July 30, 2015

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

John’s Escape Bar and Grill a secluded paradise for GREAT food and drinks
Looking to head off the grid and explore a bit more of what Ambergris Caye has to offer? How about 4.5 miles north to be exact? We’re talking John’s Escape Bar and Grill which provides the right level of relaxation you need, with an excellent touch of customer service and amazing food. A short boat ride on the Coastal Express will get you there within minutes. Or you could be adventurous like we were, and load up some great people on a golf cart and take the scenic route. Even with many pit stops we were on location within a half hour, eager to see what we had escaped to! Owner Brian made us feel at home instantly, and in no time, we were ordering a few menu items: Chicken Nachos, Shrimp Tacos, Pineapple Burger, Mayan Fish and of course Wings. While the food was prepped, Brian got the ball rolling with their signature shot, the Belikini.

Seven out of the eight contestants for the Reina de La Costa Maya® Pageant have arrived in San Pedro
First to arrive was Miss Mexico Samantha Gutíerrez Gónzalez-Rubio accompanied by Riena de La Costa Maya 2014/2015 Elisa Espinoza Gómez. Shortly after Miss Costa Rica Carolin On Porras, Miss El Salvador Genesis Margarita Fuentes Bolaños, Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle, Miss Nicaragua Yuliset Laguna, Miss Panama Maria Saavendra and Miss Guatemala Lisa Hayet Francis touched down on La Isla Bonita. The beauties enjoyed their flight over the Caribbean Sea on Maya Island Air, the official airline of The International Costa Maya Festival®.

Belize and Guatemala talk peace at joint press conference, COLA protests
Ministers of Foreign Affairs from both Belize and Guatemala, along with a representative from the Organization of American States (OAS) held a press conference on Monday, July 27th at the VIP Room of the Radisson Fort George Hotel. The conference served as a forum to provide updated information on the status of the territorial dispute and to clarify recent altercations between Belize and Guatemala. Leading the conference was Belize Minister of Foreign Affairs Honorable Wilfred Elrington, Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Raul Moralez and Chief of OAS Peace Fund Magdalena Talamás, who served as the mediator. First to speak was Elrington who elaborated on the evolution of the Guatemalan claim over Belizean territory. He also spoke on the relationship between both countries. “The relationship at every level has been very good, cordial, peaceful and very calculated. When we have difficult moments we call each other at the Foreign Ministry level, at the Prime Ministerial/Presidential level and at the technical level to work out the issue. Belize’s military works side by side with the Guatemalan military…Belize Police work with the Guatemalan Police…so we have a harmonious relationship that really is the envy of the world,” said Elrington.

The lovely Miss Mexico Samantha Gutíerrez Gónzalez-Rubio has arrived to La Isla Bonita!
Today will see all the delegates arriving in preparation for Reina de La Costa Maya® Pageant, which opens The International Costa Maya Festival® on Thursday, August 6th. Samantha was accompanied by none other than Riena de La Costa Maya 2014/2015 Elisa Espinoza Gómez.

Flavors of Belize launches 5th anniversary edition
The fifth issue of the much-celebrated Flavors of Belize magazine was launched on Thursday, July 23rd in Belize City. Media, stakeholders, friends and family were all invited to the Rainforest Room at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza to witness the grand unveiling of the newest edition of the magazine. Leading the ceremonies was Clive Myers, who welcomed the attendees to the highly anticipated unveiling. Singing the national anthem was Jackie Castillo, accompanied by Garifuna drumming. Emaun Hyde, Managing Editor of McNab publishing Ltd, gave the opening remarks. Hyde spoke of the growth in the culinary industry of Belize, highlighting the energy and creativity of Belize’s chefs with each passing year.

Belize to face Canada in third round of World Cup Qualifiers
Now in the third round of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ), the Belize National Football Selection will be taking on the National Football Selection of Canada. The preliminary draw for the next round of games leading up to World Cup Russia 2018 was held on Saturday, July 23rd at the Konstantin Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. After eliminating both Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic in order to continue their WCQ journey, the Jaguars have been hard at work training and honing their skills. The draw was overseen by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke and decided the third round pairings as well as the fourth round groups. The 12 advancing teams of the second round of competition were divided into two pots according to their FIFA ranking as of July 2015 and paired against each other. The WCQ third round will see matchups between Curacao versus El Salvador, Grenada versus Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines versus Aruba, Jamaica versus Nicaragua, Antigua and Barbuda versus Guatemala, and Belize versus Canada. Only the winners of each of the six pairings will advance to the fourth round. Matches will take place between August 31 and September 8.

Ambergris Today

Sunset Cruise with the Costa Maya Delegates on the YOL

Flashbacks: San Pedro Holiday Hotel’s 25ft Anniversary
This month Hotel, the pioneer hotel in tourism in San Pedro celebrated its Golden Anniversary. Fifty years ago this wonderful person, this amazing San Pedrana, passionate woman, and awesome entrepreneur, Celi Nuñez McCorkle, opened up the doors for the commencement of tourism in San Pedro and Belize. The seeds she sowed are still reaping benefits in the millions for thousands of people in this community. Talk about a prominent and iconic personality- it’s Celi McCorkle. This week in Facebook, Celi’s daughter, Lisa McCorkle posted memoirs of the 25th Anniversary of Holiday Hotel when it was celebrated in grand style. Here are those memoirs and comments of many who lived the experience and a historic photo of Celi, the tourism pioneer, and George Price, the Father of the Belizean nation. Enjoy and make it a keepsake.

Overview Of Historic San Pedro Village in 1950’s
This aerial shot of the village of San Pedro came about one hundred years after the Mestizo Indians first settled in village in 1948. This is about 1955 when the village men were doing subsistence fishing and before the founding of the fishing cooperative. My comments will take you through some of the main houses and names of the village at the time. House No. 1 This was the vacation property of Lucilo Ayuso, a businessman from Belize City, His son, Libby Ayuso, was a well known oculist/optician and friends with all of San Pedro. A well kept house and a large yard and pretty fence tells us that this was a well off family. This house was the only one that remained standing on the beach with Hurricane Hattie in 1961. After the hurricane of 1961, The Ayuso’s purchased the lot behind them and became owners of the entire little block. Today that entire property is the site of Spindrift Building. Notice the pile of coconuts in No. 1 b. This tells us that Mr. Adolfo Ayuso, who used to own that property, was a coconut farmer.

Belize to Boost Preparedness for Ebola with Support from Taiwan
The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) donated Clinical Care Kits for the care of patients with Ebola Virus Disease to Belize’s Ministry of Health with cooperation from Taiwan. This is part of a larger regional effort prepare for and control a potential outbreak of Ebola. The project is a direct response to a request from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and other world leaders for increased international cooperation to better address the potential threat posed by Ebola worldwide and in the Americas. With support from Taiwan, PADF is delivering Clinical Care Kits to Belize and other countries in the region. In the event of an Ebola outbreak, the equipment can be quickly deployed to hospitals and other care facilities to protect medical personnel as they treat patients.

Copa Airlines to Connect Belize with Panama, Flights Start December
Today, a press conference was held at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel, announcing airline services to Belize via Copa Airlines. Starting December 8th, 2015 Copa airlines will be offering 2 weekly flights to Belize City from Hub de la Americas Panama City, Panama. With this new addition, Copa Airlines will now expand its route to 75 cities and 31 countries in North, Central, South and the Caribbean with Belize being the 7th in Central America. With the addition of Belize, they are now covering all of Central America, strengthening their regional leadership. “For Copa Airlines it is with much joy that we announce this new destination with which we consolidate our leadership in the region, strengthen our existing routes while at the same time allowing us to offer better connectivity and world class service to all of Central America, from Hub de las Americas, in Panama. The connectivity will open enormous opportunities for tourism and commercial development for this interesting Caribbean country, as well as allowing for tourist from the same region to have the opportunity to enjoy all the tourism and commercial strengths Belize has to offer”

Misc Belizean Sources

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES: PROJECT MANAGER Institution: Inter-American Development Bank
Abstract: The CNTMP seeks to promote a Belizean transport sector that contributes to sustainable economic and social development. Developed in close coordination with the relevant public authorities the plan will aim to: (i) promote economic growth, particularly in its headline sectors of agriculture and tourism, by reducing costs to market for the private sector, thus facilitating domestic and international trade; (ii) improve public mobility and access to markets, employment and social, health and leisure facilities; (iii) contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation; and (iv) ensure the financial, environmental and institutional sustainability of transport services.

Miss Costa Maya 2014 and Miss Mexico are headed to Ramon's Village
the Official Hotel and a Grand Sponsor of Costa Maya 2015. The rest of the delegates will be arriving shortly

SELL-A-TON AT LIONS DEN SATURDAY
Aug 1st, 8am-1pm Clothing * Tools * Cell phones * Baked Goods * Books * Household items! SELLERS: $25 for two (2) tables Sell whatever you want! FUND RAISE for your school, medical needs or personal. BUYERS… You never know what you’ll find!!!! CONTACT: Jan Brown, 662-2725 “San Pedro Lions Club – We Serve”

Brainstorm for Freedom - August 1
We planning to start up a reading group or think tank. We having a brainstorm session on Saturday 1 August, 10 am in San Ignacio. Tentative venue is at the downtown library, near the Hawkesworth Bridge. It's emancipation day, so we can make it our tribute to freedom. We can become an active group to promote critical thinking, organize seminars/lectures, debates, publish online articles, increase youth democratic participation... Who can make it? Saturdayat 10:00am - 1:00pm. San Ignacio, Belize

Poets Corner: Screams!
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez. All the world’s problems Can be attributed to men They come from one source The fatherless curse 89% of fatherless children End up pregnant, on gun charges or in the system Most times in Belize men are perpetrators of this mayhem Domestic violence, socially deviant, some become gangster and thugs When all they really wanted was for their father to give them a hug These men grow up with hate Socially maladaptive and inadequate Unable to think and unable to communicate Men the world over are in a hellish state

Costa Maya Delegates 2015

DFC Smarter Banking Forum
The Development Finance Corporation held a seminar to show the advantages of using them for educational and business loans. Lots of great information was shared to the group of local business owners...and future business owners. Pictures on G+.

SSBA Basketball Tournament
The San Ignacio and Santa Elena Basketball Association is having a basketball tournament starting on August 21st. If you're interested in registering a team, contact Elvis Usher by August 12th. Games will be held at Falcon Field on Friday and Saturday nights.

Channel 7

PUP Preserves Status Quo: Fonseca Puts Down Rebellion
Since last week, we’ve been reporting on the PUP’s Rebel 12 – a dozen standard bearers who are unhappy with the state of affair sin the opposition and are calling for a national convention. They put that in a letter to the party chairman on Monday – and, today, Party Leader Francis Fonseca called for a meeting to deal with their demands. But, the 12 were outnumbered by the 19 standard bearers still in the Fonseca Camp, so rather than be drummed down by a super majority of status quo supporters, they boycotted today’s meeting. Well, 10 of them did; two attended, namely Dr. Francis Smith and Major Lloyd Jones. More about that later, but first to the business of today’s three hour meeting at PUP Party Headquarters. When it was done at 5:00 pm, a very relaxed looking leader Francis Fonseca – flanked up by 20 standard bearers said he called the meeting to deal with the issues raised by the dissenting dozen – but they didn’t appear to argue their points:… Hon. Francis Fonseca - PUP Party Leader "We immediately convened a meeting today of the national executive and standard bearers in order to fully and properly discuss and address the issues raised therein. All standard bearers and executive members were invited to this meeting and in my view there was a particular and special obligation and duty attached to those who had signed the letter, to be present and to be fully and robustly participating in the discussion and decision making. The absence of any of the signatories to this letter without a legitimately documented excuse will only further erode confidence in their good faith intentions in respect to the important issues raised in their letter."

PUP's Pilloried in Postings On Facebook
Indeed the majority does rule, but the PUP will still have to deal with in the rebel 12 – or maybe that should be 10. Among them are two men who have never lost an election – they are John Briceno and Cordel Hyde. And with the national tour going north and coming to Belize city after Cayo – it would be embarrassing if those regional powerhouses also boycotted those events. And surely, the Briceno camp is not happy. We could see that from a facebook post put up this morning by Orange Walk PUP Mayor and die-hard Bricenista Kevin Bernard. Sort of apologizing in advance for the boycott of today’s meeting, he urged the 12 standard bearers to stay away and then asks, quote, “How can we credibly tell them (our supporters) we will lead them to Belmopan if we can’t prove we are a viable party in any single election? The record will show we have not won any national elections since 2003.” He asks, quote, “what gives us the best chance to win the next general elections? That is what we should be concerned about, not about preserving the leader at any cost. Are we satisfied that what we are presenting gives us the best shot at winning? The last three elections scream hell no!” Unquote. He calls for a national convention where the leader would be put up to challenge, and laments, “It’s been almost 5 years since we’ve last had one, and yet some will say now is not the time. My question is, if not now, then when? After Barrow calls the next elections? After we’ve lost the general elections? Are you crazy???” END QUOTE.

Another Woman Killed, Her Husband on The Run
Another woman has been killed – most likely as a result of domestic violence. Tonight, Belize City police are looking for her ex common-law husband. 21 year-old Salvadoran Merlin Elizabeth Herrera Mejia, was found in her apartment on Morning Glory Street this morning, with her throat slashed. Police were called in early this morning, and we found out why they suspect that it is yet another domestic dispute turned homicide. Daniel Ortiz reports: When we arrived, the Eastern End of Morning Glory Street was already cordoned off by police and scenes of crime personnel. Inside the cement house, seen here at the left of your screen, the body of 21 year-old Salvadoran Merlin Elizabeth Herrera Mejia lay in a pool of her own blood in one of the rooms. Her throat had been slashed. Inspector Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB Precinct 1 & 2 "At 6:50 a.m. acting upon information received, police visited number 4533, it's a cement structure building. Police went inside of a room where they saw the lifeless body of a female descent person. She was identified as Merlin Elizabeth Herrera Mejia, 21 year old Salvadoran national, cleaner of that same address. Police observed two large cut wounds to the neck and one behind the left ear."

Bucknor Jailed For Child Molestation
He’s been fighting a child molestation charge for 2 years, and tonight, 52 year-old Belize city resident Charles Bucknor is spending the first night of a 3 year sentence after he was convicted before the Chief Magistrate today. The minor, who was only 12 at the time of the incident, testified in a trial that IN July, 2013, her grand aunt hired Buckner to repair the ceiling in the bathroom, and that’s where he began eyeing her. She was watching television on her grand aunt’s bed, when Bucknor sexually assaulted her, and then threatened that if she said anything he will deal with her. As soon as she could escape, she called and reported the incident to her mother. They arrested Bucknor and charged him with burglary and aggravated assault of an indecent nature. That burglary offense was later dismissed due to lack of evidence, and he denied the sexual assault charge in the late stage of his trial. When it concluded today, however, the Chief Magistrate Smith told him that she didn’t believe his defense. She found him guilty and sentenced him to 3 years in prison.

Weed On His Way To Court Earns Man A Year In Jail
22 year-old Kevin Bodden is already an inmate at the Belize Central Prison. But today persons tried to smuggle weed to him when he appeared at the Magistrate’s Court for an adjournment hearing. So tonight, he’s behind bars with the bad news that he will serve one more year because of that failed attempt. That drug supplier shoved it in Bodden’s hand, and the officers who were escorting him, did not see who did it, since normally, the court area is usually crowded. A vigilant officer saw when he made a suspicious move to shove his hand into his pocket. The officer immediately approached him, and retrieve the 40 grams - or 1.4 ounces of marijuana from that pocket. He was immediately charged with possession of a controlled drug, and when he was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer, where he pleaded guilty to the offense. She sentenced him to 1 year imprisonment, which is to run consecutively to the 3 years he’s already spending for a conviction of grievous harm. That means he will spend a total of 4 years in jail.

GOB Rejects US Conclusions About Human Trafficking
Last night we told you about Belize’s dismal performance on the US Trafficking in Persons Report. The Americans say that Belize has made no progress in preventing human trafficking cases, prosecuting trafficking offenders and protecting victims. As a result of this evaluation, Belize is now listed as a Tier 3 country – which is the lowest rank. Well according to the CEO of the Human Development sector, Judith Alpuche – this is an utterly unfair assessment of Belize’s efforts. In an extensive interview today, Alpuche told us that the US is only reflecting Belize’s low conviction rate among other shortfalls rather than highlighting the existing programs and services implemented to deal with this issue. Now she admits that Belize is not as advanced in the availability of services and facilities for victims compared to other countries but she also firmly states that Belize IS working towards curbing human trafficking. Judith Alpuche - CEO, Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation "What we have found and this year is no different is that what they focus on is convictions. It's abundantly clear in their report and we did not get a conviction and so I think it's not surprising to us. What is disappointing however is that there seems to be a narrative constructed to support this idea of you did not do anything. And I don't know if that is because in the past we have pointed out to say, well how can you downgrade us for this one area when you point out that we have done well in other areas. So the narrative is a bit different."

COPA Is Coming, Means Much For Regional Tourism
A new direct flight that will expand Belize’ tourism channel to South and Central America was launched today. A ceremony was held at the Biltmore Hotel to mark what the Tourism sector is calling a historic occasion. The Belize Tourism Board along with its partners has been working for about 3 years to establish this connection with Copa Airlines and it was finally realized today. We spoke to the Director of Tourism, Karen Bevans and she told us how significant this flight from Belize City to Panama is to the tourism industry. Elisa Brenes - Regional Manager, International Sales Copa Airlines "Today we are announcing, with a lot of joy that after December the 8th, we will be flying twice a week to Belize from our Hub de Americas in Panama." Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism and Culture "We have enjoyed a sustained 8.7% annual increase in the overnight sector. That translates into more than double the projected growth rate expected and more than double the average growth rate of tourism in our region. It is without a doubt that here lays place one of the signal largest contributing factors to the increase of tourism overnight arrivals."

Man Charged For Double Chopping
A man has been charged for a double chopping in Belmopan. 20 year old John Briceno was charged last night with grievous harm and aggravated assault. As we reported 2 men were chopped in Salvapan around 1:00 Monday morning. 24-year-old Jorge Guevara and 25-year-old Clifford Alexander Alvarado were walking on the Road in front of the San Martin Primary School when 5 men attacked them with machetes. Guevara had been chopped to his head, back and face, while Alvarado's wounds were to his left hand, shoulder and left arm. Police believe that drinking may have fueled the incident. Police are still looking for the other 4 men involved.

The Police And Community Trying Truce
Communities rely on the police to protect and serve and the police, in turn, rely on community support and cooperation. But the relationship is not always harmonious. That’s about to change according to Senior Superintendent Chester Williams. This afternoon Williams and two groups of police officers including senior officers took part in a meet and greet on Caesar Ridge Road and Gill Street. He told the media it is in an effort to mitigate the violence and crime in these areas as well as to build trust between the community and the police. Sr. Supt. Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South "As you recall when I took over as the officer commanding eastern division south, one of the message I said was that - the police will be doing more out reach to the community. This is part of our community orienting policing. Where we will go out, meet the public, greet the public, talk to them, see what their concerns are. Take advice from them. If there is anything they believe the police can do better. To police the area, we want those tips from them and when we're through, what ever information we have obtained from these people, we will go through them and we will see what we can get from it to make our policing effort better. We want to be able to give the community the level of policing that they deserve, so that's the main mission here."

La Inmaculada Lambastes Signature Gatherers
On Friday we told you about a signature drive by disgruntled members of the La Inmaculada Credit Union. They are trying to gather a thousand signatures for a petition to force their credit union to hold an annual general meeting and declare a dividend. Well, the management of the Credit Union put out a statement today stressing to its members that it does not endorse the signature drive. The statement says, quote, “Some of our members have indicated that they were deliberately misled through inaccurate information and that their signatures were obtained under deceit.” And even for those who signed, the Credit Union says, quote, “any and all signatures will need to be verified as is required by due process.” The statement says that the Annual General Meeting will be held as soon as an investigative process is finalized, at which time, quote, “your rightfully due dividends will be recommended for approval.” It adds, quote, “Many are being wrongly informed that their dividends are being purposely withheld and will not been given and both allegations are totally false.”

Belize City Mayor Does His Part For Confidence Building
Since Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been on a public education campaign, collaborating with representatives of the OAS, and senior Guatemalan officials. It’s a kind of public confidence building, in an atmosphere rife with misgivings. But, at the official level, they continue to cultivate good relations, and in that spirit, Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley today hosted a breakfast for the Mayor of Melchor De Menchos, as well as children living in the western border towns in both countries. 7News stopped by and spoke with the Mayor about this event’s important in the larger discussion of Belize/Guatemala diplomacy: Darrell Bradley - Mayor, Belize City "We're working in partnership with the Organisation of American States and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we're of course supporting the discussion in relation to the activities that are going on in Belize over the last 3 days to promote awareness in relation to the Belize-Guatemalan issue. And what this is, is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked us to host a breakfast with young people from Melchor de Mencos, including the mayor of Melchor de Mencos who's in attendance at this programme this morning. And also young people from Benque Viejo Del Carmen. So what we're doing is promoting sort of engagement, especially with our youth who can kind of engage with one another in fellowship, in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. To really kind of highlight the fact that in order for peace to come, we need to have understanding and we need to have a coming together - so it's really like an honour to support the initiatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in hosting this breakfast this morning and I think it's a wonderful actively."

OAS Holds Bze-Guat Forum
Last night at the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, the OAS held a public forum where they outlined the state of the unfounded Guatemalan claim and the repeated attempts at resolving it through negotiation. That information session was broadcast on national television, and right here on Channel 7, but in case you missed it, we pulled a few excerpts to share with you. Here’s the Chief of the OAS Peace Fund explaining why we must go to a referendum to decide whether or not to take the territorial claim to the International Court of Justice: The Foreign Ministers of both countries were also guest speakers at last night’s session, and they took the opportunity to reiterate that friendly relations continue. Elrington also talked about why he has changed from rioting against Guatemala that he did when he was a young man, to the present day conviction that going to the ICJ is the best option Belize has to resolve the territorial claim:

Is The Mayor Coasting?
When it comes to expansionary public works in Belize City, no Mayor in memory comes anywhere close to Darrell Bradley. After his first 3-year term in elected office, his legacy is currently the 142 streets that his administration has cemented, along with renovation of the Battlefield, Memorial and BTL Parks that were done in collaboration with other Government agencies. But, 4 months into his second term, things have seriously slowed down. So, with the speculations that the General Elections are sooner rather than later, we wonder if he’s just coasting - until he runs for Area Rep. of Caribbean Shores. We asked him about that today: So, since there have been projects that the Mayor isn’t alerting the residents to, we asked him to discuss a few of them with us today, and here’s what he had to say:

Inflation Went Down Due To Fuel
The Statistic Institute of Belize has released its latest figures for June 2015, and the assessment is that on average, the cost of goods and services are 0.8 percent lower this year than at the same time last year. The all items Consumer Price Index was at 102.8, down from 103.6 in the same month last year, which indicates a inflation rate of NEGATIVE 0.9 percent. The main contributor to this overall change is the falling fuel prices worldwide. In Belize, the prices of premium and regular gas was about 18 percent lower this year, and diesel went down the lowest by 25% in one year. That fall in fuel prices has a somewhat direct correlation to international airfares, and SIB reports that the cost of those went down by almost 25 percent when compared to June of last year. Food prices are marginally down by 0.1 percent, and the most significant drop recorded was the prices of red kidney beans. Those declined by more than one third when compared to a year ago. But, the drastic decrease in Beans is offset on the CPI measurement by the increase prices in both pork and beef products.

