August 19, 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

Queen of Bacchanal Contestants announced
The second annual Queen of Bacchanal Pageant is fast approaching, and six lovely ladies from across the country will be vying for the grand title on Saturday, September 10th at the Honorable Louis Sylvester Sporting Complex. The theme for this year will be “Breaking Down All Barriers: One People, One Nation.” Held as a fundraiser for Mystic Mas Band, the pageant already has following. Hoping to win the pageant are contestants Vanessa Williams, Princess Acosta, Cristal Ruth McCullough, Felicia Gladden, Kristen Igner Fuentes and Shayna Ariola. The pageant will focus on excitement and energy with a centralized Caribbean Carnival theme, and contestants will be judged on swimsuit, talent, and carnival presentation.

Volunteers help rebuild San Mateo
Thanks to the commitment of the San Pedro Lions Club Vice-President Brittney O’Daniel, relief efforts have been geared at rebuilding homes that were completely or partially destroyed by Hurricane Earl, especially in the San Mateo area. With a goal budget of $20,000, O’Daniel is asking for monetary donations to help purchase materials such as plywood, zinc, lumber and nails needed to repair the homes. The building project is being led by co-owner of The Sandbar Beachfront Hostel and Restaurant, David Jenkins, and a crew of volunteers lending their hands to help. The first phase of construction took place on Saturday, August 13th, where volunteers dedicated their time and labor to rebuilding. Although homes in San Mateo are built on top of mangroves, volunteers still managed to overcome the challenges of the stagnant water and limited electricity.

Kids 4 Clean Water Camp returns to San Mateo
The fifth annual “Kids 4 Clean Water” camp took place on Monday, August 15th and culminated on Friday, August 19th at the Faith Bible School in San Mateo. The program saw about 25-35 children a day, and served as an eye-opener to some of the issues that plague San Mateo’s water reserves. Since contaminated water has been an alarming concern for many years, the week-long adventure was aimed at teaching children about water safety, environmental conservation, and health issues. The main focus during the program has been sanitation and hygiene. Children, along with their families were also taught about coral reefs, mangroves, and wildlife, as well as the importance of protecting these areas and animals. The children enjoyed every segment of the program, in which they learned about the water cycle, benefits of proper handwashing, took a bird walk, were educated on crocodiles and mangroves conservation.

Ambergris Caye is represented in international Olympic Regatta
San Pedro sailors continue to put our island and country on the map. This time, two sailors from the island, Kevin Velasquez (14) and Caroline Sersland (12), participated in the 2016 Canadian Olympic Regatta taking place in Portsmouth Olympic Harbour in Kingston, Ontario Canada. The young athletes have been sailors for quite some time now, and have been training at the San Pedro Belize Sailing Club, which facilitated their participation in the event. Both Velasquez and Sersland were top finishers in the National Optimistic Championship Regatta in Corozal Town last year. Velasquez captured first place along with the Sailor of the Year award, while Sersland won second place. Due to their excellent showing in the 2015 sailing season, both sailors were ideal candidates for the 2016 Canadian Olympic Regatta.

Ambergris Today

Hurricane Rebuild is Underway, Donations/Volunteers Needed
This is one reason why Ambergris Today honored Brittney O’Daniel with the Person of the Year award, she has a big heart. Just concluding with her fundraising/humanitarian efforts along with the Lions Club/Food Bank for the fire victims of San Pedro, she takes on another challenge to rebuild San Mateo homes damaged by Hurricane Earl. There are 52 homes in the San Mateo neighborhood (one of the poorest on the island) that were severely damaged by Hurricane Earl; six of them are complete rebuilds. Much needed supples are needed to help families rebuild there homes; most of them don't have anywhere else to go and cannot rebuild on their own. “No need to be a master builder (or novice builder for that matter). I just need AS MANY people as possible who don't mind getting a little dirty. These people truly NEED our help! If you can't make it but have some tools we can use that would be a big help as well! Let's step up people!” posted Britney on her Facebook post.

Misc Belizean Sources

SBDC Workshop: INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING PLAN
CALLING OUT ALL ENTREPRENEURS, ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS This Workshop is for you!!! Through this workshop you will learn how to write an actionable targeted marketing plan, how to develop your expenses and sales budgets and how to develop your marketing communications strategy and marketing communications mix. Presented by: Mrs. Vicky Heredia. Post/Teaching Description: Business Adviser, SBDCBelize, Beltraide. Location: BTEC Building, ITVET Campus, Belize City. Workshop Date: August 25th, 2016. Time: 9am to 12 noon.

Bring Jerry the Crocodile to BLES
Jerry the crocodile's owners approached BLES a few weeks ago, hoping to re-home their six-foot long Siamese Crocodile. Since seeing his bleak, barren enclosure for myself, I have been determined to turn his life around. Jerry was given as a gift to the head of a neighbouring village over four years ago. He has been sitting, day after day, in murky water, waiting for his weekly meal of a single, live catfish to be tossed into his space. After corresponding with welfare and conservation organizations, it seems like an animal in Jerry's position would be destined to be used for research, breeding, tourism, or to be transferred to a goverment holding facility where we can not guarantee an improved environment. The decision has been made to move him to Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary - BLES, where he will have an enclosure that offers everything he needs to live out the rest of his life in peace.

Seven Houses of Culture around Belize
Did you know? We have seven Houses of Culture around Belize! Use this interactive Google Map to find out more about them: 1) Click here for the map: https://goo.gl/R9KAU1 2) Click each house icon to learn about each House of Culture (PS Punta Gorda-Toledo House of Culture is in the works)

3 Generaciones en la Grafica actual de Yucatan
This free exhibit opens TONIGHT (Thursday, Aug. 18) at the Institute of Mexico in Belize City.

Belize Bird Rescue: We are still seeing the aftermath of hurricane Earl
We are still seeing the aftermath of hurricane Earl. These baby Emerald Toucanets were found by the Forest Department having been displaced by the storm, they went to the Wildlife Clinic for a couple days and then were transferred to us for rehabilitation. The first day that they were here neither of them had figured out how to fly yet, by the second day one of them had. He would fly all around their terrarium while his sibling watched in wonder, flap his wings a little and not take off like his brother, which baffled him. Within a couple of days though he was up and flying around and now they both fly with the same ability. Yesterday they had their first day outside in one of our big enclosures, joining our baby toucan who is very close to release. They came in for the night and this morning were very eager to get back outside.

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a non-profit organization, saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. The primary purpose of WCS in Belize is to develop and implement science-based conservation and management programs that will conserve Belize’s ecosystems in the long term. The WCS Belize Program is seeking to recruit a suitable Conservation Science Director to lead the scientific and technical aspects of their marine program in Belize. Objective: The Conservation Science Director, will directly supervise the Technical Coordinator, and other staff as may be assigned, and manage the science and education programs conducted at the Glover’s Reef Marine Research Station. S/he will also provide input on grant proposals and reports. Status: Full-time Reports to: WCS Belize Program, Country Director.

Ocean photography workshop
Checkout the GREAT students receiving their cameras for the ocean photography workshop today! During the workshop they will learn the mechanics of the camera and photo taking techniques before testing out their new skills. Participants are being given the cameras as part of the program so that they can continue to implement the skills they learn long after the program.

OUTREACH IN ACTION
Today and tomorrow the U.S. Embassy has joined forces with the famous Belize photographer Tony Rath and students from the Dangriga Gang Resistance Education Training (GREAT) to learn about photography and the impact of climate change and pollution on the ocean. As a culmination to the ocean photography workshops being conducted the U.S. Embassy, in partnership with NICH and the Garifuna Council, will organize a month long photography exhibition in November as part of the Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations. More info. and photos from the workshops to come!

Poets Corner: Challenge
By Abdulmajeed K Nunez. Now that the door is open Believers need to mount a challenge I invite all Muslims Especially our sistrens We have the Quran and Sunnah to defend We have women and children That needs men to honoured and defend Hence the “Bigamy law” needs to be challenged The Domestic Act has been widened To include “common law unions” After five years they have the rights Why not just make them wife? Since government will not appeal This shizz has just gotten real They opened one of the seven seals So here’s the deal

Jazzfest 2016 Opening Ceremonies
The CAYO Welcome Center was the perfect place for the opening of the Belize International Jazz Festival. 3 stages, all with wonderful music, and every different kind. Ascenthium rocked!

Certificate in School Leadership Program Ceremony
"Today August 12, 2016 marks the achievement of Sacred Heart Junior College third cohort of the Certificate in School Leadership Program (CSLP). The Coordinator of the program, Janeen Quiroz, was noted saying that this cohort excelled, as all the participants competed to be the best in mastering the principles of the program. Two who stood out from the 26 graduates were Ms. Feng-Ting Chiu and Ms. Pauline Gilharry who tied for the highest GPA. The atmosphere during the graduation ceremony was one of celebration with a touch of the spiritual, as the group gave thanks through the praise and worship songs Alive and This is the Day, lead by Mrs. Tharine Gabourel. Entertainment which brought a smile to everyone’s face was provided through the vocal talents of three of the males graduates: Mr. Magnu Sanchez, Mr. Benedicto Menjibar and Mr. Abimael Waight, who did a heartfelt rendition of Wings of Change.

Corn Husk Doll making Workshop
It is already day #3 of the Corn Husk Doll making Workshop and the participants have grasp the concept of the craft quite well. Attached are some pics of their dolls.

WHEN MARION JONES EMBRACED BELIZE WITH GOLD!
The Belizean-American world class sprinter and Track & Field icon, Marion Jones, who captured the hearts of thousands of Belizeans at home and abroad continues to be talked about by Belizeans as this 2016 Olympics showcase the fastest woman who is from the Caribbean, Jamaican Elaine Thompson. After becoming the fastest woman in the world and making her mark as a world class athlete, Marion Jones visited Belize in 2001 which is the country of her mother's birth to a warm homecoming Belizean audience. Belizeans from all walks of life lined the streets of Belize City to see the athletic phenom that made Belize proud and captured the hearts of government and people alike. Fifteen years later, with the likes of Kiana Martinez who was robbed of her opportunity to represent Belize in the 2016 Olympics in a controversial issue surrounding the Belize Athletic Association and the Belize Olympic Association, the memory of Marion Jones comes to many a Belizean who remembered how the dynamic world class track athlete gave Belize's athletic program a booster shot that should have produced many Belizean track stars that would have been shinning now at the world games in London, and now at these 2016 Olympics.

Paradise Theater playing this weekend
The Land, Me Before You, Ratchet & Clank, Infinity. New Projectors coming soon!

Channel 7

Overtaking Truck Flips In Dangerous Accident
There was a terrible accident on the western Highway near Cisco Construction at mile four just before 1:00 this afternoon. A black extended cab Ford F - 150 double cab pickup truck was westbound when it was trying to overtake a white cargo truck. When the pickup veered into the lane of oncoming traffic, it drove into the path of an oncoming police pickup. The police driver had to run off the road to avoid a head on collision. But when the F150 finished overtaking, the driver got rattled and when he got back into his lane, he rammed into another pickup that was parked on the side of the road. That high speed impact caused the Ford pickup to violently flip - and at least one man was flung from the pickup and was seen on the road. We spoke to the passenger in the police pickup - Inspector Aaron Gamboa: Insp. Aaron Gamboa, Special Patrol Unit: "We were going towards Belize City and we saw a white truck ahead and a black 150 Ford Pickup overtook and it loses control on the side of the road and then it started to slide sideways into our Ford 150 police vehicle. When we saw that now, the driver said that he have to take one chance and go in the right hand side of the road into the savannah, otherwise it would have been a head-on collision. Definitely I wouldn't be talking to you today."

Bus Ran Into Terminal
And while that accident happened on the Highway, the commuters at the very crowded Novelo's Bus Terminal got a scare a little over an hour ago. It was due to an out-of-control Westline bus which ran through the metal barriers and crashed into one of the tiny shops inside the terminal itself. Nobody was hurt, but it made for quite a commotion when the bus lurched forward and knocked aside the metal barriers set up to protect passengers from harm. Best information to us says that the bus had only just pulled up to the barrier, and the driver was getting ready to allow passengers to disembark. He lost control of the bus when something caused it surge forward and slam into one of the stalls. Other reports suggest that the driver was not in the bus. Our news team was on the scene shortly afterwards, and we spoke to 2 of the business owners whose shops were wrecked because of the accident:

BPP Wants Omnibus Referendum
It's been almost 3 months since we last featured the Belize Progressive Party on our newscast. That's the independent party which wants to become Belize's third party, and a credible alternative to the PUDP two party system. They have adopted the ICJ referendum on the Belize Guatemala dispute as their flagship public issue, along with trying to get the Public to force the government of the day to sign on to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. And now, they've come up with a plan to try to get all that done in one fell swoop. They want to trigger a sort of "omnibus referendum" in which these 2 issues along with the questions of whether marijuana should be legalized, and whether the Government should accept the Chief Justice's amendment to the sodomy law.

PM Says No Referendum
Yesterday at this press conference, the media did ask the Prime Minister whether he would consider a referendum on the sodomy law - so that the electorate could decide the matter and not the judiciary. The Prime Minister made it clear that a referendum is not even being considered - because the judgment is self contained - and nothing more needs to be done:... Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "There is nothing that we contemplate as being any sort of necessary follow on from the Chief Justice's ruling. It is self-contained, it deals with Section 53, it removes the criminal stigma or possibility of sanction with respect of consensual sexual acts done in private, because another thing I hear people say 'oh, it mean now that people could go out and in public engaged in sex.' The law are still very clear that you can't do that. But there is nothing more that we consider needs to be done or ought to be done in consequence of the ruling. It does what it does and only that and as far we are concerned, it should not be taken any further."

Is the Right To Gay Sex A Human Right?
Those who lobby for a referendum say that society's right to live within the norms of mainstream Christian values must precede the lifestyle choices of a minority. But, those on the other side frame it is a human rights issue: that all Belizeans have certain inalienable rights - and no referendum can take that away. We asked the Prime Minister where he comes down on the issue - and he balked at the question:... Jules Vasquez: "Is homosexuality or the choice to live a homosexual lifestyle or a bisexual or queer lifestyle, is that in your mind a human rights issue? I ask, because the deputy prime minister recently expressed some uncertainly if that was a human right issue." Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "Do I see homosexuality as human right? I'm not going to answer that sir. I am here sent by my cabinet to speak about the ruling and I was at pains to say to you that cabinet is united in so far as our determination not to appeal that ruling is concerned."

PUP Weighs In On Section 53 Judgment, Wants To Appease All Sides
And what is the PUP's position on the divisive issue? Well, we've told you about Leader John Briceno's Facebook posts which tended toward a more tolerant outlook. Today the party issued an official release, which seems to be trying to be all things to all people: urging tolerance in one breath, reverence for the churches in the other, respect for the decision in another, and the suggestion of support for a referendum in yet one more. The release opens by saying, quote, "Our nation…was founded on principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God and respect for the principle of social justice." And then it goes unto say, quote, "Enshrined in our Constitution is our "faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms." The release continues to try and have it both ways by saying, quote, "While we may believe that we the people should ultimately determine how we as a society should choose to live and be governed, we in the People's United Party respect the decision of the Supreme Court as the rule of law." And then it adds, quote, "we also respect the right of those who wish to challenge the decision of the Chief Justice in a higher court."

PM Laments Emergence Of Prickly Issue
And while oppositions is apparently contorting itself to appease all sides of the issue, the government doesn't have quite that same luxury. It duly opposed the constitutional challenge but after losing in court, Government has made it clear it won't appeal the judgment - vexing the churches, and many in the public who have expressed disgust at the Chief Justice's decision. And now, the prospect of the even more divisive gay marriage is on the horizon, which will truly test Government's mettle in the extend of its support for individual rights. Yesterday we asked the Prime Minister if he wished the LGBT community would have left well enough alone and not made the challenge:.. Jules Vasquez: "Is this a case that you would have prefer left well enough alone, in so far as people were doing what they were doing unprosecuted in the privacy of their lives and no one was being arrested or haul before the courts for having sodomy. My question then is would you have preferred that the status quo persists rather than having this case divide society as it has?"

Citrus Damages: 16.5 Million
16.5 million dollars - that's who much the citrus industry said it lost due to Hurricane Earl. All the industry stakeholders met with the Ministry of Agriculture where they totaled the loss at 569,444 boxes of oranges and 133,585 boxes of grapefruit. Growers say they need to re-fertilize groves to put back leaves that were lost due to "wind whip." And so now the industry sent a release today making it public that they are asking government for financial assistance to growers. They also want the Central Bank to make the commercial banks and lending institutions restructure loans. Back to government, they want a two year moratorium on land tax payments, duty free diesel, and faster GST reimbursements. There's no response from government yet, but we know that the equally devastated banana industry has asked for help and government's standing position is that it is strapped for cash and cannot help.

Post-Earl Relief Funding Paltry
With the losses to agriculture and infrastructure, official estimates of the damage put it at about 105 million - and that doesn't include all that money you spent on new appliances, replacement furniture, and damaged roofs. All told the cost of hurricane Earl is a staggering figure, but so far government has only received a paltry sum from multilaterals like the CDB and friendly nations like Taiwan and the European Union. How paltry? We'll let the PM break the bad news:... Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "If you have not gotten it yet, it certainly on the way. The CEDEMA man is coming in tomorrow. I think he is bringing $200,000 Euros, Taiwan is $200,000 Belize, the IDB has agreed to their grant of I think $200,000US, the damage assessment experts have been contracted I think they are coming in next week. That of course is for purposes of the loans that we will be trying to access via both CDB and the IDB. In terms of grant monies, I think we are just about tacked out or reached the limit of what we are going to get. So again, its CEDEMA, CDB, IDB, Taiwan. All together you'd be looking at what 1.2 million dollars."

PACT Gives To Red Cross
And while the appeal to international donors continues, locally, the disaster recovery efforts continues, especially for those who cannot find the funds to repair their homes. Sure enough, the storm left a long trail of wreckage in its wake. That is why the Belize Red Cross continues their relief efforts, helping storm victims. They got a boost today with a $40,000 donation from PACT. Today the chair of the PACT Board Colin Young told us about the significance of the donation and the Director General of the Belize Red Cross Lily Bowman detailed how the funds will be distributed. The Belize Red Cross team has assessed over 600 families and out of that, they have helped over 335 families. The Red Cross continues its relief initiatives. We note that BECOL also gave the Red Cross a substantial donation of two hundred thousand dollars.

Herman Moved On Up! (But He May Move Back Down Soon)
And while government is doing its best to roll out assistance through NEMO, as you heard, the government coffers are just about running on empty. That's why it struck a bad nerve when Belize's new Consul General to New York, the former UDP politician Herman Longsworth posted pictures of his new digs in New York. We haven't seen inside but from the view, we'd say he's moved into one of those "deluxe apartments in the sky." Yesterday the Prime Minister warned that he should enjoy it while he can:... Reporter: "I saw a picture he posted of his new office. He's been sent out already and some people feel that in these times of economic - you'd understanding, to be sending..." Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "That was a decision made before the hurricane. I can tell you that we'd also thought of the opening of a consulate in Chicago. That's not going to happen. In other words what has not happened - no professional consulate will be open in Chicago. We don't have the money and in terms of New York, well as I said, they've been after us for a while to separate the consular premises from the permanent mission of Belize to the UN."

Will Other Visas For Senior Barrow admin Officials Be Cancelled
And while Consul General Longsworth doesn't have to worry about his US VISA, are other officials in the Barrow administration losing sleep about having their US visas cancelled. IT happened to the CEO of NEMO - and we asked the Prime Minister if it will or has happened to others:.. Jules Vasquez "We know that Ms. Ruth Meighan Visa was reportedly cancelled. We've heard that other senior officials in your government may be targeted. Have you received any such information?" Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "No. I did hear about Ms. Ruth Meighan and I believe that confirmed, because she did say to me that she would come to see me. But Earl intervene and she is the NEMO CEO and we haven't had a chance to speak yet. I in fact caused inquiries to be made of the US."

Multifarious Mexican Art
Tonight, 34 art pieces line the walls at the Mexican Institute in Belize City. The exhibit features 3 Mexican painters with distinct techniques and styles. 90 year old Mario Reyes celebrates the beauty and complexity of women in his work, 25 year old Adrain Bastarrachea experiments with abstract art and Jose Luis Rumbo produces surrealist works. Apart from highlighting their individual processes as artists, this showcase reflects an important link or sharing of ideas among men from 3 generations. We spoke to one of the artists today, Jose Rumbo and he told us more about the exhibit and invited us into his world of art. The exhibit is called "3 Generations of Graphic Art in Yucatan" . It opens at the INstitue of Mexico tonight at 8 and will remain open until September 8th.

Company In Toledo Exports Turmeric
Yellow Ginger - it's a spice much used in the East Indian communities of southern Belize - basically it's what makes curry yellow and tasty. And now one Toledo company called "Naledo" is exporting it to Canada as a paste. It's called "Truly Turmeric" - and it's described as a fresh yellow ginger paste. But it's not just for curry, the company says it can be used for cooking, smoothies, teas and as a healing paste. Turmeric is widely recognized as an anti-inflammatory and anti- oxidant. But what's novel about this product is that the company says it's a social enterprise about empowering Toledo youths, and to that end, they are training eight youths under the age of 30 to manage and create the paste. The company is founded by a Canadian mother and daughter team Umeeda and Nareena Switlo. Umeeda first came to Belize as a consultant and saw opportunities. Today, speaking via telephone from Punta Gorda, she told us more about how this business will improve the lives of Toledo youth and she also described all the great benefits of their turmeric paste.

Resorts Falling Over Each Other To Host Gold Medalist Simone Biles And Team
And just a while ago in the news you saw live coverage of Usain Bolt winning his second gold medal in the Rio Olympics. Simone Biles went home with four and now hotel and resort owners can't wait for her and her team to come to Belize. The BTB says it has been overcome by generous offers from tourism industry stakeholders who have offered to host the team while on vacation. The BTB says that when the games are done, it will begin coordinating their visit. They're asking for ideas on how we Belize can best host Simone and her team. If you would like to submit your proposal for hosting the Final Five, contact the BTB's Jana Puga at [email protected], or 227-2420. Simone's adoptive grandmother is a Belizean and she calls Belize her second home.

Channel 5

P.M. Barrow: Government Did Not Change Section 53
Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code, its interpretation, as well as the ramifications of the newly modified piece of legislation, remains a trending topic in public discourse.  Chief Justice Kenneth [...]

B.P.P.: Belize Will Not Look “Soft” on Gay Rights Issue
While members of the clergy have opined on government’s stance on appealing the Supreme Court ruling, the respective political organizations are yet to fully weigh in on the matter.  So, [...]

B.P.P. Leader Says Homosexuality is a Life Choice, Not a Human Rights Issue
During a press conference on the Section Fifty-three decision on Wednesday, PM Barrow flatly refused to answer a question concerning his personal stance on LGBT issues, claiming that it was [...]

LGBT Community Has Been Given a “Shield, Not A Sword”
In a letter written by the Roman Catholic Church to Prime Minister Barrow earlier this week, bishops Dorick Wright and Christopher Glancy highlighted the urgent need for appeal.  They alluded [...]

What Does Section 53 Law Now Criminalize?
The sexual abuse of a minor by his sixteen-year-old sibling last Friday, during which the eleven-year-old boy was sodomized by an older brother is most unfortunate.  The timeliness of the [...]

B.P.P. Says “Take It to the People!”
Take it to the people! That is the advice of the Belize Progressive Party on issues ranging from the recent decision on Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code, to legalization [...]

Would a Popular Referendum Hurt Court’s Responsibility to Protect the Law?
Rogers noted that the United States uses referenda at the city, county and state levels to glean the people’s thoughts on important social and governance issues.  But given that the [...]

Progressive Party Wants “Higher Standard” Applied in Patrick Faber Case
Police continue their investigations into how Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber’s Toyota Prado ended up in the Caribbean Sea near Marine Parade on Sunday night.  The Minister says it was [...]

B.P.P. Has Thumbs Down for Godwin Hulse as Police Minister
In calling once again for the Government to sign the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention, B.P.P. Political Leader Patrick Rogers declared that they are not comfortable with former comrade in the [...]

Will B.P.P. Member Be Expelled in Social Media Fight?
The Belize Progressive Party is approaching its first anniversary of formation; but as with any political party there is internal turmoil. In this case, at least one member may face [...]

2 Women Freed Of Drug Trafficking Charges
Two women accused of trafficking one hundred and forty-eight pounds of cannabis found inside a vehicle at the La Democracia police checkpoint were released after Magistrate Deborah Rogers found they [...]

Senate Discusses Appointment of Doug Singh to Elections Commission
Former U.D.P. senator Doug Singh has been named chair of the Elections and Boundaries Commission.  His appointment was made formal on Monday, despite having assumed the post since January first.  [...]

Opposition Wants Re-Registration Before Re-Districting
Attorney Michel Chebat, who was sworn in as a temporary senator on Monday, sat in for Senator Eamon Courtenay.  He shared the opposition’s perspective on Singh’s appointment.   Michel Chebat, [...]

