breakfast at Estel’s. Having filled myself with the food and the view I very quickly visited Gekko Graphics to get some printing done (we are not buying a printer until we move in to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize). Then on to the Post Office to mail a cheque ( wonder of wonders, I received a refund (not a large amount but …) from the UK Customs and Excise for an overpayment of personal income tax) and then on to Atlantic Bank to make a withdrawal (I hate those) for upcoming bills we have to pay. Also stopped off at the BEL (Belize Electricity Limited) office in Pescador Drive to query why the apartment we are renting has been classified as Commercial. Turns out it wasn’t a mistake but that for someone who owns two or more residential properties ( as the owner that we are renting from does) only one of the properties can be categorised as Residential with the rest being Commercial . Both of his properties,however, are charged at the residential tariff. So now you know. It does pay though to check bills wherever you are but this is especially so in Belize. At around 12.45 pm Rose and I went to Pedro’s Hotel to have lunch before watching Arsenal come back from two nil down to earn a draw. Not the winning result I was hoping for but, obviously, better than losing. The lunch and the company were, as usual, exceptionally good.

Collared Aracari at Lower Dover Belize Jungle Lodge
Sometimes it is easy to get great bird photos at Lower Dover Field Station in Western Belize. Today was one of those days… It seems a family of 5 Social Toucanette’s has been flying around the hotel grounds at Lower Dover. Recently it has been common to see multiple Aracari’s perched on the nearby papaya trees, eating when the fruit is ripe.

Mennonite Gurls A'ken Cook: Pandesal..Buns frum t'Philippines
Pandesal is a popular brakefuss food n' t'Philippines. Thay air oblong fermed buns which have bee rolled n' breed crumbs befor bakin'. Thay air lite and fluffy, crustee on t'outside and soft on t'inside. N' t'Philippines thay air usual dunked n' coffee but I prefr t'ett 'um with cheez, jam, er a creem cheez spred. Thay air bes hot out uf t'ove! Freeze t'left'vers, wen reheeted thay air jes as good. Air sen has caregivers who air frum t'Philippines and thay were a'tellin me about these buns. I wuz intrigued so deecided t'gif' it a try and thay turnt out amazin! I have alreddy made 'um twicet n' one week! I brung sum t'air sen‘s trayler fer t'guys t'ry..I wasn’t shure hoe thay compard but thay assured me that thay were verr good!

Mennonite Gurls A'ken Cook: Mater Basil Tertellini Soup
Cook garlic n' earl ovr medium heat until fragrant. Stir n' broth, mater juice and maters. Brang t'a bawl. Add tertellini, reduce heat and simmr fer 10 minutes. Add basil, oregano, red peppr flakes, creem and Parmesun cheez. Brang t'a bawl and simmr fer 5 more minutes. Sprinkle each servin with dishnull grated Parmesun cheez.

International Sources

It's supposed to FIND MINES...but COULDN"T FIND THE REEF!!!!OYE
Stuck Minesweeper to Be Cut Into Pieces.

Instantly Improve Your Day With This Magical Baby Tapir
A tapir break should proooooobably be a part of every work day. Are you feeling crushed by bureaucracy? Oppressed by your mandatory dress code? Do you feel under-appreciated and ignored? Sadly, this baby tapir can't make your job less tedious or your boss more appreciative... All he can do is look at you like this. They look like this... miracularious little sepia watermelons.

Lessons from the ancient Mayans
American Indians make all manner of extravagant claims on the federal government, some of which have resulted in extravagant restitution. The modern-day Mayans make no such claims down here in Belize or Guatemala. They seem to prefer hanging out at the gas station to taking over a temple or palace. Why doesn’t a local Mayan huckster with a huckster’s gift for dramaturgy and eloquence simply take over a Mayan ruin and declare it his own? Maybe he could even collect taxes. He surely could take his case to the United Nations or the World Court. Today’s Mayans possibly have suffered a huge failure of imagination. It might have begun back in A.D. 1521 when the Mayan civilization went poof. Have modern scholars detected in the records of the ancient Mayans any signs of an awareness of mounting economic problems, of an accumulating unsustainable national debt or of entitlements leading to bankruptcy? The Mayans boasted a rich hieroglyphic language. Is there a word in old Mayan for entitlement? How in Mayan would one spell Obamacare?

Belize seeks help over drug wars
Spillover from Mexico's violent drug war is prompting the Harper government and the Canadian military to become more involved in helping defend the tiny Central American country of Belize. A series of internal reports, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, show the government has quietly increased co-operation with the Commonwealth nation, formerly known as British Honduras. Canada is providing non-lethal equipment for security services and helping with strategic planning and the training of soldiers. The documents, which all date from the spring of last year, describe the situation in Belize as deteriorating in the face of ultraviolent drug cartels that are battling not only Mexican and U.S. law enforcement, but each other as well.

Hidden treasures: Central American Gas
Gas in Central America is dominated by one major producer and consumer: Mexico. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the country has 12 trillion ft3 of reserves, mostly in the south. Proven reserves are expected to rise dramatically in the future, however, as 90% of the probable and possible reserves are located in the underexplored northern region. Because the growth in production is not keeping up with the growth in consumption, Mexico must import at least 1 billion ft3/d. Most currently comes from the US via pipeline, but the country is also increasing its LNG capacity. Belize is also home to a portion of the productive Petren Basin, known locally as the Corozal Basin. The Belize Geology and Petroleum Department is promoting exploration in the region, noting that tectonic activity has created the potential for structural closures bounded by faults and pinch outs that could be delineated through modern seismic technology. During the 1980s, exploratory wells drilled in the basin have encountered oil shows in the Yalbac and Hillbank formations, but no commercial deposits. In 2005, however, Belize based Belize Natural Energy (BNE) found 25 million bbls of oil reserves at the Spanish Lookout and Never Delay fields in the Corozal Basin. BNE subsequently constructed field and transportation infrastructure, and is currently producing 3300 bpd.

Eyeglasses Retailer America's Best Supports Restoring Vision Through Belize Donation
America's Best is proud to support Restoring Vision, a relief effort aimed at providing eyewear to regions where they are desperately needed. In conjunction with the New England College of Optometry, Restoring Vision supplies eyeglasses, usually readers and sunglasses to regions that need them. Most recently, Restoring Vision supplied more than 500 pairs of glasses to people in Belize. Restoring Vision works with eyeglass frames suppliers like America's Best to provide materials that philanthropic and medical mission trips might not otherwise have access to. In tropical climates like Belize, one of the most important supplies the mission groups can provide are sunglasses. With UV protection, sunglasses help prevent eye damage, including cataracts, caused by the sun's harmful rays. Reading glasses are also popular because they can allow older people to get the mild correction they need or can be used in place of prescription glasses if an optometrist is not available, as is the case in some remote areas.

The buzz on Belize
CNN's Holly Firfer shares the secrets to a Belize getaway.

Help us restore Belize's stunning coral reef system
The stunning Mesoamerican Reef is the largest barrier reef in the Atlantic Ocean, stretching for nearly 600 miles off Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Coastal communities depend on the reef and its fisheries for food and income, but today both are in significant decline due to overfishing, coastal development and climate change. To solve the problem, EDF is using a groundbreaking approach that could serve as a key model for putting coastal fisheries throughout the developing world on a sustainable path. Read about our work below, and then help us solve the problem by donating today.

Caribbean debt high, says Trinidad central bank governor
Gross public debt in the Caribbean was at 80 percent of gross domestic product in 2012, Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank Governor, Jwala Rambarran, said as he addressed senior finance officials from Commonwealth Caribbean countries. The officials met at a workshop on countercyclical loans for the management of exogenous shocks in small and vulnerable economies. "It is no secret that small vulnerable economies in the Caribbean have grappled with external shocks of varying magnitudes and duration over the past two decades. These shocks include a compression of aid flows, dismantling of preferential trade arrangements for sugar and bananas, interventions related to anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism," Rambarran said. He noted that many Caribbean governments have resorted to more expensive commercial borrowing to bridge their funding gaps and this, combined with the growing inability of regional governments to generate high enough primary fiscal surpluses for debt servicing, has contributed to a large public debt overhang. "Gross public debt in the Caribbean climbed rapidly from 65 percent of GDP in 1998 to a peak of almost 100 percent of GDP in 2002, before falling to a still elevated 80 percent of GDP in 2012. The accumulation of public debt was even faster in the Eastern Caribbean, moving from just over 60 percent of GDP in 1998 to a high of almost 120 percent of GDP in 2004, before falling to 95 percent of GDP in 2012," Rambarran elaborated.

9 Ways to Explore the Belize Rainforest
As lush rainforest or subtropical jungle cover 78% of the country, incredible rainforest adventures await you in Belize, just 3 hours from New York and 4 hours from Toronto. Under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, a 2001 agreement with the U.S. Government has preserved the picturesque landscape, secluded beaches, limestone caves and lagoons of the 23,000-acre Maya Mountain Marine Corridor. Toucans (Belize's national bird), macaws, peccaries, howler monkeys, spider monkeys and jaguars have been protected. Here are 9 ways to explore the rainforest. Camping Mountain Biking Cave Tubing: Floating along a river that winds through caves and rainforest on an inner tube is one of the most unique ways to view the Caves Branch Nohuch Che’en Reserve Cave Canoeing and Kayaking Jungle Horse Riding: An adventure starting at Belize Jungle Dome takes riders along riverside trails in the jungle, through teak plantations and Abseiling: One of the most memorable abseiling adventures in the Americas is at Actun Loch Tunich sink hole (Black Hole Drop). Caving: Great places for caving include Actun Tunichil Mucnal, dubbed one of the top 10 caves in the world by National Geographic and Barton Creek Cave, which was a Mayan burial site. You'll travel there by canoe. Zipline Canopy Tour Moonlight Jaguar Quest: Near Blancaneaux Lodge, you will set out with guides in search of jaguars in their natural habitat.

Belize asks Canada to help fight spillover of Mexican drug war
Spillover from Mexico's violent drug war is prompting the Harper government and the Canadian military to become more involved in helping defend the tiny, Central American country of Belize. A series of internal reports, obtained by The Canadian Press under the access to information law, show the government has quietly increased co-operation with the Commonwealth nation, formerly known as British Honduras. Canada is providing non-lethal equipment for security services and helping with strategic planning and the training of soldiers.

The Story of Bottled Water
Watch out bottled water companies. The Story of Bottled Water employs the Story of Stuff style to tell the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. Over five minutes, the film explores the bottled water industrys attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. The film concludes with a call to take back the tap, not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all. Our production partners on the bottled water film include five leading sustainability groups: Corporate Accountability International, Environmental Working Group, Food & Water Watch, Pacific Institute, and Polaris Institute.

January 30, 2013

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Hemispheres, February Issue: “Three Perfect Days In Belize”
Belize has received the prestigious honor of being featured in the February 2013 issue of the United Airlines in-flight magazine, Hemispheres. Belize was chosen for the “Three Perfect Days” article, and is also featured on the cover of the magazine. To capture the full authentic Belizean experience, the twelve page spread features a myriad of adventures and gives readers a peek at just what sets Belize apart; the people, culture, food, and landscapes are just a snapshot of what makes Belize the ideal tourist destination. Joe Keohane and Al Argueta take readers on a journey into the heart of Central America, Belize. “Day One,” the adventure begins at the Blancaneaux Lodge in the Cayo District, and later takes readers into Rio Frio Cave and then on to discover the mysteries of Caracol.

Solid Waste Management Authority providing training on Hazardous Waste
As part of the Solid Waste Management Project BL – L1006 infrastructure works, a hazardous waste cell is currently being constructed at the Mile 24 Regional Sanitary Landfill site. This cell will be used to facilitate the proper management of hazardous waste generated in the country. Hazardous wastes, if not properly managed can cause serious problems to human health and to the environment. With this in view, The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority in conjunction with the Department of Environment will be having one day training on the (Handling of Hazardous Materials and Waste) at The George Price Center for Peace on January 30, 2013. The participants are drawn from a cross section of sectors that generate and handle hazardous materials. The course will be covering the basic steps of hazardous waste management; including the characteristics a waste must contain in order for it to be accepted for final disposal in Belize’s Mile 24 Hazardous Waste Landfill. The training will be facilitated by ABConsultores Ambientales of Mexico.

Taiwan offers 24 international scholarships for Belizean students
Belize-Coat-of-ArmsThe Republic of China (Taiwan) is offering the opportunity for 24 Belizeans to study abroad. The opportunity offered by Taiwan is a goodwill gesture to the nation and its people as part of the diplomatic relationship that exists among the two countries. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a thriving nation experiencing rapid economic growth and industrialization. On October 13, 1989, Belize and Taiwan established a diplomatic relationship, and the Taiwanese Embassy has been present in the country of Belize since October 25, 1989. Since the embassy was erected Taiwanese government has taken the initiative to aid Belize in it development to meet world standards. One of the few ways that Taiwan has shown its support is by granting student in Belize scholarship to further both graduate and undergraduate studies at universities in Taiwan. Current Ambassador of Taiwan in Belize is H.E. David C. K. Wu shared his country’s intent to offer a total of 24 scholarships this year. The areas of study vary from nursing to business administration. These scholarships are given under the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) of Taiwan. The scholarships are for enrollment starting in September, 2013. Persons that receive any of the scholarships available are entitled to a round trip airfare, housing, tuition fees, credit fees, insurance, textbook costs, and a monthly allowance. Studies abroad can last from two to four years, depending on the program. Only Belizean citizens can qualify for the scholarship program.

Ambergris Today

Man Stabbed to Death Inside Island Night Club
The first murder of the year on Ambergris Caye took place this past weekend on Saturday, January 26, 2013, during the early hours of the morning at a popular night club in San Pedro Town. The vicious murder of 25-year-old Byron Estrada took place inside the restroom of Daddy Rock’s Night Club; Estrada was stabbed multiple times and succumbed to his injuries soon after. According to police reports, Byron Estrada, boat captain of San Pedrito Area, was found lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and back. Investigations revealed that Byron Estrada (Espat) was inside Daddy Rock Night Club socializing with friends and reportedly went to use the restroom where he was approached by a male person of dark complexion who allegedly inflected the said multiple injuries to Estrada.

Belize National Football Team Makes History
The Belize National Football Team, also known as the Belize Jaguars, returned to Belize on Monday, January 28, 2013, after making history in the Copa Centro Americana Games held in San Jose, Costa Rica. While the boys from Belize might not have won first place, they were the official big story of the competition, surprising regional football observers who expected them to be easily knocked out of play. The team captured the attention and hearts of many Belizeans and returned to a heroes’ welcome. The Belize Jaguars made sporting history for the nation as they qualified for 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be played in 13 host cities across the United States against 11 other nations in July. One of the more interesting stories to come out of this year's UNCAF event revolves around the Jaguars' breakout at the international level. The smallest Central American nation by a long shot, with just 300,000 inhabitants, Belize had only had four draws from eight previous tournament appearances.

Misc Belizean Sources

Victoria Peak Expedition – May 2013
This year Cayo Adventure Tours will be leading another expedition to Victoria Peak in Belize. This is an exciting adventure that is not for the fainthearted! We will be joined by 10 adventurous, “no- turning back” individuals. You could be one of them. Requirements to climb Victoria Peak Victoria Peak is the highest mountain in the range at a height of 3,675 feet and the second highest elevation in Belize.This will require a 3 to 4 day hike through the jungle!

Channel 7

Teachers Protest, By the Thousands
Today classrooms across Belize were empty and thousands of school children stayed home because their teachers went to Belmopan to send a message to the Prime Minister: they want a raise and they won't take no for an answer. 7News was there from beginning to end - and Jules Vasquez has this story. Jules Vasquez reporting The crowd started out relatively small on the green in front of Belmopan Comprehensive at 9:00 am. Perhaps there were a few hundred and it looked like the unions might be in for a disappointment: Jose Castellanos, President APSSM "We have to get the masses today and if we get the mass I think the government will understand that we mean serious business." Jules Vasquez "I am a little let down from teachers, I expect more."

Minister Responds to Protest
That's one thousand more than the BNTU President promised yesterday - and to be sure, a mighty impressive crowd - the type usually reserved for political rallies. And so with the numbers in a range that they could relate to, did the political directorate - which was in Cabinet -get the message? One of them who had a unique chance to do so was Education Minister Patrick Faber; his office at the Ministry of Education flanks the National Assembly Stairs. Today, when returning from Cabinet, he walked past the large crowd and had to go around the back to get into his office. We caught him as he was passing and asked him if he was moved by the showing:.. Jules Vasquez "The crowd out here today seems impressive to us but did you as the Minister see it and are you sufficiently impressed that they have the 100% support of the teachers?" Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education "Honestly I have not seen the crowd. I have just walked by here and I have not looked over for obvious reasons. I know that somebody might be in the crowd that gets over happy and does something that is not necessarily warranted, I must get to my office and that is the reason I'm passing here. I have to go enter through the backdoor but it's not a problem." Jules Vasquez "You may not have heard the chants this morning but the chants said that if you can't help you'll have to go."

Convicted Killer Charged For San Pedro Restroom-Stabbing Murder
Last night 7News told you about the San Pedro resident, 25 year-old Bryon Estrada Espat, who was killed inside a night club. Well tonight, the man who police believe stabbed him to death is at prison after he was taken to court today. As we reported, Espat was inside Daddy Rock Night Club on Saturday at around 4 a.m. when several men followed him inside the restroom area. One of those men, who managed to slip a knife past the security, attacked him and stabbed him 22 times to multiple areas of his body. He managed to escape his attacker briefly, and he ran into the main club area, where he collapsed. Persons inside the club tried to help him, but his injuries were too severe. He died while being transported to the San Pedro Polyclinic. Police had 3 men detained, and yesterday, one of those men, 33 year-old Edward Barahona, a resident of San Pedro, was arrested and charged with murder. He was arraigned today in Belize City before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith, who remanded him to prison until March 21. Today, relatives of Barahona contacted us to say that they don't believe that police are carrying out the investigation correctly because they've charged the wrong man. They say that Barahona is innocent of the crime he's now remanded for. Police say they found him with blood on his shoes and clothes - but have not gotten a confession.

Trial without Jury For Alleged Killer Of Andre Trapp
In June of 2010, the story made the headlines of all the media houses when Andre Trapp, the reputed leader of the Southside Gangsters was killed in front of the Magistrate's Court. That incident made a major impact because of the ruthless efficiency in which it was conducted, and more importantly, because it happened near the courthouse, the seat of the judiciary, which represents law and order. Well, the man who has since been on remand for that murder is now standing trial - but he's doing so without the benefit of a jury. Nicholi Rhys, who police caught near the scene the same day, stood before the Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin, this morning for the beginning of his trial without jury.

The Footballers Return, Re-loaded
Last night, we showed you the homecoming of the Belize National Team, but due to time constraints, we were unable to fully show you the scope of that welcome from the Belizean people. When they arrived at the Phillip Goldson Airport yesterday, it was to a proud group of family and friends who cheered loudly, hoisting flags in their honor. The team was then transported to the Brodies Parking Lot on the Phillip Goldson Highway, where they held a press conference to greet the nation and voice their gratitude for the support: Here's how they expressed themselves to the public: Deon McCauley - Forward - Belize National Team "I just want to thank everybody for being out here. It means a lot to the team to see that everybody out here supported us. It will gives us a lot of confidence and a lot of energy going into the Gold Cup and I feel that with the support of the entire country it is something big for us to be there at the Gold Cup and Guatemala and Nicaragua is not there for the first time in history it means a lot to Belize, to the people and I just want to thank everybody for the support."

Hon. Faber Calls Amadi A "Liar"
Yesterday UB President Hope Amadi had his own protest in Belmopan. The numbers weren't anywhere to those put off by the Teachers today - but considering that he had a one man press conference on Friday - he didn't do too badly. But one thing he did do was tick off the Minister of Education. That's because Amadi's entire protest and offensive is based on his declaration that the Minister never answered their letter sent on January 21st. They gave him until the 24th to answer and when he didn't, that set off their countdown to a protest which culminated yesterday. But the minister says flatly that Amadi is lying. Strong words, but Faber didn't mince them one bit today:.. Jules Vasquez "The basis of his protest yesterday was that they (student government association) wrote to you and you did not respond." Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education "That's an absolute lie. In fact I did receive their email. In fact you I think forwarded me a copy of that email to me once you received it and last Tuesday I to make sure that I made an answer, it was a very brief reply to say to them that they demand as they put in their letter to me - they are demanding that I and the Ministry re-instate the fee subsidy to which I responded that that demand cannot be met.

Faber Remembers The Heady Days of 2005, and Says "This Da No Dat!"
Amadi did speak at today's event - but we couldn't find him to comment on the Minister's firm assertion that the response was sent on time. And so while Amadi is the one presently giving trouble at UB - it wasn't too long ago that Faber himself was the one - to use a colloquial term - give "battery" at UB. Unless you're, like…5, you should remember the time in April of 2005 when police dragged Faber across the UB compound. It was historic; it was unforgettable, but Faber says it is a not a parallel event to today's protest:.. Jules Vasquez "Do you remember your days as (you are still young) a younger revolutionary?" Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education "I am told that they are making a lot of comments about my arrest in 2005, but I remind them that my arrest was not any teacher or raise of pay issue. I was trying to get into the University of Belize where Said Musa was giving a speech. I think people are confusing the issues terribly. But none the less I agree with all of those who said that I used to be that kind of person who stands up and I stood up. Let be clear on what he issues back then that were problematic apart from my trying to get into UB into a public forum that the police had try to stop me from getting into. The issues back then were the fact that public money was being siphon off - was being used to pay individual private debts. There was major issue of corruption.

Canadian Job Recruiters Love Belizean Labour
You may remember the name ACTYL. They were in Belize City in December recruiting workers to be employed at McDonald's in Western Canada. They got an overwhelming response and came back - but this time focusing on the Cayo District. This time they are broadening their search based on what they say is an excellent labour pool in Belize. They're doing interviews on Barbados Street in Belmopan - where we didn't see them lining up like they did in Belize City - but that's because the Actyl representative says they came early: Reporter "What has the turn out been like today so far?" Dr. Linda West - ACTYL Group "The turnout has been very steady. People weren't supposed to arrive until noon, everybody arrived at like 6am-7am and so we've interview the people who are supposed to be here at noon and now we are waiting for the next crowd." Reporter "How many applications would you say you got so far?" Dr. Linda West - ACTYL Group "Today about 145."

