Recent Belize News, 5/11/2015 to 5/20/2015, BelizeNews.com

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

The San Pedro Sun

Community members join Hands Across the Sand to say no to offshore oil exploration
Across the world, and in Belize, individuals and organizations came together to promote a healthy earth and highlight the issue of offshore oil exploration and drilling. Founded in 2009, Hands Across the Sand brings together like minded individuals and organizations with the conviction to organize a movement in their area to promote a clean energy future for the earth, and particularly, the ocean. In light of the continued offshore oil concessions controversy Belize is facing, Oceana in Belize rallied citizens to take part in the event held simultaneously around the world on May, 16th at noon. In San Pedro alone, close to 100 residents gathered on the beach in front of the San Pedro High School in the Boca del Rio Area. For 15 minutes, the crowd held hands in solidarity against offshore oil exploration and drilling in Belize. The event was also held in other areas across the country such as Belize City, Sarteneja Village, Hopkins Village, Placencia Village, Belmopan City, San Ignacio Town, Dangriga Town, Corozal Town, Punta Gorda Town, Orange Walk Town and Caye Caulker Village.

Crooked Tree Village’s Cashew Fest – something yummy for everyone!
Over the weekend, Crooked Tree villagers celebrated what would mark their 23rd Annual Cashew Festival, and let me tell you; it was quite the shindig! The festival took place fromMay 15th to the 17th. Families from what seemed like every district packed up for a day of food, drinks, games and music in Crooked TreeVillage as they celebrated the cashew fruit and its numerous by-products. Of course if you’re not a cashew lover (God forbid), there’s plenty of other delectables on sale for the feasting! There’s the beloved Belizean staple of Rice and Beans, plenty of barbeque and smoked meats, and enough desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth ten times over! Beverages you ask? Why there’s anything and everything from fresh fruit juices and ice cold coconut water, to soda pops, Belikin Beer and did I mention Cashew Wine (hint, hint).

Ambergris Today

Belize Looks into Development of Coconut Industry
The second phase of the Road Mapping workshops for the European Union (EU) funded “Coconut Industry development in the Caribbean” project is set to continue later this month. Project partners the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Geneva based International Trade Centre (ITC) will engage with industry stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Belize and Suriname to formulate road maps for market led development of the coconut and coconut products sectors. Utilizing a participatory approach, stakeholders across the coconut value chain in each of the project countries will come up with road maps to address critical areas such as market options, production and productivity, support services and the policy environment among other areas. Specialists from within and outside the Region will also present on current market dynamics, performance requirements, plant material availability, new technologies and discuss with participants current Caribbean coconut supply dynamics. Development banks and potential financing partners will also be invited to participate, as they are key players in the industry’s growth and development.

San Pedro Wraps Up Reef Week Activities
As Oceana brought together island residents to show their objection to offshore oil exploration, The Hol Chan Marine Reserve office created awareness on the importance of the reef by hosting week-long activited during Reef Week last week. The Week served as a part of the environmental education program where the primary objective is to have students learn about Belize's coastal and marine resources in a fun and rewarding manner. The week's activities were celebrated under the theme "Protect our Belizean Sea; Keep the Reef Alive and Free" and included a trivia competition that tested island student's knowledge of the reef and marine resources, Marine Fair at Central Parkfor students to learn more about Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Bacalar Chico Reserve, Belize Wildlife Conservation Network and other protected areas in Belize and a Sunday Activity Day that included a triathlon competition and fun activties for the entire family. For their part, the Hol Chan Marine staff and volunteers conduted beach cleanups, installed mooring bouys at Mexico Rocks Reserve and conducted an in-water cleanup at Hol Chan Marine Reserve throughout the entire week. An amateur Lionfish Culling competition had to be cancelled due to rough sea conditions that persisted the entire week.

Misc Belizean Sources

ATIPS Logo Competition Award Ceremony
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council (ATIPS) will be hosting an award ceremony for the winners of the ‘Anti-Trafficking in Persons Logo Competition’ that was launched late last year for students in secondary and tertiary institutions throughout Belize. The award ceremony was held at the George Price Centre for Peace and Development in Belmopan City on Friday, May 15th 2015. The winners of the logo competition are: First place- Keron Tzul from Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College, who won a Samsung galaxy tab 4 10.1” screen, Second place – Cindy Acevedo from Belmopan Baptist High School, who won a Samsung Galaxy tab 4 7” screen, and Third place went to Donovan Lisbey from Mopan Technical High School, who won a Moto E Global GSM 4G phone.

Habitat destruction
Want to know why our subspecies of Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona oratrix belizensis) has remained on the critically endangered species list for so long, and has low chances of upgrading to a safer category? Its not just poaching. Here is the number one factor

BELIZE FISHING REPORT May 10th – May 16th, 2015
A great group from Orvis visited the lodge this week with lots of first time anglers earned their bonefish pins awards with ease. Even with the windy weather a few intrepid anglers went on to permit and tarpon.

Noticiero Univision Anchor Jorge Ramos visits La Isla Bonita with long-time girlfriend and actress Chiquinquirá Delgado!
If you were waiting for a flight at our San Pedro Terminal over the weekend, you might have been just lucky enough to get some celebrityspotting done as wel.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Tuesday, May 19, 2015: 17. FANTASY 5: 16 28 12 15 19 G

Channel 7

Compol speaks On Cop Caught Smuggling Weed
Last night, we told you about Police Constable Geian Ya, the officer attached to the Corozal Quick Response Team who was caught trying to smuggle marijuana into the country. Well his boss, the Commissioner of Police, has told the press that he will be dealt with to the full extent of the law. As we told you, Ya was intercepted at around 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon by the Customs Enforcement Unit as he came across from Mexico, into Belize at the Santa Elena border. The examining officer picked up the strong scent of marijuana and asked him to open the trunk. Inside, the officer found a black plastic bag with 3 bricks of compressed marijuana to total weight of just under 7 pounds. Today the Commissioner of Police told us that Constable Ya has been dealt with to the full extent of the law: Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police "I do know of the case. He was handed over to police. He has been arrested and charged. He has been taken to court. My understanding is that he was granted bail. He has been placed on interdiction by my office also. We, as administrators, we do not condone wrong doing within the Belize Police Department, be it of a criminal nature or be it a complaint from a citizen.

Can Police Contain Surging Crime?
And from misbehaving police officers, we asked the Commissioner to discuss the crime situation generally. Recent statistics released by the department shows that major crimes, including robberies, burglaries, carnal knowledge, theft, and rape are trending down over a three year period. But, in 2015, murders are on pace to set another ugly record. As we showed you last night, this weekend was particularly violent and 4 persons were killed. In fact, going back to Friday morning, 5 people were murdered in 60 hours - and these aren't just gang killings: the victims include a 68 year old man, a mother of three, and two American men. So coming up to the middle of May, there have been 54 murders, meaning that 2015 is on track to becoming the most murderous year on record, if the numbers keep going the way they have been. So, can police arrest the situation? Here's what Commissioner Whylie had to say: Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police "Crime is not an issue that will be solved by the Belize Police Department. It will take each and every individual citizens within Belize, as I've always said, we do not have police officers on every street corner, but we do have citizens who live on every street and so the solution to the crime problem - the kind of information and intelligence we need, rest with the citizens out there.

No Clues In double Murder Of US Nationals
Last night we told you about the gruesome home invasion in Teakettle where two Americans were killed: 61 year old Paul David Signorino, as seen in this photo was shot twice to the left side of the head while 47 year old Julian Christopher Jones was chopped multiple times to the head. Jones's ex-wife found them both dead in his home in Teakettle on Friday evening. Police are still following leads and have no one detained or no update on this double murder. Americans were again the target this time on Friday night in Hopkins. It happened around 7:30 Friday night when 62 year old American Ralph Porter and his wife Juanita Buckles were at home. Porter heard the dogs barking outside and when he went to look he saw 3 masked men emerging from the back of their house. One of the men had a handgun and pointed it in Porter's face and forced him to lie on the floor inside.

Man Narrates Scary Home Invasion
There is another armed home invasion to report, but this one happened in Ladyville yesterday at the Hendy family home, in broad daylight. Margaret Hendy is a well-known food vendor who sets up her operation in the vicinity of the PGIA compound. Yesterday, her brother, Nick, dropped by her house to do some yard work for her. He was splitting wood that she intended to use for her fire hearth cooking. He was at the house alone working when the intruders descended on him. Today, he described in detail for us how armed masked gunmen cut through the fence, held him up at gunpoint, tied him up and then ransacked the house: Nick Hendy, tied up by burglars "I decide that I got a big task here, so I better get busy. Right away I grab the axe and went over there and start to work some wood with this axe and in a minute or so while working about the third piece of wood, I heard the back fence and I decided to take a check. But at the time my axe was stuck in the block, so I felt like someone stoop down and I stoop down too and begin to peep, but I held on to the axe.

Sickout Staged At BEL, Union Wants 12.5% Per Annum
Consumers couldn’t be happier about electricity rates that are coming down to 35 cents per kilowatt hour in July – the lowest rate in memory. But, that doesn’t mean all is well at BEL. Under new government led management, the company has made a turnaround – and is now posting profits, where just five years ago, the balance sheet showed losses. The Belize Energy Workers Union say they too are a part of that prosperity and they have been in labour talks with management since November of last year. But, it seems talks have now broken down – we say that because of a sick out that was staged yesterday. Information to 7News is that there was a sickout on Monday where, countrywide, 60 employees called in sick. Services were not disrupted, though, and, best information says that work resumed as normal today. Neither BEL’s management nor the Union would give us any kind of comment, neither confirming or denying the sickout, and both cited a confidentiality agreement that doesn’t allow them to talk about the ongoing labour negotiations. But 7News has learned that talks have broken down over a proposed salary increase that the union is demanding. Reliable reports tell us that the union is asking for an increase of 12.5% per annum for four years – meaning that at the end of that four year period, their salaries would have increased by 50%.

Monchie says His Security Didn't Burn Field
Tonight, two men remain in the custody of Orange Walk police pending investigation for arson of a BSI cane field. As we told you last night, BSI security called police telling them that they found two men setting fire to a cane field in the San Lorenzo area. There are also reports of shots fired. Police responded and caught the two suspects on the road, impounded their pickup truck and detained then at the police station. It's huge news because one of the men is Efrain Novelo the personal security guard of PUP politician Ramon Monchie Cervantez. The pickup he was in belongs to Cervantez - and so it seems to put the aspiring candidate in a bad light. But today he told our colleagues at CTV-3 that there is a counter-narrative, another story which puts his security guard on a normal work errand - and wrongly arrested by police. Here's that version of events:... Ramon "Monchie" Cervantez "I haven't spoken to him, but I'm getting mixed reports. Yesterday when I was apprised of the situation, I was made to understand as if he and another guy were caught at the fields, burning them and then the security appeared and shots were fired and that they sped off and the police followed behind them. That's the impression that was given to me, they impression I had up to last night. This morning, one of our drivers, who every morning picks up Mennonite that works for us at the quarry, called me and said 'the Mennonite wants to speak to you'.

Sugar Quota Remains At Status Quo
And - whoever set the cane field on fire - the reason for it was last week's announcement that cane quotas would be re-assigned. While some branches saw their quota cut shortly, BSI's quota was increased - which immediately increased tensions in the sugar belt. Well, the Sugar Cane Production Committee met yesterday and set aside the quota cuts for the time being. Chairman Gabriel Martinez said they will wait for a complete survey:.. Gabriel Martinez - Chair, SICB "It's suspended until the Board gets a complete finding of the Productivity Survey being taken by SIRDI, which have been promised to be finished by this week Friday and a week after this, the Board will sit again to review again the final report." But, while it is deferred until the end of the month - the fact is the cane harvest is shortened and an effort needs to be made to bring in the best, richest cane as efficiently as possible - which means weeding out cane from growers who don't have very much quality cane left. Martinez explained:

Police Department Will Be Bolstered By Three Attorneys
Currently, there are 3 senior police officers who are about to return from studying law as full fledged attorneys, namely, Superintendent Bart Jones, Senior Superintendent Chester Williams, and Inspector Llewellyn Usher. That's a welcomed and unprecedented increase in professional capacity in the Department, but, where will the department put them to make the best use of their newly acquired skills? Today, the press asked Police Commissioner Allen Whylie about it, and he said that he doesn't want to pre-empt their return, but he is excited at the prospect of the department having access to such highly trained professionals: Allen Whylie, Commissioner of Police "I would not want to preempt that in terms of where they will be placed. I can say that I am eagerly awaiting their arrival back and I hope that all three officers will be back with the Police Department. Where we will be able to utilize their strengths. We do need their assistance and I am hopeful that we'll keep all three of them."

Hon. Elrington Likes PM's Pick for New Ambassador
Last week the Prime Minister announced that Pat Andrews, the recently retired Country manager for Scotiabank would be taking over as Belize's new Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the OAS. IT is a very senior diplomatic posting, perhaps the most senior one there is - but Andrews has no background in diplomacy. We asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs how he felt about the Prime Minister's decision:.. Jules Vasquez "Is it of any moment for you, any concern for you that the person is a novice at diplomacy, an expert in banking and a hell of a nice guy? But it's a sensitive post." Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs "Actually Jules, if you do your research you'd find out that most people who have been appointed as ambassadors, most people, are novices at the job. In any country what you want is a person who is of impeccable character and Pat fits that bill. He has good common sense, he is very articulate, he's well educated, and I don't think you can ask for anything more than that."

Love Thy Neighbor, Don't Rob Them
Tonight, 32 year year-old Zaccehus Martinez, a resident of Fabers Road, is out on bail after police tied him to a burglary of his own neighbor's house. Sometime between February 12, and May 18, 2015, Lesvia Betancourt's home on Fabers Road was burglarized, and all of her valuables, worth almost $5,000 dollars were stolen. Police found the items on Martinez's possession, and so he was charged with burglary and handling stolen goods. When he was arraigned today in Magistrate's Court, he pleaded not guilty, and told the court that he didn't break into Betancourt's apartment. He claims that he found the items in his yard, and he tried to make arrangements to have them returned. He also claims to have spoken to a witness who saw someone removing appliances from Betancourt's home.

Woman Accused of Beating UP GSU
We often hear allegations of the GSU beating up city residents, but tonight our story is about two women accused of beating up a GSU office. Two sisters were charged over the weekend for assaulting a GSU officer. It happened on Friday night at their West Canal residence. According to one of the women, things got out of control when the officer slapped and burst her sister's lip. After that, it was on. Here's her story. She told 7news the incident was captured on camera - but the footage was deleted by police. Lewis and her sister were detained by police on Friday night and was released on Saturday afternoon. They were both charged with assaulting a police officer.

Beaten By A Lady Cop
On Friday night we catalogued a long history of abuse made by Southside residents against police. And, as if on cue, during the news, one woman came to our studio to make one more allegation of police abuse. Pamela Estrada went to report a domestic dispute on Thursday night - and says she ended up being beaten by a woman police officer - after she sent her ten year old daughter to stay with a relative:.. Pamela Estrada "If my baby knew that they would beat me, my daughter wouldn't have left the vehicle. She would have stayed with me, but they promise my baby that they wouldn't do me anything. They told her that they would just take me and drop me home to, because it's a domestic problem and I didn't do anything and no one came and make any report about me. She (the officer) just start to punch me in the face and then the male officer handcuffed me.

Training Day for Cops
Last week Thursday, the latest crop of police recruits passed out of the police training academy to become fully fledged officers. They have the training, but no work experience as police officers. Due to a newly finished program in which the Police Department collaborated with the Us Embassy in Belize, these new recruits will enjoy the benefit of a streamlined and standardized training while on the job. That will come from senior officers who graduated from a specialized Field Training Officer program which Senior American Cops developed and instructed them in. The graduates of that program got their certificates today, and 7News was there for the ceremony. Here's what the instructor told us about how it will help the new recruits: Lt. Kevin O'Brien, Training Instructor "Well we were contacted about a month ago back home in West Palm Beach Florida and asked to come down and do a field training program. Field training program, as I teach, is a 40 hour block of instruction. And it teaches every police officer that wants to be a field training officer, how to deal with training an adult. Taking them out of the academy, the basic training of the academy and then putting that to work in the field. So we came down a week before the class started so that we could go around actually drive with the people in the Belize Police Department.

No Cruise Compromise In Sight
Last week, Prime Minister Dean Barrow went to Miami to meet with executives of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. When he came back, he showed cautious optimism and said he would next meet with Mike Feinstein, the owner of the proposed Stake Bank project to discuss a possible compromise. Well, best information to 7News says that is not going to happen. As might have been expected, Feinstein has refused to relinquish the controlling interests in Stake Bank, and Royal Caribbean appears to have no interest in a minority shareholding. Of course, the situation is complicated, first, by the fact that Feinstein is suing Royal Caribbean and government over the head tax - and, second, by the other, little acknowledged fact that Royal Caribbean's partner in the Fort Street Tourism village, Diamonds International and Feinstein don't want to do business with each other. So, right now, best information suggests, there is no compromise, no clear way forward, and eventually Government may just have to pick which horse it wants to ride into the future. In the meantime, Feinstein's Stake Bank Bill which was approved by parliament, has not been brought into force, which leaves him at a disadvantage with his creditors.

Memorable Museum Moments
Art and history. That is the main theme for this year's International Museum Day. All this week, the Museum of Belize is hosting several activities for primary schools across the city. The coordinator says the kids get the best of both worlds: they got a historical overview and also get to learn about art and creativity. Today we met some of the students at the Museum and they told us what they thought about the art pieces. There will also be an art exhibit for high school students at the Bliss tomorrow.

Festival Of Hearts
The Festival of Arts: it's a showcase that parents and all students across the country look forward to every year. But more so the students: they are the stars of the show. The 2015 National festival showcase officially began today at the Bliss with performances from the primary schools. The performances run the gamut from pop music to liturgical dances. Today the coordinator told us that this festival celebrates the talents of our kids and also encourages free expression. There are also a host of events connected to this festival including a secondary school competition on Thursday the 21st and a Teachers Talent competition to be held on Friday May 29th.

Channel 5

Men Detained for Burning Canefields Will Be Charged
On Monday two men were detained by Police on suspicion of burning canefields owned by ASR in the San Lorenzo area of Orange Walk Town. The detention is politically charged, [...]

Ramon Cervantes Denies Involvement
As we said, the situation is politically charged because of the personalities involved, and also because when Alpuche Junior was detained he was driving a vehicle which belongs to Cervantes. [...]

Why Did the SCPC Cut Quotas?
There is word of an apparent resolution to unrest in the sugar industry which had the potential to blow up into full-scale protest. Because of the lateness of an announcement [...]

Both Americans Died From Chop Wounds
The double murder of the two American nationals in Teakettle was at the top of our newscast on Monday night. The brutal killing of the two men has left the [...]

Do you support the proposed amendment to the Special Agreement which will allow Guatemala to hold an individual referendum?
And our question for tonight is: Do you support the proposed amendment to the Special Agreement which will allow Guatemala to hold an individual referendum? Yes or No? Send your [...]

Courtenay Speaks on Referendum and ICJ
This weekend Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington will travel to Guatemala to sign an amendment to the Special Agreement signed at the O.A.S. headquarters in Washington back in 2008. The signing [...]

Says Elrington Should Resign
Courtenay took special exception to a statement made to News Five by Foreign Minister Elrington last week. Elrington claimed that, quote – “At this point in time, we don’t know [...]

GOB Should Support Territorial Volunteers, Says Courtenay
On Sunday about two hundred Belizeans, led by the Belize Territorial Volunteers, travelled to the Garbutt Falls border monument in Benque Viejo del Carmen. As they have been doing for [...]

Wanted Men Extradited to Belize
A trio of Belizean fugitives wanted for individual crimes, including murder, has been extradited by Mexican authorities. The handing over took place on Saturday morning at the Belize/Mexico Border where [...]

Carter Convicted on GST Offences
T he GST continues to penalize businesses that have not been paying their taxes. Well known talk show host and businessman Darrell Carter was spared jail time after he picked [...]

Martinez Arraigned for Burglary
Burglars cleaned out a womanâ€™s apartment taking all her household items while she was away. But quick response by the police, led to the recovery of two od the stolen [...]

BCCI Supports Petrocaribe Initiative…Opposes Petrocaribe Act
he Belize Chamber of Commerce is the latest organization to come out against the PetroCaribe Loans Act which was passed in the house after a relatively short debate. While that [...]

Chamber Will Not Explore Joining Forces with PUP
Despite the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that amendments to the law will be tabled at the next House meeting, Vasquez says that there are certain aspects which remain unaddressed. Those [...]

BCCI Awaits Amendments Before Formulating Clear Position
While the chamber, as a social partner, may not be joining the PUP to seek a repeal of the PetroCaribe Loans Act, it is in receipt of a letter from [...]

A Trip to the Museum of Belize
When was the last time you visited The Museum of Belize? Many Belizeans see it as a place for international visitors to learn about our culture and history, but what [...]

Students Shine at the Festival of Arts
Festival of Arts has become a part of primary and high school tradition. For years, students have been showcasing their talents through dance, song, and drama at the district and [...]

Crooked tree Celebrates 30th Annual Cashew Fest
The thirtieth annual Crooked Tree Cashew Festival was held this weekend and as always, it was a spectacular showcase of that much loved fruit. But while the focus is on [...]

CTV3

Cervantez Sides With Cane Farmers On Issue Of Qouta Decision
While Cervantes has disassociated himself from having anything to do with the burning of BSI/ASR cane fields, it’s been a little over twenty four hours that his driver and another individual said to be from San Roman Rio Hondo are behind bars pending the outcome of police investigations into the matter. While no official police report has been released to the media, our sources at the Orange Walk Police Department reveal that a report provided by the watchmen of BSI/ASR indicates that they were in the area when they spotted a blue four door pickup circulating the area. At some point the vehicle drove into the cane fields, stopped and one man excited the vehicle and started setting fire to the cane fields. Reports are that there were two persons in the vehicle, the driver and the individual setting the fields on fire. The watchmen added that when the men found out they were spotted shots were fired at their direction.

Famous News Anchor Spotted In San Pedro
Over the weekend on La Isla Bonita, well known Noticiero Univision Anchor Jorge Ramos was spotted with long-time girlfriend and actress Chiquinquirá Delgado visiting the tourist mecca of Belize. The two TV personalities chose to vacation in our beautiful jewel and stayed at the private island of Cayo Espanto. For context, Jorge Ramos is a seasoned journalist and anchors the Univision News television program, Noticiero Univision; hosts the Univision Sunday-morning, political news program, Al Punto; and hosts the Fusion TV English-language program, America with Jorge Ramos. His girlfriend Chiqui Delgado is a Venezuelan TV host, model, and actress. She is currently a co-host of Mira Quien Baila on the Univision; prior to that, she was the host of ¡Despierta América! Delgado was first runner-up in the 1990 Miss Venezuela beauty pageant.Both Jorge and Chiqui posted a few images of their vacation in San Pedro on their personal Instagram accounts stating how much they loved their vacation in Belize. They departed the country on Sunday!

LOVE FM

Alibi for Alpuche Emerges on His Whereabouts When Cane Fields Were Burnt
While investigation continues into the issue of who set fire to more than 700 tons of BSI’s cane, Cervantes raised the possibility that all this might be a case of mistaken identity. According to Cervantes, recent information brought to his attention by a Mennonite employee is that Alpuche was at the Cervantes quarry in San Antonio village at the time of the incident and it was when they were on their way back to Orange Walk Town that both men were detained by police for allegedly setting the fields on fire. RAMON CERVANTES JR “It’s my political opponents, you said it, it could be political and they are the ones trying to make a case of it, trying to implicate me but I will say categorically that I condemn and denounce the burning of cane fields and why? There is a fundamental reason; because my family has been victim, we have been victims of the burning of cane fields. I have very good friends who have been victims to the burning of cane fields. In fact, seventeen acres of our cane fields, right at Mameyal, opposite where they abducted my father, right there they burnt seventeen acres of our cane so I totally condemn and denounce such action of burning of cane fields. I would never engage in such an action. I would never incite such an action or condone it. In fact I denounce such actions as the burning of cane fields. “

Cervantes Denies Involvement of His Driver in Burnt Cane Fields
While the SCPC met yesterday at the Sugar Board office some 20 acres of cane belong to BSI-ASR went up in flames. Love News has been able to confirm from BSI sources that a watchman was guarding the fields in the San Lorenzo Area when he observed a blue double cab pickup truck circling the area. He then noticed that two men exited the vehicle and lit fire in different areas of the field. The security guard alleges that as he approached the vehicle to record the license plates numbers shots were fired at him, forcing him to retreat and subsequently informed his supervisors who called the police. Quick police response led them to detain two occupants of a blue double cab pickup truck on the San Antonio – Yo Creek Rd. The vehicle has been identified as being the property of Ramon Monchi Cervantes and inside the vehicle were Efrain Alpuche Jr. and Saul Vasquez. Alpuche is Cervantes’ personal bodyguard. Since word spread of the detention of the two men, fingers have been pointed at Cervantes as being behind the burning of BSI’s cane fields. Today Cervantes spoke and denied any involvement and at the same time condemned such acts of malice.

Police Department Eagerly Awaits Return of Trio From Law Studies
While there are some bad cops tarnishing the reputation of the Belize Police Department, there are some with the goal to uplift the department. Three senior police officers were sent aboard to study law but where will they be placed if they return to Belize to work? ALLEN WHYLIE “I do not want to pre-empt that on where they will be placed. I can say that I am eagerly awaiting their arrival and I hope that all three officers will be back with the police department where we will be able to utilize their strengths. We do need the assistance and I am hopeful that we will keep all three of them. “ Those officers studying abroad are Inspector Llewelyn Usher, Superintendent Bart Jones and Senior Superintendent Clyde Williams.

Police Constable Yah Is Off Duty Pending Criminal Hearing
While the Commissioner has to deal with the rise in crime situation in Belize, he also has to deal with police officers behaving like criminals. Yesterday we reported on the case of Police Constable Giean Yah who was caught with 3139 grams of weed inside his silver Hyundai car as he was entering Belize from the northern border. The drugs were found inside the trunk and PC Yah was arrested and charged for the crime of drug trafficking. He appeared in court, met bail of three thousand dollars and is to reappear on August 21. PC Yah is not the first officer to be charged for a criminal offence and most likely will not be lost. Commissioner Whylie says PC Yah has been placed on interdiction. “Well I do know of the case. He was handed over to the police, he was arrested and charged; he has been taken to court. My understanding is that he was granted bail; he has been placed on interdiction by my office also. We, as administrators do not condone wrong doing within the police department; be it of a criminal nature or be it complaint of a citizen.

Commissioner of Police Says Most Murders Are Not Preventable
In an interview done with the Commissioner of Police earlier today, our reported asked the following: HIPOLITO NOVELO Sir, you mention that your department is doing its best but do you think it’s doing enough?” ALLEN WHYLIE “Well, we are doing the best under the circumstances. Am I satisfied with where we are? No, I am not because yes, the crimes are occurring; we have seen reductions, as I have said before, in all the various categories of major crimes with the exception of murders. So, there are the positive things that the department is doing. The murders – majority of the murders are not preventable; how do you prevent a person from being killed in their home? What else could the police have taken? What individual steps? So, there are their responsibilities, individual citizens also have the right to ensure that they are aware of their environment and that they take necessary steps to ensure that they are safe.