PACT gives $40,000 for Hurricane Relief to Red Cross
Hurricane relief funds were handed over to the Belize Red Cross today by an unusual donor. The Protected Areas Conservation Trust, an environmental N.G.O., handed over a forty thousand dollars [...]

Funds Will Go to Getting Kids Ready for School
It’s yet another donation to the Belize Red Cross and essentially for Belizeans across the country who were affected by the category one hurricane. The donation will get children prepared [...]

Co-Managers of Protected Areas Also Get Assistance
As to the other sixty thousand dollars; it is being used to assist co-managers, who manage protected areas and parks on behalf of the government of Belize. The winds associated [...]

Healthy Living on Ways to “Love Your Heart”
“Love Your Heart” – That’s the theme under which the Belize Medical Associates will be hosting its annual anniversary symposium. So many of us are at risk of heart disease; [...]

CTV3

BPP Demands Referendum In Four Matters
The Belize Progressive party this morning held a press conference to discuss the Country’s economy, governance and Security. As part of their demands the party is asking for a comprehensive referendum on four matters which they believe are of national importance. The first, taking the unfounded Guatemalan claim to the ICJ, secondly, signing unto the UN convention against corruption, decriminalizing marijuana and lastly on the people’s perspective regarding the ruling on section 53. Today the party announced that the BPP is willing to spearhead that poll but in order to do so they need approximately three hundred thousand dollars. Party treasurer, Robert ‘Bobby’ Lopez says he has been given the task of raising the money.

Prime Minister Talks About Patrick Farber's Fiasco
As we had reported on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber’s government issued vehicle was plunged into the sea near Marine Parade on Sunday night. During a press conference held by the DPM he confirmed that his vehicle had been stolen from the residence of his girlfriend where he had left it, but even though his story was corroborated by the police, many are not swallowing that pill but apparently the Prime Minister is. Yesterday during his press conference, the media asked him about the Minster’s account of how his 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser ended in the Caribbean Sea. Here is what he had to say. Rt. Honorable Dean Barrow – Prime Minister of Belize: “He had called me from the Sunday night because when I first heard about it I thought that maybe he had been in the vehicle and I was concerned about his safety. He said no and from then he told me that the vehicle had to have been stolen and now clearly a question has arisen, stolen by whom? And the police have been told to try to get to the bottom of this and as I know that’s where things are.”

BPP Leader Speaks On Masons's Case
During their press conference earlier today, the Belize Progressive party also spoke about the conduct of government officials in the recent matter of William Mason, and the Party is not happy with their behavior. Here is what Party Leader Patrick Rogers had to say about the appointment of Senator Godwin Hulse as Minister of Police. Patrick Rogers – Party Leader BPP: “Look at Pastor Llewelyn Lucas, they want to stop it right at Mason kill the man when we are BPP are convinced that somebody is more culpable than whoever beheaded that man, do you think that unelected Godwin Hulse as Minister of Police can send his policemen after elected men to investigate elected member of that Cabinet, it won’t happen so we then don’t feel comfortable with Godwin Hulse as Minister of Police because he didn’t do anything for ministry of lands and I am sure as hell that he didn’t do anything at the Immigration department where we still see our documents are free for all on the world market.”

Hurricane Relief Comes Pouring In
Today marks exactly two weeks since Hurricane Earl made land fall in Belize as a category one storm bringing with it destructive winds and flooding rains, causing financial outlays to the Jewel estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. In the wake of the disaster, relief efforts have been mobilized and include generous donations from various organizations including the EU and IDB, racking up roughly one point two million dollars in grants and related funding from international partners, which according to PM Barrow is just about the peak of what GOB will be receiving. Rt. Honorable Dean Barrow – Prime Minister of Belize: “We’ve gotten something from CDB or if we’ve not gotten it yet it’s certainly on the way. The CEDEMA man is coming in tomorrow and I think he’s bringing two hundred thousand Euros or about a hundred thousand U.S., something like that.”

No Tax Increments Due To Hurricane Earl
As previously mentioned initial assessments from damages caused by hurricane Earl was estimated at about 105 million dollars, which comes at a time where Belize’s economy is faced with substantial burdens from major blows like the BTL arbitration award and the second Superbond payments which is coming next year. So will this situation then translate to higher tax rates for the people of Belize? That's the question that was posed to the PM yesterday. Rt. Honorable Dean Barrow – Prime Minister of Belize: "There will be no tax increases before certainly the next budget year. I'm not saying there will be tax increases then but if tax increases have to come they can't come until then. Especially it was not in my contemplation in any event but especially now with hurricane Earl. You don't respond to a disaster where lives have been shattered by increasing taxes on people."

PUP Officially Speaks Out On Section 53 Ruling
Immediately following the decision by the Supreme Court to amend section 53 of the criminal code of Belize, legalizing gay sex between consenting adults, leader of the opposition, Hon. John Briceño took to Facebook to provide his input on the ruling, proclaiming his respect for the ruling. Today an official statement was issued by the party concerning the amendment of Section 53 of the laws of Belize and in their release the PUP declares their support for Belize’s principles which respects the value of social justice and the fundamental faith and freedom of human rights, stating quote “While we may believe that we the people should ultimately determine how we as a society should choose to live and be governed, we in the People’s United Party respect the decision of the Supreme Court as the rule of law. At the same time, we also respect the right of those who wish to challenge the decision of the Chief Justice in a higher court. We firmly believe that governance ought not to be about our personal impulses or private domain, but should always be about honoring the will of the people. We remain steadfast in our belief in social justice and therefore maintain our position that there can be no room for hatred among Belizeans.”

Protocol For Sarstoon Still In Negotiations
The negotiation between Belize and Guatemala for a Sarstoon Protocol has been ongoing for several months, and the last that we heard from the discussions was that an agreement was expected to be drafted by the end of the year. During yesterday’s press conference Prime Minister Dean Barrow spoke on the issue stating that the process to establish a protocol was halted by the Guatemalans who are awaiting the result of the investigation into the death of 13 year old Julio Alvarado, to return to the negotiation table. Rt. Honorable Dean Barrow – Prime Minister of Belize: “It does appear that matters in so far is trying to get in the formal Protocol are stalled and this is deliberate on the part of the Guatemalans, they had indicated that they wouldn’t do anything until the report comes out with respect to the death of the minor, it is my understanding that that report is going to be released fairly shortly my understanding, I would say as soon as that happens hopefully we can get the Guatemalans come back to the table and to some extend I suppose that will depend on what is contained in the report and I have no idea as to the contents but I can say with certainty that it is to be given to both governments fairly soon.”

PlusTV

Evangelical Association Requests GOB to Appeal S.53 Ruling
The National Evangelical Association of Belize (NEAB) is calling upon the Prime Minister of Belize to appeal the ruling of the Chief Justice on the Section 53 lawsuit. On August 10th, some three years after the close of the Caleb Orozco vs Attorney General case on the constitutionality of Belize’s...

Catholic Bishop begs GOB to appeal
Bishop Dorrick Wright of the Catholic Church also sent a letter to Prime Minster Dean Barrow dated August 15, 2016 in which he urges the Prime Minister, on behalf of the 120,000 people of the Belizean Catholic Church, to appeal the Supreme Court decision. The letter states that it is imperative to a...

PM says GOB won’t appeal S53 ruling
Well, Government has no plan to appeal the section 53 decision. That is what Prime Minister Dean Barrow, with his new Attorney General on his right and the Solicitor General who argued the case on his left, said today at a press conference called specifically to give Government’s response to the Se...

Church leaders disappointed in GOB’s response on S53 appeal
Several church leaders were in attendance at the press conference held by the Prime Minister today. After the Prime Minister made it clear that his Government has no intention of appealing the decision made on the constitutionality of the section 53 law, the church representatives gave their reactio...

Belizean Man dies in Fatal Traffic Accident in Mexico
A Belizean man was the victim of a fatal traffic accident in Mexico. 50 year old Rene August, also known as “Willie B”, a resident of Santa Elena, Cayo District died on Tuesday night in Vera Cruz, Mexico while driving down from the US to Belize. August was part of a caravan of Belizeans driving do...

Minor in sodomy case to be guarded by State
The Department of Human Services is intervening in the case of the 11 year old boy who accuses his 16 year old older brother of anally assaulting him in his sleep last Friday. While Police investigations continue, the Department, after speaking with the boy’s family, is taking charge of his ca...

Many teachers out of job due to incomplete training
In February of this year, the Ministry of Education announced that over one thousand three hundred teachers from primary and secondary institutions are expected to lose their jobs this coming school year because they did not complete education training. Back in 2008, the ministry notified teachers o...

The Guardian

GOB will not appeal changes to Section 5
Prime Minister Dean Barrow along with government’s legal advisors, the Attorney General, Vanessa Retreage and Solicitor General Nigel Hawke held a press conference in which he announced that the government will not be appealing the decision by the Chief Justice last week to amend Section 53 of the Criminal Code of Belize. As it stood the section read as follows: ‘Every Person who has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any person or animal shall be liable to imprisonment for ten years.’ to this the Chief Justice added: “This section shall not apply to consensual sexual acts between adults in private.” The Chief Justice declared that Section 53 of the Belize Criminal Code, Chapter 101 contravenes sections 3,6,12 and 16 of the Belize Constitution to the extent that it applies to carnal intercourse against the order of nature between persons.

Put up $2,800 and receive $23,000 in 4 weeks - FIU says get rich schemes unsustainable
For the past few weeks the Financial Intelligence Unit has been warning Belizeans about getting involved in pyramid schemes that have apparently taken root here. The FIU says that while the schemes are not illegal they do stem in fraud. Adding to those who are warning against the schemes is Dr. Albert Williams a professor of Finance and Economics in the MBA program at Nova Southeastern University in Miami. Williams says that the way the programs are structured they are simply unsustainable. They do not follow the definitions of an investment. Williams asks “If companies can only get 5%, 10% and 20% returns on investments how can anyone get a 700% return on an investment?”

16 year old to be charged with sodomy of 11 year old brother
Police in San Ignacio are investigating a case in which an 11 year old boy was sodomized by his 16 year old brother. The matter was brought to the attention of police by another older brother who reported that the 11 year old had been sodomized. Police and social workers are investigating the matter and have since arrested the 16 year old. Reports indicate that the 11 year old was asleep when his 16 year old brother sodomized him. Tests conducted on the younger brother have confirmed that he was indeed raped. Police are now preparing charges against the 16 year old which are likely to be laid on Thursday August 18.

Attorney General sworn-in as New Senator and Minister of Natural Resources
On Monday August 15, Attorney General Hon. Vanessa Retreage was officially sworn-in as a Senator and a Minister. Ms. Retreage was first sworn-in as a Senator before the President and other members of the Senate at the National Assembly Building during the Senate Meeting. Thereafter, the new Senator took her Oath of Allegiance, as the new Minister of Natural Resources, before H.E. Sir Colville Young at the Belize House. Hon. Vanessa Retreage’s appointments come after the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow’s announcement of a Cabinet shuffle on Monday, August 1st, 2016.

Taiwan contributes to hurricane Earl relief efforts
On Friday August 12, the Government of Belize received a check for US $100,000 from the Republic of China on Taiwan. The check was handed over at a ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Belize City. Handing over the check on behalf of the Taiwanese government was H.E. Ambassador Benjamin Ho. In making the presentation he expressed his delight in seeing the resilience and solidarity of the government and people of Belize in the aftermath of the storm, which made landfall on Wednesday, August 3rd, destroying homes and causing serious damage to infrastructure and the agriculture and tourism industries.

17 year old minor arraigned for murder
A teenager, 17, will be celebrating his 18th birthday behind bars on December 19, 2016 after he was remanded to the Belize Wagner’s Facility located at the Belize Central Prison for the Friday, August 12, 2016 murder of Jason Steven Young aka “Packson” who was gunned down on Dolphin Street, in Belize City in front of Belize Dry Cleaners Ltd. The 17 year old minor was whisked to the Belize Family Court on Monday August 15 where he was read a single charge of murder for the killing of well known football player, 37 year old Jason Young, aka “Packson”. Packson met his untimely death on Dolphin Street shortly before 7:00 on Friday morning, August 12, 2016.

William Mason’s wife granted Supreme Court bail
Wife of William Mason, Melissa Ferguson appeared in Supreme Court on Monday August 15 before Justice Troadio Gonzalez on a bail application. Ferguson had applied for bail on Friday August 12 but the matter was adjourned until Monday. After hearing the application, Justice Gonzalez granted Ferguson bail in the sum of $12,000 which she met. Conditions to her bail are that she must surrender all her travelling documents to the Belmopan Magistrate Court clerk and she must report to the Belmopan Police station every Friday effective Friday, August 19, 2016.

Egbert Baldwin charged for murder
Egbert Baldwin, 18, who recently began residing in the Ladyville area after moving from Libertad Village, Corozal District was remanded to the Belize Central Prison for the murder of John Michael Williams which occurred on August 2, 2016 in the Ladyville area just days prior to hurricane Earl hitting Belize. Baldwin appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith where he was levied a single charge of murder. Due to the nature of the offense no plea was taken and Baldwin was denied bail and remanded to the Belize Central Prison until December 19, 2016 when he is due to be given his disclosure and on January 14, 2017 when he is expected to see his case go to PI for murder.

Luis Carter charged for murder on San Pedro
On Tuesday, August 9 of this week, 33 year old Luis Emmanuel Carter, the man accused of shooting and injuring 30 year old Dwayne Alexander Hyde on La Isla Bonita, San Pedro saw his bail application rejected at the Supreme Court by Justice Troadio Gonzalez in light of the death of the shooting victim who succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. On Thursday August 11, almost a month after the shooting of Hyde, Carter was officially levied a single charge of murder when he appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. He appeared before Magistrate, Carlon Mendoza where he was read a single charge of murder for the July 27, 2016 killing of 30 year old Dwayne Alexander Hyde, who was shot on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 on San Pedro.

Three charged for robbing popular TV Chef
On Tuesday August 16, three men appeared in Magistrate’s court following the robbery of popular TV Chef Ainsley. 31 year old Kareem Betancourt, a Tour guide with Chukka Tours; 20 year old Jermaine Wagner, a Fisherman of #173 Neal’s Pen Road and 18 year old Lemar Lamb; appeared unrepresented before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer where they were jointly charged with one count of handling stolen goods. Lamb was additionally charged with robbery. In court, Lamb pleaded not guilty to robbery but guilty to burglary while his other two accomplices charged with handling stolen goods jointly with him pleaded not guilty.

Michael Modiri appealing $150,000 in damages granted to him
On Thursday August 11, attorney for Michael Modiri, Nazira Myles of Chebat & Co., filed a notice of appeal challenging the amount of damages awarded to her client. The appeal was filed before Madam Registrar, Velda Flowers in the Supreme Court. Myles appeared at the court but the respondent, Bradley Pauman, the owner of Dark Night and Daylight Adventure Tour, was a no show in court. Nonetheless the matter was filed against Pauman.

Another murder at La Pasadita in Cayo
The motionless body of a Hispanic male was found at the entrance of La Pasadita Bar on the Iguana Creek Road in Spanish Lookout, Cayo at about 3:00 am on Sunday of this past weekend. The victim was observed lying face up in a pool of blood with three apparent chop wounds and one gunshot wound to the upper part of his body. A further inquiry by San Ignacio Police has revealed that the victim, 41 year old Belizean Hever Miranda, (resident of a Duck Run Three address) had an altercation with two men. Those two men, Gladimir Bartolo Shish and Carlos Antonio Rodriquez Mendendez have since been charged with murder.

Police beating lands man at hospital
Toledo Resident Mario Makin had to be transferred from the PG Hospital, to the Dangriga Hospital, then all the way to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. He had to undergo a number of emergency life-saving surgeries after enduring a terrible beatdown, allegedly at the hands of the police from the Punta Gorda Station. The San Marcos resident was socializing with his friend near a store in the village. The allegation is that the cops were attacking another man, and when Makin and his friend came out to see what the commotion was about their ire was then directed at him. The young man managed to escape, and from there, the story gets a lot more bizarre. The family says that the cops turned their attention on Makin, and that’s when they put a beat down on him.

Mother and daughter arraigned for stabbing incident
Shirley Mejia/Smith, 40, a Domestic of #1 Pinks Alley, along with her 17 year old daughter appeared in Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday August 16 where they were jointly charged with wounding after Shantae Gabourel, a patron attending the Belize Sound Fest was stabbed during a brawl during the Belize Sound Fest. Both pleaded not guilty to the charge and since there was no objection to them being granted bail, Senior Magistrate, Sharon Fraser offered them bail in the sum of $1,000 each plus one surety of the same amount with conditions in which they both must stay away from the virtual complainant.

Ernest Stuart pleads guilty to escape but not guilty to drug trafficking
On Wednesday August 17, 39 year old Construction Worker, Ernest Stuart, appeared before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser where he was read charges of drug trafficking and escape from lawful custody. Allegations are that on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, he was found in possession of 1.2 grams of crack cocaine which police claim they found in his left front pants pocket during a search at his yard, located at #15 Fredrick Street, Belize City. Further allegations being made against Stuartare that whilst he was being detained by PC #2026, Davis, he escaped.

Groundbreaking for new Grace Primary School building
Hon. Patrick Faber on Wednesday August 17 officially broke ground at the new Grace Primary School’s compound on Faber’s Road for the construction of a new school building. The new building will be built at a cost of $562,300.00 through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank with counterpart funding from the Government of Belize and the Grace Primary Parent Teacher’s Association. They contributed 30 thousand dollars for landfill of the new site. The building will be a single storey reinforced concrete building measuring 121 feet long and 31feet wide. it will have four classrooms, male and female students’ bathrooms, teachers’ lavatory, administrative space, and an access ramp to accommodate students/visitors with diverse abilities. The new expanded structure will also be equipped with a verandah, reinforced aluminum louvered windows, security grilles and timber doors.

Put thine money where thine mouth is
For the past week or so ever since the court's decision on the challenge to certain parts of section 53 of the Criminal Code Chapter 101 of Laws of Belize, there has been a lot of opinions being passed around via talk shows and social media. Many of those interventions have come from Priests, Pastors, members or officials of various religious organizations and other persons who claims to be Christians. Very few of the views appear to have been well formulated. There have been some that appear to be contemptuous and may well cause the authors of those opinions to be taken before the court. Then there have been others that are just plain hate speeches. For clarity's sake let's give a little background of what we are discussing here. A Belizean, Caleb Orozco, had taken the government to court claiming that the aforementioned section 53 violated certain of his right as proscribed in the Belize Constitution.

When the pyramid crumbles
Every so often we would hear of people running scams on others by using some sort of GET RICH scheme and at this time it appears to be a PYRAMID SCHEME being called Dream Catchers that has been employed to con Belizean women out of their hard earned money. We think to do it at this time of the year was crucial for the promoters, because it is the time when the job of getting the children prepared to go back to school for the new school year, falls mostly on the shoulders of the women, many of whom are SINGLE PARENTS. The crunch to get the monies needed for those activities are sometimes overbearing on those women and they could easily be had by the lure of a get rich scheme .

Hon. Patrick Faber launches program of celebrations in San Ignacio Town
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, the Hon. Patrick Faber officially launched the September Celebrations Program for the Twin Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena at the Cayo Welcome Center on Saturday night of this past weekend. Hon. Faber was joined by Earl Trapp Junior, Mayor of San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns. On Saturday, the Hon. Faber was also joined by the Queens, who will be vying for the Queen of the West Crown. In his main address on Saturday night, Hon. Patrick Faber referred to the theme for this year’s September Celebrations, Sovereign and Strong—Together as One. He said that it is in our young people that the future of our Country lies.

Ernest Staine can no longer practice law in Belize
The last time we reported on attorney Ernest Staine was at the end of March of last year when the Supreme Court ordered that his assets be sold in order for him to be able to pay a client whom he had collected 230 thousand dollars for but did not pay her. We now report that Staine has lost his privilege as an attorney. In quite an unceremonious manner the General Legal Council announced last week that Ernest Staine has been removed from the Roll of Attorneys-at-Law and is therefore no longer eligible to practice law effective June 30th. In mid 2014 Staine was involved in a transaction in which a property belonging to Rita McField was sold to Forward in Faith Ministries for 250 thousand dollars. The transaction saw the church organization give Staine the money for the property which is located on Douglas Jones Street.

CYDP 5th Annual Peace Cup to commence
The Conscious Youth Development Programme 5th Annual Peace Cup is scheduled to commence on Saturday 27th August, 2016, at the MCC Grounds. According to the organisers, there is no registration fee and space is limited. The Registration forms for the 5th Annual Peace Cup can be picked up at the Conscious Youth Development Programme Office at 117 North Front Street in Belize City. The winning team will receive $5000.00 cash plus individual trophies. The second place team will receive $3000.00 plus trophies and third place will receive $2000.00 plus medals.

Vicious chopping murder in Belmopan
Two men, brothers, were chopped on Tuesday night in Belmopan. The men 24 year old Walter Alvarado and his brother 33 year old Clerito Perez had gone out to buy food when they were attacked by a group of men who savagely chopped them. As a result of the attack Clerito lost his life while Walter ended up at the hospital receiving treatment for numerous chop wounds. Walter Alvarado has told police that he and his brother had gone to buy food in the Maya Mopan area of Belmopan when 3 men confronted them. Alvarado says he had bought his food and was waiting on his brother as he had gone to buy two beers when the men started to harass him.

Belizean dies while driving through Mexico
Belizean diplomats in Mexico are working on having the body of 50 year old Belizean Rene August transported back home after he died in a traffic accident. Reports are that at around 6:45 on Tuesday evening August was travelling along the Autopista Teami Veracruz – Córdoba, when nearing kilometer 74 in the municipality of Jamapa, Veracruz he lost control of the vehicle he was driving. The vehicle, a Ford Escape with which he was towing a Jeep Patriot ran off the road killing August at the scene. Reports are that it took well over 8 hours to remove his body from the wreckage. Juan Rudon, 67 who was also travelling with August escaped unhurt.

People’s Coalition of Cayo at the ready
An important meeting of the People’s Coalition of Cayo PCC was held at the Aguada Hotel and Restaurant in San Ignacio Town last Wednesday night to usher in new set of priorities for the organization. Chairing that meeting was William Butcher, who is also an avid Rotarian. According to Butcher, the PCC is in existence to help the police. In a report filed in by Superintendent of Police, Anthony Richard Rosado and who is also Officer in charge of the San Ignacio Police Formation, when compared to June 2016, other crimes decreased for the month of July 2016 by 21% and major crimes decreased by 38%. When compared to the same period last year, major crimes also decreased by 35% within an area encompassing 38 villages and the Twin Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena.

Lessons learnt in Western Belize with the passing of Hurricane Earl
While Hurricane Earl has long passed and gone, there are lessons to be learnt from that experience; especially in Western Belize, where on rare occasions the area becomes susceptible to flooding. Just a few hours after the passing of Hurricane Earl, the Macal River had risen rapidly and it surprised everyone at the levels that it would reach. According to the Mayor of San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town, Earl Trapp Junior, “I think we have had a serious disaster here in our Municipality.” In addition to the blowing away of 12 roofs in the area, several businesses had lost thousands of dollars as a result of water damage from the Macal River as it rose past the Cayo Welcome Centre and neared to the Bismillah Store.

Chinese national ends up in jail for unpaid debts
Chinese national, David Wong, who is now a naturalized Belizean was apprehended last night at around 7:30 after he absconded from Belize and went to China. At the time he refused to pay money he owed to an accident victim after the Supreme Court made a ruling ordering him to initially pay $82,000. As a result of time passed that amount has now grown to $117,000 in lawyer fees, court costs and interest. On Wednesday August 17 Wong who was unrepresented appeared before Supreme Court Judge, Shona Griffith while the claimant, Levin Aguilar appeared with his attorney, Mark Williams as they made attempts to get the money owed to Aguillar for almost 2 years.

Victor Mason Gibbs granted bail after knocking down and killing Emily Guy
Victor Mason Gibbs the alleged drunk driver who on Saturday, July 30, 2016 caused the death of 54 year old Emily Guy appeared in magistrate’s court on Monday August 15 seeking bail. After hearing his application he was granted bail in the sum of 8 thousand dollars plus two sureties of 4 thousand dollars each. He also had to surrender all his travel documents to the Belize City Magistrate’s court and must report to the Queen Street Police Station every Friday of the week and not interfere with any of the prosecution witnesses and not be arrested or charged with any other offense whilst out on bail.

Special constable accused of rape granted bail
On Friday August 12, Addison Gillett a special constable was granted bail at the Supreme Court by Justice Triadio Gonzalez in the sum of $8,000 plus one surety of the same amount or two sureties of $4,000.00. Gillett was accused of aggravated assault with a gun and rape of a minor in Belmopan. He is accused of grabbing the minor at gun point in broad daylight then taking her to a hotel where he dragged her up the stairs and then at gun point raped her.

