June 29, 2016

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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

San Pedro Fire Relief continues
The humanitarian spirit continues on Ambergris Caye as the community unites to help the victims who were greatly affected by the devastating fire that took place in the early hours of Monday, June 27th. As a result, The San Pedro Town Council, along with many volunteers are heading a massive clean-up campaign in the immediate area. While the clean-up efforts are underway, other volunteers and island Non-profit Organization are ensuring that the affected families are fed, clothed and sheltered. Even organizations around the country have joined in the efforts to assist the fire victims. More volunteers are still needed, especially at the San Pedro Lions Den with the distribution of items, as well as at the NEMO station, which is located at the SPTC Conference Room located at the back of SPTC building. Everyone is informed that the NEMO station will be operating for approximately three days with twenty-four (24) hour assistance. For more information the SPTC can be contacted at 226-2198. The Southern Ambergris Caye Neighbourhood Watch has set up an easy and fast way to donate through their webpage: https://sacnw.org/wp/product/fire-victim-assistance/. Any monetary donations received will be forward to the San Pedro Lions Club chapter.

Belizeans Honoured by the Queen
Receiving the insignia of a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George was Mr. Michael Bowen for services to business and industry. Mrs. Eleanor Hulse and Mrs. Dilicia Feinstein received the insignia of an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Mrs. Hulse for services to education and Mrs. Feinstein for services to business and the community. The insignia of a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was given to Ms. Emelda August for services to nursing; Mrs. Sarita Westby for services to education and the community; Mr. Juan Nunez for services to education and sport; Dr. Aaron Lewis for services to science; and Mrs. Janet Gibson for services to environmental protection.

Lobster Festival Block Party brings the crowd!
San Pedro Lobster Festival Block Party-40After winning the Belize Tourism Board Award for best festival in Belize, San Pedro’s Lobster Festival pulled out all the stops for its 10th Annual Lobster Fest Block Party. For nearly two weeks, visitors and residents alike had been enjoying some lobster ‘crawling’ in honor of the crustacean, indulging in all kinds of tasty lobster dishes and themed activities around the island. The celebration culminated in grand fashion at Central Park with a well-attended block party. Gaily decorated booths were being visited as early as 4PM on Saturday, June 25th by hungry lobster aficionados seeking tasty treats. From the classic whole grilled lobsters and lobster dips, to gourmet twists such as lobster empanadas and tacos, sliders, kebabs, wontons, pizza and so much more, it was a true celebration of the Panulirus Argus! After walking past the beautifully decorated venue entrance, which featured some historic photos and information booths and posters, hundreds of revellers made their way to the food and drink booths. To the soothing Caribbean sounds of the Pannerifix Steel Band, they sampled and tasted the best lobster dishes available. Some bought commemorative t-shirts or tickets for a 50-50 draw benefiting the San Pedro Food Bank, while others danced to the tunes being played.

Misc Belizean Sources

Congratulations to the new cadets!
These are our two Officer Cadets who are currently studying in Quebec Canada at the Royal Military College Saint-Jean, for a 4 years Junior Officers Training and Education Program Course. OCdt Giovanni Torres is in his second year and OCdt Yascal is on his last year. They are also along with 6 other countries besides Canada on this course. Keep up the hard work and represent the Belize Defence Force in a professional manner.

"San Pedro Fire Relief" run from Thunderbolt
The Management of Thunderbolt Water Taxi announces that Thunderbolt II will be making a special trip to San Pedro Ambergris Caye tomorrow June 29th at 8:00 a.m. from the municipal dock in Corozal Town. Send as much sundries as you can! Anyone wishing to send donations to the San Pedro Fire Victims can make deliveries 1/2 hour before the boat departs tomorrow or preferably at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon at the municipal dock. This trip is a special one and will not stop in Sarteneja but Thunderbolt will continue to make FREE deliveries (until further notice) on its regular run departing at 7:00 a.m. each morning and stopping at Sarteneja. Packages MUST be marked "San Pedro Fire Relief" "San Pedro Lions Club" c/o Thunderbolt.

NEMO NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
The Emergency Operations Committee (EOC), activated by the NEMO - San Pedro, would like to emphasize and advise that all financial aid for the San Pedro Fire victims is officially being channeled through the San Pedro Lions Club - Fire Relief Fund and the San Pedro Branch of the Belize Red Cross. The official bank account is ATLANTIC BANK number 211-382-902. We are therefore asking all members of the public to discontinue from creating individual fundraising profiles, since it will only open the door for confusion and unaccountability. The EOC has been working very closely with all the NGO’s, social partners, tourism stakeholders, local and national governmental organizations to ensure that all efforts are being properly coordinated. This is to ensure that all those affected by the unfortunate fire are being given equal assistance. We take the opportunity to thank all those businesses, NGO’s, social partners, tourism stakeholders and other organizations and individuals who are working closely with the San Pedro EOC in this humanitarian effort. For further questions or information, please call the EOC Command Center at telephone number: 226-4458.

Commentary: Belizeans will vote no to the ICJ unless our government takes certain steps
By Wellington C. Ramos. Many Belizeans like myself believe that the Guatemalan claim handed down to our country by Great Britain after we attained our independence on September 21, 1981, is an undue burden handed down to us by the British. It was and still is in my opinion the British responsibility to settle this dispute with Spain or Guatemala. They were the ones who landed, settled and created the country we know as Belize today. It is reported in the news this week that they possess $900 billion in total assets compared to Belize and Guatemala. Combined with this, they also have one of the most powerful militaries in the world. They had several opportunities to settle this dispute with these two countries but failed to take advantage when they could have, especially in the Godolphin Treaty. We must demand from the British that they provide us with defence until this dispute is fully settled and a treaty is signed between them and Guatemala or us with Guatemala. Guatemala is saying that, in the 1859 treaty, Britain agreed to fulfill an obligation but did not. They can compensate Guatemala to fulfill that obligation from the money they obtained when they exploited all the logwood and mahogany out of Belize. Once Guatemala is compensated, they will have no other choice but to end their claim and all these hostilities against our people and nation.

International attention focused on vulnerability of Belize barrier reef
A World Heritage Committee draft decision released on 10th June by UNESCO signaled a possible decision to retain the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System on the list of world heritage in danger. Several deadlines to meet required indicators outlined by UNESCO in the desired state of conservation report (DSOCR) have been missed despite the government of Belize’s affirmation of its resolve in ensuring the continued protection of Belize’s Barrier Reef System and its seven World Heritage Sites in December 2015. The committee’s draft decision notes, inter alia, that the announcement of an offshore oil ban in World Heritage Sites still needs to be translated into a legislative instrument and that the adequacy of the one-kilometer buffer zone needs revision to secure the protection of the property’s outstanding universal value (OUV). The 21 member countries of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will gather in Istanbul, Turkey, in two weeks’ time to debate the status of some of the most extraordinary natural places on the planet, including the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. “If adopted by the World Heritage Committee next month, this decision would send a message that more needs to be done,” said WWF’s reef scientist and climate change officer in Belize, Nadia Bood.

Convictions: Supplies Control (Prices) Regulations
The Belize Bureau of Standards in collaboration with the Police Department (Corozal and Toledo Formation) hereby informs the general public that the following establishments have been prosecuted and charged for violations to the Supplies Control (Prices) Regulations: ---J-Mart Supermarket, Corozal District - Failure to Indicate Prices of Goods. Contrary to section 15 of Supplies Control Prices Regulations. $150.00 Corozal Magistrate Court ---PG Shop, Punta Gorda Town, Toledo District - Failure to Indicate Prices of Goods. Contrary to section 15 of Supplies Control Prices Regulations. $500.00 Punta Gorda Magistrate Court

Relocation of Lands and Surveys Belize City Office
The Ministry of Natural Resources & Immigration hereby informs the general public that the Lands and Surveys Belize City Office will be RELOCATED. EFFECTIVE JULY 4, 2016 THE LANDS AND SURVEYS BELIZE CITY OFFICE WILL BE RELOCATED TO CORNER OF CENTRAL AMERICAN BOULEVARD & GEORGE PRICE HIGHWAY, BELIZE CITY.

AFTERMATH & CLEAN UP OF MASSIVE FIRE IN DOWNTOWN SAN PEDRO
The community of San Pedro stands strong and united after the Massive fire left 88 individuals homeless. After the impressive efforts of forming a bucket brigade to out the fire and also doing the impossible, they are out once again helping with the clean up of what is left. Thank you to all the volunteers that have been at the site since early morning to help with the clean up. We also extend a huge thank you to all those businesses and people preparing food for the volunteers and the fire victims.

Two Medical Officers from Ministry of Health and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital will Attend the "2016 Workshop on Chronic Disease Control" in Taiwan
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is pleased to announce that two medical officers from Ministry of Health and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital are invited through the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to attend the “2016 Workshop on Chronic Disease Control”, which will take place in TaiwanICDF in Taipei City, during July 20th- August 2nd, 2016. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in Belize are quite high, which mainly contribute to the development of chronic disease, ex: diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, etc. Also the hypertension and diabetes patients are the high risk group of kidney disease. And the “Renal Failure Prevention Project” between Belize and Taiwan has been implemented from February 10, 2016. The purpose of Renal Failure Prevention Project is to treat the patients at the early stage to prevent the exacerbation and lead to effectively reduce the socio-economic cost of the whole society.

Belizeans Honoured by the Queen
Eight distinguished Belizeans were honoured for their dedicated and outstanding services to their community at a ceremony held today at the Belize House in the City of Belmopan. The insignias were presented by the Acting Governor General of Belize H.E. Mr. Carlos Perdomo on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen. Receiving the insignia of a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George was Mr. Michael Bowen for services to business and industry. Mrs. Eleanor Hulse and Mrs. Dilicia Feinstein received the insignia of an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Mrs. Hulse for services to education and Mrs. Feinstein for services to business and the community. The insignia of a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was given to Ms. Emelda August for services to nursing; Mrs. Sarita Westby for services to education and the community; Mr. Juan Nunez for services to education and sport; Dr. Aaron Lewis for services to science; and Mrs. Janet Gibson for services to environmental protection.

Animal Health Fair
The BWRC, CAWS, and the Animal Medical Center are teaming up to bring a 2 day animal health fair to Spanish Lookout on July 5th and 6th. They'll have deals on spaying and neutering on the 6th. "Everyone invited! Great animal information and fun planned. Dog training seminar, in the evening and food and fun for the family throughout the day! Looking for your next pet? Come check out the puppy play booth! come and sign up for the low cost spay/neuter clinic on July 6th!"

Cayo Market Upgrade - June 2016
They are upgrading the Cayo Market overlooking the Macal river.

Queen of the West 2016 Search
The SISE Town Council is looking for contestants for the 2016 Queen of the West. Call them at 804-2035 for more information. Good luck! "THE SEARCH IS ON! The SI/SE Town Council is seeking candidates for : “Queen of the West Competition 2016.” REQUIREMENTS: Age: between 18 - 24 Minimum of High School Diploma Must be a Belizean FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: SI/SE TOWN COUNCIL 804-2035 Councilor Fernandez 627-9690 Karen Fernandez 620-1710"

St. Peter's Boat Procession and the Blessing of the Boats
Everyone is invited to attend the St. Peter's Boat Procession and the Blessing of the Boats on June 29th @ 7:00 am

Open Air Mass
The San Pedro Catholic Church invites you to a special Open Air Mass with Bishop Christopher Glancy on June 29th @ 6:00 pm in front of the St. Peter statue.

Channel 7

Chopped Child Dies, Banner's Charges To Be Upgraded
Tonight we have confirmed the first casualty in the violent attack that took place in Yo Creek Village last Friday. A total of six persons fell victim to a one man's deadly chopping spree. But none got it worse that 13 year old Danny Choc. He has been on life support ever since arriving at the KHMH in a critical condition. This afternoon, Doctors confirmed him dead, according to his stepfather. Choc was placed on life support after he was hacked to death by 35 year old Larry Banner. The blade of the machete according to authorities had smashed his skull and damaged his brain. There are several conflicting stories as to what happened inside the house of Adela Choc, but one of them says that 13 year old Danny, jumped to his younger brother's defence, when the deranged man began his merciless attack. His mother was also injured in the process, however she remains at the hospital in a stable condition. As for Banner, he will now face additional charges. He was arraigned in court yesterday on charges of attempted burglary and maim. Murder will now be added to that.

Is Mental Illness A Public Safety Threat?
Now one of the arguments that has been playing out since the beginning of this incident is the mental health of 35 year old Larry Banner, which is questionable. According to his family Banner is schizophrenic. One of the symptoms of this disease is hallucinations. But when we asked police yesterday they couldn't really confirm, although he had a history of mental instability. In court yesterday the magistrate ordered a psychiatric evaluation on Banner, but that diagnosis is still pending. Now the cases of the mentally deranged, while not uncommon to Belize, is a very complicated matter to say the least. So today we spoke to several professionals in the field of mental health in hopes of clearing the waters a bit, and find out just what could have gone so wrong to trigger the mass chopping. Eleanor Bennet, Coord, Mental Health Services, MOH: "We have dealt with situations like this before. Not often, but we do meet people who, because of their mental illness and drug use, are very violent. What happens in those cases is that we always get the help of the police. Once that service is done and there's a threat, usually the police would bring them to the clinic for treatment.

Fire Follow-Up
Last night, we told you about the raging fire which destroyed 11 buildings, damaged another 6, and left 88 San Pedro Residents homeless. Well, as this photographs show, the authorities and the community have been working as quickly as they possibly can to clean up the block between Pescador Drive and Buccaneer Street. It's been over 30 hours since the blaze destroyed the homes, and since then, support has been coming from local and international sources. Smart donated $2,500 dollars cash and pledged to match all donations made by their customers who use their credit balance to simply text in how much they would want to contribute. That amount will then be deducted from their credit balance. But, as we told you, the main relief effort on the ground is coming from the non-profit organizations on San Pedro. Yesterday, the Mayor told us how he and NEMO worked to organize them to maximize the recovery effort:

Cops Saved Drowned Child, But His Prognosis Is Not Encouraging
Last night we told you about the trio of Belize City police officers who had saved an 11 year old boy from drowning. Those officers, Christian Cawich, Jesse Lopez, and Anibal Castellanos, received certificates for their bravery. Well, while the cops did act heroically to get him out of the water, the story does not have the happy ending we might have thought. A police press release said the minor is recovering - but it turns out, he's not. In fact, the boy's father tells us that his son is in a very critical condition. He says his son is experiencing multiple organ failure and his prognosis is not encouraging. The child jumped off a pier on Marine Parade and did not resurface. A passing police patrol was summoned and the officers jumped in to find him. Police found him underwater and tried to resuscitate him. A police report says he was with a 14 year old female cousin - but neither of them could swim.

Shop owners Charged For Running Red On Controlled Prices
If you frequent the grocery store, you'll know that all kinds of malpractice happens behind the counter, from scales that aren't accurate to prices that just don't gel. Well, the Belize Bureau of Standards has convicted four storeowners for shady commercial practices. Stores in Corozal, and PG were convicted of not displaying the prices of controlled items - like rice and sugar. Unethical store owners often do this so that they can secretly sell above the controlled price - once you take the product up to the cash register. Well, J Mart Supermarket in Corozal did it and they got fined $150.00, while PG Shop in Punta Gorda Town got fined $500 for the same. Also in PG, Brad's Store, And Jose Maria Store were selling controlled items at prices above what's allowed so they were fined five hundred dollars as well. No doubt this is just a drop in the bucket, but the Bureau says it is doing tis monitoring and other cases are in the pipeline.

The Perils Of Children And Unsupervised Internet Usage
School is out for summer, and the kids are already enjoying their long break. While there are tons of summer programs and jobs for them to do, most of them will stay home on their computer for the entire vacation. It might seem like just a harmless pastime but in reality, it can be toxic. Today at a Cyber Security training, Courtney Weatherburne found out about the two different faces of the internet. For most working adults, browsing the internet is about staying informed and connected whether that's checking the current news on Facebook, reading up on Twitter feeds, or researching for work and business. Clevand Thomas, International Telecommunications Union, Caribbean Area Rep.: "We all recognize the importance and the benefits of using technology and the internet, economic, social or otherwise. We've seen many countries using technology for development throughout the Caribbean region, Belize no exception, recognized in the ICT as a key pillar for development." But behind the great rewards of the internet, there is an underworld, a dark virtual portal that many explore. It's a world of secrets and sex. Millions of nude pictures and sex videos are sent, shared and viewed over the internet and thousands of explicit conversations are conducted on various social media. And frighteningly, kinds are among those navigating this minefield of objectionable content. That topic was addressed at today's Cyber Security Workshop at St. Catherine's Academy.

Ahmad's Get Back Electronic Items
Last night we gave you a short snippet of the police press conference on the Ahmad family raid. The conference was held in Belmopan yesterday evening and neither the Special Branch Commander Marco Vidal nor the Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie gave us much information. But there was one grave and quite frightening generalization as it relates to the Islamic terrorist group ISIS. Commander Vidal first gave his account of what happened on the day of the search and provided a bit more context to the investigation. Marco Vidal, Special Branch Commander: "Upon executing the operation all persons whose homes were searched and who were detained were told the parameters of the search and the purpose for which we were there. They indicated that they will not answer any questions on the advice of their attorneys and we respect that. They were allowed to go thereafter and that was the process on having their release." Reporter: "How long were they in custody before they were allowed to get their attorneys involved?"

Sugar Season, It Was A Good Year, Not a Very Good Year
On Sunday night at 9:00 pm, Orange Walk Town residents may have heard the siren at the Tower Hill Factory sound to mark the end of the 2015 - 2016 cane season. The mill closed at 8:53 pm - bringing an end to a season that saw reduced prices, bad weather and slightly less sugar production than the year before. But there was more cane taken to the factory - a record volume in fact, it was just lower in quality. BSI Financial Controller Belizario Carballo gave an overview: Belizario Carballo - CFO, ASR/BSI: "This crop was I would say good, in terms of production, despite some of the adversities that we faced during the crop. We were able to from that cane produced 134,000 tons of sugar - metric tons, which is less than what we did last crop. Last crop was a record production of 142,000 tons on sugar. So this year with more cane, because last year we did 1.2 million tons of cane. This year we did 1.3 million tons of cane.

Mother Please For Missing Son With Bipolar Disorder
34 year old Belize City resident, Tylon Gladden, has been missing for over 4 days and the family is worried sick that something bad might have happened to him. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder some years ago and according to his mother he was taking medication for it. But since he came home from work on Friday, no one has seen him. They have made a police report, but nothing has come of it. Today the desperate mother came to us to make a public appeal in hopes of finding her son. If anybody knows anything about the whereabouts of Tylon Gladden you can reach his family at 227-3942 or 636-7221 or contact the nearest police station.

Belize Telecoms Case to CCJ
Last year around this time, we told you about the outcome of an appeal at the Court of Appeal which the telecommunication company, Speednet, better known as "Smart", brought against the Public Utilities Commission. The telephone company was complaining that the Government regulator was overcharging them for licensing 238 channels used to conduct their business, such as phone calls text messaging, and data. Well, the phone company was not satisfied with the outcome, and they took it to the final appeals court, the Caribbean Court of Justice. That case was heard today at the seat of the CCJ in Port of Spain, Trinidad. That's where Smart's attorneys, Eamon Courtenay, and Andrew Marshalleck sought to show the court that the judges of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court misjudged the very technical case. The PUC's attorney, Fred Lumor, tried to convince the judges that once again, after an hour of arguments, they failed to make their case, and that the additional 792 thousand dollars in fees that Smart is being charged for their licenses is justifiable. With video provided by the CCJ, here's an excerpt of the arguments and counter arguments that both sides made:

Customs Caught Cannabis
The Customs Department has been keeping a close eye on the Blue Creek Road for drug trafficking activities, and over the weekend they made a weed bust. They found a bag on the side of the road containing about five pounds of marijuana - which is believed to have been smuggled in from Mexico. The weed was thrown from a Mazda pickup by a man who raced away from the checkpoint. It was a joint BDF Customs checkpoint. The road leads to an unregulated border crossing and is believed to be a drug trafficking corridor.

NGC Calls Out For Kaina
Yesterday, the National Garifuna Council of Belize sent out a strongly worded press release denouncing the Belize Athletic Association for not including Belizean athlete Kaina Martinez in the Roster for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Last week we spoke to Martinez who expressed her dissatisfaction and strongly disputed BAA's claim that she did not submit all relevant information in due time. The National Garifuna is demanding that they rescind their decision and immediately engage Martinez as a candidate to represent Belize at the Olympics. Sandra Miranda, the National President of the Garifuna Council told us more. Sandra Miranda, National President - Garifuna Council: "After being so good, performing so well at the Central American Games in Salvador, you would expect that Kaina would be selected to represent Belize. I would think that the Athletic Association is encouraging Belizeans to perform at athletic events and forward to the Olympics. So we were appalled at that decision, for this Belizean female and Garifuna athlete. She has made us proud as Belizeans and as Garinagu, so it was very appalling and disappointing. I don't want to say anything about the person selected, because I don't know much about her. But my issue is encouraging our Belizean athlete so that they can have something to look forward to."

Queens Honors Distributed
Britain may have exited the European Union, but Belize isn't leaving the commonwealth anytime soon so the tradition of the Queen's Honours continues in full swing. Today eight Belizeans received those honors from Acting Governor General Carlos Perdomo. Michael Bowen, the President of Bowen and Bowen received the highest honour with the insignia of a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George for services to business and industry. Eleanor Hulse - the wife of Natural Resources Minister Godwin Hulse, and Dilicia Feinstein from Benny's received the insignia of an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was conferred upon Emelda August for services to nursing; while Sarita Westby received hers for services to education and the community; Mr. Juan Nunez got his for services to education and sport; while Dr. Aaron Lewis got his for services to science; and Mrs. Janet Gibson received hers for services to environmental protection.

The "No's" Had It
On Friday, we had coverage of the social security sponsored debate on the question of whether or not Belize should go to the ICJ. Well, audience members were asked to participate in a before and after poll - and the results show that most in the audience and online were swayed against going to the ICJ. Going in 39% favored going to the ICJ, and 37% were opposed. Coming out, the same 39% were in favor with 53% opposed.

Channel 5

Chopping Victim, Minor, Succumbs to Injuries
Thirty-one year old Yo Creek resident Larry Banner is spending his second night behind bars for aggravated burglary and maim following a crazy chopping incident in the northern village. Last [...]

Police Refuse to Reveal Source in Ahmad Family Mass Detention
On Monday evening, Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie, accompanied by Special Branch head Marco Vidal, called a press conference purportedly to brief the media on the detention of nineteen members [...]

Was the U.S. Involved in Ahmad Investigation?
Six homes raided in a coordinated sweep, a Muslim family detained by Police, all electronic items seized and surely scrutinized, a warrant presented based on probable cause of a Conspiracy [...]

Special Branch Head Marco Vidal Says Officers Acted Within the Law
Neither the Commissioner nor Special Branch Commander would provide any tangible information on the investigation which prompted the detention of the Ahmad family. But they were both adamant that it [...]

G.O.B. to Pay $350 Million as Arbitration Ruling is Handed Down
The decision of the three-member Permanent Court of Arbitration is in, and tonight we’ve got a first look at the figures contained in the hundred and thirty-nine page document. Just [...]

Do You Believe Government Will Increase or Introduce New Taxes?
And tonight’s question is: If G.O.B. is broke; do you believe it will increase or introduce new taxes? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or [...]

Cleanup Campaign Continues in San Pedro
A massive cleanup campaign to remove a substantial amount of debris in the wake of an overnight fire in San Pedro continued this morning.  The flames eviscerated eleven buildings after [...]

DEMO Works to Implement Plan to Restore Normalcy after Fire
On the ground in San Pedro, the District Emergency Management Organization continues its efforts to return a sense of normalcy to the area hardest hit by the fire.  Since Monday, [...]

2 Men Arraigned for San Benito Poite Murder
Two men have been arrested and charged for the murder of Francisco Ack, who was chopped to death in the remote southern village of San Benito Poite last Saturday.  Ack [...]

World Heritage Committee Releases Draft Decision on Barrier Reef System
What is the future of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?  That’s the question conservationists are asking in light of international attention focused on [...]

WWF Says Government Must Act to Secure Protection of the Reef
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will convene in Istanbul, Turkey in July to debate the status of some of the most extraordinary natural places on the planet.  This includes the [...]

COLA Demands Clarity in S.S.B. Deal with G.O.B.
As we told you earlier, the arbitration award is in and no matter how it’s spun, it’s bad news for G.O.B. – about three hundred and fifty million dollars-worth of [...]

Geovanni Brackett Calls for More Consultation Before Deal is Struck
Brackett today sent out a call to the S.S.B. to halt any transaction with G.O.B. where the shares are concerned, at least until there is much more consultation and much [...]

ComPol Says Police Resources are Scarce in Toledo
On Monday Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie also spoke about Police presence in Punta Gorda. There have been two murders recently and while Police have arraigned two persons for the [...]

Whylie Claims Police Cannot Stop Civilians from Taking Footage of Them
It’s a question that has been raised in the past – can civilians take photographs and video of Police Officers while they are conducting their duties? It was raised again [...]

Moses Sulph Claims Court Failed to Deliver Justice
In March of last year, Moses Sulph entered into an agreement with an individual to order a number of items which would later be purchased upon delivery.  When the products [...]

MoE Hosts Conference on Cyber Security
For the past two days, the Ministry of Education has been hosting a conference on Cyber Security. The awareness workshop opened dialogue with principals of secondary schools, IT teachers, parents, [...]

Experts Say Cyber-Bullying is a Real Concern in Belize
Cyber bullying, the release of nudes and sex tapes on social media platforms have become a concern in Belize, exposing the lack of personal securities.  But according to the professionals, [...]

Team Belize at the World Series of Poker Tournament in Las Vegas
We’re just back from Las Vegas, Nevada where over the weekend; Belize was represented by eighteen poker players in the World Series of Poker Monster Stack Event. It was the [...]