Youth Dancers Donate To Dara
This afternoon a group of children from the Indian Community stopped by the home of Dara Robinson to pay him a special visit. They didn’t come empty handed – instead they brought along a cheque of three hundred dollars to donate to Robinson’s feeding program. The money was well earned by the group of youngsters who were rewarded this morning after performing at the brunch organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Belize City Council. 7news was there for the handing over. If you would like to make any donations towards Robinson’s feeding program, he can be contacted at telephone number 623-3662.

Channel 5

Domestic Violence Claims Another Life
The details of the latest murder in Belize City are all-too-familiar and tragic. The life of a young woman, a mother of a four year old son, was taken in [...]

P.U.P. National Executive Meets – 10 Missing
The People’s United Party today held a National Executive meeting this afternoon to deal with a revolt in the ranks. Twelve standard bearers including John Briceño, Dan Silva and Cordel [...]

No Sanctions for Absent Standard Bearers
The P.U.P.’s National Executive numbers forty-eight, which includes thirty-one standard bearers. Thirty-four were present today which represents a comfortable majority and gives the party some breathing room. And that breathing [...]

Fonseca’s Leadership is Unchallenged
The letter signed by twelve standard-bearers focused prominence on a call for a national convention. While it wasn’t exactly spelled out in so many words, the explicit message being sent [...]

Patrick Faber Says Fonseca is a Dictator
While the P.U.P. breathes a sigh of relief at a clear majority of the National Executive behind Fonseca, the U.D.P. continues to prepare for general elections which many speculate will [...]

Tells P.U.P. to Get Ready for General Elections
You may have heard Minister Faber say that a U.D.P. National Convention is overdue, but they have agreed to wait until after the general elections. That’s another reliable indicator that [...]

Morales Says the Claim Must be Resolved
Since the beginning the week, the Organization of American States along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized a number of activities to draw attention to work of the [...]

Are Belize’s Borders Demarcated?
But Guatemala is claiming fifty percent of the country, and border incidents such as the one involving the Forward Operating Base in the Sarstoon often inflame emotions on this side. [...]

Protesters Demonstrate Outside Peace Forum
The comments made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs inside the Bliss prompted a protest outside. The forum, which aimed to promote peace, did not end quite peacefully for a [...]

COPA Airlines Comes to Belize
Panama’s flagship carrier, Compania Panamena de Aviacion, simply known as Copa Airlines, announced earlier today that as of December eight it will be offering two weekly flights to Belize City.  [...]

New Flight Will Ease Access to the Americas
The flight from Belize to Panama is designed to provide connectivity to principal cities in Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile and a list of others.  According to Minister of Tourism [...]

3 Years for Sexually Assaulting Minor
A Vernon Street man who was accused of performing oral sex on a thirteen year old primary school girl was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment which is the [...]

Faber Wants to Be PM Someday
Earlier U.D.P. Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber spoke on the P.U.P., and on the prospect of coming elections, but he also took the time to speak about his own aspirations. [...]

UB Staffers Request Salary Adjustment
And from politics to Faber’s official position as Minister of Education. News Five has confirmed that following on the heels of a protest by K.H.M.H. employees just over a week [...]

Minister of Educations Speaks on New UB Insurance Plan
There’s another brewing story coming out of the University of Belize, where we understand students have been informed that they must now obtain mandatory insurance. If they don’t apply and [...]

Faber Takes on Deacon Cal
The Ministry of Education continues to be embroiled in a testy relationship with Deacon Cal Cathers, who owns the BRC publishing and printing company. BRC provides some textbooks to the [...]

Ariel Rosado Hosts Scholarship Award Ceremony
The Ariel Rosado Memorial Education Foundation held its fourth annual scholarship award ceremony at the Lion’s Den in Belize City.  Proudly, it announced that the number of scholarships granted to [...]

CTV3

DOE Access development In Consejo Area
Today as our reporter stationed in Corozal travelled along the Consejo Road he took notice of an ongoing development in the area. Most noticeable was the fact that a huge area had been bulldozed for subdivision of land and that almost every single tree on the property was cleared. Immediately we set to find out if the Department of Environment was aware of such an activity as they are the entity responsible for the issuing of permits known as environmental clearance. Viewers might recall that on the 27th of July the Department of the Environment issued a release in which it stated that Environmental Clearance is required by law, under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and it would only be granted through a letter issued by the DOE. The release also stated that such clearance can only be obtained from the DOE based on an environmental screening process. This process is important for developments in Belize to operate under as it will offer the best environmental safety standards and will minimize potential negative impacts to human health and the environment.

External Figures Shows An Increase In Importation
And while the figures of cost of living reveal a small decline from last year, the external trade bulletin reveals that during the month of June 2015, Belize imported goods valued at $189.2 million which is equivalent to 20.1 percent or 31.7 million increase from last year June. The bulletin also revealed that ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ had the largest increase of almost $16 million, from $31 million to $47 million, due to purchases of sailboats and airplanes during the month. ‘Manufactured Goods’ grew by more than $6 million, to almost $24 million, the result of growth in the imports of various construction supplies. Additionally, a spike in wheat seed purchases led to a $5 million increase in imports of ‘Food and Live Animals’. In contrast, ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ fell from $17 million to $14 million, owing both to a decrease in the quantity of fuel imported as well as to lower fuel prices on the world market, compared to last June. Goods destined for the Commercial Free Zone grew by almost $4 million, as importation of cigarettes and clothing continued their upward trend.

San Andres Resident Lodges Complain Against Corozal Police
Last night we told about the two reports of alleged police brutality lodged against the Orange Walk Police Department. Tonight there is another complaint but this time being made against the Corozal Police Formation. According to Fernando Barrios, a resident of San Andres Village, Corozal, on Sunday 26th July while celebrating his father’s birthday a misunderstanding ensued between his family and another member of the community, however, upon the arrival of police, he was the one detained. “Teníamos una fiesta mi papa cumplo 74 años cuando de un de repente se armó un desastre que la vecina que tiene una tienda de frente de nuestra casa con otros hombres de San Andrés mismo cruzaron el camino hasta donde estábamos nosotros y empezó una peleadera y luego se calmó la peleadera pero no se quien llamo la policía y ellos llegaron a buscarme a mí en especial.”

Group Of Member Owners Write To LICU Board Of Directors
With one thousand plus signatures in hand a group of members/owners of La Inmaculada Credit Union sent a letter to the Board of Directors of the institution today. The letter is directed to the chairlady of the Board of Directors Ena Martinez. In it the members/owners are requesting that the Annual General Meeting, which is way over due, to be held on August 15th as per article nine of the credit union by-laws. The letter further states that during the meeting the members/owners are asking for the following pointers to be discussed. One: Delay in 2015 annual general meeting, 2: Report of Audit, 3: Dividends due and four: Termination of Mrs. Yolanda Gomez. Attached to the letter are the more than 1,000 signatures of member/owners gathered by the group. The letter along with the signatures were also sent to Glenford Ysaguirre the Governor of the Central Bank of Belize.

COPA Airlines Offering Two Weekly Flights From Panama City To Belize City
This morning at a press conference in Belize City, an introduction to present Belize’s newest airline carrier was made among officials in Civil Aviation and officials from the Copa Airlines. Starting December 8th, 2015 Copa airlines will be offering 2 weekly flights to Belize City from Hub de la Americas Panama City, Panama. With this new addition, Copa Airlines will now expand its route to 75 cities and 31 countries in North, Central, South and the Caribbean with Belize being the 7th in Central America. With the addition of Belize, they are now covering all of Central America, strengthening their regional leadership. A release from the Airline reveals that all flights are local time and the flight time is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. Officials say the flight from Belize to Panama was programmed to provide convenient connection to Sao Paulo, Brazil; San Jose, Costa Rica; Bogota, Cartagena and Medellin in Colombia; Santiago de Chile, Chile; Quito and Guayaquil in Ecuador; Managua, Nicaragua; Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; Havana, Cuba; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Lima, Peru.

SIB Releases Consumer Price Index figures
The June figures in respect to the cost of living were released by the Statistical Institute of Belize today and according to the release falling fuel prices and lowered international airfare contributed to a negative 0.8percent in consumer prices as compared to last year’s statistics. The All-Items Consumer Price Index stood at 102.8, down from 103.6 in the same month last year. For the first six months of this year, an inflation rate of negative 0.9 percent was recorded. According to the report, the prices per gallon of all three types of fuel fell considerably in comparison to June 2014. Prices of premium and regular gasoline were both down by about 18 percent, while diesel recorded the most marked decline amongst them, falling by about 25 percent. Similarly, international airfares were down by almost 25 percent compared to June of last year. On average, food prices declined marginally by 0.1 percent when compared to last year June statistics.

C-NET Belize Advocates For People Living With HIV Aids
C-NET Belize, is the Collaborative Network of Persons Living with HIV in Belize, their mission is to improve the quality of life of all persons living with HIV in Belize by promoting positive health, dignity, prevention, Human Rights, effective legislation, monitoring universal access and advocating for the greater and more meaningful involvement of persons with HIV in decision making processes through the establishment of a self sustained and empowerment network of persons with HIV in Belize. The group works hand in hand with REDCA, the Central American Network of Persons Living with HIV. Director of C-NET Belize, Erika Castellanos spoke to us more in detail about the purpose of C-NET.

C-NET Belize Fights Against Stigma And Discrimination
There is no doubt that the fear surrounding the emerging HIV epidemic in the 1980s persists today. It is known as stigma and discrimination. In the 1980’s, very little was known about how HIV was transmitted, which made people scared of those infected due to fear of contagion. To date while time has evolved and there is much more information available about the disease one thing that has not changed is the stigma and discrimination that people suffering with HIV face. And that is where CNET Belize comes in. According to Erika Castellanos, Director of CNET Belize, despite the difficulty in telling a person what to do when it comes to stigma and discrimination, CNET does its best to educate the general public so as to minimize the problem.

Orange Walkena Complains Against Police Brutality
Complaints of the excessive use of force by officers of the Orange Walk Police Department are regularly aired in our newscasts. Tonight, there are two allegations to add to the growing list. In the first instance, Samantha Carlos told us that over the weekend her encounter with the police was not a friendly one as the officers were too aggressive. Carlos alleges that while she and some family members were in the process of getting their vehicle towed from Corozal to Orange Walk, they experienced a small hiccup with the tow chain bursting and one of the occupants getting hurt. With the assistance of villagers from San Jose the chain was reattached, and the journey to Orange Walk resumed. That is when the situation got out of control, says Carlos. “We were coming from Corozal and we have had an engine failure and a kind Samaritan offered assistance and we were being towed and at the bump the rope burst and it gave the pick up a sudden jerk and my little brother who was sitting down had a little accident and we got out to try to assist him as best as we can and I wasn’t driving any vehicle upon inspecting the injures I realize that he needed to seek medical attention at the hospital so insisted that we drive to the hospital...

Belize Not Doing Enough When It Comes To Human Trafficking
Yesterday we told you about Belize being among several countries which were downgraded to Tier 3 in status for not doing much to combat the global endemic of Trafficking in persons. And in a more in-depth look at the situation, the UN Special report reveals that Belizean women and girls were subjected to sex trafficking by family members, but the government has not arrested family members engaged in this form of trafficking. Child sex tourism, involving primarily U. S. citizens, is an emerging trend, concentrated in areas where tourism is important to the local economy. Sex trafficking and forced labor of Belizean and foreign women, girls, and LGBT persons, primarily from Central America, occurs in bars, nightclubs, brothels, and domestic service. Some recommendations made in the report as a country is to proactively implement the anti-trafficking law by vigorously investigating and prosecuting suspected traffickers; publicly acknowledge and condemn instances of official complicity and take steps to hold officials complicit in trafficking accountable.

LOVE FM

3 Years in Jail for Sexually Assaulting Minor
Charles Buckner, charged with sexual assault on a female minor, was sentenced to three years today by the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith after he was found guilty of the charge. The incident occurred around 11:55 a.m. on July 16, 2013. The minor, who was 12 years old at the time, testified that she was […]

Social Media, Micah and Yasmin
While those in the upper echelons of the People’s United Party are having their own internal woes and battles, there seems to be one fight between two junior party members that is making its own waves on the social media. Micah Gooding is no stranger to the news as he had emerged as a dynamic […]

Fonseca Says the G-10’s Absence Further Erodes Confidence
The ten standard bearers made moves that can be described as audacious in the political arena. Daring enough that with Fonseca once again cementing his post as party leader may just lead to a mere tolerance of the G-10 and nothing more. While Fonseca’s statement to the media did not show any hard feelings, he […]

Did the Doctor and the Major Leave G-10 Out in the Cold?
As you heard earlier there were a dozen men who made up the initial group that broke away just last week ….. but today, there are only ten as two of the men who signed the letter of demands, namely, Francis Smith and Major Lloyd Jones seem to have had a change of heart and […]

Where Was The G-10 at Today’s PUP Meeting?
With the resolution passed that Francis Fonseca will not be challenged in the upcoming National Convention for the PUP, it is interesting to see how things will unfold in the coming days with the G-10 who had dared to pose demands on the party. And while that is left to be seen, we focus on […]

PUP Passes Resolution For Fonseca Not To Be Challenged in Upcoming National Convention
And Fonseca did make a statement where he announced with absolutely no reservation that he will be remaining in the seat of the PUP’s Party Leader, a position he has held since the last party convention in 2011. According to Fonseca, the meeting had quorum and with that it was decided that he remains at […]

PUP Meets Again; Ten Standard Bearers A No-Show
Of the forty odd members that make up the National Executive of the People’s united Party there were ten persons notably absent from the Independence Hall in Belize City this afternoon where the blue and white party held a joint National Executive and Standard Bearers meeting. Just last week a letter was sent to the […]

Women’s Commission Condemns Recent Violent Incidents Against Women
The National Women’s Commission issued a release today condemning the recent spate in gender based violence. The release says quote, “The National Women’s Commission (NWC) strongly condemns a vicious series of gender-based violence incidents that have occurred in Belize over the last month, the latest being the vicious slaying this morning of 21- Merlin Elizabeth […]

Young Mother Found Murdered in Her Room
A 21-year-old woman was killed in Belize City this morning. The body of Merlin Elizabeth Herrera Mejia was found in a room at a residence on Morning Glory Street. Inspector Alejandro Cowo, Crimes Investigation Branch told us more. ALEJANDRO COWO “On today’s date at 6:50am acting upon information received, Police visited 4333 it is a […]

PlusTV

More charges levied against Mayans over Myles detention
Last month, charges were laid against villagers of Santa Cruz for unlawful imprisonment of Rupert Myles, who was found squatting on Mayan Communal land and accused of destroying a Sacred Mayan mound at Uxbenca. Today, additional charges were levied against some of the thirteen villagers who detained...

PUP leader addresses signed petition he received
The People’s United Party has been in the news almost every night last week over reports of disunity within the party allegedly evidenced by boycotts of meetings and the organization of secret meetings minus PUP executives. Yesterday, we reported on the petition that was submitted to the Party Leade...

Lawyers not ready for Petrocaribe case
Today was the date set for the trial of the lawsuit filed by member of the House of Representatives for Cayo South, Honorable Julius Espat against Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Honorable Dean Barrow. Over vociferous objections, the Prime Minister has pushed through ...

Young Innovators Program introduces “credit-card” computer to schools
The Raspberry Pi is a relatively inexpensive basic computer invented several years ago by persons interested in reviving creativity in the field of computer science. It is now being introduced to Belize as the centerpiece of the second year of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)’s Young Inno...

Summer School Programme closes in the Twin Towns
A number of children have successfully completed a summer course held for primary school students of the twin towns and received a certificate of completion this week. It is an annual Summer school programme spearheaded by Peter Lacey. He told us more about the programme. Peter Lacey – Summer...

Belize receives low score for combating human trafficking
Belize did not do well in the latest Trafficking in Persons report 2015, also known as TIP report published by the US state Department. In the TIP Report, the Department of State places each country onto one of three tiers based on the extent of their governments’ efforts to comply with the “...

13 year old girl found, parent annoyed with cops
Since last week Tuesday, 13 year old Jacqueline Carmen Calderon was missing after she was sent to a restaurant on Albert Street, Belize City, to purchase phone credits. She did not return home and her family has been worried for almost an entire week. Thankfully, Jacklyn has since been found and wh...

Accident on Highway involves butane truck
There was a minor accident on the George Price Highway this morning, but it could have been major as it involved a butane truck. The image was captured by one of our viewers as the butane truck was spraying butane in the air after the accident. Fire service was on the scene and had to use foam to e...

Breaking Belize News

Belize joins regional organization of municipal bodies
Last week there was a gathering of leaders of municipal bodies in Central America, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It took place in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye and Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley, who heads the Belize Mayors Association, says the meeting was to finalize […]

City Mayor denies neglecting duties
Belize City’s chief executive Darrell Bradley has been out of the news for a while but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been busy. Today he gave us an update on what has been happening around the City in the last few months. The Council continues to build streets […]

Ariel Rosado Foundation hands out 33 scholarships
The Ariel Rosado Memorial Foundation has grown from strength to strength since its formation following the death of its namesake, a cyclist and promising attorney-at-law, in 2011. It has doubled the number of scholarships it is giving out at all levels of the education system and is on […]

PUP leadership makes concessions to Group of 12
Twenty-one of 31 standard bearers of the People’s United Party (PUP) were present at today’s pivotal meeting of the National Executive and party standard bearers at Independence Hall in Belize City. Earlier this week, 12 standard bearers from across the country wrote PUP leader Francis Fonseca and Chairman […]

June economic statistics released
Average prices continue to fall according to the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) which reported today that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for June of 2015 declined by 0.8%. The Institute says the biggest influence was fuel prices which are much lower this year than last. The half-year […]

Convicted molester given three years
Charles Bucknor will serve three years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl in July of 2013. He was found guilty by Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith who disbelieved his claims of innocence. Bucknor had been hired by the victim’s grand aunt to repair the ceiling […]

Inmate will serve more time for drugs
The woes of prison inmate 22 year old Kevin Bodden, already serving a three-year prison term for a conviction for grievous harm, increased when he learned he would get an additional year for possession of a controlled drug. Bodden was promptly arrested, charged and pleaded guilty to the […]

BELIZE ~ A POST-ELECTION VIEW FROM UNDER THE BUS, PART II
Today there are change-seeking rumblings inside a troubled People’s United Party. A small core around the leader wants the party as their own…to the exclusion of many who have sacrificed much and given long years of service to the party. Anyone who so much as question the party […]

Rain break interrupts fair weather pattern
Generally fair weather continues to prevail over the country and only a slight increase in moisture will occur tonight. The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mostly sunny skies with a few cloudy spells, isolated showers or thunderstorms today. Tonight, skies will be cloudy with showers and thunderstorms increasing […]

Children’s breakfast promotes peace between Belize and Guatemala
The Belize City Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Organization of American States (OAS) today hosted children from Belize and Guatemala at the BTL Park in Belize City at a breakfast intended to celebrate the youngest citizens of both countries and promote peace and harmony. In welcoming the […]

Police seek common-law husband in domestic dispute turned apparent murder
Eastern Division (South) police are seeking Honduran Ulises Mayorga to assist them in the investigation into the killing of 21 year old Merlin Elizabeth Herrera Mejia, his former common-law wife. Mejia’s body was discovered this morning around 6:50 at her Morning Glory Street residence with cut wounds to the neck […]

San Pedro Police find Marijuana in Water Taxi
San Pedro Police has labelled more than 400 grams of Cannabis as “Found Property” after an afternoon discovery was made in a water Taxi on Monday, July 27th. Police reports are that around 12:30 p.m on the mentioned date, a green package was found in the cargo area of the […]

Mayor of Orange Walk weighs in on present PUP crisis
As the Mayor of Orange Walk Town, and the only elected PUP Mayor nationwide, I feel I have to weigh in on the present crisis inside our party. If we are to judge from our leader’s comments on Plus TV yesterday, he has opted for strident militancy […]

Murder in Belize City
There has been a murder reported on Morning Glory Street behind the headquarters of Belize Water Services Limited, around 8:00 a.m today. A young woman was found with her throat reportedly slit. More details will be posted as they become available.

“Patriotic Belizeans” ruining peace process?
Minister for Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington has suggested that the actions of some Belizeans are responsible for the main issues Belize has with Guatemala. Appearing with opposite number Carlos Raul Morales on Channel 5’s Open Your Eyes on Tuesday, he stated that there is now no threat to Belize by […]

Human trafficking report overvalues convictions: BATC chair
Chair of the Belize Anti-Trafficking Committee (BATC) and CEO in the Ministry of Human Development Judith Alpuche has hit back at a report released this week by the U.S. State Department which downgraded Belize to Tier 3, which threatens country funding. Alpuche told News 5 that the report does not […]

PUP showdown or boycott: Fonseca vs. G-12
Today, the People’s United Party (PUP) will try again to have a full meeting of the National Executive and party standard bearers at Independence Hall in Belize City. In the wake of public revelations where twelve standard bearers raised concerns about the party’s direction, called for an immediate National Convention; […]

Blogs

Buying a bike in Belize
While bikes are used for transportation worldwide, there are some countries where bikes are a “way of life.” Belize is one of those places and you will see the most interesting uses for bikes. Parents balancing one or more children, a child in a bike basket, or holding a baby and one handedly navigating the cobblestone or potholed dirt roads. Then there is the guy who is able to use his bike as a cargo vehicle and carry all kinds of crazy things like two heavy 5 gallon water jugs, full cases of beer on his handlebars or a weed-wacker and a propane tank. All this takes place on our narrow and often busy busy roads and makes for very interesting people watching when you are out and about. If you have lived here for any amount of time or been a repeat vacationer, you know that Belize shopping can be a total crap shoot to say the least. You never know if you will find what you want and if you do at what price. I briefly considered the mainland but that thought did not last long. I knew what I wanted and I knew the one store in San Pedro that I’d possibly find it again was Harmouche Hardware, and this time I was hoping for candy apple red. Being realistic, I decided unless my color choice was god awful, I was not going to wait to have one sent in if there were none in stock. Handle bars were the real deal breaker for me. I like the high ones that help you sit upright easier while riding. Thankfully they had the right ones and I ended up with a navy bike for my choice. The other bike my size was a boys bike and a flatter red. Cost of my new bike was $295 BZD and basket $40 for a total of $335 BZD. A great price and little to no increase since my past purchase.