Murder trial concludes against Curtis Lamb, judge reserves judgment
A trial by judge concluded before Justice Troadio Gonzalez in the Belize City Supreme Court against 22 year old Curtis Lamb, a Belize City youth who at the time of his arrest was only 17. Lamb had been accused of the August 3, 2011 murder of Justin Roaches who was shot whilst socializing on the Gwen Lizarraga High School Basketball court. Lamb’s trial began three weeks earlier and on Wednesday August 10 Judge Gonzalez heard closing arguments from sides. The crown was represented by Sheneiza Smith and the defence was represented by attorney Anthony Sylvester. After the arguments Judge Gonzalez reserved judgement to a later date. Allegations made by the crown against Lamb are that he shot and killed Roaches. Roaches was shot 3 times to the body but according to the crown’s evidence, Roaches was not the intended target.

Bail granted then denied to Kimberly Lino because she is an American Citizen
On Friday August 12, two Belizean/American sisters, Kimberly Lino and Samanti Louis, accused and charged with aggravated burglary after a woman’s house in Dangriga was invaded by 3 women and a 14 year old minor were both granted Supreme Court bail in the sum of $30,000 and stringent conditions. The women had to provide the court with copies of their passports, visas, green cards and identification should they not show up to the Dangriga Magistrate Court on their next court appearance in the matter. Before they could meet the bail, both sisters had to provide the judge with the documents for scrutiny and since their bail application was heard late Friday evening, they could not meet all the requirements as ordered by the court which forced the matter to carry on into Monday August 15.

Accused of having sex with a minor
A labourer of the Gungulung area in Belize City was remanded on Monday, August 15 after being charged with two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse for allegedly having sex with a 15 year old minor. 26 year old Kenroy Timmons, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate, Anne Marie Smith where he was read the charges. The child reported to police that on June 27, 2016, at the age of 15 years and 6 months, Timmons had sex with her. She also alleged that on a second occasion, on July 1, 2016, 5 days later, Timmons again had sex with her.

Breaking Belize News

BPP calls for comprehensive referendum on social issues
Take it to the people! That is the advice of the Belize Progressive Party (BPP) on issues ranging from the recent decision on Section 53 of the Criminal Code, to legalization of marijuana use, to signing the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention. In terms of […]

UNDP joins hurricane relief efforts
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is donating roofing materials and cleaning kits to Belize City residents who were severely affected by Hurricane Earl. The announcement was made late this afternoon via a press release. The materials are expected to help 125 families repair […]

Belizean Student wins Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s Children’s Essay Competition
Belizean student Janae Elisha Rodriguez has won herself first place in the junior division in the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Essay Competition. The competition invited students from Latin America and the Caribbean to write about what they would like to see and […]

San Narciso man dies of alcohol intoxication
32-year-old Basilio Patt, a resident of San Narciso Village was found dead on Monday morning at the San Joaquin Fiesta Grounds in San Joaquin Village. Patt’s body was found around 6:00 a.m. by villagers who reported it to the police. The circumstances surrounding Patt’s […]

Corozal man drowns in the New River
Alberto Pott, 41, a resident and cane cutter of Caledonia Village in the Corozal District was found dead in the New River on Wednesday afternoon. According to Corozal police, around 12:30 p.m. someone who had gone to the river to fish saw Pott floating […]

DFC sponsors the Belize Protectors Association
The Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has contributed $5,000 to the Belize Protectors Association. The Association is a team including personnel from the Belize Police Department, the Belize Defense Force and the Belize Coast Guard. In March of this year they competed, for the first time, in the B2V race, a relay of 120 miles from Baker California to Las Vegas Nevada, USA. In their debut performance against over 8, 000 other competitors, the team of 25 ranked 14th overall and took first place in the mixed category.

Blogs

A Guide to Packing for Belize in the Rainy Season
It has many names – the low season, the off season, hurricane season but around here on Ambergris Caye, it’s generally called the rainy season. August, September, October, often into November, like in much of the Caribbean, the weather and the sea are warmer, the air more humid and there is always a chance of rain. It’s the tropics…even the most gorgeous sunny morning can lead to dark storm clouds rolling by at mid-day, heavy rain that blows sideways for 20 mins and then back to bright sun. You definitely have the chance for rain at night…or a shower or two during the day…or possibly a run of a couple rainy days but by no means does the “rainy season” mean that your whole vacation is a rain-out. The weather is…spontaneous. So being prepared will ensure that your trip is much more comfortable. Keep in mind that there are GREAT reasons to visit Belize during this time.

Belize Destinations: 7 Underrated Places To Visit
There’s a small army of activities to participate in when you’re in Belize, some of our other posts can give you detailed guides of the wheres and how-tos of Belize’s most premiere destinations. Today, however, we’d like to bring you a few of the less known wonders that deserve just as much attention as the likes of Big Rock Falls and Victoria Peak. Here Are 7 Underrated Belize Destinations In No Particular Order: Doyles Delight: This is Victoria Peak’s direct western counterpart and the actual highest peak in Belize scraping past the aforementioned by just 4 meters (12 feet is an entire floor level anyway). Vaca Lake: Following the construction and commissioning of the new dam, the floodgates were shut and the reservoir began to fill. Vaca lake was born and today is a long stretch of filled river which unintentionally created beautiful swimming waters and created access to newly river-bank accessible waterfalls. Cockscomb basin: The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, unlike Vaca Lake, had nothing do to with people – we simply found a pristine eco-system and realized it was worth preserving! Cockscomb basin is home to many of Belize’s wildest and must elusive species, most famously of which are our very own Panthera onca (jaguar for short).

Belize has talent: 2016 National Song Competition opens September Celebrations
If you pay attention to the list of events between August and September each year, you will agree that Belize celebrates its official national days in grand style. One very popular activity is the annual National Song Competition, which is the breakaway of the celebratory season. It was my first time at the event this year, and let me tell you, I am a proud Belizean. Hundreds of revellers gathered at the Fort George Memorial Park in Belize City and joined in the singing and dancing. On stage, dancers accompanied the energetic performers, jumping around, exalting the name of Belize, and waving the Belize flag. It was truly a Belizean experience at a truly Belizean landmark, and I’d never felt so Belizean! The patriotic event is the beginning of a journey of festivities leading to the 218th anniversary of the Battle of St. George’s Caye on September 10th and our official Independence Day on September 21st ,which under the theme ‘Sovereign and Strong, Together as One,’ will bringing Belize’s 35th independence anniversary.

International Sources

Belize blazes a trail
TINY Belize is having a moment of global fame. Simone Biles, the United States’ spring-loaded gold-medal gymnast, is also a citizen of the Caribbean state. Human-rights advocates, meanwhile, are more excited about the decision by its high court to decriminalise homosexuality. Section 53 of the criminal code, which threatens people who engage in “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” with up to ten years in prison, is unconstitutional, ruled the chief justice, Kenneth Benjamin, on August 10th. The decision may set a precedent for a conservative region. It was a long time coming. Caleb Orozco, a leader of the United Belize Advocacy Movement, a gay-rights group, waited three years for a hearing after challenging the law in 2010. His campaign provoked attacks and insults. Churches fought it, both in the courtroom as “interested parties” and through the media. Lance Lewis, president of Belize’s National Evangelical Association, called the court’s ruling “an abomination”.

Belize commended for not appealing sex act ruling
The Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) supports the government of Belize’s decision not to appeal the ruling that criminalising carnal acts, to include anal sex, is unconstitutional. CVC said the Cabinet had a duty to regard and accept the court as ‘Guardian of the Constitution of Belize’, that the ruling brings Section 53 in conformity with the Constitution since the case had been exhaustively argued and the issues fully ventilated. The group also views the decision of the government not to appeal as “an important and bold step forward”. “It is especially noteworthy that Prime Minister Dean Barrow denounced violence, including hate speech, and called for Belizeans to treat each other with respect and dignity regardless of differences,” CVC said.

Belize is recovering from the Tropical Cyclone Earl
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) grants from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) for immediate relief operations 143,828 Swiss francs to support the Belize Red Cross Society (BRCS) in assisting 2,200 people (440 families) affected by Tropical Cyclone Earl. The Tropical Cyclone Earl made landfall on 4 August, with wind gusts of up to 110 km/h, as estimated by National Hurricane Center of the United States. The cyclone was moving west at about 14 miles per hour. At its centre the hurricane was estimated to have wind speeds of 70 miles per hour. Major infrastructure and building damage were reported by the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO). Roads and streets were blocked in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, and Ladyville, Belize River Valley, Orange Walk, Belmopan and other affected areas.

Soldier volunteers with Gold Star Teen Adventures
Second Lt. Olivia Schretzman, D Company, 326th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, recently participated as a mentor with Gold Star Teen Adventures during the Advanced SCUBA Trip 2016 and Alumni Advanced Outdoor Adventure 2016 in San Pedro and Belmopan, Belize. The mission of Gold Star Teen Adventures is to enable healing, foster enduring relationships and develop character and leadership skills through adventure experiences in the surviving youth of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. Kent Solheim created the organization after being seriously wounded in Iraq in 2007. He wanted teens of fallen heroes to experience the same comradery he found in the service. Schretzman’s participation in the program has had a positive effect on the Gold Star Families, Soldheim said.

Belize sodomy ruling could have sweeping impact in Caribbean
Activists across the English-speaking Caribbean say last week’s Belize Supreme Court ruling that found the country’s sodomy law could have implications throughout the region. Donnya Piggott, director of Barbados Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination, described the ruling to the Washington Blade as “groundbreaking and extremely promising.” Barbados is among the countries in the English-speaking Caribbean in which consensual same-sex sexual conduct remains criminalized. Piggott told the Blade that authorities earlier this year used the island’s sodomy law to charge a man who allegedly had sex with a 15-years-old. The colonial-era statute is rarely enforced, but the man could face life in prison if he is convicted. “No change comes without initial backlash,” Piggott told the Blade, referring to the impact that the Belize Supreme Court ruling could have in Barbados. “So we have to brace ourselves for a stronger right-wing opposition, but apart from that I see (sodomy laws) tumbling like dominoes in the Caribbean.”

BELIZEAN STUDENT WINS LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN ESSAY COMPETITION
A Belizean student has won a Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Foundation Children’s Essay Competition for students in Latin America and the Caribbean. FCCA Monday said that first place in the junior division was Janae Elisha Rodriguez from Belize, while Jacinth Hunkins from St. Maarten took the gold in the senior division. The competition had invited students from schools around the Caribbean and Latin America to submit essays and FCCA said that in total, this year’s contest provided nearly US$20,000 to the participating students and their schools. “There is nothing more fulfilling than helping children, and I am proud of all the ways the FCCA Foundation achieves this,” said FCCA president Michele Paige.

Videos

August 18, 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

Police Polaris destroyed by unexplained fire
A routine patrol by members of the San Pedro Police Formation did not end well, as their Polaris vehicle suddenly became engulfed in flames. The incident took place around 9AM on Wednesday, August 17th in the Alta Mira Area of San Pedro Town. The Fire Department was notified and they quickly responded to the scene where they put out the fire. Little could be done to save the Polaris, and it was completely destroyed.

National Song Competition kicks off September Celebrations!
To kick off the 2016 September celebrations, the National Celebrations Commission along with the Institute of Creative Arts, hosted the annual National Song Competition. The event took place on Saturday, August 13th at the Fort George Memorial Park in Belize City, highlighting talented Belizean vocalist, much creativity, showcasing Belize’s diversity and national pride. This year, 19 competitors took on the challenge in two categories –National Song, and Carnival Song. After a long night of spectacular performances, Cecil Jenkins A.K.A ‘Cocono Bwai’ with his song ‘Border to Border,’ song took home first place in the National Song Competition 2016.

San Pedro to get $12 Million Internet SEUL by BTL
Sanpedranos will soon have twice faster Internet and access to light-speed bandwidth by July 2017, with the installation of the SEUL (Strategic Evolution Underwater Link) – a fibre-optic cable by Chinese telecom giant Huawei, through a Bze$12 Million contract signed by Belize Telemedia (BTL) at the Renaissance Tower in Belize City on Monday afternoon, August 15th. BTL has heard San Pedro customers and visitors requests for faster internet speeds and bandwidth, and Anwar Barrow and the company’s immediate response is to double the speed of the existing system by microwave transmission from a dish on the tower at Esquivel Telecom Center in Belize City, to a dish in San Pedro. Barrow said the present speed of 1.4 Gigabytes per second will be increased to 3.0 Gb/s within a month. This is nowhere enough to offer the speeds of 10Mb/s to 150Mb/s which visitors have become accustomed to at home in Europe and the United States, requiring the 32 Terabytes/second speed that a fiber-optic cable can offer. Barrow said this will meet Isla Bonita’s broadband needs for the next 15 – 20 years, allowing Sanpedranos to have all the Internet broadband width they could want or need. He said BTL is already beginning the underwater surveys for where the cable will be laid on the seabed, so that they can get any required environmental permits. Huawei’s Ma Yanfeng said the fibre-optic system will have a total capacity of 32 Terabytes/second, which will be more than a 10,000 times the 3.0 Gb/s capacity of the microwave link after it is expanded next month.

Ambergris Caye to be represented at National Belikin Pool Tournament
After winning the qualifying match in a local pool tournament on the island, Team “One Shot-One Kill,’ will be representing Ambergris Caye at the National Belikin 8-Ball Pool Tournament. The event will be held on Saturday, August 20th and Sunday, August 21st in Orange Walk Town, and will have teams from all over the country competing for the national championship. Team One Shot-One Kill, Team Amigos and Team Krush, were the favorites of the evening. Each team had seven players whose task was to win the best out of five games, and the team with the most wins would walk away with the victory. As the evening went by, Team Krush was soon left behind in third place, and Team Amigos, led by Jose Perez and Team One Shot-One Kill, coached by Talal Harmouch faced each other for the final match. It was a tight game, making the match longer and more exciting for the fans who cheered on their favorite team. However, only one could claim the championship, and with a clean shot, by Nestor Villanueva, the 8-ball sinking in, giving One Shot-One Kill the win. Team Amigos had to settle for the second place.

BTB extends invitation to Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles
Since the Rio Olympic Games commenced, US Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles has been the talk of the world. In Belize, the 19 year-old holds a special place in the hearts of Belizeans, as her mother is from Belize. The excitement grew more when the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) scored more than gold when they extended Biles, along with her teammates, an invitation to vacation in Belize, and they accepted. BTB tweeted on Thursday, August 11th: “Congrats @simone_biles! Belize is so proud of you. We’d love to host you and the entire #FinalFive on a vacation once you’re ready to relax.” Biles, who is no stranger to Belize, responded, “My second home, you betta belize we’re coming.” BTB’s offer is to host Biles and the US gymnast team for a five-day, all-expense trip to Belize.

Ambergris Today

Two Free Arts Camp by Augustana University!
A group of college students from Augustana university in Sioux Falls South Dakota will be offering a free arts camp on August 18th & 19th at Boco Del Rio Park and at Central Park on August 23rd & 24th. Activities include percussion classes, crafts, dancing, drawing, singing and games will be offered from 10a.m. - 12p.m. and 1p.m. - 4p.m. / Ages 5-14. The group offering these workshops are five amazing university students from a liberal arts college called, Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD. They wanted to combine their love and expertise in the arts with their love of children.

San Ignacio Resort Hotel in Belize Celebrates 40 years of Family Hospitality
San Ignacio Resort Hotel, the longest standing hotel in San Ignacio Town celebrates its 40th anniversary, having officially opened to guests on August 17, 1976. To commemorate the event, the Hotel will launch several activities highlighting and celebrating its importance as a pioneer in the Belize hospitality industry. Built on 17 acres of lush Belizean rainforest, the 26 room Resort forever changed the landscape of the hospitality scene in San Ignacio over the years. The San Ignacio Resort Hotel has set the precedent for premier hospitality services and standards, and continues to lead the industry 40 years later. The anniversary also honors the vision and legacy of the founders, Mr. and Mrs. Escander and Paulita Bedran.

Watch as Fire Engulfs San Pedro Police Vehicle
Personal video footage of Alta Mar resident Kerian Azueta in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, shows how the San Pedro Police Department’s polaris is being destroyed by fire as the vehicle bursts into flames during a patrol of the neighborhood early this morning, August 17, 2016. According to reports, four police officers jumped off the polaris after noticing smoke coming from the vehicle. Soon after the entire polaris was engulfed in flames. The San Pedro Fire Department arrived at the scene and was able to extinguish the flames, but not before the vehicle was completely destroyed. The incident occurred around 9a.m.

Misc Belizean Sources

Food Safety & Mosquito Transmitted Disease Presentation
Notice to the PUBLIC: The Caye Caulker Village Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is hereby inviting the entire community of Caye Caulker and business community to attend a presentation that will be done on Food Safety and Mosquito Transmitted Diseases. When: Wednesday 17th August 2016 at 7:00 pm sharp at the Community Center. Please make all efforts to attend this very important presentation! Feel free to spread the word!

Belizean Dies in Mexico
Rene August, also known as Willy B. was part of a caravan of Belizeans driving down vehicles from the United States. He and others were in Veracruz, Mexico when a tragic accident occurred taking August's life on Tuesday, August 16th. The municpal aurthorities have said that at 6:45 pm, August 16, 2016, on Autopista Teami Veracruz – Córdoba, a la altura del km. 74+110 in the municipality of Jamapa, Veracruz a traffic accident occurred in which, Rene August, 50 years, a Belizean driver, died. He was traveling in the company of Juan Rudon, 67, who emerged unharmed. The two Belizeans were traveling in a red Ford Escape, driven by the deceased Rene August, with a black Jeep Patriot in tow bearing Texas license plates BY8N033. The driver lost control causing the vehicle to overturn.

San Ignacio Resort Hotel 40th Anniversary
Happy 40th anniversary to the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. The SIRH opened their doors on August 17th, 1976, and has been providing quality service ever since. They have a great video to commemorate the occasion. Keep up the great work. Here's to many more. "Attended the Jazz Fest in San Ignacio & stayed at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. Great place, great service. The resort is celebrating it"

Yoga in the Jungle at Macaw Jungle Lodge
We are planning a fun yoga session on the new yoga deck at Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge. The owners of the lodge are hoping to get a few photos for thier website and have offered not only to allow us to use their deck under the jungle canopy but will also provide us with a vegetarian lunch after, plus the use of their tubes (river and weather permitting). I will not be charging any extra for this class so you can use your class card, otherwise it's $20bz (same as any other single class). I will ask for a small donation from anyone riding in my truck to cover gas and I have room for three people inside the cab and lots more in the truckbed :) Please sign up no later than Monday Aug 29th so that both Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge and myself can prepare for this fun day.

Miss Belize pageant
Lazy Lizard invites all our friends to attend the Miss Belize pageant, September 10th at the Bliss Center and support our very own delegate Miss Neidy Rodriguez, representing Belize City.

Guatemala's attempt to annex any part of Belize will bring serious consequences
By Wellington C. Ramos. Our September 10th and independence celebrations will be coming up next month and this is how I feel about my beloved country Belize. The government of Guatemala is trying to see how the government of Belize and its people will respond to the annexation of the Sarstoon and other parts of our country. Born in Dangriga Town, the cultural capital of Belize, Wellington Ramos has BAs in Political Science and History from Hunter College, NY, and an MA in Urban Studies from Long Island University. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and History We must let Guatemala and the world know that Belize is our country that was accepted by the nations of the world on September 21, 1981, with all of its territory and maritime areas intact. Subtracting one inch from this total is unacceptable to all Belizeans living in Belize, the United States and the rest of the world because it will no longer be Belize. We the people, who are citizens of Belize living in Belize, the United States and abroad, will never grant consent to any political party now and in the future of our country to negotiate our territory with Guatemala or any other nation of this world.

Palapa Bar will be back!
To all of our friends and family, our beloved Palapa Bar and Grill was completely demolished by Hurricane Earl in August of 2016. But don't worry! We are currently rebuilding a bigger and badder Palapa Bar for your enjoyment and pleasure! As of late August, the cleanup phase has finished, and we are now working on the rebuilding phase.

Illegal Wildlife and Timber Trafficking in Mesoamerica
Panel discussion, August 22 at 1pm at the Ramada Princess

Channel 7

GOB Will Not Appeal CJ Decision On Sodomy Law, Here's Why:
Last night we broke the news that the government of Belize would not appeal the Chief Justice's decision to legalize gay sex between consenting adults. Well, today that was confirmed in a press conference where the Attorney General Vanessa Retreage explained why the government will not appeal:… Hon. Vanessa Retreage - Attorney General: "The government has closely considered the option of appealing and has sought legal advice as to the possible merits and benefits of appealing. In this regard it is noted that there were 7 interested organisations which argued the case a part from the claimant and the government with no less than 15 attorneys representing them. Government is therefore satisfied that the case was properly argued and does not see any aspect of the decision that would benefit from further argument and as such has taken the decision not to appeal."

PM Says Churches Should Appeal
And while Cabinet goes on the strict legalities – as the attorney General says, the churches can freely pursue an appeal. They were only interested parties in the case, and have been advised that they cannot appeal – that's the sole prerogative of the respondent, which is the government of Belize. Today the Prime Minister and the Attorney General insisted that the churches can in fact proceed with their own appeal:… Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "No sir you are perfectly free to apply to court to be given leave to appeal. As I understand it you need not even been an interested party to be able to get leave to appeal as long as you can show that the decision of the court affects you; you are entitled for a leave to appeal. In this case because you were interested parties it strikes me that you are almost immediately and automatically there." Luis Wade - Plus TV: "Would any of you sight a legal precedence that we could follow on to ensure that this kind of appeal is permitted?"

Churches Say they Cannot Appeal, GOB Must
A press release from the National Evangelical Association of Belize says that over 132 pastors countrywide are calling on the government to launch the appeal. But now that PM Barrow has said they must because he will not – what will the churches do next? That's what we asked NEAB President Pastor Lance Lewis today: Jules Vasquez: "Prime Minister had said that you all are free to appeal on your own. He's given his knowledge and interpretation of the law; will you all now pursue that appeal?" Pastor Lance Lewis - NEAB President: "I think we should and I think we will but we need to do it in conjunction with all the church bodies. It's going to cost something I don't what yet we have to look at all the factors but I think we should do the appeal. It will be so funny for us not to do it when we are against what was done." Jules Vasquez: "Now you all sent out a release exhorting the government, asking the government please pursue this appeal. Are you disappointed in the prime minister, the government...."

GOB Will Meet With Churches
So, the churches clearly aren't impressed with Cabinet's decision – and government surely has to do some serious fence mending with this important demographic. That's why the Prime Minister announced today that government will meet with the churches to try and convince them that the judgement is confined to private activity between consenting adults.:… Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "It is government's job to sit with you and to try to persuade you that the ruling does not mean what you seem to fear that it means. That has to continue or that has to take place regardless of an appeal that you will no doubt lodge. I hope for your sakes that you will but that has to continue because... I don't know you all I thought was represented by senior council I don't know why they haven't explained to you what the limitations of the ruling are but any way is our job to respect you to understand that you feel absolutely strongly about this issue that in so far as you are concerned it is the voice of god speaking through you. We must therefore try our best to say to you while we can't change of you feel about the ruling could we agree that the ruling means only this and not that?"

Caleb From UNIBAM Says PM Moving In The Right Direction
And while the PM will reach out to the churches – it won't do the same for UNIBAM. As the claimant in the case, that gay rights organization got just what it wanted. And that winning streak continued today with the Government's announcement that it will not launch an appeal. Caleb Orozco who attended the press conference said it's the right course of action:… Caleb Orozco - UNIBAM: "He simply reacted constructively and responsibly as a government should to the need of its citizens; no more, no less." Jules Vasquez: "Now in so far as the process not being finished are you all prepared to go another round should the churches and they have given every indication they will if they can; are you all prepared for another round of legal battles and everything that entails?" Caleb Orozco - UNIBAM: "Church leaders must remember that as long as you don't pay taxes or they are not elected to government they don't have a handle on my fundamental rights as a citizen of this country. I stand my ground, I do not, do not believe that they are the ones governing this country and I have every right to challenge any position that they have in court."

PM Says Judgment Is Not Greenlight To Gay Marriage
And while the not-so-veiled references to "closets" is one thing – gay marriage is what all of this is really about. After the decriminalization of anal sex between consenting adults – is the next step going to be the push to legalize gay marriage? That's the primary concern of the various church groups but the Prime Minister said that he doesn't accept that interpretation one bit:.. Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "I don't agree that that's an inevitable or even necessary consequence of the chief justice's ruling. In fact I hold the opposite view and cabinet is also convinced that this does not open the door for gay marriage. Nothing can stop the people who believe in that from agitating, from taking legal action but it is not fair to the chief justice's ruling in my view to suggest that ruling in any way opens the door to that. This was a matter of striking down or reading down a section of the criminal code that imposed criminal sanctions on what was even on actions that were consensual."