Will Teachers Pay Be Cut
Today you saw thousands of teachers marching on Belmopan. That means they weren't at their work stations - which is the classroom. So will their pay be docked? It's an issue that comes up whenever teachers strike, but rare is the politician who has the daring to take it out of their pay. Today union President Palacio said it's the rule - but he hopes their right to protest will be observed:.. Jules Vasquez "Is there any chance that the ministry or thr managements would be so bold as to make a deduction for a day?" Luke Palacio, President BNTU "Jules, we've made that known to our teachers, we've said to them that the education rules does say that if the teachers go on any type of industrial action although it specifically speaks to a strike - they may lose salary. We are hoping that that is going to be the operative term "may."" And doing some housekeeping on Teacher's issues, in fairness we also have to let them respond to the scathing release that the Chamber of Commerce sent out on Friday. As we reported, the Chamber frowned on an across the board wage increase and said it would only favour quote, "properly evaluated increases (for) hardworking public servants." Jules Vasquez unmasked the coded language and asked the unions for their response yesterday:..

Police Target The Peninsula
Police have conducted another special operation on the Placencia Peninsula targeting known dealers - but seemd to only come up with their stash spots. Between 2:30 and 5:00 this afternoon, the Special Branch along with Placencia police, members of the Mobile Interdiction Unit and the K-9 Unit conducted an Anti-drugs operation in Seine Bight and Placencia. The team searched the homes of two construction workers of Seine Bight and found nothing. But a further search in an adjoining lot -led to the discovery of 24.5 grams of what police say is "Hydro" weed which was deposited as Found Property. Police searched another empty lot next to a known operator which led police to the discovery of 25.6 grams of Hydro weed and 58 small bags containing a total of 25.6 grams of cocaine. All items were deposited as Found Property.

Channel 5

Thousands of union members demonstrate in Belize’s Capital
Less than two weeks ago, teachers from all ten B.N.T.U. branches countrywide voted by secret ballot to participate in a national demonstration. The decision was almost unanimous and it would garner the support of the wider national Trade Union Congress of Belize. This morning as cabinet met, teachers from every corner of the country converged [...]

B.N.T.U., N.T.U.C.B. and APSSM rally at the Assembly Building
After marching on the ring road, the gigantic crowd headed to Independence Hill for a three hour rally of speeches by branch representatives and other union leaders. Their cry was for salary adjustments and respect from the government. Police stood on guard throughout the event, but the demonstration started and ended peacefully. The unions now [...]

Can G.O.B. find cash for salary adjustments?
Over six hundred and thirty-nine persons voted on our last question on whether government was attempting to union bust. An overwhelming seventy percent voted yes and thirty percent said no. Tonight’s question also relates to the teachers and public officers. It is: Do you think government can find the money to provide salary adjustments to [...]

Mass shutdown of schools on protest day
While all the action was in Belmopan, the city was relatively quiet. An overwhelming number of teachers answered the B.N.T.U.’s call for action. Here in the City, only a few schools kept their doors open. Duane Moody has that story. Therese Roches, Principal, All Saints Primary School “We had fifty percent of our staff [...]

APSSM past president says P.M. has power to make changes
While teachers and the B.N.T.U. took center stage through sheer numbers, the demonstration had the explicit support of the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers. Leaders of those two unions were clear that while their members would not come out in mass, thus triggering a shutdown of public offices, representatives [...]

First murder trial without jury in session
The first murder trial without jury kicked off today before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. Twenty-two year old Nicolai Rhys, the son of a police corporal, is accused of murdering reputed gangster, Andre Trapp on the morning of June tenth, 2010. After Trapp was killed; a green vehicle was seen speeding away and Special Constable Charles [...]

Suspect charged for murder of San Pedro resident
On Saturday, twenty-five year old San Pedro boat captain, Byron Estrada, was butchered inside a popular nightclub on the island. Estrada was stabbed twenty-two times inside the bathroom of Daddy Rock night club and managed to stumble to the bar for assistance. He was taken to the San Pedro Polyclinic, but succumbed to his [...]

Faber redux: Minister’s forgotten protest
As far as the union negotiations go, the buck stops at Prime Minister Dean Barrow, but the man in the hot seat is Minister of Education, Patrick Faber. His name came up repeatedly in the chanting by union members in the demonstration, and they were not exactly chants of praise. Faber’s position today is markedly [...]

Education Minister denied UB student government claims
Following that trip down memory lane, Minister Faber also spoke about a more recent incident at the national university, U.B. The University of Belize’s student government led a protest on Monday through the streets of Belmopan and it ended at the steps of the assembly building. Hope Amadi, the student government president, led about one [...]

Guatemalan Foreign Ministry investigation; President says country at a disadvantage in taking claim to ICJ
The Guatemalan press is today reporting that President Otto Perez Molina has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate who should have had Guatemalan’s best interest at heart, but dropped the ball in respect of the upcoming October referendum. Perez Molina made the declaration following a meeting between Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and [...]

APAMO condemns violence at Ya’axché Conservation Trust office
Last week, the Minister of Forestry, Lisel Alamilla, disclosed that someone had shot at the offices of the Ya’axche Conservation Trust in Golden Stream. Today, the Association of Protected Areas Management Organization joined the minister in condemning the violence. APAMO expressed disappointment that anyone would attack the organization which is dedicated to achieving conservation goals [...]

Dad pleads for help with daughter’s leukemia
Times are tough for a lot of people and many can ill afford medical attention. From time to time, they turn to the media to get exposure to their cause. Tonight, a father pleads for financial assistance for his young daughter, Sandy Jimenez, who is afflicted with leukemia. Angel Manuel Meza, Needs Help for [...]

LOVE FM

Minister Faber Speaks On UB Subsidy Cut
The salary adjustment being requested by teachers is not the only hot button issue on the plate for Minister Faber. The students of the University of Belize are also not happy that a government subsidy which had been in place for years was cancelled this year. The student governm...

Unions Demonstrate At The Nation's Capital For Salary Increase
The throngs that turned out to demonstration on Independence Hill against the Ministry of Education, and by extension, the government, numbered anywhere from between three and five thousand, by approximation. Heralded by a January 10th meeting with government negotiators that yie...

Police News
A Ladyville man has reported that his business place in Belize City has been burglarized. The burglary is reported to have happened sometime between January eighteenth and Monday of last week. According to the fifty four year old owner, a quantity of electrical tools valued...

Case of Carnal Knowledge Reported in Southern Belize
Police are investigating a reported case of carnal knowledge in the south. A fourteen year old girl, in the company of her mother, reported to Independence police that on Tuesday of last week, the owner of a shot in Bella Vista village was having a conversation with her when the ...

Business Establishment Burglarized in Belize City
Thieves have targeted the Fiesta Chicken business establishment on Vernon Street in Belize City. According to a supervisor at the establishment, sometime between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning, the business located at the corner of Vernon and Sarstoon streets, was burglari...

San Pedro Resident Charged For A Weekend Murder
Thirty-three year old Edward Barahona, a resident of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, was charged with the murder of Byron Estrada when he appeared in court today. No plea was taken because the offence is indictable. Barahona was remanded into custody until March 21. Estrada, a resident...

LOVE TV

Cacao growers meet in Punta Gorda town
The nineteenth annual general meeting of the Toledo Cacao Growers Association was held on Saturday. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports.

National football team feted on their return to Belize
The Belize National Football team, just back from the COPA CENTROAMERICANA tournament is being feted at this hour in Belize City. Love TV’s Natalie Novelo reports.

NTUCB holds mid-morning press conference
Poised to demonstrate on Tuesday in Belmopan in response to what they term as quote, “disrespect on the part of the Government” over a salary increase, the Belize National Teachers’ Union, the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, under the umbrella National Trade Union Congress of Belize, met today with the media. Dylan Reneau, who heads the NTUCB, responded sharply to a recent press release by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which opposes a raise to the public officers. The Chamber release states in part, and we quote, “the Chamber cannot condone the idea of general Public Sector wage increase that may serve to simultaneously reward unproductive or counterproductive work. This would, in the opinion of the Chamber, be a waste of taxpayers’ funds”, unquote. Here’s Reneau’s response. President of the BNTU, Luke Palacio, said that the demonstration will be a message to the government for disrespecting them. The government, Palacio suggested, is investing resources in areas that are counterproductive, as opposed to the public service, which employs the vast majority of Belizeans. Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, Jose Castellanos, said that what the unions are asking for is not unjustified and compared the Government’s inflation figures to their figures. Palacio Palacio discouraged the demonstrators from wearing political colours or bearing banners with personal attacks.

Amandala

THE BELIZEAN MONARCHY: Editorial
The British have done a number on us all through these years. It started, of course, when they kidnapped us from West Africa and shipped our ancestors here to cut logwood and mahogany for them. The profits were sent to London, and the Belize settlement was absolutely neglected where infrastructure and institutions were concerned. After World War II, Belizeans, like colonial subjects all around the world, seized the opportunity to begin fighting for self-government and independence. “The opportunity” derived from the fact that the white supremacist European states had gone to war with each other in 1939, for the second time in two decades, for the prize of world hegemony. Following the lead of Ghana and Nigeria in West Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados moved to independence in the Caribbean. Bermuda and the Cayman Islands did not, for their own reasons. Belize was in a unique situation because of a serious territorial claim by its Central American neighbor to the west – Guatemala. So, Belize’s independence was delayed for 17 years after self-government in 1964. The British could have dealt with the Guatemalan problem, but they were so much more powerful than the Guatemalans that they had chosen over the decades to ignore Guatemalan complaints. Eventually, after the Americans, in line with their 1823 Monroe Doctrine, became involved in the Anglo/Guatemalan dispute as interested parties in 1962, the British, in cahoots with their Western Hemisphere cousins, began to support proposals which would have compromised the sovereignty of Belize and make Belizeans subordinate to Guatemalans.

SAN PEDRO MAN, 25, STABBED TO DEATH IN NIGHT CLUB
Police say he was stabbed 22 times. San Pedro police responded to a call at 3:39 a.m. on Saturday, January 26, and upon arrival at Daddy Rock Night Club, they saw the night club security guards and other persons trying to get 25-year-old Byron Estrada into a truck. Officer Commanding, Supt. Luis Castellanos, said that Estrada was stabbed about 22 times. Estrada sustained multiple stab wounds to his neck, chest, back and right hand, and later succumbed to his injuries while being attended to at the San Pedro Polyclinic. According to witnesses, Estrada, who is a Belizean boat captain of the San Pedrito area in San Pedro, was seen going to the restroom inside the club. A man described as being dark-skinned, with braided hair and wearing a green shirt, followed Estrada into the restroom. Estrada later came stumbling out of the restroom towards the bar. Persons inside the club decided to turn on the lights when they realized that Estrada was bleeding.

BELIZE CELEBRATES OUR NATIONAL TEAM HEROES
The TACA International Airlines flight carrying Belize’s National “A” Team touched down on schedule around 3:42 p.m. this afternoon at the Philip Goldson International Airport, to begin a warm Belizean welcome for our football heroes who made history a few days ago at the Copa Centroamericana in Costa Rica. We did not win the tournament, or come in second, or even third. Belize came in fourth, but in so doing, we made two major milestones, winning our first ever game in the Copa, and in the process qualifying for the first time ever to the Gold Cup tournament later this year in the U.S.A. Five of the seven Central American countries qualify to the Gold Cup, and Belize was fourth in the tournament, ahead of Guatemala, Panama and Nicaragua. Following an energetic greeting from fans and relatives at the P.G.I.A., Russel’s bus transported the team to the Brodies Parking Lot on the outskirts of Belize City, where a short “hyped up” press conference was held, with Love FM’s Terry Gordon doing the M.C. honors. A few players – Deon McCaulay, Woodrow West, captain Dalton Eiley, Trevor Lennon and sub-captain Elroy Smith then got a chance to express their appreciation to the many fans gathered there to welcome them home.

WILL COACH SHERRIER LEWIS RETURN TO THE NATIONAL TEAM?
The Gold Cup is a major challenge, and indications are that Belize’s National Team coach Le Roy Sherrier Lewis is not convinced that the FFB’s National Team Committee is ready to make the necessary inputs and adjustments needed for him to take the team to the next level, a requirement if we are to make an impact in the Gold Cup tournament which is only five months away. The vibes we got from the players is that there is no turning back. We must work things out with coach Sherrier Lewis, who has demonstrated his commitment to excellence and whose strategic plan has placed the National Team program on the road to success. Unfortunately, we were not able to get a first hand explanation from coach Sherrier Lewis of the concerns that prompted him to reportedly announce his relinquishing of the coaching job, and opt to remain with his family in Costa Rica We asked FFB President Ruperto Vicente to comment on the situation regarding the tenure of coach Sherrrier Lewis in light of reports of his leaving the post. The President’s reply was, “I want the coach to continue the program. I’m waiting for him to respond to us; but I will discuss the details of the coach’s situation on Wednesday during our press conference. But certainly, we want the coach back.”

FROM THE PUBLISHER
If you took this exact same Belize football selection and made Manuel Bilches the coach again, we would return to getting five and six from these Central American powerhouses. Because I believe that, the first thing I would say is that Ruperto Vicente and his team of FFB officials made a fabulous choice when they brought back Leroy Sherrier Lewis from Costa Rica to coach our selection. Remember, some years ago Sherrier Lewis had achieved the most sensational result in the modern era of Belize when he brought us back from a 2-0 deficit and would have beaten Guatemala 3-2, but for a late and weak penalty call against us. For that success, or better put, in the immediate aftermath of that success, he was fired by Dr. Bertie Chimilio, who was then in charge of the FFB. It didn’t make any sense then, and it makes even less sense now, when we’ve seen what Sherrier Lewis-coached teams can do. Before I continue, I would say that between now and July, when the Belize selection flies to the Gold Cup in the United States, we have a lot of work to do. FFB officials like Luis Peña and Marlon Kuylen will have to do important fund-raising, because everything costs money, especially training, nutrition, and medical attention. It is the management structure which is the constant in championship teams: the playing personnel is a changing dynamic, even during the course of a game itself.

Letters: BOAT OWNER AND CAPTAIN BEHAVED “CRIMINALLY”
Dear Editor, I believe that no one wants to be the victim of incompetence. Incompetence can be inconvenient; incompetence can be annoying; incompetence can be dangerous. Incompetence on the sea is reprehensible. I wish to relate an example of incompetence on the sea. On the morning of Thursday, January 17, the Administrator of San Pedro Roman Catholic Elementary School arranged for a boat to take teachers to a Belize Teachers Union meeting in Belize City. The boat was incompetently serviced. With over thirty passengers aboard, it stalled five times on the trip from San Pedro to Belize City. The teachers were to return to San Pedro at 4:30 pm. When they arrived at the dock, a crew member was asked if this was the same boat that brought them to Belize City. The answer was affirmative. The next question was: Has the crew spent the afternoon repairing the engine? The answer was, “No.” Barely fifteen minutes underway – near St. George’s Caye – the boat’s motor quit for good. The thirty or so passengers were left adrift in a very rough sea and approaching darkness. Waves were splashing over the gunnels, and I called the Coast Guard. After several questions, the Coast Guardsman asked to speak to the captain. I handed the captain my phone, and he angrily declared that he would not talk to the Coast Guard. An administrator from RC Elementary took my phone, and speaking into is said, “There is no problem here. A boat is on the way.”

Letters: 17 DEGREES NORTH, 89 DEGREES WEST
Dear Editor, I don’t attempt to solve any of the country’s problems with this one letter to Amandala, for which, by the way, I have much respect on account of its numerous hard-hitting commentaries, editorials and synopses of political goings-on in our little neck of the woods. Nor do I aspire to become some sort of modern-day freedom fighter/blogger who thrives to “save his country before he loses it” through overt media-based attacks that subvert the powers that be. Not me, rather I simply love reading the news, it’s my literary staple. In fact, apart from textbooks, it’s the only thing I actually read, which must fly in the face of every high school literature teacher who tells her students the only way to be successful in this world is to become worldly by reading lengthy novels. The printed mass media, in my opinion, is far more educational and oftentimes entertaining in its own right than bound material thicker than a centimeter. Local early morning call-in shows also typically reflect the same content covered in the printed press, albeit to varying degrees of self-righteous know-it-all-ism. At the tip of the spear, however, and without any brown-nosing on my part, is the WUB, hands down. On camera, the son of your Publisher is an intelligent and moral man, though I can’t speak to his character off camera. Nonetheless, I only wish he would contact his “journalist” counterparts on Coney Drive and let them know that endangering the well-being of two innocent young witnesses to their father’s murder, while simultaneously prejudicing the outcome of a future criminal hearing, would warrant their immediate termination without benefits if this were a country in the industrialized world. But it’s not, and what a fool am I to expect anything better, when the main competitor for the monopoly on the 6:30 broadcast is quick to hypothesize that murders in the old capital are now being driven by a deepening divide between ethnic groups. Reporting the news means only reporting the facts, not your opinions!

INTRUDERS KILL FATHER IN HIS HOME, IN FRONT OF 2 YOUNG DAUGHTERS
Two weeks after the house of Said Musa, former People’s United Party Leader and former Prime Minister, was shot up in the City, Steven Valencia, 46, a PUP activist of Santa Elena, Cayo, and the father of two little girls, was shot to death in the bedroom of his home at about 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, January, 24. Thieves gained entry into his house and shot him in the neck, back and chest. He was taken to the San Ignacio Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police say that Valencia, who was at home with his two young daughters, 4 and 6 years respectively, heard a noise coming from behind his house, and at the same time, the back door was stomped open and two unmasked men entered the house, one of whom was armed with a shotgun. They ordered him to lie on the floor, demanded money, and then shot him. When neighbors, who were alerted by the gunshots, began flashing their lights at the house, the robbers ran out of the house and escaped.

CLINTON ROCA, 28, CHARGED FOR RAPING BOY, 14, MULTIPLE TIMES
Magistrate offered bail of $5,000 and two sureties of $2,500 each Today, Clinton Roca, 28, a dispatcher of Willow’s Bank Village, was charged with three counts of an unnatural crime when he appeared before Magistrate Dale Cayetano. Roca is accused of engaging in the lewd acts with a male minor, 14, on three separate occasions while the minor was staying at his house. According to the report, the minor told police that Roca, one day in January 2012, started to touch his penis from outside his pants. The child said that he went outside and Roca followed him, where he continued to touch him and eventually pushed him to the ground and had anal sex with him. After doing so, Roca, according to the child, told him that if he told anyone about what had happened, he, Roca, would kill his family.

BELIZEANS GIVE JAGUARS HEROES’ WELCOME!
This afternoon, grateful fans met Belize’s national football team at the Philip Goldson International Airport to celebrate the team’s historic accomplishment in the Copa Centroamericana tournament just concluded in host country Costa Rica. Belize, for the first time ever in the tournament, won a match; lost three matches very respectably, 1-0; and drew against our archrival, Guatemala; and again, for the first time in our history, won a slot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held in July in the United States. We were “the buzz” at a tournament that featured several countries that have played in the World Cup. The “bird” touched down at the PGIA at approximately 3:42, and after interviews with the local media, our boys headed by bus for the Brodies Parking Lot at Mile 2 ½ on the Philip Goldson Highway, where they intermingled with their many fans, while their remarkable accomplishments in Costa Rica were “hyped up.” Thereafter, the team was taken on a motorcade through the city, with fans lining the route, which included Central American Boulevard, Cemetery Road and Albert Street, ending at Bird’s Isle, where the team was feted, after playing five grueling games in nine days.

IT’S ON! TEACHERS, PUBLIC OFFICERS “FLEX” TOMORROW IN BELMOPAN!
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) and the Joint Negotiating Team (JNT) held a press conference today, Monday, to restate their position on their entitlement to salary adjustments, and to make known the plight of public service workers and teachers as they make an effort to move forward in their negotiations with Government. The union presidents at the press conference made it clear that they are not asking the government for a raise, but rather a “salary adjustment” in relation to the cost of living. Immediate past president for the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM), George Myvette, said that there have been no less than 12 meetings over the past five years with government officials concerning the salary adjustment, among other important matters concerning the unions. Myvette said that the unions have done nothing but negotiate in good faith, yet not all of their requests have been dealt with in a manner that’s been favourable to them. He said that the negotiations are still ongoing, but the unions will go on with their demonstration in the city of Belmopan tomorrow, Tuesday, to show Government that they are serious. “We believe that we are at a stage where we have to demonstrate, that this is a national imperative that public officers and teachers are being heard, and that something is worked out that would benefit public workers and teachers,” he said.

OF THIS AND THAT
When I played football at the highest level in Belize, at that time first division, fans used to crowd the chain-link fence in rows 3 to 4 deep, the stands were full, and younger and more athletic fans used to climb the trees in the MCC Square Garden to see our games, and I’m not talking about international matches. I’m talking about regular Sunday games. Soon after that worthless Dr. Bertie Chimilio took over in the late nineties, football began a nosedive, and the fans stayed away in droves, in fact, by the hundreds. Chimilio demonstrably became a dictator, and, some believe, a madman. After many years of much pain and embarrassment in our international games, we engaged in “root canal” work and Chimilio was booted out, some believe, by the mercy of God. Ruperto Vicente, a former player and referee, took over. I have some issues with Ruperto because of what he didn’t do when he took over, but what I wish to say here is that I believe that he is as much a part of our success in Costa Rica as Leroy Sherrier Lewis, the coach; world-class striker Deon McCaulay; goalscorer Trevor Lennon; the incomparable Woodrow West, our goalkeeper; and all the other top-notch players who comprise our national team, and who fought magnificently against stronger teams.

WOMAN ACCUSED OF KILLING BDF CORPORAL TO STAND TRIAL IN THE SUPREME COURT
Marsha Reid, 35, of Racoon Street Extension, accused of killing her ex-boyfriend, has been ordered to stand trial for murder in the Southern Session of the Supreme Court. Reid, who is presently on remand, was returned to her cell at the jail, after she was taken to the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, January 23, where she was committed to stand trial for the capital offense. Also, all 40 witnesses were committed to attend the Supreme Court to testify for the Crown. Police contend that Reid travelled to Dangriga from Belize City to the home of her ex-boyfriend, BDF corporal Donovan Castillo, 37, about 6:30 a.m. on Monday, May 23, 2012, entered his room while he was sleeping, slashed his throat , cut his head, then stabbed him in the chest and abdomen .