Chicken and cashews
Combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sherry, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and chicken in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch, broth, oyster sauce, and honey in a small bowl. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken mixture to pan; sauté 3 minutes. Remove from pan. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil in pan. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Return chicken mixture to pan; sauté 1 minute. Stir in broth mixture. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with green onions and cashews.

International Sources

Copa Launching Flights to Belize
Starting this December, Copa Airlines will be offering its first-ever service to Belize. The Panama-based carrier will be operating two weekly direct flights between Panama City and Belize City. With this addition, Copa Airlines is now covering all of Central America, and has reached 71 total cities and 31 countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean. “The connectivity will open enormous opportunities for tourism and commercial development for this interesting Caribbean country, as well as allowing for tourist from the same region to have the opportunity to enjoy all the tourism and commercial strengths Belize has to offer,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.

Hands-on learning in Belize
While most high school students spend their summers by the pool and at the mall with friends, 29 teenagers from Davidson Day School just returned home from Belize as part of one of the only research projects in the world of its kind. Mat Saunders, archeologist and teacher at Davidson Day, created this research program in 2006 when he was teaching at a public school in Florida. Since then, he has been taking high school students to western Belize to study archeology and discover treasures. This summer’s excavations yielded obsidian blades and decorations, ceramic incense burners used for sacred rituals, a cache of ritually terminated ceramic pieces and utilitarian food preparation tools. This was the 10th year that high school students have worked at the ancient Maya site of Cahal Pech. The students, who must be rising 10-12-graders, start the application process in September. After filling out an application, the students get letters of recommendation from their teachers. Based on the applications and recommendation letters, students are then chosen for the research project over the summer with Saunders.

Fishing: Pearland’s O’Day wins tourney in Belize
Connie O’Day of Pearland won the inaugural competition of the The International Women’s Fishing Association’s Bonefish Tournament in Ambergris Cay, Belize. O’Day totaled 5,400 points as the long-time IWFA member earned her first ever IWFA tournament win. Not too far behind in points was Pam Marmin with 5,000 points, finishing ahead of two other anglers who also had the same point totals. They were Denise Freihofer, Stuart, FL and Susan McCarthy, Palm Beach, FL. Fourteen anglers from around the country convened to fish for the elusive grey ghost of the flats, the coveted bonefish. Amidst a tropical paradise, the ladies gathered before the tournament to shop, fish for other species not targeted during the tournament, and some brave girls even went swimming with sharks and stingrays.

Drug traffickers wiping out the jaguar in Central America
The jaguar roams jungles and riverbanks from the Amazon to Mexico, and even into the southwestern United States. It’s a powerful and cunning hunter, and a single cat’s territory can stretch hundreds of miles. The Aztecs called their most fearsome warriors “ocelotl” — jaguar soldiers. But now the jaguar is being defeated by a ruthless, modern-day warrior of a different sort: Powerful drug cartels are carving up its Central American natural habitat. In some areas, particularly in Honduras and Guatemala, the big cats are at risk of disappearing entirely. “Drug dealing in Honduras is definitely affecting jaguar conservation,” said Jorge Guardia, a conservationist with a major international environmental NGO in Honduras (his name has been changed and his employer’s identity concealed for fears of attacks by narco-traffickers). “Habitat destruction is the No. 1 threat, and money from drugs is fueling illegal activities in protected areas — mainly cattle ranching.”

Videos

July 29, 2015

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Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

The Beauty of Belize lives through its People
For so many people, Belize means so many things. For me, this land means love.I spent my fundamental childhood and adolescent years away from Belize, residing in Los Angeles(LA), California, and while I loved it, I always yearned for something more. I longed to climb mango trees, breathe in the fresh mountain air of the Cayo hills, eat Granny’s Sunday dinna, and go take a swim da riva! Many families migrate to the “States” and somehow in the grind of everyday life, lose sight of their heritage, whether Belizean, Mexican, Jamaican, Haitian and the list goes on. But I certainly could not say the same for myself.

Sunset Dinner onboard the YOLO
A leisure sunset cruise over the pristine Caribbean waters of Ambergris Caye is always a treat. But when that cruise also involves having dinner at the picturesque Hol Chan Marine Reserve- well, we’re talking ‘next level’! Onboard Island Dream Tours’ YOLO (You Only Live Once) you are whisked away for some wining and dining at sea. The YOLO is one unique catamaran, custom-built right here in San Pedro Town by the professional builders at Captain Sharks Boat Yard. With a great sound system, every trip on this vessel is sure to be rocking! Its powerful engines ensure a smooth relaxing ride and the tropical breeze just seems to blow all your troubles away.

PADF and Belize to Boost Preparedness for Ebola with Support from Taiwan
The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) donated Clinical Care Kits for the care of patients with Ebola Virus Disease to Belize’s Ministry of Health with cooperation from Taiwan. This is part of a larger regional effort prepare for and control a potential outbreak of Ebola. The project is a direct response to a request from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and other world leaders for increased international cooperation to better address the potential threat posed by Ebola worldwide and in the Americas. With support from Taiwan, PADF is delivering Clinical Care Kits to Belize and other countries in the region. In the event of an Ebola outbreak, the equipment can be quickly deployed to hospitals and other care facilities to protect medical personnel as they treat patients.

Ambergris Today

Man vs. Sargasso! One Islander’s Idea to Build More Beach
One man’s outreach to the community to find a solution to the Sargasso problem plaguing the island has him organizing a weekly beach cleanup campaign that promises to build the beach while getting rid of the Sargasso (seaweed) that keeps accumulating by the tons. Dimas Guerrero refused to sit back and watch all that seaweed pile up on the shores of the Ambergris Caye, and after doing some extensive research, he found a solution that not only removes the unsightly and smelly, decomposing seaweed but also reclaims the beach area. Instead of collecting and removing seaweed from the beach, which also takes away beach sand along with it, Dimas tested a method that keeps both on site and has the beach growing exponentially. In his first testing of the method he was able to add 17 feet to a beach area. It’s a simple process of collecting the seaweed and evenly laying it out on the beach; various holes are dug where as much seaweed is dumped and compacted, while the white sand from the hole is used to cover the remaining seaweed on the beach.

Misc Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker tourism committee chapter meeting
As the Caye Caulker BTIA we are currently a part of the Caye Caulker tourism committee. We will be taking notes tonight at the chapter meeting! Please take the time to give us your input. See you at the community center tonight at 6:45 for sign in and staring at 7pm sharp! Thanks

Destroying mangrove and other protected wildlife habitats
Many developers in Belize have a habit of destroying mangrove and other protected wildlife habitats before ever consulting or obtaining the proper permits from the relevant authorities. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking our Belizean laws. Of recent in Corozal, neighbours and villagers have complained that two foreign investors in the Consejo Village area bulldozed their beachfront tract of land for subdivision, stripping every single tree on the property. Their plan now is to cut a canal from the seaside to their development. This will cut off the 66 foot easement required by law as a buffer zone on all coastal and water front properties.We wonder if the canals proposed to be carved out from the property will be bulk headed to prevent the land from washing away during a hurricane.

Benque Puppetry Workshop
The first Puppetry workship in Cayo is happening this week at the Benque HoC. The SISE HoC will have one starting on August 17th. "Puppetry Art Mode session happening all this week, come create your masterpiece and embrace a scenery into the Arts, create,learn and empower others! All Youths & Adults are invited to join our International Facilitators from Mexico, sessions from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. all materials and sessions are free of cost, 5 spaces are still available. Call 823-2796 or inbox us"

SAGA Presents A Night With the Costa Maya Girls!
Meet and Greet Party with the Costa Maya Girls!. Pig Roast, $20bz. Sandbar Beach Bar, 6pm-9pm Aug. 2. Come enjoy some great food and meet the beautiful delegates of this year's International Costa Maya event. Get a chance to get to learn about the girls, and pose for a professional picture with a $10 donation to Saga. Live music by Valentino, and a chance to win great raffle prizes. Serving starts at 6:30. We will pre-sell tickets at the Saga Clinic and Pampered Paws which includes dinner AND a professional photo with the girls for just $25!

Graduación 2015
Las niñas y niños de la Escuela Primaria La Inmaculada celebraron hoy su graduacion.

Paint N Splash"Moorish Idol Reef Fish"
July 30, Crazy Canucks

Sugar Fest 2015 A HUGE SUCCESS!
Sugar Fest 2015 proved to be a huge success! Here are some pictures of the fun filled event which attracted over 2000 people! All proceeds went to participating charity groups!

Statement on Santa Cruz 13 return to court
pictures courtesy of Ian Morton and MLA

String Instrument Workshop
The String Instrument Workshop is underway at the House of Culture as the final program of Summer Art Wave 2015. About 20 children are taking up the challenge of learning to play violin and guitar over the next two weeks.

Caracol Military Outpost Inauguration
They had the ribbon cutting at the new Caracol Military Outpost. "The Caracol Military outpost, was officially opened at the site of Caracol on the 24th of July 2015. This outpost will add security and provide safety to all visitors to the site and to a larger extent the Chiqubul Forest reserve."

I Sing Barranco Book Launch
The I Sing Barranco Book Launch is Thursday, July 30th, starting at 6:00pm, at the National Heritage Library. Dr. Harriet Arzu Scarborough, the author, will be there, and will read some of her peotry. "3 seasoned poets warm the stage for 1 featured poet who will tame the butterflies in the bellies of newer poets who will share their poetry in an open mic session. The featured poet for this event is Dr. Harriet Arzu Scarborough, she will also launch her book 'I Sing Barranco'"

Hol Chan Research Technician, Javier Bardalez, Receives Training in Mexico
Turtle training at Xcacel

Channel 7

Santa Cruz 13 Back To Court
Viewers may remember that 5 weeks ago, 13 Mayans living in Toledo, now called the "Santa Cruz 13", were charged for unlawful imprisonment, common assault and aggravated assault. Punta Gorda Police slapped on those charges after Creole Belizean Rupert Myles accused them of handcuffing and detaining him with the intention of ejecting him from the village. Well today, they went back before the Punta Gorda Magistrate for an adjournment, and that's when 11 of the defendants were additionally charged with the offence of common assault, which they allegedly committed against Myles. It's a minor offence, and so, they were allowed to leave court after getting someone to sign the bail forms for them. Also, since the case is only just in its beginning stages, the prosecution was allowed to ask for an adjournment, while they prepare their evidence to for trial. They are expected to return to the court on September 29. Shortly after the court hearing, our colleagues from PGTV managed to get an interview with one of the spokespersons for the community. He discussed today's adjournment:

PUP's Rebel 12: What Will They Do?
For the past few days we've been reporting on the PUP's Rebel 12 - the dozen candidates who are demanding changes in the party - mainly a national convention - one which could unseat Leader Francis Fonseca. But Fonseca and his loyalists have been moving in lockstep to close ranks - and in so doing isolate the dissenting dozen - which is led by John Briceno, Cordel Hyde and Dan Silva. It could come to a head tomorrow because Fonseca has called for a meeting of the party's National Executive and Standard Bearers. We don't know the agenda, but we know what's on the table: the Rebel 12 have written to the party chairman asking for a national convention, and Cayo Central Candidate Dan Silva has posted their position on Facebook. He says, quote, "something has to happen. We cannot continue as we have, pretending as if though all is well when we know that something is wrong. That something is that the people are not buying what we are presenting to them..The people...have been very clear every chance they have gotten. They are not impressed with our party…it is absolutely important that we call an urgent National Convention." So, tomorrow's meeting is for the rebel 12 to air it out, but as a minority, outflanked by 19 standard bearers who support Fonseca. The 12 could boycott the meeting, or attend, and face a political firing squad, one which will endorse Fonseca as leader. Of course, those aren't the only options: There's still room in there for mischief making by the rebels - so we'll wait and see what comes out of tomorrow's meeting which starts at 2:00 in the afternoon.

PUP Petrocaribe Case Losing Steam?
And the PUP's internal dispute may be playing out all the way to the Supreme Court. That's because the braintrust of PUP attorneys who were pushing the Petrocaribe case are reportedly pulling back. It's not confirmed, but the question was raised today when neither law firm of record on the case, Courtney Coye LLP or Marine Parade Chambers appeared in court. Instead, it was attorney Magali Marin-Young, whose firm is not on record, but appeared for the Opposition at today's hearing before Justice Courtney Abel. The case was expected to progress today, but instead, Young had to ask for an adjournment in order for the claimants to get the lawsuit in order. The official reason put forward is that the Government has formally amended the Petrocaribe Loans Act, but the new law hasn't been Gazetted. Young submitted to Justice Abel that the Opposition is unable to make proper amendments to their case to reflect the changes in the new law if the official law is not available as yet. The attorneys representing the Government and Alba Petrocaribe Belize Limited were asking the court to consider the sanction of striking the case out if the claimants fail to progress with their case at the next adjournment. As a compromise, Justice Abel ordered that a case management conference will be held a few weeks before the new adjourned date, and if the attorney for the claimant is still not ready to move forward with the case, then he will allow submissions as to why he ought to strike it out.

Police Have A Suspect For Watchman Murder
There is a chilling update in the case of the watchman killed near to the Bacab Eco Park on Sunday night. A relative is reported to be a suspect in the murder of the 48 year old watchman Prudencio Gonzalez. Police received a reliable report stating that this young man may have killed Gonzalez. The suspect is reported to be associated with the MS-13 gang. Police are following up on this major lead and have reportedly detained the relative.

Double Chopping in Salvapan
There was a chopping incident in Belmopan yesterday. At around 1:00 yesterday morning police found two Belmopan men chopped up in Salvapan. It happened on the Road in front of the San Martin Primary School where 24-year-old Jorge Guevara and 25-year-old Clifford Alexander Alvarado were found with multiple chop wounds. Guevara had been chopped to his head, back and face, while Alvarado's wounds were to his left hand, shoulder and left arm. They told police that they were walking when five Hispanic men jumped them and started chopping. Police have one man detained and he will be charged later tonight with wounding among other charges. Police believe that alcohol may have been what fueled the attack.

US Report says Belize Fails On Trafficking in Persons
Belize is doing poorly in addressing human trafficking - or so says the United state. That's what the US State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons report 2015 concludes. The report outlines the accomplishments and the failures of 188 countries in prosecuting traffickers and protecting victims. But, they say Belize failed to do both - and is now ranked as tier 3 country. Countries that do the most to fight human trafficking are listed in Tier 1, and the least in Tier 3. The report begins by stating, quote, "The Government of Belize does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so". It goes on by saying that not only did the Government of Belize fail to thoroughly investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses over the years but also that Belize neglected to enforce prevention and protection efforts for victims. The report delves into the major gaps and discrepancies in the law - focusing on the lack of oversight of the police during bar and nightclub raids - stating that proper screening of women for trafficking indicators or signs is not done.

PUC Wants Computer Culture Brought Into Education
What if your teenage son or daughter was able to open up your computer at home, and he or she was able to understand and explain to you the use of each parts the intricate circuitry which exists in the central processing unit? Well, that's what the Public Utilities Commission intends to foster, young scholars who are computer savvy, with the hope of one day seeing a Belizean Bill Gates of Steve Jobs, both known in the world's technology industry as computer inventing pioneers who became billionaires. So, they've invested almost a quarter million dollars in acquiring innovative simple computers to train the students about the basics of computer engineering. The commission hosted a press conference to explain how they will go about trying to boost the computer technology classes that your high schooler currently receives. The Chairman explained that the computer system that they've purchased to use as teaching tools is called the Raspberry Pi (Pie). Here's his comments on the topic:

Archaeology in Benque Viejo
We've heard a lot recently from John Morris, the Director of the Institute of Archaeology. And while he's been talking about Uxbenka in the south, he also had much to share about several archaeological sites in Benque Viejo, as well as the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts. He explained the Benque site, where physical works have been taking place for 4 months now: Dr. John Morris, Director, Institute of Archaeology "We received a grant from the United States Embassy to help us develop the tourism potential of the Benque site which a residential palace that is related to the site of Xunantunich because its relatively close by and we've been working on it for the last 4 months and in fact it has turned out to be extremely well. The architecture is well preserved. We hope to conclude this project by the end of August and we'll have an opening. It is going to be a boom for the town of Benque and that is what we try do. We try to find sites that are located relatively close to town. For instance we have projections for the Cuello site in Orange Walk which is a couple miles out of Orange Walk. We've started excavations there and so that in a couple of years we will be able to open that site to the public. We also started some work at site of Aventura which is very close to Corozal. It right on the road near the Fruta Bomba factory and we started some work there this year with the hope that in a couple years we get to open that site to the general public."

Camp For Kids With Diabetes
Strict dieting and exercise: certainly not things that kids would normally have to worry about. But today we met a group of kids who have to worry about these things to survive. These kids suffer from Type 1 diabetes and were all diagnosed from a very early age. Today we met them at the 5th annual Youth Diabetes Summer Camp at the ITVET and they told us how these challenging it is to cope with this disease. Barry Cuthbertson, President, Belmopan Rotary Club "As part of our visit to Mr. Marfield from the Belmopan Diabetes Association came to us and give us a presentation on the activities that was going on with diabetes in general in Belize and in that presentation he had ask us to if we could help out with 4 youths that were in Belmopan to get monitoring equipment. So during this event here which coincides with the handing over the Juvenile Diabetes Summer Camp, we got youths from all over the country that have been diagnosed with diabetes. They will be trained in using the blood monitoring equipment and a lot of nutrition and items and stuff like that. So it was just a convenient time to make all the events come together." "Once a child is diagnosed with diabetes, it's a change for the whole family. It's an incredible experience. It causes the family to have to change their lifestyle too. Children have to be trained to monitor their own health and with these children, they will have to pricked themselves up to 6-8 times a day and then use a test strip, put in the meter and read the sugar level in their blood - their insulin level."

Spanish Made Easy
Even though the official language of Belize is English, increasingly, there are more Spanish speakers in Belize than ever before. So, very soon, if you want to get around Belize you'd do better off being bilingual. That's what a group of Belizeans who call themselves Speak Out Belize, has in minds. Two of their members visited us yesterday to explain how you can learn Spanish: For more information, you contact the Speak Out Institute at 650-2580.

Carnival Culture Gets A Boost
When you hear about a carnival workshop - you know that it's not about teaching revelers how to wind their waists - cause they know all about that. But carnival trainer Glendon Morris was in Belize for a 2 week workshop with local carnival bands. It's the Trinidadian's first time in Belize and he met with about 16 carnival bands to enhance their costume design and overall presentation. We met with Morris today and he told us why these workshops are important for Belize and what we can expect to see in this year's Carnival. Morris has organized similar workshops in other parts of the world including the US. He plans on returning to Belize for follow up training sessions.

The ICJ Official Pitch
On last night's news, we had extensive coverage of the press conference held by the Foreign Affairs Ministers of both Belize and Guatemala. Both Ministers spent plenty of their speaking time about how friendly the relations are between both countries - but that never made it to air because of all the pressing divisive issues. But here's what they had to say about friendly neighbors: Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Minister of Foreign Affairs - Belize "The Guatemalan government, certainly those that I met have been very respectful of Belize and have been very insistent that they don't want any violence. They don't want any disharmony between us. They want us to live in peace and harmony and they want to go to the ICJ. That is the official position of the Guatemalan government. That is the official position of Belize government. But both of us understand that we don't speak as a government unless we speak with the authority of our people. So, us officials believe that that is the right course to take and we are advocating it and we are educating our people, but we understand that only our people can give us the authority to do that." "In the case of Belize, the decision that we must go to the people was taken deliberately during the early days, because of suspicion on the part of the Belizean electorate, with respect to the motives of the then Belizean government."

Channel 5

Santa Cruz 13 Arraigned on Additional Charges
The Santa Cruz Thirteen reappeared in the Punta Gorda Magistrate Court this morning on their scheduled date. To their surprise, additional charges were placed upon them, including on MLA spokesperson [...]

MLA Says Myles Continues To Destroy Mayan Mound
So while the Santa Cruz Thirteen face new charges, Rupert Myles is yet to be charged. On Friday, Director of Archaeology, Doctor John Morris, confirmed that charges will be brought [...]

Mayans Will Wait for Justice System to Work
While the village, according to Mis, did not plan on taking legal action against Myles, residents are now placing their faith in the justice system.  Still yet, there is also [...]

Uchbenka Executive Weighs in on Myles
The Uchbenka K’in Ajau Association, the management body tasked with overseeing the preservation of the Uxbenka sacred site, has elected a new executive.  The incoming leadership of the association has [...]

Association Plans to Restore Uxbenka Site
Makin says the importance of protecting the hallowed site is to honor the legacy of their ancestors.  As such the Uchbenka K’in Ajau Association has pledged to work closely with [...]

How Will Belizeans Vote on the Referendum to Take Territorial Claim to the ICJ?
And our question for tonight is: how do you think Belizeans will vote on the referendum to take the territorial claim to the ICJ? Send your comments and responses using [...]

P.U.P. Leader Speaks on G12
The People’s United Party is, by all accounts, deeply divided and on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Independence Hall where a meeting of the executive is being called. On [...]

Showdown Set for Tomorrow At P.U.P. HQ
Fonseca says that at a national executive meeting scheduled for Wednesday at Independence Hall, he is prepared to listen because that is his style. But he’ll only listen if he [...]

Belize Downgraded on Human Trafficking Watchlist
Belize has been downgraded to Tier Three on the Human Trafficking watch-list, based on a stinging assessment by the U.S.  The report states that, “The Government of Belize does not [...]

Anti-Trafficking Committee Says Report is Tainted
While the Committee absolutely disagreed with the downgrade, it is what it is. As far as Alpuche is concerned, they can only do what they’ve been doing because in the [...]

Supreme Court Orders Retrial for Alfredo Marin
A Benque Viejo resident appealed his conviction for drug trafficking back in June of this year. Alfredo Marin was fined ten thousand dollars and sentenced to three years in prison. [...]

Petrocaribe Case Back in Court; Neither Side Ready
Petrocaribe – it is the political buzzword of 2015, and depending on who you ask, it is either the best thing to ever happen to Belize or perhaps the worst. [...]

Petrocaribe Case Adjourned to December
For the other side, Senior Counsel Magali Marin-Young held brief for Espat and fellow Senior Counsels Eamon Courtenay, who was busy, and Andrew Marshalleck, who is on holiday. Marin-Young says [...]

Elrington Blames Belizeans for Incidents with Guatemala
Shortly at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Belize and Guatemala will make presentations at a Culture for Peace forum organized by the Organization [...]

Guatemalan Foreign Minister Says “What Incidents?”
But according to O.A.S. information, the incidents along the borders have been reduced by ninety percent. The Guatemalan Foreign Minister says any incidents that occur along the adjacency zone affect [...]

P.U.C. Introduces the Raspberry Pi
In 2014, the Public Utilities Commission launched its Young Innovators Programme by giving students the tools to create mobile apps, and this year it’s all about the raspberry pi.  It [...]