LOVE FM

Two Teenagers Arraigned for the Murder of Francisco Ack
Police in Punta Gorda are laying charges against two men in connection with a recent murder in that municipality. We join our Toledo Correspondent, Paul Mahung for the details. PAUL MAHUNG “Two persons were charged with murder in connection in connection with a recent murder incident in the Toledo District. Officer in Command of the Toledo […]

Investigators Probe Into the Murder of BDF Soldier
On Sunday we reported of a body found on the coastline at the centre of Punta Gorda Town. Since then, investigators have identified the body as being that of a Belize Defense soldier. As we hear in this report from Paul Mahung, investigations are underway into the circumstances. PAUL MAHUNG “Police in Punta Gorda continue […]

COMPOL Speaks of the Need for More Police in Toledo District
Last week there was a murder in San Benito Poite, a village in the Toledo District and over the weekend the partially decomposed body of a solider was found. When it comes to the presence of police officers, the Commissioner of Police concedes that there is need for improvement in this southern district particularly given […]

Belize Red Cross Activated as Fire Victims Get Relief Supplies
After the destruction of several homes and businesses on Ambergris Caye in Monday morning’s fire, relief efforts are underway on the island through the provision of meals, clothing, shelter and other supplies. The Belize Red Cross has been activated since yesterday with supplies and man power sent out to the island to assist in the […]

Toledo Alcalde Association Congratulates DPP on Decision of the Santa Cruz 13 Case
Yesterday the case against the thirteen Santa Cruz villagers was discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Punta Gorda Magistrates’ Court by Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith. On the heels of the discontinuation, the Toledo Alcalde Association issued a release stating, quote, “This morning the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the charges against […]

COLA Demands Halt on Sale of SSB Shares
Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action (COLA) has issued a release entitled, “MUST WORKING BELIZEANS PAY FOR GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC INCOMPETENCE?” The release begins by questioning the selling of shares. It reads, quote, “For what reason, we ask, is Government seeking to sell to the Social Security Board $55 million worth of shares in Belize Telemedia […]

Lessons in Sexual Offences and News Reporting for Media Personnel
Two agencies in Belize with a focus on women and children recently conducted a Media Sensitization Workshop on sexual offences and responsible reporting. We join Renee Trujillo for that story. RENEE TRUJILLO REPORTING The reports coming out of the Belize Police Department as the only source of information would prove inaccurate when it comes to […]

Aspects of Sex Crimes in Belize and the Prosecutors’ Challenges
Sexual offences can come in various forms as Attorney Baja Shoman explained earlier. Child Prostitution is one sexual offence that several agencies with responsibility for children are looking to combat. Brianna Williams of the NCFC Policy and Legislative Committee spoke of what child prostitution is and who can be held accountable in this area. BRIANNA […]

Belizean Nephrologist Speaks on Dialysis Treatment
Dr Ronald Hyde is a Belizean Nephrologist who is attached to the Arizona Southwest Kidney Institute and has found ways in giving back to Belize through his expertise. Love News met up with Dr Hyde at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital as he was attending to patients who are receiving kidney dialysis. DR RONALD HYDE […]

Belize May Remain on List of Endangered Heritage Sites
The Barrier Reef of Belize has been on the list of World Heritage Sites considered in danger since June 2009. The world Heritage Committee will be meeting in Isntanbul, Turkey on July 10 to discuss the status of various World Heritage Sites including Belize’s Barrier Reef. This week, however, international attention shed light on the […]

PlusTV

Well known San Benito man murdered; family fearful
On Monday of last week, we reported on another murder in the south,where a San Benito man was killed while walking home after church. On Saturday the 18th of June, 36 year old farmer of San Benito Village, Francisco Ack, was walking home from church when he was attacked by two unidentified male pers...

Massive fire in San Pedro wipes out homes and businesses
Several businesses were destroyed and over 20 families displaced or left homeless following an early morning fire that tore through parts of downtown San Pedro between Pescador and Barrier Reef Drives. The damage is estimated to be in hundreds of thousands of dollars. The fire, we are told, started...

COMPOL denies religion played any role in detention of Muslim family
The sensational story about a Muslim family being detained by Belize Police and their electronic devices confiscated has made full media rounds over the past week. The Ahmad family of Hattieville reported to the public that Special Branch Police orchestrated a predawn raid on Monday at their house i...

Police recognize brave Eastern Division (North) cops
A total of seven police officers from Eastern Division (North), which covers Northside Belize City and the cayes, were today recognized for acts of bravery in the call of duty. Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie describes the acts for which the officers were acknowledged: Allen Whylie, Commissioner...

Police save the life of a drowning minor
Members of the North Side Eastern Division Strike Team of the police department are being hailed as heroes after they saved the life of a drowning child. On Friday 24th June, sometime around 10:30 a.m., members of the North Side Eastern Division Strike Team were on mobile patrol when they received i...

Domestic Dispute leads to arson
Belize City police are investigating a case of arson which arrived as a result of a domestic dispute. On the night of Friday June 24 the two storey structure at #182 East Collet Canal, Belize City was set on fire., the fire started on the first floor of the yellow two storey cement house , property ...

54 year old man reported missing
35-year-old Maria Tzib of San Ignacio Town, reported that on Sunday, June 26 at around 12:00 a.m., her common-law husband, 54-year-old David Williams, went to the store and did not return. On the same date, about 9:30 a.m. Tzib’s sister-in -law arrived at her house and informed her that David Willia...

Amandala

San Pedro inferno leaves 88 homeless
Eighty-eight persons were left homeless after a four-hour inferno gutted eleven large buildings on Pescador Drive, one of the main arteries in San Pedro. The devastating blaze stripped 27 families of their homes. According to official reports, 11 buildings were completely destroyed and 6 were partially damaged. Eight businesses were completely destroyed, and six were partially destroyed. Of the 27 families (consisting of 88 individuals) that were affected, 21 families, comprising 68 of the 88 persons affected by the fire, lost everything. While no fatalities were reported, Amandala was told that without the prompt response of the National Fire Services, the Police Department and the approximately one hundred locals who formed a 50-foot bucket brigade to combat the flames, the destruction caused by the fire could have been much worse. However, Assistant Superintendent of San Pedro, Henry Jemmott, had a different view. He told Amandala that many of those individuals who had offered immediate assistance were under the influence of alcohol and in fact, served as major impediments to fighting the fire.

Today was set as the date for the commencement of the Crown’s case in Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court, against the remaining 11 out of 13 Mayans from Santa Cruz, who were accused of common assault and aggravated assault against Rupert Myles, a Belizean of Creole descent, accused of building a house on sacred Mayan land. Instead of the case going forward after 102 days since it made its way onto the court’s calendar, however, it was struck out by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Cheryl-Lynn Vidal, who, in a letter to Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Smith, said it would not be in the interest of justice to continue the case. The case against the Santa Cruz 13, as the group came to be later known, had attracted both national and international attention. As recently as Wednesday, June 22, comments that were critical of the prosecution of the Mayas were made in a press release from Minority Rights Group International (MRG), captioned “Prosecution of Maya in Belize politically motivated and evidence of inequality before the law, says MRG.”

The life of Anthony “Pun” Gillett, Sr., 38, was suddenly ended by a man with whom he usually drank and smoked. According to eyewitness reports, as was his Friday night ritual, “Pun” was drinking and smoking with his friends. He had just taken out a strip of bamboo to roll a marijuana joint when one of his “friends” took out a firearm, put it under his chin and fired a single shot, which then exited through his head. Gillett died on arrival at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital at 1:24 a.m. on Saturday. His friend-turned-alleged killer, Ryan Barnett, a George Street resident, has since been arrested and charged for his murder. Ryan Barnett, 30, did not have to enter a plea today, Monday, when Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser read a single count of murder to him, which stated that he “intentionally and unlawfully cause the death of Anthony Gillett.” Barnett will now join the list of those prisoners who are transported to the Magistrate’s Court on a regular basis for adjournments until a preliminary inquiry is held to determine if his case will be committed to the Supreme Court.

Mentally challenged man chops 6 people in Yo Creek
A Yo Creek man who is mentally challenged was remanded to the Belize Central Prison today until August 29 after he savagely chopped six people, maiming two of them. Larry Banner, 37, was taken to the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court, on charges of maim and aggravated burglary, and was remanded to prison. Police say that at about 12:30 Friday afternoon, Banner went to the home of his sister-in-law, Adela Choc, armed with a machete, and without provocation, chopped her on the left side of her face and severed her left thumb. He then attacked her three children, chopping an infant on both her elbows, chopping her 3-year-old son on the back of the head, and severing the thumb of her 5-year-old son. Banner then ran out of the house and disappeared. Neighbours rushed the mother and children to the Northern Regional Hospital, where doctors performed surgery on them.

Electricity rates going up on Friday
After an extensive review of an application filed by the Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) in January for an 11.5% rate increase, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has issued its final decision, declaring that the new mean electricity rate of 36.99 cents per kilowatt-hour, an increase of 5.7%, should take effect as of Friday, July 1, 2016. The rate review applies to the Full Tariff Review period spanning 2016-2020, but the PUC will conduct annual reviews of the tariffs over the period. Social rate customers will pay a penny more per kilowatt-hour, but commercial customers that are among the bigger consumers, as well as industrial customers, will see their service charges increase from $100 to $125. Street lighting bills, paid by the Government of Belize, will also go up from 40 cents per kilowatt-hour to 42 cents per kilowatt-hour. Although average electricity tariffs will increase in the next few days, the PUC has not approved any adjustments to any other previously approved fees and charges. BEL had also asked the PUC to approve changes to its existing fees and charges, and to introduce new ones.

De-risking discussed at conference of Caribbean accountants in Belize
Roughly 300 accountants attended the 34th Annual Caribbean Conference of Accountants which was officially opened today at the Ramada Belize City Princess under the theme: “Call to Champions: Breaking Boundaries in the Marketplace”. The event was organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC), which has a membership of 3,700. The region-wide challenges faced by indigenous Caribbean banks in accessing correspondent banking services in the US and other foreign jurisdictions, and the tectonic shifts in the financial landscape, have also impacted the sector, whose clientele have been hard-hit by the phenomenon—some to the extent that their businesses could no longer survive. Shawn Mahler, conference chair, and alternate director for Belize on ICAC’s board of directors, told journalists that they are “feeling a huge impact,” because of the challenges posed by de-risking and delinking by foreign banks, which, she said, have significantly impacted their ability to guide clients on expanding their businesses due to the limitations they now face.

BAA selects athletes to Olympic Games in August
The Belize Athletic Association (BAA) announces that it has selected athletes to represent Belize at the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in August. Ms. Katy Sealy and Mr. Brandon Jones were selected based on their consistent and progressive performances, as well as compliance with all necessary documentation necessary over the years. Both athletes have shown that they have the determination, discipline and ability to represent the country of Belize, and do so proudly and to the best of their ability. (Ed. Note: Just a week ago, a BAA contingent returned from the Central American Senior Championships in El Salvador with 6 gold medals, accounting for 6 of the 13 new records set at the Championships. Katy Sealy (heptathlon) and Brandon Jones (long jump) are two of our individual gold medal /record holders. Other individual gold medal/record holders for Belize include Kaina Martinez (100m), Tricia Flores (long jump), and Itohan Aikhionbare (shot put).)

Editorial: Countries and corporations
At this newspaper we often use the slogan, “Power to the people.” The concept became so popular in Belize that the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) began using it last year for their political campaigns. As far as we know, this was a slogan first used by the Black Panther Party, an organization formed by Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in Oakland, California, in the late 1960s. In our editorial today, we want to look at some history, some economics, and some current affairs. When Europe first penetrated Africa and America and began to use the wealth and people of Africa and America to enrich their home countries in Europe, it was Spain and Portugal which led the way. Our ancestors’ wealth began to be transferred from Africa and America to Portugal and Spain. This began in the latter part of the fifteenth century, at a time when Christendom was absolutely dominated by the Roman Catholic Church, with the Vicar of Christ being the Pope of Rome in Italy. In 1494, through the Treaty of Tordesillas, the Pope divided America (the “New World”), between Spain and Portugal, as led by their monarchs. In 1494, the Pope had this kind of power in Europe.

Winty J (Vincent Johnson) – my life
W: Yes! So now I will get to meet Randolph (Tiempo) Barrow and the whole crowd now. A: What year was this now? When you docked up at Freetown? W: That was about … ‘bout 1960. A: I remember that Dunlop won the 1958-59 season. W: Yes. Yes. So I came down, and I went to Baptist School. My mother took me to Baptist School right away. So that is three schools I already dealt with, you know – Rockstone Pond, Santana and Baptist. As I got to Baptist, I’m in the backyard where they play ball, and they got me on left wing. I didn’t last too long there; my mother decided to move over here into our own areas, which is for the family, you know? So we pay less money. A: But at that time, from the Freetown experience, you had already started to meet and identify those star player… W: Yeah. Yes, I lived there for about a year, for about the whole of 1960, before Hattie (Hurricane Hattie, October 31, 1961) came. A: When did you first meet the Mugga? W: It’s right around that same time.

From the Publisher
The plot was aimed at New York: the most famous city in the richest nation on earth, and the most sought-after prize for any anti-American terrorist. Reports said it was put into motion by a cell of fanatical young men, who saw the United States, with its interventionist foreign policy, as the world’s oppressor. A series of sensational attacks had been planned to hit almost simultaneously across the northeastern United States, with vast and indiscriminate loss of life. The targets were chosen because they were symbols of American wealth or the American military. New York was going to burn, and the world was going to watch.

Dr. Gayle returns to discuss violence in urban Belize
Jamaican social violence anthropologist, Dr. Herbert Gayle, will host a forum at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the auditorium of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus in Belize City. An announcement from UWI says that Gayle, a lecturer at the university, will explore the root causes of social violence in Belize and the necessary policies and approaches required to address this growing social issue, as presented in the “Male Social Participation and Violence in Urban Belize” report published in 2010. The forum is a prelude to the launch of Gayle’s new book, Like Bush Fire, which will be unveiled by his publisher, Cubola, this week. Coauthors of the book are Virginia Hampton and Nelma Mortis. “Come and rap about what’s happening,” Gayle said, in an interview with the press today, adding that the new book also looks at where Belize is currently, 6 years since his 2010 report.

Rosales to Sedi: why take us there?
Dear Editor, As in the past, please accord me space in your valuable newspaper to direct an “OPEN LETTER” to the people and Government of Belize, in particular our Foreign Minister and relative to Guatemala’s unfounded claim to our patrimony. Enough is enough, Mr. Foreign Minister. With due respect, if you do not know how to be “STERN and FORCEFUL,” I opine that you remove yourself from such an important position and have the Government appoint someone more aggressive and with “EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION” to our people’s wishes and aspirations and “STOP” immediately your “PASSIVE” approach to so called “DIPLOMATIC NOTES” and addiction to “CONFIDENCE BUILDING” measures to a people and Government in Guatemala whose words have no “FAITH” and have never shown any respect to such measures and notes.

Connecting Belize With The Pacifica Radio Network!
It was a most fulfilling moment for me as a member of BREDAA to revisit the globally progressive media institution, KPFK 90.7 FM, Los Angeles, California, which is a sister station of the internationally recognized grassroots and revolutionary Pacifica Radio Network which was formed in the United States in 1947, some 69 years ago. Accompanied by the Belize Progressive Party’s political leader, Patrick Rogers, and his brother Gerald, the tour of the KPFK studios in North Hollywood, California last week was an impressive event for me as the producer of the legendary Belizean radio issues magazine, Belize-Caribbean Pulse, that was broadcast to the Los Angeles Belizean community from 1986 to 1996. Not only were we so much welcomed by the always warm and friendly staff that has been the trademark of hospitality at KPFK, but for the first time we were being invited to view the world renowned Pacifica Radio Archives that began some three decades ago when radio broadcasting was almost antiquated and analog driven.

When will Belizeans/New Yorkers take a stand?
On Saturday the Belize International Solidarity Movement (BISM) had an open forum at the St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn. This was the fourth gathering called by Freddiemae Patnette, founder of BISM. The first was on May 7th, 2016 to discuss actions that could/should be taken in light of Guatemalan hostilities on the Sarstoon River that ended with a decision for the legal formation of BISM before launching a public protest at the Guatemalan Consulate in New York. At last Saturday’s meeting the focus was not on protesting Guatemalan hostilities but was on (1) the focus and purpose of BISM and for (2) a public declaration of who the leaders are. However, the discussion and anger was overwhelmingly directed towards the UDP’s inability to deal with crime, corruption and unwillingness to hold politicians and gang-bangers accountable for their actions; it was also centered on the idea that the confrontation on the border must be seen in the context of the failure of our political leaders, who after 35 years of independence have not provided security and territorial integrity for Belize.

Breaking Belize News

“Serious investigation” involving Ahmad family: police satisfied with operation
Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie and Head of Special Branch Superintendent Marco Vidal say they are satisfied that the operation conducted a week ago Monday against the Ahmad family in Hattieville was done, in their view, “within the confines of the law and in a professional manner.” […]

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Conch and Sea Cucumber harvesting seasons closed; Lobster season open (Part 1)
The period for harvesting, storing and consuming conch and sea cucumber closed last Friday night but it is open season on lobster as of June 15th, as is evident by festivals of celebrations on San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and last weekend in Placencia Village, South Stann Creek. Belize’s exports fell last year 2015, down to $535.33 million, the lowest since 2009 and overall continued to struggle this year. Marine fisheries export sales fell sharply from $11 million to $4 million in December 2015, primarily due to an $8 million drop in shrimp export earnings, and it seems that the decrease in production for the overall sector have continued through the first 4 months of this year. The Statistical Institute of Belize reports that for the period January to April, marine exports fell from 5,819,400 lbs produced and sold for a value of $36,124,900 in 2015, to just 603,200 lbs ($13,457,700) over the same period in 2016.

How Can You Help The Fire Victims and the Clean-Up in San Pedro?
Sunday night there was a terrible fire on the highly populated, densely packed Middle Street in downtown San Pedro. You can see the truly scary photos in Ambergris Today and San Pedro Sun. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS INJURED. Yesterday morning, I posted pictures of the wreckage. Massive efforts are underway on Ambergris Caye and all over Belize (The Tipsy Tuna in Placencia is holding a fundraiser for the victims in Placencia on July 2nd) to aid the 88 people affected by the fire. People and groups are stepping up almost hourly and the mayor has pledged – with a huge team of volunteers – to have the area cleared and cleaned in 3 days, starting today. The San Pedro Town Council has requested more volunteers – their facebook page is the best place for updates. Stop by the Town Council building – or speak to one of the officers at the site to help. Here are the approved organizations that are leading the effort:

Belize Summer in a Bowl: Mango Crumble
Summer in Belize means FRUIT to me. And there is no fruit nearer or dearer to my heart than the mango. It is absolutely delicious…tropically fabulous…a dessert in itself. Why, you may ask, mess with perfection? Gild the lily? Well…because sometimes, eating these orange beauties warm, with a brown sugar/oatie crumble on top with whipped topping or ice cream makes me very very VERY happy. Much fruit in Belize is seasonal and we are now in the heart of the mango season. Big juicy beauties are $2bzd a piece (or cheaper if you buy a bunch) here on Ambergris Caye. And if you live on the mainland? I bet you have a huge mango tree in your yard and you might be wondering what to do with them all – I can think of nothing more luxurious. An explosion of mangoes = heaven.

Aftermath: Cleanup of massive San Pedro fire begins
Below is a roundup of news reports and information on the devastating fire that hit downtown San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize in the early morning hours of June 27. More than 10 buildings were leveled and 88 people left homeless. Several businesses were completely destroyed. Bookmark and check back: More content is being posted as it is published throughout the day. (Here is a link to yesterday’s posts and stories about the San Pedro fire: Police treating fire as arson.) At the bottom of this post is a link to the numerous photo galleries posted by professional and amateur photographers. All telling the devastating story as words can not.

International Sources

New research project shows slight increase in reef health
Healthy Reefs for Healthy People has begun an underwater research project as part of its campgian to monitor local Playa del Carmen reefs. The non-government organization consists of a group of specialized staff from the Ecological Center Akumal who will collect data for a report to be released in early 2017. Marisol Rueda Flores, Mexico representative for Healthy Reefs, says that, “We have 17 reef points we have been monitoring since 2006. Here in Playa del Carmen only we have four points, but will specifically cover from Cancun to the Xcalak area.”

Videos

June 28, 2016

88 San Pedro residents affected by devastating fire
As many as 88 residents have been left homeless after a devastating fire gutted through 17 homes shortly after midnight on Monday, June 27th. 11 buildings were totally destroyed, of which 8 were businesses and 3 were family homes. 6 buildings were partially destroyed. 27 families, totaling 88 people, have been affected by the most devastating fire San Pedro has seen in recent history. 21 families (68 people) lost everything. The fire roared through wooden and concrete buildings on Pescador Drive and Buccaneer Street as the San Pedro Fire Department and the ever-present bucket brigade frantically tried to get it under control. By 4AM, the fire was brought under control, but not after it had caused major damage. According to Deputy of the Belize Police Department Coastal Executive Unit Henry Jemott, upon receiving the call around 12:30AM, Police and Fire personnel arrived at the scene where they observed the rear part of El Dorado Store engulfed in fire. At about 8:30AM, the fire had passed, stopping just short of Graniel’s Dreamland. Police are calling it an act of arson.

Canned food drive at the San Pedro Lions Club, Belize starting Tuesday at 8AM.

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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

Relief efforts for fire victims underway
If you wish to donate clothing, footwear, toiletries, personal goods, canned goods, equipment, baby supplies, toys, and feminine products, you may drop off your donations to the following places: Lions Den, San Pedro Roman Catholic School, SPTC, Crazy Canucks, Palapa Bar, Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye, and The Sandbar. Maya Island Air, Caribbean Queen Shipping, and Tropic Air are also on board to help, and will be offering free cargo transport to those who wish to ship their donated items. Saga Humane Society is providing pet shelter, dog or cat food, toys, leashes, and collars. Victims may contact Eileen Jamiso at 600-7450 for more details. The SPTC will be organizing a clean-up for the next three days. Those willing to volunteer should meet at The Sandbar at Boca del Rio at 7:30AM with gloves, masks, and any equipment (shovel, rake, wheel barrow, etc.) to speed up the process. Over the course of the clean-up, the SPTC will be hosting meals for the fire victims, and volunteer workers at the Town Hall Conference Room. Those affected can stop by during breakfast, lunch hours, and at 8PM. So far, Elvi’s Kitchen, Rojo Bar and Lounge, The Sandbar, Blue Water Grill, El Popular of Orange Walk, and Ramon’s Village has provided food relief assistance. The SPTC advises that anyone who is interesting in donating food to drop off warm meals at the conference room.

Aftermath of Fire on Pescador Drive
Donations are desperately needed, as entire families are now homeless and will have to start all over. Items needed include practical clothing and canned food, household items, towels, pots, pans, silverware, sheets, pillows, toys, toiletries (including sanitary items), toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc. UPDATE: Baby items are desperately needed as well: wipes, diapers, formula, etc. As people have no way to cook, instant meals such as cereals and milk are much appreciated.

San Pedro Magistrate explains court proceedings
With the escalating crime rates across Ambergris Caye, residents frequently question the effectiveness of the San Pedro Police Department. On many occasions, a person known to have been charged for a crime is seen out on the streets shortly after their arrest. This has led to community frustration, with residents claiming that the local police are not doing their job. Seeking to clarify the situation, The San Pedro Sun sought answers from the local island authorities. The fact is that the release of persons charged is not a decision made by police officers, but by the Magistrate stationed in San Pedro Town. In an interview with current San Pedro Town Magistrate, Janelle Villanueva, the functions of the court and why certain decisions are made was explained. According to her, the main function of the court is to administrate justice in the local judiciary system. She stated that when persons are issued an arrest warrant and brought in for trial, they are entitled to bail by law, as long as the felony is not murder, possession of fire arms or drug trafficking in large quantities. “It is in the constitution of the country that every person has a right for bail, as long as they meet certain conditions. Bail is a form of assurance that the person in question will be present for his/her trial and not flee,” she said. While this is the case for bail, there have been incidents whereby people breach their bail conditions.

Run away to John’s Escape!
Just a quick turn off the main road 4.5 miles north of San Pedro Town, to where golf carts once traversed, is a hideaway that is so tranquil and beautiful, you just want to sit and enjoy. That is what we did one fine Saturday, as we took the purple lovebug (aka, the company golf cart) out for a fun afternoon of exploration. Our location for Zen and conversation? John’s Escape! Former home of he-who-must-not-be-named, the brightly colored buildings and expansive beach views offer a relaxing atmosphere after a bit of a hot and dusty drive up. The roads are fantastic and wider, making for smooth driving, but not paved so the dust in these hot months had us thirsting for refreshment. Bartender Cookie was happy to greet us with two ice cold Belikins, and we collapsed under a palapa on the beach, sipping and refreshing ourselves.

Ambergris Today

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. Awards Exceptional Youth
Over the weekend Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation and Area Representative of Belize Rural South, took time to award three outstanding youth of Belize with scholarships. Rachel Alamilla of San Pedro Roman Catholic School and Rafael Marin of Caye Caulker RC School were the top-scoring students for their school in Belize’s the Primary School Examination (PSE). Rachel scored an average of 94.3 and Rafael scored 79.9. For their top performance in their respective schools, Hon. Heredia granted both students a $500 book scholarship. Considered a Belizean Hero for his great work towards raising funds for the Belize Council for the Visual Impaired, vRowan Garel was granted a $10,000 scholarship by Hon. Heredia as he furthers his education in the United States at Drew University. Visually impaired himself, Rowan takes on the challenge of living on his own a the university expanding on his eco-location training.

Massive Downtown Fire Almost Destroys Entire Block in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Sunrise brought to light the vast destruction that an early morning fire caused in the heart of downtown San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, on Monday, June 27, 2016. The fire started shortly after midnight and spread though homes, businesses, storage rooms and apartment complexes, almost wiping out an entire block. The fire is said to have started in a small structure in the center of the town block and quickly spread to buildings on the left side of Pescador Drive (Middle Street). The destruction starts from Lino’s Meat Shop and upstairs residence on the corner of Buccaneer St. and extends down the street all the way to Graniel’s Dreamland display room and upstairs residence. The fire department was reported to have arrived early at the scene, but that it took the firemen some time to set up their equipment and start battling the fire. It was with the assistance of a bucket brigade of over 1,000 volunteers that the fire department was able to control the fire. A line of volunteers stretched from the seafront at Estel’s diner all the way to the lagoon side of the Sunset Boardwalk in a well-organized bucket brigade that managed to salvage Lino’s Meat Shop and upstairs residence.

Ambergris Caye’s Massive Efforts to Assist 88 Fire Victims and Cleanup Downtown Disaster Area
As the community of Ambergris Caye rapidly pushes humanitarian efforts to effectively assist the fire victims of this morning’s tragedy and ensure that they are fed, clothed and sheltered, the San Pedro Town Council pushed forward a massive cleanup campaign of the devastated downtown area and the San Pedro Police Department looks into making an arrest of an individual suspected to be the arsonist responsible for the fire. Henry Jemmott, Assistant Superintendent/Deputy CEO of Police in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, stated that his department is conducting an internal criminal investigation separate from the San Pedro Fire Department’s investigations. They are looking at arson as to the cause of the fire. Just a few hours after the massive and disastrous fire that raved through downtown San Pedro, the Lions Club, Leos Club and the San Pedro Food Bank were first to organize a collecting station for non-perishable food, clothing and personal items for the fire victims. Clothing, toys for children and even diapers have been made available to them, but now donations of towels, pillow, bed sheets and personal hygiene items are being asked for by the Lions Club/Food Bank.

