September 9, 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

Stabbing incident takes the life of Elton Polonio
32-year-old Elton Polonio, a resident of San Pedro Town, was fatally stabbed in the chest after a heated altercation in broad daylight. Despite efforts to assist and transport him to the San Pedro Otto Rodriguez Polyclinic II, he died while undergoing treatment. Polonio’s body has since being transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City where it awaits a post-mortem examination. More than one eyewitness version claims that Polonio allegedly received the fatal injury at Central Park. They also claim that Polonio then proceeded to Angel Coral Street, where he went inside a hardware store in search of machete. He came out flinging it as if looking for his assailant, when he collapsed on the street bleeding profusely before being picked up and taken for medical assistance.

Belize’s agriculture industry is in crisis
The agriculture and tourism industry are both synonymous to Belize’s economy, and are in fact, the main source of livelihood for many generations. Unfortunately, Hurricane Earl has significantly affected one: Agriculture. The loss of revenue from this industry is causing the Belizean economy to falter. According to a Parliament report by Prime Minister Dean Barrow on Friday, August 26th, the damages caused by Hurricane Earl is now estimated at $183.6 million. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture Jose Alpuche explained that agriculture alone suffered $100 million. “What we have right now indicates millions worth of damage, because when we factor in the main affected subsectors – bananas, corn, and vegetables—corn, as I had said, was in the region of $49 million worth of losses, bananas will probably be within the region of about $40 million, and the rest takes us over $100 million in damages,” said Alpuche.

National Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan affirmed by GOB
An innovative idea from the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), known as the National Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan was affirmed at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, August 31st. It is the first plan of its kind in the Central American and Caribbean region, and it aims to support the distribution, sustainable use and planned development of Belize’s coastal resources. Approval of the plan by affirmative resolution is an extraordinary step forward for sustainable coastal resource use and management in Belize. This motion by the Government of Belize (GOB) solidifies its commitment to fulfilling the national agenda for growth and sustainable development. The affirmation of the plan puts an end to four years of consultations involving many environmental agencies and other relevant stakeholders from multiple sectors, including the private sector and civil society. In the last phase, the Plan had to go through a required 60-day public inspection period before it was affirmed. It was then widely circulated for it to be reviewed and commented on by stakeholders to verify its credibility, precision and social acceptability.

GOB and BERT reach emergency service agreement
After threatening to shut down its services, the Belize Emergency Response Team (BERT) has finally agreed to continue operating in the Belize District following an agreement with the Government of Belize(GOB). As a result, GOB through the Ministry of Health (MOH), has agreed to grant BERT $45,000 per month for the next six months, while the two organizations continue negotiating long-term financial sustainability. According to an announcement by BERT, they indicated that as of September 1st they would be pulling out their land ambulance operations in the Belize District. This has been the result of an issue between the MOH and BERT which flared two years ago, when several of BERT’s emergency medical technicians left the service for better opportunities with the Government. The organization lobbied GOB for additional funding in order to keep operating. However, a series of misunderstandings with the Government almost led to a halt of the services, which would have compromised emergency medical services to the district.

Ambergris Today

Man Collapses on Busy Back Street in Bizarre Stabbing Incident
A pool of blood staines the pavement in front of Super Buy store on Angel Coral Street (Back Street) this afternoon as a man who was stabbed, at approximately 2p.m., collapsed in the middle of the busy street. Police have blocked the street and the victim has been taken to the Dr. Otto Rodriquez San Pedro Poly Clinic II. Eye witnesses account the very bizarre incident that apparently started on Barrier Reef Drive at Central Park. According to eye witnesses, the man (identified as Elton Polonio) was stabbed in the park area where he proceeded to run to Maya Hardware Store across from Super Buy, on Back Street. It was there that he purchased a machete and upon exiting the store (swinging the machete as to locate his assailant) he collapsed on the street where he bled profusely from a stab would to his chest, before being picked up by authorities.

San Pedro Dog Whisperer Heads to California and Utah for Advance Training
What do you normally do when you reach a milestone anniversary - you put on a celebration (party), right? Well not Katia Marin of Pampered Paws; she just works even harder. Those who know Katia, aka Kathy, see her as a workaholic and animal lover who puts her ALL in her business. This month she celebrates Pampered Paws’ 15th Anniversary. Instead of putting on a huge party, Katia Marin, Dog Behaviorist, Master Dog Trainer and owner of San Pedro’s number one training, boarding and grooming facility, heads to Ontario, California to attend the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) Animal Education Conference in a week. September not only commemorates the 15th anniversary of Pampered Paws, it marks yet another journey in breakthrough animal behavior and advanced training for Kathy. “It is one of the highlights of my year to attend the IACP,” says Marin. “I meet and collaborate with the leaders of animal behavior; greats like Cesar Milan, Joel Silverman, Jeff King and Heather Beck.”

Misc Belizean Sources

September Celebration Activities on Caye Caulker
Activities for this weekend September Celebration includes: 1) Fire Engine Parade Friday begins at Central Park at 6:00 pm. 2) Family Day Saturday at Palapa Garden at 9:00 am. 3) Powder Party and Wet Fete Sunday at Palapa Garden 3:00 pm. Come Out and be involved and have some fun. Happy St George's Caye Day to All!!

Ministry of Transport and Bus Operators Reach Agreement on Bus Fares
The Hon. Edmond Castro, Minister of State in the Ministry of Works, Transport and National Emergency Management, along with Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Ruth Meighan and Chief Transport Officer, Tirso Galvez, have just concluded a meeting in Belmopan with bus operators from the West regarding proposed adjustments in bus fares which had reportedly been arbitrarily implemented by some operators. It has been agreed that all bus fares will revert to the rates that existed prior to such arbitrary increases. The Ministry of Transport and the bus operators have discussed and agreed in principle on proposed rate adjustments, which will be considered by the Belize Transport Board and must first be approved by Cabinet and authorized via a Statutory Instrument before they can be implemented.

Belize Crime Observatory Logo Design Competition Winner!!
On the 11th of April 2016, the Ministry of National Security launched a nationwide “Logo Design Competition “tour. The team visited all the tertiary level institutions in the country of Belize. This is a first glance at the expected functions of the Belize Crime Observatory thus beginning the sensitization process. Entries were received the following institutions: Ecumenical Junior College, Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College, The University of Belize, Wesley Junior College and Saint John’s College Junior College. There were a total number of eleven (11) submissions. The winner of the Logo Design Competition was Mr. Gabriel Nah, a student of Saint John's College Junior College in Belize City.

Over 400 Villagers of Aguacate, Toledo District Now Have Continuous Supply of Safe Water
Men, women and children of Aguacate, now have access to the continuous supply of safe water to meet their daily needs such as drinking, washing, bathing and cooking; thanks to the Government of Belize who financed the Aguacate Rehabilitation and Extension Water System at a cost of BZ$323,633.73 through a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank. Equally important, the completion of the water supply sub-project will also contribute significantly to the reduction of water, food, vector, and communicable diseases in Aguacate. The Government of Belize in this context, is making critical achievements in improving the wellness, and quality of health of villagers of Aguacate, surrounding communities and by extension, the country of Belize.

September Celebrations 2016: PGIA Kiosk
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) Hospitality Team, sharing the September excitement with guests at the PGIA!

Back to School Drive
The Special Envoy, Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow, visited all 9 children's homes countrywide to distribute school supplies to disadvantaged children as part of her back to school drive.

ARE WE DROWNING OUR FUTURE?
As part of ongoing advocacy efforts to promote the use of sustainable fishing gear in Belize’s marine environment today Oceana launched a social media component in the ARE WE DROWNING OUR FUTURE? | #stopthenets campaign. The photographs feature Belizean social media personalities and are designed to highlight the indiscriminate nature of gillnetting at sea.

Aerial views of huge crowd at PUP Protest
PEOPLE POWER.

Belize Carnival Mas Camp Map
Belize Carnival Mas Camp visits continue tonight and next week! Check out this map for dates and locations. Slight change to the route for tonight (Thursday, Sept. 8) as follows: Black Pearl-JR 88 West Street Belizean Jewels-SR 134 Euphrates Avenue Collet Royal-JR Iguana Street Extension Fantasy Explosion - SR 9 Yound Street Soca Moca -SR 11 Dolphin

Paradise Theater playing this weekend:
The Secret Life of Pets, The Conjuring 2, Central Intelligence, X-Men: Apocalypse.

Rotary 11th Wine & Cheese Fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Belmopan is having their 11th annual Wine and Cheese fundraiser. It'll be at the George Price Centre on Saturday, October 1st. They'll have a silent auction, and raffles. "The Belmopan Rotary Club has published the date for their wonderful wine and cheese fundraiser, October 1. Tickets are on sale now."

Channel 7

Teachers Union Calls Emergency Meetings Nationwide To Discuss Pressing Matters
This afternoon, you may have had to make arrangements to pick up your school children a little earlier than usual. That's because teachers all across the country were called to emergency meetings with their Union's Branch Leadership. These meetings were activated under emergency provisions because the leadership wanted a mandate on how to proceed on a number of issues, including the request by the Prime Minister for the teachers to hold off on their final 3% increase for their salary adjustment. Now, according to the Ministry of Education this meeting was called at the last minute, and that caused them to fire off a scathing press release basically scolding the union for not giving due notice. We'll get to that later, but first, we waited outside the emergency meeting for the Belize City Branch, and we got an opportunity to speak with National President Luke Palacio. He told us that neither he nor Belize Branch President Kathleen Flowers could get into the details of today's discussions because there is protocol that they must follow. They must first report back to the Union's Council of Management before there can be any public disclosure.

Ministry Blasts Union For Giving Insufficient Notice
So, here's that the ministry had to say about this evening's emergency meeting. A joint press release from the ministry and the General Managers of Pre and Primary Schools says, quote, "The Ministry along with Managing Authorities hereby expresses their strong disappointment with the approach taken by the (BNTU) leadership in their calling of branch meetings at such short notice. The lack of sufficient notice does not contribute to enhancing industrial relations between the BNTU, the Managements and the Ministry. Furthermore, it shows a total disregard for children and their parents affected as a result, specifically through the loss of instructional time, right at the start of the new school year, and the alternative arrangements parents have to make for their children on such short notice. We therefore express our serious concerns about the lack of sufficient notice and the consistent failure on the part of the BNTU leadership to abide by the agreed upon conditions for union meetings." End quote.

Hon. Heredia Rejects Auditor General's Findings
Turning now to the Auditor General's report – that's still a hot button issue – and Tourism Minister Manuel Juniour Herredia is in the hot seat tonight. Two weeks ago he breezily volunteered to us that he won't lose any sleep over what's in the Auditor General's reports because there's nothing in there to implicate him in wrongdoing. Well since then a whole lot has surfaced, especially in the nationality report, where the man called Junior almost got a whole chapter dedicated to him – and if that chapter had a name, it would be "A Whole Lotta Harmouche's". That's because the Rural South Area Rep seems to have enjoyed a special relationship with this particular Lebanese family in San Pedro. The Auditor General concludes, quote, "We observed that there appeared to be a special connection between the Honorary Consul of Belize in Lebanon, Khodr H. Harmouch and Hon. Manuel Heredia in order to have…three members of the Harmouch/ Harmouche family acquire Belizean nationality." It also notes that in one case, quote, "Minister Heredia requested File for processing a year before applicant had qualified for Nationality based on his file."

COMPOL Whylie, Waiting Patiently For Auditor General's Reports
Indeed, there's a whole lot of wrongdoing in the Auditor General's reports to look very seriously into – but the police have not launched an investigation. Today, Commissioner Allen Whylie told us that he's waiting for the Auditor General to send him the reports:… Reporter: "Do you believe as the Commissioner of Police that an investigation should now be opened and be full-fledged?" Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "What I believe in is material. I haven't received any copies from the Auditor General. I have been kept aware to some degree via the media pronunciation but I'm certain that whenever we get those things we will look at it, we will read it and I'm certain the DPP will also look at it and read it and we go from there."

Whylie Denounces Claims By Retired Cop
And while Whylie is moving slow on this reports, he was quick to denounce an allegation made by retired Superintendent of Police Julio Valdez. He was tasked to investigate passport irregularities and called a morning talk show to say that he was directed to only focus on how PUP Attorney Arthur Saldivar had come into possession of a trove of immigration documents. Whylie said there was no such directive – and surely not from his office:.. Reporter: "Mr. Julio Valdez has come out and said now as was indicated back then that you had called on him to forget about the other line of investigation that had to do with wrong doing on the part of officials within the immigration department and involvement from minister." Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "Well if Mr. Julio Valdez said that about me then I can't categorically deny that allegation and tell you he is telling a lie and if I have confirmation that he has said that about me then my attorney will definitely contact and speak with him because I categorically deny what he has said."

Whylie Says Pakeman's Posiitve Test Was Lost By Cop
We also asked Commissioner Whylie to comment on the report from the DPP's Office that when police sent over the Dorian Pakeman accident investigation file, it did not include the forensic lab's positive test for cocaine. That would be a rather conspicuous omission – and today Whylie told us that it's the fault of a police officer who never delivered it to the DPP:… Jules Vasquez: "Sir are you able to speak on the Pakeman cocaine test? It was not sent to the DPP along with the police file. The DPP's office came upon it quite by accident. Was there deliberate suppression of that cocaine test?" Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "No I have spoken to Mr. Broaster who's actively following up that issue and he has indicated to me and this information you can confirm with him that they became aware of that certificate after the fact and they had received a copy and he had directed an individual officer to take that certificate to the DPP. He later learned from the DPP that had not been done and he is addressing that issue. As a matter of fact I believe that they have a meeting with the DPP today."

San Pedro Stabbing Turned To Murder After Midday
A man was stabbed to death in San Pedro town this afternoon. According to the San Pedro Sun, 32 year old Elton Polonio got into a fight with another man inside a hardware store. Things escalated quickly and the man stabbed Polonio in the chest. Polonio ran form the scene but collapsed on the street a short distance away. He died while receiving treatment at the Island polyclinic. Apparently, Polonio and the suspect had been in fights before. Police have the main suspect in custody tonight.

Bus Fare Hike Rejected By Ministry
Last night we told you about the proposed increase in bus fares for the Western corridor. But turns out it wasn't any official increase, West line and BBOC bus lines took it upon themselves to implement the hike in prices without informing the public or consulting with the Transport Department. It was a bold move by these bus operators to turn the government's attention to the struggles they face but it's also one that enraged the public. Several commuters reached out to us saying that for the past 2 days the express buses from Belize City to Belmopan has gone from $5 to $7 and they are simply not having it. And so to address all these issues the Minister of Transport Edmond Castro met with several bus companies today at his NEMO office in Belmopan. We start off with a comment from the owner of the Shaw's Bus Company, Thomas Shaw. He told us although he agrees with the increase, he does not support the way the other companies approached the issue. We also asked him if the bus companies were considering the commuters who would be paying more for a sub-par service. Thomas Shaw - President, BZ Bus Association, Shaws: "The main purpose of this meeting is basically it was a hike in bus fares that actually took place about 2 days ago of which the department didn't really approve but it was something that was in the pipeline for quite a while and the operators felt well they should make a move."

Border Cabbies Have Issues With Guatemalan Buses
And from bus operators to taxi associations. Right after that meeting with the various bus companies, Minister Castro had a separate meeting with the Western Border taxi groups. They too have their own complaints. President of the Mopan Taxi Association Arsenio Panty told us more about their plight. Arsenio Panty - President, Mopan Taxi Association, Western Boarder: "Right now no bus, no taxi, no minivan could go into Guatemala side to conduct business but the Guatemalans they come here the bus, minivans and taxi drivers too conducting business here in Belize. We are in a 5 association based at the border in total we are about 125 taxi drivers and we are suffering a lot that we are just seeing how they are carrying the tourists and we are not doing nothing. They just pay a fee at the border and they come into Belize."

Keon Killed Nicasio, Why?
22 year old Nicasio Zuniga was killed on Monday night not far from his home in the St Martin's Area. Today police charged the alleged gunman, 20 year old Keon Usher. Officer Commanding Southside, Chester Williams told us about the rivalry that led to this murder:… ACP Chester Williams - Commander, Southside: "Yesterday we formally arrested and charged one Keon Usher for the crime of murder." Jules Vasquez: "Okay sir explain to me what forces are at play here in terms of what was Keon Usher's motive to kill Mr. Zuniga who was just returning from the shop." ACP Chester Williams - Commander, Southside: "Like I have said before in previous interview we believe that the shooting was gang related. While Mr. Zuniga may not have been one of those person who are actively out there in gang activities he do associate himself with person who are involved in gang activities and I believe he was targetted for those persons that he associate himself with."

Family: Nicasio Was No Gangster
And this confounding, randomized violence is just what Nicascio Zuniga's sister spoke about when she gave us an interview two nights ago. Her brother was shot in the head on the way home from the corner store, a stone's throw from home – his sister Keish said it's all about where he was born:… Kesha Zuniga - Sister: "So let me put it out clear to the public and the police officers that are saying that my brother is gang related, Jules he's not, he is not. He may be hanging out with people who are affiliates of gangs but he wasn't a gang member." Jules Vasquez: "Is that what your brother faced last night; just because of where he's from they say well we wa get you." Kesha Zuniga - Sister: "Yes that's it because he's from here or he's from this area where they call I dunno give me the slang."

COMPOL Whylie Rejects Mason Connection
When we met Police Commissioner Allen Whylie today, it was the first time the Media has gotten a chance to question him since the Pastor Lu murder on July 15th. Whylie had been on leave when it happened – and since then all sorts of allegations about Lu's alleged killer, Danny Mason and the police have emerged. Since Mason was a friend to so many Police officers, we asked Whylie if he was one of them:… Reporter: "Did you have any relationship with the man?" Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "No (laugh)... I think most of Belize has been asking that question. I can categorically deny, I don't know Mr. Mason, I have never met Mr. Mason, I have no relationship with Mr. Mason."

Whylie Says Mason Never Infiltrated Police Department
But did Danny Mason or Ted Ouelette infiltrate the police Department? That's the bigger question since legitimate issues have arisen with how Mason seemed able to befriend persons as big as the minister of national security – and ingratiate himself to police officers of many different ranks. Whylie rejected the word "infiltration:" Jules Vasquez: "Are you able to accept especially units like the SPU, we know they responded and they refused to assist in the arrest. Are you of the opinion that he infiltrated in a deliberate way high levels of your police department?" Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "I haven't heard Mr. Mason said that. I have learned that he was friend with some police officers including some members of the Special Patrol Unit but I don't know if I could draw the conclusion that he had infiltrated the higher échelon of the police department." Jules Vasquez: "Sir the former commander of the GSU was seen at his house in an embrace, he said he was under cover. We know that the current commander of the GSU has some type of relation with him; we are told that it's a security consultancy, something like that. Are you aware of these things?"

Commissioner Says Flowers Was Not Undercover, At Least Not On His Order
Now you heard Whylie mention Superintendent Mark Flowers – the former GSU Commander who claimed he had befriended Danny Mason in an undercover capacity. He said he didn't know Flowers was on an undercover mission: Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "I didn't know, I can say I didn't know, honestly I did not know I was out of the country; but he has said otherwise, he has said otherwise and I'll leave it at that because it's there in the public. I can say that Mr. Flowers enjoyed my full confidence as the commander of the GSU and what he said, he said that is what he felt, that is what he believes and those are matters I believe you need to pursue with Mr. Flowers and not myself."

COMPOL Says Lessons Learned From House Meeting
We also asked Commissioner Whylie to comment on all that happened at the House of Representatives two weeks ago with Julius Espat. He said it was regrettable, but also unavoidable:… Reporter: "Do you believe that the police acted as it should have? Was there force that shouldn't have been used? Optically it looks bad." Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "Well optically it looks bad but of course you must understand that the police operates on the instructions of the speaker and whilst I believe that you police excercised great restraint in terms of not having to resort to force it was obvious that force was required because the member refuse to comply with the speaker's instructions or refuse to comply with the police directive in terms of several officers having speaking to him. I think that on both sides perhaps a little bit more dialogue or rational could have been used."

Police Reject Unruly Protestors
And what about the protest outside that House Meeting – which got out of hand and caused a jumpy police officer to discharge his weapon. He told us that the cop wasn't wrong, but there'll be no more guns at the House Meeting:… Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police: "I can tell you that the house meeting when some persons wanted to give trouble and the security forces were firm in terms of apprehending some person. Mr. Brackett was quick to deny in terms of instigating or those person been a part of his group. I want to tell you that we are committed; we will maintain law and order. We will do whatever is necessary within the law to ensure there is minimal breach of the peace and indeed we are reviewing all footage that we have and where we are able to make a case against anybody, we will be pursuing those matters." Jules Vasquez: "Will you all bring a sanction against the police officer who panicked, the one on the stairs of the national assembly who panicked and fired what we believe was a live round as a warning shot in the air when he saw some of the protesters approaching the stairs?"

Utility Unions Commend PM
Two weeks ago, we told you about the utility unions supporting the Evangelical Churches in their call for Government to appeal the Section 53 judgement. Well this evening, they released another statement applauding the Prime Minister for meeting with the churches on Monday. The statement says, quote, "We want to publicly commend the Prime Minister of Belize for engaging in direct consultation with the Churches. Our unions are closely monitoring the entire situation, and even though we still have reason to be concerned…" End quote. But, just to make it clear, the utility unions added that they are advocating for peace, and no discrimination, especially against the LGBT community.

The Press Conference Party Holds Forth
At the top of the news, we told you how Police Commissioner Allen Whylie is waiting for his special copies of the Auditor General's reports to decide whether or not a criminal investigation should be launched. Well, Belize's third party, the BPP, has been looking on while the PUP and the UDP point fingers at each other, because each has had its own immigration scandals. Today, the BPP held a 47 minute press conference to talk about their positions on a laundry list of national issues, including the Auditor General's Report. Not surprisingly, they don't agree with the Prime Minister's decision for joint select committee from the entire National Assembly to look into the reports. BPP Chairman Paco Smith explained why:

New Rides For Tourism Police
Tonight you’ve seen a whole lot of news from the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of Tourism. And it all came from a relatively minor news event: the handing over of two new pickups for the Tourism Police Unit. The Mazda Trucks valued at 150 thousand dollars will be assigned to San Pedro and Hopkins – we found out why:… And while Hopkins will get even more police officers when the new intake passes out, what about San Pedro? Unlike Hopkins, it’s not an up and coming destination; in fact, it’s THE number one destination in Belize. But does it get enough respect? That’s’ what we asked the area representative today:..

Fantasy Five Winner Gets Half A Mil, Almost
Tonight, Carmen Gamboa from Concepcion Village in the Corozal District has an the kind of problem most of us would love to have: she has to figure out what to do with half a million dollars. She won the money in a Fantasy Five Draw. The jackpot was 494 thousand dollars and after taxes she takes home 15% less, about 420 thousand dollars. It was a double stroke of luck since she cashed in on a jackpot that had been abandoned and put back into the pool :… After taxes, she walks away with 419 thousand, 9 hundred dollars.

Mas Camps, Come Een!
Carnival season is underway – and last night four of the Mas Camps invited in the public and the media to see what themes and designs they have put together. It’s an event for the media, but also for the neighbourhoods where the camps are based to come out and see what months of late night toiling has produced. 7News was there for the flesh and the flash:… The Mas Camp visits continued tonight and our team is out there right now. Tune in for more tomorrow.