Police Department Focuses on Quality of Life Offences
On Monday night, we told you about an initiative organized by Regional South Commander for the Eastern Division of the Police Department in the Mayflower Street area. That area, which [...]

Diabetes Association Hosts 5th Annual Camp
Did you know that a significant percentage of the population is diabetic? And that another significant number of persons do not even know they have the disease? Well, the Belize [...]

LOVE FM

Duo Protest Against Discrimination in Maya Communities
And while the court proceedings were ongoing, a symbolic protest was held by two members of the Creole community. SANDRA BROWN “I’m here because I am beginning to see a discrimination rear its ugly head in Belize. I grew up in a Belize especially the districts where we boast that we have five or six […]

Santa Cruz Villagers Face Additional Court Charges
Additional charge was levied against those previously charged in connection with the recent Santa Cruz incident in Toledo. Correspondent Paul Mahung was at the Punta Gorda magistrate’s court and has the story. PAUL MAHUNG “Attorney Monica Coc of Maya Leader’s Alliance, Santa Cruz leaders and Villagers who was in Punta Gorda’s Magistrate Court spoke of […]

PlusTV

Belize-Guatemala week promotes peace process
Today the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala met in Belize under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). It is the start of a “Belize-Guatemala” week, a planned operation of the OAS to bring greater understanding of the countries’ territorial di...

Belize Foreign Affairs Minister confirms FOB will go ahead
And in the spirit of the new partnership and national unity, Guatemala appears to have forgiven Belize for scaring them with the planned forward operating base at Sarstoon Island in the Toledo District. As it turns out, the Guatemalans thought Belize may have been violating the confidence building m...

Murder at Bacab Eco Park
Police in Ladyville are investigating the shooting death of one 47 year old Prudencio Gonzalez, caretaker of the famous Bacab Eco Park on the Burrell Boom road. The incident occurred sometime around 9 pm last night July 26th where eyewitness report hearing a single gunshot go off in the area of Ridg...

Man Knocked off bicycle and Killed
A man was knocked down and killed on Friday night while riding his bicycle on the George Price High at mile 13 near the village of Hattieville. According to reports, 50 year old Miguel Angel Cruz, a resident of Hattieville Village was coming back from setting tilipia traps as part of his fishing hob...

PUP women speak out on national issues
This morning there was a press conference called by the People’s United Party (PUP) in Belize City but it was not about that particular issue. Today’s head table featured only women, albeit women leaders of the PUP: 4 standard bearers, including current representative Dolores Balderamos ...

Protesters heckle diplomats at Press Briefing
Members of Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) and others opposed to the ICJ process gathered outside of the Radisson Hotel starting just before today’s press briefing hosted by the OAS and featuring Belize’s and Guatemala’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs . While police held th...

Teenager perishes in Road accident
There was another fatal traffic accident over this weekend, this time in San Roman Village in the Corozal District. According to police reports, On Saturday night, July 25, sometime before 11 p.m., Corozal Police responded to a traffic accident in San Roman Village, Corozal District where they saw ...

Amandala

“Santa Cruz 13” appear in court tomorrow
The “Santa Cruz 13—a group of persons charged and arraigned on the claim that they had illegally arrested and detained Belizean Rupert Myles in Santa Cruz, where Myles was accused of desecrating a Maya sacred site, Uxbenka—are scheduled to appear in the Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28. A statement from the Toledo Alcaldes Association (TAA) recalls that, “The Maya leaders, including the spokesperson of the Maya Leaders Alliance, Cristina Coc, were arrested by the police special forces on June 24th, 2015. At 4:00 a.m., the police stormed homes in Santa Cruz, dragged unclothed men out of their homes, handcuffed them, and drove them to the Punta Gorda police station. During the arrest a grandmother and four of the villagers were injured.” The statement added that the Maya were charged for the alleged unlawful imprisonment, common assault and aggravated assault of Myles, allegedly detained for misconduct in the village, during a fajina on June 20, 2015 in the Maya village of Santa Cruz. They were released on bail.

Belize and Guatemala announce new protocol for southern waters
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called a press briefing at the Radisson Fort George Hotel this morning, as a preview to Tuesday night’s forum dubbed, “Belize/Guatemala Relations: A Culture of Peace.” The forum, during what the Organization of American States (OAS) interestingly dubs “Belize-Guatemala week,” comes only weeks after armed Guatemala Naval officers ordered a contingent of Belize Coast Guard officers off Sarstoon Island – squarely inside Belizean territory, and against the backdrop of resistance from Guatemala to Belize’s long deferred decision to build a forward operating base (FOB) in the Sarstoon area. That base, which should have been built more than seven years ago, is deemed necessary for national security purposes, and specifically to fight illegal fishing, drug and human trafficking, and illegal logging perpetrated by persons believed to be Guatemalan and Honduran nationals – a situation that has reportedly worsened because of relaxed surveillance in the area.

Cop sentenced to 3 months for theft
A police constable who was found guilty of one count of theft was sentenced to three months in prison this morning after Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith heard a mitigation plea from his attorney and he expressed remorse to the victim and apologized for “embarrassing the Police Department” with his unbecoming conduct. Attorney Leroy Banner, who represented PC Dean Perez, 27, who was found guilty of the theft of a cell phone and $600 when his case concluded last Thursday, expressed the view that a non-custodial sentence would better suit the circumstances of his client, who is the sole breadwinner for his family. Banner told Chief Magistrate Smith that Perez has no previous conviction and has spent the last 9 years serving in the Police Department.

Rebellion in the PUP!
Last week Tuesday, a number of the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) National Executive members and standard bearers boycotted a strategy meeting at the Party’s Independence Hall headquarters. When the media questioned party leader Francis Fonseca, he was quite dismissive of the absences and told the media that nothing was unusual about it. In speaking about the absentees, Fonseca said: “That happens at many meetings. At many meetings we don’t have full attendance. There is absolutely nothing to be read into that at all about any boycott.” This morning, the media was again invited to Independence Hall for a press briefing, held by the women leaders of the PUP. While that meeting was going on, however, the PUP Chairman was served with a letter signed by 12 PUP standard bearers who are demanding that the party stop violating its constitution and hold a national convention as soon as possible. The meeting of the women, sources within the PUP have confirmed, was organized by Ralph Fonseca, who, we are told, made the calls to arrange for the meeting to be held at the home of Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia (the PUP’s Belize Rural Central area representative) on Sunday.

Watchman’s killer shot him in the eye
On Sunday, July 26, at about 11:43 p.m., Ladyville police responded to a report of a shooting and they visited a house located off a feeder road about half a mile from Bacab Eco Park, where they found a man lying face-up, dead. He had apparently had been shot in his right eye. This latest Belize District murder victim would later be identified as Prudencio Sican, 47, a Guatemalan national who was employed at Bacab as a handyman and watchman. Apparently, Sican lived alone in the house. Amandala spoke to the investigating officer from the Ladyville Police Station, who told us that a single gunshot was heard in the area and when Sican’s relative visited him during the night, his lifeless body was found. Police have also not recovered any expended shell casing, which adds more challenge to their investigation.

Libel case against Monchi, Fiesta FM faltering
Today marks the second day that attorneys in the libel/slander case that Deputy Prime Minister Gasper “Gapi” Vega filed against Ramon “Monchi” Cervantes, his political opponent, and Fiesta FM, have been slugging it out in the Supreme Court of Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin. Outside the court there were more than a hundred supporters of Vega, who were bused in and who waited in the burning heat, oblivious to what was transpiring inside the courtroom, where Vega’s attorney, Rodwell Williams, SC, the Prime Minister’s law partner, was presenting his client’s case. They did not know, in fact, that Williams had run into a legal gridlock. Most of the hearing in the morning was spent with Williams making a submission in an attempt to persuade the Chief Justice that Kelly Guzman, the person who had translated the broadcast telephone conversation (which reportedly contained libelous statements) from Spanish to English, should be called as a witness for the claimant, Vega.

No Petro Caribe “love” for Lilly White Summer Camp
Long time Belize City sports entrepreneur/activist Edward Charles Rubio, a.k.a. Lilly White, visited our sports desk last Wednesday to promote his “Lilly White Kids Summer Camp 2015 for children ages 5-12 years,” which kicked off on June 30 and runs until August 30 at BTL Park. The camp is active daily from Monday to Friday, running from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lilly White says he has been sustaining the camp through the meager resources from his car wash project on Barracks Road, but “I am presently in need of funding, as I have not received any assistance from the Government of Belize through the PetroCaribe funds…” He insists that his application forms were all filled out and delivered to the Sports Council office according to the reported guidelines, but so far he has received “no love” from Government’s “Summer Sports” assistance program.

5 Belize City youth to Miami FC Bescola Camp
Leaving the Philip Goldson International Airport yesterday en route to Miami, Florida were five young footballers from the Smart Summer Camp and recently completed Smart 13 & Under Football Tournament 2015. The young players were accompanied on the trip by Smart Summer Camp and Football Tournament coordinators Stanley “Jordan” Reneau and Tyrone “T-Bone” Muschamp. The Bescola Camp will run from today, Monday, July 27 until Friday, July 31. The players are Ajani Vaughn from Face of Belize, D’Jon Canelo from Ladyville Jaguars, Kevaunn Sampson from London Strikers, and Nigel Matus and Jovaunn Ramos from Brown Bombers. Last year, three players from the Smart Summer Camp attended the FC Bescola Camp in Florida.

BDBA Firms Tournament 2015 games update
The Belize District Basketball Association (BDBA) Firms Tournament 2015 continued with games over the weekend on Friday and Saturday nights at Bird’s Isle. In the opener on Friday night, General won, 67-58, over Ready Call. For Generals, Roman Williams had 18 pts, Cassian Flowers 14 pts 19 rebs, and Wilfred Richards 12 pts 7 rebs; while Ready Call was led by Hubert Baptist 18 pts 5 rebs, Septimus Ritchie 14 pts 8 rebs, and David Sutherland 11 pts. And in the nightcap, it was Bulldogs with the 70-62 win over Central Bank. Leading the way for Bulldogs were Tarique Gabb 21 pts 2 rebs, Brian White 12 pts 10 rebs, Roscoe Rhys 11 pts 4 rebs 5 assts, and Marcel Orosco 11 pts 6 rebs 3 assts; while Central Health had Steven Wade with 17 pts 4 rebs 3 assts, Travis Bernardez 14 pts 5 rebs, and Neil Nicholson 11 pts 3 rebs.

Editorial: Danny
The villages that you see along the George Price (Western) Highway when you are reaching Belmopan and going on to San Ignacio/Santa Elena are generally built along the banks of the Belize Old River, or near to it. The most historic of these villages, but one you won’t see along the highway today, is More Tomorrow. It was established in 1793, five years before the Battle of St. George’s Caye. You have to go 6 to 8 miles north from the area between Beaver Dam and Cotton Tree to reach More Tomorrow. The new road in to More Tomorrow was named for Ibrahim Abdullah (formerly Charles X “Justice” Eagan, Belize’s first Muslim in the modern era and a founding officer of UBAD in 1969), and you meet that on your right just after you cross the Beaver Dam bridge going west. The old More Tomorrow road leads from Cotton Tree north to the banks of the Belize Old River. There was also a road you could take through Never Delay. This road to More Tomorrow was longer than the Cotton Tree road, but it was a higher road, and was used when the river was in flood. (Beaver Dam is around Mile 40; Cotton Tree is around Mile 42; and Never Delay is around Mile 44.) There was a time when the Western road (which has become the George Price Highway) actually passed through More Tomorrow. We know this because the older people will tell you that the historic Holy Saturday Crosscountry bicycle race (first ridden in 1928) once went over Tannish Creek in More Tomorrow on its way to Cayo and back to Belize City.

From the Publisher
Belize will be marking Emancipation Day this week in a really significant way for the first time in my memory. Emancipation Day has been a big event all over the British Caribbean for a long time. At least, this is what I have been told. Emancipation Day is a time when mulatto Belizeans should look themselves in the eye. “Mulatto” is not a term used much in Belize. All people who have any kind of African ancestry here have been called, or called themselves, “Creoles.” There have been Belizeans with dark skin and tight hair lumped under this general heading along with light-skinned Belizeans with European features. My late paternal grandmother, Eunice Locke Hyde, used to refer to darker-skinned Creoles as “able Creoles.” Then there was a general reference made in Belizean society to lighter-skinned Creoles as “royal Creoles.” There was still some ambiguity in the “royal” designation, however, because there were some dark-skinned families who had been very British for generations, and I think they fell under the “royal” heading. It is all quite confusing sometimes.

OAS mandate does NOT extend to the Sarstoon
Back in 2003, Belize and Guatemala agreed to a set of confidence-building measures under the regime of the Organization of American States (OAS), under which the adjacency zone, spanning a kilometer on either side of Belize’s western border with Guatemala, was established. Under the agreement, new settlements inside that zone were to be banned and a procedure was outlined for dealing with persons in violation. Also, the area became subject to a regime of joint patrols by soldiers from Belize and Guatemala. Of note, though, is that this OAS-led regime—which has been strictly terrestrial in scope—has not been applied to southern Belize, where the Sarstoon River forms a natural border between Belize and Guatemala, running clearly south of Sarstoon Island. Along this southern riverine expanse, Belize security officers have continued to carry out their surveillance to fight illegal fishing, logging and migration, which are pronounced problems in Southern Belize. It was for this reason that law enforcement authorities attempted in May to locate the best site for a forward operating base (FOB) in the Sarstoon area, and the Coast Guard officers tasked with the mission were supposed to erect that base at that location before returning to base.

Emancipation Day Commemorations in Belize with UEF
Emancipation Day is commemorated every August 1st in recognition of the 1838 abolition of legal slavery in all countries colonized by Britain where chattle slavery, genocide, forced labor, rape, indentured servitude, environmental destruction and other crimes against humanity were, for centuries, legal when committed by Europeans and their descendants against African, East Indian and Mayan peoples. The United Black Association for Development Educational Foundation (UEF) is recognizing the anniversary of Emancipation Day in Belize throughout this week. Every year UEF commemorates this day with more intentionality, and this year UEF has invited Dr. Jahlani Niaah, a farmer, a UWI -Mona Campus lecturer and an author of numerous articles, chapters and books, including Let Us Start with Africa: Foundations of Rastafari Scholarship to walk, share and reason with Belizeans. Dr. Niaah will be on WUB today, Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. On Wednesday he will meet with St. Vincent Block/Serru Garifuna farming community in Peini/Punta Gorda at 11a.m. Then, he will give a presentation from 5-7 p.m. at the Punta Gorda Town Library, an institution that provides space for dynamic discussion, debate and dialogue along with afterschool and other programming. On Friday the 31st Dr. Niaah will, again in Belize City, speak at the Library of African and Indian Studies, at the Kremandala Compound from 7-9 p.m.

Belize hits rock-bottom on TIP scale
Belize has received its worst ranking since 2006 in the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report published by the US State Department – a tier 3 classification which could trigger sanctions against the country through withdrawal of funding or opposition to new funding sought from international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the July 2015 TIP report signaled. Belize was among 18 countries downgraded this year, including Belarus, Comoros, and the Marshall Islands. Last year, 2014, Belize was placed on the tier 2 watch list, the stage before the final downgrade it received this year. Belize was first ranked in 2003, when it received a tier 3 rating. However, it had since pulled itself to the tier 2 watch list before sinking again to tier 3 in 2006. In 2007, the country was upgraded to tier 2, and for the past 7 years, it has managed to stay out of the tier 3 zone, where it has now been placed with 22 other countries. According to the ranking system, governments of countries on tier 3 may be subject to certain restrictions on bilateral assistance, whereby the US government may withhold or withdraw non-humanitarian, non-trade-related foreign assistance.

Watchman’s killer shot him in the eye
On Sunday, July 26, at about 11:43 p.m., Ladyville police responded to a report of a shooting and they visited a house located off a feeder road about half a mile from Bacab Eco Park, where they found a man lying face-up, dead. He had apparently had been shot in his right eye. This latest Belize District murder victim would later be identified as Prudencio Sican, 47, a Guatemalan national who was employed at Bacab as a handyman and watchman. Apparently, Sican lived alone in the house. Amandala spoke to the investigating officer from the Ladyville Police Station, who told us that a single gunshot was heard in the area and when Sican’s relative visited him during the night, his lifeless body was found.

Breaking Belize News

PG Town Council truck caught illegally dumping garbage
Punta Gorda Town community activist, politician and conservationist Wil Maheia has exposed what he says are long-standing violations of the law on illegal dumping of garbage by the Punta Gorda Town Council (PGTC). On Facebook, Maheia posted a picture of the Council’s truck dumping a large load of […]

Santa Cruz 13 in court
Twelve Maya villagers of Santa Cruz, Toledo, plus Mayan Leaders Alliance member, Cristina Coc, returned today to the Punta Gorda Town Magistrate’s Court to answer to charges of unlawful imprisonment, common assault and aggravated assault against Rupert Myles, who accused them of restraining and assaulting him because he refused to leave his […]

Lawyers not ready for Petrocaribe case
Today was the date set for the trial of the lawsuit filed by member of the House of Representatives for Cayo South, Honorable Julius Espat against Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Honorable Dean Barrow. Over vociferous objections, the Prime Minister has pushed through first a motion […]

Corozal HOC holds arts exhibit
The Identity Youth Art Exhibit is an annual event organized by and held at the Corozal House of Culture to promote cultural artists of all ages. Showcasing photography, charcoal drawings, acrylic and water color paintings, the exhibit taps into many genres of art. This year will mark the second annual […]

Belize funding threatened by human trafficking classification from U.S.
The United States may withdraw funding or oppose new funding for Belize from international financial institutions because of a seeming disregard for attending to the problem of trafficking in persons, the State Department reports, via Amandala. Belize was among 18 countries downgraded this year, including Belarus, Comoros, and […]

Bishop Martin top three in Visionaries Challenge
Placing third in this year’s Sagicor Visionaries Challenge was regional champions, Bishop Martin High School of Orange Walk, for their innovative concept involving the shrub native to Mexico; Chaya. The project was entitled “Mayan Power for Modern Times” and is aimed at increasing awareness and usability of Chaya […]

Belmopan men chopped
Belmopan police detained one man and are currently looking for four others in connection with a Monday morning chopping incident that left two men badly injured. 24 year old Salvadoran National, Jorge Guevara, a resident of St. Peter Street, Belmopan, along with Clifford Alexander Alvarado, a resident of St. Mathew’s […]

Drug peddler caught on the Peninsula
A drug peddler well known by police for trafficking cocaine and cannabis into the peninsula, will be spending the rest of his birthday behind bars after he was arrested and charged by Placencia Police Quick Response Team (QRT) this morning, July 28. Police reports are that while in an area […]

EU Ambassador makes visit to Belize
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Belize, H.E. Paola Amadei, has been in Belize since July 26 and participated in a forum on Belize-Guatemala relations today, which was the main event of her one week visit. The forum is part of an EU funded program that will work to resolve the […]

Young Innovators Program introduces “credit-card” computer to schools
The second year of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)’s Young Innovators Program kicks off with workshops for teachers of information technology (IT) from 47 schools around the country in August. The teachers will be taught how to use a computer that is the size of a credit card […]

Missing teenage girl found
13 year old Jaqueline Calderon was found in Lucky Strike village yesterday, Monday, after being missing for six days. Calderon went missing on Tuesday July 21st around 5:30 after she left her home to go buy a phone card at a restaurant on Albert Street. Police said that their strike […]

Belize given Ebola kits
Even the donor hopes this is one gift Belize never has to use, but it is important nonetheless. The Pan American Development Foundation on Monday handed over 21 kits of personal protective gear necessary to handle patients infected with the deadly Ebola virus, which saw an outbreak in West Africa […]

City teen student drowned on evangelical retreat
A teenage boy gone out to swim with classmates while attending a church retreat near Mile 25 on the George Price Highway lost his life as a result. 14 year old Eric Cruz, according to officer in charge of Eastern Division (Rural) Senior Superintendent Edward Broaster, was observed having difficulty […]

Blogs

24 Hours in The Chiquibul: Heroes Saving A Belize National Treasure – The Scarlet Macaw
One of Belize’s, one of the world’s, most beautiful creatures is at risk for local extinction. The gorgeous and almost surreal scarlet macaw – few, even Belizeans, have seen it flying wild. And due to heavy poaching and habitat destruction (one of the birds’ native nesting grounds, the Chalillo Valley was flooded when a dam system was built in the early 2000s), the numbers in Belize are ridiculously low. They are described as endangered in Belize with less than 250 birds. And Mexico and Guatemala are seeing the same problem and similar numbers. POACHERS. In 2011, it was estimated that 89% of nests in the Chiquibul Forest (pronounced Chicky-bull) were poached. Most by Guatemalan poachers locally called Xateros (Sha-tear-os) who can sell the babies for hundreds or even thousands of dollar. Named after a plant that is also poached from Belize’s jungle – the xate (sha-tay). A PLANT used for flower arrangements!

Belize Eco-Kids Summer Camp 2015 Wrap-Up!
FRIDAY! When arts and crafts were over, the campers lined up to hike to the Lodge for a presentation on the day’s theme, the three R’s of conservation: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The head of Chaa Creek’s Natural History Center and Butterfly Farm, Brion Young, gave a PowerPoint presentation that taught the campers not only about the benefits of being eco-friendly, but the extent to which one can be eco-friendly. For instance, part of Chaa Creek’s commitment to being eco-tourism is its commitment to its surrounding community. Not only donating ten percent of all room revenue to support the surrounding San Ignacio metropolitan community, but also the community of Chaa Creek itself.

Travel in Belize for an Enjoyable Family Holiday
Travel in Belize and you will see the key ingredients needed for a great holiday with the family. Aside from being more affordable compared to the other Caribbean destinations, Travel in Belize is also safer than other Central American destinations. However, the best reason why families should go to this beautiful country is just the same as for everyone else: animal encounters, adventure and action, and lots of fun in the sun. Read on and get to learn more about these Belize attractions, along with some Belize travel tips. The vase network of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Belize offers a safe haven for wildlife that should delight any animal lover of any age. However, the animals are elusive and kids do not mostly have the encountry of belizedurance or patience to find them, unless you know exactly where to look. The Community Baboon Sanctuary or CBS is a grassroots conservation operation that occupies around 20 square miles is spread over several Creole villages in the Belize River Valley. It is a private property but the landowners have pledged to preserve the habitat of endangered black howler monkey. The result in an impressive increase in the local population of the primate, which now freely roam in the area

House update and some pics of critters
Just a quick update on the house we are building, for those interested in what it is like to build here! It has gone remarkably well, surpassed our expectations. We are AHEAD of schedule (has that ever been said on a construction project here????) and it looks gorgeous. The pictures say it all! Although I shouldn't post things like this, I just have to :). We had our first experience with waking up to find a scorpion chilling on our kitchen sink! They often try and seek out water so you are not as likely to find them on your pillow. Please note, I was terrified of critters when I got here having had no experience with these things in Cleveland. However, seriously, after almost a year and a half, I have only run across a few, they are more scared of me, and even if they bite you, nothing is going to REALLY hurt you!! So here is our buddy the scorpion....