PM Says Incestuous Sodomy Case Highlights Misconceptions About Judgment
And while the PM earned applause on that declaration – he wasn't clapping for all the misunderstanding that has sprung up in the wake of that ugly case of sodomy we've been reporting on. On Friday night an 11 year old in Santa Elena was allegedly sodomised by his 16 year old brother. Police have been investigating and we'll tell you about that shortly, but today it came up when the Prime Minister addressed all the misunderstandings that have resulted from this case. First, it was reported by Plus TV's Luis Wade that the 16 year old told his younger sibling that he can't be prosecuted for it because of the Chief Justice's decision. If he did say that, it would be wrong, since, the Chief Justice's decision only refers to consenting acts between adults. Today the Prime Minister addressed the many misunderstandings that have resulted from the judgment:..

Belizean Car Dealer Died In Accident In Mexico
A Belizean was killed in a traffic accident in Mexico yesterday. He's 50 year-old Rene August, and the accident happened in the municipality of Jamapa, Veracruz. August was driving a red Ford Escape car, and 67 year-old Belizean Juan Rudon was in the vehicle with him at the time. Mexican police say that the Ford Escape had no license plates but they were towing another vehicle, a Black Jeep Patriot with Texas plates. It is uncertain what caused the accident, but August, who was driving lost control of the vehicle, and it flipped. August suffered serious injuries, and died. Rescue teams took hours to cut him out of the vehicle. His passenger, Rudon, escaped unharmed. The local authorities were on scene shortly after, and the Belize Embassy Personnel in Mexico, including Ambassador Oliver Del Cid, and his Deputy Chief of Mission have been working hard to get August's body back home. August had been driving vehicles down through Mexico for over 15 years.

11 Year Old Boy Commits Suicide in OW
An 11 year-old boy from Orange Walk Town was found dead last night at around 8:30 and it appears that he took his own life. The child, whose name we will not reveal at this time, was found with injuries around the neck, and a belt was found in his house, which police think he used to hang himself from the ceiling. Today, Orange Walk investigators briefed the press about the details they have at this time: Insp. Jose Mendez - OW Police: "Police visited the Northern Regional Hospital where they found the lifeless body of an 11 year old in the emergency room section who had already been pronounced dead upon arrival by Dr. Osorio. This minor had some type of injury around his neck. Police commenced an investigation into the matter where a 20 year old reported that upon arrival at his house at about some time about 6:45 pm or so he was informed that his nephew the 11 year old minor has committed suicide. Police visited the area where they found a belt where it is alleged that the deceased hung himself off the ceiling"

Father Laments His Son Beatdown From Police, Hopes For Recovery
Last night we told you about the alleged case of Punta Gorda Police brutality. The report is that 4 officers rode up to a store in San Marcos and started beating up a man who was near the store. Mario Makin was inside with his friend and he came out to see what was happening. That is when police allegedly grabbed Makin and started to beat him. Makin ended up in the PG hospital and just this morning had to be transferred to the KHMH due to the seriousness of his injury. Today Makin's father gave us more details about the alleged attack and about his son's condition. We also spoke to Makin's close friend who is pleading for justice. Andres Makin - Father: "He still in critical problem right now with his feeling; during the night he could hardly catch breath that's why he is in critical problem right now." Courtney Weatherburne: "He has undergone several surgeries, 2 surgeries I believe?" Andres Makin - Father: "2 surgeries; 1 from Dangriga and 1 from Belmopan."

Faber Tells Teachers To Hold On
Moving on to education, teachers and public officers have been waiting patiently for their 3 % salary increase. It was to have taken effect in April but government is pleading hard times and asking for their understanding. Today Education Minister Patrick Faber assured the teachers that they will be getting their increase, and the delay has nothing to do with the state of the economy but rather with Hurricane Earl. Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education: "The delay that is being sought by the prime minister to the unions is not necessarily because of the economic situation. In fact you will remember that the unions and the financial secretary shook hands and signed off on what the payment would be. And so that was intended to have been payed; enters Earl and of course you know the difficulty we saw there."

PM Met With Unions
Today, the Prime Minister amplified that explanation when he said that he recently called in all the unions for a meeting to explain to them what is the situation after hurricane Earl:… Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "We did have a meeting, it's not just the teachers it's with the heads of the 3 unions, the APSSM, the PSU and the BNTU and I as I said shared the latest damage assessment report I had with them and indicated that were asking as it appeared were entitled to at least ask under the framework which I had for the collective bargaining agreement. It did say that if there was a change in material circumstances we could reopen the issue of the salary adjustment. So I've asked them if they would be good enough as part of the national solidarity and the fact that government had to find all this money now to try to help put things back together for a number of people including some of their members; if they would be good enough to agree to a deferral of the salary increase until next April; the start of the budget year. It's something they clearly have to consult on so I am awaiting their response."

Will GOB Be Forced To Increase GST?
Initial assessments from hurricane Earl put the cost of damages at about 105 million dollars. Add that to an already contracting economy, and the sharp increase in the debt burden with the BTL arbitration award, and then factor in the set up in superbond payments which is coming next year – and you've got a government whose finances are hanging by a thin thread. So does that mean that we can expect further increases in taxes – like maybe a GST increase? That's what we asked the PM today:.. Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "There will be no tax increases before certainly the next budget year. I'm not saying there will be tax increases then but if tax increases have to come they can't come until then. Especially it was not in my contemplation in any event but especially now with hurricane Earl. You don't respond to a disaster where lives have been shattered by increasing taxes on people."

Faber Says No Answers Yet On Stolen Prado
And so, if government is really that pressed for cash – it brings into even sharper focus the possible loss of Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber's 2013 Toyota Prado – because a new one like that will cost about 140 thousand dollars. As we reported, the vehicle was stolen on Sunday night, and today we asked Faber for an update but he directed us to the police. Courtney Weatherburne: "Sir could you kindly give us an update on the vehicle; do the police know who the car thief is?" Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education: "Well as I mentioned to you I have no update and so the fitting person for you to ask or the entity for you to ask would be the police."

PM Says Faber's Stewardship Of Gov't Asset Not Optimal
And while we got no comment form the police, we did get one from Faber's boss today. Here's what the Prime Minister said:… Jules Vasquez: "Sir with the admitted that he left the key with a friend, that the friend subsequently left the key in the vehicle; is that optimal stewardship of public assets? A very expensive asset as well." Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "I think you put that question to him and he confessed that it wasn't." Jules Vasquez: "You're his boss should he..." Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister: "Who am I to disagree with that?"

Grace Gets New Space
About 475 kids will be rushing through the gates and cramming into classrooms at the Grace Primary School on Amara avenue in September. That's a lot students and it is becoming more of a challenge to cater to all these kids in a cramped urban environment. Well, there will be some relief for the next school year because 4 more classrooms will be built on Faber's Road, as an extension the school. We found out more about the project at the ground breaking ceremony this morning. Brenda Lee Hyde - Vice Principal, Grace Primary: "SIF is giving us 4 classrooms so initially we might just bring over the upper division; we have not cemented all that yet but that's our plan." Courtney Weatherburne: "So right now it's only going to be 4 classrooms to be built here on this lot?" Brenda Lee Hyde - Vice Principal, Grace Primary: "Yes 4 classrooms."

Some Teachers Will Stay Home
While those Grace Primary students have something to look forward to for next school year, some teachers can't even look that far ahead, because at the beginning of this school year, they will be out of a job. As we told you in early February, Minister of Education Patrick Faber announced that those teachers without a full license will be dismissed and replaced. Well, since that announcement many teachers have been scrambling to get their full license, but today Faber reiterated that time is up for those teachers who did not budge to get fully licensed and he makes no apology for it. Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education: "There were some who felt that their case was not properly heard or the committee might have missed something and there was a process for them to make that appeal to the same committee to review it and so on; and that process as I understand is being completed."

BELTRAIDE Or Bust
A group of professionals from within Belize's export and trade sector concluded a workshop on exporting today. This one was not about the export of goods such as agricultural produce, but the exportation of skilled labour which included Creative and Cultural Industries, Management Consultants, ICT providers, Marketing and Communications, Business Process Outsourcing, Professional Services, Business Services, Construction related, and Health and Wellness Tourism. The experts at the Belize Coalition of Service Providers say that there is a growing need for such a trade interaction, and today, we stopped by to talk with the coordinators. They told us that though it's an intangible asset, it is just as valuable as any other exported item:

RESTORE Scholarships
This evening, 32 high school students attended an award ceremony hosted by Restore Belize. They are receiving scholarships after being chosen through a rigorous selection process. We attended the ceremony and found out that these students were chosen because of their potential for excellence, but also because without the funding, they would not be able to attend school. The coordinator told us more today:

Can PM Help Mount Carmel Accountholders?
And finally tonight, we have an update on Mount Carmel Credit Union in Benque Viejo. As we told you three weeks ago, the Credit Union is bankrupt and is going to be closed down. The hundreds of members who had money in there will just lose their deposits – simple as that. Today we asked the Prime Minister if he can do anything as Minister of Finance to save them – and he didn’t seem very hopeful:…

Channel 5

Government Will Not Appeal Section 53 Decision; A.G. Cites Legal Advice
The Government of Belize has announced that it will not appeal the landmark decision of the Supreme Court in respect of Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code.  That statement comes [...]

P.M. says Cabinet Split on Support for LGBT Rights
According to Prime Minister Barrow, government’s decision was equally the result of a lively discussion among senior members of Cabinet who advise on policy.    Prime Minister Dean Barrow “The [...]

Barrow Says Churches Can Appeal Section 53 Decision
As we’ve mentioned, Bishops Dorick Wright and Christopher Glancy, on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church, wrote to Prime Minister Barrow urging government to appeal the decision of the Supreme [...]

Gay Marriage Coming? P.M. Says Section 53 Decision Won’t Cause It
Does the reading down of Section Fifty-three open the figurative door to gay marriage?  It’s a widely held belief among many, including the Roman Catholic Church.  In fact, its premise [...]

Evangelicals Will Seek Support for Appeal
Following the prime minister’s press conference, we got a reaction from the National Evangelical Association of Belize on government’s position on Section Fifty-three.  Needless to say, the organization is disappointed [...]

Caleb Orozco Warns Churches Over Morality
The protagonist at the center of the UNIBAM Challenge is gay rights activist Caleb Orozco.  Over the years, he has been the subject of scorn and disdain, as much as [...]

Department of Human Services to Take Custody of Sodomy Victim
As we reported on Tuesday, an eleven-year-old boy from Santa Elena Town, Cayo District was allegedly sodomized by his sixteen-year-old brother as he slept in his room early Friday morning.  [...]

The Safety of the Child Remains Paramount
We asked C.E.O. Alpuche whether their role has been simplified in handling cases under the now-amended Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code. She told us that their role remains much [...]

New Police Minister Says “Crime Will Never Pay”
The new Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration, Senator Godwin Hulse, has met with the brass of the Police Department. As you heard Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams say [...]

Can Regulation Help Police Avoid Entanglements with Unsavoury Characters?
And while the police are certain to double down on efforts to stop crime, the recent William Mason case shows that sometimes, the alleged criminal element is well-disguised. While senior [...]

Hurricane Relief Funds Coming In Slowly for Government
Today marks the second week since Hurricane Earl ravaged parts of the Belize District.  In the wake of the disaster, relief efforts have included generous donations from various organizations to [...]

P.M. Says Deputy’s Prado Story Will Be Scrutinized By Police
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber’s assigned ministerial vehicle was plunged in the drink near Marine Parade on Sunday night as he socialized at Old Belize following, an outing to the [...]

Grace Primary School to Build Extension in Faber’s Road Area
A ground-breaking ceremony was held today on a three-acre plot of land on Faber’s Road extension. It is the construction site for an extension of Grace Primary School that will [...]

Hundreds of Teachers Cut Due to Not Having Proper Training
There are several schools for which the new academic year has already started, but most primary schools across the country won’t start classes until September fifth. Most of the education [...]

Public Officers to Face Delay in Salary Increase
At the last press conference held in the aftermath of Hurricane Earl, Prime Minister Dean Barrow spoke briefly about having a discussion with the unions in terms of having a [...]

Caregivers Trained to Handle Needs of Senior Citizens
A team from the University of Indianapolis in Indiana is in Belize working with caregivers for senior citizens through HelpAge Belize and the Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly.  We [...]

Belizeans Asked to be More Understanding of Our Seniors
How does one help a senior citizen, who is used to being independent, get used to having others do things with and for them? Volunteer chairman of the Board of [...]

CTV3

GOB Will Not Appeal New Sodomy Law
This afternoon, exactly one week after the landmark ruling was handed down inside the Supreme Court in Belize City by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, which amended Section 53 of the Criminal Code, the government of Belize for the first time since the ruling provided its much awaited position on the matter. Among members of the Evangelical community, members of Government and a large group of the LGBT community, Attorney General, Minister Vanessa Retreage, announced Governments decision to refrain from appealing the controversial ruling.

NEAB Disappointed With GOB On Not Appealing Section 53
In the same room with Orosco this afternoon, were members of the National Evangelical Association of Belize who were also present at today’s press conference and without a doubt the news that GOB will not appeal Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin’s ruling did not sit too well with them. Even before the Prime Minister’s announcement today NEAB wrote to the PM requesting that the ruling be appealed. For NEAB the points used by the Chief Justice to carry out the controversial decision, violate fundamental beliefs and convictions of the religious community in Belize. Today we spoke with President of NEAB, Pastor Lance Lewis who expressed disappointment in the decision taken by GOB on the ruling.

Salary Increase Delayed For Public Officers
The Belize National Teachers Union have been in negotiation with the Government for weeks now as it relates to the third and final portion of the salary increase that teachers are expected to receive. However, as a result of Hurricane Earl which made landfall in Belize two weeks ago, it was publicly announced that the increase would be delayed until further notice. During An interview with the media earlier today, the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Patrick Faber stated that in order to shed some light into the matter, the Prime Minister met with the BNTU on Monday for the continued discussion. Honorable Patrick Farber – Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Education: “As far as I know the delay that is being sought by the Prime Minister to the Unions is not necessarily because of the economic situation in fact you will recall that the Unions and the financial secretary shook hands and signed off on what the payment would be and so that was intended to have been paid, enters Earl and of course you know the difficulty we saw there...”

Orozco Ready For Second Round If Churches Would Appeal
And in response to NEAB’s possibility of appeal on the amendment of section 53 of Belize’s criminal code, Caleb Orosco, who was the complainant in the case is of the belief that he has the fundamental right to fight his case in court. Caleb Orozco: “The church will try to appeal that is fine, I stand my ground that the church is not entitled to be guardian of my fundamental rights, I also stand my ground that the church must look in their own closet for their moral concerns and remember that their closet is as wide open as mine when they talk about moral grounds.”

Eleven Year Old Commits Suicide
Tonight the Orange Walk community remains in shock and disbelief as a family prepares to bury their eleven year old loved one who was found dead in his room with a belt wrapped around his neck sometime around 6:45 yesterday evening. The minor’s body was discovered by his uncle who reportedly tried to save his life, but all efforts proved futile. Since news broke last night about the death of the 11 year old several reports have surfaced as to what actually transpired and one indication is that the child and his four year old brother were allegedly home alone when the incident occurred. Today when we spoke to Inspector of Police, Jose Mendez, he told us what the investigations have revealed so far.

LOVE FM

Government of Belize Will Not Appeal the Amendment to Section 53
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has announced that the Government of Belize will not be appealing the decision of the Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin as it relates to Section 53 of the Constitution. Chief Justice Benjamin rendered his decision on Wednesday, August 10 declaring Section 53 unconstitutional as it finds it criminal for consenting adults to […]

Prime Minister Says No to Same Sex Marriages
One of the arguments or fears of several pockets of society is whether or not this ruling is the start of other freedoms for the homosexual group including but not limited to same sex marriages. Prime Minister Dean Barrow gave assurances that it is will not be the case. DEAN BARROW ” In response to […]

PM Encourages Church to Appeal; Pastor Stirm Says They Can’t
Interested parties in the ruling of Section 53 have until the end of the month to submit an application for appeal of the Chief Justice’s ruling. Prime Minister Dean Barrow shared two correspondences from the churches’ association asking that he appeal on their behalf. Prime Minster reiterated their decision not to appeal but explained the […]

AG and Acting Solicitor General to Make Media Rounds on Section 53
During today’s press conference, Prime Minister Dean Barrow explained particularly to the religious community who have been in opposition of the ruling that the Government will be embarking on an education campaign aimed at clarifying several points that have been misconstrued in the entire discussion of Section 53 and the court’s ruling. DEAN BARROW ” […]

PM Satisfied with Faber’s Explanation on the Stolen SUV
Yesterday we brought you the story of Senior Superintendent Lynden Flowers appealing to the public with information on the Government SUV that was stolen on Sunday evening. Following today’s press conference, we asked Prime Minister Dean Barrow to weigh in on the incident. DEAN BARROW ” The vehicle was driven into the Caribbean Sea on […]

Prime Minister Meets with Union to Delay Salary Increase
In his last press conference held on August 5, 2016, Prime Minister Dean Barrow spoke of the possibility of having the implementation of the agreed salary increases for teachers and public officers. The thought was shared following the damages that Hurricane Earl left behind when it made landfall in the Belize District. Today, the Prime […]

Ground Breaks for New School Building (GPS)
For years the management of Grace Primary School has been working on plans to have an extension to their school built on a 3-acre parcel of land on Faber’s Road in Belize City. To date the school has just under five hundred students enrolled and each year they have had to turn down applications due […]

Breaking Belize News

Senior citizen caregivers in training
This afternoon in Belize City, persons entrusted with caring for senior citizens were trained by a group of university professors and students from the University of Indianapolis. We spoke to professor Tammy Simmons who stated that caregivers must be careful not to take […]

New Police Minister meets with top brass
This week Senator Godwin Hulse, who succeeds John Saldivar as Minister of Home Affairs with responsibility for the Police Department, met with more than 100 senior officials to chart a way forward. This afternoon, he told us that there will be a renewed sense […]

Minor in sodomy case to be guarded by State
The Department of Human Services is intervening in the case of the 11 year old boy who accuses his 16 year old older brother of anally assaulting him in his sleep last Friday. While Police investigations continue, the Department, after speaking with the boy’s […]

Belize says “no” to gay marriage
With decriminalization of consensual acts “against the order of nature” complete, could gay marriage be next? Opponents believe yes, and are ready to fight it to the highest courts in the land. Government, on the other hand, does not believe that the effect of […]

GOB: Churches can appeal Section 53 but we won’t
The Government of Belize has declined to appeal last Wednesday’s ruling by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin in respect of Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code. Caleb Orozco successfully challenged the constitutionality of that piece of legislation. This afternoon, Attorney General Vanessa Retreage conceded that […]

Post mortem for 11-year-old concluded; conflicting reports surrounding his death arise
The 11-year-old child who was reportedly found hanging from a rope in his room died as a result of “asphyxiation by hanging” police reports. While it appears to be a suicide, Orange Walk police say they are not ruling out other possibilities and the […]

PACT joins relief efforts in Belize
The Board of Directors of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) have agreed to make “a significant donation” towards hurricane relief efforts in Belize. While the amount was not mentioned, PACT issued a release stating that “PACT is aware that among the many segments […]

11-year-old found hanging from rope in his room
Orange Walk police have launched an investigation into the death of an 11-year-old that was found hanging in his room on Tuesday night. The boy’s uncle told police that he had left the child along with his four-year-old brother at home and went out. […]

GOB will not appeal Section 53 decision
Attorney General Vanessa Retreage announced this afternoon at a press conference in Belize City that GOB will not appeal the Section 53 decision, but interested parties may. “GOB will not tolerate hate speech or actions against other people due to differences,” the Attorney General […]

Weather forecasters keep an eye on potential Tropical Storm Fiona
Tropical depression six, which is currently in the central Atlantic Ocean, is expected to become Tropical Storm Fiona by the end of the day. The system has maximum sustained winds near 35 miles per hour, with higher gusts, and the National Hurricane Centre in Miami […]

SMART announces unlimited broadband
SMART, via press release this morning, announced the launch of its new Broadband Unlimited Internet Service, which offers high quality, wireless Internet to Belizean homes and businesses. The company says it began rolling out its new service on August 1. According to the company, […]

Innocent Police United loses in CONCACAF Champions League Debut
Last night, Police United FC participated in their first CONCACAF Champions League match, and the first in their history. The night didn’t start well for the team, 90 percent of which is made up of local police officers. The first minute of the match […]

Belizean man dies in fatal traffic accident in Mexico
BBN has received reliable reports that Rene August, also known as “Willie B”, a man from Santa Elena, Cayo District died last night in a fatal traffic accident in Mexico. According to reports, August was driving down from the US to Belize and was […]

Blogs

Belize’s Only Floating KiteSurfing Operation: Ambergris Caye’s PassionKite
I have heard it from kitesurfers and kiteboarders** (including Jill who wrote this kite guide to Ambergris Caye for me) – that the conditions on Ambergris Caye can be AWESOME for the sport. Good wind during much of the year, shallow WARM waters – no wet suits needed here – and the scenery – gorgeous barrier reef. So why, even at the windiest times, do we only see a handful (if that) of kites along our shores? Well a few reasons. It’s a relatively new sport, just developed in the 1990s and still growing. In Spain, California, Brazil, it is HUGELY popular. Belize has a few shops and is slowly getting on the radar. Also, the docks that line our island can make learning very tricky for beginners. Docks can be the perfect launching point for those with more expertise but it’s best for those just learning to have wide open, waist deep water to practice in. AND THAT IS WHY THIS NEW BUSINESS IS PERFECT. MJ Leslie and his two friends/employees/fellow kiters, built a transportable kite shop. PassionKite. And I’ve seen the pictures on Facebook for the last few weeks. But when I saw it being towed to the leeward side of the island, to Belize’s largest sandbar, to the knee to waist deep, sandy bottomed waters, I knew that I needed to visit.

International Sources

Here’s a Tropical Depression We Could Be Calling Fiona by the End of the Day
Tropical Depression Six formed in the Eastern Atlantic late last night, but forecasters say that by the end of the day we may have to refer to it as Tropical Storm Fiona. The system has maximum sustained winds near 35 miles per hour, with higher gusts, and the National Hurricane Centre in Miami said this morning that “slow strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the depression is likely to become a tropical storm today”. At 11 a.m., the centre of Tropical Depression Six was located 840 miles west of the Cabo Verde islands and was moving toward the west-northwest near 15 miles per hour. There is no threat to land at the moment, as the system is expected to remain over the open waters of the tropical Atlantic over the next few days.

NOAA Outlook for Central America August 18 – 24, 2016
Average to below-average rainfall expected to continue over Central America during the next week. From August 9-15, heavy rain fell over Guatemala, El Salvador and southwestern Honduras. This has helped reduce thirty-day rainfall deficits over many local areas of the dry portions of the region. Farther south, torrential rain was observed over the Southern Caribbean. Meanwhile, light to moderate rainfall was recorded over the interior of Honduras and western Nicaragua. Since mid-July to present, negative rainfall anomalies, with deficits exceeding 100 mm, have been observed over portions of southwestern and northeastern Guatemala, east-central Honduras, and much of Nicaragua.

Francis Ford Coppola unveils private island hideaway in Belize
If you really fancy getting away from it all, consider heading to this private island paradise off the coast of Belize. Film, wine and holiday resorts - is there no end to this man's talents? American screenwriter and film director Francis Ford Coppola has unveiled a new location in his hospitality portfolio, in the shape of a private island. Beach lovers can now castaway at Coral Caye, an idyll 13 kilometres off the coast of Placencia, Belize, that's only two acres, meaning a stroll around the perimeter would only take about five minutes. Groups of up to 12 can indulge their Huckleberry Finn fantasies with a stay at the island's two wooden-clad cottages.

UNHCR distributes relief aid to Belize hurricane displaced
The UN Refugee Agency and its partners are to provide relief and reconstruction assistance to the victims of Hurricane Earl, including asylum-seekers from the Northern Triangle. orge pulls the phone from his pocket and plays a brief video showing flooded marshland and the barely visible rooftop of his home in the distance, all but submerged under the surrounding expanse of water. “It’s all gone,” he says, staring blankly at the others who had gathered at a local office of a Belize NGO, Help for Progress, on the outskirts of the capital, Belmopan, seeking help to rebuild their lives in the wake of Hurricane Earl. “Everything we had is already gone,” says Jorge, 42, who is one of around 10,000 people in the tiny Central American nation whose lives were devastated by Earl, which churned ashore on August 4, dumping up to 30 centimetres of rain and causing widespread flooding.

Belize sodomy ruling could have sweeping impact in Caribbean
Activists across the English-speaking Caribbean say last week’s Belize Supreme Court ruling that found the country’s sodomy law could have implications throughout the region. Donnya Piggott, director of Barbados Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination, described the ruling to the Washington Blade as “groundbreaking and extremely promising.” Barbados is among the countries in the English-speaking Caribbean in which consensual same-sex sexual conduct remains criminalized. Piggott told the Blade that authorities earlier this year used the island’s sodomy law to charge a man who allegedly had sex with a 15-years-old. The colonial-era statute is rarely enforced, but the man could face life in prison if he is convicted. “No change comes without initial backlash,” Piggott told the Blade, referring to the impact that the Belize Supreme Court ruling could have in Barbados. “So we have to brace ourselves for a stronger right-wing opposition, but apart from that I see (sodomy laws) tumbling like dominoes in the Caribbean.”