September, Chester’s Least Favourite Month
And while the revelers and the onlookers have a fine time celebrating September, for the police it's just more work – in fact, the most work they do in any given month. And that's why for the Southside Commander, September is stress month:.. Jules Vasquez: "Is September your least favourite month as in so far as it's the perfect storm of alcoholic excess, celebratory excess, excess of sexiness because you know where ever scantily clad women are men will follow. Men with alcohol, sometimes men with gang affiliations they will encounter other men with gang affiliations in pursuit of this sexiness. Is September a big policing problem because of this?" ACP Chester Williams - Commander, Southside: "My brother Jules you always come with some bwai I no know (laugh).. But yes Jules September is indeed our most challenging policing month, September then December and again it's because of the festiveness of the city; December is the unital season you know people preparing for Christmas and lot of shopping and so forth but September is celebration month and we know celebration come with alcohol and with alcohol comes violence right. So the police have to be extra vigilant in the month of September."

Channel 5

Chamber of Commerce drops support for bicameral Immigration inquiry
There are major developments to report in tonight’s newscast. But first, the Belize Chamber of Commerce met in an emergency session this afternoon and reversed course on a bicameral investigation [...]

Belize National Teachers’ Union calls emergency branch meetings to discuss major issues
There was another emergency meeting held this afternoon. The ten branches of the Belize National Teacher’s Union met to debate and take decisions on the scheduled delay of Government’s salary [...]

Union President says permission from Ministry is not needed
But the Ministry of Education is at odds with the B.N.T.U. over the convening of today’s meeting without following protocol. The Ministry issued a release prior to the meeting, which [...]

Did Ministry’s sentiments sway turnout at meetings?
President Luke Palacio was asked whether the Ministry’s suggestions affected turnout to the meeting. He said he could not say for sure, but he believed that teachers were ready and [...]

Man murdered in love triangle stabbing in San Pedro
A thirty-two year old unemployed man from the San Mateo area of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye is dead tonight. Police in Ambergris Caye told us the evening that the [...]

Belize City man charged in murder of Nicasio Zuniga
A Belize City youth was gunned down in the city on Monday night minutes before the live news broadcast. Today, three days after his execution style murder, Belize City police [...]

Speaker of the House has right to sue over Auditor General’s Immigration Reports
The Auditor General’s special report into the issuance of passports, visas and Belizean nationality names quite a number of elected officials, including Prime Minister Barrow himself.  He is cited in [...]

F.C.D. will not get independent commissioners’ report from Government
The deadly shooting of fourteen-year-old Guatemalan minor Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano in the Chiquibul Forest involved B.D.F. soldiers, as well as rangers from Friends of Conservation and Development.  The Belize [...]

Foreign Minister rules out another investigation of Julio Alvarado death
As for another O.A.S.-commissioned investigation into the fatal shooting, Elrington says that government is quite satisfied with the results of the initial inquiry.  All things considered, there will not be [...]

Police Commissioner says he did not know William Mason – but knew of alter ego
Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie was away on leave for some time; in fact, he was out of the country when the entire saga involving accused murderer William “Danny” Mason [...]

Commissioner Whylie does not believe Mason infiltrated upper echelon of Police
Accused murderer William Mason returns to court in the next few days, but he once boasted that he had a number of officers on his payroll, including members of the [...]

Police completing Mason file for D.P.P.
In terms of the criminal investigation, ComPol Whylie says he was briefed by the Acting Commissioner Mister Blackett, and was assured that the police were on top of the case. [...]

Bus fares to go up on October first; operators agree with Government
As we reported on Wednesday, bus fares unexpectedly went up in for commuters travelling westbound on Westline, Guerra’s, B.B.O.C. and J and J. The hike in price was as much [...]

G.O.B. also meets with taxi operators from Benque
Following a meeting with bus operators in the west, Minister of Transport Edmond Castro met with the Mopan Taxi Association.  For months now, the group has been clamoring for the [...]

Police Commissioner says he is waiting to receive Auditor General reports
This is the second audit that has been conducting by the Auditor General on the Immigration Department. Given the obvious widespread irregularities committed by persons and all that has been [...]

ComPol: my officers complied with Speaker’s instructions, but it looked bad
The House Meeting held two weeks ago, by all scope of the imagination, was epic. Cayo South area rep., Julius Espat was literally picked up and carried out of the [...]

B.P.P. reveals results from online “People’s Referendum”
This morning, the Belize Progressive Party gave the media an update on their ongoing People’s Referendum poll on social issues. The poll takes two forms: an online poll being conducted [...]

Progressive Party plans nationwide tour of villages
The Progressives are also planning, among other initiatives, a nationwide tour to take their message to the Belizean people. We hear more from the party’s chairman, Paco Smith.   Paco [...]

Time to Mas! Carnival camps open for judging
Wednesday night was day one of the annual mas camps that leads up to the carnival road March on September seventeenth. A record number of bands are taking part in [...]

Healthy Living: What pregnant women must know about Zika
The first case of Zika in Belize was confirmed in May of this year. The sample which was sent to the CARPHA lab in Trinidad verified that the mosquito borne [...]

After twenty years, P.U.P. marches in Belize City
The People’s United Party has not shown its muscle in the city for long years, but today it did and impressively so. The crowd was massive as the national protest [...]

Opposition Leader repeats call for Government to appeal Section 53 decision
News Five spoke exclusively with the Leader of the Opposition following this morning’s rally. First on our list of questions was his reaction to the divide among Belize’s churches on [...]

Briceño says Guat Foreign Minister “a fool” about Alvarado report
The P.U.P. stepped out of bipartisan bilateral talks with Guatemala for some time now.  They said it was in protest of the Barrow administration’s mishandling of the situation and that [...]

P.U.P. not yet ready to return to bipartisan handling of Guatemalan claim
Briceño says the P.U.P. can contribute to the discussion on Guatemala, but the government must come to them in seriousness. He also addressed the question on whether Guatemala would grant [...]

Dorian Pakeman sent on unpaid leave; Opposition says he must not get special treatment
At Tuesday’s Cabinet sitting, a decision was taken in respect of the Director of the Press Office, Dorian Pakeman. Pakeman had hit and killed Dean Dawson, a resident of Gardenia, [...]

22 year old pregnant woman viciously murdered in Orange Walk
There was a horrific murder in Orange Walk Town just before seven on Tuesday night. A young woman was shot and killed in front of her two children, one seven [...]

Man charged for pound of weed by Orange Walk police
An Orange Walk resident was busted on Tuesday with over one point two pounds of suspected cannabis. According to Officer Commanding Orange Walk Police, Superintendent Selvyn Tillett, the accused was [...]

One of two men accused of robbing minor brought to court
In the court today, Jamaal Michael Warrior, a tour guide and resident of Orange Walk, was arraigned on a charge of robbery. There was heavy objection because of the use [...]

The Battle of St. George’s Caye from the Spanish perspective
A slightly different perspective on the Battle of St. George’s Caye was the subject of today’s annual National History Lecture in Belize City at the Bliss Center for the Performing [...]

Why new documents help us understand what happened 218 years ago
Other collaborators in the project include the Belize History Association which is the formal host of the lecture; the Institute for Social and Cultural Research; the Belize Archives and Records [...]

C.O.L.A. participates in P.U.P. march
Blink and you may have missed them, but Geovannie Brackett led members of his Citizens Organized for Liberty through Action and other activist organizations in their own section of the [...]

PUP Party Leader says The Barrow administration is beleaguered by a number of successive scandals
One last thing from the Leader of the Opposition…The Barrow administration is beleaguered by a number of successive scandals, the latest being the findings of the Auditor General’s special report [...]

Youths awarded in BTB-FCCA poster and essay competition
Reuse, Recycle and Renew are environmental issues that are well-known in Belize, but it was also the theme that participants expounded on in this year’s Florida Caribbean Cruise Association’s poster [...]

Bus fares going up in West; operators to meet Minister tomorrow
Beginning earlier this week, commuters on the four major bus lines operating in the western corridor – Westline, Guerra’s, B.B.O.C. and J and J – are paying about fifty cents [...]

CTV3

BNTU Orange Walk Calls for Industrial Action
Could the Belize National Teacher’s Union be preparing for industrial action? That’s the general sentiment from teachers around the country and the action supported by a majority of Union members at emergency meetings held simultaneously by all branches today. The teachers are upset that the Barrow Administration has not been able to follow through with a promised 3% salary increase which was due to them since July of this year. Here in the Orange Walk District, over 300 teachers walked out of their classrooms to attend today’s meeting this afternoon at the Gala Lounge. The Orange Walk BNTU members had previously rejected the Government’s proposal to delay the salary increase until next year. And today, the militancy continued when the majority of members agreed that if the Government fails to meet their promise, they will take action.

One Detained For Questioning In The Murder Of Jahida Crawford
Last night we reported on the barbaric murder of 22 year old expecting mother of two, Jahida Crawford, who was shot execution style inside her home on the corner of Rio Bravo and Boundary Road on Tuesday night. As previously reported, Crawford was inside her home accompanied by her father and two children when she was called out by someone who she apparently knew, upon opening her front door to meet her visitor she was met with two bullets which caused her death a short while later. Today while Orange Walk Police are still trying to ascertain the motive behind Tuesday night’s deadly shooting CTV3 News understands that they have detained one person for questioning, but were unable to confirm if the individual detained is the same person police were previously in search of.

Protesters Calls For Government Resignation
Over 5,000 protestors turned out and walked side by side Opposition Leader Hon. John Briceno and PUP representatives in a march through the streets of Belize City yesterday. The aim was to send a strong message to the Government that Belizeans have had enough. After walking through the streets, the throng of supporters gathered at the BTL Park for a two-hour rally. There, the speakers addressed the issues which have become flashpoints for the UDP Government only ten months into their third term. Honorable Rodwell Ferguson - PUP Deputy Leader: “We want our country back and the time to save Belize is now.”

LOVE FM

Western Bus Operators Engage in Unauthorized Price Hike
Commuters who utilize public transportation have been calling our newsroom for the last two days questioning the recent increase in bus fares in the western corridor. We have been making efforts to get a comment from the Transport Department and were told yesterday by the Chief Transport Officer, Tirso Galvez, that they have been made […]

Transport Department Takes On Concerns from Taxi and Bus Operators
Minister Edmond Castro has his hands full as issues surrounding the transport industry seem to piling up within the last week. Earlier in this newscast we told you of the increase of bus fares in the western corridor and earlier this week we told you of the taxi drivers of Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo […]

BPP Prepares for Countrywide Anti-Corruption Tour
The Belize Progressive Party held a press conference this morning to discuss current issues affecting Belize and the party’s launch of a country wide tour. According to the Chairman of the BPP, Paco Smith, the tour would be carried out later this month. PACO SMITH “As the only viable solution to the red and blue […]

Stabbing Incident Leaves One Man Dead
An altercation between two male individuals around two this afternoon has left one dead on the island of San Pedro. Deputy Officer commanding the San Pedro police Station, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Henry Jemoth said thirty two year old Elton Polonio was socializing with a friend when there appeared to be an argument between them. […]

William Mason’s Farm-Hand Recalls July 15, 2016
55 days ago the head of Llewellyn Lucas was uncovered in the pan of a pickup truck belonging to Raj Teddy Oulette better known as William ‘Donny’ Mason. The discovery sent shock waves around the country as pockets of society screamed for justice in the tragic homicide. The discovery of Lucas’ head, however, was only […]

Fin Sec Orders Abuse of Government Vehicles to Stop
An internal document has reportedly been circulating on the internet over the last week surrounding the use and abuse of government vehicles by public officers. The internal memorandum is dated August 29, 2016 and comes out of the office of the Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Joseph Waight. It is a four paragraph […]

The Guardian

No Steam in PUP Demonstration - No pay for demonstrators
Wednesday of this week. The day was supposed to be the day that the PUP were supposed to put the type of numbers on Belize City streets, the likes of which we had never seen before. We at the Guardian were imbedded inside the PUP camp from as early as 7 am. Our day started with just moving around and observing their movement. As time moved by it became obvious that the PUP were having problems. It was 8 am and the only positive movement we had seen by then was the arrival of 3 portable toilets, but there was nobody there to use those 3 toilet unless Wendy Castillo and the PUP gentleman and the lady with her were going to use one a piece. Next came the first music system blasting the PUP battle cry WELCOME TO THE PARTY. At 8:37 a group of around 40 persons arrived from Orange Walk. This was about the same time some frantic phone calls were being made to push back the start time of the parade to 10 am. Not one of the PUP leaders had arrived at this point. It seemed that they were either ashamed or afraid to make their grand entrance with such a group of people present. The first member in any leadership position to arrive was Kareem.

200 new homes to be built after Hurricane Earl
Philip Willoughby has announced that by Thursday 6 new homes would have been completed in Belize City following the destruction caused by Hurricane Earl. This is 6 of 200 new homes which will be constructed by the time the National Emergency Management Organization completes its work in bringing people’s lives back in order after the hurricane. Willoughby told the Guardian that they have assessed 1,350 houses which were affected in Belize City alone but there are still those that have not yet been reached. He says that as a result of trying to get to everyone who was affected, 17 students from the Engineering department at the University of Belize have been taken on to conduct further assessments to wrap up the work in Belize City over the next three weeks. He noted that so far 486 cases have been dealt with.

CRUCIFY HIM!!! Wade’s “Church” Looking for Blood
How can men who call themselves Christians – sit down comfortably for days in front of national television and chastise, demonize, and ostracize a fellow leader of the cloth? If the Christian community can treat Pastor Ashley Rocke the way they do, what judgment do they reserve for the rest of us sinners? Since Pastor Rocke, Senator for the Church, opted to vote no to a motioned destined for failure in the Senate and chose to support a bi-cameral inquiry into the findings of the Auditor General’s report on the Immigration Department, Plus TV and “Christians” alligned with that business have declared war against him. If Senator Rocke had voted in favour of the motion, there would have been six votes in favour and six votes against the motion. The President of the Senate, Hon. Lee Mark Chang, would have had to cast the deciding vote. He would have voted no and the motion would have failed. Despite this fact, Louis Wade, who seems to have assumed the Voice of God in Belize (we remember Joan of Arc here), has since accused Pastor Rocke of being in support of the LGBT agenda and not being against corruption in Government. Along with other “christian” leaders on Plus TV’s morning show, Wade has publicly called for the pastor’s head.

Taiwan donates USD $109,000.00 for ICT project
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is pleased to announce that H.E. Ambassador Benjamin Ho has presented a cheque of USD 109,000.00 to the Central Information Technology Office (CITO) of the Government of Belize for the bilateral ICT Project on September 2nd, 2016. This 5-year project is budgeted at USD 1.82 million, with USD 1.5 million funded by the Government of the ROC (Taiwan), and the rest covered by the Government of Belize. The aim of this project is to pave the way to achieve e-government in Belize to benefit the government and the general public.

American-registered vessel grounded in Belize waters
The Belize Coast Guard has confirmed that a civilian vessel which is registered in Delaware, USA was grounded on the barrier reef in the area of Hatchet Caye located east-northeast of Placencia. Onboard the vessel were three (3) Colombians, four (4) Guatemalans and one (1) American citizen. The incident reportedly took place on the Belize Barrier Reef around 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 3rd and was relayed to the Coast Guard by the Fisheries Department.

Another shootout between BDF and Guatemalans
The BDF continues to do their job dutifully, and mostly unnoticed by the rest of the population. Once again, however, their job became very dangerous when they came under fire inside the Chiquibul National Park. That incident took place on Wednesday, August 31, in the morning at a part of the Chiquibul known as “El Retiro”. For the BDF soldiers, that’s within walking distance south of the Valentin Conservation Post, in an average time of about an hour and a half. The BDF went to that location to follow up on an Order to Leave (OTL), issued by the Immigration Department, on 20 Guatemalans who had been squatting in Belizean territory. The BDF first discovered this illegal settlement on a patrol June 1, 2016. The area is just under 200 meters east of the Belize/Guatemala border, and the settlement was hidden from view due to the fact that it was located on the western side of a hill. The assumption was that the hill was very close to the border, so more than likely, since there was nothing on the eastern side, there would be nothing on the western side of it.

Benque taxi drivers block taxis coming from Melchor
Taxi drivers gathered in front of the Town Hall in Benque Viejo del Carmen on Tuesday expressing concern that they are losing income as a result of vehicle operators coming from Guatemala. This is after a group of them had also gathered in front of the home of Benque’s Mayor Heraldo Ramcharan Junior asking for an audience to express their concerns. Mayor Heraldo Ramcharan told reporters that the taxi drivers are concerned about the tourist buses coming into Belize. Chief Transport Officer Tirso Galvez, who was visiting Benque on Tuesday has said that if a person does not reside in Belize, then his vehicle is considered a foreign registered vehicle and must abide by permits to do runs. He also clarified that road service permits are being issued by the Transport Board and that entity will not approve a road service permit for any person who does not live in Belize and who is not a Belizean.

PM announces composition of investigation team into misdeeds at Immigration department
The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, on Thursday September 7 held a press conference in which he announced the composition of the special bicameral accounts committee. He explained that after meeting with the Chamber of Commerce the composition of the committee will be such as to have 6 representatives from the government, 3 from the social partners and 2 from the opposition one of which will hold the chairmanship. PM Barrow explained that government accepted that the report paints a sorry picture and that Belizeans should be legitimately alarmed with the findings. He went on to, as the leader of government, apologize to the nation that things went so wrong during the period covered by the report. Even so, however the PM explained that it is not the first time that such damning information has been put out. He reminded Belizeans of the PUP administration's time when all manner of requirements were waved for the acquiring of nationality and leading to the loss or theft of 7.5 million dollars. Nonetheless he accepted the findings of and accepted responsibility.

PM to meet with churches again on Friday
On Friday, September 9, Prime Minister Dean Barrow will hold a follow up meeting with the leaders of the different churches. At that meeting, he will return with the answer from his Cabinet colleagues as to how they will move forward on the Chief Justice’s Section 53 judgment. Some in the church want an appeal of that judgment which changes the Criminal Code which made “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” a criminal offence whether it was consensual or not. That included - but was not limited to - gay sex, which is now no longer a crime. The Prime Minister has indicated that while he is not prepared to appeal the entire judgment, he is prepared to consider an appeal of the portion of the judgment in which the Chief Justice interpreted the word “sex” in the constitution to mean “sexual orientation”. Those and other range of options were green lit by the Cabinet for the Prime Minister to present to the Church Leaders. That’s what he did, on Monday evening, September 5, when he met with the Catholic Bishop, the Anglican Bishop, the President of the Methodist Churches, the Presidents of the two Evangelical Church Associations, and the President of the Alliance of Ministers and Leaders.

Bi-cameral investigation into immigration and nationality departments
Last Wednesday PUP through it's lead Senator, as indicated by it's Leader Johnny a few days earlier, tabled a motion in the senate. This motion sought to have the Senate call for a Senate investigation, into the recently released Auditor General's Report. Had this motion been passed, it would have mandated the Senate to set up a 5 member tribunal to investigate alleged wrong doing being highlighted on the Auditor General's Report. The way the 5 member team would be selected would have been, one senator each from the government and opposition and the three social partner senators. This motion appeared to be well on it's way for a tie vote on the floor with all three opposition senators and three social partners arguments being in favor and all six government senators against. Such a vote would have forced the President of the Senate to cast a vote to break the deadlock and the motion would have been defeated.

Save Belize for the PUP
By the time the effects of the liquor has worn off, and the $25 has long been expended, that PUP rent-a crowd would have long forgotten what it is they were marching for on Wednesday. PUP operatives were all over the country recruiting willing souls brave enough to brace the scorching heat to be victims of yet another ruse. Agents were very visible in the banks cashing rent-a crowd checks into stacks of $5. So desperate are the PUP that they will try any trick to give off the perception of muscularity. This appeal for support seems to be the slim whisper of hope the die hards have been so desperately gasping for. They have been jumping around in jubilation as if though they’ve won the lotto.

Spanish records prove Belize’s Great Battle of 10th of September
The 2016 Belize History Association’s lecture focuses on extremely interesting information that should not be limited to a 90 minute discussion. The lecture is entitled “Examining the Spanish Archival Records on the Battle of St. George’s Caye” and brings together a super panel of history scholars from Belize and Mexico. The first lecture was held at the Bliss Center for Performing Arts in Belize City at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 07, to audience mostly comprised of upper level primary school and secondary school students. The researchers who were part of the lecture are Dr. Angel Cal from the University of Belize, Dr. Herman Byrd of the Belize Archives and Records Services, Dr. Gustavo Alfaro from la Universidad de Quintana Roo, Dr. Martin Ramos from la Universidad de Quintana Roo, Dr. Juan Castillo of la Universidad Intercultural Maya de Quintana Roo and Mr. Giovanni Pinelo of the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR).

Gang shooting claims life of 22 year old
22 year-old Nicasio John Zuniga, a resident of Jones Street in Belize City, became another victim to the city’s gang violence when he was murdered execution style. At this time, there is no explanation for his senseless killing. It appears, however, that he was murdered for simply living in a neighborhood, that is the turf of one gang currently in a dispute with another, which is located nearby. Police say that according to their investigation he was at a shop on Complex Drive at around 6:20 p.m. on Monday, September 5. He had reportedly just left after buying some drinks. The cops think that he was heading back to socialize with his friends, but he never made it. 2 unknown young men rode up on bicycles while Zuniga was on his way. One of them pulled out a handgun and shot him once to the right cheek; that bullet exited the back of his head. By the time the cops arrived, there was nothing much they could do for Zuniga, except try to rush him to the KHMH.

Judge shows mercy to weed offender
Alejandro Gonzalez, 57, is lucky to be a free man after he was almost sent to prison on Thursday, September 1, for being busted with weed while in arrears for old fines. Gonzalez is self employed. He repairs shoes and belts at the foot of the Swing Bridge. Allegations are that he was busted by police around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday with 3.1 grams of weed. PC Manuel Caliz was on foot patrol on Cemetery Road when he saw Gonzalez standing suspiciously in front of the Salvation Army School. The officer decided to conduct a search on him and found the green leafy substance rolled up in his right pants foot. Gonzalez was arrested and charged with possession of a control drug.

Edward McKay remanded for robbery and stabbing
Edward McKay, 26, is on remand at the Belize Central Prison after he was arraigned on three charges: one count of robbery, one count of dangerous harm and one count of using deadly means of harm upon Tyrone Scott. Scott reported to police that he had just exited a bus in Ladyville Village on Thursday, September 1, when he was approached by McKay, someone he has known for a while. According to Scott, McKay held him at knife point and demanded that he hand over his belongings. Fearing for his life, he gave McKay a bag containing his cell phone, a litre of Caribbean Rum, a bottle of Sprite, a 7 inch tablet, a bluetooth speaker, a memory card, a Polo shirt, two pants, a flash drive and $17 cash. The total value of the items is approximately $1,036. Adding injury to insult, Mckay stabbed Scott several times to the body after he handed over the bag and fled from the scene.