Big Support for San Pedro Saga Humane Society
San Pedro Mayor Daniel Guerrero reiterated the Town Council’s full support of the services provided by the Saga Humane Society on the island by presenting the non-profit organization with a newly purchased Carry All vehicle on Saturday, June 24, 2016. Mayor Guerrero promised that the Town Council will not continue the inhumane practice of dog eradication by poisoning as long as Saga Humane Society continues its work in controlling the number of stray dogs in the community. The donation of the Carry All is to assist Saga in their daily operations. The Town Council will pay for the yearly licensing of the vehicle and is looking into providing the serviced of a town dog catcher who will also be of great assistance to the community. It was also announced that Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. committed to assist in the payment of two month's rent for Saga’s office and has acquired two properties for the organization in north Ambergris Caye.

Misc Belizean Sources

BTIA-Cayo Chapter Unites to Reel In the BTB
Approximately 45 accommodation owners in the Cayo District met on Thursday June 23, 2016 at the Welcome Center in San Ignacio, Cayo to discuss new Minimum Standards for Accommodations proposed by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB). The Cayo Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) a trade organization for local tourist market stakeholders, sponsored the event. PHOTOS A broad cross section of stakeholders, including many from off-grid jungle lodges, attended the meeting. The large turnout was attributed to the widespread opposition to the BTB’s proposed legislative changes to existing laws governing the industry. Changes that members unanimously feel would have an adverse ripple affect throughout the industry. Judy duPlooy, President of the BTIA-Cayo Chapter stated, “No one is opposed to regulations pertaining to health, safety and emergency measures. However, the new proposed Minimum Standards which total 532 items (for the hotel category) far exceed reasonable requirements for an extremely diverse marketplace. Furthermore, many of the items on the checklist are not relevant criteria for renewing or obtaining a license”. “BTB has not yet looked at the cost of implementing the proposed Minimum Standards, the implication for competitiveness of the sector and more broadly the economy of Belize” commented Dr. Ydahlia Metzgen, a BTIA-Cayo Board member. She went on to say, “The impact of the current proposed Minimum Standards not only will be felt by the hotel owners but also by their employees, tour operators and all businesses touched by the tourism industry, the #1 employer in Belize. The broader consequences of the standards should be examined”.

Chiquibul Outreach Campaign Finishes
The Friends for Conservation and Development have finished their Chiquibul Forest Outreach Campaign. Over 6000 students were reached. Thanks, FCD and PACT! Protect the Chiquibul! "The Beauty of the Chiquibul Forest Outreach Campaign has reached its project end. A total of 28 communities, 44 schools, 250 teachers and 6,246 students benefited from the educational presentation throughout the Cayo District. FCD is grateful to PACT, Principals, teachers, students and the Ministry of Education for their support."

Channel 7

Block Burner On San Pedro Leaves 88 Homeless
Tonight, 88 people are homeless, and there is major loss of property as San Pedro town tries to recover from a massive fire that devoured part of a downtown block in Belize's tourism capital. Tonight, we'll have the story from the island plus the answers from the fire chief and the police. We start with the basic narrative. This morning at12:45, The San Pedro Fire department received a report of a fire on Pescador Drive, which is in the heart of the town. By the time it was done four hours later, 11 buildings had burnt and 6 were partially damaged.

Why Only One Fire Truck And Two Firemen?
And so while that is the fire and the aftermath, what about the firefight? Did the Fire Department fail to contain the fire effectively? There was only one fire truck working and only two fire men on duty. When they arrived at the scene, they found an unoccupied two storey wooden structure on fire. The bad part was that it was surrounded by other wooden buildings - which was a recipe for the disaster that unfolded. The fire truck quickly expended the 300 gallons of water it had in the tank, and then had to activate mobile pumps to source water from the sea. That's more than 15 minutes down time - which is when the fire quickly spread. We spoke to the Fire chief today about what went wrong, and what was unavoidable:..

Another City Slaying, Cops Say Not Gang Related, Streets Say Otherwise
There was another murder on the southside of Belize City close to midnight on Friday. 38 year old Anthony Gillett was shot in the head, allegedly by 30 year old Ryan Bennett who he had been socializing with inside a yard on west Collet Canal. The two were in Gillett's yard hanging out when suddenly things turned, and Gillett was shot to the top of his head. He survived - but died a few hours later at the KHMH. The Southside commander told the media more on Saturday: ACP Chester Williams- O. C., Eastern South Division: "Upon arrival there, they met one, Anthony Gillett, who at the time was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was subsequently transported to the KHMH where he was admitted and subsequently he died shortly thereafter or upon arrival at the hospital."

Cops With Capes? Police Played Hero And Saved Drowning Child
Often times on the news, there's an onslaught of bad news about policemen and women - variously accused of abusing their power, or engaging in criminal activities. And while there are more than a few bad eggs in the department of over two thousand men and women, most cops are genuinely just doing their jobs trying to preserve the peace. And, in most cases, they get no recognition for it. Well, tonight, we can say that's starting to change, because a trio of officers from the north side strike team who saved a child from drowning on Friday were recognized by the commissioner for their valiant conduct. At about 10:35, police learned about an 11 year old child who'd gone under water at the pier on Marine Parade and they sprung into action. Sgt. Anibal Castellanos who supervises the team explained:..

COMPOL Congratulates Courageous Cops
And another set of cops show showed extraordinary bravery last week also received a commendation today. They're the ones who chased down the 15 year old shooter that tried to kill a man in front of the Eastern Division police station. Corporal Alrick Arnold took a bullet to the chest, while Detective Corporal Brian Miller, Coporal Joel Grinage and PC Criston Moore all teamed up to apprehend the youth. Today, they received their commendation at the police station while the top Brass of the Police Department went all the way to Corporal Arnold's home to tell him how much they appreciated his work:...

Did Cops Endanger Public With Urbie
And while those are the good cops - the bad cop of the moment is Detective Constable Urbie Alamilla. He was remanded to prison last week after he was charged with discharging a firearm in public. Turns out, it was the second time in two weekends that he did the same thing, except the first time - even though he was visibly drunk and disorderly - his bother police officers brought no criminal charge. And then when it happened again the following weekend, only then were they quick to charge. Today when we asked the commissioner about the prudence of that decision - he said there is practical metric in a disciplinary charge:..

Santa Cruz 13 Get Free!
Exactly a year ago, we showed you when the Punta Gorda Police Department hauled 13 Mayans from San Cruz into the Magistrate's Court on charges of unlawful detention. That's because they tied up and detained Creole Belizean Rupert Myles because they say that he built his house on the sacred Ux Benka Maya Site. Well today, after months of attending court adjournments on the criminal charge, the Santa Cruz 13, now Santa Cruz 11 turned up for their adjournment. To their surprise, This morning the Director of Public Prosecutions discontinued the charges against all remaining 11 defendants setting them free. It's a welcomed end for the case, and in a press release today, the Maya Leaders Alliance said that they congratulate the Director of Public Prosecutions for acknowledging, quote, "the 13 accused who, along with their families, suffered in-calculable hardships as a result of their arrest and prosecution." End Quote.

Soldier Found Dead In PG
In other news from Punta Gorda, there was a murder in that southern town this weekend. On Sunday at 9:30 a dead body was found on the seashore on Front Street. It had been there a while, and an area resident only became aware of it when vultures started circling. Police confirmed the identity to be 27 year old BDF soldier Orlando Rash from San Felipe Village. His body was face down, nude and in an advanced state of decomposition. A postmortem conducted on site certified the cause of death as facial blunt force traumatic injuries with ligature around the neck.

Chopping Victims In Critical Condition, Deranged Man Arraigned
Tonight, two of six persons who were seriously injured in a chopping incident last week are just barely clinging to life. 29 year old Adela Choc was chopped to her face and sustained an amputated thump, while her son 13 year old Danny Choc, who sustained injuries to the back of his head, are both at the KHMH in a critical condition. The 13 year old is reported to be on life support. The other victims were released from the Northern Regional Hospital after receiving treatment. The horror began unfolding on Friday at midday, when a man known for his history of mental breakdowns went on an all-out chopping spree. The incident has left the community of Yo Creek Village quite shaken. But just what motivated one man to commit such an atrocity? Emanuel Pech travelled north today to find out. The relative peace and tranquility of Yo Creek Village was shattered when a man wielding a machete hacked two families close to the point of death. Today that man, 35 year old Larry Banner was remanded to prison after being arraigned for charges related to aggravated burglary and maim. A crowd of villagers gathered in front of court today to witness his arraignment- as if to make sure he is locked up.

PUP Challenge Working Its Way Thru Court
It's been a month since the Barrow Government has ended the controversial 30-day ban on the Sarstoon River. But, Opposition Leader John Briceño remains convinced that the Government wrongly used its executive powers to block Belizeans from entering a part of their territory. Today, the lawsuit he brought against the Government went back before the Chief Justice for a very brief hearing today as part of it's continuation through the court process. Today, when his attorney exited court, we asked him what's next for the case that appears moot. Here's what he told us: Godfrey Smith, Temp, Attorney for Claimant: "This morning they asked for some more time because his Excellency, the Governor General who is supposed to make the affidavit in response, was not in the jurisdiction. So they've been given until next week Monday to file that affidavit. After that, one week later on the 11th of July will be the first hearing where the time tabling and scheduling exercise will be done. So it's still at the preliminary stages."

Why Did Police Search Ahmads
It made major news last week when police special branch searched six homes and rounded up an entire Muslim family. The Ahmad's are well known in Belize and the fact that the entire family was arrested for no clear reason suggested that they may have been detained because they are Muslims. With the long shadow of the US Intelligence apparatus, and the shadowy involvement of the Special Branch, which is Belize's spy agency - it raised eye brows. Today police gave answers: Marco Vidal, Special Branch Commander: "For the past several months special branch has been engaged in an investigation concerning information which we consider to be of a serious nature. I am not in a position to divulge the nature of that information, neither can I provide details of the investigation. But you may be aware that on Monday the 20th of June we conducted searches at the residents' of the Acpad family and other persons. Items were taken from the search and these items are being returned to the owners as we speak. Certain allegations have been made in relation to the operation at the manner of which the searches were done. We can categorically state that the operation satisfied us and we are satisfied that in fact the operation was done within the confines of the law and in a professional manner."

Muslim Woman Charged
One charge has been brought against a Muslim. Fifty-five year old Filipino national Eloisa Mujahil, who is of the Muslim faith, pled guilty to a charge of failure to comply with the conditions of her visitors permit when she appeared today before Magistrate Deborah Rogers. She was fined $1,200 and she was given until December 31 to pay. If she defaults on payment she will serve 6 months. Mujahil arrived in Belize on December 9, 2006 and she was given a permit to remain in Belize until October 4, 2009. Her attorney, Douglas Carr, explained that it was only a matter of circumstance that she was charged because she has been living in Belize with her 2 sons at 102 Amara Avenue and it was only when the police came to her home it was discovered that she had not complied with the conditions of her permit. Carr said her husband, who was looking after the immigration matter had passed away in 2014 and the attorney who was hired to do the work did not do so. The immigration officer who represented the Immigration Department told the court that the Immigration Department is not requesting deportation.

Channel 5

88 Persons Homeless after Fire Devastates San Pedro Neighborhood
As many as eighty-eight persons have been affected by the biggest fire to erupt in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The inferno sent clouds of fire into the sky as smoke [...]

Massive Relief Effort Launched in Wake of Fire
The families displaced by the fire are looking for basic necessities following the horrible fire. They lost everything in the blink of an eye. In the island, relief efforts have [...]

Belize City Fire Classified as Arson
There is another fire which police have classified as arson.  On Friday night, the first floor of a two-storey building on East Collet Canal, Belize City went up in flames.  [...]

City Resident Gunned Down Over Money Beef
There was a murder on Friday night in Belize City. Thirty-eight year old Anthony Gillett was killed at his home on West Collet Canal by a man sources claim was [...]

Missing B.D.F. Soldier’s Body Washes Ashore in PG
On Sunday morning a PG resident made a gruesome discovery on the beach. She spotted vultures circling and when she investigated found a badly decomposed body washed up on shore. [...]

Police Provide Little Clarity in Ahmad Detention
On Monday, June twentieth, Police rounded up nineteen members of the Ahmad family from six different homes in Hattieville. The homes were searched and documents, weapons and electronic items were [...]

ComPol Allen Whylie Says He Authorized the Operation
Still not revealing anything, Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie explained that he is satisfied that the investigation, search and seizure were conducted within the parameters of the law. That will [...]

6 Persons Chopped By Yo Creek Madman
A resident of Yo Creek, Orange Walk with a mental disability maimed three persons and injured several others while on a chopping spree in the village last Friday afternoon. Larry [...]

Santa Cruz 13 Freed of All Charges
After a year of numerous court appearances, the Santa Cruz Thirteen has been freed of all charges stemming from the unlawful arrest of Rupert Myles.  This morning, Director of Public [...]

Drug Running San Felipe Resident Evades Checkpoint
On Sunday morning as Customs Officers and B.D.F. soldiers conducted a checkpoint in the Blue Creek community, they intercepted a Mazda pickup truck, driven at the time by San Felipe [...]

Mexican David Dominquez Fined for Uncustommed Goods
Late this evening, the Customs Department dragged to court five Mexican nationals and two Belizeans from the San Jose, Orange Walk for uncustomed goods in respect of two hundred and [...]

Policemen Awarded for Bravery in Apprehension of Queen Street Shooter
Today, the top brass of the Belize Police Department gathered to pay tribute to seven officers – four of them involved in the bizarre shootout in front of the Queen [...]

ComPol Whylie Says Urbie Alamilla Embarrassed the Department
One police officer who certainly won’t be receiving any awards of distinction anytime soon is Detective Constable Urbie Alamilla. Alamilla was charged criminally last week for discharging his weapon in [...]

Anthropologist Set to Launch Book on Urban Violence in Belize
Anthropologist Doctor Herbert Gayle is releasing a book on urban violence in Belize. Gayle started his studies of Belize in 2008 and released the infamous Gayle Report in 2010. This [...]

Gayle Says Public Will to Stop Violence is Strong in Belize
According to the expert, Belize has the exceptional public will to do away with violence and that’s a critical component of positive change. But the time to start moving is [...]

Was 15 Year Old Involved in Queen Street Shootout a Psychopath?
We took the opportunity to ask Gayle about the brazen shootout in front of the Queen Street Police Station, in which a fifteen year old minor wounded four persons, one [...]

Cops Honored for Saving Drowning Boy
A young boy in Belize City is alive tonight, thanks to the heroic actions of three members of the Eastern Division North’s Strike Team. According to reports, the eleven year [...]

Top Brass Says Recognition is Well-Deserved
For the top brass the positive news is a boost to the Police Department, and the tribute today a necessary recognition to prompt the officers to always strive to perform [...]

Basketball and Boxing Matchups in Weekend Sports
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   Friday night’s big match dubbed the battle banks saw Atlantic Bank challenge the Heritage Bank in a bid for [...]

PlusTV

Mad Machette Man chops 5 people in Yo Creek
Just before our news time, reports reaching Plusnews is that there was a chopping incident in Yo Creek Village in Orange Walk District. Details are still sketchy but we understand that five persons were viciously chopped by a man wielding a machete. We have been told that four of the persons chopped...

NEAB stands with National Youth council on controversial decision
NEAB also commented on the decision taken by the National Youth Council to remove gender references fromits constitution and the backlash it has been receiving from LGBT advocates. NEAB says this targeting is bulying in action. The statement says, “The National Youth Council voted on June 11th to am...

NEAB says it is appalled at LGBT flag hoist by US Embassy
On Thursdaywe reported that the US Embassy in Belmopan, raised an LGBT flag on its premises alongside the American flag in commemoration of LGBT Pride Month. Members of the Belizean LGBT community were invited to attend the event. While those on the US compound were discussing the pride of those ...

SSB approves buying shares in GOB utility companies]
The Board of Directors of the Social Security Board on Thursday June 23, 2016, approved the purchase of Government’s shares in BEL and BTL at a recommended purchase of 40 million dollars of BEL’s shares and 15 million dollars of BTL shares. The Investment committee made the recommendatio...

APBEL-Petrocaribe marks tenth anniversary of establishment
Depending on calculations, Belize is closing in on the 11th anniversary of formally joining the Petrocaribe energy union arranged by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, which happened on June 29th, 2005; and the 10th anniversary of the formation of Belize Petroleum and Energy Limited, now a minor...

Belize to source regular gas from Puma after short Venezuela shortfall
Since early 2015 Belize has stopped importing premium fuel through the Petrocaribe program at Venezuela’s request.According to Deputy Chairman John Mencias it has not much affected his company, which has actually made greater profits as a result. But there is a coming shortfall in regular gasoline f...

DFC gets 8 million Euros credit line from European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank has signed an 8 million EURO loan with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in Belize. This line of credit is expected to help enhance access to finance by projects implemented by small and medium sized companies and micro entrepreneurs in the country. In addition t...

Regional HIV/AIDS Testing Day observed
Friday June 24 is observed as Regional HIV/AIDS Testing Day. It is the 5th year Belize has participated in its regional effort and it is being done under the theme, “Increasing testing to create change.” Executive Director for National AIDS Commission, Enrique Romero, said testings are done countryw...

Breaking Belize News

Santa Cruz 13 case discontinued for lack of evidence
In Punta Gorda Magistrate’s Court this morning, the sitting Magistrate discontinued the case against the Santa Cruz 13 (currently 11 after two defendants were previously dismissed) for lack of evidence on the advice of Director of Public Prosecutions and prosecutor Cheryl-Lynn Vidal. Attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd […]

ComPol says P.C. Alamilla “embarrassed” Department
Detective Constable Urbie Alamilla is out on bail after being arraigned last week for discharging his firearm in a public place. Defenders say he was trying to stop a violent confrontation from getting worse, but this was the second time he had to draw a […]

Police recognize brave Eastern Division (North) cops
Seven police officers from Eastern Division (North), which covers Northside Belize City and the cayes, were today recognized for acts of bravery in the call of duty. Three were involved in a rescue of an 11-year-old drowning child on Newtown Barracks on Friday, while the remaining […]

ComPol responds to gang problem in Belize City
Responding to recent incidents including the murderous attempt by a 15-year-old minor on a noted gang affiliate which resulted in four persons including a police officer being injured two weeks ago, Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie indicated that police will have to ring the perimeter of their […]

Ryan Barnett arrested in weekend murder
George Street resident 30 year old Ryan Barnett has been charged with murder following the death of 38 year old Anthony Gillett who was found shot to death on West Collet Canal on Friday night. Gillett was found lying in a sofa with what appeared to be […]

San Ignacio police seek suspected burglar
San Ignacio Police are currently looking for one man for questioning in connection with a burglary. On Friday at around 9:30 a.m. 68-year-old Clifford Marshall from Franks Eddy Village made checks at his trailer house bus and noticed that one of the side windows was broken and saw a […]

Police capture machete wielding man after he injures six in Yo Creek Village
Orange Walk Police successfully arrested Larry Banner after a he inflicted chop wounds to six persons, including children. Authorities report that around midday on Friday June 24, Banner entered the home of Moises Pech and attacked him and his companion Juanita Pech with a machete. […]

Estimated million-dollar fire razes ten buildings on Ambergris Caye
An early morning fire on Pescador Drive in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye is said to have razed ten buildings including homes and business and caused as much as a million dollars in damage. Around 12:45 this morning, police and fire officials responded to a wooden two-storey […]

Common law husband burns house over dispute
Belize City Police are currently looking for Jose Alberto Rivera for questioning. On Friday, June 24 sometime around 9:45 p.m. members of the fire department were dispatched to extinguish a fire that started at a yellow two storey cement house located on #182 East Collet Canal Street. […]

BDF Soldier murdered in Punta Gorda
The Belize Defense Forced is today mourning the loss of one of their own in Punta Gorda. Orlando Rash, 27, a resident of San Felipe Village was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition on Sunday morning. According to a police report, officers received information of a […]

Blogs

Devastating Fire on San Pedro’s Busy Middle Street Burns Businesses & Homes to the Ground
Last night, at around midnight, a fire broke out on Ambergris Caye – in perhaps the most densely packed area on the island, Middle Street, San Pedro. It was a rainy night…and that’s a good thing. For pictures of the flames, please check the photos from Ambergris Today and San Pedro Sun. I made it to town this morning at about 7am, to see many cleaning up the still smoking debris. Here are my photos. I parked in front of Elvi’s Kitchen – the block ahead was closed. The building to the left is Lino’s Meat Shop – they will be running there shop down south as this clean-up continues. Behind Lino’s… El Dorado Market. Across the street, doors and signs melted but relatively minor damage compared to what can happen on a windy night.

5 Ways You Can Help San Pedro Fire Victims
My heart is heavy today. I woke up to the news that all the buildings between Lino’s Meat and Graniels were badly hit by a fire last night. As I walked home and saw the devastation in my neighborhood and the streets with downed power-lines it made me think just how fragile life can be. One minute everything is normal the next it can all be gone. So many of us take that for granted every day. As I sit here writing I can smell the lingering smoke and it is making it hard for me to concentrate, I keep thinking about everyone who just lost it all in the blink of an eye. The silver lining to that is watching the San Pedro community spring to action to help our most vulnerable and do what we can to get them back on their feet. I would like to recognize those who were part of the late night bucket brigade. There were some amazing members of the community working tirelessly to help douse the fire and those helping get the word out.

Police treating fire as arson; 26 families homeless, 11 buildings burned; focus turns to cleanup, donations for victims
Updated June 27, 11:07 a.m.: San Pedro Sun is now reporting that 88 people were affected by the fire, mostly left homeless, and 11 buildings were completely destroyed in the early morning fire in Downtown San Pedro, Belize. Eight buildings were businesses and the others were residences. Updated June 27, 1:12 p.m.: Mary Rodriguez of the San Pedro Sun reports that “police are investigating it as arson.” The Sun quotes Deputy of the Belize Police Department Coastal Executive Unit Henry Jemott as saying, ““So far we are doing internal criminal investigation to see what occurred. The fire department was also assisting at this time; we would not like to speculate but we are looking at arson at this time.” The numbers are devastating: 21 families comprising 68 people lost everything in the fire, the Sun reports. This link from the Sun includes around 40 stunning pictures from this morning’s fire scene. Among the businesses destroyed were El Dorado Market, former Waraguma restaurant (recently closed?) and Cortez Upholstery — others?

International Sources

Bookbag Santa bringing Christmas in July to kids in Belize
Bookbag Santa volunteers are hard at work collecting school supplies that will be delivered to schools in Belize at the end of July. Gary Hunt, president and founder of Bookbag Santa, came up with the idea for the organization over 20 years ago. He hated seeing perfectly good school supplies go into the landfill at the end of the school year. "We literally keep two tons, actually more than two tons of good usable stuff out of the landfill every year. And we take it down to four little schools in Belize or groups here, churches, anybody that asks for stuff that we don't take to Belize, we just give it away,” said Hunt. Hunt says all of the schools in Belize need help. It's a heartwarming experience he's glad volunteers like David Parr will be able to take part in.

Enabling Belizean operator to become a regional mentor in The Caribbean
On July 11-12 members of the Cari-WOP and supporting organizations will come together in Miami for a two-day coordination and proposal development meeting. Representatives from the Belize Water Services (BWS), Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), Caribbean Water and Sewerage Association (CAWASA), Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA), and GWOPA, will meet at the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) to move forward their actions to strengthen the capacity of Caribbean water utilities through Water Operators’ Partnerships. The purpose of this meeting is to develop a framework that will establish BWS into a regional mentor and replicate the best practices gained from the WOP between BWS and CCWD in the Caribbean region. Furthermore, participants will aim to formulate strategies to obtain funding for this replication phase.

UK’s exit from EU a threat to the Caribbean, warns region’s top academic
Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sir Hilary Beckles has warned the region to brace for the impact of the United Kingdom’s (UK) break with the European Union (EU), as he predicted that every aspect of life in the Caribbean will be negatively affected. The Brexit (British exit) vote last Thursday has already caused ripples across the world, with the value of the pound falling and stock markets dipping among the immediate effects. And Sir Hilary says the region’s fragile economic recovery is now under threat and Britain’s exit should trigger immediate strategic regional reactions, even before Heads of Government meet in Guyana for their July 4 to 6 Summit. “The predictable, highly individualistic action poses both a short-term as well as a long-term threat to the performance of CARICOM economies,” he said in a statement issued yesterday.

Do you speak ‘ocean?’ – UNESCO develops open resource on ocean literacy
UNESCO is collaborating with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) on a project to develop an open resource learning tool on ocean literacy. The project is being developed by UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme and IOC as part of the EU Horizon 2020 SeaChange project. It aims to produce a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to sensitize and enable teachers and students from Europe and beyond to incorporate the concept of ocean literacy - how we influence the ocean and it influences us - into learning. The MOOC will focus on Ocean Literacy’s 7 essential principles with the long-term aim is to enhance responsibility towards the marine environment and develop marine citizenship. At the recent Global Ocean Science Education Workshop in Paris highlighting the importance of “citizen science” in protecting the marine environment, Bernard Combes of UNESCO’s Global Action Programme on ESD participated in panel discussions on the Influence of Informal Science Education on Policy and Connections Between Citizen Science, Informal Science Education, and Policy.

Videos

June 27, 2016

Fire engulfs a section of Pescador Drive and Buccaneer Street
A huge fire has engulfed a section of Pescador Drive and Buccaneer Street. The fire reportedly started early this morning. As fire fighters fight to control the area, San Pedro Police are working on evacuating all residents in the vicinity. Reports are that at least two gas containers have exploded, making matters worse. As of an hour ago, The fire is now under control - the bucket brigade stopped it from spreading further and the fire brigade are continuing to douse it. For those in need of a shelter, The San Pedro Roman Catholic School has been opened. Let's spread the word and share this information and ensure all fire victims have a place to rest! San Pedro Sun reporters at the scene say the fire appears to be under control. Due to the fire, electrical power has been cut off to portions of Pescador Drive, Angel Coral Street, Coconut Drive and Eliot Subdivision for an unknown amount of time. Residents are asked to bear with this inconvenience as damaged poles and wires will need to be repaired before the power can be reinstalled.

