August 9, 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

Spectacular dance performances are lighting up the stage at International Costa Maya Festival Noche Tropical

Sargassum linked to dead fish washing onshore
Reports from residents of Northern Ambergris Caye are that dead fish are washing onshore at the Mata Grande area. According to these residents, hundreds of dead fish line the shores, making for a most unpleasant sight (and smell) for passersby. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve was notified and they have already identified the cause of the problem: Sargassum. According to Hol – Chan Marine Reserve manager, Miguel Alamilla, this phenomenon is due to eutrophication caused by the accumulation of the Sargasso seaweed. Sargassum is a brown microalga that floats freely on the sea and never attaches to the ocean floor. This type of seaweed provides refuge for migratory species and it is an essential habitat for some 120 species of fish and invertebrates. However, in the past months, massive quantities of Sargassum line the coast, affecting aquatic resources and even tourism. Investigations revealed that the great influx of Sargassum on the northern beaches of Ambergris Caye, especially at low tide, has dramatically led to a faster rate in its decomposition, giving way to the mass reproduction of bacteria, which in turn causes eutrophication. This activity causes negative environmental effects such as the death of aquatic animals. Alamilla believes that this is the cause of the dead fish appearing on the northern shoreline of the island. “Due to the accumulation of decomposing Sargassum and the increase of bacteria which consumes all the oxygen in the water, the living organisms such as fish perished due to the lack of oxygen in the water,” said Alamilla.

Work continues towards keeping Belize Medfly free
Belize has signed on to the Fruit Fly Control Cooperative Agreement aimed at managing the pests in order to protect crops in Belize and the United States of America. The agreement was signed on Tuesday, July 28th during the Meeting of the Multilateral Fruit Fly Commission held in Cancun, Mexico. This marks the second time a delegation from Belize has participated in such an event. Concerns regarding the invasive pest grew when on Tuesday, July 21st, Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) detected the Mediterranean fruit fly (or Medfly) in Southern Belize. The Medfly is considered the most devastating agricultural pest in the world, and originated in the Mediterranean area. Capable of causing extensive damage to a wide range of fruit crops, the Medfly has spread invasively to many parts of North, Central and South America. BAHA has identified possible outbreaks of Medfly in the Hopkins Village in the Stann Creek District and Sapodilla Cayes in the Toledo District. As a result, eradication activities such as fruit stripping, ground spraying, and delimitation trapping are underway in these areas. Belize is the only country in the region that is free of this pest and it is only when infested Medfly hosts, such as fruits and vegetables, are brought into Belize illegally that this pest is introduced. Adult Medfly lay eggs under the skins of fruit which serve as a distribution vessel.

Splash Summer Camp: teaching children valuable swimming skills
The third annual Splash Summer camp kicked off on Monday, August 3rd at the Boca del Rio Park in San Pedro Ambergris Caye. The program, which is open to children ages 6-15, teaches the basics of swimming. The camp will run for the entire month of August, on Mondays to Thursdays from 8:30AM to 11:30AM. All interested youth are invited to attend any of the camp days. According to camp organizer Kent Gabourel, the first day had a good turnout and the number of participants is expected to increase in the coming weeks. “As we get more of the swimming materials, we expect to have more children each day. Apart from keeping the children busy during their summer holiday, the camp will also make way for great swimmers as we will teach them the different skills of swimming,” said Gabourel. “Swimming is very healthy for the children since they work out their entire body, keeping them fit, and they learn skills to swim properly in any type of conditions or waters,” stated Gabourel.

Misc Belizean Sources

Annual Tres Pescados Fly Fishing Tournament
The Annual Tres Pescados Fly Fishing Tournament is over. At the awards banquet held August 8th, organizer Wil Flack announced that through the tournament, $15,000BZ will be donated to Oceana in Belize to continue their work in the fight against Gill Net fishing. The tournament is donating $13,000 and 3rd place winners 'Size Matters' donated their $2,000 cash prize towards the cause as well. Congratulations to all involved!!

CTV3

15 Year Old Minor Charged For Samir's Murder
On Wednesday we told you about the murder of 23 year old Samir Vivas and yesterday at the K.H.M.H morgue a post-mortem examination was conducted on the body. According to the Pathologist, Vivas’ cause of death was certified as that of "Exsanguinations due to internal bleeding due to aorta vein injury due to stab wound to the abdomen." And in an update to that murder, police have arrested and charged 15 year old minor of San Antonio Village, Corozal, for the crime of murder. The minor was charged in the presence of his mother and a Justice of the Peace. Since he is a minor we are unable to release is name.

NTV Remains Focus On Their Journey Even With Advice Form BDF Commander
In an interview today with the media Brigadier General David Jones condemned the planned visit of the Northern Territorial Volunteers at the Sarstoon Island in southern Belize on August 16th. He says the trip can jeopardize the relationship between both countries something which we can’t afford at this time. Here is what he had to say. “If they would ask my advice I would advise them not to go. The reason for this is because the border between Belize and Guatemala and the country of Belize has a territorial dispute with Guatemala. They have professed that almost half of the country belongs to them at times, at times they profess that the entire country belongs to them and that area in particular near the Sarstoon they are contesting that the island has never been in dispute. Our version of what we know is that the Sarstoon Island belongs to Belize, they have a different view. It doesn’t make sense to have a confrontation over the issue, it is better for the foreign affairs to foreign affairs try and work out that problem.

BDF Commander Sepaks About Increase Military Presence In The North
Earlier in the newscast we told you about the helicopter found near the vicinity of the Belize/Mexico Border in the community of Blue Creek in the Orange Walk District. The first suspicion that arose was that of El Chapo’s Guzman presence in Belize. Today the media took the time to ask BDF Commander David Jones about Belize’s increased military presence in the North since the escape of Mexico’s infamous drug lord. “We have operations running there at the moment regular operations jointly with the BDF and the police I won’t disclose what sort of operations that we are doing because we can alert people that we operating in the area.”

One More Aircraft To Be Added To Military Fleet
While investigations continue into the mysterious helicopter found in Blue Creek in the Orange Walk District, the Belize Defense Force is looking forward to the addition of two military type helicopters to be added to their fleet of transport. Since the pull-out of the British Military Training unit in 2012, government has been going around cap in hand begging their partners in the US, the UK and Taiwan for assistance in getting a helicopter. And last year October, Government announced that they found a multi-million dollar deal for two helicopters. BDF Commander, David Jones says the helicopters from Taiwan are expected to arrive shortly. “The two helicopters that are expected to come from Taiwan. We expect them sometime the end of this year. Before the end of the year, we are going to have those two helicopters in the country. We had a team from Taiwan who came in to do a site visit. They looked at the facilities we got and they plan to bring the two helicopters in, assemble them and fly them around. And subsequently, we are doing concurrently at the moment, trying to get a different team to come in to train our pilots to fly that particular platform because our pilots have been trained to fly the Bell, which is similar as the helicopter they flew in, but there needs to be some sort of conversion for them to fly a different platform. So we expect those in by end of the year, and they will be operational at the end of the year.”

Orange Walk Police Discovers Abandoned Aircraft Near Blue Creek Village
Yesterday afternoon, Police officers made a mysterious finding in the San Felipe/Blue Creek area of the Orange Walk District. According to authorities, around midday while conducting anti-drug operations in Orange Walk Town, the Anti- Narcotics Unit received information of an aircraft circling San Felipe/ Blue creek area. As a result, the team proceeded to the area where about 3:00p.m they found a grey helicopter with dark tinted windows with registration numbers N607AZ on a feeder road in the Blue creek area. The aircraft was secured and a thorough search was conducted in the area. However, no one or anything else was found. Commander of the BDF, Brigadier General David Jones told the media today that they were called in to remove the helicopter "I won't be at liberty to give you much information on that Bell helicopter. That was a police operation. After the aircraft was probably captured I believe in the Blue Creek area, our Belize Defence Force pilots were requested to fly the helicopter into to our area."

F.O.B. Will Continue For Combating Illicit Activities
For months, stories concerning the construction of the Forward Operating Base near the mouth of the Sarstoon River have been dominating headlines and today discussions on the matter wages on in corporate and public domains. Viewers may recall that in May of this year the Belize Coast Guard travelled to the Sarstoon Island, Belize’s southernmost territorial point, to perform reconnaissance duty for the possibilities of establishing a base on the island. That trip resulted in tense confrontations between the Belize Coast Guard and the Guatemalan Navy. Since then, we had not heard anything about the forward operating base until a few weeks ago when the Minister of Foreign Affairs revealed that the Guatemalan authorities had issues with building the base inside sovereign Belizean territory. And so the project was put on hold until a discussion was held between Belize and Guatemala’s Foreign Ministers. Upon visiting Belize a few days ago Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales mentioned that the reason that the Guatemalan Government opposed to the construction of the Coast Guard's Forward Operating Base was because an agreement was signed in the Confidence Building Measures that neither country would construct military bases at the border. That statement was refuted by four former P.U.P Foreign Ministers and even by Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Assad Shoman who was the lead negotiator when it comes to the confidence building measures. According to Shoman the three agreements signed between 1998 and 2008 which make up part of the signed Confidence Building Measures in no way prohibits Belize from building military bases at the border.

The Reporter

“We’re ready for office”, says VIP
With looming talks of early general elections, the political third party Vision Inspired by the People (VIP) is making strides to establish itself as a viable option for Belizean voters. The party has moved on establishing a national secretariat in the City of Belmopan, and is also looking into having an office operating in Belize City. It has also moved increasing accessibility by establishing its website http://vipbze.org/. The VIP also continues to dialogue with the business community and civil society on the need for policy reforms in the country. Acting chairman for the Belize district, Paco Smith, explained that the party’s efforts are to reassure the electorate of its stability. He added that the party has maintained strong activism, challenging the current administration on national issues. “We’re prepared to make the necessary changes once in office, to make sure Belize is on the right path”, Smith said. “We’re about making the substantive change needed to ensure this country’s development.”

Citizens can help reduce vector borne diseases says MOH
The Ministry of Health, in its latest vector control program report, cited citizen engagement as a major challenge in combating the spread of vector borne diseases. The Report, which details the statistics and interventions in reducing Dengue fever, Malaria, and Chikungunya, showed that while strides have been made in decreasing cases, there are still high incidents of people leaving items in their yards, such as drums, tires and bottles. These serve as breeding sites for mosquitoes. “We need a behaviour change”, said Kim Bautista, chief operator of the VCP. “What the vector control unit does is only about 20 percent of what is needed to prevent dengue.” According to the report, there has been a 16 percent reduction of dengue cases, with Belize City showing the highest reduction rate (46 percent). There have only been nine cases of malaria for this year, primarily in southern Belize, and only two positive cases of Chikungunya, which were not locally contracted.

Likelihood that most wanted drug fugitive is in Belize heightens amidst discovery of mystery chopper near northern border
The discovery of an abandoned helicopter around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday by the Anti Drug Unit near the Belize-Mexico border has heightened the probability that wanted Mexican fugitive may be in Belize. The chopper was found in very good working condition, but its features and proximity to the border are what led authorities to believe that the man called “El Chapo” could be in Belize. The grey BELL-407 chopper, said to be worth around $4 million, has heavily tinted windows and has registration numbers N607AZ – not traceable to any country thus far. It was on a feeder road near Blue Creek Village, Orange Walk – a community located on the country’s northwestern side of the border – where contraband activity is rife. Inside the aircraft police discovered a number of blue plastic receptacles containing fuel. It was flown to the Belize Defense Force’s Price Barracks base and will join the fleet if two helicopters which Belize will receive from Taiwan, ironically to conduct border patrols.

The Belize Times

KHMH runs of out beds! – …Petrocaribe NOT Rolling Here
The nation’s only referral hospital is overwhelmed. It has begun to turn back patients because they have run out of beds."][/caption] Belize City, August 6, 2015 The Barrow Administration has had access to hundreds of millions of dollars through the Petrocaribe initiative. Some $400m will likely have been borrowed through the initiative by the end of this year. Of those millions, one would think the Government would have been investing heavily on the priorities for our people: education, health care and the creation of jobs. But such is not the case. The Petrocaribe funds, obtained and spent in flagrant contravention of the Finance and Audit (Reform) Act, have been used solely to advance the political agenda of the United Democratic Party in Government. Millions promised to keep the people of the Cayo North East area from rising up against the politician turned passport salesman, Elvin Penner; millions spent in Belize City to prop up the image of a man who uses his office as Mayor to lobby for a political constituency so he could call himself one of the ‘big boys’ in the UDP; millions more to keep UDP cronies happy through the awarding of million-dollar contracts for projects that could have waited as priorities are being neglected. And of course, millions more for buy-elections to gain political seats and power for an absolutely corrupt Government. Petrocaribe has not built a single classroom...

Lying and Deceitful Mayor
I have concluded that the Mayor of Belize City, Darrell Bradley, is a liar and a deceiver. On June 7, I went to his convention at Lopez Mateo Park and when he arrived I asked him if I can take photographs of the event and he agreed. I began to take shots of him as he greeted some of the constituents of Caribbean Shores. I was using a digital camera and because of my experience in taking photographs that would be used for political purposes I did not put a limit to the amount of photographs I would take. A woman by the name of Michelle Smith, whom I believe is a campaigner for the Mayor, asked me if I was taking photographs for the mayor and I said, yes. She then told me that she wanted me to take photographs of every move the mayor makes. At the end of the convention I checked the number of photographs I took and it amounted to 148. I told Ms. Smith that I will burn the photographs on a DVD and she told me that I can give the DVD to her. So the following day, June 8, after I burned the photographs I gave the DVD along with an invoice for $300.00 to Ms. Smith at her office at City Hall. She told me that she will pass them on to Armead, the Mayor’s Campaign Manager.

First Caribbean Bank Closes! – Over 60 Employees Face Termination
The worst kind of news hit over sixty employees of the First Caribbean International Bank with the announcement that the bank will be shutting down its doors for good once it completes the sale of its assets to another local bank. The deal between FCIB, which is owned by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), and Heritage Bank of Belize has been in negotiations behind closed doors for several weeks, and it was not until the senior officials of international bank met with leaders of the Christian Workers Union on Monday, August 3rd, that the cat was let out of the bag. The Christian Worker’s Union was the first to sound the alarm, confirming reports that had been swirling for at least a month. The CWU had attempted to get answers when they wrote the bank on July 3rd, 2015, but they got none. This week, amidst great controversy triggered by the Union, the FCIB was forced to respond. They offered very little details on the reasons for their decision, and the Chief Executive Officer of CIBC First Caribbean’s Regional Operations, Rik Parkhill, only indicated in a press release that the bank had “conducted a strategic review of our business across the region and given the growth path we have identified we have made the difficult decision to sell our Belize operations”.

Minor detained for fatal stabbing Corozal – 23 yr. old victim would have celebrated his birthday on Monday
A 15 year old minor has turned himself into Police custody following an altercation between him and a 23 year old which ended with the elder youth being fatally stabbed. The minor could be facing murder charges as soon as the Police complete their investigations this week. Meanwhile, the family of Samir Vivas is in mourning as they prepare to put him to rest. The altercation occurred around 8:30pm on Tuesday, in front of the victim’s home in the Venezuelan site of town. According to the Vivas’ family, the minor’s sister was dating their loved one. He had gone to the minor’s home to visit her, but a quarrel ensued over a stolen bicycle. The quarrel turned into a fight and during the brawl, the minor reportedly took a sharp object and stabbed Vivas to the abdomen.

