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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Solid Waste Management Authority hosts seminar for San Pedro Stakeholders
The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (SWaMA) held a seminar on Friday, July 25th for island stakeholders and environmental Non-government Organizations (NGO) to discuss matters involving waste management in San Pedro Town. The seminar started at 9AM and saw the participation of several businesses in the hospitality industry as wells as Kenrick Brackett, Councilor in […]

Pilot whale found off San Pedro Town
Authorities on Ambergris Caye are trying to determine what is wrong with a baby pilot whale found in shallow waters off Ambergris Caye. The visibly injured and disoriented whale was found by early risers as they headed out to sea sometime around 6:30AM on Wednesday July 30th near the beach at Ramon’s Village Resort . […]

Emergency Response Tuk-Tuks finally handed over to Polyclinic
On Friday July 25th three health support vehicles were handed over to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II. The tuk-tuks, as they are commonly referred to, are a part of a donation made to the Government of Belize by the government of Dubai, United Emirates in April. Three tuk-tuks were assigned to San […]

New Movie Series at the Paradise Theater
Beginning this Thursday (7/31), the Paradise Theater will be home to a new movie series called “THE BEST NEW MOVIES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF.” The series of screenings, which is being hosted by San Pedro resident and filmmaker Ben Popik, aims to share great new independent films with the movie lovers of San Pedro. “There […]

Charges against Elvin Penner dismissed due to lack of evidence
Area Representative for Caye Northeast and former Minister of State, Elvin Penner was freed of all criminal charges due to lack of evidence during a trial at the Belmopan Magistrate Court on Thursday, July 24th. Penner, who has been charged for illegally facilitating a passport to wanted South Korean National, Kim Won Hong, first appeared […]

Ambergris Today

Saga's Furball Fashion Show with the Costa Maya Queens
Come out to Wet Willy's Cantina on Monday, August 4th and support Saga's annual fundraiser "Furball Fashion Show". Watch the Costa Maya Queens strut the latest fashion from Foreva Fancy and enjoy great entertainment.

Authorities Assist Stranded Juvenile Pilot Whale in Ambergris Caye
Hol Chan Marine Reserve is now thinking of possible ways to assist the animal as it does not have the capacity to hold the animal in captivity while they tend to its injuries. Currently there are tour guides on site protecting the whale from passing water vessels while the authorities figure out a solution to assist the wounded animal.

San Pedro 2014 Tres Pescados Slam Tournament Wrap-Up
The 6th Annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament was a huge success thanks to all the anglers and sponsors that participated in Belize's largest ever fly-fishing tournament. Hats off to Team Yellow Dog Flyfishing for not only slamming on the first day but, holding their ground on day two and three to bring home first place and the coveted slam trophy. Day one saw beautiful weather and wind from the East as teams rallied early to make the most of the conditions. All three species were caught the first day, with Team YELLOW DOG capturing the first slam of the contest and gaining those valuable bonus points. A three way tie for second and two teams tied for third place was sure to make day two interesting. The second morning brought similar weather conditions and teams pushed early on to catch the all important slam. Both permit and tarpon saw the scoreboard as well as numerous bonefish. Team AM FILMS closed the gap on leaders YELLOW DOG with three permit landed and needed only the tarpon on the final day to make things interesting.

Misc Belizean Sources

June 2014 External Trade & Consumer Price Index
Here are S.I.B's latest releases: June 2014 External Trade Bulletin, June 2014 Consumer Price Index Statistical Institute of Belize 1907 Constitution Drive Belmopan, Belize

FISHING REPORT: Week of July 20th – July 26th, 2014
Lots of permit this week thanks to the skills of many anglers, The Tres Pescados tournament was great fun and El Pescador anglers were first and second! Congratulations to the winners: Shaun and Doug who are on the staff of Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures, and to runner up Adam who was just one tarpon away from stealing the show!

SPICY FISH TACOS
Heat 2 cups oil in a heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat to 365 degrees. Use tongs to place one tortilla at a time into the oil. It should start to sizzle right away. Cook for about 15 seconds, then flip over and fold the shell in half, holding in place with the tongs until crispy, about 15 seconds. You may need a little practice at first. Drain on paper towels. Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook fish in hot oil until fish flakes easily with a fork, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from heat and cut into bite-size pieces.

Letter: We are not Diaspora but citizens of Belize
Dear Major Lloyd Jones, I have always held you in high regards for the service you have provided in the Belize Defence Force to defend our country. Like you and I there are thousands of natural born Belizean citizens who have served in the uniformed services in Belize and now reside in the United States and possess dual citizenship. Also, there are Belizeans living in Belize who were born in the United States and Belizeans who were born in Belize and became citizens of the United States that returned home to live permanently. Yet, their rights are being denied due to the ambiguity that exists in our constitution today. All Belizean citizens are entitled to the same rights and privileges under the constitution of Belize despite their citizenship status. For you and others who think the same to deny them of their constitutional rights, it is a gross violation of our constitution and a big blow to the principles of democracy. Our Belizean brothers and sisters who posses dual nationalities can contribute a lot more to the development of our country if we were to amend our constitution and set up the framework for them to participate in the process more meaningfully. There are several countries in the world like the United States of America that grant their citizens the right to vote by proxy and to run for political office with their dual nationalities intact once they meet the residency requirements under their election laws.

BEL in Partnership with Hand in Hand Ministries Belize, Contributes House to Deserving Citizen
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) and Hand in Hand Ministries Belize (HHM) under its “Building for Change” Program, today handed over a house, valued at approximately $18,000, donated by BEL, to Ms. Bernadine Lauriano. This is the second year in which BEL supported HHM’s program. A team of 44 BEL employees, along with HHM contractors, worked July 16, 17 and 18 to construct the house which measures 16’ by 16’. BEL also contributed the free installation of a service entrance, valued at approximately $1,000, for electricity supply in the home. Ms. Bernadine Lauriano, the recipient, resides on Aloe Vera Street in the Lake Independence area of Belize City, and was selected as a beneficiary of the program, based on HHM’s specific criteria. As part of the agreement, Ms. Lauriano was required to participate in the construction of her home, attend HHM education sessions, assist with the construction of houses for other beneficiaries, and socially integrate herself in her neighbourhood by encouraging peace and harmony.

Dr. John Morris on his appointment as new Director of NICH
The Institute of Archaeology would like to congratulate Dr. John Morris on his appointment as our new Director. Dr. Morris has worked for the past 30 years in the field of archaeology, first in the Department of Archaeology and then with the Institute of Archaeology since its inception. His appointment takes effect the 1st of August 2014. We would like to extent the best wishes to Dr. Morris in his new role as the Director of the IA and look forward to his contribution in the continued advancement of Belize’s Archaeology.

Channel 7

73 Year Old Dies Three Weeks After Being Shot
And there is another homicide to report tonight it is the result of a shooting which happened three weeks ago. The night of July 10 is when 73 year-old man, Godfrey Jones was shot in his home on Lizarraga Avenue. Well, he passed away at the KHMH on Monday, an unexpected turn for his family almost a month after he was shot. He was shot at 9:00 in the night while socializing with 40 year-old Christopher Mayen in front of his house when 2 men entered the yard and fired several gunshots at them. Jones was hit in the knees, while Mayen suffered an injury to his right leg.

PM Says If US Asks for Dr. Elrington, Extradition Proceedings Would Be Normal
Dr. Errol Elrington is a fugitive on the run from the US Federal Government. But, he's safe in Belize for the time being because the Americans have not requested his extradition. A statement from the US Embassy says, quote,U.S. Embassy is aware of Elrington's status as a fugitive, but is unable to comment further on this issue at this point in time. End quote. But if and when the US Government does request his extradition the Prime Minister says the case will proceed. He gave these remarks at a press conference at the Biltmore Best Western where he was careful to draw the difference between Errol and his brother, the Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington: Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "Dr. Elrington's struggles have nothing to do with minister Elrington except from the point of view that this is his brother and certainly nothing to do with the government of Belize.

ASR Rejected Independent Expert in Bagasse Dispute
And at the press conference - which ran for what must be a record two hours and forty-one minutes Prime Minister Barrow also discussed the impasse in the sugar industry. As we have reported, BSI and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association are far from an agreement on the price of bagasse in fact, it's fair to say, they aren't even in the same ball park! Today, the PM addressed the subject at length. He says government had offered to hire an international expert to study the problem and suggest a baseline figure but that was flatly rejected by ASR as recently as this morning. They say that it is a commercial dispute and as senior long time partners, both sides should be able to come to an agreement. Except, that they haven't and the industry is facing perilous times ahead Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "In that context they are saying the coming together of all stakeholders should start with an ability to work out the issues for payment of Bagasse; That if they can't even solve that problem, it doesn't bode very well for the longer term existence of the industry. Bottom line, I don't know how we are going to be talking about starting another crop unless number 1, the commercial agreement which has expired; A new commercial agreement is reached between A.S.R and the farmers. Number 2, the matter of the quantum of payment for Bagasse is sorted out."

Post Mortem: Stephen John Michael Not Murdered
Last week Friday, schoolteacher Stephen John Michael's father found him dead in his house on Jaguar Avenue. The door was open, he was bleeding from the nose, and there was a pool of blood behind his head. That, along with apparent missing belongings led them to believe that he had been clubbed in the head, and then robbed. But the results of the post-mortem on his body this evening say that he died of natural causes. The medical examiner has certified the cause of death as "acute lung failure and massive pulmonary oedema". The doctor believes that the lung failure is due to natural causes because there signs that he may have been suffering from lung disease. Further specimens have been retrieved and sent for tests for to confirm.

GOB to Set Up Rapid Training Center for 2k BPO Jobs
Business Process Outsourcing or BPO - it's the fancy term for what you might know as call centers.Government says that BPO Companies are banging down the door trying to get into Belize. But, there is a shortage of trained BPO workers and so today, government signed an agreement to open a Rapid Training Institute for potential BPO Workers.The center will be at the ITVET compound, and they intend to train two thousand persons in two years. CEO Mike Singh explained at today's press conference. Michael Singh, CEO Ministry of Trade "The idea is that we will transform a portion of the ITVET campus on Freetown Road into what we call the rapid training institute. The idea being that we will go out, seek at least 100 Belizeans per month, put them into the training, certify them in call centers and at the end of that training we will go through a recruitment drive with the centers so they will come in and directly interview and hire people on the spot. This is what they're asking us to do, this was the model we used 2 years ago that was very successful, the target being that we should have at least 1000 people added to that list within a year and hopefully we get to that 2000 people within the 2 year target, which should make a fundamental difference in our employment numbers."

Rooting Out Corruption at Lands
And while the BPO is hiring, so is the Lands Department. It's part of a new government strategy to bypass the endemic corruption with new staff and new systems.Now, it's not like they can fire anyone we all know that in the public service that's nearly impossible but the strategy is to implement systems that will enforce new levels of transparency and accountability. Cabinet adopted the recommendations at its last meeting and the PM outlined them today. He was backed up by the CEO in the Ministry whop came up with them along with the Commissioner of Lands Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "We will provide for the first time at last for effective service delivery. It's going to cost government, we're going to hire additional personnel, all who will have to be on contract because we don't want people getting permanent appointments joining the public service and then we run into the same problem where no matter what happens you can't get rid of them. The new hires will all be on contract with exit clauses.

Enter Ambassador Alexis
And while those were the positive initiatives unveiled at today's event the headline maker should have been the unveiling of the new ambassador to Guatemala, Alexis Rosado except we kind of beat the Prime Minister to that punch about a week ago. Today, though, the Prime Minister unveiled Rosado's replacement as Foreign Affairs CEO Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "Alexis, as you know is extremely experienced in diplomacy and he has been high commissioner in the U.K for number of years. Held various other posts in the Foreign Service; is very well qualified, not just in terms of academic qualifications but in terms of the sort of personal traits that are going to be required in particular for this assignment. I am satisfied that Alexis is far and away the best person that we would ask to take over in Guatemala City. I will ask C.E.O Lawrence Sylvester who is currently as housing to move over to Foreign Affairs.

PM Says Puerto Azul Still Nebulous
And, of course, it wouldn't be a press conference without some mention of the Puerto Azul project. Indeed, the volume of press releases on the project has far exceeded the body of actual information on the development. And that's because the information that's been released on the project so far shows that it proposes a mega luxury development on the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. So, they say they have to mount massive and sustained resistance to make sure the project does not get off the ground. But, again today, the Prime Minister was like, what project? Here's how he put it Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize "Well my difficulty is, I don't quite know what the project is. These people came with some ideas, with a concept they were told what they needed to do to flesh out that concept, and some of the things from the start would be a no go, and as far as I am aware that process is not yet completed; So I am supportive of the notion that the watchdog groups ought to be if not previous, pre-emptive in terms of discharging their role.

BIL Will Build
And while Puerto Azul is in a nebulous stage not so for BIL, that's Belize Investment Limited. That's the special purpose vehicle government designed to oversee and manage the construction of sports facilities in all the districts. All told the projects will come up to 60 million dollars, 25 million of that for Belize City and five million each for the municipalities. Today at the Press conference, Manager Christy Mastry gave an overview of what's happened so far the 6 projects which are in the design stage, and one on which work has started:.. Christy Mastry, General Manager BIL "These are some of the projects we have contracted to date, the first being Victor Galvez which is a recreational field in San Ignacio and that is really an OUTDOOR recreational space that the community uses for running track; So we will be refurbishing the pathways, outdoor courts, the practice football field itself and other small service amenities within the area. The second is Santa Elena, it has little over 10 acres of land and it really has the ability to house 2 full football fields; So what we are doing is dedicating 1 field to performance competition and so forth, and the second to be open to the public and to the youths at all times for practice.

A Hand in Housing
Today, Hand in Hand Ministries with the help of BEL, blessed and donated its 243 house. We spoke to the happy recipient Bernadine Lauriano at the handing over ceremony: Diana Foreman, Co-Chair BEL Social Club Committee "BEL under the guidance of the Hand in Hand Ministries got its employees to volunteer to provide the labor and the company sponsored the materials and alongside contracted services to build a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom facility, 3 block height elevated structure, wooden with zinc roofing and louvers at the cost of approximately 18,000 dollars. The house also comes with a free service entrance because at the end of the day we know that family was not in a position to provide that for themselves."

Public Sector Workers' Trust Explains
5 million dollars plus, that's how much the Public Sector Workers Trust has parked in an account the accumulated compensation from two years of frozen wages when then Prime Minister Manuel Esquivel gave teachers and public officers shares in BTL in lieu of their increments. Today, the Public Service Union sent a release explaining what the money will be used for. The Union says, quote, The Trust will be fully operational in the very near future, at which time all beneficiaries, including current and retired public officers , teachers, nurses, police, soldiers and coast guard, will be invited to submit projects and proposals as per the purpose of the Trust.

Monica Takes a Walk on the Wild Side
"The Ghetto - it's not a pretty word and one we very reluctantly use. But, there's no other way to describe the area known as Jungle in the Pickstock slash - Fort George Area of Belize City. It's been a famous slum in the city for at least four decades and all those years of broken promises, institutional neglect and structural poverty has left it as one of the most run down areas in the city. At the invitation of the residents, Monica Bodden visited today to take a walk on the inside of the Jungle... The jungle is on the street called Lovely Lane between Pickstock and Victoria Streets.

SIB Says...
The latest figures from the Statistical Institute of Belize show that theconsumer price index rose 1.3 percent in June. The increase was caused by higher transport and home rental prices. Rent went up in San Ignacio/Santa Elena, Orange Walk and Dangriga Towns. And the change in transport prices wasn't due to bus fares - which are stable - but due to higher international airfares and motor vehicle prices. The price of vegetables continued to go up due to short supply of cabbage, however, these were offset by decreases in the price of rice, breakfast cereals, pasta and eggs. Punta Gorda and Belize City recorded the lowest inflation rates at less than one percent while prices in San Ignacio/Santa Elena increased 2.4 percent, almost twice national average.

Channel 5

PM Barrow Says Elrington’s Fugitive Status Isn’t GOB’s Concern…
The Prime Minister hosted a marathon press briefing today on the heels of a one hour televised interview on Sunday with banker Steve Duncan. PM Dean Barrow spoke on a [...]

Controversial Contractor Praised by PM…
And while Doctor Errol Elrington’s fugitive status isn’t the government’s concern, the controversies surrounding nephew of the Deputy Prime Minister, Imer Hernandez, aren’t either. Hernandez is a contractor of choice, [...]

Barrow Says IMF Can’t Tell Belize Anything…
At his lengthy press conference the Prime Minister was also asked, as he routinely is, about the state of the economy. There have been unprecedented injections of mostly Petrocaribe sourced [...]

Cabinet Approves Cleanup of Corrupt Lands Ministry…
But while Barrow isn’t paying any attention to the IMF, he’s paying plenty to the hotbed of corruption in his own front yard. So much so that Cabinet has approved [...]

Lands C.E.O. Says It Will Be A Group Effort…
As you heard, accountability will be one of the key premises of the new systems being put in place – making all officers accountable for their actions. A critical component [...]

PM Confirms Appointment of Ambassador Alexis Rosado…
On Monday, News Five reported on the appointment of Foreign Affairs C.E.O. Alexis Rosado as new Ambassador to Guatemala. He will be taking over from the late Alfredo Martinez. It’s [...]

73 Year Old Man Succumbs to Injuries Received on July 10th…
There is yet another murder to add to the long list of homicides in the month of July. A shooting incident back on July tenth has turned into a murder. [...]

ASR/BSCFA Bagasse Impasse Unresolved….
The impasse between B.S.I./A.S.R. and the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association continues to thrive. At a general meeting of sugar cane farmers in Orange Walk and Corozal recently, it was [...]

Home of John Saldivar’s Belmopan Bandits Gets Major Upgrade…
The Isidoro Beaton Stadium in the nation’s capital is the home of the Belmopan Bandits, owned by Belmopan area representative John Saldivar. That stadium will soon be getting a major [...]

PM Says Concern About Puerto Azul is Premature…
The Prime Minister was also asked for his response to a move by environmental and conservation entities who have expressed concern about the proposed scale of the mega-tourism Puerto Azul [...]

Dubious Offshore Businesses Claim Matalon as their Home…
The Matalon Business Center, its fourth floor seemingly the most sought-after commercial address in the country, remains under scrutiny tonight.  In recent proceedings initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, [...]

Fishermen Protest Abrupt Removal from Marine Parade…
Fishermen and vendors operating along Marine Parade were taken aback this morning when they showed up to their assigned location around ten o’clock only to find it is being dismantled [...]

Hand in Hand Ministries Donates House….
Bernadine Lauriano was all smiles today when she officially received a house from Belize Electricity Limited and Hand in Hand Ministries Belize.  To qualify Lauriano had to assist in its [...]

SIB Releases Latest Statistics…Inflation Up…
The Statistical Institute of Belize is reporting a five point seven percent increase in goods imported into Belize in the month of June. That represents one hundred and fifty nine [...]

Government Takes On Call Centre Training…
Today, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Trade and Investment Promotion Mike Singh signed a memorandum of understanding with C.E.O. in the Ministry of Education David Leacock. That M.O.U. envisions the [...]

Mother Nature Carnival Band Celebrates 10th Anniversary….
Carnival 2014 is quickly approaching and carnival groups across the city and other districts are putting the final touches to their elaborate costumes for King, Queen and revelers. But while [...]

CTV3

Hubert Elrington Speaks On His Brother's Arrest Warrant
A warrant is out in the US for Dr. Errol Elrington, brother of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, for federal crimes of racketeering, medical fraud and health care fraud. Dr. Elrington who is the proprietor of Elrington Medical Center in the Michigan area of the US and now the Office of Inspector General within the United States Department of Health and Human Services has listed Dr. Errol Elrington on its list of Most Wanted Fugitives. On the website of the Inspector General, it states that the warrant was issued on October seventh. Elrington is believed to have falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct.

Fire Leaves Woman Homeless
Early this morning the fire department got information of a fire on Rio Grande Street and immediately dispatched a team to the scene. Upon arrival, fire saw the small wooden structure consumed by a large blaze but their quick response the douse the flames prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings and structures. While we could not confirm the cause of the blaze as of news time, Fire Chief Kenneth Mortis says they learned that the owner had just left a few hours ago en-route to Melchor and are investigating a cause. Kenneth Mortis– Fire Chief, OW Fire Service “We try to contain the blaze before it spread to the neighboring structure. It took the fire department approximately three minutes to control the fire and another 25 minutes to totally extinguish the blaze. From our investigation we learnt that the house is owned and occupied by one Miss Olga August who was not at home at the time of the inferno. According to neighbors she left this morning between 4:00am and 4:30am en-route to Melchor.

MS-13 Members In Belize
We first broke the story of a successful sting operation carried out by authorities in the City where it led police to detain the persons behind the latest extortion case reported in Orange Walk Town. Edwin Flores and his girlfriend are accused of attempting to blackmail Wilbert Valencia of eight thousand dollars. The minor was detained at the Lord Ridge Cemetery where she was to collect the drop and she led police to Flores who was at a house on Newtown Barracks. Flores and 3 others have been charged for displaying gang insignia. Police confirmed yesterday that these four persons (Elvin Guiterrez, Jose Reyes, Edwin Flores and Francisco Rodriguez seen on the screen) are known affiliates of the transnational criminal gang, Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13.

Corozal Resident Tied To String Of Burglaries
Tonight, 19 year old Eric Herrera is once again under Corozal Police detention pending further burglary charges. Herrera was apprehended while attempting to break into the home of Reen Thadhani, a 46 year old Naturalized Belizean of 5th Avenue, Corozal Town. When Thadhani arrived home, the individual was about to make himself at home as he had already removed two of the glass louvers from one of the windows. At that instance Thadhani shouted “thief” and that is when her niece and a taxi driver came to her aid. The driver of the taxi chased down the individual who was apprehended and identified to be 19 year old Eric Herrera. Herrera was handed over to authorities and was charged for the crime of attempt burglary.

LOVE FM

Security Measures Stepping Up at Lands Department
The Lands Department has, on countless occasions, has been at the centre of reports on corruption, frustrations and controversies over the last years. In recent years, there have been some attempts in getting the department to be transparent and accountable but it is a challenge and a work in progress. We say, work in progress, because there is another plan in the pipeline with the objective of making the unit more efficient. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sharon Ramclam, presented some of those planned changes. SHARON RAMCLAM “We are looking at an automated numbering system where we can track each and every application that is filed with the department, whether it’s a new lease or a transfer or for a purchase, we’ll be able to track those where we will be able to assign a specific numbering system that will be able to help us track the moving system of that particular application through the system. We are also putting in place a proper tracking system in place for visitors. Everybody who visits any of the lands department throughout the country, will receive a specific receipt, it’s sort of like a ticket saying you visited, this was your complaint, your query, this is the officer who addressed or attended to you and this is what happened and so at the level of the supervisors for those districts and even in Belmopan at the headquarters the supervisors will be expected then to provide updates on a monthly basis on visitations at the various district offices.

Latest Statistics on External Trade Released
The Statistical Institute of Belize has released its latest figures in relation to Belize’s External Trade for the month of June. According to the figures, in June 2014, Belize imported goods valuing almost $159 million, representing a 5.7 percent increase over the same month of 2013. Statistics show that spending on Mineral Fuels and Lubricants and Food and Live Animals rose by a combined $7.3 million. Premium gasoline, milled rice, condensed milk and processed cheese were among the main items contributing to the increase. Thirty percent of imports for the month came from the US at a total of more that $48 million. For June, China was the country which Belize imported goods from the least. As for domestic exports, June was the first month in over a year that there was an increase in the value of Belize’s domestic exports. The value of domestic exports increased by 20 percent to $65.5 million according to the latest external trade statistics.

Public Sector Workers To Invest and Not Distribute Monies
The Public Sector Workers Trust sent out a release today acknowledging the transfer of the $3.06 million dollars from the Government of Belize that had been held in the Government Savings Account for the Trust. According to the release, the Trust will quote, “be fully operational in the very near future, at which time all beneficiaries, including current and retired public officers , teachers, nurses, police, soldiers and coast guard, will be invited to submit projects and proposals as per the purpose of the Trust”, end of quote. So to be clear, the $3.06 million will be invested in projects not handed out to public service workers.

Infrastructural Works For Everyone
Residents of Punta Gorda will be benefiting from some infrastructural works that Government will be carrying out in that municipality. According to Prime Minister, additional financing has been put toward the street infrastructure works for the southern district and priority has been given to the construction of a sports complex. RT. HON. DEAN BARROW “Having completed West Street, we have started two new streets, Olivia Santino Street and Cayo Street, with respect to streets. We will, as a priority, get on with their $5 million municipal sporting facility/ community development project as part of these signature projects that we are doing for each municipality. I believe that what’s been agreed is that it is the multipurpose complex, just as you get into PG, certainly as you get off the plane by the airstrip that is going to be completely re-modelled.” Barrow made it a point in today’s gathering to mention that contrary to the thought of the Punta Gorda residents that they are forgotten, the Government has been making plans for the improvements in Punta Gorda……..Moving on to the western part of the country, the Prime Minister made mention of works being carried out in the twin towns that hopefully will be completed in time for the upcoming September celebrations.

Upgrades and Expansion on National Bank Announced
The National Bank of Belize is about to celebrate its one year anniversary and with that celebration comes plans of expansion, anticipation of additional injected funds and system upgrades. One of those upgrades includes the issuance of ATM cards that will be networked and functional at Heritage bank and credit union automated teller systems. Prime Minister Barrow and the Bank’s chairman, Joy Grant, mentioned some of the plans for the bank at this morning’s press conference. RT. HON.DEAN BARROW “Government is looking to put some additional equity into the National Bank because the initial twenty million dollars is just about all accounted for and has been a phenomenal success story and we mean to continue with it. In moving forward and we’re approaching the first year anniversary with the bank we will be taking deposits first of September and issuing debit cards. We are using the network One Facility which means that the card from The National Bank you could use at all the outlets for Heritage Bank and also Credit Union.“

New CEOs For Housing and Foreign Affairs
With the Chief Executive Officer, Alexis Rosado getting ready to relocate to Guatemala City as Belize’s new ambassador to that Central American country, Government found itself having to make some changes in the upper echelons of the government ministries. Those changes were also announced earlier today during the Press Conference at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel. RT. HON. DEAN BARROW “There is need for a replacement and I will ask CEO Lawrence Sylvester who is currently at Housing to move over to foreign affairs. So Lawrence again as you no doubt well know, was at foreign affairs previously, was also high commissioner to the UK, he was well Permanent PR in New York so again somebody who knows the Foreign Ministry inside out and in whom I have absolute confidence. That then means that the position he leaves as CEO of Ministry of Housing has to be filled and I will appoint Mr. Denton Belisle to be the new CEO in the Ministry of Housing. Denton again was one time CEO at the Belize Social Security Board. He was also in the diplomatic service of this country and was high commissioner in the UK at one point in time, the fact is he has a great deal of public service and I believe will also do well in the Ministry of Housing.”

Belize Appoints New Ambassador to Guatemala
Just over three weeks ago Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, Alfred Martinez passed away in Guatemala City. Martinez’ death left an opening in a very crucial position considering that Belize and Guatemala are in the process of working through the confidence building measures as well as communications regarding the pending referendum on whether we should go the International Court of Justice to settle the longstanding territorial dispute between both countries. Today during a press conference in Belize City, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that he has made the decision, following consultations, to have Alexis Rosado take over the post of Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala.

Patrick Jones

Sugar partners must resolve differences, says P.M.
Cane farmers in the North agreed to have the Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB) step in to help resolve their dispute over the commercial agreement with Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI) and its partner American Sugar Refining (ASR). BSI says it cannot afford more than 51 cents per […]

PM says no request for extradition of Dr. Errol Elrington has been made
No formal request has been made, but authorities in the United States are determined to get back Belizean-American doctor Errol Elrington, brother of attorney Hubert Elrington and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General Wilfred Elrington. Dr. Elrington is accused of insurance and medical fraud at his clinic […]

Two murder victims succumb; another incident ruled sudden death
Police have confirmed the passing of 42 year old Alida Asencio, the Mopan Street tacos vendor shot in the abdomen and chest during an invasion of her home on Saturday, July 26. She died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital around 12:15 pm on Wednesday. She joins Carlos […]

Home invasion reported in Crooked Tree village
There are reports of a frightening home invasion in Crooked Tree village, Belize district. Information received says that a man walked into the home of a village resident and demanded money. No one was hurt in the incident and indications are that the intruder left without taking […]

No private attorney for writ of mandamus
The Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie, is appealing the decision of Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin to order the continued investigation of the Elvin Penner immigration scandal in March. The Office of the Solicitor General is handling the case, but today the Prime Minister told us that because Whylie […]

New Belize ambassador to Guatemala named
Prime Minister Dean Barrow today announced the appointment of Alexis Rosado as Belize’s new ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Guatemala. Rosado who up until recently was the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will replace Alfredo Martinez who died earlier this month. Prime Minister […]

Unions get salary adjustment
Several weeks ago, Prime Minister Dean Barrow had asked the major unions – public service, teachers and senior managers – to conclude the Collective Bargaining Agreement with Government that dates back some five years. While it appears they are still holding out, one key aspect of that agreement, […]

Chopping incident in remote Toledo village; suspect shot by police
A chopping incident on Saturday night in San Vicente village, Toledo, has left one man hospitalized. Petrolino Lorenzo Ramirez, 46, a resident of Santa Cruz village was chopped multiple times when he was attacked by a younger man. The details of what prompted the attack are still being […]

Toledo man charged in fatal hit-and-run incident
After weeks of investigations, police in Punta Gorda town have arrested and charged one man in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident earlier this month. 20 year old George Parham was arraigned on a list of charges including manslaughter by negligence, failure to stop and render aid and […]

Alcalde says BDF soldier behaved rescklessly
Residents of the remote Toledo village of San Vicente are calling for authorities to investigate an unsettling incident in their community on Monday night. Village Alcalde Sebastian Cabb says he was startled out of his sleep around eight o’clock by the sound of about five shots being fired […]

Fire guts house in Orange Walk; homeowner seeks assistance
A house was gutted by fire in Orange Walk town on Tuesday morning. The 15 feet by 20 feet plywood structure with zinc roofing situated on Rio Grande Street, was owned by Olga August. According to reports, the blaze erupted around 6 am on Tuesday. When firemen […]

Blogs

Tikal, Guatemala to Belize City
My alarm went off at 3:40am to prepare for the sunrise tour of Tikal that left our hotel, the Tikal Inn, at 4:00am. However, when I rolled over to shut off my alarm, I realized that it was pouring buckets out. I got up and put my contacts in while Lindsay’s alarm went off about 10 minutes later. We decided to skip the tour because of the rain. It broke my heart a bit because I was hoping to see an amazing sunrise over the tops of the temples and capture them on my camera. But, alas, I will have to do it another time. The downfalls of traveling in the almost official rainy season. The park officially opens to normal tourists at 6:00am so we went back to sleep for a couple more hours. The sounds of the rain and the jungle coupled with travel exhaustion from the previous two days led to a great night’s sleep. We soon set out on the short walk from the hotel to the trail entrance where we paid another Q150 to enter the park. If we had waited and not used our ticket from yesterday then we could have saved Q150. Personally, it was worth the expense in my opinion. Instead of wandering around the trails and taking the long way to the Grand Plaza like the day before, we took the direct trail right to the Grand Plaza. As we started walking up the trail we suddenly heard this racket. It sounded like a mix of dying cows and mating gorillas. Not that I know what that sounds like… We both looked at each other and all I could think of was we were on the Lost island with the polar bear!

Cave Tubing in Belize
Lindsay and I are both budget travellers and thus spent countless hours discussing activities and budget over the phone and Skype. We both agreed that we were willing to spend a little more for the opportunity to go cave tubing in Belize. And I must say, it was my favorite activity out of the whole trip! There are plenty of places to go cave tubing in Belize. We did some research and found out that the best tour company is Vital Nature and Mayan Tours, or often just called Cave Tubing Belize. After our tour I would have to agree, although I have nothing to compare it to, but I wouldn’t go with another company if I ever go back to Belize! I emailed the company prior to our departure to Belize and received a prompt reply within 24 hours from Vitalino. We were able to make reservations for May 16th for the sunset cave tour. We asked if they would be willing to pick us up at the bus station in Belmopan and then drop us off at our hostel in Belize City afterwards. They said they absolutely would! For $75 USD each we got our transportation to and from the tour base, the cave tubing tour, dinner, and rum punch! If we had more people with us, it was just the two of us, the price would have been even cheaper.