Londoner's Diary: Sugar coating for Belizeans’ own Brexiteer
A Brexit bonanza for Belize? Yesterday medal-winning cyclist Callum Skinner asked Leave.EU to remove footage of him from its campaign video, then the British Olympic Association told the Brexit group to stop using its logo. The Londoner spoke to Andy Wigmore, former communications director of Leave.EU, and stumbled across an interesting Central American story. Wigmore, who is half-Belizean, was in Rio as ambassador for the country’s Olympic team. He had been tipped to appear in the shooting competition but failed to qualify. Wigmore also works for the country’s high commission, promoting trade and investment into Belize. He has the right friends: Leave.EU’s major donor Arron Banks donated money after a recent hurricane. News outlet suggestions that Banks was to carry Belize’s flag at Rio’s opening ceremony were as wide of the mark as Wigmore’s shooting. The Brexit ties go deeper. Pro-Brexit Lord Ashcroft has large interests in the country, noted Wigmore, but started to expand on how he took Nigel Farage on a tour of Belize after last year’s general election. The ex-Ukip leader caught an eight-foot shark and found an unexpected fan. “A 70-year-old Rastafarian fisherman miles from anywhere almost wet himself when he met Nigel,” Wigmore told us. He “took him to meet his family and everything. He had watched Nigel for years and here was the man in his village — he couldn’t believe it.”

The 10 indisputably worst flags in the world
Flags are so hard to get right, you have to get the right blend of emblems and colours while still designing them in such a way that represents your country. Or someone else’s country if you’re an outside contractor on double time. But flags are really easy to get wrong. Really, really easy. Roman Mars, the man behind the incredible podcast 99% Invisible, did a fantastic TED talk on designing flags and I recommend you go and watch it. Maybe after you’ve read this article though. 3. Belize: If you’ve not watched the video of Roman Mars yet then *SPOILERS*, but if you have then you’ll know the main thing to avoid when creating a flag is a seal, or a coat of arms. Belize didn’t bother heeding that advice, and maybe they should be applauded for having a rebellious streak. But no, their rebellious streak caused this abomination to be created. ACTUAL FLAG FACT: The men on the coat of arms, along with their tools and mahogany, represent the logging industry. 2. United States of America:Food. Music. Netflix Originals. There’s some things the USA are great at. Flags aren’t one of them. It isn’t a bad flag per se, it’s more bad because of what it represents. Every film where the Americans come and save the day; Independence Day, Armageddon, Team America: World Police, the star spangled banner will be flying high and reminding you all how great America thinks it is. Stop pledging allegiance to this terrible flag, and pledge allegiance to BoJack Horseman instead. ACTUAL FLAG FACT: If a new state joins the Union, they must wait until the following July 4 for a representative star to be added to the flag.

Evictions by Armed Men Rattle a Mexican Tourist Paradise
TULUM, Mexico — By the time Renaud Jacquet arrived at his compound of rental beach villas, invaders were crawling all over the place. They were storming through the buildings, emptying out rooms and dumping furnishings and supplies in piles outside. One of the men was wandering around clutching a bottle of Mr. Jacquet’s wine. Similar scenes unfolded up and down the coveted stretch of Caribbean coastline in Tulum, Mexico, in June. Hundreds of men working for a security firm — carrying sticks, metal pipes and machetes, witnesses said — raided 17 properties, including hotels, private homes, boutiques and a beach club. They evicted everyone on the premises, including tourists, some of whom had been roused from their sleep. “It was like the mob,” Mr. Jacquet recalled. “It’s the French Revolution!” Yet the takeovers, which seemed to catch the property owners by surprise, were apparently legal, authorized by a judge’s order. Several police officers stood by and watched; they were there only, it seemed, to protect the court officers who had delivered the bad news. The evictions were the most recent, and by far the largest, in a series of court-ordered expropriations that have shaken this tourist town and stained its image as a laid-back, eco-chic retreat that has become wildly popular among tourists, particularly those from the United States and Western Europe.

Videos

August 17, 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

Ambergris Today

Denise Alfaro Celebrates Quinceaños with Grand Party
Special Birthday Greetings are on hand for Denise Alfaro who celebrated her 15 Birthday (Quinceaños) on Saturday, August 13, 2016 with a grand 'Candyland' themed celebration. After her celebratory mass held at the San Pedro Roman Catholic Church, Denise hosted a one-of-a-kind party that featured special acrobatic performances, stilt dancers and plenty of candy, party favors and entertainment for her guests. Happy Birthday Denise from Ambergris Today!

Belizean Olympic Athletes Instill Pride After Competing in Rio
“Nervous doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling right now!! These girls are super fast! I'm going to give my absolute all. If I run a personal best time it will be my greatest achievement! So I'm going to go out there and get it!!” - Katy Sealy With this post on her Facebook profile the day before her Olympic run, Katy Sealy took on the 100M Hurdles this morning at 8:05a.m. at the Rio Olympic Games. Sealy did an amazing job at representing Belize, although not being able to qualify to the semifinal round; she knew she was up against some fast competitors. Similarly, Brandon Jones competed in the Men’s 200M this morning and Renick James represented in the Judo - 90kg category on August 10th; the support from Belizeans from around the world was unconditional.

Submarine Fiber Optic To San Pedro, BTL to Improve Services
Submarine network provider Huawei Marine Networks has announced a partnership with Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) to build an undersea cable system connecting Belize’s mainland with the island of San Pedro, Belize’s largest and fastest growing tourist area. The undersea cable, named Strategic Evolution Underwater Link (SEUL), is a key piece to BTL's promise to modernize its mobile and landline network to significantly improve broadband connectivity and quality across the country. The modernization project includes deploying LTE (4G) mobile service and fiber to residential and business buildings (FTTX) in San Pedro.

Misc Belizean Sources

Groundbreaking ceremonies for new polyclinic in San Narciso and Chunox
Groundbreaking ceremonies to officially commence the construction of a new polyclinic in San Narciso and Chunox were held on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. The Government of Belize steadfast in its continued commitment to address the basic needs of Belizeans, in the areas of water, sanitation, education and primary health care services is funding polyclinic project at an estimated cost of $900,000.00 through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank. Completion of the new polyclinics is scheduled for March 2017.

San Ignacio & Santa Elen Creole Drumming Group
Photos of he newly formed San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture (NICH) Creole Drumming Group in action! It was indeed a delight seeing and hearing these 13 youths playing the Creole drums, at the Cayo Welcome Center on Saturday night for the launch of the September celebrations.

MSBC Congress in Belize next week!
Quite a complicated and very well-crafted work of pyrography in wood of Laurel, with almost all of the components species of biology and the main logo of the mesoamerican society for the biology and conservation, wood 15 pulgs wide x 21 Pulgs long and locks as components in total plus of flora, 15 species, 3 Birds, 5 mammals, 1 Butterfly, 2 bugs, 2 Orchids, 1 Frog, the names Of every member state, in end took 16 hours interrupted,

Mesoamerican Society for Biology and Conservation (Belize Chapter)
Our congress program is jam packed with interesting talks and networking events. Now you can join us on Tuesday, 23rd August 2016 for a screening of the self produced and distributed film, Americas In Between-An Adventure In Nature. Synopsis of the film: “Isthmus that connects the North to the South, Central America is one of the richest and most threatened reservoirs of biodiversity of the planet. From Southern Mexico to Panama, Barbara and Julien led a 200-day expedition alongside those who act to protect nature in this region. Through encounters, discoveries and testimonies, the two biologists share with us their adventure, both scientific and human. This inspiring documentary, on a road movie tone, warns us to take urgent action, invites us to reconsider our relationship with nature and questions our answers in addressing the biodiversity crisis”.

Girls Going Global in Belize
Recently Ambassador Moreno and Embassy staff had the opportunity to host the AMAZING young women traveling with Girls Going Global, a nonprofit organization that exposes undeserved girls to travel and service, at the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan. During their visit Embassy, staff briefed the young women on the operations and goals of an Embassy and provided an interactive tour. We hope to see some of these young ladies back at the Embassy in the future, maybe as future leaders and employees!

BHA AND SALVADOR FILM CREW PROMOTING BELIZE !!
The Belize Hotel Association recently attended Expovaciones in Salvador in July, where we received extensive media coverage from the local television and radio stations. As a result, a Salvador Film Crew, of five persons, headed by producer, Licenciado Jorge Alberto Cortez, was sent to Belize, from August 3-7, by one of the most viewed TV stations in Salvador. The crew was brought to Belize by Andreas Tours, a travel agency from El Salvador, who also brought a large tour group to the country for these three days. They arrived in Belize, on Wednesday morning and experienced Hurricane Earl here in Belize City. The crew lost one day of production, because of the storm and their itinerary had to be rearranged at the last minute. Extensive filming was done in Belize City on Friday August 5. On Saturday August 9, the crew traveled to Caye Caulker and shot some great footage on the beach. They also were very pleased to be granted an impromptu interview with the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr, and the Mayoress of the island, Mrs. Enelda Rosado.

BHA in ASTA Network Magazine's Summer 2016 Edition
The Summer 2016 edition of ASTA Network Magazine is out and the Belize Hotel Association is prominently displayed in a full page Ad, alongside a diving article where Belize is named as one of the Four Diving Hotspots of the world! This edition, will be distributed in print to a readership of over 55,000 US travel trade professionals. An E-blast version of the e-zine and this Summer 2016 edition will appear on the official ASTA website for one full year. ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) is the world's largest association of travel professionals. It's agents represent 83% of all travel sold through the travel agency distribution channel which totaled $122 billion last year. The mission of ASTA and its affiliated organizations is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism.

New School Year at Ocean Academy
Monday August 29th, Ocean Academy reopens for the 2016-2017 school year. We look forward to welcoming our new and returning students on campus! Note the revised dates for our first week due to storm recovery efforts, per Ministry of Education instructions.

BONEYFISH....by Clinton Canul Luna
t is sad to see how our Corozal culture has been set aside to introduce one invented by those who are in charge of the preservation of our identity. There are so many things that can be mentioned which with time it had gradually been on constant changes and prohibition of our eating habits. For many years, from the time I know myself, we were already eating a fish we know here in the North as Macabi, commonly known as “bony fish.” Macabi has a special taste, unlike any other fish, because of the way it is roasted. We have been enjoying the delicacy of such sea food from time which I think there is no information of its beginning. Native and autochthonous Belizeans have been savoring the taste of this delicious fish in “panades” (empanadas) and fish balls. Nonetheless, for some unknown intelligent minds, it has been prohibited for Belizeans to taste their own food. Now, our dear readers, Belize has 174 miles of waterfront, straight into the Caribbean Sea, as far as your eyes can see. It is impossible for a little handful of people to put in danger the extermination of such sea food. But, it seems as if it is of more value for the tourists to use it as bait for their fishing sport. It won’t take too long when we will be STOPPED from cooking rice and beans, since it will be served to us from some unknown transnational corporations which will process and tin it for the Belizean population’s consumption. Of course, for it to be nice and juicy, you’ll have to get yourself a microwave for your rice and beans to be heated.

Channel 7

Tornado Tore Up Spanish Lookout
Just like the rest of the country, the Spanish Lookout Community, in the Cayo District, continues to recover from the damage that Hurricane Earl did. But, on Sunday afternoon, another storm hit them; and this one was like a tornado. Now the experts say that tornados don't happen in Belize. Well, we went to the Cayo District to speak to those affected, and they say that what hit them can't be described as anything else. Daniel Ortiz reporting: The roof of this building on the compound at Plett's Home Building was not torn off during Hurricane Earl. It was torn on Sunday afternoon when a when a twister-like storm hit the Spanish Lookout Community. The residents swear that it was a tornado.

Reports: GOB Won't Appeal CJ Decision
Will the Government of Belize appeal the Chief Justice's landmark decision on section 53 of the criminal code? Six days ago the CJ ruled that it was unconstitutional to discriminate against homosexuals and re-worded the section to say it "shall not apply to consensual sexual acts between adults in private." Yesterday, you heard Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber suggest that the matter should be put to a referendum, while former Attorney General Wilfred Elrington told PLUS TV that he thinks the government should appeal it:... Hon. Wilfred Elrington, Former Attorney General: "Some sections of the public are not happy with the decision and I think that we should do all in powers to ventilate the matter as widely as possible, so that nobody can say or have any criticisms of the government." Well, tomorrow Prime Minister Dean Barrow will announce government's official position on the judgment. He will do so at a press conference at the Biltmore Plaza at 2:30 pm. Our sources say that the Government will NOT appeal the judgment - which will surely be to the dismay of many Christian critics of the Chief Justice's decision.

A Sickening Case Of Abuse
Last night we told you about the sickening Santa Elena Sodomy case involving a 16 year old boy and his 11 year old brother. The incident reportedly happened on Friday night at their home while the child was asleep. Police say another brother made the report after he noticed his 11 year old brother acting strangely. Investigators told us today that the medical examination confirmed that the boy's anus was torn. San Ignacio police along with social services are working on this case. More statements need to be recorded and once the file is complete it will be sent to the DPP. Police say the 16 year old is not known to be violent or abusive.

A Case Of Cruel Cop Abuse Alleged In PG
We usually hear about allegations of police brutality from city residents but this time, the allegation is coming from Punta Gorda. San Marcos resident Mario Makin is clinging to life at the Western Regional Hospital after he alleges he was attacked by police. The incident happened on Saturday night after 9:00 while Makin was at his friend's store. The report is that police rode up to the store and started to beat another man. Makin then came out to see what was going on and police grabbed him and allegedly beat up him too. The other person got away but it seems Makin got the worst of it. When we spoke to Makin's friend today, she told us that after the beat down police threw Makin at the junction of San Marcos and it's only until Sunday morning that some villagers saw him splayed on the road. Makin was then rushed to the Punta Gorda Hospital where he had to undergo surgery because his bowels were ruptured and he could not breathe properly.

They Chanced Chef Ainsley
Tonight 18 year-old Lemar Lamb, and 21 year-old Kareem Betancourt at the Belize Central Prison. That's after they were taken to court for an armed robbery of a well-known Belize City Chef. The victim is 38 year-old Ainsely Castro, who has his kitchen on Lacroix Boulevard. He told police that on Friday afternoon, at around 1:30 p.m., 3 men barged into his business place, one of them armed with handgun. Castro said that the men held him up and then proceeded to steal $3,800 dollars in cash, his thousand dollar gold chain, his cell phone and his wallet. Two days later, acting on intelligence, police went to house on Pelican Street, where they found Castro's stolen phone. As a result, Lamb was arrested and charged with Robbery, while Betancourt and 20 year-old Jermaine Wagner were charged with handling stolen goods.

Men Charged For Spanish Lookout Slaying
Last night we told you that 2 men have already been charged in connection to the Spanish Lookout murder of Ever Miranda. Those men are Gladimir Bartolo Shish and Carlos Antonio Rodriguez Mendendez. Both were charged with murder. They were arraigned this morning and remanded until October 17th. The incident happened early Sunday morning at La Pasadita Bar. Miranda was defending his cousin after Shish and Mendendez had a crass remark and that is what led to the confrontation. One of the men shot Miranda in the shoulder and the other chopped him in the face.

Northside Cops Take On Mentoring Of Youths
We've heard of community policing - but today northside police took it to another level when they sort of adopted a group of deserving kids. It's part of a larger mentoring program and today 10 police officers kicked it off with lunch and back to school shopping. We spoke to officer commanding northside, ASCP Dezeree Phillips:... ASP Desiree Phillips, OC - Eastern North Division: "What we have done here, we have identified 12 young persons who we believe are underprivileged, who are desirous of some assistance to get them prepared for back to school and so we would called it "Back to school shop with a Cop"." Courtney Weatherburne: "How are these kids selected?" ASP Desiree Phillips, OC - Eastern North Division: "They were selected in collaboration with the school's principals, teachers, counselor in support with our community policing officers who visit them every day. This is something that we have been planning from early May and so even before school closed, we already did a survey and we had our names."

BTL Wants To Take Fiber To Homes
Last night we told you about BTL's plan to run a 13 million dollar submarine fiber optic cable to San Pedro Town. That won't land on the island until July of 2017, and during that 11-month window BTL has to try and lay out fiber optic infrastructure on the island - otherwise, it'll be like having a racecar, without a racetrack. Chairman of the Executive Committee Anwar Barrow said that fiber is the future of internet to your home and business, and the company is starting a new programme of residential fiber connection:... Anwar Barrow, Chair, Executive Committee - BTL "We have a series of fiber to the home projects that we are going to be inaugurating at the end of this month starting off and we also have one in San Pedro which goes hand in hand with this link and what that is that we are building out fiber throughout the island and throughout the country to connect people's home directly by fiber connection. Right now most of the homes are connected by copper wires which are old, which have been degraded and we are replacing that.

142 New Belizeans
142 new Belizean citizens were sworn in on Friday in Belmopan at the George Price Center. The highlight of ceremony was an oath and the handing out of nationality certificates. Minister of State in the Ministry of Immigration Beverly Castillo presided over the event, along with new Director Of Immigration Diana Locke.

150 Guatemalan Workers Without Work Permits Turned Back
In other Immigration news, the Department put down the hard line yesterday and turned back 150 Guatemalan workers. These persons cross daily from Melchor into Belize without hindrance, but for a month they have been warned that they have to get, or show a work permit. Yesterday was the deadline, and those who did not have a permit to show were turned back. We're told that they returned back to Melchor very upset that they were not being allowed into Belize, and an impromptu protest was to have taken place. It didn't but local reports suggest that they have approached the Melchor Mayor to have him intercede on their behalf. Since then, a number of them have realized the Belizean law is not on their side, and they have moved to get work permits. The other side of this story is that many of them have work permits but they don't want to use it because that would mean getting their passports stamped, which would disqualify them from earning permanent residence status which requires un-interrupted residence in Belize.

Belize Track And Fielders Brought Up The Rear In Rio
Belize sent a contingent of three athletes to the Rio Olympics and today, two of them, Katy Sealy and Brandon Jones competed in their track and field events. Katy Sealey was slated for the 100m Hurdles and Brandon Jones ran in the 200m. They both came dead last - with no chance of advancing. Not a stellar day for sports, not at all, but since the races happened at 8:05 am, and 9:50 am when most were at work, just for the record, here are their performances:...

Reuters Turns To Johnny Zabaneh
We've told you all about the residential damage caused by hurricane Earl, but the substantial damage to Belize's crops has gotten far less attention. For bananas, many farms were completely wiped out, except - by some strange act of providence - for Meridian Farms - the one linked to Johnny Zabaneh. It's a fact, while farms right next to Meridian suffered 100% crop losses, Meridian had only about 1% loss due to Earl. Bad news is, because of the Zabaneh's Kingpin designation, Meridian has no one to sell to - so the bananas are just there rotting or waiting for someone to come along and cut them down. It's put a hurting on Belize's economy, and today the international news agency Reuters did an extensive story to show just how much it's hurt the economy. The article points to the steep 42% drop in banana shipments since Fyffes stopped buying from Meridian farms - and that drove "a two percent drop in economic output in the first quarter."

The Best Songs Of The Celebration Season
The 2016 Song Competition was held on Saturday at Mrmorial PArk. That's the event which opens NICH's September Celebrations Calendar every year. That competition happened on Saturday night, and at the end of over 3 hours of performances, the judges chose the winners, Cecil "Cocono Bwai" Jenkins Jr., Wilson Grinage, Jeanie Brooks, and Leslie "Bastic" Jenkins. Here's a short excerpt of their winning performances: You can hear all the songs from finalists at www.mynationalsong.bz.

A New Senator/Minister
And finally tonight, we note the swearing of Attorney General Vanessa Retreage as a Senator and a Minister. She was sworn in as senator yesterday, and then shuttled over to the Governor General's residence for her ministerial Oath of Allegiance, as the new Minister of Natural Resources. Retreage becomes the first female Minister of Natural Resources in memory, and the first attorney.

Channel 5

An eleven year old is allegedly sodomized by sibling
There is a despicable report coming out of the Cayo District involving the sexual assault of an eleven-year-old boy in Santa Elena. Even more disturbing is that the minor was [...]

2 Cayo men charged for murder at a bar
Two persons have been charged in connection with the murder of Duck Run Two resident, forty-one-year-old Hever Miranda. Late Monday evening, after twenty-four hours of investigation, San Ignacio police charged [...]

Will William Mason surveillance tapes catch Ministers doing wrong?
On Monday, Senior Counsel Richard “Dickie” Bradley, attorney for Melissa Ferguson, accused of conspiring to kidnap Pastor Llewellyn Lucas and David Dodd, all but assured the press after her bail [...]

New Police Minister meets top brass in Department
On Monday afternoon, a meeting was held at the Police Training Academy in Belmopan between the top brass of the Belize Police Department and the new Minister of Police Godwin [...]

“Amateur” investigator in William Mason case to get guidance from superiors
But on the investigation of William “Danny” Mason, as we’ve reported in the past, several high ranking officers are of the opinion that the lead investigator for the crime involving [...]

Deputy P.M. sober in analysing Saldivar’s fall from grace
John Saldivar’s fall from grace as Minister of National Security, a consolidated portfolio which at the time included the Belize Police Department, the National Coast Guard and the Belize Defense [...]

Trio arraigned for robbing Chef Ainsley at home
A trio of men was charged with robbery and handling stolen goods and they were arraigned this morning before Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser.  Thirty-one-year-old Kareem Betancourt, a tour guide with [...]

Judoka Renick James speaks about Olympics experience
Belize is being proudly represented at the Olympics by Belizeans Katy Sealy, Brandon Jones and Renick James.  James, who competed in judo, lost his ninety-kilogram or hundred and ninety-eight pound [...]

James says Belize can win medals in Judo
James, an instructor with the Belize Judo and Jiujitsu Academy, is proud of completing the match and representing his country. He says that Belize can look forward to medals in [...]

Belizeans cheer on Simone Biles as she wins gold again
Eleven Miss Belize pageant contestants and their director; the Special Envoy for Women and Children; the Vice-President of OCEANA in Belize; the Music Ambassador and son of the Prime Minister, [...]

Is cheering for non-Belizean athletes hurting our own?
Biles, who has Belizean parentage, has accepted an offer of a visit for her and her teammates to the Jewel by the Belize Tourism Board, although details are to be [...]

Minister of Immigration addresses border issues…
On Monday, tensions ran high at the western border with Guatemala in Benque Viejo del Carmen. Police and immigration were stationed at the border stopping Guatemalan laborers who travel to [...]

Hulse Says work permits a privilege, not a right
According to Hulse, they were unaware of the illegal practice and it must be corrected. But Hulse says that work permits are a privilege not a right.   Godwin Hulse, [...]

For Back-To-School, Shop With A Cop!
Back-to-School preparations continue for most families with children of school age.  For those who are in dire need of financial assistance, particularly in light of the recent hurricane, members of [...]

High Schooler In Program No Longer Afraid of Police Officers
Fourteen-year-old Aaliyah Tzul is among the twelve participants.  As a second form student at E.P. York High School, she has been paired with Inspector Martha Rhys of the Domestic Violence [...]

Anti-Drug and Life Skills Summer Program Closes in Belize City
Today, the Eastern Division South Police Department hosted a closing ceremony for a second summer program hosted by its community policing unit at the Gateway Youth Center on south side [...]

Red Cross Receives Hurricane Earl Donation from BECOL/FORTIS
The Belize Red Cross continues to receive donations to assist with hurricane relief in the aftermath of Earl.  The Category One storm wreaked havoc primarily in the northern section of [...]

More Than 300 Families will receive cash transfer
While the donations will be paid out using a cash transfer system, the focus at the moment continues to be areas hardest hit by Hurricane Earl, including the Vista Del [...]

Belize International Jazz Festival continues with concerts
A classical concert is underway at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts as part of the Belize International Jazz Festival.  That event will be followed at ten o’clock by a [...]

11 Belizean beauties to vie for Miss Belize
The journey begins for eleven Belizean beauty ambassadors from across the country as they vie for the title of Miss Belize and an opportunity to represent the Jewel in the [...]

CTV3

Postmortem Revealed That San Narciso Resident Died Of Natural Causes
Last night we reported about the lifeless body of thirty two year old Basilio Patt, a resident from the village of San Narciso that was discovered at about 6:00 a.m. yesterday at the location where the annual San Joaquin Fiesta had been held. While we had told you that authorities did not find any visible signs of violence on the thirty two year old to suspect foul play….the family of the deceased believe that their loved one might have come under attack. Angelina Patt – Voice of Mother: “Mi hijo venia de trabajar y un amigo salió y dijo que lo pegaron y mi nuera estaba trabajando adonde ellos trabajan y que una amiga lo llamo que Chilo lo pegaron y ella no lo creo y llamo a mi hijo que es su marido y le dice que mataron a Chilo pero no le digas a tu mama porque ella se va altera, pero si mi mama ya lo escucho; pues no, no me espanto porque para mí yo no pensé que él está muerto porque él no anda peleando y mi esposo estaba yendo a su trabajo cuando una vecina salió y le dice, señor usted sabe que Chilo lo mataron dice el así no lo sé, pues si están diciendo que ya lo mataron y hasta cuando vino su papa de la doctora confirmo que si lo mataron entonces yo vine a creer que si lo mataron y hasta ahorita nadie me han avisado solo por los amigos yo supe que él está muerto y mi hijo el que anda en las vueltas fue a verlo es cuando a mí me vinieron avisar y después él dijo que si lo están llevando en Orange Walk porque acá no hay morgue lo tuvieron que llevar haya no se de policía nada, nada, nada.”