International Sources

ADRENALIN JUNKIE? THEN BELIZE’S GREAT BLUE HOLE IS FOR YOU
I know, I know, the name doesn’t do it justice but the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize is a must if you’re travelling through Central America. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1996, the Great Blue Hole was originally a limestone cave that started to form about 150,000 years ago. Today, it’s one of the greatest places for experienced divers to explore. The deepest point of the Great Blue Hole lies at 124 metres, but if that doesn’t exhilarate you enough, then perhaps spotting nurse sharks, giant groupers, and other reef sharks might! Yup, they’re all here in this stunning part of the world.

Belize Makes Push for Local Tourism
In a bid to increase tourism revenue, Belize is looking close to home. The country has launched a new ad campaign aimed at local travelers, under the theme “Discover How to Be a Belizean Traveler.” The campaign “is centered on getting Belizeans to travel locally and to promote the regional icons,” the country’s tourism board said in a release. The initiative is looking to encourage Belizean residents “to travel locally in order to keep our dollars at home and promote local business,” the board said. “We hope that this campaign will show the Belizeans that there is no need to go anywhere else on vacation, when an unforgettable experience awaits you in your own backyard,” said Noriko Gamero, marketing and public relations manager at the Belize Tourism Board.

Local Rotarians assist needy students in Belize
For the past three years, Seminole Lake Rotarian Dave Buzza has annually donated 50 or more backpacks to children at the Dorothy Menzies Child Care Centre, an orphanage in Belize City, Belize. Buzza, who obtains the backpacks through his company Leather Medics, delivers them via Belize Hope, a nonprofit that assists needy children in the South American country. He discovered the organization when one of its board members, Beverly Fisher, spoke at a Rotary Club of Seminole Lake meeting three years ago. At that meeting, Fisher, who is also a fellow Rotarian, made an impact on Buzza. For seven years, Fisher has travelled to Belize with a group from the Rotary Club of Dunedin and the First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin.

The 7 best places to retire overseas
The concept of moving abroad in retirement is usually associated with adventure, good food and the freedom to explore other parts of the world. But the main factor that motivates people to actually spend their later years abroad is often affordability, says Kathleen Peddicord, publisher of Live and Invest Overseas, a resource for retirees that publishes an annual ranking of the 21 best places to retire overseas. “Outside the United States, you can live for far less,” says Peddicord, who ranks cities based on cost of living, weather, options for residency and other factors. 3. Cayo, Belize: Cost of living: $1,225 a month Described by researchers as “off the grid,” Cayo is about a 20-minute flight or three-hour drive from Belize City. Retirees in the tropical climate would live among the rainforest and would need to clear their own road if they bought property and built a home there. That real estate would be affordable, though, costing an average $1,318 per square meter. Crime rates in Belize City may be a bit high for retirees, but Cayo’s remoteness makes it a quieter place to live that is safe for people who are vigilant. Because of Cayo’s isolation, some people needing advanced medical treatment may need to turn to Mexico or the the United States, researchers wrote, making it less appealing for people with ongoing health conditions.

Ambergris Caye, Belize - Karibisches Paradies
Nach Belize zu fahren war eine ziemlich spontane Entscheidung. Ich saß zu Hause mit einem Atlas und einer Karte der Karibik und dort fand ich dieses Land, von dem ich noch nie etwas gehört hatte. Darauf folgte erst einmal die obligatorische Suche auf Wikipedia und die Entscheidung war getroffen, nach Ambergris Caye, der größten von über 200 Barriere Riffinseln in Belize zu reisen. Ich wollte sowieso nach Playa del Carmen in Mexiko reisen und von dort aus ist es nur eine kurze Fahrt mit dem Bus nach Belize. Ich kaufte mir ein Busticket am Playa del Carmen Busbahnhof nach Chetumal, eine mexikanische Stadt an der Grenze zu Belize, für ca. 20 Euro. Als ich die Tour das erste Mal im Jahr 2012 unternahm, gab es keine direkte Verbindung nach Belize City von Playa del Carmen aus. Heute kann man mit dem Bus direkt von Playa nach Belize City gelangen, man fährt um Mitternacht los und kommt gegen 7 Uhr morgens an. Nachdem ich in Chetumal angekommen war, musste ich ein Taxi von der Bushaltestelle nehmen, um zu einem zentralen Platz zu gelangen, von wo aus die Busse nach Belize City losfuhren. Diese Busse waren etwas Besonderes - Grün angemalte alte, amerikanische Schulbusse. Sobald wir Chetumal verlassen hatten, drehte unser Busfahrer sein nachträglich installiertes Sound-System voll auf und spielte Reggaeton - die ganze Fahrt nach Belize City über. Das muss man einmal erlebt haben, auch wenn einem noch am nächsten Tag die Ohren dröhnen.

Videos

July 28, 2015

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Belize Boxing League to host Boxing tournament
Island resident and professional boxer, Geiboord Howard Omier Sandino has teamed up with Simon Herrera from California in the journey to establish a professional boxing league in Belize. The original idea was to have a gym in every district in order to push the project at a fast mode and reach out all corners of the country. Currently the first boxing gym has been completed and is operating in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo while they continue working to open other gyms throughout the country. However, at the moment, the duo is focusing on the kick off of the first formal boxing event in Belize, slated for September 2015. According to Herrera, the league is looking at a 10 – month tournament with a boxing match every four weeks. “There are a lot of professional boxers in the country, like in Punta Gorda, Belize City and in Cayo. So we have planned a kickoff event in at the Novelo’s Convention Centre in Santa Elena Cayo on September 5th where we will showcase the talent of boxers from Belize and other countries, “said Herrera. He mentioned that the league will be shared between Cayo, Belmopan and Belize City and the tournament will be broadcasted live by Central Cable Vision.

Regularization of Provisional Guides
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) held a small ceremony to present certificates to the Provisional Guides who have completed their final training, making them eligible to apply for Belize City Community Site Guide license. Present for the certificate handing over was Mr. Rodolfo Burgos, BTB trainer for tour guides. The BTB, being the organization responsible for the development of the tourism industry, has worked in partnership with stakeholders to ensure their full inclusion in the development of the tourism sector. Since the inception of the Fort George Tourism Zone some 5 years ago, there have been many stakeholders operating in the area without proper licensing. In order to offer an enhanced product to visitors, and raise the quality and standards of the experience fortifying the Belize brand, a training program was developed over the past two years, which would bring the stakeholders to a specific level in order to deliver the Belize City tour product. This was accomplished by offering two training sessions called (1) the Heritage Tour Training and (2) the General Principles of Tour Guiding.

Mexico Rocks to slowly transition into a Marine Reserve
With Mexico Rocks now part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, following the approval of the expansion by Cabinet, several steps are being taken to ensure users respect its protected status. While park fees and regulation will not be immediately implemented, certain measures have taken effect since the signing of the Statutory Instrument (SI) on March 28, 2015. According to Hol Chan Marine Reserve Manager Miguel Alamilla, the area has been marked, which acts as an indicator to fishermen and tour operators that only recreational activities are allowed within the area, and no extraction of any kind of marine resources (alive or dead) is allowed. With the expansion, the area was sectioned off into two zonea. Zone G is the Mexico Rocks General Use Area, while Zone H is the Mexico Rocks No Take Zone. The Mexico Rocks General Use Area is a common snorkeling and dive destination here on Ambergris Caye, and is visited by hundreds every week.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week - Summertime Leisure Time in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Peeking through a hole in the fence, this curious young boy plays in his yard during the warm summer months in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Interested as to the noises behind his fence, he takes the opportunity to steal a peek, just to discover our cameras catching him in action.

Flavors of Belize Magazine Celebrates 5 Years of Culinary Tourism
The Flavors of Belize brand, created in 2010 by Tanya McNab of McNab Publishing Ltd., is one that has maintained a focus on showing the culinary world of Belize utilizing various mediums and avenues. The brand has, over the past five years, come to include their annual magazine guide, cookbook, a series of cooking shows featuring popular local chefs, and even a mobile app. On July 23, 1015 the brand unveiled its 5-year anniversary edition of the magazine. Now a flagship of culinary culture in Belize, the magazine celebrates restaurants and cooking in Belize; and after five years of everything Belizean food, the magazine notes that a lot has changed in the way food is presented in the tourism industry. Publisher Tanya McNab points out that Belize was not in the culture of worrying about how food looked and how it was presented, but looking through the magazine’s latest publication, you can see amazing creations that are prepared and cooked in local restaurants around the country. “They take pride in platting, food styling, preparing and photographing it,” commented Tanya McNab. “I think worldwide culinary tourism is on the rise and if you read through some of the magazine articles, you will see why Belize is such a great destination for that. Because Belize is a place that you can really immerse yourself in culture and you can cook with the freshest ingredients, it's a farm to table type environment."

Misc Belizean Sources

One VERY lucky Loggerhead!!!!
Thanks to the boat captain coming into Belize City that spotted a distressed loggerhead turtle, who called a friend, who call a friend, who called Hol Chan Marine Reserve, who called ECOMAR. A & R Restaurant at Abel Rodriguez marina sent a text that there was a turtle in a boat that needed help. Indeed Jamal Young knew about the turtle and upon seeing it and a little blood, and missing a flipper but still breathing, new it had been bitten by a shark and lucky to be alive. Jamal and his dad Richard Young helped get the turtle out of the boat into the truck, while several comments were made from onlookers about eating the turtle. Called Dr Jane Crawford at Animal Medical Center and made an appointment. After clearing the waiting room for the traditional patients she and Ben Cawich tended to the injured loggerhead who was a very good patient, a pleasant surprise given loggerhead's normally nasty disposition! After a bit of local anesthesia was administered the stitching began, probably a couple dozen in all to cover the bone and meat projecting from the flipper. These dedicated professionals worked through the lunch hour for more than 2 hours to fix up this lucky loggerhead. Loaded the turtle up and took her to Sea Sports, and again, "there's a lot of meat there" and reminded them that sea turtles have been protected since 2002. At about 6pm she travelled to St George's Caye to convalesce in her kiddie pool while she is kept under observation. Thankful for the archaeology students on site who helped carry her and keeping an eye on her. She has settled down now so fingers crossed she makes it through the night. She's made it this far thanks to many people that participated in her recovery. Thanks everyone!

Legality of Environmental Clearance
The Department of the Environment (DOE), hereby informs the general public of an issue related to Environmental Clearance granted to a project by the DOE. Environmental Clearance is required by law, under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations as amended, and is granted through a letter by the DOE. Environmental Clearance granted to developers /investors is contingent upon the signing of an Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP). The ECP is an agreement signed between the DOE and the developer for a specific project. Both the Environmental Clearance letter and the ECP are issued ONLY to a particular developer and as such are NOT transferable to any other developer, entity or company. Therefore the DOE takes this opportunity to advise that owners who have purchased investments/property for which the previous owner was granted Environmental Clearance, be aware that the Environmental Clearance is non-transferable. The new owners are encouraged to apply to the DOE for Environmental Clearance for that investment under their new company or entity.

A turtle nest!
Look how far she went up the beach to the shade of native shrubs Bay Cedar (Suriana maritima) and Fishermen Tobacco (Tournefortia gnaphalodes). These plants will keep then nests cool from the warm summer sun. Native plants are an important part of a healthy turtle beach.

JOB OPPORTUNITY WITH PANTHERA-BELIZE AND THE BELIZE FOREST DEPT.
Panthera’s Belize Jaguar Program and the Forest Dept.’s Wildlife Program are seeking a motivated and energetic individual with a strong interest in wildlife and applied conservation for a position working with the Forest Dept’s Wildlife Program. The successful candidate will work primarily on issues related to the management and conservation of jaguars and their prey.

Power interruption 7:00am to 1:00pm Wednesday, July 29, Orange Walk
Villages of San Lazaro, Trinidad, August Pine Ridge, San Felipe, Blue Creek, Rio Azul, Linda Vista, La Rosita, Tres Leguas and Cuatro Leguas. BEL to modify high voltage lines and replace utility poles, lightning arresters and other equipment on the power distribution system in the area.

Commentary: Pedro Martinez - the opportune stage to make a statement for humanity, that wasn't
Let me be the first to admit that I am not a baseball fan! The game, save for a few elements, holds very little for me along the lines of “excitement”. Yet, in the same breath, I must say that I am one who proactively recognises “excellence”, irrespective of the arena. In that regard, while visiting my 98-year-old grand-aunt today, I spied a look at the Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame Ceremony. Among this year’s inductees were four great players including: Craig Biggio, John Smoltz, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez. Again, this is coming from a non-baseball fan, but then you must realise that substantively speaking, this post has very little to do with baseball. Among the four Hall of Fame inductees, I recall seeing each of them play a game or two, at one point during their careers, yet one immediately stood out. Maybe it’s because I am a proud Caribbean man or maybe it’s because I am one who prides himself on being attuned to all things Caribbean. Or maybe it’s because I am an avowed Caribbeanist… an integrationist of sorts and basically, I love my region and its people.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Monday, July 27, 2015: 75. PICK 3: 1 0 9

A Super Green Smoothie
In a blender, blend the orange, lemon, lime, and cucumber into a liquid. Add the apple, herbs, and greens a bit at a time. Add ice and sweetener. Serve immediately or keep in the refrigerator in a sealed jar. Makes 2 servings.

Launch of the Identity Youth Art Exhibit
The Corozal House of Culture is dedicated to the development and promotion of our cultural artists of all ages. It is with great pleasure that we invite you to the launch of the second annual Identity Youth Art Exhibit. This exhibit showcases works of various genres including photography, charcoal drawings, acrylic and water colour paintings. Please join us at 7:00 P.M. Saturday August 1st, 2015 in celebration of our fine young artists of northern Belize.

Bishop Martin High School Visit
Last Friday we had the visit of Bishop Martin High school . We are sure that the students had a great time with us . It was whole new experience from them on learning about the importance of Conservation & Protected Areas.

Emergency power interruption 5:00am to 6:30am, Tuesday, July 28: entire Corozal District
BEL to repair insulator in the area between the San Pedro Substation and Buena Vista.

Belize National Song Competition
The Cayo round of the Belize National Song Competition was last week, and a lot of great talent came out to sing their songs. "Check out these pics from our Cayo Elimination! We're expecting tonight's show in Belize City to be just as entertaining!!!"

BELIZE AT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT THE LOS ANGELES COLISEUM!
The Los Angeles Belizean community has been present at the 2015 Special Olympics in support of the Belizean contingent that have been performing well so far. The sporting events, though not as popular as the Summer Olympics, has been happening all across California at various sporting events, in particular the famous Los Angeles Coliseum (the site of the 1984 Summer Olympics) in the heart of the Los Angeles Belizean Community. The Belize Consul General Office in conjunction with the Belize government sporting representatives visiting from Belize have invited various Belizeans in the community to come out and cheer on the Belizean special olympics athletes. As these Belizean athletes continue to do their best representing Belize, we here at Belizean Legends cheers them on. Go Team Belize!

Channel 7

The Dozen Dissenters Make Demands Of Francis Fonseca
There's an open rebellion going on in the PUP and it's focused on leader Francis Fonseca. 12 Candidates have signed to a letter asking for a national convention - one that could unseat him as leader of the PUP. That letter was sent to the party chairman Henry Usher today - and it also asks for changes in the composition of the party's executive, and changes in policy-making decisions. But every action has a reaction, and this one has triggered an immediate backlash from the Fonseca faithful within the PUP. They are also making moves to isolate and neutralize the dissenting dozen. We'll tell you all about it, but we start with the letter. It started to take shape last week after Tuesday's boycott of the meeting Fonseca called with members of the national executive and candidates. As we reported, 13 candidates did not attend that meeting - but even with that, Fonseca denied that there had been a boycott. But, there was, and the dissenters, led by John Briceno, Dan Silva, Cordel Hyde and Jose Mai started having meetings in Cayo to discuss the broken state of their party and problems with the leadership. That culminated on Friday when one dozen of them signed the letter asking for a new convention which is long overdue.

Hon. Dolores Dodges On Solidarity Meeting At Her House
But what was that meeting really about? Today at a PUP Women's group press conference, we had a chance to question the host herself - who was none too forthcoming:... Jules Vasquez "Are you able to say what the meeting was about?" Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Area- Rep - Bze. Rural Central "I am able to confirm that we did meet, but I am certainly not going to share with you any details of that meeting. It was something private." Jules Vasquez "Were all the area representatives and or not everyone was invited?" Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia "I will not answer that question." Jules Vasquez "But you know that supporters of the PUP - I mean the PUP is a people's party. Not a private party." Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia "Let me say something to you in particular Mr. Vasquez and other members of the media, we in the People's United Party, especially our women are not here to play any games of being lead down any path by media who are speculating."

PUP Women Standing By Hon. Fonseca
And while Candidate Shoman had a scolding for us - she Held back when it came to her colleagues, the dissenting dozen. That was at a women's group press conference, held ostensibly to talk about national issues but the real agenda was something more like that old Tammy Wynette song, "Stand By Your Man" - the man in this case being their leader Francis Fonseca - who trotted out the ladies first. Jules Vasquez reports: Hon. Lisa Shoman, PUP Senator "So today we have women who have been engaged in the political process for many years and who are here to give you their perspective on what is happening." Jules Vasquez reporting But what is happening? The PUP's top women personalities were at the table but no one really wanted to say - what the event was really about. Instead the press was subjected to a stream of political stump speeches that skirted around the central issue - these good women were here to support their great leader: Yasmin Shoman, PUP Std. Bearer - Collet "My full unconditional and unwavering support for our party leader, my area representative, my friend the Hon, Francis Fonseca."

Guat And Belize Foreign Ministers Hold Joint Press Conference With OAS
For the past 2 weeks, the local news has been dominated by the discussion of the Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute, and in particular, the heated discussions about the forward operating base that the Coast Guard wants to put on Sarstoon Island in the south. By now, you probably know about the Foreign Minister's comments on the topic. Instead of quelling the critics OF Belize's foreign policy, his comments inflamed those who have an abiding distrust of all things Guatemalan. So, today, in an attempt to change the current narrative on this issue, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington held a major press conference at the Raddison Hotel to give an update on the territorial claim. He was flanked by senior representatives of the Organization of American States, which is acting as mediator, and senior representatives of the Guatemalan government. Daniel Ortiz reports:

Guat Foreign Minister Dodges With Diplomacy
But before the press conference was finished, the press asked the Guatemalan Foreign Minister about the compensation for the grounding of their navy's gunship on the Barrier Reef, and the status of the investigation into the murder of slain Lawman Danny Conorquie. He basically avoided those issues completely while he was answering: Reporter "About the gunboat grounding, a letter was sent to the Guatemalan officials saying that they request payment for $46,000. This is specifically to the Guatemalan Minister, because I want to understand what's their position. Was that letter received and will that $46,000 damages to the reef be paid to Belize? And then in relation to an investigation into the death of Danny Conorquie, one of our special constables that was killed in the Caracol Archaeological Reserve. Is that an incident that the Guatemalan government is placing any emphasis on in trying to bring the killer (believe to be a Guatemalan) to justice?"

Ghost Town Comes Together With Cops
2 weeks ago, we told you how the new commander of the Eastern Division South, Senior Superintendent Chester Williams, intervened in the raging internal rivalry of the Ghost Town gang, which is based in the Mayflower Street area. He was trying organize a cease fire, and tone down the violence in an area that had seen three murders and countless shootings in just a few weeks. And to follow up on that, the Community Police Unit collaborated with Eastern Division South to put together a positive social gathering, to try to gain the trust of at risk youths living in the Mayflower area. To their surprise, they got overwhelming support. Our news team was there at the Berger Field on Vernon Street, and Daniel Ortiz reports: Daniel Ortiz reporting The officers of Eastern Division South kept the formula of the social event simple: football, music, food, and drinks. They were following up on a promise to hold this event, and they managed to bring out several hundred youths living from warring turfs carved out by the city gangs living around the Berger Field area.

Cop Gets Three Months
29 year-old Police Constable Dean Perez, who was convicted of stealing from a San Pedro man while conducting official police business, will spend 3 months in jail. That's the sentence that the Chief Magistrate, Ann Marie Smith, handed him. Before she decided on the sentence she heard pleas for mitigation from Perez and his attorney, Leeroy Banner. Perez expressed remorse for what he did and he conveyed his apology to the victim, Jose Hernandez. While announcing the sentence she had arrived at, the Chief Magistrate remarked that she has to send a message to the society that police officers should not use their uniforms to take advantage of people in the public who they serve. With that pronouncement, she handed him 3 months imprisonment. The incident occurred on October 5, 2014 in San Pedro town. According to the evidence, Perez, accompanied by a special constable, went to Hernandez's apartment to detain him on the strength of a commitment warrant for child maintenance. Perez then stole Hernandez's cellular phone and $600 dollars in cash. Perez has been a police officer for 9 years.

Well Known Vendor To Jail
Food vendor 48 year-old Roy Jones Jr., known as "Patties", is in jail tonight after being accused of raping a 17 year-old girl The female, accompanied by her mother, went to the police station in November last year and reported that Jones raped her on November 9, 2014. Apparently, when Jones found out that the matter was reported to the police, he went south. He was found in Punta Gorda by the police last Friday. He was arraigned today before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith who denied him bail and remanded him until November 10.

La Inmaculada GM Gets Walking Papers
The La Inmaculada Credit Union has been under intense pressure from its members for months - and finally tonight the Credit Union has issued a statement - and it's bad news for their long time general manager - Yolanda Gomez who was place don administrative leave at the end of April. The statement says that Gomez was placed on leave - with full pay- after the Board of Directors, quote, "determined…that there were strong indications of non-compliance with proper banking procedures, coupled with improper and questionable decisions taken by Mrs. Gomez during her tenure." End quote. During her leave, the Central Bank of Belize and the Credit Union's External Auditor went through the books. The statement says, quote, "Mrs. Gomez was afforded the opportunity make herself available to assist in the investigations but she did not do so."

Watchman Killed In Rural Bze
A man was found murdered in his home this morning in rural Belize last night. Around 11:00 48-year-old care taker Prudencio Gonzalez was found dead in his home in the Ridge Lagoon Area - which is off the Burrell Boom Road on the road to the Bacab Eco Park. He had been shot once to the head sometime around 9:00. When we spoke to the family today they told us that they have no idea who would want Gonzalez dead but they did reveal something about him that could have factored into the murder. Courtney Weatherbune reports: Courtney Weatherbune reporting Bushy overgrowth and withered coconut trees conceal the home of 48 year old Prudencio Gonzalez. He lived alone in this small house - right up the road from his work place at the Bacab Eco Park. It is usually quiet around here without the steady flow of traffic and people - but that changed last night when Gonzalez was shot and killed inside his home - where his body was found partially nude on the floor. When his family and friends got the news - they were in utter shock.