Inconsistencies on Pakeman’s urine test - ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural
Based on declarations made by ACP Edward Broaster on Monday September 5th, Dorian Pakeman the director of the Government Press Office has been placed on unpaid leave. The decision was made by the Prime Minister following a meeting he held with Pakeman on Wednesday September 7. In a release by government it states that “the Office awaits the decision of the Director of Public Prosecution on whether to bring charges of whatever nature against Mr. Pakeman arising out of all the circumstances surrounding the traffic incident in which he was involved.” On March 30 Pakeman was heading towards Ladyville from Orange Walk when he knocked down and killed Gardenia Mechanic, 45 year old Dean Dawson Jr. who was riding a bicycle on the Phillip Goldson Highway in Biscayne village between miles 22 and 23. Immediately after the accident Pakeman gave a urine sample for testing to police.

Security guard caught stealing from employer
KBH security guard Glenroy Reynolds, 36, was convicted of handling stolen goods in 2015 and he has struck again. This time Reynolds was brought before the court on three counts of theft after he was caught on surveillance camera stealing dresses from his place of work, Pink Boutique. Allegations are that on three separate occasions, on August 30, 31 and September 1, 2016, Reynolds took two dresses valued at $68.00, two dresses valued at $100 and two more dresses valued at $106, property of Pink Boutique. On Friday, September 1, Michelle Leslie, the Operations Manager at Pink Boutique, visited the Queen Street Police Station and reported that Reynolds was stealing from the store. Leslie said that she had been receiving reports that Reynolds and a female were involved in the stealing of items from the store so she set up a sting operation with an internal technician.

Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy Cayo Softball Champions
The Cayo Softball Association 2016 Raymond Garbutt Softball Competition came to an end on Sunday 4th September, 2016. In the third and final game in the championship series, Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy defeated Unitedville Rebels United by the score of 8-4 to repeat as the Cayo Softball champions. Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st inning added another 2 in the 2nd inning, 1 in the 6th inning and 3 more in the 7th inning for the win. Meanwhile, Unitedville Rebels United scored all 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning.

Stann Creek Softball Competition enters final round
The Stann Creek Softball Association 2016 Senior Female Softball Season will enter its final round on Sunday 18th September, 2016, with the top three playing in the Double Elimination Format round. The final round will feature Silk Grass Royale Girls, Independence PALS and Independence United. On Sunday 4th September, in the first game played, Independence United defeated Seine Bight Flames by the score of 14-3. The winning pitcher was Desiree Gordon. And in the second game, Silk Grass Royale Girls defeated Independence PALS by the score of 12-9. The winning pitcher was Sandy Depaz and the losing pitcher was Leona Coe.

The future of Abimael Josue is uncertain
Primary Schools across the Country opened on Monday of this week, but for one small family in Santa Elena Town, in the Cayo District it ushered in an array of new challenges, in addition to their daily need to survive. For 5 year old Abimael Josue, the future is uncertain as the newly opened Baptist Primary School in the Bradely’s Bank Area of Santa Elena reports that it is now full to capacity. Josue’s emaciated mom Irma Janesis had recently approached the school with her desire for her second son to attend there. The Eden Primary School in Santa Elena also reports that they are unable to take in the child. The Principal tells the Guardian that they were robbed of $4000.00 dollars last year so they are unable to assist Abimael Josue. The hard realities for Irma Janesis is that she will need $60.00 for her to register her son at the Eden Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, something she does not currently have.

Young pregnant mother killed in Orange Walk
Jahida Briceño, a 22 year-old, pregnant, single mother of 2, was murdered on the verandah of her home. That terrible incident happened in the presence of her 2 kids, and within earshot of her disabled father who was powerless to help her. At around 7 p.m., on Tuesday, September 6, Briceño was at her Boundary Road home in Orange Walk preparing supper for her 5 year old son and 7 year old daughter. She heard someone calling for her, and when she answered, someone fired several gunshots, hitting her in the back and face. It is believed that the first shot hit her in the face, and that’s when she tried to run into the house. The other struck her in the back, and that injury was the one which caused her to collapse on the ground.

Belmopan September Calendar 2016 launched
With multicolored streamers almost everywhere, the Belmopan September Calendar 2016 was launched at the Mae Gordon Park in Belmopan last Friday evening. There to welcome everyone was Jacklyn Burns, Chairlady of the Belmopan Celebrations Committee who has been working behind the scenes incessantly to ensure that all the activities run smoothly. Several groups of young people were also present to position themselves behind the steel drums of the Panerrifix Steelband. Without missing a beat, the very young also took their turn with the drums, with mothers watching with great pride as the September celebrations themed music were being played.

Belize Association of Evangelical Churches

Food and Drugs Amendment Act
In an effort to further strengthen the regulation of food and pharmaceuticals in Belize, the Minister of Health Hon. Pablo Marin presented new amendments to the House of Representatives on the Food and Drugs Amendment Act of Chapter 291 of the substantive Laws of Belize revised Edition 2011. This will make provision to empower the making of regulations for the establishment of a drug registry and give effect to the provisions of the Act regarding the labeling of food or pharmaceuticals. With the provisions in this amendment, the Ministry of Health will be able to address regulatory responsibilities, such as the granting of licenses to establishments involved in the sale of food and medicines and to enhance the importation requirements for these. It also seeks to establish proper record keeping including the sale of medicines in books or registers and to allow for the removal of expired food and medicines from selling points..s.

Helicopter training for BDF
For the past 2 months, the Belize Defence Force has been receiving training on how to fly and maintain their own helicopters. Though it has been only a short time, they have already conducted successful airlifting operations, and their instructors tell the press that they are exemplary students. The unit which is learning to fly the helicopters is the BDF Airwing, which has dutifully served the nation with its fleet of fixed wing aircraft since 1993. With the Taiwanese Government’s Donation of two UH-1H helicopters, and the Belize’s Government’s acquisition of an abandoned Bell 407 helicopter, the BDF has 3 rotorcrafts at its disposal to do emergency airlifting operations. So, to become self-sufficient and properly fly them, perform timely maintenance, and to be able to train future pilots, 4 of the BDF’s Airwing pilots, and the entire Airwing’s maintenance staff have been receiving extensive instruction.

Way forward on PAC, Anti-Corruption Act and Integrity Commission
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dean Barrow has turned over the search for a chartered accountant willing to serve on the Integrity Commission over to the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This was a decision on the way forward agreed upon by PM Barrow and the Chamber at the conclusion of a meeting held last Wednesday when the Integrity Commission was discussed along with the reconfiguration of the Public Accounts Committee and the signing of the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention. During the meeting, the Chamber’s own chartered accountant confirmed what the administration has been saying about the difficulty in finding a chartered accountant willing to serve on the Integrity Commission. Serving on the Integrity Commission means being listed as a Politically Exposed Person. PEPs are subject to extreme scrutiny. Their assets and activities are monitored closely by local and international regulators. By relation, their family members become PEPs as well and are subject to the same level of scrutiny which they have not signed up for.

Way forward on PAC, Anti-Corruption Act and Integrity Commission
Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Dean Barrow has turned over the search for a chartered accountant willing to serve on the Integrity Commission over to the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This was a decision on the way forward agreed upon by PM Barrow and the Chamber at the conclusion of a meeting held last Wednesday when the Integrity Commission was discussed along with the reconfiguration of the Public Accounts Committee and the signing of the United Nations Anti-Corruption Convention. During the meeting, the Chamber’s own chartered accountant confirmed what the administration has been saying about the difficulty in finding a chartered accountant willing to serve on the Integrity Commission. Serving on the Integrity Commission means being listed as a Politically Exposed Person. PEPs are subject to extreme scrutiny.

PM announces composition of investigation team into misdeeds at Immigration department
The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow, on Thursday September 7 held a press conference in which he announced the composition of the special bicameral accounts committee. He explained that after meeting with the Chamber of Commerce the composition of the committee will be such as to have 6 representatives from the government, 3 from the social partners and 2 from the opposition one of which will hold the chairmanship. PM Barrow explained that government accepted that the report paints a sorry picture and that Belizeans should be legitimately alarmed with the findings. He went on to, as the leader of government, apologize to the nation that things went so wrong during the period covered by the report.

PM to meet with churches again on Friday
On Friday, September 9, Prime Minister Dean Barrow will hold a follow up meeting with the leaders of the different churches. At that meeting, he will return with the answer from his Cabinet colleagues as to how they will move forward on the Chief Justice’s Section 53 judgment. Some in the church want an appeal of that judgment which changes the Criminal Code which made “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” a criminal offence whether it was consensual or not. That included - but was not limited to - gay sex, which is now no longer a crime.

Bi-cameral investigation into immigration and nationality departments
Last Wednesday PUP through it's lead Senator, as indicated by it's Leader Johnny a few days earlier, tabled a motion in the senate. This motion sought to have the Senate call for a Senate investigation, into the recently released Auditor General's Report. Had this motion been passed, it would have mandated the Senate to set up a 5 member tribunal to investigate alleged wrong doing being highlighted on the Auditor General's Report. The way the 5 member team would be selected would have been, one senator each from the government and opposition and the three social partner senators.

Save Belize for the PUP
By the time the effects of the liquor has worn off, and the $25 has long been expended, that PUP rent-a crowd would have long forgotten what it is they were marching for on Wednesday. PUP operatives were all over the country recruiting willing souls brave enough to brace the scorching heat to be victims of yet another ruse. Agents were very visible in the banks cashing rent-a crowd checks into stacks of $5. So desperate are the PUP that they will try any trick to give off the perception of muscularity. This appeal for support seems to be the slim whisper of hope the die hards have been so desperately gasping for. They have been jumping around in jubilation as if though they’ve won the lotto.

Charity organization assists hurricane victims
In response to the call of Belize Government for Hurricane Earl disaster relief supplies, Ambassador Benjamin Ho of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Belize delivered some five hundred cartons of relief material shipped from SimplyHelp Foundation, a Taiwanese NGO based in Los Angeles, to 11 Belize charity organizations on August 30 and 31 including the Belize Red Cross, Cayo Village Councils, Dorothy Menzies Child Care Center, Helpage, iServants.Com International Servants, Liberty Children’s Home, Mental Health Resource Center, Salvation Army, Samuel Haynes Institute, SOL Pregnancy Resource Center and St. Vincent De Paul Society. These relief supplies include housewares, shoes, bags, clothes, hats, basketballs, stationary, toys, bath items, baby items, hair bands and gift boxes. The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) kopes this timely donation can help those in need through local charities.

Teacher Campbell charged for knocking down police officer
Teacher Kevin Nigel Campbell, 42, was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate Court on Tuesday, September 6, for driving into a police officer. Allegations are that at about 1 a.m. on Saturday, September 3, Campbell knocked Police Constable Adonias Gonzalez, 32, off his motor bike while driving a grey Isuzu Axiom. PC Gonzalez told police that he was responding to reports of a woman being physically assaulted by a man in front of the national bus terminal when the accident occurred. According to the officer, he was riding on Cemetery Road heading towards the scene at West Collect Canal when Campbell came speeding from Magazine Road. Campbell did not stop at the intersection of Magazine Road and Cemetery Road and, as a result, Gonzalez ran into the front of the Isuzu.

Couple charged for burglarizing their own property
A Belize City couple is out on bail after they were charged for burglarizing their own property and harming a tenant. Ernest Tillett, 41, and his common-law wife, Paulette Flowers, 41, appeared before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza on Monday, September 05, to answer to charges. Both were represented by attorney Brian Neal. Tillett was charged with one count of burglary and one count of harm. Flowers was arraigned for burglary with intent to commit harm. Allegations are that as trespassers they entered the home of Melissa Yolanda Bradley at Miles 2 ½ George Price Highway on Saturday, September 3. While inside, Tillett caused an injury to Bradley with a light bulb. A doctor classified her injuries as wounding.

Jamaal Warrior accused of robbing man at knife point
Tour guide Jamaal Michael Warrior, 32, is at the Belize Central Prison on remand for a charge of robbery after a 16-year-old reported to police that he held him up at knife point and took away an I-phone valued at $600. Warrior appeared before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza on Wednesday, September 07, to answer to the single charge. He was unrepresented in court and pleaded not guilty to the offense. The prosecutor in the case, Sgt. Claude Pitts, had heavy objections to bail. Objections were based on the fact that the victim is a minor attending high school; Warrior may try to interfere with the victim; and the crime was committed with the use of a deadly instrument, a four inch knife. With that, Magistrate Mendoza ordered that he be remanded at the Belize Central Prison until Friday, September 9, when bail will be considered.

Football, Football, football
Football in Belize continues to attract fans every week. This weekend on Sunday September 4, the recently constructed Carl Ramos Stadium in Dangriga was the venue for a matchup between the young and upcoming upstarts Orange Walk United and the veteran, tested Wagiya FC. It was fireworks from the start and the young OWFC held their own for most of the first half until they were overcome by Wagiya’s experience. They fought a valiant fight but in the end lost to Wagiya 6 to 2. This young team has been together for just under a month and has been baptized by fire. The team is the brain child and effort of Orange Walk East Constituency area rep. Hon. Elodio Aragon Jr. Mr. Aragon who also happens to be the Minister responsible for sports and has been instrumental in the formation of the Police Football Club which is now representing Belize internationally and he did this several years before he got involved in politics. This speaks volumes of the man’s love for sports.

Belize Bank Bulldogs 2016 Firms Basketball champions
The Belize District Basketball Association 2016 Firms Competition came to an end on Saturday 3rd September, at the Belize Elementary School Auditorium with the third and final game in the championship series between the Belize Bank Bulldogs and Infotel. In the final game played, the Belize Bank Bulldogs showed that it was the better of the two teams and win handily when it defeated Infotel by the score of 80-68 to capture the championship title. The top scorers for the Belize Bank Bulldogs were Brian White with 25 points, 24 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals; Duane Staine with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal and Rupert Brown with 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.

Jumanji opens Sugar City Hoops competition with a win
The 2016 Sugar City Hoops competition opened on Friday 2nd September, at the East Sports Centre in Orange Walk Town. In the Senior competition game played, Jumanji defeated Devils by the score of 82-50 to opened the senior campaign. The top scorers for Jumanji were Wayne Arnold with 17 points, Charlton Flowers with 16 points and Michael Shaw Jr. with 13 points. For the Devils, the top scorers were Vicente Avila with 15 points and Leonard Jones with 12 points.

Belmopan Bandits halt the Placencia Assassins FC
The Premier League of Belize Opening Season Competition continued over the weekend with a number of games played across the country. On Saturday 3rd September, 2016, at the Michael Ashcroft Stadium in Independence Village, the defending national football champions of Belize, the Belmopan Bandits handed the host team Placencia Assassins its first defeat of the young season by the score of 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Marlon Meza in the 83rd minute of play that gave the Belmopan Bandits the win. Out at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio Town, the Police United defeated Freedom Fighters by the score of 3-1.

Breaking Belize News

Murder reported in San Pedro
Police in Ambergris Caye have a murder on their hands tonight. The victim has been identified but at news time his family has not been informed. He is a thirty-two year old unemployed man from the San Mateo area. Police have confirmed that the […]

BNTU Cayo Branch votes in favor for industrial action
The Cayo Branch of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) has voted in favor for industrial action to be taken by the union. A meeting was held this afternoon at the Octavia Waight Center in San Ignacio and BBN was able to confirm that […]

Ministry of Transport and Bus Operators Reach Agreement on Bus Fares
According to a GOB press release, “The Hon. Edmond Castro, Minister of State in the Ministry of Works, Transport and National Emergency Management, along with Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Ruth Meighan and Chief Transport Officer, Tirso Galvez, have just concluded a meeting in Belmopan […]

How I got my first job
I had just turned 18 when I graduated from Belize Technical College Sixth Form (junior college)…..where I had a great educational and life experience with highly motivated teachers and classmates with whom I made lifetime friendships….we worked hard and raised the level of […]

Hoteliers claim hotel standard amendments ‘insane’
Belizean hoteliers are questioning proposed changes to the Belize Tourism Board (BTB)’s National Classification System for Accommodation. Hoteliers who spoke to TravelPulse and the San Pedro Sun say some of the proposals extend beyond area of safety, security, health and operational competency straying into […]

BPP enjoying response to “People’s Referendum”
As of this morning, more than 1,000 responses have been made to the Belize Progressive Party’s non-binding People’s Referendum which started last month. The Party has created a list of questions to be asked to the Belizean people, with polling to be completed on […]

Bus fares hike along western route, rates not approved by the Transport Board
Belizeans who commute between Belize City, Belmopan, San Ignacio and Benque yesterday saw a a one-dollar increase in bus fares by 2 bus operators, namely Western Transport and the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative (BBOC), including for stops in the villages along the route. The […]

Police arrest two young men in PG for keeping firearm and ammunition without license
Punta Gorda police have arrested two men for keeping firearm and ammunition without license. According to reports, on September 7th 2016, police conducted a search in the Joe Taylor Creek area of Punta Gorda on 20-year-old Devon Wendell Pratt of Cattle Landing Village, Toledo […]

Motorcycle stolen from parking lot in Belize City
Ascuncion Bol, 40, has made a police report that his motorcycle was stolen in Belize City. According to reports, Bol of # 31 Marage Road, Ladyville Village, Belize District reported that between the hours of 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 and 4:25 a.m. […]

Garifuna Celebrations theme announced
Rísiti, Pántati, Gabafuti, Iúnrahowa meme la (English): Rich, Proud, and Powerful let us continue to preserve it. So reads this year’s selected theme for the celebrations leading up to the observance of Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19, as announced by the National Garifuna Council (NGC) […]

Woman stabbed in Placencia Village
Cynthia Medina, 20, was stabbed in Placencia village by another woman on Tuesday, September 6, 2016. According to police reports, Medina was working at E&E; Chinese restaurant in Placencia village when a young female entered the establishment and had an altercation with her. As […]

Mayor Bradley supports Senate inquiry
Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley raised some eyebrows yesterday when, in an interview with Channel 7 news, he said he supported the People’s United Party (PUP) motion for a Senate inquiry into the Auditor General’s Immigration report instead of the joint House/Senate select committee […]

ADO bus avoids possible highway robbery
BBN has received reports that last night around 7:00, an ADO bus left Belize City to Chetumal, Mexico and upon reaching a bump in Ladyville, three men emerged from the side of the road and threw a black substance on the windshield. A source […]

Over 400 villagers of Aguacate in Toledo District now have continuous supply of safe water
Men, women and children of Aguacate, now have access to the continuous supply of safe water to meet their daily needs such as drinking, washing, bathing and cooking, according to a Government of Belize (GOB) press release. The completion of the water supply sub-project […]

Tropical Wave moving across the western Caribbean
AccuWeather Meteorologists are monitoring a tropical wave near the Cabo Verde Islands that is producing an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms. According to Meteorologist Ed Vallee of AccuWeather, conditions will be more favorable for development as this feature continues to move west-northwestward into […]

Ladyville Police Now Say Tyrone Davis’ Death Was Accidental, Not Murder
On Monday, we reported that thirty year old Tyrone Davis of Sandhill was murdered, shot in the throat and arm while in a hammock at his home. Police were already baffled as to a possible motive for a murder but according to Regional Commander […]

Sir Colville visits Mexico for first time
Belize’s Governor General visited Mexico from August 29 to September 2nd as a guest of Anahuac University. It is his first visit to Mexico in the capacity of local representative for the Head of State. Sir Colville Young lectured university students on Literature of […]

Blogs

15 Books that Make Me Want to Travel NOW
My idea of THE ULTIMATE is laying in a hammock on a breezy balcony reading a great book. Or travelling to experience some place new. Love of travel or wanderlust or itchy feet or vagabondage (that’s a real word!) is tough to shake. So…if you can’t get out there and travel at this very moment, here are some books that make you feel like you’ve visited a new place. You can plan the actual trip later. Here are some of my favorite books that really make me want to travel.

Belize In December: Best Reasons To Visit (2016 Update)
For many, December is a time synonymous with family, a time to share in the company you might not usually get other times of the year, or in Belize at-least. For children it’s a time for good food, favorite cousins and whether we like to admit it or not; Christmas and all the cool things attributed to it! The holiday season is a time of wonder and a time to wander for everyone who’s frequently bitten by the travel bug.

International Sources

Sixteen animals racing against extinction in 2016
They are hunted for their bodies, trawled from the bottom of the sea, and captured for personal amusement. Although we are starting to understand the consequences of our actions, we still have a lot to do to mitigate our impact to the environment. While the IUCN Red List has multiple tiers of conservation status, this article profiles those classified as Critically Endangered – meaning that the species has a high risk of extinction in the wild. Here is a list of 16 animals that are classified as Critically Endangered in 2016 in no specific order.

Help Save the Flats of Belize’s Blackadore Caye TODAY!
We posted back in February about the proposed development of Blackadore Caye, in the middle of the fantastic fishery of Belize’s Chetumal Bay. Local residents and anglers—including guides from El Pecador Lodge—have been protesting both the process of the development, which involves dredging, and the intent to build overwater structures above sensitive flats. Here’s how the biologists at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust have characterized the project: A development project proposed by developer Delos and actor Leonardo DiCaprio will have negative impacts on the flats near Ambergris Caye, and would set a dangerous precedent that would threaten the flats habitats throughout Belize. This proposed project, Blackadore Caye Restorative Island Project, would construct extensive piers on the flats with over-water houses and hotels on them. Not only would this fragment the flats habitat, but it is also in violation of the rules governing the Hol Chan Marine Reserve in which Blackadore is located. Blackadore Caye is under serious threat, and we should do what we can to stop this kind of reckless development. Check out the video below to see how local voices are being ignored in this debate.

Xunantunich Ruins Wedding
Great title, depending on how you read it, of course. Rock and Roll Bride gives Xunantunich the credit it deserves, and Belize's Conch Creative captured some amazing photos. Congratulations to the new couple! "Michael and Sandy were married in Belize at the Xunantunich archaeological site. The couple are both fascinated by the ancient Maya culture and love visiting sites throughout Central America so saying their vows there was really special to them both."

Hidden gems if you want to retire overseas
Always dreamed of retiring overseas? It may be cheaper than staying in the United States. Just make sure to consider the cost of living, taxes and health care before making a permanent move. These categories, along with nine others, were included in the most important criteria that retirees should review when shopping the globe for the best places to live, according to Live and Invest Overseas, a company that publishes an annual index of the best places to retire abroad. In Belize's Cayo District, you'll notice that nearly everyone speaks English — it's the official language in the small, Central American country. Plus, your money will go further because the Belize dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of 2 to 1. The cost of living is about 21 percent lower than the U.S., according to Numbeo.com, another collaborative website that compares the cost of living in different cities. With Belize's Qualified Retired Persons visa, which you can get as long as you are over age 45, you can be granted permanent residency, which will give you an exemption from the country's income, capital gains and estate taxes.

Grad students partner with Central American village to harness free sustainable energy source
Clemson graduate student engineers are part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team working with the people of a small rural village in Belize to provide “free” sustainable energy for the village by converting food waste into fuel for cooking. Shakira Hobbs, a PhD candidate in the Glenn Department of Civil Engineering, first visited Sittee River Village in Belize while she was an undergraduate at the University of Maryland studying abroad. “I stayed in touch with one of the community leaders, Shelmadene Robinson, via Facebook, and she asked me several times to come back and do a sustainability project with them,” Hobbs explained. Hobbs traveled to Sittee River this summer, along with Clemson University industrial engineering PhD candidate Myrtede Alfred and Arizona State University sustainable engineering PhD student Evvan Morton. “Our goal for this trip,” said Hobbs, “was to determine how much food waste was produced in the village and the resorts nearby, and how much of the waste could be converted to methane.” The villagers currently use butane, which is non-renewable energy source and relatively expensive. By converting food waste to methane, the village would be less dependent on fossil fuels, and the residents would not have to spend as much of their income on fuel.