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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

Wolfe’s Woofer: Had it All
“I need to go to the bank this morning,” I told Sherry. “I’m going to stop and have tamales for lunch when I’m done. Why don’t I pick up some for you?” “It sounds like a plan,” she said. “I don’t want to cook.” I was sitting at the big picnic table when a man walked up to me and said, “Mr. Dennis, will you buy me a tamale?” “Juan, is that you?” I asked. “I didn’t even recognize you. I thought you were in the U.S.” “I was,” he said, “until day before yesterday. It was time for me to leave the States and I still had the return part of my plane ticket. I been back and ain’t et nothing since I got here.” “How was it in the States?” I asked.

SP Boot Camp offering fitness and self-defence lessons
There is a Boot Camp in San Pedro Town promising to build strength, endurance and agility. This new fitness program incorporates cardio, circuit training, aerobic exercises, and flexibility. With workouts modelled after old-school military training, it has the added bonus of a self-defence technique known as Krav Maga. Facilitated by Eddy Stanzer at Zen Arcade, the Boot Camp invites you to try a class for free. Stanzer recently moved to Belize from Israel. He has vast martial arts experience with a solid background in Tae-Kwon-Do, Point-fighting Kickboxing, Full Contact Kickboxing, Boxing and Krav Maga. According to Stanzer, boot camp classes are designed to help individuals achieve results in the quickest time possible. “It is a body weight form of exercise. We don’t use weights. It involves classic, modern exercises mixed with cardio elements. If you want to lose weight, get fit and make friends in a flexible workout program, then boot camp is your place,” he says.

SPJC students empowered on Belize sovereignty at Galen symposium
Students of San Pedro Junior College were empowered to defend Belize’s sovereignty, at a symposium for tertiary level students hosted by Galen University at the Sacred Heart College auditorium in San Ignacio on Friday, June 17. Participating institutions included Corozal Junior College, John Paul II Junior College from Benque, Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College, Independence Junior College, University of Belize and the hosts, Galen University.

Doctor Love: Trapped and Better Things
Dear Doctor Love, I am a 52 year old woman married to a man who is impotent. Although we have been married for seven years and live together we have not had relations in five years. He says it is not because he is impotent: he just does not want to have relations with me. He does not abuse me physically but he abuses me emotionally and verbally every day. I would not treat anyone the way he treats me. When I talk to him about divorce he does not want one. Because he does not beat me or run around on me I have no real grounds for divorce. I need help. Please tell me what to do. /s/ Trapped

Misc Belizean Sources

Caye Caulker Humane Society Mobile Clinic 2016
And here are the pictures of the wet & muddy mobile clinic. Many thanks to team North (Amanda, Matt, Susan, dr. Tracy, Diane), team Bahia (Noelle, dr. Turk, Allie, Dave) and team Black Neighborhood (Katie, Tracy, Kimberly, LaRue, Monique).

The Belize Zoo CONSERVATION CAMP 2016!
There's still time to get the surly, rebellious teenagers out of the house for 5 glorious days. Camp starts next week Monday (27th), Spread the word! BZ will once again be accepting young Belizeans join our Education team as we explore Belize's natural wonders through our week long conservation camp. This will be the 23rd year of "Zoo Camp." Special guest presentations, field trips, scientific studies and role play are just a few of the many activities planned this year. The goal of Camp, as always, is to foster conservation-minded attitudes in the next generation of stewards of our natural heritage.

SPTC gifts golf cart to SAGA
On Friday, June 24, 2016, Mayor Daniel Guerrero and the San Pedro Town Council were more than excited to present the team at Saga Humane Society with a Carry All Golf Cart complete with yearly licensing! This golf cart was very much needed by the team at Saga Humane Society and they are very grateful for such donation. During the presentation, Mayor Daniel Guerrero expressed his gratitude towards the team at Saga Humane Society for all their efforts in promoting a more Animal Friendly society. He also mentioned, on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., that the Minister has secured two lots on North, Ambergris Caye for Saga Humane Society and two months rent at their current location. The Saga Humane Society is a very active organization in our community. They are always holding fundraisers and activities in order to help our furry friends.

Mr. Francisco Arceo passes away
Mayor Daniel Guerrero, the San Pedro Town Council and Staff would like to extend its deepest condolences to the Arceo family & friends on the passing of Mr. Francisco Arceo, better known as "Don Fashico". Don Fashico was a true pioneer in the development of San Pedro, from its fishing village days to what it is now. May he rest in Peace.

Miss Panama – Miss Costa Maya Festival 2016 Contestant
The International Costa Maya Festival is excited to announce its fifth contestant vying the title of Miss Costa Maya International 2016. Meet Margareth Villanueva. If anything defines Margareth is her enthusiasm, love and joy for life. Model, entrepreneur, writer and Panamanian philanthropic, at 22 years she shows that with determination and conviction you can achieve each of the goals that you propose. She started her journey as a model at 15 years leading her to be part of campaigning, commercials and walkways with some of the best brands in Panama. Today she is one of the official participants for Miss Panama 2017 contest in which the highest representatives of the beauty sector in her country participate. The winners become carriers of international titles such as Miss Panama for Miss Universe, among others.

Belize Alumni Association Spotlight!
Congratulations to The Embassy's U.S. Exchange Program Alumni Mrs. Argelia Mendoza Ken for winning this year’s Independence Day theme contest for Belize!! This year’s September celebration theme is : “Sovereign and Strong- Together as one” that focused on the Belizean-Guatemalan territorial dispute Mrs. Ken is presently teacher and counselor at the Belize High School of Agriculture in the Orange Walk District. In 2014, she participated in the U.S. Embassy, Youth Ambassadors Program as mentor to the six students from different high schools in Belize. The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together high school students and adult mentors from countries across the Americas to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities.

National Song Competition 2016
This year's National Song Competition will be on August 13th. If you have a patriotic song, submit it by July 22nd.

Tertiary Empowerment Symposium
The Tertiary Empowerment Symposium, led by Galen, was held at the Sacred Heart College auditorium, and 100's of students from all over Belize were in attendance to talk about the encroachment into the Chiquibul. Protect the Chiquibul! "The Tertiary Level Empowerment Symposium, 'Defending our Sovereignty', led by Galen University brought students from all across the country. FCD presented on the Current Environmental Impacts of a Porous Border in the West."

Angels and Demons Tour
The Angels and Demons Tour is coming to Cayo next Saturday. Viscera, Commando, Death Suppressor, and Dead at Last will be playing. The Soul Project is the venue, so it'll be a great concert. "For the first time in San Ignacio all the way from Corozal, Dead At Last!!!!! Also we proudly announce that thrash metal legends Commando will also grace the stage, and for the first time ever an American Metal band will grace our solid *expletive removed* Viscera!!!"

Breaking Belize News

Machete wielding mad man in police custody
Alleged suspect in the chopping incident that claimed the life of Kian Chuc and hospitalized four others, is currently in police custody pending charges. On Friday June 24th, sometime around midday the peace and silence in Yo Creek was shattered when a lone man armed […]

PG police investigating circumstances of body found near beach
Information reaching Breaking Belize News is that a post mortem is currently being performed on a male person that was discovered sometime this morning near a beach in Punta Gorda. BBN has been made to understand that the person is believed to be from San […]

Fatal traffic accident on George Price Highway claims 1 life
Breaking Belize News has confirmed that a cyclist lost his life while overtaking a bus on the George Price Highway near Rumors Resort in the Cayo District. According to reports, the cyclist attempted to overtake a bus when he collided into a vehicle traveling in […]

Belize does claim Sarstoon Island, CEO/Foreign Affairs tells Reporter
An editorial in this weekend’s edition of the Reporter newspaper makes the case that the Sarstoon River and the Sarstoon Island are not unquestionably Belizean property. The editorial argues that in the case of Sarstoon Island, quote, “maybe as much as one half of this island is […]

3 Blunders That Crippled Belize’s Growth Potential
What is stopping Belize from growing? The inhibition is embedded in the decision blunders of the past two decades of post-independent Belize. Here are, what I consider, the top three blunders that crippled Belize’s growth potential. Remember, nothing sits in a bubble, everything is linked. […]

GOB too big, needs to be cut down
ny discussion about scaling down the size of government and cutting the country’s wage bill obviously involves a discussion about letting people go. It’s a very touchy and controversial subject because no government wants to feel the wrath of a public dejected by retrenchment. The […]

Blogs

San Pedro, Belize’s 2016 Annual Lobster Festival is the Best Yet
Last night was the big block party for the 10th annual Ambergris Caye Lobsterfest and it was an absolute blow-off. There were more people, more space, more booths (which means more tasty food selections) and it was an absolutely gorgeous night. I got there early. 1. Because my night time photos are…terrible. 2. I was helping to raise money for BelizeKids.Org. I made one huge error last night and I’ll admit it up front – I was asked to judge a few months ago and I TOTALLY FORGOT. I flaked on the opportunity to taste 17 lobster dishes. Am I getting blase? Letting this blogging thing go to my head? Let’s just get back to the topic at hand. LOBSTA! And a huge party.

Volunteer Vets and Hopkins Humane Society Take on Belize City – Weekend Clinic Kick-Off at St. Catherine’s Academy
Yesterday I jumped aboard the 7:30am San Pedro-Belize Express water taxi to Belize City to help with the first of a three day veterinary clinic. Goal? To spay and neuter as many animals as possible – in a city where stray dogs and cats are routinely “eradicated”. I’ll get to that in a bit… After a full Thursday of rain on Ambergris Caye, the weather looked promising as we pulled into Belize City. The lobster fishermen were unloading at the fishing co-op. Better weather means more people bringing out their animals. And MAN! DID THE ANIMALS COME OUT! By the time I left to catch the 4pm boat back to San Pedro, they had tagged Lola, #106, to be spayed. Isn’t she gorgeous? Here’s my day. And I’m leaving out the 4 hours of scrubbing instruments…it just doesn’t photograph all that great.

International Sources

In vitro fertilization may save coral reefs
Marine biologists at the California Academy of Sciences have joined a new international effort to rescue endangered coral reefs from the consequences of widespread human destruction and a warming climate. Marine biologists at the California Academy of Sciences have joined a new international effort to rescue endangered coral reefs from the consequences of widespread human destruction and a warming climate. “If it’s successful,” Shepherd said, “it opens the possibility for widespread application on coral reefs everywhere.” Shepherd’s group has joined with leaders of an international research and conservation group called Secore International — Sexual Coral Reproduction — whose founder and president, Dirk Petersen, led the original research into a unique method of in vitro fertilization of coral organisms. Five years ago, Petersen and researchers diving at the Caribbean Marine Biological Institute in Curacao, collected coral sperm and egg cells in the water while the corals were spawning, and reared the coral larvae in the laboratory. When they matured, the researchers transplanted the coral larvae onto small, fist-size tiles that the divers then transplanted to the degraded reef by the thousands.

Videos

June 25, 2016

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

San Pedro Food Bank thanks Crazy Canuck’s for substantial donation
The San Pedro Food Bank (SPFB) extends their gratitude to Crazy Canuck’s Beach Bar for donating over $10,000 that directly benefited dozens of local families in need here on the island. Every Tuesday, Crazy Canucks hosts hermit crab races, and 25% of the raised funds are donated to the San Pedro Food Bank and Daryl’s Kids of Belize. According to Brittney O’Daniel of the SPFB, the food bank costs about $1,000 a week to run, and the donations assist with the costs of perishable items. “Every week for the past year, the food bank gets anywhere from $150-300 a week. It’s the only consistent weekly money we get so it’s really helpful. Last week, they hit the 10k mark over the last year, and we would like to express our sincere thanks to Crazy Canucks,” said O’Daniel. Rob Burrows, owner of Crazy Canucks, explained how he carefully selects which charities he donates to. “I was encouraged by Brittney and how she runs the food bank. It’s families in need, and she helps to maintain them. We will always support her and this good cause,” said Burrows.

Inclement weather delays completion of police barracks
There is yet another delay in the completion of the second phase of a police barracks for the San Pedro Police Formation. The failure to complete the works in the building has been attributed to the recent rains, which impede the progress of labour, particularly outside of the structure. Town Councillor and contractor Gabriel ‘Gaby’ Nuñez had previously expected to complete the building by Monday, June 6th, but according to him, due to lack of man power, it did not happen. However, he stated that very minimal work is left to do. “The two main touches left to do in order to finish the building is painting the outside walls and covering the floor with marley. We have not been able to do any painting due to the recent bad weather,” said Nuñez. He also commented that even though all plumbing and wiring works have been completed in the building, they are still asking for assistance to get a meter socket to install outside of the building in order to supply the structure with electricity.

Our National Flower – The Black Orchid
Belize is full of fascinating cultures, flora, fauna and a history that is varied and colorful. Of course we have equally cool National Symbols to go along with it! They include a flower, a tree, a bird, a large mammal, and of course, our flag and its coat of arms. The Encyclia Cochleatum – or Black Orchid, is our national flower. It is a tiny cluster of bulb-like stems that grow up to half a foot long, with few leaves. The flowers bloom nearly all year round, and the petals and sepals are a mixture of green and yellow, with a purple base. The shape of the flower is similar to a clam shell valve, and is deep purple – almost black – with showy purple veins.

Fruta Bomba completely closes in Belize
Fruta Bomba, a foreign owned papaya company that was once one of the biggest employer in Belize, has officially closed its operations in Belize. Since February 19, 2016, Brook’s Tropicals, which is the founder for Fruta Bomba and Belize Food Packers Limited, informed the Ministry of Labor about its intention to close its growing and packing operations in Belize within the next six months after 20 years in business. The closing of the company, however, came sooner than expected, as Fruta Bomba closed its doors on Thursday, June 16th.

Holy Cross Anglican Primary School celebrates 10th Anniversary
On June 14, 2006, thanks to the dedication of Francis and Vernon Wilson, ground was broken for San Mateo’s Holy Cross Anglican School. Ten years later, on Saturday, June 18th, the school celebrated its 10th anniversary alongside past alumni as well as new recruits. The administrators had the opportunity to inform those in attendance what the future of the school looks like. Attendees were then shown the master plan for the school’s expansion, which will entail the relocation of classrooms in line with the school property. This move will facilitate the refurbishment of existing buildings to make way for the pre-school. The expansion project also foresees the building of a high school, which will maximize the secondary level education on the island, especially as the demand for classroom space continues to grow on Ambergris Caye. According to school administrators, as soon as the area where they plan to build is filled in, the construction of the new buildings will start. At the moment, filling the land is the main delay, but they are very optimistic that the government, through Area Representative Manuel Heredia Jr., will help. The time frame for the materialization of this master plan is five years.

GOB admits Guatemalan Armed hostility within Belizean waters
On Thursday, June 18th, nine armed soldiers from the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) vessel attempted to stop a Belizean vessel with two media personnel from traversing the north side of the Sarstoon Area. The incident occurred after 6AM, and the Belizean vessel was able to speed away back to Punta Gorda. The Government of Belize (GOB) is investigating the incident in an effort to verify all the particulars, including that the media vessel was in Belizean waters. Guatemalan authorities have communicated that they attempted to stop the vessel to inquire the reason the media was taking photos of their naval base. However, video footage has shown that the GAF claimed that the vessel was on Guatemalan waters. Mike Rudon, news reporter at Channel 5, recounted to officials that as they traveled, the GAF followed them. As the Belizean vessel entered Sarstoon, and turned back, the GAF ordered them to stop, but the Belizean vessel refused. The GAF continually argued with the Belizeans that they were in Guatemalan waters, and immediately ran their boat close to theirs.

Ambergris Today

EUR $8MIL Loan for DFC to Support Private Sector Development in Belize
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 8 million loan with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in Belize, which will help to enhance access to finance by projects implemented by small and medium sized companies and micro entrepreneurs in the country. The long term finance from the EIB provided at attractive rates will boost DFC’s ability to support private sector development in Belize. In addition to the loan, which will be supported by a guarantee from the Government of Belize (GoB), the operation will benefit from technical assistance, which will help to strengthen DFC’s credit risk management and assets and liabilities management. DFC plays an important role in providing long term finance to the productive sectors, including agro-industry, manufacturing and tourism. It is currently undergoing a restructuring process aimed at bolstering DFC’s credit delivery and administration. The EIB will support the restructuring process primarily through its technical assistance program.

Misc Belizean Sources

Star's Island Fantasy in San Pedro
There's a new business in town! Be sure to drop by Star's Island Fantasy and in case you're shy they also post their collections on Facebook.

Government of Belize's position with regards to the Sarstoon River and Sarstoon Island
In response to this week's Editorial in The Reporter newspaper, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Lawrence Sylvester, has written a letter making clear the Government of Belize's position with regards to the Sarstoon River and Sarstoon Island

Sea cucumber season ends June 30th, 2016
In accordance with Statutory Instrument No. 67 of 2009, under the Fisheries Act Chapter 210 of the laws of Belize Revised edition 2000-2003, the Belize Fisheries Department hereby reminds all fishers and the general public that: No person shall fish for, or harvest, at any time in the waters of Belize, or buy, sell, have in possession, export or attempt to export any sea cucumber after June 30th, 2016. The season will remain closed from July 1st to December 31st 2016. Any person found in possession of sea cucumber after this date will be charged and prosecuted in a Court of Law in accordance to the Fisheries Regulations. The assistance of the fishing community and the general public is greatly appreciated in the sustainable use and conservation of this important fishery resource. For additional information or to report any illegal activity please contact the Fisheries Department at telephone number: 224-4552/203-2623 or by email: [email protected]

Vocal Workshop 2016
Jun 27 at 5 PM to Jul 7 at 7 PM. Pallotti School of Music, Belize City. Giselle E. O'Brien is a singer, composer and music teacher currently residing in Belize.

BEL to Hold Annual General Meeting
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders later today, to announce the results of the Company’s 2015 performance. Central to the report to shareholders, are accomplishments gained from the commitment to BEL’s Mission “To provide reliable electricity at the lowest sustainable cost, stimulate national development and improve the quality of life in Belize.” In 2015, BEL achieved net earnings of $24.9 million, resulting in dividend payments, similar to the previous year, of $0.15 per share. Following three consecutive years of proven financial viability, the Company also repaid the $10 million loan it obtained from the Social Security Board in 2012. The Company was able to achieve this robust financial performance whilst reducing electricity rates to an all-time low.

Muscle Hut Fitness Club Grand Opening
Muscle Hut Fitness Club had their grand opening here in San Ignacio. They are still running specials for signing up. Welcome to San Ignacio!

San Pedro: The History of its Lobster Industry
Come visit us at the Welcoming Booth at the San Pedro Lobster Festival. On Exhibition will be "the History of San Pedro's Lobster Industry." Lobster a Trash Fish: The first few decades of the twentieth century had brought the beginning of Belize’s spiny lobster industry. Belizeans had traditionally rejected lobsters as “trash fish” and made no effort to exploit them.

STREET CLOSURE June 24th in San Pedro
Please be advised that Barrier Reef Drive from the intersection of Buccaneer Street (Alijua Building) to the intersection of Pelican Street (Fido’s Restaurant & Bar) will be closed to all vehicular traffic from Friday, June 24th at 6:00 p.m. and will reopen on Sunday, June 26th at 8:00 a.m..

Scott's 'Flipper's Upper Deck' at Palapa Bar and Grill.
It's been a great day at Palapa Bar and Grill. Scott's 'Flipper's Upper Deck' opened and it's been booming all day with their Lobster Crawl specials.

Letter: The case for the production of industrial hemp
Last Wednesday, the Marijuana Commission of CARICOM began consultations in Kingstown, St Vincent, as mandated by the 2014 CARICOM conference of heads of governments’ decision to “examine the social, economic. health and legal issues surrounding the various aspects of marijuana use in the Caribbean and its implications and make recommendations back to the conference.” The Belize Hemp Initiative, a group of farmers, alternative medicine advocates and average citizens from Northern Belize, would like to be a part of these regional consultations as it has been on a four-year long mission to get the government to lift the ban on growing industrial hemp with all its myriad economic, agro-industrial diversity advantages for Belize. Industrial hemp is currently categorized as an illegal drug and its production is dubiously deemed a criminal offence under the laws governing the cultivation and possession of ‘cannabis’ or marijuana. Much ground has been covered and legal opinions gathered over the years:

US Embassy Flag Ceremony & Backlash to National Youth Council
The National Evangelical Association of Belize and the almost 300 Churches & Ministries it represents nationwide is appalled at the US Embassy raising of the LGBT flag over Belize yesterday. The NEAB finds it terribly disrespectful of our nation and laws, as well as provocative in the pushing and promoting of homosexuality globally. US Ambassador Moreno stated on June 24th, 2014 “I can affirmatively state that from the perspective of the United States there is no LGBT agenda. I think what the mission of the United States is to promote human rights with respect to all groups…” The truth is obvious. We repudiate efforts to redefine human rights in ways that are contradictory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is crystal clear in protecting religious freedoms and the natural family.

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George symbolized in the Star of a Knight/Dame Grand Cross
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later King George IV, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, King George III. (Our downtown history tells us that the street formerly known as “Front Street” in downtown was changed to “Regents Street” in 1818 so this may have had some connection to this event). It is named in honour of two military saints, St Michael and St George. The Order of St Michael and St George was originally awarded to those holding commands or high position in the Mediterranean territories acquired in the Napoleonic Wars, and was subsequently extended to holders of similar office or position in other territories of the British Empire. It is at present awarded to men and women who hold high office or who render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country, and can also be conferred for important or loyal service in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

Channel 7

7News To The Sarstoon, No Guatemalan Harassment
On Tuesday, at the OAS Building in Washington DC, delegations from Belize and Guatemala spoke for 5 hours, and when it was all done, Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington and Ambassador Alexis Rosado were unable able to tell us anything more than that the negotiations over the Sarstoon River Mechanism had started. The Statement from OAS would only say that quote, "good progress was made during the meeting", and that, quote, "best practices for the de-escalation of tensions in the Sarstoon River" would be used. But, it was unclear what "best practices" truly refer to, so, today, we decided to visit the Sarstoon for ourselves to see if the Guatemalan military had truly stopped harassing Belizeans in the river. Daniel Ortiz left the Toledo Coast a little after 7:00 this morning and he has the story: When our news team entered the mouth of the Sarstoon River, the first thing we noticed was that there were no Guatemalan military vessels present and ready to intercept at a moment's notice. In fact, apart from a few other Guatemalan civilian boats, there was almost no traffic.

Eminent Panelists Debating The ICJ
Last night at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts, the SSB Debate on Belize Guatemala relations was extensive and fiery. The debate went on for 1 hour and 49 minutes as the six panelists for and against the ICJ tried to bring the audience around to their point of view. The affirmative slate, represented by of Ambassadors Lisa Shoman and James Murphy, and Gian Vasquez tackled the issue from the historical perspective. They gave the audience a history lesson outlining the more than 100 years that all persons involved tried and failed to resolve the dispute. Their main pitch for a yes vote is that Belize has tried everything and everything failed, all except litigation at the International Court of Justice. Here's the affirmative slate making the case for the ICJ, along with the rebuttal from the negative slate:

Mass Chopping In Yo Creek, Maims One, Seriously Injures Minors
Six people - three adults and three minors were very seriously injured in a chopping in Yo Creek Village in the Orange Walk District this afternoon. It happened at around 2:00 when Larry Banner - who has a history of mental illness - arrived at his family home, erupted into a rage and started flailing his machete wildly. He chopped his sister in law Adela Chuc and three minors, including her son. He then went across the street to his neighbor Moises and 54 year old Juanita Pech's home. She was celebrating her birthday - and he told them he just came to visit. But that is when he lifted his bloodied machete. Moises Pech was the most seriously injured; he raised his arm to defend himself and his hand was severed. His wife was also chopped to her head. Her daughter in law and her two year old son narrowly escaped. Neighbors tell us Banner has a history of mental illness and had been in jail for a similar crime before. We'll have more on this story on Monday's news.

Police Take Guns Off The Street
5 more guns are off city streets. For this entire week the police have been patrolling and searching hot spots on the Southside, and today Commander Chester Williams held sort of a showcase of these seizures at his Raccoon Street office. Williams told us more about the weeklong operation and its impact on crime control. ACP Chester Williams- O. C., Eastern South Division: "We have 5 firearms; 3 - 9mm pistols, 1 - 380 and 1- .38 special revolver and these firearms are the product of the hard work of the police officers on the Southside Belize City between precinct 1, 2, the Strike Team and Special Branch working in collaboration to be able to remove as much firearms as we can from off the streets of Belize city. All of them are found properties and they are a result of the police searches in different areas, known hotspots in Belize City. We have two that was found in the St. Martin's area near Flamboyant Street; we have one that was found on Euphrates Avenue, which is the .380 revolver; we have these two that were found on Mahogany Street in the Precinct 1 area. So it's a good catch for the police and these were all retrieve this week. So for this week between Monday and today, we have retrieve a total of 5 firearms off the streets."

Alleged Burglars Bangled In Court
Earlier this week we told you about the three young men who were caught inside a house on Franklin Street. The three were allegedly caught red handed burglarizing the place when police intercepted them. Today they were taken before the court where they were read charges of burglary with intent to steal. They are 18 year old James Williams, 25 year old Eric McCoy and 18 year old Elden Flowers. Now although police say they caught them red handed, all three pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that they might interfere with witnesses. Senior Magistrate upheld that objection and remanded them into custody until their next court date set for August 10th. Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser told the three accused that she was remanding them to prison for their own safety. The incident occurred on Wednesday June 22nd. Police got wind of a burglary in progress on Franklin Street and found the suspects hiding inside the house.

Urbie Out Of Jail
After three days in jail, Detective Constable Urbie Alamilla is out on $8,000 bail tonight. The bail was offered on the condition that Alamilla appears in court on each and every adjourned date, that he does not commit any other offence while on bail, that he does not interfere with any of the witnesses and that he reports to the police station until the conclusion of the case. As we told you, Alamilla was charged for discharging a firearm in public. The incident happened on Saturday June 18th at the Green Jade Restaurant in Ladyville. The report is that Alamilla was trying to defuse some disagreement between 2 other persons and that is when he shot at the floor inside the restaurant. This is not the first time he has fired his gun in public. About 8 days before this restaurant incident, he fired 3 shots in the air on Perez Road in Ladyville. In both cases, Alamilla was reported to be intoxicated.

Rat Bite At Regional Hospital
Another person has been bitten at a hospital, and this time it's the southern regional. Today's Reporter newspaper reports that a male nurse was bitten by a rat while he was on duty. The paper states that he was working the night shift in the emergency room at the southern regional, when the rat but him near the right ankle while he was sitting at his desk taking a break. The good news is that he didn't get rabies or any other disease. He is on sick leave and has no illness. The bad news is that it's another case of rats on the loose at a regional hospital. If you follow the news, you'll surely remember in August of 2015 when a rat bit a newborn at the Western Regional Hospital. Today the CEO in the Ministry of Health told us that the incident was not reported to the regional health manager, or to the ministry, so they learned of it through the Reporter Newspaper. He confirms that it happened on the 7th of June and since then the public health department has set traps all around the hospital to curb the increased rodent activity.