The Reporter

Daring daylight execution of Lebanese businessman
Lebanese Belizean businessman, Majdi Agha, 50, was executed in front of his wife and young child, in front of their home in Buttonwood Bay around 8:50 a.m., on Tuesday. He and his family had just returned home, when a masked gunman ambushed him from inside his yard. Police found Agha’s lifeless body near his gate, and they reported that his body bore several apparent bullet wounds. A construction worker in the neighborhood, said he heard about five gunshots. He also heard Agha’s wife screaming. He said, “It looks like she couldn’t speak; she was making noise as a sign; she was pointing towards the fence. I looked and saw the vehicle and a baby and I saw the man lying down on the side.”

Combating Crime One on one with ACP Miguel Segura
Assistant Commissioner of Police Miguel Segura is the new Officer Commanding Eastern Division, or OCED. That makes him the Belize District’s top cop holding overall responsibility for the Rural and Coastal formations. He is assisted in his command by two veteran officers, Senior Superintendents Desiree Phillips and Marlon Allen, but the position is a big one with major responsibilities.

FEAR!
It’s the strangest thing. I’m sitting here on a Monday morning and from what I’ve been able to gather the weekend was murder free in the city. I’m not kidding. Hard to believe right? There’s no news flash on Facebook; no gossiping and sharing the latest gory details; no weeping and moaning or gnashing of teeth as we shake our collective heads at the state of affairs in the city and reminisce about the days when the only murders to report would be after drunken bar fights over some much-in-demand babe.

Long-term aspirin blindness link
People who regularly take aspirin for many years, such as those with heart problems, are more likely to develop a form of blindness, researchers say. A study on 2,389 people, in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, showed aspirin takers have twice the risk of “wet” age-related macular degeneration.

Quadruple helix DNA seen in human cells
Cambridge University scientists say they have seen four-stranded DNA at work in human cells for the first time. The famous “molecule of life”, which carries our genetic code, is more familiar to us as a double helix. But researchers tell the journal Nature Chemistry that the “quadruple helix” is also present in our cells, and in ways that might possibly relate to cancer.

Wesley College girls lead high schools football
The undefeated girls of Wesley College girls are leading the Belize District High Schools Football Competition, as they triumphed 1-0 over the girls of Anglican Cathedral College on Monday. They scored a 1-0 victory over the girls of St. Catherine’s Academy at the M.C.C. grounds last Friday, January 18.

Excelsior boys lead high schools football
The undefeated boys of Excelsior High School enjoyed their third victory of the Belize District High Schools Football Competition, while the boys of Wesley College recovered from a 1-5 loss to Excelsior to post a win and a draw at the M.C.C. Grounds last Friday, January 18. Excelsior High School boys enjoyed a 4-1 victory over the boys of Anglican Cathedral College in a back-match on Saturday morning. Tyrone Gabriel and Kareem “Ton-ton” Flowers led the Excelsior offensive, supported by Enfield Martinez and Stefan “World” Diego on the wings, and James “Soonky” Fitzgibbons and Alex Ferguson at midfield.

GOB officially launches ICJ educational campaign
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially launched its public education campaign on whether or not the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute should be decided by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Superbond renegotiations almost over!
Savings , not “new money” to spend, PM Barrow says. The Government of Belize and holders of Belize’s “superbond” have agreed on the general economic terms for a restructured bond agreement, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced Monday afternoon at a press conference at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel. According to Barrow, the new terms would result in cash flow savings of US$11 million for 2012, US$33 million for 2013, US $118 million for the five-year period from 2013 to 2017, and US$247 million for ten-year period of 2013 to 2022. Read More

BNTU versus GOB
The negotiation impasse over salary adjustment between the Government of Belize and the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) is leading to a massive showdown next Tuesday, when teachers plan to converge on Belmopan for a national day of protest. The unions are seeking a 30 percent salary adjustment over a three-year period, but the government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow is insisting that government cannot find the money for the salary adjustment at this time.

Belize’s historic 1st win at Copa Centroamericana
Not even a 4.0 on the Richter scale tremor felt in Costa Rica a half hour before Belize’s match with Nicaragua could prepare Belizean football fans, for the earth-shaking result: Belize’s first ever victory in UNCAF Copa Centroamericana at the National Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica on Tuesday, January 22.

Foreign Minister to COLA: “Take it to court”
Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) has argued that the process which brought GOB to preparing for a referendum on going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is unconstitutional. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington says that only a court of law can make that call. At the media sensitization forum for the ICJ Educational campaign held at the Radisson Hotel on Wednesday, the Minister explained that he had never considered the argument.

Taiwan gives Santa Elena school solar panels
The El Progresso Government School in Santa Elena Town, Cayo, will now have a reliable source of constant electricity supply, thanks to the kind donation of two sets of solar panels and heavy-duty storage batteries, provided by the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan.

$1.5 million could save southern rice industry
The rice production in the south experienced a record-breaking drop for the 2012-2013 crop, but the chairman of the Rice, Beans and Corn Association, Dennis Usher, says one “soft loan” from government is all that is needed to save the industry.

Opposition says Citco’s new tax measure might be illegal
Opposition Leader, Francis Fonseca, said the Belize City Council’s plan to deny drivers license to residents who owe certain taxes might very well be illegal. Fonseca said to The Reporter last Wednesday, “there are some lawyers that I have already spoken to that are of the view that it is illegal and unlawful.” He opted to reserve his personal judgment on the issue, saying he prefers to get a legal opinion from the PUP’s legal advisor first.

CDB contributes US $2 million to Belize Education
“Change we must and change we can!” avowed Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Hon. Patrick Faber as he launched his ministry’s five-year Belize Education Sector Reform Project, with US$2 million in funding from the Caribbean Development Bank.

Blogs

A Tale of Five Cities: Moxviquil Reserve Hike
After checking out all the gorgeous plant specimens in the Orquideas Moxviquil botanical garden, it was time to take a woodland hike. There's a 2.5 km loop trail (though it felt longer!) beginning right behind the garden and leading up to a wonderful view of San Cristobal. We had read about this hike in Tripadvisor and were looking forward to locating the trail. But first, a few photos of our initial attempt to locate the orchid garden, which I mentioned in the previous post. When we saw the first sign for the preserve, we thought we needed to hike on the trail by the sign to get to the garden. So, we enjoyed a short hike into the forest before we realized that we needed to turn back to the road and continue along a bit farther to find the garden. Now, onto the trail from the back of the orchid garden. We had it completely to ourselves and did not encounter another hiker. Perfect! The trailhead behind the "artsy outhouses" featured in our last post Great view of San Cristobal as we climbed the trail There were signs like this all along the trail

Stars And Stripes Forever: Obama's Immigration Plan
For those of you on the right who think that they are just going to hand out welfare checks to these people, you are mistaken. This is a path to citizenship not a golden ticket, they still have to earn their rights. Even if it did become easier for them to get a government handout I don't think many of them would take it. Illegal immigrants often work twice as hard as many Americans and they are willing to do jobs that most Americans won't. I believe this will help the country. These people believe in the American Dream, they don't have the opportunities in their country and that is why they are here. With immigration reform making this path accessible, their money will go into the system. Between taxes and spending money on cars and houses they will only help the economy. At this moment, it looks like there's a genuine desire on the part of Republicans and Democrats to get this done. And that's very encouraging news for Belizeans across America to get out of the shadows into the light.

Godspeed, Mr. Pinelo
John Pinelo, a brilliant teacher and mentor of 1000's, has passed away. His funeral is tomorrow at 3:00pm at the Sacred Heart Church. His wake is this evening. "John Pinelo career teacher, principal and former BNTU President passed away at his home in San Ignacio this weekend at the age of 64. He had been battling cancer for some years. His family tells us Mr. John Pinelo was instrumental in molding the lives of many young Belizeans serving as either a teacher or principal for many of Belize's Schools including: Santa Elena R.C., Roaring Creek R.C., Sacred Heart Primary, Bullet Tree Falls R.C., Saint Francis Xavier R.C., Succotz R.C. and Sacred Heart College."

Galen's Garifuna Culture Course
Galen has a great video out highlighting their Garifuna Culture Course. They show some drumming, dancing, and have some decent interviews with students. The Galen Eagle Band always puts on a great show. You'll be able to see them on February 2nd at the ATLIB Basketball competition at Cayo's Falcon Field when Sacred Heart Junior College hosts the games.

Jaguars Return to Belize
Jaguars National Team Back on Home Soil - Press Conference in Belize City Jan 28th 2013

Tacos on the Go
Just in time for Superbowl 2013, an easy snack that is sure to please. Create any taco topping you like and just add to a bag of chips. Easy and tasty. Clean up is a cinch.

If I Had a Hammer
It actually felt a bit like being back at work this morning and -not that I hanker for this kind of feeling on a full-time basis – I quite enjoyed it. It involved some the use of communication skills to try to make use of the return leg of the flights we booked with United Airlines when we moved to Ambergris Caye, Belize last May. We had managed to accumulate enough Mileage Plus rewards to fly Business Class with the return flights ( which we had no immediate plans to make use of) being Economy. Our plan was ( hopefully still is) to convert the ‘return’ tickets to allow us to fly to Dallas for our ‘home fixtures and fittings’ inspection trip and book ( and pay for obviously) the return flights. I started off by ‘phoning the United Airlines’ office in Belize City and managed to get a response after a couple of ‘no answer’ attempts. I ran through what I want to do but was dismayed when the chap told me that we can only use the tickets for the booked route i.e.from Belize via Houston to London. No good for us because we don’t want to go back there (well not yet). I have not given up though because I have completed ( and submitted) the highly restrictive (in the sense that it does not allow you to fully describe your requirement) on-line form. I now wait to see if this works. I somehow think though that we will be buying both the outbound and inbound tickets. Worth the try though.

International Sources

International Tourism to continue robust growth in 2013
International tourist arrivals grew by 4% in 2012 to reach 1.035 billion, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Emerging economies (+4.1%) regained the lead over advanced economies (+3.6%), with Asia and the Pacific showing the strongest results. Growth is expected to continue in 2013 only slightly below the 2012 level (+3% to +4%) and in line with UNWTO long term forecast. With an additional 39 million international tourists, up from 996 million in 2011, international tourist arrivals surpassed 1 billion (1.035 billion) for the first time in history in 2012. Demand held well throughout the year, with a stronger than expected fourth quarter. By region, Asia and the Pacific (+7%) was the best performer, while by sub-region South-East Asia, North Africa (both at +9%) and Central and Eastern Europe (+8%) topped the ranking.

Belize asks for Canadian help in fighting spillover of Mexican drug war
Spillover from Mexico's violent drug war is prompting the Harper government and the Canadian military to become more involved in helping defend the tiny Central American country of Belize. A series of internal reports, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, show the government has quietly increased co-operation with the Commonwealth nation, formerly known as British Honduras. Canada is providing non-lethal equipment for security services and helping with strategic planning and the training of soldiers. The documents, which all date from the spring of last year, describe the situation in Belize as deteriorating in the face of ultra-violent drug cartels that are battling not only Mexican and U.S. law enforcement, but each other as well.

New evidence highlights threat to Caribbean coral reef growth
Many Caribbean coral reefs have either stopped growing or are on the threshold of starting to erode, new evidence has revealed. Coral reefs build their structures by both producing and accumulating calcium carbonate, and this is essential for the maintenance and continued vertical growth capacity of reefs. An international research team has discovered that the amount of new carbonate being added by Caribbean coral reefs is now significantly below rates measured over recent geological timescales, and in some habitats is as much as 70 percent lower. Coral reefs form some of the planet's most biologically diverse ecosystems, and provide valuable services to humans and wildlife. However, their ability to maintain their structures and continue to grow depends on the balance between the addition of new carbonate, which is mostly produced by corals themselves, set against the loss of carbonate through various erosional processes. Scientists have long known that reef ecosystems are in decline and that the amount of live coral on reefs is dwindling. But the paper, published on DATE TBC in Nature Communications, is the first evidence that these ecological changes are now also impacting on the growth potential of reefs themselves.

Costa Rica Crowned Again, Belize Make History
International debutants as late as 1995, Belize only made their first appearance in the Copa Centroamericana two years later. Since then they have always finished last in the regional tournament, organised by the Union Centroamericana de Futbol (UNCAF), the governing body of Central American football. In all that time Los Jaguares failed to win a single game in the competition. This unwanted record finally came to an end this year when they claimed a group-stage victory en route to a wholly unexpected fourth-place finish, earning them a berth at the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the very first time. Another highlight of the 2013 tournament, which came to an end last weekend, was the return of host nation Costa Rica to the top of the regional pile. Los Ticos had not won the competition since 2007, when they claimed the title for the third time in a row and sixth time overall. Deposed as champions in 2009 by Panama, who were succeeded by Honduras two years later, La Tricolor ended their six-year wait in style, going undefeated throughout the competition. The final standings from the tournament land Costa Rica at the top. Honduras and El Salvador finished second and third, respectively. Belize and Panama round out the top five while Guatemala, who placed sixth, is the only team from the tournament to miss out on the Gold Cup action.

Taking it Slow on Caye Caulker
Off the coast of the country of Belize lies a small island. An island with no cars that is reachable only by boat or plane. An island where the streets are sandy, the lobster is fresh, and shoes are not required. An island where life moves a bit slower, and where the rum punch is always flowing. This is Caye Caulker. For such a small place, Caye Caulker sure won me over in a big way. The little island about 20 miles off the coast of Belize has come to represent my vision of Paradise in my head. And I know I’m not alone — ask just about anyone who has been to this tiny island in Belize, and chances are that they, too, will sing it praises. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you. “Go slow” motto The motto on Caye Caulker is “go slow.” This motto is reflected in all aspects of life — from the fact that there are no cars at all on the island (transport is either by golf cart, bike, or on foot) to the speed of service in restaurants. Things just move at a more relaxed pace here; there’s no rush, mostly because there’s really no place better to be. This translates to a very chilled-out vibe that is infectious from the minute you step off the ferry boat.

Spring Break Belize! My First Missions Trip and How you Can help!
Hello everyone! As you heard in the video, I am going on a missions trip as a team with 12 other people through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. We are going to Belmopan, which is the capital of Belize to help spread the gospel, organize chrisitan chapters, and help save the lost who may not know God. I am so blessed to have this opportunity, and it would be even more of a blessing if you all would help!

The Living Maya Experience at The Lodge at Big Falls
Traveling in the Toledo District of southern Belize is a cultural delight thanks to the rich and colorful traditions of the native Garifuna and Mayan people. The Lodge at Big Falls has long supported sustainable local tourism initiatives and now have introduced a new cultural program called the Living Maya Experience. Designed in partnership with two families of employees at the Lodge, visitors are able to experience how traditional Maya live today and what life was like 50 years ago before the modern world encroached. Since the Maya communities in this region speak English, the level of interaction is quite high.

5 Places To Find Free Educational eBooks - Edudemic
So what happens when Google, Amazon, and your local library come up short in your quest for free educational eBooks? The Harvard Classics, Project Gutenberg, Bartleby, OER Commons, ICDL – International Children’s Digital Library

January 29, 2013

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Byron Espat-Estrada stabbed to death inside nightclub
Byron-EstradaA family on Ambergris Caye is mourning the tragic loss of yet another family member as a result of an ongoing rivalry. The victim is 25-year-old Byron Espat Estrada, a boat captain of the San Pedrito area of San Pedro Town. Estrada is the second son in the family to have died under similar, tragic circumstances. Estrada’s younger brother Charlie Espat was one of the two San Pedro teens found partially buried 50 yards off a feeder road in the Orange Walk District on June 9, 2012. Charlie and his cousin Edwardo Alamilla had been reported missing on June 5th and their decomposed bodies were found four days later with apparent gunshot wounds to the head. According to authorities on the island, Byron Espat Estrada was stabbed at least 22 times inside the men’s bathroom at Daddy Rock Night Club. He collapsed near the bar counter and was taken to the Dr Otto Rodriguez San Pedro PolyClinic II where he was pronounced dead. Superintendent of Police and officer Commanding San Pedro Police Department Luis Castellanos said that the incident happened around 3:30AM. “On Saturday the 26th of January 2013, at about 3:39AM, police received information of a stabbing incident at the Daddy Rock Disco (Night Club). As a result we quickly responded and upon arriving at the disco we found a young gentleman by the name of Byron Estrada who was seen bleeding from his neck area, his chest and his back,” said Castellanos, who indicated that the victim was taken to the island’s PolyClinic where he was officially pronounced dead at about 4:32AM. “We have launched an investigation to see what actually happened; and who is the perpetrator of this crime. So far we have detained some people for questioning and we believe that one of them may be able to assist us in our investigation…the incident wasn’t a fight. We received information that apparently the victim entered the bathroom and whilst in the bathroom he was stabbed. He came out, while the disco was still in function, and ran towards the bar where he collapsed, and where persons assisted him and took him downstairs. It happened very quickly and it doesn’t look like it was a fight.” Police say that they observed numerous stab wounds to the upper part of the victim’s body, plus cut injuries to the neck area. And while police investigation into the death is ongoing, the mother of the victim, Pricilla Espat, who has lost two of her sons as a result of crime in less than one-year, explained that police were not compassionate to their pain.

Steven Valencia, PUP Cayo Chairman found murdered in his home
Steven ValenciaThe Chairman of the People’s United Party Executive Committee in Cayo Central, 40-year-old Steven Michael Valencia was murdered inside his home in Santa Elena Town. The former resident of San Pedro Town was shot and killed in the presence of his two children in his La Loma Luz Boulevard home. According to police the incident happened shortly before 9PM on Thursday January 24th. According to Police, they responded to a report of shooting at around 9PM on La Loma Luz Boulevard in Santa Elena Town. Upon arrival police say that they observed the body of Valencia in one of the bedrooms with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper back, right foot and right thigh. “Initial investigations revealed that about 8:45PM on said date, Valencia was at home with his two daughters when a noise was heard coming from behind the house and at the same time, the back door was stamped open and two males of dark complexion, one of whom was armed with a shotgun, entered the house unmasked, ordered him to lie on the floor, demanded money and fired shots at him, causing the fatal injuries,” said a police report. Valencia was shot in the presence of his two children, one a six year old, who told police that $7 was all they managed to steal from his pocket.

Ambergris Today

Our Lady of Fatima Statue Coming to San Pedro
The San Pedro Roman Catholic Church and the Community of San Pedro are preparing for the 2nd Pilgrimage of the Travelling Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to Belize which is set to take place on Monday, February 11, 2013. The statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be arriving in San Pedro on Monday, February 11, 2013, at 4:00 p.m., everyone is invited to welcome the statue at the John Greif II Airport. The statue will be taken to the San Pedro RC Church for the official coronation to take place at 4:15p.m. At 5:00p.m. a rosary for Our Lady of Fatima will take place, at 6:00 p.m. a mass followed by a candle light procession through the main streets of San Pedro. On Tuesday, February 12, 2013, a boat procession and boat blessing will take place at 7:15 a.m. after which the statue leaves the island.

New Rules and Regulations Set for Carnaval 2013
Even before the San Pedro Town Council had made announcement of the new rules and regulation for the Carnaval 2013 celebrations, some island folk were stirred up at the mention that there would be some new changes that would alter the traditional celebrations. The San Pedro Town Council has released the following rules and regulations for Carnaval 2013 for La Isla Bonita. After much consultation with the people of San Pedro and meetings with the Carnaval committee the following was decided for this year’s Carnaval celebrations. Mayor Daniel Guerrero announced that there will be lots more policing taking place during the celebrations and stiff penalties for those who do not comply with the rules that are intended to make Carnaval a safe celebration for everybody and more respect given to the businesses who have suffered much vandalism in the past years. Below are the new rules and program of events:

Flashbacks: Ambergris Lodge a Local Hangout Spot
“Carmita, let’s go swimming in front of the Ambergris Lodge,” said Lupita enthusiastically during the summer of 1975. “Mek we go,” responded Carmita in a colorful Creole dialect. “There are a few dories front a di beach and I sure Mista George Stefanko will lend us wan paddle fi go paddling.” Pretty soon Carmita and her friend were at the beachfront paddling their dory and having a splendid time, San Pedro style. On the beach several boys and girls were getting ready for a warm mid afternoon swim at the most beautiful white spot in front of the village. The Ambergris Lodge was at the time advertising delicious seafood and an enjoyable time skin diving. There was a lovely wide sandy beach with only a little bit of sea grass as Mr. Stefanko insisted that the beach be cleaned of logs and debris except for the sea grass which was thought to prevent beach erosion. It was a sight and a site enjoyed by locals and a few tourists alike when Ambergris Caye had much of its natural appeal. Today Mayan Princess has managed to keep that natural and exquisite appeal.

25 Years Ago: Antonio's Letter Is Rejected
Well as you can see, Antonio’s request to formalize his relationship was rejected not because he was not worthy or charming but because the father considered his daughter to be a bit too young. Girls traditionally got married at 16 or 17 years of age, but fifteen was also quite common. This letter to the young lover was not to be interpreted wrongly so he could continue to court the young lady by going to parties, or walks to the park and holding hands but that was about it. If he could steal a moment to steal a kiss, well that was his luck or his prowess or charisma, let’s say. However, that had to be done privately and not in the presence of the father. To tell the truth, some mothers were more lenient and allowed a bit more contact or close-up moments. Romantic mothers indeed!

Youth Writing Contest
Deadline: February 9, 2013 Topic: “WHAT LOVE MEANS TO ME” Love to write? Enter the San Pedro Library Youth Writing Contest and tell us in your own words about what love means to you. Requirements * only hard copies (handwritten or typed) will be accepted. * Essays must be between 75 to 100 words in length. Eligibility * Writer must be in STD IV, V, VI and students of schools located in, or residents of San Pedro Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Awards * The best 5 essays of each school will be display at the San Pedro Library and Schools. * Winners will be honored, along with their teacher at a special event at the San Pedro Library February 14, 2013. * Prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners. There will be also 10 consolation prizes.

Home Style Cooking and Flavors at El Fogon
El Fogon, the name says it all! Spanish for fire hearth, you know that when you dine at this popular restaurant you will be served some of the most authentic Belizean food on the island. The food is unique in flavor as mostly everything on the menu is prepared on an outside fire hearth, used in the olden days when San Pedro was just a small fishing village with no stoves. It's that authentic taste that is infused with the smokiness of the fire hearth that keeps bringing people back to El Fogon. Owned by island locals who have come to prepare recipes passed on to them by generations, El Fogon features food inspired by Latin America, the Caribbean and Mexico.