Compol Says Citizens Need to Help the Police to Curb Crime
Over the weekend there were for murders; three which were committed with some sort of firearm. That brings the murder count to about 53 already and we are just in the fifth month of the year. If this trend continues it might well be that 2015 may become the most murderous year yet. In fact, 2015 has already has more murders that 2012, 2013 and 2014. So what is the Belize Police Department doing about it? Well, Commissioner of Police, Allen Whylie says that they are doing everything possible but they need the cooperation of the community. “Crime is not an issue that will be solved by the Belize Police Department. It will take each and every individual citizen within Belize. As I have always said, we don’t have police on every street corner but we have citizen who live on every street and so, the solution to the crime problem, the kind of information and intelligence we need, rests with the citizen out there. I have always asked for their support to provide those kinds of information; to work with us.

Police Finds Crack Cocaine and Weed on the Peninsula
Police in Placencia have arrested and charged 38-year-old, Marlon Wright Marlon Wrightfor possession of controlled drug. Police say that they were on foot patrol on Monday night when they came across Wright who was coming from the west side of the village. Police conducted a search of his person and while they were doing so, a black plastic bag fell to the ground. Wright, reportedly quickly attempted to conceal the bag by placing his foot over it but his quick move was noticed by the officer who then retrieved the plastic bag. In it there was 4 grams of crack cocaine for which Wright was charged for. Also, Placencia’s Quick Response team conducted a search behind Jay Birds Bar in the village in an abandoned lot. There, they found a black plastic bag, containing several other smaller bags which had in weed. It all weighed 113 grams and was labelled as found property since no one was in the area at the time.

American Nationals Assaulted In Home Invasion in Hopkins
Earlier we told you of a Russian man who, with his wife and daughter were victims of a home invasion in Hopkins Village, Stann Creek District in the latter part of April. There is yet another story to report tonight coming out of the very same village. An American couple that resides in the village has told police officers that on Friday night around 7:30pm they were alerted by the dogs barking and when the man, 62-year-old, Ralph Porter stepped outside to make checks in his yard, he encountered three masked men, dressed in black clothing approaching him from the back of the house. One of the robbers was armed with a black handgun and pointed in Porter’s face, forcing him inside the house. The three men followed Porter inside where his wife, Juanita Buckles was. They then forced the man to lie on the ground while they ransacked his home and took several electronic items and cash to a total value of four thousand six hundred and fifty dollars. During the incident, Porter was hit several times in the head with the gun and Buckles, too was assaulted in the home invasion.

Ambassador Amadei Checks Up on EU-Funded Projects in Belize
Head of Delegation for the European Union to Belize, Ambassador Paola Amadei is on a working visit to Belize. Last Saturday, the Ambassador attended the official opening of the Maya House of Cacao, which is an initiative under the Belize Rural Development Programme. Throughout this week the Ambassador will be seeing the progress made in some of the EU funded projects within the country. She will meet with Prime Minister Dean Barrow to discuss the various projects and advances in the Belize-EU relationship, as well as preparations for EU CELAC Summit in June and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November. Ambassador Amadei will also meet with other Government officials, representatives from donor agencies and local EU project partners. She leaves the country on Thursday.

Union and BEL Negotiate for Partnership Collective Agreement
Since the start of the week, our news centre has been receiving information that workers from the Belize Electricity Limited have been on a sick out or go-slow after their request for a ten percent raise in salary among other things is not being fulfilled. We have made several calls to members of the union including the head of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, Marvin Mora, who incidentally, was out sick from work yesterday. Mora told Love News via text message yesterday, quote, “I really don’t know what you are talking about but if the rest of my brothers and sister are doing something like that then I am sure they saw it was necessary.” End of quote. Today, we received further reports that ninety workers were out of the office on a sick out.

Belize Chamber of Commerce Speaks on Amendments to PetroCaribe Bill
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry has written to the Prime Minister. The letter, dates May 14 and is in response to Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s letter he sent to the past President of the BCCI, Kay Menzies in regards to the PetroCaribe Loans Act. In the letter President, Arturo Vasquez, points out that the Chamber is not against the PetroCaribe Loan Initiative. The BCCI tells the Prime Minister that what good governance entails is the reporting of how monies are spent and Government’s assets maintained by the Government. That good governance, says Vasquez, must have the complete oversight of several agencies including the Office of the Auditor General, and the Public Accounts Committee. Last week, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced several amendments to the Act that would take effect in June when the House of Representative meets.

President Says Chamber of Commerce Doesn’t Play Politics
Earlier we brought you the interview with the President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Arturo Vasquez who spoke specifically on the Chamber’s concerns surrounding the recent amendments to the PetroCaribe Bill as announced by the Prime Minister. In that same interview, Vasquez told Love News that the BCCI is committed to, quote “support the full implementation of any legislation that embodies the principles of transparency , accountability and good governance already enshrined in FARA and other existing legislation and which strengthens the enforcement of same”, end of quote.

PlusTV

NTV goes to Garbutt’s falls
The Northern Territorial Volunteers, ventured to Garbuttâ€™s Falls on Sunday May 17th for their 7th excursion to the edge of the border with Guatemala...

Double Murder of two Americans in Teakettle
Two Americans were murdered over the weekend in the Village of Teakettle, Cayo. One was shot multiple times and the other was hacked to death...

Woman shot in the head and killed in Roaring Creek
The relenteless gun violence that continues to plague the community of Roaring Creek, and the neighbouring villages, has claimed the life of 43 year old Rosalee Galves, a resident of Young Bank Area Camalote...

Multiple injuries reported in road traffic accident
Several young men were injured in a traffic accident around 5:30 in the evening of Sunday, May 17, on the Philip Goldson Highway between miles 13 and 14. Police report that a grey Toyota pickup truck was seen overturned on the left side of the highway...

Hands Across the Sand against offshore drilling
This past Saturday Belize joined in for the first time in a worldwide activity highlighting environmental issues...

Alicia Thompson wins Womenâ€™s Cross Country Classic
The Annual Womenâ€™s Cross Country Cycling Classic hit the George Price Highway on Sunday morning from the Cayo District for 68 miles to Belize Cityâ€™s Leslieâ€™s Imports at Mile 2...

Shots fired in Independence Village
There was more shooting in the country of Belize this weekend, this time in the Stann Creek District...

BEL workers skip work over pay increase
PLUS News has confirmed that many workers for Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) members of the Belize Energy Workersâ€™ Union (BEWU) - did not report to work today...

Sugar Cane Quota Being Cut Back
The sweetness of Sugar City has turned sour for many farmers in the North because their sugar cane production estimates for all three associations has been sliced while BSIâ€™s sugar cane production estimates have been increased...

Police Recruit Squad 91 Passes out
151 men and women of recruit squad number 91 graduated from the police training academy yesterday May 14 at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan. Present there at the passing out ceremony Hon...

Accused grenade thrower to learn his fate
At news time a jury of ten women and two men has the case of Lusby Martinez, charged with the murder of 14 year old Rudolph Flowers on December 28, 2009 around 7:00 p.m...

Nuru Arrested for Unlawful Sexual Intercourse
A Dangriga man is arrested and charged for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 14 year old minor...

BDF on NTV Excursion
On Wednesday members of the Northern Territorial Volunteers (NTV) were guests on Plus TVâ€™s Rise and Shine show where they talked about their upcoming excursion to the Garbutt Falls Monument, scheduled for Sunday May 17th.

Strong Man Competition and Health Fair this weekend
Who is Belizeâ€™s strongest man? The BTL Park in Belize City this weekend hosts the third annual Strong Man Competition and Health Fair where that question will be answered...

New Ras Indio Videos
Belizean Reggae artist Ras Indi has made a name for himself in the international stage and has since been collaborating with other creative minds in the musical Industry.

Bay Expo
The Belmopan Active Youths are having their first annual expo on Saturday May 16 at the George Price Center, Belmopan from 10 am to 4 pm...

Sports Zone new Schedule
Our last story for today is in an announcement. Loyal fans of the hit tv series Sports Zone on Plus TV are being made aware of the change in schedule. Host of the TV show Reynard Garbutt spoke about new changes that are coming to sports zone.

NTV goes to Garbutt’s falls
The Northern Territorial Volunteers, ventured to Garbuttâ€™s Falls on Sunday May 17th for their 7th excursion to the edge of the border with Guatemala...

Double Murder of two Americans in Teakettle
Two Americans were murdered over the weekend in the Village of Teakettle, Cayo. One was shot multiple times and the other was hacked to death...

Hands Across the Sand against offshore drilling
This past Saturday Belize joined in for the first time in a worldwide activity highlighting environmental issues...

Shots fired in Independence Village
There was more shooting in the country of Belize this weekend, this time in the Stann Creek District...

Amandala

“I paid Castro $2,000 for each visa application!”
The presentation of evidence as part of the defamation case brought by Belize Rural North area representative Hon. Edmond Castro continued today in the Supreme Court of Justice Courtenay Abel with whistleblower Alvarine Burgess, who is named in the lawsuit as the first defendant (with Channel 5 News being the second defendant), taking the witness stand today. Yesterday, Thursday, Castro, under blistering cross-examination by attorney Godfrey Smith, S.C, admitted that he signed the visa applications, out of the goodness of his heart, he said, to help Immigration agent turned whistleblower Alvarine Burgess, who needed money to assist her husband to get medical treatment outside Belize. When Burgess testified today, she insisted that Castro did not help her out of any sense of compassion, but for the payment of $2,000 per visa application that he signed, recommending Asian nationals for Belizean visiting visas. Burgess told the court, “I handed Mr. Castro money on every occasion that I went to see him at his office.”

Gunman fatally shot woman in moving vehicle
Rosalie Galvez, 33, of Society Hall, Roaring Creek, Cayo District, a mother of three children, died tragically after being shot by a cold-blooded gunman at about 6:30 yesterday evening, Sunday, near the Guanacaste National Park in Roaring Creek. Galvez was in a black Toyota single cab pickup being driven on the George Price Highway by her common-law husband, Russell Hyde, 44, a Camalote businessman. Hyde, who is well-known in the Belmopan and Roaring Creek area, and to police, reported that he was with his common-law-wife, Rosalie Galvez, their two sons and other family members and they were travelling from More Tomorrow in their black Toyota pickup to their home in Camalote when upon reaching the Guanacaste National Park, he slowed down because of several speed bumps in the area and the construction of the new roundabout.

Double murder in Pineapple Hill
The Pineapple Hill area, of Teakettle in the Cayo District, was the scene of an appalling double homicide – the victims of which were two American nationals who were apparently targeted by robbers last Friday evening. Police said that on Friday, May 15, at about 6:10 p.m., they were called out to the residence of American teacher, Laura Jo Lambert, 59, in the Pineapple Hill area of Teakettle, where they saw the body of American national, Julian Christopher Jones, 46, also of Teakettle, with chop wounds to the head, inside a house that is under construction on the property. Further checks in another room of the house led to the discovery of the body of American retiree, Paul David Signorino, 61, of Valley of Peace Road, Cayo District. He had two gunshot wounds in the left side of the head. Lambert told police that at about 5:30 p.m. on Friday, she arrived home and did not see her ex-husband, so she called out for him, but received no response.

Verdes ends 3-peat reign of Belmopan Bandits
Crime is down 30%, so said Minister of Police, BDF and owner of the Belmopan Bandits football club, Hon. John Saldivar; and his words may have been prophetic in a way, for the 3-peat reign of his Belmopan Bandits came to a screeching halt yesterday afternoon at a packed Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, home of the legendary Mighty Avengers, whose surviving stars were on hand to issue trophies and awards after the Green Machine pulled off a spectacular 2-nil victory to bring the curtain down, on the three seasons, long reign of the Belmopan Bandits. The Bandits had taken game 1 by a 1-nil margin a week earlier at the FFB Stadium, so the 2-nil win gave Verdes the aggregate 2-1 edge, and the national championship. Just as importantly, the victory sends Verdes FC to the CONCACAF Champions League 2015 tournament later this year. The Bandits, then back-to-back champions, had qualified to the Champions League in 2014, but the FFB Stadium failed the CONCACAF inspection, and the Bandits lost the opportunity to represent the Jewel, their spot taken by Club Sport Herediano of Costa Rica.

Delivery man arraigned for allegedly kissing a boy
A Belize City man who is employed as a delivery man for a restaurant was arraigned on a charge of aggravated assault of an indecent nature when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer this morning. Patrick Swasey, 33, pleaded not guilty to the charge and was released on a bail of $1,500 plus one surety in the same amount. Swasey was granted bail on the condition that he stays away from the virtual complainant in the case and all prosecution witness. The allegation against Swasey is that sometime in the month of December 2014, he kissed a boy on the mouth – the boy is a minor below the age of 16.

Chamber calls on PM for open dialogue on PetroCaribe law
Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, president of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), told Amandala today that following an executive meeting held on Friday, the Chamber has sent off a formal letter to Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dean Barrow, calling on the Government to rethink the manner in which PetroCaribe funds are being spent, and also calling for open dialogue on issues of accountability and spending. Last Thursday, Barrow—who had been adamant that there will be no repeal of, or changes to, the PetroCaribe legislation passed by Parliament in March—announced a set of amendments, which, he said, was merely meant to spell out what is already the legal position. He said that the bill for the amendments has already been drafted for presentation to Parliament.

Alicia Thompson is 2015 Women Cross Country Champion
She has been prominent on the cycling scene for a number of years, having taken off a few years after giving birth, and returning to once again become a prime contender in the female cycling races hosted by the Belize Cycling Association. She had posted wins in other big races, but the Women Cross Country, from San Ignacio to Belize City, had eluded Alicia up until yesterday, and she was determined to gain her first Cross Country win. Second place was taken by Kaya Cattouse, 3rd was Shalini Zabaneh, 4th Gabrielle Lovell, 5th Estefany Cruz, and 6th Kerah Eiley.

NEBL regular season closes with a huge splash; #4 seed still up for graps
The NEBL regular season closed, with an exciting weekend of action, as three teams jostled for home court advantage, while two teams faced a win-or-go-home game down in Dangriga, with the winner claiming the fourth and final playoff spot. The NEBL will now move into playoffs this coming weekend, where the #1 seed will host the #4 seed, and the #2 seed will host the #3 seed. Both the semifinals and the finals will be best-of-three series, with the #1 and #2 seeded teams having home court advantage in the first round. Fans are reminded that all games have a live webcast with the game scores, play-by-play analysis and the box scores. Fans can follow every game live on our webpage, as scores are in real time. The NEBL webpage also contains news, team standings, and player statistics, and it can be found at nebl.sportingpulse.net. The defending champions, San Pedro Tiger Sharks will be the #2 seed going into the playoffs, where they will host the Belmopan Red Taigaz as the #3 seed. San Pedro Tiger Sharks will have the home court advantage in this best-of-three series, where the teams split their regular season matchups. In the first game of the regular season, San Pedro Tiger Sharks blew out the Belmopan Red Taigaz by 35 points; but in the rematch, Belmopan was able to blow out the defending champs by 20 points. Both games took place at the UB gymnasium. In the second match-up series, Cayo Western Ballaz will be the #1 seed going into the playoffs, and they will take on the winner of the Belize Hurricanes and Dangriga Warriors game. Cayo Western Ballaz was able to sweep the 2 game series against both teams in the regular season.

Invasion and education
When Europe invaded Africa and America roughly five centuries ago, Europe conquered Africa and America with violence. Europe then sent her religious missionaries to Christianize and “civilize” the conquered Africans and Indigenous Americans. In all the cases of which we know, it was those Christian missionaries from Europe who opened the first schools in now subject Africa and America, and thus it was that education, as we know it today, began in Africa and America – as a sequel to invasion. There was a time before the Europeans invaded, you know, when African and American peoples had lived and flourished. That “time” covered many centuries of existence, and in fact that “time” included millennia of existence. In some cases these millennia included glorious civilizations in places like Egypt, Ethiopia, Mali, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Peru, and so on. There was, then, a way of life in Africa and America before the Europeans invaded, and so there had been systematic transfers of knowledge from generations to generations to generations, for many centuries, and in fact for millennia, before the Europeans came with their ships and their horses and their guns and their cannons.

From the Publisher
We African people in the diaspora have come a long way from three, four centuries ago when the various Europeans chained us in the bottoms of ships and sailed us across the Atlantic Ocean to slavery in North, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Then, we had become absolutely nothing; we were human flotsam and jetsam. And one of the worst aspects of it all was that we were isolated from each other psychologically and spiritually; we saw the hell we were experiencing as a lonely torture. Me against the world. We had been violently ripped away from our families, our tribes, our villages in West Africa, and we were separated from the other slaves to whom we were chained and on whom we were vomiting and defecating, and who were in turn vomiting and defecating upon us, we were separated from them by language, religion, history, and so on. In the case of us Belizean Africans, say, the sense of community took a while developing after we were first landed in Jamaica, then transported to Belize. The most important tool we created on the road to community was the Creole dialect, which enabled us to start communicating with each other and at the same time keep the masters in the dark somewhat. When the Garifuna people, on the other hand, landed in Belize in the early part of the nineteenth century, they brought strong community ties to each other. There were different reasons for that. But the Creole people were definitely not a community when we landed here, and it took us generations to develop any kind of community.

We live in a violent world. Belize has not been spared
Dear Editor, It is a constant surprise that acts of violence in Belize, particularly gun violence, are reported in the five –days- a- week TV news and in weekly newspaper front page headlines but not seriously discussed and confronted head on in an attempt to stem the high rates threatening this tiny nation on many fronts. Only occasionally, once in the last six or so months that comes to mind, is this continuous state of violence addressed by academics. We hear it mentioned these days by those running for political office who have taken to the air waves with their spins on issues they see as needing the attention of office holders. At best there are sporadic reports on such and such study, the same old data warmed over that have long been accepted universally as to the causes of violence so prevalent in particular communities. Another surprise is the lack of any meaningful discussion, investigation or reporting on the presence of drugs and guns in the country, even though the many killings are seen to be connected to drugs and guns. What silence! One wonders.

A critic of Oceana
Dear Publisher, I read with great interest your article “From the Publisher” on page 9, of the Wednesday, April 15 edition and reprinted on page 26 on Sunday, April 19. You offered a very interesting perspective on the late leader of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. You also wrote in that article: “The money from the developed societies is spare cash which they accumulated during slavery and colonialism. Then now send the money they made by brutalizing and exploiting us in the past to confuse us in the present. They are already rich and comfortable, and we are trying to figure out how to get there. The rich countries wish for poor countries like Belize to be their playgrounds. Where they are concerned, our competitive advantage, you see, lies in sex, sin, drugs, drink, and so on.” I could not help but think that these words clearly describe the efforts of Oceana in Belize. While their goals to protect our reef and marine offshore are quite laudable and I don’t for one moment question the sincerity of the local Oceana advocates, is it not just the case of some rich and wealthy neocolonialists trying to preserve Belize as their playground? They have made all this money and wealth exploiting us and brutalizing us and now they turn around and use this same wealth to confuse us and continue to control our minds to avoid development and generating sources of our own wealth through their flashy and expensive media efforts.

NTVs head to Garbutt’s Falls
A large gathering of almost 200 nationalistic citizens, mostly from the Orange Walk District, joined the Northern Territorial Volunteers (NTV) yesterday, Sunday, as the border advocacy group ventured out on another of its customary expeditions – this time to Garbutt’s Falls in the Cayo District. Located just about a hundred feet from the Benque border, the Garbutt’s Falls border marker is considered one of the most easily accessible boundary points as compared to Gracias Adios, deep in southern Belize, and Aguas Turbias in the Orange Walk District, which is the intersection point of the Mexican, Belizean and Guatemalan borders. Amandala accompanied the crowd of men, women and children as they made the 10-minute journey along the river’s edge to assist in the refurbishment of the long-dilapidated marker. After a brief ceremony which included the singing of the Belizean National Anthem, and recital of the National Prayer, as well as speeches from historian and former politician, “Don” Hector Silva, and Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) leaders, the Garbutt Falls Monument, which is notably on the verge of keeling over from the slope on which it is positioned, was freshly painted.

Murder rate up 40%; major crimes down 11%
Information published by the Police Information Technology Unit reveals that a crime happens in Belize every 23 minutes. Those might not be considered major crimes, which is a special classification that the police give to 6 types of crimes, namely robberies, burglaries, carnal knowledge, theft, rape and murder. Police say that they record roughly 25,000 incidences of crime each year, about 2,000 every month, 480 a week and 64 in a day. Only a small percentage of these even make it on to the police reports issued to the media and of those, only a portion actually make the news. Whereas a marijuana bust may not be deemed newsworthy, murders, which are considered to be the most heinous and lamentable forms of crime, almost always are. Last week Wednesday, May 13, National Security Minister John Saldivar chastised the media for “sensationalizing” murders. Saldivar said that, “since 2012 when I took over as the Minister of National Security, we have seen a thirty percent decrease in major crimes in this country, but that goes unnoticed because the media prefers to cover the murders and not the other crime statistics which show that we are making great progress.”

Murder at a wake in Ladyville!
Between Friday and Sunday morning, there were two murders in Ladyville. This evening, the officer in charge of the Ladyville Police, Inspector Fredrick Gordon, confirmed to Amandala that police have no suspect in custody for Sunday morning’s shooting that caused the death of Kenroy “Bouncer” Arnold, 29, at the home of Friday’s murder victim, Sylvin “Cruz” Encalada, 65, a security guard who was found dead at his workplace in Ladyville. Encalada had been found hanging over the ground of his security booth on the Cemento Maya Factory compound with a string tied tightly around his neck. While police have not yet made any arrest in connection with that murder, Gordon said, police are seeking one suspect. On Saturday night, however, some friends of the Encalada family went to the family’s home at 20 Perez Road to begin a nightly wake and to spend time with the family in this time of grief.

Breaking Belize News

Ramon Monchie Cervantes Says His Driver Didn’t Burn Cane Fields
Ramon Monchie Cervantes, the PUP Standard Bearer for Orange Walk North is claiming that his driver Efrain Novelo didn’t burn the BSI cane fields. As was reported two days ago, BSI Security called police to report that two men set fire to its cane fields in San Lorenzo and when […]

Home Invasion in Hopkins
On May 15th around 7:30 p.m. American National Ralph Porter and his wife Juanita Buckles were victims of an armed home invasion. Porter reported that he heard his dogs barking outside their home in Hopkins and upon making checks behind his house, he came in contact with three masked men […]

It’s a Jungle Out there: A Sad State of Affairs in the Kingdom Belize
Once upon a time—in a lush kingdom of tropical splendor that was once home to creative, intellectually curious and inventive indigenous peoples—two political parties arose within the jungle, each smugly convinced that bringing “order” and “reason” to a rather free-spirited society was the right thing to do. Lacking imagination, the parties […]

Festival of arts Golden Night in PG
The Festival of Arts Golden Night, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), packed the Punta Gorda Parish Hall to capacity last night with over 300 in attendance. This event, which featured winning Primary School acts from across the […]

2015 Smart Reggae Fest is going to be EPIC!
The 4th annual Smart Reggae Fest is set to be the biggest musical event of 2015 for Belize. That is because the organizers, Higher Level Entertainment will be presenting Jamaican Royalty, Tanya Stephens and Tarrus Riley to grace the stage at the Hour Bar Field in Belize City. Local performances by […]

What does Belizeans voting no to I.C.J mean for Belize?
Despite the civil unrest currently wreaking havoc on the streets of Guatemala due to political corruption, the city is still scheduled to host their election in September of this year. This will mean that the Guatemalans will simultaneously cast their ballot in the territorial dispute between Guatemala and Belize if […]

Orange Walk Territorial Volunteers makes record breaking excursion to Garbutt Falls Border Marker
A group of approximately 200 patriots joined the expedition, recording the largest crowd for a BTV endeavor thus far. Giovanni De La Fuente, the leader of Orange Walk Territorial Volunteers said and we qoute: “I don’t know what happened to the people of Orange Walk. We only sounded the call and […]

Chamber of Commerce Take Position On Petrocaribe Loans Act
The Chamber of Commerce has joined the many entities that have taken a stand against the Petrocaribe Loans Act. In a letter to the Prime Minister of Belize, dated the 14th of May the Chamber underlined that they are not against the Petrocaribe Initiative; however, it could not support the Loans Act because it flies in the face of progress reached in the Finance and Audit Reform Act. According to the Chamber it is “Unfortunately, that the Petrocaribe Loans Act is the antithesis of everything that was fought for and represents a reversal of all that was attained by the FARA.” The Chamber also added that it centers itself in the principle of good governance and must be reported by parliament to the people on the way public funds are spent and assets managed. So far, the PUP, VIP and the unions have rejected the Loans Act.

Corozal police have arrested and charged one of their own for drug trafficking
Corozal police has arrested and charged one of their own for drug trafficking over the weekend. According to police report, on Sunday afternoon, around 1:55 pm Constable Geian Ya who is attached to the Corozal Quick Response Team was intercepted by the Customs Enforcement Unit at the northern border. Belize Media Group understands that Ya was wearing his police camouflage trousers and a police t-shirt. Despite that Ya was dressed in his uniform, Custom officers complied with their duties and proceeded to search his Hyundai Sonata which was bearing Texas license plates.

Ramon “Munchie” Cervantes’s Vehicle Used in Arson of Cane Fields
Yesterday evening, police arrested two men who they suspect burned cane fields belonging to ASR, and fired at ASR Security personnel who caught them doing it. The suspects were in a blue Mazda pickup that belongs to PUP politician Ramon Munchi Cervantes, and one of the men is Efrain Alpuche, Mr. Cervantes personal security guard. According to reports, 20 twenty acres of cane were burned and the two men are in police custody at this time.

Blogs

Lunch with One of the Best Views on the Island: Di V’u Bar & Restaurant
Wet Willy’s dock and bar have been a fixture on Ambergris Caye for quite some time. The largest of only a handful of over the sea palapa bars on the island, they were known for years as the home of the infamous Wednesday late night “Ladies Night”. And now. Again new owners, a new look and a new name. Di’Vu Restaurant. But last summer, new owners from Maryland bought the bar and they have lots of restaurant experience. They own a large “raw bar” called Jimmie & Sook’s back in the states and they totallly revamped the menu. They changed the name to Di’Vu – Ova di wata, Anda di stars. AND they cancelled the gritty late night Ladies Night. They are doing breakfast lunch and dinner. I’ll be back! I love the new outside lighting…this place must be so pretty at night. And kinda perfect for a large event or concert. I call the double lounger!