Thrill-seeking photographer risks life and limb as he swims alongside a ten-foot-long crocodile in Cancun
Stunning pictures show Mexican underwater snapper Rodrigo Friscione getting up close and personal with the 200lb predator. Rodrigo Friscione pictured the 200lb predator in clear water, offsetting its instinct to attack him by ambush. The 10-ft monster was filmed in the waters off the coast of Mexico and Belize

Videos

September 8, 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

Prime Minister Barrow commits to investigate Immigration Audit findings
After a three hour press conference on Thursday, September 1st, Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced that the Government of Belize (GOB) will commission an investigation into the various irregularities revealed in the recent audit of the Immigration Department. Such findings in the extensive report presented by Auditor General Dorothy Bradley detail multiple cases of fraud in the Immigration and Nationality Department. Accompanying Prime Minister Barrow at the press conference were Director of Immigration Diana Locke, Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration Beverly Williams, and Minister of Police Goldwin Hulse. At the gathering, GOB informed that they will appoint a joint select-committee of the National Assembly and not from the Senate as it had previously been requested. “The hearings will be held in public, televised and broadcast live,” said Barrow, “The feeling is that the joint select-committee should reflect the balance of representation we have agreed for in the reconfigured public accounts committee.”

American-Registered Vessel Grounded in Belizean Waters
The Belize Coast Guard has confirmed that a civilian vessel, registered in Delaware, USA, was grounded on the Belize Barrier Reef in the area of Hatchet Caye, located east-northeast of Placencia on Saturday, September 3rd. Onboard the vessel were three Colombians, four Guatemalans, and one American citizen. The incident reportedly took place around 5 PM and was relayed to the Coast Guard by the Belize Fisheries Department. The Government of Belize (GOB) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed with Guatemalan Authorities that the vessel left the Port of Livingston, Guatemala bound for Big Creek, Belize sometime after 10:30 AM on Friday, September 2nd.

Shooting incident in Chiquibul National Park continues to strain border relations
Another shooting incident involving the Belize Defense Force (BDF) and Guatemalans occurred on Wednesday, August 31st within the Chiquibul National Park. The Government of Belize (GOB) issued a press release on Thursday, September 1st, stating how an BDF reconnaissance patrol came under fire upon approaching an illegal settlement approximately 259 meters east of the Belize-Guatemala border. No one was reportedly injured, but incidents like these continue to put a strain on the relationship between the two countries. According to Commander of the Belize Defense Force, Brigadier General David Jones, the purpose of the patrol was to follow-up on an official Order to Leave (OTL) that was issued the previous week to 15 illegal settlers within the Chiquibul. It was reported that when the BDF patrol approached the location of the illegal settlement, unidentified persons initiated gunfire. In self-defense, the BDF patrol returned fire and withdrew to safety. However, Jones stated that he couldn’t confirm if the open fire came from the illegal settlers, or if the shots were fired from persons hiding in the bushes.

Ambergris Today

Pic of the Week - Titans Mas Band Takes King & Queen of Belize Carnival Titles
The King and Queen of Belize Carnival were selected over the weekend as September Celebrations in Belize kick up in high gear. The main attraction of the month-long celebrations is, of course, the Belize City Carnival Road March Parade that will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2016. The Titans Mas Band Carnival Group has proven to be a top contender for the Carnival King and Queen competition as they rose to the top once again for a consecutive year. The group’s King Karkinus and Queen La Sirene have been selected as the winners of this year’s competition in the Seniors Division under their theme of Secrets of the Sea.

Belize to Join in World Suicide Prevention Day
On World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), the Belize Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization invites the public to join in promoting suicide prevention and demonstrating joint responsibility to save lives that would otherwise be lost to suicide. In the spirit of this year’s theme - Connect, Communicate, Care - the WSPD flag will be raised on September 9th, 2016 to connect with the Belizean public on the issue of suicide prevention, to communicate with those who need assistance, and to show that the country cares about this very important issue. Flags will be raised in noticeable places in all districts. In Belize City, a flag raising ceremony will be held at the Battlefield Park on September 9th starting at 9:00 am.

Steps Taken to Strengthen Food and Drug Regulations in Belize
In an effort to further strengthen the regulation of food and pharmaceuticals in Belize, the Minister of Health Hon. Pablo Marin presented new amendments to the House of Representatives on the Food and Drugs Amendment Act of Chapter 291 of the substantive Laws of Belize revised Edition 2011. This will make provision to empower the making of regulations for the establishment of a drug registry and give effect to the provisions of the Act regarding the labeling of food or pharmaceuticals. With the provisions in this amendment, the Ministry of Health will be able to address regulatory responsibilities, such as the granting of licenses to establishments involved in the sale of food and medicines and to enhance the importation requirements for these. It also seeks to establish proper record keepings including the sale of medicines in books or registers and to allow for the removal of expired food and medicines from selling points, as well as random sample taking of medicines for quality testing.

Misc Belizean Sources

Bus prices up in time for independence celebrations!

REGGAE FEST CHETUMAL 2016
The Secretary of Culture and Education, MX invites all Belizeans for a dynamic reggae concert and program free of charge happening this weekend in Chetumal, Mexico. Featured reggae artist straight out of Jamaica for the second time in Chetumal this Friday night September 9th - KY-MANI MARLEY!!! Other Jamaican entertainers and artists will include Ce'cile, Inner Circle, Delroy Wormbass Nevin. Gondwana from Chile will make its appearance. Local Belizean singer Tanya Carter will make her debut. Local Mexican Artists include Mahima Son La Urraca/Chan Santa Roots, Korto Circuito/Roots and Flowers Collective, Ganja. This is a must attend concert. See event program for details and dates. See you there!

I Got the Voice Season II
I Got the Voice season II starts next Friday at the Princess Casino. It runs for 13 weeks. Best of luck to all the contestants!

New Book: Perspectives on the Ancient Maya of Chetumal Bay
Focusing on sites ringing the bay such as Cerro Maya, Oxtankah, and Santa Rita Corozal, the contributors to this volume explore how the bay and its feeder rivers affected all aspects of Maya culture from settlement, food production, and the production and use of special goods to political relationships and social organization. Chetumal Bay is central to discussions of ancient Maya politics, warfare, economy, exchange and communication because of its unique location. Although the ancient Maya invested prodigious amounts of labor in the construction of road systems called sacbeob for communication and trade, recent archaeological discoveries around Chetumal Bay in both Belize and Mexico reveal an economic alternative to these roads: an extensive network of riverine and maritime waterways. Focusing on sites ringing the bay such as Cerro Maya, Oxtankah, and Santa Rita Corozal, the contributors to this volume explore how the bay and its feeder rivers affected all aspects of Maya culture from settlement, food production, and the production and use of special goods to political relationships and social organization. Besides being a nexus for long distance exchange in valuable materials such as jade and obsidian, the region was recognized for its high quality agricultural produce, including cacao, achiote, vanilla, local fruits, honey, and salt, and for its rich marine environment. The Maya living on the fringes of the bay perceived the entire region as a single resource procurement zone. Waterborne trade brought the world to them, providing a wider horizon than would have been available to inland cities dependent only on Maya roads for news of the world. The research reveals that trade relations played a central role in the organization of human social life on Chetumal Bay.

Full Moon Concert
Mark your calendar..Friday September 16th.. Full Moon Concert at the Santa Elena Basketball Court.

Thanks to the Mayor for hosting the Miss Belize delegates!
The Belize City Council hosted a luncheon at City Hall for the Miss Belize Delegates 2016.

Grant Opportunity
The U.S. Embassy, Belmopan, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, invites qualified candidates to bid on a grant opportunity entitled “Citizen Security through Neighborhood Watch”, which seeks to expand and improve National Citizen Security through Neighborhood Watch Programs in Belize by creating and strengthening self-sustaining community neighborhood watch groups. This grant opportunity is opened to U.S. not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or U.S. based educational institutions subject to section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code; Foreign not-for-profits/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or Foreign based educational institutions.

2016 Carnival Senior Queen Competition
Here are some of the photos that we captured for the 2016 Carnival Senior Queen Competition. Carnival Senior Queen 1st Place - Queen La Sirene – Titans Mas Band

2016 Carnival Senior King Competition
Here are some of the photos that we captured for the 2016 Carnival Senior King Competition. Carnival Senior King 1st Place - King Karkinus – Titans Mas Band

2016 Carnival Junior Queen Competition
Here are some of the photos that we captured for the 2016 Carnival Junior Queen Competition. Carnival Junior Queen 1st Place - Queen Renata – Jump Street Posse

2016 Carnival Junior King Competition
Here are some of the photos that we captured for the 2016 Carnival Junior King Competition. Carnival Junior King 1st Place - King Fayah Bun – Jump Street Posse

BELTRAIDE SHOWCASES ITS SERVICES AT EXPO BELIZE 2016
The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service, (BELTRAIDE) was among over 200 exhibitors at EXPO BELIZE 2016, the flagship networking event of the year of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), which was held on September 3rd & 4th 2016 at the ITVET Compound on Freetown Road in Belize City. Visitors to our booth had the opportunity to sample and purchase products from six Belizean companies, all clients of the Small Business Development Centre (SBDCBelize), who were part of our booth. SBDCBelize, is a unit of BELTRAIDE. These included Fibber’s and Marvilleous sauces. Those with a sweet tooth enjoyed the wide range of jams and jellies from Belizean Home Made Jellies from San Ignacio. Also on display were products such as handicrafts from Kimberly Gottoy, repellents and beauty from Jerusalem Beauty products and K & K respectively.

9th Annual San Pedro Fire Truck Parade
Friday, Sept. 9, starting at 7pm.

Caye Caulker Village Council Family Fun Day
The public is invited to our very first CCVC FAMILY FUN DAY!!!! WHEN: Saturday, September 10th 2016! Place: Palapa Gardens Time: 9am All families that wish to participate, please contact Ms. Liz at 630-3652!! Have fun!!! Win Prizes!!! Drinks and food will be on sale!!!! Come on out and support our Family Fun Day!!!! Music by DJ THUNDA VYBZ SOUNDS!!!

Miss Belize Fashion Show Behind the Scenes
Some of the behind the scenes pictures from the Miss Belize Fashion Show held at Midas Resort on Saturday.

Biological monitoring of scarlet macaws for the 2016 has concluded
14 of the 21 chicks fledged successfully from their natural cavities. FCD is thankful to all the persons involved including the FCD research team, Forest Department staff, Scarlet 6 staff, volunteers, Dr. Isabelle and our funders.

Black-cheeked woodpecker rescued
This black-cheeked woodpecker was found among the devastation of hurricane Earl by the wonderful people at Caves Branch. Thankfully not injured, but he was young and had probably been in a cavity nest that was destroyed in the storm. He has always been a very eager pecker, although as with all babies he did not always peck at appropriate objects! He was flying around very soon after we got him and eating almost everything offered. After a couple of weeks of practice, the time came for him to try to fend for himself, so we took him back to Caves Branch for release. Ella Baron and two of her wonderful staff joined us, guiding us to the best and most appropriate release site. He flew up onto an old cohune tree and happened to land on the other other side of bark from a tree frog, which he promptly started pecking. The frog did not seem too happy about that, but our inappropriate woodpecker was having fun. Even if the frog wan't overjoyed about the new neighbour, we enjoyed returning him to his home and watching him start his life there. Thanks to Ian, Ella and the Caves Branch crew once again!

FCCA Poster and Essay Competition Winners 2016

Channel 7

PUP Swarm The City
Today, the opposition PUP swarmed into Belize City. The plan to send an emphatic message to the Barrow Administration by blanketing the country's largest population centre in blue. Now, General Elections were held less than a year ago – and some might say it is too early to push so hard for a regime change – but the PUP feels that between the Danny Mason debacle, the BTL compensation, the Immigration Scandal and everything else in between – the Barrow Administration is vulnerable. The party poured its supporters and its resources into the City today to build political momentum out of public resentment. Did it work? 7News was on the ground to gauge the pressure and Daniel Ortiz reports:… PUP supporters from all over the country converged this morning at the Constitution Park, blocking the area off from its usual morning traffic. Specialized police teams were on guard, and the officers watched vigilantly from a distance, making sure that there would be no civil unrest.

Mayor Supports PUP Push For Senate Inquiry
The PUP took a number of issues to the street – and one of the most prominent ones was the call for a Senate Inquiry into irregularities in the Immigration Department. That caught the Belize City mayor's ear. He's a UDP mayor and a UDP Standard Bearer but he says he supports the protest and the call for a commission of inquiry – even if his party leader is pushing another plan:… Darrell Bradley - Mayor Belize City: "I didn't have an opportunity to see the March. I don't support the politicizing in relation to an issue like this but I support the spirit of it that Belizeans would March against corruption and would March against things which ought not to go on within our society and I have watched the issue the discussions going across the floor in terms of the dialogue and I support a Senate inquiry. I think that the Senate has the constitutional mandate in relation to making inquiries of this nature I think that the Senate would be a more well positioned and objective body having representation from the social partners and a stronger voice from the opposition. I don't see how a joint committee where you have persons who are themselves named in the report itself who could give it the kind of credibility that an inquiry needs to be, so that if I would give my voice to this I would have to say that I support a senate inquiry."

Director Dorian Sent Home For Positive Cocaine Test
Director of the Government Press Office Dorian Pakeman has been in very hot water since Tuesday when police disclosed that his blood sample had tested positive for cocaine. That came out when a sample was taken after an accident where he knocked down and killed mechanic Dean Dawson. Well, tonight he's gone from hot water to being put on ice, as in suspended without pay. Today, the Government Press Office, which he normally heads, sent out a press release from Prime Minister, who he directly answers to. It says, quote, "following a meeting today between the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow and the Director of the Press Office Mr. Dorian Pakeman, Mr. Pakeman is being placed on immediate unpaid leave. The Office awaits the decision of the Director of Public Prosecution on whether to bring charges of whatever nature against Mr. Pakeman arising out of all the circumstances surrounding the traffic incident in which he was involved."

Pregnant Mother Of Two Killed Execution Style In Orange Walk
A young, pregnant mother was shot and killed in Orange Walk Town last night. 22 year old Jahida Briceno was at home with her family last night around 7:00 when a visitor called out for her. Jahida came out to see who it was and instead of a friendly greeting, she was hit with 2 gunshots. It was an execution of the rarest kind – because killers don't usually target women, particularly a mother of two with one on the way. We travelled to Orange Walk today to find out more about this ruthless murder. Jahida Briceno lived here with her 2 children and her father. She brought her dad to live with her in June after he had injured his leg in an accident, leaving him unable to walk. They all lived comfortably together here at their Boundary Road home. But everything changed last night when Jahida was lured out of the house to her death. Her father gave us the shocking account off camera.

Man Remanded For Knifepoint Robbery
Tonight, 23 year-old Orange Walk resident Jamal Warrior is on remand at the Belize Central Prison. That's because a young man accused him of a knife point robbery. The incident happened yesterday at around 11:15 a.m. A 16 year-old minor was walking on Meighan Avenue when he was approached by 2 men on bicycles. One of the men grabbed him, placed a knife at his neck, and robbed him of his iPhone. The men rode off, but the victim's father called the police, and they both set chase. They detained one of the men later identified as Jamal Warrior. He was searched, but he did not have stolen phone on him. The cops did find a small quantity of marijuana. They charged him for the robbery, and drug possession.

Mayor Slams His Former Deputy Eric Chang
Earlier, you heard Belize City Mayor Darrell Bradley speak with uncommon boldness and candor about why he supports the PUP in their call for a Senate Inquiry – and why he does not support the Prime Minister's alternative, which is a joint select committee. And you also heard him discuss corruption in public life and amongst elected officials. But corruption is not so easy to root out: first, it's hard to prove definitively, and when you're dealing with elected officials, they can't be so easily fired because they have a mandate. The mayor himself learned this when former Deputy Mayor Eric Chang was caught right up in the middle of the Citizen Kim scenario. The Auditor General's report reproduced an email form the then Ambassador Cherie Nisbet which showed that Chang was pressing every angle to get Kim's passport situation regularized, and he even sought to use his office as deputy Mayor to visit Kim in a detention facility. But for all that Chang still served out his term as a city councillor. Today we asked the mayor about that:

Sugar City Cops Caught Weed
Orange Walk police busted a man with a pound of weed yesterday. Police searched the man's home in the San Lorenzo housing site and found his stash in a cooler. Police told us more about this bust. ASP Selvin Tillett - OC, Orange Walk Police: "Yesterday also Orange Walk police were patrolling San Lorenzo housing sight sometime around 5:30 yesterday evening where they saw a male person with a red and white ice cooler acting suspicious in a yard. Police entered the yard and when they searched the cooler it contained leafy vegetable susbstance suspected to be marijuana; the drug parcels were brought back to the Orange Walk police station where a total of 550 grams."

"What did the Spanish See at St. George's Caye?"
History Association added new grist to the dispute when it revealed the preliminary findings of a research project between academics in Belize and Mexico. They pored over the Spanish Archival Records on the Battle of St. George's Caye, to find out what the Spanish thought of the event. They presented their findings to students today at the Bliss centre and at the University of Belize. Here's what we learned at the Bliss Centre: Dr. Herman Byrd - BARS, Belize: "I think we've accomplished a gigantic task and that is we've completed the transcription of these 1,200 pages and as you'll see in a moment we have been able to kind of reconstruct a timeline of the battle from the point of view of the Spanish officials who were involved in it." Dr. Angel Cal - UB: "What we presenting this morning is preliminary. There is no new major finding unknown to us in Belize from British or archival sources."

Mayor Meets Queens
Today before he served up some serious putdowns for his UDP, the Mayor served lunch to the Miss Belize Delegates. Nine of the ten contestants showed up to city hall for some Turkey Dinner catered by the council. The Mayor hosted them for lunch and told us they make good lunch dates, and role models:… The Miss Belize pageant will be held on Saturday at the Bliss Centre:..

New Bus Rates For Western Corridor
If you’re a regular commuter like I am – you’ll know that just the suggestion of a fare increase at the current level of sub par service, would be enough to make you faint! Well, hold on to your seats because that’s what the western bus line are promising. They say they only make 11 cents per mile while the other runs make 14 cents. The minister says he will be discuss it with them tomorrow.

CTV3

Jahida Remembered As A Great Softball Player
In addition to being a super mom to her two kids, as described by her family, 22 year old Jahida Crawford was known locally for being a softball icon. Playing the sport from a very young age, Jahida was the best catcher in Orange Walk- the hardest position to play in softball, according to her aunt and longtime coach. Jahida Aunt – Softball Organizer: “I have been playing softball for a number of years, I was the pitcher for my team and she was the catcher and we played well together and we played a lot of games and she did excellently and I was really surprised that she turned out to be a really good catcher because that is one of the hardest spots...”

BSCFA And ASR To Meet Face To Face In Court
Approximately two months ago the Sugar Industry suffered major loss as three thousand nine hundred tons of molasses found in storage tank number one at the Sugar Factory had reportedly become damaged by Maillard Reaction. BSI/ASR attributed the reaction to a combination of factors including abnormally high level of reducing sugars and the weather and ambient temperatures. The company then demanded that cane farmers share the loss of revenues amounting to four hundred thousand dollars. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, BSCFA, completely disagreed with the company for two specific reasons. The first being that once a delivery has been made to the factory, it automatically becomes property of ASR and second that there is absolutely no agreement which states that farmers must participate in the sharing of losses that occurred during the process of sugar making. The BSCFA is also of the position that the Maillards reaction occurred as a result of negligence by the company in following proper procedures as it relates to the boiling process.

BNTU To Hold On National Consultation On National Issues
On Friday the National Teachers Union will be meeting with Prime Minister Dean Barrow where they will put fort their official position as it relates to the deferral of the Salary adjustment for teachers proposed by PM following hurricane Earl. According to President of BNTU Orange Walk, Otilio Munoz- the position of the Belize National Teachers Union going into Friday’s meeting is a clear cut one. Otilio Munoz – President of BNTU Orange Walk Branch: “There is a meeting schedule for Friday where the three Unions will be expressing their position; I can tell you that BNTU position is NO to the deferral, the teachers want their salary adjustment which ever month, September is already going once it is the 15th it will be hard on getting it on September but whatever month retroactive April and that is the stand of Belize National Teachers’ Union.”

Press Officer Placed On Leave Without Pay
On Monday we reported that the long awaited results from the urine sample that was taken from the Director of Government Press Office, Dorian Pakeman following the traffic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway which claimed the life of forty five year old Dean Dawson Sr. back in March indicated that Pakeman was under the influence of cocaine as traces of the drug was discovered in his bloodstream. After information surrounding the result of the sample was publicly announced by the Belize Police Department, Pakeman made a post on social media in an attempt to defend himself from the allegations made against him, stating that it is completely untrue.

Orange Walkeno Detained For Robbery In Belize City
Jamal Warrior, a resident of Orange Walk Town is tonight in police custody after he was brought before Magistrate Carlon Mendoza earlier today on charge of robbery after he reportedly assaulted a sixteen year old minor yesterday morning. The minor reported to police that at around 11:15 a.m. he was approached by two men on bicycles while walking on Meighan Avenue in Belize City. He also told authorities that one of the individuals placed a knife to the left side of his neck while the other took his Apple I-phone from the right pocket of his pants, then both men immediately rode off on their bicycles.

OW Police Confiscates Drugs Found Inside Of Ice Cooler
A routine street patrol carried out by the Orange Walk Police Formation yesterday in the San Lorenzo Housing Site area proved successful for authorities as they removed a total of 550 grams of cannabis from the streets of our town. Selvin Tillette – Commanding Officer Orange Walk Branch: “Police was patrolling San Lorenzo Housing Site somewhere around 5:30 yesterday evening where we saw a male person with a white cooler acting suspicious in that area, the police entered the yard and when they search the cooler they contained green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana, the drugs was brought to the Orange Walk police station where a total of 550 grams.”

PlusTV

Protest in Benque
We have reported on the bus war between BBOC and Mexican owned bus line, ADO as it relates to additional runs given to the Mexican bus line, a run that BBOC cuts into their customers since ADO is allegedly picking up passengers along the highway. While that is still all being worked out, we understa...

Man shot multiple times in Belize City
There was another shooting incident in Belize City on Monday night. 21-year-old Adrian Dyer of a George Street address was shot multiple times to the thighs .ACP Chester Williams gave the details. ACP Chester Williams, Officer Commanding Eastern Division (South) Sometime after ten last night one Adr...

Third Monday night shooting
There was a third shooting in Belize City on Monday night. Sometime around 10 o’clock last night, police responded to shots being fired at the corner of New Road and Victoria Street, Belize City. 19-year-old John Orozco of Belize City had been shot to the right forearm. Orozco told police that he ...