Big Up BelCare!
I beg my readers’ indulgence this week as I take a break from the rhetoric of politics to touch on a topic dear to my heart: sports. I agree with both Mandela and Baron de Coubertin that sports is integral to the development of character and it can serve to break down barriers. I have always felt that way too little attention is paid to sports in our education system and as a result, we are plagued by severe character flaws in our people. There is a direct correlation between the decline of sports in our nation and the increase of crimes in our streets. The second quotes above are by Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin who was a French pedagogue and historian and is known as the “Father of the modern day Olympics.” He was the primary force in the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 which was nearly 1,500 years after the closing of the original games in Athens. As “le Renovateur” (the reviver) of the Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin influenced the entire world, bringing people of all nations, races, and cultures closer together in a common pursuit of excellence in sports. Born in 1863, Coubertin was himself active in many sports and regarded sports as playing an essential for the development of human character, and that through sportsmanship one develops one’s moral energy. He thus saw sport as an important part of the personal development of young people and regarded it as a core part of the general educational strategy for his home country France. Coubertin subscribed to the theory that “it is not whether you win or lose but how well you play the game”.

When a bank fails…
When the news broke that First Caribbean International Bank with its main branch on Albert Street would be closing its doors, our first concern was the sixty plus employees who were effectively being given notice that their services would be terminated. Their firing is pending the finalisation of a huge deal that will see the bank accounts of private shareholders who own Heritage Bank multiply. This is the nature of the beast known as capitalism in our neo-liberal globalized world. We must congratulate the Christian Worker’s Union and their ever-vigilant President Audrey Matura Shepherd who have stood with the employees and are committed to ensuring that they are not chanced in any way as the banks’ elites make sure they exit with every penny due to them, and more if possible. Such is also the nature of the beast. This situation is a tremendous devastation in many ways. We put it that while the closure of an entire bank is like an economic bomb detonating, which cannot be missed by the news headlines, on the ground level, hundreds of similar but smaller-in-scale economic disasters have been missed and even dismissed by many.

Belize Bank Bulldogs U-14 win “Puppy” Leslie basketball marathon
The Belize Bank U-14 Bulldogs won the “Puppy” Leslie invitational basketball marathon hosted by the Belize Bank Bulldogs Basketball Club at Bird Isle last Thursday to Sunday. The Bulldogs edged out Light of Peace 62-59, led by MVP Philip “P.J.” Parks with 22 points and 23 rebounds. Corey Popper added 12 points, and Kenyon Requena and Artest Ifield had 8 points apiece. Light of Peace’s Kerdell Tench had 20 points and 8 rebounds, while Jahmar Harris added 14 points and Dennis Sanchez and Tariq Pascacio had 7 points apiece. Coach Rupert Brown of the Belize Bank Bulldogs Club presented individual trophies to the champions and medals to the 2nd place winners, and a team trophy to the Bulldogs’ captain and coach. Philip “PJ” Parks won the Most Valuable Player award.

Rising Starz – No. 1 in women’s football playoffs
Undefeated Rising Starz is looking to secure the Cayo women’s football championship as they bombed the Real West Strikers: 4-0 in the Adventures Club football playoffs at the Norman Broaster Stadium on Sunday. Leonella Chuc scored the first 2 winning goals in the 18th and 20th minutes and Shayama Caliz added a 3rd goal in the 41st minute for a 3-0 lead at the half. Shayama scored a 4th goal in the 80th minute to seal the 4-0 win. The No. 4 seed Belmopan Lucky Strikers will take on the UB Jaguars in a consolation match for 3rd place on Sunday, August 9, before the Rising Starz and the Real West Strikers take the field for the rematch to decide the championship.

Deon McCauley is Superb! – Top Striker scores hat trick in friendly match in O.W.
Football fans in the north got to see Belize’s top goleador Deon McCauley work his magic with brilliance as he scored a hat-trick against a formidable Orange Walk selection. The local team hosted the national team for a practice friendly at the Louisiana Government School field in Orange Walk Town on Sunday. The Jaguars have less than a month to complete their preparation, but they have a very good chance of winning against Canada, who they take on in the 3rd round of the World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers in Canada on September 4. Belize will host Canada at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan on September 8. Macaulay’s 1st goal came in the 13th minute when the Sugar City goalie misplayed the ball on a shot at goal by Gabriel Perez. Sugar City’s sweeper Andrew Allen brought down McCauley on the goal line, but too late, Deon had already tapped the loose ball into the net: 1-0.

UB makes small retreat in mandatory insurance fee scheme
The students of the University of Belize have won a small victory as the University of Belize appears to have made a small but significant retreat with its plan to impose a mandatory insurance policy on its students. Last week the incoming students were slapped with a last minute notice that they must buy insurance to complete their registration at the University. There was no consultation with students about this new scheme. The students riled up and expressed outrage on the social media. “This is rip off. Using coercion on poor students to in the name of insurance,” posted one student. “Ub to chancey.. they know we need our education so they the try find ways fi tek our money,” said another. “We need to protest against UB imposing insurance on all students. It should be optional,” said another post. In support of the students was the Belize Youth Movement, the outspoken and militant youth arm of the People’s United Party. BYM led by its President Alberto Vellos issued out a stern statement calling on the University to withdraw the mandatory policy. BYM indicated that it supports the idea of offering affordable insurance to students, but it should not be imposed on the students.

UB faculty & staff request salary increase – Minister of Education Patrick Faber tells them to join waiting list
Minister of Education Patrick Faber attempted to school the faculty and staff of the University of Belize in response to their request for a salary increase. Faber answered that the University faculty and staff will have to join the waiting line that includes others such as the employees of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and Belize Electricity Limited who have also requested a pay raise, but are facing resistance by the Government. This resistance has forced the BEL Union members to protest for three days in Belize City last week, while KHMH workers took serious action by cancelling all services except emergencies. It appears UB faculty and staff will have to borrow a page from the books of BEL and KHMH employees if they want any form of results.

10 Yr. Old Robbed by Machete-Wielding Men
A 10 year old male student of Concepcion Village in the Corozal District is traumatized after he was violently assaulted and robbed by two machete-armed men. The child reported to the Police that he was in the area known as Baeza Layout with his sister around midday on Tuesday, August 4th, when they were approached by two male persons who he did not know. The men wore masks, said the child, and they demanded money from them. The child said that one of the men that was armed with a machete, lashed him on his left arm and back of his head, forcing him and his sister to hand over $80 and his LG Touch cellular phone valued at $280.

2 youths shot in Jane Usher “Gaza” area
Two young men are hospitalised after sustaining gunshot injuries during separate shootings in the Jane Usher Boulevard area just before 10am on Wednesday morning. 21 year old Raheem Arnold was shot in the pelvic area by an armed man who confronted him on the street side. Witnesses say they heard the two exchanging words followed by a chase through the bushes and the sound of gunshots. Arnold was found injured in the bushes and rushed to the hospital where he is being treated. Shortly after, gunshots rang out again as 18-year-old Shemar Moore was shot as he reportedly walked to his grandmother’s house. He was shot to right arm, left arm pit, left foot, and to the left upper leg. Police say they are looking for two suspects in relation to these shootings.

Guatemala YET to pay for gunboat’s damage to Belize’s reef – “What do you think we should do if they don’t pay?” clueless Sedi Elrington asks Channel 5 reporter
All indications are that Foreign Minister Sedi Elrington has no clue how he will get the Government of Guatemala to pay for the damages its gunboat made to Belize’s reef on Glover’s Reef in June of this year. The damage to the reef has been estimated by Government officials at a measly $46,000. According to Elrington and his second in command on Guatemalan aggression matters, Colonel (Retired) George Lovell, they sent a diplomatic note to Guatemala informing them of the damage assessment and “inviting” them to pay for it. But it seems this note got lost in the mail, along every other official protest against the continuous and intensifying acts of hostility by Guatemala. Neither Elrington nor Lovell has received a response from Guatemala.

Atlantic Bank loses link to international banks – GOB/Central Bank’s economic “gurus” silent as banks suffer
Yet another bank in Belize has suffered a heavy price as a result of the Barrow Administration’s failure to comply with international accountability and transparency standards. Atlantic Bank announced late last week that its “correspondent bank account with Bank of America will be closed as of Friday July 31, 2015”. As a result, its banking services such as Wire Transfers, U.S. Bank Drafts and Foreign Currency have been adversely affected. In fact, the bank announced to its customers that Thursday July 30th was the last day for wire transfers through its Bank of America account. “…we will not be able to facilitate any foreign currency wire transfers or USD Bank Drafts until further notice,” declared the bank in a notice issued to customers. Atlantic Bank has had an arrangement with Bank of America for correspondent banking. This has allowed customers to make financial transactions to the United States and other parts of the world through a main U.S. bank. U.S. banks, like the Bank of America, are at the center of the global financial system and through the correspondent banking arrangement Belize’s banks are strategically linked to them.

Of this and that…
News in Belize is Bad News. America has investigative journalism. They buss ting and expose. They inform. Big Up Channel 5 at least they have healthy living. Jules, he… Channel 7 does not try to teach. They do not inform. Channel 7 is about propaganda. It is not about information. It is not about education. It teaches you nothing. All bad news. Evening news is a big tool. Missed opportunity. It teaches a nation. Belize is educated at 6:30. It is a lost opportunity. Evan X is right. Politicians should stay out of the news business. Listen to him Jules. Missionary Position A child dies. This is very sad. He drowns on a trip. A trip to Blue Creek Cave. That is in Toledo. He was with missionaries. This is sad. But geez. That place is so pretty.

WOMAN IN THE HOUSE – AMAZING GLORIA
I was in a bit of shock several evenings ago when I received a text message from Emy Gilharry Ramirez, informing family and friends that Gloria Gilharry had passed away in Arizona, USA a few days before, and that the memorial service for her would be held on Friday, July 31 in Corozal Town. For many years I have been close friends with the Gilharry sisters, expecially Grace (Graciela), Gloria and Emy. There are certain persons in life who always hold a very special place in our consciousness and memory. Grace is one such person. For almost two years when I was a law student in Jamaica, I stayed with Grace and Maurice Saunders and their family. Their kindness and generosity towards me when I was a struggling university student is something I will never forget. Through Grace, I became good friends with Gloria and Emy, and I knew their parents, Allan and Andrea Gilharry, quite well and held them in the greatest of respect while they were alive.

SENATOR LISA SHOMAN’S OPEN LETTER TO BTL
Dear Sirs and Mesdames, RE : DIGICELL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN I write to you on the mentioned subject in several capacities -as a former Chairman of Belize Telecommunications Limited, a Senator, a Belizean, and a woman. As a taxpayer, I would also add the capacity of shareholder. DigiCell has, for some time now been conducting a social media advertising campaign on Facebook and Instagram which carries advertisement of the services offered by your company which are offensive to women, and lately, degrading and in one particular case, suggests that violence/abusive restraint are not only acceptable, but laudable and uses the hash tag #tryduct tape. The matter first came to my attention with the “ Free WiFi Pan Di Road” campaign, when two images were used to sell your product line. One was a close-up of a female bottom, clad in jeans. The juxtaposition was clear to most. Innuendo about “free wifey” escaped the notice of no one, and the egregious use of the body part to sell “wifi pan di road” was unmistakable.

Breaking Belize News

BDF asserts right to work in Sarstoon area
While refraining from any suggestion of misleading statements, Commander of the Belize Defence Force Brigadier General David Jones refuted the position of Guatemalan foreign minister Carlos Morales as presented a few weeks ago that Belize nor Guatemala would increase the number of military bases at the border, per […]

Henry Cunningham wants back gun from GSU – “public safety” a concern, says boss
In December of 2014 we reported on raids conducted by the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU) in the Conch Shell Bay area of Belize City. In one of them, police are accused of breaking into the home of farmer and retiree Henry Cunningham, 82, and retrieving his shotgun and […]

“Tear gas” Grenade found in Eastern Division headquarter
A CS gas grenade was apparently found on the third floor of the Racoon Street Police Station, which serves as official headquarters for Eastern Division (South) and previously for all of Eastern Division in Belize City, on Friday evening. The building had to be evacuated around 3:30 after […]

Immigration “unable” to renew Belize passport for naturalized citizen
Ruth Castillo, a naturalized Belizean originally from Honduras, has for the past year been unable to get the Immigration Department to renew her expired Belizean passport because she does not have a verified birth or naturalization certificate. The 46 year old told Amandala in this week’s issue that she has […]

Blogs

Early Mornings & Late Nights Meet: Costa Maya Festival & Tres Pescados Flyfishing Slam On Ambergris Caye
San Pedro town is absolutely packed. Every golf cart is rented out…and kids are hanging off every balcony in town. The International Costa Maya Festival is in town. The history of the event is pretty interesting, totally worth a look at the pictures and write up in AmbergrisCaye.com. (Awesome body builder contest!) According to Special Correspondent Fin K, the event used to be both day and night. Food from all the Central American countries…ending with a giant parade through town. Here are some pictures I took last night of the set-up of the stage…and the Honduran band, El Chevo (although it said El Chebo on the big screens) practicing for Saturday night. On the total time flip-side, Tres Pescados Fly is holding their 7th Annual Slam Tournament. I say flip-side because while Costa Maya revelers are exiting the clubs, these anglers are headed out to hook tarpon, permit and bonefish…

International Sources

How to Talk to Dolphins: An Interview with Susan Casey
In bestselling author Susan Casey’s third book, she explores the intimate relationship between humans and dolphins. One of the stories that inspired bestselling author Susan Casey’s new book on the intricate world of dolphins, Voices of the Earth, is almost too beautiful to be believed. A biologist named Maddalena Bearzi was studying a group of dolphins off the coast of Los Angeles when she noticed something strange. The “pod” (group of dolphins) had just landed upon a herd of sardines. They were about to start feeding—something that usually transfixes the whole group—when one, unexpectedly, darted off. In moments, the rest followed, swimming full speed out to sea. When she reached them, three miles offshore, the pod had a formed a circle—in the middle of it, a girl’s floating body. Very near death, the girl had a plastic bag with her identification and a suicide note wrapped around her neck. With the dolphins help, she was saved. “I still think about and dream about that cold day,” Bearzi wrote of the sighting. “And that tiny, pale girl lost in the ocean and found again for some inexplicable reason, by us, by the dolphins.” Our inexplicably intimate relationship and longtime fascination with dolphins provides a backdrop for Casey’s third book. From bizarre 1950s scientists to a community of dolphin worshippers, it’s an eye-opening look at the world below the sea.

BELIZE, UM LUGAR PARADISÍACO
A partir de 8 de dezembro, a Copa Airlines oferecerá dois voos semanais para Belize, desde o Hub de Las Americas, na cidade do Panamá. Com isso, o brasileiro terá mais um destino de viagem na América Central. Belize é mais um lugar paradisíaco. Mais de 40% do país foi transformado em parques e reservas naturais com águas cristalinas, cavernas e fauna exuberante. Possui um ecossistema marinho privilegiado composto por atóis, manguezais, bancos de areia e a segunda maior barreira de corais do mundo, o que faz do lugar um destino perfeito para mergulho. Com uma costa com mais de 500 quilômetros, é repleta de atóis e os famosos “Blue Holes”. Os principais pontos de mergulho são as ilhas Turneffe, o Lighthouse Reef, o Atol de Glover e Ambergris Caye. Belize é muito bem servido de “Liveaboards” e resorts especializados em mergulho. A melhor época para o mergulho é de abril a junho.

A threat smelling to high heaven — Obama whiffs it
It was uncanny, but reflective of thoughtful and caring minds, that just days before President Barack Obama made his far-reaching statement about climate change on August 3, Caribbean poet, author and intellectual, Ian McDonald, made a point to me that was echoed by the US president. In responding to a commentary I wrote on July 23, entitled 'Climate change: Time for talking is over', McDonald wrote: "It astonishes me that world so-called leaders continually talk of ISIS (now but not long ago it was al-Qaeda, and tomorrow it will be some other threat du jour) as an 'existential threat' when a real existential threat like climate change is right under their noses smelling to high heaven." Ten days later, in his remarks announcing a "clean power plan" for the United States, President Obama declared: "I am convinced that no challenge poses a greater threat to our future and future generations than a changing climate." It was a bold and courageous step for an American president to proclaim that climate change is a threat, let alone the greatest threat to the future of Americans and mankind.