Mek Mi Rich Legal Battle Continues
In February of this year Curtis Swasey's claim was vindicated after Justice Courtney Abel ruled that Mek Mi Rich and BTL indeed profited from his original idea. As a result the court ordered that the claimant be paid $25 thousand dollars in damages in addition to an award of costs. Today all relevant parties met inside the chambers of Justice Courtney Abel to decide on what those additional award costs would look like. But the matter got snagged on a technicality. Eventually the case had to be adjourned for next month. Outside of the courtroom we spoke to Swasey's attorney Kareem Musa, who expressed his client's frustration at having to see this matter continuously dragged on. Hon. Kareem Musa, Attorney for Curtis Swasey: "The court made an order in February of this year that the costs were to be assessed. This morning we had to rehash the same old arguments that we had in February of this year because the defendants want a different method applied to award cost, but the judge had already made an order that it be assessed. That is the difficulty that we had today, basically going through this again and now we have to come back in July for the same thing again."

Analysing Accounting Norms In Belize
Today the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean held its 34th annual conference. The main vision for this conference is to discuss ways to improve the Caribbean economy through effective accounting. Now the conference comes at a fitting time given the current state of Government's cash strapped finances, reflected in the impending sale of BEL and BTL shares to the Social Security Board. While Belize's President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Reynaldo Magana could not speak on that specific topic, he admitted that Government's accounting practices need to be improved and upgraded. Magana told us how this conference can assist. Also, one of the presenters Dr. Leroy Almendarez told us about the other major topics that have to address in Belize's outlook. Reynaldo Magana, President, ICAB: "This is not just about the figures, it's about being professional, following the standards, making sure that the accountants in the region sing one song and not be singing different songs. We, as an accounting body, here as well as the Caribbean and globally, we follow international financial reporting standards of accounting."

PUC Ignores Independent Expert and BEL
The Public Utilities Commission has made its final decision on what will be the electricity rate from July of 2016 to June of 2020, known as the "Full Tariff Review Period." This final decision comes after months of back and forth between BEL, the PUC and an independent expert. BEL first asked for an average rate of 39 cents per kilowatt hour, the PUC proposed 36 cents per kilowatt hour. That's when BEL asked for an independent expert and he recommended 38 cents per kilowatt hour - which BEL agrees with. But the PUC didn't, and today the regulator's final decision is for an average rate of 36.99 cents per kilowatt hour, nearly 37 cents. The new rate goes into effect at the start of next month.

Spaying Session For Dogs
Spaying and neutering of animals can cost anywhere from $150 US dollars to $600 US dollars depending on the size of the animal. But a group of volunteer veterinarians from the US are in Belize to give the service for free. They have joined the Belize Humane Society and the Hopkins Humane Society to conduct this three-day pet clinic at the SCA campus in Belize City. Emanuel Pech visited the clinic today to find out more. The clinic service began today and will continue up until Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. The organizers hope to treat about 500 to 600 pets by the end of it.

Getting More Belizeans Tested For HIV
Today is known as the Regional Testing Day. It's an initiative led by Scotia Bank and Pancap every year since 2007 in an effort to get more people tested for HIV. In Belize, the National Aids Commission partnered with the Ministry of Health and the Belize Family life association to conduct free HIV tests - in an effort to increase the number of persons who know their HIV status. This year the event was held at the Scotia Bank parking lot in Albert Street. We stopped by this morning: Emanuel Pech: "What is the turn out of the event, because normally when it comes to these sort of sensitive issues, they wouldn't want to come to such an open event?" Arthur Usher, Comm. Ofc., Natn'l Aids Commission: "What we're finding is over the years Belizeans have been more sensitized and more aware of their sexual health, so they're coming out more consistently. Again, recognizing that there is more life after HIV positive or negative. If you're negative it's good to always try to continue living that negative lifestyle. If you're positive, there's also resources and help available for those who are positive. There is some fear and stigma still but its dwindling a bit because people are recognizing more and educated."

Reporter Raises Controversy
"Treason!" - that's what some said when they read today's editorial in The Reporter newspaper. The editorial makes the case that the Sarstoon River and the Sarstoon Island are not unquestionably Belizean property. The editorial argues that Sarstoon Island, quote, "maybe as much as one half of this island is on the Guatemalan side of the center line. This means that Belize cannot justify a claim to the whole of Sarstoon Island." End quote. Well, the CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was one of many who took issue with the editorial - and he immediately fired off a letter to the Editor - which was also sent out as a press release. The letter points to the 1859 treaty which specified the boundary between Belize and Guatemala and makes it clear that the Sarstoon Island is "wholly Belizean territory."

The African Message
The Universal Negro Improvement Association is inviting all members of the black community in Belize to join them on Monday for what they call the World Wind Tour forum which is taking place at the Gateway Youth Center in Belize City. The talks will be given by inspirational speaker, researcher and current president general of the UNIA-ACL Runoko Rashidi. He is on a Central American tour and will be in Belize for three days before heading back to the US. One of the main topics of the forum will be black Belizeans' influence in the region. The forum begins at 7 pm on Monday at the Gateway Youth Center in Belize City. Entrance is free.

Channel 5

Reporter Editorial on Sarstoon River Raises the Ire of Belizeans
This week’s editorial in the Reporter newspaper has managed to accomplish what little else has – accord between the Government and the Opposition. We’ll get to that, but first the [...]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sets the Record Straight on Southern Border
The Opposition swung first this morning, via text from Senator Eamon Courtenay. He wrote, “The Reporter editorial of today is factually and legally wrong. It is a bizarre and possibly [...]

Newspaper Owner Harry Lawrence Responds to G.O.B.’s Position
As we mentioned earlier, the Reporter Editorial was written by newspaper owner Harry Lawrence. He received the letter from C.E.O. in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Sylvester this afternoon, [...]

Photographer Tony Rath Details Chiquibul Experience in Online Article
While the Reporter’s Editorial is found to be lacking in accuracy, another article in circulation today puts perspective in what really is happening in the Chiquibul. Renowned professional photographer Tony [...]

Mek Mi Rich Litigants Return to Court
On February twenty-third, Justice Courtney Abel ruled that B.T.L. and Mek Mi Rich, MMR, colluded to steal the concept for the game-show from Curtis Swasey. It was a landmark ruling [...]

B.T.L. and Mek Mi Rich Appeal Supreme Court Decision
What was also clear at the conclusion of the case in February is that the twenty-five thousand awarded to Swasey as compensation was not satisfactory to the claimant. The Judge’s [...]

Gun-toting Urbie is Released on Bail
After two nights on remand at the Belize Central Prison, thirty-five year old police officer, Urbie Alamilla is out on bail granted to him this morning by Supreme Court Judge, [...]

Trio of Thieves Remanded for Burglary of Franklin Street Residence
Three men who were caught in the act of burglarizing a house on Franklin Street, Belize City, claim it was all a police set-up. The media was called in at [...]

Petrocaribe Celebrates Eleven Years in Belize
Petrocaribe is celebrating eleven years in Belize, following the signing of an agreement with Venezuela on June twenty-ninth, 2005.  The dream of former President Hugo Chavez was to promote regional [...]

APBEL Set to Enter the Retail Fuel Market
While the program under APBEL focuses on investing in Belize, there are plans for the company to branch out into the retail sale of fuel.  Mencias provides a breakdown of [...]

Petrocaribe Agreement Deconstructed
The agreement provides for a portion of each invoice, known as the Financed Portion, to be paid over fifteen years at two percent interest with a two-year grace period.  That [...]

Head of Mission Contextualizes Hardships in Venezuela
Head of Mission Mykel Castillo Pena was also present at this morning’s Petrocaribe presentation.  He explains the current hardship in Venezuela in the context of the Petrocaribe program.   Mykel [...]

6 Persons Injured in Chopping Incident in Orange Walk
There is a disturbing report out of Orange Walk. Police are investigating a chopping incident which occurred this afternoon sometime after two o’clock.  Larry Banner, who has a history of [...]

Police Operations Yield Firearms Across Belize City
Five firearms have been taken off the streets of south side Belize City. Today, Eastern Division South Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams called the media to his office [...]

PUC Approves B.E.L.’s Rate Increase
The Public Utilities Commission announced via press release today that it has concluded a full tariff review for B.E.L. for the period July 2016 to June 2020. The final decision [...]

34th Annual Caribbean Conference of Accountants Held in Belize
Public and private sector accountants from across the Caribbean have converged on Belize for the thirty-fourth annual Caribbean Conference of Accountants. With over three thousand seven hundred members, today, three [...]

Managing Your Accounting with Enterprise Resource Planning
To assist with the implementation of best accounting practices in the region, a consulting firm from Washington DC is establishing presence in the Caribbean with an Enterprise Resource Planning software [...]

Correspondent Banking Crisis - Does it Affect Accountants?
But what are the challenges that correspondent banking relations have posed to the accounting professionals? According to Conference Chair Shawn Mahler, clients have been affected drastically, and it has forced [...]

National Aids Commission Holds Countrywide HIV Testing
The number of persons that are HIV positive is high for the size of the population. And even though men are the most affected; they are the least to be [...]

Belize at World Poker Games 2016
Starting Saturday, twenty Belizean poker players will be competing in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team has doubled since last year and all the players [...]

PlusTV

US Embassy hoists LGBT flag in Belize
The United States of America continues to promote the LGBT agenda in other nations that have not openly embraced the lifestyle as morally acceptable. Since the arrival of the US Ambassador to Belize, Carlos Moreno, he has made it clear that this promotion was part of his mandate; despite laws in Bel...

“Witch-hunt “ of Youth Council Leaders who voted against “gender” wording in constitution?
There have been accusations of a “witch hunt” for those young leaders of the Belize National Youth Council who voted to remove references to “gender” and “gender equality” from its constitution. The terms “Gender” and “Gender equality” have become buzz words for the LGBT agenda where gender becomes...

Man charged in shooting
33 year old Anthony Crawford, an unemployed of Belize City, was charged with attempted murder when he appeared today before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza. Crawford was also charged with dangerous harm, use of deadly means of harm and possession of 3.6 grams of cannabis. He pleaded guilty to possession a...

More transparent process to be applied for hiring of new Regional Health Manager
Today, we got a chance to catch up with Dr. Angel Campos, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and follow up with him on the resignation of Audibaldo Monima as the Regional Health manager for the North. The last time Dr. Campos spoke to the media on the issue, he said that he had not seen the...

Chester: I didn’t know about Ahmad raid
A Hattieville family home was raided earlier this week and its occupants, the Ahmad family, held for hours at Racoon Street Police Station in Belize City, then released without explanation. Police did not take the firearms that the family held, but did hold all their personal electronic equipment an...

Ministry of Health receives equipment for HIV/AIDS and TB prevention and mitigation
The Ministry of Health has received a donation of two Toyota Hilux vehicles as well as 25 bicycles from the UNDP-Global Fund (GF). The handing over ceremonies took place today at the UNDP headquarters in Belmopan. The country of Belize has been granted US$3.4 million for HIV/AIDS and TB prevention a...

Former Olympian left off Olympic team for Rio
Former Olympian Kaina Martinez was surprised by the announcement by the Belize Athletics Association (BAA) that Katy Sealy, heptathlete, would be wild-card representing Belize in the hurdles event at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. The recent Central American Senior Games champion in women’s 100-...

Amandala

BEL reports $29.4 million in profits for 2015
The Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is reporting that it had a profitable 2015, with net earnings reported at $29.4 million, from which it plans to pay shareholders 15 cents per share, following the presentation of company financials at its annual general meeting held on Wednesday night at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City. The dividend payout would amount to roughly $10.4 million—70% of it going to the Government of Belize and 27% of it going to the Belize Social Security Board. The remainder would be shared among 1,500 minority shareholders. Last year, the company almost doubled its profits, hitting a record in net earnings of $36.2 million, and breaking the ceiling set by the company back in 2007, when it recorded net earnings of $29.86 million.

Fruta Bomba “is no more”
Following the final collapse of the papaya industry, two hundred and fifty Belizean men and women will be without work. Fruta Bomba, the nation’s former leading papaya exporter, has decided to move on to greener pastures. This week marks the last day of its operations which had gradually been declining since early February of this year. While Fruta Bomba moves on to the Dominican Republic, there are Belizeans who are unable to move on any at all because there isn’t much economic activity occurring in the Corozal District. For many, the papaya industry was the only real opportunity beside the Princess Casino, the cane fields and the declining Commercial Free Zone.

GOB “on crack,” says Opposition PUP!
“It is almost as if they are on crack and are trying to find every which way to get their hands on money,” declared Opposition Leader Hon. John Briceño, who slammed the Government of Belize for “red-eyeing” Social Security funds. “It has come to our attention for the past few days that the government is trying to dump their shares, mostly from BEL and BTL, to the new piggy bank, the Social Security fund, the people’s money. We are viewing this with much concern,” said Briceño following the PUP’s National Executive meeting held on Monday. A leaked letter from PM Barrow indicated that he offered the Social Security Board $10 million of the Government’s shares in BTL and $45 million of its shares in BEL, for a total of $55 million. However, Briceño told us that the Prime Minister is “risking the people’s money.” He pointed out that an investment in BTL, which is saddled with a $48 million arbitration award to British Caribbean Bank Limited (which is to be paid over twenty years as a loan), is not a good investment.

Shot for refusing to commit a crime!
One of two men who allegedly shot another man in Belize City on Monday night appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this morning and was arraigned on attempted murder and related indictable offences. He was remanded to prison. Anthony Crawford was not required to make a plea, after the charges were read to him by Magistrate Carlon Mendoza, because his case will be tried at the Supreme Court on indictment. Police charged Crawford with attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and dangerous harm. Crawford, 33, an unemployed resident of Antelope Street Extension, is accused of being one of the two men who shot Anthony “Columbian” Leslie, 40, in the chest on Monday night, June 20, while he was on Iguana Street Extension.

Gas prices reaching for the sky
There was a sharp increase in the price of fuel at the pump during the third week of last month, but that was not enough for the cash-strapped United Democratic Party government of Prime Minister Dean Barrow, which, like a thief in the night, raised the price of fuel at the pump at midnight last night. This morning the new prices, which affected premium gasoline, and kerosene, came into being, without any prior warning, and with no official reason being given for why the increase became necessary. The price of premium gasoline shot up from $9.95 per gallon to $10.41, an increase of 46 cents, while the price of kerosene was increased by 30 cents per gallon. Regular gas is being sold at $9.69 per gallon.

Still no Sarstoon mechanism after Washington talks
Belize and Guatemala were engaged in a 5-hour meeting at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday evening, but still, there is no definite mechanism to resolve the high-tension conflicts between Belize and Guatemala at the Sarstoon, in which Belize has been on the receiving end, having been blocked from freely accessing its side of the Sarstoon. Just last week, a group of Belizeans, including Wil Maheia of the Belize Territorial Volunteers and Mike Rudon of News 5 headed to the Sarstoon—but nine soldiers of the Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) tried to stop them, insisting that the Belizeans, who were well on the Belize side of the river, were in Guatemala’s national waters. After the incident, the Government of Belize issued a statement saying, “…the incident [if verified] would constitute a breach of the spirit of the Confidence Building Measures and must also be rejected as prejudicial to the ongoing diplomatic efforts, including next week’s meeting in Washington, to establish a bilateral Cooperation Mechanism for the Sarstoon.”

Teams for 2016 Mundialito in Orange Walk
The following teams will be participating in the 2016 Mundialito in Orange Walk: Orange Walk Central - Germany; San Estevan – Mexico; Black Water - Croatia; Louisiana Area – Belize; Palmar - Colombia; Guinea Grass - Holland; Yo Creek - Argentina; Progresso - Spain. Tournament begins on June 26 at Louisiana Football Field. There will be a parade on June 25. President of the Mundialito Committee is Wilson “Chato” Perez.

Winty J (Vincent Johnson) – my life
A: Talk to us, Winty J; because you have been around football circles for such a long time, as well as around Belizean music circles. You mean a lot to a lot of us, because you have a lot of memories about a lot of great sportsmen and events, and you have also played a part in many of these events. Just take us back, quickly, to when you came to your senses as a child in Belize, and take us from there; e.g. your parents, etc. W: Alright. Winty J, man. My life. My understanding, from my parents; my father came from Jamaica, Manchester – Ivan Johnson. He stowed away on a ship and ended up in Punta Gorda (Toledo District), and he met a lady there, and he had a daughter, who is my sister and who wasn’t my (half) sister yet, until he met my mother; because he hadn’t met my mother yet. Now, my mother was born in La Ceiba (Honduras); but my mother’s mother (my grandmother) was from St. Vincent; and my grandmother, who was my mother’s mother, Evelyn Brooks, met William Brown, who was my grandfather, my mother’s father, in Roatan (island off Honduras).

BDFA 1st Division weekend games
The Belize District Football Association (BDFA) First Division 2016 football tournament had only 1 game played last weekend. On Saturday, June 18, Eiley FC and Ladyville Jaguars reportedly played to a 1-1 draw. Hubert Baptist put the Jaguars in front at the 60th minute; but Brian Martinez got the late equalizer for Eiley FC at the 89th minute. Both Sunday games were postponed due to weather; those same two games will be played this coming Sunday.

TIDE Primary Schools FWC 2016 championship games & awards
Today, Wednesday, June 22, at the Cattle Landing Village Football Field, female and male championship games were played in the TIDE Primary Schools Freshwater Cup (FWC) 2016 football tournament. In the female championship game at 9:45 a.m., Silver Creek School Girls won, 2-0, over Trio Primary School Girls, with Annetta Bah (12’ & 27’) scoring both goals for Silver Creek. Silver Creek Girls are therefore the 2016 TIDE Freshwater Cup Primary School Female Football Champions. And in the male championship final that followed, Golden Stream Boys were victorious, 2-1, over St. Peter Claver School Boys. Valeriano Ack (5’) and Samuel Itch (10’) shook the net for Golden Stream, while Ian Selgado (16’) got the lone goal for St. Peter Claver. Golden Stream Boys thus became the 2016 TIDE Freshwater Cup Primary School Male Football Champions.

Editorial: This belongs to Washington ...
The first thing we will say to you in this editorial, dear readers, and we say it with pride, is that the family which owns this newspaper and the Ahmad/Bulwer family are related. The matriarchs of the two families come from the Escarpeta/Kingston lines. The breadth and savagery of the Belize Special Branch attack on Monday morning against the Ahmad family suggest to us that the local secret service did not have any really hard evidence: they were searching for same. In medicine, they call this exploratory surgery. They usually perform it on guinea pigs. As we write on Thursday morning, roughly 72 hours after the raid on the Ahmads, the head of the Special Branch has yet to make himself available for questioning by the Belizean media. What is worse is that the secret service has yet to produce any evidence which would justify the massive disrespect shown to a ranking Belizean family. The Ahmad family was violated.

From the Publisher
Elizabeth I, the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was Queen of England from 1558 to 1603. That’s roughly between four to four and a half centuries ago. It seems a very long time ago to the layman: to the historian, it is just yesterday. Christopher Columbus, an Italian in the employ of the King and Queen of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, “discovered” the so-called New World in 1492. The German priest, Martin Luther, began the Protestant Reformation, which sparked religious wars between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants in Europe, in 1517. The Spaniard, Hernan Cortes, conquered the Aztec kingdom and its capital, Tenochtitlan, in 1521. Another Spaniard, Francisco Pizarro, conquered the Inca empire in Peru between 1532 and 1533. Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII (who beheaded her mother, Anne Boleyn, in 1536), was declared the head of the Anglican Church by the English Parliament in 1534. Ignatius Loyola, a Spaniard, and a few followers founded the Society of Jesus in 1539.

My music story in 1960’s British Honduras
There are a few events that stand out clearly in my mind’s eye that sum up my introduction and experience with music in The Jewel. The first one is definitely 1960 Christmas, when as a boy of ten years, I was given my first guitar by my mother, Lydia Ramirez. My mom was a De La Fuente from Macaw Bank, Cayo District. Like her dad and siblings, she played the guitar and she also had a beautiful voice. That guitar (not a professional one) was bought from “Rita’s Smart Shoppe,” which was at the corner of Albert Street and Church Street and run by the two sisters, Sybil Codd and Leonie Wright. Miss Sybil was the mother of the late Francis Codd. My guitar lessons started that Christmas Day in 1960. The second event would be when we got our first record player. My dad, Jose J. Ramirez, better known as Jose Ramirez or “Boss Joe,” had travelled to Florida in 1962 for a serious surgery which turned out successfully. On his return, he brought a portable General Electric record player.

Not only academics, but creativity
Fading away all our lives, doesn’t it sound so sad? Dear Editor, Today I must express and share with you this thought. Many do not like school, many are little engaged and others like it more than home. Life out in the streets is not always welcoming, sure that you wish school could be the one place where you could express yourself. I had been helping a teacher at Benque Viejo del Carmen and here I discovered that taking the beautiful job of being a teacher is never easy. Being a teacher should be the most wonderful job someone could have.

Problem starts with UNICEF and other NGO’s
Dear Editor, It is a great disappointment to hear that a 15-year- old minor is a suspect to a police investigation in a shooting incident. To make matters worse, it involves a local police officer and three other civilians, in broad daylight steps away from the entrance of the Queen Street Police station. So what does this mean? Children have no respect for our law? Belize is a small country; these types of things should not be tolerated. Months ago the Commissioner of the Police Department set a night curfew for the kids which was a good thing to do because this way they are out of the streets at nights. Problem starts when UNICEF and other NGO’s start defending the rights of a child, which can even allow children to be out as late as they want, and decide which hand gun to use for the shooting later that night.

What is our security in Arenal?
Dear Editor, With great worry I am writing you with hope that our country knows of what the village of Arenal had been through. I want to write about two incidents that happened in the village during the nights of the 6 and 7 of May and the negligence of the government towards the community. On Friday 6 of May, some young Belizean men were having a few beers on the Arenal Guatemala. The Guatemalan police and army were called because of a bar fight. They came, but never to see what was the problem, instead came saying that they will arrest anyone who didn’t have any Guatemalan documents. When the Belizeans heard that, they started leaving the bar. The police started chasing them all the way to the Belizean side. The shouts woke up my brother-in-law. When he came out, he was surprised by the Guatemalan police and army who were approximately 25 soldiers and 5 police officers. He immediately called them out and asked what we’re they looking for at our yard and he told them that they were already in Belizean territory and on a private property. They respectfully left and stopped chasing the guys.

Who was behind the raid on the Ahmads?
Dear Editor, As I write this letter, I am fully aware that my family or any Muslim family in Belize, for that matter, could be next. For those of you who are not aware, on Monday, June 20th, the Ahmads, a prominent Muslim family in Belize, was hauled off in the back of pickup trucks to the Racoon Street Police Station in Belize City in an early morning raid at their homes. They were detained for over ten hours and not permitted even a phone call to inform their relatives, employees, community members or even a lawyer, of their whereabouts. They were not properly informed as to why they were being detained. Even after they were released, no formal explanation, or apology, was given to them by anyone in authority. This was a most frightening experience for this family of twenty persons, including elderly grandparents with medical conditions; two pregnant wives (one to deliver any day now) and a minor under 13 years old. Five of the male members are self-employed businessmen, who were not allowed to even call their workers to inform them of what they were going through.

A tribute to Ibagari
Dear Editor, A Belize audio Cd titled “Ibagari: Portraits of Garifuna Lifecycle in Song” was released three years ago in June 2013 and available online at Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby. That audio Cd now has a companion book titled “Ibagari Song Reference: Portraits of Garifuna Lifecycle in Song,” written by Crique Arena, Toledo District-born Leonard Cayetano, MS, MBA, with his wife Dangriga, Stann Creek District-born Joycelin Palacio-Cayetano, Ph.D. for the Len and Joycelin Cayetano Garifuna Heritage Foundation. The music book includes compositions by Garifuna masters, musical notations, Garifuna lyrics, translations of lyrics to English, translation of lyrics to Spanish, historical context and art illustrations. Printed in the United States of America, the book contains many photographs snapped during Len and Joycelin’s inspiring 1997 visit to Yurumei,in the Garinagu homeland of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The first image in the book is of a stone plaque with the words “JOSEPH CHATOYER BLACK CARIB CHIEF FOR FREEDOM DIED HERE 14TH MARCH 1795”.

Two systems are before the world
Speaking on the recent 50,000 troop “Anakonda 16” NATO simulation in Poland, Polish President Duda said: “The aim of the exercise is clear…we are preparing for an attack “…meaning against Russia. This shows the desperation of Wall Street and the City of London. Most people in today’s world don’t know how close we are to a full nuclear World War (now worse than 1962) with the Anglo-Americans against Russia, China and India. Why? The Trans-Atlantic sector economies are in complete breakdown, and this includes our Belize. Later I will discuss Belize’s economy. Once the envy of the world, today’s United States is plagued by economic disintegration, suicide, drug addiction, and mass shootings. Europe’s economy is also in disintegration. The basic problem is that since the year 1972, America and Europe’s economies shifted from production to gambling. No economy can develop and grow unless the conditions for “demand” are satisfied, and only production in the physical economy can do that. Now the chickens are coming home to roost – These economies are bankrupt. They either change or implode, when? Soon. Only God can say the time. But soon. This, Belizeans, is the reason driving the provocations to nuclear war against Russia, China and India – the BRICS.

Belize: A destiny to be questioned
In January of 2013 in the wee hours of the night four Black Belizean young men’s throats were meticulously and professionally slashed inside their homes. Almost four years later this horrific massacre has remained intentionally unresolved. There is a variety of speculation as to who gave the orders; however, there is no doubt that this clandestine single operation was carried out by trained professional’s killers. What is not clear is whether they were foreign or domestic. On June 20, 2016 in the wee hours of the night another clandestine operation occurred in Belize. This time it was the homes of a well-known Muslim family, the Ahmads (Bulwer). According to the Amandala, 19 members of the entire family including women and children were rounded up like cattle by local police and held for hours in custody without access to any legal representation or counsel. Eventually after this traumatic experience the family was released without any charge being filed.

Confessions of a Belizean intelligence agent pt. 2
Pedro Barrera, a Guatemalan guerrilla informant, was murdered on Belizean soil almost three days after being jointly handed over to Guatemala by the Belizean and British authorities. According to an ex-Belizean intelligence officer, “Pedro Barrera wanted support — that we grant him refugee status in Belize to protect him and stay here, so he started to cooperate with us and he promised that he was going to show us a guerrilla camp south of Arenal.” The retired bilingual intelligence agent recalled serving as the translator for communications between a British patrol and Barrera, as he led them in a search for guerrilla camps inside the jungles of Belize. He further recalled that they were deposited about 15 miles south of Arenal and after hiking almost seven hours in search of guerrilla camps they slept in the jungle.