Belize The New Foodies Paradise? You Bet!
Now, I’ve always been a fan of Belizean cooking. Ever since my first plate of rice and beans with stew chicken I was hooked, and the hook was set deeper still with the other traditional stews, beef and pork, along with tamales, the exquisite Maya pork Pibil, lobster in its many incarnations, garnaches, salbutes and that most majestic meat, Gibnut – aka the “Royal Rodent”, as well as the various barbeques and excellent street food. It was always simple, filling food that went perfectly with a cold Belikin beer. These days, however, a growing, more sophisticated food culture is on the rise, and it’s ratcheted up my enjoyment of Belize by a few notches. I first noticed it when I arrived in San Ignacio, where I was happy to see some of my old standbys, like Mom’s on Burns Avenue, still in business as well as some newcomers that really raise the bar. And while the Mariposa restaurant at The Lodge at Chaa Creek was always good, it’s also climbed up in creativity. I was able to meet the head chef, Mario Alejandro Mendez Rivera, to thank him in person for an excellent dinner, and was impressed by the spotless professional kitchen he commands – something that wouldn’t be out of place in a big city, but was a pleasant surprise to find in the middle of a 365-acre jungle reserve.

A Punta Gorda Original: Welcome to Gomier's
Come to Punta Gorda hungry and one place you’ll sure hear recommended is Gomier’s. Located just to right of the “Welcome to PG” sign at the entrance to town, Gomier’s Restaurant is a true PG landmark. No rice and beans here—instead, you’ll have your choice of fresh seafood, fish burgers, veggie burritos, curry shrimp and tofu, vegetable salads, heart of palm, soups, homemade breads, cakes, pizzas and more. Everything at Gomier’s is made from scratch and all of it with locally purchased and healthy ingredients. Many people are curious how Gomier’s, PG’s most well known restaurant, got its start. I caught up with Gomier, the owner, manager, cook, and waiter, to see if he could help. Originally from Saint Lucia, Gomier (real name Igantius Longville) has had a fascinating life. A licensed plumber, agronomist, agriculture technician, and cook, he did somewhat of everything before settling down in PG. In his native village of Canaries, Gomier was even the official administrator in charge of the town’s water supply, and this before he was 18. As far as cooking goes, though, Gomier claims to have started as a teenager, during his weekends at the river or sea with his friends. He recalls how they would each contribute something for lunch. “Everyone would bring a little food from home and then we would go and catch some fish. After we had all the ingredients, we just needed someone to cook it up, so we took turns each week preparing the meal. Since my friends often said that my meals were the most delicious, they began calling me ‘The Cook.’ I was ‘the cook’ every weekend after that.’”

International Sources

Cruise ship freed from Bermuda reef
Thousands of passengers are stuck aboard a Norwegian cruise ship after it ran aground as it tried to leave Bermuda. Small boats, divers and tug boats circled the Norwegian Dawn as authorities tried to work out how to solve the situation, according to tweets from passengers aboard the ship. An official with Bermuda's Rescue Co-ordination Centre said the ship, bound for Boston, hit a reef near Bermuda's North Channel. There are 2,675 passengers and 1,062 crew members aboard the ship, which is in a stable position. Passenger Rachel Hansen, from Londonderry, New Hampshire, said by phone that the captain told everyone that the ship would not move until today. She said the ship was about three miles from Bermuda when it ran aground. "We definitely felt it," she said. "We were in the middle of eating dinner. There was a shudder for maybe 30 seconds to a minute and then there was a sudden stop."

Schauen Sie dem Jaguar immer direkt in die Augen
Sie war ein Menschenopfer. Bestimmt für die Götter von Xibalba, dem Ort der Angst, wie die Maya ihre Unterwelt nannten. Ihr Tod war brutal, das zeigt ihr Skelett. Ein feiner Kalküberzug verleiht ihren Knochen im Schein der Taschenlampe einen schaurigen Glanz. Nach über tausend Jahren liegen ihre Gebeine noch immer in der Höhle, in der die Maya die Götter gnädig stimmen wollten. Nicht weit entfernt die Überreste 13 weiterer Geopferter, während Rußspuren an der Decke von Feuern künden, die eben erst erloschen zu sein scheinen. "Man sieht hier den Höhepunkt der Maya und den Zeitpunkt ihres Zusammenbruchs", sagt Höhlenkenner Carlos Panti. Ohne Absperrung läuft man zwischen Schädeln umher. Carlos spricht Englisch, Landessprache in Belize. Damit hat das einstige Britisch-Honduras gegenüber Mexiko und anderen Ländern der Region eine Sonderstellung inne. Die Spanier konnten hier nicht Fuß fassen. Iberische Kolonialstädte gibt es also nicht, dafür Relikte aus der Ära des britischen Empires. Und jede Menge bunte Häuser – Ausdruck eines karibisch-lässigen Flairs, das Belize vielerorts verströmt, was nicht zuletzt am Vielvölkergemisch liegt. Neben Mestizen und Maya-Nachkommen leben hier auch viele Kreolen und Garifuna; das ist jene Bevölkerungsgruppe, die aus Kariben und afrikanischen Sklaven hervorging. Allen ist ein erfreulich ungezwungener Lebensstil gemeinsam.

Videos

Reef Week Belize 2015 - Part 1: Lionfish, 11min. Host of Wake Up Belize, Mose Hyde and his crew from KREM TV took to Belize's Cayes with Ragamuffin Tours as part of Reef Week Belize 2015. The journey showcased the beauty and value of Belize's barrier reef, with guest marine biologists from Oceana Belize and Blue Ventures on board.

Belize, 11min.

Belize Zoo, 3min. Most 'cats' were hiding, so didn't really see them, at least the zoo is a natural setting.

Hands Across the Sand in Caye Caulker., 3.5min. Oceana Belize has promoted holding hands for 15 minutes in different communities across the country on Saturday May 16th for its 'No to Offshore Drilling' initiative at 12 p.m. According to a press release sent by Oceana Belize "every year, activists and ocean-lovers host Hands Across the Sand events round the world to “draw a line in the sand,” and say “NO” to dirty fossil fuel projects, as well as call for a shift to clean, renewable energy like offshore wind and solar power.

PetroCaribe funds to rural communities, 1min. The transformation continues as The Government of Belize is rolling out PetroCaribe funds to rural communities in every constituency! Contracts have already been signed and works include new subdivisions, drainage and roads!

Healthy Belize: 1 BELIZE PRE CONCEPTION, 4min.

Healthy Belize: 2 BELIZE CARE DURING PREGNANCY, 4min.

Healthy Belize: 3 BELIZE POSTNATAL CARE, 4min.

Belize from Michelle Buchanan, 3min.

Ambergris Sunrise, 30sec.

Hooping Around Central America, 5min. One Hula Hoop, travelling central america, countless beautiful places, and many amazing friends.

Belize Dive #1 2 of 2, 2.5min.

Belize Dive #2 2 of 2, 1.5min.

Belize Dive #2 1 of 2, 6min.

Belize Dive #1 1 of 2, 40min.

Belize Dive #2 1 of 2, 40min.

Belize Cave Trip, 9min. Waterfall Cave Hike near Belmopan, Belize.

Ambergris Caye Belize, 6.5min. Driving along the coast 4 miles North of San Pedro Town. Found a terrific bar on the beach, drinks by the pool.

San Pedro, Belize 2015, 12min. Aqui esta la primera parte de nuestra aventura en San Pedro, Belize 2015, Espero les guste su video, Gracias por su participacion!!!

Rise and Shine Morning Show 18th May 2015 Louis Wade, 131min. Selling of Belizean land on Buy Belize to Foreigners while native Belizeans cannot own a house lot. Also the selling of the Belize Passport to foreigners. the Minister of national security says crime is down by 30% while murders spike; 5 this weekend alone.

Ya Da Fu We Belize, 6min. Belizean Patriotic Song

May 19, 2015

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

Joining together to say NO to offshore oil drilling
On Saturday, May 16th close to a hundred San Pedro Town residents joined in the global Hands Across the Sand initiative. This momentous event is held in destinations across the planet Earth to “draw a line in the sand,” and say “NO” to dirty fossil fuel projects, as well as call for a shift to clean, renewable energy like offshore wind and solar power.

Next Stop: V-bar!
Nestled on the beach at Sandy Point’s newest resort, Venecia Del Caribe, is a fun get-away bar serving up some unique cocktails and delectable eats. V-bar is one of the islands’ newer establishment, having only opened their doors a few months ago. Its outdoor setting takes advantage of all the gorgeous views of the Belize Barrier Reef and the refreshing blues of the Caribbean Sea. Located about 3.5 miles up north, V-bar is a great place to escape to with friends, away from the bustling epicenter that is San Pedro Town. Chicken quesadillas, a pulled pork panini, a bacon cheese burger, a whole veggie pizza, an order of honey siracha wings, nachos and as if that wasn’t enough, an order of crispy golden fried onion rings! Yum!!! Everything looked amazing and tasted even better- I mean, at one point, I thought I had died and went to food heaven.

Southwest Airlines Reveals Date for Houston-Belize Flight
On Wednesday, May 13th, Southwest Airlines held a press conference in Houston, at the Houston City Hall, where the CEO of the airlines, Garry Kelly, announced that the daily, direct flights to Belize, Mexico and Costa Rica will begin on October 15th, as well as Jamaica and Liberia beginning November 1st. He was joined by the Mayor of Houston, Annise Parker, at a beach theme setting, where future Southwest destinations were present. A Belize delegation was present for the announcement and “Beach Bash,” which was held after the press conference. In attendance were the Director of Tourism – Mrs. Karen Bevans, Chairman of the Board – Dr. Carla Barnett, Director of Marketing – Ms. Karen Pike, along with representatives of Tropic Air and the Belize Airport Concession.

SPTC addresses ways to tackle garbage issues
For quite some time now, island residents have been complaining about the unsightly garbage across the island of Ambergris Caye. Despite the complaints, garbage still continues to be an issue. To date, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has addressed and cleaned up three main problem areas: Alta Mar Area, the area between the beach and airstrip in town core, and Boca del Rio. A system has been placed in order to address the garbage situation on the island, but SPTC needs the collaboration of the public. According to Deputy Mayor, Gary Greif, the council is trying its best to attack the issues from all fronts. “There are agreements with people from the resorts up north who can take their garbage to the Marina, which is collected by private companies. From the Marina Area, Town Council employee Samuel Gonzalez takes the garbage to the dump. This is only for people that have arrangements with us. Everybody else needing to dispose of their trash has to go to the garbage dump. Greif also explained the schedule for garbage disposal. “There is the normal residential garbage pickup which is done by the large compactors, then you have the yard garbage pickup which is done on a schedule basis, two days for Escalante, Boca del Rio, DFC and it rotates”. He also mentioned that they have agreements with trucks identified with a black plate, which can be hired for private garbage disposal. These operators know the procedure of taking the trash all the way to the garbage dump.

Ambergris Today

Miss San Pedro and On Eagle’s Wings Ministries Host Successful Fundraiser
Miss San Pedro, Michelle Nunez, along with members of the non-profit organization On Eagle’s Wings Ministries (OEWM) hosted a successful fundraising banquet dinner at Ramon’s Village on Saturday, May 16, 2015 under a Maya-themed event. Michelle Nunez has been successful in joining efforts with OEWM to establish her S.H.I.N.E foundation that is a youth enrichment program for girls 13 to 16 years old with the goal to empower and motivate them to reach their full potential. On the other hand OEWM, based out of the USA, has expanded its reach to San Pedro in hopes to empower and bring a brighter future to females that have been sexually exploited and to those at risk of exploitation. The banquet dinner was held to raise funds for a S.H.I.N.E. Center that will be built in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, which will serve as a community center for girls. During the gala dinner, a preliminary architectural concept design for the proposed center was presented to those in attendance; the land for the center has been purchased by On Eagles Wings Ministries.

Flashbacks - Al Felley San Pedro High School's Greatest Banefactor
Anybody who was familiar with San Pedro High School in its early stages, 1971 and onwards, is bound to have known Al Felly. He was a renowned florist of Madison, Wisconsin, USA. During one of his first visits to San Pedro, he fell in love with the children and people of San Pedro and he commenced providing invaluable assistance to San Pedro High, so much that he became San Pedro High’s most valuable benefactor. Perhaps mention of some of the items he provided would give you an idea of his work: Student desks, office furniture, typewriters, books of all kinds, calculators, carpentry tools, sewing machines, stenograph and printing machines, stationery, and supplies for the new building like cement mixer, paint, electrical wire, lights, architectural plans, and more. Got the idea? He also single handedly did the school yearbook, and shipped tons of prizes and gifts that were used in our annual school fairs to raise money for our new building. Al Felly eventually became known to San Pedro as Uncle Felly and is arrival every year warranted a student delegation with a banner at the airstrip. His departure brought a sense of sadness which he counteracted with a hot dog party for the entire school at his official hotel, Holiday Hotel.

Celebrity Spotting – Univision Journalist Jorge Ramos and Chiquis Delgado in San Pedro
Ambergris Today caught up with two powerhouse TV personalities from the Univision network who were vacationing in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Mexican-American journalist and author based in Miami, Jorge Ramos and his girlfriend Maria Chiquinquira Delgado left San Pedro today, May 18, 2015, after spending a vacation at Cayo Espanto celebrity resort. Jorge Ramos is a seasoned journalist and anchors the Univision News television program, Noticiero Univision; hosts the Univision Sunday-morning, political news program, Al Punto; and hosts the Fusion TV English-language program, America with Jorge Ramos. His girlfriend Chiquis Delgado is a Venezuelan TV host, model, and actress. She is currently a co-host of Mira Quien Baila on the Univision; prior to that, she was the host of ¡Despierta América! Delgado was first runner-up in the 1990 Miss Venezuela beauty pageant.

San Pedro Joins Hands Across the Sand in Support Against Offshore Oil Drilling
Oceana was in charge of organizing the Hands Across the Sand event in Belize and it was successfully held in all the districts around the country including San Pedro, Dangriga, Corozal, Punta Gorda, Belmopan, Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, Belize City and Placencia. The event had participants holding hands by the shore for 15 minutes as a show of solidarity against offshore oil drilling and sending the message to government that they do not support any of it. Two years ago, the Belize Supreme Court ruled in favor an Oceana suit to stop offshore oil exploration. Subsequently, though, the injunction was suspended, and two companies, including Princess Petroleum, continue to have exploration rights. According to documents submitted by Belize to UNESCO, the original concession included exploration rights at Great Blue Hole, a renowned underwater sinkhole, but Princess Petroleum voluntarily gave rights to that area up. If oil is not found, the current rights will expire in October 2015, which may be why the government is pursuing a new path to concessions.

Misc Belizean Sources

Ten-day Weather Outlook
Model projections are indicating an intensifying ENSO (Warm Event) in the eastern Pacific through the autumn of 2015. This is alarming as it could spell high variability in the rainy season rainfall pattern for Belize, similar to 1997. The GFS-mnsprd and GFS Climate Model Outlooks initiated at noon on Friday, May 15, 2015 for the western Caribbean and Belize were favoring the seasonal dry conditions to persist for the next eight to nine days. Both models resolve a disturbed area of moisture and instability (low pressure) to move off the coast of Panama and Costa Rica after the next 48 to 72 hours. This instability center will intensify and increase in coverage as it drifts NNE towards eastern Jamaica. By the weekend of 23-24 May, this feature will weaken, but the broad area of moisture and instability will drift westwards towards the coast of Belize. The instability will reach Belize by late 24 May, resulting in moderate to heavy outbreaks of showers especially over the northern half of the country at first; then spreading over the rest of the country by 25 May. This could mark the start of the rains as the models have the instability and a low pressure system persisting over the region for several days.

EXPORTBelize, unveils the Belize Trade Finance Access Guide
The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) has as its mission the enhancement of Belize’s Prosperity by fostering investor confidence, entrepreneurship, business growth and innovation. In accomplishing this mission, all technical units are constantly engaged in activities aimed at improving the enabling environment for enterprises. Access to financing is a key component in doing business and is vital for the development of Belize’s export sector. EXPORTBelize embarked on an exercise to determine the nature of the trade financed landscape in Belize. This entailed surveying key financial institutions and private sector contacts on the availability and accessibility of trade finance instruments. EXPORTBelize took the findings of this exercise and produced “The Belize Trade Finance Guide”, a tool that provides the export sector with valuable information on the type of trade finance instruments and their availability at major financial institutions across Belize. The Trade Finance Guide is available to all private sector and can be found on BELTRAIDE”s website at www.belizeinvest.org.

Inspiring women entrepreneurs through the BA1 Project
Training commenced today, concurrently at San Pedro, Bermudian Landing and in Belize City for the BA1 Project.The BA1 Project includes an initiative to provide seed funds (small grants) to improve the lives of women who are at risk of and/or are victims of gender based violence and trafficking of women to help them improve their economic status. The consultancy shall provide support to strengthen women’s capacities, both in employment skills and self-esteem, to support the identification and elaboration of productive business concepts for entrepreneurship, self-employment or cooperatives.

Drone technology on Caye Caulker
Professors and students from Georgia State University returned to Ocean Academy for a marine debris mapping project using drone footage, and data collection gathered during a morning beach cleanup. Students in Form 2 then learned to use ArcGIS software to create story maps.

Free Loida
The family of Loida August came out this Monday morning to protest her incarceration in front of the San Ignacio Police Station and Magistrate Court. Her mother, sisters, brother, her 4 young children and other family members chanted "Free Loida", Justice for Loida", "Repeal the Gun Law" and "Loida's children need their Mother, Loida needs her children". Both Loida and her husband were convicted of keeping firearms found on their property. The husband is an ex BDF. She has 4 young children. The grand parents are 74 and 87 years of age. they have no jobs and no income. The protesters shared the opinion that only one of the parents could have been imprisoned.

Saga Humane Society May TAPAS Cook Off Fundraiser
Join friends and Saga supporters for a night of TAPAS at Luna Loca for the Saga Humane Society May Cook Off Fundraiser. Raffle Prizes include Tanqueray Gin, a Red Ginger Gift Card, an overflowing gift basket from Belizean Breezes Soap Co, Gift certificates to Ray's Big Dog, Pampered Paws, DandE's and more! VIP Tables and tickets are on sale now at [email protected]. Don't miss this one! It's going to be great, and the proceeds will go to fund the much needed safety repairs at Saga's Fort Dog facility that houses our healthy dogs who are available for adoption.

DOE's Recycled Art Competition!
Great opportunity for youths! Department of the Environment

BOLEDO DRAWING for Monday, May 18, 2015: 73. FANTASY 5: 18 12 7 3 26 Y

San Pedro: SPTD conducting Removal of tinted windows begins 5/26
VEHICLE OWNERS, PLEASE TAKE NOTE!

Belize National Festival of Arts Opening Ceremony and Jamboree
held today at the Big Bird's Isle...here are some of the highlights...remember tomorrow is the primary school showcase from 10:00 a.m -noon check your local channels for a live broadcast!

Channel 7

Sniper Kills Woman In Front Of Husband, Children
This weekend was very violent: between Friday and Sunday evening, a mere 48 hours, four persons were killed. The most disturbing event in this panorama of violence occurred just outside Belmopan yesterday evening when a woman was shot and killed in front of her common law husband and kids. Rosalie Galvez along with her family were returning from a trip when she was shot in the head as they were entering Belmopan around 6 in the evening. It's a terrifying and almost unthinkable assault - but police do not believe it was random - in fact they say her husband, the notorious Russell Hyde was the target. Courtney Weatherburne spoke to Hyde today in Belmopan: Courtney Weatherburne Reporting 44 year old Rosalie Galvez and her family were returning from their Sunday trip in this truck yesterday evening. Her common-law husband was driving while she was in the passenger seat. 6 people including their 2 kids were riding in the pan of the truck.?

Two Americans Killed In Teakettle Home Invasion
But that murder was only the culmination of a violent weekend in the Belmopan area. It started on Friday evening, where there was a double murder in Teakettle Village. The victims are 2 American men who were killed in a home invasion. It happened at the Estate of American Julian Christopher Jones in the Pineapple Hill area of the village. On Friday at around 5:30, his ex-wife, Laura Jo Lambert, found him dead in one of the buildings on the ground. He had suffered multiple chop wounds to the head. She looked around and found their associate, 61 year-old American retiree Paul David Signorino, who lives on the Valley of Peace Road, also killed. Someone had shot him twice in the left side of the head. Yesterday, our news team travelled to Teakettle, and we spoke with one the neighbors, who told us that the two men may have been killed as a result of an armed robbery at the estate: Neighbor "I don't know much. I just got home on Friday. A little before 7 my little brother was telling me that my neighbor Ms. Laura was looking for me and she look nervous and everything and it was just minutes after that I got a call from my wife's phone and she informed me that her husband and a friend had been brutally murdered at the back there and so it was at the same time I saw Brother Fem and the police just going at the back there and I just went to see what was happening and to comfort Ms. Laura.

Guatemalan Foreign Minister in Belize
On Sunday morning at 9:00, Guatemala's Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales had breakfast with his Belizean counterpart Wilfred Elrington at the Radisson. It was an informal breakfast, which was held in the private Board Room at the Radisson. The meeting lasted an hour and a half and when it was done, Elrington told us what they discussed:.. Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs "Actually he wanted to give me an update as to what is happening in Guatemala at this time. Going through some turbulent times, and so he wanted to give me an update on that. And he also wanted us to kind of form-up the procedure that we are going to adapt when we go to sign the amended special agreement next week Monday. And then he also wanted us to look at the 13 agreements which we had signed in Placencia and to see how we could start trying to implement those." Belize police acted on their own orders and would not allow us to get close to the Guatemalan Foreign Minister to get an interview. Minister Morales - whose wife is Belizean - was accompanied at the breakfast meeting by the new Guatemalan ambassador to Belize who is expected to present his credential this week.

Wilfred On Why There Wasn't A Press Release
But the public reaction to the announcement has been anything but harmonious and pleasant. It may be a vocal minority - but the public sentiment expressed on the change in the special agreement has been full of misgivings. That's because instead of public announcement - the disclosure came through the media - in an Amandala article and then a Channel 5 interview. The Prime Minister told us last week that has told Elrington to send out a press release first - a release that the opposition would have gotten to see first. But none of that happened; Elrington told us yesterday that he thought it did!:.. Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs "When Isani asked me about it, I responded on the assumption that in fact the press release had gone out." Jules Vasquez "Okay." Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs "I was not aware that the press release had not gone out."

Elrington Says the (Pickstock) Public Could Hardly Care
And while no press release went out - Elringon says he doesn't really feel one is necessary because the vibe he gets from his constituents is that they care every little:.. Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs "As I have pointed out to people who don't understand the way I proceed with these matters, we are not at a stage where we are negotiating anything."

Another Killing In Ladyville, This One at A Wake
At the top of the segment we told you that Cayo saw those 3 murders, the Belize district also witnessed violence in the early morning hours of Sunday in Ladyville. Almost unthinkably - a murder happened at a wake - a wake for a man who had just been murdered! 30 Year-old Kenroy Arnold was socializing with the family and friends Sylvin "Cruz" Encalada, the watchman who was killed at his worksite on Friday morning. Our News team has been following the story and Daniel Ortiz reports: Daniel Ortiz reporting 30 year-old Kenroy Arnold, aka, "Bouncer" was killed here at this house on Perez Road sometime before 1:00 a.m. on Sunday. He was socializing with his friend when gunmen waylaid him by hiding in some bushes behind the house. They seized the right moment to open fire. Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer "Police went to residence in Perez Road in Ladyville, where they saw 29 year old Kenroy Arnold suffering from multiple gunshots wounds to the body. Initial investigations reveal that Kenroy was at that residence along a few members of that residence, when somebody or reportedly 3 men came from behind the building and fired several shots at him causing his fatal injuries."

Cop Caught Smuggling Weed
Another policeman has been caught trying to smuggle marijuana across the northern border. This time, Constable Geian Ya - who is attached to the Corozal Quick Response Team was intercepted on Sunday afternoon at 1:55 by the Customs Enforcement Unit coming across the Santa Elena crossing from the Mexico side to Belize. Ya was wearing his police camouflage trousers and a police t-shirt - but that didn't stop the Customs inspectors from checking his Hyundai Sonata which carried Texas license plates. The examining officer picked up the strong smell of marijuana and asked him to open the trunk. Inside he found a black plastic bag with three parcels of marijuana. Each compressed brick weighed just over a kilo to the total bust was about 7 pounds.

Fields Of Fire In North, Political Motive Involved?
There's a huge story coming out of the north tonight - and it involves high stakes politics and the always-volatile sugar industry. The backdrop to all of it is the adjustments in sugar quotas that we told you about on Friday - where certain branches are having their cane quotas cut substantially - and that is based on a survey of the North's cane fields. There is discontent in some quarters because one of the groups whose quota is going up is ASR/BSI. And this evening, we received news of the deliberate burning of one of BSI's cane fields in the San Lorenzo area - which is a standard act of retaliation in the north. But, from there the story takes a radical twist. BSI Security guards who responded to the fire say they found two men in the area - they claim one of them is Efrain Alpuche - who is the personal security guard to PUP politician Ramon Monchie Cervantez. The BSI security says the two men opened fire on them - and then raced off. The security guards called police who reportedly set chase after a light Blue pickup truck. They caught it by Yo Creek and detained the two men including Alpuche.

Not Guilty For Man Accused of Grenade Murder
When we left you on Friday night, a jury of 12 was deliberating the fate of Lusby Martinez who was charged with murder for the grenade attack which killed 14 year-old Rudolph Flowers. On December 28, 2009, someone threw a grenade at the corner of Kraal Road and Haynes Street at around 7 p.m. Rudolph Flowers was standing in the blast range, and shrapnel from the grenade penetrated his heart and ended up killing him. A written statement from a deceased prosecution witness was the main piece of evidence against Lusby Martinez in the case, and after 5 hours of deliberation, the jury emerged with a verdict of not guilty. Martinez, who was in jail for 5 years awaiting trial, finally exited court a free man. We spoke with his attorney outside about his acquittal:

Garbutt's Falls, A Slight Return
The last time the Belize Territorial Volunteers visited the country's southernmost border marker at Gracias A Dios, they were detained by Guatemalan Authorities for allegedly straying into Guatemalan waters. Well, the leaders of this activist group were determined that this setback wouldn't stop them from going to other markers, and they organized a trip yesterday. This one was to the Garbutt's Falls marker in Western Belize, which separates Benque Viejo Town from Guatemala's Melchor De Menchos. Did this one cause any agitation at the western frontier? Well, our news team was there to capture the entire event on camera, and Daniel Ortiz Reports: Daniel Ortiz reporting At around 6 a.m. yesterday, 4 chartered buses, started taking on passengers at the Orange Walk Bus Terminal. These residents, intended to take a trip to the Garbutt's falls Border Marker to support the Northern Territorial Volunteers. Each bus then made the trip all the way from Orange Walk Town to the Western Border. About 4 hours later, the bus arrived at the beginning of the foot trail to the marker, and the passengers disembarked.

Truck Flips With 5 In Pan, A Miracle That No One Died
It's a miracle no one got seriously hurt yesterday evening when a small pickup truck flipped near the Boom Road junction on the Northern Highway. Around 5:30, 36-year-old Cedric Avilez was southbound in a Toyota pickup when he had a rear wheel blowout. The pan of the vehicle was filled with five passengers, and the vehicle quickly became very unstable, spun and then tumbled down the embankment, ending up pinned against a fence pointing in the opposite direction. 23-year-old Elsyrth Hendy, 34-year-old Roy Cox, 23-year-old Marshal Nunez, Aaron Jones and 43-year-old George James were all flung from the pickup unto the roadside. They all experienced varying degrees of injury but none of those were life threatening. They were coming from a football tournament.