Discovering the Beauty of San Pedro, Belize
We woke up early for our big day of snorkeling. Yesterday was rainy and the weather forecast wasn’t really in our favor, but when we opened our eyes the sun was shining! We had to be at the Searious Adventures boat dock by 7:45am. Lindsay and I both slathered sun screen on and walked down to the beach to Estel’s Dine by The Sea for breakfast. Estel’s is pretty much the only place open at 6am. The menu had traditional Belizean foods for a decent price. You order off of their chalkboard menu, which was different. I ordered the fruit with yogurt and water. It only cost me about $5 USD. After a quick breakfast we walked the two minutes down to the boat dock to begin our snorkeling tour. I will go into a more in-depth post about the snorkeling tour because it was awesome! This was my first time ever snorkeling so I was stroked to do this. I’m a water person so if there is water around I want to be in it. Our snorkeling trip brought us to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. I was super excited to snorkel up close and personal with sharks and sting rays. Lindsay, however, was not. But, she willingly (or maybe unwillingly) tried to get over her fears and hopped into the water. :-)

Snorkeling in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
Our half day snorkeling adventure with Searious Adventures started early. Our boat left the Searious Adventures dock at 8am sharp so we had to be there by 7:45am. Luckily, San Pedro is not very big and we could easily walk the 5 minutes from our hostel to the dock. Once we reached the dock, we were handed our snorkeling gear. Carlos, our tour guide for the day, shuffled Lindsay and I into the Searious Adventures’ boat and off we went. But, first we had to pick up more snorkelers along the way from their resort docks. We stopped twice and picked up a total of 6 other couples who would join Lindsay and me for the day. Once everyone was onboard and we made a quick stop to exchange flipper sizes for one woman at another resort’s dock stocked full of snorkeling and diving gear, we were off for the 5-10 minute boat ride to Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The weather was perfect for snorkeling. It was a bright blue sky day with a few clouds. The wind was calm and it was hot. Good thing we would be in the water most of the trip!

Island Hopping from San Pedro to Caye Caulker, Belize
Putting a heavy pack on top of burnt shoulders and back was not a pleasant feeling. I think we both let out a small scream as we put our arms through the shoulder straps. After checking out of Pedro’s Inn, we headed into town for a quick breakfast before catching the 10am ferry to Caye Caulker. Lick’s is closed on Mondays so we had to find a new breakfast place. Luckily, there was another cafe opened just next door with a breakfast menu and free wifi. I was extremely excited to see crepes on the menu and I ordered a plate. Unfortunately for me, the crepe batter was out and the usual cook was not working today. Another plate of fried jack and traditional Belizean food it was! We bordered our ferry and set sail for the 45 minute ride to Caye Caulker. The sky was blue and we knew it was going to be a beautiful day! We didn’t have reservations at a hostel so once we landed at the dock of Caye Caulker, our first mission was to find a place to sleep. We got off the dock and found a lovely little bench in the shade near a sleeping dog. Lindsay pulled out her Lonely Planet guidebook and we weighed our options. A local rode his bike up to us and told us that all the places were booked and he would show us a nice hotel to stay at. We politely told him that we weren’t interested. He stuck around and made a few crude remarks and finally left.

Exploring the Laid-Back Island of Caye Caulker
After canoeing to the split and back, Lindsay and I grabbed our cameras and headed to the split on foot to hopefully get some sunset pictures. Unfortunately, the skies haven’t been very cooperative over the past few nights and the sky was cloudy. It was still a pretty sunset, but not the amazing pinks, reds, and oranges that I was hoping for. While watching the sun set in the West, a dread-locked local came over and asked us if we would like some brownies to enjoy with the sunset. We kindly declined his offer knowing what was really in the brownies. As the final rays of the sun set over the horizon, our stomachs were grumbling with hunger. We decided on eating dinner at Habanero’s Restaurant. It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but Lindsay had her heart set of it after reading about it in her Lonely Planet guide. And I must say the food was fabulous! Everything sounded amazing on the menu, I opted for a grilled chicken salad. It was yummy! We enjoyed our meal on the patio overlooking Front Street. Since it was off-season, it was quiet.

Snorkeling in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Belize
The small island of Caye Caulker, Belize has its own local reef and marine reserve much like the larger marine reserve off the coast of Ambergris Caye called Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Lindsay and I snorkeled in Hol Chan while we stayed in San Pedro and were extremely excited to have the opportunity to snorkel again while staying in Caye Caulker. We booked a half-day snorkeling trip with Mario’s Snorkeling Tours for about $20 USD each. This tour left a bit later than the one we took with Searious Adventures in San Pedro, so we got to sleep in a bit. We walked over to Mario’s office for a 10am departure. We were joined by a couple on a cruise ship from Florida and a woman on vacation from Spain. Once we were all gathered and handed our snorkeling gear, we walked the 5 minutes to the boat dock to load onto our book. Gerald was our tour guide for the day. He was quite the character. He placed us in our corresponding seats based on our weight. He joked with the gentleman from Florida because he was the largest on the trip. Once we were on the boat, we were ready for the 5 minute boat ride to the local reef located about a 1/2 mile off the coast of the island. The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve lies east off the coast and contains five habitats within its 61 square miles: the mangroves, the littoral forests, the lagoon-marsh lands, the sea grass beds, and the local reef. The marine reserve was established following the lobbying from several Caye Caulker stakeholders and the Siwa-ban Foundation beginning in the 1990s. The area was finally designated as a marine reserve in 1998. Our first stop of the day was Caye Caulker’s Shark Ray Alley.

Caye Caulker Back to Reality in Maine (USA)
My final day arrived before I knew it. It was time to say goodbye to island life and Lindsay. Lindsay was staying for another week in beautiful Belize, while I had to go home back to my regular life. Part of me was ready to return back to Maine with its cool spring weather, but the other part of me wanted to stay in Central America. The more I travel in Central America, the more I fall in love with Latin America culture and geography. For a small region, it’s extremely diverse and colorful. I woke early to pack and shower. Takeoff from the tiny Caye Caulker airport at the end of the island was promptly at 9:15am. I needed to be at the airport by 8:45am or else I would be left behind with no refund. Lindsay really wanted to try Glenda’s Cafe that she read about in her guidebook. It was nearby the airport so we decided to spend my last meal with her at the small cafe. The cafe was located in the woman’s clapboard home and served traditional Belizean food with a side of a cinnamon roll. I chose a breakfast sandwich and Lindsay chose the scrambled eggs. Both meals were delicious and filling. I enjoyed it because I knew my next meal would be in the Atlanta airport between my flights.

Answers? A Trip Back To Caye Caulker – Two Times in Two Days
Yesterday I posted about the rumors swirling around the Split at Caye Caulker and about how I thought the easiest way to get the answer about whether or not it was being developed was to ask the owner. I got a bit of negative feedback about this post. About my superior attitude, general nosey-ness. About how I was trying to create drama (I did concede that many times in yesterday’s post) and how I portrayed the caye in a very negative light. These concerns started to weigh on me a bit while I was over there. So…after stopping over at the owner’s home to politely inquire (from his lovely family) if he was available and finding that he was not, I decided to just take a leisurely stroll about the island. Perhaps I’ll shoot him an email. But I’m not expecting much more information. It’s his land. And while plans are still up in the air, I don’t really expect him to share with a total stranger. I mean…I sure wouldn’t. And I expect things will change slowly…if much at all. But it is certainly something I am going to keep an eye on.

Belize Tourism Enjoys Rise in First Half of 2014
Citing a recent article in Belize’s Amandala newspaper, which used statistics released by the Belize Tourism Board, Chaa Creek’s co-owner and GM Lucy Fleming said that continued strong growth in the tourism sector is providing benefits across Belize’s economy and society, benefits that will in turn continue to make Belize more attractive to travellers. “Belize’s economy is now tourism-oriented, so a rise in visitor numbers translates into a healthier, happier society, making Belize even more attractive,” Ms Fleming said. “In short, more tourists mean a stronger tourism product, which will in turn attract more tourists. It’s a very positive, self-perpetuating cycle,” she added. The Amandala article, “Belize Draws 29.3% More Tourists For First half of 2014” (July 18, 2014) noted that “Belize continues to draw more tourists to its shores, with overnight tourist arrivals up 11.8% and cruise tourist arrivals up 36.9% for the first half of 2014, according to data released this evening by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB).

NAFTA and the Future of Canada, Mexico and the United States
The 20th anniversary of NAFTA’s implementation on Jan. 1 has revived some of the perennial arguments that have surrounded the bloc since its inception. The general consensus has been that the trade deal was a mixed bag, a generally positive yet disappointing economic experiment. That consensus may not be wrong. The history of the North American Free Trade Agreement as an institution has been one of piecemeal, often reluctant, integration of three countries with a long tradition of protectionism and fierce defense of economic national sovereignty. While NAFTA was a boon for certain sectors of the economy, particularly the U.S. agriculture industry, the net effect of the world’s second-largest trade bloc remains somewhat unknown. The debate over NAFTA can, however, obscure some fundamental realities about the future of North America and its three major countries. While the formation of the trading bloc represented a remarkable political achievement, NAFTA has remained a facilitating institution whose success has mirrored the ebb and flow in the slow but inevitable economic integration of the United States, Mexico and Canada. What lies ahead for the three countries will not so much be the result of NAFTA as NAFTA will be the result of the strong geopolitical imperative binding the three together. Washington, Mexico City and Ottawa are tied into major global and regional trends that Stratfor has been following over the years, trends that continue to point to a comparatively bright future for the North American triad.

Foodstuffs on Caye Caulker
For such a small place, Caye Caulker has a serious amount of places to eat. And amongst them is quite a variety. I will start this post by saying how impressed I was with the food on Caye Caulker. Bravo to you little island. Now onto the show... Upon arriving from Chetumal, we asked Madi where we should go for dinner – it had been a long day of travel (11 hours to be exact) and she quickly said “Go to Syd’s.” That was a decision we would not soon (or ever) come to regret. They say in sports and business to lead with your best. Syd’s was the best thing on Caye Caulker. Known for their fried chicken it DID NOT disappoint. Being someone who likes to eat and likes to eat chicken, I must say that fried chicken is something virtually never eaten in our house. Luckily Syd does not feel the same way.

International Sources

SEALY PROUD TO REPRESENT BELIZE
Among the flag bearers at the opening ceremony of Glasgow 2014 were Olympic champions, world-record holders and a part-gym worker from Ipswich. It is a strange-sounding situation but one which Katy Sealy made the most of after being asked to carry the flag of Belize last week at Celtic Park. In front of a packed stadium and millions of viewers across the world, the 23-year-old proudly led the Central American's small team around the field ahead of her second Commonwealth Games. It was an experience she understandably described as the best of her life and a scenario the English-born heptathlete could never have imagined not so long ago. Having taken up athletics with Ipswich Harriers aged 13, Sealy was just competing at smaller competitions across Great Britain when six years ago her grandfather suggested she made looked at representing Belize. "My grandad and grandma lived out there in the 1960s," Sealy explained. "My dad, my auntie and my uncle were all born out there. "I claim dual citizenship through my dad and about six years ago my grandad said 'could you represent Belize? Would it be possible?' "We looked into it and I had never competed for England or any other country, so obviously it was available for me.

New Study Helps Promote and Build Aquaculture in the Caribbean
Globally, aquaculture is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but the Caribbean has yet to tap into its true potential to expand marine and fresh water aquaculture. The good news is that a recently concluded study will provide the necessary foundation for a region-wide programme to harness more from the culture of fish and other fisheries products. Milton Haughton, Executive Director of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), emphasised that: “Aquaculture has the potential to make greater contribution to economic and social development of the Caribbean, provided that appropriate policy frameworks and incentives are provided for stakeholders in the sector.” The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (2014), published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, said that world food fish aquaculture production expanded at an average annual rate of 6.2 per cent in the period 2000–2012 (and 9.5 per cent in 1990–2000), from 32.4 million to 66.6 million tonnes, with growth being relatively faster in Africa (11.7 per cent) and Latin America and the Caribbean (10 per cent).

Have a lot of fun and contribute to important tarpon research
in the Belize Tarpon Tagging Expedition, held Aug. 9-16 and 16-23. Anglers will join UM scientist Jerry Ault and fly-fishing great Stu Apte on the flats of northern Belize to catch, implant satellite tags, and release tarpon. For more information, email Adam Marton at [email protected] or call 312-440-1200, or call Steve McLaughlin at Front Range Anglers at 303-494-1375.

Summer study abroad program caters to UCF biology students
With coral reefs below and the blue sky above, students traded the lecture hall for the Caribbean sea. And their classmates? Nurse sharks, sea turtles, eels and lionfish. As part of a two-credit summer abroad course, 13 students had the opportunity to swim among these marine animals. Biology professor Linda Walters led the group of students. “I am a firm believer that study abroad and other intensive experiences are essential for truly engaging our students and preparing them for 21st-century jobs,” Walters said. In just a week, the course included the study of 60 species in the depths of the Glover’s Atoll, which is about 35 kilometers off the coast of Belize. Considered one of the most diverse sources of coral reefs in the Caribbean, the atoll provides a nursery for sharks and turtles, among other creatures.

Jesuits to merge Southern, Central provinces Thursday
The Jesuit order of priests who have operated at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau for 176 years will, among others, mark a transformation in their regional administration Thursday. Michael Bourg, executive director for advancement for the Southern Province, based in New Orleans, said that province will merge with the Central Province, based in St. Louis. The merger is part of a continuing administrative changeover in which 10 provinces of Jesuits — the Society of Jesus is the order’s formal name — will eventually consolidate into four provinces. The provinces of Chicago and Detroit were the first to merge last year. The new province will include Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The province also includes the Central American country of Belize, where the Jesuits operate two parishes and a two-year college. The merged province includes more than 1 million square miles, six colleges or universities, 13 church parishes, 11 high schools and seven spirituality centers.

Junglecare
In search of a remedy for MS, a journey out of the gridlock of America’s health system and into the jungles of Belize, where medicine men promise cures for everything that ails you. Belize is known for its world-class scuba and snorkeling, its Mayan ruins, and its white sand beaches. But if you know where to look, it’s also a place to buy bottled, natural cures for every imaginable affliction. Nine years ago, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and every day since then I have given myself an injection of a drug called Copaxone, which has a retail price of $60,000 per year. I do not know if the drug is effective, but I’ve felt pretty close to normal for most of the last seven years, so I’m reluctant to stop taking it for fear of what might happen next.

Videos

Video: Belize movie, 7min.
This video is about diving in Belize.

Video: Melly Sanchez interviewed, 2.5min.
Melly Sanchez is born and raised in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It was her dream to someday open a restaurant. After so many years of managing Caliente restaurant, the opportunity to take over the restaurant presented itself.

Video: Luke Chadwick of Kanantik & Sanctuary Belize - Golden Foodie Awards Partner 2014, 2min.
Golden Foodie Awards partner Luke Chadwick of Kanantik Residences & Estates chats with us for a fun video about Belize and partnership with the GFA's!

Video: Belize Mission Trip - Spring 2014, 6min.
from Mpact Ministries

Video: Morey eel in a basket, 2min.
Feb 2014 in Ambergris Caye Belize

Video: Belize & Tikal in 10 Days, 3min.
10 days in Belize (minus the 22ish hours we spent in Tikal, Guatemala). July 2014. Filmed on GoPro Hero 3. Itinerary & Favorites: Days 1 - 3: Cayo District. Drove from the airport to the Cayo, and stopped at the Belize Zoo on the way. Stayed at Cool M Farms in Santa Elena (very close to San Ignacio). Went cave tubing and zip lining with Maximum Adventure Tours. Drove to Mountain Pine Ridge area to check out Gaia Riverlodge, Rio On Pools, and Rio Frio Cave. Visited the Saturday market in San Ignacio and ate pupusas. Explored a little bit of Spanish Lookout. Ate dinner and drank Belekins every night at Ko-Ox Han nah, also known as “Hannah’s.” Day 4: Tikal, Guatemala. Had a guided afternoon tour with a wonderfully into portals and aliens and the movie “Contact” guide arranged by Destiny Tours. Got to hold a tarantula as well as see it shoot acid poo, listened to another guide’s stories about seeing dolphins and other mysterious phenomena in the sky, saw coatis in the wild, and watched the sunset from a top a temple. Stayed at the Jaguar Inn overnight, and left for the beach in the morning. Days 5 - 10: San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Stayed at Cocotal Inn & Cabanas about 2 miles north of town (serene zone away from the party). Enjoyed free use of their bikes and sea kayaks to fish, snorkel, and explore the island. Went snorkeling in Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley with Searious Adventures. Ate pupusas (again) at Papuseria, and the next day ate more pupusas and large quantities of lobster ceviche and lobster burrito at Waruguma across the street. Saw a raccoon in a coconut tree by our pool, as well as plenty of lizards, birds, fish, and other critters. Ate mangos and pineapple from the Greenhouse mart and bought sardines for fishing at Captain Sharks. Every night we watched the sunset in chairs on a dock with a couple Belekins.

Video: La Isla Bonita, Making pilot episode trailer, 4min.
a documentary of the making of Belize first Telenovela.

Video: Delivering Pizza in Cayo, Belize, 29min.
Running Pizza in Belize!

Video: I Love Belize by: Yasmine, 5min.
My country is a beautiful place and i love it and now i want the world to know that i love my coutry.

July 30, 2014

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Team Yellow Dog takes the Annual Tres Pescados Slam Tournament

SPTC presents financials to public
Although the figures were presented, hard copies of the report were not made available and the audience had to rely on the power point presentation before them. Members of the public managed to cross examine the figures, with one of the issues having to do with Travelling and Subsistence which amounted to $92,781.62 and miscellaneous expenses which added to $545,524.48 last year alone. “I am not an accountant, but any prudent businessman would want to look at a big figure like the case of the SPTC miscellaneous account and break it down. Add the two accounts and you will see that it constitutes 13% of your annual revenue. Do you mean to say that almost two months of your revenue collected is used for miscellaneous and travelling expenses? It seems that the SPTC has to collect two months of revenue to cover for those two expenses and it something that needs to be looked at seriously,” pointed Andre Perez, a businessman and a resident of San Pedro Town.

Ambergris Today

San Pedro Summer Music Camp
Started this week with music teacher Carlos Perrote. Children and adults are learning percussion, guitar, keyboard and steel pan

Tiburon Rum is coming to Belize really soon!
he Belize Rum is winning awards left and right internationally. Cannot wait for everybody to experience it. Ambergris Today already had a special private sampling and the rum is amazing! Congratulations to Tiburon Rum on its latest award!!! We are very excited !! We just won a Silver medal at the Int'l Wine & Spirit Competition in London !!! We share this and all our awards with Travellers Liquors and the beautiful people of Belize!! This make 6 major awards this year!!!!

Misc Belizean Sources

Letter: Garifuna take one giant leap... backward in Barranco, Belize
On July 18, 2014, the government of Belize released through their press office an announcement in essence saying that delivered to the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Mr Gasper Vega from Dr Joseph Palacio, the head of Barranco Village Council, some 39 applications for title to lands in the Barranco area one would presume. See the letter at this site: https://www.facebook.com/GOBPressOffice. The release was written by Palacio. According to the statement, by Palacio and released by the government press office of Belize, it is “a vital step in building the foundation of renewed economic development”. The statement also said this is the outcome of a meeting with the Hon. Prime Minster held several weeks earlier. In the weeks leading up to this moment the government of Belize (GOB) and US Capital Energy, an oil company trying to extract oil from the area surrounding Barranco and other villages, had been working overtime on the villagers to gain their support and to take support away from Sarstoon Temash Institute of Indigenous Management (SATIIM) in an important court case regarding use of land rights of indigenous peoples in Belize. Barranco village is a village of Garinagu. SATIIM has filed a case against the GOB and US Capital Energy seeking that they properly consult the indigenous people who own the land collectively before issuing permits for the drilling of oil. This is a landmark case that will define the rights of Belize’s indigenous groups in accordance with international law to give free and informed consent before the government issues permits to companies which will seek to extract natural resources and their right based again on international law to share in profits from the exploitation of the natural resources within their ancestral lands.

Final series of calculating bagasse prices – Part VI – Cash Flow Savings
Time will tell what these two groups finally agree to do, because the discussion could also look at the cost saved by the factory that uses about 46 percent of the energy in its own facilities. If we utilize BEL’s 20 cents rate, we would find that the company saves approximately $10 million [(107,800,00 kWh x 46%) x 20 cents] in energy costs. This additional argument would then suggest that the total figure is closer to $21 million (A figure closer to what BSCFA estimates), instead of $11.7 million. Even if the payment is based only on the cash-flow savings and the 15.41 percent of fibre, the payment would be about $1.43 per ton of cane. The long run - Whatever method is chosen, it is safe to assume that no business person, including the farmers, would agree to a sharing arrangement that would see the Belcogen plant go bankrupt. Instead, there should be interest in seeing Belcogen become able to supply more power and help Belize become more energy independent.

Scarlet Macaws Taking Flight
Some of the scarlet macaws have left their nests.to go out and start a family of their own. Big up to Scarlet Six, FCD, and the BWRC, whose update says it all. "Two weeks ago we went in with Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand of the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic and our colleagues from FCD for a health check on our chicks at Scarlet Creek. They looked really healthy and sharp and close to fledging. Well, first one left the nest on Tuesday and the second one fledged on Wednesday! This is what real conservation can do for endangered species. Thanks again to our colleagues at FCD and BWRC. 5 more chicks to go!

AFSOUTH maintainers return from MTT in Belize
Ten Belize Defence Force Air Wing maintainers were given the tools to increase their aircraft fleets capability, thanks to the help of two Air Forces Southern Airmen. Master Sgts. Noel Mendoza and Jeremy Jacobs, Aircraft Managers assigned to12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern), recently returned from a mobile training team event with the Belize Defence Force Air Wing. “By teaching them the basics of aircraft maintenance management we are helping them build their own program so that they can become self-sufficient and handle their own equipment in-house,” Mendoza said. While in Belize, Mendoza and Jacobs helped strengthen the partner nation’s air and maritime capabilities by teaching 10 maintainers how to establish their own maintenance programs. The MTT was requested by the Government of Belize and the Security Cooperation Office to help the Belize Defence Force Air Wing establish its own maintenance management programs.

Anika Jackson appointed as the new Solicitor g General of Belize
Barbadian attorney, Anika Jackson, who was formerly Deputy Registrar at the Supreme Court in Barbados, has been appointed as the new Solicitor g General of Belize. On August 1st, she will be formally taking over from Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke who has been deputizing since late 2013. She was admitted to Bar in 2001 and specializes in Intellectual Property.

Cornerstone's Self Esteem Summer Camp
The Cornerstone Foundation had their Self Esteem and Trust Summer Camp. They posted some pictures of the art that was created for the project. "Art work done by the children in the Self Esteem & Trust Summer Camp Being hosted by Cornerstone Foundation, this art session was also a friendly competition between the kids to see whose art work would be the one used to paint a Mural on Self Esteem and Trust."

Grueling solo kayak run
Yes, I finally made it! - After practicing for several weeks now, yesterday morning, I took the grueling solo kayak run starting by the foot of my house on the Corozal Bay all the way to cerros mayan site and back. Started at 7:15 a.m. and landed back around 11:45 a.m. The sun was scorching and made the trip a bit harder. Covered a total R/T distance of 5.38 nautical miles or 6.20 miles. The purpose of the solo run was in memory of those families and friends that have fallen as victims of crime and violence, for the recovery of family and friends that are terminally ill and for peace in our communities.

Channel 7

Hubert Elrington Speaks On His Fugitive Brother, Dr. Errol
Last night, we told you about Dr. Errol Elrington, the well-known brother of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington - who has been laying low in Belize - after the US Office of the Inspector General, in the Department of Health and Human Services declared him a fugitive. There is an arrest warrant for Dr. Elrington dating back to October of 2013, in which he is wanted for the federal charges of racketeering, Medicaid fraud and Health Care Fraud. It is alleged that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than four hundred thousand dollars for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct. Those are very serious offences - which carry huge fines and long prison sentences. And, the Inspector General's website says he is a fugitive, who left the states 24 hours after Federal Agents questioned him. We tried to reach Errol Elrington to ask him about the charges but we couldn't find him at the family home where we are told he has been staying. Today, though, we did manage to catch up with his brother, attorney Hubert Elrington, and he told us that Errol's woes were actually caused by an employee, and that Dr. Elrington himself didn't actually do anything wrong:

Tacos Vendor Succumbs
Last night, we told you about the Tacos Lady, "Miss Alida", who was well known to set up near the Atlantic Bank Freetown Branch. She was one of 4 people robbed and shot at her Mopan Street house early Saturday morning. Well, after 2 and a half days, 42 year-old Alida Ascencio passed away just before noon today. Viewers may remember that she was shot in the left side of her chest, and her left abdomen, and she was clinging to life in the Intensive Care Unit. Her family says that the bullet to the abdomen caused massive internal injuries affecting her pancreas, liver, and intestines. In the end, her injuries were too numerous, and she succumbed. As we reported, "Miss Alida" was preparing her chicken for the day's tacos sales at around 4:30 a.m. on Saturday. She was being assisted by 52 year-old Carlos Mayorga, 19 year-old Karina Avila, and 21 year-old Sejhan Avila. Just before 5:00, 2 men barged into the house and held them up at gunpoint. The man with the gun ordered Mayorga to hand over whatever money they had. He opened a locker in his bed room and handed over $2,000 in cash.

Another City Murder, This Time It's An Older Man
Another man was killed last night - and again, it appears to have been a case of wanton violence or being at the wrong place, wrong time. 54 year old Winston Whylie was walking on Victoria Street late at night when a gunman rode up and shot him - for no apparent reason. We went looking for answers today. We warn you that the story does have graphic images of him right after he was shot:.. Robin Schaffer reporting This is Winston Whylie around 11:00 last night, minutes after he was shot on the Victoria street sidewalk. Residents say he was conscious and gasping for air, with a gunshot wound to his midsection. The culprit: a man on bicycle who rode away. Police came to pick him up within five minutes, and the staff at the KHMH tried to save him, but by 1:00 am, he was dead. His family got there too late. Wilma Thompson, Sister of deceased "We went to the hospital me and my daughter and when we got there he was already dead. He was not a person who was violent. His job was fixing bicycles out of Lovely Lane and where he hangs out. I don't know really what was the reason. I can't say until more information comes.

City Has Major Multi-Million $$$ Maintenance Arrears
Up to 4 months ago, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley was having quite a bit of a headache trying to making payments for arrears to Belize Waste Control. Things got so contentious that Waste Control exercised their legal rights and took him to court ensure that pays them. The council owed them as much as 3 months. But, now the council is in trouble the other sanitation company, Belize Maintenance Limited. The company is reporting that they are owed 18 weeks in arrears. That's approximately 1.4 million dollars, and they're contemplating laying off employees to keep the company in operation. This afternoon, Bradley called a press briefing, and he explained that at $78,000 per week owed to BML, the Council will pay when it can: Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor "Every year we have significant obligations in terms of other priorities and I want to be very clear to members of the public. This is a situation that has resulted through deliberate actions of the council and I don't mean that we've wilfully not paid them, but when I took office I look at the Belize City Council Act and the Belize City Council Act says that the major priority of Belize City is to build streets - that's what we are about - infrastructure. And we are putting a significant amount of our resources aside from just the bond. All the earthen street works that are going on, a significant amount of that is being paid for by City Council funds.

Ashcroft Alliance To Court Over BISL Back Tax
13 months ago, the Government nationalized the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize, known as Immarbe and the International Companies, or IBC Registry. They were taken from their previous owner, the Ashcroft-Allied Belize International Services Limited, known as BISL. IMMARBE sold the Belizean Flag as a flag of convenience to international vessels, while the IBC Registry, registered offshore companies which are given tax-free status and assured secrecy in their corporate affairs. During that nationalization, the Government assessed BISL and determined that it owed 30 million dollars in back taxes which Government claims were not paid by BISL over the last 20 years. After a year in court, the BISL finally managed to get its hearing fully heard before Justice Shona Griffith. Outside of court, their attorney, Eamon Courtenay explained to us that his main argument is that the Government is seeking to unlawfully use the tax code as a weapon against his clients:

Courtenay Mostly Mum On Tropic Air Settlement
While we had the opportunity, we asked Courtney about the settlement between Tropic Air and Brett Feinstein's Construction Depot Limited in the land dispute on San Pedro. As we reported last night, both sides reached an out of court settlement. We learnt that Tropic Air will get to continue to construction on its new building and Feinstein's Construction Depot Limited will move to another parcel of land along the airstrip. Today, keeping with the confidentiality terms of the settlement, Courtenay was very brief when we asked about it: Eamon Courtenay "As I said very briefly yesterday to another reporter, the agreement reached is confidential, so I will not go into the details, but all I repeat is that my client is happy."

Mayor Mum On Cari-shores
Today we asked the Mayor Darrell Bradley about reports we've picked up that he has submitted his name as a candidate for the UDP Standard Bearer in Caribbean Shores. We know he's been campaigning in the Shores, so it didn't seem far-fetched. Now, as recent history has shown, trying to get a straight answer from the mayor on matters such as candidacy can be difficult. But when we asked him about the Caribbean Shores candidacy, he gave us as direct a response has he's ever given about his political future. Here's what he had to say: Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor "This election right here I am running for Mayor - that's what I am doing and everything that obtains in terms of my priorities is to be an effective mayor. I think from day one I have said and this has been something that I have meant that I want to leave this city better than I found it. We found a city rot with debt, we found significant challenges and I felt as a resident of Belize City that the council could do more and we have done more and so going forward into this next municipal election which will be in March of 2015, my commitment is to residents of the entire city as their mayor and I am asking people to vote for us not because of anything else but our record of proven success.

The Political Future of Eric Chang Is Nil
So, while the mayor is committed to offer himself up for re-election in the March 2015 Municipal Elections, what about Eric Chang? As we reported, reliable sources tell us that the UDP higher-ups took the decision that he will not be allowed to offer himself in the next municipal convention. Is it because of the unanswered questions about his association, whether real or perceived, with the Citizen Kim Scandal? We asked the Mayor about it, and he says that only Eric Chang can answer that question: Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor "Eric Chang as a councilor, he has to be within the jurisdiction, he has to be working as a councilor and if he is not then residents of Belize City can blame me. That's something that I am responsible for. As it relates to anything else that there is out there that Eric Chang has done or may have done, that is not within my jurisdiction. I am Mayor and I have certain functions as mayor and it is my duty to ensure that when he is a councilor that I work with him and I ensure that he is doing the job for which residents of Belize pay him.

KHMH Was In Crisis
Two weeks ago, the news broke that the KHMH was having major financial difficulties - which was resolved with supplementary funding in addition to its regular subvention. At the time, chairman Chandra Nisbet-Cansino said that it wasn't a crisis, but a June second email from the hospital CEO Gary Longsworth to the chairman, wasn't quite so circumspect. He said, quote, "This matter is now at the point of crisis and there is the high likelihood we will not be able to meet next month's payroll…we have maxed out our overdraft facility where no further checks can be cut, we have vendors calling every day and not releasing orders because we owe them." End quote. He closed by asking the Chair to appeal for emergency financial assistance in order to, quote, "avert a looming crisis at this institution."

Cops Take 9 Weapons Off The Streets
It didn't make our newscast last night, but the police department released photographs of 9 weapons that they've seized in the past 2 weeks. While they've not released the details of how all these weapons ended up being taken off the streets, we note that the department now has 4 nine millimetre handguns, two .38 revolvers, one 357 magnum revolver, one .380 handgun, and that 5.56 galil military assault rifle, which we first showed you 2 weeks ago.

YES Affirms School Attendance For Needy Kids
Today at the Youth Enhancement Services' Belize City office, students received books, tuition fees, school bags and school supplies as a part of a joint initiative by the Y.E.S. and community policing. The goal of the project is to reduce youth involvement in crime, and it is funded by the United States Embassy. After the items were handed out, Y.E.S. Director Karen Cain told us that the students were chosen based on need. Karen Cain, Director, Youth Enhancement Services "We had kids from St. John's College, we had from Maud Williams, Ladyville Tech, Gwen Liz. So there is a variety right across the board and I know that most of them left from here very happy." Lillian Novelo "Back in my days, I was going through some situation with my family members and things like that. I got pregnant in second form at Excelsior High School and Y.E.S. was there to support me and carry me through my life and things like that. So I've really been there with Y.E.S. and through my life now I am saying that I want to go back to school and Y.E.S. is here sending me back to school and making me have a better life in my thing with my three kids."