Edward McKay is remanded to prison after alleged to rob man then stabbing him
A man was robbed and stabbed in the Ladyville area and tonight his attacker is behind bars on remand at the Belize Central Prison. 26 year old Edward McKay recently got out of jail but is headed back there after being charged with robbery, dangerous harm and use of deadly means of harm upon Tyrone S...

Teacher is charged with knocking down a police officer in the city
42 year old Teacher, Kevin Nigel Campbell, of Belize City, was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate Court for driving a motor vehicle without due care and attention and negligent harm upon a police officer, Police Constable, 32 year old Adonias Gonzalez. Campbell knocked down P.C. Gonzalez on Sat...

Mason’s Home in Belmopan Burglarized says wife
The wife of accused murderer and kidnapper, William Danny Mason, has reported that their home on the hill was burglarized. The 48-year-old Canadian woman, Melissa Ferguson , reported the matter to police saying that between 11:00 p.m. on Friday 15th July 2016, and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday 17th August...

Girl arrested for drug trafficking
19 year old woman was arrested yesterday by San Pedro police for drug trafficking. Tracy Betancourt was reportedly was intercepted by a joint team of Special Branch and CIB personnel as she was travelling in a yellow Mazda Protégé taxi at the corner of Caribena Street and Barrier Reef Drive in San P...

Breaking Belize News

BNTU holds nationwide consultations on various national issues
All 10 district branches of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) are holding consultations with their members tomorrow, Thursday, September 8th to discuss issues of national concern, over and above PM Barrow’s proposal to defer their salary increase. While the district branches fine-tune plans […]

P.U.P. march in Belize City
Close to five thousand persons from across the country, in the party’s colors of blue and white, swelled through downtown Belize City from Constitution to B.T.L. Park in a show of force not seen by the People’s United Party (PUP) in the Old Capital […]

BDF helicopter pilots in training
The Belize Defence Force’s Air Wing is busy learning the use of the two helicopters obtained in different circumstances in recent times. Two Hueys from Taiwan and a Bell ‘copter abandoned in Orange Walk form the basis of the helicopter corps and the pilots […]

D.P.P.: Office still reviewing Pakeman file
Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryl-Lynn Vidal has told the media that her office has issued no directions on charges for Director of the Government Press Office Dorian Pakeman in relation to the fatal traffic death of Dean Dawson in March. The reason for that […]

Police arrest three men for drug trafficking
Police have arrested Jose Luis Guerra and two other men for drug trafficking. According to reports, police visited Guerra’s residence where they conducted a search in a red and white ice cooler that was floating in a creek in his back yard. Police discovered […]

Director of Press Office Placed on Unpaid Leave
A press release issued by the GOB press office just now is reporting that the Director of the Press Office, Mr. Dorian Pakeman has been placed on immediate unpaid leave. The release reads: The Office of the Prime Minister announces that following a meeting […]

Police find marijuana on the Placencia Peninsula
An anti-drug operation was conducted within Placencia and Seine Bight villages by K9 personnel, Special Branch, CIB and Seine Bight Police which yielded 286.9 grams of cannabis. The operation took place on September 6th between the hours of 4:30 and 7:30 a.m. Police have […]

Massive PUP protest in Belize City
Supporters and members of the People’s United Party (PUP) are gathering at the Constitution Park in Belize City to stage a protest against corruption in Belize. According to the PUP, the purpose of the ‘Save Belize Now’ march is to stand up for the […]

Police Are Investigating the Fatal Shooting of a Woman in Orange Walk
Police in Orange Walk are investigating the murder of a young woman that happened in Orange Walk last night. According to reports, police visited the corner of Rio Bravo and Boundary Road in Orange Walk Town where inside the living room of a cement […]

Blogs

Celebrating September in Belize
It’s that time of year again – September Celebrations. September 21, 2016 marks Belize’s 35th anniversary of becoming an independent country (from Britain), and September 10 is the day it gained independence from Spain in 1798 after winning of the Battle at St. George’s Caye. With two big events in Belize’ history occurring in the same month it’s no wonder that many of the approximate 368,000 people of this tiny country celebrate pretty much throughout the month. This year’s theme is “Sovereign and Strong – Together as One” Belizeans will show their pride throughout the month. Both private citizens and businesses will be decorating their cars, bikes and homes with Belize Flags and our Country colors – blue, white and red.

“Bad Boys” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye,Belize.
Well if you read the previous edition you’ll know that Rose, Ziggy and I got through Hurricane Earl with very few problems and we felt confident that we could cope with the three , yes three, hurricanes that were due to ‘hit’ Ambergris Caye on 7 August. We’d known that Hurricanes Alfie, Louie and Frankie (I know that these names don’t appear within the list of hurricane names for 2016) were going to ‘hit’ Ambergris Caye since August last year. We just didn’t foresee that they would arrive just four days after Hurricane Earl. When Rose and I sat down (on many, many occasions) to lay out the design for the house we planned to build on Ambergris Caye we had a clear consensus that it would include a clearly defined and separate area that family and friends could use if they (and we hoped that they would) came to visit us. Eventually we decided that the best way (well for us at least) was to incorporate a two bedroom/two bathroom, self-contained apartment built on the ground floor. Well actually if I’m truthful it started out as being a one bedroom/bathroom apartment but we changed our minds (and the design) mid construction.

St. George's Caye
Named after the patron saint of England, St. George’s Caye (pronounced “key”) is a small island located a few miles off the coast of Belize City. Although this tiny island is inhabited by just two dozen people, it played an enormously important role in the history of Belize. St. George’s Caye is located approximately eight miles east of Belize City. With several hotels, bars, and restaurants, it’s always a good time to visit this picturesque island. But definitely don’t miss the festivities surrounding St. George’s Caye Day every year on September 10 when a re-enactment of the naval battle takes place in the waters off of the island. There are no commercial routes that go to St. George’s Caye, however several private water taxi operators offer regular service from the docks at Belize City both to the island as well as other nearby cayes. Currently, there is no air strip on the island so the only way to get there is by water.

Beautiful Belize scenery...and ugly construction pics!!! :)
I was thankful last weekend to get a last minute invite to join some friends on a boat trip to Ranguana and Silk Cayes...one of the great joys of living here - it isn't long before you get these invites from new friends, as so many have access to boats! We had heard that there was perhaps some damage to Silk Caye from Hurricane Earl, so we were all anxious to see it, as this is a HUGE draw for guests here. THANKFULLY.....it was absolute paradise. We had a laugh as the word "paradise" tends to be overused here.....but, check out the pics below....if this isn't paradise than I truly do not know what is, we all agreed that this is it! Also, if you want to take these excursions while you are here - Silk Caye is very easy. From about $75-115us you can go with almost any tour operator. There are booths all throughout the village and this couldn't be easier to set up.

“I Love Belize Bad” by Samuel Sabido
To all Belizeans, dah home or dah Farren, I love Belize Bad I love Belize like Johnny love Orange Walk I love Belize like Darrel love BTL park I love Belize like Agric love Pan I love Belize like city people love Jam Roll Man I love Belize like Belizean love Quarrel I love Belize like Belizean love One Barrel I love Belize like Swing bridge love swing I love Belize like Jo grind love married thing I love Belize like old folks like cuss I love Belize like people love Serano’s bus I love Belize like Belize love Lee Chee I love Belize like they now name Key Lee I love Belize like Maya Island Air love the sky

Coconut Pie
(at 20 minutes they start discussing Clip art for some reason...)

International Sources

NOAA Outlook for Central America September 8 – 14, 2016
In late August and early September, a widespread distribution of moderate to locally heavy rainfall accumulations was received over much of Central America. According to satellite rainfall estimates, the highest weekly accumulations (>100mm) were registered over western Guatemala, with pockets of comparable amounts over southern Honduras, and the Gulf of Nicoya regions of Costa Rica. Since early August, changes in the Postrera rainfall performance have been observed. Increased and more frequent rainfall has been observed over central portions of Guatemala and central Honduras, which has helped to alleviate residual dryness and moisture deficits resulting from the suppressed rains during the Primera season. Conversely, strengthening moisture deficits have been observed throughout southern and eastern parts of El Salvador. Although satellite rainfall estimates have depicted low and unseasonably erratic rains throughout central and western Nicaragua, ground reports indicate no negative impacts on cropping activities in Nicaragua.

All You Need To Know Before Visiting Belize
Have you ever wondered where you should spend your next vacation? Ever envisioned an extended period of tranquility? Whether you just want to visit, or you have a bigger plan in mind, you will find this small Central American country a paradise, tucked away with beauty and nice experiences. Located just south of Mexico in the heart of the Caribbean Basin is this rather interesting place known as Belize, where people of different kinds meet and mix in a subtropical climate that makes their world feel like there is no other. Belize is the former British Colony, known as British Honduras, covering an area of almost 9,000 square miles, and with a population of less than 400,000 people, Belize has lots of “wide open spaces” to explore and discover. The population density is the lowest in Central American and one of the lowest in the world. The country was granted its independence from Great Britain in 1981 and is a member of both the British Commonwealth and the United Nations. In 2010, Belmopan, the capital city had a population of less than 15,000 inhabitants.

Belize Hoteliers Question 'Insane' Hotel Standard Amendments
Proposed changes to the Belize Tourism Board (BTB)’s National Classification System for Accommodations are disturbing some hoteliers in this once-sleepy Caribbean destination in the midst of a significant visitor surge. While BTB’s proposed changes seek to “improve minimum standards for hotels and tourist accommodations in Belize,” the amendments include language some operators find “just insane,” in the words of one hotelier. A version of the proposed changes are expected to be implemented by December said Sharyn Brinker, owner of Mariposa Jungle Lodge and member of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), which represents Belize hoteliers. BTIA chapter officials are currently reviewing the proposed changes and are expected to issue a formal response in October said Brinker. The changes are intended to amend existing regulations, not craft new ones. “The official BTIA position is we are working with BTB to create better standards,” she said.

Peer-learning to improve urban water and sanitation practices in Belize
GWOPA/UN-Habitat, through the regional WOP-LAC secretariat, provided instrumental and financial support for the creation and implementation of a Water Operators' Partnership between Belize Water Services (BWS), the national water and sanitation provider, and Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), a California-based water utility. Financial support was provided by the Inter-American Development Bank and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility. Staff time and other expenses were covered by the mentor and recipient partner. The WOP aimed at strengthening the human, organizational and institutional capacity of the recipient utility by adopting good practices, implementing new technology, reducing NRW and improving maintenance techniques. The activities of the WOP started with a joint diagnosis to select the training areas based on pre-identified key priorities of the mentee and expertise areas of the mentor. Partners decided to work on different strategic areas, such as safety, operations, engineering, finance, customer services, information and technology, and public outreach.

Guatemala rejects OAS report on border dispute shooting
Guatemala says it wants the Inter-American Human Rights (IACHR) Court to investigate the shooting death of a Guatemalan teenager earlier this year after rejecting an investigation carried out by the Organisation of American States (OAS). Guatemala had originally asked the OAS to carry out the probe into the incident that had threatened to escalate its border dispute with Belize. But earlier this week, President Jimmy Morales said that his country “categorically” rejected the report claiming that for the report to be conclusive “it should have criminal implications for those responsible”. The 22-page report by the OAS followed a decision by both countries that have had a long-standing border dispute for the hemispheric body to probe the April 20th killing of 14-year-old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano.

CDB funds workshop to improve service delivery in the tourism industry
For many countries in the Caribbean, a successful tourism industry is critical to social and economic growth and development. However, an increasingly competitive global tourism market has meant that Caribbean countries must find ways to differentiate themselves, in order to continue to attract visitors. One way to do this is to improve the level of service delivery that is provided by tourism-related micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs). The international Hospitality Assured Certification (HAC), which was developed specifically for tourism and tourism-related businesses, promotes a culture of service and business excellence. Businesses that have attained the HAC have signaled their commitment to service delivery, business excellence and continuous improvement.

Caribbean fisherfolk look to the future
Leaders of the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO) met at a two-day performance and planning workshop to discuss and critically assess the CNFO’s performance since its formation almost ten years ago. They were joined in this exercise by representatives from partner organisations the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Fisheries Division, Trinidad and Tobago, Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies of the University of the West Indies (UWI-CERMES) and Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI). The CNFO is a network of small-scale fisherfolk organisations operating in the CARICOM region, with its mission being to improve the quality of life for fisherfolk and develop a sustainable and profitable industry through networking, representation and capacity building.

13th century Maya codex, long shrouded in controversy, proves genuine
The Grolier Codex, an ancient document that is among the rarest books in the world, has been regarded with skepticism since it was reportedly unearthed by looters from a cave in Chiapas, Mexico, in the 1960s. But a meticulous new study of the codex has yielded a startling conclusion: The codex is both genuine and likely the most ancient of all surviving manuscripts from ancient America. Stephen Houston, the Dupee Family Professor of Social Science and co-director of the Program in Early Cultures at Brown University, worked with Michael Coe, professor emeritus of archeology and anthropology at Harvard and leader of the research team, along with Mary Miller of Yale and Karl Taube of the University of California-Riverside. They reviewed "all known research on the manuscript," analyzing it "without regard to the politics, academic and otherwise, that have enveloped the Grolier," the team wrote in its study "The Fourth Maya Codex."

Videos

September 7, 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

Ambergris Today

Fishy Art Heightens Awareness About Rising Tide of Pollutants
The sea’s deadliest predator is trash! - Every year, it’s estimated that more than three billion pounds of plastics, styrofoam and other pollutants end up in the world’s oceans. Marine debris poses deadly consequences to threatened species like turtles and is often mistaken for food by a wide variety of marine animals, which could pose health implications to humans. Belize’s beaches, cayes and coastlines are not immune to this global problem. While a significant amount of the marine debris that washes ashore floats in from other countries, a disturbing amount of garbage generated here at home does end up in the Caribbean Sea. According the David Matus, Titans Mas Band’s Creative Director, “We’re coming at our theme this year: Secrets of the Sea, from more than one angle. On one hand, there’s beauty and wonder but on the other, there are threats like ocean pollution. We want people to realize that dirty secrets like marine debris negatively impacts the Belize we all depend on.”

Because Every Animal Deserve a Second Chance
Clear the Shelter September - Imagine what our world would be like if there were no homeless animals It happens about this time every year, the shelter and clinic at Saga Humane Society on Ambergris Caye, Belize fills up with unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats. The tourists have left the island and slow season upon us. Pet owners often can't make ends meet and turn to Saga for help. We can't say no; it is our mission to care for the discarded, the unwanted, the neglected and abused homeless animals. The Shelter is full and we need to find loving homes for all the dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. Can you help us Clear The Shelter?

Misc Belizean Sources

LIFE & DEATH IN BELIZE: A CREATURE IN SEARCH OF A LIFE!
(Dedicated to all the doctors, nurses, and staff at Belize's Karl Huesner Hospital in Belize City) What moves me most about my activism for Belize is its survival as a nation and people. And in my last connection to my roots a few weeks ago, it is astonishing how some of the most moving human stories unfolded there without one even being aware that they were about to transpire. Belize and its people is a creature in search of a life. Take a simple thing like heath care that many of us Belizeans take for granted, and for many us who solemnly believe that because we use holistic forms of herbal remedies to stabilize our lives that we are in no need to see a doctor. And since we have never had one root canal, nor one cavity, that we will never ever need to face the mercy of what appears to be Belize's cursed medical institution and its hospitals countrywide.

Bi-national Watershed public awareness campaign
The Bi-national Watershed public awareness campaign is up and running. FCD’s educator presenting posters and other materials to the Chairman of Santa Familia village, Cayo District.

SBDC Workshop: BASICS OF BUSINESS LAW (START UP ESSENTIALS)
September 15th, 2016 9am to 12noon. The overall objective of this workshop is to equip our clients with knowledge, skills and capabilities necessary to start a business. Through this workshop attendees will be competent individuals with the skills and knowledge to formulate and start their business. FREE OF COST! LOCATION: Beltraide's Conference Room 14 Orchid Garden Street, Belmopan. Includes - Refreshments only.

San Pedrana Teen busted with drugs
On Monday the 5th September, 2016 at 4:35 p.m., Special Branch and CIB personnel intercepted a yellow Mazda Protégé Taxi at the corner of Caribena Street and Barrier Reef Drive, occupied by a female passenger. 19 year old Tracy Betancourt of Bayside Area, San Pedro Town who was sitting in the front passenger side with a brown downy cartoon box in her lap. She was ordered out of the vehicle and the box was searched. It had 4 parcels wrapped in black plastic bag and further wrapped in transparent plastic which was cut open and its contents was consisted to that of Cannabis. Betancourt was escorted at the San Pedro Police Station where the drugs was weighed and amounted to 1,875 grams or 4.13 pounds. She was formally arrested and charged for Drugs Trafficking.

SEIZURE OF PACKAGE CONTAINING SUSPECTED CANNABIS AT THUNDERBOLT DOCK
On Sunday the 4th of September 2016 at 9:20 a.m., Special Branch intelligence (a joint team of Special Branch and CIB) visited the Thunder Bolt Dock located in the Saca Chispa Area of San Pedro Town. A black plastic bag containing corn masa was retrieved from off the boat. A search was then conducted within the masa which led to a parcel wrapped in brown plastic tape and green plastic bag. The parcel was cut open which revealed suspected Cannabis also known as 'green leafy like supstance'. As a result the package was taken to the San Pedro Police Station where the drugs was weighed and amounted to 120.9 grams. The drugs was labeled as found property.

Updated September Calendar!
Look for it in this week's newspapers, too.

JOB POSTING! Finance Officer for NICH.

OB POSTING! Museum of Belize (NICH) and Houses of Culture Director.

JOB POSTING! Administrator for NICH.

All of our baby white fronts have finally moved out of their tiny apartment
And into a huge place with the other, older white fronts. 26 wriggly babies were caught, weighed, crated, and moved in one hectic hour. Phew! They were a little unsure at first, but after a few seconds peering out through the crate door in the new enclosure, they were flying off exploring and loving the new space. Not babies anymore, no more hand feeding, and now they are one huge step closer to life in the wild! The fluffy half-bald one is Mary-Kate who we posted about a few months back. We had to separate him from his brother, Ashley, as they were aggressive and tearing out each other's feathers. Mary-Kate can fly and is almost waterproof, so we tried him out in this group and he loves it! No aggression at all, as is almost always the case once a bird has enough space. Unfortunately Ashley is still too naked to join them but he will soon catch up. Love those white-fronts!

Belize Fishing Report, August 27th – September 3rd, 2016
5 Grand Slams… need I say more? Ok, how about 1 boat landed 4 tarpon in a day, another had 25 bonefish. Spectacular fishing. Marina from the UK started the week off with the first tarpon of the week and her first tarpon ever, a nice 30 pounder and she landed 2 more solid fish at 20 and 35 pounds. Marina’s beau, Edd also landed 2 tarpon on the last day and fat 70 pounder and a frisky 10 pounder. John U. landed tarpon, Keelan landed her tarpon, Josh came through with a tarpon that was part of his slam, Mike was successful, Larry landed a real big one, Ken added a tarpon to seal his slam, Peter managed a tarpon to the boat, and Matt and Will both landed tarpon on their slam day.

World Suicide Prevention Day
On World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization invites the public to join us in promoting suicide prevention and demonstrating our joint responsibility to save lives that would otherwise be lost to suicide. In the spirit of this year’s theme - Connect, Communicate, Care - the WSPD flag will be raised on September 9th, 2016 to connect with the Belizean public on the issue of suicide prevention, to communicate with those who need assistance, and to show that we care about this very important issue. Flags will be raised in noticeable places in all districts. In Belize City, a flag raising ceremony will be held at the Battlefield Park on September 9th starting at 9:00 am. The media is especially invited to attend.

Dr. Pepper Scholarships
Deadline- October 17, 2016.

Splashers
Join us this week at Crazy Canucks to paint Tortuga Beach. Fun Fact: Sea Turtles have been on Earth for more than 100 million years — even surviving the dinosaurs when they became extinct 65 million years ago.

Santa Elena Full Moon Concert
The SISE House of Culture is having a Full Moon Concert and Children's Talent Show at the Santa Elena Basketball Court next Friday, September 16th, as part of the September Celebrations. Thanks, NICH! Happy September! "Mark your calendar..Friday September 16th.. Full Moon Concert at the Santa Elena Basketball Court."

Rotaract Adopt a Village 2016
The Rotaract Club of San Ignacio visited students of the Yalbac and La Gracia, and delivered school supplies. Not only that, they have many more to distribute, and they pay the tuition for 34 of the students. Thanks, Rotaract! "Today Rotaract Club of San Ignacio members went out to La Gracia and Yalbac village to deliver bags filled with school supplies for classes from infant 1 to standard 6; the club also pays tuition for all 34 students. We still have 50 additional school bags with school supplies to distribute within this coming month."

Department of Environment Theme Competition
The Department of the Environment is celebrating 25 years, and they are having a theme competition. The winner will get $500. The deadline is September 23rd.

Channel 7

Another Martin's Murder Targets Youth From Gang Neighborhood
Gang warfare has spiked again in the city – and last night, a 21 year old lost his life – apparently just because he came from the wrong neighborhood. Just before 6:30, Nicasio Zuniga better known as DJ General was shot in the head as he walked down Complex Drive. Today I tried to find out why this young aspiring DJ was so ruthlessly executed. Amidst the spirited choir rehearsals, A gunshot rang out on Complex drive in the St. Martins area, killing Nicasio John Zuniga. His blood, smearing the street like a carpet stain. ACP Chester Williams - Regional Commander, Eastern Division South: "Last night or yesterday evening rather sometime around 6:30 pm thereabout, one Nicasio Zuniga was associating in the vicinity of Complex Road in the St. Martins Depores area when he was accosted by two male person on separate bicycles; one of whom was armed with a firearm and fired one shot at him hitting him in the head and subsequently resulted to his death."

Adrian In Dire Condition After Shooting
And about an hour after Zuniga's murder, another young man was shot but he survived. 22 year old Adrian Dyer was hanging out in front of Sunny Side Bakery on Race Course Street last night. 2 men on a motorcycle passed by and one of them shot at Dyer, hitting him in the legs. While Dyer survived the blasts, he is in a critical condition at the KHMH. Today police told us that this was yet another gang related shooting, but we also spoke to one of Dyer's relatives who told us that Adrian is not involved in any gang activity. ACP Chester Williams - Regional Commander, Eastern Division South: "One Adrian Dyer was on Race Course Street Belize City when a motorcycle carrying two persons passed the location where he was and several shots were fired at him some of which made their mark to his leg. He was rushed to the KHMH where he is currently admitted. Last night he went into a state of shock due to the fact that he had lost too much blood. This incident on Race Course Street we have a basic idea who are those persons responsible and we are pursuing them at this time."

Imprint Of A Violent Night Also On Northside
And the last round of gunshots rang out at around 10:15 last night. This time on the northside, on Victoria Street. 19-year-old John Orozco was shot to the right forearm. He was close to home, pushing his bicycle on New Road when he heard shots ring out form nearby and realized that he had been shot. He was admitted to the KHMH in a stable condition – and police haven’t charged anyone.