Barrier Saves Truck From Plunging Into River
And at 7:30 pm there was another accident - this one by mile 7 on the northern highway. Again, lives could have been lost - and if it weren't for a concrete barrier, a ford ranger would surely have plunged into the Belize river. Two men were southbound in the pickup when suddenly a Jeep Cherokee which was going in the opposite direction, spun into their lane. They swerved off the road and headed right for the river. They crashed into the concrete barrier and one of the pickups wheels were left hanging over the river. A very close call and one of the passengers in the Jeep told us what they experienced: Sharlette Bainton, Accident Victim "When we were coming down from Belize, a vehicle just passed by, slammed into the rear-view mirror and went away. He lost control of his vehicle and so when he was driving this way, he ended up in the middle of the road. A white truck was passing by and he just knocked into that." Jules Vasquez "When the driver knocked into the mirror, he ended up into the other lane?" Sharlette Bainton, Accident Victim "Yes, he ended up in the middle because the vehicle just flew past and bam. We just heard the rear-view mirror knocked. It splattered the glass. When that happened, he lost control of the vehicle. And when he was going towards the middle, he started to turn on the other side and that's why he knocked into this white truck."

Teakettle Victim Was Fish Vendor
As we told you earlier, little is known about the two Americans who were killed in a home in Teakettle Village on Friday night. When we spoke to some neighbors today, they told us that the two men were friends and that one of them, believed to be 61 year old Paul David Signorino from Valley of Peace came over to Julian Christopher Jones' home in Teakettle. But after 6 on Friday night a woman 59 year old American teacher Laura Lambert, who is apparently Jones' ex-wife found them dead at this house. Laura Jo Lambert's house, as well as two vehicles in the yard ere ransacked. Two licensed weapons belonging to the deceased, Julian Jones -namely, a 9mm Beretta pistol, and a .22 rifle were missing, and most likely stolen. Today Courtney Wetaherburne found out more about the public life or Julian Jones - an American who retired to sell fish in Belize two years ago.: We tried to contact any friends or close neighbors who would be able to disclose more information about these men but the only contact we got through to is a vendor in Belmopan who is stationed right beside Jones's food shack. She told us about the very cordial relationship she had with him over the 9 months she has known him.

Beaten By A Lady Cop
On Friday night we catalogued a long history of abuse made by Southside residents against police. And, as if on cue, during the news, one woman came to our studio to make one more allegation of police abuse. Pamela Estrada went to report a domestic dispute on Thursday night - and says she ended up being beaten by a woman police officer - after she sent her ten year old daughter to stay with a relative:... Pamela Estrada "If my baby knew that they would beat me, my daughter wouldn't have left the vehicle. She would have stayed with me, but they promise my baby that they wouldn't do me anything. They told her that they would just take me and drop me home to, because it's a domestic problem and I didn't do anything and no one came and make any report about me. She (the officer) just start to punch me in the face and then the male officer handcuffed me.

Rhys Back Behind Bars
24 year-old Nicoli Rhys, a resident of Tigris Street, is behind bars once again after he was taken to Magistrate's Court for a gun. Police allegedly busted him with a loaded firearm. The incident occurred on May 7. The police reported that they were on mobile patrol when they saw Rhys. They said that when they approached him, he ran. They set chase, and that's when a gun allegedly fell from his hand when he tripped over a concrete block at the corner of Euphrates Avenue and Dean Street. Police said Rhys managed to escape, so they backtracked and retrieve the firearm. They discovered thatit was a Smith and Wesson 9 millimeter pistol with 9 rounds of ammunition in its magazine. Rhys was apprehended yesterday and charged with keeping an unlicensed firearm, and keeping unlicensed ammunition. He was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, where he pleaded not guilty to the offences. Due to the nature of the offences, he couldn't be granted bail at today's arraignment, and he was remanded to prison until July 3.

Male Coach Accused of Indecent Kiss With Boy
23 year-old Patrick Swasey, a deliveryman and basketball coach, is out on bail today after being taken to court today for an incident assault charge. He's being accused of kissing a 13 year-old boy on the lips. The incident allegedly occurred in December of 2014, where the child reported that he and Swasey was sleeping under a Christmas Tree. He claims that this was when Swasey kissed him on the lips. Well, police investigated the report and charged Swasey with the offence of aggravated assault of an indecent nature. He was arraigned today before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, and he pleaded not guilty to the charge. He explained that he only kissed the boy on his cheek. He was released on bail of $1,500, and his case was adjourned until July 16.

Hand Take A Stand
On Saturday at noon, opponents of offshore oil drilling held hands in public spaces to protest offshore exploration. In Belize City, it happened on the seawall near the baron Bliss grave where about a hundred persons took a stand, hand in hand. We found out more form the city organizer:.. The event is timed to mark the anniversary of BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Alicia Made Solo Ride To Victory
The women's cross country was held on Sunday. Only eight riders lined up, and at the end of 68 miles Alicia Thompson claimed her first victory in the prestigious race. Here she is crossing the finish line:.. Thompson rode sol into a headwind for most of the race. She was about an hour off the record. Six of the eight riders finished.

A Test Of Muscle And Will
And while she proved herself as Belize's strongest female rider- who is the strongest man? On Saturday a field of eight competitors engaged in 7 hours of grueling competition that pushed the limits of their muscle and their will. Here's how it went, and here's who came out on top:.. The first place finisher got a thousand dollars, the second place got 600 hundred and the third place got four hundred.

Channel 5

“Bouncer” Gunned Down At Wake In Ladyville
Early on Friday morning, the body of a watchman was found at his workplace in Ladyville, Belize District. He had been strangled to death but neither family members nor the [...]

Double Homicide in Teakettle: One Shot, Another Hacked to Death
The peace and quiet of Teakettle Village was shattered by the news of a double murder. Two American nationals were killed in what seems a senseless act of violence. A [...]

Roaring Creek Family Waylaid, Wife Killed in Fatal Attack
The other murder victim is a Camalote resident who was killed after a lone-gunman fired several bullets at the vehicle she was travelling in around five thirty on Sunday evening. [...]

Unknown Assailant Opens Fire on Vehicle Near Monkey River
And one more story on the weekend’s gun violence. A vehicle carrying several men returning to Monkey River Village on Sunday, after an evening of socializing at a football game [...]

Near-Fatal Traffic Mishap on Phillip Goldson Results in Multiple Injuries
A near-fatal road traffic accident on Sunday evening, has left several persons critically injured. The men were traveling along the Phillip Goldson Highway in a grey Toyota pickup in the [...]

Lusby Martinez Acquitted of 2009 Murder
When we closed our newscast on Friday, a jury was still deliberating in the murder trial of Lusby Martinez who was facing charges for the grenade attack in which fourteen [...]

Deliveryman Arraigned for Kissing Male Minor
A young boy under the age of sixteen years claims that he was sexually molested back in December 2014 by a man well known to him and his family. Today, [...]

Chamber of Commerce on Petrocaribe Loans Act
The Belize Chamber of Commerce has taken a position in respect of the Petrocaribe Loans Act which is in line with the pronouncement of the unions and the P.U.P. as [...]

More on the Special Agreement Amendment with Foreign Minister Elrington
This past Sunday, the Foreign Minister of Guatemala, Carlos Raul Moralez was in Belize. The visit coincides with the signing of an amendment to the 2008 compris, which is now [...]

What Happens Should Guatemala Vote Yes to ICJ Resolution?
As it stands, the political situation in Guatemala remains unstable. This past Saturday, thousands protested against acts of corruption, demanding jail time for those who are guilty. The masses are [...]

Territorial Volunteers Treks West to Garbutt Falls
On Sunday the Belize Territorial Volunteers made one of its regular treks to Belize’s border monuments, this time at Garbutt Falls in Benque Viejo del Carmen. It was the largest [...]

SICB Suspends Restructuring of Quotas, Sugar Crisis Averted
A potential crisis in the sugar industry was narrowly averted when late this evening the Sugar Industry Control Board voted to suspend the decision to restructure quotas. That decision, made [...]

Was Munchie Cervantes’s Vehicle Used By Caneros in Arson of Cane Fields?
Also up north two men are in custody tonight because police suspect they burned cane fields belonging to American Sugar Refinery, and fired at ASR Security personnel who caught them [...]

Sports Monday with James Adderley
Good evening I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday. The long awaited Game two in the PLB Championship teaser was staged inside the Norman Broaster Stadium as the host [...]

CTV3

SIRDI Suspense SCPC Decision In Best Interest Of Sugar Industry
So farmers received the good news, the decision taken by the SCPC last week is suspended. The suspension follows the meeting with representatives of the Sugar Industry Control Board, BSI, SIRDI and the three associations. Chair of the SICB, Gabriel Martinez says the meeting was held since the best interest of the sugar industry is a priority and under the circumstances the SCPC’s initial decision was suspended. “It’s suspended until the Board gets a complete finding of the Productivity Survey being taken by SIRDI which have been promised to be finished by this week Friday and a week after this the Board will sit again to review again the final report.” Martinez says they will eventually decide whether the production estimates will be reduced for this crop. We have heard the opposing and supporting arguments to the decision, but we asked Martinez once more to clarify the rationale behind the adjustments to sugar productions estimates.

Cervantes' Driver Detained For Allegedly Committing Arson
Amidst the rejection of some cane farmers when It comes to the restructuring of delivery quotas to the mill, SIRDI and SICB being in the hot seat and the sugar industry navigating in turbulent waters once again, two men from Orange Walk Town are locked up tonight for allegedly setting fire on cane fields belonging to BSI/ASR. The incident occurred around five this evening on the San Lorenzo Road. Reports are that upon making their usual rounds to the area, BSI/ASR watchmen caught the two individuals burning the cane fields. When the men noticed they were caught red handed, one of them fired shots at the watchmen who immediately retrieved from the area and called the police. By the time authorities arrived in the area along with fire personnel the men had already fled the area allegedly in a blue four door Mazda pickup truck that is tonight impounded at the station. Police set chase after the vehicle which was intercepted on the Yo Creek Road. The vehicle is said to belong to Ramon Monchie Cervantes Junior and driving it at the time was his personal driver and body guard.

OWTC Almost Free Of Inherited Depth
In 2012 when the People’s United Party won the Municipal Elections under the stewardship of Kevin Bernard, the council inherited old debts from the previous administration that amounted to almost $300 thousand dollars. Fast forward to today, the Council reports that it has been making strides to clear those inherited debts with banks and lending institutions. Today, the council issued a press release stating that it has maintained a commitment of transparency and accountability in managing the affairs of the town. In the release the council states and we quote, “The OWTC has also implemented a policy of positive partnership and interaction with the residents we serve. Guided by that, Mayor Kevin Bernard and the Council are pleased and proud to provide an update on the results of prudential, responsible financial management by a team with integrity”, end quote.

Scotia Bank Announces The Appoinment Of New Vice President
Today, Scotiabank announced that Michael Shaw has been appointment as the new Vice President and Managing Director of the lending institution. With 30 year of experience, as the former District Vice President of Scotiabank Metro North in Jamaica, Shaw successfully led the Sales and Service management team for the district comprising of 10 bank branches. A release from the institution revealed that Shaw’s new role at Scotiabank (Belize) Ltd will be to look over the bank’s development, communication and implementation of the bank’s local business strategy, business goals and core values for Belize’s operations in alignment with International Banking and Corporate strategies. The arrival of Shaw, as the departure of former Managing Director Patrick Andrews, marks a milestone in local operations as the bank embraces the formal change of guard in the leadership of this financial institution. Andrews has been with the bank for over 41 years. The Bank has more than 15,000 employees in the region, including affiliates, serving more than two million customers, with 450 branches, kiosks, other offices and more than 1,000 ABMs.

Hands Across The Sand Across The Land
On Saturday, OCEANA Belize staged a countrywide event called ‘Hands across the sand” where those opposed to offshore drilling lined up at their respective communities to hold hands in solidarity. It’s a symbolic gesture and for those at OCEANA, the images of thousands of people around the globe joining hands sent a powerful message to world leaders. Viewers may recall in 2013, the Belize Supreme Court ruled in favour of OCEANA’s suit to stop offshore oil exploration. Subsequently, though, the injunction was suspended, and two companies, including Princess Petroleum, continue to have exploration rights. According to documents submitted by Belize to UNESCO, the original concession included exploration rights at Great Blue Hole, a renowned underwater sinkhole, but Princess Petroleum voluntarily gave rights to that area up. Last week after his visit from Miami, the Prime Minister of Belize told the media that all offshore concessions have expired and none will be renewed, at least not right now.

Cop Caught Trafficking Drugs Across Northern Border
A police constable from Corozal Town is tonight facing the long arms of the law following a drug bust at the Northern Border yesterday afternoon. According to the report, about 1:15pm on Sunday, the enforcement team of the Customs Department in Corozal Town, at the Northern Border intercepted a silver Hyundai Sunata four door car bearing Texas Plate BG1Z478 with one occupant. He was later identified as Geian Yah, a police constable working at the Corozal formation. A search conducted in the trunk revealed 3 packages that contained a substance consistent to Cannabis. After the parcels were discovered, Yah was detained by customs whereby officials then called the police. At the station, the situation was processed and the drugs weighed in his presence; each parcel contained 1043, 1062, 1034 grams, respectively to bring the total to 3139 grams or a little less than 7 pounds. Yah appeared at the Corozal Magistrate’s Court this morning where he pled not guilty to drug trafficking and was offered bail of $3,000 dollars plus one surety of the same amount by Magistrate Hamilton. Yah was able to meet bail and his next court date was set for August 21st. Officials at the Corozal formation told us that an interim report has been drafted and submitted to the Police Headquarters where Yah’s letter of interdiction is awaiting approval. Officials say they continue to investigate where Yah had originally left from and the destination into which the drugs were being transported. Additionally, Police say they are investigating whether Yah acted alone or more persons were involved. The vehicle remains in custody at the Corozal Police compound.

Helpage Celebrates The Elderly
Senior Citizens were entertained on Sunday in celebration of Mothers and Fathers’ Day. The event was hosted by the Orange Walk Help Age Center at its Help Age building on Stadium Street. The elderly, some eighty-five men and women, were entertained with games and other fun activities. Arcelia Leiva – President Helpage Orange Walk “Today we served Food, dirty rice and chicken and salad, ice cream, lemonade and coconut tarts and we will be having some raffles and today we are offering a prize to the person who has the most children living.” The event has been made possible by several sponsors, says Leiva, including Jaime and John Briceno.

LOVE FM

Weekend Starts with Double Homicide in Western Belize
On Friday night, the disturbing news of a double homicide was reported in Teakettle Village that left two men dead. It was a gruesome discovery made by the wife of one of the murder victims, as we hear in this report from Angelica Cruz. ANGELICA CRUZ “Based on a phone call received on Friday evening, […]

Kenroy Arnold Murdered in Ladyville, Belize District
On Tuesday, March 17, an attempt to take the life of 29-year-old, Kenroy Arnold was made in Ladyville Village, Belize District. As fate would have it, Arnold did not die and only received gunshot injuries to his back and right hand. In that investigation, two men were charged, namely, 30-year-old, Alrick Smith and 23-year-old, Ronald […]

Brother of Home-Owner Lives to Tell His Ordeal of Home Invasion
Today, at around 1pm, a home was invaded on Marage Road in Ladyille Village, Belize District. The invasion was done by four masked men who entered into the residence equipped with cutting tools which they used to enter the premises through the back fence. 47-year-old, Nick Hendy, was visiting his sister and found work chopping […]

Police Constable Nabbed with Drugs at Customs Checkpoint
On Sunday, May 17 Customs officers from the Custom Enforcement Unit were conducting duties at the Northern Border custom check point where they searched a vehicle driven by PC Giean Yah who is attached to the quick response team in Corozal. Upon inspection of the vehicle tree parcels of Marijuana were found in his possession. […]

Woman Gets Killed Following Fun Day with Family
33-year-old, Rosalie Galvez was murdered on Sunday evening near the junction of the George Price and the Hummingbird Highway near the Guanacaste Park. Correspondent Angelica Cruz reports. ANGELICA CRUZ REPORTING “On Sunday evening, May 17 sometime around 5:30pm, 44-year-old, Russell Hyde, a Belizean farmer and businessman of Camalote Village, Cayo District, told Love News that […]

Breaking Belize News

Shooting at BSI Cane Fields
Belize Media Group has received reports that a shooting incident occurred this evening between ASR BSI Security Guards and occupants of a blue Mazda pickup truck in Orange Walk Town. According to reports, the ASR BSI security guards were watching over the BSI cane fields when they noticed that a […]

BEL workers skip work over pay increase
Reports to Belize Media Group are that many workers for Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) – members of the Belize Energy Workers’ Union (BEWU) – did not report to work today. We are told that the Union had asked for a 10% pay increase as part of its collective […]

Victor Valencia is Belize’s Strongest Man again
Victor Valencia, aka “Brown Sugar” or “The Sugar Man”, has reigned as Belize’s Strongest Man for the last two years. Entering Saturday’s Strong Man Competition at the BTL Park he faced a distinguished field of competitors including a few well known bodybuilders aiming to knock him off his […]

Festival of Arts Golden Night in Punta Gorda
Tonight, the stage inside the Francis J. Ring Parish Hall in Punta Gorda Town is set for the Primary School Festival of Arts & Culture Golden. During the course of last week, primary schools from all across the Toledo District took their performances to the stage in hopes […]

Man repays stolen money in court
A real estate agent who admitted to not following through on a deal for a land transfer pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining property by deception and paid back his victim. 34 year old Anthony Waters of Caesar Ridge Road was given $810 in June of 2014 […]

Coach charged for inappropriate kiss
A basketball coach and delivery man of Belize City has been charged for aggravated assault of an indecent nature for kissing a teenage boy on the lips. 23 year old Patrick Swasey is alleged to have done so in December of 2014 while he was sleeping with the […]

Former murder accused caught with firearm
Nicoli Rhys, 24, was acquitted of the murder of Andre Trapp near the Magistrate’s Court in February of 2013, but he has been unable to stay out of trouble since then. Today the Tigris Street resident was charged with keeping firearm and ammunition without a gun license before […]

A Parable: Why Belize’s Howler Monkeys are Having the Last Scream
Deep within the Black Howler Monkey Sanctuary located northwest of Belize City, an enormous gathering of these black “baboons” came together to figure out why the fruits from the trees they worked so assiduously to pick, gather and store were disappearing faster than honest politicians. One particularly paranoid monkey named Antoine […]

Cayo Residents Protest to free Loida August
This morning residents of the Cayo District participated in an organized picket, the bond for the protest was signed by Mr. Orlando Habet and Mrs. Ursula Gurerra to have a peaceful demonstration for two hours in front of the administration building from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. On December 21st, 2011 […]

Traffic Mishap over the weekend sends four to the ER
Paramedics and police officials were immediately dispatched to an area between miles 13 and 14 on the Philip Goldson Highway, yesterday evening where a traffic mishap occurred. Upon arrival authorities observed a grey Toyota pickup truck on the left hand side of the highway overturned. Further checks led police to […]

Demonstration in San Ignacio, Cayo
Reports are that an on-going demonstration has been staged in front of the San Ignacio Police Station. Our reporter Flora Pereira has been dispatched to the area. We’ll keep updating you as the information becomes available.

Pataki Full to be translated in Mandarin and published in Republic of China
‘Pataki Full’ is a book written by Belize’s Governor General, Sir Colville Young and contains a collection of seven Belizean short stories drawn from folklore and down-home wisdom of the country. This book, written in Creole and English, has gained recognition in many countries around the world and its latest […]

GO Joven conducts selection process in Punta Gorda
Motivated by its mantra “Inspiring Youth Leaders with the Power of Change,” Go Joven promotes and supports the development of young leaders to act as catalysts for social change who will vastly expand Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health choices, services, policies, and programs at the community, national and […]

More sunny and hot weather in the next few days
The general situation is for sunny weather with cloudy spells today and partly cloudy skies tonight. Showers will be isolated with a chance of an isolated thunderstorm over inland areas this afternoon and over the extreme south tonight. Winds will blow to the East at 10 to 20 knots and […]

Blogs

It Feels Great To Be Home in Belize
I arrived back in San Pedro at about 11am on Friday morning – after two flights, an overnight bus from Cancun and the water taxi out of Belize City. It felt great to be home…but I was feeling a bit weary. And by a bit weary, I was feeling like 100lbs of manure packed in a 50lb bag. But I had the weekend to rest up and I’m ready to get back to it. The grind of living in a beautiful place, doing fun/interesting things and telling you about it. Like Saturday’s Hands Across the Sand stand against off-shore oil drilling…

US guns for Belize
Actually gangs are a tremendous problem there. There is a lot of dope and illegal aliens that move through Belize. Belize was my constituent post, and back in the mid 1990’s when I was stationed in Guatemala City and I used to travel there quarterly. Starting in the early 1990’s they had the Crips and Bloods moving in to Belize City and it created a huge issue for the Gvt. Jamaican gangsta posses were also operating there along with Chinese triads. The gun violence/gangsta culture had been unknown in Belize which had a British style police force with unarmed cops. They had to create special constables who could carry guns to offset the gangstas.

Coming to Terms With the American Empire
“Empire” is a dirty word. Considering the behavior of many empires, that is not unreasonable. But empire is also simply a description of a condition, many times unplanned and rarely intended. It is a condition that arises from a massive imbalance of power. Indeed, the empires created on purpose, such as Napoleonic France and Nazi Germany, have rarely lasted. Most empires do not plan to become one. They become one and then realize what they are. Sometimes they do not realize what they are for a long time, and that failure to see reality can have massive consequences. World War II and the Birth of an Empire The United States became an empire in 1945. It is true that in the Spanish-American War, the United States intentionally took control of the Philippines and Cuba. It is also true that it began thinking of itself as an empire, but it really was not. Cuba and the Philippines were the fantasy of empire, and this illusion dissolved during World War I, the subsequent period of isolationism and the Great Depression. The genuine American empire that emerged thereafter was a byproduct of other events. There was no great conspiracy. In some ways, the circumstances of its creation made it more powerful. The dynamic of World War II led to the collapse of the European Peninsula and its occupation by the Soviets and the Americans. The same dynamic led to the occupation of Japan and its direct governance by the United States as a de facto colony, with Gen. Douglas MacArthur as viceroy.

The failures of Gang Prevention
This is an interesting report, seeing that Belize is trying to suppress gang activity and so far have been failing miserably at it. I have spoken on this before in discussions noting that the plans rolled out have done nothing more than quite things down for a short period only to make gang activity and crime return with more vengeance. Please take the time to read this report as it is vital to our strategic planning going forward, I will highlight the main points and link to the full report at the bottom of the page; hope the Government of Belize reads this one. Gang Wars The Failure of Enforcement Tactics and the Need for Effective Public Safety Strategies A Justice Policy Institute Report Published: July 17, 2007 by Judith Greene and Kevin Pranis Youth crime in the United States remains near the lowest levels seen in the past three decades, yet public concern and media coverage of gang activity has skyrocketed since 2000. Fear has spread from neighborhoods with longstanding gang problems to communities with historically low levels of crime, and some policy makers have declared the arrival of a national gang “crisis.” Yet many questions remain unanswered.

International Sources

Health Sciences students use service-learning to help people of Belize
Belize is a country in Central America with a population of more than 340,000. It also has the 89th highest ranked infant mortality rate in the world, less than one physician per 1,000 people and is rated the 15th highest in the world based on the adult prevalence of obesity, according to the CIA’s World Factbook. Now, through a study abroad experience, a group of Georgia College students are trying to change those numbers. Eighteen students are traveling from Milledgeville to San Ignacio, Belize to help educate on healthcare. “I had always hoped to study abroad and this opportunity is going to be a perfect fit for what I want to do after college,” said Heather Prochaska, senior exercise science major and health education minor. “Everything we’ve learned up to this point in our classes has given us the knowledge to prepare to serve the people there.”

When Birds Squawk, Other Species Seem to Listen
What will the noise from ATVs at Red Bank do to the Scarlet Macaw population there? ""Noise alone, they found, had harmful effects on many of the birds. “What we found was that they had lower overall body condition and they gained significantly less weight when the road was ‘on,’ ” Dr. Barber said. The findings are under review for publication." "His related 2013 study also found more than a one-quarter decline in bird abundance when the artificial road noise was turned on; some avoided the area almost entirely."

The B&B; owner who accidentally became an oil company owner just sold part of her stake
New World Oil and Gas, the Jersey based exploration and development company with projects in Belize and Denmark, just revealed that a British B&B; owner who's son accidentally bought out half the group's shares, sold part of her stake. She now owns just 25.94% of the company, compared with 48.7% previously. On May 14, New World called an emergency meeting with its shareholders after the company's stock rocketed then plunged because a Judith Williams, the owner of Wyche Keep Country House, accidentally became the leading shareholder of the oil and gas group. She was the subject of a Takeover Panel discussion because her son Christopher bought 342 million shares believing that he was snapping up only a 10% stake in the group for £1.5 million ($2.4 million).

New World reveals ‘Chris Oil’ is off the hook; his mum now owns 25.94%
New World Oil & Gas (LON:NEW) will not now be bought out by British pensioner Judith Williams. Williams, mother of private investor and ‘bulletin board’ celebrity Chris Williams (better known as ‘Chris Oil’), has had her stake in the Denmark and Belize focussed oil explorer reduced to 25.94%. It means that Chris Oil’s purported trading error will no longer force his mother to make an offer for the whole company. A bizarre series of events has played out in recent weeks after Chris Oil claimed to have accidently bought nearly half the company on his mother’s behalf as he prematurely factored in dilution created by a proposed issue of 2.7bn new shares.

Civilizations That Withered in Drought
With California in its fourth year of a historic drought, its worst in 1,200 years, signs of a strengthening El Nino suggest at least some relief may be in sight. In fact, the promise of the rains El Nino might bring have already led some to describe the weather pattern as "the great wet hope." Even if El Nino proves to be a benefit, California will still face a severe deficit to its water resources and will need to change its archaic and wasteful water management practices. No matter how innovative a society, a drought can push it to its breaking point or even past that. In this slideshow, take a look at civilizations that were pushed to the brink and beyond as a result of major droughts. The Maya civilization had its roots in the eighth century B.C., and at its height, during what is known as the Classic period between 300 A.D. and 700 A.D., spanned an area the size of Texas in Central America. The Mayans built great cities, created the only known, complete writing system in the New World, and developed an astronomical system advanced enough as to convince a handful of 21st century kooks that these pre-Colombian people could predict doomsday. Beginning around the eighth century A.D., the Mayans began to fall in decline. Cities were abandoned. Population levels crashed. Political turmoil took hold. All that remained of the civilization were the ruins they left behind. The leading theory behind the downfall of the Mayans is that long periods of drought, with dramatic reductions in rainfall -- up to 40 percent annually -- over decades at a time, according to a study published in the journal Science in 2012. Such long periods of severe drought would have affected food supplies, furthered the spread of disease and sparked social unrest that brought down the civilization.