Sodomy Law Caused Controversy
It’s been almost one week since the Supreme Court of Belize passed a historic ruling, legalizing gay sex between consenting adults. The ruling made by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin was met with mixed response by the Belizean population. And while the Government of Belize is yet to state their position on the ruling, yesterday during a press conference called by the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Faber, he was asked for his opinion on the ruling. Honorable Patrick Faber – Deputy Prime Minister of Belize: “In that instance then I would act as an agent for the people who I served as opposed to giving my own personal view, how is it that I determine what the view of those who I represent are is something that is given great consideration to over the last few days whether that means I don’t think that Facebook is a good or Social Media is a good indicator although that seems to be the court of public opinion in these days but maybe some kind of survey or check moving around the constituency to see what the views of our constituents are or maybe to the extent of us as a nation have a referendum to let the Belizean people to decide how is it that they wat to see us move, I think it is such a big decision that the Belizean people should have a say and that we should not have necessarily individual leaders and lawmakers impressing on the Belizean people their own personal and individual ways.”

Immigration Office Look Into Worker's Permit From Guatemalans
Yesterday many residents from the neighboring country of Guatemala, who regularly cross into Belize to work on the strength of their passports alone were halted by Belizean immigration at the Western Border. Information is that Belizean authorities were requesting work permits which the visitors could not produce, as a result reports are that the large group of Guatemalans, who are in disagreement with the new requirements at the western border, have sought political assistance in their country to address the current situation. Since the requirements were implemented at the border in Benque Viejo, police presence was amped up and yesterday, Senator Godwin Hulse who is the Minister of Immigration explained the new implementations. “Yes the police and Immigration undertook an exercise this morning because there has been lots of people streaming across the border we understand that come to work and you cannot work in this country as a foreigner without a work permit as simple as that.”

PlusTV

Belize received US $200,000 from Inter-American Development Bank for Hurricane Relief
Belize will be receiving 200 thousand US dollars in grant funding from the Inter- American Development Bank to assist the Government of Belize’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Earl. The objective of the grant is to support the National Emergency Mana...

New Attorney General Sworn In as Senator and Minister
This morning, the Attorney General Hon. Vanessa Retreage was officially sworn-in as a Senator and a Minister. Ms. Retreage was first sworn-in as a Senator before the President and other members of the Senate at the National Assembly Building during today’s Senate Meeting. Thereafter, the new Senator...

Amandala

Belize’s century-old sodomy law overturned
The law criminalizing “unnatural” sex acts—deemed to principally be a bar against anal sex between homosexuals but which has largely been unenforced for decades—was today struck down in the Belize Supreme Court when Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin used his “blue pencil” to change it, saying that private sex acts between consenting adults would be excluded from the range of acts prohibited by the law. Whereas the LGBT community was jubilant over Benjamin’s decision to effectively decriminalize homosexuality, the churches, which joined the case as interested parties, expressed their outrage. “This is huge for me!” said Caleb Orozco, former executive president of the United Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM), who was the sole claimant in the case after UNIBAM was removed by the court for lack of standing to bring the constitutional challenge. “I’m the facey b—— that bothered to challenge the status quo in our society and managed to get a response that was meaningful,” Orozco told the media at a press conference after the ruling.

Brother sodomizes brother
Two days after the Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin delivered a historic ruling making it clear that sexual intercourse between two consenting adults should not be criminalised, an 11-year-old boy was reportedly sodomized by one of his older brothers. According to Santa Elena police, sometime after 3 a.m. on Friday, the 11-year-old woke up in his bedroom and found that his 16-year-old brother was anally penetrating him. This horrific incident became public after controversial media personality, Pastor Louis Wade, spoke of it on his popular Rise and Shine morning show on Plus TV this morning. Wade posted on Facebook that after the accused brother had completed his act of sodomy, he allegedly told his brother, “nothing will happen to me because this is now legal.”

Tornado hits Spanish Lookout
The Spanish Lookout community in the Cayo District, was hit by a tornado at about 11:00 yesterday morning. Roofs were destroyed, trees were uprooted and buildings were damaged. Amandala travelled to Spanish Lookout and saw the destruction wrought by what we had initially concluded was the first recorded tornado in the country. Reports are that it was raining when the spiral was seen. Abram Dyck of Pletts Home Construction told us that at about 11:00 yesterday morning they saw a spiral coming down, with a force and ferocity that exceeded the intensity of Hurricane Earl. He said that the tornado lifted off an entire roof and hurled it into the distance. Abram said that many roofs were damaged and that it was the first time that they have seen a tornado. He emphasized that it was very powerful, less than a mile wide and moved quickly, then disappeared.

Bloody weekend in the West
Two brutal deaths, as a result of separate incidents, occurred in the Cayo District over the weekend. In one incident, Hever Miranda, 32, of Duck Run 2 in the Cayo Distict, was chopped in the head and shot in the chest by one of four men who attacked him after they became involved in an altercation, and in the other incident, Clerito Perez, 32, of San Martin, Belmopan was chopped several times while he tried to defend his younger brother, Walter Alvarado, who was chopped in the head by one of two men who attacked him. In the case of the death of Perez, the police are looking for two men in San Martin, Belmopan, and in the case of Miranda’s death, police have four men in custody and they are confident that the accused killer is one of them. The first incident occurred at about 5:00 yesterday morning. Police report that Hever Miranda and a woman were socializing at the Pasadita Bar on the Spanish Lookout road when four men with whom he had an altercation came into the bar, and once again an altercation between the men flared up, and that was when one of the men chopped him in the head.

Chef Ainsley held up in his establishment
Robbers netted an estimated six thousand dollars in cash, jewelry and mobile devices after they held up a local chef and his staff at gunpoint just a few feet away from a police checkpoint. Ainsley Castro, 38, known to many as Chef Ainsley, has become well-known in the healthy living community as a result of the wholesome cuisine he sells from his kitchen on Balan Street off the Lacroix Boulevard in the St. Martin De Porres area of Lake Independence. The chef turned entrepreneur has been making a living by selling healthy entrées since moving on from his post as chef at the Radisson Hotel almost fifteen months ago. Castro reported to police that sometime around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, as he was cleaning up after a day’s sale, two dark-skinned, medium-built men entered his establishment and ordered everyone on the ground.

BTB creating a buzz over offer to Simone Biles and “Final Five”
Simone Biles, the stellar US gymnast who also has Belizean citizenship, has been getting a lot of attention in the international press, and her mentions of Belize, home to her mom, Nellie Biles, as a place where she loves to relax and fish, has also meant good press for Belize’s tourism industry—the services sector that has been vital in offsetting sustained declines in Belize’s export earnings. On Thursday night, August 11, at around 8:30 p.m., the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) made a public offer via Twitter to Biles and the US gymnastics team, known as the Final Five: “Congrats @simone_biles! Belize is so proud of you. We’d love to host you and the entire #FinalFive on a vacation once you’re ready to relax.” Some months ago, after Steve Harvey’s gaffe at the Miss Universe, the BTB invited Harvey via Twitter to come host the Costa Maya in Belize. Harvey “liked” the tweet but did not take up the offer to host the pageant, which had to be canceled last week due to Hurricane Earl.

Wayde van Niekerk’s race reminded me of Migale
While many experts have opined that the outside lane is the hardest position from which to race and possibly break a record, because you can’t see where your opponents are until the final stretch, there is some Belizean race history that I recall, that helps to explain the other side of the coin. Aside from dealing with a less severe curve in the outside lane, versus the inside lane with the tight curve that takes a greater toll on the legs, running from in front can also have the effect of spurring the front runner from the imagined chase, while running from behind could possibly lead to some complacency if the outside lane runners are caught quickly. In the 1969 Belize City inter-secondary schools track meet at the MCC Grounds, the 400-meter heat was run, I think, on a Thursday evening. One of my older brothers, Michael, had won 8 blue ribbons (1st place) at the SJC track meet about a week earlier – 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay, long jump, triple jump and high jump, and one other (not sure if it was the 800m or the baseball throw).

Police United makes Champions League debut
A release yesterday from the Police United Football Club said the team left Belize on Saturday for Puerto Cortez, Honduras, from where they would be travelling on to the capital, Tegucigalpa, for their scheduled Scotia Bank CONCACAF Champions League debut against Honduran champions, Olimpia on Tuesday night, August 16. Kick off time is 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. In their release, Police United FC listed their starting line-up as follows: #1 goalkeeper – Jose Santos; #8 striker – Carlton Thomas; #10 center midfield – Harrison Roches; #12 center back – Trevor Lennon; #13 center back – Amin August; #14 center midfield – Andres Makin; #16 striker – Daniel Jimenez; #17 right midfield – Devon Makin; #19 right back – Byron Usher; #23 center midfield – Amilton Filho; and #25 left back – Mailson Moura.

BDBA Firms Tournament regular season ends; quarterfinals this Friday and Saturday
The BDBA Firms Tournament 2016 regular season finished with two games on Saturday night at the BES Gym. In the opener, Belize Bank Bulldogs clipped Central Health, 100-87; and in the nightcap, a back match from a July 7 rain-out game, it was Heritage Bank, 77-67, over Infotel. Quarterfinal playoffs take place on Friday and Saturday at the BES Gym according to the following schedule: NOTE: Quarterfinals are “knockout” games. Winners of Games A and D will meet in one semi-final, and winners of Games B and C will meet in the other semi-final.

Freedom Fighters 1:1 FC Belize in pre-season friendly
In a pre-season semi-pro friendly match at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence today, Freedom Fighters FC and FC Belize played to a 1-1 draw. Mexican import Hector Martinez put FC Belize up 1-nil in the first half with a slicing header off a spot kick that beat veteran goalkeeper Steven “Cranka” Polonio. The Fighters rebounded in the second half with a brilliant effort from the young, speedy and talented rookie, Richard Arnold, who beat goalkeeper Burgess with a well-placed shot from inside the penalty area. Both teams looked prepared and ready for the start of the PLB 2016-2017 Opening Tournament, but also recognized weaknesses that require urgent fixes, with the Freedom Fighters promoting several promising young players, while FC Belize was coming strong with several Mexican imports as well as a Brazilian coach, David Lima.

Editorial: Too big, too powerful
At a certain point, the Sir Barry Bowen businesses appeared to have become too big to fail, too powerful to resist, because the businesses, which feature the production and distribution of Coca Cola soft drinks, Belikin beer and stout, and Guinness stout, and include a tourist nature resort and a shrimp factory, employed too many Belizeans. Both United Democratic Party (UDP) and People’s United Party (PUP) governments, such as the first UDP government under Dr. Manuel Esquivel and the first PUP government of Rt. Hon. Said Musa, went out of their way to bail out Sir Barry, when he was in trouble with a Panamanian bank in the case of the 1984-1989 Esquivel administration, and awarding him extraordinary tax concessions, such as was the case during the 1998-2003 Said Musa government. In the case of the present Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean O. Barrow, political insiders know that in his first venture into national politics in the December 1984 general elections, his chief financier in the Queen’s Square constituency was Sir Barry. It so happened that Mr. Barrow’s opponent in 1984 was the one Ralph Fonseca, whom Sir Barry had fired from his Belize Brewing Company earlier that year. It was very important to Sir Barry for Ralph to be humbled in that very first Queen’s Square race, and so Mr. Barrow benefited greatly from Bowen largesse.

From the Publisher
Belize is a failed state where our sports programs are concerned. It is undeniable that our sports programs here under British colonialism were superior to those programs after we achieved political independence in 1981. It is not the Belizean people who are to blame for what has happened to our sports: it is our elected politicians and our shadowy power structure. During colonial days, as a contrasting, comparative illustration, there was no volleyball in Belize. Somewhere in our shadowy power structure after independence, there was a decision made to promote volleyball. Ten years ago, as a non-sports note, there were no marching bands in Belize. The power structure here made a decision to promote marching bands, and now marching bands are organized and prominent in Belize. (Topically and tangentially, some people apart from the Belizean people decided to promote homosexuality in Belize.) The people are not the power.

Letter to the Editor: Elaine J. Pinkerton discusses homosexuality
Dear Editor, What are human rights? The right to do anything one wants? The right to kill someone just because that person disagrees with you? The right to steal because you want that object? The right to lie because you don’t want to tell the truth? What determines human rights? What is our guide to living so things go right in our lives? The constitution of Belize states: Whereas the People of Belize affirm that the Nation of Belize shall be founded upon principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God, faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, …….. So which God is being spoken about here? There are many “gods” in this world. Satan is the god of this world according to II Corinthians 4:4. And he is the one that blinds them that believe not in the one and only true God— Almighty YAH — and His Son Jesus Christ who suffered and died for our sins so that we could repent and be forgiven. Satan would have mankind believe that one can set up his/her own standards and do what is “right” in his/her sight. If we become born again and become the children of Almighty YAH we hunger and thirst for the WORD of YAH and want to do what is correct in HIS sight.

19.9 million Americans live in extreme poverty
Arise! Ye children of Belize. Arise, Belizeans, with our foreheads held high. Proud of belonging to this blessed soil in which God had permitted us to be born. Awake, Belizeans, from the lethargic sleep. And grasp the baton of liberty for the homeland that has sheltered us under the blue sky. Let’s continue the struggle of our ancestors for freedom against the oppressors, to fight unceasingly for our independence and let’s continue their work until we achieve equality amongst all our people. Stand FIRM Belizeans, on the line of duty under the banner of democracy, liberty and social justice until victory or death. Arise! Belizeans! To the sounds of the beating drum and the blow of the conch shell. There is an adage that says: “Once a man, twice a child.” In England during the Industrial Revolution the laws were brutal, we can say inhumane. Children from six years old, if not earlier, worked in the factories and mines, the same as women and men from six in the morning until six in the evening. For the employer they represented cheap labour. They were often beaten by overseers to keep them in order, or simply to keep them awake, for a sleepy child, the tip of their nail (s) and finger (s) were in constant danger of being pinched off once in every second, while they had their heads between the whirling wheels a few inches distance from their ear. Starving children were hung for stealing a loaf of bread.

“Sex” redefined 20 years ago, and Belizeans didn’t know it!
The churches argue that there are only two sexes: male and female; however, Simone Hill, president of the Universal Belize Advocacy Movement (UNIBAM), refers to LGBTIQ – the short acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning. The Supreme Court of Belize is now acknowledging, in its ruling handed down today in favor of homosexual Caleb Orozco, that the term “sex” in Belize’s Constitution was deemed to have a different meaning as far back as 20 years ago. However, most Belizeans had no clue that the reading of the Constitution, particularly where it forbids discrimination on the basis of sex, now includes one’s sexual orientation. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an organ of the OAS, defines sexual orientation as “each person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to, and intimate and sexual relations with, individuals of a different gender or the same gender or more than one gender…” When Nigel Hawke, deputy Solicitor General, argued the Government’s case in the suit brought by Orozco, he contended that “sexual orientation” is not expressed in the Constitution of Belize.

Commentary on When Things Fall Apart
Response to article published in Features, Amandala Belize, August 7, 2016, by Therese Belisle Nweke Boston, MA, August 11, 2016–I read the WHOLE article … “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear”. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND COUNTRY: What will change Belize, and its future, goes far beyond our politics. The diagnoses of much of our nation’s ills are known to most of us. What does it take to go from where we are, to where our nation ought to be … and move from just the diagnosis, and embark on the treatment? For starters, as Tolstoy wrote, and echoed by Mahatma Gandhi, we must first resolve to “be the change we seek”. Change, even though it can be channeled through political leadership—or better yet, statesmanship—must first start with you, with me. Change is not a talk show. Change is not simply pointing out what’s wrong. Real change requires a willingness to get down in the trenches and commit personal time and resources. Real change requires sacrifice (which no one except a masochist enjoys). Real change requires that we look not only after our own interests, but also the interests of others, and of the nation. It requires “real love” that replaces pride, envy, jealousy, spite, backbiting, “bad mind”, and our many –isms and schisms.

Hon. Patrick Faber’s SUV plunges into the Caribbean Sea
A vehicle assigned to the Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber, careened off the Marine Parade Boulevard after being driven contrary to the flow of traffic, and plunged into the Caribbean Sea at around 8 p.m. on Sunday, creating a commotion as passersby flocked to the scene. However, when police arrived on the scene to haul the white SUV from the sea, Faber was neither inside, nor was he in the area. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, sometime close to 6 p.m. he had parked his vehicle inside the tightly secured home of a friend situated at about Mile 3 ½ on the George Price Highway, and thereafter, went with some colleagues in another vehicle to the Old Belize dockyard. He said that no one was authorized to move or to drive his vehicle. His friend, an unnamed female with whom he had left his keys, had gone into his vehicle to retrieve a parcel and apparently forgot the keys inside, and did not hear when the alleged thief made off with the SUV. It was ACP Edward Broaster, among others, who told Faber that his vehicle was “parked in the sea.”

Breaking Belize News

Chef Ainsley robbers charged
Three men are charged with robbery and handling stolen goods in relation to robbery of chef Ainsley Castro of the Radisson Hotel on Friday. 31 year old Kareem Betancourt, a Tour guide with Chukka Tours; 20 year old Jermaine Wagner a Fisherman of Neal’s […]

Mother and daughter charged in Memorial Park assault
It was not reported but Saturday’s National Song Competition event at the Memorial Park saw violence which led to a mother and daughter appearing in court today. The 40 year old domestic whose name we will not call in order to not identify her […]

Olympian Renick James returns from Rio
Belize is being proudly represented at the Olympics by Belizeans Katy Sealy, Brandon Jones and Renick James. James, competing in judo, lost his 90-kilogram (198-pound) category, round-of-32 match on Wednesday to Nauru’s Ovini Uera. He is back in Belize and says a bout of […]

Belizeans continue to cheer Simone Biles
11 Miss Belize pageant contestants and their director; the Special Envoy for Women and Children; the Vice-President of OCEANA in Belize; the Music Ambassador and son of the Prime Minister, among others, this afternoon found themselves together at the Baymen’s Tavern of the Radisson […]

Annual San Joaquin Fiesta in Corozal ends in death
A man’s body was discovered on Monday morning at the venue of the San Joaquin Fiesta in San Joaquin Village in the Corozal district. Villagers found the corpse around 6:00 in the morning. The body was identified as Basilio Patt, 32, a resident of San […]

Robbers target BWEL in Orange Walk
Three men dressed in dark clothing and wearing long sleeved shirts barged into the Belize Western Energy Limited (BEWL) located along the Philip Goldson Highway on the outskirts of Trial Farm Village at 10:00 Monday morning. Police say the men wielded machetes and knives […]

Immigration wants to tighten surveillance at western border; Guatemalans reject efforts
Officials at the Immigration Department told BBN that they have been trying to sensitize Guatemalans who cross the border daily to work in Belize about the need to obtain their work permits. Those efforts have been ongoing for over a year we’re told. It […]

Man grazed in shooting incident
A man identified as Eric Martinez, 24, was injured in a shooting incident in Orange Walk but is not collaborating with police. Orange Walk Police are still investigating the incident however. The individual was apparently grazed by a bullet to his left arm after shots […]

El Chapo’s son reportedly kidnapped
The son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was reportedly kidnapped along with five other men at a restaurant in the Mexican beach resort or Puerto Vallarta. According to Mexican authorities, the six men were abducted by a squad of seven armed assailants. […]

Blogs

Surviving in Belize’s International Banking Industr
The term International Banking or Offshore Banking is often times associated with tax evasion, money laundering, terrorism funding and now for this region of the world, derisking. The adjectives mentioned do not paint a pretty picture and while there may be some truth, it is unfair to paint the entire industry with such a broad brush. Like most things, there is good and bad with the bad often times overshadowing the good. This is the atmosphere Atlantic International Bank Limited (AIBL) and other international banks find themselves in today. AIBL obtained its Unrestricted “A” Class International Banking License from the Central Bank of Belize in November 2000, which legally permits the bank to offer international banking services to both personal and corporate clients who are non-residents of Belize.

Belizean violinist, Courtney Gillett tours Europe
There may not be many fancy art programs in Belize, but that doesn’t mean we’re lacking in talent. From musicians to painters, Belize is home to some very skilled persons who have gone to make their marks internationally. Courtney Gillett is one such person. Gillett is a Belizean violinist who was part of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas (YOA) 2016 Noric-Baltic tour. The tour took place from Friday, July 1st to Wednesday, August 3rd in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Courtney was a violinist with the 80-member orchestra, which included musicians from 25 countries in the Americas. “YOA is the best; it tells you that you can make a change, and you can do it through music,” said Courtney in a YouTube video recorded before the start of the tour.

MAJOR FIND AT XUNANTUNICH MAYAN SITE
The recent find at the Xunantunich Mayan city; the largest Royal tomb to be discovered, serves to add to the rich history of the Mayas and the lives they lived here in Belize. The unearthed tomb provides stunning evidence of a “snake dynasty” which conquered many of its neighbors over 1300 years ago. The chamber was buried under about 20ft of centuries old debris. The find was made as researchers were excavating a large central stairway in one of the larger structures at the site. Inside the tomb, they found the remains of a male adult, who is believed to have been between 20 – 30 years old. The person was lying flat on the back with his head towards the south. Along with his remains, Archaeologists also found jaguar and deer bones, 6 jade beads, 13 obsidian blades and 36 ceramic vessels. What does this all mean? At the base of the stairway, they found 9 obsidian and 28 chart flints and eccentrics or chipped artifacts that were all carved into the shapes of animals, leaves and other symbols.

Celebrate Independence Day in Belize
After several centuries as a British colony, Belize gained its independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981. Today, the national holiday is the occasion for two weeks of partying, parades, and street exhibitions leading up to September 21 when every town comes alive with people waving the red, white and blue (the colors of the Belizean flag). Independence Day 2016 will be a special time in Belize as the country celebrates its 35th anniversary of gaining full sovereignty. The occasion will be marked with a number of amazing celebrations, parties, and activities. This year’s official theme is “Sovereign and Strong Together as One.” The Battle of St. George’s Caye Day: The issue of whether Spain or Britain would end up controlling Belize was decided in a colossal, week-long naval battle in 1798 off the coast of St. George’s Caye. The British emerged triumphant on September 10, now a national holiday in Belize celebrated by the playing of patriotic music and people dressed in the national colors. Marches and Parades: In 2016, the September holidays begin on August 28 and will continue right on up to Independence Day on September 21. Every town and village across the country will hold parades featuring marchers, bands, and floats. Be on the lookout for a sea of red, white and blue as Belizeans of all age celebrate the season with patriotic pride.

International Sources

Smallpox could return as Siberia's melting permafrost exposes ancient graves
Last known case of the deadly disease was in Somalia in 1977, but Russian scientists investigating an anthrax outbreak have found the virus's DNA in corpses once entombed in the frozen ground. Smallpox – a deadly disease eradicated from the world in 1977 – could return as the frozen tundra of Siberia melts and releases the virus from the corpses of people who died in a major epidemic about 120 years ago, experts have warned. The disease was once one of the most feared in the world. Up to 30 per cent of people who caught it would die, according to the World Health Organisation, after experiencing symptoms including a high fever and the characteristic pus-filled spots. Spores of potentially fatal anthrax from dead people and reindeer that had been entombed in the permafrost are already thought to have infected 24 patients currently in hospital in Salekhard near Russia’s north coast. But health experts told the Siberian Times this was a warning sign that there could be worse to come. Boris Kershengolts, of the Siberian branch of the Academy of Sciences, said: “Back in the 1890s, there occurred a major epidemic of smallpox. There was a town where up to 40 per cent of the population died. “Naturally, the bodies were buried under the upper layer of permafrost soil, on the bank of the Kolyma River. “Now, a little more than 100 years later, Kolyma's floodwaters have started eroding the banks.” The melting of the permafrost has speeded up this erosion process.

Simone Biles has support in another country: Belize
Simone Biles has won the hearts of Americans with her routines jam-packed with difficulty, winning gold medals in the team final, all-around, vault and floor exercise, while also earning bronze on balance beam despite a fall. But she's not just beloved in the United States. She's also got a fan base in Belize. That's right. Belize, a country with roughly 350,000 people that didn't gain its independence until 1981. It initially sounds like a head-scratcher, as there aren't any outward signs showing any celebration of Biles in Belize City. But on Tuesday afternoon, relatives -- as well as Kim Simplis Barrow, the first lady of Belize -- gathered at the Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina in Belize City to watch Biles win gold in her final event, floor. It's the second time the group met at the hotel to watch arguably the best female gymnast of all time.