Carnival Group Getting Ready For Road
It's only July but carnival fever is already becoming contagious in Belize City's streets. For the past two weeks we've seen children practicing at the corner of Amara Avenue and Dean St. just a few blocks from the office. Our intern Robin Schaffer thought it looked like fun so she decided to join them. The Trench Town Masqueraders practice for two hours Monday to Saturday Afternoons, with 75 children.

Armed Assault And Shooting In Armenia
Belmopan police have confirmed to us that a man was shot in Armenia Village on Saturday night. He was returning home from selling his vegetables, when 4 men ambushed him in front of his house. They were trying to rob him, and during the attack he pulled his machete from his truck and chopped one of the assailants in the face. Police say the robbers shot him because he fought back. Those in the area believe that these robbers are a part of a criminal network establishing itself in Las Flores, just outside of Belmopan.

Channel 5

Belize City Man Gunned Down…
There has been no end to the senseless violence which continues to plague Belize City despite attempts by the Police Department to maintain law and order. Following the wake of [...]

Police Seek One Person of Interest…
Late this evening, Officer Commanding Precinct Three told News Five that Police have been conducting an intense investigation since Monday night, and are following a number of leads which could [...]

Second Victim of Weekend Bloodbath Succumbs…
Honduran national Carlos Mayorga, a tacos vendor, was brutally killed at his house on Mopan Street. Three female assistants were also targeted in the gun violence that occurred early on [...]

Fugitive Errol Elrington Safe in Belize…
Today, attorney Hubert Elrington confirmed what we reported on Monday night that his brother, Errol Elrington, is in Belize and has been here since he fled the US after being [...]

Missing Ipad Turns Up in Ladyville Bakery…
What was attorney Arthur Saldivar’s missing Ipad doing in the home of the Deputy Prime Minister’s brother in Orange Walk? That’s the million dollar question right now for Saldivar. He [...]

Arthur Saldivar Alleges Political Connection…
According to the tracking feature, the Ipad was taken to this home in Orange Walk. We didn’t know it at the time of the interview this morning, but we’ve learned [...]

Do you believe Elvin Penner is guilty of committing a criminal act?
And our question for tonight is: Do you believe Elvin Penner is guilty of committing a criminal act? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or [...]

BISL Takes GOB to Court Over $30 Million Tax Assessment…
On June eleventh, 2013, the Government of Belize assumed control of the shipping and companies’ registries that were managed by Belize International Services Limited. That led to a round of [...]

Mayor Bradley Explains BML Debt Woes…
On Friday, employees of Belize Maintenance Limited were up in arms over City Hall’s mounting debt with the sanitation company.  BML had been contracted by a previous city council administration [...]

Bradley Says No Caribbean Shores…For Now…
As it concerns his political future, Mayor Darrell Bradley has always managed to beat around the bush when asked about his intention to return to City Hall in 2015 or [...]

Councillor Eric Chang Bows Out of City Hall Convention…
While Mayor Bradley aspires to a seat in the House of Representatives in the distant future, Councilor Eric Chang will not be running for another term at City Hall.  A [...]

Ladyville Woman Charged in Carnal Knowledge Case…
An unemployed domestic of the Ladyville area, who in September 2013 was charged jointly with her boyfriend for allegedly luring a fourteen year-old minor into their car, was back in [...]

Belize City Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter…
Jamie Dawson was twenty-three years when he was first accused of a murder but was instead convicted of manslaughter. Now at the age of thirty five, and after waiting eight [...]

There is a new CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
It is pending official confirmation, but it is known that Alexis Rosado, the C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be moving on as Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala. The [...]

John Morrison is New Director of Archaeology…
A new Director of Archaeology has been appointed to succeed Dr. Jaime Awe at the helm of the Institute of Archaeology.  Following a lengthy board meeting today, Dr. John Morris [...]

New Sol-Gen is Anika Jackson…
Barbadian attorney, Anika Jackson, has been appointed as the new solicitor general of Belize.  On August first, she will be formally taking the reigns from Acting Solicitor General Nigel Hawke [...]

Mayor Bradley on Crime…
The recent spate of crime in Belize City, particularly the unabated rash of gun violence, is cause for great concern and while the Belize Police Department has formulated a plan [...]

YES Donates School Supplies…
In time for the new school year, the Youth Enhancement Services has been offering assistance to youths who would otherwise fall by the wayside. The recipients of the program were [...]

Belize Hosts SICA Meeting…Discusses Way Forward…
The Central American Integrated Economic System, SIECA, as we mentioned is the economic arm of SICA and by joining the offshoot Belize can benefit in a number of ways, particularly [...]

Belize Invited to Join SICA’s Economic Arm…
Since assuming pro tem presidency of the Central American Integration System, SICA, a few weeks ago, Belize has wasted little time in addressing the regional needs of the organization’s membership.  [...]

Nine Vocalists Move On…Reggae Showdown at the Bliss…
It’s Tuesday night; it means we will be live from the Bliss shortly to Bring It to the audience and into your homes.  After revealing who will be moving on [...]

CTV3

14 Year Old Student Sent To Youth Hostel
On Friday we told you about 15 year old Luz Clarita Carrillo, the standard four student who was reunited with her family after being missing for more than a month. As we have been reporting, Luz went missing in June after she was last seen by her guardians heading to school. Their searches led them to a farm on the Santa Martha road where they found her at a location known as Green Shed Farm. And while her family is happy to have brought her home, Luz apparently did not wish to return with her family. Her guardian, Maria Lucia Carrillo, told us today that the girl was used and abused at the location where she was found and is furious since no chargers were levied on the person, (a much older man), she was with. Maria Lucia Carillo – Aunt of missing teen “I catch a private taxi and I went and I saw personally his father told me that my daughter was there and I went straight to the police and I told the police my daughter is in Santa Martha Area.”

Police Dismantles Gambling Ring
A gambling ring in Orange Walk was quickly interrupted by authorities’ mid-afternoon today. The video shows several men at the back of this bootleg DVD stall at the market and police advising them of their offence of illegal gambling. This is an offence because gambling rings require a license and permit. While these men have been carrying out this operation for some time, complaints to the station prompted authorities to break it up.

Burlgary Foiled After House Owner Surprised Theive
While those two burglaries are yet to be solved by police, one burglar is tonight behind bars. Around 5:30 on Sunday evening, Reen Thadhani, 46 year old Naturalized Belizean of #43 5th Avenue, Corozal Town, arrived home only to find a male person of Hispanic decent attempting to break into her residence. The individual was about to make himself at home as he had already removed two of the glass louvers from one of the widows. At that instance Thadhani shouted “thief.” And that is when her niece and a taxi driver came to her aid. The driver of the taxi chased down the individual who was apprehended and identified as 19 year old Eric Herrera. Herrera was handed over to authorities and was charged for the crime of attempt burglary.

Car Chase At Free Zone Lands Three In Prison
While police officers were on high alert at the Northern Border on Friday before and during the transfer of four Belizean prisoners, their attention was drawn to a grey vehicle that was parked on the left side of the road on an unnamed street within the Corozal Free Zone. As police approached the vehicle, the driver sped off and police set chase. During the chase police observed when a male person who was sitting in the front passenger seat threw a parcel out the vehicle which stopped a few seconds after.

Corozal Resident Wanted For Theft
Over the weekend burglars kept police officers from the Corozal Police formation busy as they reported to four cases of burglary. The first victim to be hit was Can Jin Chen, a 30 year old Chinese Businessman from Corozal Town who reported to police that sometime between the hours of 9:00pm on Friday and 7:50 on Saturday morning, his white Toyota Highlander SUV with license plate CZ-03333 was broken into. Chen told police that he left the vehicle parked in front of his business place where someone shattered the right glass window that had a value of $300.00.

Manuel Castillo Still At Large
There is no doubt that the man most wanted here in the north is 37 year old Manuel Castillo accused of orchestrating the murder of former Senator and Mayor of Orange Walk Town Ramon Cervantes Sr., whose badly decomposed body was found buried in a shallow grave on July 5th at a farm located on the Honey Camp Road. While Castillo, along with three other persons have been charged for Cervantes’ murder, tonight he remains on the run and has even managed to make it on Interpol’s most wanted list. On Friday, when news broke out that four men who were in neighboring Mexico were handed over to Belizean Authorities, rumors spread like wild fire that one of them was Manuel Castillo. According to Officer Commanding the Corozal Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez, the Corozal Police Department was flooded with calls made by concerned residents requesting information on Castillo’s detention.

Mexican National Charged For Assaulting Police Officer
Tonight a Mexican National is facing charges for assaulting a police officer. Around 5:00 Sunday morning, Police Constable #1054 Diego Torres, was conducting special duties at the Princess Casino when his attention was drawn to couple that was arguing. The constable approached the couple, identified himself as a police officer and asked if everything was ok. At that moment, another male person who was standing beside the couple pushed PC Torres. Officer Torres immediately informed him of the offence committed and told him that he will be detained. The Mexican National, identified as Darwin Loria Alcoser, started to struggle with PC Torres and that is when other officers intervened and arrested Alcoser who was under the influence of alcohol.

Corozal OC Speaks On Transfer Of Belizean Prisoners
On Friday four Belizeans who were serving time at a Mexican prison were transferred back to Belize to the Kolbe Correctional Facility where they will continue their sentence. Hillian Martinez and Kevin Lincoln Smith, both 35 years of age, 55 year old Miguel Perez and 58 year old Francisco Nunez will serve approximately six years at the Central Prison before they become free men. As mentioned on Friday, the men were transferred to Belize as part of the Mexico-Belize prisoner exchange program. Representing the Commissioner of Police on Friday was Officer Commanding the Corozal Police Formation, Andrew Ramirez, who told us more about the exchange. Andrew Ramirez- OC Corozal “I received along with the Ambassador from Foreign Affairs, receive four individuals their names are: Mr kevin Licoln smith, Heliam Martinez, Francisco Nunez and Miguel Perez these individuals were transferred after been sentenced in Mexico in July 2007, by the way it was 15 years in prison, so these were the four that we took over from the Mexican authorities, the ambassador signed on behalf of the Belizean government and I as the Head Officer on behalf of the Commissioner where the warrant as basically saying that I will sign on behalf of the Commissioner and I am safely hand over these officers to the prison authorities and I did that in the presence of Mr. Earl Jones, the CEO of prison of Friday last.”

Bowen And Bowen Employee Robbed At Gun Point
On Friday afternoon three men of Hispanic decent robbed a duo of Bowen and Bowen employees who were making a delivery in the area of Alta Mira in Corozal. Around 4:00pm, 50 year old Felipe Uk and his sideman were making a delivery in the area of Alta Mira when they were approached by three men of Hispanic decent wearing bandanas over their face and brandishing firearms. Two of the robbers placed their weapons Uk’s head and demanded that he hand over the cash. Fearing for his life, Uk did as he was told and handed over a pouch containing an undisclosed amount of cash belonging to Bowen and Bowen. With money in hand the robbers made good their escape by running into some nearby bushes.

Breaking Leaves Lebanese Nationa Out Of More Than A Thousand Dollar Worth In Items
Police is also requesting the assistance of the public in order to recover valuable electronics that were stolen from 24 year old Lebanese Naturalized Belizean, Ahmed Hatem. Hatem reported to police that between 9:00pm and midnight Saturday, his house was broken into and stolen therefrom was a laptop valued at $1,000.00, a black DVD player valued at $100.00, two perfumes valued at $16.00 and a TV remote control.

LOVE FM

Tacos Vendor Near Atlantic Bank Dies Following Home Invasion/Robbery
Yesterday we told you about the brutal murder of 52 year old Carlos Mayorga. As we reported Mayorga was at his home on Saturday morning along with, 21 year old Sijhan Avila, 19 year old Karina Avila and 42 year old Alida Asencio when two men, one armed with a handgun, entered the house and demanded money. After they got over two thousand dollars, they shot Mayorga to the head, killing him immediately. They proceeded to shoot the three women and the news tonight is that Alida Asencio succumbed to her injuries shortly before midday today. Asencio, who is originally from Guatemala was stationed near Atlantic Bank on Freetown Road daily selling tacos. According to her sister, Edith, arrangements are being made to take her body back home. Before passing away, Asencio had undergone surgery for internal bleeding.

Long Time Archaeology Director Replaced
Dr. John Morris is the new Director of the Institute of Archaeology. Dr. Morris who has been in the archaeology field since 1980 was previously the Associate Director of Research at the Institute of Archaeology. Dr. Morris replaces Dr. Jaime Awe who resigned earlier this month. The National Institute of Culture and History and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation thanked Dr. Awe for his years of dedication to the development of Archaeology in Belize. For the past 38 years, Dr. Awe worked tirelessly and passionately unearthing and explaining the mysteries of the rich Maya culture to a countless number of students, writers, researchers, observers and all Belizeans.

Shyne Is Back in Belize
October 28, 2009 – that is the date that Shyne Barrow, now known as Moses Michael Levi, returned to Belize on a deportation order from the United States. Shyne, who is the son of Belize’s Prime Minister, was given the title of Goodwill Ambassador to Belize and just in case you’re wondering what that means…..the rapper himself was quoted in an online publication of the XXL Music Magazine, as saying, ‘I’m a Goodwill Ambassador for my country Belize….My job is really to go around the world for Belize and get people to invest in the country and to promote the country.” Well, since then there has been silence, in terms of what promotion has been done for Belize by Shyne or what, if any, investments were made through him. Today, Love News ran into Shyne at a bakery in Belize City and we ventured to ask him about the progress he has made as an ambassador for Belize…….but he denied us that interview, saying that he just wanted to have his breakfast. Shyne is a Belizean rapper who moved to Brooklyn, New York in his teenaged years and had made a name for himself in the rap industry under Bad Boy Records. His freedom and status in the industry became suffocated in 1999 after he was imprisoned for a shooting incident in a night club while being in the company of P Diddy and Jennifer Lopez. Shyne served just over nine years in prison and was released and deported to Belize in 2009.

Two Years Later, Romero Cleared of Murder Charge
Joseph Romero has been freed of a charge of murder. Romero was charged for murder in connection with the death of Santos Ramirez which occurred on July 23, 2011. Justice Herbert Lord refused to admit a caution statement presumably taken from Romero two days after the incident. Justice Lord felt there was serious doubt as to whether the caution statement was given freely and voluntarily and found that the prosecution and the police witnesses failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Romero had done so of his own free will. Prosecutor Javier Chan rose up to inform the Court, that in light of the Court’s decision to throw out from the caution statement, which was the only piece of evidence the Police had against Romero the prosecution could not proceed. Romero walked out of the Corozal Magistrate Court a free man. Romero was 17 years old when he was arrested.

Victoria Street Murder Adds to Homicide Rate
Fifty four year old Winston Whylie was shot last night on Victoria Street in Belize City. He was on his bicycle when a gunman rode up to him and blasted the single fatal shot. Whylie was rushed to the KHMH but died three hours later while receiving treatment. We spoke to his friends and family and all of them seem perplexed as to why anyone would want to kill Whylie. His sister, Wilma Thompson Whylie, spoke to Love News. WILMA THOMPSON WHYLIE “According to what the policeman told me, they were riding down Victoria Street and in front of the Glass Shop is where he was shot in the abdomen. I think that is what caused the injury and I heard that the doctors were trying hard with him.” HIPOLITO NOVELO: “Did your brother ever tell you that he had problems with anyone, any enemies, and any feuds?” WILMA THOMPSON WHYLIE “I really can’t say. Now and again a one or two threats but nothing really concrete but I didn’t really feel that anyone would want to kill him. He’s just a bicycle man; he fixes bicycles and hangs out. Everyone knows him for many years.”

Forty Cents Per Dollar and City Still Not Clean
Last week Managing Director of Belize Maintenance Limited Laurence Ellis told Love News he was unable to get a hold of Mayor Darrel Bradley. According to Ellis the Belize City Council owed his company in the vicinity of one point three million dollars. Ellis said the non-payment has left a financial strain on the company. Today the Mayor spoke on the issue. DARREL BRADLEY “Reach out with them routinely about certain things. We always with them in relation to the quality of the service that our residents receive we have a committee that supervises their contracts and their work and they are supposed to provide us with a weekly report, sometimes we don’t get that report and so we are always in a weekly basis engaging with them on various issues on the quality of service.

Additional Charge Brought Against Woman In Sex Incident with Minor
Twenty-seven year old Stacy Leslie, a resident of Lord’s Bank Village, Belize District, who was charged last September with aggravated assault of an indecent nature on a 14 year old girl, was arraigned on an additional charge of abetment to carnal knowledge when she appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. No plea was taken because the offence is indictable. She was released on the same two thousand dollar bail that she was offered when she was charged with aggravated assault. Her next court date is August 5. The incident occurred on September 17, 2013 when the minor reported to the police that she was walking in the Hollywood area of Lord’s Bank when she was approached by John Williams who invited her to join him and Leslie in his car. The girl said she accepted the invitation and Williams drove them to Cayo and later they went to Williams’ home in Lord’s Bank. The girl said Leslie gave her marijuana to smoke and then Williams had sex with her. In September last year Williams was charged with unlawful carnal knowledge.

Senior Counsel Elrington Explains Brother’s Predicament
Yesterday we reported that Dr. Errol Elrington, the brother of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General, Wilfred Elrington and Senior Counsel Hubert Elrington is wanted in the United States of America by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to the US Inspector General’s website, there is a warrant for the arrest of Dr. Elrington in relation to racketeering, Medicaid fraud and health care fraud. The warrant, according to the site, is a result of US investigators, who believe that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 US dollars, for services that he never performed. The website reported that Elrington had employed an unlicensed physician and after being interrogated by Federal and State agents fled the United States for Belize. His brother, Hubert Elrington, told the media that his brother is in Belize and he did not do anything wrong, except to employ another doctor to work in his clinic. HUBERT ELRINGTON “I personally am aware that there is a problem because I think about two months ago this report that you are referring to was posted on the internet so you all must have been sleeping like Rip Van Winkle.”

Belize City Mayor Says Residents Need to Regain Sense of Security
Over the past few weeks Belize City has seen a spike in crime. This has raised concern among the public at large, law enforcement officials and city officials. Mayor Darrel Bradley weighed in on the topic today. According to Bradley the many infrastructural works going on around the city will not be appreciated to its fullest extent unless residents can regain that sense of security. DARREL BRADLEY “We are very concerned. I think that development has to be looked within the human context and all of development has a human face. Whenever we lose any life that is a significant blow to the prospects of growth in our city. I indicated recently, I came back from Los Angeles and one of the things that they had indicated recently in the town hall meetings is that they keep hearing these stories of rampant crime and lawlessness in Belize, which is something that hurts every single plan and program that we have.

To Pay or Not to Pay….Judgement Reserved for Int’l Business Registry
More than a year ago, the Government of Belize nationalized the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize, IMMARBE, and the International Business Companies Registry. These two entities were formerly managed by the Belize International Services Limited, BISL. In the process of nationalization, GOB made an assessment of BISL and the results was that BISL owed 30 million dollars in taxes for a period spanning 20 years. The matter was taken to court and it was heard today by Justice Shona Griffith. Attorney for BISL, Eamon Courtenay, outlined their arguments. EAMON COURTENAY “The Commission of Income Tax assessed the company for taxes for thirty million dollars going back for twenty years and this case was a challenge to that and this case was that Belize International Services was an IBC and IBCs are not subject to tax. They are not subject to tax; the Commissioner cannot tax the company.

PlusTV

Additional sex charge for village woman
A Lords’ Bank woman faces an additional sexual assault charge for an incident which took place in September of 2013. Stacy Leslie, 27, was already charged with aggravated assault of an indecent nature but now faces an additional charge of abetment to carnal knowledge. Leslie is jointly charged with...

One man killed and three women injured in early morning shooting
Who wanted a group of humble, hard-working men and women to die even after robbing them? Police have detained three men of Belize City as part of their investigations into that question, following a fatal shooting incident around 5:00 Saturday morning, July 26. Police information is that around 4:50...

Security guard at Caribbean Shrimp suffering from pellet wounds
There was another shooting incident over the weekend which took place in the Village of Ladyville. According to police reports,  at about 10:30 pm, Charlie Macintosh received a phone call from Alejandro Calderon, one of his security guards of Caribbean Shrimp located in the Milpa Area, Ladyville Village, who...

Armenia villager fights off robbers
An attempted armed robbery in the village of Armenia, in the Cayo District, was foiled when the victim fought back. According to police, at around 7:45 pm on Saturday July 26th, Salvador Vasquez, a food vendor of Armenia Village, was arriving home in the company of his wife. Upon...

Another Bowen and Bowen truck robbed
Police are investigating an armed robbery which occurred on Friday July 25th in the Northern District of Corozal. According to Police reports, Felipe Uk, 50 year old Belizean Vendor and Deliveryman for Bowen and Bowen and a resident of San Narciso Village, Corozal, was driving a red Coca Cola...

Motorcyclists killed in car collision
Police continue their investigation into a fatal traffic incident which occurred late on Friday evening. On the 25th of July, at about 5:45p.m. acting upon information received of a fatal traffic accident between miles 6 & 7 on the Phillip Goldson Highway, Ladyville Police visited the area where they saw a Gold colored...

Fatal traffic accident in the south
There was a fatal traffic accident in the south on Saturday night. The incident happened between miles 29 and 30 on the Southern Highway. According to police reports, 38-year-old Guatemalan farmer Jose Lopez, a resident of Cow Pen for the past 4 years,  was riding his bicycle in the...

Tropic Air case settled out of court
National airline carriers Tropic Air, based out of San Pedro Town, and Construction Depot Limited, owned by Brett Feinstein of the Benny’s Group of Companies, have been at odds over ownership of a piece of land on which Tropic Air is building a $6 million airplane maintenance complex near the municipal airstrip,...

Machete wielding man shot in the leg by police
A man was shot in his leg when he allegedly tried to attack police with a machete. According to police reports, police received information of a chopping incident in San Vicente Village, Toledo District, at 9:05p.m. on Saturday. The cops  visited San Vicente Village church, where they saw 46-year-old...

Murder accused pleads guilty to manslaughter
The Supreme Court accepted a plea of manslaughter from Jamie Dawson, also known as “JJ”, 35. He appeared before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, who will sentence him on August 4. Dawson is accused of the death of Maurice Neal on December 7, 2002 at Bismark Club on Queen Charlotte Street....

Errol Elrington wanted in the U.S.
Information reaching PlusNews indicates that Doctor Errol Elrington is wanted in the United States, by the Office of the Inspector General i n the Ministry of Health and Human services. The release from the OIG says that an arrest warrant has been issued for Errol Elrington, for Racketeering, Medicaid...

New Solicitor General takes office this week
Reports reaching PLUS News are that Government has identified a new Solicitor General who will take office this week. Anita Johnson of Barbados is expected to arrive in Belize on Tuesday, and may take office as early as Friday, but official information is expected to be released later this week. Acting Solicitor General...

Amandala

2 die in motorcycle collision with truck
Two men, Duane Pelayo, 30, of Ladyville, who is self-employed, and Gerald Gillett, a security guard of Belize City, were declared dead at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after they suffered massive head and body injuries – the result of a collision between a motorcycle on which they were traveling, and a truck owned by the Belize Tourist Board. The tragedy occurred around 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, at about Mile 7 on the Northern Highway. Police said that the two men were traveling from Belize City towards Ladyville, when at Mile 7, they overtook a car, and were about to overtake another vehicle when the handle of the motorcycle hit the mirror of the second vehicle they were trying to overtake, causing the motorcycle driver to lose control.

Teacher found dead in his house
Family members and friends of Steven Michael, 28, a teacher of the Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist School, were stricken with shock and grief after he was found dead, lying on his bed in his house at about 6:00 this morning, with blood coming out of his nose. Neighbours who saw him told Amandala that there was a wound in the back of Michael’s head. There was no sign of forced entry into the house, at the corner of Jaguar and Tapir Streets, so it is believed that he may have allowed someone known to him into the home.

5 years for .38 Special and ammo
This afternoon, two women and a man were arraigned before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer on charges of “kept unlicensed firearm and unlicensed ammunition.” The man, Martin Matura, 29, accepted responsibility for the gun and ammunition, while the women pleaded not guilty, resulting in an unprecedented dropping of the charges against them by the court’s prosecutor. Matura was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for the gun and 5 years for the ammunition. The sentences are to run concurrently, so he will only spend a total of 5 years in prison. The women went home, freed of the two firearm-related charges. Before the hearing began, Kimberly Bedran, 21, was sobbing in court. The mother of a 2-year-old baby was worried that she had no one to take care of her child if she was sent to prison “for something I know nothing about.”

Deadly Mopan Street home invasion
At about 4:50 Saturday morning, two vicious killers entered the home of Carlos Mayorga, 52, a tacos vendor, stole $2,000, shot a kneeling Mayorga to death, and callously shot three females, who were Mayorga’s assistants. The women told police that they all were at their home at 47 Mopan Street when two dark-complexioned men entered the house through the back door. One of the men was armed with a black 9mm pistol and the other had a knife in his hand. The man with the gun pointed it at them and forced them into Mayorga’s bedroom. The gunman then demanded money, and Mayorga was forced to open a locker which was secured with a padlock.

Company offers $10,000 reward for missing employee
Discoverseis Geophysical Services, the employer of Kevin Carcamo, 43, who disappeared in the jungle behind Freetown Sibun in the Belize District last Sunday, July 21, has announced that they are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of the missing Hattieville village council chairman. Carcamo had gone on an expedition with a group of 6 other men to work on a survey line within a densely forested area between Hattieville and Freetown Sibun, but mysteriously vanished during their return trip. Since then, intensive searches have been conducted by civilians, along with military and law enforcement personnel, and yesterday, Discoverseis engaged in another aerial canvass, while a team of divers attached to the Belize Coast Guard scoured the depths of the Sibun River in search of the father of four.

$8,000 blackmail attempt lands man and girlfriend behind bars
A Belize City construction worker and his girlfriend, a 16-year-old Honduran minor, were remanded to prison on charges of blackmail and abetment to blackmail, following their arraignment this morning before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer. Edwin Omar Flores, 23, a construction worker residing at 111 Bain Street, and his girlfriend, who is allegedly in Belize illegally, did not have to enter a plea because their case will be heard on indictment in the Supreme Court. Flores was charged with blackmail, while the minor was charged with abetment to blackmail. The court prosecutor, Inspector Hector Rodriguez, objected to granting them bail. Rodriguez told the court that the offense is a very serious one and carries a prison term of 7 years. He told the court that if they were not remanded, he is of the view that they would interfere with prosecution witnesses.

Editorial: Amandala 45
On August 13, 2014, this newspaper marks the 45th anniversary of our first publication. Amandala began as the newspaper voice of an organization which was called the United Black Association for Development (UBAD), founded on February 9, 1969. In October of 1969, UBAD entered an alliance with an organization called the People’s Action Committee (PAC), and that alliance, which lasted until January of 1970, was called the Revolitical Action Movement (RAM). PAC had been publishing its own newssheet, named Fire; so during the time of the RAM alliance, this newspaper was called Amandala with Fire. When the RAM alliance broke up, Amandala returned to being just plain Amandala. The following month, February of 1970, the publisher and editor of Amandala, the late Ismail Omar Shabazz and Evan X Hyde respectively, were arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy because of a front page story in Amandala called “Games Old People Play.” The article referred satirically to an election petition case taking place following the 17-1 defeat of the Opposition NIPDM by the ruling PUP. The Amandala accused were acquitted in the Supreme Court in July of 1970.

From the Publisher
The use of history for socio-political purposes in Belize has begun anew with the recent formation of a Belize History Association (BHA) under the umbrella of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), which is itself under the umbrella of the Tourism Ministry. The newspaper of the ruling UDP, The Guardian, reported in its issue last weekend that the executive board of the new BHA met on June 26; that they will hold a meeting at the George Price Center for Peace and Development in Belmopan on August 2; and that “the first involvement of the History Association will be a lecture and panel discussion on the Battle of St. George’s Caye at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts in Belize City on September 3, 2014.” There used to be a Belize Historical Association around these parts, you know. The official patron was the Governor-General of Belize, and the extremely low-profile organization essentially served as a vehicle for the pro-Baymen, pro-Battle of St. George’s Caye views of a white American who had become a naturalized Belizean – the late Emory King.

Diaspora answer for Major Lloyd
My beloved sister who resides in Belize sent me a link to a letter to the editor in which Major Lloyd Jones demands to know, “Diaspora, What have you done for me lately?” I will share with you what I shared with her. Feel free to publish if you see fit. It seems to me that the Major is poorly informed and in order to sow the seeds of division among Belizean brothers and sisters, he was all too willing to misuse the quote of a famous historical figure who was rallying his people to stand their ground in unity, even in the face of great adversity. The Major appears to be ignorant of certain facts regarding Winston Churchill – who at one time proposed a common citizenship between America and Great Britain and upon whom was bestowed American citizenship.

Garifuna take one giant leap…backward in Barranco, Belize
On July 18, 2014, the Government of Belize released through their press office an announcement in essence saying that delivered to the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Gaspar Vega from Dr. Joseph Palacio the head of Barranco Village Council were some 39 applications for title to lands in the Barranco area one would presume. See the letter at this site; https://www.facebook.com/GOBPressOffice. The release was written by Palacio and released by the Government Press Office of Belize. According to the statement, it is “a vital step in building the foundation of renewed economic development”. The statement also said this is the outcome of a meeting with the Hon. Prime Minster held several weeks earlier. In the weeks leading up to this moment, the Government of Belize (GOB) and US Capital Energy, an oil company trying to extract oil from the area surrounding Barranco and other villages, had been working overtime on the villagers to gain their support and to take support away from Sarstoon Temash Institute of Indigenous Management (SATIIM) in an important court case regarding use of land rights of indigenous peoples in Belize.

We are not Diaspora, but citizens of Belize, and we are doing something for Belize daily
I have always held you in high regard for the service you have provided in the Belize Defence Force to defend our country. Like you and me, there are thousands of natural born Belizean citizens who have served in the uniformed services in Belize and now reside in the United States and possess dual citizenship. Also, there are Belizeans living in Belize who were born in the United States and Belizeans who were born in Belize and became citizens of the United States, who returned home to live permanently. Yet, their rights are being denied due to the ambiguity which exists in our Constitution today. All Belizean citizens are entitled to the same rights and privileges under the constitution of Belize despite their citizenship status. For you and others who think the same, to deny them of their constitutional rights, it is a gross violation of our constitution and a big blow to the principles of democracy.

Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey, comes to Belize for Centennial tour
Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Mossiah Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), is due to arrive in Belize next week, as a part of a historic tour to Belize which coincides with the centennial celebrations — celebrating 100 years of Garveyism — being held for the Jamaica-born activist of international acclaim. Dr. Julius is a vascular surgeon by profession, but he is also the CEO of the Garvey-Chatuye Initiative. “The centennial tour by Dr. Julius Garvey gives Belize an opportunity to get personally acquainted with the Honorable Marcus Mossiah Garvey and his work to preserve Black Africans and Black African descendants’ identity and culture,” organizers say. Emerson Guild, spokesperson for the UNIA in Belize and the Mutual Improvement Alliance (MIA), formed by organizations such as Belize Emergent Corp and Rasta Inc., told Amandala that this will be Garvey’s first visit to Belize, and they are planning a welcome event for him on Tuesday, August 5, 2014.

San Pedro cop charged with extortion
Constable Elvin Nah, of San Pedro Police, whom police accused of extorting $400 from a man he busted with 4 grams of weed, was charged with extortion in the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court today, before Magistrate [...]

Crystal meth precursors seized in Mexico
The precursors are believed to have originated in Belize Mexican authorities have reportedly seized a significant amount of precursor material which is used in the production of methamphetamine, popularly known as “crystal meth”, and which is [...]

$8,000 blackmail attempt lands man and girlfriend behind bars
A Belize City construction worker and his girlfriend, a 16-year-old Honduran minor, were remanded to prison on charges of blackmail and abetment to blackmail, following their arraignment this morning before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer. Edwin Omar [...]

Villager, 18, hacks immigrant, 46, in Toledo churchyard
A teenager who inflicted multiple chop wounds upon a Guatemalan national in San Vicente, Toledo, this past Saturday, July 26, is currently recovering from a gunshot wound that he reportedly suffered at the hands of police [...]

Belize’s nightmare continues at UNCAF U-20 qualifiers
In tomorrow’s final day of the UNCAF U-20 qualifiers, Guatemala is still in contention, along with Costa Rica and Honduras, for a spot in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship. Panama and El Salvador are already secure. [...]

FFB calls players for UNCAF qualifiers in September
In preparation for the UNCAF qualifier for the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Technical Development Department is calling the first (25) players for tryouts on Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., at the FFB [...]