International fare deals are taking flight
Each week, airfares seem to be going down, down, down. Just last week, we saw nonstop flights from Dallas to Chicago, New York City and Boston for as low as $81 round trip. I don’t think the airlines ever imagined fares this low. If I went to American’s corporate office in August 2014 and told them that in a year they would offer these fares, they would have laughed me out of there. We recently saw a sale from Dallas on United for $225 to Belize, $259 to San Jose, Costa Rica, and $329 to Liberia, Costa Rica. The fares to Liberia are normally in the $700 to $900 range, so it is a dramatic drop. When looking for deals out of Dallas, I’d look at Belize, San Jose, Liberia, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Cancún, Mexico City and Montego Bay for travel after Oct. 15. The prices we are seeing on some of these routes are very similar to what we are seeing out of Houston on Southwest and United.

Ask an expert: Safety and travel in Central America
Q. I'm hoping to tour Mexico, Belize and Guatemala in early 2016 and wondered what kind of vaccinations will be necessary. Also, what are the fastest/cheapest ways to get between Cancun and Mexico City? A. Rabies, malaria, hepatitis and tetanus are worth enquiring about. Yellow fever is not necessary in Central America. Guatemala is such an inspirational part of the world, and stunning! Spend your time in Antigua City, not Guatemala City. Visit Lake Atitlan, climb a volcano and conquer some Mayan ruins.

Videos

August 8, 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

Camp Starfish provides speech and physical therapy to island children with disabilities
As part of the 2nd annual Ambergris Caye Camp Starfish activities, participants will also be benefiting from the assistance of speech and physical therapists. Volunteering their services are Speech-Language Pathology specialist Kimberlee Almon and Physical Therapy specialist Kaity Kobayashi. From Monday, August 3rd to the end of camp, Friday August 7th, the specialist have been visiting the homes of special needs children providing vital therapeutic care. Camp Starfish organizers would like to extend big thanks to Tropic Air for providing the free airfare to specialists from Belize City to San Pedro Town. Special appreciation goes to Almon and Kobayshi for taking the time to visit the homes of children with disabilities and providing them with a service not commonly offered in San Pedro.

Belize’s delegation wins silver at 2015 Special Olympics
On Tuesday, August 4th a large crowd gathered at the Philip Goldson International Airport to welcome the Belize delegation returning from the 2015 Special Olympics. Held in Los Angeles, California, USA from Saturday, July 25th to Sunday, August 2nd, the event saw 6,500 special needs athletes from 165 nations competing in 25 Olympic-type sports. After representing their country proudly, the Belize delegation did not return empty handed as they had captured silver medals in Unified Bocce and Bocce Doubles. Head of the Belize delegation and National Director for the Special Olympics in Belize, Elodia Bautista explained that the four athletes had been practicing for the past nine months and were excited when they placed in their discipline. “It was a first time experience for them, they had no knowledge of what to expect or what to do. When they got there they were surprised at the hospitality of our Belizean community in Los Angeles and of the host village that hosted us for the first few days,” said Bautista. The athletes representing Belize were Jasmine Flores, Ilda Romero, Ana Emmanuel and Jayna Locke, all students from Holy Ghost Primary School in Dangriga.

Police to enforce laws against public drinking and loitering
According Deputy Officer in Charge of the Coastal Executive Unit, Assistant Superintendent Henry Jemmott, island officers have already been informed of the new regimen. Jemmott also indicated that he has consulted with Mayor of San Pedro Town, Daniel Guerrero, who is in full support of the anti-public drinking and loitering initiative. “In working with to reduce crimes that affect quality of life, the department has stated that we will start by first warning the public and educating them on the laws on public drinking and loitering. We will then move on to enforce the regulation,” said Jemmott. Under Section 44:01 (1) of the Intoxicated Liquor License Act, Chapter 150 of the Sustentative laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2003, it is an offence to commit the act of public drinking and any person found guilty of violating the law in the first instance is fined $25BZ followed by a fine of $50BZ if convicted for a second time. Loitering is an offence contrary to section 4(1) XLI of the Summary of Jurisdiction Offences Act, Chapter 98 of the Sustentative laws of Belize Revised Edition 2003. It is committed by any person who loiters or carouses in any street or public place or in any open space of ground in the immediate neighborhood of such street or public place or in or about any shop/store and does not quietly leave or move away when desired so to do by any police constable, owner of shop/store; or threatens, insults or cause annoyance to a passerby. Any person in violation of this law will face a fine of $200BZ, in default two month imprisonment, if found guilty in the first instance. Second instance carries a fine of $400BZ, in default six months imprisonment.

Ambergris Today

Miss Honduras Claims Costa Maya Crown 2015
It’s Honduras’ second claim to the coveted Miss Costa Maya crown since 2006 as Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle was selected as the new Miss Costa Maya 2015 at the Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant that kicked off the San Pedro International Costa Maya Festival 2015, on Thursday, August 6. The pageant was bursting with Caribbean flavor as the theme embraced Carnival in the region during the four segments of the pageant. Entertainment that kept ties with the Carnival theme were performances by The San Pedro AIDS Commission Carnaval Group with the opening act, the Belize National Dance Company with Belizean Soca Entertainer Ernestine Carballo and Alma Caribeña dance group from Mexico. The pageant was hosted by Mr. Eiden Salazar and Karen Jordan, Miss Costa Maya 2012 from Panama.

Camp Starfish Delivers Fun Program for Special Needs Children
Camp Starfish celebrated a very successful summer camp for special needs children on the island of Ambergris Caye with a colorful and cheerful parade through the streets of downtown San Pedro on Thursday, August 06, 2015. Running on its second year, the camp has grown bigger and better, providing more fun and services for its participants. Special invited guest for the last day of camp, awards ceremony and celebratory parade was First Lady of Belize Mrs. Kim Simplis-Barrow, Global Ambassador for Special Olympics and Special Envoy for Women and Children, Founder of Lifeline Foundation, who has also extended a helping hand for the amazing summer camp that provides a two-week program for children with mental and/or physical disorders.

Misc Belizean Sources

More mangrove explorers!
Today we used our magnifying glasses to take a closer look at the critters that inhabit the mangroves, seagrass and sargassum sea weed. There were lots of new things to see! Kaz was lucky enough to spot a seahorse but these wonderful creatures are very shy, and it quickly jumped off its root and disappeared into the cover of the deeper mangrove roots. We will try and find it again next time!

Independent Horror from Austin
The summer is at its hottest this month and there’s no better way to combat the heat than to read a couple of chilling thrillers with the AC full blast (hoping you avoid the rolling blackouts). I mean, you could drive up to Austin and splash around in a river or lake, but I recommend instead bringing Austin into your home with two titles I recently read by authors living in the land of the weird. With his latest, “Hungry Darkness,” journalist and author Gabino Iglesias has crafted a fun, Benchley-esque horror that will keep you from the beaches the way “Jaws” once did. The book opens with the arrogant Nick Ayres, an explorer who dreams of filming an expedition into Giant Cave, a massive underwater grotto beneath the small island of Caye Caulker in Belize. When National Geographic underwrites his exploration, he surreptitiously hires an advance crew to blow open a narrow entrance into a deeper, uncharted cave. This act of stupid hubris frees a massive and monstrous octopod that destroys his team and then proceeds (in a series of interpolated vignettes) to kill and eat a bunch of humans.

Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle gives her first official address as Reina de La Costa Maya 2015/2016

Government of Belize Acquires New Helicopter as promised
A possible Narco/Human Trafficking Helicopter was found in the Orange Walk District. On Wednesday 5th August 2015 about midday while conducting anti-drug operations in Orange Walk town, the Anti- Narcotics Unit received information of an aircraft circling San Felipe/ Blue creek area. As a result, the team proceeded to the area at 3:00 p.m. they found a grey helicopter with dark tinted windows with registration numbers N607AZ on a feeder road in the Blue creek area. The aircraft was secured and a thorough search was conducted in the area. However, no one or anything else was found.

BOLEDO DRAWING for Friday, August 7, 2015: 27. PICK 3: 7 4 2

Cleanup campaign on Caye Caulker
Today is the last day of the month long cleanup campaign on Caye Caulker. We will meet in the south at the Nature Reserve around 9. This area needs to be cared for, and an awesome team called the Garbage Warriors do a great job at it, but they can use some help because the amount of litter back there is intense. Boots are helpful. And the area is well shaded. We have had such an incredible response from the Caye Caulker community, totally awesome! Miss Roxy of Oceana Belize will continue to schedule cleanups still, and other activities. We also received a commitment for 20 new trash bins donated to the village. Right now we will work with village council to see how these can be used to better community. Thank you for everything!

Channel 7

Mystery Helicopter Found At BZE/MEX Border: Was Chapo In That Chopper?
Two days ago, the Anti Drug Unit found a helicopter - in perfect working condition - abandoned near the Belize-Mexico border. It was kept a closely guarded secret for 48 hours while the police and BDF carefully scrutinized the chopper. Here's what they found: a grey BELL-407 Helicopter with tinted windows, bearing the registration numbers N607AZ, on a feeder road near Blue Creek Village in the extreme northwestern Orange Walk District. The chopper was found in a clearing. Interestingly, it had been outfitted to make long journeys. And inside the aircraft, police found several blue plastic containers with fuel. More interestingly, the chopper is fully functional. A BDF pilot trained to fly helicopters checked it out and today at midday, flew it from Blue Creek to BDF Headquarters at Price Barracks where it is parked tonight. Here's what the BDF's Commander told us this morning: Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security "You may or may not have been aware that as few days ago the BDF also captured a Bell 407 helicopter which will now bring our number to three once we get the two from the Taiwanese government in November." Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander - Belize Defence Force "I won't be at liberty to give you much information on that Bell helicopter. That was a police operation. After the aircraft was probably captured I believe in the Blue Creek area, our Belize Defence Force pilots were requested to fly the helicopter into to our area."

Head of Belize's Army Responds to Guat Mistruths About Border Installations
And moving on now to that other neighbor, Guatemala - you'll probably be aware that 5 former PUP foreign ministers have challenged Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales. They say that he lied to the Belizean people last week Monday when he said that in the Confidence Building Measures, signed in 2000 and 2005, both countries agreed that neither Belize nor Guatemala would increase the number of military bases at the border. So, what does the General of the Belize Defence Force think about that statement? After all, he's the leader of Belize's military. Here's what he said today about Morales's statement: Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander - Belize Defence Force "In the Confidence Building Measures, it doesn't specifically say that we are restricted from constructing military bases along the border. What I do recall is in the Confidence Building Measures is that the other nation - each nation is not supposed to be expressing or showing that they are exerting their sovereignty over the other. But it doesn't restrict us from actually constructing other bases. The measures primarily address the western portion of the border, from up Arenal down to south where Cadenas is. But it didn't really specifically address the area of the Sarstoon."

The Fear Of The Forward Operating Base
And, the issue which sparked this discussion is Guatemala's challenge of the National Security Ministry's intent to build the forward operating base on Sarstoon Island - the southern limit of Belizean territory. As we've reported, the Guatemalan Foreign Minister needed a bit of convincing from his Belizean counterpart that this base is going to be used by the Belize National Coast Guard, and not the BDF. Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington had to explain to him that the reason that the Coast Guard wants to build the base there is to try to curb illicit activity in the area, including drugs smuggling. So, in the end it came down to the fact that Belize has absolutely no intention of amassing a military presence at the border. This base will be used simply for law enforcement purposes. Today, we asked the General, if the argument on the ownership of the base being for military use, is simply splitting hairs, since the BDF coordinates with the Coast Guard and Police on law enforcement activities regularly. Here's what he had to say:

KHMH CEO Says Beds Aren't The Problem
There is not enough space to accommodate all patients at the KHMH. On Wednesday the hospital sent out a press release stating that they will not be admitting any non -critical patients until Monday. This is as a result of the shortage of beds at the hospital. The release says "the management of the KHMH took the decision to suspend elective admissions to the General Surgical Ward and Day Cases due to the overwhelming numbers of emergency cases." This issue can severely impact patient recovery and comfort since there is already a backlog of elective cases at the hospital. Today we spoke with the CEO of the KHMH and he told us that just buying more beds won't solve the problem. Dr. Adrian Coye, CEO, KHMH "As we said in our press release, recurrently throughout the year we are challenged by just surges of cases that are either transfers from the regional hospitals or just trauma cases and sometimes during the week we have beyond our capacity. Remember, the old Belize City Hospital had a capacity or 170 beds and this Karl Heusner 20 years ago was built with 105 beds capacity. So 20 years ago the population could have been around 200,000 and now we are 350,000.

PM Goes To Miami For One-Day Business Meeting
Prime Minister Dean Barrow left the country for the USA today on unspecified official business. A government press release only says, quote, "The Prime Minister will be attending a business meeting on behalf of the Government of Belize in Miami, Florida." There's no word on what that business is - we do know that the last time he travelled to Miami it was to meet with the big cruise companies. It's a short tip and the PM returns on Sunday. Deputy Gaspar Vega is acting PM.

Cubans, Immigration Offenders Or Trafficking Victims?
In the past month - Cubans have been much in the news - and for all the wrong reasons. Since July 6th, we've reported on 23 Cubans without papers caught in transit through Belize. In each case, they were charged for illegal entry. But, anyone with knowledge of how these things work will know that there is more at play here, much more. Instead of being offenders, these Cubans are likely also victims - of human trafficking - who are trying to get north to the USA. But, in Belize, the system is unresponsive and these victims are further victimized by being criminally charged. Today we asked the Immigration Minister about it - and he said - there's not much more they can do:.. Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration "We are dealing with it as best we can and yes we recognize they are victims of human trafficking but as i said all that can be done is when we find that as we try to arrest the persons concern and they lay charges against them." Courtney Weatherburne "For example the 4 cases yesterday that we reported on, four were charged, four men were charged with illegal entry. Is there any more details you can speak about that and how we are dealing with that?"

Minister Hulse Mediates BEL
And switching hats from Immigration to Labour - Minister Hulse also to mediate the ongoing labour dispute between BEL and its union, the Belize Energy Workers. Hulse called both sides in to his office on July 23rd and told us he was confident that he could find common ground on the outstanding issues in a long negotiation. So has he come up with the silver bullet solution. He might have, but you'd have to parse through his alliterative riff to get the sense of it. Here's what he told me today:.. Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Immigration "I sat with BEL this afternoon again at 2 and the union to try resolve their matters, we've been meeting and so far we've had 6 combined meetings, to be able to resolve the 4, what are considered to be the significant sticking points. I feel fairly confident that we will be able to resolve them. The idea there is to get people to come together to work together in a spirit of compromise, commemoration, camaraderie and common ground rather than conflict, confrontation, criticism and being contentious about it. So that is the approach the ministry has taken, and it's the approach I have taken. I am confident we will be able to work it through."

Breastfeeding, Why Not At Work?
Breast feeding: it is usually done in the confines of a home or some private setting. But, it doesn't have to be - in fact coordinators of the World Breastfeeding Conference say it shouldn't be; they say mothers should be provided with a clean and comfortable space to breast feed at their workplace. Now some of you may ask: why do you need a separate space for that? Can't the mother just take a couple minutes out of her lunch break to breastfeed her baby? Well today at the Radisson, health professionals told us that it is about more than just feeding the baby. I found out more. Courtney Weatherburne reporting Mini Mouse strollers, car seats and soft cotton sheets are just a few items that are needed to keep a baby happy and comfortable. But contentment is only one aspect of a baby's life - his or her health is also crucial and there is one steady source/thing that can ensure ultimate wellbeing. Faith Babb, Coordinator Collet Education & Resource Center "Breast feeding is the best source of nourishment for infants and young children." For mothers, this is something they hear too often. During their pregnancy they are constantly reminded through TV and radio advertisements and through informative pamphlets and booklets outlining the numerous benefits of breast feeding to the mother and the child.