Heroes Soar Over Lamanai Maya Ruin Belize
The Ministry of Health Belize set out on a very important mission alongside American Soldiers to Sarteneja Village, Corozal. They combined human power and will to give medical services to the community in need. The team provided the people with vitamins, medical attention, meds, breast exams, pap smears and health education. Even on a day’s work Dr. Marin got the chance to take an outstanding picture of them flying over the Lamanai Maya Ruin. Keep up the good work!

Misc Belizean Sources

LIONFISH SUNDAY BELIZE
Taking a bite out of Lionfish population on the Belize Barrier Reef with dive friends.Tranquility Bay, outside the reef. Ambergris Caye.

Rotaract Bonfire Night
The Rotaract Club of San Ignacio had their first social. They had a bonfire at Hode's. They've finished planning their Red Carpet Affair fund raiser. It'll be at Meluchi's on Saturday, February the 16th.

Runway Release 2013 Pictures
Demian Solano was at Rebecca Stirm's Autumn/Winter fashion show, and he captured some amazing pictures. He's posted a few, including a couple that have the 2 Miss Belizes, Destinee Arnold and Chantae Guy. Many more to come.

Rotary Donates Laptops to SHJC
Feelgood story of the day. The Rotary Club of San Ignacio donated 3 Dell laptops to Sacred Heart Junior College's Primary Ed department. Thanks again for all you do around Cayo, Rotary! "SHJC is grateful for the donation to SHJC Primary Education Department from the Rotary through the Belize Literacy Program. The PE dept received tree Dell laptops with educational software installed."

BELTRAIDE and Idealab officially LAUNCH Belize’s First Investment Magazine!
The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) and Idealab Studios are privileged to announce the launch of the Inaugural Issue of Belize’s First Business and Investment Magazine “INVEST BELIZE”. The Launch will take place on Wednesday, January 30th, 2013, at Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza, from 2:00p.m. – 5:00p.m. Invest Belize will be used as a promotional tool to showcase Belize in a progressive light for what it represents: an investment destination. The magazine is strategically featured to aggressive investors who are seeking to invest in new dynamic markets, such as Belize. This publication features the major investment opportunities, while providing up to date information on policy, trade agreements, statistics, trade and projections to the investment community in Belize and abroad.

Channel 7

Unions Say They Were Disrespected
Tomorrow at 9:00 am in Belmopan, the teachers' union with support from the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers will stage a mass protest. It's been in the making for weeks - and today the union leaders made the media rounds to crystallize their public stance. We caught them at a press conference in Belize City. Teachers Union President Luke Palacio led the charge:.. Luke Palacio, President BNTU "The Belize National Teachers Union has the most organize, the most powerful labor movement in this country will be demonstrating in Belmopan tomorrow to show that we are not satisfied with the disrespect that has been shown to the three unions negotiating with the Government of Belize. We want the public support; we want them to understand that this fight is not about more money in the pockets of teachers only. We are negotiating for all person paid from the public purse, meaning the nurses, BDF, police and any other persons who is paid from the public purse. We are going to have this demonstration tomorrow, it's a peaceful protest. We again are saying that for those who will join us we want no political slogan; no slandering, no name calling and any other organization that is prepared to lend us their support again remember the focus must be on the Collective Bargaining Agreement." And the union leaders say the protest is an important means of gaining leverage in ongoing talks with government - they say this because the PM has reached out to them in the past week:

Man Fatally Stabbed 22 Times In Nightclub Restroom
UB Students got the streets of Belmopan warmed up today with a small protest of their own. And we'll have that for you a little later on in the news. But first, the weekend witnessed the 13th murder of 2013. This one happened in San Pedro at a nightclub where a 25 year old was hunted down and stabbed to death in a nightclub restroom. Tonight, the family of Byron Estrada Espat are awaiting a post mortem on his body - so that they can proceed with funeral arrangements. Daniel Ortiz travelled to the island yesterday where he spoke to his grieving mother and to police investigators. Here's his report: Priscilla Espat - Mother of Deceased "I can't take the pain. It's now 2 sons that they've taken away from me, Charlie Espat, and Byron. And you know what? It's not fair because the law hasn't done anything about it." Reporter "What is the police saying about the assassination, and how is the investigation going?" Priscilla Espat - Mother of Deceased "They are saying that my son is involved in drugs. That's not true; he is not a drug dealer. I know 100% that he works hard."

Footballers Greeted Liked Heroes In Grand Homecoming
TODAY it was a grand homecoming for the national football team, known internationally as the Belize Jaguars. They finished fourth in the Copa Centroamericana 2013. It wasn't the outcome we might have hoped for as they lost the semi-final match against Costa Rica - and the third place game against El Salvador - both times by a score of one to nil. But they came home to a heroes' welcome, nonetheless. And deservingly so, because this team did what no other Belizean National Football team had done before: they won a game in the regional cup - and didn't come home in last place! More than that, they had a number of respectable losses behind inspired play by goalkeeper Woodrow West. And so while they didn't shock the world, they did put them on notice that Belize's football programme is up and coming to contender status. We were at the airport when they arrived today - and here's how the motorcade went:.. Ruperto Vicente, President - FFB "This is a good feeling. It is an excellent show of support for our National Team - Belizeans coming out here to support us and certainly I am happy and this gives me great motivation to be able to continue the work and continue to build our Belizean football." Harrison "Cafu" Roches - Forward - Belize National Team "We really appreciate it. I feel happy to see people supporting us like this. This make us feel great."

Massive Collision On Northern Highway
There was a terrible traffic accident on the Northern highway on Saturday morning: It left one man dead and 10 persons injured. It happened at about 6:45 am between miles 31 and 32 when a southbound Toyota 4 Runner collided into a Tillett bus which was heading to Orange Walk. The impact was massive, launching vehicle parts all across the road and ripping off half the body of the Four Runner which was left to look like it had been cut in half. The driver, Prison warden Juvencio Serrano was crushed in the driver's seat and died immediately. The bus driver 58 year old Carlos Herrera was also crushed behind the wheel of the bus. He survived though, but had serious injuries to his chest, face left arm and feet. He was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital while 10 other persons - passengers on the bus - received varying injuries. Most of them did not expect the impact, had no way of bracing for it, and were launched violently forward when the collision occurred. Police say Serrano caused the accident when he lost control of his Toyota 4 Runner and collided into the bus.

Three Vehicle Collision In Corozal
And that wasn't the only accident involving a bus this weekend. As we told you on Friday night's news there was a three vehicle collision near the northern border. It happened between mile 88 and 89 AT 6:25 on a wet highway as night was falling. A BBOC bus driven by 47 year old Christino Rodriguez was travelling from the border to Corozal Town with 35 passengers when a minivan driven by Jeremias Garcia crashed into the back of the bus. Passengers from the bus walked out and two of them Doris Noh and Lillian Roches were knocked down when a third vehicle, a Subaru Legacy collided into the van causing injuries to its driver Jeremias Garcia as well as Noh and Roches. 22 year old Doris Noh had both feet apparently broken and one 37 year old Lillian Roches received a large wound on the right foot. 34 year old Jeremias Garcia received a wound to the right foot as well.

UB Students Protest
At the top of the newscast - we told you about the Union's protest which is scheduled for tomorrow in Belmopan. And while the unions will do it tomorrow, the University of Belize did it today. They held their protest against an increase in admission fees for new students. The issue has been on the back burner for weeks, but with no response from the Minister of Education, the UB student government moved it to the front burner with a protest in Belmopan today. It started at 8:30 am with a very modest crowd - but from there it gained some momentum. Not enough to shut down the school, and probably not enough to force any reaction from the ministry but certainly enough to give us a story. Monica Bodden has the story:.. Monica Bodden reporting Over one hundred UB students marched off the University of Belize Belmopan Campus this morning and made their way through the streets of Belmopan and in front of the National Assembly. They all held posters and chanted their dissatisfaction in the subsidy cut that has been imposed on new students. Hope Amadi - President, UB Student Government "Today demonstration we do hope that with the change the perception of people towards the subsidy cuts especially the minister for him to understand that the students are not happy with the cuts that has been imposed on the new students that are coming in. This issue started far away from 2006. In 2006 we had about 32% poverty rate and during that period the minister said that the poverty rate is too much for us to ask more from the students. It doesn't make any sense for we to ask more from the students. Today we are at about 44% poverty rate and if you said no in 2006 when the poverty rate was 30% plus why would you not imposed it when the poverty rate 40% plus, it doesn't make any sense. We are asking the minister to reconsider and allow the students on the subsidy that he has cut put it back for the students so that they can enjoy going to school and have a reason to go to school."

Dr. K Leslie Adresses UB Graduates
And while today the mood at UB was outspoken, on Saturday it was formal as the university marked its Sixteenth Commencement Exercises at its main Campus in Belmopan. The 480 graduates received diplomas at the Associate, Bachelor, Certificate and Diploma levels. They also got to hear words of advice from keynote speaker, the Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, Dr. Kenrick R. Leslie who urged them to take charge of the future:.. Dr. Kenrick R. Leslie, Executive Dir., Climate Change Center "You must ask yourself the question; what does all of this means to me? Here I mean not only what you have clean the University over the past years but also from the information that I have provided you today and since we all know we cannot escape the clutches on climate change. Your challenge to yourself must be what will I do about it. The key element of change is yourself. The attainment of resilience cannot only reside with our policy makers but with our youth and you represent that element. You first must be convinced, you must believe, you must be aggressive, you must be passionate, you must be committed to the cause to help our beloved country survive the ravages of climate change."

Man Charged For Trying To Kill
2 weeks ago, 7News told you about 20 year-old Kent Moss, a resident of Freedom Street, who was shot on January 15. Well, tonight 22 year-old Albert Moody, a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard, is in jail because police say that he was the gunman. As we reported, Moss was on a verandah at #7099 Raccoon Street Extension, having a conversation with a friend, when a dark complexioned man came from behind a house and fired several shots at him. He suffered 3 gunshot injuries, but survived after he was rushed to the KHMH. Police charged Moody with attempted murder, grievous harm, and use of deadly means of harm. He was arraigned today before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, who remanded him to prison due to the nature of the offenses.

Woman Robbed By Neighbors In Mahogany Heights
There was a burglary in Mahogany Heights over the weekend and the burglars are from the same community. It happened early Sunday morning just before 2. Neighbors noticed when 4 burglars pried opened the back door of Shelly Edwards's home. Edwards and her family were not at home at the time so neighbors alerted the police who responded quickly. The robbers escaped with a variety of items including a bag of soap power and ice-cream - but they didn't make very far after they were caught red-handed. We found out more from the homeowner Shelly Edwards:.. Shelly Edwards, Victim of Burglary "I got a call from my neighbors stating that they burglarized my home. I went away for the weekend to spend my birthday with my mom. When I got that call I hurriedly came. I spoke to the police and they confirm that my home was burglarized. They told me that they retrieve the stuff and they got the culprits in custody." "I could tell you that I have very good neighbors because they were the ones who call the police and alerted them about what was happening." Reporter "How did the burglars gained access?" Shelly Edwards, Victim of Burglary "They gained entry through the back door. They used a crow bar to pry open the back door because the police have the crow bar, they found it in my yard. Because of the quick police response here they got the culprits."

The Sports Bar Effect
As we told you earlier, the National Football Team returned home today triumphant. True, they only went 1 - 1, and 3, but that one win was more than Belize has ever had in that regional tournament. And the losses - while still losses - were the most respectable Belize has ever had. And yesterday afternoon, hopes were high as the team competed for 3rd place against El Salvador. Avid football fans and casual viewers were glued to their televisions watching in eager anticipation to see if Belize could pull it out. That's what they were doing at Cholo Sports Bar in San Pedro. Our team was there on another story, but stopped in to share the excitement - because, let's be honest, this kind of international match featuring Belize doesn't happen too often. We sampled the sentiment of the fans who were very proud to see their boys featured on the sports bar's 5 big screens for the first in a very long time. Here's what they told us:

Rebecca Storms the Fashion World
While the football team got a motorcade, another Belizean who is getting major love from the public is the young fashion designer, Rebecca Stirm. Viewers may remember that Stirm wowed the Caribbean Community with her talent for design by placing 3rd in season 2 of Jamaica's fashion designing reality TV series, Mission Catwalk. And while she gave an admirable showing on the international scene, she is now being embraced by her Belizean fans. On Saturday night, her first Runway Show was held at the Princess Hotel. 7News attended what turned out to be a glamorous evening. Here's what Stirm told us about surprise of the overwhelming success: Daniel Ortiz reporting The Kings Room was packed on Saturday night, filled to capacity with socialites and local VIP's who waited in anticipation for the Rebecca Stirm Fashion Show.? And, with more than 4 months in the making, she delivered.

The Passing Of a Union Giant
Tonight, on the eve of what promises to be a major protest by the Teacher's Union we note the passing of one man who was always on the frontline of those protests. John Pinelo career teacher, principal and former BNTU President passed away at his home in San Ignacio this weekend at the age of 64. He had been battling cancer for some years. His family tells us Mr. John Pinelo was instrumental in molding the lives of many young Belizeans serving as either a teacher or principal for many of Belize's Schools including: Santa Elena R.C., Roaring Creek R.C., Sacred Heart Primary, Bullet Tree Falls R.C., Saint Francis Xavier R.C., Succotz R.C. and Sacred Heart College. They add that Unionism in Belize is synonymous with the name John Pinelo. Mr. Pinelo has been involved in the Belize National Teacher's Union since its inception serving as local branch officer for the San Ignacio and Benque Viejo Branches. He was elected to the National Presidency in 1984 for the first time and since then was re-elected five more times holding this position until April 2003.

Channel 5

Unions full day demonstration of government
A teacher’s demonstration has morphed into a massive protest; thousands are expected to show their muscle in Belmopan. It starts in about fourteen hours and teachers will be joined by other union members of the National Trade Union Congress when they descend on Independence Hill. The battle cry is over salary adjustments which the unions [...]

N.T.U.C.B. dismisses Chamber of Commerce comments
Last Friday, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement regarding the wage bill issue that stands to increase salary adjustments are approved by government. It said that compensation increases for public sector workers should be tied in with measurable performance improvements. The B.C.C.I. also said that it can’t condone the area of [...]

UB students’ small protest
While teachers will show their strength on Tuesday in Belmopan, this morning, the capital was also the venue for another protest. A group of students staged a small protest over government’s decision to cut off subsidies to the university. They say they want government to re-instate the funding because fees are unaffordable to new students. [...]

Priscilla Espat loses another son to murder
There was a vicious murder on the island of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye in the early hours of Saturday morning. Twenty-five year old Byron Estrada was stabbed multiple times as he socialized at a local club; he succumbed to his injuries soon after. At first glance it would appear to be a random murder unconnected [...]

A Swan song for a beleaguered family
The murder of twenty-five year old boat captain Byron Estrada came as a shock to his mother, but she is certainly no stranger to tragedy and no stranger to violent death and allegations that those deaths are drug related. When the dots are connected, a picture emerges linking the touristy tropical island of San Pedro [...]

One dead as SUV and bus collide on highway
Road traffic accidents are frequent on our highways and account for a significant percentage of deaths. But despite negative perception, serious accidents involving buses are not frequent. An accident early Saturday morning between a Tillett’s bus travelling from Belize City to Orange Walk and an SUV travelling in the opposite direction was particularly gruesome. One [...]

Villager stabs villager in attempted murder incident
Thirty-three year old Rene Murillo of August Pine Ridge has been charged with attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm. On Sunday night, sixty-one year old farmer also of August Pine Ridge Casario Ku, reported that around eight thirty pm, while walking in the village, he was approached by Murillo who [...]

Shooting leads to Moody’s attempted murder charge
Over the weekend, twenty year old Albert Moody, a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard, was detained in connection with the shooting of Kent Moss. When he appeared before Magistrate Anne Marie Smith, Moody was slapped with three charges: attempted murder, grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm. Bail was denied and Moody [...]

Justice for Shelly Edwards; burglars caught
Four persons are tonight in big trouble after they were allegedly caught red handed with items stolen from the house of Shelly Edwards. According to reports, just after two on Saturday morning, Edward’s home in Mahogany Heights was burglarized and stolen were several items including a microwave, a sound system and several other items totaling [...]

“To Sir with Love,” B.N.T.U.’s Pinelo passes away
There is one face that won’t be at the N.T.U.C.B. protest in Belmopan. Former B.N.T.U. President, John Pinelo, had held the teachers union together for many years and led them through negotiations and protests with governments. Pinelo was in the frontline with the B.N.T.U. in the 2010 demonstration. The long-serving union president passed away over [...]

480 students graduate from UB
The University of Belize’s sixteenth commencement exercise was held at the Central Campus in Belmopan on Saturday. Four hundred and eighty students graduated and of that amount three hundred and thirty, roughly sixty-eight percent, were females. The President of the University of Belize, Doctor Cary Fraser congratulated the graduates while the guest speaker and Director [...]

Hero’s Welcome; Jaguars return home
The Belize National Football “A” Selection, also known as the Jaguars, returned to Belize today after making history in the Copa Centro Americana Games held in San Jose, Costa Rica. While the boys from Belize might not have won first place, they were the official big story of the competition, surprising regional football observers who [...]

Sports Monday highlights with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. The Copa Centro Americana produced its 2013 Champion yesterday and while that honor does not belong to Belize, our national football team did make an enormous splash inside this event hosted at Costa Rica. For the 1st time Belize won a ballgame beating Nicaragua [...]

LOVE FM

Unions Plan Protest For Tomorrow In The Capital
Poised to demonstrate on Tuesday in Belmopan in response to what they term as quote, “disrespect on the part of the Government” over a salary increase, the Belize National Teachers’ Union, the Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers,...

Man Receives Twenty Two Stabs Inside a Nightclub Restroom
A man was stabbed to death on Saturday morning in San Pedro Town. The victim has been identified as twenty five year old Byron Estrada. According to reports, Estrada was killed inside of the bathroom at a nightclub in the town. According to reports, Estrada was viciou...

VIP Party Suggests Resolution For The Unions Issue
The Vision Inspired by the People political party today issued a statement saying it stands in Solidarity with the Unions. Public Relations Officer Robert Lopez today told Love News that the VIP has a suggestion on how to resolve the issue. The VIP statement suggests that the...

Former Union President Passes
As teachers prepare for a big demonstration on Tuesday in Belmopan, the education sector in mourning the passing of one of its stalwarts. Former school teacher, and president extraordinaire of the Belize National Teachers Union John Pinelo passed away over the weekend, following ...

University Students Protest Government's Subsidy Cut
Students of the University of Belize abandoned classes today and took to the picket lines. At issue is the matter of what the UB Student Government calls burdensome registration fees. While the UB Student government protested the discontinuation of the government subsi...

Belize National Football Team Returns Home
After touching down at the Phillip Goldson International Airport, the team headed to the Brodies Parking Lot on the Phillip Goldson Highway where the players got a chance to speak about their experiences and expressed thanks to all who made the football journey possible. &nb...;

30K Burglary In Punta Gorda
Police in Toledo are investigating a burglary in Punta Gorda town. A fifty two year old Mechanic reported to police that he left his brother’s house for which he is caretaker on Tuesday and traveled to Abalone Caye. The man says that when he returned home days later, he dis...

Two Teenagers Reported Missing
Two teenagers have been reported missing. The first is sixteen year old Spencer Bodden, a student of the Independence High School. According to the family of the teenage boy, he left home around six o’clock last Wednesday morning to go to classes and has not returned ...

Belize City Resident Faces Charges of Attempted Murder and Grievous Harm
Twenty-two year old Albert Moody Jr., a resident of Jane Usher Boulevard, was charged with attempted murder when he appeared in Court today. Moody was also charged with grievous harm and use of deadly means of harm. No plea was taken because the offences are indictable. Neither could t...

Senior Citizen Refuses To Do Community Service For Theft
Seventy-two year old Frank Jaskin, a.k.a. “Big Frank Vernon”, a vagrant who failed to do 100 days of community service, a sentence he was given after he pled guilty to theft in December last year, was sent to prison today to do a sentence of two months in default of communi...

CTV3

Philip Goldson Highway Plays Witness To Two Major Traffic Accidents, One Proves Fatal
Two major accidents took place on the Northern Highway over the weekend, the first on Friday followed by a tragic one on Saturday. On Friday evening, sometime around 6:30, police received reports of a major traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway near four miles in the Corozal District. Reports to our newsroom indicate that under the heavy rain which poured on Friday, a passenger bus was unloading passengers when a white van careened into the back of the bus. Lilian Roches was travelling in the van when it careened into the back of the bus. Roches suffered extensive injuries to her legs. While persons on the scene were rendering aid to Roches, the accident was compounded by the wet conditions which caused a small car to crash into the back of the van causing an accident on an accident. Reports to our newsroom indicate that two women who were standing behind the van were hit by the car causing severe injuries to their bodies. Rescuers managed to free Roches from the wreck just in time before the car crashed into the van. Roches was transferred to the Northern Regional Hospital where she remains in a stable condition. The other two ladies were treated and released.

Fruta Bomba Employees On The Verge Of Losing Their Jobs
On January 22nd, 2013 we brought you the story of the bee keepers in Progresso Village alleging their apiaries were being disturbed by the insecticides and pesticides Fruta Bomba uses on their papaya farms. For almost a year the bee keepers have been in a constant battle to safe guard their bees and their honey making livelihood. Well tonight, not only the beekeepers are being disturbed, but the farmers employed by Fruta Bomba from Progresso Village. This morning, seven workers of the Fruta Bomba Company stopped by our studios to say they too are at the edge of the cliff of losing their jobs if the issue of the beekeepers is not dealt with properly and adequately by officials of the government. Here is there side of the story. Juan Rivera-Fruta Bomba Worker “Estas tres personas hace ocho años dieron el mismo problema con la compañía quiso proyectar más trabajo en esa aldea. Eso de químicas Fruta Bomba o cualquier persona que va a trabajar la agricultura tiene que usar foliares parra el crecimiento para fortalecer la flor a nivel nacional e internacional, Fruta bomba está usando estos foliares bajo de control nadie está permitiendo eso estamos muy claro. “Cuando vas a fumigar tratándose de estos venenos tienes que fumigar para hongos adonde sea vamos al mercado tienes que usar estos tipos de foliares para fortalecerse.”