Easy Does It did it; new national cricket champs
It was a late start, due to rain, on Saturday in Lemonal Village for Game 2 in the best-of-3 games championship series between Brilliant of Crooked Tree and the young squad that is making waves in [...]

BDBA Firms Tournament weekend games results
The Belize District Basketball Association (BDBA) Firms Tournament 2014 continued over the weekend with 2 games each on Friday and Saturday nights, July 25-26, at Bird’s Isle. In the opener on Friday night, Belize Bank/Airport Authority [...]

C-Ray Cycling Club Youth Summer Series 2014 Week 2 results
Week 2 races were held yesterday, Sunday, in the C-Ray Cycling Club’s Youth Summer Series 2014 at the Marine Parade starting at 1:00 p.m.   Tiny Mites (3-5 yrs) –   1st Kyron Staine; 2nd Jayden [...]

Farmer killed in fatal Southern Highway traffic accident
A Guatemalan farmer met his demise this past Saturday night while riding on a bicycle along the Southern Highway - he was knocked down by a motorcyclist who was traveling in the opposite direction. Police reported [...]

Has stalemate b/t Green Tropics and farmers been broken?
It’s been weeks since we’ve heard anything about the land dispute involving the 32 farmers of the Valley of Peace area who had received eviction notices from Green Tropics, ordering them to vacate the premises by [...]

Suicide in San Pedro
 Woman, 30, hangs herself The family of Jorjana Eiley, 30, of the Boca Del Rio area of San Pedro, are mourning her death after she was found dead with a belt tied around her neck, lying [...]

Standstill in court-connected mediation for Maya vs GOB
Last month, Madam Justice Michelle Arana ordered a court-connected mediation in the unresolved dispute between the Government of Belize and the four Maya communities - Conejo, Midway, Crique Sarco and Graham Creek - which had taken [...]

Patrick Jones

Eric Chang will not run for UDP City Council election
Essentially drafted to run for a second term as Mayor by party brass earlier this year, Darrell Bradley will meet the remaining ten candidates whom he hopes will take him to victory next March at the United Democratic Party’s municipal convention to be held this Sunday, August 3. […]

City Council prepares to end BML sanitation contract
The Belize City Council has fallen behind by over three and a half months in its payments of the sanitation contract with Belize Maintenance Limited (BML). After making one week’s payment last week, the Council is reportedly down 17 weeks’ worth of payments, though it has different figures. […]

Former registry owners challenge tax assessment
In June of 2013, the Government of Belize acquired the International Business Companies Registry and International Merchant Marine Registry, IMMARBE. At the time of the acquisition, the Barrow administration claimed that then owners Belize International Services Limited (BISL) illegally obtained a 7 year extension of the original contract […]

Winston Whylie murdered in Belize City
Repairman Winston Whylie, 54, of Police Street is Belize City’s latest murder victim. He was shot in the abdomen around 11:00 p.m. Monday night while leaving the vicinity of Victoria Street by a single gunman who was also reportedly on bicycle. Area residents say they heard a single […]

YES gives out school supplies to needy students
Youth Enhancement Services (YES) has been working with the youth of Belize City and surrounding areas to build their capacity for development. Their latest initiative in conjunction with the Community Policing Unit provided school supplies for more than 100 students affiliated with the program. YES Director Karen Cain […]

Additional sex charge for village woman
A Lords’ Bank woman faces an additional sexual assault charge for an incident which took place in September of 2013. Stacy Leslie, 27, was already charged with aggravated assault of an indecent nature but now faces an additional charge of abetment to carnal knowledge. Leslie is jointly charged […]

Maya Leaders Alliance still waiting for oil consultation
The Maya Leaders Alliance and the Toledo Alcaldes Association say they will continue to advocate for benefits to buffer communities around the Sarstoon Temash National Park. That is where U.S. Capital Energy will commence drilling for oil next month. The MLA and the TAA issued a press statement […]

Corozal teen boy reported missing
A 15 year old boy from the Finca Solana Area of Corozal town has been reported missing and his family and the police are appealing to the general public for help in finding him. Yefri Romero left home last week after an argument with his mother and […]

Blogs

Major Changes in Caye Caulker? A Bit of Sleuthing Around The Closing of The Split
Rumors have been swirling about the closing of the Split on Caye Caulker. Or more specifically, the closing of the Lazy Lizard Bar and the building of condos and a large hotel in its place. I took some pictures a few weeks ago and posted about some huge cement pilings and got lots of feedback. Mostly people crying “NOOOOOOO!” But none of the rumors have been substantiated. For those who haven’t visited Caye Caulker or Belize, let me back up a bit. “The Split” or the narrow waterway that cuts Caye Caulker in two pieces is famous. Deepened by the powerful Hurricane Hattie in 1961, this crystalline blue, deep split is really the center of the caye literally and figuratively.

The 2014 Eco Kids Summer Camp Graduation and Wrap-Up
When we last left our Eco Kids, it was Friday morning, and in spite of being a little sleepy after a very full Thursday learning about organic gardening, turning earth in to mud at the splash party and enjoying another fun filled, creative evening around the campfire, they were up and raring to go. With some happy campers hitting the pool and others opting for more equestrian adventures with Chaa Creek’s accommodating horses, everyone had another big day and afternoon, characterised, as one councillor put it “well spent with smiles and laughter” and lots of anticipation as the stage was cleared for the Epic Song Contest. And Epic it was. After making sure everyone was wellfuelled with a big dinner, the competition began with Team Howler Monkey performing their Eco remix of “Magic in the Air”. Next up were the Jaguars hitting the high notes with “Moves Like Jaguar…” oops, sorry, Mick, that’s “Moves Like Jagger”. Team Tapir did “Let her Go”, and the Toucans closed with their regal rendition of “Royals”.

“Time to Say Goodbye” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
I know that I’m relatively new to this blogging malarkey but even if I do say so myself I’ve taken to it like the proverbial “duck to water.” Commandeer the iPad (not too difficult because John tends to leave his around within easy access of me), whack out a couple of paragraphs. Include a few photos ((OK, I haven’t mastered using either of his two cameras yet (I will though) so I have to depend on others to take them for me)) and, voila – put it “out there” and hope someone reads it. That’s been the case with my previous few editions but this one? Well, that’s an entirely different matter. I knew that I was going to be leaving my Dad Frank. He told me a few months ago when he was informed that his time serving as a member of the British Army had been extended by two years that I could not go with him, as we’d planned, to live in Scotland with him.

NAFTA and the Future of Canada, Mexico and the United States
The 20th anniversary of NAFTA’s implementation on Jan. 1 has revived some of the perennial arguments that have surrounded the bloc since its inception. The general consensus has been that the trade deal was a mixed bag, a generally positive yet disappointing economic experiment. That consensus may not be wrong. The history of the North American Free Trade Agreement as an institution has been one of piecemeal, often reluctant, integration of three countries with a long tradition of protectionism and fierce defense of economic national sovereignty. While NAFTA was a boon for certain sectors of the economy, particularly the U.S. agriculture industry, the net effect of the world’s second-largest trade bloc remains somewhat unknown.

What You Can Expect In The Monkey River Jungle Tour
The nature of rivers is the flow of water, carrying nutrients and life from highlands to the sea. During the journey from altitude to sea level, tropical rivers support an astonishing array of life. The headwaters of most rivers lie deep in the Maya Mountains. Here, the forest is dense, tall and mostly untouched. The water is cold and clear as it gurgles out of the group, merging with other streams and eventually growing into a flowing upland river. Wildlife center their activities on these upland waterways. Trails meandering along these rivers are excellent ways to spot wildlife. As you near the mouth of the river, vegetation changes to predominantly mangrove. Some of the mangrove stands lining and the winding rivers are tall and stilted. The mangrove is home to another community of animals. During the migration months, many songbird migrants travel through the mangrove, taking advantage of the large amount of insect life. This habitat is perfect to sit still and bird watch. Easily the most popular river tour is the Monkey River, which winds its way from the Maya Mountains through dense jungle forest and mangrove swamp before emptying into the Caribbean Sea. It is a popular jungle river trip, particularly for its wildlife sightings, jungle walk tours and great tarpon fishing. Both day and night tours are offered from Monkey River Town.

10 Customer Service Tips
The People aspect of business is really what it is all about. Rule #1: Think of customers as individuals. Once we think that way, we realize our business is our customer, not our product or services. Putting all the focus on the merchandise in our store, or the services our corporation offers, leaves out the most important component: each individual customer. Keeping those individual customers in mind, here are some easy, down-home customer service tips to keep ’em coming back! 1. Remember there is no way that the quality of customer service can exceed the quality of the people who provide it. Think you can get by paying the lowest wage, giving the fewest of benefits, doing the least training for your employees? It will show.Companies don’t help customers… people do.

SALAD BAR – WALNUT, PEAR AND CRISPY BACON SALAD
Preheat the broiler to high. Arrange the bacon on a foil lined broiler pan and cook under the preheated broiler until well browned and crisp. Let cool, then cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Meanwhile, heat a dry skillet over medium heat and lightly toast the walnuts, shaking the skillet frequently, for 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool. Toss the pears in the lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Put the watercress, walnuts, pears and bacon into a salad bowl. To make the dressing, whisk the oil, lemon juice, and honey together in a small bowl or pitcher. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then pour over the salad. Toss well to combine and serve.

International Sources

No-Take Zones in Belize Could Rebuild Conch, Lobster, and Grouper Populations
The islands of Belize are surrounded by vibrant blue waters, beautiful and unusual marine creatures, and the largest barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere. But even in Belize—one of the least densely populated Caribbean countries—these marine animals and ecosystems are not exempt from exploitative human activities like overfishing. A new report, however, from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) suggests a solution for Belize’s marine life—and particularly coral reefs—to recover: expand no-take zones. The report, published earlier this month, shows how no-take zones in Belize can help both economically valuable species like lobster, conch, and grouper recover, and nearby reef areas recolonize. To compile the report, a leading expert on marine protected areas (MPAs) looked at no-take zones of varying sizes, locations, and regulations from around the world and examined their success based on those factors.

Videos

Video: CAMP JOY 2014, 4.5min.
This year, 2014, East Lake Community Church took a group of 22 students and adults to lead and operate the first special needs camp in Belize. It was an amazing time of worship, play, and education. We can't wait to go back to catch up with the locals and be prepared to serve these beautiful children.

Video: Belize's Gloria Serrano: Central American Shot-put Champion!, 4min.
Belizean athlete Gloria Serrano became the Central American Shot-put champion in 2013 where she beat the best of the meet from Central America and the Caribbean in the Central American & Caribbean Games in 2013. A dynamic Belizean female athlete, Serrano continues to train hard under the legendary Belizean athletic coach Fred Evans, and has continued a tradition of the rise of Belizean women in sporting disciplines in Belize.

Video: Belize Mission Trip 2014 - Day 1 Vlog, 4min.
So I recently went on a mission trip to Belmopan, Belize with a friend of mine named Frank. We had been on many trips in the US but never on an international one. So I decided to do something different this year and did a daily video blog. I hope you like them!!!

Video: Belize Mission Trip 2014 - Day 2 Vlog, 8min.

Video: Belize Mission Trip 2014 - Day 3 Vlog, 7min.

Video: Belize Trip, 6min.
belize trip, lemon caye

July 29, 2014

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

McKenna Rockets to host basketball camp
The newly formed McKenna Rockets Basketball Team in San Pedro has joined up with Gabriel “Gaby” Nuñez, Deputy Mayor and Councilor in charge of sports, to host a two week summer basketball camp. Starting Monday, August 4th to Friday, August 15th, the camp will be held at the San Pedro High School Campus. It is for children between the ages of eight to 16 and is free of charge. There are limited spaces and only the first 60 players to register by August 4th at 8:30AM will be accepted. In addition the summer camp will host two basketball games at the end of the program. The games that will be played are the McKenna Rockets against Caye Caulker Basketball Team and ABS Warriors from Belize City against Caye Caulker Basketball Team. A fee of $5 for adults and $2 for children is being charged to watch the games. The date for the game will be announced later. For more information contact William Burke at 661-7205.

District Education Office receives donation from visitors
The San Pedro Town District Education Office of the Ministry of Education received donations from two vacationing couples on Ambergris Caye. Two sets of educational materials were delivered on Monday July 22nd, and will be used as part of the teachers’ training being planned for the summer. Terri and Danny McGuire and Jenie and Karen Morgan are frequent visitors to the island, and on this trip, they decided to bring school materials that could assist in the teaching of the island’s children. According to Terri, a special education teacher from Texas USA, the donation is a form of giving back to the San Pedro community, a place that she plans to retire to in the near future.She said that she also encouraged her vacation companion to do likewise by bringing along the much needed educational materials.

Anabel Kumul officially charged for Felix Alamilla’s murder
According to the deputy commanding officer of the San Pedro Police Formation, Inspector of Police Henry Jemmott, Kumul was formally charged for the crime of murder following the instruction of the Director of Public Prosecution. Kumul is the prime suspect in the murder investigation of Alamilla which occurred sometime around 6AM on Wednesday July 23rd inside a building (under construction) on South Ambergris Caye. According to Jemmott, Kumul, who is Mexican, was apprehended sometime around 7:30 AM on the same day of the incident. He told The San Pedro Sun that police were placed at various exit points on Ambergris Caye and a team of police officers sighted the suspect as she approached a local airline hangar. Jemmott explained that when Kumul saw police, she attempted to flee, but police set chase and quickly apprehended her.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week: That Romantic Spot in Paradise
There are many spectacular spots on La Isla Bonita, but do you remember where you got your first kiss, first date or even where you got engaged? The elderly couple in the picture is proof that true love exists. Every day at exactly 5:30p.m. this lovely couple walks to the beach with their dog and sits at their favorite spot gazing out to sea; they enjoy the spectacular view where, we believe, they shared the best memories of their lives together - and still do every day.

25 Years Ago Lifestyles of San Pedro Differ Much from Today
While Belize City residents depended on government to give them free water which they got from public pumps on the streets, Sanpedranos of yesteryears enjoyed abundance of free water in their own yards. This was possible due to the shallow wells which were dug in the sand. Of course I am talking about the beach lots, the front street (now Barrier Reef Drive) and the middle street (now Pescador Drive). Land on the back street was too close to the lagoon and the wells produced brackish water. The well water was used for everything including the laundry, doing the dishes, bathing and drinking. As you can imagine, Sanpedranos at the time used water very generously because it was in abundance and the wells never went dry. So while today we have to pay for bottled purified water, in the past it was absolutely free. Rain water was filtered by the sand as it seeped down form a gigantic water table some ten to fifteen feet below the surface.

Free Skin Cancer Screenings at Zen Arcade
Dr. Lopez will be doing free screenings at ZEN ARCADE AUGUST 9TH FROM 1:00PM TO 6:00 PM PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GENEROUS OFFER FROM DR. LOPEZ for more information on the Doctor see his website.

Belize Tourism Board Presents New Uniforms to Airstrip Taxi Association
On Friday, July 25, 2014, Minister of Tourism Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. presented new uniforms to members of the San Pedro Airstrip Taxi Association as part of the Belize Tourism Board’s work in improving all aspects of the tourism industry in the country. Members of the San Pedro Airstrip Taxi Association just recently completed a Public Relations and Hospitality Training seminar that was provided by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and the uniform were part of Hon. Heredia’s promise to the association for completing the seminar. Hon. Heredia says that the other taxi association on the island will also be taking the seminar and will be receiving new uniforms upon completion.

Misc Belizean Sources

Caribbean Trade Watch, July - August 2014

Letter: Celeo Alvarez and the finances of CABO and ODECO
I am not writing this piece for any personal gain, Belize desperately needs to prepare a cadre of youths who will succeed us. I reiterate that all countries need to register CABO, which is the only way to keep it alive and strengthen it and keep it alive with Sidney Francis as the current president. Sidney Francis and Mirta Colon need to stop being nice. It is not about being anti nor pro, I will acknowledge that Celeo has done some good things for CABO going in the international community. However he is power hungry and I am not afraid to say it to his face. The proof is in the eating. It is in what is going on now. If Celeo was interested in the interest of all black people he would not be doing this, everywhere he goes and undermine the current structure. Everywhere he goes and line people up using his divisiveness of Garifuna versus the other, this is divisiveness. He, Roy Cayetano and the others do it just like politicians, when in the space they are so willing. This is so terrible and it is just since he has no longer been the leader. I understand that Celeo Alverez, the president of ODECO and general secretary of ONECA/CABO, allegedly resigned when he was being questioned about the misuse of funds that came to ONECA/CABO through ODECO as its fiscal agent. Rather than deal with it he stepped away so he did not have to answer the questions asked and now that he believed that it was forgotten is he making another advance to destroy CABO to advance ODECO or regain political control of the ONECA/CABO organization?

TV Interview with PM Barrow
If you didn't get a chance to view Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow's up close and personal interview Sunday night, click on the link

Captive wildlife licensing procedures meeting July 30 in San Pedro
You are cordially invited to join Belize Forest Officer, Ms. Victoria Cawich, and Belize Bird Rescue Manager, Celeshia Tuy, at 7pm on the evening of the 30th of July at the San Pedro Lions Den. Ms. Cawich will be giving a presentation on the wildlife laws of Belize and how they affect owners of captive wildlife, particularly parrots. During the evening, there will be an opportunity for parrot owners to receive full instructions on how to obtain a licence to possess their bird legally and thereby avoid confiscation once the amnesty period ends on December 31st 2014. Also, those with an interest in parrots will have a chance to question parrot experts on the appropriate care of a captive parrot so they may conform with licence requirements, and thereby ensure a long and happy life for their captive bird. Ms. Tuy from Belize Bird Rescue will be available to give 1-on-1 advice, and if necessary, to arrange to visit homes and help parrot owners find a way to conform to the minimum standards required for licensing. This will be a very interesting evening for parrot lovers, parrot owners and those who are interested in wildlife conservation in Belize. We hope you will be able to be there.

Western Ballaz Basketball Summer Camp
The Western Ballaz are having their first Basketball Summer Camp. It starts next Monday, August 4th, at 9am, and will be held at the SHC auditorium. A big thanks to the Western Ballaz for giving back to the community. "It's this time of the year again!! Basketball Summer Camp will be starting on Monday, August 4 at 9 a.m. at SHC Auditorium. Children ages 5-18, males and females are invited. We watched many of these children go from CAMP to CHAMP!!!"

Mexican Assaults Corozal Police Officer
On Sunday July 27 around 5:00 a.m. Police Constable #1054 Diego Torres was in Police uniform conducting special duties at the Princess Casino at the border, when his attention was drawn to a male person and a female person arguing. As a result, he approached the said person and identified himself as a police officer and inquired as to what was the argument about. That was when another male person who was standing beside them, pushed PC Torres without uttering a word. PC Torres immediately informed him of the offence committed and told him that he will be detained. He then started a struggle and he told PC Torres "HUEPUTAS POLICIAS"

Corozal Crime news over the weekend
DRUG TRAFFICKING - On Friday July 25, about 11:15 a.m. Corozal Police were on special operations mobile patrol due to a prisoner exchange that was to take place, and were within the Commercial Free Zone Compound when PC J. Jimenez’s attention was drawn to a grey in color car with Orange Walk license plate C- 00086 which was parked on the left side of the road on an un named street within the Free Zone Compound.

Power Interruption Entire Cayo District
Power Interruptions, 6:00am to 6:30am and 5:30pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday July 29 and 6:00am to 6:30am and 5:30pm to 6:00pm, Wednesday, July 30: Entire Cayo District. BEL to replace equipment on the transmission system in the Cayo District.

12 AF medics depart Belize after training
Three International Health Specialists and three non-governmental organization personnel departed Belize after conducting the Global Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Instructor and Provider Courses from July 22-24. “The most rewarding part of this project was working with dedicated healthcare professionals from throughout Belize. Additionally, the U.S. military members and volunteers of this event put a great deal of effort into making this event successful.” Dr. Gerry Prince, LDS Charities. The goals for the course were to prepare the Belizean providers to train others within their country, as well as improve the overall obstetrics care throughout the country.

Belize City roadworks put out to tender
Belize's works and transport ministry is seeking a contractor to carry out roadworks in Belize City.

Panel warns of Central America’s increasing dependence on Petrocaribe
As Costa Rica debates the pros and cons of joining the Venezuelan oil financing program Petrocaribe, energy experts meeting in Washington warned that countries already addicted to Petrocaribe’s cheap oil could face catastrophe if the Venezuelan economy under President Nicolás Maduro implodes. Most of Petrocaribe’s 17 members are Caribbean island nations, but the roster also includes three Central American countries: Belize, El Salvador and Nicaragua. A fourth, Guatemala, joined in July 2008 but pulled out last November after complaining that Venezuela had changed the terms of the deal, making its oil exports less attractive. In addition, Honduras was invited this February to rejoin Petrocaribe after having been suspended by Venezuela in 2009. Prior to that suspension – which followed the overthrow of then-President Manuel Zelaya – Honduras was receiving 20,000 barrels of oil daily to fuel its electricity power generation plants. Thanks to Petrocaribe, the Zelaya government bought that oil on a deferred basis, paying 60 percent within 90 days and the remaining 40 percent over a 25-year period, at an interest rate of only 1 percent.

Belize Bureau of Standards Hurricane Price Survey
Consumers are encouraged to view the results of the prices collected for the survey on the Belize Bureau Standards official portal www.bbs.gov.bz.

TOSTONES
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Trim ends from plantains, then cut a slit down one side. Peel plantains, beginning at the slit. Slice crosswise into 12 pieces, each about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Place in a large bowl. 2. Toss plantain slices with oil and 1/8 teaspoon of the salt. Transfer to a large nonstick baking sheet or two smaller sheets (these can be lined with nonstick foil if they're not nonstick), laying slices flat. 3. Bake plantain slices at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Place a few slices on a cutting board, and press gently with the bottom of a glass or measuring cup. Turn over (bottoms will be lightly browned) and return to baking sheet. Repeat with all slices. Coat plantain slices lightly with nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Return baking sheet(s) to oven and bake an additional 5 minutes, until crisp. Serve tostones warm with Cilantro Cream on the side for dipping.

No Churn Sour Sop Ice Cream/No tub needed
Sour Sop as it's know in Belize or Guanabana as it's known in other Latin countries is a wonderfully healthy fruit. It can be eaten as is or you can make desserts from it. This ice cream doesn't use any ice cream tub and no churning. All you need is a hand mixer and some patience as you wait 8 hours for the dessert to set.

Imagine... Corozal Youth Art Exhibit
The Corozal House of Culture is dedicated in developing and promoting cultural artists of all ages. We are delighted to open our first youth art exhibit. Two talented Corozaleños' Carlos Carrillo and Maggie Gray will showcase a wide scope of visual art. Please join us this Saturday, August 2nd at 7:00 p.m. in support and appreciation of their artistic endeavours, as we open this inaugural exhibit. Courtesy Corozal House of Culture.

Part V of a series of six - The Sugar Cane Industry is everyone's business
An alternative approach - Accepting the BSI gross revenue figures is but only the first step. There exists, at this point, a fork in the road in terms of what valuation method to employ. On one end, we could calculate 29 percent of the aforementioned gross revenue of 11,752,577 (based on the fact that on average bagasse makes up 29 percent of cane). This would equal 3.4 million = (11,752,577 x 29%). Since we’re talking about per ton of cane, then we could divide by the total number of cane delivered in 2013 to arrive at a price of $3.17 per ton of cane = ( 3,408,247/1.078 million tons of cane). However, BSI officials would be the first to remind that not all of that 29 percent of bagasse is fibre; on average, 48 percent of it is moisture. Even 50 percent of the average amount of bagasse is less than what Carballo quoted in a interview with the media. Therefore, let us use BSI’s figures that say the company extracted 15.41 percent of fiber out of last year’s cane deliveries. This percentage would yield just over $1.8 million, and would give farmers $1.68 per ton of cane.

Corozal Community College (CCC) Marching Band
Performing at the FIESTARAMA in Orange Walk this weekend.

Benque Rotaract Service Day
The new Rotaract Club of Benque had a community service day. Thanks, Rotaract, and keep up the great work! "Today the club visited Dona Rosa Maradiaga to fix her chicken coop 'gallinero.' She had expressed that her fan wasn't working and asked if anyone knew how to fix it. The club decided to purchase a new fan for her & members donated money towards this. Members also donated wood, nails, staples to fix her coop. This is our first community service project. It's an effort to connect with the elderly in our town and assist them in anyway we can, or just keep them company. Next week we'll visit another elderly woman as our project continues."

Channel 7

Gunmen Kill Kneeling Tacos Vendor and Shoot Three Females
This morning patrons of the tacos lady near Atlantic Bank on Freetown Road - didn't see "Ms. Alida" there - and that's because she is in the KHMH intensive care unit fighting for her life. Alida Ascencio was one of four victims in a brazen home invasion and shooting which left one man dead and three females with gunshot wounds. It happened at dawn on Saturday morning, when two men walked into a home on Mopan Street with the intent to rob the tacos vendor who was up early preparing chicken. But, instead of just robbery, they turned the gun on all four persons in the house. It's an act of gratuitous and excessive cruelty and Police told the media more today.

BTB Driver Says Motorcyclist Veered Into His Lane In Double Fatality
When we left you on Friday night, it was with the tragic news that there had been a double fatality on the Northern Highway near mile 7. Two men on a motorbike were flung across the road when they collided into a Nissan Navarra. One of the men was found 13 feet away from the point of contact, the other was found 41 feet away. Monica Bodden was out there on Friday night, and she has the full details in tonight's story:.. Monica Bodden reporting The fatal traffic accident happened between miles 6 and 7 on the northern highway - at around 5:45 on Friday evening. Traffic was backed up for miles and for hours as police processed the scene.

Police Say MS-13 Members Set Up Foiled Extortion
Last week Friday, we told you how police foiled an extortion attempt of a businessman in Orange Walk and charged a man who they say was caught in the act during a sting operation. That man is 23 year-old Edwin Flores, and tonight, he and his girlfriend remain at Belize Central Prison. Still police continued to investigate the crime, and at this time they now believe that he is a member of the MS-13 gang. Today, the high command of the Police Eastern Division held a press briefing, and they explained how Flores was caught in the act.

Police Say MS Members Also Set Fatal Kimmie's Fire
And good police work hasn't stopped at that foiled extortion attempt. According to police, 21 year-old Francisco Rodriguez, was with Edwin Flores at the time of their sting operation, and he was picked up by police. Under questioning, he has reportedly confessed to setting the fire on Newtown Barracks which destroyed Kimmies Bar, Business Computer Systems, and Pandora's Café. Viewers may also remember that 21 year-old mother of 3 Jacqueline Arteaga perished in that fire. The Officer Commanding Eastern Division's Criminal Investigations Branch explained how the details emerged about the Kimmie's Fire, and how Rodriguez is also linked to an armed robbery in Benque Viejo.

Foreign Minister's Brother A Wanted US Fugitive
Dr. Errol Elrington, he's well known in Belize as the US-based younger brother of Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and attorney Hubert Elrington. But tonight, news has emerged that he's a wanted fugitive in the United States. The website of the office of the US Inspector General in the Department of Health and Human Services has him listed on its "fugitive profiles" page. It details that in October of 2013, an arrest warrant was issued for Elrington for racketeering, Medicaid fraud and health care fraud. The website says Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than four hundred thousand dollars for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct.

9 Days Missing, Police Not Giving Up On Hattieville Chairman
Tomorrow morning will make it 9 days since Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo left his village home; he hasn't been seen since. Hope is fading fast that he will be found alive - but this morning, the officer commanding Ladyville police told us that law enforcement remains committed to the search. Robin Schaffer reporting This swatch of red is the last known area where Kevin Carcamo was seen. Since then, two helicopter flyovers of the area have crisscrossed it north and south, east and west. The blue and yellow lines show the route that the helicopter took in two flights last week. Both of them showed no sign whatsoever of Carcamo.

Caye Caulker Water Taxi Blamed For Manatee Death
On Saturday evening at around 5:30, passengers returning to Belize City via Caye Caulker Water Taxi heard a loud bang as they were entering the Harbor near the Fort Street Tourism Village. According to eyewitness reports, after the bang, the vessel stopped briefly, then moved at a significantly slower pace into the harbor. One of the passengers contacted the Belize Port Authority, and when a search was conducted, a mature manatee was found dead in the no wake zone. Well Port State Control Officer Martin Garcia along with Manatee Expert Jamal Galves held a press conference today where they spoke about the incident and the implications it has for the Antillean Manatee population in Belize.

325 Arrests, Police Say Quality of Life Arrests Paying Peace Dividend
For the past 2 weeks, we've been telling you about the police crackdown on the quality of life crimes in Belize City. It's caused major inconveniences to residents of the city, who claim police harassment and uneven application of the law. But, the high command of the Eastern Division told the media today that they make no apologies for the crackdown. They says that they've made 325 arrests for these petty offenses, and 225 have been completed in the court with convictions and fines. More importantly, police say that the targeting of persons committing these crimes has helped to get gang violence under control. Here's how they explained why:

Tropic Air, Feinstein Reach Secret Settlement On San Pedro
The land dispute involving Tropic Air in San Pedro has been settled. Both parties informed the court today that they had reached an out of court agreement and that the details are confidential. We have learned that Tropic Air will get to continue to construction on its new building and Feinstein's Construction Depot Limited will move to another parcel of land along the airstrip. Tropic Air had lease to an area within which Construction Depot had a title.

Shrimp Farm Watchman Shot
A watchman was shot on Saturday night in the Milpa Area of Ladyville at the end of Marage Road. It happened at Caribbean Shrimp Farm around 10:30 pm. Police told us more. Supt. Chris Noble, OC - Ladyville "A gentleman who's a watchman in a farm in the area did receive an injury that we are suspecting is a shotgun blast. The gentleman has been taken to the hospital and treated and we are looking at who may have been the persons targeting him." Alejandro Calderon received multiple, mostly superficial pellet wounds.

BGYEA and GOB Can't Meet In Mediation
Since BGYEA started challenging the Government over the land in the buffer zone for Harmonyville, the two sides can't seem to agree on anything else. The ongoing court litigation has reached the point where Justice Courtney Abel believes that court-ordered mediation can yield a resolution. We were outside of court today, when BGYEA and it's attorney emerged from the hearing, and their attorney told us that they certainly hope that the mediation will help: Audrey Matura-Shepherd, Attorney for BGYEA "Two orders were given by the court: the first one is a mediation order. Both parties, the attorney for the government and I, on the instruction of my clients, believe that it is a matter in the interest of all that can be settled. So we consented to mediation which will be worked out through the courts. That means we'll get an independent mediator to put the issue on the table and I think that's good, it's always good to try and settle your problems with talking because if you don't then the court will make a decision. The second order that was given is that in case the talk doesn't work out then there'll be full trial."

Police Move Checkpoint To Keep Up With Criminals
Motorists passing by mile 4 on the Western Highway may have noticed that police have moved their checkpoint from that booth where the entrance of the Coast Guard Base is. If you're wondering why that decision was made, the commanding officers from Eastern Division say that criminals found a way to circumvent it, which defeated its purpose: ACP Dezerie Phillips, O.C., Eastern Division "The decision was made to remove the checkpoint where we believe that it would be more efficiently or effectively managed by the right officers out there. Because just having a building and having officers in and around there is a different result than what we are projecting. We believe it would be more effective and beneficial to everybody at the location where it's at."

QR Newspaper: Bze Mex Northwester Border A Smuggling Hotspot
Chemical precursors - the kind that used to be smuggled through customs into Belize by the container-ful - haven't been in the news much recently. But, you can be sure that this important ingredient in the manufacture of crystal meth continues to be smuggled through Belize. The Quintana Roo based Mexican newspaper Por Esto reports that 400 litres - or about 100 gallons were intercepted in a Mexican village named Pioneros Del Rio on Thursday. The articles explains that the pre-cursors came from Belize in a Dodge van and were accompanied by four men, all Mexicans. The paper quotes Mexican Authorities as saying that there may be a narco-lab or a narco-warehouse in Belize which produced the precursors.

Police Shoot Machete Wielding Pablo Escobar in San Vicente
There was a vicious chopping followed by a police shooting in the remote San Vicente Village, Toledo District on Saturday night. The first victim was a Mayan descent male 46-year-old Petrolino Lorenzo Ramirez of the border village of Santa Cruz, Guatemala. He had multiple chop wounds and was taken to the Hospital. Police went looking for the suspect - who they found holding a machete. Police say they told him to drop it, but instead he raised the blade in the air and attempted to throw the machete towards the Police Officer. The police officer shot him with rubber bullets but he was undeterred. The Police Officer then pulled his gun and fired one shot hitting him in the right upper leg. He was then disarmed and transported to the Punta Gorda Hospital where his name was learned to be Pablo Escobar, an 18year old Belizean of San Vicente Village.