Everything Mesoamerican
This year the Verde Valley Archaeology Center will mark Archaeology Day with "Everything Mesoamerican" activities. These films, lectures and demonstrations are all FREE. The Center will open earlier at 9:00 am on October 17 with activities until 5:00 pm. Each venue has limited seating so they will be filled on a first-come basis. The activities include: Master artist Oralia López will demonstrate her finely executed Mata Ortiz geometric pottery designs. John Bezy will present a program entitled: "The Prehistoric Roots of the Modern Mata Ortiz Ceramics" Dr. Jaime Awe, former Director of the Archaeological Institute of Belize now with Northern Arizona University, will present a program entitled "My Recent Archaeological Investigations in Belize" Two National Geographic films will be shown: ""Nasca Lines: The Buried Secrets" and "Quest for the Lost Maya"

Why Fly in Mesoamerica?
L.S. Lighthawk is a group of volunteer pilots, some 220 volunteer pilots living across the United States, who fly their own airplanes in volunteer service to the goals and objectives of Lighthawk, which is to help conservation and wildlife organizations, primarily NGOs, in support of their conservation initiatives. These volunteer pilots provide their own airplane, pay their own fuel, give of their own professional time and services in support of these initiatives. In addition to these pilots flying their own airplanes, there is a unique program within Lighthawk called the Mesoamerica Program. Lighthawk itself owns two airplanes and from this group of 220 pilots there is a small, select group of aviators who each year, from January through May, will volunteer to fly the Lighthawk airplanes in the Mesoamerica region, supporting the conservation and wildlife initiatives going on throughout the region, primarily Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras and Mexico in the Yucatan and in Baja.

Videos

Opportunity Coalition Event featuring Susan Morrice, Chairwoman of Belize Natural Energy, 58min.

Trace licked by a jaguar in Belize, 15sec.

Hunting In Belize Part II, 3min.

Belize Puma's Meowsing about Human Race, 6min. Short video about kayaking trip in Belize 2015.

Dolphins off Ambergris Caye, 2min. One of these divers just got certified.

Dolphins: two males are showing off to a female, 5min. If you watch you'll be able to tell that there is a female and these males are courting her. especially two particular males. I think the divers just happened upon some mating dance.

Hands Across the Sand, 3min. San Pedro Residents join hands in saying NO to off shore oil exploration and drilling.

Driving around Punta Gorda, Belize, 15min. this year we drove through Punta Gorda which is the southern most major city in Belize. More local flavors and people, great experiences here

Scuba Diving Belize, 1.5min.

MUSEUM DAY 2015 CELEBRATED IN BELIZE, 5min. Today, May 18th, was observed as Museum Day in Belize and around the world. This year’s theme is “Museums for a Sustainable Society”. On its website, the International Council for Museums says that this year the aim is to highlight the role of museums, quote, “in raising public awareness about the need for a society that is less wasteful, more cooperative and that uses resources in a way that respects living systems,” end of quote. In Orange Walk, hundreds of children visited the Banquitas House of Culture to get a view of how that has been working out in our community. br>

belize cozumel and honduras, 50min.

May 18, 2015

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

Flavors of Belize & Chef Sean Kuylen represent Belizean Cuisine at Passport D.C
On May 2nd, 2015 over 50 embassies participated in the “Around the Word Embassy Tour”, one of the events that is a part of the annual Passport D.C event. Passport D.C is a month-long celebration of International Cultural Awareness Month in Washington that is filled with festivals, open house, exhibitions, and workshops highlighting the state’s thriving international diplomatic communities and cultures. Belize was one of the embassies that opened its doors and participated in showcasing their country and welcoming over 7,000 D.C residents to experience its food, art, dance, fashion, and music. Flavors of Belize and Chef Sean Kuylen took on the role of presenting an authentic experience of Belizean cuisine, offering visitors popular local favorites such as sere, ducunu, and relleno negro.

Police Report
On Thursday, May 7th at about 9:16PM, 22-year-old Joseph Elijio visited the San Pedro Police Station and reported that on Wednesday, May 6th while driving his motorcycle on the Mosquito Coast Area, he collided into another motorist. He stated that at approximately 5PM, he was driving a red Honda motorcycle (license plate Spm-0418) in a southerly direction when 74-year-old American retiree Robert Linder, also driving a motorcycle, made a quick U-turn without signaling.
San Pedro Police have arrested and charged Alfredo Trapp for on count murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the murder of 42-year-old Jose Rigoberto Beltran.

Wolfe’s Woofer: Mexican Magician
“I’m taking Sandy to San Ignacio for the Mother’s Day weekend,” George said. “Their show this year features a magician from Mexico.” “I love magic, too,” I said. “I’m one of those people who love being fooled by someone who is really good at.” George said. “I love street magicians. My favorite is probably David Blaine. He’s the best at it I’ve ever seen.” “I’ll also go to a magic stage show if I get a chance,” I said. “It’s too bad that we don’t have very many magicians in Belize,” George remarked. “I remember seeing a Mexican magician do a show years ago when I used to play music in Belmopan at the Convention Hotel. My friend Miguel talked me into driving with him to San Ignacio for a big holiday event that featured a magician.” “It was probably the same guy we’re seeing this weekend.” A week later I ran into George.

Letter to the Editor: Dr. Solorzano on Community Development
Dear Editor: I would like thank The San Pedro Sun for their participation and invitation to the island’s public in assisting to solve the problems our beautiful island is and will be facing in the near future. We all can be very proud about the progress Ambergris Caye has made over the last few years and that we have developed rather quickly into a well-known and well respected travel destination. The benefits of our success have started and our local economy and our local community has started reaping some of these benefits. However now is also the time to set aside personal interests and to focus more on creating the best conditions possible for the island’s next generation, our kids and other generations to come. I would like to urge all of us to show the respect and attention for a reasonable development of the island and to best maintain our very unique island style, that style our island is loved for. We will need to show a vision on how to create very best conditions for a prosperous future of our beloved island. Our kids will thank us all.

Doctor Love: Change
Dear Doctor Love, Me and my man have been together for nearly ten years, mostly because of a baby girl we had together when I was seventeen. In all that time he has only worked maybe six months out of the year. Most of that money goes to his drinking beer with his friends and doing God knows what all. In these ten years we have split up sometimes because he just will not change. Every time, he begs me to take him back, and I always give in because I believed that it is in him to change his ways. He does change for six months or so but soon he slips back into what he usually does. Once we were split up for a year and a half. In this time I had a baby by someone else. Now, he always holds it against me and tries to make me feel guilty. A few weeks back I found out that he was seeing someone else so I left him. Now, he is trying to get back with me. He says that if we have another baby we will be stronger and he will be able to change the way I want him to. I do not trust him when he says this. I want him but I do not want him, too. I know he is bad for me. I want to get out of trying to change him. What can I do to get through this?

Misc Belizean Sources

Contract hit on Benque Freezone Chairman misses and injures Guatemalan
Sources say there is a contract to assassinate the CEO of the Benque Free Zone and also that of a highly connected Belizean who has been connected to passports and contraband. Guatemalan National, Henrri Quiroa was a passenger sitting on the front passenger seat travelling in a white ford escape on the George Price Highway towards the Belize Western Border. The vehicle was driven by Alfred Sattler, the CEO of the Benque Viejo Freezone. When arriving about 1/4 miles before the Belize Western Border between miles 75 and 76 and in an area known as Pugas Gate, Satler when suddenly heard a single gunshot which caught Quiroa in the neck.

Ladyville Murder at Wake
Kenroy Arnold was murdered Saturday night in ladyville Village in the Belize District. He was shot several months ago in the back. The shooting incident happene about 12:30 a.m., at 20 Perez Road. 29-year-old Kenroy Arnold A.K.A. “Bouncer” of Vista Del Mar was outside the residence socializing at the wake for Sylvin Encalada (another murder victim) when three men approached from the back of the house and fired several shots towards him causing his injuries. Arnold was rushed to the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital where he passed away while undergoing surgery.

Hands Across the Sand in Caye Caulker.
Oceana Belize has promoted holding hands for 15 minutes in different communities across the country on Saturday May 16th for its 'No to Offshore Drilling' initiative at 12 p.m.

Double murder in Teakettle, Cayo.
46 year old Julian Christopher Jones received chop wounds to the body and 61 year old Paul David Signorino had w gunshot wounds to the head. Official report: On 15.05.15 at 6:10p.m., Belmopan Police visited the residence of 59-year-old American teacher Laura Jo Lambert in the Pineapple Hill Area, Teakettle Village, Cayo where they saw the apparent lifeless body of 46-year-old American National Julian Christopher Jones also of Teakettle with chop wounds to the head.

Sailboat submerged near Caye Chapel.
It's less than quarter mile from the nearest island and there is a fishing camp nearby . But no signs of a storm. Nothing floating. The boat has a hole in it and it's a for tour shop in the caye ! No storm and all items were removed from the vessel earlier

Got ants?
As well as the many beneficial medicinal properties these fungi possess, they also destroy ants... 1.) Cordyceps lloydii attacks living ants and secretes a chemical that compels them to climb to the top of the Costa Rican canopy and attach themselves to leaves; then the mushroom erupts from the ant's head or body to disperse spores into wind currents... 2.) Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is an entomopathogenic, or insect-pathogenising fungus, discovered by the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1859, and currently found predominantly in tropical forest ecosystems. O. unilateralis, also referred to as a zombie fungus, infects ants of the Camponotini tribe, with the full pathogenesis being characterized by alteration of the behavioral patterns of the infected ant..

LOTTERY DRAWING for Sunday, May 17, 2015: First: 4889 Second: 4406 Third: 3935 Missing: 1, 2, 7

Lots on the North Side of Caye Caulker
This is the graphic Min. of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega was waving around during his press conference regarding the issuing of lots on the North Side of Caye Caulker.

ALICIA THOMPSON IS 2015 BELIZE NATIONAL FEMALE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPION!
Coming soon on Belizean Legends, is Part 2, of Belizean Women In Cycling.

In-situ conservation program of macaws
This year apart from biological monitoring, FCD with Forest Department endorsement has started an in-situ conservation program of macaws. The objective is to rescue ONLY those macaw chicks that are at risk of being stolen and raise them in a secure environment. The goal is to increase the wild population of macaws in Belize!!

Caye Caulker Chronicles

Power lines are going up on the North side of Caye Caulker
Who wants to guess when we'll have power there? Anyone?

The Reporter

Family ambushed near Guanacaste Park; one shot
A family was reportedly ambushed aroun 6:30 p.m. on Sunday near the Guanacaste Park. Unconfirmed but reliable reports reaching The Weekend Reporter Online is that one person shot.

Serious accident in Ladyville; two persons hurt
A serious accident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on Sunday on the Phillip Goldson Highway near its junction with the Burrel Boom Road. Reports reaching The Weekend Reporter Online is that at least two persons were flung from a vehicle and had to be rushed for medical attention by three ambulances.

NTV draws large crowd in latest excursion
The Northern Territorial Volunteers (NTV) chapter of the Belize Territorial Volunteers (BTV) drew its largest crowd over any previous excursion on Sunday morning at Garbutts Falls. According to Wil Maheia, BTV president the excursion to Garbutts Falls along the Benque Viejo del Carmen border was testament to the kind of support and awareness Belizeans have for the issue of border security. Maheia said each person paid their own passage to and from Garbutts Falls proving how dedicated people are to the issue. The group needed four buses to shuttle all the people to the border and back. The volunteers painted the border marker at the site before returning from their excursion. Maheia said the group is encouraged by the response and said it is looking forward to future expeditions.

Murder in Ladyville
A 29-year-old man was shot and killed in a Ladyville yard where he was socializing and offering condolences to the family of another recent murder victim. According to Inspector Frederick Gordon, officer coanding the Ladyville police formation, Kenroy “Bouncer” Arnold was at the family residence of Sylvin Encalada, the 68-year-old Ladyville security guard who was found dead on Friday morning, offering his condolences to the family. Gordon said initial investigations have revealed that Arnold was in the yard with another person when three men came from the back and one opened fire. Arnold was hit multiple times and rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he died while undergoing surgery for his injuries.

Breaking Belize News

Shooting in Roaring Creek Village
We have received reports that a shooting incident happened in Roaring Creek Village around 6:30 p.m. Our sources are saying that a woman was shot in the head near the Guanacaste National Park. Unconfirmed reports are that the woman has succumbed to her injuries. This is a developing story and […]

Fatal Traffic Accident on the Philip Goldson Highway
We have received reports that a fatal traffic accident happened this evening on the Philip Goldson Highway near the junction with Burrel Boom Road. According to reports, two persons have been severely injured and have been rushed to the hospital. This is a developing story and we will be updating […]

Ladyville Man Gunned Down Last Night
This morning around 12:45 a.m., Ladyville Police responded to a shooting incident at a residence on #20 Perez Road where they found 29-year-old Kenroy Arnold also known as “Bouncer” of Vista Del Mar suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. (It is interesting to note that on March 13, 2015, Kenroy Arnold […]

Well Known Musician Accused of Sex With Minor
Well-known Garifuna performer Dayaan Ellis also known by his stage name “Nuru” who sings both Paranda and Punta music is accused of having sex with a 14 year old teenager. According to reports, the father of the 14 year old girl filed a report a week ago to Dangriga police […]

B&B; owner may be forced to buy Belize oil company after her son accidentally purchased almost half of its shares
Judith Williams, owner of the ‘Wyche Keep Country House’ in the United Kingdom is currently faced with a dilemma involving an oil company in Belize. Christopher Williams, Judith’s son mistakenly bought 342 million shares in New World Oil and Gas Company in his mother’s name, which he thought was only […]

Blogs

Need for a Belize National Sustainability Policy
As national governments work to ensure sufficient fresh water, food, energy, housing, health, and education for their nation while trying to maintain its resources for future generations, they discover that they are not well organized to address the crosscutting nature of sustainability issues. A National Sustainability Policy is needed to help agencies overcome current barriers to making effective decisions related to sustainability. This policy should include an analytical framework to aid government decision making on issues where linkages are vital, identify high-priority sustainability challenges that need greater interagency cooperation, and recommend other steps agencies can take to break down barriers to successful collaboration. Barriers to Governing for Sustainability: Currently, several barriers frustrate government efforts to address sustainability challenges such as those described below. These obstacles impede agencies’ ability to fully consider the connections among resource areas and to build the linkages needed to manage them: The separated and dispersed authority that results from the basic legal framework of government. Funding mechanisms that favor short-term, single-agency initiatives rather than longer-term, cross-agency projects. A lack of access to or coordination of foundational elements such as research and information/data. The culture of government, which tends to encourage agencies and their personnel to “stay in your lane” and avoid getting involved in sister agencies’ activities. Fortunately, steps can be taken to overcome these obstacles and create structures and incentives to enable greater collaboration where it is needed or beneficial.

Magical Mayan Night by Kevin Smith
As always many came out in support of SHINE and many opted to dress in Mayan white the theme color of the event. The evenings culinary treat was a buffet style dinner which was soft tacos with either corn or flour tortilla with a large variety of fixings and desert wit lemon and coconut tarts. Gary Grief made opening comments in support of the work being done and they presented a plan to building a eco friendly design for at risk young ladies here on the island. The architect of the building was there. It is clear that Michelle is very passionate about this project and with help from OWEM’s Brenda and Emily from the States, she is going far towards making a safe place for young girls to learn grow and develop. The Chinese auction was a big hit, for the trip they had to the chocolate festival. I can not remember who or exact amount was but I believe it was just over $2000. The full prize was for an incredible weekend at the famous “Chocolate Festival of Belize” in Punta Gorda Town. The weekend includes round trip airfare for two on Tropic Air, festival activities, complimentary hotel accommodations and lunch with a Mayan Family – worth every penny.

Is There Anything More Important to Our Island? Hands Across the Sand Belize
Yesterday, at noon, Oceana – the worldwide organization whose goal it is to protect our world’s oceans – put out a call for a very very peaceful protest. Join hands, by the sea and say NO to OFFSHORE drilling. This wasn’t just in Belize – it was worldwide – but for us, it couldn’t be at a more important time. Just this month, there have been global headlines like this one, in the UK Guardian: Belize plan to allow offshore drilling threatens Great Blue Hole, say critics. The document/study/proposal (in draft stage) issued by the Belize Minister of Energy opens up 99% of Belize’s waters to exploration and even suggests that oil rigs could act as artificial reefs. Aye dios mio. At noon and for the next 15 minutes, a group of about 100 people…or maybe more joined hands in front of San Pedro High School.

International Sources

Southwest Airlines Announces Daily Direct Flights to Belize and Jamaica
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Southwest Airlines Garry Kelly has announced that daily, direct flights from Houston to Belize will begin on October 15, and Jamaica beginning November 1. A Belize delegation was present for the announcement. In attendance were the Director of Tourism – Mrs. Karen Bevans, Chairman of the Board – Dr. Carla Barnett, Director of Marketing – Ms. Karen Pike, along with representatives of Tropic Air and the Belize Airport Concession. Travel Trade Manager – Michelle Flowers, and Senior Officer – Deborah Gilharry were there to share information with the public about making Belize their next vacation destination.

Facebook helps police bust sex predators — because law enforcement needs all the help it can get
Former sixth grade social studies teacher David Thompson used to put in some late nights on the computer. But he wasn’t grading papers. “licking ur thighs inside will get u wet lol,” the 49-year-old Tampa-area teacher pecked in a breathless Facebook IM to a 13-year-old Belizean girl who is identified in court documents as Minor Female Victim 1, or MFV1. “Big Dave’s” extracurricular creeping went on like that for another two weeks, until he was apparently feeling confident that he had convinced MFV1 to offer up her virginity in exchange for gifts and money. “ok then i will make sure u always have money,” Thompson chatted her on Feb. 27, 2014, a week after he booked a flight to Belize for their illicit rendezvous. Little did MFV1 know, but there was also an “MFV2,” a 15-year-old Belizean girl Thompson was messaging on the other side of the country to negotiate a similar arrangement of sex-for-gifts. And apparently neither girl realized that their other new Facebook friend, a young Belizean girl named “Iris Levy,” was also Thompson sockpuppeting as a local teen.

1.8B will travel internationally each year by 2030: report
As the global population continues to rise and economies around the world gain the trappings of a middle-class life, international travel will boom, according to an analysis by Tours.com. As countries experience more cultural cross-pollination, travel behaviors will evolve. The report identifies six travel personalities or “travel tribes” that may emerge 15 years from now. “The most influential prediction in the forecast spotlighted here is not how people will travel, but how people will plan their travel,” said Lark Gould, content director for Travel-Intel, Los Angeles. “The study by Amadeus focuses on travel experiences and notes that travel, as a form of leisure entertainment, will be segmented by types of experiences and served to a public according to types of travel experience seekers,” she said. “These travel seekers could be those in search of philanthropic tours or Ethical Travel as the study highlights, or those in search of purely indulgent experiences, as Rewards Hunters, or those seeking depth and realism, such as the Cultural Purists noted in the greater break down of six travel personas or tribes.

Videos

Pretty Polly the Yellow lored Parrot, 1/2min. Update of Pretty Polly the Yellow lored Parrot we have nesting by us. No sign of babies. As you can see, her nest is quite deep. She only shows her head when we call her, otherwise she stays hidden.

Puma in the wild, 1/2min. The Sarteneja area is rich in wildlife - you are never quite sure what you are going to see when driving from Wildtracks into the village. Paul, Jen Chapman and Emma Shirley F came across a puma the night before last... Thank you, Emma and Jen, for catching this on video!!

Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize 2014, 1min.

Sailing and Snorkeling in Belize 2015, 3min. Video clips from 8 days in Belize. The first few clips are from Hobie sailing off Ambegris Caye. The middle clips are from a three day sail/snorkel trip from Caye Caulker to Rendevous Caye to Tobacco Caye to Placencia. The last few clips are from a snorkeling day trip out to Silk Caye.

Belize 2015, 4min. Little video highlighting trip to Belize, with side trip to Tikal, Guatemala, in February 2015

A Budget Traveler's Adventures in Belize, 8min. Exploring the Belize islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker in the Caribbean Sea.

Belize - Snorkeling, 1.5min. Silk Caye with nurse sharks, rays, barracuda and bait fish.

Mankato Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Trip to Belize, 1.5min. Spend two weeks providing speech and language screenings and audiology services at the local preschools in Belize.

Belize - 4 Bill McLean, 43min.

Belize Navidad, 4min. Poppen family vacation, winter 2014.

Hunting In Belize, 5min.

May 17, 2015

BWG Monthly Donation Program installs new playground at Central Park

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

American Airlines takes you from Los Angeles to Belize with no problem at all!
Live in California and want to come to Belize? Well American Airlines is making it easy and convenient to travel from Belize to Los Angeles whenever you desire. Always committed to taking travelers to places that matter most by offering nearly 900 nonstop routes – American Airlines offers the most nonstop routes of any airlines in the world. Beginning June 6, 2015, American Airlines will be launching nonstop service from Belize International (BZE) to Los Angeles, California (LAX). This new route provides travelers with more flexibility when flying from Central America to the United States.

BzSA launches a new logo and puts Belize sailors into the international arena
It is the dawn of a new day for recreational sailing in Belize and hence the Belize Sailing Association’s (BzSA) new board of directors decided to adopt a logo to embody the excitement of momentum. This new logo reflects the fact that BzSA is creating international opportunities for top school-age sailors. Selection regattas decided which sailors BzSA will send to this summer’s international events, one for Optimist dinghies and the other for Olympic class Lasers.

24/7 Medical Service is benefitting our island community greatly
The area designated as the emergency facility contains two beds and equipment for treating trauma, and child delivery among other medical services. In addition, an emergency entrance was opened at the north side of the building to be used when the main entrance is closed after normal working hours. This initially caused much confusion, as patients were not properly informed of the different entrances. “Our regular operating hours are from 7PM to 8PM. We close the main entrance at 8PM, and then open the emergency entrance. There was confusion, because people used to pass the clinic and see the front door closed. But we were not closed. It is just that the other entrance was being used. People failed to see the signs pointing out the direction of the emergency service. We have since been informing all patients about the emergency entrance and are not having that many problems anymore,” Vellos said. The reason the front door is closed is due to safety. The clinic does not have sufficient staff to fully man the clinic both day and night. “We are still not at the level to operate the entire clinic for 24 hours. After the normal working hours, we close down the majority of the clinic and only leave open the area assigned for emergencies. If the front door would be open, we wouldn’t be able to monitor everyone coming in and out since the emergency facility is at the back of the clinic. That’s why we opened the new entrance so that every patient that comes in can be immediately greeted and given the treatment they require,” said Vellos.

Scholarships for Capoeira Classes
Created by the African slaves that were brought to Brazil, Capoeira encompasses dance, music, and acrobatics, along with other martial arts. The Afro-Brazilian discipline has been taking place since the 1600s and is now going to be taught in San Pedro. Instrutora (Instructor) Marisa Tellez, who has been practicing the art for seven and a half years, is offering classes to those interested in learning the art of rhythm and movement that is Capoeira. But that’s not all; lessons will also include learning Samba Dance, Maculele (a warrior dance that involves sticks), playing Capoeira instruments, singing and learning to speak Portuguese. The lessons will be held at Zen Arcade every Thursday of the week, with children’s from 4PM to 5PM and adults classes from 5PM to 6:15PM. Tellez has indicated that while the classes will be open to persons of all ages, she has partnered with Zen Arcade to run a non-profit program to provide scholarships for the Capoeira classes (either free tuition or half tuition) to children ages 9-17.

Misc Belizean Sources

Ten-day Weather Outlook, Onset of the Rainy Season, 2015
At this time folks are apprehensive about the start of the rains, especially farmers who must plant just before the rains set in. Here is the Ten day Outlook. It can serve as a guide to the start of the rains during this El Nino year. I will be monitoring the model outputs over the next ten days to see how the models are resolving the atmospheric circulation to summer conditions in the Caribbean and Central America. The winter pattern is already disappearing over North America, Gulf of Mexico and the Western Atlantic.

Hands Across the Sands against offshore oil drilling
Sneak peek of Hands Across the Sand!

BELMOPAN DOUBLE MURDER
On 15.05.15 at 6:10p.m., Belmopan Police visited the residence of 59-year-old American teacher Laura Jo Lambert in the Pineapple Hill Area, Teakettle Village, Cayo where they saw the apparent lifeless body of 46-year-old American National Julian Christopher Jones also of Teakettle with chop wounds to the head. Further checks in a room of the same building led to the discovery of the apparent lifeless body of 61-year-old American retiree Paul David Signorino of Valley of Peace Road, Cayo District with two apparent gunshot wounds to the left side of his head. Laura Jo Lambert reported that at about 5:30p.m. on 15.05.15 she arrived home and did not see her ex husband at home. She called out his name but got no response, she then decided to make checks inside a house that is under construction at the back of her property where she found him apparently dead. Her one bedroom houses as well as the two vehicles in her yard were ransacked. Julian Jones' licensed 9mm Beretta pistol and .22 rifle are missing. Police are investigating.

Power interruption 9:00am to 12:00 midday, Sunday, May 17, portion of Lake Independence, Belize City
Electric Avenue, Gordon Street, Stann Avenue, Canondate Drive, Hyde Street, Raleigh Street, Jones Avenue, Diego Street, Balan Street, Riverside Street, Mokay Boulevard, Complex Avenue, Cumberbatch Street, Giles Street, Gladden Street, Brown Street, Lacroix Boulevard and Holy Emmanuel Street. BEL to install equipment on the power distribution system in the area.

PlusTV

PM defends change to special agreement
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dean Barrow is confronting the spectre of Guatemala again with the news of an amendment to the special agreement allowing Guatemala to proceed on its own with a referendum on taking the unfounded Guatemalan claim to the ICJ...

CEO of Benque FreeZone Shot at
There was a shooting incident in Benque Viejo Del Carmen earlier this morning involving the CEO of the Benque Viejo Free Zone, Al Satler. According to reports, Satler was heading to work sometime around 8:30 am in his private vehicle...

Major Crime down but Murders up?
The Minister of National Security has recently criticized the media for its crime coverage. At a ceremony in Roaring Creek, the Minister said the media focuses on sensationalizing murders when in fact there has been a steady decrease in murders since Minister John Saldivar took office in 2012...

Benque Mayor Served with NIP
Police have served the Mayor of Benque Viejo Town Heraldo Rancharan Jr. with a Notice of Intended Prosecution after a minor accident put two young women in the hospital...

The Reporter

Oceana stages national anti offshore drilling event
On Saturday afternoon Oceana held “Hands Across the Sand,” an event observed internationally in protest of offshore drilling and oil exploration. Seleshia Guy, Oceana Belize district representative said the event has been ovserved anually all over the world for the last six years since the BP Oil spill and has gained much momentum, culminating with the events in Belize on Saturday. According to Guy, Saturday’s observation of the event isn’t the first time it has been held in the country as it was observed several years ago, but it was the first time it has been celebrated in Belize City and organized on a national level. Apart from Belize City, supporters gathered around the same time at noon in San Pedro, Dangriga, Corozal, Punta Gorda, Belmopan, Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, Placencia and Hopkins. The anti-offshore drilling advocates held hands as a sign of solidarity for 10 minutes and then hoisted their arms in unison signalling the championing of their cause.