The DPP And Dorian Pakeman's Blood Sample
In last night's newscast, we told you about the very explosive disclosure from Rural Eastern Police Commander Edward Broaster. Responding to a question from the press, he revealed that Director of the Government Press Office Dorian Pakeman had tested positive for cocaine, which suggests that he was under the influence of that drug when he knocked down and killed 45 year-old Dean Dawson on March 30 of this year. Pakeman is questioning the validity of the test, and he categorically denies the drug use that the positive test result is implying. Yesterday, Broaster told the media that the DPP has the file. So, we spoke to DPP Cheryl-Lynn Vidal via phone today.

Melissa Ferguson Claims Major Heist At Mason House
You last saw Melissa Ferguson on the news on August 15th – when she got bail for conspiracy to commit kidnapping. Well now the 48 year old is telling Belmopan Police that she is the victim, not the perpetrator of a crime. Ferguson has made a complaint stating that between Friday July 15th when her husband William Danny Mason was arrested for killing Pastor Lou and August 17th – which is shortly after she got bail, their Intelco Hill home was cleaned out! She says that in that one month period, thieves stole an assortment of liquor, clothing, electronic and household and miscellaneous items all to a total of $45,428.00. Belmopan police say they are investigating, but the first thing they have to confirm is the validity of the report. Police say they are trying to establish that the mass theft did take place – since police believe that the couple had people staying in the house during their absence.

Cops Catch "One Ki" In Roaring Creek
But Belmopan police have no doubts about what they found in an abandoned lot in Roaring Creek Village. On Monday morning at 11:30, the Special Branch Tactical Response Squad found a black plastic bag containing four compressed parcels of Cannabis amounting to 947.0 grams – which is just about two pounds. No one was in the area and it was labelled as "Found Property".

"Rumba" Roughed Up The Reef
The Department of the Environment is calculating the damage caused by a US registered pleasure yacht that ran aground the reef near Hatchet Caye on Saturday. The Southern Environmental Association, known as “SEA,” has its Ranger Station nearby on Little Water Caye and Gladden Spit in the Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. That conservation NGO reports that the vessel has been removed by the Belize Port Authority and the Department of the Environment is preparing a formal damage assessment.

Karl Heusner: The Man Behind The Hospital Name
Search the archives of any news site and the name Karl Heusner will probably come up more than any other name – including Dean Barrow, John Briceno and Chester Williams. That's because it's the name of the National Referral Hospital – and in a country with so many traumatic accidents and injuries, the biggest hospital is always in the news! But, if you look behind the name of the hospital to its namesake, you will find probably the most noted medical practitioner in Belize's pre colonial history. Karl Stanislaus Heusner was born to German immigrants on Albert Street in 1872 – in what was then called Ibo-town.

Gina Cherrington Again!
6 weeks ago, we told you about 32 year-old Gina Conorquie Cherrington. She was accused running a housing con on a special constable, and yesterday she was back before the court for a different complaint, on the very same bogus scheme. This time, her accuser was 74 year-old Marion Neal. She reported to police that on July 8, she gave Cherrington payment of $290 toward a house because because Cherrington told her that she was working as part of the Boots Martinez Housing Project. She said that on July 14, she gave Cherrington a second payment of $310, and on August 3, she gave Cherrington a third payment of $125 toward the house. She told police that she became worried because Cherrington had not given her a receipt, and she also did not show her this house she claimed to be able to get on her behalf.

BDF Pilots Acing Helicopter Homework
In last night's newscast, we gave you a small excerpt of our coverage of the BDF helicopter training session. Tonight, we have the full story, including a glowing recommendation by the instructors who are overseeing the training. Daniel Ortiz has that story: Yesterday, we found BDF Captain Mark Babalola in a training flight of one of the BDF Helicopters. His exercises involved hovering the rotorcraft just above the Helipad, and maneuvering it to familiarize himself with the precise knife-edge controls needed to pilot one the military's most prized assets.

GG Sir Colville To Mexico For A First Visit
Governor General Sir Colville Young made his first official visit to Mexico from August 29th to September 2nd. The career teacher gave an audience at the Anahuac University a lecture "Literature of the Caribbean". He also met with more than 30 non-resident Ambassadors from Mexico City to Belize. Both countries celebrate their independence this month, so the visit also recognizes that Mexico was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Belize on 21st September 1981. Mexico and Belize share a common border of 180 miles, where there are two formal border crossings and countless informal ones.

The Sound Of Patriotism
But the GG surely got back in time to participate in one of his favourite September events: the evening of Patriotic Songs and Poems at the Wesley Methodist Church in Belize City. The event is the creation of Muriel Laing – Arthurs who started it back in 2008 along with Gregory Solis, the Choir Master to the Methodist Combined Choir. The idea behind the program is to breathe fresh life into the patriotic songs of years gone by. And more than just a celebration of classics and patriotic poetry, patrons also get that celebration feel from the organizers who attempt to recreate the old-time September spirit by giving out goodies in paper bags and a drink at the end of the event – which used to happen after the tenth march.

Channel 5

A Murder on Monday Night in Belize City
A twenty-two year old was executed on Monday evening in the unending cycle of violence in the city. Nicasio Zuniga was ambushed by a duo on bicycles on Complex Drive [...]

Family of Nicasio Zuniga Insists He Was Not in Any Gang
Late this afternoon, the family also granted News Five an interview saying that Zuniga was never affiliated with any gang, nor does he have a criminal record. The bullet, according [...]

Shootings Reported on North and Southside Following Murder
There were two other shootings overnight; the first exactly one hour after the execution of Zuniga. Around seven-thirty p.m., shots rang out on Racecourse Street in Belize City. Another youth, [...]

Ladyville Police Now Say Tyrone Davis’ Death Was Accidental, Not Murder
On Monday, we reported that thirty year old Tyrone Davis of Sandhill was murdered, shot in the throat and arm while in a hammock at his home. Police were already [...]

The Intelco Hill Home of Danny Mason and Melissa Ferguson is Burglarized
Melissa Ferguson, out on bail for the attempted conspiracy to commit kidnapping of Pastor Llewellyn Lucas and another, is reporting an alleged burglary at the residence she shared with incarcerated [...]

Press Office Director to Learn Fate from Prime Minister
The fate of Dorian Pakeman as Director of the Government Press Office was the subject of a discussion in Cabinet this morning.  News Five understands that the issue of his [...]

Do You Support a Senate Investigation or Bi-Cameral Investigation?
And tonight’s question is: Do you support a Senate Select Investigation or a Bicameral Investigation? Send your comments and responses using your SMART phones to 8686 or post your vote [...]

Will Senate or Bi-Cameral Investigation be Undertaken into Latest Immigration Scandal?
At least thirteen U.D.P. ministers and former ministers are being named in the Special Immigration Audit for being involved in irregular practices as it relates to the issuance of passports, [...]

Auditor General Eyes Facilitation of Alleged International Criminals to Obtain Passports
News Five returns tonight to a review of the Office of the Auditor General’s Special Audit Reports on Visas, Nationality and Passports which are now before the House of Representatives [...]

The Curious Case of Floyd Emmanuel Neal, Daniel Rae Morris and Passport P180550
Back in 2013, a Belizean from Camalote appeared to lose his passport and sought to get another one. A typical process – so why is his name in the Immigration [...]

Guatemala Foreign Minister Continues Attack on Independent Julio Alvarado Investigation
As we reported on Monday, the government of Guatemala has flatly rejected the report of two independent experts, commissioned by the O.A.S., on the shooting death of fourteen year old [...]

Guatemala Wants Inter-American Court on Human Rights to Intervene
Guatemala was the first to call for an O.A.S. led investigation and had agreed to the appointment of the experts. But now the tables have turned since the report exonerates [...]

Benque Taxi Associations Protest in Front of Town Council
Five taxi associations in Benque Viejo Del Carmen are protesting a similar initiative by foreign, specifically Guatemalan nationals, to muscle in on their profits. The sixty drivers appeared in front [...]

P.U.P. Gets Ready for Save Belize March on Wednesday
The People’s United Party is hosting a national protest this Wednesday in the city. The party says enough is enough and that the government has been reeling from scandal to [...]

Opposition Wants Belizeans to Petition for Senate Inquiry
The P.U.P. has also organized a petition to have Belizeans sign on or to ask and encourage—either individually or organizations that they belong to—to write their area reps or directly [...]

20th Anniversary of Expo Belize Marketplace
The Belize of Chamber of Commerce’s Expo was held over the weekend at the ITVET in Belize City. The private sector was out in full force offering deals upon deals [...]

CTV3

More Than Forty Thousand Dollars Stolen From Intelco Hill
Although there is currently no update on the status of the William Mason investigation into the beheading of Pastor Lu and the kidnapping of Canadian businessman Lloyd Friesen and his wife, today there is a report indicating that Mason’s hilltop home was burglarized of more than forty five thousand dollars. 48- year old Melissa Ferguson, the wife of accused murderer and kidnapper, William Danny Mason, reported to Belmopan police that her intelco hill home was burglarized of forty five thousand four hundred and twenty eight dollars in liquor, clothing, electronic, household and miscellaneous items.

Guatemalan Press Mocks Prime Minister Dean Barrow
Following the statement made by Guatemala’s Foreign Minister where he stated that the Government of Guatemala would not be extending an apology to Belize, Guatemala’s leading newspaper, “Prensa Libre” posted a caricature to its Facebook page responding to Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s call for an apology from Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales. The cartoon features President Morales holding a garbage can which contains the OAS report on the shooting death of 14-year-old Julio Alvarado with the caption “Aqui esta tu disculpa.” In English “Here is your apology”.

PUP Senators Continue To Push For Select Senate Committee
During last week Wednesday’s special senate meeting the PUP senators proposed to have a Senate select committee to investigate the Auditor General’s report, GOB counter proposed their idea and won to have a bicameral house/ senate select committee, which will have membership of the social partners – but it the majority will come from the ruling UDP. Although their proposed idea did not make it out of the senate, the PUP senators are determined in pushing to have a Senate select committee. During a press conference called yesterday, they explained why. Honorable Michel Chebat - PUP Senator: "How can we have a joint or a bicameral committee when in fact the majority of the persons who would make up that committee would be as a matter of course Ministers who may or not have been named; and I think you have to realise that such a committee, whatever report, whatever they decide would first have to go to cabinet. Can you see a cabinet requiring that one of its Ministers be brought to justice?"

Prime Minister Barrow Meets With Church Leaders, No Agreement Reach
Since the landmark ruling was handed down for the amendment of section 53 which saw the removal of Belize’s long standing sodomy law, the churches have been in complete disarray over the issue. Yesterday Prime Minister Dean Barrow met with the church leaders in an attempt to deflect some of the pressure that's been building up following the section 53 judgment. The churches, first and foremost want GOB to appeal the judgment but furthermore they want the institution of marriage between a man and a woman protected. The Prime Minister walked into the meeting with a range of options, given to him by Cabinet, to propose to the Churches. The meeting which took place at the Headquarters of the Catholic Diocese in Belize City, encompassed the different Church leaders, including the Catholic Bishop, the Anglican Bishop, the President of the Methodist Churches, the Presidents of the two Evangelical Church Associations, and the President of the Alliance of Ministers and Leaders.

Senator Rock Willing To Resign If Necessary
Senator, Ashely Rocke, the senate representative for the churches has been under much scrutiny after Wednesday’s surprising turn of events where he voted against the motion for an independent senate investigation into the nationality and immigration scandal after the churches’ position was seemingly in favor of the motion. The reprisal against Senator Rocke was instantaneous with the Catholic Bishop, Dorrick Wright urging the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches and the other members of the Belize Council of Churches to take steps to remove him. That call for his removal was echoed by the National Evangelical Association of Belize. Following yesterday’s meeting, with P.M Barrow in Belize City the media spoke to senator Rocke, who claims to be willing to step down if it is the wish of those he represents

School Bags Donated To Solomon school
As a part of the annual ‘Back to school drive’ organized by the Friends of the East group here in Orange Walk Town, one hundred school bags were gathered with assistance from the community and were then distributed to students within the area who are in most need of financial assistance. Today, a portion of the remaining school bags were handed over to the administration and staff of the Solomon Seven Day Adventist School who is now tasked with the responsibility of distributing the bags to students whom they believe are in need. Josue Carballo – Former standard bearer, Orange Walk East: “This is a part of a back to school drive that we initiated through a group of friends called Friends of the East, we went on looking for some donations and we got up to a hundred bags to assist students in the area and what we noticed is that schools starts....”

Santa Martha Residence Are Yet To Receive Assistance For Damages Received By Hurricane Earl
A month has passed since Hurricane Earl made landfall in Belize affecting many families and businesses across the country including the agricultural sector which took an enormous hit, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Here in the Orange Walk District, over seventeen families from the village of Santa Martha have been greatly affected by Earl specifically farmers who specialize in the production of plantain as approximately one hundred thousand dollars was recorded in the total amount of losses. In order to seek assistance from the government, a letter was sent to the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO); however, tonight we can tell you that the farmers have not yet received any response from the government. This morning we spoke to former PUP standard bearer of the Orange Walk East, Josue Carballo, who told us that this issue in particular will not be left aside.

LOVE FM

A UDP Stronghold Division Protests Wrong Doing
The taxi service industry is one of the biggest if not the biggest revenue earner for families in Benque Viejo del Carmen Town, Cayo District. For the past year, these men and women have been trying to get the attention of the authorities on a concern they have as it relates to their counterparts in […]

Who Made Peter William Dahlstrom a Belizean?
In the PUP’s press conference dated September 5, much issue had been taken on the Belize passport that was issued to the brother-in-law of Kim Simplis-Barrow. PUP Senator, Michel Chebat told the media that the mandatory requirements were not met in the case of Peter William Dahlstrom. This very same matter was taken up in […]

Preventing Suicide through Communication
Figures reflecting the number of suicide incidents that occurred in Belize over the last ten years are not readily available to us but we can tell you that while we make it a point to not cover stories of suicide, we have come across quite a few reports. In just a few days, several countries […]

Taiwan Grants Belize $1.5M Towards E-Governance
Belize has received more monies from the Embassy of the Republic of China on Taiwan; this time towards the bilateral ICT Project that Belize is collaborating with Taiwan on. His Excellency, Ambassador, Benjamin Ho presented a cheque of one hundred and nine US dollars to the Central Information Technology Office (CITO) of the Government of Belize last Friday. It […]

A Granddaughter’s Tribute to Dr Karl Heusner
Dr. Karl Stanislaus Heusner died at the age 88 in 1960 and up to this day, his legacy as a great healer of his time continues to live on. His granddaughter, June Heusner, has authored a book in his memory. The book is titled, “The Life, Times and Legacy of Dr. Karl Stanislaus Heusner” and […]

BDF Takes Media on Fly Over Following Training on the UH-1H
Four BDF officers attached to the Air Wing are currently being trained to fly the two UH-1H helicopters that were donated by the Republic of China (Taiwan). The training began two months ago and yesterday the media was treated to a firsthand look of the training. Our news team was taken for a fly over […]

US Registered Vessel Runs Aground on Belize’s Barrier Reef
A US registered vessel ran aground in Belize waters over the weekend as was confirmed by the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Reports are that the vessel was bound for Big Creek Port in southern Belize after leaving the port of Livingston, Guatemala just after ten o’clock on Friday, September 2, […]

Unidentified and Dead: Fatal Road Incident
A fatal road traffic accident occurred on the Boom Hattieville road this morning. The driver of the vehicle, 39 year old Margendon Conorquie from Carmelita Village in the Orange Walk District told Police he saw a person sitting in the middle of the road. Eastern Division police shared the information. EDWARD BROASTER “This morning at […]

Shooter Lay Waits Davis at His Home then Kills Him
Tyrone Davis was lying on his hammock below his home in Sandhill Village on Saturday around four in the afternoon when, Police say a gunman emerged from an overgrown area and shot at him one time, causing his death. Police stated that they found a single twelve gauge expended cartridge on the scene but they […]

PlusTV

Business owner shot during robbery in Corozal
A businessman was shot to his shoulder during a robbery in the Corozal District. On September 2 , 48-year-old Israel Gomez, business owner of San Andres village, Corozal was shot to his left shoulder. Sometime around 1 o’clock that afternoon, Gomez and his wife were at their business place, Saint Ju...

Four Valley of Peace Farmers detained following robbery
Four persons have been detained pending charges following a robbery onteh Valley of Peace Road in the Cayo District. On Saturday September 3rd, . at 10:30 a.m., police responded to a robbery in progress on the road to Valley of Peace Village. Esdras Gonzales, driver of Casa Pan Dulce Bakery, report...

Shooting Incident in Chiquibul National Park, Belize – UPDATE
The Government of Belize (GOB) has released some follow up information following the shooting incident that took place on 31st August 2016, in Chiquibul National Park in Belize. As we reported last week, a Belize Defence Force (BDF) reconnaissance patrol came under fire within the Chiquibul National...

American-Registered Vessel Grounded on Belize Reef
A civilian vessel which is registered in Delaware, USA was grounded on the Belize barrier reef in the area of Hatchet Caye located east-northeast of Placencia on Saturday afternoon. On board the vessel were three Colombians, four Guatemalans and one American citizen. The vessel reportedly left the ...

San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council employees suspended
Just as Minister Patrick Faber’s submerged vehicle was first featured on Facebook, so now has the vehicle belonging to the Town Council of the Twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Two senior employees of that council are now in hot water after a video surfaced on Facebook showing the two empl...

Castro: no bus stops in Belize for ADO
Minister of State with responsibility for Transport, Edmond Castro, has weighed in on the bus wars between ADO Bus of Mexico and the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative (BBOC). B.B.O.C. has charged that ADO’s new run at 11 a.m. daily, which started on Friday, will take away customers from them. But in spe...

BPP joins in call for Senator Rocke’s resignation
The Belize Progressive Party issued a press release in which it has added its voice in calling for the resignation of Church Senator Ashley Rocke. The release says, “BPP registers its utter disappointment with the decision of Senator Ashley Rocke, who represents the Church, due to his decision to in...

Amandala

4 late shootings – 1 dead, 2 injured, 1 unharmed
Breaking news tonight is that Nicascio John Zuniga, 21, was gunned down at around 7 p.m. tonight, Monday, on Administrative Drive, located in front of the Charles B. Hyde Complex Building in Lake Independence. According to sources close to the Zuniga family, the victim had just gone to Ying Ying Shop and was making his way back home when he was shot once in the head. Zuniga died almost immediately. It is unclear what mode of transportation his attacker used to flee the crime scene. Community members tonight revealed to Amandala that while Zuniga lived in territory claimed by the Backa Lands Crips (BLC), he was not a troublesome youth.

Carter’s Upholstery yard caught fire
After two loud explosions, the backyard of Carter’s Upholstery, located at the corner of Cemetery Road and Elson Kerr Street, erupted in flames. The fire began sometime around 9:35 tonight, Wednesday, and in the face of great challenge, firefighters managed to get it under control by around 10:20 p.m. When the first fire truck arrived on the scene, it apparently arrived without enough water. A second fire truck was called fifteen minutes later, and it also apparently arrived without enough water. Firefighters subsequently removed the metal grill cover on a manhole in order to access water, but it was apparently dried up.

Cocaine in Press Officer’s blood: ACP Broaster
This morning, at a police press briefing at the Ladyville Police Station, Assistant Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster, who heads the Belize Rural Eastern Division, confirmed that a lab test done on a blood specimen taken from Dorian Pakeman, Director of the Government of Belize Press Office, who was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in one fatality, showed the presence of cocaine. ACP Broaster was responding to a question by Amandala about the police’s investigation of the fatal traffic accident that claimed the life of Gardenia mechanic Dean Dawson, 45. On the night of Thursday, March 31, there was a tragic accident on the Philip Goldson Highway between Miles 22 and 23, in Biscayne Village, when a government vehicle that was being driven by Pakeman, slammed into Gardenia mechanic Dean Dawson, 45, who was riding his bicycle and heading toward Crooked Tree.

PUP plan massive “Save Belize” protest on Wednesday
The Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) parliamentarians walked out of the last House of Representatives meeting two weeks ago in solidarity with their Cayo South representative who was clumsily named by the Speaker when he tried to address the House on the blistering Auditor General’s Special Report, which highlighted massive irregularities at the Immigration and Nationality Department. Then last Wednesday, around 1,500 PUP supporters descended on Belmopan in support of the PUP senators who had tabled a motion for a Senate Select Committee to investigate the findings of the Auditor General’s Special Report. The United Democratic Party (UDP) senators, aided by a Church senator, voted against the motion to appoint a Senate Select Committee to investigate the corruption in the department. On Wednesday, the PUP plan to hold the “mother of all demonstrations” in Belize City, where the party has not demonstrated for about twenty years.

PUP senators may seek judicial review against Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse
The three Opposition People’s United Party (PUP) senators, Michel Chebat, Valarie Woods and Paul Thompson, briefed the media this afternoon on the possible option that they will follow in the wake of the voting down of their motion for the appointment of a Senate Select Committee at last Wednesday’s sitting of the Senate. The PUP senators have zeroed in on the nationality certificate that Immigration Minister Godwin Hulse, who is also Leader of Government Business, signed on behalf of the Prime Minister’s wife’s brother-in-law, Peter William Dahlstrom, who, according to the Auditor General in her Special Audit Report, did not qualify for Belizean nationality. Senator Chebat, who is holding over for Senator Eamon Courtenay, said that there are mandatory requirements for a person to qualify for Belizean nationality.

Financial Secretary memo: Stop abusing equipment bought with taxpayers’ money!
On Thursday, a memo from the Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Joseph Waight, addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, chief executive officers, heads of departments and accounting officers regarding the use of government vehicles, was leaked to the media. The memo states, “Government vehicles should be viewed as belonging to the citizens of Belize and are assigned solely for the purposes consistent with providing services to those citizens…” The memo further stated, “We’ve seen cases where authorization forms were not being used by public officers travelling in vehicles after working hours, weekends and public holidays. For the most part they were not doing or providing any service on behalf of the Government to the citizens of Belize.”

In memory of Migale – Berger 404, Belize City Champions 1974-75
The above picture was sent to us some months aback by a football fan, Mr. Lester Arnold of Church Street, Belize City, the uncle of present Amandala printer Kent Brooks. He called it, “Sports from the past – the Mighty Berger 404 from Lake Independence,” and asked if we could “please give some highlights of these powerful guys (smile).” Today, September 5, marks 40 years since the passing of our brother, Michael Hyde, a.k.a. Toupi or Migale, who was a member of that first Berger 404 champion team. Berger 404 repeated as champions in 1975-76, but Migale had already left for Ghana, Africa in the summer of 1975, on a British Government scholarship. (Belize was still a colony, of course.) Migale was an all-around super athletic talent. I recently met Harry “P” Pilgrim at a wedding in Belize City, and he said he is writing something about that memorable 400-meter race that he ran alone against Migale in the inter-secondary schools track meet in the 1960s, which I had recently referred to as 1969.

Wagiya on top at Week 3 of PLB Opening Season
The Premier League of Belize (PLB) Opening Season 2016-2017 tournament completed Week 3 games over the weekend, and the young Wagiya FC team from Dangriga has taken over the lead in the standings, while former leader Placencia Assassins FC suffered their first defeat. (See standings below.) On Saturday, starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Norman Broaster Stadium in San Ignacio, Police United FC registered their first victory of the tournament, as they dealt a 3-1 beating to visiting Freedom Fighters FC from Punta Gorda, all goals coming in the first half. Shaking the net for Police United were Mailson Moura (2’), Devon Makin (30’) and Danny Jiminez (47+’); while Jarren Lambey (18’) scored for Freedom Fighters.