Police Bust Weed Move In Free Zone
Around 11:00 last Friday morning 3 people were arrested for drug trafficking in the Corozal Free Zone. While police were on mobile patrol, they approached a grey car parked in the Commercial Free Zone Compound when it sped off leading to a brief police chase. The driver threw a parcel out the window before coming to a complete stop. When the police recovered the discarded package, they found what appeared to be one kilo of cannabis. Police subsequently arrested 39 year old electrician Jose Manuel Matus, 32 year old Noeli Maeli Manzanilla, both of whom are from Paraiso Village in Corozal as well as 18 year old Brian Steve Martinez, a laborer of the Rainbow Town Area in Corozal Town for drug trafficking.

"JJ" Guilty of Murder
35 year old Jamie Dawson, also known as "JJ", is at prison tonight, awaiting a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to manslaughter. He was supposed to stand trial for the murder of Maurice Neal, but instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter when he was taken before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. Viewers may remember that Neal was shot and killed on December 7, 2002, at Bismark Club, located on Queen Charlotte Street. Dawson stood 2 previous trials. He was found guilty of manslaughter at the first trial which took place in 2004. He then appealed that conviction, which was allowed by Court of Appeal. He was allowed a retrial, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict in 2006. Nicholee Lewis, the person who identified Dawson as the gunman, was killed before he could testify.

Community Health Workers Certified
47 community health workers were certified by the Ministry of Health on Saturday in Belize City. The certification ceremony was held after a 16 month long training program which involved new recruits as well as veteran workers. They were introduced to a new curriculum which strengthened leadership and communication skills. At the ceremony on Saturday, Arlette Sheppard spoke more about the updated curriculum. Trainees included workers from the rural, urban and coastal areas of the Belize District, and the purpose of the training program was to strengthen primary care services in Belize.

Matura Takes Gun Plea, Family Gets Free
32 year-old Martin Matura, a resident of 3188 Unity Street, is spending his first night of a 5-year prison sentence, after admitting in court that he was carrying an unlicensed weapon. Police reported that on Saturday, they went to his house, and they were accompanied by the K9 Unit. The dog detected that something was buried in the yard, and when it was dug up, they realized that it was a bag containing a .380 revolver with 3 rounds of ammunition. 49 year-old Margaret Vasquez and her daughter, 21 year-old Kimbery Beltan were present at the time, and so they were charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm, and keeping unlicensed ammunition. Matura went to the station on the following day handed himself in, and told police that the gun was his.

PM: "Up Close And Personal"
In February, the Prime Minister gave a remarkably candid interview to the press outside the National Assembly. It was during the cheque scandal at the Belize Airports Authority and he spoke plainly about corrupt acts by his ministers threatening to cause his government to come undone. After that he said he would address it at length during a long form interview. We were told the PM was having some difficulty selecting a media personality with whom he felt he could do the interview, and so, after five months, his office settled on Steve Duncan, a banker who hosts a UDP talk show. He's not a media personality by any working definition, but he was Johnny-on-the-spot for the PM in what is called an "Up close and personal interview." The 77 minute interview aired last night simultaneously on all channels, and the PM discussed a wide range of issues, including his misbehaving ministers and all the credibility they have caused his administration to lose:..

Major Car Rental Companies In Belize
Tonight the Belize Estate and Company Limited car dealership is having its official launch of the company's rental division with two internationally recognized brands, ALAMO Rent a Car and National Rental in Belize. Those are marquee international franchises and to make this venture a success, Belize Estate Company Limited say they have partnered with a company from Trinidad. Both Alamo and National are owned by Enterprise Holdings - which is the largest car rental service provider in the world with 1.4 million cars and trucks.

No Luck In Commonwealth Track
On Sunday, Belize participated in another round of Commonwealth Games events, with unremarkable results. Kaina Martinez placed 6th out of 8 in 100 meter race, finishing with a time of 12.12 seconds, 20 seconds slower than her personal best. Mark Anderson did not do much better in his 100m heat, placing last at 8 out of 8. The Athletics portion of the Commonwealth Games will continue tomorrow where Martinez and Anderson will compete the 200 meter races while Brandon Jones competes in the Men's Long Jump. As for the Shooting Competition, adopted Belizean Andy Wigmore shot 33 shots out of a possible 50 for the day. He will compete again tomorrow against Canada, Scotland, Norfolk Island and the Falkland Islands.

Channel 5

Bizarre Home Invasion – Four Shot One Killed…
There was deadly invasion in the early hours of Saturday morning. It was over in a matter of minutes, but by then one man was dead and three women injured.   [...]

Two Dead in Friday Evening Accident
But at the start of the weekend, a terrible road traffic accident on the Phillip Goldson Highway on Friday evening resulted in the death of two men and blocked the [...]

Michaels’ Death Still a Mystery…
The death of Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist teacher, Stephen Michael Junior, shocked the community. Michael Junior was found dead on a bed inside his home at the corner of Jaguar [...]

Man Dies in Boom while Socializing…
Police have not released the name of a man who died at the health centre in Burrell Boom on Saturday. According to reports, the man was drinking in front of [...]

Hunt for Missing Chairman Intensifies…
Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo has been missing since July twentieth and the search for him has continued unabated. The Discover-seis employee went to work that day and never came home. [...]

Discoverseis Says Reports of Missing Explosives are False
In the wake of the unexplained disappearance of Hattieville chairman Kevin Carcamo, reports have been spreading like wildfire across the community that the company, for which he worked, had lost [...]

Elrington Sought by Police for Medical Fraud…
A Belizean fugitive wanted by the US has been spotted in Belize. Physician, Errol Elrington, a sibling of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is wanted in the United States on [...]

Over 300 Detained for Quality of Life Crimes…
Quality of Life Crimes…they are on the books and are now being enforced as a way to target criminal elements.  Over three hundred persons were detained in the past three [...]

9 Firearms Removed from City Streets…
The Belize City Police Department, under its new head of command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dezerie Phillips, at its press conference today spoke of the success of several ongoing initiatives [...]

Caribbean Shrimp Watchman Shot…
A security guard is recovering at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was shot on Saturday night. Alejandro Calderon told Police that he was inside his home at Caribbean [...]

Two Persons Charged After Blackmail Sting…
A twenty-three-year-old man, Edwin Flores and his sixteen year old Honduran girlfriend have been charged with the alleged extortion of an Orange Walk businessman. The couple is accused of attempting [...]

One Man Charged in Kimmie’s Bar Arson…
The arrest of Edwin Flores resulted in the arrest of another Honduran national, Francisco Rodriguez. On June twenty-five, a massive early morning fire on Newtown Barracks gutted two massive wooden [...]

MS-13 Gang Members Rounded Up by Police…
Both the arson and the sting operation that resulted in the arrest of a couple involved in the extortion of eight thousand dollars from an Orange Walk businessman also led [...]

Mother and Daughter Freed of Firearm Charges…
Margaret Vasquez, her daughter, Kimberly Betran and son-in-law, Martin Matura were before the court late this afternoon to answer to the charges of Kept Unlicensed Firearm and Ammunition without a [...]

Parties in San Pedro Land Dispute Reach Private Settlement…
Another land dispute which was put to rest today involves a parcel near the municipal airstrip in San Pedro which is under construction by Tropic Air.  The airline company was [...]

Mediation Ordered in BGYEA Land Dispute…
The ongoing dispute between the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association, BGYEA, and the Government of Belize, over the use of the road reserve adjacent to Harmonyville, will see both parties [...]

Discussions Between BGYEA and G.O.B. Will Be Private…
While BGYEA and government have been given a forty-five day window during which the matter should be discussed and resolved, the proceedings will be kept off the record.  According to [...]

PM Speaks About Corruption in his Administration…
If you were glued to the TV over the weekend, you probably caught at least a bit of the Prime Minister’s extended sit down with banker Steven Duncan. It clocked [...]

…And about his Legacy
And while the PM can speak openly about the corruption of some members of Cabinet, he maintains that he personally has held firmly to his integrity, and that, more than [...]

Female Manatee Killed in Water-taxi Mishap…
It has not been a good year for manatees; a growing number of the endangered mammals has been killed in boating accidents. Over the weekend, a mature female manatee perished [...]

The highlights of weekend activities with Sportscaster James Adderley
Good evening I’m James Adderly and this is Sports Monday.   We jump immediately into yesterday’s big match at Lords Bank Field where Survivors played host to Willows Bank United. [...]

CTV3

Opposition Weighs In On Appointment Of New Ambassador To Guatemala
Prime Minister Dean Barrow is expected to announce the name of the person who will hold the post of Belize’s new Ambassador to Guatemala, sometime next week. That person, who will more than likely be CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexis Rosado, will replace former Ambassador Alfredo Martinez who passed away on the night of July 8th at a hospital in Guatemala. While Martinez’s shoes will definitely be one difficult to fill, It is believed that Rosado has enough experience to get the job done as he is well versed with the Belize/Guatemala Territorial Dispute. While the Guatemalan Government will have to approve Rosado’s appointment GOB does not expect a rejection. But does the Opposition support Rosado’s appointment as Ambassador to Guatemala? We asked Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca. Honorable Francis Fonseca- Leader of the Opposition “I don’t want to comment on it until the government has officially state it that that in fact is their decision, I have heard the same reports that the government is considering appointing His Excellency Alexis Rosado who is currently the CEO in the Ministry of foreign affairs to the port of Ambassador to Guatemala but I want to wait until that is official but I will say that I know Alexis and I believe that he will serve Belize as well in any capacity.”

Cane Farmer's Day Celebrated In Corozal
After a productive crop season, today the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association once again celebrated their annual Dia De Los Caneros only that this time the vent was celebrated in Corozal. Each year at the end of the crop season, BSCFA organize a day with an elaborate opening ceremony, musical presentations, booths, products on display and the invasion of crowd and good cheer from cane-farmers from the eighteen divisions of the northern districts. Reporter Victor Castillo and video Journalist Jesus Melgar were at this year event. Here is that story Victor Castillo – Reporting Under the theme of “Celebrating 55 years in the sugar cane industry, strengthening the development of our small farmers” more than one thousand caneros celebrated their day. A parade led by the Corozal Community College Marching band followed by religious mass, marked the opening of this year’s festivity. El Dia de los Caneros now forms part of tradition and is basically held in honor of the closing of the crop season.

Opossition Says Penner Must Be Brought To Justice
When the Wong Hong Kim passport scandal first broke out in the month of August 2013, public outcry increased when news spread that a Government official was involved in the immigrations scandal. Former Minister of State Elvin Penner was accused of allegedly being involved in the issuance of a fraudulent Belizean passport to Korean national Kim Wong Hong. The passport was issued in the first weeks of September 2013 while Wong Hong Kim was in detention in Taiwan. More than five months passed and still no criminal investigation was launched into the passport scandal by Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie. So, the People’s United Party decided to take Commissioner Whylie to court by filing a writ of mandamus in the Supreme Court. The aim was for the judiciary system to rule that Whylie must commence an investigation into the passport fiasco. In a landmark presiding, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin ordered Commissioner Whylie to commence the investigation. And that’s what got the ball rolling. But today, Penner is a free man; at least for the time being because according to the PUP, they will do everything in their power to ensure that he be brought to justice.

Four Belizean Prisoners Serving Time In Mexico Handed Over To Local Authorities
In July of 2005 the armed forces of three counties collaborated to thwart cocaine run with an estimated value of six million Belize Dollars. Four Belizeans and a Honduran National were intercepted in a boat some twenty-five miles east of Caye Caulker after being chased by members of the Belize Police Department, B.D.F. and the DEA. Mexican authorities were also contacted as the boat headed north. Investigations revealed that the vessel made its way from Colombia. As an international team of law enforcement personnel attempted to board the vessel, shots were fired and a Honduran national, Jesus Castillo Orellano was shot and injured and authorities managed to detain the other men on board.

KHMH's Whistle-blower Speaks On Current Financial Issues Plaguing The Hospital
In December of 2011, Delroy Herrera, a former store clerk of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, who was fired two months earlier, came forward with stinging allegations of financial mismanagement at the hospital, allegations which prompted Prime Minister Dean Barrow to order a special audit of the hospital’s operations by the Auditor General. Herrera had signalled that KHMH management had been violating the hospital’s regulations on procurement in overpaying the US suppliers. Since then, Herrera, dubbed as the ‘KHMH’s Whistle-blower, was accused by the KHMH of stealing 30,000 electronic files, including private patient information, and faced arrest last December. Two years later, his court case is yet to be heard and today he dropped by our studios to share with us his sentiments towards the case and to publicly say that if authorities had listen to him back then, that today history would not be repeating itself. Screen_Shot_2014-07-25_at_8.06.48_PMDelroy Herrera – KHMH whistleblower “It’s already written now and is just to post and log in the court system to get started from there.” Maria Novelo – Reporter “Why do you find it important that you kind of expose what is happening internally at the KHMH?” Delroy Herrera – KHMH whistleblower “Basically, I find it to expose anybody especially whose party claim to be one of transparency and one of those who has tampered any kind of corruption as to them they having their gums coming around doing the same thing they were going to stamp out so I find it more important to show you that you said to do this and do that but you are living in a glass house.”

Mexican Authorities Confiscate Chemical Precursor To Make Synthetic Drugs
Mexican authorities have confiscated 1, 400 liters of chemical precursors believed to be used to make synthetic drugs and have arrested four men, reports the Mexican press. The chemicals the reports indicate were smuggled from Belize. The Mexican Army intercepted the vehicle, a Ram 350 Van near the Pioners del Rio community located in the conflict zone between Quintana Roo and Campeche, near the border with Belize and Guatemala. The chemicals were being transported in seven drums. The four men arrested were not armed and were identified as 28 year old José Alberto Ávila Reyes, 48 year old Ricardo Hernández Reyes, and Francisco Gómez Chanelo, all of José María Morelos town in the state of Quintana Roo. Thirty three year old Crisanto Zapata Zapata of the Pioneros del Río community was also arrested. The chemical as mentioned is believed to come from Belize and were being taken to Pioneros del Rio where Mexican authorities suspect smugglers have a drug lab and which they are presumably trying to locate.

PUP Leader Disagrees With Proposed Payment Of Fifty One Cents Per Ton Of Bagasse For Cane Farmers
Presently, negotiations between the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association and the Belize Sugar Industries Limited on the payment of bagasse, is at a standstill. There is no telling when negotiations will resume after the membership of the BSCFA rejected BSI’s proposal of 51 cents payment per ton of the by-product used by the company to produce electricity which is then sold to the national grid. During Sunday’s Annual General meeting, which is where cane farmers rejected BSI’s proposal, the association was tasked to resume negotiations to be completed by October 15th with the Sugar Industry Control Board acting as intermediary. While BSI is willing the to pay cane farmers 51 cents per ton of bagasse, cane farmers are asking for $10.00 but are willing to settle for a little less, how much is left to be seen. The situation has caused uproar in the Sugar Industry as both sides are making it their business to make their story known. And while sentiments vary, we asked Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca to weigh in on the issue. And apparently he is also not satisfied with BSI’s 51 cents per ton of bagasse offer.

PUP Disappointed In Outcome Of Penner Case
The fact that the case against former Minister of State Elvin Penner, for his alleged involvement in the Wong Hong Kim passport scandal, was dismissed yesterday at the Belmopan Magistrates Court due to lack of evidence, did not come as a surprise to Belizeans. COLA, the organization that took Penner to court, has 21 days to appeal the case that was struck out after four adjournments, and that is exactly what they intend to do. The case against Penner began on March 27th after he was charged for two immigration offences. The case fell through since COLA could not get its hands on the investigative file basically stashed away by Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie, who COLA requested, be summoned to court so he could hand over the investigative file. That application however, was denied by Magistrate Aretha Ford and the case was thrown out. As mentioned at the top of the story there are those who are not surprised with yesterday’s outcome, amongst them, is Leader of the Opposition Francis Fonseca.

Electrical Malfunction Causes Fire In Black Water
Yesterday we told you about a fire in the Black Creek Water area of Orange Town that left a family of four homeless. When our news crew left the scene, fire personnel were rummaging through the remains in hope of deciphering what caused the blaze. Today we got an update from Fire Chief, Kenneth Mortis, who informed us of the source of the fire. Kenneth Mortis – Fire Chief, OW Fire Service “We did conclude after investigation that the fire was as a result of an electrical malfunction that the Jones family sustained within the premises.” Maria Novelo – Reporter “We understand too that they were sharing electricity, could that has been the cause?” Kenneth Mortis – Fire Chief, OW Fire Service “If the truth been told that they were sharing electricity, that could have very well be a factor, electricity sharing between houses that is fully furnished with all the electrical commodities it tend to draw more than what one house can sustain, there may be speculations that that was the case then if that is the case then if could be a factor, I am not at a position to disclose whether that was been done or not but like I partially told you guys yesterday from our finding son the fire scene we can conclude that the fire did started out of an electrical malfunction.”

Extortionist Taken To Court
Yesterday we broke the story of the Orange Walk businessman who lives on the Chan Pine Ridge Road that became the latest victim of extortion. While we told you that an operation was launched by police and that a woman was detained by authorities while the money transaction took place in Belize City there was not much that we could have revealed since the matter was under investigation. But tonight police have official released the details of the case and have even charged two persons including a 15 year old Guatemalan female minor. He is no other than 23 year-old Edwin Flores who allegedly tried to extort Wilbert Valencia of $8,000.

LOVE FM

Prime Minister Speaks on Corruption and His Administration
Dean Oliver Barrow has been Belize’s Prime Minister since 2008 when the United Democratic Party garnered 25 of the 31 seats in the House of Representatives during the general election. Four years later, in an early call for election, Barrow was granted a second term as Prime Minister, albeit by a slimmer margin. It was a historical time for Belize when Barrow first emerged as the country’s leader in 2008 since it was the first time that Belize had elected a Prime Minister of Creole descent. For many, it was also dubbed historical, as Barrow’s victory was gained on a platform of helping the poor, taking out corruption and roping in those who were excluded from opportunities and assistance by the previous administration. Five and a half years later, with curve balls thrown at Barrow via the speculations, accusations and acts of some of his Cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister gave an up close and personal interview with his long-time friend and supporter, Stephen Duncan; that interview was aired on some local channels this past weekend. Prime Minister touched on various issues, corruption being one of them.

Home Invasion of Tacos Vendors Leaves Family Mourning and In Prayer
“At around 5 o’clock on Saturday morning, 52-year-old, Carlos Mayorga; 21-year-old, Sijhan Avila and 42-year-old, Alida Asencio were at their home on Mopan Street in Belize City preparing for work. 19-year-old, Karina Avila was still sleeping in one of the rooms. Suddenly, two men with t-shirts over their faces, one brandishing a 9mm pistol and the other a knife, barged in through the back door and immediately took the trio into Mayorga’s room. There the two men demanded money. We understand that Mayorga told the men that he forgot where he had place the key for the money drawer. He was immediately pistol whipped. At this point Asencio ran into the room where Karina Avila was sleeping. The gunman ran after her and instructed both Asencio and Avila into Mayorga’s room. We were told that Mayorga took out a machete to force the money draw open. He was then ordered to his knees and fatally shot.”

Police Awaits Post Mortem Results for Michaels
Last Friday the body of twenty eight year old Steven Michael Jr. was found inside his bedroom at his home on Tapir Street in Belize City. Police at the moment are treating the matter as sudden death but Michael’s family believes that he was murdered. Today Senior Superintendent of Police, Commanding Precinct 2, Alford Grinage, updated the media in regards to that investigation. SR. SUPT. ALFORD GRINAGE “Since then we have begun an investigation because after speaking to relatives and the father of the deceased person we have learned that there are some items that are missing from the residence. We learned that there is a flat screen TV that is missing, a laptop computer, his wallet and also a cellphone that was taken from the residents. We are not at this time able to say if these items were taken upon his death or before so that matter is still under investigation and we are following other leads. The post mortem is being conducted tomorrow and from there we will know what to do from there; if it’s a murder or a natural death.

Belize Institute of Management Celebrates 40 Years
The Belize Institute of Management (BIM) has been in existence for over forty years. With its structure being a landmark in Belize City in the West Landivar area, for the last twenty years, the institute has progressed over the years in terms of the varied topics offered in short term training courses. Love News met up with Rainaldo Guerrero, Chairman for the Belize Institute of Management, who gave us an overview of the facility and what they offer. “We are a management training organization. We do short term training for most businesses in Belize throughout the country but strictly within the areas of management which include finance, marketing production, lots of soft skills for businesspeople, some technical skills and so on. We don’t do long term training like what the sixth forms do or the Universities would do. What we do is, in fact, the icing on the cake on what others have done.

Couple Robbed and Husband Shot for Their Vegetable Earnings
A businessman from Armenia Village is recovering from gunshot wounds. Correspondent Fem Cruz has the details. FEM CRUZ “A business man of Armenia Village on the Hummingbird highway is in serious condition after he was shot several times. According to the wife, Iris Vasquez, on Thursday evening, July 24 sometime around 4 o’clock, she and her husband Salvador Vasquez left home in their white Isuzu truck en route to Punta Gorda to sell wholesale vegetables. On their way back home on Saturday, July 26 around 7:30pm they were held up at gun point in front of their home by two armed masked men demanding all the money they had. They refused to and at that point her husband was shot.” IRIS VASQUEZ “Thursday evening I left my home at 4 o’clock and I reached Dangriga then I left Dangriga to go straight to PG. Saturday when I came after I sold my vegetables, when I reached home about 7:30PM I saw a vehicle stop in front of the junction to my house. My husband then asked ‘what happened to this man; maybe they’re drunk’. My husband started the truck and that’s when two men came out of their vehicle. One went directly to my husband and the other came to me. One of them put the gun to my head and he told me to give him my wallet and I told him that it’s not his and when he had the gun to my head I took it and hit him and he fell. I jumped out of the truck and hid in a Hibiscus bush. I stayed there and I saw when these men shot my husband and I prayed for God to help me and I started crying for people to hear me. Only Jesus could have saved my life in that case because the man already had the gun to my head.”

Shotgun Blast Injures Watchman at Shrimp Farm
A man was shot over the weekend. Police say that Charlie Macintosh reported that on Saturday night at around 10:30 he was informed that one of his security guards was shot at his shrimp farm. When he rushed to the scene he saw one Alejandro Calderon suffering from multiple pellet wound all over the body. Calderon shared that while he was inside his quarters he heard a noise outside. When he went out to check, someone fire a single shot in his direction. ASP Christopher Noble shared more. ASP CHRISTOPHER NOBLE “We got that information late Saturday night, early into Saturday morning. We understand that earlier in the night a gentle man who is a watchman on a farm in the area did receive an injury that we are suspecting is from a shotgun blast. The gentleman was taken to the hospital and treated. We are looking into who may have been the persons targeting him or if he was just in an area where someone may have fired a shot and injured him, we are not certain of how and why at this stage but it is on the investigation and we are looking into it.”

Investigation into Missing Chairman Intensifies
Chairman of Hattieville, 43-year-old, Kevin Carcamo is still missing. A ten thousand dollar reward has been put forward by the Discoverseis Company for information leading to the safe return of Carcamo. Today, Executive Officer of Rural Belize, ASP Christopher Noble, updated the media on the search for the missing chairman. ASP CHRISTOPHER NOBLE “The investigation is still ongoing with the search for the chairman. We are still hoping for the best outcome. We are not in a position, at this stage, to say that we are not going in a positive direction; we are going in a positive direction. It will now become something quite uncomfortable for some people, our investigation has to be done and it has to be done thoroughly. As a colleague of mine mentioned, no stone will be left unturned. We have started doing a more intense investigation strategy and now we will be holding onto persons for clarity with regards to our investigations. We are still having active searches in certain areas and we expanded that search over the weekend with persons going into these areas to physically check particular places, the Coast Guard is still on board with us. We are still looking of Mr. Carcamo and we are hoping for the best outcome.”

Dawson Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Third Murder Trial
Thirty-five year old Jamie Dawson, charged with the murder of Maurice Neal, pled guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter when he appeared today before Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin. Dawson will be sentenced on Monday, August 4. Neal was shot and killed on December 7, 2002, at Bismark Club, located on Queen Charlotte Street. Dawson was tried two previous times for murder. He was found guilty of manslaughter at the first trial which was held in 2004. He appealed and his appeal was allowed by Belize Court of Appeal and a retrial was ordered. The jury was unable to reach a verdict at the retrial which was held in 2006. Nicholee Lewis, the person who had identified Dawson as the gunman, was killed. Dawson was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvestre. Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith represented the prosecution.

Matura Gets Five Years for Buried Revolver
Thirty year old Martin Matura, a resident of Unity Street, was given two five year sentences today by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser after he pled guilty to kept firearm and ammunition without a gun license. The sentences are to run concurrently, so Matura will only serve five years. Two other persons were charged jointly with Matura, but the charges against them were withdrawn. The Police reported that on July 26 they went to Matura’s residence along with their K9 Unit. They said that when they went to the yard near to where the bathroom is situated, the dog indicated to them that something was buried there. They said when they dug about four inches into the ground they found a black plastic bag that contained one .380 revolver with three rounds of ammunition. Only the women were at home at the time but by the following day Matura went to the police station and handed himself in. He told the police that the firearm was his. As a result, he and the women were arrested and charged.

U.S. Wants Elrington For Health Care Fraud
Tonight, there is news coming out of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that involves a Belizean relative to Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington. According to a published page on the US Inspector General’s website, there is a warrant for the arrest of Errol Elrington which was issued last October. The warrant, according to the site, is a result of racketeering, Medicaid fraud and health care fraud. US investigators are of the belief that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 US dollars, for services that he never performed. In addition, it is believed that he had employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct. Elrington was reportedly a licensed physician who practiced medicine in the Redford, Michigan area and was the owner of a private medical centre, Elrington Medical Centre PLLC. But while he had his own company, he held the position of the Chief Medical Officer at another medical facility unaffiliated with his clinic.

PlusTV

One man killed and three women injured in early morning shooting
Who wanted a group of humble, hard-working men and women to die even after robbing them? Police have detained three men of Belize City as part of their investigations into that question, following a fatal shooting incident around 5:00 Saturday morning, July 26. Police information is that around 4:50...

Patrick Jones

Dr. Errol Elrington listed as a fugitive wanted in the U.S.
The Office of Inspector General within the United States Department of Health and Human Services has listed Dr. Errol Elrington on its list of Most Wanted Fugitives. Dr. Elrington who is the proprietor of Elrington Medical Center in the Michigan area of the US is wanted on […]

Teenager found; family upset with the authorities
A 15 year old girl Orange Walk girl who was missing back in June has been found; but her family is not happy with the way the case is being treated. Because of her age, the name of the child is being withheld, but confirmed reports are […]

BGYEA sent to mediation with Government
This morning, the Belize Grassroots Youth Empowerment Association (BGYEA) returned to court for a case management conference as it looks for a way past the Government, who wants it to desist from a planned initiative to plant corn in the Harmonyville buffer zone with the George Price Highway. […]

Tropic Air land case settled out of court
The San Pedro-based airline Tropic Air and Construction Depot Limited, owned by Brett Feinstein of the Benny’s Group of Companies, have been at odds over ownership of a piece of land on which Tropic Air is building a $6 million airplane maintenance complex near the municipal airstrip. Construction […]

New Solicitor General takes office this week
Reports say that Government has identified a new Solicitor General who will take office this week. The new senior attorney has been identified as Anita Johnson of Barbados, who is expected to arrive in Belize tomorrow and may take office as early as Friday, but official information is […]

Belize hosts SICA economic integration meeting
Belize recently took over the pro-tem presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA). For the next six months, it will lead the isthmus’ discussions on major issues of the day. It hosted its first meeting today and we spoke with CEO in the Ministry of National Security, […]

David Gegg owes Social Security
Sixty-four year old David Gegg, the owner of Cruise Solutions and Sun Dancer Belize limited, was charged with 2 counts of failure to make Social Security contributions no later than 14 days after the end of each month. This was in respect to the number of persons employed […]

Murder accused pleads guilty to manslaughter
The Supreme Court accepted a plea of manslaughter from Jamie Dawson, also known as “JJ”, 35. He appeared before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, who will sentence him on August 4. Dawson is accused of the death of Maurice Neal on December 7, 2002 at Bismark Club on Queen […]

Man jailed for unlicensed gun and ammunition
Thirty year old Martin Matura, a resident of 3188 Unity Street, was sentenced to two five-year terms by Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser after pleading guilty to keeping a firearm and ammunition without a gun license. Senior Magistrate Fraser stipulated that the sentences are to run concurrently, therefore Matura […]

Armed men hold up delivery truck in Corozal
A pair of employees of Bowen and Bowen were held up and robbed at gunpoint on Friday afternoon. Felipe Uk and his sideman were in the process of making a delivery in the Alta Mira area of Corozal when they were accosted by three armed Hispanic men wearing […]

Tropical Wave shows signs of development
Conditions will become highly favourable later this week the development of a Tropical Wave as it approaches the Eastern Caribbean. The Miami-based National Hurricane Center says that the Tropical Wave, which is located several hundred miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, is currently producing disorganized cloudiness and thunderstorms. But the NHC says that environmental conditions will become favourable for gradual development. Forecast models increase the possibility for development to 30 percent in the next couple of days, but by the weekend, the chances of development goes up to 70 percent. The Tropical Wave is moving westward at 10 to 15 miles per hour.

The things you see on the George Price Highway
Every now and then while out covering stories, my reporters would come across incidents they were not specifically assigned to cover. One such incident was witnessed on Sunday afternoon. A pickup truck was transporting many more passengers that it was license to carry. And what’s more, those passengers were being transported in a manner which is clearly a danger to everyone in the vehicle. This incident was captured on the George Price Highway on Sunday afternoon on the approach to Hattieville village. Our reporters counted as many as two dozen people packed into the back of the small pickup truck. And there were people crammed into the front as well.

Blogs

My Lovely Neighbors: Mata Rocks Resort, Ambergris Caye, Belize
I have posted photos of Mata Rocks Resort since the very beginning of my blog (June 2011 if it comes up on Belize Jeopardy). Mata Rocks is the small, lovely hotel just north of me and one of my very favorite beach bars - both for the scenery and for the bartenders. My friend, Jamie, who was visiting for two weeks found that her allergies to my cat pack were kicking into gear. She decided to take a short air conditioned/dander-free holiday next door at Mata Rocks. And for me? It was the perfect time to take advantage of her frailties and take a few pictures. Let’s start outside at the Squirrel’s Nest – the uber-cute, white washed palapa bar with the lovely pink and lavender stools. The nest was also named BEST HIDDEN BEACH BAR GEM on my last “Best Bars of San Pedro List”. It’s a very cool spot to spend a late afternoon. ALSO, a super fun fact, did you know that the original BC’s Beach Bar (the now closed but FAVORITE beer drinking spot) was first located right here at Mata Rocks?

OIG Fugitive: Errol Elrington
On October 7, 2013, an arrest warrant was issued for Errol Elrington, M.D., for racketeering, Medicaid fraud, and health care fraud. Investigators believe that Elrington falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $400,000 for services that he never performed, and he employed an unlicensed physician who engaged in criminal sexual misconduct. According to the Felony Complaint, Elrington was a licensed physician practicing in the Redford, Michigan, area, and was the owner of a private medical center, Elrington Medical Center PLLC (EMC). Elrington allegedly employed an unlicensed physician to treat patients at EMC when he was not there, then billed Medicare and Medicaid as if he performed the services. Though he was the owner of EMC, Elrington spent most of his time employed as the chief medical officer at another medical facility that was unaffiliated with EMC.

Major Study: Monsanto GMO Corn Can Cause Damage to Liver and Kidneys
A scientific study that identified serious health impacts on rats fed on ‘Roundup ready’ GMO maize has been republished following its controversial retraction under strong commercial pressure. Now regulators must respond and review GMO and agro-chemical licenses, and licensing procedures. A highly controversial paper by Prof Gilles-Eric Séralini and colleagues has been republished after a stringent peer review process. The chronic toxicity study examines the health impacts on rats of eating a commercialized genetically modified (GM) maize, Monsanto’s NK603 glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup.

SALAD BAR – ROAST BEEF SALAD
Preheat the oven to 425. Rub the beef with pepper to taste and Worcestershire sauce. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a small roasting pan over high head, add the beef, and sear on all sides. Transfer the dish to the preheated over and roast for 30 minutes. Remove and let cool. Bring a large pan of water to a boil, add the beans and cook for 5 minutes, or until just tender. Remove with slotted spoon and refresh the beans under cold running water. Drain and put into a large bowl.