The Belize Times

We Noh Di Move! – Mark King Exposed; UDPs First, Belizeans Last Policy in Full Swing
UDP Lake Independence candidate Mark King is one chancey, facey, cold-hearted politician. King has been undermining the hard efforts of over 50 families to fulfil their dreams of owning a piece of the jewel, to satisfy his political agenda and greed. The families have now realised that they are being chanced and have stood up to defend themselves. But King has slammed them with his “UDP First, Belizeans last” rule and promised that he will destroy their dreams. The issue is over a small area of crown land located in the outskirts of Lake Independence. It sits behind the Gungulung area, next to the new development site that flanks the newly opened Chetumal Street. Before the UDP Government announced any plans to develop the area, a group of mostly Belizeans had already settled, built homes and began living on the land.

Barrow Lyaad!! – BNTU President Exposes PM’s Lies and Deception
Fresh of his re-election, the no nonsense President of the Belize National Trade Union Congress, Luke Palacio, has exposed Prime Minister Dean Barrow as a liar and deceiver. The Prime Minister, it appears, has been on a mission to undermine the unity and strength of the social partners in an attempt to get away with his illegal borrowing and spending of Petrocaribe millions. Barrow has concocted all kinds of stories to make it seem that the social partners have been feeding on the Petrocaribe pie, but little by little he is being exposed as speaking with a forked tongue. The BNTU opposes the lack of accountability and abuse shown by this Government in the use of Petrocaribe money. But PM Barrow has tried to make it look like the teachers are content with the Petrocaribe programme, because according to him, GOB is using Petrocaribe monies to give teachers a salary adjustment. Barrow is trying to confuse teachers and muddy the issue. No teacher would oppose a salary raise; therefore, none of them would oppose the spending of Petrocaribe monies, if it were only true. But BNTU President Luke Palacio says that is not the case.

Petrocaribe Not Rolling for Met Office – Key radar equipment not functioning since October 2014
The UDP Government Ministers have been rolling in Petrocaribe millions but the Meteorology Office has been left to fend for itself, begging for funds, to repair the very important radar system which has deteriorated and stopped working. Since October 2014, the Met Office’s vital tool, the Doppler radar, has not been functioning. This equipment provided a live imagery of weather conditions over Belize and helped to analyse the weather and make accurate forecasts. It also provided real-time visual information to online users around the world. Without the radar, the Met Office has had to rely on external support and assistance to carry out its work. This has taken their service a decade or more behind. While getting the Doppler radar back on stream has been a priority for the Met Office, this apparently isn’t the case for the Government who has dragged its feet to approve requests for funds requested by the weather experts.

New Blood in Dangriga – Long-time Educator Anthony Sabal Named PUP’s New Standard Bearer
A surge of energy and interest has preceded the People’s United Party’s announcement and presentation of a new candidate for the Dangriga constituency for the upcoming general elections. Long-time educator Henry Sabal has stepped up to the plate, giving residents of the culture capital another major reason to continue supporting the only Party that has shown them respect. At a press conference held on Wednesday, May 13th, PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca introduced Mr. Sabal to the public, underscoring his distinguished career as a teacher and service to his community. “We are very proud to welcome Mr. Anthony Sabal as the new Standard Bearer for the People’s United Party. He is a man I have tremendous faith and confidence in. He understands the issues and challenges affecting Belize. He has a long distinguished career as an educator. He is a man of great principle. A humble man,” remarked the Party leader.

Think About It
The families in the Gungulung area of Lake Independence, Belize City, who are facing a cold hearted eviction, have now taken a stand. They say to evict them in the circumstances is unfair and unjust and they will fight any effort to evict them. These families entered deep swamp and thick mangroves years ago to chop and fill up a portion of murky, disease infested water to turn into a habitable piece of “land”. This is a long process of years before a family can fully cut thick mangroves, destroy the stump and fill the area with garbage, debris and eventually some clay. There are no roads or streets to carry in any landfill or items. Everything is by buckets and by hand. It is an arduous and painstaking challenge. It is a sign of the desperation involved in their human desire for habitation and somewhere to call their own.
There is a dire shortage of Magistrates. Each morning hundreds of citizens are seen waiting to be called into Court as only three Magistrates are available in Belize City where there are usually six. We understand the situation is worst in the Cayo District. There is no magistrate for Benque Viejo, none for San Ignacio and only one in Belmopan. We cannot understand this terrible shortage in the justice system. Is the treatment of Belizean lawyers so shabby that none wish to work in the Magistrate Courts? There are four attorneys at the family court. There are two magistrates at the “City Council” court upstairs the commercial center. The bulk of overcrowding and back-logs are in the Magistrate Courts behind Brodies.

Adding Fuel to Fire
Mother’s Day has come and gone and for the UDP’s, the day was full of Cheer. In his last Press Conference, Prime Minister Dean Barrow proudly and arrogantly proclaimed that all seventeen members on his side of the House would receive fifty thousand dollars each to spend on the mothers in their constituencies. He did not expressly stipulate it but it was no doubt clearly understood that those would be, UDP mothers. His fourteen standard bearers also received hefty sums while members of the Opposition were encouraged to “come beg” for some. Of course, according to the Prime Minister, they could only get half of what those on the UDP side would be receiving. Not one member of the press dared to ask him how he could justify that. Of course, according to his new Petro Caribe Act, he doesn’t have to. He has all authority to borrow at will and spend at will with no obligation to account to anyone or any group. This has got to be considered the most dictatorial and “facey” law ever enacted by any government. The Leader of the Opposition Honorable Francis Fonseca had of course, already announced at a recent House Meeting that representatives of the People’s Unite Party would not be accepting any money from the Petro Caribe Fund. According to Mr. Fonseca, the PUP “will not be accepting a single copper whether it be the Mother’s Day, the X-Mas or any other cheer”. The Leader of the Opposition has gone as far as to label the actions of the Barrow Administration “criminal” and has said that in the face of those actions, “the PUP, cannot and will not be a party to any such criminality”. The PUP has accused the Prime Minister of unlawfully using the money and has filed a lawsuit to that effect; a case which is currently awaiting trial in the Supreme Court. In what was clearly preemptive action and in anticipation of a court ruling against him, Prime Minister Dean Barrow went to the House of Representative last month and rushed through a bill which, as the Leader of the Opposition pointed out, “runs afoul of both the Belize Constitution and the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act 2005”.

A Backward Government
Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s Petrocaribe Law is one of the most backward moves by a political party in Belize’s history. Instead of taking us forward into stricter reforms, strengthening what exists in our laws and systems of oversight, the UDP is reversing. It has reversed the efforts of the Unions, the Chamber, the student movements and concerned citizens who rallied and lobbied for the Finance and Audit Act to cover all aspects of Government borrowing and spending when dealing with $10 million or more. Barrow has done much more things that are backward. Instead of embracing the call for a stronger Senate with the appointment of a 13th Senator, Barrow has rejected it. Instead of recognising the Maya people’s right to communal land, as is their tradition and as affirmed time and time again by our High Courts, Barrow refuses to give our indigenous peoples the respect that they are due. Instead, he snobbishly argues that his Government recognises only recognises a right to land as a human right and not any form of communal land. Instead of ending nepotism and cronyism, Barrow proudly practises it. His sons, daughter, wife, ex-wife and brother have all benefitted from his position as Prime Minister. It is with his consent that they are awarded legal contracts, diplomatic postings, executive position in Government entities and the perks that come with it. Like an emperor who appoints his children as Lords over kingdoms, so has Barrow’s control spread

Brown Bombers lead 2015 Smart Mundialito
The undefeated Brown Bombers are leading the 2015 SMART Mundialito annual football tournament with 3 wins and a draw at the MCC garden last Saturday. In Game 1, the undefeated Collet Strikers posted their 2nd win: 1-0 against the London Strikers, with a strike by Troy Gentle. In Game 2, Heights FC and Carlston FC each picked up a point by a nil-zip draw. In Game 3, the undefeated Young Warriors also posted their 2nd win: 1-0 against the defending champs City Boys; on a strike by Jose Garcia. In Game 4, the Brown Bombers posted their 3rd win to hand the Ladyville Jaguars their 3rd loss, when Eshaq King scored the winning goal; King now leads the tournament with 5 goals.

Hurricanes & Warriors battle for NEBL playoff berth
The Yellow Pages Hurricanes and Dangriga Warriors will battle it out at the Stann Creek Ecumenical auditorium on Saturday night, May 16, for a spot in the National Elite Basketball League playoffs. The Hurricanes are highly confident after defeating the Belmopan Red Taigaz 76-65 at the Belize Elementary auditorium last Friday night. Ty Bradley led the Hurricanes with 22 points, while Brian White added 18 points and 9 rebounds. Red Taigaz’ Travis Lennan scored 16 points and 6 rebounds; while Terrell Eskridge added 12 points. The San Pedro Tigersharks are No.1 after their scheduled game with Belize City No Limit was not played last Saturday night, May 9. No Limit did not make the trip to la Isla Bonita and forfeited the game to the Tigersharks, thereby dropping out of the playoff race.

PUP Chairman Henry C. Usher Remembers Ms. Eloisa Trujeque
Dear Editor, Paradoxical though it is, there is nothing in life worthwhile that is not attained through suffering and conflict. But such a cross is not too great a burden to carry for the enriching privilege of touching other lives with compassion and deep understanding. I am certain that this truly reflects Mrs. Trujeque – how she was and how she lived. Mrs. Trujeque or Ms. T as we all called her was an ardent supporter and humble leader of the PUP and a true servant of the people. She served on the executive committee of the PUP Mesopotamia for many years rising to the post of Chairlady. She never gave up hope in a division that the Party has not done so well in the last few elections. Meetings, fundraisers, voter registration, campaigning, Ms. T was involved in all of them. She always made sure to remember her people. Mrs. Trujeque entered as a candidate of the PUP in the 1999 City Council elections winning back to back, serving with recently departed Mayor David Fonseca and other councillors like Danny Madrid and Yasmin Shoman. She held the massive portfolios of Public Health and Environment, Solid Waste Management, Markets and Unions. Her tenure as a city councillor until 2006 was marked by an avid commitment to enrich the lives of her Southside brothers and sisters. No matter where she went Ms. T never forgot her West Street roots.

Run Di $$ Tracy!
Dear Editor, A new UDP candidate for the Albert Division, I believe her name to be Tracy Taeger Panton, held her political convention and Mother’s Day program with Petrocaribe Funds involved on the 8th of May at the House of Culture. As a single mother of three children and a voter in the division, I attended the event after begging for an invitation. After the speeches, I went for a plate of food but was told “no moh food deh, all done”. I decided to get a soft drink but was told “one dalla for a coke”. I was shocked because I had heard Prime Minister Barrow announcing that every division would be receiving $50,000 from Petrocaribe for their Mother’s Day Cheers. My maths tells me that there is no way that program on Friday cost $50,000. So weh di rest of the money gone? Inna somebody pocket?? I remember last year, when Herman Longsworth was the man in Albert, we mothers received $100. This year, the candidate who is also a mother, gave us $0.00. Nada! Imagine, Tracy noh get into office yet, and she done di chance we. Weh di money deh Tracy?

PUP Secretary General sues The Guardian’s Alfonso Noble
People’s United Party Secretary General Myrtle Palacio has filed a civil suit against the Guardian Newspaper editor, Alfonso Noble, for spurious allegations made against her in the UDP rag sheet. Mrs. Palacio is seeking damages for libel after Noble refused to retract allegations that the Secretary General endorsed the criminal act of with craft in the Sunday, January 4, 2015 newspaper edition. Noble is known for using the UDP print organ to vilify and disrespect women, especially if they are believed to be PUP. He apparently has no ethics and no boundaries. The Secretary General is represented by Senior Counsel and former Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Said Musa. The matter is now before the Supreme Court.

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE – A SOP TO CERBERUS
By Dolores Balderamos Garcia In ancient Greek Mythology there is a fearsome creature, a dog or monster called Cerberus. He has three heads, a mane of serpents, and the claws of a lion. He guards the entrance to Hades, the Underworld, so as to prevent the dead from leaving and the living from entering. And he has, in some renditions of the story, an appetite only for live meat so as to allow just the spirits of the dead to freely enter the underworld but allow none to leave. In other renditions he enjoys honeycakes, and the meat or cakes were used by the ancient heroes to distract Cerberus so that a living person could enter the underworld. The twelfth labour assigned to Greek hero Heracles was capturing Cerberus. A “sop” is a thing given or done to appease or bribe someone. In literature there are many references to the term “a sop to Cerberus,” meaning a concession or bribe to conciliate a person otherwise liable to be troublesome. In Roman literature Aeneas threw a sop to Cerberus in order distract him and slip by. Other meanings are a “bribe or something given to propitiate a potential source of danger or problems” or “to give a gift to a troublesome person” in order to appease or to quiet him/her. You no doubt get the picture!!

Sedi has it wrong once again
Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) heavily condemns and scowls upon the recent comments of Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington concerning his intention, with the blessings of the current administration, to travel to Guatemala City in a few weeks to sign an amendment to the infamous Special Agreement, or Compromis, to allow for the Republic of Guatemala to host a referendum on going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ahead of Belize instead of honoring the Agreement’s original intention that both countries should hold the referendum simultaneously. Notwithstanding our dislike towards the Compromis, we stand utterly dismayed at the Foreign Minister’s assertion, via the interview with Channel 5, that the Belizean public should not be consulted on such a critical change to this Agreement. By suggesting that “It is not our obligation to go back to the public every time we are taking an action”, it highlights that the minister is clearly psychologically affected either by his ego or by some sort of academic leaning.

BYM Condemns Statement by Minister of National Security
The Belize Youth Movement condemns the attempts by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of National Security John Saldivar to mistreat the seriousness of the crime situation in the country. The Minister, at an event in Crooked Tree Village on Wednesday, accused the media of “sensationalising crime” and seemingly boasted that major crime has decreased by 30%. The BYM condemns the Minister’s dangerous approach in dealing with the level of crime, in particular gun/gang violence involving mostly young people. While the Minister claims that major crimes have reduced by 30%, official data (see below) provided by the very same Police Department which Saldivar leads, shows that the number of homicides has increased significantly since 2013. It is clear that the Ministry of National Security is clueless about the crime situation. The Minister’s statement is irresponsible and a clear attempt to distract from reality. His Ministry apparently utilises an “ostrich approach” to the issue where they stuck their heads under the ground and pretend that the situation is not so bad and that the media is simply exaggerating the figures.

Gilroy Usher Sr. Conducts Community Cleanup in Port Loyola
On Thursday, May 7th, 2015 both Maurice Dena St. and a portion of Arlington Drive in Port Loyola got a long needed facelift when Gilroy Usher, Sr., members of his Constituency Executive Committee and residents of the division carried out a long overdue cleanup campaign of the area. The drains that were overgrown with grass and clogged with debris were thoroughly cleaned with the aid of a backhoe tractor that was hired by Usher. Heavy duty machine was also used to drain two very large pools of dirty water that were a health concern and major hindrance to residents. For several months, residents have complained about the flies and rats thriving in the unclean areas and the health risks that they are exposed to. Residents say that their cries have gone unheard and ignored by the elected representative, UDP’s Anthony Boots Martinez.

Breaking Belize News

Cayo stands in solidarity against offshore drilling
At midday today, hundreds, if not thousands of Belizeans across the country stood in solidarity with OCEANA against offshore oil drilling in Belize. In San Ignacio Town, members of the community gathered by the wooden bridge to pledge their 100% support to OCEANA against offshore oil drilling […]

Crooked Tree Cashew Festival promotes Humble Cash Cow
Crooked Tree, Belize District- The humble cashew is a fruit of many talents, and a welcome boon to the 1, 000-plus residents of this isolated inland enclave off the Philip Goldson Highway. But it has the potential to be so much more, as will be demonstrated over the […]

Another Belizean on the international spotlight
Whenever Belizeans share the spotlight at an international level, it is of good news for the country. An article published by “In Scope”, a weekly newspaper for faculty and students at the University of Indiana has shed the light on Francis Marshalleck, a born Belizean. The article reads… “From humble […]

2 Americans Murdered in Teakettle Village
Last night around 7 p.m., Belmopan police were alerted to a murder scene in the Pineapple Hill area of Teakettle Village in Cayo District. Upon arrival to the scene, police entered a premise where they discovered the lifeless body of a man lying on a pool of blood with multiple […]

Crime Statistics Show that Murders Are Up in 2015
The Belize Police Department has officially released the crime statistics for the first quarter of 2015. The major crimes are broken down into six categories:murder, rape, robbery, burglary, theft and carnal knowledge. The statistics show that there is a decrease in burglaries, robberies, and thefts in 2015; however, murders, rapes […]

OCEANA invites public to stand in solidarity against offshore drilling
OCEANA is the largest international organization devoted to ocean conservation and here in Belize, they are working tirelessly to protect Belize’s pristine barrier reef from offshore oil drilling. In an effort to bring awareness, Oceana has organized a national campaign titled “Hands Across The Sand against Off Shore Exploration” at […]

Do Not Miss Belize’s Chocolate Festival in May
Cacao is a crop native to the Americas, and the Toledo District is recognized for its superior cacao over the rest of the country. Cacao beans are a significant export crop and within country, are transformed into distinctive and high quality chocolate. Every Commonwealth Day, which is in […]

Life of Alfred Sattler, CEO of Benque Free Zone in Danger
CEO of Benque Free Zone, Alfred Sattler was driving his vehicle around eight thirty on Thursday morning to the Western Border when about a quarter mile before his destination, a shot was fired at his vehicle hitting eighteen year old Guatemalan national Henri Quiroa who was seated in the front […]

Double Murder in Teakettle Village
We have received credible information about a double murder in the village of Teakettle in the Cayo District. The incident occurred a few minutes before 7 p.m. on Friday night and has left the residents of Teakettle in shock.

Caye Caulker Chronicles

Leila Novelo graduates!
Hearty congratulations to Caye Caulker native Leila Novelo on her graduation from university with a Masters Degree in Social Services. Well done, Leila!

Two boating mishaps
Have been reported over the last two days -- there is a sail boat grounded in the corals south of the Caye Caulker channel, and some boaters enroute to Belize City yesterday encountered this overturned boat in rough seas.

Congratulations to Caye Caulker native Sophia Diego
And her mother Ellen Armstrong, owner of Cayeboard Connection internet cafe, on Sophia's graduation from high school in Canada. This is Sophia's 2nd high school graduation; she graduated last year from St. Catherine Academy. Canadian education rules means she had to do her last year over again before she could enroll in university there. Well done, ladies!

Hands Across the Sands in Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker students, teachers, tour guides, tourists, Village Council members and community members held hands in a show of solidarity against potential off-shore oil drilling in Belize. Across the nation, other communities also joined hands for 15 minutes today to voice citizen concerns.

Blogs

Belize’s US Maya Exhibit Is Boon For Tourism
The current May 2015 tour of Maya artefacts throughout the United States has created a surge in interest in an often-overlooked area of Belize’s burgeoning tourism industry, according to The Lodge at Chaa Creek. Roberto Harrison, Chaa Creek’s marketing administrator, said that the interest generated by the May 2015 Tour has translated into greater interest in the many ancient temples, cities, sacred caves and other remnants of the once vibrant Maya civilisation in Belize. A convoy of nine eighteen-wheeler trucks carrying over 250 of Belize’s most prized Maya artefacts left Boston, Massachusetts on May 13 2015 for a three day journey to the next exhibition in San Diego, and Mr Harrison said the coast to coast exposure is a boon for Belize’s growing tourism industry.

Returning from the States: The Things I Brought With Me
I’m back. My Providence, Rhode Island to Baltimore to Cancun to Belize City to San Pedro 28 hour trek is over and left me a bit tired but HAPPY TO BE HOME. Now I’m unpacking my bag. I was on a strict budget and didn’t buy much – just some necessary items. And things that are SO MUCH CHEAPER abroad and worth it (to me) to bring back to Belize. A few years ago, I wrote a post about what to bring to Belize when you are moving here permanently – and I agree with almost all of it today. Bring sheets with you, substitute a Kindle for all the books and DON’T BRING SO MANY CLOTHES! Those 10 pairs of long pants…you are not going to use them and they will just get moldy! I promise. Here’s a photos of what I extracted from my suitcase that wasn’t in it when I left about a week and a half ago. The cats have already taken up residence on my opened bags. Here is my yearly “Target haul”.

Retire in Corozal Belize
More and more, the buzz amongst both expats and native Belizeans is that Corozal is the place to be. With real estate prices lower than many other areas of Belize, Corozal offers an outstanding location to live. Corozal is fortuitously located in the very north of Belize, and receives far less rain than the monsoon-drenched areas in the south. Residents of Corozal enjoy warm tropical days without enduring months of tropical rain. Conveniently, the Mexican border is just nine miles away. Both the Mexican town of Chetumal and the Belizean duty-free zone offer outstanding prices on a wide variety of foods, household goods, and other items. Corozal is blessed with a picturesque and lovely main square, offering residents and visitors alike a delightful Latin ambience. A community swimming pool, karaoke bars and art exhibitions bring together this English-speaking town located on the shore of the gorgeous Corozal Bay. Resisting the rampage of overeager developers, the waterfront along the bay is partially fronted by a delightful green parkland, offering outstanding views.

International Sources

Solar Sunflower Concentrates Power and Desalinates Water
Swiss company, Airlight Energy is producing a solar sunflower that tracks the sun like a sunflower does and concentrates the sun’s radiation by 2,000 times (and converts 80 percent of that power to useful energy) in a unit that produces 12kW of solar electric power and 20kW of thermal power from 10 hours of sunlight. It cools itself by pumping water through its veins just like a plant. Airlight says that the energy produced is enough energy to power several average homes making the unit perfect for offgrid uses. And that’s not all. The heated water can be used for cooling air or desalinating water. The unit can produce 30 to 40 liters of potable water from salt water, which will be great where water is too salty to drink or the area is an arid one near the sea.

Top 10 Under Rated (and less-crowded) Mayan Archaeological Sites
10. Lamanai, Orange Walk, Belize Lamanai, the Mayan word for “submerged crocodile,” was aptly named. Not only do crocodiles appear in the site’s effigies and decorations, but you are likely to see crocodiles while trying to get there. In order to reach the site, you must take a small boat up the winding New River through the tropical rainforest of central Belize. Lamanai was one of the longest continuously occupied cities, starting in 500 B.C. to 1675 A.D. or even later, probably due to its strategic location on the trade route of the New River. The most notable among this site’s ruins is the Mask Temple at the northern end of the complex.

Videos

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, joins the rest of the country in Hands Across the Sand cause in solidarity against Offshore Oil, 2min.

Belize Tree House Resort At Caves Branch, Belmopan, Belize, 4min.

Spring Break 2015 - Cozumel and Belize, 5min.

Belize Zoo, 3min.

Hands Across the Sand - Hopkins Belize., 3min.

belize, 10min.

Jesus Acosta & The Professionals - Bruckdown Belize Style, 10min. Album : From Belize With Love

Tarpon attack. Belize, 22sec.

May 16, 2015

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

Marbucks: Wine and social Thursdays in Tres Cocos!
Marbucks is certainly more than just coffee, although that is super delicious too! Located in Tres Cocos at Daydreamin’ Bed and Breakfast, this special little coffee nook offers more than the standard morning treats. Wines and cocktails are also served beyond breakfast, and for a special treat, Thursday is afternoon wine fun! From 3PM – 5PM every Thursday, gracious hostesses Mar and Rachel welcome friends and neighbors in the area to enjoy a glass of wine or two (or three or four) with complimentary nibbles from the kitchen. It’s a fun, relaxed afternoon and a great way to meet new friends.

Letter to the Editor: Emeliano Rivero addresses the community
Letters-to-the-EditorDear San Pedro Sun, Please allow me a space in your invaluable news source to give my opinion and hopefully others may have the same thoughts and proceed to have a positive thought towards the benefit of our “paradise island”, a title we are rapidly losing. I go online daily, hourly, and all I read is negativity on social media, news sources and message boards. Our beautiful island and people keeps getting bombarded with negativity. Citizens bombarding hate against each other in our small community without remorse, with the gut to walk past each other with hate and no shame of it. Thing is, these parties do not have an idea of who is affected. They simply might not care or are oblivious to reality. A sad reality the community is going through. Many that are affected by crime in this community, in my opinion, are the better citizens. The citizens who do for the community. Citizens who care, some who have fought for education, health, safety, food and fundraising events for whoever needs it. Some of you who are reading this have benefited from these Good Samaritan’s deeds. Good Samaritans who have lost a loved one through selfishness of others.

Notices from The San Pedro Town Council
The San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) hereby notifies the general public that in accordance with the Town Council’s (Control of Refuse) Bylaws No. 13 of 2005 section 3 – “The occupier of any premises within the limits of any town shall provide on the premises a suitable receptacle with a secured cover for the contamination of garbage.” Moreover, section 10 (e) – “A person within the limits of any town who exposes, on any sidewalk, street, or any place where the content may be scattered onto a public place, a receptacle containing garbage not sufficiently protected so as to effectively prevent content of the receptacle from being exposed or scattered commits a littering offence,” therefore; section 11(1) “Any person who commits an offence may be issued a violation ticket with a fine of $500.00.”
The San Pedro Town Council and the San Pedro Transport Department (SPTD) hereby informs the general public that the SPTD will be conducting the removal of TINTED VEHICLE WINDOWS on May 26, 2015 at the Louis Cuz Sylvestre Sports Complex (formerly known as Saca Chispas/Old Football Field) throughout the day, this is in accordance with Section 5 Subsection (2) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Tinted Windows) Regulations 2011.

Despite vandalism, San Pedro AIDS Commission to continue beautification efforts
A recently launched beautification project by the San Pedro AIDS Commission (SPAC) has suffered a minor setback due to vandalism. The SPAC embarked on a project to cover the graffiti covered fence/wall on the south side of the San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School (SPRC). The area is a heavily trafficked alley connecting Coconut Drive and Barrier Reef Drive. The project was meant to give the wall a “new look”, with positive messages painted on it, but days after the project started unknown criminals decided to take it upon themselves to vandalize the newly painted walls with rude/vulgar messages. According to President of the AIDS Commission, Felix Ayuso, a bit of vandalism will not slow down the project as they intend to change the image of the alley. “SPAC began the beautification project by covering the horrible graffiti on the south side of the SPRC fence on the alley going to the beach by Tropic Air. This area is trafficked a lot by tourists, locals and children, and the wall has become a horrible eyesore. This is a big area that needs a “new look”. The project is costly but we felt it needed to be done. After we did the first phase of the project, it was vandalized. Even though the vandalism is going to result in the project costing more than initially anticipated, we do intend to complete the project,” said Ayuso.