Cyclist Knocked Down And Killed
A man was knocked down and killed on Friday night around 8. Hattieville resident Miguel Angel Cruz was riding his bicycle at mile 13 on the George Price Highway when he was run over by a car. The driver, 38 year old Marlon Hernandez told police that he was traveling with a low beam and as soon as he passed the Softy toilet paper factory he saw a shadow in the middle of the road. When he turned on his high beam he saw Cruz and tried to avoid hitting him but it was too late. Today police told us that speed may have played a role. Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster - Commander, Eastern Division Rural "Around 8 Friday night we had a fatal traffic accident of Miguel Cruz, no relation of the earlier young man Mr. Cruz, where he was riding his bicycle. He was wearing dark clothing and apparently the driver of the vehicle who hit him was driving and a vehicle came with high beam, where after he passed the vehicle he saw Mr. Cruz and was unable to avoid him, knocking him down off his bicycle."

Teenager Drowns On Church Trip
A 14 year old boy drowned this weekend at a church summer youth camp. The Evangelical church organized a Spanish youth camp on Friday at the Mountain View Campgrounds on mile 25 on the George Price Highway. The kids were to stay with the group for the orientation but a few kids from the camp decided to sneak off to take a swim at the nearby pond. That's when 14 year old Corozal resident Eric Cruz drowned and the other kids had to pull his body out of the water. Today the police told us what they know. The camp was to run for the entire weekend. When we spoke to a pastor from the church he told us that they were just about to talk to kids about the rules of the camp when they heard that Cruz had drowned.

Missing Girl Is Home
13 year old Jaqueline Calderon has been found. She was found in Lucky Strike village yesterday. Calderon went missing on Tuesday July 21st around 5:30 after she left her home to go buy a phone card at a restaurant on Albert Street. Today the police gave a very brief update on the Calderon's case. Police won't reveal any details as to who she with but when we spoke to the mother this evening she told us that the police told her that she was with her grandmother but she says that Jaqueline hasn't had any relationship with her grandmother so she is a bit confused. But overall she is happy that her daughter has returned safely.

No Ebola But Belize Ready Just In Case
Ebola has never posed a direct threat to Belize but in case it does, the Ministry of Health has 21 Ebola Kits in its inventory. The items were donated today through the Pan American Development Foundation with funding from Taiwan. The representative of that organization explained. The initiative is part of a larger regional effort prepare for and control a potential outbreak of Ebola. Each kit contains personal protective items that meet the rigorous standards of international health organizations, including gowns, goggles, respirators, masks, gloves, biohazard bags, aprons, and other essential gear.

Belize Will Play Canada in World Cup Qualifier
Belize will play Canada in Round Three of the World Cup Qualifiers. That's the outcome of a draw which was held on Saturday in Russia. It puts Belize in Group A - which is very tough with Mexico, Honduras and the winner of El Salvador and Curacao. But right now the focus is on Canada. That team is currently ranked 103rd in the world to Belize's 118th spot. Belize will play in Toronto Canada at the BMO Field on September 4th- and then Canada comes to play in Belize on September 8th.

Uxbenka, the Wider Plan
On Friday's News, we showed you our interview with Dr. John Morris, the Director of NICH's Institute of Archaeology. He told the press that Creole Belizean Rupert Myles destroyed a portion of the Uxbenka Archaeological Site in the Mayan Village of Santa Cruz. Dr. Morris revealed that his Government Department is in the process of sending Myles an official eviction notice, and that criminal charges for destroying a national monument will follow as soon as the damage assessment is completed. Now, the Uxbenka site, which is not excavated or officially protected by law as yet, only showed up on the public's radar because of the outrage of the Maya living in the village after Myles started building his house there. Well, Morris told us that it has been a priority for the Institute of Archaeology for some months now. He said they have done a lot of preparatory work to start excavating it. Unfortunately, the dispute between Santa Cruz and Rupert Myles happened, and the plans have been delayed a bit due to the need for criminal action: Dr. John Morris, Director, Institute of Archaeology "To reprise one of the earliest known Maya site in Southern Belize. In fact it dates to the early occupation dates to about I would say 250 AD which makes it very early because most of sites in Southern Belize are late.

Channel 5

Guatemalan FM in Belize
Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales and Ambassadors of the Group of Friends of Belize are in the country this week to promote a program entitled culture of peace as [...]

…Says ICJ is the Only Option
There were various pointed questions for Foreign Minister Morales today – ranging from the payment for the damage to our reef and the altercation at the Sarstoon to the alleged [...]

Elrington Says NO ICJ Without Referendum
Government’s official position is that the International Court of Justice is the only option left to Belize to solve the territorial dispute. Elrington reiterated that stance this morning, but he [...]

Guatemalan Congress Delaying Referendum
Guatemala’s official position is the same as that of Belize. They want to go to a referendum, and if successful, on to the ICJ. Where that referendum is concerned though, [...]

COLA/VIP Protest Outside Conference
The session, which likely would have gotten much more uncomfortable and intense for the officials of the O.A.S. and Guatemala, was cut short. But outside there was more waiting for [...]

P.U.P. Standard Bearers Call for National Convention
The P.U.P. today released an ad in which John Briceño is heard endorsing Francis Fonseca as party leader. That endorsement took place just before the Dangriga Bye-elections. But things have [...]

P.U.P. Women Support Francis Fonseca
But before the letter was delivered, today the women of the People’s United Party, including four standard bearers, a senator and the head of the women’s group, held a press [...]

Media Gets Advice from P.U.P. Standard Bearers
That letter to the Chairman of the P.U.P. was deliberately not mentioned today, and neither was a meeting of Fonseca supporters held at the home of Dolores Balderamos-Garcia on Sunday. [...]

Burrell Boom Caretaker Gunned Down
The Rural Eastern Division is reporting three deaths in its jurisdiction; the first is a murder. A forty-eight year old caretaker was shot and killed at about nine o’clock on [...]

2 Die in Separate RTAs
The loss of life started on Friday night. Shortly after eight o’clock, Miguel Angel Cruz was killed in a traffic accident just two miles from where he lived in the [...]

Student Drowns on Retreat
The fourth person to lose his life this weekend is a teenager from Belize City. Fourteen year old Eric Cruz was out on an evangelical retreat near mile twenty-five on [...]

Roy Jones on Remand for Rape
Tonight, forty-seven year old Roy Jones Junior also known as “Patties” is on remand at the Belize Central Prison following an allegation of rape made by a seventeen year old [...]

Jaguars Take on Canada in 3rd Round
The Belize Jaguars will be taking on the Canucks in Toronto on September fourth, as both teams advance to the third round of competition in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.  [...]

….Needs Your Help To Compete
The Jaguars, according to Kuylen, have been training intensely, participating in exercises on the beachfront, as well as mountainous terrain in preparation for the match.  Financially, however, there is still [...]

LICU Fires Yolanda Gomez
It was confirmed today that after twenty-four years of service, the Inmaculada credit Union was severing ties with Yolanda Gomez, it former general manager. The Board of Directors had placed [...]

Culture of Peace Exhibit Launches Next Week
Part of the Culture of Peace Program, taking place this week, involves an exhibit with various forms of expression. The exhibit was installed today and will be launched on Tuesday [...]

Mayflower Street Intervention is a Success
For the past couple weeks, the Ghost Town, Mayflower Street area has become a most dangerous area in the south side of Belize City. At least six persons have been [...]

Missing Girl Found in Lucky Strike
Jacqueline Carmen Calderon, a Belize City minor who was reported missing on Thursday has been found. The thirteen year old is now in the custody of the Human Services Department [...]

Sporting Highlights with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   The 2015 Belize District Female Softball Championship continues to grab center stage inside the Roger’s Stadium. Every game has [...]

CTV3

Belize To Face Canada In Third Round Of World Qualtifiers
On the 14th of June the Belize National Football Selection, Team Jaguars, captured an impressive victory over the National Football Selection of Dominican Republic in the second round of the (FIFA) World Cup Qualifiers. This was with an aggregate score of 5-1 after winning both home and away games. The impressive secured the teams place for the third round of the competition. And tonight we can tell you that, that game will be played in Toronto Canada on the 4th of September 2015. So how is the team preparing for the next big match? According to Marlon Kuylen, Senior Executive of the F.F.B., the Jaguars have been working overtime since they came back from Dominican Republic, thus giving them a good fighting chance for the upcoming game. “Well for the past months we’ve been doing mostly physical work, we were in Placencia for three days on the beach, we were in the mountain pine ridge also for three days and for the rest of this just before the match with Canada we will be doing more technical and tactical work.”

BMHS Takes Third Place In SAGICOR Regional
Viewers may recall that in December of last year, Secondary Schools across Belize were preparing their respective submissions for the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge, a regional competition in which students in schools work in teams and use Science, Technology, Engineering and Math know as (STEM) to solve a problem in their school or community. Of the entries, we showed you Bishop Martin High School’s submission on Mayan Power for Modern Times, aimed to increase awareness and usability of Chaya in the diets of Belizeans by creating a database, blog and instructional videos. We are happy to announce that Bishop Martin High School, who represented Belize as National winners, captured third place from among the eight teams that competed for the title of regional champions. The Belize team also won the People’s Choice Award, where participants voted online for who they thought had the best Sagicor Visionaries Challenge 2014 project.

Board of Directors Terminates Yolanda Gomez Services
July 29th would mark exactly three months since Yolanda Gomez, was placed on Administrative Leave by the Board of Directors of the institution. Since her suspension as General Manager of LICU Gomez has not spoken to the media and there is little that the Board of Directors has said about the situation. Gomez’s suspension and reports of an investigation being carried out by Central Bank prompted a number of questions from the institution’s members/owners. But those questions were never answered to their full extent. And tonight it’s no different. But what we can tell you is that Gomez is no longer the General Manager of the institution she captained for 24 years. In a lengthy release issued by the Board of Directors, members/owners are informed of Gomez’s termination. Here is what the release says. At the end of the release the board states and we quote “The board also wishes to reassure our members-owners that daily operations continue, including the processing and approval of loans.

Traffic Accidents Takes Life Of One Villager For San Victor Village
Over the weekend, the treacherous road networks of Northern Belize claimed another life. According to authorities, late Friday night around 11:00, Corozal Police responded to a traffic accident in San Roman Village, Corozal District, where they saw a maroon single Cab Ford Ranger Pickup on the side of the road extensively damaged and its 4 wheels in the air. So far, investigation revealed that shortly after 10:30p.m, 19 year old Juan Gutierrez of San Victor Village, Corozal District lost control of the vehicle about 1/4 mile away from the junction of the unnamed road to the Phillip Goldson Highway causing the vehicle to overturned and him being flung out. Along with him was a 16 year old male of San Victor Village, Corozal District, who sustained an abrasion to the left arm and complained of pain. Both persons were transported to Corozal Community Hospital where Juan Gutierrez was pronounced dead on arrival. The 16 year old was treated and released. Police say they are unsure whether alcohol was involved but their investigations continue.

Belize Downgraded To Tier 3
According to the latest annual report from the U.S. State Department, Belize is among the worse countries that are failing when it comes to stamping out Trafficking in persons. The Department puts countries that do the most to fight human trafficking in Tier 1, and the least in Tier 3. Tier 2 includes a Watch List for countries in danger of dropping to Tier 3.This year, 18 countries were upgraded and another 18 were downgraded. Those downgraded from the Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 3 included Belarus, Belize, Burundi, Comoros, the Marshall Islands and South Sudan.Penalties for countries demoted to Tier 3 are at the discretion of the U.S. President, but could include restrictions on non-humanitarian assistance and funding.

Mia Quetzal - On a Mission
In May of this year, the face of the LGBT Community, Caleb Orosco was featured in the New York Time’s under an article titled “The lonely fight against Belize’s antigay laws” which garnered much local and international exposure. Two months later, a local transgender woman from Guinea Grass Village, Orange Walk District, Mia Quetzal, is being featured in a Florida based Media Corporation called Naples Daily News. Similar as Orosco’s plight for human rights in Belize, where homosexuality is criminalized, Quetzal reveals that facial hair has been one of her biggest insecurities living as a transgender woman. The article reads and we quote, “In the U.S. transgender people have started appearing on magazine covers and in popular television shows, but in Belize — where homosexuality is criminalized — being transgender can be dangerous, even deadly. With help from Belizean advocate Caleb Orozco, who was recently featured in New York Times Magazine for his work, Quetzal wants to build a safer Belize for transgender people”, end quote.

LOVE FM

OAS Peace Fund Promotes Arts Among Belizean and Guatemalan Children
And while relations seem to be going well between the officials and diplomats from Belize and Guatemala, the relationship between the children from both countries is also being worked at through the OAS Peace Fund, through the arts. Magdalena Talamas, the Chief of the OAS Peace Fund spoke of the projects undertaken through the Peace […]

Foreign Minister Says Guatemala Recognizes Belize as Independent Country
Guatemalan’s Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales, also made his address where he made it clear that his country had recognized Belize as an independent nation. Morales also spoke of the confidence building measures and how they have revolved between the two countries. CARLOS RAUL MORALES “I would like to say that Guatemala recognizes Belize as […]

OAS Press Conference: Elrington Says A Peaceful Process is the Way to Go
The foreign ministers for both Belize and Guatemala sat at the head table today at a press conference held in the VIP Room at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City. The presentations made by both officials were aimed at assuring the Belizean people that there is a working relationship between both countries as […]

PUP Women’s Group Emerges with National Concerns
The women of the People’s United Party called a press conference this morning to speak out on several national issues. The head table included, Opposition Senator Lisa Shoman and Magali Marin Young as legal advisor. The four women standard bearers for the PUP were present. Those included Dr. Lesbia Guerra who is running in Cayo […]

After 25 Years of Service, LICU Releases General Manager
Following word that the board of directors of the La Inmaculada Credit Union met and decided to terminate the service of General Manager Yolanda Gomez, today a statement was issued by the institution confirming what we reported over the weekend. Information to LOVE NEWS is that last week Friday in a “meeting of the Board […]

“Group of Friends” Convenes in Belize
In a press conference held this morning, the media was informed that this week is being recognized as Belize/Guatemala Week in which several activities have been planned, aimed at harnessing relations between both countries. Magdalena Talamas, Head of the Peace Fund of the Organization of American States, spoke of the activities and their purpose. MAGDALENA […]

Eastern Division South Takes On A Different Anti-Crime Strategy
Under the leadership of Senior Superintendent Chester Williams, a special event took place in the Mayflower area yesterday. Douglas Hyde of the Police’s Public Relations Department explained. DOUGLAS HYDE “Yesterday the Police Department, specifically Eastern Division South collaborated with the Mayflower community which was a really awesome experience. We had a family sports day. We […]

Police Back on Enforcing Quality of Life Laws
The Police Department has issued an advisory that they will continue to crack down on quality of life offences. Douglas Hyde is the department’s Public Relations Officer. DOUGLAS HYDE “The Officer

PlusTV

Chiquibul Outpost opens
Today 10 months after the senseless killing of Special Constable Danny Conorquie, presumably at the hands of Guatemalan’s, the Ministry of National Security is beefing up security at the Caracol Archaeological site by opening a Conservation post (CP) right near the site which will be inhabited...

Sanctions For Myles For Bulldozing Uxbenca
At a handing over ceremony today, Dr. John Morris, Director of the Institute of Archaeology, said the institute was in constant dialogue and negotiations with the village of Santa Cruz since a large percentage of the village actually sits on the 5 square kilometres of the proposed archaeological res...

Sarstoon Forward Operating Base
There has recently been a lot of controversy surrounding the long overdue Forward Operating Base (FOB) at the Sarstoon Island which was proposed since the PUP days. In May earlier this year the Belize Coast Guard travelled to the Sarstoon Island, Belize’s Southern most territorial point, to pe...

Changes to the Police Formations and Police Strategy
The Ministry of National Security recently held a meeting with senior members of the police department including the Minister, the acting Commissioner of Police and the three Commanders of the Eastern Division which was recently divided into the Eastern North, the Eastern Rural and the Eastern South...

PUP members meet to draft petition for restructure?
Reports are that a number of prominent PUP representatives met at Cahal Pech in San Ignacio today purportedly to review the state of the party. Within the last months , the PUP has lost two bi-elections and the majority of municipalities in municipal elections. The campaign manager , Godfrey Smith, ...

Road Safety Project launches two week training course
The Road Safety Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Health launched a two week training today in Belmopan. The training is titled “Basic Life Support training and Medical First Response Programme.” Official Opening ceremonies were held at the Ministry of Works Conference Room in Belmopan ...

21 year old charged for brutal murder of elderly man
Belmopan police have made an arrest in one of its murder cases. On July 16th, the body of 61-year-old Osmar Ramos, Naturalized Belizean of Paraiso area, was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition in a shallow grave several miles outside the Mennonite community of Springfield on the Humming...

Breaking Belize News

Belize Foreign Affairs Minister confirms FOB will go ahead
And in the spirit of the new partnership and national unity, Guatemala appears to have forgiven Belize for scaring them with the planned forward operating base at Sarstoon Island in the Toledo District. As it turns out, the Guatemalans thought Belize may have been violating the confidence building […]

Belize-Guatemala week promotes peace process
Today the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Belize and Guatemala were together at the Radisson Hotel under the auspices of the Organization of American States (OAS). It is the start of a “Belize-Guatemala” week, a planned operation of the OAS to bring greater understanding of the countries’ territorial […]

PUP women speak out on national issues
This morning there was a strange press conference called by the People’s United Party (PUP) in Belize City. As the political opposition and a potential Government, the PUP can always command press attention. But today’s head table featured only women, albeit women leaders of the PUP: 4 standard […]

Protesters heckle diplomats at Radisson Hotel
Members of Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) and others opposed to the ICJ process gathered outside of the Radisson Hotel starting just before today’s press briefing hosted by the OAS. While police held them at bay they loudly proclaimed their message to both countries’ diplomats and those of […]

La Inmaculada Credit Union issues report on investigation of ex-GM
Members of La Inmaculada Credit Union (LICU) of Orange Walk Town have been protesting the lack of response by the Board of Directors of LICU regarding general manager Yolanda Gomez. Today, via Facebook, the organization responded. It said Gomez, who has served as general manager for 24 years, was sent […]

Day 6 and 13 year old Jacqueline Carmen Calderon is still missing
It has been six days since 13 year old teenager Jacqueline Carmen Calderon went missing in Belize City. Calderon was reported missing on July 21 by her cousin, Denilson Alexander Bolanos, who told police that Jacqueline left her home around 5:30 pm to purchase credit for his phone at a nearby […]

Orange Walk BTIA and local library teach kids about environment
The Orange Walk Chapter of the BTIA has joined hands with the Sandy Hunter Library to offer 3 days of summer fun focusing on the environment. Today, twenty five children showed up at the Library where they were engaged in making art using recyclable materials found in […]

Teen driver killed in pileup
A traffic accident in San Roman Village, Corozal District over the weekend is responsible for the death of a teenager and the injuries sustained by another. 19 year old San Victor Village resident, Juan Gutierrez, was flung from the Ford Ranger Pickup he was driving, when he lost control and […]

Restaurant burglarized in Belmopan
An assortment of items valued at more than $6,000 was stolen from Corkers Restaurant on Hibiscus Plaza, Belmopan. The owner, 29 year old Samantha Hembling, reported that sometime after closing on July 23rd and returning at 8:00 a.m on July 24th, her restaurant was burglarized and electronics and jewelry valued […]

Bacab Eco-Park caretaker shot to death at home
47 year old Prudencio Gonzalez, caretaker of Bacab Eco-Park on the Philip Goldson Highway, was apparently shot to death at home in Burrell Boom on Sunday night. Police say a security guard found the dead man in an isolated area of the park three hours after hearing a gunshot fired. Gonzalez […]

PUP women speak up on national issues
At a briefing this morning, women leaders of the People’s United Party (PUP) showed their support for the embattled party leader Francis Fonseca, while also stepping up as equal partners to speak up on various national issues. The party’s standard bearers, House Representative Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Senator Lisa Shoman and Secretary […]

Great weather continues for last week of July
Mainly fair and warm weather conditions are expected to prevail over the country for the next couple of days. The National Meteorological Service of Belize is predicting mostly sunny skies with little or no rainfall today and partly cloudy skies with isolated showers and thunderstorms tonight. Winds will be blowing […]

Why the Ministry of Education hasn’t published the 2015 PSE Results
I will define non-privileged children as children do not receive sufficient help in learning school work from their family. Children living below the poverty line, children living in a dysfunctional family, children living with non-educated parents and children living with parents who do not speak or understand English […]

Police bust Cayo men for cannabis
San Ignacio police Special Patrol Unit will prosecute two men from Cayo District on drug charges. Police searching a cement house in Santa Familia, Cayo, on July 24 found 37 year old Ronald Valladarez with 286 grams of suspected cannabis hidden in a black parcel in his pants pocket and […]

Murder near Bacab Park in Belize District
There was an apparent murder Sunday night. Ladyville police responded to a call in the area of the Bacab Eco-Park on the Philip Goldson Highway just before midnight. They found one 42 year old Prudencio Gonzalez lying face up in a pool of blood. Police have scheduled a briefing for […]

News anchor injured in traffic accident
News anchor for Love TV, Tarun Butcher, received the fright of her life on Sunday night after she was involved in a traffic mishap. According to information gathered, Butcher was driving her vehicle over a speed bump near Chen’s Supermarket in Santa Elena Town when another vehicle ran into her. […]

Caribbean Tourism Organization reports tourism slowdown in Belize
Lesser numbers of arrivals from North America has led to a slowdown in the tourism industry after years of robust growth, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reports in the Caribbean Journal. The 129,316 tourist arrivals reported from January to April of 2015 is down 1.2% from the same period in […]

Blogs

Chaa Creek’s Eco-Kids Summer Camp for 24 Very Special Kids and a VERY LUCKY Me
The Lodge at Chaa Creek may be the most beautiful resort in Belize. There are contenders for sure…but the attention to details, the staff, the grounds, the art, the rooms…as they say it’s “Wildly Civilized”. I say it is perfection in the jungle. The annual Eco-Kids camp that gives 24 young Belizeans from all parts of the country to attend (FREE!) this one week camp with amazing scheduling, gear, supervision, housing, food, activities and from what I saw CRAZY FUN. These 24 kids (age 8 to 13) were having the time of their lives. The 24 are divided into four teams. Toucans, Tapirs, Howler Monkeys and Jaguars. There are 10 counselors and jr counselors with the kids. TEN!