The July 27th, 2014 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

• Pech Walks Free:
  This murder case did not even make it to the Supreme Court as it was dismissed right at the magistrate court level in San Ignacio Town. The murder charge against Geovanni Pech, 24, at the time of the October 11, 2013 death of his cousin Leroy Moises Tzib, was today dismissed by magistrate Narda Morgan when the police could not produce a case file. The accused walked free out of the San Ignacio Town courtroom after spending almost 10 months in jail. Prior to dismissing the capital charge magistrate Morgan noted that the instruction from the office of the Director Of Public Prosecutions was for the civilian prosecutor not to interfere in the case and for it to be left to the police to prosecute as it is alleged that, in keeping with established protocols prior to the institution of a capital charge, the police did not consult with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The file has since been held in limbo. The charge was consequently dismissed “due to lack of cooperation between the police and DPP”, as noted by the presiding magistrate.
• Miss Manchie Laid To Rest:
  It is with profound sadness that we record last week’s passing of a pioneer resident of Santa Elena, Miss Manchie Jones. A faithful serving member of the Catholic Church, Ms. Manchie is pre-deceased by her husband, Wilward “Willie” Jones and a son Randy Jones. She is survived by daughters; Florence, Priscilla, Sonia, Laura, Catherine and Geraldine. She is also survived by sons; Wilward Jr., Joshua and David Jones.
• Editorial: Flogging A Dead Horse:
  The case against UDP Cayo Northeast Area Representative Elvin Penner was one that even the layman on the street referred to as “flogging a dead horse” notwithstanding, the exception opposition lawyer continued flogging it thereby ending up with egg all over his face. It was the singular flogging horse in the opposition arsenal. Mark our words, with nothing else to flog, the sole opposition lawyer/opposition Caribbean Shores Area Representative aspirant, will appeal the magistrate’s decision as he continues foolishly flogging a now legally confirmed dead horse as they sit in their individual corners hoping and praying for something else to flog. This opportunity, it seems, will never come their way as Prime Minister Dean Barrow continues to steer his administration in the right direction.
• Movie Nights At The Cayo Welcome Center:
  The new Welcome Center in San Ignacio is fulfilling its intended purpose. It is bringing back the community to an area where we can socialized with family and friends. It is also providing the place and the means for us to meet new friends. The bambu tee, in conjunction with D Catch , Masabaduga, Yoli's Pizza (all business owners operating in the Welcome Center) are working in partnership with the Center’s Committee in organizing social activities. The first such activity is Movie Night held on Wednesdays and Sundays. Residence of the twin towns and visitor alike are gathering at the Welcome Center on Movie Nights to watch the Movie garnering the most votes by customers visiting bambu tee, during the daytime hours. We encourage families to bring out the children and friends for Movie Nights at the Welcome Center. Movie starts at 7:00 pm. Our Welcome Center was built for us to use and enjoyment Let us come out and socialize in Peace, Love and Harmony.
• IDB President Meets With Belize’s Prime Minister:
  Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno met today with Belize Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, to exchange information and provide an overview of the IDB’s activities in the country. President Moreno and Prime Minister Barrow also discussed the current IDB portfolio as well as future projects for Belize. The current IDB Country Strategy with Belize for the period 2013-2017 has four priority areas: education; tourism; transport; and trade and tax policy. This year the IDB and the Belize Government are preparing two new loans in the education and transport sectors for a total of US$30 million. The “Education Quality Improvement Program” was approved by the IDB on June 12 for a total of US$10 million. This program seeks to improve the quality of primary education and the governance of Belize’s education system by training teachers so they can adopt innovative and best practices; developing and implementing an Education Management Information System; and improving the profile of teacher candidates.
• Gingivitis:
  Gingivitis ("inflammation of the gum tissue") is a non-destructive periodontal disease The etiology, or cause, of plaque-induced gingivitis is bacterial plaque, which acts to initiate the body's host response. This, in turn, can lead to destruction of the gingival tissues, which may progress to destruction of the periodontal attachment apparatus. The plaque accumulates in the small gaps between teeth, in the gingival grooves and in areas known as plaque traps: locations that serve to accumulate and maintain plaque. Examples of plaque traps include bulky and overhanging restorative margins, claps of removable partial dentures and calculus (tartar) that forms on teeth. Although these accumulations may be tiny, the bacteria in them produce chemicals, such as degrative enzymes, and toxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS, otherwise known as endotoxin) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA), that promote an inflammatory response in the gum tissue. This inflammation can cause an enlargement of the gingiva and subsequent formation. Early plaque in health consists of a relatively simple bacterial community dominated by Gram-positive cocci and rods.
• Rugby Sevens - First Rugby In Belize:
  Preparations are being made for the first rugby clubs to be established in Belize, focusing on the hugely popular and fast growing Sevens game, which will make its debut in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games. Rugby Sevens is a variant of the traditional rugby union game in a number of ways, chiefly: · Seven players on the field only (2 Props, Hooker, Scrum half, Fly-half, Centre & Winger) · Seven minute halves, instead of forty minutes, with one minute half-time · All conversions are drop-kicked, not place-kicked · Only three players in the scrum instead of eight
• STAR Humor
• Your Weekly Horoscope and Lucky Numbers
• Letters to the Editor
• Public Notices

International Sources

You'll Spend All Day On This Gorgeous Drone Map
Think of it as a better version of Google Street View, because it has drones. A new website, TravelByDrone, lets people from around the globe pin their own drone videos to a massive world map. TravelByDrone makes sure each video that makes it to the map is high quality and isn't overly promotional. There are currently 3,500 videos -- from all seven continents -- on the site. "We want to give you the chance to discover the world from the perspective of drones," the company said on its website. For example, you can soar over a zebra stampede in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. Or hover over the fog in San Francisco to watch the sunrise.

Why We Love the Tropics – 100 Colors of Hibiscus!
What’s your favorite part about the tropics? Is it the warm sea breezes? Maybe the laid-back lifestyle? Maybe it’s just the idea of being in a land that offers more freedom. Or maybe getting some of your life back by having great domestic help? Today, let’s see some Hibiscus! First, you have to understand that these flowers are HUGE!

Coach helps start track and field camp in Belize
An Oral Roberts University coach helped start a track and field camp this summer at the Marion Jones Sport Complex in Belize. ORU assistant track and field coach Shawn Venable partnered with the Belize Athletic Association to host the free camp that drew more than 40 athletes, ranging from children to members of the Belizian National Team in attendance. The attendees worked on everything from general strength exercises to fine tuning their skills. Both Venable and the Belize Athletic Association plan to continue holding the camp each year.

Videos

Video: Flying at the Guacamayo Bridge, Belize, 2min.

Video: Caracol from Above - DJI Phantom - Gopro 3 +, min.

Video: TV Interview with PM Barrow, 1hr 17min.
If you didn't get a chance to view Prime Minister Hon. Dean Barrow's up close and personal interview last night, click on the link.

Video: Skydiving into the Blue Hole, Belize HD, 9min.

Video: Chaa Creek - Macal River in the Cayo District, 2min.

Video: Cahal Pech - Cayo District of Belize, 2min.
Cahal Pech is a Maya site located near the Town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize. The site was a palatial, hilltop home for an elite Maya family, and though most major construction dates to the Classic period, evidence of continuous habitation has been dated to as far back as far as 1200 BCE during the Early Middle Formative period (Early Middle Preclassic), making Cahal Pech one of the oldest recognizably Maya sites in Western Belize.

Video: Branch Mouth - Mopan River, 2min.
Branch Mouth is the meeting place of the Mopan River, coming from Guatemala, and the Macal River, flowing down from Mountain Pine Ridge. The confluence of these rivers forms the beginning of the Belize River, which flows northeast to the sea.

Video: Puma Belize Jan 2014 Puma, 11sec.

Video: Belize 14, 13min.
Our family vacation in Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Video: belize 2014, 15min.
i filmed my family vacation this year… hope you enjoy sorry its a little long there was a lot of footage :)

Video: Missions Boot Camp 2014, 8min.
Highlights from our Missions Bootcamp this summer where kids trained, mentally and physically, for missions trips to NYC and Belize.

Video: Delia choc maya Mopan belmopan belize, 5min.

July 28, 2014

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe’s Woofer: Chocolate Cake
“Hello, Lupe. How are you doing?” “I’m doing well, thank you,” Lupe said. “And how are you this morning Anna?” “I’m alright,” Anna said. I was sitting the deck at the Holiday Hotel, drinking my morning coffee when these two local ladies came in and sat at the table next to me. “How is the […]

Tropic Air announces increase in service Roatan, Honduras
Press Release San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, July 24, 2014 “We are very excited to be increasing our service to Roatan in response to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of our passengers”, said John Greif III, President of Tropic Air. “Roatan has become an important part of our network, and a source of growing tourism […]

Caye Caulker Police Report
Minor Sexually Exploited On Monday 14th July, 2014 at about 3:30pm one, Doris Maldonado 40 year old(D.OB. 12/5/75) Honduran National. Domestic of Caye Caulker Village visited the Caulker Police station along with her daughter who is minor of 15 years old and reported that her daughter reported to her that she has been having sexual […]

Doctor Love: Gossip and Relationships
Readers, please send your letters. They can be emails, formal letters or handwritten notes. They are edited solely for grammar and spelling. Also, they are sometimes edited for length. Dear Doctor Love, I have a best friend who I have always been able to talk to about anything. I tell her my troubles and she […]

Misc Belizean Sources

Georgina "Gina" Eiley. Passes Away
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its deepest condolences to the Eiley family on the passing of Georgina "Gina" Eiley. May her soul rest in peace. Gina was the daughter of Mr. George and Atlantida "Tanta" Eiley.

Part IV of a series of six - Calculating Belcogen’s gross revenue
At this point, we must recall some of the norms discussed in Part III. If BSI has the minimum standard output of kilowatt hours (100 kWh) per ton of cane, then last year’s crop (of 1,078,000 tons of cane) would have had the potential to produce about 107,800,000 kWh. We’ve already established that most mills keep between 45 to 50 percent of this energy output for their own uses. If the factory uses, for argument sake, 46 percent of that total output, and only sells the surplus 54% percent to BEL, it would generate gross revenues of $11,758,824 =[ (107,800,000 x 54%) x 20 cents]. It’s important to note that this figure is awfully close to the gross revenue figures alluded to in BSI’s newspaper ad. (If 97% of its gross revenue is $11.4 million, then 100% gross revenue would be about $11.7 million).

The Reporter

BGYEA preparing for court with meeting Sunday
The Belize Grass Roots Empowerment Association (BGYEA) held a membership meeting on Sunday morning at Harmonyville to inform members about the association’s upcoming case to answer for trespassing at the Supreme Court. The meeting drew a crowd of just over 100 members who all had to cross the buffer zone to get to the meeting area because of lack of roads in that particular area. BGYEA President, Nigel Petillo informed the members present that by crossing the buffer zone to get to the meeting they had all broken the law, which, states that it is illegal to walk or fly over the buffer area. Petillo told The Reporter that the meeting was important to keep their membership informed about the status of BGYEA’s litigation as well as to deal with internal matters such as land ownership and fees.

Mexican woman charged with common-law husband’s murder
Annabel Kumul, a 36 year-old Mexican of Quintana Roo is remanded to the Hattieville Correctional Facility for the stabbing murder of Felix Alamilla. Alamilla suffered stab wounds at around 5 a.m. on Friday while inside a room two miles away from his home with Kumul. Kumul, who police reportedly arrested near the airstrip in San Pedro, was remanded until August 24.

US will send back Central American youths who flock there
President Barack Obama has informed Central American leaders that his government will send back migrant children who are flooding into the United States illegitimately. Obama met with the presidents of El Salvador Guatemala and Honduras at the White House on Friday to discuss the problem at the US-Mexico border. Since last October US authorities have detained more than 50,000 children, many traveling alone, at the border. Obama acknowledged his Central American counterparts for their ongoing efforts within their own nations to discourage children from travelling illegally to the US, but added that more work must be done to combat the challenge.

Patrick Jones

Playoff schedule set in Cayo women’s softball competition
The Camalote senior women’s softball team clinched berth to the playoffs in the Cayo Softball Association competition which culminated today. Camalote defeated Las Flores in the first game on the schedule today and waited for the conclusion of the game between Esperanza Wolverines and University of Belize […]

Man killed, three women injured in early morning shooting
Police in Belize City are investigating an early Saturday morning murder in the old capital. Sometime between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., on Saturday one man was fatally shot and three women sustained injuries when two intruders invaded their Mopan Street home. Dead is Carlos Mayorga, while the women […]

Future youth leaders trained in CARICOM program
The future is now for 30 youth leaders from around Belize, who this weekend in Santa Elena Town underwent special training to prepare to become effective leaders in their respective communities. The young men and women who traveled to the weekend event will, at the end of the training, […]

Should I stay or Should I go?
By Richard S. Harrison, BSc Pharm, MBA “Life is a characteristic distinguishing physical entities having signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased (death), or because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate. The first known attempt to classify organisms was conducted by the Greek philosopher […]

Blogs

Menacing Lionfish Made into Gorgeous Jewelry in Placencia, Belize
BUT…there is another way to do your part fighting this fish. (Don’t you like when it takes me 200 words to get to the point? An actual newspaper editor would not approve.) I have heard and seen (on facebook and at a booth at the Lobsterfest) about Kaj Expressions. A Belizean woman in Placencia making beautiful jewelry from the lionfish spines and I wanted to meet her and take a closer look. We finally coordinated a meeting… And then the STUNNING lionfish jewelry. Follow her Facebook page to see updates as she designs more. NONE of these were in the shop…she sells out quickly. I mean…seriously…bring one of these necklaces home. Wear it with a simple dress or a white collared button down? And you have everyone you know jell-jell-jealous.

International Sources

Ramadan starts Monday in 100 countries
Muslims in 100 countries across the globe will be celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, on Monday, according to Anadolu Agency correspondents. Only Nigeria celebrated Eid on Sunday after Sultan of Sokoto Abubakar Sa'ad II announced the end of Ramadan late Saturday, amid confusion about the start of the Muslim feast. Five countries – Oman, Morocco, Gabon, Tanzania and Azerbaijan - have so far announced that Eid al-Fitr will start on Tuesday. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will make announcements on Eid start on Monday.

Videos

Video: Walking around Caracol Archeological Site in Belize - part 5, 10min.

Video: Belize vacation, 15min.

Video:Ranguana Caye Belize, 1min.

Video: 2014 Belize Reef Snorkeling, 3min.
We went sailing and snorkeling off Caye Cauker in Belize.

Video: Dive in Half Moon Caye, Belize, 3min.
A few reef sharks spotted on the dive.

July 27, 2014

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

FFB Stadium ready for CONCACAF Championship League
With the CONCACAF 2014/2015 Champions League scheduled to start Tuesday, August 5th, final construction work is being made at the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Stadium to meet international standards. The Belmopan Bandits were drafted on Wednesday, May 28th to compete in the league, on the condition that FFB would renovate the only FIFA certified stadium in Belize to have all amenities that other international fields possess. The FFB Stadium received $1.8 million from FIFA for the upgrade. Those include proper lighting, seating for 5,000 people, separate shower stalls and locker rooms for participating teams and referees, and a football pitch landscaped with Bermuda grass (a special type of grass required by FIFA standards).CONCACAF officials inspected the stadium on Thursday, June 19th and Friday, June 20th. Even though the football pitch was not completed at the time, officials declared that the FFB Stadium met required standards, thus allowing the Belmopan Bandits to participate in the CONCACAF Champions League. The football pitch has recently been completedand the field is now fully prepared for the first match.

The Belize Cancer Society of California works in Belize
On Monday July 21st, Arlette Pilgrim president of the Belize Cancer Society of California, USA visited the island town of San Pedro to make a donation to The San Pedro Cancer Society. The Belize Cancer Society of California is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness, educating and raising funds to assist in cancer care throughout Belize. Pilgrim has been working with local cancer societies in Belize since 2012. While in the country on her most recent trip, Pilrgrim visited the island to hand over a donation to Miguel Perez, president of The San Pedro Cancer Society. The contribution consisted of three pairs of prosthetic breasts, a few nightgowns, and various teaching materials and equipment, including a breast exam teaching tool that will aid in the instruction of proper self examination. Other visits in the country included several areas in the Belize City District such as Albert Street, Pickstock, and Lake Independence where Pilgrim visited homes teaching women and men how to perform proper self examinations for breast cancer. Pilgrim also visited the Cancer Societies of both Belize City and Orange Walk where in addition to making contributions also provided the community with educational flyers and brochures that aid in fostering awareness.

Without a Master Plan, development in San Pedro Town continues to grow haphazardly
San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye is the fastest growing municipality in the entire country. With growth comes development, and for over 25 years, the island has been developing unchecked. That is because there is no master plan guiding development on Ambergris Caye, and there has never been one. That was confirmed by the Chairman of the Master Plan Committee for San Pedro Town, Fidel Ancona. Ancona told The San Pedro Sun that the first time there was a serious attempt to develop a master plan was 26 years ago. “There was already some sort of a master plan done by the Belize Water Services, since it was an Inter-American Development Bankloan requirement for the introduction of potable water to San Pedro. Under the Mayorship of Pedro Salazar, we worked around that plan, to establish a master plan and that has been a guide for development ever since,” said Ancona. Former Mayor Salazar served as Mayor of San Pedro Town from 1988 to 1991, but after he left office, the master plan was never approved. Since then, development has taken a entirely different angle, with larger buildings being erected, often going unregulated.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize Zoo is Fully Accessible
The Belize Zoo has finished making all of the pathways accessible. It was a 2 year journey, and it's the only accessible nature destination in Belize. Congratulations! "After 2 long years of fundraising and awareness, The Belize Zoo is so very proud to let the world know it is now the first and only accessible nature destination in Belize! All the Zoo pathways have now been completed and are wheelchair, walker, stroller and even high heel friendly! We thank all our friends, partners, colleagues, and patrons that made this goal a beautiful rose coloured reality here at 'the best little zoo in the world!'"

CTGA Tourism Eco Camp Starts Tomorrow
The Cayo Tour Guide Association's Summer Tourism Eco Camp starts tomorrow. The kids are going to have an amazing time, especially with all the great places they'll be camping. "The Tourism Eco Camp was designed as a tour, which is why we decided very early into the planning that we would change the scenery every few days. So the campgrounds are at Black Rock Lodge, Nabitunich, Duploys Jungle Lodge and Crystal Paradise. Thank you very much to these resorts for helping us in various ways, from giving us food and activities to do around the resort, and above all, for hosting us at their beautiful location. "

Patriotic Video Competition
The Belize Celebration Committee is having this year's Patriotic Video Competition. Check out their page for more information.

High School Book Drive
Feelgood news of the day. Fuego and the Treatery have teamed up with the Winsom Foundation to raise funds to buy school books for local high school students. All you have to do is like the picture, and they'll donate $1 to the cause. Thanks! "FUEGO & THE TREATERY have joined forces with the WINSOM FOUNDATION to buy school books for underprivileged HIGH SCHOOL kids this fall.......for EVERY LIKE we will donate $1.00 to the FUND. HELP US TO RAISE MONEY for EDUCATION!!"

PlusTV

Teacher found dead in his Belize City home
Police are currently investigating what appears to be the murder of 28 year old Stephen John Michael, a teacher at 7th Day Adventist School. According to police reports, at around 7:12 am on July 25th, police visited #7685 corner of Jaguar and Tapir Streets in Belize City where they...

US Capital Prepares to Drill
  A convoy of eight large heavy duty trucks transporting oil rigs could be seen going in a southerly direction early this morning. The large trucks, which came from across the Mexican border, were headed enroute to the Temash 2 drill site near Sunday Wood Village in the Toledo...

BML to Release Workers due to CITCO’s Debt
About 50 individuals employed at the Belize Maintenance Limited (BML) will be sent home on Monday due to financial constraints of the company. The Belize City council currently owes the sanitation company 1.3 million dollars and according to Lawrence Ellis, owner of BML, that 3.1 million does not include...

PUP Disgusted But Not Shocked that Penner Walks.
In a press release issued on Friday, the People’s United Party expressed their gross dissatisfaction with the way the Elvin Penner Prosecution was struck out calling it a “Dark Day for the Belizean Nation.” According to the press release, “ Elvin Penner, the individual who many Belizeans feel is...

Ram-jam buses and fed-up commuters
Edmund Castro in 2012 , as the new Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport, appeared determined to address some of the overwhelming problems faced by regular commuters. As it turned out, one of the most pervading problems was the overcrowding of buses. Several amendments were made to...

The Reporter

Home invasion turns deadly
A home invasion on Mopan Street turned deadly as one man was killed and three others were shot just before 5:00 a.m on Saturday. The Reporter has confirmed w that Carlos Mayorga was shot and killed while Alisa Ascencio, 41, was shot in the […]

CitCo arrears may cause BML to downsize
Belize Maintenance Limited has avoided dismissing 50 employees on Monday, thanks to a payment from the Belize City Council on Friday. The company may still find itself having to contemplate retrenching some workers next week, however, if the Council fails to make another payment […]

Brazil releases $13 billion to boost economy
Brazil’s central bank has announced plans to boost economic growth by reducing the amount of money commercial banks keep in reserve. The bank says the measure will free up $13 billion which the banks could lend. The announcement comes less than three months before presidential […]

Company offers reward for safe return of missing employee
There is now a reward for the safe return of Kevin Carcamo, the chairman of Hattieville who has been missing for the past five days. Carcamo, an employee of Discoverseis Geophysical Swrvices disappeared while on the job in the Freetown Sibun area behind Hattieville Village. […]

Mystery surrounds teacher’s death
Stephen John Michael Jr., a 28-year-old Seventh Day Adventist school teacher, was killed in his home and found early Friday morning. Michael’s father, who lives across the street, found him lying nude in his bed with what he said was a spot of blood […]

The Belize Times

SABOTAGE!!! – Court dismisses case against Penner, COLA will appeal
To no one’s surprise, Elvin Penner, the disgraced former UDP Minister, walked out of the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court from the Immigration criminal charges on Thursday morning 24th July, 2014. The UDP’s Penner is the first Government Minister to be caught red-handed in a scandal of major proportion over Belize passports. So stink was the stench of the scandal that PM Barrow, knee deep in his Government’s corruption cover-up, had to shovel Penner out of his Cabinet in September of last year. Barrow at first publicly told Belizeans he would support the disgraced Penner to the maximum. He hastily visited Penner’s constituency and at public meetings was caught on camera telling Cayo voters that he had “millions upon millions of dollars” which he would spend to keep Penner as the elected area representatives. Subsequently, Barrow has done everything possible to prevent Penner from answering to the nation. First, a citizen’s effort to recall Penner was sabotaged when personnel from the Elections and Boundaries, overstepped their authority and deprived just a sufficient amount of voters on the recall referendum, which would have removed Penner from office as the Area Representatives for Cayo North East.

KHMH In Crisis!!! – CEO urges PM to intervene; blasts Ministry of Health for lack of support
Reports of the financial woes at the nation’s main public referral hospital, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, have been greatly understated according to a letter written by the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Francis Gary Longsworth which was sent to the Chairlady of the Board, Chandra Cansino. In the May 30th 2014 letter, leaked to the BELIZE TIMES, CEO Longsworth explained to Cansino that the financial situation is so terrible that the hospital has been denied supplies by certain vendors who have been demanding payments owed to them. Longsworth warned, “…this matter is now at the point of crisis” and added that there is a possibility that the hospital “will not be able to meet next month’s payroll”. Earlier this month, when Cansino gave media interviews regarding the almost 600 members of staff and the likelihood that they won’t benefit from the Government’s salary increase, she seemed to overlook the fact that the hospital’s financial crisis may deny the staff’s regular pay.

Mother of 2 accused of common-law husband’s murder
37 year old Anabel Bacelis Kumul, a mother of two children, has been detained by the Police in San Pedro as the main suspect in the vicious stabbing murder of her common-law husband, 28 year old Felix Alamilla. Kumul, who is of a Mexican nationality, was arrested around 7:00am on Wednesday morning outside the Tropic Air office on the island. Her common-law husband died about half an hour earlier at the San Carlos Medical Center from multiple stab wounds he had sustained. Unconfirmed reports are that on Wednesday Alamilla was sleeping at a house he takes care of in the Boca Ciaga Area, when around 5:30 that morning Kumul arrived and attacked him with a knife. Alamilla sustained stab wounds to his thigh, shoulder and one of his eyes. He was rushed to the medical center on a golf cart by his step father but he did not survive.

It not now…when?
It is becoming painfully and increasingly obvious that besides throwing concrete over every grassy knoll, this current UDP administration has absolutely no clue as to how to govern this nation. Things are out of control in every aspect; be it judicial, economical, educational or moral. New laws are being written, old ones are being amended but yet, the guilty walk and only the innocent are going to jail. We are closing down schools and firing teachers but more children are out of school than ever before. Politicians are growing rich and traveling the world in style while the number of people below the poverty line grows exponentially. Oil companies and big business get lavish accommodation agreements but the unemployment figures continue to rise. It seems we have busted loose from our every social and philosophical mooring. Captain, this ship is adrift and the seas are getting rough! Unfortunately, this administration has succeeded in creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear that has silenced many of the powerful voices in our society. Those not docile and submissive have been bought with prestige, profit or even cake; ‘tis a sad state of affairs indeed.

Barrow’s Doing
Most Belizeans would not be surprised that Elvin Penner walked a free man from the private prosecution initiated by the brave Citizens Organized for Liberty thru Action (COLA). This is because even though the private prosecution was suggested by Prime Minister Dean Barrow, he had already declared on national radio and television, many months ago, that he does not see anything criminal in Penner’s actions. Anyone who knows how Barrow rules, will tell you that his declaration was as good as a royal decree. Even the Commissioner of Police trembled at Barrow’s trumpeting. He found a cave to hide. The news, therefore, is really that COLA will not back down and plans to appeal the travesty that took place at the Magistrate’s Court this Thursday, July 24th morning. The case was just about to get interesting, with COLA seeking the Court’s permission to summon Commissioner Allen Whylie, Immigration Minister Godwin Hulse and even Prime Minister Dean Barrow to Court. Many believe they are keeping information about Penner secret from us all. But the truth will come to light! While Penner walks after giving away our passport and nationality to an international fugitive, hundreds of normal Belizeans are being carted off to Court like heavy criminals for much, much less wrongs such as not riding a bicycle equipped with bells and lights.

Customs advances to softball playoffs
Customs/Central Bank bombed Telemedia 24-11 by mercy rule in their first win to qualify as the No. 4 seed entering the Belize City interoffice softball playoffs at the Rogers Stadium over the weekend. They were led by Gilbert Gordon and Marlon Garnett, who scored 5 runs each, while Sasha Brown scored 3 [...]

Edgar Rogers wins 1st Annual Spartan Fitness Club Bodybuilding Classic
The taller, leaner, more sculpted Placencia fitness buff, Edgar Rogers, took 1st place in the Overall Category to win the 1st annual Spartan Fitness Gym Bodybuilding Classic organized and hosted by Mr. Belize, Rigo Vellos and Spartan Fitness Gym. Rogers had won the Over 70 Kilos Category. 2nd place in that category [...]

City Boys Jrs. wins 2014 SMART Mundialito
The City Boys Jrs. won the 2014 SMART Mundialito championship, blasting the Ladyville Rising Stars 4-1 in a penalty shootout at the Yabra green in Belize City on Saturday. The Ladyville Rising Stars held the City Boys Jrs. to a nil zip draw through regulation time and overtime, going to a penalty shootout to decide the winner. City Boys’ Shadrick Lord, Denzell Carr, Ken Galvez and MVP Akeem Sutherland converted their penalties, but only Kenroy Allen scored for Ladyville.

Godwin Hulse should launch special Passport investigation in Taiwan
Belize City, July 21, 2014 The much-publicised and maligned Kim Won Hong passport, issued by the Passport Department of the Ministry of Immigration, is a crucial piece of evidence in the ongoing prosecution of corrupt UDP Area Representative Elvin Penner. This ...

Delusional Sedi!
Belize City, July 24, 2014 Attorney General Sedi Elrington was playing Simple Simon on Wednesday night in an interview with UDP station Channel 7 about their Government’s oppressive and overreaching gun laws which is jailing innocent Belizeans. Dean Barrow’s gun laws have been jailing people left, right and center. Children, minors, and ...

Freddy Bencomo Debuts at the Factory
By Katie N. Usher "I work, I have a regular job, I've had it for 18 years. I paint at night and on the weekends, when I have free time," he said calmly "And you farm?" "Yes!" He responded, completely dodging my attempt ...

AMAZING GRACE - Would You Accept A Beer From Jesus?
Like the aged veterans who always came together to play dominos outside the village Chinese store, believers enjoy coming together to share stories, sing songs, and blast out resounding ‘amens’ and ‘hallelujahs’ that shake the rafters of the ceiling. They call this meeting ‘church’. Every Sunday (and Monday prayer meetings ...

HOME ECONOMICS - The Enemies of Industrial Growth Part I
By Richard Harrison Belize’s colonial history left the country inheriting laws, policies and practices....and culture...of harvesting raw materials and sending them abroad...with preference for importing and consuming finished products. Production and value-adding is not a part of our genetic make-up or conditioning. Amendments to our laws, policies and practices since Independence ...

Cervantes family unsatisfied with Police investigation
“My dad wasn't kidnapped to extort money out of our family, he was killed. It was a contract or a hit to kill him,” – Ramon Cervantes Jr. Belize City, July 20, 2014 The family of murder victim Ramon Cervantes Sr. has ...

Ariel Rosado Memorial Foundation awards 30 scholarships
Belize City, July 15, 2014 The life of avid cyclist and attorney-in-the-making Ariel Rosado, whose sudden and untimely passing saddened the country in May 2011, has been immortalized in acts of kindness and a commitment to uplift human kind. Parents Dr. Alvaro ...

Oscar Requeña supports Sports Development in Toledo West - Over 24 teams – 90 Games
Toledo District, July 18, 2014 The first of its kind Oscar Requeña Football Cup was a huge success in Toledo West. On Saturday July 12th, a crowd of over 700 supporters gathered in San Pedro Columbia to witness Hon. Requeña awarding the ...

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE - How Not to Govern!
By Dolores Balderamos Garcia Last month there were a slew of graduations all over the country. In Belize Rural Central we had our share as well. Flagship high school for the constituency, Ladyville Technical High School, held their graduation I believe for the tenth time, and they consistently produce good graduates ...

PUP STATEMENT ON DISMISSAL OF PENNER CASE
July 24, 2014 Today is a DARK DAY for the Belizean Nation. Elvin Penner, the individual who many Belizeans feel is most directly responsible for the illegal sale of our Belizean nationality and passports, walked freely out of the Magistrates Court in Belmopan City today without even answering one single question ...

REFLECTIONS OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE - A new vision for Southside Belize City
By Francis W. Fonseca This past Saturday I spent the day on the Southside of Belize City visiting with residents in the Mesopotamia Division and participating in a Yard Meeting in the Port Loyola Area. Southside Belize City represents both the “good” and “bad” of Belize. Residents are vibrant, energetic, passionate and loud. ...

PUP Yaad Meeting in Port Loyola - Residents Condemn Barrow’s Abusive Gun Laws
Belize City, July 21, 2014 On Saturday July 19th, 2014 Gilroy Usher Sr. and the PUP Port Loyola Committee held a very successful yard meeting in the division with a number ...

Time for Action Against Corruption in Public Health Service
Dear Editor, I would really like to know how much corruption or distasteful action Belizeans will ignore in the Ministry of Health before they get riled up and demand the removal of those persons who are depriving the country of funds needed to assist people in need of help. With the present ...

Diaspora, what have you done for me lately?
Dear Editor, “Churchill in 1940 emphatically refused to make plans to dispatch the British fleet to American ports in the event of Britain’s defeat, and he argued against evacuating children to Canada. Both measures he thought were “defeatist”. Any discussion of transferring the fleet he wrote “is bound to weaken confidence ...

Blogs

Last Days Of Belize Summer Vacation…
Or so it feels like it…rather than spending most of the days on the computer (or traveling or eating), I’ve been hitting the beach. My most bestest friend Jamie (who is a 7th grade math teacher – pause to shudder over the thought of hoards of pubescent children) usually visits me for 4-6 weeks during her summer break but this year, it was a piddly TWO. She won’t even be here to pose with the Costa Maya girls this year! Here she is in 2011 with the festival’s beauty queens at Fido’s.