Belize Volleyball Association presents – International Volleyball in Belize, September 24-30, SCA Multipurpose Center
The FIVB Men’s World Championship Qualification Tournament for the region, which was originally scheduled for August, but postponed due to Hurricane Earl, will be held September 24th to 30th at the new SCA Multipurpose Center. Belize will be hosting teams from Dominican Republic, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. All seven teams will be competing in a round-robin tournament – 3 matches per day for 7 days; 21 matches of world class volleyball. Teams arrive on September 22nd to start on September 24th. Belize will play El Salvador on the first day at 7:30 p.m. The top 2 teams of this tournament qualify to the continental round, where the top 5 teams go to the World Championship in Italy and Bulgaria.

Belize Bank Bulldogs repeat as BDBA Firms Basketball Champions 2016
After losing game 1 a week ago in the best-of-3 championship series to Infotel, defending champions Belize Bank Bulldogs rebounded this past weekend to take games 2 and 3 on Friday and Saturday nights, and emerge as 2016 champions of the Belize District Basketball Association (BDBA) Firms Tournament. Following the devastation of the Bird’s Isle basketball court by Hurricane Earl on August 3-4, all subsequent games in the BDBA Firms Tournament had been moved to the Belize Elementary School (BES) gym on Mercy Lane. In a high-scoring game 1 of the championship series on Saturday, August 27, Infotel had gained a close 99-97 victory over Belize Bank Bulldogs. But thereafter, the scoring was more restricted, as 80 points was enough for the Bulldogs to claim victory in both games 2 and 3 over the weekend.

Editorial: Hold on tight, beloved
If we were to tell the Auditor General, Mrs. Dorothy Bradley, that the general public of Belize is quite aware that all the vicious personal and professional attacks being launched against her by the ruling United Democratic Party’s (UDP) officials and attack dogs are a cynical function of UDP self-interest, it would likely be of little consolation, if any, to that brave, embattled lady. In a governance system like Belize’s, political power, beneath and outside of all the fancy rhetoric and elaborate ceremony, is fundamentally about entitlement to the use and abuse of public funds. The function of the Auditor General and her department involves the constitutional attempt to monitor and regulate said use and abuse of public funds. The nature of the Auditor General’s job places such an individual in an inevitable line of fire from corrupt administrations.

Dangriga youth complains
Editor Amandala Sir, Today I am here wondering as a youth of Dangriga, amazed daily by the neglect that the town faces from both government and non-government entities. While the country is focusing on the corruption and lack of civility displayed by our government leaders, Dangriga is still neglected and the youth of the community are still suffering. Unemployment is on the rise and the town’s social and cultural integrity is falling apart. The main reason I am writing to this newspaper though is that the town continues to receive the least. While Belize City has multiple state-of-the-art youth facilities, the other Districts have questionable facilities. Dangriga is no different. We might be the worst. We had a small Mennonite wooden structure that housed the Department of Youth Service that became infested by wood lice and was falling apart over the past five years.

Letter to the Editor: Lenient pedophile sentence
Editor Amandala Sir, Over the past months a lot of issues have surfaced in our country that currently have us very divided and in turmoil. While I concede that all of these are very pressing issues, I sincerely believe that there is something much more pressing that everyone is ignoring. The issue I’m talking about is how our legal system continually fails to do its job and bring justice to the people. The most important issue for me is that our Belizean kids continue being molested and raped by men from different countries without any just punishment. The latest one to appear in the newspaper was David Taylor, who forced four young boys into homosexual acts which he also photographed. The punishment handed down to David by the Chief Magistrate was two years. It’s so infuriating to know that a man that has made four boys do unspeakable acts that he photographed and most likely shared with other pedophiles can just get two years as his sentence.

Guatemala petitions OAS over independent investigation into minor’s death near Belize border
The recently appointed ambassador for Guatemala to the Organization of American States (OAS), Gabriel Aguilera Peralta, has written OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, claiming that the recently unveiled investigative report into the death of Guatemalan minor, Julio René Alvarado Ruano, is “incomplete,” according to an article published by La Hora, a Guatemalan news source. Chief Executive Officer in the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Sylvester, told Amandala that he knows of no such letter. The investigation in question indicated that the minor, as well as his brother and father who suffered minor injuries, were not shot by the BDF but by weapons which appear to be those carried by the FCD rangers who were part of the patrol that was present at the time of the shooting.

Breaking Belize News

Nationality by marriage – Is physically living in Belize for one year no longer required?
Can a person qualify for nationality after being married to a Belizean for one year without having lived in Belize? According to former Minister of Immigration, Hon. Godwin Hulse, the answer to this question is yes, as long as the person is “older than […]

Woman shot to death in Orange Walk
BBN has received reports that a woman was murdered in Orange Walk last night. The victim has been identified as Jahida Briceño. According to reports, Briceno was shot and killed somewhere in the vicinity of the Boundary Road. A source told BBN that the […]

Church Senator voted against Senate Inquiry in nation’s best interest
Church Senator Pastor Ashley Rocke says he voted against a motion for a Senate Inquiry into the Auditor General’s Immigration report in the best interest of the nation. According to Rocke’s logic, while he supported the motion for an investigation he was of […]

Hawkesworth Bridge and Macal River Park in San Ignacio gets improved lighting
The Hawkesworth Bridge and the Macal River Park have both benefited from improved lighting courtesy of the San Ignacio and Santa Elena Town Council. Pedestrians had been complaining of poor lighting when crossing the Hawkesworth bridge at night and some residents even considered it […]

Belize: Sovereign & Strong, Together As One – This September and Beyond!
It is only right and just that all Belizean Friends and Friends of Belize at home and abroad come together to celebrate with the greatest gusto Belize’s September Celebrations highlighting The Battle of St. George’s Caye (10th September) and Independence Day (21st September) all […]

SMART Soca or Surrenda Raffle
SMART, the leading most innovative telecommunications company in Belize, is holding a Soca or Surrenda raffle this month. To enter the raffle, SMART users need to send a message to UWIN (8946) and in the body of the message type: WIN. Both winners will […]

Prensa Libre mocks Barrow’s call for an apology
Prensa Libre, Guatemala’s largest newspaper, posted a cartoon to its Facebook page mocking Prime Minister Dean Barrow’s call for an apology from Guatemalan President Jimmy Moralez. The cartoon features Moralez holding a trash can containing the OAS report on the shooting death of 14-year-old […]

Taxi drivers Protest in Benque
This morning over 60 taxi drivers from five taxi associations joined in solidarity, protesting in front of the Benque Viejo Town council. The drivers are protesting because according to them, a Melchor van is being allowed to bring students from Melchor to attend school […]

Belize: Together, The Poor is Wealthier Than The Rich
The Central Bank of Belize annual report for December 31, 2015 shows that the aggregate capital for domestic banks stood at BZ$419.1 million, having increased BZ$39.6 million over 2014. Profitability in terms of Return on Equity (ROE) went from -2.18% in 2014, to +6.23% […]

http://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2016/09/06/45000-household-items-stolen-william-mason-house/More than $45,000 in household items stolen from William Mason’s House
Police in Belmopan are reporting that $45,428.00 in liquor, clothing, electronic, household and miscellaneous items were stolen from William Mason and Melissa Ferguson’s residence in the Mountain View area of Belmopan. Melissa Ferguson reported to police that between 11:00 p.m. on Friday July 15th, […]

Nineteen-year-old shot near Victoria Street
On Monday at about 10:15 p.m, 19-year-old John Orozco was shot in Belize City. According to police reports, Orozco was pushing his bicycle on New Road contrary to the flow of traffic and upon reaching in front of #84 New Road Supermarket, he suddenly […]

Man left in critical condition after being shot
On Monday, September 5th at around 7:30 p.m., Adrian Dyer, 21 years old of George Street in Belize City was shot. According to police reports, Dyer was socializing with a group of male persons in front of #44 Raceourse Street when two male persons […]

Latest murder victim is 22-year-old Nicasio John Zuniga of Belize City
Police in the old capital are reporting that on Monday, September 5, at around 6:22 p.m., they visited Complex Drive, Belize City where they saw 22-year-old Nicasio John Zuniga lying motionless on the street. Zuniga had a gunshot injury to the upper right cheek […]

Orange Walk man involved in fatal traffic accident
Margendon Conorquie, 39, of Carmelita Village, Orange Walk was involved in a bizarre traffic accident yesterday morning as he ran over a man who was sitting in the middle of the road. According to police reports, Conorquie was driving in his white 1990 GMC […]

San Pedro police find 120.9 grams of marijuana in boat
On Sunday, September 4 police in San Pedro Town discovered 120.9 grams of marijuana in a boat. According to police reports, the cannabis was retrieved from a boat that was parked on the Thunder Bolt dock located in the Saca Chispa Area of San […]

PUP to march in Belize City tomorrow
The People’s United Party (PUP) will be holding its “Save Belize Now” march in Belize City tomorrow. The PUP announced the march last week. It will start at the Constitution Park and is expected to begin at 10:00 a.m. PUP Party Leader John Briceno […]

Young woman arrested in San Pedro for drug trafficking
Tracy Betancourt, 19, was arrested yesterday by San Pedro police for drug trafficking. According to police reports, Betancourt was intercepted by a joint team of Special Branch and CIB personnel in a yellow Mazda Protégé four door taxi at the corner of Caribena Street […]

BNTU Benque Branch wants more than salary adjustment
The Benque branch of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) wants more than just a salary adjustment. The branch is also demanding that Prime Minister Dean Barrow appeal Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin’s ruling on Section 53 of the constitution, a full investigation on the […]

Captive parrot application process closing
The Belize Forest Department issued a press release today informing all citizens that the Captive Wildlife Permit Program for pet parrots will close on October 31. Under the program the department has registered over 300 parrots already.Hundreds of parrots were rehabilitated and returned to […]

Blogs

How To Find a Job in Belize
I don’t want to be a dream crusher but here is the truth: GETTING EMPLOYMENT IN BELIZE IS NOT EASY. And especially employment that is going to pay all of your bills. Jobs do come up. Not often. They are usually passed along by business owners talking to friends. And why not get your name in the mix for a reliable, ready to work, FLEXIBLE go-getter. It is great that you were a qualified vet technician or a human resources compensation expert…it’s time to be flexible. Opportunities that may come up: Bar or restaurant manager, hotel manager, property management, real estate (though remember that it often is commission based)… I know the idea of moving to Belize is compelling…I’ve felt the pull. But it is extremely hard to get any job…especially well paying job in Belize if you are an immigrant.

International Sources

Obituary - Sammy Martinez, football fan and British Honduran forestry worke
British Honduran forestry worker and Hibs fan Born 18th February 1910. Died 24th August 2016. Sam Martinez who has died aged 106 enjoyed a remarkable life which spanned continents and centuries.An enthusiastic Hibs fan for over 70 years, he attracted a lot of attention when he was present as a guest of the club at Hampden Park in May to witness them lift the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902, probably the oldest fan ever to attend the Final. As far as Sam was concerned this was ‘eleventh time lucky,’ as he had previously attended 10 Cup Finals, including replays, without seeing his beloved Hibs win the much coveted trophy. His first had been in 1947 when Aberdeen defeated the Easter Road side 2-1. Brought up in the southern coastal village of Barranco in what is now Belize,he was one of eight brothers and two sisters. He came to Scotland in November 1942 as part of the 800 strong British Honduras Forestry Unit to help in the War effort. In June 1941 the government identified the need for a significant increase in home timber production to reduce reliance on shipping, timber being needed in particular for the coal industry, for pit props and to fire steel production for armaments.

How Belize inherited steelpan music, A lively music that has made Belize its home...
Within the heart of Belize’s melodious amalgamation lies the metallic resonance of the steelpan. This Caribbean instrument was introduced into Belizean culture by the musically-accomplished Dr. The Honorable Lennox A. Pike in 1964, a little over two decades prior to the country’s own Independence from its British Colony in 1981. He would later be honored at the “2012 Pan Yaad Steel Band Concert” for his contribution of steelpan music to Belize, by the National Institute of Culture and History’s President, Ms. Diane Haylock. Now woven into the country’s National September Celebrations, steelpan music continues to be an anticipated feature, particularly at the annual “Pan Yaad Steel Band Concert” , happening at 7:00 p.m., September 9th, 2016 at the Marion Jones Sports Complex in Belize City. This grand entertainment of musical perfection offers an electric genre of various local and regional sounds, all in a warm patriotic setting.

Magnum Tours host 3rd travel agent FAM for 9 premier agents
Magnum Tours, a premiere travel agency, recently hosted a six-day FAM for travel agents. Magnum Tours, based in the United States, is a large-scale wholesaler of comprehensive tour packages to Belize. Joining in with the likes of American Airlines, WestJet, and Southwest, Magnum Tours is an industry leader on marketing the beautiful Central American nation of Belize to travelers in North America. The company’s third annual FAM kicked off on Friday, August 5, 2016, as Magnum Belize Tours welcomed nine top flight agents to the country. Lodgings were provided by the beautiful Chaa Creek Lodge in Belize’s western Cayo District. Chaa Creek Lodge owners Mick and Lucy Fleming welcomed the agents with a delicious assortment of cocktails and snacks later followed by a gourmet dinner. The FAM continued with a trip to the nearby Cahal Pech Resort. Afterwards, the group toured the Maya ruins of Cahal Pech which gave the resort its name. A delicious repast was laid out for the group at the Mystic River Resort and delicacies like goat cheese and coconut cheesecake were savored by one and all. The day’s activities continued to Mariposa Jungle Lodge and concluded at Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge where they were hosted for dinner with managing director Erik Lyoth.

THS grad puts engineering skills to work in Belize
Tullahoma native Danielle Kirkpatrick recently returned from Central America where she and a group of students and professors from Tennessee Technological University (TTU) constructed a composting latrine for the village school of San Benito Poite. The village is located in Belize, a nation on the eastern coast of Central America. “The latrine will serve the village school that instructs grades Pre-K through eighth,” said Kirkpatrick, a 2013 graduate of Tullahoma High School. “The latrine that they had was a pit latrine and it was almost full. We thought we could implement a new design of a latrine and the villagers would realize what a better design this was and they could reuse it if properly cared for.” The latrine Kirkpatrick and her fellow students installed will allow the villagers to put the waste collected to good use. “We constructed a composting latrine. With this type of latrine, they can re-use the waste as fertilizer, so they are not just continuously digging holes to make additional latrines.”

Caribbean countries meeting ahead of climate change meeting in Morocco
renada is hosting the CARICOM Climate Change Negotiators and Ministerial preparatory meeting in preparation for the Conference of Parties (COP) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Morocco this year. The three-day conference, which began on Monday, is being attended by representatives from 12 countries as well as the Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat. The objectives of the preparatory meeting are to provide ministers and negotiators with a forum to prepare for COP 22 to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco from the 7th to 18th November 2016 and to develop the regional positions for the Caribbean states.

Videos

September 6, 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

Marisha Thompson is Miss San Pedro 2016-2017
San Pedro selected a new beauty ambassador, and she is 16-year-old Marisha Thompson. On Saturday, September 3rd, Thompson captivated and charmed the judges and audience during the 2016 Miss San Pedro Pageant. Competing for the coveted title were Heidi Sorto, Karina Requena, Marleni Diaz, Beverly Rodriguez, Marisha Thompson, and Lisandra Novelo. During their introductory segment, each contestant they shared a little about themselves and their aspirations in life. With poise, beauty and elegance they provided yet another memorable show. After an intermission presentation by Grupo Crash, the young ladies modelled their swimwear, fuelling much applause from the audience. They then transitioned to the most anticipated part of the show: the evening gown segment. Each candidate awed the crowd with their stunning gowns, shinning onstage like true superstars. The shiner of the dresses added to the glitz and glamour of the event, further compounded by the bright smiles of the young beauties.

Ambergris Today

American-Registered Vessel Grounded in Southern Belize Waters
The Belize Coast Guard has confirmed that a civilian vessel which is registered in Delaware, USA was grounded on the barrier reef in the area of Hatchet Caye located east-northeast of Placencia. Onboard the vessel were three (3) Colombians, four (4) Guatemalans and one (1) American citizen. The incident reportedly took place on the Belize Barrier Reef around 5:00p.m. on Saturday, September 3, 2016, and was relayed to the Coast Guard by the Fisheries Department. The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed with Guatemalan Authorities that the vessel left the Port of Livingston, Guatemala bound for Big Creek, Belize sometime after 10:30a.m. on Friday, September 2.

Pretty in Pink, Marisha Thompson Selected Miss San Pedro 2016
Sixteen year old Marisa Thompson won the hearts of the judges and the audience at the Miss San Pedro Pageant that was held this past Saturday, September 3, 2016, in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. She shared the stage with five other contestants who put in a great show of beauty, elegance and intelligence as they vied for the coveted crown. Miss Lisandra Novelo was selected as first runner-up while Marleni Diaz was awarded Miss Photogenic and Karina Requena was awarded Miss Congeniality. Other contestants included Heidi Sorto and Beverly Rodriguez. Outgoing Miss San Pedro 2015 Iris Salgero was present during the pageant to give her farewell speech and assist with the sashing.

Misc Belizean Sources

Ride for a router?
Are you coming to Caye Caulker in the next week or two? We need someone to carry down a wifi router for our high school. It weighs 4.8lbs and is 10x6x13 inches. Message here with your mailing address and phone, and we will ship it asap to you (via Amazon.com). Thank you, in advance, from Ocean Academy.

SHOOTING INCIDENT IN CHIQUIBUL NATIONAL PARK, BELIZE - UPDATE
The Government of Belize (GOB), following up on the shooting incident that took place on 31st August 2016, where a Belize Defence Force (BDF) reconnaissance patrol came under fire within the Chiquibul National Park upon approaching an illegal settlement approximately 259 meters east of the border, informs that the official Order to Leave given by the BDF to the illegal settlers of that settlement has been complied with – the area has been vacated and existing structures dismantled. Furthermore, investigations continue in identifying the person(s) involved in this recent shooting incident.

Carnival King & Queen Competition
The night in pictures!

Pan Yaad 2016
Sept 9, 7:30pm Marion Jones Sporting Complex. See you there!!

The Benque House of Culture 15th Anniversary
The Benque House of Culture (NICH) is celebrating its 15th Anniversary, and you're invited to join the festivities!

"Song of the People," with Francis Reneau
JUST ADDED! Mr. Reneau presents his original composition dedicated to the Belize in honor of 35 years of independence. FREE EVENT! Sunday, September 18 at 6 pm, at Bliss Center for Performing Arts.

Belizean Extravaganza!
An evening of cultural classics. Sept. 8, 8pm, Bliss Center

Illumination, patriotic Festival of Light
Friday in Corozal!

American Vessel Grounded in Area of Belize Waters
The Belize Coast Guard has confirmed that a civilian vessel which is registered in Delaware, USA was grounded on the barrier reef in the area of Hatchet Caye located east north east-northeast of Placencia. Onboard the vessel were three (3) Colombians, four (4) Guatemalans and one (1) American Citizen. The incident reportedly took place on the Belize Barrier Reef around 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 3rd and was relayed to the Coast Guard by the Fisheries Department. The Government of Belize through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed with Guatemalan Authorities that the vessel left the Port of Livingston, Guatemala bound for Big Creek, Belize sometime after 10:30 AM on Friday September 2nd. The Belize Coast Guard has secured the area and a task force comprising of the Department of Environment, Immigration and the Belize Port Authority deploys today, Monday, September 5th to further examine the scene and determine what further actions will be taken.

Let's Clear the Shelter in September!
It happens about this time every year, the shelter and clinic at Saga Humane Society on Ambergris Caye, Belize fills up with unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats. The tourists have left the island and slow season upon us. Pet owners often can't make ends meet and turn to Saga for help. We can't say no; it is our mission to care for the discarded, the unwanted, the neglected and abused homeless animals. The Shelter is full and we need to find loving homes for all the dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. Can you help us Clear The Shelter? Your $50 donation today will help us feed our shelter animals and provide medical care as we work to Clear The Shelter in September. Become a Saga Sponsor today. Be a Saga Life Saver. Share our message and Donate Today!

2016 Bart's Bash Regatta
Bart's Bash 2016 Sailing Event will take place worldwide on Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18. The organizers in San Pedro have decided to make the most of the weekend by holding an open regatta on Saturday and sailing Bart's Bash on Sunday. Bart's Bash has been a highly entertaining, one-of-a-kind sailing race, in which sailors all over the world and in every kind of sailboat imaginable have taken to their home waters on the same day and sailed courses that have been designated as comparable by a computer program in the hands of the Bart's Bash Committee. Another computer program handicaps all the various boat classes involved. It has been a fully legitimate regatta. Guinness Book of World Records formally recognized the inaugural Bart's Bash (2014) as the largest boat race in history. Having secured that record on the first try, the Committee has loosened the all-on-the-same-day rule, and made the world-wide Bart's Bash an all-on-the-same-weekend sailboat race. Bart's Bash should attract even more boats than it did its first 2 years; they averaged in excess of 16,000 boats.

Commentary: Restructuring of political constituencies in Belize
By Wellington C. Ramos. Last year, just before the general elections were held in our country, a group of Belizeans got together to raise the issue of unequal representation in Belize’s constituencies, which is a legitimate concern for many, including me. They even went to the court to see if they could have gotten an injunction on the elections until this major issue was addressed by the UDP government. They failed to get the court to agree with them because the time was too short and the elections were held. Now is the ideal time for these same individuals to organize themselves again to deal with this important issue. In Belize there are some constituencies that have twice the amount of registered voters that is required by law, such as Toledo East, Toledo West, Dangriga, Stann Creek West, Belmopan, Cayo West, Cayo South, Cayo North East, Lake Independence and Belize Rural North. This is compared to most of the constituencies in Belize City that have an average of about 3,000 registered voters. Fort George Division is the least populated division in the whole country of Belize.

Captive Wildlife Permit Application Period to Close
The Forest Department announces that the application period for the Captive Wildlife Permit program for pet parrots will close on October 31st, 2016. Since the program began, the department received more than 2,000 applications and registered over 300 parrots already. Hundreds of parrots were rehabilitated and returned to the wild when inspections revealed that: (a) the parrots were found to be less than one-year old and; (b) bird owners failed to meet strict compliance standards. Parrots represent the largest group of captive wild animals in Belize. Thousands of wild birds have been and continue to be illegally captured and traded on the domestic and international market to meet the demand for the pet trade. This has devastating impacts on Belize’s parrot species population, particularly the scarlet macaw and yellow-headed parrots now threatened by extinction due to habitat loss and illegal capturing.

Food and Drugs Amendment Act
In an effort to further strengthen the regulation of food and pharmaceuticals in Belize, the Minister of Health Hon. Pablo Marin presented new amendments to the House of Representatives on the Food and Drugs Amendment Act of Chapter 291 of the substantive Laws of Belize revised Edition 2011. This will make provision to empower the making of regulations for the establishment of a drug registry and give effect to the provisions of the Act regarding the labeling of food or pharmaceuticals. With the provisions in this amendment, the Ministry of Health will be able to address regulatory responsibilities, such as the granting of licenses to establishments involved in the sale of food and medicines and to enhance the importation requirements for these. It also seeks to establish proper record keepings including the sale of medicines in books or registers and to allow for the removal of expired food and medicines from selling points, as well as random sample taking of medicines for quality testing. This amendment includes regulations for the registration of all medications in our National Drug Registry and the further establishment of lists of medicines to further aid proper sales control in establishments such as pharmacies and supermarkets.