Palenque And Pakal The Great
In 612 began the rule of Muwaan Mat – the same name as an ancestral deity of the site. Muwaan Mat’s identity remains enigmatic, but may have been the mother of, and regent for, Palenque’s most famous king, K’inich Janaab’ Pakal l (“Pacal” or “Great Sun Shield”), who assumed power in 615 at age 12 and ruled until 683. Pakal is one of the best known Mesoamerican kings, famed for his mortuary monument. Yet his reign was not easy. His kingship to Palenque’s established dynasty was, at best, tenuous, and his reign was mired in foreign conflict. Yet Palenque’s “greatest artwork and longest texts emerged as reactions to the defeat and breakdown of its royal line, as new dynasts strove to legitimise and consolidate their power” (Martin and Grube 2000: 155). For example, the palace was built on an Early Classic foundation, a platform measuring roughly 58 by 79 meters (190 by 259 feet). Pakal’s rooms and courtyards created an administrative residence that dominated the central part of the site. The palace had facilities for ceremonies and receptions, plus amenities like sweat baths and latrines. The design also included architectural innovations to increase the span encountered by the corbeled vault, and also to reduce the weight displaced to the walls, by the use of mansard-style roofs.

Volleyball and CPR at The Belize Zoo
Who knew there could be so more fun than just getting to see (and touch) the animals at the zoo? The Tropical Education Center (TEC) and the Belize Zoo are one company which allows for overnight stays, with amazing possibilities. See some great pics of the animals and accommodations on Trip to Belize Zoo, Old Belize and Cucumber Beach and Belize Zoo night tour. The setup is wonderful. You can bring along your tents and sleep under the stars or utilize their dorms and/or pond houses with a lovely view of the pond where there are many turtles basking in the sun and the croc lurking somewhere about- they say, but we didn’t see him. There is a library on site with a vast collection of information for research purposes. There are trails to follow which may lead to the discovery of a wide range of wildlife that roam free in the vast forested area that’s been kept naturally undisturbed for the most part, the birds carrying on their grumbles and the tarantula peeking out of his hole for his next meal. A conference room that includes a display of bones of the mammals, reptiles, and amphibians found within the area is ready to be used for indoor activities. A kitchen and dining hall, located beneath the library and conference room, is opened daily for three meals per day, with incredibly talented and tolerant cooks.

International Sources

Missions in a Belizean Paradise
An 11 member team from Broadway United Methodist Church, led by Rebecca O’Brien, returned to Belize for the third time with Thirst Missions. From June 6-14, the team served in Belmopan, at the “Kings Children Home,” which is an orphanage in the Cayo District of western Belize. Many of the people speak Spanish even though English is taught in schools, and many of the people who reside in Belmopan have come from the neighboring areas of Guatemala, El Salvador and other Central American countries. Belmopan has a population of 20,000 hardworking, loving and caring people. Most of the people there are retired, and for the young people, their income comes from working in local stores and government offices. It’s a growing city with many physical and spiritual needs.

Last-Day Permit in Belize
My final day at El Pescador started with some dramatic winds and an overcast sky. Donning our rain gear, my guide, Hilberto, headed up north to Chico National Park. After entering the park, I landed a bonefish on my second cast, so we quickly changed over to hunting permit on the flats. The slow stalking was rewarded when we spotted a school a few hundred feet out. With some expert poling by Hilberto, we were soon in range. Here, the casting instructions earlier in the week with Truel Myers (Orvis’ head fly-fishing instructor) and subsequent days of practice paid off big-time, as I dropped a 75-foot cast on target. I was casting the same Ghost Shrimp pattern I’d used to catch the bonefish, and after three strips, the permit was on. It was a great fight, with the permit making three runs that took me into the backing. Those plus some impressive short runs and the permit slowly wore itself down. Hilberto went into the water and safely secured it. Absolutely addicting!

Videos

July 27, 2015

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Sunday Scenery
Lagoon side views…What does your Sunday look like?

Letter to the Island: Island condition damaging tourism
Dear Editor, The island is depending on tourism by 95% or even more. Each business, all employees and nearly all residents are depending with their livelihood on a well functioning and well planned tourism industry. This year, the very first time the island is facing a downwards trend in tourism arrivals, tourism numbers and sales. Hotels are hard hit as well as private accommodations rentals. Many restaurants and tour operators also feel this impact. There are many reasons which can be applied: the seaweed invasion, the crime rate, international economy, international airfares, BTB’s tourism marketing and advertising, loss of charm on the island due to unpleasant and unsafe traffic in town, on roads and in the ocean and more. One item seems to be forgotten as a significant factor for tourism wellbeing: The mix-ins of commercial interests within residential areas and its negative impact for tourism. All tourists visit to get away not only from cold weather but from noisy cities, crowded traffic and to recharge on a relaxing island in quiet and peace. As a matter of fact, our tourism officials never seem to calculate the damage which was and is currently done to businesses in San Pedro town due to the unpleasant and unsafe traffic situation. E.g. Tourists do not like sitting at a restaurant in town where noisy and stinking cars drive by. Neither do they like the unsafe shopping and walking situation in town.

Wolfe’s Woofer: Stew Beans
Sherry and I had a discussion about beans recently. Sherry said, “I don’t cook beans for you because they give you gas. The last time I fixed beans we spent more on Febreze than we did on food.” “You’re exaggerating,” I told her. “No, I’m not. We didn’t even clean the old air conditioning filters. I threw them away and bought new ones. I’ll compromise, though. I’ll make beans for you on special occasions and holidays.” Yesterday as I drove past El Fogón Restaurant I smelled stew beans and could not resist stopping in. “It’s my birthday and I deserve this,” I said to myself as I ate three bowls of those delicious beans. At home Sherry said, “I have a birthday surprise for you.” She sat me down at the table and said, “You’re going to love this.”

Police Report
* On Friday, July 17th at around 7PM, while San Pedro Police was conducting patrols in the Bayside Area, San Pedro Town they stopped and searched 38-year-old Germaine Caliz, which led to the discovery of 1.2 grams of suspected Cannabis and 0.3 grams of suspected Crack Cocaine. Subject was formally arrested and charged for two counts of Possession of Controlled Drugs. *On Sunday, July 19th at around 9:30AM, three American students reported that between the hours of 1AM and 4:30AM, while staying at the Banana Beach Hotel apartment # 26 B, some items were stolen from out of their room. Items stolen were: one wallet containing a ID, along with $400USD, one white and gold Apple Brand Iphone 6 valued at $600USD, and a dark brown leather wallet containing an unknown amount of cash, one USA Debit card, one military ID card, one North Carolina Drivers License, one social security card and one black in color Samsung Galaxy S5 Active valued at $800USD. *On Monday, July 20th at 12:08PM David Flores reported that on Saturday, July 18th at about 7PM while heading home on his bicycle he lost his wallet, which contained an assortment of IDs, somewhere on Angel Coral Street.

Doctor Love: Cheating
ear Doctor Love, I met a woman who moved to Ambergris Caye about a year ago. We live in the same condo and soon we became good friends. I barely know her husband since he works at home for a few weeks and then flies back to the U.S. and works for a few weeks. Yesterday we met for a few drinks and she introduced me to a guy who she says is a friend of hers. It quickly became obvious that they were more than friends. Furthermore, it is a local guy that I already know and he is married, too. He seemed to be a little bit embarrassed when she introduced us but not embarrassed enough to leave. Afterwards, I discussed it with her and asked how her husband would feel if he found out. She said that he probably does the same thing when he’s away from home. How do I handle this situation?

Misc Belizean Sources

Divided they stood, together they fell; if transformed they can rise
By Jerry A. Enriquez. The public airing of a recorded one-hour private conversation that was held in confidence between Orange Walk East representative and former PUP party leader, John Briceño and his close colleagues, in which he detailed numerous corrupt practices of his party while in government, was a damning revelation of a political party steeped in moral and leadership crisis. Coming from a senior longstanding member of the PUP executive, this revelation was a bitter confirmation and a reopening of wounds to what the Belizean public had known: - that there was gross mismanagement of the Belize’s economy, deep and persistent levels of corruption and the reckless spending of hundreds of millions of dollars from the public purse by the last PUP administration. While few benefited from such regime, the national economy became heavily indebted while the masses suffered increased levels of poverty. The social and financial cost of the national debt from corruption will continue to saddle the masses of Belizeans including the children for decades.

LOTTERY DRAWING for Sunday, July 26, 2015: First: 6727 Second: 8319 Third: 3431 Missing: 0, 5

Fire on Caye Caulker
At around 1:30pm today, my mom called for d assistance of d fire station bcaz d school principal n her husband were lighting a huge fire in d yard next to theirs, which is rite beside where my mom lives, beside Bowen. D fire was huge and ashes were flying all inside my mom's house. My dad had gone over to Ms Bea's house n asked them to pls put out d fire caz they cant breathe in d thick smoke. However, instead of putting out d fire, Ms. Bea began throwing more and more garbage on top of it which made it blaze even higher. My mom had called d fire station twice n absolutely no one came to check on d situation. So she called d police station and all d police did was pass in their cart n drive away. This is so very wrong of them to do in so many ways. D main reason being that it's a residential area n they can cause for someone's home to burn down.

Power outage in Belize District
BEL crews have been dispatched to identify and rectify cause of unscheduled power interruption affecting portion of Belize District since 4:50am, Monday, July 27: Freetown Sibun, Gracie Rock, entire Boom Hattieville Rd including Fresh Pond and Castleton and Double Head Cabbage, Willows Bank, St Paul’s Bank, Big Falls, Flowers Bank, Lemonal and Rancho Dolores.

A TEAM THAT BELIZEAN ATHLETIC PRIDE BUILT!
A 1974 Belizean softball team that defeated teams from the Caribbean, Central America and the United States all in one tournament to win gold. These Belizean athletes of steel could not be easily matched by some of the best around the world. World class Belizean female athletes who were developed from high performance adrenaline, unparalleled discipline, and a simple life. This is team Belize!

BELIZE, WHERE RUDY MIGUEL WAS CYCLING KING!
When the Belizean winds cried, "Rudy, Rudy" all the way back from Cayo in the sweltering 90 degrees heat, along rugged roads, over a steep incline called Mount Hope, with no other rider in sight!

IN BLACK & WHITE: BELIZE 1979 SOFTBALL BEST!
A classic black and white photo of the1979 Belizean softball bronze medal team of the Pan American Games on their heroic return from Puerto Rico after their victory over the United States. This was unprecedented in Belizean sports history where a Belizean softball team won the gold medal in the Juvenille softball tournament in Mexico, then went on to win the bronx medal in the 1979 Pan American Games upsetting the greatest softball team on earth at that time the U.S. Orlando Rebels. What a feat. When Belize produced champions!

GEORGE GABB: RAISING THE BAR IN BELIZEAN ART!
In reflection of my visit to Belize's National Institute of Culture & History (NICH) in 2010 to see the George Gabb Art Exhibit. Posing here beside one of the most expressive pieces of George Gabb's work on display.

The Reporter

CDB approves US$400 thousand for University of Belize assessment
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a US $400,000 grant to the government of Belize to facilitate a comprehensive institutional assessment of the University of Belize (UB), which will inform on how to enhance its operations, and become the place of choice for tertiary level education in the country. GOB will also provide counterpart funding of US $88,000 for the institutional assessment. The review will address the adequacy, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the corporate systems and operational procedures, and assist the institution to increase enrollment. CDB’s Education Operations Officer Idamay Denny, said the review of the UB is important because opportunities have to be provided for students who are achieving better outcomes to continue their education. “The government of Belize recognizes that there is need to enhance the capacity of the UB to take in the additional output that will arrive out of the enhancement of education at the basic education level. Hence the focus on improving the potential for the university to perform this role”, Denny said.

Jaguars to face Canada in next qualifying round
The Belize Jaguars are set to face Canada’s national team in the third round of the CONCACAF qualifiers. The selection was made during a World Cup drawing ceremony in Russia on Saturday. The first leg will be played on September 4th at the BMO Field in Toronto Canada, with the second leg set for September 8th at the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) Stadium in Belmopan City. Canada is currently 103rd in the FIFA world rankings. Belize is 118th. “We can say Belize is a team that has made positive and continuous progress. That’s good for us because it won’t be easy to pass this eliminatory round. We need to focus on these first two games with a lot of intensity”, Canada coach Benito Floro said. The Jaguars are fresh off of a recent dismantling of the Dominican Republic in round 2 of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, who they beat 5-1 over two legs.

Ships warned after Kick ‘em Jenny volcano threatens to erupt off Grenada
Kick ‘em Jenny, an active underwater volcano five miles north of Greneda in the Caribbean Sea, has started to give off warning signs of probable eruption, an event that scientists say could sink ships in its vicinity. Officials have raised its threat level to orange – the second highest warning notice which means possible eruption in less than 24 hours. The Seismic Research Centre at the University of the West Indies says Kick ‘em Jenny started stirring on July 11, and has produced more than 200 small earthquakes since then. Kick ‘em Jenny poses a hazard to ships and Grenadians, even though it is about 600 feet below the ocean’s surface.

Breaking Belize News

News anchor for Love TV involved in traffic accident in San Ignacio
Information reaching our newsroom is that news anchor for Love TV, Tarun Butcher, has been rushed to the La Loma Luz Hospital after being involved in a traffic mishap. Our reporter, Flora Pereira is currently following up the details and will be updating our readers as more information becomes available. […]

Underwater volcano Kick ‘em Jenny poses imminent threat to Eastern Caribbean
The threat level from the underwater volcano Kick ‘em Jenny, located north of Grenada, has been raised to orange, which is the second highest warning notice, meaning the volcano can erupt in less than 24 hours. Kick ‘em Jenny began showing signs of activity on July 11 and has been […]

Caribbean Development Bank gives grant for UB improvements
The Government has won a $400,000 grant from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to undertake a comprehensive institutional assessment of the University of Belize (UB), with an eye to making it the place of choice for tertiary level education here. The review will address the adequacy, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability […]

What Belize can learn from Ambergris Caye
Years back, when I said the word Ambergris Caye, it felt weird. Actually, any mainland Belizean would poke fun at me for saying the word. “It’s Saan Pedroh, Lorenzo! Not AM-BUR-GRISS KEY! Don’t act like you’re white.” Remembering it is amusing; things have changed a lot. As you […]

More Belize banks lose corresponding relations?
Reports suggest that two local banks had corresponding banking relations recently severed, despite promises that it would not happen again, and that Belize’s offshore financial sector remains under threat. Neither Governor of the Central Bank Glenford Ysaguirre nor Financial Secretary Joseph Waight could confirm reports to the Reporter Press that […]

Bicyclist knocked down and killed on highway
Miguel Angel Cruz was pronounced dead at the KHMH around 11:09 p.m Friday night, July 24, just a few hours after a vehicle collided into him, while he was riding a bicycle on the George Price Highway. Cruz was riding his bike on the highway shortly before 8:00 p.m. when, […]

Blogs

Ways to Achieve Sustainable Communities for Belize
Community livability refers to the environmental and social quality of an area as perceived by residents, employees, customers and visitors. It is the sum of factors that add up to a community’s quality of life – including the built and natural environments. Generally, traditional community development focuses upon strategies to create local economic opportunities that improve quality of life. By using strategies that might have worked someplace else, or employing local resources, community development practitioners capitalize on local opportunities to stimulate economic improvement and employment. The traditional belief is that economic growth alone can “finance” livability. But typically a continuous supply of local resources is insufficient to support that economic growth. Community consultations through the years have assisted stakeholders in defining their vision and needed actions for a livable community that constructively sustains prosperity, expands economic opportunity, and improves quality of life for all people. Community-identified actions to implement livable status have typically included: -revitalizing existing community places; -expanding economic growth; -improving the environment, public health, and quality of life; -providing more transportation alternatives; -protecting farmland and open space; -enhancing economic viability of farming; -improving roads and wastewater services; -improving schools and making them the center of communities; and -growing existing regional assets.

We’ve Been “Ruined”!
Having experienced our new “favorite” zoo, we jumped in the car, cranked the a/c to cool off our sweat soaked bodies and headed to San Ignacio in Cayo. We were anxious to visit Mountain Pine Ridge and the two local Mayan Ruins in the area – Cahal Pech and Xunantunich. The drive to San Ignacio from The Belize Zoo is very easy and the road isn’t half bad. Pleasant surprise! Since we haven’t driven anything but a golf cart for 6 months, we decided to take our time and not worry about the 20 some cars that flew by us at 85mph. Including the Minister of Health! I thought for sure his truck was going to take out the side mirror of our rental car. That’s how close he was! Anywho. Our original plan was to stay in this cute little lodge in between Belmopan and San Ignacio for one night just to check it out. We had reserved their largest room (the one with the indoor plumbing and a/c). However, when we got there, we were ushered up some tiny, stone stairs to a cute cabana on the hillside with no bathroom or a/c. If we needed to use the restroom, we would need to maneuver down several different variations of these tiny stone stairs to the bottom of the hill – in the pouring rain – at night. Now, you must be told that I have taken several “spills” in Belize. Even broke my foot here once. Of course, all spills were alcohol induced. I cringed at the thought. “Me + Tiny Stone Stairs = a harrowing plummet to an almost certain death”.

“The Good Life” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.
Hi Ziggy here. I’ve managed to take control of John’s iPad while he’s taking a shower. I’m out on the veranda, the western, lagoon facing one, if you’re interested. I’ve been out here since around 04.45 hours when John got up. He had his coffee – instant (he’s so lazy), black and unsweetened – and I had my cool, clear water and an early morning snack of chicken and vegetable flavoured biscuits. It’s been awhile since I last wrote anything but today I just knew that I had to. Why? Well, it’s an important day. It’s one year ago exactly that Rose (she’s really, really and I mean REALLY, nice) and John adopted me. I hadn’t been with them for too long when I overheard one of my ex BATSUB buddies say to Rose and John “That mutt has won the lottery twice”. At the time I didn’t understand what he was on about but it didn’t too long for me to know exactly what he meant.

San Pedro Belize Nightlife: Something to Do Every Night
So you are visiting San Pedro Belize with your family. You are scheduled to do a wide range of mainland tours — the Maya ruins, caves and waterfalls. You have also included some scuba diving and snorkeling. But you are thinking: what can you do on the island that will be more fun and exciting that you cannot do back home? Perhaps go to the best bars in San Pedro Belize? Following is the San Pedro Belize nightlife guide. In San Pedro, you will find something to do every night, things that you can do as individuals or as a group. San Pedro Nightlife: Weekend Nights: During weekends on the island, go to the night clubs. Swing by Pedro’s for Friday Night Jam to listen to all-time favorites. You get to sit along or even get loaned the microphone. San Pedro has 3 night clubs: Club Latino, Daddy Rock and Jaguar’s Night Club. The club scene happens around 11 in the evening and goes up at around 4 or 5 in the morning. Club Latino has DJ music with reasonably priced drinks and no cover charge. Daddy Rock and Jaguar’s charge which depends on whether they are having a special event. Inside, the ambience is friendly, servicers are accommodating and drinks are bountiful. Both clubs give space to either lounge around and a place to dance. If you are not up for the club scene, Wet Willy’s has karaoke and burgers, and Fido’s has live rock music on Fridays.

Escape into Paradise with a Cayo Espanto Wedding
Imagine escaping with your special someone into an island where the isolation of tranquility and romance is all you find. There, you will lie on the sand under the evening sky with the stars the only light illuminating the calm waters of the ocean. It will look like time is standing still, making you feel like you really are on a vacation. This is Caye Espanto in Belize. This heavenly resort will only ask one thing from you: free your mind and let Cayo Espanto do the rest. Experience an exotic island and resort that gives the luxury of feeling that you have actually been to paradise. Cayo Espanto is intimate and unique with its turquoise beach surrounding a 4-acre island with beautiful palm trees and soft sand. If pampered relaxation, service and privacy is what you are after, Caye Espanto would be the perfect fit. The lxurious Cayo Espanto also offers world class snorkleing, scuba diving, attentive staff, catered meals, massages and many more. Dubbed as the ‘Best Private Island in the World,’ Caye Espanto offers the notion of a no-distraction and simple vacation. Immerse yourself in teh beauty of the stunning Caribbean Sea. Casa de Espantos features amenities like personal houseman, complimentary laundry service, housekeeping, premium cotton bedding, fitness equipment, a private sundeck or verandah, and so much more. Enjoy your stay in this astounding private island in ultimate privacy with 5-star world class amenities and service. Below are some Cayo Espanto Belize Overwater Bungalow Resorts accommodation options where you and your loved one can enjoy staying in.

A Vacation Guide on the Best Water Sports in Belize
Water sports in belize offers a great way to enjoy the country’s waters and add adventure and excitement to your vacation. Belize’s coastline is mainly known for its fishing and diving, but it’s also a great backdrop for various watersports. The calm waters and steady winds provided by the barrier reef make for smooth sails off the coast. For those who are looking to doing more than just enjoy the scenery, add adventure on the water with this best things to do in Belize activity. But take note that even when all the islands and coastal beaches offer some kind of sea Belize sports, the availability of equipment can vary.Read on for a short description if the water sports things to do in these different places to help you pick where to go. 1. Ambergris Caye: – Offering the best diveristy of water sports equipment, Ambergris Caye has windsurfing boards, kite boards, wakeboards, kneeboard, jetskis, sailboats, parasails and torpedo rides. The barrier reef is les than a mile offshore with different water conditions from large waves to calm waters. There’s something for every skill level, from advanced to beginner. Several instruction courses are available, and many beachfront resorts carry different watersports equipment as well.

Please Belize: Caye Caulker Calls
Hopkins was a salty playground. San Ignacio was a lush retreat. We certainly could have done Belize justice had our trip ended as we pulled away from the Ka’ana Resort. But we had one more region of this tiny Central American paradise to cover — the Cayes. As teachers, my cousin and sister had over a week off for spring beak, and so we decided to tack one last destination onto our trip. We hemmed and hawed and eventually settled on Caye Caulker, a teeny tiny isle off the coast of Belize City known for being a backpacker’s paradise. We also briefly considered Ambergris Caye, Caulker’s larger, more developed, and more upscale older sister, but decided barefoot was more our speed. With mama headed back stateside, this portion of the trip was just us kids. You know, assuming you consider three independent women in their twenties and thirties to be considered kids! Which we totally do. Hence our cackles of glee as we poked each other without fear of tattle-tailing. No more chaperones! Teachers gone untamed! Come on vacation, leave on probation! (Just kidding mom. We cried every day after you left.)

The Release of Auggy, the translocation howler monkey - Ilke provides her perspective, as Auggy's career
As some of you may know, I recently spent 7 weeks volunteering at a primate and manatee rehabilitation centre in Belize: Wildtracks. I want to share with you an unforgettable and incredibly amazing experience I was lucky enough to be part of, one which helped me reflect on the importance of conservation work - the importance of conserving many unique species on earth which are endangered due to human impacts whether it be through habitat destruction (the major cause of species extinction) or illegal hunting, introduction of non-native species or many other reasons. Not only that but the conservation of our planet, to take care of our environment so as to give not only our species a better future, but every species on earth as well. My story to share is that of the August Pine Ridge Howler Monkey. He is thought to have been chased out of the forest by his troop and was found malnourished and starving in a small village with nowhere to go, since the rest of the area had been deforested. He was brought into Wildtracks to be rehabilitated and then released back into the wild in a protected forest, Fireburn, that would support him. I was very fortunate to be assigned as his carer.