The Eco Kids Rule – Another Chapter in Our Jungle Book!
We promised an update on the Eco Kids educational summer camp, and as our budding environmentalists rounded the half way mark of this weeklong educational adventure the job just got harder – not from trying to find things to write about, but by having way too many cool things to pick and choose from. There’s no doubt the Eco Kids have definitely hit the right balance between education and fun while giving their dedicated camp councillors a run for their money. So, to pick up from where we left off, we’ll start with July 22nd, scheduled as water activities day. Safety comes first with Eco Kids, so when it was determined that the usually tranquil Macal River was running a bit fast this day, the fun was moved to Chaa Creek’s infinity pool, showing once again that whether they be from the city, villages or countryside, all kids share a love of water. Refreshed and ready for action, the kids then broke into teams for the annual Maya ball tournament, with Tapirs v Toucans and Jaguars v Monkeys. The winning Monkeys and Tapirs duked it out in round two, with Monkeys claiming victory, and, according to some reports, the actual local howler monkeys loudly celebrating the triumph throughout the jungle that night.

SALAD BAR – CAJUN CHICKEN SALAD
Make three diagonal slashes across each chicken breast. Put the chicken into a shallow dish and sprinkle all over with the Cajun seasoning. Cover and let chill for at least 30 minutes. When ready to cook, brush a stove top grill pan with the corn oil, if using. Heat over high heat until very hot and a few drops of water sprinkled into the pan sizzle. Add the chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly cooked. If still slightly pink the center, cook a little longer. Remove chicken and set aside. Add the mango slices to the pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Remove and set aside.

International Sources

Panama U20s seal CONCACAF, Pan Am Games berths
e at the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, posting a 3-0 win over Guatemala in the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) qualifying tournament on Friday. For complete schedule, results, table and scorers, click here. In addition to earning a ticket to Jamaica next January, the Panamanians also secured a berth in the 2015 Pan American Games. Here’s a recap of the tripleheader action at the Estadio Cuscatlan: Honduras 5, Belize 0 In the opener, surging Honduras (8 points) won its second straight game and posted its third consecutive shutout, topping Belize (0 points), 5-0. Bryan Rochez (65’, 74’ pen) netted twice in the second-half, while Junior Lacayo (42’) and Rolin Alvarez (45’) staked the Catrachos to a 2-0 just before the break. Fredy Medina (71’) had made it 4-0 with his second goal of the competition. The Hondurans will be guaranteed one of the four qualifying spots with a win against Nicaragua on July 29, but can also progress earlier, depending on results of matches two days before. Belize has been eliminated from contention with two games left on its schedule.

Videos

Video: ProWorld, Belize, 2min.
I've had the amazing opportunity to intern with ProWorld in Punta Gorda, Belize at the 'Youth Empowerment Center' for the month of July! Hanging out with kids was nothing short of entertaining; we enjoyed photography workshops (done by yours truly), art projects, painting a mural, yoga, cooking, soap making, drumming, hiking, snorkeling, and so much more! Enjoy! :)

Video: Backpacking Belize & Guatemala, 4min.

Video: Belize:Guatemala 6:2014, 7min.

Video: Belizean Legends: Glenda Ellis, 14min.
The first in series of documentary series called Belizean Legends that will profile Belizean softball legend Glenda Ellis as she discuss with host Bilal Morris how Belize beat the 1970's's softball world champions team the United States in the 1979 Pan-American Games. Ellis was the player that hit the winning home run that gave the Belize team a 2-1 victory over the United States.

Video: Chicken drop in san pedro belize, 5min.
This is a local gambling game where the chicken is allowed to drop on a board of numbers. You win if he drops on your number.

Video: belize 2k14, 15min.
Belize vacation

Video: Mission Trip - Armenia, Belize - July 2014, 14min.
The First Baptist Church of White Plains mission team returns for the 2nd year to Armenia, Belize.

Video: Cave Tubing in Belize, 9min.

Video: Dji Phantom 2 over Belize's Great Blue Hole, 2min.
Aerial footage of the Great Blue Hole after our Great Blue Hole dive with Huracan Diving and Itza Lodge! This was before I got FPV on my Phantom 2, so I unfortunately couldn't see what I was filming at the time.

Video: Belize Diving Video, 8min.
Short video using our GoPro and diving in Belize. Fun times

Video: Sharks in Belize, 6min.
GoPro footage of us having some fun in Belize. Snorkel with the sharks.

Video: Belize Snorkeling GoPro, 5min.
Filmed by: Austin Admire Music by: Dexter Britain- Until the Day Filmed in San Pedro, Belize- Shark/Ray Alley. July 2014.

July 26, 2014

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Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Promoting proper sanitation with the SWaMA
On Monday July 21st The Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (SWaMA) set up a public information booth at the Central Park. The booth provided vast information on what the entity is and how they operate in the country. Established in 2000, SWaMA is the entity responsible for the coordination and control of municipal solid waste as well as for setting the standard for proper waste management. Throughout the day members of SWaMA tested community members with trivia questions on sanitation among others, awarding small prizes to those that proved their knowledge. Questions ranged from “Have you ever heard of SWaMA, if so where?” to “Why do you believe littering is such a major problem?” Six youngsters interning with the company also hit the streets visiting households and shared information on the organization and sanitation control via flyers to those who could not make it to the booth. Flyers provided readers with information on the classifications of waste, identifying items that make up municipal solid waste such as household items, commercial and institutional waste and why proper disposal must be regulated. SWaMA promotes sanitation so as to protect public health and safety and to preserve and protect the environment and natural resources.

Belize Infrastructure Limited plans on renovating Ambergris Stadium
For months, island footballers have been complaining about the deplorable condition of the two football fields on Ambergris Caye. San Pedro Town is among the several municipalities of Belize that do not have a proper sporting facility, even after a multi-million dollar investment was made to renovate one of the island’s fields. But the General Manager of Belize Infrastructure Limited (BIL), Christy Mastry has confirmed that the problem will be addressed as plans are ongoing for the renovation of Ambergris Stadium, located on the south end of Ambergris Caye. San Pedro’s two fields, the Ambergris Stadium and the Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Arena, are improperly landscaped, prone to flooding and inadequate for sporting activities. The Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Arena was inaugurated in March, 2014 and replaced the “Saca Chispas” Football Field. The arena was initially intended to have an improved football field, but even after completion, the arena’s landscape is not suitable for sports. Mastry stated that several changes were made on the original design for the Honorable Louis Sylvester Arena.

9th Belize International Film Festival awards international and local directors and producers
Best Narrative Feature sponsored by Belize Bank Limited – Only You / Abo So, directed by Juan Francisco Pardo and produced by Audio Visual Institute of Aruba. Best Documentary Feature sponsored by Belize Bank Limited – The Pathways of Aissa / Los Caminos de Aissa, directed by Rolando Diaz and produced by Luna Llena Producciones Best Short Film sponsored by the National Institute for Culture and History (NICH)- Tom’s Diary, directed by Oscar Kightley and produced as part of the Commonwealth Shorts Writers Program Special Mention – Passage, directed by Kareem Mortimer and produced as part of the Commonwealth Shorts Writers Program Best Short Documentary sponsored by Oceana in Belize – PLACEnta, directed by Jules Koostachin and produced as part of the Commonwealth Shorts Writers Program Special Mention – Fight against the Lionfish Invasion directed by Katja Dohne Best Animation sponsored by NICH – Noka: Keeper of the Worlds, directed by Shaun Escayg Best Music Video sponsored Belize City Council – Jenko’s “Through the Alley,” directed by Kenneth Grant Jr. and produced by Poconobwy Productions

Ambergris Today

Rugby Sevens – First Rugby In Belize
Preparations are being made for the first rugby clubs to be established in Belize, focusing on the hugely popular and fast growing Sevens game, which will make its debut in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games. Rugby Sevens is a variant of the traditional rugby union game in a number of ways, chiefly: * Seven players on the field only (2 Props, Hooker, Scrum half, Fly-half, Centre & Winger) * Seven minute halves, instead of forty minutes, with one minute half-time * All conversions are drop-kicked, not place-kicked * Only three players in the scrum instead of eight “Rugby Belize plans to focus on the development of rugby sevens as a forerunner to growing a full regular (15 man) team, and prepare to enter Belize into the next Commonwealth and Olympic games. Rugby Belize Global Ambassador, Jono Woodward, is himself an experienced sevens player and is enjoying a very successful pro-rugby career in sevens.” Explained Tony Gillings, Founder of Rugby Belize.

Belizean Student Takes Second Place in Regional FCCA Competition
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce that two Belizean students were awarded prizes in the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Environmental Poster Competition. Belize’s Junior Division representative, Amber McKoy of Grace Primary School (pictured below), placed second at the regional level. For her entry, Amber was awarded $1,500USD. As the second place school, Grace Primary also won $1,500USD.

Misc Belizean Sources

Applications for 2015/16 Chevening Scholarships open 1 August.
Applications for 2015/16 Scholarships will open on 1 August 2014. In the meantime, those interested in becoming part of the prestigious Chevening community should sign up for alerts through our country pages. Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The programme makes awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses at universities in the UK.

MOTORCADE through the City of Belmopan on Sunday
There will be a BIG MOTORCADE through the City of Belmopan on Sunday, July 27th at 10 am to welcome home the Belmopan School of Talent U12 Team who placed 3rd in the Codiacader Games in Retalhuleu, Guatemala. Come out and show your love and support for out little ones who made us so PROUD!!

BELIZE BOYS U-12 SELECTION (14 photos)
MEET THE BELMOPAN SCHOOL OF TALENT U-12 SELECTION. 3RD PLACE CODICADER U-12 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, GUATEMALA. (Belmopan Bandits/Anfernee Lopez)

RESTORE Belize is pleased to announce that nine (9) fourth form students under the I AM Belize Scholarship Program have successfully completed their course requirements for high school and have graduated.
Four of these graduates received special honors for outstanding performance. Six of the graduates were assisted with funds from the Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust (BNECT), presently the major funder in the Program, and three were assisted with funds from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT). The Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust is currently the primary funder of the I AM Belize Scholarship Program, which is being implemented through RESTORE Belize. Initial funding was received from the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) in October 2010. Generous assistance has also been given by private individuals through the Adopt-A-Student Programme.

Today, would have marked the 91st birthday of Philip Stanley Wilberforce Goldson
Born in 1923, in Belize City, he was the second son of Peter Edward Goldson and his wife Florence Matilda Babb Goldson. He attended St. Mary's Primary School and although he never had the opportunity to go to high school he studied at night and successfully obtained the Cambridge University Overseas Junior certificate in 1939 and the Senior School Certificate in 1941. From 1941 to 1947 he worked in the British Honduras Civil Service. While in the Civil Service, Goldson started his career in journalism editing the "Civil Service Chronicle", "OUTLOOK", a cultural quarterly of the St. John's College Literary Society and writing short stories and sketches for the BBC in London. With the advent of the Nationalist Movement, he wrote news items for the Belize Billboard. The plight of the workers in Belize led him into trade unionism. He became the National Organizer of The General Workers Union in 1949 and later became its General Secretary.

Let's give up for the Corozal cane farmers
Ongoing ceremonies and events...come out and enjoy. It is a beautiful day on the Corozal Bay!! Special promotions and discounts! (8 photos)

The celebration begins
"Celebrating 55 years in the sugar cane industry, strengthening the development of our small farmers" - Truly a labour of love.

A heartfelt congratulations to the BSCFA Corozal Division and all the sugar cane farmers and their families for a job well done
Hats off and a well deserved celebration. We invite the entire community to come out and enjoy all day activities between the Rotary Park and the Corozal House of Culture. The Mass commences at 8:30 a.m. with the official ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. following with cultural presentations and dances. Special appearance by the CCC Marching band at 11:00 a.m. Come out and take advantage of a bright and beautiful day with wonderful people. Plenty of giveaways, raffles, and promotions. Wheel and deal with all sorts of goodies to take home. Things are already kicking off. No need to stay home bring out the entire family and show your support to our hard working cane farmers and their families. Power to the people in the struggle. (4 photos)

IDB President Visits Cayo Welcome Center
The president of the IDB, the organization that funded the Cayo Welcome Center, got to visit the amazing new downtown Cayo. "Inter-American Development Bank’s President Luis Alberto Moreno was in the country briefly yesterday, and I had the opportunity to give him a tour of the Cayo Welcome Center."

Cayo Classifieds - Issue 26
This week's Buy and Sell Weekly.

BWRC Wildlife Fundraiser
The Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic, which has saved or rehabilitated 100's of animals(157 in 2013) is having another fundraiser. Help them out if you can. Thanks, BWRC! "Thanks once more for your support in sharing this campaign and helping us raise a 3rd of our 10 K goal in one week! Here another lucky BWRC patient example: 'Mike' the Yucatan squirrel was received as a 35 g orphan, raised and eventually released in the Crested Caracara Reserve. Note: Unlike in the US, in Belize squirrels are rather rare, so this was our first fully rehabbed squirrel and we were fortunate enough to be able to observe him for nearly two weeks after release - thriving in his natural home :) "

Team Belize at Commonwealth Games
The Belize Team is at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. They are ready to start the games, but first, they had to take some selfies. They got some pictures from the opening ceremonies. Go Belize! "Behind the scenes at opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games"

Benque Summer Art Program
The Benque House of Culture is getting ready for another spectacular Summer Art Program. If you want to learn how to marimba dance, weave baskets, or speak Maya Mopan, then they invite you to register. Contact them for more information. "Summer Art Program 2014 is back and better than ever, sign up today and don't miss out!!!!!!!!!!!"

1st Indian Diaspora Conference in Belize
August 6-7, 2014

Debra Wilkes Honored by NICH
Debra Wilkes, coordinator for the Corozal House of Culture, has recently been named Employee of the Quarter by the Museum of Belize and Houses of Culture which functions under NICH. Debra is a professional photographer and naturalized Belizean who has lived in Corozal full time since 2005. The very popular monthly Art in the Park in Corozal is her brainchild and she has coordinated activities there since 2009. She has been the Coordinator for the Corozal House of Culture since its renovation and reopening in 2012, and continues to support craftsmen and artists of all ages and genres. She loves the rich culture in Corozal and her contribution to its highlighting and preservation continues to be invaluable. This is a well deserved recognition. Congratulations, Debra!

More pics of our turtle friend
ReefCI

Channel 7

Fatal Accident Kills 2 Men On Motorbikes
There has been a fatal accident on the Northern Highway. It happened just before 6:00 this evening at mile 7 on the Northern Highway. Our team is currently on the scene, and all we can confirm at this time is that two persons are dead after a head on collision involving a motorcycle and a BTB pickup. Traffic on the highway is completely blocked so the traffic jam on this Friday evening currently stretches for miles. Mike Rudon, Ch 5 "Sir could you give me an idea of what you saw? I know that you were right behind the accident when it happened." Eye Witness "I saw the cycle fly passed me and hit into a black truck on the side of the road. When it hit the black truck it cut away right into a BTB vehicle and right up in the air and flat on the ground." Mike Rudon, Ch 5 "It seems that the BTB truck was on its side just from looking at it. Was the cycle overtaking or did it lose control when it knock the black vehicle?" Eye Witness "It overtake the black truck and hit the mirror on the black truck and then it went over to the left and the BTB truck look like it was trying to get out of the way off the road, but it still hit him." Mike Rudon, Ch 5 "Could you tell from what you saw if death was instantaneous from the cycle?" Eye Witness "When the thing happen, I got out of my car and the one in the middle of road looks like he was dead, but the one on the fence was breathing for a while and then he stops and then we thought that he must have died too."

Father Claims Schoolteacher Murdered
Early this morning, 28 year old school teacher Stephen John Michael was found dead in his house which is off Faber's Road Extension. His family believes it was murder: they say that he had been robbed and clubbed in the head. 7News was at the scene around 8:00 am and we found out more:.. Steven John Michael Sr., Father of Deceased "I found my son on his bed dead." Robin Schaffer reporting Early this morning Michael made the discovery no father ever wants to face. A neighbor called to his attention that the door to his son Steven Jr.'s home on Jaguar Avenue was wide open. Steven Sr lives just behind his son and so he went in to check: Steven John Michael Sr., Father of Deceased "I didn't see any physical injury. He was bleeding, I can't say though his nose, but he was on his back and you could see a spot of blood behind his head in his bedroom. I feel like they chance my son and I am not afraid to say it because certain stuff is missing from out of the house. As I get in I could see the TV missing, the laptop, the phone and his wallet are missing. All I could say is that they chance my son."

Family Says Murder, Police Say Sudden Death
As you saw in that interview with his father, he believes that Stephen Michael was killed in his own house. That suspicion is based on his conclusion that his television, his wallet, and his cellular phone were all stolen. This morning the Police Press Office released a statement saying that foul play was suspected, but that apparently changed 3 hours later. Police investigators who are handling the case, aren't so sure, and today they told us that the case is being treated as a sudden death for now: Sgt. Robert Novelo, OC - CIB Precinct 2 "So far the investigation is in its preliminary stage and we cannot say at this time whether its a murder and we could classified it as a sudden death at this time." Mike Rudon, Ch5 "Could you tell us what police found when they were called to the scene?" Sgt. Robert Novelo, OC - CIB Precinct 2 "Police found Mr. Steven John Michael, 28 years of age, he was lying on his bed inside is bedroom." Reporter "However there were signs that blood was coming from his mouth?" Sgt. Robert Novelo, OC - CIB Precinct 2 "Yes, blood was seen coming from his mouth."

Police Sting Operations Foils Extortion
Police foiled a major extortion attempt with a sting operation. 23 year-old Edwin Flores, allegedly tried to blackmail a businessman and extort him of $8,000, and tonight, he and his girlfriend are at the Belize Central prison for it. The complainant, Wilbert Valencia, a business man from Orange Walk Town, reported to police that on Tuesday, Flores contacted him and demanded that he hand over $8,000 dollars or else, a member of his family would be killed. In view of what happened in Orange Walk recently with Ramon Cervantes Sr, you can guess how this would cause quite a scare. Valencia told police of the extortion attempt, and the cops set up a sting operation where police waited at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. That's the location that Valencia's blackmailer demanded that he deliver the money.

Reward Offered For Hattieville Chairman"s Safe Return
Hattieville Chairman Kevin Carcamo has been missing for 5 days, and though the intense searches have been fruitless, the civilian and military authorities have not given up. But now, the company that Carcamo was employed with is offering a reward to anyone who can assist them to find and return Carcamo safely. Discover-seis Geophysicial Services released this flyer today in which they are offering a $10,000 dollar reward to anyone who can provide them with information which leads to the authorities finding Carcamo alive. As we've reported he was last seen in the Freetown Sibun are of Hattieville with his work crew on Sunday. He reported to work, but he didn't return with them at the end of the day.

Four Prisoners Returned From Mexico To Belize
7News has confirmed that there are 4 Belizean Prisoners who arrived at the Belize Central Prison this afternoon after being transferred from a Mexican Jail. The transfer took place this afternoon where the Mexican Authorities transported these persons to the Belize Mexico Border. They were all convicted of Firearm offences in that country, and they've served out a part of their 10 year prison sentences. The reason that these prisoners were allowed to be transferred is because they made the request to the Mexicans who have a longstanding arrangement with Belize, which is known as the Agreement between the Government of Belize and the Government of the Mexican United States on the Execution of Penal Sentences. The transfer was only made possible after a lengthy process of application through the Foreign Affairs Ministry of both Governments, and it was overseen today by Belizean Ambassador Said Guerra, a Consular and Protocol Officer within the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

US Capital Ready To Drill
US Capital Energy, the Government, and Mayan Communities of the South have been ordered to participate in court-ordered mediation, but the oil company isn’t waiting around: it announced today that it should be ready to start drilling within a months’ time.

PUP Says Penner Acquittal A "Dark Day"
"A dark Day for the Belizean Nation", that's what the Opposition Party is calling yesterday's acquittal of Former Minister of State Elvin Penner. As we told you, Magistrate Aretha Ford struck the case out against him for the immigration offences because, in her opinion, there was a lack of evidence before her for the criminal trial to continue. Today, the PUP released a statement saying quote, "We share the disappointment, disgust and anger of so many Belizeans in respect of (yesterday's) decision, but we are not shocked by it." The Opposition adds, quote, "This case did not fail because of a lack of evidence. It failed because the UDP placed its political interests ahead of the national interest."

Salvation Army To The Rescue For Fire Victims
Yesterday we told you about a house fire on Plues and Berkely Streets which affected 4 families, leaving 3 structures destroyed. Well, today the Salvation Army made a donation to one of the fire victims, Jenisse Ramirez who is the mother of the unsupervised children who accidentally set their house ablaze. After the items were handed over, we asked Ramirez how she and her children are coping with the aftermath.

Fire Department Making Strides In Water Cannon Response
So with all the recent news about fires, fire hazards and fire safety, there's one more tip to make you safer. In case of fire, call 90, or 911. It may seem obvious, but it's not that simple because those numbers go through a police operator before they get to the Fire Department. Now you can call the Fire station directly at 207-2579, but that is not a hotline, it's a business phone so it might be busy. And one more thing we've learned this week is that after the fiasco with the disastrous fatal fire on Newtown Barracks, the fire Department has apparently enhanced its deployment and rapid assessment of fire threats. On two recent fires we've seen the early and effective deployment of the water cannon - which was late to the scene in the Newtown Barracks fire.

What"s The Plan For Climate Change?
Like many other low-lying coastal nations, Belize is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Today a group of organizations and stakeholders gathered at the Coastal Zone Management Authority Institute in Belize City for the Belize District regional consultation on a National Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Action Plan. Topic discussed at today’s consultation included regional and national overview on climate change and how it has impacted Belize.

Robin Goes Bell Hunting
All this week we've been reporting on the crackdown on quality of life crimes. This has resulted in scores of arrests for minor offences such as bikes without bells or lights. The effect has been a rush on these items at the few stores which still sell bells and lights. To keep up with demand, bike storeowners have had to dig up old stock – since no one has been buying these items for decades – including our intern Robin Schaffer who went bell-hunting today.

Dara Riding For The Kids
On Sunday, grassroots philanthropist Dara Robinson will hold his third annual Ride for Hunger. This is Dara's 7th year of running a feeding program out of his own home, but he seemed just as dedicated to project today as he was when he first began. We asked him how the Ride for Hunger has evolved over the past three years. The ride begins in front of the SMART building on the Northern Highway, then continues through Hattieville before running back down the Western Highway and ending at the SMART building. Registration starts at 6 am and there a $5 registration fee, but all donations, including food and care packages are welcome. Dara's next fundraiser, the Lucky Dube 7th annual tribute will be held at Bird's Isle on August 3rd.

Rastaman Vibes For Sunday Earth Strong
Every year on the 23rd of July, Rastafarians celebrate the birthday of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I who is the Supreme Messianic Figure in the Rastafarian belief. So, the Belizean Rasta United will be hosting their 8th annual Selassie I Earth Strong Concert this weekend. Today we asked the organizers of the event the meaning behind the concert and who will be performing: The concert will be held at the BTL Park on Sunday July 27th from 2 pm to 11 pm. It is a free event, and all are invited to attend.

Belize Athletes Get Ready For Commonwealth Track and Field
The track and field segment of the 20th Commonwealth games will begin this Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland. For Belize Kaina Martinez and Mark Anderson will compete in their 100 meter qualifying heats. Kenneth Medwood and Brandon Jones will also start their qualification processes next week as Medwood competes in the 400 meter Hurdles and Jones competes in the Triple Jump and Long Jump. Finally, on Wednesday, Katy Sealey will begin her events in the Heptathlon Competition which will end the following day.

CCJ Explains
Earlier this week, we told you about the labour conflicts at the Caribbean Court of Justice Headquarters in Port Of Spain Trinidad. Well, now, the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission has retained a Public Relations and Crisis Communications Agency which sent a lengthy release to all regional media today. It refers most pointedly to Dr. Leighton Jackson's attack on the court. He is the Jamaican acting registrar of the court who was reportedly fired and has been bad mouthing management practices at the court. The release says the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission is "responding to set the record straight and to protect the Court, which is much larger and more important than the personalities involved." They say that Dr. Jackson was not Dismissed but that the Dean of the Law Faculty at UWI wrote the President of the CCJ Wrote the court a letter saying that it is "necessary for him to return to his full duties." As for the restructuring which Jackson criticized as being secretive, the release says that he was invited to a review of the structure and manpower requirements of the court - but went to Jamaica instead.

Channel 5

Breaking News: traffic fatality claims 2 lives
As we reported earlier, late this evening a traffic accident took place around mile seven on the Philip Goldson Highway. Two persons died when the motorcycle they were riding on [...]

Belize City teacher found dead in his house…was he murdered?
Early this morning the body of twenty-eight year old Stephen Michaels Junior was discovered in his home at the corner of Jaguar and Tapir Streets in the Faber’s Road area. [...]

Anabell Kumul spends her first night in prison for the murder of her common-law
There was a murder on San Pedro on Wednesday morning, which is believed to have been the cause of a domestic dispute; a twenty-eight year old tour guide on the [...]

Drilling equipment lands on Temash National Park
U.S. Capital Energy is tonight one step closer to drilling for oil in the Sarstoon Temash National Park.  On Thursday, a convoy of vehicles carrying heavy equipment used to set [...]

D.P.P. Office issues directives on case against Nasley Sommerville
  Belizeans have been following with much interest the curious case of Nasley Sommerville, formerly the administrator of the Southern Regional Hospital. She has been under investigation for at least [...]

A cargo of precursor to meth from Belize busted across the northern border
Mexican newspapers are reporting a major bust of precursor used to manufacture synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine or crystal meth. The precursor is said to originate from Belize. According to [...]

72 year old is man is hospitalized after he was mauled by 4 Rottweilers
Seventy-two year old McKesson Garrett remains hospitalized recovering from injuries sustained when he was attacked by four vicious Rottweilers. Garnett went to visit his friend, Leroy Woods, who lives at [...]

$10,000 reward for information on the missing Hattieville Chairman
A candlelight vigil for the safe return of Hattieville Chairman, Kevin Carcamo will be held tonight, five days after his mysterious disappearance behind Freetown Sibun.  Carcamo vanished while reportedly returning [...]

P.U.P. has its slate for municipal elections
Municipal elections are set for early next year, and already mass party machinery is cranking up for the election of slates in all municipalities. It doesn’t exactly have the fever [...]

P.U.P. proposed amendment to Firearms Act
One issue that the People’s United Party is tackling is the draconian gun laws. The leader of the opposition says that the party has written and submitted an amendment to [...]

Berkley Street fire victim get help from Salvation Army
On Thursday morning, three families were displaced by separate fires in Belize City. Today, Jenise Ramirez and her two children, ages six and four, received some assistance courtesy of Salvation [...]

Man and female minor charged for blackmail
  Coming up, we’ll have a report on the fatal traffic accident… But in the court, a twenty-three-year-old man along with his sixteen year old girlfriend, who is originally from [...]

Residents comment on failed Penner prosecution
Last September corruption came to light when the Penner immigration scandal was first exposed. This involved the corruption in the issuance of Belizean passports to individuals who did not qualify. [...]

M.O.E. hosts closing ceremony for expressive arts camp
For students interested in creative arts, a summer camp hosted by the Ministry of Education is the perfect setting to engage in the many facets of the arts. This year [...]

A camp for at-risk youths
There was another camp taking place, but outside the city where at risk youths were engaged in various activities. News Five’s Isani Cayetano files a report.   Isani Cayetano, Reporting [...]

CTV3

Traffic Accident Claims The Life Of Orange Walkeno
Sometime after 1:30 today police and traffic personnel were alerted of a road traffic accident on the Yo Creek road, approximately two miles from Orange Walk Town. When officials arrived on the scene they saw an army truck in the middle of the road and a Suzuki jeep on the right side of the road extensively damaged. Our news team arrived shortly after the incident and Reporter Maria Novelo filed the following report. Maria Novelo – Reporting Nadir Munoz was on his daily routine for his employer, providing and selling tortillas for the Maya Tortilla Factory in the surrounding villages of Orange Walk Town. Shortly after one today little did he know his ride back to town would be his last as two miles on the Yo Creek Road he collided into this army truck, and slammed into the left side of the road where his jeep came to a halt.

The World of Gangs, How Close Are They To Your Neighborhood?
Most if not all have heard of gangs and their crimes that range from petty to heinous and in the past, Orange Walk residents have been privy to some of these at the hands of gangs. But what happens when gang members from other much more organized groups enter Belize and how do we know where they are and who they are? Viewers may have seen gang insignias around town but often pay no heed as news of their criminal activity in the district is relatively low to non-existent. Following the information we have received, we thought it would only be appropriate to share the following information with the viewing public and raise the awareness of how serious and how dangerous some of these international gangs are and how close they are. Gang activity in Orange Walk Town is relatively low but the gang tagging seems to be popping up more frequently in all corners of the town. Among the most popular being the Trial Farm Crips also represented as 30’ and Trial Farm Bloods also represented as 20’s. Also visible in town are the LA tags in the Louisiana Area and the Baka Town Crips also from that side. These are all gangs believed to be organized by Belizeans. Then there are these…..tags from the MS 13, or the Mara Salvatrucha Trece.

Case Against Former Minister Of State Elvin Penner Dismissed, COLA Not Back Down As An Appeal Is On The Way
This morning in the Belmopan Courtroom, the case against former Minister of State Elvin Penner was thrown out on the first day in trial. The private prosecution was brought against Penner by COLA on passport and nationality offenses. Now, today, Penner is free and cleared of all charges in the Immigration scandal but the prosecution, COLA, was outraged by the decision. It has been a tedious matter for COLA which, despite scrutiny, pressed on with the case. President of COLA Geovanni Bracket said that despite the road blocks they encountered in the process and the turn of events, they are thankful to at least have been able to reach this far. Despite the court’s decision, though, an appeal may be in order. COLA’s Attorney Kareem Musa explained what transpired this morning in the courtroom.

San Pedro Cop Charged For Extortion
Sticking to the subject of extortion, San Pedro Police have arrested and charged one of their officers attached to the San Pedro Police Station for extortion. According to the San Pedro Sun Police Constable No 1308 Elvin Nah, was arrested and charged today following an incident that occurred on July 6th. The San Pedro Sun reports that on July 17th, at about 5:00pm, a male person visited the San Pedro Police station and made a formal report against PC Nah. The individual stated that on July 6th, at about 1:00am, he was heading home when he was stopped by police officers while passing in front of a store on Pescador Drive. The individual reported to authorities that a search was conducted on him by a Hispanic police officer who found two small plastic bags with suspected cannabis on him. The man was then taken to the San Pedro Police Station where the suspected drugs, amounting to four grams, were weighed. But no charges were levied against the individual. Instead he was told by the Hispanic cop that that for four hundred dollars he could be set free.

Two Corozalenos Face Several Charges Of Bike Theft
Tonight two Corozaleños are under police custody pending investigations of a number of bike thefts. According to 29 year old Antonette Armstrong, a teacher of 2nd Street North in Corozal Town, sometime around 8:30 on Tuesday night she was at home when she heard a noise coming from her front gate. At that instance she thought it was her mother-in-law coming to visit. With that in mind, Armstrong opened her front door but saw that no one was at the front gate which was open. She then decided to check the back of the house and that is when she noticed that her 24” beach cruiser bicycle was not where she had parked it earlier. As she ran out to the yard, she saw a male person wearing a white jersey shirt speeding off with her bicycle heading towards Santa Rita Road.

Another Extortion Call Is Made, Police Make Arrest
Over the past month we have been hearing about the growing instances of extortions taking place around the country and the north it is no exception. While authorities are being tight lipped piecing together what may be a momentous breakthrough as it pertains to crime incidences, we have been reliably informed that a sting operation proved successful for authorities. Information to our newsroom is that a businessman who lives on the Chan Pine Ridge Road in Orange Walk is the latest victim of extortion. We are informed that the caller requested a large sum of money and if there was non-compliance on his part, he and his family would face grave consequences. After notifying police of the incident, a sting to catch the perpetrators in the act was set up by authorities. The caller arranged for the exchange to take place in a certain area in Belize City and that is where the police waited for the perpetrator.

Matura Also Charged For Mischievous Act
Apart from facing other possible bike theft charges, Rocky Matura has been additionally charged for mischievous act. Yesterday, at about 10:30am, Corporal number 441, Adrian Marin and PC #854 Marco Cob both attached to the San Narciso Police Sub-station were conducting patrols on the San Narciso/San Victor main road when their attention was drawn to a couple walking on the road carrying a luggage. One of the officers approached the male and female of Creole decent and informed them that a search would be conducted on their luggage for illegal drugs. The search revealed nothing incriminating.