BTL Recoils From Charges Of Sexist Ads, Agrees To Sensitivity Training
Earlier this week PUP Senator Lisa Shoman scolded BTL for sexist ads on social media. Chairman of the phone company's executive committee, Anwar Barrow quickly apologized and informed Shoman that the ads had been pulled. Well today the company's public relations department sent out an official response saying that the company is going farther. The release says that the company will give their staff diversity sensitivity training to make sure the social media posts in question aren't repeated. IT adds, quote, "we extend our deepest apologies to those offended… We…will move to implement a more conscientious form of advertising moving forward." End quote.

GSU Took 82 Year Old Farmer's Shotgun Cause He Lives In a Dangerous 'Hood
An 82 year old farmer says the GSU stole his gun, and his money and he wants both of them back. We met Henry Cunningham at his city home in Conch Shell Bay today. He told Monica Bodden that police broke into his home and took his old shotgun that he uses to go to his farm in the Sandhill area. Here's her report:.. Henry Cunningham Flowers - Dispossessed Gun Owner "Before I reached home my neighbor told me that the GSU was in my yard, went into my house and they took out a bag out there but they don't know what they took out." Monica Bodden reporting Inside the bag was Cunningham's licensed 16 gauge shotgun - it was wrapped inside a crocus bag. Henry Cunningham Flowers - Dispossessed Gun Owner "When I came home I went straight where the gun was and when I got there I didn't meet the gun. I went and I searched for the cartridge and I didn't meet the cartridge. I searched for my money and I didn't meet my money. Well I left from here and I went to the police station by where "Boots" has his house got the house there, that's where the police is. There I went and when I got there the police was right there. When they came but they didn't see me.

Mennonite Accused of Assaulting Child
29 year-old Mennonite businessman, Peter Letkeman, is out on bail tonight after being accused of sexual assault. A 13 year-old girl is accusing him of inappropriately touching her. The teenager says that on July 19, she was in Shipyard, Orange Walk, where she encountered Letkeman. That's where he allegedly touched her inappropriately, and tried to convince her to have sex with him. Police investigated her report, and charged him with the offence of unlawful sexual assault. He was arraigned in Orange Walk, and remanded, since there is no bail for that offence at the Magistrate's Court Level. His attorney, Oswald Twist, applied to the Supreme Court, and that bail hearing took place today before Justice Herbert Lord. After hearing from both the defense and the prosecution, Justice Lord ruled that Letkeman should be released on bail of $10,000. That bail comes with the condition that he must hand over his travel documents, and report weekly to police.

Drug Trafficking For Minor Grams Of Weed
She allegedly tried to smuggle weed into the Belize Central Prison, and tonight, 28 year-old Anna Garbutt, an unemployed of Mahogany Street, is out on bail. Prison authorities say that she tried to smuggle a few grams of marijuana into the prison along with two plates of food. Normally, she would have been charged with drug possession, but because she tried to smuggle it into a correctional facility, she was charged for drug trafficking. She was arraigned before Magistrate Ladonna John, and she pleaded not guilty. She was released on bail of $6,000, and she must return to court on October 7.

BDF's New Soldiers
After 4 months of training, the Belize Defense Force today welcomed 81 new recruits to their ranks as soldiers. It's part of a planned growth of the BDF's numbers - to better equip the army to deal with Belize's wide range of security challenges. Here's more: Daniel Ortiz reporting 81 new BDF recruits passed out today as part of intake number 60, a great accomplishment by young individuals who are now ready to actively serve their country. They had to go through 17 tough weeks of training to get them field-ready and now these newly graduated soldiers now make up an important part of the expansion of the military. Hon John Saldivar - Ministry of National Security "The BDF will have near twice the human resources it had at the beginning of 2012 by the end of 2017. With the 81 soldiers passing out today, this brings our numbers to almost 348 new soldiers that have joined the ranks of the BDF since I took over this ministry. This is addition to 558 police officers, and 156 coast guard officers amounting to a total of 1,062 new personnel who have been employed since 2012. This was done at an approximate cost of 10.6 million dollars."

Army Waiting For Taiwan Helicopters
So, will any of these new soldiers get to take a ride in that mystery helicopter when they take up patrols in far flung border outposts like Rio Blanco? That's usually a grueling 5 day trek through deep jungles with a 70 pound backpack - but with a helicopter, it can just be a 30 minute ride. While this Helicopter is still a piece of evidence in a trans-border mystery occurrence of an illicit nature - the fact is the helicopter is needed, the BDF has someone who can apparently fly it, and it is parked at Force Headquarters tonight. But, that's getting ahead of ourselves. The fact is the BDF is already waiting on 2 helicopters that the BDF will acquire through legitimate means, and those will be coming from the Taiwanese Government. Right now that's all the BDF commander is looking forward to. Here's what he told us: Brig. Gen. David Jones, Commander, Belize Defence Force "The 2 helicopters that are expected to come to us from Taiwan, we expect them some time by the end of this year. Before the end of the year we are going to have those two helicopters in the country. we had a team from Taiwan who came in to do the site visit, after that they looked at the facilities we've got and planned to bring the 2 helicopters in, assemble them and fly them around. Subsequently, we are trying to get a different team to come in, to start training our pilots to fly that particular platform. Because our pilots have been trained to fly the Bell, which is the similar helicopter as the flu in. But there needs to be some sort of conversion for them to fly a different platform. So we expect those by the end of the year where they will be operational."

National Security Getting Major Upgrades
And while the Taiwanese will donate those birds, the Ministry of National Security isn't only begging for upgrades - they are buying their own! As we've reported, the Government is acquiring a loan from CABEI, The Central American Bank for Economic Integration. Today at the BDF recruit passing out, Security Minister John Saldivar outlined a package of upgrades that those funds will be invested into, including the renovation of 100 police structures Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security "Government has also committed US 30 million dollars for national security programs that will be done by way of a loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). This will see the acquisition of some major equipment and infrastructure repairs for the entire national security infrastructure. Projects such as a new forensic laboratory, 2 patrol crafts for the Coast Guard to patrol our exclusive economic zones, repair and construction of over 100 buildings for the Belize Police Department and the BDF will also be acquiring troop lifting vehicles to replace the ageing 4 ton trucks that the BDF now have. These are but a few of the things that will be done out of that US 30 million dollar loan."

A Camp For Kids
Belize Camping Experience and Harvest for Kids - we know them for harvesting rice and corn in the country - but, for the summer, they are in the city. This week camps are being held on Raccoon and Victoria Streets for the children of those neighborhoods. Today 7news stopped by one of the camps to check things out. The camp has one more week before it wraps up. v The camps are funded by local donations and through the BCE Harvest for kid's project.

Water Board Woes
Water Board Woes - it's happening all over the country where the members of some boards have been accused of funny money business. And, it's not all just water under the bridge - many cases of alleged water board fraud are actively being investigated. That falls to the Department of Rural Development - and their Minister Godwin Hulse says it's a challenge, for sure:

Waiting For The Wing
Remember the new pediatric intensive care unit under construction at the KHMH? We covered the launch of the project in March 2014 and a tour to see the progress in March of this year. But when are we going to cover the official opening? We asked CEO Dr. Adrian Coye about it today: The new unit will have the capacity for over 35 babies.

Channel 5

Abandoned Chopper Discovered Near Blue Creek
An abandoned helicopter, presumably used for narco-trafficking, is currently in the custody of the Belize Defense Force. The Bell aircraft was found on Wednesday afternoon on a feeder road in [...]

Confiscated Helicopter to be Added to Incoming Military Fleet
But while Brigadier General David Jones would not go as far as to say that the helicopter is now the property of the Government of Belize, Minister of National Security, [...]

B.D.F. Commander Says Nothing Stops Belize from Building F.O.B. in Sarstoon
Moving to another hot-button issue…In late July, the Guatemalan Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales, said during a press conference that in the Confidence Building Measures, both Belize and Guatemala had [...]

F.O.B. Will be Built to Fight Drug Activity in Sarstoon
According to Brigadier General Jones, the forward operating base on the mainland near the mouth of the Sarstoon River will be constructed. He says that the B.D.F. and the Coastguard [...]

Minister of Labor Comments on K.H.M.H. Salary Adjustment Negotiations
A little over two weeks ago we told you about the go-slow at the K.H.M.H. that resulted from some six hundred employees’ disgruntlement with G.O.B.’s refusal to grant salary increases, [...]

Elective Surgeries to Resume at K.H.M.H. on Monday Says Dr. Adrian Coye
The nation’s largest hospital was hit with a national embarrassment earlier this week when news broke that the K.H.M.H. was unable to facilitate elective surgeries and that there were no [...]

B.T.L. Explains Away Social Media Marketing Blunder
Earlier this week on Tuesday, Belize Telemedia came under attack for a series of suggestive and offensive ads that it had posted on its Facebook.  Senator Lisa Shoman, a former [...]

Territorial Volunteers Full Steam Ahead to Sarstoon Island
Since an armed standoff between the Belize National Coast Guard and the Guatemalan navy at the end of May, the Sarstoon Island has virtually been declared off-limits to civilians.  In [...]

B.D.F. Commander Says Decision by B.T.V. is Ill-advised…
The Belize Territorial Volunteers, despite not having received government’s blessing, is proceeding with an expedition to Sarstoon Island.  But it seems they will also be trekking to the controversial area [...]

…Relationship Between Armed Forces Can be Jeopardized
In spite of Guatemala’s existing claim for ownership of Sarstoon Island, a routine B.D.F. patrol maintains military presence in the area.  Commander Jones told News Five earlier today that the [...]

Unwarranted Trek to Sarstoon Island Can Inflame Conflict
The unwarranted mission to Sarstoon Island, in Jones’ opinion, can very well result in a split in the relationship that the B.D.F. and the Guatemalan army have forged.  That liaison, [...]

New Recruits Join Ranks of B.D.F.
As the B.D.F. faces a number of challenges, it is also strengthening its numbers. Today, a new squad of officers joined its ranks following seventeen weeks of intense training ranging [...]

Government Acquires Loan for National Security Initiatives
According to Minister of National Security John Saldivar, government is also acquiring a loan of sixty million dollars to beef up the security of the country through national security programs. [...]

Godwin Hulse on Immigration Issues
Just last week, the TIP report issued by the US, downgraded Belize to a Tier Three on the Human Trafficking Watch list. The report stated that the Government hasn’t been [...]

What’s Up With Accountability of Water Boards?
In the past three months, reports of accountability with water boards in different parts of the country have been reported in the media. Earlier this week, allegations surfaced that a [...]

Breast is Best at the Workplace
It’s World Breast Feeding Week and Belize culminated its observance with an all day workshop to discuss breastfeeding and work. While there are no pieces of legislation that mandate work [...]

Costa Maya Is where You Need to be
The prime destination San Pedro Ambergris Caye is overflowing tonight with the local as well as international visitors. The San Pedro International Costa Maya 2015 celebrations started on Thursday night [...]

LOVE FM

Precinct Two Evacuated Following Grenade-Scare
Under normal circumstances the police station is where one would run for security or protection … but today, the officers and employees of Precinct Two at Racoon Street had to call on the Belize Defense Force when an object seemed to be a grenade, was found inside a desk drawer at the police station. Commander […]

Authorities Investigate Plane Found in Northern Belize
The news of a plane being found in the Blue Creek area in northern Belize came to our desk this past Wednesday and while it was difficult to confirm that information at that time, today, the Minister of National Security, John Saldivar, did just that as he spoke at an event at Price Barracks in […]

BDF Commander Disapproves of Territorial Volunteers Going to Sarstoon Island
With the soldiers doing their best to carry out their duties and maintain peace and civility at our borders, there is a concern regarding the territorial volunteers who have made several trips to our border areas and have continued to do so. As a matter of fact, they are planning a trek to the area […]

60th Intake for the BDF Produces 81 Recruits
Earlier this year when the Belize Defense Force was taking applications for its 60th intake of recruits, they had received one hundred applications. Today, four months later, there are eighty one men who passed out as part of the BDF’s 60th Intake. Love News was there and following all the pomp and circumstance, Commander of […]

Ministry Supports Breastfeeding in the Workplace
The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding and Work, Let’s Make it Work”. The week began on August 1 and ended today August 7 with a workshop at the Radisson Fort George Hotel in Belize City. The one day workshop is aimed at promoting and facilitating breastfeeding in the workplace. The main […]

Mennonite Gets Bail After Attempting Unlawful Sex with Minor
Twenty-nine year old Mennonite businessman Peter Letkeman, a resident of Shipyard, Orange Walk, who was remanded to prison on charges of sexual assault and attempted unlawful sexual intercourse, was released on a bail of ten thousand dollars today that was offered to him by Justice Herbert Lord. The bail was offered on the condition that […]

Prison Visitor Caught with Weed
Twenty-eight year old Anna Garbutt, an unemployed of Mahogany Street in Belize City who allegedly attempted to smuggle five grams of cannabis in a foam plate with food inside the Belize Central Prison was charged with drug trafficking when she appeared today before Magistrate La Donna John. Garbutt pled not guilty to the charge. She […]

Government Vehicle Goes Missing from Belmopan
Another vehicle belonging to the Government of Belize was stolen in Belmopan. Police say that an employee from the Solid Waste Management Department reported to them that on June 26, more than a month ago, he had parked a black 2011 Toyota Hilux at the Ministry of Lands compound on Queen Elizabeth Boulevard, Belmopan. Fast […]

Minister Hulse meets with BEWU
Godwin Hulse in charge of several ministries as he is also the Minister of Labor and we asked him about the negotiations happening between his ministry, Belize Electricity Limited and the Belize Energy Workers Unions. As we have reported, members of the union are unhappy and are asking for an eight percent increase. The parties […]

Belize and Guatemala strengthen trade relations.
Officials from the Ministry of Trade and Investment in Guatemala are in Belize for a two day conference with their Belizean counterpart to discuss ways to improve the trade relations between the two countries. An official opening was held this morning at the Ramada Princess Hotel where we spoke with the Head of the Belize […]

PlusTV

It Will Take a Community Effort
The Ministry of Health has made major strides in the fight against vector born diseases which has experienced a gradual decrease in vector disease cases since the early 20’s. As part of their seasonal strategy for dengue and other vector born diseases, the Ministry of Health had included a bra...

Vector Diseases Down but Dengue on the Rise
Three vector control diseases have an impact in Belize, namely dengue, malaria, and chickengunya. Yesterday we confirmed reports that there is an outbreak of dengue in its nastiest form called hemorrhagic dengue fever. According to the Ministry of Health, there are a total of 261 laboratory confirme...

It Will Take a Community Effort
When looking at the figures for Malaria and Chikingunya, the numbers show a steady decrease in the number of confirmed cases. For Chikingunya, the total number of tests which returned positive from CARPHA and Central Medical Lab was 8 in 2014. Five from the Las Flores area and three imported. In 201...

Mayor Bradley discusses cut in trade license fee
We have been reporting on the ongoing battle over trade license fees with City businesses reportedly thinking of moving outside of the Old Capital’s boundaries to Ladyville and Hattieville which pay no kind of license fee at all. The City charges 25% of rental value by square foot annually whi...

Belize Camping Experience winds up summer camp
The Harvest for Kids/Belize Camping Experience crew have been all over Belize City making memories for young Belizeans attending their camps. Their tireless work year round in the name of Christ’s youngest disciples is a reminder that no one is least in the eyes of God. We visited their camp o...