Stabbing Incident Lands One Man In Jail
Two persons are not spending these nights at home in the comfort of their beds and in the company of family. On Sunday, January 27th, Orange Walk Police were called out to August Pine Ridge where they observed one man suffering from stab wounds to his stomach. According to the official police report, sixty-one year old Belizean farmer Casario Ku, informed police that he was walking home on the evening of the 27th when he was approached by thirty-three year old Rene Murrillo. Ku alleges that he and Murrillo got into an argument which quickly escalated to a physical altercation. During this physical struggle, Murrillo produced a knife and inflicted a stab wound to the stomach of Ku. Ku was immediately transported to the Northern Regional Hospital where he received medical attention. Murrillo has since been arrested and charged for the crimes of Attempted Murder, Use of Deadly Means of Harm, and Dangerous Harm.

Leroy Lewis Abandons National Selection
And while Belize’s National A-Selection has respectively departed from the tournament with much respect by the other Central American national teams, head coach Leroy Lewis announced over the weekend that he has decided to leave the team. The Costa Rican National was hired as head coach on October 3rd of last year and after four months on the job, Lewis announced yesterday that effective immediately he is no longer the head coach. In the post-game press conference, Lewis stated that he believes that Football Federation of Belize is not well structured and that there is no guarantee that it would change in the near future. Here are his words: Leroy Lewis, Former National Coach Lewis has no signed contract with the FFB and in a press conference back in October, Lewis told the media that quote, “When you have mutual trust, you don’t have to sign no contract”, end quote. We will bring you the team’s reaction to this in tomorrow’s newscast. Allegations surrounding his resignation stem from difference of opinions in Costa Rica by FFB representatives and Lewis in regards to the team’s workout schedule. Additional friction is alleged by Leroy Lewis playing a defensive stand as opposed to an attack offense. But that’s not all, we understand that emails had been circulated as soon as Belize had qualified for the Copa Oro concerning the replacement of certain players with the present team with others who failed to qualify for the team. We will follow these allegations made by certain players of Belize’s National Selection and former coach Leroy Lewis in the days ahead.

U.B Students Take Their Discontent To Belmopan
This morning, over 300 students of the University of Belize walked out of classes and marched to Independence Hill where they held a peaceful protest. The root of the discontent of students stems from Government’s withdrawal of its financial subsidy towards registration and school fees. As a result of the canceled subsidy, student’s fees have seen a steep increase of about 60%. The increase in student fees was to take effect this month. For weeks, the Student Governments Association have been expressing their concern and difficulties faced by students in socio-economic challenges. The protest started at the UB Belmopan campus where the students congregated after walking out of class and then they proceeded to march to Independence Hill. The students were joined by past Student Body President Moses Sulf and other SGA presidents and representatives. The demonstration ended sometime around noon today. Today the students of the University of Belize demonstrated in front of the National Assembly Building, and tomorrow, that same venue will host another demonstration, this one expected to be much larger as the Belize National Teachers Union will demonstrate against Government in regards to the salary increments they have requested. We will have our cameras out there tomorrow and bring you the story in tomorrow’s newscast.

Belize's National Team Loses Respectably To El Salvador
Belizeans here at home and around the world were abuzz over the past few days as Belize’s pride and joy, the Jaguars of Belize participated in the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana. Social networks and media houses throughout Belize featured stories, articles and posts on the level of play Belize has achieved. Belizeans once more had reason to believe in Belizean football and in a brighter future for the sport both locally and internationally. In this tournament alone, Belize managed to make history by advancing to the Copa Ora tournament, winning their very first Central American professional team, qualifying for the semifinals and placement match, and signing two of its national players to professional ball clubs. Reporter Hipolito Novelo recapped yesterday’s third place match against El Salvador. The brand new national stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica came to life yesterday with the two final matches of the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana. In the first game of the day, Belize took the field for the last time dressed in their white jerseys to face off against El Salvador in the third place match. Belizeans across the world tuned in to watch their National Selection make history for the second time in playing for a placement game, especially since the team was referred to as the Cinderella Team of Central America.

PlusTV

Boat Captain Byron Estrada Espat murdered in San Pedro
There was a murder at a San Pedro Town nightclub this weekend. It happened at Daddy Rock Night Club located at Cent...

Prison officer Juvencio Serrano Jr. dies in Traffic Collission
There was a fatal traffic accident on Saturday on the Phillip Goldson highway. Just before seven o'clock on Saturda...

33 years-old old Rene Murillo charged for attempted murder in August Pine Ridge Village
There was an attempted murder reported in the Orange Walk district. 61year old Casario Ku, a Belizean Farmer of Aug...

University of Belize students take to the streets in protest of fees increase
Tomorrow, Belize's major Trade Unions will be having a six hour demonstration in the City of Belmopan for an increa...

The University of Belize holds its Sixteenth Commencement Exercises
The University of Belize held its Sixteenth Commencement Exercises on Saturday January 26, for students, who succes...

Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in Camalote Village
Belmopan Police are investigation a report of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. On Friday January 25 an 11 year old minor ...

Unions are getting ready for Tuesday's Belmopan demonstration
Unions are getting ready for Tuesday's Belmopan demonstration. Tomorrow, in the City of Belmopan, activists and rep...

The Ministry of Education releases statement on the Union Demonstration
The Ministry of Education sent out a press release today saying that in view of the public announcement made by the...

The NTUCB says that Chamber of Commerce is "self-serving"
The NTUCB says that Chamber of Commerce is "self-serving". While the unions gear up to march on Belmopan, the union...

Tributes paid to the late Union leader John Pinelo
While on the protest line in the nation's capital on Tuesday, unionists and teachers in particular will be carrying...

Belizean born Joel Evans collected his 5th Emmy at the 27th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Awards.
An Emmy, is the most prestigious award in television production worldwide, and is considered the television equival...

Belizean designer Rebecca Stirm's fashion show was a huge success
Another Pastor's kid from Belize has been invading the culture with her gifts and abilities. Belizean clothing desi...

The Guardian

Caye Caulker Chronicles

Caye Caulker Animal Health Shelter Fundraiser
Donations are being accepted

Belize and Guatemala take territorial dispute to World Court
The Organization of American States (OAS) says its Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, met with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Belize and Guatemala on the protracted territorial dispute between both countries. “The meeting’s main objective was to exchange information on the tasks that both countries are committed to carry out in preparation for the referenda concerning recourse to the Court of the Hague Convention on the territorial issue,” said a statement from the OAS. In the tripartite meeting, which took place within the framework of the European (EU)-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit here, the OAS said both officials “explained the situation in each country, with a view toward finalizing the consultation agreed and renewed the commitment of their governments to carry it out.”

Blogs

Tale of Five Cities: Visiting an Orchid Garden
One of the most interesting things we did in San Cristobal, Mexico was visit the Orquideas Moxviquil botanical garden. The garden is a preserve for over 600 species of Chiapas orchids, cacti, bromeliads, ferns, and other flora. Most of the specimens were rescued from within the Chiapas state from sites that were disturbed by human activities. It was a little over a mile from our hotel as the garden is north of the city in a more rural area, but we had a beautiful day for it. We had a bit of difficulty finding the entrance and ended up hiking along a woodland trail in the Moxviquil Reserve (which the garden is part of). We finally realized that we were not in the right place, back-tracked, and went farther up the road where we saw this sign.Before we knew it, we found the gardens up the road just a bit. This place was absolutely gorgeous! The owner met us and gave us a quick tour as he had to get back to a ceremony there on the premises. We spent a good long time walking around and looking at orchids and other specimens. And after we'd seen all the plants, we spent a good amount of time bird-watching -- of course we had brought our binoculars! Calla Lily -- one of the few non-native plants in the garden

Ever evolving
I was watching the new Bruno Mars video Locked out of Heaven this morning and got thinking about the evolution of people over the course of time and on my blog, so many small world world stories out there. Today’s post is an email from Brent, my Helena Montana weather man that illustrates how small the world is between Montana Belize. Last year Brent and his girlfriend Lisa offered that I could send them a couple of things to bring down on their Belize vacation. They were staying at Banana Beach Resort and happened to be at the martini bar one night and saw Cowboy with his Big Sky trucker hat, which led to Montana talk. A few days later while dropping my portable ipod shuffle player and bikini top off at Grand Caribe, they bought a t-shirt for a friend at the pool Cowboy’s bar and grill and it turns out that random purchase led to a six degrees of separation moment which you can read about below. I am sure it will be further continued at El Divino with Cowboy Doug in May when Brent and Lisa return, looking forward to meeting you both this time around.

Our House
Fully rested after my day off – thanks to the Mystery Blogger for filling in for me to produce yesterday’s edition- I am raring to go to report on week thirteen of our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. First of all I want to correct an omission from Sunday’s edition. When we visited the build on Saturday we saw the first clear signs of how the clerestory windows will look (OK you have to have a good imagination but …). We are making good ( well we hope that it proves to be good) use of these windows in the living/dining room area and the bedroom on the First Floor and in one of the bedrooms on the Ground Floor. On Saturday, with the forms in place, we could start to see what these windows will look like. Rose and I spent the morning on general chores including a trip to the shops to stock up the cupboards and the refrigerator. We also managed to find a little time to start reviewing the lighting plan for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. The plans show this detail but we have the opportunity to finally decide what type of lights, where we want them, how many light switches, where we want them, etc,.These are the next decisions we need to let Daniel Camal, our building contractor, have. We will have this completed for our Friday afternoon meeting with Daniel. In the afternoon we met with Larry and his wife Sandy to show them our house ( OK it is far from being finished but we are already thinking of it as ‘our house’). Larry ( who has been following the blog) and Sandy intend to build a home here and were keen to have a look at our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize and to meet with Daniel.

International Sources

Belize Revisited
“How long do you intend to stay in Belize sir?” “I’m not sure. We thought we’d just play it by ear and see what happens.” “Well, enjoy Belize whatever you do. Welcome to Belize!” Said the Immigration Officer in a strong Caribbean accent as he stamped our passports. We climbed back into the car and left Mexico behind, geographically and culturally. Belize is a different world. Gone is the litter, gone are the packs of dogs (generally) and gone is the everyday struggle to speak a second language. Mexico has been tough. Really tough. To be fair to Mexico it has generally been due to a run of bad luck, rather than Mexico per se. But either way it feels good to be back. Eight years is a long time and it’s difficult to believe it has been that long since we were last here, but the place hasn’t changed much. People still smile and wave as we drive by. Everywhere feels welcoming, easy and laid back. As we left the northern Mexico/Belize border behind we first arrived in sleepy Orange Walk. Most places were closed for Sunday and the streets were empty as we drove around looking for a bank where we could get some Belize dollars. We found both an ATM and a Chinese takeaway. Result! We also later found Marmite in Belize City, panic on the streets at the hands of an over reaction to a few gang member killings and a right rear puncture on the Niva which led to Liz acting as a counter-weigh so I could jack the car up.

Consienten aduanas tráfico de ganado desde Belice
El tráfico de ganado proveniente del vecino país de Belice se encuentra a la alza ante el consentimiento de las autoridades aduanales, aseguró el presidente de la unión de Abastecedores en la capital del estado, Heradio Novelo Castilla. Indicó que ante el excedente de ganado bovino de engorda en aquel país, a ultimas fechas productores locales han manifestado su inconformidad debido a que los transportes beliceños pasan sin ningún “problema” la garita ubicada en Subteniente López. “Estos traficantes, cuando llegan a ser detenidos, es en comunidades rurales del municipio capitalino, por lo que cuestionó; ¿Cómo es que llegan hasta estos puntos sin papeles? si se supone que las autoridades aduanales se los deben pedir”, dijo.

Belice, paraíso del narcotráfico; territorio de Zetas y Maras
El país es utilizado para el trasiego de cocaína, advierte grupo de análisis en Estados Unidos; resaltan la importancia geográfica para el tránsito de mercancía ilícita. Belice, que comparte frontera con México y Guatemala, se ha convertido en territorio dominado por el cártel de Los Zetas y Maras, advierte un reporte de Inter-American Dialogue, de Washington. De acuerdo con el grupo de análisis político e inteligencia, en los últimos 30 años se ha recrudecido el fenómeno del narcotráfico en la pequeña nación centroamericana que se ha transformado en punto importante para el tráfico de cocaína, proveniente de Sudamérica hacia Estados Unidos. Pese a tener una población 43 veces menor que Guatemala o 15 veces inferior al promedio de los países centroamericanos, Belice enfrenta una creciente tasa de homicidios, pandillas, el problema de ser punto importante para el narco y falta de recursos.

Dialogue’s Working Paper: Organized Crime and Insecurity in Belize
Inter-American Dialogue Working Paper. The Inter-American Dialogue is pleased to publish this working paper by Julie López, an independent journalist from Guatemala who covers regional crime and security issues. Our aim is to stimulate a broad and well-informed public debate on complex issues facing analysts, decision makers, and citizens concerned about Latin America’s policy agenda. In this working paper, López offers an in-depth look at the security landscape in Belize, a country too often ignored in regional policy discussions, but one which faces criminal challenges similar to those of its larger Central American neighbors. Combining policy analysis and journalistic accounts based on her recent stint in Belize, López examines the political, social, geographical, and institutional factors that have contributed to Belize’s role as a transit point in the international drug trade. She also discusses the rise of other illicit enterprises, including arms trafficking and human smuggling and looks at the impact of growing gang activity. Finally, López analyzes national policy alternatives being explored in Belize, such as marijuana decriminalization and a state-sponsored gang truce, and the particular challenges the country faces in integrating into the Central American regional security framework.

Local Rotarians to speak at Portugal conference
Rotarians Don Shay and Stephen Lindop have been given the chance to talk about the Leduc and Nisku region in Lisbon, Portugal on June 23-26. Specifically, the two Rotary Club of Nisku Leduc members will talk about the Belize project —a project which helped inspire children to increase their literacy by building playgrounds— which was spearheaded on the local level. “This program has become so effective, it has actually changed the literacy rate in Belize so much so that the government has to build more high schools because people are staying in school,” explained Shay, who is the incoming local president. “The idea is to inspire these small little clubs all over the world to take on larger projects.” The Belize Literacy Program started in 2002 and puts an emphasis on literacy through play, with playgrounds built in Belize as well as local teachers provided with Canadian-style teacher workshops. As a result, the program —which has now been taken on as a Northern Alberta district initiative— has now forced the Belize government to build new high schools due to increased attendance rates.

Belize, Guatemala Foreign Ministers Meet With OAS SG Insulza
Belize Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and Guatemala Foreign Minister Luis Fernando Carrera held tripartite talks this weekend with Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza in Santiago. The objective of the meeting was to exchange information on the tasks both countries will carry out advance of the referenda both countries will be holding in October 2013 on their long-running territorial dispute. During the meeting, which took place during the EU-CELAC Summit, both officials explained the situation in each country and renewed the commitments of their governments to carry out the referenda, according to an OAS statement. Insulza, who was accompanied at the meeting by Ambassador Hugo de Zala, his chief of staff, said the OAS “will continue supporting all efforts made by Belize and Guatemala to comply with the agreements they have reached.”

Still not a convert, but if I ever win a cruise again I won’t turn it down
Belize City: At 9 in the morning, our cruise ship anchors a couple of miles offshore as this former British Honduras city with a tropical monsoon climate disgorges its passengers into tenders for the trip to shore. Tours of the city and environs await, including Mayan ruins near the Belize-Guatemala border. The offshore location is as close as the huge ship could safely approach the shore and a barrier reef that holds it at bay but is a favorite spot for scuba divers. The passengers have until 6 p.m. to get back to the ship or they will be left stranded and desperately waving on the shore. Belize City is not a very big place, with a population of less than 80,000, and is the principal port of the country of Belize. One of its central sources of revenue is the cruise ships. Arriving at nearly the same time, three of them are floating offshore on this day, two of them Carnival ships and one Norwegian. Just past the docks are restaurants, stores and waiting tour guides holding signs proclaiming the names of their tours. Behind the stores are the individual entrepreneurs hawking their wares. Our tour guide tells us they’re a far better source of goods and souvenirs than the stores, and their prices are considerably less.

McCauley, Belize shine brightly at Copa
Deon McCauley has scored goals before - plenty of them. The Belize striker was so prolific in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup that his eleven goals - scored over the course of the first and second rounds -- still lead the region in the run-up to Brazil 2014. But none of those World Cup qualifying goals will have proved more timely or valuable to the nation as a whole than the shot he tapped past Nicaraguan goalkeeper Denis Espinoza, on the final match day in Group A of the 2013 UNCAF Copa Centroamericana. "It felt unbelievable, incredible," McCauley said of the goal. "There aren't words that can express how good it felt to get that goal at that time in the game, it's unbelievable." The goal, which came in second half stoppage time, gave Belize a 2-1 win over Nicaragua - the nation's first-ever victory at the competition after 23 games. Just as importantly, McCauley's strike handed Belize three valuable points. After a tie with Guatemala earlier in the phase, the Jaguars finished as runner-up in Group A, which gave them an automatic berth in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The feat qualifies as perhaps the most important in the nation's sporting history.

The Top 5 Photography Tips For Absolute Beginners
Fueled by a desire to take better photos, last year I got myself a nice DSLR for Christmas. I’m certainly no photography expert - but I did take the time learn a few photography tips I could immediately use to take substantially better photos. Some of these tips can be applied to any photo – not just using a DSLR – so even if you have a point and shoot or a camera on your smartphone, then it’s worth reading these. I should stress, these are only for an absolute beginner; if you class yourself as an amateur photographer, you’ll probably laugh. For me, these tips pretty much blew my mind. The Rule of Thirds This really ought to be taught in school, and it’s so ridiculously easy to learn. Essentially, photos will look better if your subject isn’t centered.

January 28, 2013

The January 27th, 2013 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

Barroom Brawl Lands B.D.F Behind Bars:
A heated argument which began inside a popular nightclub in San Ignacio Town culminated in near fatality. In the incident two on-duty security guards emerged with serious cut wounds while a police special constable was stabbed in the arm and the three alleged aggressors were badly beaten. The incident reportedly began inside the Blue Angels Nightclub at around 2 0’clock on the morning of Sunday, January 20, 2013. It is reported that the incident began when the attention of Jermaine Pandy, one of the club’s security guards, was drawn to difficulties a colleague guard, David Wright, was experiencing at the top of the entrance stairs, as he was seeking to eject two male persons from the club.
Rene Montero At Work:
Although it is early into his second term in office, Hon. Rene Montero, Minister of Works and Transport is certainly not committing the errors of the past. He is not leaving things for the last few months before the next general elections as his works in the constituency continues. The road into Hillview up to Eden Adventist High School has been paved with the commitment to completing the paving of that entire stretch of access road into the Hillview community a project which has been promised by several Area Representatives dating as far back as to the days of the PUP’s Daniel Silva Jr. The Hon. Rene Montero is making reality his promise to the people living in the Hillview Community.
Letters: Police Covering For Police:
Your comment in last week’s edition of the STAR is indeed a valid one. It is no secret that the police covers up for police. They go to every means to cover the corrupt activities of those within their ranks. Apart from covering up the involvement of fellow policemen in drug trafficking and other corrupt activities, they also cover up the abusive domestic violence of those within their ranks. My sister lives with a jealous policeman and whenever he comes home drunk, which is increasing in frequency, he never fails to administers a severe beating on her.
Letters: We Now Have An Adequate Supply Of Vehicles:
There was a time in the recent past when the police was operating with scarce transport. The problem was brought to Government’s attention and the matter was quickly addressed. We are now in a much better position. We no longer transport prisoners in an open back vehicle as they get wet when it rains on the road to and from prison. Today we have a new enclosed van to transport prisoners. Our vehicle supply is now adequate and for this we thank the government of Belize in general and the Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar in particular.
Belize Wins First-Ever Copa Centroamerican Game:
Belize won its first-ever game at the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana and grabbed the inside track on an automatic berth in the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Nicaragua on Tuesday at the Estadio Nacional. The scoreboard was opened against the run of play in the 29th minute, when Midfielder Trevor Lennen ran onto a ball at the top of the box, and rifled a shot into the back of the net that Nicaraguan goalkeeper Denis Espinoza could do little about. Nicaragua continued to press, but it was Belize that nearly extended its lead two minutes before the half. Harrison Rochez shot strongly from the top of the box, but his drive was denied by a diving Espinoza, and Lennen's follow up shot rolled just wide of the Nicaraguan goal, sending the game to halftime with Belize up one.
North Korea 'Plans Third Nuclear Test':
with plans for a third nuclear test. In a statement carried by KCNA news agency, the country's top military body said the "high-level nuclear test" and more long-range rocket launches were aimed at its "arch-enemy", the US. The statement gave no time-frame for the test. North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009. The move comes two days after a UN Security Council resolution condemned Pyongyang's recent rocket launch.
Mexican Man Barbecued Neighbour’s Dogs:
A municipal police official in northern Mexico says officers have arrested a man who confessed to killing his neighbour’s three dogs and barbecuing them. Police spokesman Adrian Sanchez says the arrest was made late on Tuesday based on an emergency call about a fight in the streets. Police said on Wednesday that Ulises Rodela, 39, was a confronted by his neighbour and told him he turned the dogs over to animal control upon finding them in the street. The owner told police that animal control had no record of receiving the dogs. Police said Rodela then confessed to barbecuing the dogs. Officials were still trying to confirm whether Rodela sold the meat.
Female Smoking Death Risk 'Has Soared':
News Changing habits such as starting earlier and smoking more cigarettes have been blamed for the dramatically increased risks of lung cancer. The trends, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, show death rates in women have caught up with men. The study looked at data from more than two million women in the US. The first generation of women smokers started during the 1950s and 60s. In those early years, women who smoked were nearly three times more likely to die from lung cancer as people who had never smoked.
Thousands Of Venezuelans In Pro-Democracy Rallies:
Allies of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and the opposition have taken part in separate rallies to celebrate the end of military dictatorship. Thousands of "Chavistas" took to the streets of the capital, Caracas, while their opponents held a smaller event. The opposition used the date to criticise the government's handling of Mr Chavez's absence for illness. President Chavez has not been seen or heard since an operation six weeks ago to treat an undisclosed cancer.
UB Partners With EU: Masters & PhD Scholarships Opportunities:
The opportunity for Belizeans to pursue a Masters or a PhD degree is available once again through a program offered by the nation’s tertiary institution, the University of Belize. The European Union project has provided funding for the scholarships through “The Caribbean-Pacific Islands Mobility Scheme (CARPIMS). CARPIMS II is funded by the Education, Audiovisual and Cultural Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission and is designed to facilitate the movement of Masters and PhD students and staff among a consortium of Universities from the Caribbean and Pacific regions. The program aims at building capacity and encouraging socioeconomic development in each country and each region.
Venezuela Vice-President Claims Assassination Plot:
Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela’s vice-president, claims the government has uncovered a plot to assassinate him and Diosdado Cabello, head of the national assembly. Mr Maduro said groups have been followed for weeks that “have the goal of trying to kill” him and Mr Cabello. “For that reason, they’ve said that we’re fighting because their macabre and criminal move is to make attempts against our lives – something they won’t achieve – and later on try to blame one or the other,” he told supporters.
UB Producing Almost 500 Qualified Students This Time:
The University of Belize (UB) continues to build national capacity and human capital for socioeconomic development of Belize. Students who have successfully completed their course of study at the University of Belize will receive their diplomas at the Associate, Bachelor, Certificate and Diploma levels on Saturday January 26, at the University’s Sixteenth Commencement Exercises, Central Campus, Belmopan.
STAR Humor
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Public Notices

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
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The San Pedro Sun

Doctor Love: My ex’s current beau is cheating on her
I was in the city last week and went to eat a restaurant that is in a really out of the way place. After I sat down, I noticed a couple that was sitting in one of the booths on the other side of the restaurant. The way they were seated I could see them but they couldn’t see me. I know the guy but I don’t know the woman he was with. The guy is the one that broke up my girlfriend and me about a year ago. We had been together for a while and had just moved in together. Within a week of meeting him, she left me and moved in with him. They are still living together.