Chalillo Dam dispute goes before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
A battle which emerged 18 years ago—back in 1998—between the developers of the Chalillo Dam on the Macal River in the Cayo District and the Government of Belize (GOB), on the one hand, and a group of environmentalists, on the other, did not block the commissioning of the dam back in 2005, but George Gonzalez and his wife, Dr. Candy Gonzalez, who lead the Belize Institute of Environmental Law and Policy (BELPO), are hoping that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an agency of the Organization of American States, will rule in their favor in a petition (P-633-04) filed as far back as 2004. “The opening of the case is, above all, a victory for the affected communities, the Maya people of Belize and local social movements, who have endured for all these years, and remain strong and determined in their search for justice and compensation,” said Candy Gonzalez, BELPO spokesperson, who told us that they are seeking “mitigation and restitution” for affected communities. Last October, the Commission approved the petition and started to receive submissions from the parties: BELPO and the Government of Belize. BELPO told us that it completed its submissions on June 16, 2016.

Breaking Belize News

Mad man chops 5 villagers in Yo Creek
Breaking Belize News has confirmed that at least four of the five victims have been transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in a very critical condition after a man armed with a machete inflicted chop wounds to several parts of their bodies. One victim had an […]

NEAB condemns “targeting” of Belize by LGBT
The National Evangelical Association of Belize, several of whose members publicly protested in front of the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan when it raised the “rainbow flag” as part of an LGBT pride month, today claims that the incident is part of plans to target Belize for a […]

Taste of Belize is coming to Muffles College Auditorium, Orange Walk Town
The Belize Tourism Board is getting ready for the 2016 Taste of Belize Competition to be held on July 9 at Muffles College Auditorium, Orange Walk Town. Attendees can sample a wealth of foodie-appeal, from delectable ancient Maya flavours to the cultural spices of the Garifuna and […]

Teachers in Stann Creek certified in Early Childhood Development
This morning teachers in the Stann Creek District received their certification after completing training in Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Quality Friendly School Initiative (QCFSI). A government release states that the training is designed to “strengthen teachers’ skills in order to prepare them to deliver […]

Britain votes out of European Union
More than 16 million Britons have voted in favor of leaving the European Union in a referendum held on Thursday. While the vote is fairly close, a 52 percent majority, according to the BBC, voted against staying. Most of the anti-EU vote came from outside […]

Cahal Pech Village Resort is offering amazing last minute travel deals to Belize
The resort of Cahal Pech in San Ignacio, Belize today announced a special day for reduced rates on accommodations for travelers making reservations between June and October 2016. Any visitor who uses the website to make a reservation at Cahal Pech between June 24-30 will receive a […]

Belize: Decentralization, Rockville and Belize City
Belize City was founded (originally as “Belize Town”) in 1638 by British lumber harvesters. It had previously been a small Maya city called Holzuz. Belize City is the largest city in Belize and was once the capital of the former British Honduras. Belize City has a […]

American teen bitten by Yellowjaw in Belize makes slow recovery
A 15-year-old is recovering in the US after being bitten by a fer-de-lance known as the “Yellowjaw” or “Tommygoff” in Belize. The report was published by SFGATE on Wednesday. The teen, Audrey Benton, was reportedly visiting in Belize with her parents when she was bitten by […]

Blogs

In Belize, All That Is Gold Does not Glitter
The looting, desecration and annexation of the Chiquibul Forest in Belize, Central America. by Tony Rath. Recently I accompanied rangers from Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD), the non-governmental organization tasked with managing the Chiquibul Forest, into one of the most remote areas of this protected area to document what I thought was small scale gold mining, the type where a couple of poor villagers in ragged clothes crouch by a stream swirling water and gravel in a pan. What we observed was way beyond anything I imagined. The potential environmental impacts of Guatemalan illegal gold mining in the Ceibo Chico region of the Chiquibul far surpasses the impacts of illegal xate harvesting, illegal logging, wildlife poaching and agricultural encroachments—combined. This story raises troubling questions about where we are as a people and what we value as a nation.

Ambergris Caye vs Roatán: Which Caribbean Island Would You Retire to?
So you’ve decided to retire to a Caribbean island paradise. You can already see yourself, toes in the sand, sipping a mojito by the turquoise-blue sea. Behind you, children laugh as they cartwheel down the beach, and by the waterfront fishermen chat as they haul in the catch of the day…but where are you? Narrowing down your dream retirement destination—choosing one place over another—can be the most difficult part of starting your overseas adventure. Many places may share a lot of similar attributes; many may appear downright identical. But if you look close enough you’ll discover that they may not be so alike after all. In the end it’s the little things that will make all the difference to your overall happiness. As always, we recommend that you visit somewhere before you decide to put down roots…but this infographic could help point you in the right direction. Two of our favorite Caribbean retirement havens, Ambergris Caye (the largest island off the coast of Belize) and Roatán (which lies off the coast of Honduras), go head-to-head in key topics such as cost of living, property, healthcare and more.

In Pictures: Corozal, Belize–A Subtropical Haven for Active Expats
Corozal sits on the expansive Bay of Corozal. This traditional Belizean family town is a throwback to the 1950s, with residents that are friendly and a pace that’s laidback. A growing number of expats are choosing to relocate to this region, appreciating the simple, serene, and relaxed Caribbean lifestyle. A major attraction is the reasonable cost of living. Food, entertainment, and everyday expenses are affordable; and there are plenty of real estate bargains to be found. Also, while the weather is subtropical—with an average temperature in the upper 80s F—balmy breezes blow off the bay, keeping it comfortable. Corozal Bay offers diverse water sport options such as swimming, fishing, kayaking, sailing, and motor boating. Walking and biking are also popular outdoor activities. Scuba divers and snorkelers can take day trips to the Caribbean Sea’s barrier reef. Being on the mainland, Corozal is also close to a multitude of inland activities. Hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, cave exploration, and zip lining are just a few of the options, while archaeology buffs can easily access several Mayan sites. The Santa Rita site is right at the edge of the town, while the Cerro Maya (Maya Hill) ruins are right across the bay.

Visiting Tikal from Belize
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, Tikal is one of the most iconic and impressive Maya ruins in the world. Located in the department of El Peten in northern Guatemala, Tikal is a popular attraction for visitors in Belize because of its close proximity to the Belize-Guatemala border. Tikal is the site of one of the oldest and most powerful city states of the ancient Maya civilization with a footprint of 6 square miles (16 square kilometers). The main attractions for modern visitors are the enormous buildings, including the so-called Temple 1 (measuring 154 feet high), royal palaces, and pyramids. The site also includes three ball courts, hundreds of smaller buildings, stelae and a network of elevated causeways. Tikal is located within the Tikal National Park in the northern district of El Peten in the country of Guatemala. The entire area is now a nationally-protected biosphere and consists of dense jungle. The nearest inhabited town is Uaxactun, approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Tikal. International flights depart daily from the Philip Goldson International Airport in Belize City to the town of Flores in Guatemala. From Flores, private operators offer services to Tikal (about 45 miles/70 km).

International Sources

Caribbean weighs in on BREXIT implications
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has begun responding to the news that Britain has voted to leave the European Union (EU). On Friday 52 per cent of voters in a referendum in Britain opted out of remaining in the 28-member grouping. Prime Minister David Cameron has signalled his intention to resign. The implications are far-reaching globally, with serious consequences for financial markets, investment, trade and overseas development assistant. The pound sterling has dropped to its lowest level in 30 years. At least one CARICOM Prime Minister has spoken so far about the fallout from the vote. Dominica Prime Minister, the Hon, Roosevelt Skerrit told a radio station in his homeland that he was shocked at the move. “It’s a major shockwave, it’s a major shock that has hit the world and it has been felt in Dominica from last night,”the Dominica News Online outfit quoted the Prime Minister as saying in a live interview on Kairi FM on Friday morning.

Washburn announces seventh annual Study Abroad in Belize Program
Washburn's International House provides students with a chance to study abroad and may be one of the most important experiences in any student’s academic career. However, the dazzling amount of available options could make the decision harder for Ichabods to choose. This 15 day experience is a unique opportunity for Washburn students to explore the diverse culture of Belize City while providing volunteer service among the sites. The seventh annual trip will be held over winter break, which will transport Ichabods from the cold winds of Kansas to the warm, tropical climate of Central America.

Videos

June 24, 2016

FOR TODAY'S BELIZE WEATHER, CLICK HERE

Click for our Daily Tropical Weather Report.

Specials and Events

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

The San Pedro Sun

Kayak Race in San Pedro July 3
As part of Dia de San Pedro 2016!

Countdown to the Lobster Fest Block Party
There are just two more days to go before San Pedro’s grand celebration of the annual Lobster Fest 2016. But before the epic block party, the San Pedro Lobster Crawl is keeping everyone quite entertained. The crawl continued on Wednesday, June 22nd with the day event at the Belize Chocolate Company. Those wanting to get their Lobster Fest Passports stamped needed only to answer a few Spiny Lobster related questions. Of course the lobster shaped chocolate for full marks was a tasty surprise! As the sun went down, it was time to head to the popular Pedro’s Bar and Pizzeria, where it wasn’t just another night of partying, but also of feasting. For only $25, you could eat all the pizza you wanted!

San Pedro Police address island business sector on liquor related issues
In an effort to enhance the relationship and cooperation between the San Pedro Police Department (SPPD) and the business community, the SPPD held a public meeting on Monday, June 20th at the San Pedro Lions Den. Various members of the business sector holding liquor licenses were invited to participate in discussing issues affecting the island. Deputy of the Belize Police Department Coastal Executive Unit Henry Jemmott welcomed everyone to the meeting, quickly outlining some of the grave issues that have been increasing on the island. “We have an issue with youth between the ages of 14 to 17 who are seen late at night trying to get inside establishments to purchase liquor,” said Jemmott. “As a moral fact, we should not sell to or tolerate them around the business area.” He stated that it is a serious problem on the island as young people are heading into the drinking habit. He also highlighted the use of drugs at different schools. The SPPD has engaged in setting up mechanisms to tackle this problem at the schools. One of the main ways how police are addressing the issue is by hosting educational sessions on drugs, and by conducting random searches.

Daniel the manatee visits Ambergris Caye
A Antillean Manatee from Mexico has been spotted around the waters near Ambergris Caye. The manatee, named Daniel, was raised in Laguna Guerrero, Chetumal Bay in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo as a rehab manatee since 2003, when he was found as an abandoned new born. Daniel, who is now trying out freedom, has been under surveillance by ECOSUR (Colegio de la Frontera Sur) Environmental Research Centre in the Chetumal area via a satellite tag. In his journey to Belize, Daniel made it to a ranch just west of Ambergris Caye, where he mingled with some children. He is very friendly, which according to Jamal A. Galves, – Manateeman, is not good, as hopes are for Daniel to join the wild population. “We are working to keep him as safe as possible. He is very friendly – a little too friendly – and needs to learn to be wild. If you live in the Ambergris Caye/Corozal Bay area, or any other area and see him or any other manatee, please give him his space. Please don’t approach him, don’t touch him, don’t play with him,” said Galvez. According to him, his tendency to approach people will put him in danger if he doesn’t learn to be more cautious, and interacting with him is not going to help him be successful in the wild.

Ambergris Stadium in its final stage of completion
Hector Alamilla, Councilor at the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), states that the time frame for the project has been on schedule. “The stadium is coming along well, and is arranged to be handed over to the municipality in September. Both Mayor Daniel Guerrero and I are pleased with the progress of the stadium, and look forward to hosting the finest games in San Pedro,” said Alamilla. However, with any new development, the SPTC has seen its fair share of criticism. There have been complaints about the usage of synthetic grass over natural grass. According to Alamilla, the synthetic grass is something the SPTC studied keenly. In the past, the SPTC has used natural grass, but it did not last, so the field was filled with sand instead. He also notes that salt air is a serious issue in San Pedro, and it kills grass if it is not properly maintained.

September Celebrations 2016 Theme announced
There’s no doubt that Belize’s independence is the biggest celebration of the year, and with September fast approaching, the first news regarding the festivities has been announced. On Thursday, June 16th, after careful deliberation by the National Celebrations Commission, “Sovereign and Strong- Together as one” was selected as the official theme for 2016. The theme was submitted by Argelia Mendoza Ken, a teacher and counselor at the Belize High School of Agriculture in the Orange Walk District.

Belizean athletes excel in Central American sporting tournament
Belizean athletes shone at the 17th Central American Seniors Championships in Athletics held from Friday, June 17th through Sunday, June 19th in San Salvador, El Salvador. The delegation of Belizean athletes captured 12 medals – six gold, four silver and two bronze. They returned to Belize with pride on Monday, June 20th accompanied by officials of the Belize Athletic Association (BAA). Deon Sutherland, president of the BAA spoke about the outstanding performance of the Belizean athletes. “Of the thirteen new records set at this event, Belize captured six. We now hold an impressive seven Central American records,” said an excited Sutherland. According to him this is an annual championship which they use as a platform to qualify for other games they participate in throughout the year.

Inspiration Center Fundraiser raises over $100K
Wearing their finest all-white ensembles, guests made their way to the Great House at Mahogany Bay Village, Curio Collection by Hilton, where a night of fundraising for the Inspiration Center took place. Despite a call for rain, the Saturday, June 18th night was clear and perfect, just right for a night of honoring some of Belize’s most vulnerable, our children. Funds are needed to sustain the outpatient rehabilitation center in Belize City, which aids children with disabilities from all over the country, including Ambergris Caye.

Ambergris Today

Celebrity Spotting: Belizean Olympic Athlete Katy Sealy Relaxes in San Pedro, Belize
Track and Field athletes Katy Sealy and Brandon Jones will represent Belize at the Olympics 2016 in Rio, but before she commences her disciplinary routine of preparing for the Olympics, Katy is taking some time to relax in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. She was spotted at El Fogon Restaurant enjoying a great dinner. Heptathlon athlete Katy Sealy competed along with 21 Belizean athletes over the weekend at the 17th Central American Championships in El Salvador and their performance was exceptional. Of the seven participating Central American countries, Belize ranks fourth place, taking six gold medals (all record setting medals) four silver and two bronze.

Misc Belizean Sources

CAYE CAULKER ZIKA INTERVENTIONS
A team of health personnel have been dispatched to Caye Caulker Village to carry out Vector Borne Diseases Interventions in relation to recent Zika positive cases.

Caye Caulker Bartender and Customer Service training
Notice: Caye Caulker Bartender and Customer Service by Belize Mixology training starts on June 29th at Roses Grill and Bar at 9 am. See more details below. Spaces are limited.

Cops Adopt a Park
ATM: Eastern Police Division South adopts the old Daker's Park on West Street, with the assistance & support from the Belize City Council, Pine Lumber, Brodie's, our Community Policing Officers & the residents!!

Power interruption 8:00am to 1:00pm, Sunday, June 26, Cayo
Entire down town area of San Ignacio Town, Branch Mouth, portion Joseph Andrews Drive, John Martinez St, Fourth St, and area along George Price Highway between Kontiki & Police Station including Martin Galvez Blvd, Buena Vista St, Boiton Area, Mosquitoville & Cahal Pech. BEL to replace poles and conduct line clearing in the area.

Cool T-shirts for a worthy cause
Sisoda partners with schools around the world by featuring artwork from incredible students on quality goods for sale. With each purchase, we help fund educational programs at chosen schools in need. The Andre collection supports the Isla Bonita Elementary School in Ambergris Caye, Belize by giving back 10% of our profits directly to the school. The drawing was done by Andre Eacosta - a student at the school.

BTIA 31st Biannual AGM
The Belize Tourism Industry Association is having their AGM on Wednesday, July 6th, at the George Price Centre, from 10:00am to noon. In the afternoon, Leah Chandler will have a seminar on strategic planning. "The Belize Tourism Industry Association will hold its 31st Bi-Annual General Meeting on July 6, 2016 in the City of Belmopan at the George Price Centre. All members are invited to attend this event... Main guest speaker will be Ms. Leah Leah Chandler, Chief Marketing Officer from Branson, Missouri. The highlight of her speech will be geared on the importance of Strategic Planning for Destination Success."

Chiquibul Forest Outreach Campaign
The Beauty of the Chiquibul Forest Outreach Campaign has reached its project end. A total of 28 communities, 44 schools, 250 teachers and 6,246 students benefited from the educational presentation throughout the Cayo District. FCD is grateful to PACT, Principals, teachers, students and the Ministry of Education for their support.

Succotz Archaeology and Culture Fair
SundayJune 26 at the Succotz R.C. School.

Channel 7

SSB Will Buy 55 Million Dollars of BEL and BTL Shares
The Board of Directors of the Social Security Board has approved the purchase of Government's shares in BEL and BTL, subject to the final negotiations with the Government of Belize. As we told you, the SSB Investment committee recommended that SSB purchase 40 million dollars worth of BEL's shares and 15 million dollars in BTL shares. The board met this afternoon, and after reviewing the investment committee's reasons on why this is a sound investment, there was unanimous support for the investment, including the representatives from the social partners. This evening, the chairman of the Board of Directors, Doug Singh, told us why the board looked favorably at the proposal. He told us that the monies that will be invested in these shares are sitting in the bank and are growing at only a 2% rate of return, so 6 to 10% that the utilities have historically been making is a far more attractive opportunity:

US Embassy Hoists Gay Flag Over Belize
There was a flag raising ceremony this morning at the US Embassy in Belmopan, but it wasn't the US or Belizean flag that was hoisted: it was the rainbow flag that represents the LGBT movement. Now although it was done on the embassy grounds, which is considered American soil, it is the first time that this flag has been flown beneath Belize's skies at an official event, and for some residents, it wasn't a welcomed sight. Today when we traveled to Belmopan we got to see the divisive effect of the ceremony. Now, we warn you, this story features images of men kissing, and if you don't like that kind of stuff, you might want to channel surf for the first few seconds. Here's the story from Courtney Weatherburne: Courtney Weatherburne reporting: For this couple, kissing and being affectionate to one another in public is natural, but in homophobic society like Belize, it's openly rejected and condemned. But that is just at the surface. That denouncement is a representation of a much larger social and cultural battle on human rights, one the LGBT community has long been advocating for, and today their struggle was acknowledged with a symbolic raising of the rainbow flag at the US Embassy. US President Barack Obama declared the month of June LGBT Pride month and this ceremony was part of the commemoration. The Belizean LGBT rights supporters celebrated in this occasion.

Gay Rights Case Judgment Soon
So as you heard, the main point brought out at the ceremony was the anticipated outcome to the Section 53 challenge. Now in this case, both sides: the LGBT and religious communities believe they have the upper hand. But they surely disagree with the effects of the final decision. On one hand Caleb says the outcome won't have a polarizing effect on the community while the religious leaders say it definitely will. Here are both sides. Lisa Shoman, Advocate: "Any legal decision is only one component. I think there is a cultural shift and the groups that Caleb mentioned that have been growing and getting support, demonstrate that polarization is only one face, the other face is unification and that is absolutely happening."

Crawford For Leslie Shooting
Last night, we showed you our interview with police on the Monday night shooting of 40 year-old Anthony Leslie on Iguana Street Extension. Police told us that they intended to charge 33 year-old Anthony Crawford for that incident, and tonight he is at the Belize Central Prison. Leslie was on Iguana Street Extension at around 7 on Monday night. He was allegedly approached by Crawford and another man who tried to convince him to commit a crime. When Leslie refused, Crawford allegedly shot him in the chest and fled the scene. Today, Crawford was arraigned before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza on the charges of attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, dangerous harm and possession of 3.6 grams of marijuana. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges except the possession of controlled drugs. For that plea, he was sentenced to spend 1 month in prison, which will run concurrent to another month that he has to spend for defaulting on a 100-dollar fine which he was to have paid since last year.

Kaina Got The Cold Shoulder
Yesterday the Belize Athletic Association named the two athletes who will be representing Belize at the Rio Olympics. They are Katy Sealey and Brandon Jones. Perennial favorite Kaina Martinez was not chosen - even after she had just represented Belize at the Central American Games the week before. Last night on the Lik Road TV Show, BAA Vice President Jaheed Smith explained why:... Jaheed Smith, BAA Vice President: "In terms of Kaina and Katy, they were both neck to neck in the events. However, the problems lies because the Olympic Committee sends out information for the athletes to follow up. When Miss Martinez got her information, she did not respond back in time. These things have deadlines and she did not respond in time. So, there is an uproar about why we didn't send her or why we selected.. But the thing is we can't select her if she did not send in her proper paper work. We can't force Rio to put her in. So, it's not a matter of who was.... the dispute is who was closer to qualifying in the event and granted yes, Miss Martinez may have been closer to qualifying, but even if she had qualified and not sending her paperwork, we can't send her. That's the deciding factor right there."

Gender Politics Invades Youth Advocacy Movement
In a press release issued this morning, the Youth Advocacy Movement, which is the youth arm of the BFLA, came out strong against one of the District presidents of the National Youth Council of Belize. The issue was a homophobic facebook post made earlier in week. Now before we get into the details of that post, the real issue that the Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM) addressed in their press release has to do with a decision made by the National Youth Council to have the word "gender" redacted from a clause in their constitution. This decision was made at their AGM last week. The release said that YAM is, "disappointed in the actions of elected members of the council." The omission of the word gender, according to YAM opens the doors for discrimination. We spoke to the President of YAM Belize who told us more about their stance. Emanuel Pech: "What are some of those real concerns that you guys have with the word gender now being extracted from their constitution?"

Ugly Meme Sparks Outrage Against Youth Leader
Now going back to the matter that triggered this whole thing in the first place. The Stann Creek president of the National Youth Council, Jamal Swaso had posted a homophobic meme on facebook a couple of days ago. Now according to Swaso, it was in no way referring to LGBT community. The issue picked up quite a bit of traction when it was reposted by UNIBAM president Caleb Orosco. District president Swaso did apologize in a subsequent post, but by then the damage had been done, according to Youth Advocacy Movement. Leandra Betson - Pres. YAM Belize City: "We understand that in the leadership position that we don't only represent ourselves, but we present a group of people and we are grateful that Mr. Swazo owned up to his mistake, but we are also kind of dissatisfied of shaky in the way that we expected better because we expected that based on the constitution and the makeup of it that he would re-think and not only - even though it was his opinion when you are in the leadership position, your opinion, you have to kind of put that aside for the betterment of everybody, because maybe somebody else took it in offense."

Debating A Divisive Matter
In about half an hour, the Social Security Board debate on the Belize Guatemala Territorial Dispute will start at the Bliss Center. SSB has put together a panel of experts on both sides of the issue, those who want to go to the ICJ, and those who think it's a bad idea. Those in favour include Ambassadors Lisa Shoman and Jim Murphy, and History teacher Gian Vasquez. Those against include Dickie Bradley, Fred Hunter, and Paul Morgan. The Debate starts at 8:00 and this afternoon, SSB Chairman Doug Singh told us why they want to inform the wider national debate on this divisive issue: Doug Singh, Chair. Board of Directors, SSB: "As a result of the incidents that have happened on the border and the ramping of the dialogue on this whole territorial question and the ICJ, we felt obligated to do what we can to help provide information to the public. There was no better way that to actually bring the parties who we're actually advocating for and advocated against the ICJ to come and present their case to the public. So we're having an open forum at the Bliss Institute tonight and it will be on television nationally and also on the radio nationally."

Prisoners Performed on PSE
6 days ago, we showed you the best and brightest primary school students who got the top marks in this year's PSE. But, while the exam is designed for Standard 6 students, there were a number of inmates from the Belize Central Prison who also took the test and passed with excellent grades. IT'S part of the Prison's rehabilitation policy, and on Tuesday, those inmates who passed were honored in their own ceremony. Here's Norman Wallacey, the former Principal for the Belmopan Baptist High school, who now the head of the Prison's Education and Rehab Department, explaining why Kolbe is excited for these inmates: Norman Willacey - Dir. Edu. & Rehab. Kolbe Fdn. Prison: "The program we run here is geared towards helping inmates, to one; recognize that there's a need for a change. Something went wrong in his life, with some decisions making and that person is here. So, we recognize that need and we have implemented programs to help to meet that particular need in inmates' life."

Police Aren't Playing with Park Initiative
Community policing - it's about more than just community meet and greet sessions, and to put work behind their words, today, South Side Commander ACP Chester Williams teamed up with a youth group from Mesopotamia and other corporate sponsors, to renovate Daker's Park on West Street. This is a community based initiative to give kids, in less priveliged communities something positive to do. The park was inaugurated at a brief ceremony this morning. The park which had previously been in extremely deplorable conditions received a brand new set of swings, a couple of see-saws, some picnic benches and a brand new fence. The total cost of works at the park are estimated at about 6 thousand dollars. Corporate sponsors that assisted in this project include Pine Lumber Limited, Bulridge, Port of Belize, Brodies, Habet and Habet, and Cisco Construction.

Cops On the Albert
Yesterday, police were in the same general area conducting their weekly meet and greet session. We found the south side commander on Albert Street along with some of his officers meeting the local business community and taking note of their concerns. The meet and greet session went from East Canal to Cemetery lane.

Trinity Gets Upgrade
Today, the Social Investment Fund formally handed over newly renovated bathrooms to the Trinity Methodist Primary School. Now, receiving new restrooms might not seem like that big a deal but to the students, faculty and staff of Trinity, it is a very welcomed and long overdue upgrade. Here's the Principal expressing their gratitude at today's inauguration ceremony: The project cost just under $60,000 Belize dollars and was funded under the Commonwealth Development Initiative.

Channel 5

A Rainbow Flag Flies Over U.S. Embassy in Belmopan
An event took place in Belmopan today that is causing chatter and drawing controversy in some quarters. The Rainbow Flag, which is the recognized symbol of gay pride, was hoisted [...]

Evangelical Church Reacts to Observation of Gay Pride Month
While members of the church did not gather en masse at the gates of the U.S. Embassy this morning, the leadership of the National Evangelical Association of Belize was present [...]

S.S.B. Chairman Discusses Proposed Purchase of G.O.B.’s Utility Shares
On Tuesday, News Five broke the story of what has every appearance of being a bailout of G.O.B. by S.S.B. at the Prime Minister’s request. If indeed it is a [...]

S.S.B. Tentatively Green lights Acquisition of Government’s Shares
News Five has learned that at Tuesday’s meeting Financial Secretary Joseph Waight was called into the meeting of the Investment Committee to provide some clarity on share value. There was [...]

Doug Singh Says It’s a Low-risk Investment with High Returns
The People’s United Party has condemned the transaction, claiming that G.O.B. is raiding the S.S.B. piggy bank because it is broke and needs a cash fix. In an extended interview [...]