Luis Campos claims police brutality while in custody for Murder investigations
23-year-old Luis Campos, who was recently charged for murder and conspiracy to commit murder, is claiming police brutality while in custody during the investigation that led to the charges. Campos, 19-year-old Mark Arzu and 18-year-old Santos Garcia were charged jointly in the murder of 42-year-old Jose Rigoberto Beltran who was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head on Tuesday, April 28th. After being remanded to the Belize Central Prison to await the first hearing, Campos’ attorney made the scandalous declaration that his client had allegedly been physically abused by police. In an interview in Belize City, attorney-at-law Oscar Selgado stated that police used excessive force on his client and as such, his testimony should not stand in court. Campos is claiming that Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, currently stationed in San Pedro Town, was the one who arranged the beating. “On Wednesday, April 29th at around 2PM I was called out to San Pedro by my clients, the Campos family. The reason for that is because Luis Campos was detained by police following a murder investigation. My client was a person of interest by the police. Broaster himself entered into the Campos’ residence at the San Juan area, the home of Moses Campos Sr. and demanded that my client be handed over to the police.

Belize Barrier Reef health: Poor – says Healthy Reefs Initiative
The state of Belize’s Barrier Reef is “Poor”; according to the annual Reef Health Index presented by Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative (HRI) at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, May 12. The Reef Health Index for the entire Meso-American Reef, from Mexico, Belize, through Guatemalan and Honduran waters, is “Fair”. Roberto Pott of the Healthy Reefs Initiative delivered the good news that at least nothing has declined in health from last year; and in some marine protected areas, such as Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Laughing Bird Caye National Park off of Placencia, the scores were good for the populations of both herbivorous fish and commercial species. The Northern Barrier Reef also scored “Good” for its population of commercial species, such as large grouper. Healthy Reefs Initiative has been publishing its annual Report Card on the health of the reef for the past 10 years, measuring four parameters: coral cover, the percentage of areas covered by fleshy macro-algae, the population of herbivorous fish – like parrotfish and surgeonfish, and the population of commercial species – snapper and grouper.

Ambergris Today

Jimmy Buffet's Falcon 900 does fly-by above Ambergris Caye
Sanpedrano pilot Gerald Leslie was flying Jimmy Buffet's aircraft back to Florida from Panama last week Thursday and decided to fly over Ambergris Caye when they could obtain permission to land in San Pedro. Gerald wanted to make a quick visit to his home and wish his mother Martita Leslie a 'Happy Mother's Day'. He was only allowed to perform a fly-by and send his wishes to his mom from above. Gerald sends greetings to everybody on the island and tells us that Mr. buffett is planning to visit the island soon!

Misc Belizean Sources

Closure of the Conch Fishing Season
In accordance with the Fisheries(Amendment) Regulations under Statutory Instrument number 54 of 2012 (Regulation 24.A), the Fisheries Administrator hereby informs fishermen and the general public that the Conch Fishing Season will officially be declared closed from June 1st, 2015 to September 30th, 2015. The public is reminded that no person or establishment shall have in possession any conch during the closed season in accordance with Regulation 6 of Principal Regulations (Chapter 210’s of the Laws of Belize – Revised Edition 2000-2003). The Department hereby makes a special appeal to fishers and the public, to uphold the Fisheries Regulations in regards to conch and other marine products, and urges all responsible citizens to call the Department at 224-4552 / 203-2623 to report any infractions. The Department can also be reached by e-mail at [email protected]. The public is assured that all information communicated to the Fisheries Department will be treated with the strictest of confidence! For any further information, kindly contact the Fisheries Department at 224- 4552 or 223-2187.

Major crime statistics January 1 - May 1 2015
Police department releases major crime statistics for January to April 2015. The good news is that there were less reports of Burglary, Robbery, Theft & Carnal Knowledge but in the first quarter of 2015, there are the highest numbers of Murders & Rapes since 2012.

Belize National Song Competition
It's time! Calling all artists! Register to win!

Altun Ha Visitor's Center
The Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites Project (MTBCAAS) came to fruition yesterday at the archaeological site of Altun Ha, with the opening of new restroom facilities but most importantly a new visitor center to enhance the visitor's experience.

Position open, General Manager San Pedro Water Plant
VACANCY: Apply Now!

MarAlliance joins hands with Oceana
and other organizations and individuals against offshore drilling in Belize. Don't forget to join the nationwide movement of "Hands across the Sand" scheduled tomorrow at noon at designated locations around the country!

BOLEDO DRAWING for Friday, May 15, 2015: 45

Dr. Lisa Lucero passes away
The Institute of Archaeology would like to express our sympathies and condolences to Dr. Lisa Lucero on the passing away of her father. Dr. Lucero is a long time friend and colleague of the Institute and of Belizean archaeology. Our thoughts and prayers are with her during this time.

Channel 7

Case For Castro Worsens On Day Two
Yesterday, we told you about Area Representative Edmond Castro's very difficult day on the witness stand for his lawsuit against Channel 5 and Alvarine Burgess. Under cross examination by attorney Godfrey Smith, he admitted yesterday, that in hindsight, he risked his reputation by signing recommendation letters for Asian Nationals who were applying for Belizean visas. He said he did it to help Alvarine Burgess. Well, today, Burgess took the stand and asserted that he didn't act out of compassion, she said he did it for the money. She says that he knowingly took a bribe of $2,000 for each visa applicant that she was asking him to recommend to the Immigration Department. Burgess took the stand for most of today's session where Castro's attorney, Rodwell Williams vigorously questioned her about different aspects of her story in which she accuses the minister of state of participating in an immigration hustle. Even through his suggestions that she was lying and that her story was false, Burgess stuck steadfastly to her story that Castro took money to recommend Asians for visas. Castro, of course, completely rejects her allegation that he ever took money for the recommendation letters. He also claims that he only recommended persons on her behalf on only 2 occasions, and he claims that in his meetings with Burgess, his driver, Norman Middleton, and his friend, Vernon Cuthkelvin, were both present.

Watchman 68 Year Old Sylvin Killed At Cemento Maya
68 year old watchman Sylvin "Cruz" Encalda was found dead this morning at his watchman's post in Ladyville. He had been working at the Cemento Maya compound for almost 20 years - and reported to work as usual at 6:00 pm yesterday evening. But, at 6:15 am - he was found dead - on the ground of the watchman's hut with a string around his neck. It was made to look like a suicide, but this morning his daughter told us that couldn't be - she asked to appear off camera:.. Reporter "When was the last time you saw your dad?" Voice of: Daughter of Deceased "I saw him around 4:30 - 5:00." Reporter "You're basically saying that that's not something that he would do."

Man On Trial For Causing Death By Grenade
You may vaguely remember the era of urban terror between 2008 and 2009 when gangs started using grades to attack each other. Well tonight, a jury of 12 is deliberating the fate of 31 year-old Belize City resident Lusby Martinez, who was charged for the grenade attack which killed 14 year-old Rudolph Flowers. The incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on December 28, 2009 at the corner of Kraal Road and Haynes Street. Flowers was standing at the corner when a grenade was thrown and it exploded, sending shrapnel into Flower's heart, eventually killing him. The prosecution called 18 witnesses but relied mainly on 3 statements given by Peter Myvett, a witness who was shot and killed on February 17, 2010. Myvett, who was detained by police in their investigation of the murder of Flowers, said in the statement that one Simon or Simeon or Sigmund, was riding a bicycle behind him when he heard an explosion. He identified Martinez in an identification parade as the person who was riding behind him. Myvett's statements were admitted as evidence when Justice Lucas ruled it admissible, after a trial within this trial.

Musician "Nuru" Accused of Sex With Minor
Dayaan "Nuru" Ellis is a well known Garifuna performer, who sings both Paranda and Punta music. But tonight he stands accused of a very serious crime. One week ago, a father took his 14 year old daughter to Dangriga police to report that in October of 2014, Ellis had sex with her at her home. A medical examination confirmed that the child had been carnally known. Ellis had been wanted since the report was made but handed himself into Dangriga police this morning. He has been charged with two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. The child is a high school student.

Sugar Quotas Being Cut Back For Some
Though it seems like it just started the others day, the sugar harvest, or "la zafra" is coming to an end soon - within 7 or 8 weeks - that is if the heavy rains are late. And with just that small window of opportunity - the Sugar Cane Production Committee met on Wedensday and decided to re-apportion and cut back quotas. This is based on a field study conducted by SIRDI which lowered the estimate for cane in the fields from 1.45 tonnes to 1.27 tonnes. From there, they adjusted the allocations - or the daily quota - given to each branch - and this goes into effect on Monday. BSI - which has a seat on the SCPC - supports the decision - and financial controller Belizario Carballo told CTV-3 that it is a rational and required re-ordering of the allocations:.. Belizario Carballo "It also indicated where the cane is. So, it didn't just come up with a total figure. It also gave an indication by area of where the cane is and on the bases of that information it recommended to the Sugar Cane Production Company what adjustments would be necessary to the production estimate. So, it's not really a reduction as its being highlighted. It's really an adjustment to reflect where the cane is and the whole idea is to give farmers who have cane a proportionate opportunity to deliver that cane. All these actions are linked to ensure that those who have cane are given the production estimate otherwise what will happen is what happen last end of crop that you have groups that have production estimate remaining don't have cane and they start bringing in young cane or what you call immature cane."

Major Crime in January to April Trending Down, Murders Up
Today, police released crime statistics showing the three year trend in major crimes from 2012 to 2015. While many average citizens would say they feel less safe with every passing year - the statistics show that since 2012, major crime, meaning murder, rape, robbery, burglary, theft and carnal knowledge has been trending down. But murder is now trending down. Comparative statistics between January and April for the past three years show that the murder total of 46 at the end of this year April is the highest in three years. Rape is also up. But robberies are down sharply from the high water mark in 2012. Burglaries are also consistently trending down, and so is theft. All the figures are for January to April, exclusively.

PM Says No To Renewing Offshore Oil Concessions
Tomorrow, OCEANA Belize will stage an event called hands across the sand where those opposed to offshore drilling will line up in front of the Sandlighters Promenade and hold hands in solidarity. OCEANA says the effort has renewed vigor after a US News outlet, YAHOO News ran a story earlier this week talking about oil reserves in Belize's marine areas. But the Prime Minister told the media yesterday that all offshore concessions have expired and none will be renewed, at least not right now:.. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "All I can tell you is the official position of the government. There is a moratorium on offshore exploration. In fact, I've been talking to OCEANA, I've met with Ms Chanona. She's actually going to propose some language that could find its way into some sort of a formal document and I am perfectly happy to take that to cabinet. What I will not do, is to say that there is a proscription that forever there can and will be no offshore exploration. But I am prepared to, as I said, put in writing that there is a moratorium and that moratorium will only be lifted if conditions are right." Reporter "You did promise to a referendum, have you, on relating on offshore whether or not we should proceed offshore, you did say that yes sir."

PM Says PUP Won't Have Luck on 13th Senator Suit
And "no more" is also what he had to say about Senators. As we showed you last week, the leader of the opposition is taking the prime minister to court. He's asking the Supreme Court to compel the PM to enact the legislation, which has already been passed for the 13th Senator. But, speaking with the press yesterday the Prime Minister said that was already tried before at the Supreme Court, and failed:... Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "There was a previous case, this is a rethread, and this is going over all ground and..." Jules Vasquez "But that case was for legitimate expectations." Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "No, that wasn't for legitimate expectation at all. It was asking for the same sort of relief. The judge said if one of the grounds was legitimate expectation that could work. The judge said a number of things including, as I understand it, that it is not really the business of the court to say to the minister 'you must bring the law into force by a certain time'. The court admittedly can make a declaration if a court thinks that the minister is playing the fool. But as I understand, the court will not make any kind of enforcement order. So I believe that the application for an injunction is misconceiving."

PM Appeals To Teachers Union
And appeal is just what the Prime Minister did to the Belize National teachers Union. That union lashed out against the PM last week for suggesting that they were complicit in whatever Petrocaribe violations there may have been because the Unions have participated in petro-programmes. And the PM said, they also got their raise, not from - but as a result of Petrocaribe money in the budget - which fred up recurrent funds for salary increases. The teachers union president bristled at the suggestion, but yesterday, the PM said he meant no harm:.. Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister "I will also say that they benefit indirectly and this seems to have caused some sort of a stir, some sort of a coffle. because our agreement with them, that they will get 50 per cent of any increase in recurring revenue from one year to the next, is made possible because we have Petro Caribe to fill the whole in terms of government spending that is caused by that agreement. In that context I am not saying that Petro Caribe pays their increases, but it gave us the space to allow us to come to that agreement with them."

Father Pleads For Daughter's Return Home
Tonight a 16 year old girl is missing and her family is concerned about her whereabouts. Keisha Flores- a first form student- was last seen by family member's yesterday- but when she didn't return home they became concerned. Her father stopped by our studios this afternoon - to ask for the public's assistance in locating his daughter. Father of Missing Girl "They were on a road trip and I got a call around 12:50 stating that my daughter hasn't returned home since yesterday. Immediately I called the police station whereby I spoke to an officer and they said to just provide a picture of her so that they can follow up on the investigation. But I don't know much, I tried to ask her mother who is a close friend of hers? Who did they last see her with? Who did she leave the house with? However no one knew who she had left with. I said to myself she's a minor and this is the first time. Her mother is working, I don't blame the grandparents much but I think that someone should look out for these kids. I think it's the careless former primary school teacher from where she went to school. They told me they stopped the school warden from taking her about. When I talked to her grandfather, he told me is that she would usually say she's with the school warden. So my next step is to go to the school warden's home and try to see her."

Police Brutality - The Broader Picture
Police brutality - we know, you have heard it so often on the news, but if you don't live in it, you can't imagine how much it really happens. In fact, right in the middle of this newscast, we had people coming to our studios to tell us that police were beating up a kid a few blocks away on Plus street - and an hour ago - it was in the conch shell bay area, and half hour ago, in the Taylor's Alley area. That's how many complaints we get regularly where people seek the media to protect them form police abuses. And a group of young women Monica Bodden spoke to yesterday say they wish the media was there when police took them into a van to search them. Monica looked at their complaint in the wider context of a southside community, pockets of which are under constant pressure from police.

Some Squatters Houses Coming Down
For the past few weeks we have been reporting on the story of the squatters in Lake Independence who are complaining about being evicted from the place they have called home for years. But there are many other land issues on private property in the Gungulung area. Today we received a call from a resident there who says that around 1:30 this morning a group of men - she says it was the police - came to her house and started to demolish cut it down. In fact they told us that 3 houses in the private area were being broken down. The owner of the house told us that King assured them that they could stay there and that they were safe because they were on private property - that was not the case and now those families have to move out of the area. We are told this is an area on private property and eviction notices were issued. We'll keep following the story.

GG Concludes Five Day Trip To Taiwan
Governor General, Sir Colville Young and the Minister of Energy, Science & Technology and Public Utilities, Joy grant have concluded a 5 day visit to Taiwan. The GG was accompanied by President of UB Alan Slusher and they visited with President Ma Ying- jeou, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Lin. The Governor General also launched the Chinese Edition of his book, "Pataki Full: Seven Belizean Short Stories". For her part, Minister Grant and her CEO Dr. Colin Young also met with the President and also with the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jyuo-min Shyu. Minister Grant signed a Joint Statement between her ministry and the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to encourage and promote the use of renewable energy in Belize through a solar street lighting pilot project.

Ras Indio Can't Trust It
"Can't Trust It" - that's the name of the new Ras Indio single and video that was released today. He told me this one is not a universal message; it's personal: The new video is on his facebook page in its entirely and it will be included on an album coming out at the end of this year.

Channel 5

Whistleblower Alvarene Burgess Takes Stand Against Clear the Land Castro
Today Minister Edmond Castro, who had occupied the hot-seat in Court all of Thursday smiled when whistle-blower Alvarene Burgess took the witness stand at ten to be cross-examined by attorney [...]

Attorney Rodwell Williams Says Whistleblowers’ Story is Inconsistent
Today other witnesses included Edmond Castro’s driver Norman Middleton, Burgess’ husband Curt Burgess and CEO of Great Belize Productions Amalia Mai. Just as the defence hinged on the testimony of [...]

Did Alvarene Burgess Expose Herself to Prosecution by Admitting to Bribing Minister?
At one point late in the cross-examination, Williams went on a new path. Since Burgess maintained that she paid Minister Castro for visa recommendations, Williams insinuated repeatedly that by coming [...]

Vernon Cutkelvin Won’t Testify In Castro Case
One man whose name was mentioned repeatedly today is Vernon Cutkelvin. According to testimony from the stand, he is a friend and advisor of Minister Edmond Castro and was allegedly [...]

Opposition Representative Will Be Absent from Witnessing Special Agreement Amendment
A delegation led by Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington leaves for Guatemala City next weekend where they will witness the signing of the revised Special Agreement on May twenty-fifth. The amended [...]

Foreign Minister Explains Press Release Blunder
The Prime Minister said on Thursday that he had instructed the Minister to issue a release and that the Foreign Minister may have preempted an official release by government on [...]

Elderly Watchman Murdered in Ladyville
The murder stats went up by one today. Sixty-eight year old Selvyn Encalada, a resident of Perez Road, Ladyville, was found dead this morning inside a compound where he worked [...]

Crime Stats Indicate that Murders Are Up in 2015
On May thirteenth Minister of National Security John Saldivar criticized the media for sensationalizing murders in the country. He seemed to feel that instead we should be heaping praises on [...]

Is There a Hit on CEO of Benque Free Zone?
Was an attempt made on the life of Alfred Sattler, C.E.O. at the Benque Free Zone? On Thursday morning around eight thirty, Sattler was driving his personal vehicle heading to [...]

Paranda Musician ‘Nuru’ Ellis Charged with Carnal Knowledge
A father accompanied by his fourteen year old daughter and a social worker reported that on October twenty-eight, 2014 around one-thirty PM and on May third, 2015 while at her [...]

Case Against Accused Grenade Murderer Wraps Up in Supreme Court
Judge Adolph Lucas summed up today the case of accused, Lusby Martinez who is on trial for the December twenty-eighth, 2009 grenade murder of Rudolph Flowers following a grenade attack [...]

Ex-cop and Girlfriend Charged with Drug Trafficking
An ex-police officer and his girlfriend were dragged to court today to answer to a single charge of drug trafficking after the GSU conducted a search at their home. In [...]

How Pat Andrews Was Selected as Next Ambassador to OAS
Career banker Patrick Andrews has been designated to succeed Ambassador Nestor Mendez as Belize’s top diplomat to the State Department and to the O.A.S. in Washington. While his appointment is [...]

PM Says Teachers and Public Servants Are Indeed Benefiting from Petrocaribe
BNTU President Luke Palacio, in an interview with the media last week, said the prime minister attempted to mislead the nation when he stated that teachers and public servants were [...]

Nurses Host Annual Conference
Nurses from across the country gathered in the city for the culmination of Nurses Week at their annual nurses’ conference. While the health system is one that is often under [...]

Yoga Seminar Kicks Off in Belize City
A first of its kind yoga workshop will be held this coming weekend in Belize City at the Om Shanti Center for Yoga and Healing Arts on Princess Margaret Drive [...]

LOVE FM

PM Supports Castro and Comments on PUP’s Internal Politics
Earlier in the week, the People’s United Party announced that its Dangriga’s Area Representative and Standard Bearer, Ivan Ramos, will not contest the next general elections. This shift is the latest move we have seen the PUP do in order to get ready for the general elections which the Prime Minister says will be later rather than sooner. On the other side, the United Democratic Party has most of its candidates in line with only the Orange Walk South and Belize Rural North areas left. Yesterday Prime Minister Dean Barrow told the media that they are pretty much ready for the general elections and he also shared his thoughts on the internal politics of the opposition. “Perhaps for fear of having any further efforts at changes turn out to be as shambolic as their last effort was. I couldn’t get the full sense of it because naturally, I had to be satisfied with the electronic version of the news …. But what a shambles; I am sure people would have noted the comparison between our very orderly transitions with everybody singing the same song-key. And when they looked at what happened there, talk about …

Murder of Security Guard Staged As Suicide
A family in Ladyville Village, Belize District is trying to come to terms with the unexpected news of the death of their father, Sylvin Thomas Encalada Senior, also known as Mr Cruz. The watchman at the Maya Cement Warehouse in Ladyville went on duty at six o’clock yesterday evening, as he has been doing for the last eighteen years. It is an interesting case as Love News understands that the man was found on the floor of the security booth with a rope around his neck indicating that perhaps he took his own life. We spoke with his daughter, Amalia Encalada who told us that her father was not suicidal. AMALIA ENCALADA “I got the news this morning at about 6:15; they told me that they found my dad dead at work.” RENEE TRUJILLO “When was the last time you saw your dad?” AMALIA ENCALADA “Yesterday at about 4:30pm … My dad would never do anything like that, he could go through hell and river bottom and that is the way he was. For him to hang himself – he had my kids to live for and his grandchildren. He would have never left us behind so he could never commit suicide.

Jury Deliberates on 2009 Murder
A jury of 10 women and 2 men is deliberating today in the court of Justice Adolph Lucas to see if it can reach a verdict for Lusby Martinez, charged with the murder of Rudolph Flowers, a 14 year old who was killed by 2 grenade fragments that penetrated his heart. The incident occurred shortly after 7pm on December 28, 2009 at the corner of Kraal Road and Haynes Street in Belize City. Flowers was standing at the corner when a grenade was thrown and subsequently exploded. The prosecution called 18 witnesses but it is relying mainly on 3 statements given by Peter Myvett, a witness who was shot and killed on February 17, 2010. Myvett, who was detained by police in their investigation of the murder of Flowers, said in the statement that one Simon or Simeon or Sigmund, was riding a bicycle behind him when he heard an explosion. He identified Martinez in an identification parade as the person who was riding behind him. Myvett’s statements were admitted as evidence after a voire dire was held to determine their admissibility. Martinez gave a statement from the dock in which he said that he was at home at the time of the incident and he was not feeling well because he had diarrhea. Martinez is represented by attorney Simeon Sampson while the Crown is represented by Crown counsels Shanice Lovell and Portia Staine.

Man Gets Charged for Having Sex With Minor
Last Friday a man took his fourteen year old daughter into the Dangriga Police Station along with a social worker to file a report against a man who reportedly had sexual intercourse with the minor. According to the reports, the incident occurred twice; the first time on October 28, 2014 at around one thirty in the afternoon and on May 3, 2015 at the home of the minor. A medical examination was conducted on the child which certified that she was indeed carnally known. As a result, police have arrested and charged 39-year-old, Dayaan Kent Ellis also known as Nuru of Ghans Avenue in Dangriga Town. He has been charged with two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Governor General Ends Visit in Taiwan
Last week we told you of the Governor General’s visit to Taiwan and the event slated where he would launch a short story collection in the Mandarin language. That launch did occur and was received with open arms by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan, David Lin, who said that the event is one that underscores the strength of ties between the Republic of China and Belize. He added that he was deeply impressed by the stories since his initial read in Belize last year during his visit here. The Foreign Minister went on to say that he is pleased that Belize’s Governor General, Sir Colville Young had permitted him to have the book translated and published in Taiwan. Lin made the remarks during a special ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei City. During his five day visit the Governor General also made a book donation to the Ji-Mei Elementary School. His Excellency departed for Belize today.

LOVE TV

Pm speak’s on FFCA
At the beginning of the week Prime Minister Dean Barrow left the country enroute to Miami to hold discussions with cruise lines executives over the Stake Bank Cruise Ship port issue. He returned today and while he would not share what was specifically discused before having a talk with Mike Feinstein, Prime Minister Barrow, told ...

Sugar Cane Production call’s meeting
Proposed changes in sugar cane quotas for the three existing cane farmers associations and BSI has upset a number of cane producers. In a meeting held yesterday by the Sugar Cane Production Committee, a proposal was tabled for sugar quota deliveries to the factory to be altered as a result of a recent sugarcane survey ...

Lake Independence Residents speakout
In less than an hour the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow is expected to return to Belize following a business trip … and while there are several matters currently on his plate to address, some residents of the Lake Independence area are appealing that he adds their land situation to his list. For some time now, ...

PM respond to the leader of the Oppsition
Earlier this week, Leader of the Opposition, Francis Fonseca, told Love News that he had been notified that the Government of Belize would be signing an agreement with the Guatemalan Government to amend the Special Agreement which both countries signed back in 2008. The amendment was the idea of the Guatemala Government asking Belize to ...

PM Speaks on PetroCaribe Funds
“Petro Caribe Roll it”- that’s the new catch phrase that this United Democratic Government has been singing ever since the bill went through all its stages in the House of Representatives. The Alba Petro Caribe Act has received criticism from the unions and from the opposition, People’s United Party. So much so that in order ...

PlusTV

Prime Minister continues meetings on cruise port
Prime Minister Dean Barrow is back from Miami, Florida, where he held meetings with representatives of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, a partner in the Fort Street Tourism Village...

Three Arrested, Charged and Bailed for Drugs in Belmopan
Plus News received information that shots were fired in Belmopan sometime around 8:30 this morning near the Police Housing Area...

Minister of State testifies in defamation case
This morning Minister of State and area representative for Belize Rural North Edmond “Clear the Land” Castro appeared in the Supreme Court as the claimant in a case of defamation against constituent and former friend Alvarene Burgess and Great Belize Television (Channel 5) The two-term area represe...

Fourth person faces “Mr Rigo” murder charges
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye resident Alfredo Trapp today became the fourth person to be charged with the murder of 42 year old taxi operator Jose Beltran, also known as Mr. Rigo, on April 28, 2015...

COLA condemns Foreign Minister acquiescing to separate referendum
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington has come under fire for advocating a cautious approach to resolving the unfounded claim on Belize by Guatemala...

Pete Matthews beats burglary charge
28 year old George “Pete” Matthews, Jr., son of the famous bandleader, was acquitted of a charge of aggravated burglary by Chief Magisttrate Ann-Marie Smith. However, he will serve six months in prison for using threatening words and pay a fine of $200 for trespassing...

Chunox fishermen charged for undersized conch
Four fishermen who are related and are from Chunox, were fined a total of almost $20,000 when they appeared today before Magistrate La Donna John and pled guilty to possession of undersized conch. They are 53 year old Leandro Rangel,39 year old Isidro Pott, 38 year old Jaime Rangel and 39 year...

Amandala

PUP ditches Dangriga area rep
After its devastating defeat in the March 2015 Municipal Elections, the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP), in conducting its own post-mortem, announced that it would engage in a serious process of self-examination and introspection that would enable it to win the next general elections. This morning, the PUP’s national campaign manager, Godfrey Smith, reiterated that position when he told the media, “And so this morning’s press presentation is a result of that ongoing process that the PUP is engaged in of self-examination and getting itself in the fittest possible fighting form for the general elections.” The main news coming out of the press briefing was that the PUP has decided to replace its freshman parliamentarian Hon. Ivan Ramos, current area representative of Dangriga, as its standard bearer. Party Leader, Hon. Francis Fonseca made the announcement that Anthony Sabal, a retired career educator, will replace Ramos as the PUP’s Dangriga standard bearer.

Did GSU plant bullets on Conch Shell Bay resident?
Relatives of Jason Orozco, 35, a fisherman from the Conch Shell Bay area of Belize City, who was detained for possession of illegal ammunition by Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) officers during a raid at the Vernon Street Fish Market this morning, were still very much incensed when we visited the area this afternoon. Orozco was reportedly arrested and carted off to the Queen Street Police Station for two bullets which his family claimed were planted in the area by the officers who, they allege, have been targeting the father of 6 for some time now. His sister, Danika Young, told us what happened when the GSU descended on the area shortly after 7:00 a.m. today. She said, “My brother came about after 7:00 and played a little dominoes because he was waiting on the boat come in to buy fish that we usually sell. Now GSU pull up and they give him the first search and after he got searched the first time, he continue play dominoes, then a next one [of the officers] came back again and asked him, ‘they done searched you?’ So he said, ‘yes.’ Then after that, the next police told him, ‘come make we search you again’ and they searched him again.”