Letter to the Editor: A Note on Incompetence
I believe that no one wants to be the victim of incompetence. Incompetence can be inconvenient; incompetence can be annoying; incompetence can be dangerous. Incompetence on the sea is reprehensible. I wish to relate an example of incompetence on the sea. On the morning of Thursday, January 17th, the Administration of San Pedro Roman Catholic Elementary School arranged for a boat to take teachers to a Belize Teachers Union meeting in Belize City. The boat was incompetently serviced. With over thirty passengers aboard, it stalled five times on the trip from San Pedro to Belize City. The teachers were to return to San Pedro at 4:30 pm. When they arrived at the dock, a crew member was asked if this was the same boat that brought them to Belize City. The answer was affirmative. The next question was: Has the crew spent the afternoon repairing the engine. The answer was “No.”

Letter to the Editor: Thoughts on Carnaval 2013
by Einer Gomez. Kindly allow me to share with your readers a letter I wrote to our San Pedro Town Council regarding the changes being made to the 2013 Carnaval in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. Dear Mayor Danny & Councilors, Thank you for inviting the community to voice our opinion on the upcoming Carnaval Festivities. I am sure that together we can come up with a meaningful decision as we move forward. First and foremost let’s not forget that the community of this beautiful island was founded under religious beliefs and traditions. This culture, and the beauty of our Island combined, created a heaven for tourism; a demanding industry.

Wolfe’s Woofers: First Date Warning
Dennis-Wolfe-Wolfes-Woofers“Let me have an American coffee,” I told the waiter at Sailaway Café. “Anything else, sir?” he asked, when he served the coffee. “Can you please turn the music down just a little bit?” When he turned the music down I turned on my electronic book and started to read. Then I realized that with the quiet I could hear the conversations around me. At the next table two attractive young Spanish women in their early twenties took a seat. “Oh, Maria!” one of them said. “I am so glad I ran into you. I have something very important to ask you about.”

Misc Belizean Sources

Sports Commentary: Belize's performance against Honduras
By Wellington C. Ramos I was anxious to watch the game between Belize and Honduras, who are competing for the Central American Cup. By the time I got to see the game, it was about ten minutes in the second half. Honduras were playing quality football, with teamwork, ball control, passing to their teammates, avoiding turnovers, shooting and creating opportunities to score goals. Belize on the other hand were playing too much of a defensive game. Their defence was stuck in the goal area, putting a lot of pressure on themselves, the goal keeper and blocking his view on several occasions from seeing the players. There was a free kick and one of the Belizean players in the wall, turned his back to the kicker and opened up the wall. Luckily, the goalkeeper was good and he saved the ball. I was not impressed with the way Belize were playing and I felt that they were going to lose the game.

Belize Jaguars Take 4th Place
The Belize Jaguars took 4th place at the Copa Centroamericana football tournament in Costa Rica. Congratulations, Jaguars!

Energizing Youths Entrepreneurship Workshop Ad
The Energizing Youths Entrepreneurship Workshop will be on Saturday, the 23rd of February, at the University of Belize's auditorium. TAS Belize made their advertisement. Contact Patrick Andrews at 601-5011 for more information. "We must empowered our youth with keys and tools on how to create employment for themselves. Small business start ups are known to be the engine of any thriving economy. So many of our young adults are sitting at home with an Associates or Bachelor degree waiting until they can get a job with the government. There is hope, there is a way forward. Mark your calendar for Energizing Youth Entrepreneurship work shop coming this February Saturday 23rd."

VIDEO: SHARK DIVING BELIZE, at Half Moon Wall
Big sharks today and another great day of diving on our routine Blue Hole Trip. This is dive two of three tank dive.

CTV3

Another Accident On The Phillip Goldson Highway
The stretch of the Northern Highway now known as the Phillip Goldson Highway between Belize City and Ladyville has been witness to many traffic accidents and tragic deaths. This morning, the curves that follow the banks of the Belize River saw another traffic accident, between miles six and seven. Reports indicate that the accident occurred a little after eight this morning just before the Haulover Bridge and involved a white four door car and a small delivery truck. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the small delivery truck, which was being driven at the time by Benfield Borland, was traveling in a northerly direction while the white car driven at the time by Police Officer Michael Hutchinson was traveling in the southerly direction. Hutchinson was attempting to overtake an SUV which was also traveling in a southerly direction when the head on collision with the delivery truck occurred. Both Michael Hutchinson and Benfield Borland sustained minor injuries. Police continue their investigations.

Partners Of Belize Medical Mission Offer Their Services To Northenos
From time to time, Belizeans have been able to benefit from free medical services provided by not for profit missions to Belize. Throughout the years, thousands of Belizeans have received medical treatment for just about every type of illness that could be readily diagnosed. What makes these medical services even that much noteworthy is the fact that the men and women performing them do it for free. In these tough economic times, Belizeans do everything possible to stretch their hard earned money and sometimes, that means self-medicating due to the lack of funds to pay for a doctor’s visit. This morning, the Northern Regional Hospital was inundated with residents hoping to take advantage of free medical attention being offered by the eighteen medical practitioners of the Partners of Belize Medical Mission. The team comprised of dentists, hygienists, dermatologists and general doctors. Dr. Gordon Womack spoke to us and told us more.

Jose Luis Sosa Wanted By Police
Yesterday we brought to you the story of the shooting that occurred at San Lorenzo Housing Site. Officers had entered the house in which Jose Luis Sosa, his girlfriend and two week old baby were in. Officers fired a single shot that hit Sosa in his right leg as he took a swing at them with an object. Sosa quickly grabbed hold of his baby in efforts of diffusing the already tense situation. Blood was pouring from Sosa’s leg injury leaving a trail from the bedroom, throughout the house that lead outside. Once outside, Sosa handed over the baby to his girlfriend and he bolted into the nearby bush. Officers fired shots at him but missing their mark and after hours of searching for him, Orange Walk Police ended the man hunt. Soon after officers left the area, Sosa reappeared at his house for a change of clothes and to tie his leg in efforts of slowing down the bleeding from the gunshot wound. The bullet managed to enter his leg and then go out through the other side.

PUP Activist Murdered In Cayo
The murder count for 2013 has gone well in to the double digits already with the latest murder recorded last night in the Cayo District. Residents of Santa Elena Town were shocked to hear the murder of a well-known businessman and political activist. People’s United Party Cayo Central Executive Committee Chairman Steven Valencia was ruthlessly gunned down last night in his home on Loma Luz Drive. Sometime around nine last night, forty year old Valencia was at home with his two daughters when they heard some noises outside of their home followed by the loud bang of the house’s backdoor being forced open. Reports indicated that two unmasked men of dark complexion entered the house of which one was armed with a shotgun. The two men ordered Valencia to lie on the floor and demanded that he hand over money. Valencia pleaded with the two men stating that he did not have any money in the house, but the men fired shots at him causing the fatal injuries. Valencia was suffered gunshot wounds to the upper back, right foot, and right thigh. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Valencia was murdered in front of his two daughters and both assailants managed to make good their escape with only $6 which was in Valencia’s wallet. The People’s United Party has expressed concern and extended their condolences to the family.

Belize's National Team Loses Against Honduras, Belizeans Still Proud
History was made tonight when Belize took the field in Costa Rica one more time in the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana against Honduras. Playing in their first semi-finals match has opened the doors for a whole new different level of experience for the men proudly representing Belize on the football pitch. As the game just finished a few minutes ago with Honduras winning with a one to nothing score, we didn’t have enough time to do an in depth report on the match, but we do promise this story for you on Monday’s newscast. For now, we will focus on two subtitled stories of tonight’s game. There is both good news, and a bit of bad news for our national team. We’ll start with the bad. As you may have noticed a major change in the defensive lineup, Belize took the field this evening without defensive back Everall Trapp. Trapp was hospitalized immediately after Tuesday’s game against Nicaragua which catapulted Belize to the Semi-final round. Trapp was admitted to the emergency room in San Jose, Costa Rica, for a high amount of enzymes in his blood. This condition usually happens after one’s heart has been injured most commonly after a heart attack. The enzymes are found in your blood but in very low quantities, but once the heart sustains an injury, these enzymes would leak from the hearts muscle cells into the blood stream increasing the levels to the blood. Enzymes are also found in other parts of the body, and may also secret higher levels into the blood stream should those parts be damaged as well. Speculation among professionals in Belize indicate that Trapp may have suffered what is known as a threatened heart attack which is when one experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and abnormal electrocardiography results. We are pleased to report that Trapp was released from the hospital in a stable condition but has not been cleared for play.

Demonstration Set For January 29th
The Belize National Teacher’s Union has set January 29th as “The Day” the nation will see their strength. Teachers will travel to Belmopan by the bus loads to demonstrate against Government’s unwillingness to further negotiations on the Collective Bargaining Agreement, particularly that section of salary increments. Confirmation has been received by Executive members of the BNTU, that they will be joined by hundreds of members of the other unions. The Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers will join members of the BNTU in Belmopan as they demonstrate outside of the Cabinet meeting. Here in Orange Walk, several of the executive members of the local branch of the BNTU were panellists on a special edition of CTV-3’s morning show, Despierta Belice. Producers of the morning show along with host Santiago Baeza organized a special show last night with President Otilio Muñoz, Vice President Keith Augustine and Secretary Flor Valdez. Muñoz commented that in July of 2012, the Government of Belize entered in the partial agreement with the Unions with eight out of the twenty-three requests of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He stated that out of those eight, only three were relevant to the teachers. But in a meeting held with Government on the tenth of January this year, Muñoz says that Government took a “no” position to everything discussed and proposed, rather than negotiate.

ESTM Celebrates 30th Anniversary
Teachers have been making headlines across the country lately, but not for the excellent effort placed in the classrooms, but now, for payment of that excellent effort. Teachers are more than educators, they have come to be considered the parents of the students in their classrooms throughout the day as they are the ones tasked with their safeguard. Well, today teachers and students of the Escuela Secudaria Tecnica Mexico are in the news for a milestone in the education services. That milestone is thirty years of service to students of the northern districts of Belize. The school commemorated their thirtieth anniversary today with all day activities and our news team stopped in this morning and filed the following report. Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico is a technical vocational high school that was built and donated in 1982 by the Mexican government as a symbol of recognition of the Independence of Belize. In January of 1983, formal classes began with an enrollment of sixty-eight students and a staff of five teachers. Since its establishment, the student population has grown considerably with the nrollment standing at over 600 students. Today the school’s staff, students, and invited guests congregated at the school’s auditorium as a special ceremony was prepared to initiate the celebration of the school’s 30th anniversary.

LOVE TV

Chamber of Commerce calls of amicable settlement of salary impasse with unions
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it is of the strongest desire that both parties come to an understanding that will be beneficial and sustainable to the Belize economy and taxpayers. Chamber says any public sector salary increases awarded in the absence of growth in the private sector will ultimately result in increased cost of living through higher taxes which would run the risk of simply negating the salary increases in any event. According to the Chamber any increase in public sector wages should be done in an objective and reasonable manner based on evaluated and measureable performance and productivity focusing on positive results achieved by a public officer in their position as well as identifying areas of improvement when there is less than optimum performance. The Chamber goes on to say that in an economy where the unemployment rate is 16 point one percent, the private sector submits that the priority focus at this time should be on private sector job creation and real economic growth. The release from Chamber ends by saying it supports the tax review begun by Government this week and suggests that the unions also take the opportunity to participate and contribute towards developing methods for achieving savings in Government’s operations and growing the economy for the benefit of all Belizeans.

Cayo politician shot dead in home invasion
A prominent citizen of Santa Elena town was murdered on Thursday night. The killing has left the community in shock. Love TV’s Marion Ali reports.

Fashion designer plans weekend runway show
Acclaimed fashion designer, 19 year old Rebecca Stirm, is tying the final knots in preparation of a fashion show on Saturday night in Belize City. The event will feature some of Stirm’s latest designs but, but she says it is also an opportunity for her to raise funds to advance in the field. The modeling show starts at 6:30 on Saturday evening at the Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City.

Youth murdered; family seeks answers
Less than a month into 2013 the number of murders is hovering right around the one dozen mark. It is not a particularly pleasant state of affairs, and today two more bodies are in the morgue as the crime wave stretches from the old capital to Cayo. In the case of the Belize City killing, police have detained one person and are continuing their investigation. Love TV’s Patrick Jones reports. Marvin Gaynair, Junior leaves to mourn his death, his parents, a son, three sisters and seven brothers.

Man shot in the foot “accidentally” as he struggled with police officer
A man was shot in the leg during an apprehension by police on Thursday evening. According to police reports, a mobile patrol on the Burrel Boom Road around four thirty yesterday evening intercepted two men riding on a single bicycle. The officers stopped and search the men, identified as twenty seven year old Adrian Myvette and twenty four year old Ernett Broaster. Authorities say that during the search they found the men to be individually carrying small quantities of marijuana. Upon being place under arrest, police say Myvette ran away but was pursued and apprehended. Myvette reportedly resisted arrest and a struggle ensured, during which the policemen’s point thirty eight revolver accidentally discharged hitting Myvette in the left leg. Myvette was taken to the KHMH where he was treated and released into police custody where he was formally arrested and charged for the crimes of drug trafficking, escaping from lawful custody, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer and allowing one’s self to be carried on a bicycle. The second suspect, Ernett Broaster was arrested and charged for the crimes of carrying a person on a bicycle and possession of controlled drugs.

Anti-crime protest held in Belize City
A demonstration against Crime was what was on Phillip “Fada” Henry’s agenda for today. In fact the activist visited Love News a couple days ago to invite the people of Belize to join him in the demonstration at Battlefield Park in Belize City. He was expecting a crowd of at least five hundred people; but from the looks of things, Henry was woefully short of his targeted crowd. He told Love News why he suspected the turnout was low. While Henry calls on government to address the crime situation, another demonstrator, John Bracket says that the war against crime requires community participation. Love News also did not see any demonstrators from Gales Point Manatee village as ws expected by organizers of today’s demonstration.

Science fair held at St. Catherine Academy
A science fair was held today at the Saint Catherine’s Academy in Belize City. Love TV’s Natalie Novelo reports.

Escuala Mexico celebrates 30th anniversary
Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico is celebrating its 30th anniversary. An official ceremony was held at the school’s compound in San Roman Village in the Corozal District. In his address, Mexican Ambassador Mario Velazquez highlighted the outstanding contribution that graduates have made to Belize’s development. In 1982 the Mexican government built and donated the Hight School to Belize as a symbol of recognition of Belize’s independence. In January 1983 formal classes began with the enrollment of 68 students and a staff of five teachers. Today the high school has an enrollment of over 600 students. The celebrations for the 30th Anniversary included the presentation of the Traditional Dance Company of the Department of Culture of Quintana Roo.

National Sports Council says no election can be held for BCA executive
While the stellar performance of Belize’s national football team has lifted the nation’s collective spirit, tonight another big sport discipline is facing some major problems. The Belize Cycling Association is without an elected executive … at least that is the view of the National Sports Council. According to the Council, the term of office of the last constitutionally elected executive expired at the end of November last year. Controversy has enveloped the election of a new executive because of issues regarding which constitution should be used as there are apparently more than one versions of the document. Today, the National Sports Council issued a statement saying that it won’t recognize any results of a purported election scheduled for this weekend by the former executives of the Belize Cycling Association. Allan Sharp is the chairman of the National Sports Council. Sharp told Love News that a schedule meeting with the president of the regional governing body for Cycling did not materialize as scheduled this week and he is hoping that that meeting can happen soon, so that things can return to normal in the sport of cycling. Until a new executive is elected for the Belize Cycling Association, an interim committee chaired by the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association is conducting the affairs of the Association.

Renovated school building inaugurated at St. Peter Claver, Punta Gorda
A newly renovated school building at the St. Peter Claver primary school in Punta Gorda town was inaugurated earlier this week. Correspondent Paul Mahung reports.

FFB president says team Belize is ready for Honduras
Belize’s historic run in international football is continuing at this hour in San Jose, Costa Rica. Belize is taking on Honduras in the semi finals of the COPA CENTROAMERICANA, in a game that is undoubtedly being watched by thousands of Belizeans at home and abroad. Honduras is the reigning champions of Central America and Belize is aiming to unseat them. The Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose is the venue for the game you are watching. It is undoubtedly one of the biggest football matches ever played by Belize. The Belize National Football team advanced to this semi-finals of the COPA CENTROMERICANA tournament on Tuesday night when they defeated Nicaragua by a score of two to one on a late goal by striker Deon McCauley. The outcome of this game will determine whether Belize plays for the championship on Sunday or not. In any case, advancing to the semi-finals was historic enough for Belize which, prior to Tuesday, had not won a game in the UNCAF tournament before. President of the Football Federation of Belize Ruperto Vicente today told Love News that team is in a high state of readiness. Vicente says that while Honduras is a formidable opponent; Belize went into tonight’s match with their “A” game. The Belize National Football team is expected back home on Monday and Vicente says they will be given a hero’s welcome when they touch down at the Phillip Goldson International airport. The team is scheduled to arrive in Belize on Monday afternoon.

Blogs

A Tale of Five Cities: Around San Cristobal (Part 2)
More photos from our sight-seeing walks around beautiful San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico...

Top Souvenirs to Buy in Belize
Belize is a hidden gem when it comes to tourism, especially if you’re looking to go scuba diving or simply relax on a gorgeous beach. The unique culture and flavors of Belize also offer some excellent souvenirs to take back from your trip. Whether you’re looking to buy gifts for people back home, or to remember your trip by, here are some excellent souvenir ideas for your trip to Belize: Habanero peppers grow throughout Belize, and are featured in many traditional spicy dishes. The traditional rice, beans, seafood, and stew chicken of the area is often spiced up with pepper sauce. And this is a great item to take back to the foodie on your gift list – or just so that you can continue to enjoy the flavors of Belize long after you’re gone. Marie Sharps is one of the best-known hot sauce makers in the country, and you can even get a tour of the facility. While there is a large market in tourist areas like downtown San Pedro and San Ignacio, most tourists recommend avoiding this market in favor of individual marketplaces around the outskirts of San Pedro, San Ignacio, by the Xunantunich ferry in Succotz Village, and in other areas of Belize. In these markets, you can find lots of traditional crafts, including worry dolls that feature a distinct Belizean beauty, woven purses, and wooden crafts. Like other countries, Belize features a wide variety of art styles and types, but the country is known particularly for its slate carvings. You can buy carvings in many Belizean gift shops, but it’s cheaper and more fun to buy them directly from the artists by the Xunantunich Ferry on the Mopan River bank in Succotz Village. This way, you can have some contact with the creator of your souvenir piece – and you can skip out on the marked-up shop prices. The Cotton Tree Chocolate Factory actually allows you to see how chocolate is made in Punta Gorda. Then, you can take home some delicious chocolate to commemorate your trip.

How did we get here?
How did we get to this place in Belize? This is a reflective question I keep asking myself as I watch and listen in horror as the death toll keep climbing in Belize. I know the helplessness and frustrations of those who want to make a difference; the paralysis of those who live in the carnage daily and the failing and inept judicial system that creates no justice for the average Belizean. Back in the day murder was unheard of, and the ones that did occur was normally limited to domestic violence that got bitterly out of hand. When I grew up in Belize, Belizeans were known as docile people, a description I had issue with because it seemed to describe people who did as they were told. Today I long for the days when we are back to a peaceful fun loving people; back to a community spirited people. As I reflect on the society I grew up in, I remember a peaceful, happy society where everyone got along and people were poor but were satisfied with what they had…

Chocolat no it is not a misspell read on ;0)
Mystery blogger here. Mr. John is fed up with the rain. The build stops when it rains, and it is lashing down. We have decided to review our plans for the house and are going to build a castle instead. Why, well we already have a moat so all we need now is a drawbridge.Mmmmm chocolate, mmmmmmm Johnny Depp, dream, zzzzzzzzz.

International Sources

El Salvador nips Belize, takes 3rd at Copa Centroamericana
Nelson Bonilla scored in the second half to boost El Salvador to a 1-0 victory over upstart Belize to earn third place at the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana on Sunday. The El Salvadorans, who ended a six-game winless streak in the competition, equaled their best finish at Copa. The clinched third place for a fifth time (1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2013). Belize easily surpassed its best Copa placement and has conceded one goal or less in five of its last six UNCAF encounters. Both sides booked spots at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be hosted by the United States from July 7-28. Bonilla scored the game’s lone goal in the 50th minute. He finished off series of passes with a close-range shot at Estadio Nacional. Belize’s best opportunity came two minutes prior, when Deon McCauley, Central American team’s top goal-scorer, sent a shot from barely inside the midfield stripe that almost caught goalkeeper Derby Carillo out of his net. The shot, however, sailed just high of the goal.