Local teen plans, holds fundraiser to support students in Belize
On a sunny Sunday afternoon when most other 14-year-old boys would be mowing the grass to make a little extra spending money, Holden Wilder was running the inaugural Wilder Wiffle Ball Classic. The Classic, a fundraiser for the Holy Cross Anglican School in San Mateo, Belize, was held Sunday, Aug. 7 at Forsyth County’s Joint Venture Park at Daves Creek. The event was planned and put on by Wilder, a Forsyth County resident and incoming freshman at the Wesleyan School. Wilder’s story begins nearly six months ago with a missed opportunity to participate in Wesleyan’s eighth-grade mission trip. The school’s annual trip was planned for the first week in April, but, an avid baseball player, Wilder’s travel team was also scheduled to play the first few weekends of the month. Although his team didn’t have any mid-week games, Wesleyan’s trip would stretch over both weekends, preventing Wilder from playing, unless he chose to stay home.

Caleb Orozco sets a valuable Caribbean precedent
Caleb Orozco struck me as nervous but determined when we first met in 2007. We were among only a handful of Caribbean civil society delegates at an Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly in Panama. In the very Latin space that is the OAS, I affectionately referred to our grouping as the “English ghetto” because not only was our language need secondary, but we also lagged far behind the other countries in the hemisphere with regard to human rights for LGBTI people. While our Central and South American colleagues were advocating for greater transgender rights, we from the Anglophone Caribbean were still waiting for decriminalization of sodomy. And our cause often seemed hopeless. The small micro-states from which we hailed were/are collectively in the grip of powerful right-wing fundamentalists who controlled all levers of power. Distance and strategic differences often made it difficult for us to collaborate and present the unified front that our LGBTI siblings in other parts of the Americas had managed to accomplish.

Katy Sealy realises Olympic dream after taking to the track in 100m hurdles in Rio
It is a long way to go for just 100metres but Katy Sealy can now call herself an Olympic athlete. Friends and family of the Ipswich Harriers heptathlete were glued to their TV screens at 3pm today as the 25-year-old made her first ever appearance in the greatest sporting show on Earth. Running in the women’s 100m hurdles Sealy, a former Farlingaye High School student who lives in Bawdsey, was competing for the tiny Central American nation of Belize. Sealy’s grandparents lived in the country in the 1960s and her father was born there, meaning she was eligible to be selected for the Games. Normally a heptathlete, Sealy took part in the hurdles as a wildcard entry; countries with no qualifiers can choose one male and one female wildcard to compete for them.

Videos

August 16, 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

North Ambergris Caye Labourers complain about bridge fees
Many residents work on that part of the island, which is home to several beach resorts and restaurants. According to those workers, a big chunk of their salary goes towards the bridge toll, and they are appealing to the local authorities to please have some consideration on them. Many of these labourers claim that the bridge has already paid itself, thus, there is no reason to continue paying the toll, while others suggest that since they use the bridge to get to their working areas, the fee should not apply to them. In response, Mayor Daniel Guerrero told The San Pedro Sun that the fee will continue to be applied to everyone across the board. He stated that in order to keep the bridge functioning properly, and providing the adequate maintenance necessary, funds must be raised and the toll is one of the sources for it. “We cannot eliminate that fee, we could maybe reduce it, but not stop it,” said Guerrero. “People need to also realize that when they pay their fee to cross the bridge, they are at the same time contributing to their own community. The funds collected from the toll are spent on projects within the island, so there is a purpose to keep the fee.”

Authorities demand new application for rebuilding of docks and piers
The strong surge and winds of Hurricane Earl left hundreds of docks/piers partially or totally destroyed on Ambergris Caye. The majority of these over-the water structures are on the eastern side of the island and many of its proprietors are beginning to make plans for rebuilding. However, in order for that to happen, dock/pier owners will now need to reapply for a new permit, as stated by not only The San Pedro Town Council, but Central Government as well. The implementation has not been well received among residents of the island, who find it unnecessary and time consuming having to go through the paper work in order to start repairing their docks. Many of them still have unexpired permits and the request is a threat to their day to day businesses. However, other residents see this rule as something positive, and as an opportunity to re-evaluate the dock situation on Ambergris Caye. Some residents in San Pedro Town believe, the high concentration of docks in front of the island has taken away the charm and natural beauty of the island.

Art Camp coming to La Isla Bonita
Children ages five to 14 can look forward to another exciting camp in their hometown. Five college students from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota USA will be hosting a free art camp, hoping to teach children to appreciate art in all forms. The camp will be held at the Boca del Rio Park on Thursday, August 18th and Friday, August 19th, and on Tuesday, August 23rd and Wednesday, August 24th at the Central Park. From 10AM to 12PM and 1PM to 4PM, kids will enjoy percussion classes, crafts, drawing, dancing, singing, as well as games. Since there is no admission limit, as many children are encouraged to participate. Transportation will be provided free of charge for children in San Pedrito, San Pablo, Escalante, and the DFC Area. The camp is being organized by Kim Bartling, who has made San Pedro her second home. She made the suggestion for the college students to volunteer here, and the group is hoping to combine their love and expertise in the arts, along with their love of children.

Ambergris Today

Flashbacks - A Taste of Nostalgia
GONE are those good old days when there were sandy streets all over San Pedro, like on back street and sand on Middle Street as seen in this Flashback. The sand has been replaced by concrete. GONE are the good old village days when children could play marbles in the middle of streets. Other fun games included tops, skip ropes, softball and football, and all the group games played in circles. Street games are no longer because of the heavy traffic on our busy “city” streets. GONE are the good old days when small Land Rover vehicles were parked in front of one or two houses. Today we see thousands of golf carts, large vans, big pick up trucks, and even 18-wheelers. GONE are those "good ole" days when when a fisherman could park his small boat/skiff with 25 horse power engine in his yard for repairs. Today we carry large passenger boats with 250 horse power engines that can carry 50 persons. Oh yes, progress does leave a taste of nostalgia.

Spectacular Performances at National Song Competition
The unofficial start to the September Celebrations came to life with a memorable lineup of talent from all over Belize on Saturday, August 13. Backed by the Gilharry 7 band, 18 performers gave the hundreds of fans at Memorial Park quite a show. The event was hosted by Dillon Jones and made possible by the Institute of Creative Arts and the National Celebrations Commission. You can listen to all the songs from finalists at www.mynationalsong.bz as well as on radio stations.

Misc Belizean Sources

Intervention spraying on Caye Caulker
Notice to the public: The Caye Caulker Village Council hereby advises the public that the Public Health Department will be on the island conducting an intervention spraying on the entire island starting today Monday 15th August 2016 - Friday 19th August 2016. They will be around everyones neighbourhood conductng these sprays! It is crucial at this point to do these sprays so we can reduce the spread of zika and other mosquito borne diseases! Thank you!

Attorney General Sworn-in as New Senator and Minister of Natural Resources
This morning, the Attorney General Hon. Vanessa Retreage was officially sworn-in as a Senator and a Minister. Ms. Retreage was first sworn-in as a Senator before the President and other members of the Senate at the National Assembly Building during today’s Senate Meeting. Thereafter, the new Senator took her Oath of Allegiance, as the new Minister of Natural Resources, before H.E. Sir Colville Young at the Belize House. Hon. Vanessa Retreage’s appointments come after the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow’s announcement of a Cabinet shuffle on Monday, August 1st, 2016.

E&L; Nightclub so catches fire
In flames in Belmopan

Baby tamandua released
The area for the release had to be carefully selected due to the hurricane impact. Criteria- far from humans, abundances of food and water, climbing vines and strong trees, cohune palms and ,,again remoteness from Highways or villages. This is the same baby tamandua that arrived with broken arm, saved by the farmers in Spanish look out. She had surgery, metal pin was inserted to hold the bones while healing for 6 week, then pin was removed and special care was taken for another 2 weeks,, and finally- after 10 weeks of care- she showed us how strong and confident she was- all pics show you that she went easily all the way up to 20 feet above ground. She was not stressed, her wild instincts were all there, she was behaving just like regular healthy tamandua would. While in rehab she gained significant size, muscles and became 8lbs of pure strength animal.

3rd annual Identity Youth Art Exhibit
A gracious thank you to our artists and attendees at the 3rd annual Identity Youth Art Exhibit launch this past Friday night. Kudos to our talented young artists; Carlos Carrillo, Maggie Gray, Elizabeth Green, Earl Basto, Osni Sedacy and Vianay Bautista. The opening night attractions also included live art by Earl Basto and freestyle cuts by youth barber Darryl Yearwood. You are kindly invited to visit the House of Culture to view the artwork which will be on display until August 30th.

Hurricane Earl flows through Chiquibul Cave System
The amount of water that gushed out of the Chiquibul Cave System due to Hurricane Earl was spectacular as observed from the scars left after the receding water. We are yet to put foot on the ground to evaluate impacts.

Direct Aid Program (DAP) Outreach Workshop

10th CHINA-LAC BUSINESS SUMMIT OCTOBER 14th & 15th 2016
We’re pleased to invite you to participate in the X China-LAC Business Summit, which will take place October 14th and 15th, 2016 in Tangshan, China. This Summit is organized by the Inter-American Dvelopment Bank (IDB), the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the People’s Bank of China and the People’s Government of the Province of Hebei. We invite you to register soon to obtain the benefits of participating in this Summit. Remember that August 19th is the deadline for registering and receiving the benefits.

Rio Olympics
Katy is in heat 1, 8:05am Bze time. Brandon is in heat 10, 8:50am both compete today August 16th.

Congratulations to the stunning and beautiful new San Joaquin Fiesta Queen, Mariana Martinez.
Way to go San Joaquin belleza de reina!

OLYMPIC FEVER AT BELIZEAN LEGENDS! REFLECTING ON JUSTIN WILLIAM'S BELIZE CROSS COUNTRY CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP FOR BELIZE!
As the 2016 Olympics in Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil, brings so much fanfare and international athletic dynamism as Belizeans both in the diaspora and at home watch the world class athlete and gymnast, Simone Biles, whose connection to Belize has been established through her Belizean mother, we here at Belizean Legends could not but remember the dynamic Belizean-American cyclist, Justin Williams, who won for the first time ever, the 2015 Belize Cross Country Cycling Classic. As we watched him all through this summer win so many cycling classics across California in record times, it has just baffled me how the Belize Olympic Association failed to recruit this world class Belizean cyclist born in the United States to represent Belize in cycling at these 2016 Olympic games. During the 2016 Belizean Legends interview with Justin Williams after he won the Belize Cross Country, he mentioned that he would have love to represent Belize at this Olympics.

Channel 7

Mason's Wife Gets Bail, Talks About Danny And Pastor Lu
Melissa Ferguson, the 51 year-old Canadian common-law wife of William Danny Mason, is at home tonight after she was released on Supreme Court bail this afternoon. She had been remanded to prison the charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping because police say that she was involved in the abduction of Pastor Lewellyn Lucas and David Dodd. Her attorney, Dickie Bradley, made the application on her behalf this afternoon to Justice Troadio Gonzalez. Senior Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith, who represented the DPP's Office, did not object, and so, and Justice Gonzalez granted bail of $12,000. This evening, after she was allowed to go free, Ferguson, in the presence of her attorney, granted our Daniel Ortiz an interview. It's her first comment since both she and her husband have been charged, and she told us that her first time behind bars was made easier by the custodians of the prison:

Deputy PM's Prado Stolen, Plunged In Sea
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber was in the hotseat today after his Ministerial Toyota Prado was stolen last night and deliberately crashed into the sea. At around 7:30, the 130 thousand dollar SUV cut into the path of oncoming traffic on Marine Parade and turned straight into the only break in the seawall - where it headed straight for the sea. Within minutes, the SUV was submerged and only the top could be seen. Faber says it was stolen - while he was at a function at Old Belize. He had left it parked at a friend's house. The vehicle was stolen on the southside, and ACP Chester Williams, told us what Faber reported last night: ACP Chester Williams - OC, Eastern Division South: "Last night after 7pm, the Deputy Prime Minister reporter his vehicle stolen and the vehicle was found plunged in the sea near Marine Parade Boulevard. It was almost totally submerged. It was removed from the water and is currently at the Queen Street Police Station. It will be taken to Belize Diesel and I have communicated with them and they are saying that the vehicle can be brought back, but the sooner the vehicle get there, the better it is.\"

DPM Faber Says He Left The Key With A Friend
So, you've heard the police version of events - and it's based on a report that Deputy Prime Minister Faber made last night. Today we got the report from Faber himself when he hosted the media at a press briefing. He told us that he was at Old Belize and had left his vehicle parked at a friend's house half a mile away:... Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "Between 5:30-6pm I'd say. I parked my vehicle at mile 3.5-4 miles there on the George Price Highway and I got a lift back to the Old Belize where I was earlier in the day having gone to the cayes. While I was there, I was notified, maybe about 8pm or so by Ms. Ava from LOVE FM that my vehicle was reportedly in the sea in front of Marine Parade. I checked and sure enough my vehicle was not where I had expected it to be and it was then that I learnt that it was stolen. As far as I was able to ascertain the vehicle was stolen and taken for a ride. I have not seen the vehicle so I can't tell you if there were thing missing. I can only say what the police reported to me. I did have very limited amount of money in the glove compartment. I think about $200-$300 and my credit cards and stuff like that which I was able to get back from the police."

Chief Education Officer's Vehicle Near Simultaneous Blaze
And in a truly bizarre coincidence - while Deputy Faber's vehicle was being hauled out of the sea, his old vehicle, a Mitsubishi Montero was catching on fire. That SUV is currently assigned to Chief Education Officer, Dr. Carol Babb. She told police that she was driving up to her home in the Coral Grove area when the underside of the engine burst into flames. She stopped right in front of her gate where the vehicle burnt. Faber told the media that he went there and concluded that it was due to general wear and tear:... Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "And I stopped by and I actually saw the vehicle on fire. I suspect though that that is no kind of sabotage, that it may genuinely be some kind of electrical or mechanical problem that vehicle may have experience. As I said that use to be the vehicle that I had for 5 years before Dr. Babb starting using it."

Chopping Murder In Belmopan
2 brothers were viciously chopped early this morning in Belmopan, one died and the other survived. 24 year old Walter Alvarado and his brother 33 year old Clerito Perez were out on a food run when they were chased and then chopped up badly. Today we traveled to Belmopan to find out more about the gruesome attack and what may have fueled it. Courtney Weatherburne has the story. Courtney Weatherburne reporting: Last night after church, Walter Alvarado, his girlfriend and his older brother Clerito Perez went to their favorite food spot in Maya Mopan. It was a routine stop for them but that all changed when 3 men confronted them at the store. They all left the store but the men followed them up the Maya Mopan road and attacked them. The men broke a bottle on Alvarado's and his girlfriend's head.

Another Murder At La Pasadita Bar, Spanish Lookout
While Belmopan police don't have much information in this case so far, Cayo police have made major progress in a Spanish Lookout murder. They plan to charge 2 men as early as tomorrow. It happened yesterday morning around 3:15. 38 year old Ever Miranda was at the La Pasadita Bar when he was shot to the shoulder and chopped to the face. Courtney Weatherburne traveled to Spanish Lookout to find out why Miranda was killed and the about the bloody history of La Pasadita that now plagues one family. Courtney Weatherburne reporting: More blood soaks the gravel in front of Pasadita Bar in Spanish Lookout. Ever Miranda was shot and chopped in a fight early yesterday morning, but it didn't start here.

Working Man Paxson Killed Just For Where He Was From
On Friday's news, our headline story was the murder of Kraal Road Footballer Jason Young, better known as "Paxson". He was killed in an early morning shooting, while he was on his way to work. The cops say that an officer saw the entire thing unfold, and due to his intervention, the murder weapon was recovered, and they had a very good idea of who that shooter was, even though he fled the scene. That suspect was taken into custody shortly after, and today Assistant Police Commissioner Chester Williams told us that he has been charged. Williams also told us that their information is that Young was killed simply because the victim, a hardworking family man was originally from Kraal Road:

Mother Claims Innocence For Much Accused Son
Also in our last newscast, we told you about how police finally detained 18 year-old Egbert Baldwin, aka "Eggy". That's after a warrant for his arrest was issued for murder. Well, he has since been arraigned and remanded for the killing of 32 year-old John Williams, which happened one day before Hurricane Earl hit Belize. His mother, Enelida Baldwin, is swearing that her son has nothing to do with the murder of John Williams, and on Friday afternoon, before police informed us that he had be captured, she called our studios. She wanted to declare publicly that her son is being targeted, by what she tells us is malicious prosecution. So, on Saturday,, she granted Daniel Ortiz an interview to explain that first of all, her son was not on the run. She says that he was the one who voluntarily handed himself in to police:

Welding Work Causes Fire
Today at around 11:30 , the upstairs thatch of the popular E and L Bar in Belmopan was completely torched. We found the owner, his helpers and the fire truck at the spot trying to put out the flames. The owner told us he has no one to blame but himself and it's just one of those things he couldn't control. Tello told us the cost of damages is about $ 15,000. E and L has been in operation for about 10 years.

Disturbing Allegation Of Incestuous Sodomy
There is a very disturbing sodomy case in Santa Elena. A 16 year old boy allegedly sodomized his 11 year old brother. Another older brother reported the incident to police on Friday after he noticed his little brother acting strangely. The case has been transferred from Belmopan to Cayo police. We will keep following the story.

BTL Will Run Submarine Fiber Optic To San Pedro
BTL will run a fiber optic undersea cable from Bomba to San Pedro. It's a breakthrough for the island town because it will enable much faster internet speeds and data connectivity on the island. The 13 million dollar project is called the Strategic Evolution Underwater Link - and it is being done in partnership with Hauwei - and the contract was signed today. Chairman of the Executive Committee Anwar Barrow explained:... Anwar Barrow, Chair, Executive Committee - BTL: "What we are doing today is we are announcing that we are signing a deal with Huawei for some 13 million Belize dollars to lay a fiber optic cable from Belize mainland to San Pedro Town. This we already started the preliminary work and survey work to lay the cable. We plan to start laying it the first quarter of 2017 and we should complete the cable by July. What the cable does is that the cable connects out terrestrial network to San Pedro and will allow us a company to deliver the type of data and speeds that customers in San Pedro want and need. So this project is important in terms of not only the commercial implications for BTL, the ability for the resorts and the customers on San Pedro to have a better experience, but also for the people visiting Belize and therefore it's important for the country. With better connectivity, there are better opportunities. It positions San Pedro even more in the space to grow."

Cops, Kids, Country
A month ago, we told you about Southside police's outreach program, Getting to Know your Country. That's summer camp where the police gave a country tour to a hundred at risk youths whose movements are often confined by the gangs which control their neighborhoods. It's the first time that the police made an attempt like this, and today, they told us that from their perspective it was a success: As part of the effort, the children were taken to different stops in the life of criminals such as the police station, the Magistrate's Court, the Prison, and the cemetery so that they could get first hand accounts about why they should stay away from the gang life that surrounds them on a daily basis.

Faber Says Voters Should Decide On Gay Sex
Today when we had a chance to interview the Deputy Prime Minister we asked him about the recent Supreme Court judgment legalizing gay sex between adults. Faber was cautious saying that he first needs to ask the people of his constituency what they think before putting forth a position:.. Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "In that instance I would then act as an agent of the people who I serve, as oppose to giving my own personal view. How is it that I will determine what the views of those who I represent are is something I have given great consideration to over the last few days, whether that means that, I don't think that Facebook or social media is a good indicator although that seems to be the court of public opinion in these days. But maybe some kind of survey or check moving around the constituency to see what the views of constituents are or maybe to the extent of us as a nation having a referendum to let the Belizean people decide how is it that they want to see us move. I think it's such a big decision that the Belizean people should have a say and that we should not have necessarily individual leaders and lawmakers impressing on the Belizean people their own personal and individual views."

Faber Says He Was The Right Choice
And while Faber is choosing his words carefully on that one, he wasn't so cautious when we asked him if - all things considered - the UDP is fortunate to have elected him deputy - since the other guy, John Saldivar is in serious political trouble due to his association with Danny Mason. Faber didn't want to jump all over Saldivar, but, he kind of did anyway... Hon. Patrick Faber, Deputy Prime Minister: "It is never a happy day for me to smile at the misfortunes of anybody. I value very much, my colleague Minister John Saldivar and so when it was that he was reduced if you will to just the Ministry of Defence, I saw no glory in that."

Cops Caught Two Guns
And back to more news from Eastern Division South, today, the Southside commander told us that they managed to get 2 guns off the street this weekend. They were given tips by persons in the public which allowed for the cops to find the illegal weapons, and today, Chester Williams told us more about them: Because no one was in the area, the guns were deposited as found property.

Belize Jazzfest
And we close tonight with highlites from the Belize International Jazz Festival 2016 - which started at the Welcome Center in Cayo. The one week festival is swinging tonight with a jam session at the Spoonaz café - and to get you on the mood - here's how opening night sounded:

Channel 5

Bloody Weekend in Cayo Starts With San Martin Murder
It was a bloody weekend in the Cayo District where two murders have been reported.  In both incidents, in Spanish Lookout and Belmopan, respectively, the victims were hacked to death [...]

Deputy PM’s Government Vehicle Taken for Joyride
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber’s assigned vehicle was reportedly stolen from his girlfriend’s house near mile four on the George Price Highway on Sunday evening.  The Collet Area Representative was [...]

Is Vehicle Theft the Result of a Personal Grudge?
Was the theft and damage to Faber’s vehicle the result of a personal grudge or enmity and how did the thief gain access to the vehicle?  According to the politician, [...]

What Caused Chief Education Officer’s Vehicle to Catch Fire?
Coincidentally, while Faber’s vehicle was being retrieved from the Caribbean Sea, Chief Education Officer Doctor Carol Babb’s Mitsubishi SUV was engulfed in flames elsewhere.  The vehicle which was previously assigned [...]

Police Say Vehicle Accidents are not Linked
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, DPM Faber notified Belize City Police of the theft of his assigned ministerial vehicle some after seven o’clock.  That was after being [...]

A Cayo Man’s Horrific Death After Night of Socializing
There was a second murder in the Cayo District, this time at a popular bar just outside Spanish Lookout on the Iguana Creek Road. Now it is not the first [...]

Melissa Ferguson Makes Bail on Conspiracy to Kidnap Charge
This afternoon in the Supreme Court, a legal showdown was expected between the Crown and Senior Counsel Richard “Dickie” Bradley who represents Melissa Ferguson, an accused conspirator in the kidnapping [...]

“Shocked” – Melissa Ferguson Insists She has Clean Hands
The soft-spoken Melissa Ferguson faced the press just before four-thirty this evening after making bail, flanked by her attorney Bradley.  Ferguson told the media she has never been accused, much [...]

Teen Minor Charged for Friday Morning Murder
A seventeen-year-old who is no stranger to police is back behind bars where he will spend his eighteenth birthday.  The minor was read a murder charge in the Belize Family [...]

Kenroy Timmons Remanded for Intercourse with 15 Year Old
Twenty-six-year-old Kenroy Timmons of Belize City is accused of twice having sex with a minor aged fifteen.  Today he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith and did not give a [...]

Spark Sets Belmopan Bar Ablaze
Around eleven-thirty this morning, E and L Sports Bar located behind the La Cabana Bar in Belmopan went up in flames. The thatch to the front portion of the roof [...]

Attorney General Vanessa Retreage Named Senator and Minister
Attorney General Vanessa Retreage was today sworn in officially in Belmopan as a Senator and Minister of Government.  The newest member of the upper house was sworn in before Senate [...]

Will A Referendum Be Held on Supreme Court’s Section 53 Decision?
A decision on the constitutional challenge brought before the Supreme Court by Belizean gay rights activist Caleb Orozco, on the legality of Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code, was delivered [...]

P.U.P. Senator Applauds Section 53 Decision As “Significant Victory”
It’s been several months since a Senate Meeting has been held, despite several incidents of national importance; including, the B.T.L. Arbitration Award, the state of the economy, surging crime and [...]

Churches’ Senator Disagrees: “What About The Children?”
But one social partner that does not support the ruling is the Council of Churches. Senator Ashley Rocke says that the concern is how the amendment to the law will [...]

National Song Competition Selects Belize’s Best Singers
Saturday informally kicked off the September Celebrations with the annual National Song Competition.  The event boasted a impressive lineup of talent from across the country.  With the backing of the [...]

Police Conclude “Getting To Know Your Country” Summer Camp
A summer program for kids, organized by the Belize Police Department concluded today at the Yarborough Community Policing Center on Caesar Ridge Road.  It’s called Getting to Know Your Country [...]

CTV3

Shots Fired In The Area Of Otro Benque, Orange Walk
A man from Orange Walk was injured in a shooting incident last night but police are telling us there is little information concerning the incident. At around 7:15 last night, acting upon information received, authorities visited the Northern Regional Hospital where they saw twenty four year old Eric Martinez of East San Martin Trial Farm, Orange Walk, suffering from one gunshot wound to the left arm. Police report that earlier that night, Martinez was driving his motorcycle on the Philip Goldson Highway, in the company of another male individual, when upon nearing the Lands Department, he felt a burning sensation on his left arm which caused him to lose control of the motorbike. The motive of the shooting or if Martinez was the target is yet to be ascertained as the victim auto- released himself from the hospital before all details of the incident could be recorded.