People's United Party Senators call press conference at Independence Hall in Belize City
- Speaks on qualification to acquire nationality through marriage. Specifically to the case of Peter William Dalstrum, the brother-in-law of the Prime Minister's wife, Kim Simplis Barrow, who received nationality not having lived in Belize and contrary to the requirements of the Nationality Act - calls for the revocation of Dalstrum's Belizean documents - recalls for a Senate Select Investigation as opposed to a bicameral investigation. - Calls for the resignation of Godwin Hulse as Minister of Police

Benque HoC Celebrates 15 Years
Happy 15th anniversary, Benque HoC. They are doing the soft launch of the Pillars of Benque HoC exhibit tomorrow morning. They'll have fun for everyone. "Celebrating and commemorating the 15 Years Foundation of our Benque House of Culture, Tuesday September 6th, 2016. Soft viewing of the Exhibition: Pillars of the Benque House of Culture Personalities"

"Road To Belize Independence" exhibit
The "Road To Belize Independence" exhibit is now open for viewing at SISE House of Culture.

Managing spiny lobster resources for livelihoods and healthy marine habitats
The Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), Argus from the Greek meaning “watchful guardian”, is a conspicuous and critical resident of coastal waters throughout the region and functions as both predator and prey in the complex world of coral reefs. Spiny lobsters emerge from their shelters at the end of the day to forage on a variety of crabs, snails and urchins on reefs and surrounding seagrass beds and sand flats, returning to the protection of crevices and overhangs as the sun begins to rise. Their sheltering on the reef, often in small groups, is critical as they are prey to a number of other animals including groupers, snappers, triggerfish, octopus, turtles and the green moray.

Channel 7

PM Goes to Meet Catholic Bishop
Today, the Prime Minister met with the churches – and like the mountain going to Mohammed, he went to Bishop Dorrick Wright's residence to do so. It's an attempt to release some of the pressure that's been building up after the section 53 judgment. The churches want that judgment appealed – but more than that, they want the institution of marriage between a man and a woman protected. The Prime Minister said Cabinet gave him a range of options to propose to the Churches – and today at around 2:30, at the Headquarters of the Catholic Diocese in Belize City, the Prime Minister met with the different Church leaders, including the Catholic Bishop, the Anglican Bishop, the President of the Methodist Churches, the Presidents of the two Evangelical Church Associations, and the President of the Alliance of Ministers and Leaders. That discussion lasted for a little over an hour and a half, and this evening, we were right outside to talk with the Prime Minister and the Church leaders when it was done. Here's what they had to say:

In Defence Of Senator Ashley
While we were at that meeting, we got a chance to speak with Church Senator Ashley Rocke to get a response on the call for his resignation or his removal. As we showed you on Thursday, the retribution against him was swift when Catholic Bishop Dorrick Wright urged the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches and the other members of the Belize Council of Churches take steps to remove him. That call for his removal was echoed by the National Evangelical Association of Belize. Even though they had no say in his appointment, they say that they speak for the vast majority of churches who were once a part of the BAEC. So, we couldn't reach him last week, but before he entered the meeting with the Prime Minister, he granted us a few brief comments saying that he is perfectly ready to step down should the people who put him there decide do so. Pastor Howell Longsworth, the President of the BAEC, which was pivotal in his instalment, said that Senator Rocke has nowhere to go:

Press Office Director Positive For Cocaine
Back in March, it made headlines when Director of the Government Press Office Dorian Pakeman knocked down 45 year-old Gardenia Villager Dean Dawson. Pakeman, who answers directly to Prime Minister Dean Barrow, was heading home after a day on official work business, when his government-issued pickup collided with Dawson, who was riding a bike. Now, as viewers will remember, the events which preceded that accident are greatly disputed by the two parties. Pakeman told us that Dawson was riding in his lane, close to the middle of the road, going in the same direction, heading towards Belize City. He said that he saw Dawson in his high beams, and he blew his horn. He said that he tried to go around Dawson on the right side of the highway. Dawson panicked and tried to swerve off the road, and that's when the collision happened, even though Pakeman reportedly tried to do everything to avoid the accident.

PM's Problem With Pakeman
Now Pakeman answers directly to the Prime Minister – in fact he usually emcee's press conference for the PM. So what did Barrow have to say about it in this time when he can hardly take another scandal? Here are his remarks today:… Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize: "I've just - I've heard about it and I certainly have to look into that. I don't know enough at this juncture but that is a very serious disclosure and I certainly have to look at that." Daniel Ortiz: "Sir would you support actions to be taken if it's proven?" Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize: "Lord Man... It's a serious disclosure and if it is true it raises very problematic issues for Mr. Pakeman and for government. Can I leave it at that until I've had a chance... Look we've been talking about natural justice, I have to hear from the man, I have to see what the evidence is but for sure it's not something that will be ignored and not dealt with."

PUP Senators Kep Up The Push For A Senate Probe
And while the Prime Minister has all that on his plate – coming up on Wednesday he also has a mass demonstration led by the PUP. And the party is not letting up on the passport that his brother in law Peter William Dahlstrom obtained. The auditor general said it was irregular – and last week Immigration Minister Godwin Hulse explained why it was not. Today the PUP Senators held a press conference to say Hulse was wrong, and that he should resign and let the police investigate:… Hon. Michel Chebat - PUP Senator: "Minister Godwin Hulse on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, Dean Barrow and his wife Kim Simplis Barrow approved the application for Belizean nationality of Peter William Dahlstrom a native of Sweden. Granting him and signing a Belize national certificate for the Prime Minister's brother in law even though he did not meet the legal qualifications as required by the nationality act."

A Sandhill Slaying
A man was murdered in Sand Hill over the weekend. 30 year old Tyrone Davis was shot to the throat and arm as he was hanging out at a house in Sand Hill. Courtney Weatherburne went to try and find out why. 30 year old Tyrone Davis would normally hang out at this Sand Hill home near mile 20. It was a popular spot and he and his friends would sometimes spend all day there. But on Saturday afternoon Davis was shot and killed right in front of his favourite spot. ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural: "Rural Eastern Division received reports of a death in the San Hill area where police visited Mile 20 and found the lifeless body of one Tyrone Davis 30 years of the said village suffering from gunshot wounds to the throat and arm."

Man Sitting In Road Run Over
There was a bizarre accident this morning around 5:00. A man was run over and killed as he sat in the middle of the road. 39 year old Margendon Conorquie was driving his white Chevy Suburban on the Boom road when he saw a man sitting in the middle of the road, he tried to swerve but it was too late. Who was this man? and why was he sitting in the middle of the road ? Police don't know at this point but they gave us what they have so far. ACP Edward Broaster - OC, Eastern Division Rural: "This morning at about 5 AM we received reports of a traffic accident, a fatal one at that on the Boom-Hattieville road about 2 miles into the Boom Road off the Phillip Goldson Highway where one Mr. Conorquie reported that whilst he was driving on the Boom-Hattieville Road approaching a curve he saw a dark skinned male person sitting in the middle of the road and unavoidably hit him causing him to deceased on the spot. That individual has not been identified as yet and we're seeking to obtain his identity at this time."

Island Cops Got Guns
San Pedro police used a serious piece of intelligence to bust a gun that was coming unto the island. On Saturday, they got intelligence that two residents of Hattieville were coming over to the island to commit a robbery. The police were waiting and intercepted an adult and a minor, both males, when they arrived on the island. The police searched their luggage and found a .38 pistol with 10 live rounds. They have charged the adult, Akeem Augustus with possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Turns out he is wanted for questioning in other crimes in Belize Rural – so he will be turned over to them.

Pilfering Pink Security Guard To Court
On Friday we told you about the Security Guard who was caught shoplifting form the very boutique he was tasked to protect! Well today 36 old KBH security guard Glenroy Reynolds was sentenced to 6 months by Magistrate Carlon Mendoza after he pleaded guilty to 3 counts of theft. Reynolds committed the thefts on August 30, August 31 and on September 1 while he was working as a security guard at Pink Boutique, in Belize City. He stole dresses valued at $274 dollars and he was caught on surveillance camera taking the items from off the rack and taking them to a garbage can. Reynolds was sentenced to 6 months for each count with the stipulation that the sentences are to run concurrently. Reynolds will serve an additional sentence of 6 months for defaulting on a payment of $900 for a conviction of handling stolen goods in 2015. Notable that the security firm hired a person recently convicted for handling stolen goods – so much for background checks!

BDF and the Art OF Shooting Safely
Every night on the news – guns dominate the news: from persons shot with guns to those caught with them. On Saturday we were at an event all about guns, but no one got harmed in anyway. It's the BDF's annual pistol shooting competition – and we found out how properly used weapons can make for great recreational sport:… The BDF pistol competition, for the past almost 20 years, it's been a test of true marksmanship for the armed forces, security firms and this year, even the US Marines: Major Ben Steiner - US Marines: "So really it was an opportunity for us to come out and partake in some of your guys training events and obviously a pretty big deal as far as national competitions. So we're really pleased to be able to come out here and shoot alongside the Belizeans." "Honestly, there's a lot of good shooters out here and I don't expect to win by any stretch; so a lot of the gentlemen here are doing very very well, so I'm very impressed."

Vessel Runs Unto Reef
An US registered vessel is stuck on the barrier reef in the area of Hatchet Caye located east-northeast of Placencia. The Fisheries Department reports that vessel was grounded around 5:00 on Saturday. On-board are three Colombians, four Guatemalans and one American citizen. The vessel had left the Port of Livingston, Guatemala on Friday morning headed for the Big Port Creek. A task force comprising the Department of Environment, Immigration and the Belize Port Authority has been deployed to investigate.

Guatemalans Removed, Despite Resistance
Last week we told you how the BDf came under fire when they were ejecting Guatemalans squatters form an area within the Chiquibul National Park. That happened on August 31st., but after regrouping and reporting the incident the BDF reports that the official Order to Leave has been complied with – the area has been vacated and existing structures dismantled. A press release says investigations continue into who fired the shots.

Guatemalans Reject OAS Report
But if that investigation is by the BDF, it's going to run into trouble on the Guatemalan side. That's because the Guatemalan Government has officially rejected the last investigation - that one into the shooting death of 13 year old Julio Ruano. President Jimmy Morales made it official at a press conference today. Appearing alongside his Vice President and the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Morales said "the report is inconclusive and it should have had criminal implications for those responsible for the death of Guatemalan child." They point to what they call "inconsistencies" and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Raul Morales said that he will ask the OAS to remove Magdalena Talamás who dealt with the report for her organization.

BDF Trains For Helipcopters
On last Friday's newscast, we told you about the training that the Belize Defence Force soldiers are currently involved in so that they can fly and maintain their own helicopters donated to them by the Taiwanese Government. Well, rather than tell us, the BDF decided to show us their soldiers in action as they learn to maneuver the aircraft. In tomorrow's newscast, we'll have that full story for you. But tonight, we have an excerpt with the BDF Airwing's Commanding Officer discussing his excitement to see his subordinates slowly mastering a type of aircraft they had very little experience

8 BDF Saved 56 in Hurricane
And in one more story on the BDF tonight, we spoke to General David Jones about the little told story of BDF heroism on the night that Hurricane Earl hit one month ago. In an under-publicized mission, eight BDF soldiers left Price Barracks – which was taking a battering from the storm – and went to Vista Del Mar where they braved extreme and life threatening weather conditions to save 56 people who were being flooded out of their homes. We have the interview subtitled, since our microphone was having technical difficulties: Brig. Gen David Jones - Commander - BDF: "Where we got the call that people were in danger of drowning and needed rescue; so, we sent the soldiers there during that strong wind, the strong rain and debris flying all over the street in the area." "And there was a lot of water, the water had risen pretty high, so they were walking up to chest height, water was going into people's homes. For the most part electricity was gone, so the people that were rescued, some of them, if it wasn't for them having flashlights, and torches, flashing them up in the air, the soldiers wouldn't have known where they were."

Expo Drew Slightly Smaller Crowd
In its 20th year, the Expo Belize Market Place pulled over 15 thousand visitors. 96 companies participated in 178 booths. Last year, 16,500 attended.

King and Queen of Carnival Crowned
And we leave you tonight with footage of the weekend;s other big evetm the carnival King and Queen comeptiiton which took place at the Marion Jones stadium. Enjoy and join us back here tomorrow…

Channel 5

Breaking News: Murder Reported in Lake Independence
There is breaking news: Police are at this time processing the scene of a murder in Lake Independence, Belize City. A few minutes ago shots rang out behind the Complex [...]

Council of Churches Endorses Church’s Senator Vote on Senate inquiry
The controversial ruling by Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin on Section Fifty-three remains in the headlines tonight. And this morning, the Belize Council of Churches met in an extended session to [...]

Council’s Decision is Final; Catholic Request Overruled
According to the President of the Belize Council of Churches, the call for Senator Rocke’s resignation came from other areas of the religious community but was never sanctioned by the [...]

Ashley Rocke Defends Vote as Being “In Nation’s Best Interest”
Pastor Rocke, who has kept a low profile in the wake of the controversial vote, was candid earlier today when he explained to News Five the rationale behind the vote [...]

Howell Longsworth on Comments by Pastor Wade
On Thursday, the president of the Belize Association of Evangelical Churches was castigated by Pastor Louis Wade who claims that Pastor Howell Longsworth is a functionary of the U.D.P.   Wade [...]

P.M. Meets With Churches; Another Meeting Planned for Friday
Section Fifty-three…will it be appealed by the churches?  It’s a position that is yet to be formalized following a meeting today with Prime Minister Barrow. This afternoon, representatives of the [...]

Director of Press Office Had Cocaine in his Blood During Fatal March Accident
Dorian Pakeman, he is the Director of the Government’s Press Office and a familiar face at Government press conferences and other official events. But earlier this year he became part [...]

Prime Minister Plans to Look into Dorian Pakeman Case
This afternoon, Prime Minister Dean Barrow reacted to the news, stating that once he has looked into the matter, action will be taken if appropriate.   Prime Minister Dean Barrow [...]

P.U.P. Questions Defense of Nationality Grant for Peter Dahlstrom
The People’s United Party senators called a press conference at Independence Hall in Belize City this afternoon and they went straight to the point.  According to Senator Michel Chebat, there [...]

Opposition Sticks to Demand for Senate inquiry
According to Special Audit, Dahlstrom applied for nationality on the fifth of April 2012 and noted on his application that he “eventually wants to reside in Belize.” He was recommended [...]

U.D.P. On Record Calling for Senate Inquiry in S.S.B. Scandal
One other issue that is a priority for the P.U.P. is their call for a senate select investigation. That motion was presented in the senate, but defeated seven to five. [...]

Murder in Sandhill; Motive Unknown
Police have very limited leads to go on in the Saturday afternoon murder of a Sandhill resident. While the end came quickly for victim Tyrone Davis, answers as to who [...]

Traffic Accident Victim Sat in the Middle of the Road
Police are investigating a fatal encounter between a resident of Carmelita, Orange Walk and an unknown man who chose to sit in the middle of the Burrell Boom-Hattieville road early [...]

Intoxicated Cayo Town Council Employees are Suspended as Mayor Apologizes
A pair of employees of the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council is in big trouble tonight, after being caught on video sleeping off a drunk bender after completing official duties [...]

P.U.P. Demand Minister of Immigration Resign and Recuse Self from Investigation
The Minister of Immigration Godwin Hulse is persistently coming under the microscope.  At the sitting of the Senate Meeting last Wednesday, the P.U.P. senator requested that he recuse himself from [...]

Senator Representing Trade Unions Records Support for UNCAC Signing
Signing on to the United Nations anti-corruption convention is picking up steam. Government maintained for some time that it would not; but last week, there was a softening of position [...]

Majority of Teachers Demand Salary Adjustments Now
Prime Minister Dean Barrow has met with the three unions to discuss delaying the final salary adjustments for teachers and public officers as agreed to by the Joint Negotiating Team [...]

Trevor Vernon Held at Canadian Border Over Genuine Passport
According to former Ministry of Foreign Affairs official and journalist Trevor Vernon, he was denied entry to Canada on Saturday after border authorities there reportedly declared that his passport was [...]

Guatemala Officially Rejects O.A.S.-backed Report on Julio Alvarado Death
Guatemala today officially, but not surprisingly, rejected the report of two independent experts in respect of the shooting death of fourteen year old Julio Rene Alvarado Ruano in the Chiquibul [...]

American Vessel Grounds on Belize Barrier Reef
A U.S. registered vessel was grounded on the barrier reef in the area of Hatchet Caye located east-northeast of Placencia over the weekend. Eight persons were onboard the civilian vessel: [...]

Carnival King and Queen Returns to Marion Jones Stadium
Carnival 2016 is getting off to an excellent start and it all reads up to the highly anticipated road march on September seventh.  The number of bands has increased this [...]

Latest Sporting News with James Adderley
Good evening, I’m James Adderley and this is Sports Monday.   Infotel went into Game II of the BDBA Firms Division 3 game Champion Series needing only a win to [...]

CTV3

Romanians Detained By Corozal Police
There is a strange case to report tonight involving a group of Romanians who were intercepted by the Police travelling north on the Phillip Goldson Highway on Friday morning. Sources tell us that Corozal Police, responding to a tip-off about strange immigrants moving through the country, set up an interception point at the Libertad junction. As suspected, eight Romanians travelling in two separate taxi vehicles with Benque Viejo Del Carmen license plates were seen and stopped. Our information was that when the Police searched through their documents, they were not satisfied that all was in order, they called in Immigration officials. But this is where things get a bit strange. The Police cannot say what happened with the visitors, because it turned into an Immigration matter. As for Immigration officials, when we contacted the Northern Border office, no one was able to share any info since their supervisor was not in office today.

Employees Of San Ignacio Town Council Suspended After They Fell Asleep In Government Vehicle
Last week the Financial Secretary of Belize, Joseph Waight issued a memorandum to Chief Executive Officers, Heads of Departments and Accounting officers ordering the enforcement of the policies governing usage of all government vehicles. In that communique the Fin Sec advises that effective September 1st all vehicles, except those authorized for twenty-four hours use, should be garaged at the end of each day, on weekends and on public and bank holidays at a secure designated location. Well it appears that the memo was not taken seriously by certain government workers. Over the weekend a video was leaked on social media starring two San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town council employees sleeping inside a white pickup truck, bearing Mayoral license plates, on the side of San Felipe road, seemingly intoxicated.

Breaking Belize News

Man murdered in Lake Independence
A murder happened early last night in Lake Independence, Belize City. The murder took place behind the Complex Building where gun shots rang and a man was shot and killed. Police are investigating. © 2016, www.breakingbelizenews.com. This article is the copyrighted property of Breaking […]

Press Office Director under influence of cocaine during March accident
Dorian Pakeman, the Director of the Government’s Press Office, earlier this year knocked down and fatally injured 45 year old Dean Dawson, a popular mechanic and father of ten children from neighboring Gardenia village in the vicinity of Biscayne, Belize District. Pakeman’s fate rests […]

Police investigate Sandhill Murder; 19-year-old detained
On Saturday, September 3, police received information of a murder in Sandhill Village in the Belize District. According to police reports, officers visited an area between miles 20 and 21 on the Philip Goldson Highway where they saw 30-year-old Tyrone Bernard Davis lying in front […]

Man assaults common-law-wife because she asked for her phone
Stephen Nunez, a 53-year-old San Pedro resident, has been arrested for assaulting his common-law-wife after he pulled an unlicensed firearm on her because she asked for her cell phone. Dorianny Perez, 42, of the San Pablo area reported to police that while she was looking […]

Corozal businessman shot during robbery; two young men arrested and charged
Corozal police are investigating a robbery that happened on September 2 in San Adres Village in the Corozal District in which a popular businessman was shot. According to police reports, officers visited the Corozal Community Hospital where they saw 48-year-old Israel Gomez, a business owner […]

Illegal settlement where BDF came under fire cleared
The illegal settlement in the Chiquibul National Reserve where BDF soldiers came under fire last Wednesday has been cleared, according to a press release from the government. GOB says that the official order to leave has been complied with and the illegal structures in the area […]

San Ignacio Town Council employees suspended, Mayor apologizes to residents
Two senior employees of the San Ignacio/Santa Elena Town Council are being reprimanded for insubordination and inadequate behavior after having been featured in a video shared with Breaking Belize News and posted on Facebook on Saturday, September 2nd.. In the video, the 2 employees […]

Guatemalan vessel grounded in area of Belize Waters
A press release from the GOB Press Office is reporting that a civilian vessel which is registered in Delaware, USA was grounded this weekend on the barrier reef in the area of Hatchet Caye in southern Belize. According to the press release, onboard the […]

Caribbean monitoring tropical wave
Tropical wave 92L has passed the Eastern Caribbean island chains and continues to move west at 12 mph into the central Caribbean sea. It is expected that gusty weather will gradually decrease in the Eastern Caribbean islands today while a chance of enhanced showers and […]

Man shot and killed in Sand Hill
BBN has received reliable information that a man was shot and killed on Saturday in Sand Hill. According to reports, the victim has been identified as Tyrone Davis and the incident happened late Saturday evening. Family members of Davis from the USA had reached […]

Fatal traffic accident near the junction of Burrell Boom
BBN has received reports that a fatal traffic accident happened this morning near the junction of Burrell Boom in the Belize District. According to reports, the accident happened a short while ago and the accident has claimed the life of a man. The body […]

Blogs

Pop’s Restaurant: The search for the best fry jack in Belize has ended
Ladies and gentlemen, I am a snob about a lot of food-related Belize things. Raised by someone who believed food should be fresh and homemade daily, I was treated to fresh free-range eggs, avocadoes from our tree when in season, stewed beans, and my mother’s hot, crispy fry jacks almost every morning. She would even make me sugary ones as treats, setting the bar high when it comes to food and fry jacks. Well, that bar has been matched…I will even say surpassed, as Pop’s Restaurant in San Ignacio, Cayo District, has been consistently producing fluffy, airy, crispy puffs of deliciousness daily for hungry customers. I first discovered Pop’s a year ago. I know. I am, as always, late to the party! The tiny diner was jam-packed the entire time, from when we arrived and waited a good ten minutes for a table, till we left shortly after to find more people lining up. A good sign right? I ordered the fry jacks, while she, ever the rebel, got the waffles.

Flights to Belize: Infographic & Flight Schedules
If you’re a traveler interested in coming to Belize, then surely you’ve poured over the research on flights to Belize. You’ve probably looked up all the attractions, done your fair share of reading on and about hotels (or a Belizean Eco Lodge), found a good rental car and maybe you’ve even packed your bags! But the one thing missing from your itinerary is your flight. Flights to Belize should be easy to find, it’s a small country, there’s one international airport but as other travelers would tell you, finding your flight here could be just as challenging as flying anywhere else.

International Sources

Caribbean Tourism Weathering A Stormy History
In several years of covering the Caribbean on land and sea, I have