Saborio, Costa Rica top Honduras in Centroamericana final
Honduras may be the up and coming power in CONCACAF, but Costa Rica won back the title of kings of Central America. Geancarlo González scored in the 37th minute to give Los Ticos a 1-0 victory over Los Catrachos in a thrilling final of the Copa Centroamericana on Sunday at Estadio Nacional in San José. It marked the seventh UNCAF title for Costa Rica, who were hosting the tournament for the third time. Seven MLS players saw time in the final, including Real Salt Lake’s Álvaro Saborío (above), who nearly drew blood inside the first quarter-hour but saw his attempt saved in a sensational performance by Honduras ‘keeper Donis Escobar. Portland’s Rodney Wallace was also in the Costa Rica starting lineup, while Honduras countered with Houston’s Boniek García, New England’s Jerry Bengtson, San Jose’s Víctor Bernárdez and Seattle’s Mario Martínez. Columbus striker Jairo Arrieta — who ended up the shockingly low-scoring tournament's Golden Boot winner as the only player with two goals — came off the bench for Costa Rica in second-half stoppage time. In the third-place match, El Salvador dispatched upstarts Belize 1-0 with a 49th-minute goal from Nelson Bonilla. Starting in goal was Los Angeles-area native and former Cal FC goalkeeper Derby Carrillo, who won his first cap for El Salvador. The Copa Centroamericana doubles as Central America's qualifying tournament for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. As the top five finishers, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize and Panama booked spots in this summer's tournament.

US citizens in Belize gets early warning from US Embassy
Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Belmopan (Belize), University of Belize Demonstration and March Riots/Civil Unrest. U.S. Embassy Belmopan advises U.S. citizens to avoid the areas surrounding the National Assembly Building, Market Square and Government of Belize offices in Belmopan on Monday January 28, 2013 from 0800-1700. Belize authorities have confirmed that the President of the University of Belize (UB), Belmopan campus, will lead a demonstration on Monday, January 28, 2013, to protest the decrease of subsidies to the University. The demonstrators are scheduled to meet at the UB campus at 8:00am and march to the National Assembly Building. We remind U.S. citizens that demonstrations take place in Belize from time to time in response to world events or local developments. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. U.S. citizens should exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. U.S. citizens are urged to stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times.

Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute heads to World Court
The Organization of American States (OAS) says its Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, met with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Belize and Guatemala on the protracted territorial dispute between both countries. “The meeting’s main objective was to exchange information on the tasks that both countries are committed to carry out in preparation for the referenda concerning recourse to the Court of the Hague Convention on the territorial issue,” said a statement from the OAS. In the tripartite meeting, which took place within the framework of the European (EU)-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit here, the OAS said both officials “explained the situation in each country, with a view toward finalizing the consultation agreed and renewed the commitment of their governments to carry it out.” During the discussion, the OAS said Wilfred Elrington – the Foreign Affairs Minister from Belize and and Guatemala’s Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Fernando Carrera “thanked the efforts of the hemispheric body, particularly those of Secretary General Insulza, for accompanying the process.” Insulza, who was accompanied by Ambassador Hugo de Zela, his chief of staff, said “our organization will continue supporting all efforts made by Belize and Guatemala to comply with the agreements they have reached.” Guatemala and Belize, have signed an accord agreeing to let their territorial dispute, which is nearly two centuries old, be settled in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, otherwise known as the Court of the Hague or the World Court.

Honduras' Suarez: We're deserving finalists
After edging Belize, 1-0, in a semifinal match tighter than many might have expected, Honduras progressed to a second straight final at the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana. Despite the luxury of a roster full of international stars, the Catrachos have been made to work for everything that they have earned in the competition. A pair of 1-1 draws in the first round and a narrow semifinal win in three games reinforce that notion. Through it all, though, the Hondurans are exactly where most observers thought they would be…in the last two, contesting for the trophy. "I'll keep the second half," Honduran head coach Luis Fernando Suarez said of the showdown with Belize. "I thought Belize might be a tough opponent for us. "They did things well. But we scored the goal, and that's why we're deserving finalists."

Cave Tubing in Belize
While Belize was quite the relaxing getaway, we made sure we had a number of exciting adventures on the agenda as well. We took tubes through pitch black caves, guided by lights we had attached to our helmets. It was a really cool way to experience the environment of Belize. Click through the gallery to see pics from our cave tubing excursion.

From Textbook to Real Life: The Mayan Ruins
Sitting in a boat, 100 times smaller than the cruise ship we were on, I was sandwiched between my mom and brother, along with 50 other people in the boat, like sardines while my dad was taking photos. You could feel there was excitement of going to shore, finally, after a night of constant movement of the ship. But for me, going to shore meant my feet were going to step on a new country, the 13th to be exact. And not only that, I was about to set foot on a real Mayan ruin. Rewind to the previous school year. I’m picturing myself sitting in my desk… world history class… students falling asleep around me… The teacher at his podium… Lecturing… "Today we are going to learn about the Mayans…" Most students don’t learn anything about the Mayans until they take world history, in 10th grade. I’ll be honest, history is not my favorite subject… But somehow, the Mayans happen to be one topic I paid most attention to. That’s only because I knew and I was determined, that I would one day, visit one of the ruins of this civilization. (and we discussed a lot about blood and sacrificing) Again, to be honest, one year later, I don’t even remember what I learned about the Mayans in school. Fast forward back to the boat. We reached the port. Found our ride. Drove an hour and a half, seeing mountains… people….architecture….of Belize. We stopped, got out of the van and wow! I was at a Mayan ruin, well the sign said so.. I didn’t see anything yet…

Highlights of Belize and Guatemala
What sorts of things do you picture when you think of Central America? I’m asking because I didn’t really know what to expect before I visited both Belize and Guatemala earlier this month. Based on what the media had told/shown me about the region, I only thought of jungles and coffee and violence in association with Central America. And, to be fair, you WILL find those things there. But Central America is more than what the media leads us to believe. In fact, both countries I visited were so different that it was amazing to me that they existed side-by-side within the same region. I visited Belize and Guatemala on an 8-day trip with Intrepid Travel, and was trying to figure out how best to describe my experience to you. Should I write a review? Share photos? Just jump right into all the individual posts I wanted to write? In the end, I settled on a highlights video, along with some of my best photos from the trip. Check out the video below, and then read on to get a preview of what I did/saw on this adventure.

Xcalak: mare, sabbia, sole e tranquillità
Di tutte le località costiere lambite dal Mar dei Caraibi, Xcalak forse è la meno conosciuta, ma di tutti i posti meta del turismo messicano è di certo la più tranquilla, forse troppo desolata, ma qui si può vivere ed assaporare la vita del Messico autentico. Il principale motivo per cui Xcalak è poco conosciuta fondamentalmente è che è veramente ardua da raggiungere. Adagiata su una lunga e stretta lingua di sabbia nell'estremità più meridionale del Messico, lungo una propaggine ammantata da foreste di mangrovie e quasi al confine col Belize, Xcalak è preservata dal turismo di massa grazie alla barriera corallina che non consente alle navi da crociera di avvicinarsi alla costa. Alle spalle di questo remoto villaggio di pescatori, oltre la foresta di mangrovie che funge da naturale scudo, si estende la Baia di Chetumal e dalla terra ferma ci si può arrivare solamente percorrendo una lunga strada sterrata e coperta di sabbia, verso sud rispetto al paesino di Majahual. Abbiamo raggiunto Xcalak con una corriera, proprio partendo da Chetumal, dove avevamo passato la notte; i pulmini, piuttosto attempati, fanno diverse fermate in città, ma sono soltanto tre o quattro al giorno e così, per non sprecare tempo, abbiamo preso il primo alla mattina. In principio la strada è piuttosto facile, asfaltata e si dirige verso nord senza alcuna difficoltà, giunti all'incrocio per Majahual si svolta verso la costa e dopo parecchio tempo si raggiunge questa località lontana dai giri turistici, ma comunque vivace, piacevole ed attrezzata per i visitatori.

When Mexico lost Belize
In issue 53 of Pioneers, directed by Francisco Verdalles, appears an interesting writing signed by the chronicler of Chetumal Ignacio A. Herrera Muñoz titled “When Mexico lost Belize” (please note that between the don Ignacio and that this type of an “innocent” accent that makes a difference between the two). For reasons of space, I will not repeat several statements of the Chronicler, however we must begin by declaring: “The government of the republic who had inherited at independence be recognized that Spain had rights over Belize, was aware of this situation and therefore concluded a border treaty in 1893 that was called MARISCAL SPENCER boundary treaty. “

January 27, 2013

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

John Saldivar renounces accusations of “union-busting”
I maintain my absolute right, obligation even, as an Area Representative to consult with my constituents on matters affecting their well-being. The current impasse between unions and the government on the issue of salary increase is one such matter, and I am grateful to the more than fifty teachers of my constituency who showed up for the very fruitful discussion that took place this afternoon. I am very encouraged by the exchange of ideas that took place at the session, and I will, as a result, be making some suggestions to the Hon. Prime Minister which can hopefully move the process in a positive direction. I denounce any suggestion that this type of dialogue between a duly elected Area Representative and his constituents can be characterized as “union-busting”.

Hon. Lisel Alamilla speaks on incident at Ya’axche’ Conservation Trust
The Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development has been informed that at around 1:20 am on the morning of Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013, several shots were fired at the Field Station of Ya’axche’ Conservation Trust which is situated near Golden Stream Village on the Southern Highway in Toledo. Golden StreamYa’axche’ Conservation Trust is a co-management partner with the Forest Department in the management of the Bladen Nature Reserve, and has been a fervent ally in the struggle against the illegal logging and trade of illegal rosewood from southern Belize.

Misc Belizean Sources

Brigitte the croc rescued
Brigitte rescued. She would have otherwise been shot; as most shrimp farmers in Belize illegal kill crocs found in their shrimp ponds. Brigitte was rescued, kept in quarantine to be sure she is disease free, and now swims freely in the largest, natural, secured crocodile habitat in Belize thanks to La Fondation Brigitte Bardot! Thank you!

Strings of Love Call for Artists
The SISE Town Council is having their Strings of Love concert, in celebration of Valentine's Day, on Friday, February 15th, at the Cayo Welcome Center. They are looking for guitarists and singers. Contact Mike or Shari to find out more.

Raspberry Creem Fillt Lemon Amish Friendship Breed Cupcakes
“Make these sweet, lite and creemy raspberry fillt cupcakes fer yer nex Valentine’s Day Partee.” Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Servings: 24 Yield: 24 cupcakes Ingredients Cupcakes: 1 cup 3 aigs 1 cup vegetabull earl 1/2 cup lite creem

Amish Friendship Breed Pineepple Cokunut Cheeseecake Mini Muffins
“Serve these tastee sweet muffins at yer nex fambly dinnr.” Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Servings: 30 Yield: 24 mini muffins and 1 loaf Ingredients 1 cup 3 aigs 1/3 cup earl 1/2 cup milk 3/4 cup brown sugar

Channel 7

Belize Loses In Semi's, Retains Respectability
Tonight, Belizean football fans are saddened but not devastated after Belize lost to Honduras one-nil in the semifinals of the Copa Centroamericana which was played in San Jose Costa Rica. The game just finished a few minutes ago - and as the heavy underdog, Team Belize held its own. The Hondurans scored in the 67th minute and Belize did not equalize. The good news going forward is that we are still in contention for third place. That match will be played on Sunday afternoon. And then on Monday afternoon, the team returns home where they will be celebrated in a motorcade through the city.

Cayo PUP Activist Killed In Home Invasion, In Front of 2 Young Daughters
And while there are bittersweet emotions over the score in football, in Cayo, the community is reeling from the aftershocks of a home invasion and murder. It happened in Santa Elena at a home behind the race-track where prominent PUP Activist Steven Valencia lived. Last night two men got into his home and killed him in front of his daughters. Daniel Ortiz went west today to try to find answer to this disturbing murder:.. Daniel Ortiz reporting Last night at around 9 p.m., 40 year old Steven Valencia was at home with his 2 daughters, when 2 armed men came to his back door and broke it open. Though there were dogs on the premises, they put up no resistance to the assailants last night or, for that matter, the police and press today. Unhindered, the intruders then reportedly robbed him of a small amount money and shot him in the upper back, right foot, and right thigh.

Man Killed After Dropping Off Girlfriend
And shortly after that murder in Cayo, there was another - this one in the St Martin's area of Belize City. It happened at around 9:35pm on Mahogany Street. The victim is 23 year old Marvin Gaynair of an Aloe Vera Street address. Gaynair had just dropped off his girlfriend and was walking on Mahogany Street heading back to his home. When he reached the junction of Western Avenue and Mahogany Street he stopped to talk with someone he knew. That's when the gunman pulled up on him and opened fire. Gaynair was shot to the chest, back and right hand and was rushed to the KHMH where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Marvin Gaynair was the father of a four year old child and was also a construction worker. So far police have detained one person for questioning.

UB Students Prepare To Protest
The University of Belize Student Government Association will protest on Monday morning in Belmopan. This is after they wrote the Minister of Education on Monday and demanded a reply by yesterday, Thursday. The letter was again appealing to him to re-consider Government's decision to increase the registration fee for incoming students. The minister did not reply and so on Monday - the Students will take it to the streets of Belmopan. SGA President Hope Amadi told us he has the backing of the students:.. Hope Amadi "We ask the students if they would support us to go on strike and they said yes. They say that they will support us, to walk out of class and talk to the Minister - the Minister would understand how much this is a problem to us." Reporter "What is it you are hoping to accomplish?" Hope Amadi "We hope at the minister and Belizeans at large would acknowledge or know how much their children have grown over the years because over the years people have been taking the youths like they cannot do anything. We hope that by this the minister would understand how serious the students are in the issue that affect them the most which is the cut and the subsidy."

Students Go Grafitti?
But this morning things were already happening - right in front of our studio! This morning we saw some pro-UB street graffiti in front of our studio. It was painted in burnt oil. We also saw a similar graffiti scrawled on the entrance to the SJC compound. We asked Amadi about it:.. Jules Vasquez "In front of my office this morning I saw painted on the street "No increase in UB fees." Is this something that you all are behind or you all know about? Is there anything you all know about it?" Hope Amadi "That is going on?" Jules Vasquez "Yeah." Hope Amadi "I mean if that is going on that is to say that people are really tired of this. I live in Belmopan and all my activities are going on in Belmopan, so if somebody here in Belize City are doing that - that is nice, I wish they could continue more. It's something that Belizeans need to understand what is going on. I do think the massage has to be out here more for people to understand that yes it is pass time that we Belizeans begin to fight for what we want and what we believe in."

Chamber Objects To Public Officers Pay Raise
And while the students, teachers and public officers are looking to ratchet up public activism, the Belize chamber of Commerce and Industry is urging caution - particularly to the unions. A release sent out this evening says that quote, "any Public Sector salary increases awarded in the absence of growth in the Private Sector will ultimately result in increased cost of living through higher taxes.." The release adds that any increase in compensation to Public Sector workers should be tied in with performance improvements and efficiency increases. The Chamber says it "cannot condone the idea of general Public Sector wage increases that may serve to simultaneously reward unproductive or counterproductive work." The Chamber also says that with "deficit budgets" GOB does not have much room for negotiating increases with public officers.

Man Accused Of Crime Against Child
Tonight, 20 year-old Clinton Roca is out on bail after he was taken to court for an unnatural crime against a 14 year-old boy. According to the minor, on 3 separate occasions between January 2012, and February 13, 2012, Roca sodomized him in a village in the Rural Area of Northern Belize. Police investigated the reports, and they eventually charged Roca with committing an unnatural crime, he was arraigned today before Magistrate Cayetano, where he pleaded not guilty to charge. In the arraignment, the prosecutor objected to bail. Roca's attorney made several submissions to counter the objections, and after Magistrate Cayetano considered them, he ruled in Roca's favor.

Police Shot A Man Who Ran From Weed Charge
Tonight, 27 year-old Adrian Myvette is recovering from a gunshot injury after he was shot by a police officer who he allegedly assaulted. The officer, attached to Ladyville police, reported that at around 4:35 yesterday, they were on mobile patrol on the Burrell Boom Road, when his attention was drawn to 2 men who were double riding. The officer stopped and searched both men, who were identified to be Myvette and 24 year-old Ernett Broaster. The officer reported discovered 82 grams of cannabis on Myvette, and when the officer tried to arrest him, he ran away. The officer pursued him, and when Myvette realized that he was caught, he started to fight him off. The officer's report gets vague at this point, but the he says that during that struggle, Myvette was accidently shot in the left leg when his service .38 revolver accidentally discharged. Myvette was taken to the KHMH, and he was treated and released into police custody, where he was charged with drug trafficking, escaping lawful custody, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, and allowing himself to be carried on a bicycle.

Police Face Maskall Villagers After Murder
Residents of Maskall who are outraged at the murder of one of its senior citizens last weekend - will have a chance to take it up with police. As we reported 61 year-old Ervin Morales was found chopped to death inside his home in Maskall - and two teenagers were charged for it. The motive appears ot have been robbery. Well the Regional Executive Officer of Belize Rural along with officers from the Ladyville station are urging villagers to come to the community center tomorrow to vent their concern about the incident and security in general. Noble says he plans to have similar meetings in all 27 villages of Belize rural.

Elrington and Insulza In Chile
On Wednesday, 7News showed you the opening of GOB's ICJ Campaign, yesterday; we also gave you a sample of the opinions from the students of Saint John's College during the public consultations by Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington. Well today, Elrington met with the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza in Santiago, Chile. At this meeting, Elrington and INSULZA discussed the most recent developments in Belize concerning the referendum process. Both Elrington and Insulza were in Chile for the Summit between European Union and Community of Latin America and Caribbean States.

FFB: "A Respectable Loss"
Tonight, football fans and Belizeans generally may be a little downcast because of this evening's loss to Honduras one-nil in the final of the Copa Centroamericana. But football experts agree, it was a very respectable loss. Belize was a decided underdog against a world class Honduran team which was better conditioned, more experienced and more patient. And even with all that - they only scored a single goal in the 67th minute in a game they had to win. We asked Marlon Kuylen (quee-lyn) of the FFB executive for his post mortem on the game:.. Marlon Kuylen "The team played very well. Honduras as you know is a very experienced team, they are the defending champions on this tournament, they are a World Cup qualifying - they are playing to go to the next World Cup. Our showing was impressive. The Honduras team as I said are professionals, their patience paid off, they are experience and there were some fatigue on our part." Daniel Ortiz "While the country was looking at the game hoping for a Hail Mary, there were some that said that they predicted that we would have lost. How do you respond to them in light of the performance from the National Team?"

A Two-Man Army
For weeks now, Phillip Fawda Henry has been taking to the airwaves to hype up an anti-crime protest that he had planned for today. Well, in terms of generating crowd support, it was an abject failure. In fact he had fewer people than he did last time - and that was only five! We spoke to the pair of protestors Battlefield Park:.. Phillip "Fawda" Henry - Activist "We are out here yes protesting against crime and violence because it seems like nobody else wants to stand up for their country. It seems like from the old days people stand up just for the sake of money but if they would know the value of their country they would stand in solidarity to save their country." John Brackett - Activist "If it takes only me alone to be out here demonstrating and keep up the awareness - that's simply what I am going to do."

Rosewood Hostility Causes Shots Fired At Ya'xche'?
There are signs tonight that the Rosewood War is dangerously escalating. The Forestry Department issued a release today saying that on Wednesday morning at 1:20, several shots were fired at the Field Station of Ya'axche' Conservation Trust which is situated near Golden Stream Village on the Southern Highway in Toledo. Ya'axche' co-manages the Bladen Nature Reserve, and has been working with the Forest Department to stop the illegal extraction and trafficking of Rosewood. The release says, that the shooting is an act of retaliation against the recent rosewood crackdwon.

Late Evening Accident Stops Traffic At Border
There was a serious three-vehicle collision this evening on the Northern Highway near the Mexican Border. It started when a mini-van ran into the back of A BBOC bus. And then 20 minutes later, another car came behind and crashed into the van - while also running over two women who had come out of the bus. As we understand it, that second collision was caused by the fact that the minivan's lights were crushed in the collision - so the oncoming car could not see the accident in the road. The full extent of the injuries are not known at this point, but traffic was blocked up for over an hour as rescue teams worked to clear the highway. The road is very wet as it has been raining in the area.

A Great Week for Football
And as we close this week, even though Belize lost to Honduras today, there is still much to celebrate. Our national football team has raised eyebrows and earned respectability throughout the region and the world. We lost to two world class teams, Costa Rica and Honduras, by a total of two goals - and we beat Nicaragua - the first victory for Belize in such a tournament. And now, regardless of what happens in Sunday's third place game, we move unto the Gold Cup in the USA in July. So, as we close tonight, things are looking up, and we are looking back at this week's heroics set to a tune written for the team called "Go-Go Belize" by the Super Furia Band. Have a great weekend, and let's all hope for a win on Sunday.

The Belize Times

History! – National Team defeats Nicaragua in dramatic finish
The entire nation of Belize is ecstatic over the highly dramatic victory which Belize’s National A Team had over Nicaragua on Tuesday night in the Copa Centro America held in San Jose, Costa Rica. Not only was Belize seeking to advance in the tournament with a win (the first ever for Belize), but it was also looking to qualify to the Gold Cup scheduled for July 2013 which would be a first for the country. The National A Team did it. First with a goal in the 29th minute by midfielder Trevor Lennen who blasted a right foot shot which was unstoppable for the Nicaraguan goalkeeper Denis Espinoza. Belize’s highly defensive playing style continued in this game, as Nicaragua attempted to spoil the lead. Belize’s goal keeper Woodrow West was at his best, guarding the goal and coaching the team from where he stood. West has been nothing less than spectacular in the tournament, showing his talent and ability as an alert, attentive and acrobatic athlete. Only 1 goal had been scored on him in Game 1 against Costa Rica, until the 85th minute when the defense allowed Nicaragua’s Elvis Figueroa to receive a pass and aim a shot at West that was too close and too quick to stop. Regulation time ended with the game tied 1-1. Three minutes extra time was given, but Belize didn’t wait that long to find its mark. In minute 1 extra time, Nicaragua’s defense erred upon receiving a lob, which bounced off the defence’s foot right in front of Belize’s striker Deon McCaulay. McCaulay’s sharp reflex pushed him ahead with the ball and when the Espinoza came out to block the strike, McCaulay simply tapped the ball to the right and into the goal. Nicaragua tried to get the ball into Belize’s territory, but had no success. With the loss, they were eliminated from the tournament. Belize had tied with Guatemala 0-0 on January 18th, and lost to Costa Rica 1-0 on January 20th. Belize is in Group A in 2nd place, with 4 points. Belize ...

PM’s desperate bait to bondholders
Prime Minister Dean Barrow toned down his euphoria over the Superbond re-negotiation at a press conference held on Monday, January 21, 2013. Just days before Christmas, in December 2012, Barrow had called the media to announce that a deal had been struck in time for Christmas. In his usual grand flair, he was all smiles for the cameras, as he flaunted big words that seemed to impress no one but the members of his head table. Barrow reported that an agreement had been reached “with bondholders” and that it would result “in excess of 150 million dollars in relief”. But on Monday of this week, reacting to pressure that the December stunt was just a show, a much less enthusiastic Barrow called the media again. Remarkably, the facts had changed. ...