De-risking Discussed In Common Wealth Meeting
The of loss of correspondent banking relationships due to a phenomenon known as de-risking, in which larger international banks terminate relationships with local banks in vulnerable economies, has been for the past months a huge crisis for Belize and other smaller countries in the region. But the Caribbean is not alone in facing this detrimental problem as the commonwealth convened a meeting with banks and financial gurus and global regulators in an effort to explore its report on solutions to a problem that is threatening development in vulnerable economies in the Caribbean and Central America. The meeting which took place on Wednesday at the Commonwealth headquarters in London housed the Executive Secretary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) - the international anti-money laundering and counter financing terrorism standard setter, the British Bankers’ Association, HSBC Holdings, Santander and the Wolfsberg Group who all agreed that De-risking is curtailing countries’ access to essential cross-border financial services such as trade finance and international money transfers, which are essential to many economies. The issue is particularly detrimental to vulnerable economies and small states in the Commonwealth.

Vanessa Retreage Sworn In As Senator And MONR
Attorney General Vanessa Retreage was sworn in as Senator and Minister of Natural Resources today, following Prime Minister’s Cabinet reshuffle on Monday August 1st. The Attorney General was first sworn in as Senator among the President and members of the Senate at the National Assembly building during this morning’s meeting. She was later sworn into office as Minister of Natural Resources at the Belize House by Governor General H.E. Sir Colville Young.

DPM's Vehicle Plunged Into The Caribbean Sea
At a press conference held today by Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, he confirmed that his government issued Vehicle was stolen last night and plunged into the sea in front of Marine Parade in Belize City. The DPM told the media during his conference that he realized that his vehicle had been stolen after a barrage of pictures were posted on social media of his 2003 white Toyota Land Cruiser being fished out from the sea. Senior superintendent Chester Williams corroborated the Deputy Prime Minister’s account of what transpired when he spoke to the media earlier today about the initial investigation into the incident.

New Chairman Appointed For Elections & Boundaries Committee
A new chairman for the Elections and Boundaries Commission has been appointed to undertake a list of responsibilities as it relates to the topic of elections and he is no other than the current chairman of the Social Security Board, Douglas Singh. During a Senate meeting that was held earlier this morning, a few Senators took the opportunity to voice out their opinions about specific issues of concern that need to be immediately addressed by the newly elected chairman as part of his mandate.

Winner Selected For National song Competition
After the online voting officially closed on Saturday, the much awaited National Song Competition prearranged by the National Institute of Culture and History, the Institute of creative Arts and the National Celebrations Commission kicked off at the Memorial Park in Belize City with a live concert in which all twenty finalists took the stage to perform their original written songs. After all performances the first and second place winners in each category namely, Carnival, Belize song, Breakout artist and People’s choice were announced. In the Carnival Song category, Wilson Grinage took first place with ‘Soca Session’ while Leslie ‘Mr. Bastic’ Jenkins came in second with the song ‘Represent’. In the Belize Song category, Cecil ‘Cocono Bwai’ Jenkins won first place with ‘Border to Border’ and Jeanie Brooks landed at second place with ‘Flags in the Air’.

Dead Body Found In San Joaquin Village
The body of a male individual was found lying motionless at around 6:00 earlier this morning at the venue where the annual San Joaquin Fiesta took place over the weekend. After authorities visited and processed the scene, the body of the individual who was later identified as thirty two year old Basilio Patt, a Belizean labourer and resident from the village of San Narciso, was then transported to the Corozal Community Hospital for an autopsy to be performed. No visible signs of violence were found on Patt’s body, however police are still not ruling out foul play at this time and are awaiting the result of the post mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Melissa Ferguson Granted Bail
After spending five days behind bars tonight 56 year old Canadian national Melissa Ferguson, the common-law wife of accused murderer William Danny Mason, Is out on bail. Ferguson, who is represented by attorney Dickie Bradley, was remanded into custody on a charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and today she was released on a $12,000 bail granted by Justice John Gonzalez. The Senior Crown Counsel represented by Sheneiza Smith, did not object to bail which was offered on the condition that Ferguson reports to Belmopan Police Station every Friday, effective this Friday, until the case is over. Ferguson was also ordered to surrender all her travel documents and she needs to attend court on all adjourned dates. She was also warned not to interfere with the prosecution witnesses.

LOVE FM

Minister’s Vehicle Found Partly Submerged in the Caribbean Sea
Last night sometime after seven o’clock, a vehicle assigned to Deputy Prime Minister, Patrick Faber ended up in the Caribbean Sea near Marine Parade. There are many questions surrounding the incident and today the Deputy Prime Minister made himself available to do just that but first we hear the official police version. Officer in Charge […]

Education Minister Says It Was Theft and Nothing More
As you have heard, the Government issued vehicle, a 2013 Toyota Prado was found partly submerged in the sea near the Marine Parade in Belize City. Via his social media page, Minister Patrick Faber had indicated that his vehicle was stolen and that he was not present in the white SUV. Authorities had managed to […]

Melissa Ferguson Out on Bail
Canadian national, Melissa Ferguson, the common-law wife of accused murderer William Mason, who was remanded into custody on a charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, was released today on a bail of twelve thousand dollars that was granted by Justice John Gonzalez. The respondent, represented by Senior Crown Counsel Sheneiza Smith, did not object to […]

Dr Barnett Up to the Task of Sourcing Relief Funds
We have told you of contributions given to Belize by the European Union, the Embassy of Taiwan and the recent one by Inter-American Development Bank of two hundred thousand US dollars. On August 4, Prime Minister announced that Dr Carla Barnett was being place as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance with […]

Police Seeks Suspects In Early Morning Murder
Police in Belmopan are looking for three suspects following an early morning murder. Correspondent Fem Cruz reports. FEM CRUZ “

Duo to Be Charged or Ever Miranda’s Murder
Last night San Ignacio Police had four persons detained for the death of a resident of Duck Run Two, a community in the Spanish Lookout area in the Cayo District. The victim, 37-year-old, Ever Miranda of Duck Run Two in the Cayo District was killed sometime around four o’clock on Sunday morning. Circumstances leading to […]

Immigration Blocks Undocumented Guatemalans from Coming Over
An operation initiated by the Immigration Department took place this morning at the western border where one hundred and fifty Guatemalans were questioned as they attempted to cross over into Belize. The operation follows a meeting that was held with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and the Charge d’ Affairs for […]

Vanessa Retreage Sworn in as Senator and Government Minister
Attorney General, Vanessa Retreage was officially sworn in this morning as a Senator and the Minister of Natural Resources. This morning’s ceremony follows a re-assignment of Cabinet portfolios on August 1 by the Prime Minister which saw the Ministry of National Security split up; leaving John Saldivar with responsibility for the Belize Coast Guard and […]

Newly Appointed Cabinet Minister Says There Is Cause for Concern on the Economy
In the latter part of July, a letter addressed to Belize’s Financial Secretary Joseph Waight began circulating. The content of that letter was centred on the effects on the economy regarding the BTL Arbitration Award. In that very document, signed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, Glenford Ysaguirre, several concerns were expressed […]

Guatemala’s Offer to Help in Relief Efforts Still Untapped
Several organizations have been offering a helping hand to Belize following Hurricane Earl. In a press conference on August 4 hosted by the Prime Minister Dean Barrow, he had made mention of Guatemala offering assistance to Belize in its recovery efforts. The media, in an interview last week spoke with Foreign Affairs Minister, Wilfred Elrington […]

The Reporter

Police investigate how DPM’s vehicle ended up in Caribbean Sea
Police are investigating how the vehicle assigned to Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber ended up in the Caribbean Sea off Marine Parade on Sunday night. Faber posted on his Facebook page shortly after 7 p.m., that he had become aware that his vehicle was stolen and that none of the “authorized drivers” had taken it. The vehicle was apparently stolen and deliberately driven into the sea. It’s driver apparently escaped unscathed and the vehicle was later recovered.

Breaking Belize News

Belizean-American kept in jail by court
On Friday, two Belizean/American sisters accused and charged with aggravated burglary after a woman’s house in Dangriga was invaded by 3 women and a 14 year old minor were both granted Supreme Court bail in the sum of $30,000 with stringent conditions in which […]

City labourer charged over sex
A labourer of the Gungulung area is on remand tonight after slapped with two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse for allegedly having sex with a minor only 15 in Belize City. This morning, 26 year old Kenroy Timmons, a resident of the Gungulung area […]

Minor, 17, charged with murder
A 17 year old will turn 18 behind bars after being sent to the Wagner’s Youth Facility on remand for murder. The minor was read charges in the Belize City Family Court for the Friday, August 12 murder of 37 year old Jason Young, aka “Packson”. […]

Teenager charged in Ladyville murder
18 year old Egbert Baldwin has been accused of the August 2nd murder of 32 year old welder John Anthony Williams in Ladyville, after previously being charged along with Darwin Prado with the attempted murder of Casey Lozano and several others who was shot during […]

William Mason’s Canadian wife is granted Supreme Court bail for alleged kidnapping conspiracy
She was disappointed on Friday when her case was adjourned at the request of Crown Counsel Rene Montero. But today, Melissa Ferguson, the wife of accused murderer William “Danny” Mason was very happy when Justice Troadio Gonzalez offered her bail in the sum of […]

Trouble brews at western border?
Reports reaching BBN is that a disgruntled group of Guatemalans have sought political assistance in their country to address immigration issues that have arisen at the Belizean western border. According to reports, a large group of residents of Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala were denied entry […]

Roof of E & L’s Sports Bar in Belmopan catches fire
The roof of E&L;’s Sports Bar in Belmopan caught fire late this morning. According to reports, parts of the roof have been damaged and the fire was immediately extinguished with the help of fire fighters. No persons were harmed and the rest of the building […]

Attorney General Vanessa Retreage sworn into office
Attorney General Vanessa Retreage has been sworn in as Senator and Minister of Natural Resources following the Cabinet reshuffle by the Prime Minister on Monday August 1st. The Attorney General was first sworn in as Senator before the President and members of the Senate at […]

Belize receives US $200,000 towards hurricane relief efforts
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is joining in the hurricane relief efforts in Belize gifting US $200,000 to the cause. The money will go towards aiding families that were severely affected by Hurricane Earl in the Cayo, Orange Walk and Stann Creek Districts. The assistance […]

DPM government vehicle fished from the sea Sunday night
Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber says his vehicle was stolen on Sunday night after a series of pictures began flooding social media of his government issued Toyota Land Cruiser being fished from the sea in front of Marine Parade in Belize City. The circumstances surrounding […]

Fair weather for today and most of the week
The general weather forecast for the following 24-36 hours is for a slight decrease in moisture over our area. The 24 hour forecast is for partly cloudy skies with few showers and thunderstorms mainly over northern and central areas today then over southern and […]

Belize: Is the business tax a “good tax”?
The Business Tax is a tax on sales turnover….charged to registered businesses that report sales over and above $75,000 per year…..most at a rate of 1.75% of turnover. It replaced in large part the tax on business income “profits” that was in its place […]

Blogs

Find Your Place in the Sun on Ambergris Caye
Rio. Cabo. Cayo. Does it sometimes seem that Central and South American hot spots all end with the letter “O”? In fact, Belize’s most often-visited destination happens to end with an S; from frequent visitors to award-granting publications and organizations, the shining star in the Belize galaxy is Ambergris Caye. But, wait! There is an O to be found in this paradise: San Pedro Town where all the action takes place, so remember this when planning your next Caribbean holiday: The Os have it! As the largest island in Belize’s chain of offshore jewels, Ambergris Caye is geographically the closest point to the mainland. But what a difference that slice of the Caribbean Sea makes. Ambergris is a symphony of white sandy beaches, mangrove swamps and prehistoric rock that rises up from the ocean floor to host every type of tropical plant, tree and flower you can imagine. At just 25-miles long, getting around is a no brainer, but visitors usually headquarter in San Pedro Town, where the drinks are cool, the people are warm and the resorts are all top drawer. If you like to let your hair down, mingle with tourists from around the world, eat so much ethnic food you gain weight and then work it off jumping into myriad sports activities guaranteed to keep you energized, this is your island in the sun. Your holiday budget stretches far due to the wide variety of eateries and accommodations, so don’t let budgetary concerns keep you from making this your next vacation pick. Archaeology? History? Cultural treasures? Ambergris Caye gives you access to Mayan ruins that are so compelling, staying up all night partying may take a back seat!

The Most Scenic Highway in Belize
Is it possible to declare a highway ‘beautiful’? Because I have one in mind: the Hummingbird Highway of Belize. Much like the delicate and pretty bird it’s named after, this highway winds majestically down from Belmopan City through villages, citrus groves and untouched lush jungle mountains through to Dangriga. We drive on its smooth pavement, only the wind whistling in our ears as we head to adventure, beauty, and Southern Belize. Every time I’m driven down that highway (always a passenger, never one to drive), I feel a tug in my heart…I can’t explain what it feels like to see the mountains in the distance, and up close. The Hummingbird is unique in that it is the only highway that cuts through mountains in Belize. It’s nestled in a valley and edged by either citrus groves or untouched jungles. Cortez trees in full yellow bloom add a pop of color…and in May, the Mayflowers bring punches of pink to the emerald greens all around us.

Heroes in The Jungle: Belize’s Race To Save The WILD Scarlet Macaw
To see 10…16…20 scarlet macaws flying across the late afternoon sky is almost hard to believe. Always even numbers, these surreally colorful, gorgeous birds mate for life. Shrieking, gliding in tandem and so garishly colored, it’s as if evolution forgot them. There is no missing them in the jungle of one thousand greens. These birds are native to Belize. But there beauty is sadly also a problem. They are highly coveted as pets – selling for hundreds of dollars in Guatemala. And much of their habitat in this country, the Chiquibul (pronounced Chick-ee-bull) Rain Forest (over 400,000 acres of rivers and ancient trees and wildlife), lies closer to Guatemala than to any populated area in Belize. Poachers routinely come across the unmarked border, through incredibly dense jungle, to gather xate (prounounced “sha-tay”), a green plant used in flower arrangements. They are locally called xateros (sha-tear-os) and they come for more than plants. They cross for hunting, for illegal logging of mahogany and cedar, for gold panning, to grow marijuana and sadly, to poach the baby scarlet macaws.

International Sources

How U.S. sanctions targeted a Belize banana farmer, and hurt an economy
When the United States blacklisted John Angel Zabaneh, a banana farmer and exporter in Belize, for alleged ties to a top drug lord, it did more than just sideline one local businessman from the global financial system. The action, designed to target only Zabaneh, his alleged associates and their businesses, also dented Belize's banana exports for months from last October, throwing hundreds of people out of work and undercutting a main source of hard currency for the tiny Central American country. Zabaneh's blacklisting shows the ripple effects that U.S. sanctions aimed at stopping illicit activity such as drug trafficking, terrorism, and human rights abuses can have on the people and industries of economically fragile countries. Broad U.S. sanctions against entire countries have drawn criticism for impoverishing millions while doing little to hurt those at the top. But Zabaneh's case shows that even laser-targeted actions against individuals and firms -- a strategy the United States is increasingly using -- can cause collateral damage.

After Landmark Ruling in Belize, Human Rights Groups Hope the Caribbean Tide Is Turning Towards LGBT Equality
Following in the wake of Hurricane Earl, a wind of change blew through Belize last week in the form of a widely anticipated oral court decision. On August 10, 2016, Honorable Chief Justice of Belize Kenneth Benjamin struck down Section 53 of the Criminal Code, a colonial-era legacy that makes anal sex or ‘buggery’ (described as “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”) illegal for men and women and punishable by ten years’ imprisonment. The chief justice decided that Section 53 is inconsistent with the country's constitution, as it violates the rights to human dignity, privacy, freedom of expression, non-discrimination, equality and equal protection under the law. The court then read down Section 53 of the Criminal Code to exclude “consensual sexual acts between adults in private.” The ruling also declared that the definition of sex in Section 16 (3) of the Constitution of Belize — which states that the expression ‘discriminatory’ refers to treating people differently due to sex, race, place of origin, political opinions, colour or creed — includes ‘sexual orientation’, consistent with Belize's international obligations.

Huawei Marine Partners with Belize Telemedia Limited to Deploy New Undersea Cable System
Huawei Technologies USA Inc. and Huawei Marine Networks Co. Ltd., a global submarine cable network provider, have teamed up with Belize Telemedia Ltd. (BTL) to build an undersea cable system that will connect Belize mainland and San Pedro Island. The undersea cable, named Strategic Evolution Underwater Link (SEUL), is a key piece to BTL's promise to modernize its mobile and landline network to significantly improve broadband connectivity and quality across the country. The modernization project includes deploying LTE (4G) mobile service and fiber to residential and business buildings (FTTX) in San Pedro, Belize's largest and fastest growing tourist area. "We have made it our mission to put Belize in the top three in the region in terms of connectivity and broadband speeds. The Strategic Evolution Underwater Link is another step in achieving our goal, along with the build out of nationwide 4G LTE," said Anwar Barrow, Chairman of the BTL Executive Committee. "Once again we turn to our technology partner Huawei and Huawei Marine for their experience and expertise on this undersea cable project."

Palm Coast-based mission has been helping the people of Belize for 27 years
One week after Hurricane Earl came ashore in Belize, Dr. Paul Whisnant, Belize Mission Director for International Servants, Citizen Liaison for the U.S. Embassy in Belize, was back in Flagler on a fund-raising tour. “I would like to be on the ground (in Belize) right now” Whisnant said. “I was on the ground helping to coordinate things, coordinating the rescue and the assessment.” The storm was a Category 1, hardly acknowledged by the average Floridian, but for the poorer sections of Belize, the storm that crept across the towns at 14 mph was devastating. “The people in poverty, which is the majority of the country, are the most severely affected,” Whisnant said. Whisnant said that his group isn’t the only organization working to help. The Red Cross, the Baptist Association of Belize, UNICEF, and the National Emergency Management Office of Belize, to name a few, have activated. “There are all of these groups doing good things,” he said. “The problem is -- the need is greater.”

Belize: The Other Caribbean
STEADY TRADE WINDS, COUNTLESS ISLANDS, AN ENDLESS REEF AND FEWER CROWDS — THESE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF SAILING IN BELIZE. If the prospect of near-perfect broad reaching in steady trade winds, combined with snorkeling and diving from the world’s second-largest barrier reef and nearby atolls, is too tempting to pass up, then don’t! Belize is the destination for you. Situated on the western border of the Caribbean Sea, the former British Honduras is south of Mexico and northeast of Guatemala, in Central America. Its reef and some 450 islands are all teeming with marine life. Reef Reserve System The entire barrier reef, which runs from the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico to Sapodilla Cay, in southern Belize, is more than 350 nautical miles long. The Belize portion, more than 180 nautical miles long — a jagged mass of coral about 15 miles off the coast — runs south from the north tip of Ambergris Cay to the Gulf of Honduras. In 1996, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and formally named the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.

Watch how coral bleaching happens in warming waters
Australian researchers have captured an event that's happening with alarming frequency worldwide: Coral bleaching. A team from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia filmed a particular type of mushroom coral as it responded to warming water temperatures. Researchers found the solitary Heliofungia actiniformis coral inflated to more than three times its normal body size before suddenly expelling the tiny algae cells that live in a symbiotic relationship within its tissues. The algae, called Symbiodinium, are corals' main source of food and give coral their vibrant color.

Thick accent results in discrimination suit against FAMU
A native of Belize has sued Florida A&M; University for terminating her, partly because her accent was so thick “no one could understand what she was saying.” Glenda McDougall filed her suit in Leon County Circuit Civil court late Friday. McDougall, represented by Tallahassee attorney Marie Mattox, seeks more than $15,000 in damages and reinstatement of her employment. Belize, a country of roughly 8,800 square miles and 370,000 people, is on the eastern coast of Central America. It’s the only Central American nation where English is the primary language; its previous name was “British Honduras.” The complaint says McDougall, who is black, started at FAMU in 2000 and was let go in August 2014.

Caribbean Climate change on Instagram

New “Bionic” Leaf Is Roughly 10 Times More Efficient Than Natural Photosynthesis
It converts CO2 in the air into alcohol that can be burned as fuel. A tree's leaf, a blade of grass, a single algal cell: all make fuel from the simple combination of water, sunlight and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Now scientists say they have replicated—and improved on—that trick with their own “bionic leaf.” Chemist Daniel Nocera of Harvard University and his team joined forces with synthetic biologist Pamela Silver of Harvard Medical School and her team to craft a kind of living battery, which they call a bionic leaf for its melding of biology and technology. The device uses solar electricity from a photovoltaic panel to power the chemistry that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. Microbes within the system then feed on the hydrogen and convert carbon dioxide in the air into alcohol that can be burned as fuel. The team's first artificial photosynthesis device appeared in 2015—pumping out 216 milligrams of alcohol fuel per liter of water—but the nickel-molybdenum-zinc catalyst that made its water-splitting chemistry possible had the unfortunate side effect of poisoning the microbes.

Videos

August 15, 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

Toucan Gift Shops donates motorcycle to San Pedro Police Department
The San Pedro Town Council continues working hand in hand with the business community as it aims to further assist the San Pedro Police Department. On Tuesday, August 9th, another business establishment contributed towards this effort. Gus Tabony along with his staff of Toucan Gift Shops presented a new Honda motorcycle to Mayor Daniel Guerrero. Guerrero welcomed the valuable donation and also indicated that the motorcycle will be handed over to the police to assist them in their patrolling duties on the island.

Guest Editorial: Section 53 ruling – What does it truly mean?
By Colette Kase. If you have been reading or watching the news or social media, you will have heard that there was a case ruled in the Belize Supreme Court on the 10th of August 2016. You probably know it is something to do with ‘gays’ and you may or may not have an opinion on that. In fact, you probably are not even sure what the case was about. Please allow me to assist. Several years ago I met a young man called Caleb. He was shy, geeky and always just a little bit nervous. He grew up with little or nothing, just like so many other young men, in the south side of Belize City. He also happened to be a gay man. This is where his life differed greatly from many of his peers. You see, Belize was, until the 10th of August, one of 76 countries that criminalise homosexuality in one way or another.

Wolfe’s Woofer: World’s Greatest Fisherman
“I signed up for that fishing seminar with Professor Bob Englehart, the guy from that TV fishing show called World’s Greatest Fisherman.” “What?!” Sherry said. “I’ve never known you to catch a fish. Oh, and that seminar costs a hundred and twenty five dollars.” “Hey, I’m retired and I’m on vacation,” I said. “It’s money well spent.” On our extended Mexican vacation we were at a hotel in Cozumel when I saw the sign in the lobby advertising Professor Bob’s class. I always wanted to be a good fisherman so I went down to the hotel lobby and paid the fee. I was directed to a room where the class was just starting. There were fifteen tables in the room and each table had a grouper lying on it along with several knives

Letter to the Editor: Blackadore Caye addresses Hurricane Earl
Dear Editor: The Blackadore Development Group is saddened by the devastation left behind by Hurricane Earl. We know that many people, including some of our own workers, lost so much, including homes and that flooding continues to be a threat for many of our local brothers and sisters who live along the coast. Nonetheless, we are glad that there were no lives lost and proud to see how everyone has been working around the clock to do all that can be done to restore a sense of normalcy. As well, we are pleased to see the resiliency of the Belizean populace and the camaraderie and bravery shown as everyone continues to work together. We look forward to working with the local community the help to build back our nation as we too, continue to assess the damages to Blackadore Caye. As always, the Blackadore Development Group remains ready and willing to assist however possible.

Doctor Love: BFF and Going Crazy
Dear Doctor Love, Six months ago my friend married a man that she knew for a year and a half. They got married and now she tells me she wants a divorce. Her reasons are that her husband never does anything and is out of work most of the time. With the next breath she told me she is having an affair. I was so shocked that I did not even have a reply. What should I do about it? /s/ BFF

Misc Belizean Sources

BELIZE FISHING REPORT: Weeks of August 1st – August 13th, 2016
Robert was married here at EL Pescador, he has two lovely children who came to visit this year and they both slammed!!! Elise’s was a super slam, and Emily was the normal run of the mill grand slam. Wow! John G. and John L both slammed the same week, Stephen – Grand Slam, Eric grand Slam times 2!! Almost had a double grand slam one day on his boat. Mike got a tarpon (a big one) and came back and caught a permit off the dock but couldn’t manage a bonefish off the dock… heartbreak! I am still waiting for someone to do a grandslam unguided in our back lagoon or Oceanside flats. Anyone up for the challenge?

Young Belizean Sails into a Top-Ten finish in Canada's International Optimist Dinghy Championship Regatta
Kevin's Belize Sailing School team-mate, Caroline Sersland, who just turned 12, made her last race-day here her best and fini