Workshops for Principals
The Education sector is wholly embracing technology and is on a route to completely eliminate the use of paper in classrooms and creating a database to make admission and other records more accessible. The initiative is called Open-Emis. This week 60 primary principals of the Belize District are par...

17 Year old Charged for Theft
On Wednesday, Mr. Linden Flowers, Superintendent of Police, stopped and searched a 17-year-old male and found two phones; a white LG cellular phone and a black Sprint HTC cellular phone in his possession. The minor was then taken to the Belama Police Station where a 15-year-old male reported that ...

Amandala

Deadly vigilante justice?
According to police, on Monday, August 3, Anwar Douglas Garbutt, 34, was found lying face-down on the street side of Isla Road, apparently dead. Police say that he was found “with both elbows tied to the side of his body with a brown leather belt.” A police press release dated Tuesday, August 4, 2015 stated that, “… between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m., four male persons were reportedly seen on Mango Street beating him with a stick and dragging him from under a house and unto the streetside, [where] they tied both his elbows beside his body and continued to beat him … police have since retrieved 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber measuring about 6 feet in length from the scene.” Today, Thursday, police have reported that a post-mortem exam conducted on Garbutt’s body confirmed that he died of hemorrhaging due to head trauma. The autopsy was conducted yesterday at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital by Doctor Mario Estradabran.

Guat Foreign Minister “di jokey wi!”
In May 2015, Belize Coast Guard personnel were scouting the Sarstoon River area for a fit location to erect a forward operating base (FOB), in order to police illegal fishing, illegal logging, drug-trafficking and other clandestine activities in the area; but the group withdrew from the area before the completion of their mission after the Guatemalans challenged their presence on the island, and furthermore claimed it to be their territory—a claim which Belize flatly rejects, as the island is drawn, even on international maps, well within our national borders. A few weeks later, when the mission was to resume, the Guatemalans, via official channels, insisted that Belize could not build a base at the Sarstoon before the territorial dispute is settled at the International Court of Justice. Last week, Guatemala’s Foreign Minister Carlos Raul Morales amplified the Guatemalan position when he insisted that under a series of confidence-building measures dating back 15 years ago, the parties had agreed not to build any new military bases in the border area.

Naturalized since 1981, but can’t renew her expired Belize passport
A Honduran/Belizean woman has a unique problem with the Belize Immigration Department and visited Amandala to tell her story about trying to renew her Belizean passport for more than one year now. Ruth Castillo, 46, said her parents brought her to live in Belize when she was only three months old. She has lived in Belize all her life and went to school here. In fact, she said that she has never been to Honduras, since living in Belize. The mother of eight children told Amandala that Belize is the only home she knows. She became a naturalized Belizean in 1981, when her mother, who died in 1986, filed her nationality papers. Both of her parents are now dead. The Immigration Department, however, has told her that they cannot process her application to renew her expired Belize passport, although she has the expired passport as proof of her status in Belize.

Farmers to receive $25 mil in record sugar payment
Belizario Carballo, Chief Financial Officer of the Belize Sugar Industries (BSI), has indicated to Amandala that this year has proven to be “a record for as long as we have been in the sugar business…” in more ways than one. BSI is projecting that roughly BZ$25 million will be paid out to cañeros next week, based on a total crop value of an estimated BZ$82 million and a record second payment, adding to the gains they will receive for a better-quality cane crop this year. Carballo confirmed that not only is there going to be a record second payment for sugar, but the industry also produced a record amount of sugar—shattering the record 125,000 set in 1997. Last year, 123,000 tons of sugar was produced. According to Carballo, there are about roughly 27,000 tons of bulk sugar and 10,000 tons of bagged sugar in storage, as well as roughly 10,000 tons of molasses in the store. Farmers, who receive payments in three installments, get 65% of what is termed the net strip value, which is derived from a formula that considers the expenses incurred in the production, distribution and sale of sugar on both the local and export markets.

Mentally unstable man remanded to prison on burglary charge
A Belize City man who is apparently suffering from some kind of mental ailment was remanded to prison this afternoon after he was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser on a charge of burglary. Lincoln Moguel, a former taxi driver, has been on remand at the Belize Central Prison for several months, after he was denied bail on a charge of taking a conveyance without lawful authority. In April 2014, Moguel attempted to drive off with a police pickup truck from Precinct 3, on Racoon Street, but was spotted by Constable Janel Myers, who managed to stop him in time, before he could get away. After many adjournments, Moguel’s case finally concluded before Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith on Monday, August 3, when he was found guilty of the charge. He was spared from spending more time in prison, but was fined $1,000 and released.

Heritage Bank discusses impending acquisition of FirstCaribbean assets
It was confirmed this Monday that CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank has entered into an asset sale agreement with Heritage Bank, and while the ink on the document has dried, it could take a few months before the transaction, which is subject to approval by regulators at the Central Bank of Belize and the Central Bank of Barbados, is complete. Stephen Duncan, manager of Heritage Bank, told Amandala that they want to make the transition as seamless as possible, and for those customers who are thinking of hitting the panic button or jumping ship ahead of the Heritage Bank takeover, Duncan advises them to stay put, as the intent of Heritage Bank, he said, is to honor the arrangements and contacts these customers have in place today with FirstCaribbean, as well as to maintain and even enhance the services they currently enjoy. “Heritage Bank does not want to do anything that will reflect negatively or adversely on our country. We don’t have another country to go to. This is it for us,” he said, as he expressed his hope that the deal will pass the Central Bank’s test.

No Gold, no Silver, no Bronze
The Belize National Junior Female Softball Team returned home on Monday, August 3, after participating in the XI Central American Junior Female Softball Championship that was played in El Salvador. Team Belize placed fourth, after losing a heartbreaking game to Nicaragua for the bronze medal by the score of 8–7. Belize scored 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning, 2 runs in the 5th inning and 1 run in the 6th inning. The team collected a total of 14 hits off the Nicaraguan pitcher; however, Team Belize’s pitching problem continued in the bronze medal game, when starting pitcher Renisha Richards gave up 3 runs in the 1st inning and 2 runs in the 2nd inning, when she was relieved by Shareeni Soberanis in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Sports Reach of Kentucky, USA to visit Belize this Friday
Christian Sports Ministry Sports Reach of Kentucky, USA is coming to Belize, beginning Friday, August 7, partnering with Hoop Dreams Belize to spread the word of God through sports. Sports Reach has produced several notable alums in the NBA and other organizations, and continues to have an impact on young people’s lives with the awesome power of Christ, who once commanded that no one should keep the children away from him, for they are the kingdom of heaven. Media houses and church groups are hereby invited to a meet and greet with Sports Reach director Bobby Speer and the Division I and II (NCAA) players on the trip. These include Justin Johnson of Western Kentucky University; Ken-Jah Bosley of Kentucky Wesleyan University; and Jordan Montgomery of Union University.

Sunrise tells Easy Does It, “Hold on; we will play THREE.”
The Belize National Cricket Association takes this opportunity to thank our sponsors, Belikin and Smart, for their kind contributions in this year’s cricket competition. We thank you so much. Under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, the Harrison Parks Cricket Competition 2015 continued over the weekend with a game played at Lords Bank between Sunrise and Easy Does It. It was the second of a best-of-three games match-up in the semifinals. Easy Does It had won the first, and, as previously stated, Sunrise would try to even things up. And that is what they did, under the strong determination of captain Garrett Joseph and the strong and brilliant bowling of Zaggi. Easy Does It took to bat first, and stumps fell in this order: 1 for 21; 2 for 53; 3 for 54; 4 for 54; 5 for 67; 6 for 80; 7 for 82; 8 for 83; 9 for 99; and 10 for 103. Kenroy Reynolds top scored with 24 for Easy Does It, while Zaggi took 6 powerful wickets, including that of Warren “Bom Jones” Anthony, a very good batsman. This score might seem big to the Easy ones, but Sunrise was not going to give up that easily, knowing that if they lose, it means it will be over for them till next year.

Editorial: Amandala at 46
Next Thursday, August 13, this newspaper will be marking the 46th year of our existence. For many years now, analysts have focused on the business aspect of our publication, but at Kremandala we have tried to ensure that we make time to pay attention to the social devastation around us in Southside Belize City. This newspaper survived and grew because of the loyalty of our core readers, so that there is a business benefit to having a social conscience, we would say. But there is also a contradiction between strict business and having a good heart. The businesses around us are owned by new Belizeans, and they are strictly about business: they have no social conscience. The new Belizeans have made money faster than native Belizeans, because they do not spend any of their profits on sports or other social welfare programs. In Belize, we operate in a capitalist, hence competitive system. There are winners and losers in the capitalist system, but in Belize City, more than that, we have seen thousands of actual bloody human casualties over the last quarter century. In Belize City, the losers are not only dead and incarcerated: our losers are dead and incarcerated youth, our community’s future.

From the Publisher
Bilal Morris, a Belizean who currently resides in Los Angeles, recently e-mailed me several different video documentaries that he’s done. Bilal is doing important work. He’s chronicling the lives of Belizean superstars who have been living in the United States for three, four decades, such as softball’s Linda Lewis, cycling’s Johnito Miguel, and football’s Peru Olivera. The title on one of the videos referred to one Alexander Marin telling the story of Lynam Agricultural College. To be truthful, I was not that interested. I practically forced myself to watch this video, but when I did, I enjoyed it immensely. In fact, the documentary fascinated and moved me, and it humbled me. When I began high school at St. John’s College in 1959, there was where I first heard of Lynam, the reason being that a couple of my friends from Holy Redeemer Boys and S.J.C. itself who were having problems at Landivar, were either sent or made their way to Lynam. The school sounded like an exile from the city, where all the action was.

Belize on drought watch
If it has seemed hotter and drier to you than it normally is, that is because in reality, it has been. Although Amandala has been unable to get updated rainfall data from local authorities for the first two months of the rainy season, June and July, they have confirmed to us that there is a drought watch in effect, particularly for northwestern Belize, as below average rainfall is expected this season for almost all of the country—except the south. This will be particularly pronounced for the next 3 months: spanning August to October 2015. The seasonal precipitation forecast, published by the National Meteorological Service for August to October 2015, uses data dating back to 1979. A stronger than expected El Niño—which has suppressed hurricane activity this season with only three names storms emerging in the Atlantic—has been having major impact on our weather. On Tuesday, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) issued a release, saying that Central America is bracing for a stronger than expected El Niño, although initial forecasts called for a moderate one.

Belize hosts Central American youth for 11th CABO summit
Over 30 youth from 6 Central American countries are meeting in Belize starting today for the 11th Youth Summit being hosted by the Central American Black Organization (CABO). The summit opened tonight with a ceremony held at UWI Open Campus on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City and it concludes on Sunday, August 9, with an event at the BTL Park. Amandala spoke with two members of the organizing committee — Krisna Morales, 17, a member of AFROSA (Afrodescendientes y Sus Amigos) of Guatemala; and Jamal Reid, 24, of Emergent Corp in Belize, who described what the delegates from Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica hope to achieve over the next few days. Morales said that the main accomplishment they will be working towards is the formulation of a youth master plan, which will have education and employment as its priority.

Two hospitalized from morning shootings on Jane Usher Boulevard
The respite that the city was enjoying from gun violence was shattered this morning just before 11:00 when gunfire erupted in the Jane Usher Boulevard area. Two youths were shot and had to be rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) for treatment. Raheem Arnold, 22, and Shamar Moore, 17, were shot during separate shooting incidents that occurred minutes apart. This afternoon police held a press briefing on the shootings. Superintendent Hilberto Romero, the officer commanding CIB Eastern Division said, “Shamar Moore was shot in the right arm, left armpit, left foot and in the left upper leg. Raheem Arnold was shot in the left pelvic area. They are both hospitalized at the KHMH and in a stable condition. We have our investigators out there and there are two suspects that we are presently seeking for this shooting.”

The Reporter

Sharing the good news through sports
Sports Reach, a Christian-based outreach organization is in Belize for a week’s worth of basketball games and missionary work. The Sports Reach team will play against local selections beginning on Saturday at Birds Isle in Belize City, before travelling to Belmopan, San Ignacio and Dangriga. […]

Belize observes World Breast Feeding Day
Belize joined with over 175 countries all over the world this week to celebrate World Breast Feeding Day. To culminate a week’s worth of awareness activities on the importance of breast feeding, the Collet Education and Resource Center organized a workshop at the Radisson Fort […]

9 year-old must have drowned in cave. Human remains found
Divers who have been searching for Jason Pau, a missing Forest Home schoolbo,y have found what are believed to be human remains in the waters of the Hokeb Ha Cave in Blue Creek Toledo. The child had gone on a field trip with 25 […]

Principals train for Open Education system
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, held a series of workshops this week to train principals and school administrators in the new Open Education Management Information System (EMIS). The system captures the personal data of every student and every teacher registered with the Ministry. […]

Fight in Corozal ends in death; minor charged with murder
A young man who was to report for his first week of employment in San Pedro Town, and who would have celebrated his 25th birthday on Monday, was stabbed to death hours before he was scheduled to report to work. The motive is still […]

CARICOM and Vatican connect
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the first time ever, has an ambassador to the Vatican City. CARICOM and the Vatican began their new era of diplomatic relations on July 30. Archbishop Nicolas Girasoli, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Holy See, presented his credentials to CARICOM Secretary […]

DIGICELL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Contributed by: Senator Lisa Shoman I write to you on the mentioned subject in several capacities - as a former Chairman of Belize Telecommunications Limited, a Senator, a Belizean, and a woman. As a taxpayer, I would also add the capacity of shareholder. DigiCell has, for some time now been […]

Dad stabs teenage boy for having sex with his 13 year-old daughter
A man of Sand Hill Village has been arrested and charged with wounding for stabbing a teenage boy when he found the lad having sex with his 13 year-old daughter. The 37 year-old man reportedly walked in on love-making the pair at his home […]

Belize City man “flashes”; Dangriga man lashes…to death
A Belize City man was beaten to death after exposing himself to a little girl and one Dangriga man has been charged with murder, as police look for three other suspects linked to the daylight beating. Anwar Garbutt, 34, was in the “Back-a-Town” community […]

Ebola test vaccines 100 percent effective: WHO
Ebola vaccines tested on 4,000 people in Guinea have proven to be 100 percent effective in protecting patients from the deadly virus and could stop its spread help end the outbreak in West Africa and According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the trials […]

Three organizations help feed and improve diet of children in feeding program
The diet of children who are part of “Dara’s” feeding program has been enriched, through a donation and a commitment for continued donations of Lion Fish filet from Oceana and Blue Ventures, two organisations whose purpose is to protect marine resources. Both organisations work closely […]

First Caribbean International Bank robbed of $50,000; four men charged
Belize City police have charged four men for the brazen, early-morning armed robbery at First Caribbean Bank, San Cas Branch last Friday, during which the robbers, who wore no masks, got away with around $50,000 in cash. The men - Patrick Jones, 22, of Gabourel […]

Central Bank Governor clears the air on bank de-risking
Central Bank Governor Glenford Ysaguirre cleared the air on the de-risking actions facing the banking sector, confirming that Atlantic International Bank Limited (AIBL) still hasn’t found a new corresponding banking relation since losing its ties with Bank of America (BOA). According to Ysaguirre, no […]

The possibilities of industrial cannabis in Belize
The Committee on the Decriminalization of Marijuana made several recommendations to Cabinet several months ago, after conducting a survey into the benefits of decriminalizing the substance. However, one entrepreneur is suggesting industrializing the plant, which he says would have enormous benefits for the economy. […]

Editorial
The announcement that the Bank of America has targetted another bank in Belize to deny it correspondence facilities is not good news. Three months ago Bank of America cut off the Belize Bank overseas financial transfers, and now it is doing the same to Atlantic Bank International. These are private […]