GOB Attempts Union Busting – BNTU rejects meetings with Police Minister & Prime Minister
The Barrow Administration’s naked and shameful attempts to disrupt the teacher’s movement with divide and conquer tactics have been exposed, further aggravating Union Leaders who are planning a massive demonstration on Tuesday, January 29th, 2013. On Tuesday, the Belize National Teachers Union Belmopan Branch President received a copy of a letter sent from the Belmopan Education Office to all Managers, Principals and Teachers in the Belmopan Area, calling them to an urgent meeting with the UDP Constituency Area Representative Minister of National Security John Saldivar at 1:30pm on Wednesday, January 23rd. The purpose of the meeting, stated the memo, was for Saldivar to “discuss the Bargaining Agreement”. The memo also informed the managers, principals and teachers that the Ministry of Education was giving them a half-day free of classes so they can ...

Another Lebanese Businessman Murdered – Are Police clueless about strange wave of murders?
Lebanese-Belizean businessman Majdi Agha was murdered in an execution-style shooting outside of his home on Tuesday, January 22nd morning. Agha had parked his vehicle outside of his yard on Keating Crescent in the Buttonwood Bay Area and was about to enter through his gate when a lone, masked gunman appeared and shot him. Agha fell into the nearby drain. Neighbors say they saw a man running away from the area, towards an awaiting car. Agha’s wife and newborn child were inside the car when the attack happened. She heard the gunshots and when she went outside to check, she saw her husband lying dead in the drain. Agha received a shot to the head and three to the body. ...

Digging Up Bones!
The Belize City Council’s decision to take away the building of graves at the Lord Ridge Cemetery from local undertakers and contractors smacks of little more than just unadulterated greed. While the cementing of our city streets is certainly welcome, the mayor seems intent on carrying out this job by gouging every possible penny from not only the living but even the dead. While they continue to insist that prices will not change, all those who have had to do business since the change over, have a different story to tell. The Council’s recent conflict with undertakers and grave builders had me reminiscing about a time long gone. One of the first jobs I held as a young boy growing up on Cemetery Road in Belize City was apprentice to Mr. Locke, at the time, Belize’s premier grave builder. It was no easy job, and it entailed breaking big stones into little ones. We had no cement blocks and don’t remember us using any steel or ‘sand and gravel’ even. We would cast the sides, fill up the middle with dirt and cast the top. Many of the stones that I would break were recycled from old tombs that were left abandoned and derelict. In retrospect, I guess you could say that we were, well, sort of grave robbers. We would identify the old broken-up tombs during the daytime and return at night to gather up the pieces. For a kid who grew up deathly afraid of ghosts, you could imagine that that had to have been the most difficult aspect of that job. ...

THINK ABOUT IT
Belize is among the top six countries in the world in relation to its murder rate. Belize at 44 murders for every 100,000 citizens has surpassed even the notorious Jamaican murder rate. The same is likely, though if not worse for persons put in jail, before a trial. ...

Editorial: BIG TEST; BAD STUDENT
The Government is insistent on making a mockery of the teachers of this country. In very lucid intervals the attitude of the Government towards the teachers is borderline contemptuous and poorly clad annoyance. But the teaching fraternity is a formidable one. These teachers that are being scoffed at, undermined and ill-treated like indentured slave hands are in contact with over a hundred thousand (100,000) students who are attending a total of 541 schools throughout the three levels of the education factory. The sheer number of teachers is staggering with almost 5,000 dedicated men and women nationwide. Clearly, good politics will dictate that the Government should show tremendous restraint from extending the full extent of their usual penchant to be crassly condescending and insultingly dismissive. The issue for the Government is not the economic hardship and sacrifice which has been weighing heavily on teachers. The human side of the reasonable request by the teachers in the collective bargaining agreement does not register with the petty and selfish government. What they see is a block of voters and political turmoil which is very bad news because it confirms the quiet discontent and disappointment which is a prelude to final confirmation that the people will take no more excuses.

Ladyville Tech defeats ACC 2-1
The Ladyville Technical High School girls enjoyed their 2nd win 2-1 against the Anglican Cathedral College girls on Monday. Shanese Rhaburn gave the Ladyville girls a 1-0 lead while ACC’s Ajahney Carr equalized for ACC just before the break. In the 2nd half, ACC gave up a free kick which Shanese Rhaburn converted into a goal. The Ladyville Tech girls also posted a 3-1 win over the Excelsior High School last Wednesday. Tishawn Garcia scored Ladyville’s 1st goal, but Excelsior’s Shakeema Lorenzo delivered the equalizer for a 1-1 draw at the half time break. In the 2nd half, Ladyville’s Remelinda Perez scored a 2nd goal and Shameika Franklin iced the win with a 3rd goal. ...

Reid, Martinez & Abraham win Weekend Warriors Boom race
Team Zitro’s Mark Reid won the “B” division of the Weekend Warriors’ Belize City to Burrell Boom cycling race on Sunday morning, while team M&M; Engineering’s Preston Martinez won the “A’ division and Ian Abraham won the “C” division. Mark Reid clocked 2:03:20 as he won the 42 mile race from Leslie’s Imports via Hattieville to Burrell Boom village on the bypass road and back to Leslie’s imports. Team Digicel 4G’s Isaiah Willacy was 2nd while M&M; Engineering’s Daniel Cano finished 3rd. Team Zitro’s Carlo Marin was 4th, Team Santino’s Jerome Moir was 5th and team Digicel 4G’s Kevin Hope was 6th. Preston Martinez clocked 1:50:57 as he won the “A” class race. Team BCB/F.T.Williams’ George Abraham was right behind to take 2nd, while Team Scotiabank’s Barney Brown was 3rd in 1:51:49, and BCB/F.T.Williams’ Dean Belisle was 4th. BWS’ Derek Smith was 5th, and Team Digicel 4G’s Jack Sutherland was 6th. ...

Buttonwood Bay defeats softball opponents
The Buttonwood Bay Nazarene Primary School girls and boys enjoyed big wins when the Belize City primary schools softball competition continued at the home of softball, the Rogers’ Stadium on Monday afternoon, January 21. Buttonwood’s pitcher Shenelle ...

Barrow REJECTS Faber
UDP Leader Dean Barrow has placed on record that he does not support UDP Chairman Patrick Faber as the next Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party. “I do not support the Minister of Education in his challenge of the Deputy Party Leader,” Barrow told Channel 5, Channel 7, LOVE FM and every media yesterday afternoon. This was after he had announced that same position on his privately-owned UDP mouthpiece radio station in the morning, for all UDPs to hear. ...

AMAZING GRACE – What Are You Doing With Your Talent?
In the manual, we hear a story of a business man going far away and leaving his goods in the hands of his servants. He gave to each of them according to their own ability. In the story found in Matthew 25:14, he gave to a particular servant only one talent. At the end of the parable, the master ended up giving his servant a good scolding because he took the talent and buried it in the ground as if it was a seed. Well, yes, it was a seed but not the type you bury in the ground, rather the type you would bury in a bank or business. After burying the talent, this servant probably sat around, twiddling his thumbs, waiting for his boss to return to give him the good news that the money was buried safely in the ground. On the other hand, the master gave to the other servants five and even ten talents which they both invested smartly, earning back more than they were given. They got into business and trading; they understood their potential and the quality of what they held in their hands. Allow me to ask you a question. If Belize was one of these servants, how many talents do you think the boss would have given to us? How much do we import in a year? How much do we export? How are we improving our foreign exchange? I was saddened to hear that a huge amount of precious wood was destroyed the other day in our country. There is so much that could have been done with that resource to help our economy. I personally believe the issue with Belize is not only one of corruption, but rather a more crippling side effect of ‘middle class mentality’. Our economy cannot be built on a poor or a poverty mentality! ...

In my perspective
All over the world mass killings are becoming too frequent. However, the December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in the Sandy Hook Village of Newton, Connecticut, USA seems to be more outrageous since it was an elementary school, with 6-8 year old children as victims. The Nation viewed this mass killing as over the top and many citizens, some lawmakers in the congress and the President of the USA are calling for tougher gun laws, especially hand guns. Something has to be done. The Nation is sick of these killings. I suggested in this column many times that Belize should implement a program like this to curb the shootings on the streets of Belize City. Turn in your weapons – no questions asked – but if you own a weapon it has to be registered with law enforcement. If you use an unlicensed weapon to commit a crime or killed someone the penalty would be severe, long jail time and possibly execution. Just like the United States, the people of Belize are just fed up and scared to walk the streets anymore. You never know when a maniac will ride up on a bicycle and shoot you in the head for no reason. This year alone there have been 144 murders in the Belizean Nation, a record setting number, and no one seems to have any solution to this problem. ...

Home Economics
“For the past few weeks the leadership of the Belize National Teachers Union has been calling on its members to attend an important meeting to discuss critical issues. Those issues include the collective bargaining agreement, crime, the economy and the ICJ.” ~ Channel 5 News, January 17, 2013 “By Monday all the branches should have voted and the final tally will be known. But, with Belize District, the largest, voting so overwhelmingly in favour of a demonstration and strike – it’s a virtual certainty that the other districts will vote along that line – leading certainly to a mass demonstration, and likely to a strike. “We say likely, because Government has been apprised of their position – and has also taken a hardline, that there’s simply no money to pay for an increment at this time.” ~ Channel 7 News, January 17, 2013 The teachers are taking their rightful place in Belize…as agents for positive change. They….like most of the people in Belize…are seeing small sectors of the population flush with cash, luxury and excesses….while they toil in vain from paycheck to paycheck. ...

Mayor Bradley loses his cool on KREM WUB – “I don’t have to be here”, Belize City Mayor snipes back at co-hosts
Belize City Mayor Darrel Bradley was visibly frustrated and uncomfortable as he appeared on the KREM WUB Morning Show on Tuesday morning. Bradley even sniped once, twice, even maybe thrice, at the co-hosts of the show, Sharon Marin and “Mose” Hyde, saying “I am not here because I want to. I don‘t have to be here”. Bradley, who is used to appearing on the morning show co-hosted by his employee and father, was seemingly upset that he was being asked “hard questions”. The co-hosts were discussing relevant matters regarding the slow pace of street construction, traffic congestion, the unpopular garbage tax, and the Council’s controversial decision to deny essential services to persons with outstanding tax payments. When the co-hosts recognised the Mayor’s frustration, they eased him somewhat, but the callers didn’t; they showered the Mayor with a firestorm. One caller dealing with the Council’s increase in property taxes said the Mayor should not be increasing taxes when the majority of people are living through hard times. “If people couldn’t pay when the price was low, why you heightened the tax,” asked the city resident. ...

The Challenge of ‘Equal Representation of the People’
The legislature should be the body that represents the interests of different sectors within the Belizean society and when doing so they must ensure the legality and legitimacy in their decision making for the common-good, benefit and welfare of the greater masses. Since it is naturally impossible for individual Belizeans to make decisions, it is also fundamental to our democratic system that those who we chose to represent and make decisions for us, do so through effective discussion and consultations in order to solve issues of national importance. Lamentably however, despite the fact that there are only two mass political parties with representation split almost equally in the composition of our House of Representatives, pluralism is not necessarily identified and there is no real consensus where the 31 constituencies are concerned. As if that is not bad enough, what obviously prevails are personal interests among the representatives of the ruling UDP party doing their private decisions for personal gain. This scenario which has played out uninterrupted since 2008 has caused chaos at all levels of government and has also reflected that we have a weak political party with no vision or ability to move the country forward economically, especially because there is no active consultation between civil society and Belmopan. ...

Anti-ICJ Pressure steps up
The anti-ICJ campaign increased in pressure today, when the flag poles at the Flag Monument located at the entrance of Belize City on the Phillip S.W. Goldson Highway all waved “No ICJ” flags. Who and how such a stunt was pulled is a mystery. Officials were unaware of the stunt until around 9:00am. Traffic Officers regulating heavy traffic in the area were forced to leave their stations to remove the flags. But by then hundreds of commuters had already taken note of the strange goings-on. ...

Belizean Publisher Featured On US Daytime Show
Belizean publisher of Flavors of Belize - The Cookbook, Tanya McNab was featured on US Show Daytime. Tanya was invited to showcase Belize and her book on Daytime TV. Daytime TV, produced by River ...

Of this and that…
It is 2013. There are people in Belize with no water. Imagine that. Of all the things. Water is the most basic. You can do without everything else. Water is the first utility service of cave men. Santa Marta is about 29 miles away. Mahogany Heights is 32 miles ...

Guatemala takes issue with Belize’s Referendum Law
While the Government of Belize has kick-started it’s Public Awareness Campaign on this year’s ICJ referendum, Guatemala appears to be having second thoughts or at least major concerns on whether the playing field is level. According to a front page article on the Wednesday’s edition of Guatemala’s La Prensa Libre newspaper, officials in the neighbouring country are taking issue with Belize’s Referendum Law, specifically the section that requires a minimum of 60% voter turnout to validate the referendum. Guatemala accuses Belize’s officials of amending the Referendum Act to include the threshold “just four months before signing the special agreement” with Guatemala to take the ICJ matter to a referendum. According to the article, Guatemala sees it as a “strategy” by Belize to make the referendum difficult and complicated, and reports the President of Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal, María Eugenia Villagran, stating that it may give reason to “postpone” the referendum in Guatemala. ...

PM Abuses Media
Dean Barow has cracked. We can see that the pressure has consumed him. He cannot handle it. In an interview following the ICJ Educational Campaign Launch, Prime Minister Barrow was asked a straight forward question by Channel 5 reporter Jose Sanchez. “Was it appropriate for the Minister of National Security to have the Ministry of Education to instruct teachers to close their doors and send students home today for a meeting in Belmopan, the Capital?” At first the Prime Minister acted as if he knew nothing about the request. “Again Jose, you are asking me a question based on a premise that I have no knowledge of.” But as the interview went on Dean Barrow spoke about the situation in great detail, clearly knowing the facts of it. Barrow then attacked the journalist’s credibility by essentially accusing him of being a liar. “Well then sir again, how are you going to ask me to comment on a version of events that I have no knowledge of and furthermore I will tell you, I don’t believe you. I don’t believe you sir.” ...

Ministry of Housing is a HUGE Waste
The UDP can afford to pay teachers and public officers if it cuts the huge waste that exists in Government. One wasteful Ministry which has received an inflated budget every year is the Ministry of Housing. Since the UDP took office, there has been no housing project for Belizeans and no housing policy. In fact, when you browse the weekend newspapers, you’ll see that more people are losing their homes. Yet, the non-functional Ministry of Housing is allocated millions of dollars every year. In 2008-2009, it had a Budget allocation of $2,913,619. In 2009-2010, its total Budget allocation ballooned to $16,007,640. In 2010-2011 allocation remained at a high with $10,603,973. In 2011-2012, the budget was $7,281,775. Now the estimated total revenue for this year’s Housing budget is $2,514,219. In the 5 years of the UDP, the Housing Ministry has spent a total of a whopping $39,321,226! At a modest $10,000 per home, that should be almost 40,000 homes, but WHERE ARE THE HOUSES? ...

Government Waste – Over-Crowded, Expensive Cabinet
The BELIZE TIMES is in solidarity with the poor, working class of Belize. With the cost of living increasing steadily – about 30-35% increase since 2008 – teachers, doctors, nurses and public officers deserve better salaries. To assist the Barrow Administration in finding the resources needed to provide the salary increase here is an area that can be looked at. With 16 Ministers and 5 Junior Ministers in Cabinet, Belize has to find over $2 Million in Ministerial Salaries every year. This is a waste! The Government does not need 21 Cabinet Ministers! Especially when they lack even the most basic of skills and competence. There is absolutely no need for a Minister of Gangs. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development could take over the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Private Sector Development which is led by a ghost called Erwin Contreras. We also need to stop practising the wastefulness of appointing “Ministers of State”. That’s why the Government already hires trained CEOs. No need for Ministers of State in the Ministries of Finance and Economic Development, Immigration, Agriculture, Transport, and Youth and Sports.

A GANGSTER NATION
Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who is also the unholy pope of the ruling vindictive, destructive and hateful, United Democratic Party, is the chief architect in the creation of Belize as a gangster nation over the past six years. Barrow’s rise to power and his ultimate life ambition ...

ICJ Public Education Launched
We meet this morning to launch the Public Education Campaign leading up to a Referendum at which the Belizean people will be asked to vote Yes or No on the following question: “Do you agree that any legal claim of Guatemala against Belize relating to land and insular territories and to any maritime areas pertaining to these territories should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for final settlement and that it determines finally the boundaries of the respective territories and areas of the Parties?” ...

The LAW on Gangs!
CRIME CONTROL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT Suppression of Criminal Gangs 1. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, “criminal gang” means an organization or association or combination of persons which is formed for, or which acquires, the purpose of committing or facilitating the commission of any of the offenses set out ...

UDP land grab in OW South – Farmers’ lease lands stripped away by greedy cronies
Reports to the BELIZE TIMES are that a land grab continues to take place in the Orange Walk area at the hands of greedy UDP cronies. Several farmers living in the Orange Walk constituency have been affected, as their lands, held with lease documents, is taken away ...

UB Students/Education Minister Patrick Faber standoff continues
Despite pronouncements made by Minister of Education Patrick Faber that the Government’s decision to end its subsidy to the University of Belize is final, the University of Belize Student Government continues to agitate for the financial support to continue. In a letter sent to Minister Faber on Monday, January 21, 2013, the Association of Student Governments which includes the Student Government Presidents from UB’s three campuses have demanded that the Ministry of Education re-instate the subsidy by Thursday, January 24th. ...

PM Barrow increases security detail
The country has been in a heightened state of fear since the multiple murders involving several known gang members in an apartment in Belize City on the morning of January 8th and the shooting of former Prime Minister’s Rt. Hon. Said Musa home last week Wednesday, ...

No more taxes!
Dear Editor, Every time the Prime Minister gets on one of his choice friendly television or radio stations, he proclaims that his Government will not raise any taxes on Belizeans. This is the reason, as I understand it, for his refusal to get into any kind of arrangement with the tax-sucking ...

Message to REAL Union Leaders
Dear Editor, As plantain no longer eat like rice, with the cost of living spiralling out of control and crime rampant, there seems to be no end to this madness. Our Unions have now awakened out of their slumber and are calling for a demonstration against all of the above issues. As ...

Illegal CitCo tax squeeze!
Dear Editor, I remember writing to your newspaper back in November, to express my serious concerns about a new tax policy implemented by the very chancey Belize City Council. As my published letter had explained, I had gone to the Traffic Department to license my vehicle but was told that I ...

Police Officers STILL seeking retro salary payment!
Dear Editor, Over some hundred Police Officers whom had been re-enlisted into the Police Department for quite some years now have been seeking their Salary Review Retro-Payments, which was promised to them within a period of thirty (30) days by the Minister of National Security Hon. John Saldivar and for the ...

UB Student Leaders tell GOB: Reinstate UB subsidy!
January 21, 2013 The Association of Student Governments The University of Belize City of Belmopan Honourable Patrick Faber Minister of Education, Youth and Sports City of Belmopan Dear Honourable Faber: The Association of Student Governments of the University of Belize, representing the greater student body of the university, upon meeting on Friday and Saturday January 11th and 12th, ...

Blogs

A Tale of Five Cities: Around San Cristobal (Part 1)
We got a lot of walking in around the beautiful colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico's Chiapas state. I thought I'd share some of the many photos Barry shot as we walked around town. San Cristobal's architecture was strikingly beautiful. You'll likely notice that we (and others) are dressed more warmly than in Belize in some of these shots. It was much cooler and less humid up in the Mexican highlands than what we were used to -- and breezy as well. Morning temperatures were in the 40s, but the sun warmed things up quickly and mid-day temperatures hit the 60s and 70s. When the sun was out, it felt great, but overcast skies off and on made it feel a bit chilly. Still, no rain, bugs, or humidity made for very pleasant sight-seeing weather! We climbed up this switchback staircase to a beautiful scenic overlook of the city. There's a school and church up top, and we read about a cafe on Tripadvisor, but never saw it.

Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now
Woke up this morning to the sound (again) of rain. Would this put the pouring of the concrete beams for the First Floor of our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize at risk ? I was tempted to get ready quickly and go up to the site and see if work was taking place but then common sense kicked in and I realised that my presence wouldn’t change things. They would be working or not irrespective of me being there. So I had breakfast and settled down to watch Arsenal nervously beat Brighton and Hove Albion to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. Feeling that the day might turn out OK after all I left Rose at home whilst I went to our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Even before I got to the site I could hear the sound of the concrete mixer churning away. I love that sound. Great, the rain wasn’t going to stop things today. The heavy rain of the past few days made the approach to the house a lot more difficult but you wouldn’t think it to see the way that the guys pushed the wheelbarrow up the ramp.

International Sources

Sen. Nelson aids local family of murder victim
On Jan. 15, Nelson’s office sent a letter to U.S. Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally in Belize, requesting that he discuss the situation with the government there and “urge them to move as quickly as judiciously possible in investigating the crime.” The letter said family members have found the investigation of Faull’s death “painstakingly slow.” “Right now, it’s kind of in limbo, but Sen. Nelson is helping us get the story out there,” Keeney said. “We contacted the embassy in Belize to work on it and get some things involved. We just have not had any real satisfaction in what they’re doing.” “Sen. Nelson has answered my plea,” she said of his efforts to raise awareness of Faull’s death. She said Faull and McAfee had no history together before living near each other.

Honduras advances to UNCAF final
Defending champion Honduras edged upstart Belize, 1-0, Friday night in the semifinals of the UNCAF Copa Centroamericana to earn a place in the championship match against the winner of the late match between host Costa Rica and El Salvador. The teams played through an extremely active, but scoreless, first half in which the chances came frequently and were evenly divided. Top-notch goalkeeping from Belizean Woodrow West and his Honduran opposite number Donis Escober denied multiple scoring opportunities. The proceedings became increasingly tense as the second half got underway, with both squads aware that a trip to the final was on the line. Honduras came close several times through the pairing of U.S.-based attackers Oscar Boniek Garcia and Jerry Bengtson. But it was Belize with the clearest chance of the second half's early going, when right back Evan Mariano tried his luck from distance, only to miss just wide.

January 26, 2013