Fire Leaves Family Of Four Homeless
A blaze displaced a family of four in the Black Water Creek area of Orange Walk Town mid-afternoon today. When our news crew arrived on the scene, fire personnel had already gotten the fire under control but were scavenging thru the rubble to decipher what caused the fire. Reporter Maria Novelo and video journalist Jesus Melgar filed the following report. Maria Novelo – Reporting When fire officials received the call of a fire in the Black Water Creek area of Orange Walk Town, it was a little too late to salvage the house or its contents. Chief of operations at the Orange walk Fire Service, Kenneth Mortis, says the fire started from an unoccupied bedroom of this cement bungalow structure.

San Joaquin Fiesta, Its Tradition And Culture
Each year in the month of August residents of San Joaquin Village in the Corozal District celebrate the day of their patron, San Joaquin. While here in Belize the event is celebrated in a span of three days, the official opening ceremonies kicks off the 8th of August in the community of Bacalar in Quintana Roo, Mexico where residents also pay tribute to the patron San Joaquin. This year is no exception as preparations are already underway for the celebration to take place. Reporter Victor Castillo tells us what to expect this year in the following report. Victor Castillo – Reporting The traditional Feria de San Joaquin is an event celebrated by both Mexicans and Belizeans as both countries share the same history. While Belize and Mexico are separated by an international border, they share no boundaries when it comes to the celebration of the event. Each year residents of San Joaquin Village in the Corozal District and those of the community of Bacalar in Quintana Roo, Mexico, honor their patron saint San Joaquin. And this year our interest in getting a firsthand look at the celebration and its history led us to Bacalar where organizers of the event met to finalize preparations.

Alexis Rosado Appointed Ambassador To Guatemala
Following the death of former Ambassador Alfredo Martinez, the Government of Belize has been left with the task to appoint a new Ambassador of Belize to Guatemala. Even before an official announcement is made reports are already suggesting that C.E.O in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexis Rosado is Governments favorite for the post. It is expected that Prime Minister Dean Barrow will officially announce Rosado’s appointment as Belize’s new Ambassador to Guatemala sometime next week during a press conference.

Traffic Accidents Claims The Life Of Orange Walkeno
Sometime after 1:30 today police and traffic personnel were alerted of a road traffic accident on the Yo Creek road, approximately two miles from Orange Walk Town. When officials arrived on the scene they saw an army truck in the middle of the road and a Suzuki jeep on the right side of the road extensively damaged. Our news team arrived shortly after the incident and Reporter Maria Novelo filed the following report. Maria Novelo – Reporting Nadir Munoz was on his daily routine for his employer, providing and selling tortillas for the Maya Tortilla Factory in the surrounding villages of Orange Walk Town. Shortly after one today little did he know his ride back to town would be his last as two miles on the Yo Creek Road he collided into this army truck, and slammed into the left side of the road where his jeep came to a halt.

LOVE FM

Two Confirmed Dead in Traffic Incident
A fatal traffic accident occurred sometime after five o’clock this evening. The incident occurred at mile seven on the Philip Goldson Highway and involved a pickup truck and a motorcycle. There were two people on the motorcycle heading to Ladyville while the truck was headed to Belize City. It appears to be a head on collision killing both people on the motorcycle. We will have more details in our subsequent report.

Flores Sets Up Girlfriend (Minor) to Pick Up Blackmail Money
Twenty-three year old Edwin Flores, a construction worker of Belize City who allegedly tried to extort eight thousand dollars from a businessman, was charged with blackmail when he appeared today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser. Flores’ girlfriend, a 16 year old girl from Honduras, was charged with abetment to commit blackmail. No plea was taken because the offences are indictable. The prosecutor objected to bail for Flores on the grounds that the offence is of a serious nature and if granted bail Flores might interfere with the complainant. Senior magistrate Fraser upheld the objection and remanded Flores into custody until September 16. In addition to that, Flores owes the court 750 dollars so a warrant has been prepared for him to serve the time in default of payment of the fines. Senior magistrate Fraser ordered that Flores be taken to the hospital before he is taken to prison.

Two Fires Consume Homes in Old Capital
Today’s infernos mark the fifth house fire for the month of July with three of them being caused by minors playing with incendiary items. Meanwhile, fire officials have told Love News that the cause of the San Pedro fire has been concluded as being undetermined. Reports are that there are some residents, who have not been cooperating with the investigators and therefore the cause of the fire remains as undetermined.

PlusTV

Elvin Penner Case thrown out for lack of evidence
The case against ex Minister of State Elvin Penner was struck out on Thursday. The  Cayo Northeast area representative was being tried  for alleged wrongdoing in the passport scandal via a private prosecution  since the state decided not to pursue the matter in the courts. Government Ministers had gone...

Fatal traffic accident on Yo Creek Road
There was a fatal road traffic accident in Orange Walk on Thursday afternoon. The victim was identified as Nadir Munoz. According to reports, Mr Munoz was driving a jeep belonging to Maya Tortilla on the Yo Creek Road. At mile two on that road, and...

Man drowned, alcohol may have been a factor
A 29 year old Belizean labourer of Long Bank Area Dangriga Town was found floating in the Old Belize River near the banks of White Swan, Hope Creek Village on Tuesday July 22nd apparently dead. According to police investigations, 29 year old Roque Magdaleno Sanchez Jr.  left his house...

Family of four in Orange Walk homeless due to house fire
There was a fire in Orange Walk on Thursday afternoon. A house located in the  Black water creek area of Orange Walk was completely gutted by the blaze.  Four persons resided at the house and while investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire,  preliminary indications are that...

Maurice Tomlinson case continues before CCJ
On Thursday morning a short case management conference was held between the parties in the original jurisdiction case of Maurice Tomlinson vs. Belize and Trinidad and Tobago. Maurice Tomlinson, a gay Jamaican residing in Canada, is seeking the court to overturn provisions of each country’s immigration law which he...

Man charged for robbery of security guards
Three security guards participating in a routine escort were held up last Thursday, July 17 on Oleander Street.   Police have now charged 23 year old Francis Arana with two counts of robbery and one count of aggravated assault. According to Marlon Wade, employed with Fort Point Security Services, they...

San Pedro Man killed during dispute with common law wife
28 year old Felix Eduardo Alamilla is dead after he and his common law wife got into an argument. Early this morning, Wednesday, Mr Alamilla was stabbed to his head, chest and leg, allegedly by his common-law wife. We spoke to the Officer in charge of the investigation, Sergeant...

Amandala

Police fight crime by arresting bicycle riders
Hundreds of Belize City residents are currently up in arms following the implementation of a once dormant law which has now come into effect as Belize City police have begun to seize both bicycles and cyclists who lack bell and light. The move has affected hundreds of cyclists, mostly the poor whose bicycles are in fact their “vehicles.” Police have said that the move is an attempt to get a handle on a wave of violent city shootings and murders in the recent past; however, affected citizens are of the opinion that these are petty offenses and that they are being unfairly targeted by police who do not exercise any discretion in the performance of their duties. Since the start of the month, a contingent of police officers and BDF soldiers have been deployed along main thoroughfares across the city to monitor persons who hang out on the street side, persons drinking in public, along with persons found to be guilty of the aforementioned bike offences, but many of the people who have gotten arrested and charged for what are known as “quality of life crimes” simply do not believe that the law is serving its purpose.

71-year-old attacked by 4 rottweilers
Less than a month ago, on the night of Friday, July 4, three dogs attacked and killed Jeffrey O’Brien, 23, a fisherman of Independence, and on Saturday evening, an eerily similar incident occurred, in which a senior citizen was attacked and mauled by four rottweilers. The victim of the attack, Mckesson Garrett, 71, of Belize City, was bitten on the hands, arms, legs, and foot, and a piece of his nose was ripped off by the dogs. He is now admitted to ward at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where he is recovering from the injuries. The incident occurred about 4:30 on Saturday afternoon, at the home of Garrett’s friend at Mile 4 on the Philip Goldson Highway. Garrett, who has served several years as Chairman of the Belize City branch of the Belize Ex-Services League, told Amandala that his friend had invited him to his house and had released the dogs in the yard. But after his visit, as Garrett was walking out of the yard, the dogs, without provocation, attacked him and began to bite him.

Penner case struck out
The Hon. Elvin Penner, the former Minister of State with responsibility for Immigration who is accused of violating the public trust that accompanied his Cabinet portfolio, walked out of the courtroom of Belmopan Magistrate Aretha Ford in silence, ignoring reporters’ questions, after the Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action’s (COLA) private prosecution was struck out for want of prosecution. At 9:19 a.m., the court was called to order and Penner took his seat in the dock, as attorney Kareem Musa, COLA’s attorney and prosecutor in the case, began addressing the court. Musa told the court that COLA has made partial and then full disclosure to the accused Penner, who was charged with two offences, under the Summary Jurisdiction Procedures Act, for his role in securing a Belize passport and Belize nationality certificate for an imprisoned South Korean, Won Hong Kim.

Jealousy, rage and murder in San Pedro
Anabel Matilde Bacelis Kumul, 36, a Mexican of Othon P Blanco, Chetumal, who is a resident of the Mosquito Coast area of South Ambergris Caye, was taken to the San Pedro Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday, before Magistrate Sherigne Rodriguez and charged for murder. She will be brought back to court on September 19. Felix Alamilla, 28, a caretaker and tour guide of the Mosquito Coast area of San Pedro, was stabbed to death early Wednesday morning while he was sleeping, and police say his girlfriend, Kumul, is the killer. A police press release of Thursday, July 24, 2014 stated: “Police visited the Medical Center, where they saw the body of a Hispanic male person with what appeared to be stab wounds to the left thigh, left upper shoulder and left side of head. Initial investigation revealed that about 5:15 a.m., 28-year-old Felix Eduardo Alamilla, Belizean manager of the Boca Ciega area, San Pedro Town, was sleeping at a residence in the area when he was allegedly attacked by his 38-year-old common-law wife, Anabel Bacelis Kumul, a Mexican domestic of the Boca Ciega area, San Pedro Town, who inflicted his injuries.”

Minors playing with lighters cause 2 fires
A 75-year-old grandmother was rescued from a mid-morning fire that occurred on Southside Belize City today. That fire was one of two that resulted in agonizing losses for at least four families whose residences and belongings were either totally destroyed, or underwent extensive fire and water damage, all because of youngsters who were reportedly playing with lighters in both instances. When we arrived on the scene of the blistering inferno on Berkeley Street, we observed neighbors and area residents in a state of panic and desperation, as they frantically tried to keep the hungry flames at bay until firefighters arrived on the scene. As the fire ravaged the 2-storey wooden/concrete structure, generating intense heat and emitting thick, dark gray smoke, the firemen had to utilize breathing apparatuses, and the conditions hindered the efforts of the civilians who were assisting in the firefight. Orin Smith, Station Officer at the National Fire Service, later told us how firefighters sprang into action when they received the call about the fire on Berkeley Street, which destroyed two homes and damaged another.

Report on Belize Central Prison brings to the forefront troubling questions of human and constitutional rights violations
Between 40 and 50 members of the legal profession attended a roundtable discussion on conditions at the Belize Central Prison entitled “Behind The Prison Gates,” that the Bar Association held in partnership with the Death Penalty Project, a London-based NGO that has been working in Belize for the past 20 years. Recently, the Death Penalty Project partnered with Marine Parade Chambers and were instrumental in two murder cases in Belize – the appeal of Lavern “Anti-Christ” Longsworth and the trial of Felicia Chen, whose murder charges were both reduced to manslaughter and were given sentences consistent with the sentencing guidelines for persons whose offences fall within the category of diminished responsibility under the law, due to their mental condition at the time they committed the crime. The roundtable discussion, held on Friday, July 18, 2014, got underway after opening remarks by Eamon Courtenay, SC, President of the Bar Association of Belize; Parvais Jabbar, Co-Executive Director of the Death Penalty Project and Hon. Kenneth Benjamin, Chief Justice of Belize.

Verden Blease, 51, arraigned on 3 more counts of carnal knowledge
A Gwen Lizarraga High School teacher who was remanded to prison in January on five counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature and two counts of carnal knowledge of a minor between 7-12 years old, was arraigned on three more counts of carnal knowledge when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Verden Samuel Blease, 51, a resident of 18 Neal Pen Road, who has been out of prison on bail, was arraigned on the additional three carnal knowledge charges when he appeared in court before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith. He was, however, spared additional remand time and was released on the original bail that he had posted. On Monday, January 13, 2014, Blease was arraigned on the seven charges, after a 12-year-old minor and her mother reported to police that he had been having sexual intercourse with the minor when she was between the ages of 7 and 11. The sexual assaults occurred in the period between 2008 and 2012.

Grandmother, 72, charged with drug trafficking
Eight members of a Supal Street family, including a 72-year-old grandmother, were arrested and charged with drug trafficking after a Gang Suppression Unit raid of their home this morning turned up 6.5 grams of cocaine. They were all arraigned in court on the charge late this afternoon, and were released on bail, after they entered a not guilty plea.tamika faber The GSU conducted a raid at 3150 Supal Street, the home of Marina Elizabeth Plunkett, 72. When the GSU arrived at Marina Plunkett’s home, they were armed with a search warrant. At the time of the search, all eight persons were inside the yard where the suspected drug was found in a plastic bag, which was inside anther plastic bag.

Smart 13 & Under Football Tournament 2014 ends, City Boys are champions
All roads led to Crooked Tree this past Saturday, where the first of a best-of-three games series in the cricket finals (of the Harrison Parks National Cricket Competition 2014) was to be played between the home team, Brilliant, and Easy Does It of Lemonal Village. From around 10:00 in the morning, visitors started convening on the grounds. At 10:30 a.m., it was known that Brilliant had won the toss and had decided to bat first. What a lovely day it was! A big crowd had gathered in the village playing field, friends and families of both teams, and cricket fans that came out just to watch the game. Well, the game started. The Easy team took the field, and first two Brilliant batsmen went out to face the bowling of Kenroy Reynolds and Cyril Banner. These two batsmen started to show good defensive plays. After a few overs, one of the batsmen was out. Brilliant had 13 runs for the first wicket. When the 2nd wicket fell, they had a comfortable 73 runs. There was noise coming from Brilliant’s corner, where friends and family gathered. The remaining inning went this way: 3 for 75; 4 for 92; 5 for 105; 6 and 7 for 116; 8 and 9 for 123; all for 131. Raynard Gillett and Arturo Wade scored 34 and 27, respectively. Andrew Banner took 4 wickets.

“Pa Rush”, Carlton Rushford visits home
One of the original Raiders and also my one-time teammate on Milpros, Carlton “Pa Rush” Rushford stopped by the zinc fence this afternoon to share a few moments with old friends. A younger brother of Michael “Suffudge” Rushford of 1975-76 Charger fame, Carlton played his first senior football season with Landivar before joining Parra’s Milpros for the 1983-84 competition in which Milpros prevailed in the championship game, 4-1, over Bailar’s Royal Rentals. He was the stopper for the legendary “Rest of the World” Coke Milpros team that went undefeated in the 1985-86 Belize City Competition. The tall and multi-talented Carlton was also an original member of the Raiders basketball team in the inaugural semipro season in 1992, leaving Belize for the U.S. a couple years later, after the Raiders had claimed the championship.

Easy Does It takes the first one
The 3rd Annual Smart 13 & Under Football Tournament, which started back on May 10 of this year, climaxed on Saturday, July 19, at the Yabra Football Field where the 3rd place game was followed by the championship match, and then the awards ceremony. In the 3rd place game which started at 10:00 a.m., Brown Bombers got a goal apiece from Jovann Ramos and Dion Cacho to defeat Collet Strikers, 2-0. Missing from the Collet lineup was their star defender, Shemar Bowen, who had already been selected for the Best Defender award. The championship match between #1 seed City Boys and #2 seed Rising Stars was another “down to the wire” affair, as the 20-20 regulation ended scoreless, and the 5-5 overtime period also failed to produce a goal. So it was on to penalties, and two early misses by Collet allowed City Boys, who were perfect from the penalty spot, to clinch the championship with their fourth kick, winning by a 4-1 margin.

EDITORIAL: The thuggish side
Whenever you see the ruling UDP behave in an aggressive or threatening manner, you must understand that they learned from the best: they learned from the PUP. During their glory years from 1950 to 1984, there was a distinctly thuggish side to the PUP, a side which has been lost amidst the canonization of their late Maximum Leader. The two major political parties are like gangs in many respects, except that they enjoy all the rights and privileges of the Belizean state when they are elected to office. When the UDP or the PUP are in office, they comprise a large gang which is blessed by Buckingham Palace, represented in Belize by the Governor-General. The behavior of political parties in Belize when they are in office represents a manifest threat to those who would dissent on public matters. In office, Belizean politicians can and do make life uncomfortable for those citizens who dare to speak out openly. The politicians have their “dirty works” departments, which can hire various “specialists” in the community to harass and intimidate dissenters.

From the Publisher
For the last two decades or so, it has been characteristic of new political candidates in Belize City, when the UDP or the PUP first send them into a constituency, for them to start organizing football and basketball marathons and tournaments. Through these sports mechanisms, politicians can build energy which is favorable to their cause. Out in Belmopan, John Saldivar has been using sports for politics for at least twenty years; basketball and football have served him well in his constituency. Saldivar has risen from rural anonymity to become the powerful Minister of National Security. This is his second term in Cabinet, and Saldivar has achieved national political recognition. John is a “big man.” Most of you readers do not want to hear about sports, even though I have spent these four and a half decades trying to convince you that sports is more than sports: sports is sociology; sports is economics; sports is politics; and sports is life.

:Letters: How about a donation to the Fire Department?
In the news lately you guys have been reporting many fires, and that is what I would like to talk about, when was the last time that the Fire Department had a meaningful donation? Where are the new equipment? In the last ten years according to the news, the Police and the Belize Defense Force along with the Coast Guard have all had big donations: so far the Fire Department has had nothing much, no new fire truck, no new respiratory equipment, no new lines, or fire hoses. The Fire Department has a long way to go, The wonderful thing in this, is that the Fire Department has been and is doing a wonderful job without the new equipment they need. Imagine the job they will do if they had what they need. We need to look into how we can get improvement in the Fire Department before something happens more than what already has, as in San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Cleghorn Street, and Hattieville. We should look at how to improve the Fire Department. Training and education are the first improvement in the man power. Get more people to join the Fire Department.

Letters: Educated fools
There is nothing worse than an educated fool. So many people, in leadership positions and positions of responsibility, perhaps educated abroad, returned to Belize and became big fish in a small pond and have been treated like royalty. They have enjoyed privileges and a standard of living not available to the masses, the uneducated majority. And, they have become pompous, fat, and lazy. They are so proud of themselves that they stopped growing, closed their minds, and as a result are stagnant and stale. I laughed out loud when I heard that the PhD’s at the University of Belize were upset that a man with only a Bachelor’s degree had been appointed President of the University, making him their boss. Never mind that this man has a wealth of experience and has continued to grow, reinvent himself, and to even maintain himself physically by regular visits to the gym.

Letters: Diaspora, what have you done for me lately?
Lately, some members of the Belizean Diaspora in the USA have been clamoring for political power; arguing that dual citizens should be allowed to hold elected political office in Belize. There has been no clear articulation about how such an arrangement would work in practice, particularly about how such dual citizens would avoid the obvious conflict of interests that are bound to arise in the practice of state craft. Some argue that naturalized Belizeans are allowed to hold such office and therefore it is unfair to disallow “born Belizeans” the opportunity to hold high political office as well. Of course, this is comparing mangoes and oranges. No apples here, sorry! I do not support the view that dual citizens should hold elected political office in Belize, simply because it seems wholly self-defeating. Why should we grant political power to those who do not have to remain in Belize to live with the consequences of their political decisions?

Dr. Alvaro Rosado refutes allegations of mismanagement of Fund
After being accused of gross financial mismanagement by one of its co-founders yesterday, Dr. Alvaro Rosado, president of the Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation, flanked by the entire board of directors of the foundation, organized a press conference at the University of the West Indies (UWI) campus today to make clarifications in response to the claims of misappropriation made by the foundation’s former treasurer, Bruce Sanchez, Sr. Sanchez, Sr., who staged his own press conference yesterday, Thursday, was appointed vice president of the foundation’s board of directors, and acted as a co-signatory for the foundation’s cheques, but he began boycotting the foundation by refusing to sign the cheques after he claimed that he noticed improprieties within the structure of the foundation in the handling of its finances. Sanchez, Sr. said, “It’s over $13,000 in cheques that either he alone signed, his wife alone, or both of them, excluding us, contrary to what the bank agreement said, which we have here. We weren’t aware of it [the cheques]; we, means me and my son, weren’t aware of it.

Father, 43, dies in traffic accident in San Jose
There was a fatal traffic accident near the village of San Jose in Orange Walk early this past Sunday morning that took the life of a Cristo Rey villager, while his wife, son and daughter – who were also occupants in the vehicle in which he was traveling – have been hospitalized. According to Northern Regional Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Joseph Myvette, police went to the scene of a traffic accident at Mile 62 on the Philip Goldson Highway on Sunday at about 6:00 a.m., and upon arrival, they saw a Ford Escape SUV with license plate BZ C- 45968 overturned on the left side of the road. After further investigations, Myvette said, police found out that the driver, Remijio Botes, 43, had been traveling in a northerly direction with three other persons when he lost control of his vehicle and overturned.

$350 mil, 30 megawatt facility from cohune nuts
Rudolph Castillo, an economist and former corporate manager at the Belize Bank, told Amandala today that he has partnered with EKOL, an energy corporation in the Czech Republic, in coming up with a $350 million proposal [...]

Puerto Azul is not for Belize, says alliance of 7 NGOs
A group of 7 local and foreign conservation NGOs, including Healthy Reef Initiative, the World Wildlife Fund, Oceana in Belize and the Belize Tourism Industry Association, have evidently strengthened their resolve against the Puerto Azul project, [...]

Legal battle over BTL and BEL goes to the Caribbean Court of Justice
The protracted legal battle over the nationalization of two major utility companies, the Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) and the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), is set to enter a new round inside the Caribbean Court of Justice [...]

Climate outlook for August, September and October 2014
The National Meteorological Service provides weather and climate information and products of various timescales such as daily, weekly, monthly. This service has now been extended to providing seasonal climate outlooks of projected rainfall for a three-month [...]

12 volunteers from Taiwan’s top university visit Belize
Twelve students from Taiwan’s top university, National Tsing Hua University, paid their own way to travel to Belize, where they intend to build people-to-people linkages, particularly with their peers here, as they impart some of their [...]

The Reporter

US president meets with Central American leaders
Leaders from Central America have informed US President Barack Obama that they are working on a “comprehensive plan” that will look at why their youths are migrating to the United States. The meeting with the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala tok place at the White House on Friday as Washington struggles to find a solution to what many consider a humanitarian crisis. Obama and Presidents Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala, Juan Orlando Hernandez of Honduras, and Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador announced their commitment to prevent people from undertaking this dangerous journey an.d to work together to promote safe, legal, and orderly migration.

Mystery surrounds teacher’s death
Stephen John Michael Jr., a 28-year-old Seventh Day Adventist school teacher, was killed in his home and found early Friday morning. Michael’s father, who lives across the street, found him lying nude in his bed with a spot of blood at the back of his head after being alerted by a neighbor that his front door was open. According to Sergeant Roberto Novelo, head of CIB at Precinct II, police don’t suspect foul play and are classifying the case as a sudden death at this time. The police report sent prior to that however, said that police suspected foul play. According to Novelo, there were no signs of forced entry, though some of Michael’s belongings were missing. Post mortem results won’t be available until Monday.

Company offers reward for safe return of missing employee
There is now a reward for the safe return of Kevin Carcamo, the chairman of Hattieville who has been missing for the past five days. Carcamo, an employee of Discoverseis Geophysical Swrvices disappeared while on the job in the Freetown Sibun area behind Hattieville Village. Discoverseis is offering $10,000 for information leading to the safe return of Carcamo to his family.

Ambassador Ho speaks of students’ mission to Belize
Twelve volunteer students from Tsing Hua University in Taiwan are on a working visit to offer their expertise in the area of information technology to local students in western Belize.   From the time they arrived last week until they leave on August 24 the […]

Caneros reject offer and call for continued bagasse negotiations
SAN ROMAN, COROZAL DISTRICT, Sun. Jul. 20, 2014 The Sugar Industry Control Board (SICB) will be asked to intervene in the commercial agreement dispute between cane farmers and sugar product producers after the farmers’ latest rejection of what the producers say is their final offer. […]

BSI’s gets technical with bagasse renumeration
Belize Sugar Industries, owned by the American Sugar Refineries (ASR) group, maintains that it has given the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association a fair remuneration for bagasse based on the amount of fiber the company uses. Olivia Avilez, BSI’s officer for Cane Farmer Relations, explained […]

Domestic fight ends in fatal stabbing
A woman faces possible charges of murder following the fatal stabbing of her common-law husband, Felix Eduardo Alamilla, 28, of San Pedro Town. The incident happened at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday at Alamilla’s workplace, about five miles outside of the town where he was the caretaker of a building. […]

Belize delivered Kim’s passport, but just can’t deliver it back!
by Louis Wade Won Hong Kim was in a Taiwanese prison about to be extradited to his home country of South Korea to answer to charges of embezzlement of Half a Billion dollars when the bright idea surfaced that, IF he were a citizen of another country, the officials must […]

Foreign Affairs hosts forum on water security
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a public forum this week on water security and the effects of Climate Change. The forum was held at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts on Wednesday night, and is a part of the ministry’s efforts to hold a forum every month. The forum […]

CCJ appeal for GOB acquisition of BTL and BEL starts
The final appeal of the case regarding the government’s acquisition of BEL and BTL began Wednesday via teleconference with Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Wednesday’s session was mostly case management and scheduling a timetable for the appeal. The hearings are expected to start in […]

BELIZE SCHOOL COUNSELLOR ASSOCIATION (BSCA) TO HOST FIRST SCHOOL COUNSELLING CONFERENCE
The Belize School Counsellor Association (BSCA) was formally established in October, 2012. The mission of the BSCA is to represent, support, and develop professional school counsellors in Belize and to encourage efficient delivery of counselling services at educational institutions. The BSCA’s objectives are to aid in educational and professional development […]

IDB President meets with Belize’s Prime Minister
Inter-American Development Bank President, Luis Alberto Moreno met today with Belize Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, to exchange information and provide an overview of the IDB’s activities in the country. President Moreno and Prime Minister Barrow also discussed the current IDB portfolio as well as future projects for Belize. The current […]

BCCI OSH amendment proposals
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has submitted proposed amendments to the recently tabled Occupational Safety and Healthy (OSH) Bill to the Public Service, Labor, Industry and Trade Committee. The revision submitted by the BCCI includes 46 suggested amendments, 54 points of […]

Eu ban forces vessels to change Belizean flag
The European Union (EU)’s ban on fishery products and services from Belize has affected several international vessels and forced them to start finding alternatives to the Belizean flag. Three tuna vessels belonging to Thai Union Frozen Products and one belonging to Spanish tuna catcher, […]

No comment on replacement ambassador to Guatemala, says CEO of Foreign Affairs
The person chosen to replace Ambassador Alfredo Martinez as Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala is a matter solely for the Prime Minister to decide, says Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alexis Rosado. Rosado, a career diplomat, has been cited by several local media houses as the one […]

Editorial
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has submitted a number of thoughtful and relevant amendments to the Bill called the Occupational Safety and Health Bill now before the House of Representatives. The Chamber is not opposed to the legislation in principle. It is saying that it is too ambitious […]

Penner Walks COLA says they will appeal the case
The private prosecution case against Elvin Penner, the former minister of state in the Ministry of Immigration, has been dismissed. Magistrate Aretha Ford on Thursday struck out the case against Penner because it lacked evidence for a trial, but Citizens Organized for Liberty through […]

Two fires same story: children were playing with lighters
Two houses in two separate areas burned down Thursday morning and reports indicate that both fires were caused by unsupervised children who were playing with lighters. One of the fires occurred on Berkely Street and the other was in the Conch Shell Bay area. A […]

Conch Shell Bay grandma charged for public gambling
Gambling is what the police claim five Conch Shell Bay area residents were doing when they found them with a deck of cards on a slab. Three females, including a 64-year-old grandmother and three males, were at the corner of West Collect Canal and Conch Shell Bay area when police detained them. All five appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stewart, where they were all read a single charge of gambling or “assemble to gamble.” Initially, all pleaded guilty to the offence, including Quinn Arnold but after the facts were read in court she protested saying, “I nuh agree with it because dah nuh such it happen.”

Patrick Jones

School teacher found dead in his bed in Belize City
Police in Belize City suspect foul play in the death of a man who was found dead in his bed this morning. The body of Steven Michael, Jr., 28, was found just after 7 o’clock this morning inside his home at the corner of Jaguar and Tapir Streets in Belize City. A preliminary report from police say that Michael, Jr. was found lying face down in his bed and bleeding from his nose. Reports say that Stephen Michael, Jr. was last seen alive by his father around 8o’clock on Thursday night. Authorities say that a television set as well as the victim’s wallet and cellular phone were missing from the house.

Blogs

It’s Not Too Late to Enjoy a Summer Vacation in Belize
Summer has peaked and the days have begun getting shorter, but there’s still plenty of time to discover what so many savvy travellers have – Belize is one of the best summer vacation destinations on the planet, and especially convenient if you’re based in North America.

Press Release – Belize People’s Front on Elvin Penner’s Case Dismissal
The Belize People’s Front is alarmed and dismayed on hearing that the charges against area representative and former Minister of State in the Immigration Department have been dropped for a lack of evidence. While we respect the decision of the court, much more could have been done to ally the doubt that the state was not in collusion with stifling the investigation in an effort to protect the partisan politics that the existing giants maintain. The trust of the people have been broken once again, not just by the elected official, but by the state’s collusion in not adhering to the Constitution as it pertains to elected officials in public office. These acts are treacherous and should not be condoned by a lack of mobility and inaction by the Police Department and the Director of Public Prosecution. The trust of the people have once again been ignored and the blatant disregard for honour and good governance have once again taken a back seat to partisan politics.

SALAD BAR – WARM BEEF NICOISE
Place the steaks in a shallow dish. Blend the vinegar with 1 tablespoon of the orange juice and a teaspoon of mustard. Pour over steaks, cover, let stand in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Turn over half way through the marinating time. Place the eggs in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Remove and plunge the eggs into the cold water. Once cold, shell and set aside. Meanwhile, place the potatoes in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then cover and let simmer for 15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and set aside.

International Sources

Belize City bridge design put out to tender
The winning bidder will be required to complete a detailed design of the bridge replacement within six months.

Like a kid in a candy store
While I love the Ozarks as much or more than anyone I know, even I like to go on a vacation from time to time. My wife and I really like the beach, especially the Caribbean and the Riviera Maya (or Yucatan area of Mexico) and try to visit those areas every year or so. My wife says her favorite part of the ocean is that little strip of sand where it meets the land. So a couple weeks ago my wife and I spent a week traveling. We took a cruise to two places on our “bucket list” of locations we want to visit. The trip included stops in four countries, but one was someplace we had visited several times, and the other was simply an add-on because it was the fourth stop on this particular loop. We started by flying to Miami, then boarded the boat with stops in Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Cayman Islands, and then back to Miami.

CYNK Stock Crushed After Trading Halt Is Lifted
With no revenue, no assets and one employee, how did CYNK stock jump 25,000% earlier this month? CYNK Technology (CYNK) resumed trading Friday, and plenty of shareholders probably wish it hadn’t as they watched CYNK stock plunge nearly 85%. penny on chart 185x185 CYNK Stock Crushed After Trading Halt Is LiftedIn what’s been the scandal of the summer, CYNK — a penny stock trading over-the-counter — shot up 25,000% in a matter of days in early July. Then the Securities and Exchange Commission stepped in. Never mind that the Belize company has no revenue, no assets and one employee. For a short time, CYNK stock had a market cap of $6 billion, which is bigger than about a tenth of all companies in the S&P; 500. That was bound to get the attention of regulators even when it comes to the OTC market, which is largely left to its own and therefore home to all sorts of dodgy companies. The SEC halted trading in CYNK stock on July 11 to investigate “potentially manipulative transactions” and the “accuracy and adequacy of information in the marketplace.”

Obama hauls Central American leaders to White House to order them to stop immigration flood – but they blame HIM for ‘ambiguous’ policies
President Barack Obama met with the leaders of the three Central American countries at the forefront of the illegal immigration debate this afternoon. Obama held a joint meeting with Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and El Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren to discuss their 'shared responsibility' to promote 'safe, legal, and orderly migration' to the America, according to the White House. Vice President Joe Biden, who met with Molina