No beds at KHMH!
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority announced this week that due to a spike in emergency cases, the hospital will suspend all non-emergency surgeries. The authority announced its decision on August 5, in light of the overwhelming amount of emergency cases, particularly trauma victims. These […]

BTL apologizes for offensive ads
Belize Telemedia Limited this week, apologized for a line of advertisements which have raised the public’s ire as being offensive to women. BTL issued an initial response to an open letter sent by Senator Lisa Shoman, addressing the issue, where Executive Chairman of BTL, Anwar […]

Citco to slash trade license fee
The Belize City Council will reduce trade license fees by as much as 50 percent in some cases, following an almost two-year-long collaboration with the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) to make the fees more realistic for businesses, especially those that don’t produce […]

12 boycott PUP meeting again
The People’s United Party (PUP) held a meeting of standard bearers on Monday at the request of the 12 who have been lobbying for change and boycotting executive meetings but they never showed up. According to PUP Deputy Party Leader Julius Espat, the meeting […]

Breaking Belize News

BDF add 81 soldiers to the ranks
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) has added 81 members to its ranks. The new soldiers passed out at a formal parade at the army’s headquarters in Ladyville. Commander Brigadier General David Jones spoke to the level of training they experienced en route to becoming a part of the […]

Should women breastfeed in public places?
“Breast is Best” – it is the famous slogan used to encourage the promotion of breastfeeding. As Belize celebrates World Breastfeeding Week this week, the issue is now whether employers should allow working mothers to breast feed their young ones on the job. The issue was discussed at […]

Sports Reach Christian Ministry in Belize
The Christian organization Sports Reach is teaming up with Hoop Dreams Belize, recent winners of the Copa Cancun Tournament, to provide needed experience for local basketball teams and help spread the word of God through sports. Based in Kentucky in the United States, the organization is celebrating 30 […]

BTL to address offensive advertising
This week, Belize Telemedia Limited removed two Facebook posts with suggestive content after complaints by prominent Belizeans including Senator and attorney Senior Counsel Lisa Shoman. The telephone provider on Wednesday sent out a short statement from Chairman of the Executive Committee Anwar Barrow responding to an open letter […]

Woman charged in prison smuggle
Prison officials continue to grapple with the trade of marijuana at the Central Prison in Hattieville. Today 28 year old Anna Garbutt of Mahogany Street, who had gone to visit her brother-in-law around 1:30 Thursday afternoon, was read charges of drug trafficking after officials found 5 grams of […]

Mennonite businessman charged over sex offenses is given bail
A Mennonite businessman from Shipyard accused of sexual assault and attempted unlawful sexual intercourse, allegedly with a girl half his age, has been given bail of $10,000. 29 year old Peter Letkeman was charged following a report that he inappropriately touched a 13 year old girl’s private area […]

Minor arrested for murder of Samir Vivas Richards
A 15 year old minor of San Antonio Village, Corozal District, was arrested and charged by police yesterday, August 6, for stabbing and killing Samir Erick Richards, also known as Samir Vivas, following an argument on August 5. A post mortem examination was conducted on Richards’ body yesterday, August 6, […]

GOB vehicle stolen from Lands Dept. compound
Another Government vehicle has been stolen, this time a 2011 Toyota Hilux from the Ministry of Lands compound on Queen Elizabeth Boulevard in Belmopan City. The vehicle was assigned to the Solid Waste Management Department and was reported missing on August 1st by an employee of the department who parked […]

Authorities in Orange Walk find abandoned helicopter
On Wednesday, August 5th around 3:30 pm, the Anti-Narcotics Unit discovered an abandoned grey helicopter on a feeder road in the Blue Creek area of the Orange Walk District. According to police reports, the helicopter has registration numbers N607AZ and inside the aircraft, officers found several blue plastic containers with […]

CHANGE AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
By Delroy Cuthkelvin: The leaderships of both major political parties these days appear to be stuck in their ways and resistant to meaningful change. In the case of the UDP, it is understandable, as the party has been scoring success after success at the polls. As the saying goes, “If it […]

Dengue on the rise as Health Ministry issues warning
Belizean laboratories have confirmed 16% more cases of dengue fever, 261, over the first seven months of 2015 compared to those of 2014 when there were 225. Ministry of Health officials summoned the press for an update in Belmopan on Thursday. According to the Ministry, the majority of cases are in Corozal Town and the corridor of villages from Caledonia to Santa Clara on the Philip Goldson Highway in the Corozal District, and outlying suburbs of Belmopan, Camalote and Teakettle in the east-central Cayo District.

Blogs

Watermelon Juice & Its Variations: World? You are Welcome
WATERMELON JUICE. The world’s MOST refreshing beverage. Iced tea? Yeah…pretty good. Gin and tonic? Meh. THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO BE DRINKING ON A HOT DAY. And the beauty is that it is SO easy to make. Everyone buys a huge watermelon in the summer…it’s on sale and just seems like a great idea. And you and the family feast on the big juicy slices one weekend and then half the watermelon gets relegated to the back of the fridge. And it starts to go soft on the edges. Throw it out? Good grief NO! Watermelon. Juice. Here is how I prepare it. And how you must try it too. The United States for some CRAZY reason is basically devoid of this blended bliss. And also, feel free to laugh at my very sad attempts to be like a real food blog (like my favorite Smitten Kitchen…where everything looks perfect). I find cat hair adds just that je ne sais quoi. Extract that watermelon slab from your refrigerator. Or buy a slice at the market. Mine was $4.50bzd.

The Coming Of Kings Pt. 2
The ancient Maya city of Cerros in Belize is located in the northern-most district of Belize, Corozal. It sits reaching out to the Chetumal Bay just across from Chetumal, a province of Mexico which sits on the Yucatan Peninsula. This village of Cerros was a late pre classic (200Bc-200AD) Maya village of fishing folk, farmers and traders. Certainly, they were smack in the pathway of the great coastal trade which only grew in the classic period. Eventually that little village was buried by the public centre. According to Linda Schele, the people of Cerros “did decide consciously to embrace kingship as an institution and the consequence of that decision was profound for all”. In the space of two generations, this small village transformed itself into a mighty acropolis. Everyone was a part of the transformation. From the farmer to the engineers and architects who organised the building in the city, to the healers and priests who made certain there was zen at the transition. But even more impressive, Linda Schele add, “It is difficult for us to imagine such a complete and rapid metamorphosis, but what happened at Cerros constituted nothing less than a paradigm shift.

Belizean Breezes Soap Company
Located in San Pedro, Belize is a MUST see shop! Getting rave reviews from visitors and locals alike, Belizean Breezes has A LOT to offer and we DO mean a lot! The owner has been making all natural soaps for over 15 years and has earned the title, “master soap maker”. Belizean Breezes pours well over 100 different scents of all natural soaps, all natural meaning NO animal products, NO chemicals or additives. Made from only the finest of oils and of course our own Belizean coconut oil which everyone knows is fantastic for your skin! The scents change often as new ones are created. “Using the perfect combination of oils and essential oils makes the best soap and we make a large, yet fun variety,” commented Lynda Perdue. “We pour our soaps and our body products right here in San Pedro and have the capability of very large orders, we supply to resorts and vacation rentals and their guests rave about our products and come to the store to stock up before they leave Belize”.

Honduran performer El Chevo
Karen Brodie Photography captured the arrival of Honduran performer El Chevo when he arrived on La Isla Bonita earlier today. El Chevo is set to perform Friday night, (August 7th) bringing some punta/Caribbean flavor to the night! Also performing will be Belize's mighty Gilharry 7 Band! You don't wanna miss it!!

International Sources

7 Countries Flirting With Bankruptcy
A small country in Central America, Belize is home to just over 360,000 people. It is one of the smallest economies in the world with a GDP of $1.8 billion. Borrowing heavily for infrastructure projects, Belize accumulated a total debt of over $540 million. In August 2012, the country’s central bank announced that it would not be able to make a $23 million bond payment. Due to concerns surrounding the impending debt restructuring, Moody's downgraded the country’s government bond rating to Caa1 from B3 in early 2012. It was later downgraded further to Ca only to be upgraded back to Caa2 in April 2013, after terms of the debt restructuring were agreed upon. Belize’s Credit rating has remained stable at Caa2 since April 2013.

Videos

August 7, 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

Lunch Time in the City at Princess Hotel
The Ramada Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City is a place often sought out for its safe and top notch party atmosphere and premiere gaming experience. It’s home to Elite Nightclub and its “Las Vegas Style” Casino. But apart from its offering in accommodations and entertainment, there are plenty of reasons to visit The Princess…Let’s talk food shall we?! Obviously the buffet was no secret, as we stood in line the crowds began to pour in and the line behind us grew significantly longer. It was our turn and man were my taste buds beginning to tingle with excitement! Set before us were tamalitos (ducunu),arroz blanco (white rice) , pan seared chicken strips, pibil tacos (OMG- Amazing!) stuffed jalapenos, quesadillas, sopa de limon and plenty of fruit sides and deserts including tres leches cake and arroz con leche (rice pudding)! The food was great and the dining hall was packed, I could honestly tell why these lunch time buffets were such a hit. I wish I had time to meet the chef and snap a few pics with the man behind the amazing recipes but time was running out on me!

Miss Honduras wins the 2015/2016 Reina de La Costa Maya Pageant
Taking the 2015/2015 Reina de La Costa Maya title and crown is none other than Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle. She charmed the judges and audience in all four segments of the 20th annual pageant. As the opening event of the International Costa Maya Festival, this year’s Reina De La Costa Maya pageant brought the carnival vibes to San Pedro with a display of color, music, dance and, of course, beauty. Even though only one could take home the crown, all eight contestants from across Central America and Mexico performed exceptionally well, certainly making their home country proud. Each delegated answered a single question on global issues. Judges for the night were: Gricel Graniel, Idolly Saldivar, Manuel Ancona, Tanya Giacoman Ayala, and Diane Tabony. One by one, the delegates approached center stage, then chose and answered their question. The judges then begun the arduous task of selecting a winner.

Elvi’s Kitchen hosts Costa Maya Pageant delegates
With Chef Jennie at the helm, Elvi’s Kitchen treated the contestants of the 2015 Reina de la Costa Maya Pageant to a delicious dinner on Wednesday, August 5th. Miss Belize Samalia Vernon, Miss Costa Rica Corlina On Porras, Miss El Salvador Genesis Margarita Fuentes Bolaños, Miss Guatemala Lisa Hayet Francis, Miss Honduras Gabriela Vanessa Salazar Valle, Miss Mexico Samantha Gutíerrez Gónzalez-Rubio, Miss Nicaragua Yuliset Laguna, Miss Panama Maria Saavendra, and reigning Miss Costa Maya Elisa Gomez all enjoyed a wonderful feast which displayed the talent of Staines and crew in presenting delicious Belizean specialties. Of course, since there was live music, the ladies could not just sit the night away, and after blessing the dance floor with Honorable Manuel Heredia Jr., Samalia was joined by the rest of the ladies to indulge in some dancing.

Bank of America’s ‘de-risking’ strategy causes break of correspondence with Atlantic Bank International
Another bank in Belize has lost correspondence with the Bank of America, and this time it is Atlantic Bank International Limited. Effective on Thursday, July 30th, Atlantic Bank no longer has any banking relationship with Bank of America, resulting in its customers not being able to conduct international banking transactions. This is the second bank in Belize to lose correspondence with Bank of America due to ‘de-risking’ strategy forced on the United States of America banking industry by federal regulators. The first bank to break ties was Belize Bank, who ceased transactions with Bank of America on April 30, 2015. Atlantic Bank International made the announcement via a press release posted on their website. In the release, they indicated the reason for the break in correspondence as well as the effect it will have on customers. “As you are probably aware by now, the International Banks in Belize have been experiencing issues with correspondent banking services. We are taking this opportunity to inform you that Atlantic International Bank Limited is no exception in this regard and, as a result, our correspondent bank account with Bank of America will be closed as of Friday July 31, 2015. Consequently, a few of our banking services such as Wire Transfers, USD Bank Drafts and Foreign Currency will be affected… We will update you in the next few days what options will be available to you for the movement of both incoming and outgoing wires. Rest assured we are working on several options at the moment and we are very confident that we will have both a temporary and permanent solution to the correspondent banking issue very shortly. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused but we ask your understanding as we work through this issue,” stated the release.

Belize to Observe World Breastfeeding Week
The theme for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week is “Breastfeeding and Work,Let’s Make it Work” and will be commemorated from August 1st to 7th, 2015. The Collet Education and Resource Center Breastfeeding Counseling Service in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Institute on Nutrition for Central America and Panama (INCAP) and the Ministry of Health has organized a one day workshop aimed at promoting and facilitating breastfeeding in the workplace. The objective of the workshop is to sensitize the management of workplaces of the importance of promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding in the workplace.

Who will be moving on to the third round of the Five-a-side Football Tournament?
Now in the second round of competition, the Island Citizen Sporting Club (ICSC) and San Pedro High School (SPHS) Five-a-side Football Tournament is starting to peak, as players are giving it their all to earn a win for their team. In the first leg of the second round, the 16 senior teams played their first match in the round-robin series. As previously mentioned there has not yet been an elimination in the female and little league division, but teams are still striving for points. Games for the week kicked off on Thursday, July 30th shortly after 8PM at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium. Spectators gathered in full force to cheer on their favorite teams. On opening the night were two friendly matches: San Pedro Belize Express, formerly Mecanicos FC, defeated Peace Makers FC in a 15 to 5 point game while Harmouch FC defeated Costa Warriors FC in an 8 to 5 point game.

Ambergris Today

Video Pick: Behind the Scenes Costa Maya Pageant Swimsuit Photo Shoot 2015
Ambergris Today got up at 4a.m. to join photographer Jose Luis Zapata, official photographer of the Costa Maya Festival, on the beach at Ramon’s Village Resort, for the official Costa Maya Pageant Swimsuit photo shoot. We let Jose Luis do his job with the eight beautiful pageant delegates while our video cameras captured the ladies at work. Enjoy the behind the scenes footage we captured for your enjoyment and make sure you make it to the Costa Maya Festival, Pageant Night, Thursday, August 6, 2015, starting at 8p.m.

San Pedro Starts Transporting Garbage Off Island
The Solid Waste Management Project funded by the Government of Belize, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and being executed by the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWaMA), Ministry of Natural Resources & Agriculture, continues to deliver on its outputs. The San Pedro transfer station was inaugurated on July 3, 2015 and since then solid waste is being barged to the mainland for final disposal at the regional sanitary landfill located off Mile 24 on the George Price Highway. The regional sanitary landfill is built to international standards and has been recognized as one of the best constructed and operated landfill in the Latin America and Caribbean Region.

Misc Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker People's Coalition Committee
An organization dedicated to: Reduction of crime, resolution of community issues, oversight for Police and CCVC-related topics, and promotion of a well-balanced community environment. Reduction of crime through Island Zone Representative initiative, Neighborhood Watch, Citizens on Patrol and Special Constable services. Resolution of Community Issues by working directly with Caye Caulker Police Formation Command Staff (criminal) and CCVC (zoning, permits, traffic, noise, etc.) problem areas. Oversight of Police and CVCC related topics. The Committee encourages Citizens of Caye Caulker to utilize the Citizen’s Report Form to file complaints (with the PCC) on various aspects of community issues. This is one of the key elements of the PCC and one that deserves a separate paragraph.

Summer Edition of ART IN THE PARK
Bring out the entire family this weekend at the Corozal Central Park. It all starts at around 6:00 p.m. this Saturday August 8th. Here is a great time to meet old friends and reminisce on the good old times in Corozal, while treating yourself to a wonderful piece of art work. Food, music and ART.