International Sources

Tourism Growth Slows in Belize
After several years of very strong growth, Belize is seeing a slowdown in tourism, according to new data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The Caribbean destination in Central America received 129,316 tourist arrivals in the first four months of 2015, down 1.2 percent compared to the same period in 2014. The reduction came in part due to a slight reduction in arrivals from the US (1.3 percent) and an 11.7 percent reduction in arrivals from Canada. The slowdown comes after Belize posted 9.2 percent year-over-year growth in arrivals in 2014 and 6.1 percent percent growth in 2013, according to CTO data.

Officials meet to review economic outlook for Central America, Panama, and Dominican Republic
Central bank governors, finance ministers, and banking superintendents of Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic, and senior IMF officials met in El Salvador on July 23-24 to review the economic outlook for the region and strategies to strengthen policy frameworks and raise inclusive growth. The regional conference saw the participation of the president of El Salvador, Salvador Sánchez-Cerén; governor of the Bank of México, Agustín Carstens; director of the Netherlands Bureau of Economic Policy Analysis, Laura van Geest; and former finance minister of Perú, Luis Carranza. At the conclusion of the conference, the following statement was released: “The ongoing economic recovery in the United States and persistence of relatively low oil prices will provide favorable tailwinds to the region. Because of supply constraints, the region is expected to maintain a moderate pace of growth in coming years, which will be insufficient to deliver desired social progress. Low oil prices will offer considerable relief to the external sector in most countries and will help keep inflation low. In light of this economic outlook, participants agreed that the region needs to take advantage of the improved external conditions to lift potential growth, ease inequality gaps, and strengthen the resilience to adverse shocks. These goals will require the adoption of far-reaching structural reforms and stronger policy frameworks.

‘Beautiful Sea’ indeed
Their motto, “Beauty by Belize, Luxury by Design,” is an apt way to describe the Chabil Mar Resort, an awe-inspiring, boutique, luxury villa property in the beautiful country of Belize. And it doesn’t take long to understand why it has been featured in numerous A-list travel publications and television shows, and was awarded the TripAdvisor 2015 Travelers’ Choice award. Nestled at the far southern end of the Placencia Peninsula, Chabil Mar (Mayan for “Beautiful Sea”) encompasses 22 absolutely gorgeous villas built with such great attention to detail throughout that it makes them feel nothing short of being in someone’s home. The kitchens are highlighted by beautiful granite countertops with barstool seating, multicolored tile backsplashes, Belizean hardwood cabinetry with arched glass insets, stainless steel appliances (frig, stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher), a blender, mixer and coffee maker, and they are fully stocked with premium dish sets, glassware, silverware, serving plates and utensils, plastic containers, a cheese grater—everything one would have purchased for one’s own home, including a stackable washer and dryer in the hall closet.

Videos

July 26, 2015

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Vacation Like a Boss!
It’s one thing to vacation but to do it like a boss- uh; where can I sign up? I’m talking full on immersion in culture, food, travel and fun, BELIZE! I can never grow tired of singing just how amazingly awesome this land is, from North to South, Belize is teeming with what I like to call “Natural Beauty,” meaning no over development, zero skyscrapers, congested freeways- not here, heck- I’m talking unpaved dirt road trails and lush greenery.

Mediterranean Fruit Fly Detected in Southern Belize
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) hereby informs the public, especially in Southern Belize, that the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (or Medfly) has been detected in the village of Hopkins in the Stann Creek District and in the Sapodilla Cayes in the Toledo District. As a result of these detections, eradication activities such as fruit stripping, ground spraying, and delimitation trapping are underway in these areas. These activities are important to ensure that the outbreak is contained and that the Medflies are eradicated quickly.

Investigation continues on Tropic Air’s Cessna 182 crash landing
On Monday, July 13th, Tropic Air’s Cessna 182 was removed from its crash landing site within the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. The vessel, which was en route to Roatan, Honduras experienced malfunctions which caused it to crash approximately one mile south of Half Moon Caye on Tuesday, June 2nd. Since then, the aircraft had been sitting in the shallow area awaiting proper weather conditions for its extraction to be carried out. According to Chief Operations Officer at the Belize Department of Civil Aviation (BDCA), Nigel Carter, several inspections were made at the crash site prior to removing the vessel. Due to inclement weather in the past month, the extraction mission was at a standstill. It was not until Monday, July 13th that Tropic Air hired Island Construction Limited to retrieve the vessel from the water and transport it to the Philip Goldson International Airport. “Now that the airplane has been taken out of the water, we are going to conduct a thorough inspection. We are bringing in the manufacturers of the Cessna 182 to check every single aspect of the aircraft and identify what went wrong and caused malfunction. Once we have that report, we will be able to come up with a conclusion to our investigation,” said Carter. BDCA are not disclosing the angle of investigation but have indicated that all aspects of the crash will be scrutinized. “We carry out these investigation to assure all airway travelers safety and dependability,” said Carter.

H.E. Nestor Mendez Takes Office as Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States
Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended the official inauguration of H.E. Nestor Mendez as the new Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States on Friday, July 17th in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Mendez was elected OAS Assistant Secretary General for the 2015-2020 term on March 18th of this year with a majority vote of 24 of the total 34 votes cast. This is the first time a Belizean has been elected to the post of Assistant Secretary General of the OAS. H.E. Nestor Mendez served as Ambassador of Belize to the OAS and to the Government of the United States since June 2008.

BTIA elects new board members for the San Pedro chapter
The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) has elected a new board of members for its San Pedro Chapter. The election took place on Tuesday evening, July 21st at their bi-annual general meeting held at the Sunbreeze Hotel in San Pedro. The members of the new San Pedro Chapter are: Melanie Paz, Ovel Leonardo, Ruben Trejo, Alfonso Wiltshire, Javier Williams, Amy Leiva, and Kendall Bermer. Present at the meeting were the BTIA national President Osmany Salas, Executive Director John Burgos, BTIA membership officer Talia Tillet and invited guests of the private sector. Tillet started the meeting by delivering the official welcome address, pointing out a few highlights of the activities BTIA has been doing for the past months. She encouraged everyone to continue being part of this organization, which is looking at San Pedro as the tourism hub, and as such, its membership is really important for the BTIA.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belize’s “New Price Tag”
“Without prices being set, nature becomes like an all-you-can-eat buffet – and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t overeat at a buffet.” (Richard Sandor) As someone who loves adventures and the outdoors, I was more than thrilled about the tourism slogan “Belize: Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret” and, as soon as I touched ground at the International Airport in Belize City in 2011, I started to explore this tiny English-speaking country located in the heart of Central America. Roughly the size of Massachusetts or New Hampshire, with a population of only 350,000, I was clueless as to what exactly to expect. According to a tourism advertisement “Belize offers travel experiences unlike anywhere else in the world where visitors have the opportunity to experience a tropical country boasting an abundance of diverse ecosystems ranging from coral reefs to rainforest all in one visit!” I was in fact able to check quite a few activities off from my bucket list: the ancient caves and pristine mountains, the lush rainforest, the tranquil beaches. Yes, I certainly agree: Belize has it ALL – and even more. But the true “Best Kept Secret” of Mother Nature was revealed to me when WRI and WWF published their assessment demonstrating that the value of ecosystem services generated by Belize’s coral reefs and mangroves are worth US$ 395 million to US$ 559 million per year, or 30 to 45% of its GDP. The same authors estimate that reef- and mangrove-associated tourism contribute US$150 million and US$196 million, respectively, to Belize’s economy each year, while reef- and mangrove-dependent fisheries contribute between US$14 million and US$16 million.

BELIZE VS CANADA!
We are in group A and will be playing Canada.

BEL crews have been dispatched to identify and rectify cause of unscheduled power interruption currently affecting a portion of San Pedro Town since 11:11am, Saturday, July 25
The Southern portion of San Pedro from Sunbreeze Hotel onward to Island Cottage Resort.

Amal Assales' Art Exhibit at Soul Project
Amal Assales' art exhibit, entitled...it has a very interesting title, let's just leave it at that...was great. One of Cayo's newest artists, she has some great pieces. Well priced too, so many sold within the first hour. Pictures on fb.

Four Perfectly Healthy Days in Cayo
Cayo's Ka'ana Resort got a great write up on Luxury Latin America in regards to their Four Perfect Days package. Those are some delicious looking panades. Read all about the healthy trip and their adventurous excursions. Well done, Ka'ana. "The Four Perfect Days package at Ka'ana Resort in the Cayo District of Belize is a unique combination of adventure and relaxation, health and indulgence... Horseback Riding to Xunantunich is next, at Hanna’s Stables within 400 acres of lush green farmland with orchids, roses and fruit trees. Surrounded by forested areas, open fields, Mayan temples, and mile upon mile of well-maintained bridle paths, you combine a tour of Xunantunich with a ride on horseback along the banks of the Mopan River. You later cross the river by ferry before riding up to the Maya site."

The Reporter

Kareem Clarke Memorial Fund moves forward
A group of seven media personalities representing five media houses met on Saturday at the Image Factory in Belize City to plot the next steps for the Kareem Clarke Memorial Fund. Melanie Young, Clarke’s sister, was also present at the meeting. She was presented with a $250 contribution from members of the media toward tuition for Clarke’s niece, whose education he had been supporting. Other media members are expected to make contributions in the coming week to help the family with expenses that Clarke would have otherwise taken care of as it relates to the education of his nieces and nephew. The media, with legal advice, moved to formalize the Kareem Clarke Memorial Fund, which has been registered already, by deciding on executive members to serve as chair, vice chair, treasurer and secretary. Alexis Milan from The Reporter will serve as chair, Hipolito Novelo from Love FM will serve as vice chair, Marisol Amaya from Krem will serve as the treasurer and Daniel Ortiz from Channel 7 will serve as secretary. Since the first meeting several weeks ago, the group has been in contact with the principals of the St. Joseph primary school feeding program, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP), and have started the process of organizing a relationship, which will see the fund make contributions to the program in Clarke’s name. Clarke’s family, who is very active in the St. Joseph parish, had requested support for the feeding program in lieu of personal contributions to the family.

Minister of National Security says Sarstoon Island FOB will be built
Minister of National Security John Saldivar said the forward operating base at Sarstoon island will be built, despite Guatemalan objection, even though the government is consulting with the Guatemalan government. According to Saldivar, the government will be proceeding with its decision and will soon decide an appropriate location on the island for construction to begin. He also said that consulting with the Guatemalan government about the base does not mean the government has abandoned its responsibility to maintaining a sovereign state. According to Saldivar, the dialog does not risk Belize’s independent integrity, rather it is a matter of courtesy for our neighbors. He said the government would never risk the country’s territorial integrity. Once the consultations are over, the government will proceed to do what is in Belize’s best interest, Saldivar said. He also responded to crticisms that Belize shouldn’t need to consult with Guatemala to build a base on Belizea territory by saying that we should not ignore concerns from our neighbors and that is why the consultations are important.

New BDF base at Caracol inaugurated
The Ministry of National Security, in collaboration with the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Ministry of Tourism, has inaugurated a new conservation post for the Belize Defense Force (BDF) at the Caracol site where BDF soldier Danny Conorquie was killed last year. Minister of National Security John Saldivar said the building of the base is timely and meant to provide increased security for the tourists and employees who visit and work at the site on a daily basis. Saldivar said the construction of the base was a little too late, considering Conorquie’s death, but added it was a step in the right direction. Saldivar said the base will be a shared partnership between the BDF, police and tourism police. He said he was happy to see the collaborative effort.

New BDF base at Caracol inaugurated
The Ministry of National Security, in collaboration with the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and the Ministry of Tourism, has inaugurated a new conservation post for the Belize Defense Force (BDF) at the Caracol site where BDF soldier Danny Conorquie was killed last year. Minister of National Security John Saldivar said the building of the base is timely and meant to provide increased security for the tourists and employees who visit and work at the site on a daily basis. Saldivar said the construction of the base was a little too late, considering Conorquie’s death, but added it was a step in the right direction. Saldivar said the base will be a shared partnership between the BDF, police and tourism police. He said he was happy to see the collaborative effort. At least 36 BDF soldiers will be attached to the conservation post, Saldivar said, adding that there will be shifts and shared duty with other officers. Saldivar also said the government will be constructing more posts along the border to ensure greater security for Belizeans along those areas spanning all the way down to the south.

The Belize Times

BEL & KHMH Workers Take a Stand!
The Barrow Administration was caught totally off-guard, as has become normal, when the employees of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and the Belize Electricity Limited staged industrial actions in demand for better salaries. The KHMH workers crippled services at the nation’s only referral hospital in Belize City on Thursday after a request from the hospital’s 579 employees for salary increases was rejected by the Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his Cabinet. Immediately after the news, the employees shut down their services at local clinics, and at the KHMH they refused to carry out elective surgeries. The only cases they responded to were emergency matters. The workers took this drastic measure because while public officers and teachers received a 6% salary increase at the start of this month, the employees of the hospital didn’t.

PUP to launch Power to The People Tour!!!
PUP Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca announced at a well-attended joint National Executive/Standard Bearers meeting held at Independence Hall on Tuesday, July 21st 2015 that the Party will launch a national “Power to the People” tour in the upcoming weeks. The tour will give the leaders of the Party an opportunity to dialogue with supporters and concerned Belizeans and address important issues affecting the country such as the Government’s weak stance in defending our territorial sovereignty and integrity against Guatemala’s aggressions, the economic failures of the Government, the Petrocaribe Loans Act and the illegal borrowing and spending that has taken place, the high level of crime and overall deterioration of citizen safety, as well as the PUP’s progressive ideas of reform and development.

Sedi’s Serious Gaffe! – “…we are on our way to the ICJ”, says UDP Foreign Minister
As a senior attorney and politician, Wilfred “Sedi” Elrington should know the power of spoken words. In fact, Sedi has felt the blows of his “artificial border” comment, which flared up public sentiments and rage against him. This week, Sedi suffered even more political trauma when he declared in an interview on Channel 7 that “…we are on our way to the ICJ”. Sedi’s serious slip of the tongue came about as he was defending his Government’s decision to give into Guatemala’s pressure that before Belize constructs a military base on Sarstoon Island, which is located in the South near Belize’s border with Guatemala, we must consult the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Vega Bavs in Court! – Case for Defamation against Monchi Cervantes goes to trial
The defamation case brought by UDP Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources Gaspar Vega against PUP Standard Bearer for Orange Walk North Ramon “Monchie” Cervantes, Jr. went to trial before Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin this morning. But Vega, the man who doesn’t consider himself a “normal” Belizean, wasn’t exactly disproving his infamous notion, as he hemmed and hawed while on the witness stand under cross examination from the respondents’ attorneys. Vega’s case stems from a recording of a phone conversation between Manuel Castillo, the wanted suspect in the murder case of Ramon Cervantes Sr., and Cervantes Sr.’s widow, Vilma. In the recording, Castillo indicted the UDP politician in the kidnapping and murder of the well-known and much beloved former politician and businessman that occurred in June of 2014. The recording was aired on public radio at a memorial service held by the family on Wednesday, November 5th, 2014.

Bull Is Bull!
Whenever it seems that we are getting somewhere with this ridiculous Guatemalan claim, up jumps the devil and we find ourselves back at square one. The origin of the claim itself is quite interesting and methinks that we might be approaching this problem from the wrong angle. I do NOT believe that going to the ICJ is the solution and that in fact, poses far too great a risk. We have nothing to gain and everything to lose. For the most part, our government seems clueless as to what to do and that is made more evident every time our foreign minister opens his mouth. We have come a long way from the time when all of Belize would tremble at the mere mention of the name Guatemala and I believe that, as small as we are, we have enough stout hearted patriots to mount formidable resistance. Our biggest detriment would be our enemies within. First off, we are totally polarized and divided along a variety of lines. On the surface, we present a pretty picture of this melting pot of diverse cultures coexisting harmoniously. As was exposed by the recent incident in Santa Cruz however, there is deep seated bigotry and racism that simmers just beneath the surface, waiting to be ignited and exploited. This time it was our own Prime Minister, next time it might be external forces.

SHAME ON ALL OF US
She is only 26 years and has already been through a lifetime of terrible experiences. When she was small her home was destroyed by fire, causing the family great loss and hardship. Making it through school and adulthood she joined the Belize Coast Guard where tragedy was waiting for her. She spoke out about being sexually assaulted by male Coast Guards; it was a bold and courageous action on her part. How many women come forward in public to make complaints of rape and forever sully their name? Not surprisingly, nothing came of her complaint. She swallowed her wounded pride and remained a Coast Guard where she had graduated at the top of her class. The worse thing that can be done to a human, whether male or female, is to be raped. It is the tearing of one’s psychology, the very psyche to remain a dignified and whole person. How she must have suffered mentally. Earlier this year while on duty she shot a fellow Coast Guard. It is not known if he was one of her alleged tormentors. The details and motives are unknown to us. But images of a trouble young lady had emerged. Instead of providing any help our authorities charged her for attempted murder. She had to go to jail and fight to regain her freedom.

Weekend Women’s softball results
The Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy women posted 2 wins, while Unitedville Rebels and the Esperanza Wolverines also enjoyed wins in the Cayo Softball Association’s women’s competition at the Joan Garbutt Stadium in Esperanza on Sunday. Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy and their pitcher Leyandra Guy won 9-2 against the Esperanza Wolverines and losing pitcher Olivia Miralda by mercy rule in 6 innings. The competition leaders, the Unitedville Rebels United, won 20-0 by mercy rule in 3 innings over the Belmopan Emeralds, as winning pitcher Shandy Orellano struck out 3 batters to shut out the Belmopan girls while they scored 20 runs off losing pitcher Guadalupe Chicas.

Belize Bank Bulldogs lead Firms basketball
The Belize Bank Bulldogs posted their 6th win to lead the Belize City Firms basketball competition, while Heritage Bank and Central Health Region each posted their 5th wins in the games at Bird’s Isle over the weekend. Game results: Central Health Region vs. Complex Generals – 47-43 Top scorer: Neil Nicholson, Wilfred Richards (13pts) Heritage Bank vs. Central Bank – 67-58 Top scorer: Winston Pratt (24pts), Farron Louriano (28pts) BWS Pressure vs. Infotel – 60-51 Top scorer: Ashley Hemsley, Delroy Faber (13pts) Bulldogs vs. Ready Call – 99-41 Top scorer: Rupert Brown (27pts), Winston Reynolds (28pts)

Belize bombs Club Deportivo Suchitepequez 4-2
The Belize Jaguars bombed the visitors, Club Deportivo Suchitepequez of Guatemala, 4-2 in a practice friendly for the World Cup 2018 Russia qualifying 3rd round at the Norman Broaster Stadium on Sunday. Belize’s most prolific international striker Deon McCaulay and Harrison Roches led the Jaguars’ offensive supported by Elroy “Bibs” Kuylen and Danny Jimenez on the wings and Denmark Casey and Andres Makin at midfield, while Dalton Eiley, Ian “Yellowman” Gaynair, Amin “Tacos” August and Khalil Velasquez took care of defense. The Jaguars’ 1st goal came in the 18th minute, when goalie Miguel Bonilla Bran brought down a charging Harrison Roches inside “the 18”, and Suchitepequez defenders Rafael Gonzalez Ruiz and Victor Armas Lopez added insult to injury by also taking down Deon McCaulay when he went after ball near the goalpost, with Bonilla lying on the ground. The referee ruled penalty and McCaulay’s shot went left while Bonilla dived right: 1-0.

How longer can Belize afford UDP’s top-heavy Cabinet? – 22 Ministers cost Belize over $3.4 Million annually!!
On the heels of serious warnings from foreign financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and Moody’s Investors Service about irresponsible spending by the Barrow Administration, the question must be posed: can Belize continue to afford Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s top-heavy Cabinet? Never before has Belize’s Government had so many Government Ministers as it does today. There are 22 Ministers (substantive Ministers and Ministers of State) who form part of the Executive Arm of Government, costing Belizeans approximately a whopping $1,790,800 in salaries alone. Each substantive Minister collects $81,000 as salary annually. Barrow has awarded this title and the perks that come with it to 11 of his elected representatives and 4 special UDPs brought into the Government fold through the Senate. Each Minister of State collects $69,000 as salary annually. Barrow has awarded this title to 7 of the most lame duck politicians in his party, as a form of reward for their political success. Then there is the disgraced passport-hustling UDP elected representative, Elvin Penner, who is still getting paid with tax payers’ money. He collects $37,800 as salary annually.

PUP’s 5 point-steps Agenda
Dear Members of the People’s United Party, Our beloved Belize is heading towards extinction and our party is at a crossroads. Our territorial integrity and sovereignty, and our Belizean identity and way of life are under attack, from both external and internal sources. Many of our people have lost trust and confidence in our democratic institutions and now consider rhetorical any mention of change from political parties. Nearly half of our people are living in poverty and squalor and our environment, our lifeblood, is continuously been degraded. Our people are demanding unity, purpose and direction. It is time for a 2nd Revolution. As members of the People’s United Party our raison d’ etre is Belize, and our motto is ‘to serve the people’. In a meeting held Tuesday July 21st, 2015, the Party Leader, members the National Executive and Parliamentarians endorsed a 5 – Point-Steps Agenda as to the way forward for our Party.

PUP Collet Standard Bearer Yasmin Shoman receives major support from Belize Association of Louisiana
On July 22nd, 2015, Collet Standard Bearer, Yasmin Shoman, received a generous donation from the Belize Association of Louisiana. The donation of 11 boxes of items included toiletries, clothes, footwear, underwear, toys, household supplies, books and other educational materials.’ This donation was facilitated through the continued efforts of former Belize Honorary Consul of New Orleans, Hon. Jean Benard. Benard and Shoman have enjoyed a strong working relationship from 1999 when Shoman was Councillor in charge of Sister-City Relations at the Belize City Council.

KHMH workers abandon the P.S.U. en masse – Almost 600 hospital employees left out of salary increase deal by PSU Leaders
Hundreds of Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) workers who were once members of the Public Service Union (PSU) are abandoning that ship and joining a newly formed KHMH Authority Workers Union. The decision was taken after workers discovered that the PSU leaders had negotiated salary increases for members but somehow had excluded them from the deal. It appears the PSU and Government worked in cahoots to exempt the 579 hospital employees from getting a 6% per cent raise which took effect on July 1st. There has been no clarification by PSU President Marvin Blades.

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE – THE EAST IS RISING
On May 13th this year after the expiration of Dr. Francis Smith’s tenure as Chairperson of the Eastern Caucus of our party, I assumed the role of Chairperson. Senior Justice of the Peace and party stalwart Adrian ‘Danny’ Madrid is our Vice Chairperson, with Sharole Saldivar as Secretary and Albert Vaughan as our Treasurer. I had originally been reluctant to take on the post of chairing the Eastern/Belize District Caucus, as I have a great deal