Hon. Castro on “hot seat” in court!
Belize Rural North area representative and Minister of State Hon. Edmond “Clear the Land” Castro took the witness stand in the Supreme Court of Justice Courtenay Abel today, as the defamation claim he filed against Alvarine Burgess, an immigration agent and the so-called “whistle blower” who is named as the first defendant, and Great Belize Production (Channel 5 News), the second defendant, which aired Burgess’ allegations against him, came to trial. In October and November, 2013, when the Elvin Penner passport scandal was making national news, Burgess took to the airwaves of Channel 5, and in two separate interviews, alleged that she paid Castro thousands of dollars to secure his recommendation for visas to Asians who wanted to visit Belize. After Channel 5 aired Burgess’ version of the Castro visa recommendation story, Castro demanded an apology and retraction. Burgess and Channel 5, however, ignored his demand. Castro decided to file the defamation lawsuit, claiming that he suffered damage to his reputation.

Hon. King has been “lying to us, betraying us, fooling us!”
The ongoing infrastructural development that has been occurring on the fringes of the Lake Independence area known as “Gungulung” near Holy Emmanuel Street Extension has led to the displacement of multiple families of squatters who had been residing on lands which turned out to be owned either privately or by the state. We were told that about 60 families have either already been, or stand to be, affected, and while 11 of those families were relocated a month ago by Lake Independence area representative, Hon. Mark King, there are several others who live under the threat of being displaced from the homes that they built from scratch. One of those squatters went to the media on Tuesday to complain that based on their research at the Lands Department, King has allegedly recommended land leases for his employees and close friends for the same parcels that have been partially developed by the squatters. According to Bernarda Riviera, King has not given any recommendations for land in the area based on the premise that an authenticated survey of the said lands has not yet been completed.

Political conflict over amendment to ICJ agreement
In the edition of the Amandala newspaper which hit the streets on Tuesday morning, we reported to you that Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington, had informed us, in an interview on Friday, May 8, that he would be travelling to Guatemala in a few weeks to sign an amendment to the 2008 special agreement, allowing Guatemala to proceed before Belize with holding its referendum this November on whether the territorial differendum with Belize should be adjudicated at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Elrington told us last Friday that Belize has no problem agreeing to the amendment to the compromis, and he added that the Barrow administration has no intention of holding an ICJ referendum in Belize before the next general elections. The Foreign Minister told us that he was informing our newspaper of the intended signing in Guatemala “in the interest of full disclosure,” since we also asked him to update us on the process, under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS), which saw both parties commit in January 2014 to a new road map to the ICJ.

Guats did attempt to search Belize Ambassador’s residence
The Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed via a written statement today that Guatemalan law enforcement officials had last week attempted to search the diplomatic premises used by Belize’s resident Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado, on suspicion that the property may have been linked to ex-vice president of Guatemala, Roxana Baldetti, who recently resigned amid corruption allegations. However, the Ministry clarifies that while law enforcement officials in Guatemala did attempt to search Ambassador Rosado’s residence, the search was never an operation of Guatemala’s Executive branch of government. “Concern was raised by the Ambassador with authorities in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, who regretted this development. They explained that the Prosecutor’s Office is an entity independent of the Executive, but undertook to take the necessary actions to prevent its reoccurrence given its status as diplomatic premises,” the statement from the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs went on to say.

Cricket Corner: “Not this time, boys”
The Harrison Parks Cricket Competition 2015, under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, continued with a few games played over the weekend. There were two of them that were very interesting. On Saturday, Western Eagles, who had lost only one game, paid a visit to Belmopan to meet Police, who had lost two – one to Easy Does It and one to Western Eagles. Eagles and Police were in full force against each other. The Eagles took to bat first, and throughout the inning they showed very good skills. It seemed that a big score would have been put on the board, but Police captain Howell Gillett said, “Enough of this!” He called a small looking Indian guy and gave him the ball. After taking a good look at him, I realized that he had taken the most wickets in previous games against other teams. His name is Amnol Kanaujia. With his slow spin bowling, he slowed down the batsmen and the runs. Soon, the Eagles were out for 175 runs. A score like such would let an opposing team be not too comfortable. In that inning, Conway Young top scored with 45 runs for the Eagles. Kanaujia took 3 wkts for Police.

Dangriga sports stats
Boys & Girls U-13 football: The Dangriga Boys & Girls U-13 semifinals were played on Sunday at the Ecumenical football field. In game 1, Umadagu won over Wagierale, 2-nil, with a goal apiece from Demeal Flores and Dashawn Sutherland. Game 2 saw Wagiya defeating Pomona, 1-nil, on a goal by Senea Apolonio. The big Finals is set for this Sunday at Ecumenical football field. The first game will be the 3rd place game at 2:00 p.m. – Wagierale vs Pomona, followed by the big championship match-up – Umadagu vs Wagiya. All U-13 teams who took part in this tournament are invited to witness the fig Finals. Trophies and awards will be distributed by the sponsors, Dangriga Cancer Centre, after the final game this Sunday.

Third World teams champions of Wayne “Hogman” Olivera Day
Young and old gathered around the Third World football field, next to St. Martin’s on Vernon Street yesterday, to participate in a Mother’s Day celebration of football that was also dedicated to honor and assist one of Belize’s great footballers of the past, Wayne “Hogman” Olivera, who was on hand to distribute trophies and awards to the winners of the day’s events. On the initiative of neighborhood activist Anthony “Mango” White, Wayne “Hogman” Olivera Day was originally scheduled for May 1, but had to be postponed due to bad weather; and they decided to join it to the Mother’s Day celebration yesterday. While the atmosphere was one of “peace and love” and sporting excitement among the youths and veterans waiting their turn to play, regrets, were in order for those youths older than 13 years – the one day tournament could not cater for the U-15 and U-17 players, who could only look on with longing eyes.

In light of drug conviction, FFB Vice-President, Rawell Pelayo, resigns
The Football Federation of Belize (FFB), today sent out a short press release to note that its former senior vice president, Rawell Pelayo, has tendered his resignation from that post. Without going into details regarding the circumstances surrounding his departure, the federation mentioned that Pelayo resigned last Saturday, May 8, after being offered the opportunity to “devote time to his family” and “submit his resignation at his own free will.” Pelayo – who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit narcotics trafficking in a New York courtroom on June 30, 2014 – was deported to Belize a month ago, on April 7, after spending 21 months behind bars. The conviction, which is in contravention of FFB statutes, disqualified the well-known Orange walk resident and FFB Executive member from the organization, which had been considering his expulsion, but later decided to allow him a more orderly exit via resignation.

The oil or the water …
Some news broke this week on Oilprice.com in a story by one Dave Forest, dated May 12, 2015 and headlined THIS TINY COUNTRY COULD HAVE HUGE OIL AND GAS POTENTIAL. In 2015, few Belizeans were surprised to learn that Dave Forest was talking about Belize. Neither were Belizeans surprised, but many of us were disappointed, to read that the Government of Belize was giving encouragement to companies in the energy and petroleum business to believe that offshore drilling would be allowed soon in Belize. Back in 1971 when the publisher of this newspaper was president of the United Black Association for Development (UBAD) and writing his North Amerikkkan Blues, only the political and business elite in Belize knew of the vast “oil and gas potential” of Belize. The masses of the Belizean people were in the dark. They had been deliberately kept there. Belize’s oil and gas potential explained a lot of things. It explained why Belizeans had been allowed to migrate to the United States after Hurricane Hattie in October of 1961; it explained the radical 1964 change in Belize’s traditional summer holiday season; it explained Bethuel Webster’s Seventeen Proposals of 1968; and finally, it explained why Philip Goldson had to be removed as Leader of the Opposition, a process first begun in 1969. We’re just saying.

From the Publisher
The colonial law, as enforced in British Honduras during my childhood and youth, did not glorify private property amongst us natives. What I mean is, it was the understanding of us natives that one had to be careful in the use of force to protect one’s property. At the same time, those of us who were students knew that in London in Dickens’ England there had been cases where children had been hanged for petty theft. One had to wonder, therefore, if the law in the “motherland” was enforced differently from the law in the colony, or if it was different when native stole from master as opposed to when native stole from native. The concept of private property is the very foundation of the philosophy of capitalism which dominates so-called Western democracies. From my readings in British history, I can remember that there was this distinct period when common lands began to be privatized. Usually, this meant that the king or one of his so-called nobles grabbed land which had been public property for himself. This was a time of what is referred to as “feudalism.” The coming of private land and private property signaled the beginning of capitalism.

Letter to the Editor: Excessive alcohol consumption
Dear Sir, I would implore GOB, to take a close look at security at our northern border. We are not expecting an invasion from Mexico, what we have is an exorbitant amount of people consuming excessive alcohol, be it on the Mexican side or at the Free Zone. Once these persons or group of persons are under the spirits, they become upstart and aggressive. Many times we have seen the customs officers having problems with these intoxicated people, that they have to resort to physical confrontation. It has just been lucky that there have not been major incidences because the security is lax. On Sunday, there was a confrontation between two groups, a group of super intoxicated guys and a group of sober family guys who got attacked just as they passed through immigration and entered the Belize compound. The family females were very nervous, and the kids were crying.

Jamaica may be the 5th Caribbean country to replace Privy Council with CCJ
In March, Dominica became the fourth country in the Caribbean and the first among members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to ascribe to the appellate jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice, and it appears that Jamaica is poised to become the 5th nation in our region to join by dispensing of the UK-based Privy Council and replacing it with the indigenous court. In a statement released today, CCJ president, Sir Dennis Byron commented: “The CCJ continues to follow very closely these developments in Jamaica with the highest respect and regard for the local constitutional processes. We look forward with great anticipation to a positive outcome that will ultimately afford Jamaican citizens with greater access to the Caribbean’s Court.” “This development comes on the heels of the Court’s 10th anniversary celebrations on April 16th, 2015 and just two months after the Commonwealth of Dominica formally celebrated its accession to the Court’s Appellate Jurisdiction. Barbados, Guyana and Belize also enjoy full access to the Court’s judicial services,” the CCJ said.

Belize modernizing its GIS network
There is a multi-billion-dollar industry built around developments in technology for geographic information systems (GIS), which are used to create “spatial data pictures” in the forms of maps, charts, globes, etc. It is a visual way of showing information which reveals patterns and trends, and over the years, the technology has been catching on among Belizeans in both the private and public sector here. GIS is used to map forest fires, and it is used to tell utility companies where they need to dispatch workers to fix on-the-ground problems. At Amandala, we have used GIS to show you where the concentration of homicides has been occurring. Scores of active GIS users convened today for a two-day conference on GIS. Dubbed the 5th Annual Belize Esri User Conference, the meeting provides a chance for GIS users to hear from practitioners at home and abroad on how GIS can work better for them, and the meeting also provides an opportunity for users to become more GIS-savvy.

Millions spent on Belize-Guat process, but will dispute ever be resolved?
As we reported in the mid-week edition of the Amandala newspaper, Belize and Guatemala are preparing to sign off in a few weeks on an amendment of the 2008 special agreement for the adjudication of the Belize-Guatemala territorial differendum at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). That signing will allow the Guatemalans to proceed with the ICJ referendum in November, when that country expects a second round of polling to elect a new president, but Belize Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington has indicated to us that Belize is not ready to go to the polls in November – and it won’t likely be ready before our general elections are held. When will Belizeans vote? “The time is much too short. We are dealing with domestic issues; we don’t want to get it confused with the Guatemalan issue. When we finish the national elections that will be out of our head and out of our hair, then we can move forward with our [ICJ] election,” said Minister Elrington, speaking with Amandala on Friday, May 8. We took that to mean that Belize will proceed with its general elections before the scheduled date in 2017, because a roadmap which Belize and Guatemala signed at the Organization of American States in January 2014 had signaled that the referenda would culminate the 12-month program of activities sometime in 2015.

Analyzing 60 years of Belize hurricane history
Weather forecaster Frank Tench today presented nearly 60 years of historical data on cyclone activity in Belize, revealing all the tropical storms, hurricanes and intense hurricanes which have crossed the country since 1954. There have been a total of 29 such cyclones, 12 of which were tropical storms and 12 of which were hurricanes, apart from 5 of the hurricanes which were intense hurricanes, categories 3 and higher. Tench’s presentation—which was made this afternoon at the 5th Annual Belize Esri User Conference held at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City—looked at how the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle in the Pacific – which fluctuates between a warm phase (El Niño – Spanish for ‘the boy’), a neutral phase, and a cool phase (La Niña – Spanish for ‘the girl’) – correlates the frequency of storms which have impacted Belize. He showed that most of those storms have occurred during the neutral phase, and the fewest have occurred during the El Niño phase.

Almost 70% of reef in poor to critical condition
Today was reef report card day for Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, and according to Roberto Pott, Belize Coordinator of Healthy Reefs for Healthy People, who unveiled Belize’s score at a press conference held at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City this morning, while the health of Belize’s reef has been improving since 2006, it is still categorized as “poor,” primarily because of morass growth in some areas and because the biomass of commercial fish species, such as groupers, has not yet recovered from heavy fishing. For the other two indicators used to assess reef health, coral cover and herbivorous fish, Belize received a “fair” rating. Together, the 4 neighboring countries listed above, whose reef system make up what is referred to as the Mesoamerican Reef System, received a reef health index (RHI) score of 2.8 of a possible 5, but Belize’s RHI score was lower, at 2.5. The data indicate that almost 70% of Belize’s reef is in poor to critical condition, while the other 30% or so is in fair to good condition.

The Reporter

Crime stats suggest crime is on a decline
A police report of crime statistics through the first third of 2015 suggests that over this time span for the last twelve years, major incidents of crime, for the most part, has been trending down. According to the statistics, the total number of major […]

ATIPS awards logo competition winner
The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Council (ATIPS) held an award ceremony on Friday at the George Price Center in Belmopan to award the winners of the “Anti-Trafficking in Persons Logo Compeition” launched late last year. According to Michelle Segura, ATIPS Focal Point, the winning spot […]

Rawell Pelayo resigns from FFB
Rawell Pelayo, the disgraced Second Vice President of the Football Federation of Belize (FFB), who was deported from the US after having served time for admitting to orchestrate a drug transaction on American soil, resignation last Friday after he was given two deadlines to do […]

Double murder in Cayo District!
The Weekend Reporter Online has received credible information of a double murder in the Cayo District a few minutes before 7 p.m. on Friday. The incident occurred in Teakettle Village. We will have more details online as they become available.

Outstanding teachers recognized
Teachers who have distinguished themselves from among their peers, were honored by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports this week. During a ceremony held at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts on Thursday, teachers at varying levels were given awards, certificates, and even honored […]

Burglar meets death while trying to elude police
Zach August, 32, a convicted burglar met his death in the wee hours of Sunday morning minutes after he tried to break into La Inmaculada Credit Union in Belmopan. The burglary attempt occured at around 2 a.m. and someone who saw the crime in […]

Elderly man stealing mangoes, shot dead with pellet gun
Relatives of Daniel Trapp, 60, have called on the police to treat his shooting as a murder because they feel that the man who shot him used excessive force. The shooter used a pellet rifle on Trapp around 9. on Saturday morning just off […]

Daily cola raises cancer risk due to caramel coloring
The chemical process during the manufacture of the caramel coloring used in soft drinks such as colas produces a carcinogen that could be raising the risk of cancerabove the accepted threshold. That threshold is one extra case in every 100,000 people consuming the drinks, a new cancer study suggests.. The […]

Gungulung squatters set to take on Mark King!
“They wah have to kill me fu tek me out; bruk down my house with me een deh,” one determined single mother resident of the swampland vowed. The parcel of land and swamp just off the road to the Chetumal Street Bridge is called Gungulung. All of the families have […]

First Atlantic storm crashes off the US coast! Belize on alert
An unusual Tropical Storm Ana made landfall between Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina just after daybreak on Sunday. The US National Hurricane Centre downgraded Ana to a tropical depression that same afternoon. Ana is the second earliest landfalli tropical […]

BEL accepts rate cut but 2016 may be a different story
Belize Electricity Limited has accepted a proposal from the Public Utilities Commission to cut electricity rates by 15 percent, but the company says it will seek a rate increase for the next full tariff review period (FTRP). BEL had originally suggested a 10 percent […]

Money to DFC for the private sector!
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) this week gave funds to the Development Finance Corporation to launch a new development project, which will benefit hundreds of Belizeans. DFC received a loan amounting to US $10.5 million and a grant of US $860,000 to be used for […]

PUP vs UDP on Belize/Guatemala referendum
Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington is scheduled to travel to Guatemala this month to sign an amendment to the Compromis that Belize and Guatemala signed in 2008. This agreement stipulates that that two countries will hold referendums simultaneously on whether citizens want to take the […]

PM flies to Miami for more Stake Bank talks
Prime Minister Dean Barrow flew to Miami, Florida on Monday for a secound round of discussions regarding the proposed cruise docking port at Stake Bank. During his visit, Barrow met with executives from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, co-owners of the Fort Street Tourism Village […]

Teenager shot dead while planning party
Kijel Young, 19, a resident of Partridge Street Extension and a graduate of Gwen Lizarraga High School, was shot dead as he sat on a chair shortly after 9. Saturday night in a yard at #45 Vernon Street. Young wasrolling a stick of weed […]

Health Department investigating case of contaminated bottled water
The Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health is investigating a case of contaminated bottled water, supplied to San Pedro by Bowen and Bowen Company limited. Health inspector for San Pedro, Lisa Tillett, confirmed this week that the department was in possession of two […]

MFA says Guatemalans did not search embassy residence
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is scurrying to deny reports that the residence of Belize’s Ambassador to Guatemala, H.E. Alexis Rosado, was searched by Guatemalan authorities late last week. According to a press release issued on Thursday, “while it is correct that certain sections of Guatemala’s law enforcement made the […]

Editorial
It is a rare event when our Financial Secretary, unobtrusive Joseph Waight, chooses to make a public statement. This week he broke with tradition and cautioned that Belize has to begin to make plans for how she is going to meet higher Superbond interest payments, when these become due four […]

Auditor General will audit Petro Caribe finances Other major audits in the pipeline include Treasury and Immigration
The Auditor General Dorothy Bradley, in an exclusive interview with The Reporter this week, revealed that apart from her office now being involved with the Treasury Department investigation, she intends to audit PetroCaribe spending after she concludes outstanding reports including the Immigration Audit. Treasury […]

Fishermen caught with undersized conch - fined $19, 620
Four members of the Rangel family - fishermen living in Chunox, Corozal were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for separate fisheries offenses, involving the possession of undersized conch. At the end of their arraignment, the family - consisting of three […]

PM announces amendments to PetroCaribe Loan Act
Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced on Thursday that he has had several amendments to the controversial PetroCaribe Loan Act 2015, drafted after considering the criticisms of those with legitimate concerns about the Act, and will take them to the House of Representatives in June. […]

Breaking Belize News

Alvarene Burgess defends comments in Edmond Castro defamation suit
Housewife of the Belize River Valley Alvarene Burgess, has been at the center of a political maelstrom concerning her allegation that she gave of her area representative and long-time friend, Hon. Edmond Castro, several thousand dollars to obtain his recommendation for Asian nationals to visit Belize on visas, […]

Why Your BTL Data Usage is Gone in a Da
By Charles Leslie Jr. Since the introduction of 4G I have chosen to remain with the GPRS system, for I wanted Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) to work out its bugs before I switched over. GPRS is slower than 4G however you do not have a limit on the amount of data you use per month, […]

Regional Internet Providers to meet and discuss better services in Barbados
A gathering to be held on May 27th and 28th in Barbados will bring together all the top internet providers in the region in an effort to improve services being provided. This meeting is being organized by the Caribbean Network Operators Group (CaribNOG), in collaboration with other internet agencies across the […]

Southwest Flights to Belize on Sale
The CEO of Southwest Airlines, Garry Kelly in a press conference on Wednesday, announced that the Airline will now offer non-stop flights to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Liberia, Costa Rica and Belize. These new flights into the country will definitely mean more tourists, which in turn will result in a healthier Belizean economy. Ticket […]

Ambassador Nestor Mendez leaves for Washington in July
In a press briefing with the Prime Minister Dean Barrow yesterday in Belize City, several national issues were brought up among a pool of journalists and media stations. One of the topics was on the appointment of Nestor Mendez as Deputy Secretary to the Organization of the American States (OAS). Mendez […]

Belize weather: Sunny and 87 degrees Fahrenheit with isolated showers
The general situation is for sunny weather with cloudy spells today and partly cloudy tonight. Showers will be isolated and winds will blow to the East at 10 to 20 knots. The sea state will be moderate and high temperatures today are expected around 87 degrees Fahrenheit along the coast; […]

Minister of State testifies in defamation case
The case of Minister of State and area representative for Belize Rural North Edmond “Clear the Land” Castro as the claimant in a case of defamation concludes tomorrow, Friday, following all-day testimony today by the two term area representative. He accuses constituent and former friend Alvarene Burgess and Great Belize […]

COLA condemns Foreign Minister acquiescing to change to special agreement; PM responds
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington has consistently advocating a cautious approach to resolving the unfounded claim on Belize by Guatemala. And his announcement this week that he plans to travel to Guatemala City in a few weeks to sign an amendment to the compromis or Special Agreement to […]

Blogs

Where to find cheap flights to Belize, deals scored and new rider fee
Sue’s recommendation for checking flights is Google Flights. Google offers users flight search tools that makes it easy to quickly find the best flight. If you are lucky, Google Flights can be a great way to find the cheapest tickets that are not easily discoverable on other sites. Note: Google does not allow you to actually book a flight, but instead shows a list of options and gives you a link and then links corresponding booking sites. For the next one, if your travel dates are flexible, your chances of scoring the lowest price goes up. Matrix Airfare Search has a calendar option that allows you to explore date ranges by month for lowest fares instead of having to pick specific dates. Their mobile version is called On The Fly downloadable at Google play store. As you know, I make fairly frequent trips to Belize with my family. The most aggravating part of planning our several trips per year is trying not to pay too much to the airlines. No other industry on the face of the earth uses a pricing model like the US airlines. Seeming random, massive shifts in pricing levels appear to serve no other purpose than to mess with their customers’ perception of what the pricing should be. What other purpose could a “sale” that drops the price for a few random hours serve? Imagine if cars were sold that way.

How To Find Genuine Ecotourist Destinations?
More and more of us are rightly concerned about our planet’s environment, yet we still seek unique travel experiences, and why not? As a result, ecotourism has developed into the travel industry’s fastest growing sector! “Difficult roads often lead towards beautiful destinations” – anonymous Now, an ecotourist destination often includes an on-site resort or hotel, with the largely unspoiled, well-preserved or cultivated surroundings of a native ecosystem. Such destinations even educate their visitors about the local environment, and aim to reduce their impact on the flora and fauna by inviting only small groups of tourists. Above all, ecotourist sites as a rule are protected by the law of the land.

International Sources

MOFA lauds book by Belize governor general
Governor General, Sir Colville Young, launches Mandarin edition of his book of short stories "‘Pataki Full" in Taiwan. The Taiwan launch of a short story collection in Mandarin by Belize Governor General Colville Young underscores the strength of ties between the ROC and the Central American nation, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin May 14. “‘Pataki Full: Seven Belizean Short Stories’ draws upon the folklore and the down-home wisdom of Belize,” Lin said. “I was deeply impressed by the stories when first reading them during an official trip to the diplomatic ally last year.” Lin made the remarks during a special ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei City. According to the minister, he is grateful for the governor general's permission to translate the book and publish in Taiwan. “By sharing his culture with local readers, Young has further consolidated the foundation for everlasting friendship and prosperity between the two sides,” he said.

High Court Orders Belize to Recognize and Protect Maya Traditional Property and Rights
On April 19th the Caribbean Court of Justice announced its judgment affirming the 2013 holding of the Court of Appeal of Belize that the Maya indigenous people of southern Belize have rights to the lands they customarily have used and occupied for many generations. In the judgment, the court affirmed that these traditional land rights, belonging to 38 Maya villages in Belize’s Toledo District, constitute property as defined in the provisions of the Belize Constitution that generally protects property free from discrimination. The court's judgment, which was entered by consent of Maya parties in the case and the Government of Belize, will require the government to demarcate and officially register Maya communal lands, and protect them against incursions by outsiders. The Court accepted the government’s undertaking to adopt the necessary “legislative, administrative and/or other measures” to that end and, in the meantime, to refrain from and prevent acts that would adversely affect Maya land rights. The Court also ordered that, in 12 months, both the Maya communities and the Government present a report about implementation of the judgment.

Southwest reveals prices of international flights from Houston
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has revealed the prices for its new international flights out of Houston. Effective Oct. 15, Dallas-based Southwest will be offering flights to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, Mexico, for $149, flights from Mexico City for $99, flights from Belize City, Belize, for $127 and flights from San Jose, Costa Rica, for $174. Effective Nov. 1, the airline will offer flights to Liberia, Costa Rica, for $174 and flights to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for $199. All new international pricing announced so far have been for one-way economy tickets. The price announcements come on the heels of Southwest announcing the addition of Liberia and Montego Bay routes out of its new international terminal under construction at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport.

Tulum Quintana Roo, New Yorker’s Haven
Tulum is the last stop in the tourism-friendly region of Mexico known as the Riviera Maya, a stretch of coast that includes beaches, jungles, and Mayan ruins. Driving south along the coast from Cancún, it’s as far as you can go before hitting the Sian Ka’an biosphere, a nature preserve the size of Rhode Island. Tulum is, then, as far from Cancún as you can be while still being in spitting distance on Cancún — the ultimate spot for those seeking an easy, cost-effective trip to Mexico but would rather die than be seen at Señor Frogs. And just as sororities seem to uproot and wholly relocate themselves, every spring, to Cancún, all of Williamsburg seems to have transported itself to Tulum this year. If Williamsburg is the frat house of trend-whore Brooklyn, then Tulum is our Cancún.

Videos

Crude awakening: One tribe's struggle with North Dakota's oil boom, 5min. Watch it! This US Native American's tribes' problems with drilling oil might mirror ours. This segment only brings to mind how poorly GOB is able to monitor our oceans, protect the Chiquibul, etc etc. Vote of no confidence in their ability to monitor drilling, whether offshore or in protected areas.

Hopkins Belize Fly Fishing Near Blue Grounds Jack Hookup, 1.25min. Southern Belize Is Becoming More Popular For Salt Water Fly Fishing For Permit, Tarpon, Bones & Jacks. This Jack Was Caught When The Deckhand Was Trolling a School Of Jack Chased And Guide Jack Trout Casted His Fly Into The Group Of Fish And The Fight Was On!

Yoga Seminar Kicks Off In Belize City, 3min.

Placencia, Belize 2015, 8min. A photo slideshow of Placencia Village , Belize, Central America.

May 15, 2015