Official Reina de la Costa Maya 2015 Photo Shoot
Taken at Ramon's Village Resort

BOLEDO DRAWING for Thursday, August 6, 2015: 82. PICK 3: 6 8 0. FANTASY 5: 24 8 36 32 14 B

Back to School Extravaganza
There will be a big Back to School Extravaganza at the Cayo Welcome Center on Sunday, August 23rd, starting at 10:00am. There will be lots of games and fun activities for the kids. "BACK TO SCHOOL EXTRAVAGANZA Only @ CAYO WELCOME CENTER 23rdAugust, 2015 starting at 10:00am to 5:00pm. All are invited!!!"

Channel 7

Dengue On The Rise In Belmopan
There has been an increase in Dengue cases this year so far. The vector Control Unit along with health professionals have been making their rounds and premise checks in those communities that have shown a spike in cases. Today Ministry of health personnel held a press conference in Belmopan to update us on the figures so far and what can be done to reduce Dengue cases. Courtney Weatherburne reporting With a couple tugs at the metal lever, this thermal fogger rumbled to a start. It's a sound that the vector control team as well as the community are very familiar with. Even more so now since the vector control team has increased its clean up and spraying campaigns in the Cayo district among other communities in the North and South. That boost in campaigns is as result of a 16% increase in Dengue cases countrywide - this year so far there have been 261 lab confirmed cases compared to 225 in all of 2014.

Cubans Caught in Belmopan, Bus Also Had Weed
4 Cubans were charged today in Belmopan with illegal entry. Police stopped a bus on its way from Benque to Belmopan yesterday afternoon and arrested the 4 Cuban nationals. But police also found about 7 pounds of weed on the bus. Today Belmopan Supt. Howell Gillet told us more about this bust and the coincidence. Supt. Howell Gillett, OC, Belmopan Police "Yesterday sometime after 1pm, we received information or intelligence that some drugs and some foreign nationals were being transported on a passenger bus from the Cayo District from the western border to our area. The bus was coming from Benque Viejo to this Belmopan jurisdiction. We immediately enlist of one of the specialists units within the Mobile Interdiction Team (MIT as it is called). We were able to intercept that bus and we found 4 Cubans. They have since been charged. They're names are Keyren Arguelles, Pedro Tehera, Pharrel Sanchez, and Yorda Perdomo.

Saldivar Takes A Walk On The Southside
Today Police Minister John Saldivar continued his working tour of the Eastern Division by visiting the newly formed southside formation. It's his first visit after this - the largest policing division in the country was reconfigured a month ago. He told Monica Bodden what he's looking for:... Hon. John Saldivar, Minister of National Security "I am very impressed with the organization and reorganization that I see happening on the south side. as well as I was yesterday when I visited the north side, I get the very distinct impression that this new configuration is going to do exactly what we want it to do in terms of the crime situation in Belize City. We're trying to put senior officers in charge of a smaller areas so that they can focus their attention and resources in those smaller areas. So whereas the entire eastern division previously was commanded by an assistant commissioner of police, now we have three divisions that are being commanded by assistant commissioners of police and of senior superintendents of police. So we believe that putting senior officers in a smaller area is going to yield the desired results."

Dangriga Police Destroy Drugs
Today, Dangriga police burnt up 261 pounds of marijuana in a bonfire that would bring water to a weedist's eye. The weed and a small amount of crack cocaine were burnt on the seaside just outside Dangriga Town this morning at 10:00 am. The exhibit keeper told the government press office what was burned:... Sgt. Franzine Solano, Exhibit Keeper - Dangriga "We are doing a jet destruction list. For the past 6 months police officers have been conducting routine patrols and operations and within that time span we have confiscated 35,721 grams of cannabis. Those were labeled as found property and persons arrested and charged, the amount of cannabis were 82,817 grams and 14.2 grams of crack cocaine. Those were all that were destroyed by means of destruction and it's an operation that the police do every often." It's a total of 118 kilos of marijuana - and that converts to 261 pounds.

City Cops Caught Marijuana In Swamp
And while Dangriga police destroyed their drugs, Belize city cops are adding to their stockpile of found weed. Yesterday, the northside strike team went on the southside, on Iguana Street Extension. Inside a swamp, they found four pounds of weed stuffed in an ammunition pan. The weed was separated into 17 black plastic bags. The 1.9 kilos was labeled as found property.

When Will The Price Of Rice Go Down?
In late March, the price per pound of rice became a very controversial topic when importer Jack Charles challenged the local producers and accused them of gouging consumers. He was pushing to import Guyanese rice, which he says could be cheaper than what is already on the market. The local producers pushed back and pointed out that they were not the ones gouging. It did prompt an intervention from the Government who promised to get the price per pound - which is currently at $1.15 - decreased so that consumers could get it cheaper. That announcement came on April 1, and the Government said that it would take 1 month for this new price regime to be announced. Since then, it's been been 3 and a half months, and no price change has been finalized. So, when we got the chance today, we asked the CEO in the Ministry of Trade, what's the hold up? Here's what he had to say: Mike Singh - CEO, Ministry of Trade "There has been a lot of movement, just not public movement. There has been a committee that was formed which involves our people from the Bureau of Standards, it involves people from Agriculture, from our Ministry and the Consumer Protection Unit. We've gotten so far, where two weeks ago we actually presented what our calculations of government side has been for the cost of production at which we will set the basis for where the price will be set.

Talking Trade With Guatemala
That opportunity to speak with the Trade Ministry's CEO came at a conference held at the Princess Ramada today between the Ministries of Trade from both Belize and Guatemala. They were continuing the discussion on how to formalize trade alliances between both countries, as spelt out in the Partial Scope Agreement, which was signed in 2010. Right now, the Trade technocrats from both sides have divided themselves up into 3 separate subcommittees to work through the challenges. CEO Singh discussed the challenges that they are tasked to overcome to move the process forward: Mike Singh - CEO, Ministry of Trade "And this includes committees for example for sanitary issues which is a SBS committee to deal with how does our BAHA personnel deal with the people in Guatemala to make sure that we equate our procedures so that fighter sanitary issues are acceptable in both sides to enable trade. We have other issues relating to tariff issues with Customs, so that our tariff codes can integrate.

Summer School for Principals
Right now, the summer holiday continues for students, but right now it's workshop time for principals all across the country. It's called the CPD Professional Development training, and as part of this year's session, these school leaders are learning to computerize vital information about their schools so that the Ministry can access it easier, and make timely interventions. They will be doing so using the Open Education Management Information System, or Open EMIS for short. By having this data properly documented and managed through the Open EMIS system, the Ministry will be better able to make policy decisions on what to do with its budget, for example. The government officials would know, after reviewing the data, if they need to buy more textbooks, build more classrooms or schools, or hire more teachers. Today, we dropped in at the training for the Belize District Principals at the Edward P Yorke High School, and we found out more:

Police Cadets Get Swarmed By Bees, Cop Saves Them
13 police youth cadets were stung by killer bees this afternoon. At around 3, about 50 cadets were out on a summer field trip in Macaroni Hill in the Pamona Area of Stann Creek when 13 of them walked right into a swarm of killer bees. The 13 were badly stung and 2 of them even fainted as a result of the panic. Fortunately, the kids as well as a Police Constable Lyons were all taken to the hospital and were treated and released - only the 2 cadets who fainted are still being monitored. We understand Lyons did all he could to distract the bees from the cadets and attract them to him.

Youth Apprenticeship Programme, 150 More
Today, the Youth Apprenticeship Program graduated its 7th intake of students. When the program started in November 2010, it was conceived as a second chance opportunity for at-risk youths who dropped out of the formal education system, and wanted to get their lives back on track. Today, 150 who spent the last 6 months under the tutelage of coordinator Diane Finnegan and her team, graduated at a ceremony held at the Princess Ramada Hotel. Here's what Education Minister Patrick Faber told them during the Keynote Address: Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education "One of the reasons why I come to these graduation ceremony, well apart from the fact that Ms. Diane refuses to have them until I am available to come, is that I get a shot, an injection, an infusion of motivation in the work that I do. When I am able to sit, watch and hear the success stories of our young people whom many, at one point or the other in their lives, are said wouldn't amount to anything productive in our society. When you see them being productive, that's an injection, an infusion of motivation for all of us in the Belizean society.

From Roswell, But Not Via Spaceship
Roswell New Mexico in the United States may be most famous for its UFO sightings - but cops from that City are here to teach Belize police officers - and they didn't come on a spaceship! 35 police officers from the Cayo District are at the training academy learning about everything from first aid to firearms. WE FOUND OUT how it will help local police: Training ends on Thursday.

Incentive For Cops To Bust Cattle Thieves
With the price of Belizean beef soaring in the Guatemalan market - cattle rustling in Western Belize has become a chronic problem. Well, now the Belmopan Police and the Belize Livestock Association have agreed to work together to directly reward cops who run down rustlers. And it's not just small change, either. Any cop whose arrest leads to a conviction of a cattle rustler will get five thousand dollars. We found out more today:.. Supt. Howell Gillett, OC, Belmopan Police "Recently, not only in the Cayo District, the price of beef has gone up tremendously, I think double or more. Along with the rise came the increase in cattle theft, or what we know as cattle rustling. So we knew that because of the increase, there will be a rise in criminal activities so we partnered with the Belize Live Stock Producers Association and they almost readily agreed to the proposals that we took to them and one of them is that last Wednesday, we signed a memorandum of understanding between the Belmopan police and the BLPA.

Getting Shrimp Up To Standard
Last week we showed you the fishermen who hustle every year around this time to catch the rare sea shrimp at the North side of the city. As we showed you it's all about hauling in the most shrimp which will ultimately bring in more cash. Sounds straight forward right? Well, when looking at the Shrimp industry at the commercial level - it is anything but simple. Today stakeholders in the industry held a workshop at the George Price Center in Belmopan to discuss the standards and regulations that Belize must follow in order to enrich the quality and packaging of the product as well as other key elements that will improve service to you the consumers. Janice Hilaire, Project Coordinator "To put it into context, we as I said I work and seeks to harmonize or develop standards across the region across, the Caricom and the Sates. We are network of national grower's standards so that Belize grower's standards is one of our members. So we are working with the bureau and the shrimp value chain and in effort to make the value chain more competitive, the value change has made a lot of strides.

Canada's Advisory
For the past few nights we've been reporting on the slight downturn in tourism arrivals. The BTB says it's because fewer Canadians are travelling to Belize - and indeed the numbers bear that out: arrivals from Canada are down 11.3%. It could be because so many more of them are flying Air Canada to Barbados which has seen 28% more arrival from Canada, or it could be because of this advisory which we found today on the Government of Canada website. Last updated on July 16th, it tells Canadians, quote, "Belize - Exercise a high degree of caution." It goes unto say, quote, "There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Belize. However, you should exercise a high degree of caution due to a high rate of violent crime throughout the country."

Belize Needs Your Vote
And so, Belize needs all the help it can get right now - and you can do your part by voting online for Belize in the 2015 world travel awards. In the Mexico & Central America's Leading Destination 2015Belize is matched against Acapulco Mexico, Bay Islands, Honduras, Cancun, Mexico and Grenada Nicaragua. Cancun has cleaned up for the past 6 years, but the BTB says your vote counts. So far Belize is on the short list and has gotten 580,000 votes. You can find a link to vote at 7newsbelize.com.

Channel 5

Is There a Dengue Outbreak in the West?
The Ministry of Health is currently dealing with an outbreak of dengue fever. A rash of the disease is being confirmed in the country, a concentration of which has been [...]

15 Cases of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Diagnosed Across the Country
The dengue virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which reproduces in areas where stagnant water is not properly drained.  Despite an awareness campaign which remains ongoing, the ministry [...]

MOH: Prevent Dengue By Cleaning Up Your Environment
According to health officials, additional manpower has been brought in to assist with fumigation efforts, as well as the application of larvicides.  Residents are required to do their part to [...]

K.H.M.H. C.E.O. Addresses Bed Scarcity
Still on health related matters, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is faced with yet another embarrassing dilemma which has forced the national referral facility to suspend elective surgeries until Monday, [...]

Dr. Adrian Coye Says CT Scanner is Operational Once Again
A similar concern had been raised about the diagnostic X-ray scan.  The CT scanner has been out of service for quite some time and it was only on Friday of [...]

Lightning Strikes Mennonite Farmer
A Mennonite community up north is grieving the unexpected death of one of its own. A freak accident on Wednesday associated with a tropical wave passing through the north took [...]

Still No Charges for Alleged Teen Killer
A fifteen year old San Antonio resident of Corozal remains tonight in police custody for the murder of twenty-four year old Samir Vivas. Vivas was fatally stabbed on Tuesday night [...]

Discussions on Belize/Guatemala Partial Scope Agreement
While Guatemala’s territorial dispute will take time to solve if it lands before the ICJ, trade relations between Belize and Guatemala are moving along. In June 2010, after years of [...]

C.E.O. Mike Singh Says Wrinkles Will Be Ironed in Days Ahead
C.E.O. in the Ministry of Trade, Mike Singh, expressed optimism that in the next few days all the wrinkles will be ironed out in the cross-border trade.     Mike [...]

Strike Team Successful in Recovery Weed on Iguana Street
The North Side Strike team of the Police Force is reporting a huge drug bust in the south side of the city. The team along with the CIB Precinct Four [...]

Lincoln Moguel Remanded for Burglary
Forty-two year old Lincoln Moguel, an unemployed former taxi driver was remanded to prison today for a charge of burglary after he pleaded not guilty. On Monday, August third, Carla [...]

Youth Cohort Completes Apprenticeship Program
The Youth Apprenticeship Program graduated eighty students this morning. The six month course prepared the apprentices to enter and stay focused in the work force.  The program has had a [...]

Harvest for Kids Holds Camp in Belize City
Over the past few years we have shared many stories on the projects of the Belize Camping Experience. It’s a N.G.O. that has been supporting camps with children primarily in [...]

Jasmine Alert, Three Years Later
Three years after Jasmine Lowe was brutally killed in the Cayo District, the Jasmine Alert was created in her memory to help protect young children. A program fashioned after the [...]

Table Tennis is Growing in Popularity
The summer vacation for students is winding down and so are the summer camps that have been keeping them occupied. At Body Two Thousand here on Coney Drive, about sixty-five [...]

Breast is Best in Healthy Living
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from first to seventh August in more than one hundred seventy countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the [...]

CTV3

Prisoner Quarantined For Tuberculosis
One man has been quarantined at the Kolbe Foundation for Tuberculosis. Well, he has been partially diagnosed for the illness according to officials who spoke to the media today. Officials say that the male prisoner had presented symptoms and samples were sent for testing. The results of that was received on July 24th which came back positive but there are more tests that need to get done before the patient is fully diagnosed with TB. In following with protocol, the information has been sent to Belmopan where instructions were given to have the patient quarantined and given treatment. As part of the procedure, the prison officials have conducted a health education with persons who shared the same cell with the patient. Screenings were also conducted with them as well as persons who have come into contact with the patient. Officials say that all persons have been screened and are now awaiting the results of the tests for these individuals. Doctors of the prison say that TB is curable now with proper treatment. Prison officials have confirmed that in February this year seven persons were diagnosed with TB one of who passed in March. The prison’s medical staff suggests however that the individual did not die as a result of the illness but of a cardio respiratory arrest. All other patients have been cleared with treatment.