Leader of Opposition Says Immediate Government Action in Sarstoon is Critical
Following talks in Washington between Belize and Guatemala on Tuesday, there’s been no clear sense that progress has really been made in resolving the conflict in the Sarstoon. Certainly there [...]

P.U.P. Leadership is Hopeful that Guatemalan Discussions will be Treated Seriously
Last week the P.U.P. announced that it would be withdrawing its representative from the talks with Guatemala. That move is designed to send a clear message that the P.U.P. believes [...]

John Briceño Says Barrow Administration is Broke
As we showed you in our newscast, G.O.B. has orchestrated a hurried divesting of shares to raise cash and the Opposition seized on it to reiterate that the Barrow administration [...]

Dark Days Ahead, Are They Foretold in Dismal IMF Report?
And of course there is the IMF report which was less that complimentary in reference to the status of the economy and G.O.B.’s performance. Briceño says he takes no pleasure [...]

B.E.L. Holds its Annual General Meeting
Earlier we told you that the S.S.B. Board has approved the purchase of shares in B.E.L.  The utility company held its annual general meeting on Wednesday night and is reporting [...]

A Judgment in Section Fifty-three Challenge is Nigh
Gay rights activist Caleb Orozco and members of the local LGBT community are eagerly anticipating a decision from the Supreme Court on a constitutional challenge to strikeout Section Fifty-three of [...]

Caleb Reflects on Road Less Traveled
Caleb Orozco, Executive Director of UNIBAM, is at the forefront of the LGBT movement in Belize. He has been long anticipating the court ruling and today he spoke of the [...]

Anthony Crawford Busted with Weed, Fingered as Suspect in Monday Night Shooting
An attempted murder suspect who was fingered as one of two shooters in Monday night’s shooting in the city is tonight behind bars serving a one month prison term. Anthony Crawford was busted [...]

John Briceño on Village Council Elections
Village Council elections are going into their fourth week, but strangely enough there’s been no real hype. Normally, by this time, both major political parties would have been claiming overwhelming [...]

But Briceño’s Take on LGBT Issues?
The Rainbow Flag has been hoisted at the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan and responses have been flooding in. Members of the LGBT community and supporters claim that it is a [...]

Police Department Rehabilitates Daker’s Park
With assistance from various business houses, the police department stepped up to the plate big time. An abandoned playground in Mesopotamia got a facelift and was inaugurated today as the [...]

Chamber of Commerce Hosts HIV Testing
Over the last five years, Belize has participated in the Caribbean Regional Testing Day initiative led by the Pan Caribbean partnership against HIV/AIDS, PANCAP. And on Friday, the country joins [...]

NCFC Tackles Amendments to Legislation
A media sensitization workshop will be held on Saturday at the ITVET Compound in Belize City. It will focus on the recent amendments to three pieces of legislation: the Criminal [...]

Dwight Cadle is IBA Certified Boxing Coach
The first qualified, Belizean boxing coach since the International Boxing Association began a recertification exercise in 2013 is Dwight Cadle Junior.  He has been hitting the books and the punching [...]

CTV3

GOB Receives Grants And Testing Equipment
The Global Fund which was founded in January of the year 2002 is an international financing organization that is aimed at disbursing resources in order to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The Global Fund has approved a sum of 22.9 billion USD that supports about 1,000 programs in 151 different countries. The United Nations Development Programme in Belize (UNDP) has received a grant of $3.4 million USD with the purpose of working towards the preventing and alleviating HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) for the years 2016 to 2018. This is the very first grant in which measures will be taken to mitigate all forms of TB and TB-HIV co-infections in major populations.

Premium And Kerosene Increases
The cost of domestic fuel has seen an increase in both V-power and kerosene which came into effect only two days ago. The new cost of price for V-power saw an increase of fifty three cents which went from nine dollars and ninety five cents to ten dollars and forty eight cents, while the price for kerosene went from four dollars and ninety two cents to a total of five dollars and twenty two cents increasing by thirty cents. The cost for regular fuel remains at a total of nine dollars and seventy six cents while the cost in price for diesel remains at eight dollars and seventy six cents. The last time we reported on an escalation of fuel values, was in the month of May.

Plans Underway To Safe Guard Belizeans
A couple weeks ago Mexico held their municipal elections in about 12 states, the opposition party, National Action Party, or PAN took most of the 12 seats forming the New Mexican Government. A report in the Mexican news ‘El Peninsular” indicates that Belizean authorities are confident that the new government can iron out differences, and address the security issues that have recently been affecting Belizeans who visit the southern part of Quintana Roo. This comes after the recent wave of extortions and robberies that have targeted Belizeans visiting the Chetumal, Mahahual and Bacalar at the hands of taxi drivers and hotel employees. According to the report, in an effort to minimize such activities the new administration has held several meetings with the leadership of the Association of hotels and with the heads of the Ministry of Public Security in order to seek a proper solution for the problem.

Female Taxi Driver Attached By Passengers
Gloria Alvarez, a naturalized Belizean taxi driver residing here in Orange Walk Town is lucky to be alive tonight after she was assaulted on Friday night by two individuals. According to official police reports, Alvarez was chartered by a well-known friend by the name of Alma Hernandez who was accompanied by a male individual of East Indian descent. Reports suggest that Hernandez asked Alvarez to take them to Yo Creek Village and whilst on their way there, Alvarez was ordered to stop the vehicle somewhere on the Yo Creek road where Hernandez’s partner pulled out a screw driver and placed it on Alvarez’s neck. She was then ordered to give up her car keys and was told that if she didn’t follow instructions, she would be killed.

LOVE FM

Police Unaware of the Muslim Raid
Three days ago it was reported that a Muslim family in Belize was detained by the Special Branch Unit and taken to the Raccoon Street Police Station. The family alleges that their detention was on basis of religious discrimination. Their holy items, such as their holy book, the Quran was also taken along with them. […]

Crawford Goes to Jail for Weed and Remanded for Attempted Murder
Thirty-three year old Anthony Crawford, an unemployed of Antelope Street Extension, was charged with attempted murder when he appeared today before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza. Crawford was also charged with dangerous harm, use of deadly means of harm and possession of three point six grams of cannabis. He pled guilty to possession and he was sentenced […]

Disciplinary Problems Faced In Schools
In 2011, Minister of Education Patrick Faber had announced the abolishment of corporal punishment in the schools and that the teachers and principals would have to come up with other alternatives for disciplining the students. PATRICK FABER (April 1, 2011) ” On June 24, 2013, President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Luke Palacio had […]

PlusTV

FM responds to leaked diplomatic letter from Guatemala
On May 28th, 2016 the Guatemalan Ambassador to Belize wrote the Government of Belize a letter refuting and expressing consternation, in diplomatic language, about the May 24th Cabinet release referring to untrammelled access to the Sarstoon. We had been told that the Guatemalans informally agreed ...

PUP frowns on SSB “utility share dump”
Opposition Leader John Briceño has described the Government as “being on crack” and desperate for money, such that it has approached the Social Security Board to buy $55 million worth of BTL and BEL shares. Yesterday SSB chairman Douglas Singh, speaking to another media house, cited the ...

Bumper and license plate left behind by car which fled accident scene
There was a small accident in Belmopan this afternoon involving a Ministry of Education vehicle. The grey Mahindra was carrying examination papers from Dangriga town, headed to Belize City. While on the Hummingbird Highway, just in front of La Cabana Bar , a white car was in front of the Ministry of...

Labor investigating case of resigned Northern Regional Manager
Yesterday we brought you comments made by the Minister of Labor, Hon. Hugo Patt following a Labor workshop held in Belize City. One topic of interest that was brought up by the media was the issue of the recent resignation of the Northern Regional Manager, Audibaldo Monima Junior , a close affiliate...

Fuel price at the pump increases significantly
We have told you about the IMF report that suggests that Government of Belize will most likely need to increase taxes and execute retrenchment programs to try and alleviate the financial difficulties it is facing. We don’t know if it was a tax increase that caused a steep increase in the cost of fue...

P.S.E. passing inmates honored
Seven inmates of the Kolbe Foundation were honored on Tuesday afternoon at the Central Prison in Hattieville. The short ceremony was to celebrate and acknowledge their accomplishments in passing the 2016 Primary school examinations. While primary school students sat the exams at various schools acro...

BEL to Hold Annual General Meeting
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders later today, to announce the results of the Company’s 2015 performance. In 2015, BEL achieved net earnings of $29.4 million, resulting in dividend payments, similar to the previous year, of $0.15 per share. Follow...

The Guardian

Belmopan floats a bond - More streets to be paved, more drains constructed!
The Belmopan City Council will be floating a 6.5 million dollar bond in order to service one third of the city’s infrastructural needs at this point in time. Mayor of Belmopan, Khalid Belisle told the Guardian that it is estimated that it would take a BZ $20 million capital investment to pave all areas of the capital city and install proper drainage. Feasibility studies however have determined that a BZ $6.5 million Municipal Bond offering was financially feasible for the city to pursue. This investment will cover roughly one-third of the current needs of the city. On Wednesday, signing took place with key players of the bond offering after cabinet approved the $6.5M offering. Currently legislation is being drafted for passage in the House of Representatives and Senate.

Negotiations begin between Belize and Guatemala over the Sarstoon
On Wednesday June 22, the Organization of American States issued a press release in which it states: "The delegations of Belize and Guatemala, headed by their respective Foreign Ministers, met Tuesday at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC with Secretary General Luis Almagro to begin to negotiate the terms of a cooperation mechanism for the Sarstoon River, as had been agreed by the Parties in Istanbul, Turkey, where they met within the framework of the World Humanitarian Summit May 23-24, 2016. In this regard, the General Secretariat of the OAS is pleased to inform that good progress was made during the meeting, which concentrated on the development of best practices for the de-escalation of tensions in the Sarstoon River.

Third round of Village council elections, UDP continues to dominate
Elections for village councils continued on Sunday June 19 and the work of the UDP continues to be appreciated with villages that have never gone UDP now doing so. Key villages across the country, including Hopkins and Palmar now have UDP representation. These villages in the past have never gone UDP but now they boast UDP chairmen and 6 councilors. They join 24 other villages which chose to go UDP as well Among those villages is Xaibe which has also had a tradition of voting for PUP and now for the second consecutive time has gone UDP. Silk Grass which also was a traditional PUP village has also gone to the UDP with the chairman and the majority of councilors being UDP. In total there are 24 villages voted for the UDP in the last round of elections where there were 35 which were contested.

Kenneth Dobson accused of attacking a woman
Former murder suspect, Kenneth Jermaine Dobson, 32, is in trouble again after he appeared in court for allegedly attacking a 21-year-old woman. Allegations made by Shantay Gabourel are that at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, she was at home and four young men whom she knows well were at her house. She knows the men by their nicknames: Zeek, Ghost, Peggy and Fudgie. Fudgie is Kenneth Dobson. He got into a fight with Peggy and Gabourel tried to intervene. That was when Dobson punched her in the face twice and left the yard. He then returned for a bicycle but Gabourel tried to stop him from taking it. He pushed her into some zinc and as a result she sustained a cut wound to her hip. She then grabbed a crowbar and tried to hit him with it but missed. Dobson then pulled out a knife and attempted to stab her but missed. The two were separated and the altercation came to an end.

Teenager shoots cop during execution attempt
A 15 year-old gunman, identified to us as Julian Tun, has been arrested and criminally charged with a number of offences including attempted murder of a police officer. On Friday, June 17, he was caught fleeing from a shootout after he shot the cop and tried to kill a suspected member of the George Street Gang, right in front of the Queen Street Police Station. The young man is a minor, which normally affords him the privilege from anyone in the media publishing his photograph. But, in this particular instance, The Guardian believes that it is in the interest of public good, for readers to see the person brazen enough to behave like a hired hitman.

BDF Volunteer soldier caught with drugs
At around 10:00 am on Thursday of last week, San Ignacio Police executed a search warrant at the residence of Anthony Goff in Esperanza Village, which led to the discovery of drugs. A search of a pink and black Airliner school bag in the bedroom led to the discovery of three plastic bags, which contained green vegetable substance suspected to be cannabis. Police showed the contents to Anthony Goff and he was placed under arrest for "Possession of Controlled Drugs with intent to supply". The 31 year old was thereafter cautioned and informed of his constitutional rights and then escorted to the San Ignacio Police Station along with the suspected drugs.

Cassian Young on remand for robbery charge
Mosul Street resident Cassian Young, 27, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison for the robbery of Kareem Yasin Hafiya. Young was remanded despite a strong fight from his attorney, Herbert Panton, who says there is no chance that the facts provided by police can convict his client of the charge. Young allegedly robbed Hafiya, a security guard of Eve Street, on Saturday, June 11. Hafiya reported to police that he was walking on Regent Street West when he was approached by two men. One man walked up to him and the other ambushed him from the back. They held him down on the ground and took away his cellphone and wallet containing bank cards, identification cards and $2,850 cash. The men then ran away from the scene.

Cop arrested after preventing bar brawl
Police Constable Urbie Alamilla has been arrested and charged for discharging a firearm in public. However, one week after he was the face of public resentment, Alamilla is now the subject of public sympathy. According to police reports, they responded to a shot fired at Green Jade Restaurant in Ladyville at about 10:52 p.m. on Saturday, June 18. Upon their arrival, officers observed a 9 mm expended shell on the floor of the restaurant. They were approached by Sharmaine Bainton who informed them that PC Alamilla was drunk and just fired his firearm inside the restaurant. Police say they were also met by Ashley Haylock of Burrell Boom Village who informed them that he had an altercation with a fellow he knows as “Borland” and Alamilla withdrew a gun, fired a shot towards the floor and left the establishment. The following day, Sunday, June 19, a police officer lifted both the expended shell and the round off the ground and secured it. Urbie Alamilla was then arrested and charged.

Gary Sewell’s appeal case set for October
The extradition hearing appeal case of Gary Gordon Seawell came up on Wednesday, June 22, in the Court of Appeal before President Justice Manuel Sosa, Justice Ducille Murrillo and Justice Minnette Hafiz Bertram. The Office of the Solicitor General was represented by Counsel Triennia Young and Agassi Finnegan, while Sewell was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvester. Both sides agreed to put off Sewell’s case to the October session and the Court accepted the application. The court also dealt with case management for an application made by the Government to introduce new evidence. The Court then gave their directions to both parties that they are to submit their written submissions to the court in 21 days of each other and the matter was set for its next hearing in October of this year.

MURDER SHOVEL…
Mark Shepherd, a 23 year-old Hattieville Resident was gunned down in front of his pregnant girlfriend on Saturday, June 18, right on the premises of the Green Iguana Lounge Club. Shepherd, who was also known as “Shubble” (the Kriol word for shovel) was, from all appearances, a law abiding citizen. He unfortunately passed away from the injuries he suffered. According to his family, he came home that day from work, ate his supper and told his grandmother that he was going to the club, which is located right in the village. He took his pregnant girlfriend with him for the evening to socialize. According to reports, he was in the process lighting a cigarette, when 2 gunmen walked into the yard of the business place, and fired at him. He was injured in the back, and this lung was punctured. His girlfriend, who was reportedly returning from the bathroom, saw when the shooters attacked, and she was forced to flee.

Southie shot and killed in his yard
Another Belize City family is in mourning after a gunman went to the Kraal Road home of 33 year-old Edison Williams and shot him inside his own yard. The tragedy happened sometime around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17. Williams was relaxing alone, and his wife and daughter were in another part of their yard. While Williams had his guard down, a gunman came up a nearby alley, shot him several times and disappeared back into the night. His family, which was nearby, heard the gunshots, and when they realized that he was the victim, immediately made arrangements to rush him to the hospital. The doctors at the KHMH tried their very best to save his life, but at around 5 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, he succumbed to his injuries.

Leniency for arson convict, Alden Sutherland
Justice Traodio John Gonzalez exercised extreme leniency upon recovering drug addict, Alden Denver Sutherland, 41, who pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 22, to setting Hector Choj’s $60,000 vehicle on fire in September of 2014. Choj, Manager of JEC, was the victim of arson when his $60,000 grey 2008 Toyota Tacoma was set on fire on Sunday, September 14, 2014. In a report to police, Choj said he parked his vehicle on Saturday, September 13, around 8:30 a.m. in front of his apartment on Youth for the Future Drive. At about 2 a.m. on Sunday, September 14, he was informed by a security guard from the JEC Company that his vehicle was on fire. By the time Choj rushed downstairs to check the security guard had already out the fire. Destroyed was a grey fiberglass wheel valued at $1,183, a Hankook tire valued at $581 and a bed liner which was in the pan of the truck valued at $2,126.21.

Keyren Tzib to stand trial for shooting colleague
Keyren Tzib, 25, will have to stand trial at the Supreme Court for the attempted murder of colleague Kurt Hyde who she allegedly shot on Easter Monday, April 6, 2015 at the end of a joint maritime operation of Belizean armed forces. At a preliminary inquiry on Thursday, June 16, the prosecutor in the case, Inspector Egbert Castillo, submitted as many as 26 statements from witnesses; including the main witness Kurt Hyde. Castillo also submitted 15 documentary evidence; including, a report from the firearm examiner, Orlando Vera; two chain of custody forms; a medico legal report on Hyde; an operations order for the Belize Coastguard dated August, 2014; a copy of a medical service dispenser for Tzib; “wet ground safety rules” and a coastguard stand down sheet for weapons utilized by officers that day upon others. Tzib’s attorney, Darrell Bradley, chose not to challenge any of the prosecution’s evidence.

Darren Levi Gillett to stand trial for attempted murder of police officer
Police Constable Justin Melvin Hall was fixing a flat tire on the street side on Monday, June 29, 2015, when he was attacked and robbed. The man police believe was his attacker is 29-year-old Darren Levi Gillett. Gillett was arrested two days after the incident and arraigned for attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm and robbery. A preliminary inquiry was conducted in front of Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith on Thursday, June 16, almost a year after the incident. Prosecutor in the case, Inspector Egbert Castillo, submitted as many as ten statements and seven documentary exhibits in the case against Gillett. Allegations are that Gillett took an LG cellphone and a wallet containing $400 cash and a number of identification cards. He managed to gain an advantage over Hall by hitting him with a gas tank.

Hondurans caught in Belize illegally
Life in Belize was short lived for two Honduran cousins who were caught in the city shortly after entering the country illegally on Friday, June 17. Jairo Jose Rodriguez Flores, 25, and Johel Antonio Villalta Rodriguez, 31, were caught by Immigration officials on Cemetery Road at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The men had just exited a bus that came from Benque Viejo when Immigration Officer Robert Guernsey intercepted them and requested that they present their travel documents. The men were unable to do so and as a result they were detained pending investigation. In an interview with Immigration officials, the cousins said they came to Belize to seek employment and they entered the country illegally through the Mopan River.

No case against men charged for murder
Ronlee Petillo, 28, and Matthew Smith, 23, are free men after their murder trial ended on Friday, June 17, with a successful no case submission by attorneys Leroy Banner and Anthony Sylvester. The men have been on remand for the murder of fruit vendor Miguel Angel Rivera, 57, which occurred on March 11, 2011 at the Michael Finnegan Market. At around 9 p.m. on Friday, March 11, three men on bicycles rode up on Miguel Rivera and shot him to the head. Rivera was eating fried chicken at his fruit stall on West Canal and was accompanied by a friend when the three men rode up on him. Without much exchange of words, one of the men pulled out a gun and fired a single shot which caught him in the head. He fell off a box on which he was seated and died on the spot. According to witnesses in the area, one of the men stood by and watched in Rivera’s direction while the other two men were seen circling the area on their bicycles. Four days after the shooting, police charged Petillo and Smith for Rivera’s murder.

Malcolm Nunez charged for basketball fight
Twenty-year-old Malcolm Nunez is out on bail after he was accused of breaking the jaw of Jonathan Samuels during an altercation on the Belama Basketball Court. Samuels reported to police that he was playing ball on Saturday, June 11, when an argument started and he was approached by Nunez who punched him twice in the face. Samuels had to visit the hospital where a doctor confirmed that his jaw was broken and classified injuries as grievous harm. Nunez was detained by police and arraigned before Magistrate Deborah Rogers. He was read a single charge of grievous harm upon Jonathan Samuels and pleaded not guilty. The court prosecutor, Sgt. Bonifacio Rash, had no objection to bail but asked the court to impose conditions. With that, Magistrate Rogers granted Nunez bail in the sum of $1,200 and ordered him to not interfere with the victim and stay 100 yards away.

Executed just after being released from police custody
Elroy Perdomo Jr., 20, another youth from the Belize City’s Southside, was murdered as a consequence of gang violence which played out during a funeral procession on Thursday, June 16. Perdomo, who was the main suspect in the murder of Marlon Bonner, was shot 16 times by two gunmen who stalked him in the funeral. Perdomo had been in police custody since the beginning of the week when investigators started their work to solve the murder of Bonner, which happened on Sunday, June 12. Police say that there were plenty of witnesses who saw the gunman when he pulled the trigger and killed Bonner, a father of 3 girls. No one was willing, however, to go on the record and point to Elroy Perdomo as the culprit for fear of retribution from those he may be affiliated with. So, after the required time, police was forced to release him from custody after the 48-hour detention period.

PACT embraces more responsibilities
The Protected Areas Conservation Trust is no longer an absentee financier for the conservation community of Belize. The organization which has acted simply as a piggy bank for the past twenty years will now be an active organization tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the management of protected areas to ensure that key objectives are met. Colin Young, Chairman of PACT Board of Directors, says, “PACT is 20 years old and has always just managed funding and granted those on a competitive basis to our partners. The PACT Amendment Act however has now changed fundamentally, both the role and functions PACT and as a result the institution must now change to meet the mandates of the new legislation.”

Belizean media propagating the Guatemalan agenda
The PUP operatives and political pundits who have tried to cloak themselves in the garb of journalists, have once again set their crosshairs on Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Wilfred Sedi Elrington. This time they have accused him of lying to the nation about what took place at the Belize/Guatemala talks last month in Istanbul Turkey. One has gone as far as to try and suggest that Hon. Elrington should be removed from his post because of this suspected lie. While another has suggested that the Hon. Minister committed an act treason, he went as far as to explain what constitutes treason. Then there are two Talk show hosts one in Belmopan and another in Belize City who have joined the fray to condemn Sedi. There are also the regular talk show serial callers, but we will not give any ink and paper to them as they are only set up callers. They are used to keep the conversation going during the talk shows. Neither will we pay any attention to the PUP’s official media outlets because they are just doing what they were mandated to do, OPPOSE!

Belmopan Police continues with gang resistance program
Some 29 students from St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Las Flores, Belmopan, graduated last Friday evening after completing a Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program. These students have learnt new skills to resist gangs and other criminal activities. Officer Commanding of Belmopan Police Howell Gillett was present for the GREAT graduation where he implored on the students to teach their new skills and behaviors to a friend, brother, a sister or a neighbor. “It feels great to know 26 new people in our communities [are now there] to help us dissuade other from wrong doings,” writes Howell Gillett.

Meet and Greet continues in Cayo
Police in the Cayo District continues with their meet and greet with the public. Between the hours of 4:00pm and 5:30 pm last Friday, Officer Commanding San Ignacio Police Formation Superintendent Anthony Rosado and Deputy Officer in Charge Daniel Iche along with members of San Ignacio COPP Team, conducted a Meet and Greet with Bullet Tree Village residents. The purpose of this program is for Police Officers to conduct outreach to the community; listening to issues and their concerns. Residents from Bullet Tree Falls expressed concerns that there was public drinking and bottles being broken in the streets. They also shared with police their concern that youths were also smoking drugs on the streets. As a result the residents requested for more mobile and foot patrols during the night and especially on weekends. A community member also made recommendations that police officers be trained in public relations and to work on responding and giving feedback to the community.

PUP can’t decide who their representative should be on the Guatemalan negotiations
Perhaps all across the world there is a childhood practice of playing a ball game with your friends, where the ball belongs to one of you. If the game doesn’t go your way, you might get upset and leave, taking your ball with you, ending the game for everyone. That is the equivalent of what the PUP did last week when they withdrew from the Belize/ Guatemala relations team. They did so over what perhaps they figured was a snub , when they were not taken on a trip to the Dominican Republic. Belize and Guatemala were going to piggyback on this meeting that both counties would be attending as members of the OAS. The Foreign Ministers of both countries would have used that face to face to try and work on the Sarstoon Protocol, the representative of the Leader of Opposition would have been present for the negotiations between the two Foreign Ministers ,but would not have been a part of the OAS meeting on the trip.

PUP can’t decide who their representative should be on the Guatemalan negotiations
Perhaps all across the world there is a childhood practice of playing a ball game with your friends, where the ball belongs to one of you. If the game doesn’t go your way, you might get upset and leave, taking your ball with you, ending the game for everyone. That is the equivalent of what the PUP did last week when they withdrew from the Belize/ Guatemala relations team. They did so over what perhaps they figured was a snub , when they were not taken on a trip to the Dominican Republic. Belize and Guatemala were going to piggyback on this meeting that both counties would be attending as members of the OAS. The Foreign Ministers of both countries would have used that face to face to try and work on the Sarstoon Protocol, the representative of the Leader of Opposition would have been present for the negotiations between the two Foreign Ministers ,but would not have been a part of the OAS meeting on the trip.

2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit Delegate from Belize
U.S. Embassy Belmopan is happy to announce that Shawn Aviles will attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which will take place June 22-24, 2016 in Palo Alto, California. Ms. Aviles will be joining more than 700 entrepreneurs from around the world along with investors, speakers, and leaders in the entrepreneurship space. These innovative entrepreneurs will be joined by high-level U.S. Government officials, including President Barack Obama, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of USAID Gayle Smith, Ambassador at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell, and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel.

Traffic Wardens receive training in Belmopan
Traffic wardens from the Traffic Department at the Belmopan City Council have recently received four days of intensive training to improve their skills in traffic management. The four day course was taken by 13 traffic officers at the Belmopan based Police Training Academy (PTA). Mayor Khalid Belisle has applauded the efforts of the Traffic Department and informed them that they should wear their uniforms with pride and serve the Belmopan City Council to the best of their abilities. During the almost one week of training, the traffic wardens were taught Belizeans laws relevant to traffic and public relations. Their lecturers were both Assistant Superintendent of Police Eusebio Lanza and Sergeant Samuel Gladden. According to Tricia Pelayo, Public Relations person at the Belmopan City Council, both high ranking police officers were very adept in delivering the course content.