BSCFA Says Farmers Expected Higher Second Payment
Next week Cane farmers will be receiving their second payment for cane delivered to the BSI/ASR mill. The highest payment is being received by the test group of the Progressive Sugar Cane Farmers Association while the lowest is being received by a group of BSI. The cane price estimate for second payment is seventy dollars and forty-five cents which is an improvement over last year’s final price of sixty-seven dollars and fifty-two cents. This year the estimated average price per ton of cane is a record breaker, according to BSI/ASR. But while the milling company is boasting about an excellent crop, Chair of the Committee of Management at the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, Ezekiel Cansino, says they were expecting a little more. “Estamos contentos con el pecio que hemos logrado hoy atreves de la calidad pero aun así hemos dicho de que de parte de BSCFA estábamos esperando un poquito más unos dos dólares más de lo que estamos consiguiendo pues tendríamos que esperar para el tercer pago para ver cómo vamos a terminar.”

Crime Targets Ten Year Old And His Sister
Tonight this man, Christian Martinez of a Salvapan address, Belmopan, is spending his second night behind bars at the Corozal Police Station waiting to be charged at the magistrate court. Martinez is accused of robbing and beating a ten year old boy on Tuesday afternoon at around 12:58. While police believe Martinez did not act alone, they are yet to arrest his accomplice. The ten year old boy told police that he and his 13 year old sister were in the area of Baeza’s Layout in Corozal when they were approached by two masked men, one of them wielding a machete. While demanding money the criminal armed with the machete swung the weapon at the ten year old injuring him on the left arm and back of the head. Today our Corozal Reporter spoke to the grandmother of the children who told us that they were just a stone’s throw away from home when the incident occurred.

Severe Weather Conditions Destroys Wooden Structure In Calcutta Village
Yesterday Corozal experienced a bad weather, some people are calling it a storm which even caused a power outage. But while most of us were safe in the confines of our home, one man and his parents living in the Village of Calcutta were not that fortunate. The home of Cesario Mossiah Junior was partially destroyed last night during the storm. It is rather an unfortunate incident caused by Mother Nature as Mossiah shared the home with his elderly parents. Today when we spoke to Mossiah he told us he was inside when he heard a loud bang. “Well, I didn’t see it I was with the neighborhood when I heard the noise and the neighborhood said your house fall down and I said I know it is that because it is over there that I heard the noise and when I come out I see that it dropped already and I say I wonder if my mother is in there and I run into the house and my mother in her wheelchair where she usually sit down and then I smell the butane and so I told my mother lets go out here because this thing could catch fire and so I took my mother and I brought her down and so my father he is old and he don’t know what happened so he stayed out in shock and then I told my father better left everything like how it is make now worries left everything like how it is because I done know what happened here already but thank God that worst could have happened but only my mother safe and my father safe and now the house broke down.”

Vehicle Of Police Constable Set On Fire
In the wee hours of this morning, authorities responded to a vehicle fire reported on Rio Bravo Street in Orange Walk Town. Upon arrival at the scene around 2:20am, officials saw a white Kia Sportage engulfed in flames. Fire officials responded swiftly and were able to doze the fire and immediately an investigation ensued. The vehicle is said to belong to P.C Antony Guzman who is presently working at the Caye Caulker Police Station. Authorities say they are looking at the incident as arson since they recovered one small plastic bottle which is suspected to have been used to carry fuel to start the fire. As you can see the vehicle’s interior was totally destroyed by fire.

Blood Flows In Corozal, 15 Year Old Accused of Killing Samir Vivas
A fifteen year old minor is tonight behind bars accused of killing a 23 year old resident from Corozal Town. Reports are that Samir Vivas, who is no stranger to the law, was hanging out in front of his house when became involved in an argument with the minor over a bicycle. The situation escalated and at the end resulted in the minor stabbing Vivas. With the assistance of our Corozal reporter, Karel Herredia, we bring the following story. He formed part of our headlines when we reported on a robbery or burglary in Corozal. Today 23 year old Samir Vivas is the main character of his own story as we report on his murder. Last night around 8:30 Vivas was hanging out in front of his house located at Venezuelan Site Corozal Town, when death came looking for him.

Mask Men Attack and Rob Ten Year Old
A ten year old boy from the Corozal District is tonight recuperating from a frightful ordeal after he was robbed and beaten by two mask men. Yesterday around 12:58 in the afternoon the 10 year old and his sister were in the area of Baeza’s Layout in Corozal when they were approached by two masked men. According to the ten year old, as the men approached him and his sister, they demanded money. But that’s not all. One of the individuals was carrying a machete which he swung at the ten year old while demanding money. As a result the ten year old student from Concepcion Village in Corozal received an injury to his left arm and back of the head. Fearing for his life and that of his sister the ten year old handed over $80.00 and his touch screen phone valued at $280.00 to his attackers.

LOVE FM

Woman Blames Hospital For Losing Baby
A mother of the San Martin Area in Belmopan is in mourning after she went into labor and lost her baby at the Western Regional Hospital. Correspondent Fem Cruz reports as the mother blames the hospital for her loss. MARCIA GARCIA “On July 16 I wake up with a terrible pain on two of my […]

Woman Wants Grand-Daughter Safe From Alleged Rapist
The heart wrenching stories of children being molested and raped are being more and more publicized as children, as timid as they may be at times, are embracing their rights. Today we met a grandmother, who is distraught after hearing that her 13-year-old granddaughter was raped at the age of ten by a man who […]

Changes Announced at the University of Belize
Today a printed email was dropped off at our studious. That email has to do with the University of Belize. The email was reportedly sent from the Officer of Public Information to the community of UB which includes students, faculty and staff. The email states that the Board of Trustees of the University of Belize […]

Belize Nominated for World Travel Awards
Belize has been getting a lot of publicity lately in terms of the attractions and adventures it offers both on land and sea. That publicity and recognition continue as the Belize Tourism Board has announced that Belize was nominated for the 2015 World Travel Awards. The World Travel Awards is a prestigious recognition platform of […]

No Accommodations at KHMH for Patients of Elective Services
A release came out of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital yesterday and while we were not one of the recipients of that release until earlier today, we can tell you that once again patients who were scheduled to receive elective surgeries or services are being put aside temporarily due to limited accommodations at the hospital. […]

Police News
Police in Belize City are investigating a traffic incident that occurred yesterday on the Philip Goldson Highway involving a four door Nissan X-Trail SUV and a black motorcycle. According to police reports, the driver of the SUV, 65-year-old, Emilio Awe was exiting the parking are of DK Supermarket and entering the highway when he saw […]

2015 Shows Two Cases of Chikungunya (Chik-V)
The last mosquito borne disease that health officials update the media on was Chikungunya. Last year, 8 suspected cases returned positive after being sent for testing at CARPHA and Central Medical Lab. For this year, Kim Bautista, says that they have confirmed two cases, so far. KIM BAUTISTA “If you look at last year we […]

Immigrants Account for Several Malaria Cases in Belize
While Dengue is on the rise, health officials reported today that Belize has seen a reduction of Malaria cases by 98.7% during the period of 2000 to 2014. Head of the Vector Control Unit, Kim Bautista told the media today that Malaria continues to be concentrated mostly in the southern District of Stann Creek. However, […]

Health Officials Monitor Toledo, Corozal and Cayo
This morning, the media was called out to the offices of the Ministry of Health in Belmopan where health officials shared the latest statistics as it relates to Dengue, Chik V and Malaria. The three districts that they are closely monitoring are Toledo, specifically Punta Gorda Town, Corozal and Cayo. Hipolito Novelo has the report. […]

PlusTV

Shrimp Association Talks Bacterial infection, Says “We will Survive”
In April earlier this year Plus TV broke the story of a bacterial infection that had infected a couple of shrimp ponds in Stann Creek, which was causing a high mortality rate in the shrimps younglings. BAHA acted quickly to try and contain the spread of this bacteria but a month later, in Jun...

Minor stabs man in the chest
A 15 year old minor is in police custody at this time after allegedly stabbing a man in the stomach and causing his death. on Tuesday sometime around 9:00 pm Corozal Police responded to reports of a male person, later identified as 23 year old Samir Vivas, who had been stabbed. Police visited the Co...

Two youth shot on Jane Usher Boulevard
The sound of gunfire erupted on Jane Usher Boulevard in Belize City this morning just before 11:00. Two young men, identified as 22 year old Raheem Arnold of Curl Thompson Street and 18 year old Shemar Moore, were shot following an argument with another person standing on the street corner. We unde...

BML take Belize City Council to court again
If there was any thought that the hiring of more than three-quarters of the former staff of Belize Maintenance Limited (BML) in January as part of the taking over of their sanitation contract by the Belize City Council would end the long-standing impasse between the two, those hopes have temporarily...

Quality Infrastructure for Shrimp Industry
The Belize Bureau of Standards in collaboration with the CARICOM regional organization for Standards and Quality (CROS-Q), the network of Standard Bureau within Caricom members states, is holding a three day diagnostic workshop between stakeholders of the shrimp industry. The idea is to standardize ...

Belmopan Police Receives Training
Yesterday we told you about a 3 day training workshop for 35 police officers attached to Cayo Division most from the Belmopan formation. The workshop started yesterday with an opening ceremony at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan. On the Agenda for the three day training workshop is how to res...

10 year old injured in Robbery
A 10-year-old male student of Concepcion Village, Corozal District accompanied by his mother reported that around 12:58 p.m. while in the area of Baiza Layout along with his sister, he was approached by two unknown male persons wearing masks who demanded money from them. One of robbers had a machete...

The Guardian

Sweet, sweet second payment for Cane Farmers at $25M this year
Despite major problems at the beginning of the sugar crop, this year has turned out to be one of the best paying years for cane farmers in the sugar belt of Corozal and Orange Walk. In a release from BSIL/ASR the company notes that a total of 106,969 tons of sugar was produced by the factory this year. Of this 139,654 tons was exported to the European Union, the U.S. market took in 11,902 tons and the rest is destined for either local consumption or other smaller markets. According to the release the revised price per ton of sugar stands at an average of $70.45 which is a new record for payment to the cane farmers. The sugar cane delivery payment is done in three portions with the first payment done on delivery, the second payment at the end of the season and a third just before the start of the next crop. This year the first payment was $42.84 per ton of sugar cane delivered. The second payment, depending on the branch will earn farmers between $18.55 per to $23.41 per ton.

Better policing expected from reorganized Eastern Division police
On Wednesday August 5, Minister of National Security, Hon. John Saldivar began a two day tour of the newly reconfigured Eastern Division. Minister Saldivar explained that the division was simply too big to be properly supervised and the decision was made to divide it into three formations including Belize City North Side, South Side and Rural. After a month with the new strategy Hon. Saldivar explained that he was on the ground to let all levels within the police department know, “that they have a minister who is in tune with what they are doing; supervision starts not only with commanders but the minister must also be involved,” he stated. Minister Saldivar’s tour took him to the various precincts on the North Side, he started at the Queen Street police station where he first inspected a Guard of honor. This was part of his overall objective which includes the meeting of officers at all ranks including the most officers as well as checking on the infrastructure, office space and the actual policing strategies which are being employed.

FREEDOM Train Reloaded
The PUP old guard seem to have hunkered down for the long haul. They are standing by their man. The PUP have decided to sink or swim with Francis. It is more than likely they will sink with him. Francis must have the most dirt to spend or the most favors to collect. Just look at the way he is picking off the members of the dirty dozen. The original dirty dozen appears to be down to 9 because 3 of those eggs have been cracked fried and eaten. They were spoilt eggs, but in the PUP they eat spoilt eggs. On Sunday last the party held a RALLY they dubbed Power To The People, but are now insisting it was only a consultation and not a rally. Consultation or Rally it was PILINKY, and to me it very much looked like a throwback of those PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLIES that were held leading up to the '98 elections. Back then those became a Circus act with a brightly colored blue bus in-tow, skimpily clad young girls dancing, Dickie chanting SEX IT UP. Even the old farts of the PUP who were the candidates for that election joined in the dancing on the stage. For them it was a chance to dance with some young girls.

Learning to build computers in Belize
There are hundreds of thousands of smart phones being used in Belize today, a country of just over 330,000 people. Some people have two phones, a tablet, a laptop and a desktop computer. Many would not even be able to function for 24 hours without access to these devices. It is this great dependency on and demand for technology that makes computer science the employment field of the future. Unfortunately for Belize, “as a country we are primarily users of technology; we have very few of our people inventing and we know that our people are as bright as anybody else,” says Colin Young, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology and Public Utilities. The Government of Belize has identified computer science education as key to the country’s development. Young says, “We need to provide the environment through which our people can innovate. Innovation is key to our national development.” This is why the Public Utilities Commission has partnered with the Ministry of Education to improve the I.T. curriculum in secondary schools by introducing the revolutionary credit card sized computer called the Raspberry Pi.

Minor Charged for Carnal Knowledge - Girl’s Father Charged for Wounding
A 37-year-old mechanic from Sandhill Village is out on bail after he was charged for beating up and stabbing a 16-year-old male minor of the same village. According to a police report made by the boy, he was at the mechanic’s house with his 13-year-old girlfriend and another 17-year-old male at around 11 a.m. on Monday, August 3. The mechanic, who is the girl’s father, came home and when he saw them there he got angry. The girl’s father threatened him asking how he was going to exit the house because there is only one door. When the boy tried to walk to the door the girl’s father punched him to the left side of the face and stabbed him with a pliers. He continued to punch the boy in his face then choked him until he passed out. The boy said he regained consciousness sometime after and noticed that he was covered in blood. At this time he saw the father slapping the girl to the face with the back of his hand. When the girl’s father noticed that he had regained consciousness he charged at him with a huge black handled knife but the boy was able to run away and escape further injuries.

Arenal resource center upgraded offering services never before seen in that community
The Government of Belize steadfast in its continued commitment to address the basic needs of Belizeans, in the areas of education and employment will officially inaugurate the Arenal Resource Centre for over 400 residents of Arenal in the Western District, at 2 p.m. July 31, 2015. The newly constructed Arenal Resource Centre financed by the Government of Belize at a total cost of $314,636.99 through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank will contribute significantly in improving the quality of life of residents as well as to foster and enhance community development. One remarkable feature of the Arenal project is that the building is designed to be used as a hurricane shelter, and host events such as community meetings. The ferro-concrete structure is approximately 60 ft. x 44 ft., with galvalum timber truss roof system and has an access ramp to accommodate persons with diverse abilities.

The people and visitors to Benque receive a renovated Centennial Park
In a symbolic ribbon cutting on Friday of last week, a largely renovated Centennial Park was handed over by partners from the Social Investment Fund SIF to the community of Benque Viejo del Carmen. This event marks a new beginning, especially for the residents of Benque Viejo; as they will now be able to ride around the concrete portion of the sealant retouched walkways at the park. Members of the Benque community will also be able to do morning or evening exercises and benefit from the greenery, while at the same time meet friends and family members. During the brief ceremony, a ribbon was cut by the Mayor of Benque Viejo del Carmen Heraldo Ramcharan as well as the Director of SIF, William Lamb Jr. The ceremony marked the culmination of a series of activities in the most Western Town of Benque Viejo. The park had been adopted by SIF in December of last year. In a press release from the Belize Municipal Development Project, the newly rehabilitated Centennial Park and Sidewalks Project was completed by the Government of Belize for Benqueños, visitors and tourists. Funding for the park and sidewalk project totaled $432,853.50 and was secured by the Government of Belize through a loan from the World Bank along with a three percent contribution from the Benque Viejo del Carmen Town Council, totaling $12,985.61.

Condolences
The family of the late Alfred Williams would like to thank all those who assisted in any way during their difficult time of grief. It has been nine days since the passing of this great man. The United Democratic Party family was very saddened by the passing of a UDP stalwart, friend and great man Alfred Edward Williams of Orange Walk Town. He died peacefully Wednesday last at the Northern Regional Hospital after battling a short illness. UDP supporters will always remember Mr. Williams as an avid supporter who never missed a political event. He had been active in politics since 1984 along with Lelis Carballo who defeated Joe Briceno in the general elections that same year. He was also a fixture at each and every location visited by th