Belizean athletes capture six Gold Medals in Central American Senior Athletics Championship
The Belizean Team to the 17th Central American Senior Championship in Athletics returned home on Monday after participating in the championship that was held at the Jorge “Magico” Gonzalez Stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador over the weekend. Belize’s contingent to the 17th Central American Senior Championship in Athletics consisted of some 21 athletes. During the championship, Belize captured a total of 6 Gold Medals, 4 Silver medals and 2 Bronze medals while establishing 6 new records in the process. Kaina Martinez captured the Gold Medal in the 100m event while establishing a new Central American Record of 11:56sec. She also captured the Gold Medal in the 4x100m relay. Martinez also picked up a Silver Medal in the 200m event in a time of 23.68sec. Tricia Flores picked up a Gold Medal in the Long Jump competition where she established a new meet record at 5.95m. Flores also captured the Gold Medal in the 4x100m relay. The female 4x100m relay team members were Faith Morris, Samantha Dirks, Tricia Flores and Kaina Martinez.

Mayan Man Warriors clip the Belize Bank Bulldogs in Firms Basketball competition
The 2016 Belize District Basketball Association Firms competition continued on Friday 17th June, at the Bird’s Isle with two games on the schedule. In the first game played, Mayan Man Warriors edged out the previously unbeaten Belize Bank Bulldogs by the score of 98-94. The top scorers for the Mayan Man Warriors were Winston Pratt with 27 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal; Marvin Skeet with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal and Kevin Lorenzo with 16 points, 1 rebound and 2 steals. For the Belize Bank Bulldogs the top scorers were, Lincey Lopez with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals; Roscoe Rhys with 20 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists and 3 steals and Marcel Orosco with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. In the second game of the night, Belize Water Services squeak pass over the Belize Telemedia Ltd by the score of 71-67. The top scorers for the Belize Water Services Ltd were Jamir Enriquez with 15 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; Daron Gentle with 12 points, 4 rebounds and a steal and Akeem Trapp with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals.

Giovanni Lovell is back to back National Road Champion
The Cycling Federation of Belize held its National Road Championship on Sunday 19th June, 2016 on the George Price Highway. The event started from in front of the Loma Luz Hospital in the Cayo District and travelled to Garbutt’s Service Station in Roaring Creek village back to the Loma Luz Hospital and then back to Garbutt’s Service Station in Roaring Creek Village where the race concluded for a total distance of 100 miles. At the end of some 4:30:52, it was Giovanni Lovell of Digicell 4G Elite Cycling Team that crossed the finish line first which allowed him to repeat as the National Road Champion. The second rider to finish was Nissan Arana of Westrac Alliance also in a time of 4:30:53. He was followed by Ron Vasquez of Team Smart in a time of 4:30:57 and he was followed by Josyln Chavarria Jr. of Digicell 4G Elite Cycling Team in a time of 4:31:40. Chavarria was then followed by Tarique Flowers of Benny’s Megabytes Elite to round off the top five finishers in the event.

The Belize Times

Government Bruk!! – UDP gambles with the people’s money
The Dean Barrow Government is broke, broke, broke. While the impacts of the economic crisis are being felt by all sectors of the country, the Government is demonstrating just how desperate it has become for cash with its recent reckless antics. Two week ago, the Barrow Administration went into overdraft in order to pay public officers. Things are really dread in Belmopan. Reports have now surfaced that the Prime Minister himself has been lobbying for his Government to get a large bailout from the people’s savings at Social Security Board. In a letter from the Prime Minister Dean Barrow to the SSB Investment Committee, Barrow suggests that SSB could buy $10 million dollars-worth of G.O.B. shares in B.T.L. and forty-five million dollars-worth of G.O.B. shares in B.E.L. Barrow is well aware that the people’s savings, collected from social security payments paid for by every single worker sits at the SSB. But this money is not for the Government to dip its dirty hands into whenever and however it wants. It is not meant to bailout a cash-strapped Government that has no solution to the economic crisis it has led us into. Much worse, it is not to be invested in risky ventures such as buying shares with an inflated value which only brings about great losses to the workers’ savings.

PUP Calls Talks with Guatemalan “a failure” – Opposition Leader Demands Radical Change in approach to Guatemala
The People’s United Party expresses its deep disappointment at the failed talks held yesterday, June 21 2016, in Washington D.C. However, we are not surprised at yet another failed meeting. Our reports are that there was no positive result except the agreement to continue to talk. It was a complete failure. The PUP decided that it would not attend the talks in Washington D.C. because we fundamentally disagree with the approach being adopted by the Government of Belize. It is plain that Guatemala intends to maintain control of Belize’s portion of the Sarstoon River, and the Government’s response is to keep talking and hoping that Guatemala will at some point in the future withdraw from asserting control.

GOB hikes Fuel Tax AGAIN!
If you didn’t heed the media’s warning that the Government was about to sneak in higher fuel prices on midnight Tuesday, then your visit to the gas station today led to a major headache with the news that the price of a gallon of Premium gas is costing you 59 cents more. Like it has done for several years, the Government didn’t even send out a simple notice to fuel consumers of the price hike. Just the usual “tek your licking” treatment from GOB, with consumers finding out at the pumps. Since the last report on increased fuel prices on May 6th, the fuel prices have gone up twice. This week’s increase is one of the most painful though. Premium fuel went up by a whopping 59 cents. The price went from $9.87 to $10.36. This is the Belize City price, where it is lowest. In other towns, such as Punta Gorda, the price is now nearing $11.00.

The Bloody Mess is Here! – Our country has come under siege from crime and violence
The Ministry of National Security has remained silent on the issue of spiraling crime in the city which has resulted in a spate of shootings and murders. Gang warfare has escalated to new heights with the brazen broad daylight shooting of four persons, one of them a Police Officer, immediately in front of the Queen Street Police Station. The brazen attack took place happened on Friday, June 17, at around 8:15am when a gunman targeted a known gang member coming out of the station. When the gunfire died off Police Corporal Alrick Arnold lay critically wounded, shot in the chest. Also injured were passersby Kean Smith, 24, Elroy Saldano, 44 and Graciela Castillo, 34.

Barrow’s Financial and Economic Nightmare
After issuing bloated contracts to their cronies and squandering $325 million in PetroCaribe loan funds with the sole purpose of winning the 2015 General Elections, the UDP Government has maxed out its “credit card” and is now desperately trying to find new ways to maintain their high lifestyle. In vintage UDP style, the Dean Barrow government has begun the systematic draining of the public financial system in Belize. By the end of 2015, with additional domestic borrowings of $118mn, the government had reached its legal ceiling in both Treasury Bills and Treasury Notes at $200mn and $225mn and approached its ceiling with over $63mn in advances from Central Bank, the legal limit being roughly $80m. In fact, Central Bank was the primary willing victim in this raid in 2015 as it increased its lending to the Government through loans, T-bills and T-notes to the tune of $113mn, mostly financed by printing money. Currency issued by the Central Bank in circulation increased by an unprecedented $60mn or 20.6% to an all-time high of $345mn. In one year, the Central Bank increased its lending to the Government by 85%, which means it almost doubled its entire debt stock with the Government. Overall domestic debt of the Government increased by an astounding 31.4% or $118mn in 2015 alone, over 95% of which came from Central Bank.

Corozal Free Zone Crumbles!
The images here show a crumbling infrastructure at the Commercial Free Zone in the Corozal District, just one more reason why the once vibrant economic hub has been facing collapse under the incompetent management of CEO Raul Rosado and the UDP Government. Earlier this year, the SSB Board Chairman, Doug Singh indicated that they rejected a request to finance infrastructure works at the Free Zone because “it is dying”.

New Zika cases surface in Caye Caulker Village
Latest reports coming out of the Ministry of Health are that there have been a total of five confirmed cases of the ZIKA virus in Belize. The presence of the ZIKA virus in Belize was inevitable as neighbouring countries have been battling with the confirmed cases months prior to Belize confirming its first case. Friday, November 13 saw the Caribbean Public Health Agency announcing the confirmation of five confirmed cases of the virus in the CARICOM territory. Six months later, on May 15, local health officials confirmed its first case in country. That case came out of Belize City and ten days later another case was confirmed in the Cayo District. On June 20, three other cases were found in Caye Caulker Village.

Antiquated Justice System Gets Technology Boost
United States Ambassador to Belize Carlos Moreno symbolically signed off on what is a US$372,000 donation to the justice system in Belize through the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI). The donation includes state of the art audio recording equipment and related IT equipment for the Supreme Court and Magistrate’s Courts. Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin accepted the donation on behalf of the Judiciary, explaining that “as of today, there are ten Courtrooms in the Supreme Court in Belize City, Belmopan, Dangriga and Orange Walk as well as seventeen Magistrate’s Courts in Belize City, San Pedro, Dangriga and Orange Walk as well as in the remaining five judicial districts in Belize outfitted with audio recording systems. Magistrates will now be relieved of the task of taking verbatim notes and they will be able to focus on the adjudication function.”

Hundreds of Teachers Won’t Return to Classrooms
Hundreds of teachers will not be returning to their classrooms in September after receiving letters from the Ministry of Education informing them that their applications for teaching licenses were not approved. In February, Education Minister Patrick Faber announced that only persons who have obtained teacher’s licenses and those who qualify for special teaching permits will remain employees of the Ministry. About 1,300 teachers were staring the ugly face of retrenchment. The announcement surprised teachers, principals and school administrations who had not been properly alerted that the Ministry would be taking such drastic decision. School administrators have been encouraging their employees to comply with the requirements for their full licenses. The criteria includes University training and fulfilment of pedagogical and workshop training.

Hard Knocks
Here we go again! So Sedi’s back from Washington where he spent some quality time cuddling with Carlos Raul Morales. He explained to the media today that he got a hell of a lot done and we should be proud of him. Like for example he managed to have a cozy tete a tete with Carlos Raul over tea in a corner at Barnes & Nobles. And oh yeah, they went for a walk at the National Mall and the Smithsonian, a little stop at the Lincoln Memorial, some sightseeing, picking up gifts for the family back home in Belize and back home in Guatemala. So then that rascally bunch of reporters, impudent buggers, asked him about the Sarstoon. What about it, said the brand new Guatebelizean minister. Well did you discuss it at all, clamored the media. Isn’t that what you were in Washington to do? Oh sure we discussed it, at length, said Sedi. After five hours of intensive discussion, claimed the fatigued politician, a passionate back and forth and tense standoffs across the diplomatic table, we finally agreed to mention the Sarstoon at our next meeting and probably at the next one too. Ayyy Chihuahua, this fellow has got to go.

The mess is here indeed!
The leaders of the PUP went to the Sarstoon in fulfilment of a promise they had made to the people of Belize. I am proud of those that went, and proud of my Party Leader John Briceño for keeping his word. That’s a funny situation down there, though. We understand that the Foreign Ministry informed their Guatemalan counterparts that the PUP would be going and asked them to allow the expedition free passage of the river to avoid conflict with the Opposition. Sounds messed up right? Shouldn’t Belizeans be allowed into our part of the Sarstoon without having to inform anybody? There’s something fishy about the Sarstoon you know. But friends, stay focused. No doubt the Belize/Guatemala thing is huge. We’re talking about going to the ICJ and potentially losing territory. A few years ago we wouldn’t have contemplated the thought of something like that. But it’s happening. Look at what’s going on right at the Sarstoon.

Another UDP War!
There is an undercover battle for power going on in the United Democratic Party. We’re not talking about the Patrick Faber vs. John Saldivar chronicles. That one is done and the victor has gotten the spoils while the other’s plans were spoilt. We’re talking about Margarito Gapi Vega vs. El Odio Aragon Jr. battle taking place in the north. That is the one to watch and both men seem to know a few tricks. When Gaspar Vega stepped down the other day he expected Dean Barrow to run behind him and give him back the Ministry of Natural Resources. But ever since Lady Zenaida accused him of being somewhat lacking in the pants, Barrow has been hell-bent on proving that he has bigger cojones than everybody else. So poor Gapi didn’t get that call he was expecting. He didn’t get that plea to come back. And just like that he was gone.

Herredia keeps hundreds of children poor and uneducated in San Pedro – UDP Rep. promised a new school 4 years ago…STILL NOTHING!
UDP Belize Rural South area representative Manuel Herredia should hang his head low in shame. He appears to be ignoring one of his constituency area’s most pressing problems – the lack of access to education for hundreds of children on San Pedro due to a lack of classroom space. In 2012, Herredia campaigned and won in the general elections on the promise that he would build a new school for Belize’s top tourist destination. In November 2014, the Government and Herredia announced that they had $1.2 million for the new school on the island and had even designated a parcel of land situated across the Bowen and Bowen Distribution Center located on Blake Street, which would be acquired for the immediate construction of the new Government school. Residents waited and waited. In February 2015, with no construction for a school in sight, a local media house questioned Herredia about why there was still no school. Herredia’s response was one of the most deceptive and shameful.

Arsonist targets Jeep Wrangler on Amara Avenue
On Tuesday afternoon at around 2:45 a Jeep Wrangler belonging to Tenchtronics Communications on Amara Avenue was deliberately set on fire while it was parked in front of the business located on Amara Avenue. By the time Fire Department personnel got to the scene, the entire interior of the vehicle was consumed by flames. While the Fire Department is investigating, the cause of the fire seems to be clear-cut since surveillance footage shows a man on a bicycle committing arson. He was seen first scouting out the area before throwing what is assumed to be flammable liquid in it and then returning to light it.

Galen University hosts “Defending Belize’s Sovereignty” Symposium
The deeply complex dynamics of the Belize-Guatemala dispute are oft-times enough to drive the most studied of people up the wall. Whether we end up being driven up the wall by all the machinations of the recent updates and stories coming to light on a daily basis, or we merely take it all in stride as part of the lengthy process to resolving the matter for good, it is just as important to have access to the relevant information necessary to make a pertinent decision in a future referendum on going to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in turn will help to shape the future not just of ourselves and our families, but the very future of our nation-state. And since it is the students, the youth, who will be part of that decision in the immediate future, it would naturally fall on the tertiary level institutions to be a part of the information-dissemination process. That process was given a critical boost when the Galen University hosted the first-of-its-kind National Tertiary Level Empowerment Symposium on Friday, June 17th, 2016 at the Sacred Heart College Auditorium in San Ignacio Town. The event which was sponsored by Zitro International Ltd. (Western Union) and Atlantic Bank Ltd., was held under the theme: “Defending Belize’s Sovereignty”.

Attorney tells court his client has been wrongfully accused of armed robbery
A Belize City man who was accused of committing an armed robbery was remanded to prison, despite submissions from his attorney who urged the presiding Magistrate not to read the charge to his client because he is not the man who committed the robbery. Cassian Young, 27, appeared before Magistrate Deborah Rogers to be arraigned on the robbery charge. Young, a resident of Bagdad Street, allegedly robbed Eve Street resident and security guard Kareem Yasin Hafiya, 40. Before the charge was read, however, Young’s attorney Herbert Panton made a lengthy submission, urging Magistrate Rogers not to read the charge to his client, “Because he is innocent and it would be an injustice”.

Woman accused of obtaining property by deception released on bail
A Belize City woman was released on bail after she pleaded not guilty to three counts of obtaining property by deception for allegedly taking monies from persons who she reportedly told that she was working on a housing project in the Faber’s Road Extension area along with Belize City Councillor Phillip Willoughby and that the monies they were paying was for their house and lot. The accused woman, Gina Cherrington, a resident of 10 Yarborough Road, appeared for arraignment before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza along with her attorney Simeon Sampson, S.C. this afternoon.

Team Belize wins 6 Gold at XXVII Central American track & field championships
Team Belize won six Gold medals and set six new records in the XXVII Central American Senior Track & Field Championships at the Jorge “Magico” Gonzalez Stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador over the weekend. Overall, Belize won 12 medals: 6 Golds, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze. Gold Medals: Kaina Martinez- 100m – 11:56sec, Tricia Flores – Long jump – 5.95m, Itohan Aikhionbare – Shot put – 15.67m, Brandon Jones – Triple Jump – 16.22m, Katy Sealy – Heptathlon – 4817 points, Kaina Martinez, Faith Morris, Tricia Flores, Samantha Dirks – 4×100 Relay – 46.61sec.

City Boys lead SMART Mundialito
Defending champs City Boys have already won their spot in the 2016 SMART Mundialito playoffs after their 7th win in Week 10 of the tournament at the MCC Garden last Saturday. The defending champs are leading the tournament with 23pts as the playoffs begin on July 2. In Game 4, the City Boys overpowered an undermanned Reality Youth squad 3-0; with Rasheid Lord scoring in the 1st half, and Cyril Jones and Kayia Requena scoring after the break. The winless Reality Youths started the game with only 9 men.

Giovanni Lovell, Kaya Cattouse & Shaun Codd win CFB cycling road champs
Team DigiCell’s Giovanni Lovell, Team SMART’s Kaya Cattouse and Shaun Codd of Belize Youth Club won the Cycling Federation of Belize national road championships, held over a 38-mile circuit from the La Loma Luz roundabout on the George Price Highway to Garbutt’s Service Station in Roaring Creek village on Sunday. The Elites and masters rode 2.5 laps, while the Females, Juniors and Youths rode 1.5 laps.

Major Papaya Exporters Phase Out
As of this week, the papaya industry is just about non-existent in northern Belize as the largest papaya exporters, Belize Fruit Packers and Fruta Bomba, based in San Joaquin Village, Corozal District, have scaled down their operations drastically. The company which once employed over 300 Belizeans is down to a mere ten employees today. They will carry through the final activities for the company which includes the destruction of the papaya trees that remain in the fields. Operations will come to a complete close within the next two weeks. The company will migrate to the Dominican Republic and will export papaya grown in Guatemala. The initial announcement came on February 9 when the company confirmed that they would reduce the volume of papaya exports.

DREAMSCAPES in Belize Became a Nightmare
Following a review of some of the files in the Panama Papers, it was found that a pair of offshore companies set up by Mossack Fonseca, the law firm in Panama which is at the center of the Panama Papers scandal, and a Florida-based skin-care company that is now non-existent were the initial developers. The project changed hands over the years but the lawsuit names director and founder Clifton Goodrich and Kenneth Dunn, among others as the defendants. Dunn is reportedly a disbarred attorney and makes up part of the group behind this scheme. According to the Miami Herald, the players includes a disbarred lawyer whose penny stock offering ran afoul of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, another disbarred lawyer who went to prison for scheming with mobsters, and two Palm Beach County-based company directors — one past, one present — each of whom blames the other for the project’s troubles. It is estimated that in total the investors had put in about ten million US dollars into Dreamscapes in Belize.

PM slow to act in call to ban dangerous chemical
Every year the Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean meets in one of its member countries for a few days to discuss the management of pesticides use in their respective countries. The 21st meeting concluded on June 10, 2016 with Belize as its host country and was held under the theme, “A Changing Climate; A Changing World; Responsible Pest and Pesticide Management – Our responsibility”. Interestingly enough, however, despite the 5-day discussions held on disposing of obsolete pesticides, promotion of alternatives and strengthening of pesticides management in the Caribbean as well as the multilateral environmental agreements in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, the Southeastern Watershed Alliance Group has highlighted the Government of Belize’s irresponsibility through inaction when it comes to the Glyphosate pesticide.

PM slow to act in call to ban dangerous chemical
Every year the Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean meets in one of its member countries for a few days to discuss the management of pesticides use in their respective countries. The 21st meeting concluded on June 10, 2016 with Belize as its host country and was held under the theme, “A Changing Climate; A Changing World; Responsible Pest and Pesticide Management – Our responsibility”. Interestingly enough, however, despite the 5-day discussions held on disposing of obsolete pesticides, promotion of alternatives and strengthening of pesticides management in the Caribbean as well as the multilateral environmental agreements in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, the Southeastern Watershed Alliance Group has highlighted the Government of Belize’s irresponsibility through inaction when it comes to the Glyphosate pesticide.

Potemkin Dean
On August 21, 1998 a victorious People’s United Party took the reins of the Government from an inept United Democratic Party. Along with the victory came an air of optimism to the dismal atmosphere left by the worthless red party. In his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly in Belmopan on the 16th day of September 1999, Prime Minister Said Musa began his address with a narrative that bore a striking resemblance to Dean Barrow’s rule in the Esquivel/Barrow administration during the term 93-94. The Honorable Said Musa recalled the story of the Empress Catherine of Russia in 1787. He said “according to the legend when she toured her Empire’s Southern provinces, her Chief Minister Gregorio Potemkin would go one day in advance, setting up fake fronts that made poor wretched villages look prosperous. When the visit was over, he would dismantle the props and move them to the next destination. Ever since, the term “Potemkin village” has been used to refer to apparently happy scenes that are in reality nothing but a façade, bearing no relation to what really lies behind them”.

BE CAREFUL, MARLENE
Jamaicans would say: “What a Prekeh!!” and indeed what transpired last week was a hullabaloo involving no ordinary Jamaican. The subject of this prekeh was no other than Jamaican Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte. In the aftermath of the horrendous murders at the Orlando, Florida gay nightclub in which nearly fifty persons were killed and another fifty-odd injured, the United States Embassy in Kingston flew the US flag and the Rainbow flag at half-mast. As is well known the Rainbow flag is a symbol of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community worldwide. The next day, Monday, June 13, 2016 Ms. Malahoo Forte posted a ‘Tweet’ which said: “I strongly condemn Orlando shooting but find it disrespectful of Jamaica’s laws to have the rainbow flag flown here. My personal view”. Everything went crazy for her by the next day. There was a huge firestorm of comments, mostly of condemnation of her, on social media. She really drew the ire of many.

Live and Let Live
News that Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin was poised to deliver judgement in the Caleb Orozco versus the Attorney General of Belize case has sent advocates of both sides scurrying into action. Social media is on fire with comments running the gamut from ridiculous to sublime. It was recently revealed that the CJ would finally deliver said Judgement on Wednesday, July 27th. Anticipation is high and many have drawn forward to the edge of their seats. The case which has been in the courts since 2010 and which concluded over three years ago in May of 2013 has been awaiting judgement for an inordinate amount of time. Justice has certainly been delayed but it is left to be seen if it will also be denied. This case has drawn international attention and no less than the New York Times in 2015 carried a lengthy story about Orosco, prompting many to believe that it might have been an attempt to put pressure on the CJ to deliver his judgement.

Vile Video Gets Heated Response from Ministry of Health
A disturbing video which has been circulating via internet since last week has drawn the attention of mental health officials from the Ministry of Health. The video features a man and a woman, said to have diagnoses of mental disorders being instructed to perform sexual acts by the persons who are recording them on a phone or tablet. In its release, the Ministry states that “The audio on the video reveals that the couple was being encouraged in their actions only to be rewarded with a soda by the persons who were watching and recording the couple performing various sexual acts. The Ministry of Health is appalled at this assault on human dignity and is dismayed that these persons felt comfortable enough to record and share this video to further humiliate this couple and their families”.

Trigger-Happy Cop Remanded for Gun Antics
A strange maneuver occurred this afternoon when Police Officers who were tasked with escorting an accused colleague to the Magistrate’s Court took evasive action to prevent him from being spotted by court reporters. The accused cop was made to walk behind one of the policemen, while the other walked behind them from the junction of Regent Street and Treasury Lane to the Magistrate’s Court building. They seemed to be covering up Detective Constable Urbie Alamilla, who is assigned to the intelligence section of the Eastern Division South, and who is tonight behind bars at the Belize Central Prison. On Tuesday Alamilla was arraigned for discharging his firearm in public, specifically at the Green Jade Restaurant located on the Phillip Goldson Highway in Ladyville. He was remanded because the Firearm Act does not allow for bail at the Magistrate Court level.

Wasting Our Tax Dollars
It appears not all Ministers have gotten the memo that the Government of Belize is facing a severe financial crunch. It seems that while Belizeans have had to make adjustments to their lives in the face of the skyrocketing cost of living and tax increases, the big-timers in Belmopan continue to live like kings and emperors enjoying the perks and lavish living at the expense of everyone else. Just look at this. The Government, through taxpayer’s monies, buys fancy vehicles for Ministers, CEOs and their political cronies. The Government, through taxpayer’s money, pays for the fuel that keeps those gas-guzzling engines turned on and air-conditions blowing cooly so Ministers don’t sweat like the rest of us do. You would think then that with the economic hardships Ministers would consider limiting the use of their vehicles to minimise the waste and unproductivity. But, don’t hold your breath. UDP Ministers continue to abuse these vehicles. Government rides are seen racing up and down our highways after regular working hours, late nights and even weekends.

Breaking Belize News

First National Climate Change video competition launched
The Belize National Climate Change Office (NCCO) is hosting its first National Climate Change Youth Video Competition. The NCCO says this opportunity “will allow Belizean youths the opportunity to showcase ways in which they are implementing concrete actions in their communities to address Climate Change”. […]

Moist and unstable conditions to prevail
The 24 hour forecast is for cloudy to overcast skies this afternoon and tonight. It will be cloudy with sunny breaks tomorrow. A few showers, isolated thunderstorms and periods of rain are expected mainly inland and over the northern areas this afternoon, then mainly the coast and […]

Police, local youth group re-open abandoned park
The West Street (Dakers) Park has been rescued from oblivion by a combination of the Police Department (Eastern Division), the Mesopotamia Youth Group and Pine Lumber Co. Ltd. which donated various play sets and picnic tables. Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams acknowledged that due to circumstances, […]

Santa Elena primary school looted
The secretary, Aurora Hernandez, 30, told police that she locked her office located on the the lower flat of the building around 3:00 p.m on Friday, June 17. On the following day, at about 7:30 in the night, she received a call from the school principal who informed her of the break-in.

UDP’s small crack could grow larger
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” That’s the way it goes. And in Belize, the government of the day has near absolute power. The previous People’s United Party (PUP) government served two terms in 10 years and that power caused it to splinter and implode. They are still trying to gather the pieces and regroup. The current United Democratic Party (UDP) government is serving its third term in eight years and is already starting to show signs of cracks in the foundation, even if they would like to give the impression that all is well within the party. The recent Deputy Leadership convention that Education Minister Patrick Faber won has caused a crack, if only slightly, in the party.

Blogs

My Summer To-Do List in Belize: 14 Different Activities
June 20th was the first official day of summer – the longest day of the year. Here in Belize, the HOT season tends to start a bit earlier. *Stats at the end of the post All weather data talk aside, it’s SUMMER! The kids are out of school which means you’ll find many of them playing on the beach and on docks and the traffic in town will be down…no more rides to and from school. Temperatures will be warm, we will probably have rain some nights and a few days and the “tourist season” is slowing a bit. The visitors tend to be younger – college kids, families and many who are budgeting and taking advantage of the “slow season” prices. I am one of those budget travelers so I am a woman with a plan. Here are the 8 things I would like to do this summer. 1. Travel Belize: Take advantage of the lower prices and travel! I plan to